ASSESSMENT OF THE REPEATABILITY OF FELINE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY USING CONVENTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND SPECTRAL PULSE-WAVE DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING TECHNIQUES

The objective of this study was to determine the intraoperator, intraobserver, and interobserver repeatability in a series of conventional echocardiographic parameters and in some of the newer measurements of diastolic function, including color M-mode flow propagation velocity, isovolumic relaxation time and pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging velocities. Four healthy cats were each scanned five times over a 3-day period. The repeatability of these echocardiographic analyses was compared using Bland-Altman analysis (intraoperator repeatability). After a minimum of 5 weeks, one scan was randomly selected from each cat, and was remeasured by the original observer and the results compared using a standard paired Student's t-test (intraobserver repeatability). One scan from each cat was then randomly selected and two observers, with similar levels of experience, measured each of these scans. The repeatability of these echocardiographic analyses was compared using Bland-Altman analysis (interobserver repeatability). The conventional two-dimensional (2D), M-mode and spectral Doppler measurements were repeatable in both their acquisition and measurement by a single investigator; there was a greater degree of variation between the two observers. The predominant (S', E', and A') pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging velocities from the left apical four-chambered view, generally had a coefficient of variation of approximately 20% (range 9.62-34.08%). However, with pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging, velocities recorded during the isovolumic phases, the velocity of the tricuspid annulus, and the radial fiber velocity within the interventricular septum, frequently had coefficients of variation in excess of 20% and should therefore be interpreted with caution.     

Predicting skipjack tuna forage distributions in the equatorial Pacific using a coupled dynamical bio-geochemical model

Skipjack tuna ( Katsuwonus pelamis ) contributes ≈70% of the total tuna catch in the Pacific Ocean. This species occurs in the upper mixed-layer throughout the equatorial region, but the largest catches are taken from the warmpool in the western equatorial Pacific. Analysis of catch and effort data for US purse seine fisheries in the western Pacific has demonstrated that one of the most successful fishing grounds is located in the vicinity of a convergence zone between the warm (>28–29°C) low-salinity water of the warmpool and the cold saline water of equatorial upwelling in the central Pacific (Lehodey et al ., 1997). This zone of convergence, identified by a well-marked salinity front and approximated by the 28.5°C isotherm, oscillates zonally over several thousands of km in correlation with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. The present study focuses on the prediction of skipjack tuna forage that is expected to be a major factor in explaining the basin-scale distribution of the stock. It could also explain the close relation between displacements of skipjack tuna and the convergence zone on the eastern edge of the warmpool. A simple bio-geochemical model was coupled with a general circulation model, allowing reasonable predictions of new primary production in the equatorial Pacific from mid-1992 to mid-1995. The biological transfer of this production toward tuna forage was simply parameterized according to the food chain length and redistributed by the currents using the circulation model. Tuna forage accumulated in the convergence zone of the horizontal currents, which corresponds to the warmpool/equatorial upwelling boundary. Predicted forage maxima corresponded well with high catch rates.     

USE OF FORMERLY PLOWED LAND IN NEW ENGLAND TO MONITOR THE VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LEAD,ZINC AND COPPER IN MINERAL SOIL

In this study, we used once-plowed lands that have returned to forest for over 50 years to study the vertical distribution of meteorologically-deposited lead. These mineral soils were an essentially homogeneous 20 cm-thick layer when last plowed. As such, they were effectively a “clean slate” upon which pollutants deposited since the last plowing can be measured without the confounding aspects of well-developed natural soil horizons and the spatial heterogeneity of native forest soils. The concentration and amount of lead as well as copper and zinc, biologically active metals, were measured at five sites in New England. In the mineral soil, copper content ranged from 25 mg cm depth^-1 m^-2 at 0–2 cm depth to 37 mg cm depth^-1 m^-2 at 6–8 cm depth, but showed no consistent pattern with depth at all sites. Zinc concentrations and amounts increased with depth in the mineral soil to 14 μg g^-1 and 167 mg cm depth^-1 m^-2, respectively. In contrast, lead showed a decrease with depth from 350 mg cm depth^-1 m^-2 at 0–2 cm depth to 102–108 mg cm depth^-1 m^-2 between 10 and 20 cm depth. At all five sites, decreases in lead concentration with depth were correlated with decreases in the amount of organic mater. Amounts of total lead deposited since the abandonment from plowing have been estimated at 1.4 g m^-2 in rural sites. Thirty-five percent of this presumably anthropogenically-derived lead was in the forest floor; the remaining 65% was in the upper mineral soil.     

The suitability of plant tissue tests to indicate phosphorus deficiency in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

The phosphorus (P) status of perennial ryegrass was measured using three tissue tests. The results were compared with dry matter (DM) production from ryegrass, and levels of extractable soil P, taken from a fertilized non-calcareous gley in a field experiment. Large errors were associated with the test values but it was possible to separate P deficiency from luxury uptake with tissue tests for total P and inorganic P (Pi) in leaves. The latter test is simple and merits further investigation.     

The utilization of N fertilizer, applied to perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture growing on a humus iron podzol in N.E. Scotland

Applications of N fertilizer (0.40, 80, 120 and 240 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in dressings of 40 or 80 kg N ha⁻¹) were made to a perennial ryegrass/white clover ( Lolium perenne L. Trifolium repens L.) pasture growing on a humus iron podzol reclaimed from heather ( Calluna vulgaris L.) moor in 1982 and 1983. Where no N was applied, estimates of Ni fixation and mineralization were almost equal, being approximately 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from each source. Apparent efficiencies of fertilizer use were generally low; for each dressing they ranged between –0·7 and 25·5 kg dry matter (DM)kgN⁻¹. Also, responses to N fertilizer were affected by previous dressings. The net N recovery in harvested herbage from application of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ was 30 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹.     

Fertilizer requirements for maintenance of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture growing on a humus iron podzol in N.E. Scotland

Ryegrass/white clover pastures were reseeded on heather moor in north-cast Scotland in 1978/79. By 1981, despite moderate fertilizer applications, the pastures had deteriorated and dry matter (DM) production was low. After preliminary soil and herbage analysis an omission trial was carried out in 1982/83 at two sites (A and B) to identify the factors which limited production.
At site A depressions in growth occurred in the absence of N, P and K. Perennial ryegrass was severely N deficient with concentrations in leaves of less than 22 g N kg⁻¹ in spring and summer even after application of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ annually. Rates of nitrogen fixation were high in spring but rapidly declined in June and July as the soil moisture tension increased. Application of N fertilizer also reduced the N₂ fixation rate. Deficiencies of F and K occurred despite apparently high levels of extractable F in the soil. Uptake of these nutrients was inhibited in the dry soil during the summer. White clover was more susceptible to drought than perennial ryegrass, probably because it rooted at a shallower depth.
Growth at site B was limited by acidity and lack of N and K. The soil pH was 4 8 (s.d. = 0middot;75) at 1-5 cm depth. Application of 2 5 t lime ha⁻¹ in spring 1982 had not altered the pH by autumn 1983.
It was concluded that methods of incorporating lime into the soil, together with ways of increasing the rates of N₂ fixation by white clover and transfer to grass, should be investigated further. Regular small applications of N and K may be necessary to sustain DM production at the level required by the farming system.     

Effects of interdecadal climate variability on the oceanic ecosystems of the NE Pacific

A major reorganization of the North-east Pacific biota transpired following a climatic `regime shift' in the mid 1970s. In this paper, we characterize the effects of interdecadal climate forcing on the oceanic ecosystems of the NE Pacific Ocean. We consider the concept of scale in terms of both time and space within the North Pacific ecosystem and develop a conceptual model to illustrate how climate variability is linked to ecosystem change. Next we describe a number of recent studies relating climate to marine ecosystem dynamics in the NE Pacific Ocean. These studies have focused on most major components of marine ecosystems – primary and secondary producers, forage species, and several levels of predators. They have been undertaken at different time and space scales. However, taken together, they reveal a more coherent picture of how decadal-scale climate forcing may affect the large oceanic ecosystems of the NE Pacific. Finally, we synthesize the insight gained from interpreting these studies. Several general conclusions can be drawn.
1 There are large-scale, low-frequency, and sometimes very rapid changes in the distribution of atmospheric pressure over the North Pacific which are, in turn, reflected in ocean properties and circulation.
2 Oceanic ecosystems respond on similar time and space scales to variations in physical conditions.
3 Linkages between the atmosphere/ocean physics and biological responses are often different across time and space scales.
4 While the cases presented here demonstrate oceanic ecosystem response to climate forcing, they provide only hints of the mechanisms of interaction.
5 A model whereby ecosystem response to specified climate variation can be successfully predicted will be difficult to achieve because of scale mismatches and nonlinearities in the atmosphere–ocean–biosphere system.     

Studies on a host range variant from different isolates of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV)

Abstract. Eight isolates of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) propagated solely in RTG-2 cells (RTG-IPNV) were examined for ability to replicate in FHM cells. Seven isolates replicated in FHM cells; however, the plaque titres were 10- to greater than 100 000-fold less than titres in RTG-2 cells. The ability of IPNV to replicate in FHM cells was shown to result from the presence of a host range variant (FHM-IPNV) that produced plaques in both cell types. Variant-free preparations of two isolates differed in ability to generate FHM-IPNV during a single replication cycle in RTG-2 cells. One isolate did not generate the variant and failed to replicate in FHM cells even upon blind passage.
IPNV propagated in AS cells (AS-IPNV) was similar to RTG-IPNV, producing equal numbers of plaques in RTG-2 and AS cells but failing to form plaques in FHM cells. However, IPNV propagated in BF-2 cells (BF-IPNV) was similar to FHM-IPNV in producing equal numbers of plaques in all three cell lines.
RTG-IPNV and FHM-IPNV were identical in size, morphology and density in CsCl but differed in plaque size distribution and neutralization by specific antiserum.
Restriction of the replication of RTG-IPNV in FHM cells was partially explained by a reduction of 75% in adsorption to FHM cells. However, the synthesis of RTG-IPNV antigens was reduced 90 to >99% in FHM cells.     

Contributions of FOCI research to forecasts of year-class strength of walleye pollock in Shelikof Strait, Alaska

NOAA's Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) contributes information to help forecast year-class strength of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma ) in the Gulf of Alaska. Quantitative estimates of recruitment are obtained from models of stock assessment and stock projection employing information supplied by FOCI. To generate its information, FOCI convenes specialists in marine biology, physical and fisheries oceanography, meteorology, and statistics to assemble and analyse relevant biological and physical time series with respect to recruitment and processes hypothesized to influence fish survival. Statistical methods encompass linear and nonlinear regression, stochastic simulation modelling, transfer function time series modelling, and tree-modelling regression. The current database consists of 31 years of data, and analyses have identified factors that affect ocean stratification and circulation during spring and summer of the fish's birth year as being important to recruitment. A conceptual model of the recruitment process serves as the framework for a recruitment forecast scheme. A stochastic mathematical simulation model of the conceptual model produces similarities between simulated and observed recruitment time series. FOCI has successfully forecast recruitment observed over the past several years.