Survival and growth responses of Populus nigra, Salix elaeagnos and Alnus incana cuttings to varying levels of hydric stress

The Salicaceae and Betulaceae are important plant families within riparian ecosystems throughout the Northern hemisphere, and cuttings of species within these families are often used in riparian restoration projects due to their capacity for vegetative (asexual) propagation and rapid growth. Riparian zones can experience a wide range of hydrological conditions and establishing cuttings may be subjected to substantially varying levels of hydric stress from inundation and drought. Tolerance to such stress can vary notably between species, and the absence of knowledge of species-specific responses to inundation and drought has resulted in high mortality in many riparian restoration projects. In this paper, the survival and growth responses of Salix elaeagnos (Salicaceae), Populus nigra (Salicaceae) and Alnus incana (Betulaceae) cuttings in relation to varying rates of water table decline and periods of inundation were investigated using rhizopods during a 69-day greenhouse experiment, in substrates of contrasting sediments (sand versus gravel).

Each species responded differently to the experimental treatments. S. elaeagnos demonstrated an ability to establish in stable, declining and inundated conditions by the production of relatively substantial root and shoot biomass in all treatments, along with elongated roots when experiencing water table decline. P. nigra showed high mortality and poor root and shoot production in inundation treatments, suggesting that this species is intolerant to reduced oxygen conditions. A. incana displayed complete mortality in all gravel-based treatments and high mortality or poor growth in the sand-based inundation treatments. All species showed preferences for stable conditions without inundation, along with slow water table decline for S. elaeagnos. Fast rates of water table decline were detrimental to all species. Overall, sand was a much more effective substrate than gravel for supporting cutting establishment. These results suggest that riparian restoration schemes utilizing S. elaeagnos cuttings may experience greater success than those using the other species investigated. P. nigra cuttings may establish more easily if situated where inundation does not occur often or for prolonged periods, and A. incana cuttings should be planted only where very stable conditions dominate. The study highlights the inter-species variability in the survival and growth response of riparian trees to differing hydrological conditions.     

Ultrasound-assisted collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbosacral space in equids

OBJECTIVE: To describe ultrasonographic landmarks for use in collection of CSF from the lumbosacral region in equids. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 37 equids (27 with neurologic disease and 10 with nonneurologic disease). PROCEDURES: Standing equids (n = 17) were sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (0.006 to 0.01 mg/kg [0.003 to 0.005 mg/lb], IV) followed by butorphanol tartrate (0.01 mg/kg, IV) and restrained with a nose twitch for collection of CSF. The CSF was collected from 20 laterally recumbent equids (10 sedated and 10 immediately after euthanasia). Anatomic landmarks were identified ultrasonographically. Height at the dorsal point of the shoulders, body weight, depth of the spinal needle, number of attempts to collect CSF, and cytologic evaluation of CSF were recorded. RESULTS: Lumbosacral puncture cranial to the cranial border of the most superficial location of both tuber sacrale along the midline was consistently successful for CSF collection (35/37 equids). Two horses had anatomic abnormalities that precluded CSF collection. Mean number of attempts to collect CSF per animal was 1.1. Height and body weight were strongly correlated with needle depth for CSF collection. Pelvic and sacral displacement was observed in several laterally recumbent animals, which resulted in discrepancies of the midline between the cranial and caudal aspects of the vertebral column. In most equids, the spinal needle was aligned on the midline of the caudal aspect of the vertebral column. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ultrasonography was a useful aid for collection of CSF from the lumbosacral space and decreased the risk of repeated trauma and contamination in equids.     

Penetrating sclerokeratoplasty and autologous pinnal cartilage and conjunctival grafting to treat a large limbal melanoma in a dog

A four‐year‐old neutered male Labrador retriever presented to Portland Veterinary Specialists Ophthalmology Service for evaluation of a pigmented mass oculus sinister (OS) of approximately 4‐month duration. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed a large, pigmented, raised, well‐demarcated, epibulbar mass appearing to originate from the nasodorsal limbal region. The mass was smooth and roughly circular, extending approximately 4 mm into the sclera and 14 mm into the nasodorsal cornea. Gonioscopy directly under the mass was not possible due to mass size. The visible iridocorneal angle was normal. High‐resolution B‐scan ultrasound showed mass extension to Descemet's membrane and deep sclera, but no intraocular invasion. Penetrating sclerokeratoplasty was performed followed by autologous pinnal cartilage and conjunctival grafting to repair the corneoscleral defect (20 mm x 19 mm) and to restore globe integrity and function. Histopathology confirmed the mass to be a benign limbal melanoma with complete excision. The surgery site healed without complication, and the pinnal cartilage became fully incorporated into the globe. Twelve months postoperatively, the patient remains visual with a normal intraocular and fundic examination. The pinnal harvest site on the right ear healed without complication. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of corneoscleral grafting using autologous pinnal cartilage. This may represent a viable alternative to other corneoscleral grafting procedures for large defects and is an attractive treatment option due to lack of host rejection, readily available source of donor cartilage, and provision of tectonic support to the globe.     

Using Rheological Phenotype Phases to Predict Rheological Features of Wheat Hardness and Milling Potential of Durum Wheat

Predictions about milling, dough making, and baking properties can be made by measuring properties of the wheat grain with different small‐ and medium‐scale equipment. In this study, rheological hardness index (RHI) was shown to separate hexaploid wheats and durums into clearly distinct hardness classes. Earlier work demonstrated the utility of RHI to give new insight about the classification of wheat types, and in this study further use of the rheological phenotype phases (RPPs) to construct combinations of RPPs (cRPPs) is explored. In particular, it is shown how different cRPPs can be used to compare, for various wheat varieties, the elastic, fragmentation, equilibrium, and viscoelastic phases of an average crush response profile. In addition, relationships were obtained, based on selected RPPs from the single‐kernel characterization system, that gave good predictions of the laboratory milling potential of durum wheats. This information could be used as an early generation test to predict milling yield in breeding programs without having to mill the sample. Further validation of these relationships is required by evaluating the prediction across multiple environments.     

Rapid Mercury Analysis for the Field: Method Development and Application to Natural Gas Utility Sites

A new technique based on traditional concepts has beendeveloped for rapid, on-site analysis of mercury inenvironmental media. In this method, mercury isanalyzed by integration of thermal decomposition,amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrometry(TDA-AAS). Sample preparation and analysis areessentially integrated into a single instrumentalsystem; solid samples can be analyzed directly,without chemical pre-treatment, in an analysis time ofapproximately 5 minutes per sample. A wide range ofstandard reference material has been analyzed byTDA-AAS. Agreement with the certified values at the95% confidence interval for all matrices testedvalidates this technique. Subsequent to validation,TDA-AAS has been used in a series of field studies inconjunction with remediation of mercury-contaminatedsoil at natural gas utility sites. Reasonableagreement has been demonstrated between TDA-AASon-site results and laboratory results usingconventional mercury analysis techniques. Independentlaboratory confirmation of the field data is notrequired as TDA-AAS demonstrates lab-quality resultson-site. This field technique has been shown tosurpass traditional laboratory methods in terms ofboth precision and detection limits. A method for theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Method 7473, has been developed and validatedbased on TDA-AAS methodology (US EPA, 1998).     

Relationships of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., V. vexillata (L.) A. Rich. and species of section Vigna based on isozyme variation

Summary Isozyme variation in 25 accessions of wild and cultivated Vigna unguiculata, 49 accessions of seven wild species belonging to section Vigna, and 11 accessions of V. vexillata (subgenus Plectrotropis) was scored at 17 putative loci to assess genetic relationships within and among species. The wild species selected for this study are among those which carry important agronomical traits useful in cowpea (V. unguiculata) breeding programs. Allelic frequencies were calculated and Nei's genetic distances were obtained. Low levels of intraspecific variation were observed for V. heterophylla, V. luteola and V. racemosa, whereas the other species showed a higher polymorphism. Vigna unguiculata possessed intraspecific genetic distances comparable to those previously found by other authors. Most of the isozyme variation was apportioned among species. Although V. luteola and V. marina had an interspecific genetic distance resembling the range observed at intraspecific level, all the other species showed very high interspecific distances. Vigna unguiculata was relatively closer genetically to V. vexillata than to the species belonging to section Vigna.Abbreviations AUS Australia - BDI Burundi - BRA Brazil - BWA Botswana - CAF Central African Republic - GHA Ghana - CMR Cameroon - COG Congo - RI Costa Rica - EGY Egypt - ETE Ethiopia - GAB Gabon - GRC Greece - ITA Italy - KEN Kenya - MOZ Mozambique - NER Niger - NGA Nigeria - PAN Panama - RWA Rwanda - TCD Chad - TZA Tanzania - ZAF South Africa - ZAR Zaire - ZMB Zambia     

Extraction of nitrogen from soils

Summary A roller bed and rotary end-over-end shaker were compared for the extraction of mineral N from a variety of soil types; both were equally efficient with an optimum extraction time of 30 min. However, the roller bed permitted a greater operational capacity, a faster throughput of samples, and easier identification of sample bottles compared with the end-over-end shaker. More NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N (P<0.001) was recovered from soil by 2 M KCl than by any other extractant, in a soil: extractant ratio of 1 to 5 (w:v), except water, which was equally efficient at removing NO₃ ^–-N from soils.     

Assessment of pain associated with bovine respiratory disease and its mitigation with flunixin meglumine in cattle with induced bacterial pneumonia

Pleuritic chest pain from bacterial pneumonia is often reported in human medicine. However, studies investigating pain associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) are lacking. The objectives of this study were to assess if bacterial pneumonia elicits a pain response in calves with experimentally induced BRD and to determine the analgesic effects of transdermally administered flunixin. A total of 26 calves, 6–7 mo of age, with no history of BRD were enrolled into one of three treatment groups: 1) experimentally induced BRD + transdermal flunixin at 3.3 mg/kg twice, 24 h apart (BRD + FTD); 2) experimentally induced BRD + placebo (BRD + PLBO); and 3) sham induction + placebo (CNTL + PLBO). Calves induced with BRD were inoculated with Mannheimia haemolytica via bronchoalveolar lavage. Outcomes were collected from −48 to 192 h post-treatment and included serum cortisol, infrared thermography, mechanical nociceptive threshold, substance P, kinematic gait analysis, visual analog scale (VAS), clinical illness score, computerized lung score, average activity and rumination level, prostaglandin E₂ metabolite, plasma serum amyloid A, and rectal temperature. Outcomes were evaluated using either a generalized logistic mixed model for categorical variables or a generalized linear mixed model for continuous variables. Right front force differed by treatment (P = 0.01). The BRD + PLBO had lower mean force applied to the right front limb (85.5 kg) compared with BRD + FTD (96.5 kg; P < 0.01). Average VAS differed by a treatment by time interaction (P = 0.01). The VAS scores differed for BRD + PLBO at −48 (3.49 mm) compared with 168 and 192 h (13.49 and 13.64 mm, respectively) (P < 0.01). Activity for BRD + PLBO was higher at −48 h (27 min/h) compared with 48, 72, 120, and 168 h (≤ 22.24 min/h; P < 0.01). Activity differed by a treatment by time interaction (P = 0.01). Activity for BRD + FTD was higher at −48 and 0 h (28.2 and 28.2 min/h, respectively) compared to 48, 72, 96, and 168 h (≤23.7 min/h; P < 0.01). Results show a combination of reduced activity levels, decreased force on the right front limb, and increased VAS pain scores all support that bacterial pneumonia in cattle is painful. Differences in right front force indicate that flunixin transdermal may attenuate certain pain biomarkers in cattle with BRD. These findings suggest that BRD is painful and analgesic drugs may improve the humane aspects of care for cattle with BRD.