Red clover mottle virus from Ukraine is an isolate of RCMV strain S

The relationship between red clover mottle virus (RCMV) isolated in the Ukraine (designated RCMV-Uk) and well-characterised strains from Sweden has been investigated. Nucleic acid hybridisation indicate that both RNAs from RCMV-Uk are highly homologous to their counterparts from RCMV strain S, a conclusion supported by protein sequence analysis of the two viral capsid proteins. Nucleic acid sequence analysis of a portion of RCMV-Uk RNA2 confirmed the high degree of similarity between RCMV-Uk and RCMV strain S. This information suggests that RCMV-Uk should be considered an isolate of RCMV strain S.     

Affinity of detomidine, medetomidine and xylazine for alpha-2 adrenergic receptor subtypes

α₂-Adrenergic receptor agonists are widely used in veterinary medicine as sedative/hypnotic agents. Four pharmacological subtypes of the α₂-adrenergic receptor (A, B, C and D) have been identified based primarily on differences in affinity for several drugs. The purpose of this study was to examine the affinities of the sedative agents, xylazine, detomidine and medetomidine at the four α₂-adrenergic receptor subtypes. Saturation and inhibition binding curves were performed in membranes of tissues containing only one subtype of a₂-adrenergic receptor. The K_D for the α₂-adrenergic receptor radioligand, [³H]-MK-912, in HT29 cells (α_2A-), neonatal rat lung (α_2B-), OK cells (α_2C-) and PC12 cells transfected with RG20 (α_2D-) were 0.38 ± 0.08 n m , 0.70 ± 0.5 n m , 0.07 ± 0.02 n m and 0.87 ± 0.03 n m , respectively. Detomidine and medetomidine had approximately a 100 fold higher affinity for all the α₂-adrenergic receptors compared to xylazine but neither agonist displayed selectivity for the α₂-adrenergic receptor subtypes. These data suggest that available sedative/hypnotic α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists can not discriminate between the four known α₂-adrenergic receptor subtypes.     

The fungicidal activity of substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones. Part III: Amino,anilino and acylamino derivatives

A variety of 2-amino-, 2-anilino- and 2-acylamino-1, 4-naphthoquinones, with hydrogen, chlorine, alkoxy, phenoxy, methylthio or phenylthio as the 3-substituent, have been synthesised and assayed against Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium fulvum and Venturia inaequalis. With few exceptions, only the 2-acylamino compounds possessed appreciable fungicidal activity: this was of a high order in the cases of 2-prop-ionamido-, 2-N-methylacetamido-3-methylthio-, and 3-methoxy-2-N-methylacetamido-1, 4-naphthoquinones.     

Diagnosis of ovine fascioliasis by a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: a rapid microdiagnostic technique

A microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) was modified for making an immunodiagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep. Sheep were alloted as follows: group I-3 controls and 4 principals, each inoculated with 500 metacercariae; group II-3 controls and 7 principals, each inoculated with 250 metacercariae; and group III-3 controls and 7 principals, each inoculated with 500 metacercariae. Blood and fecal samples were collected from each animal every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. Presence (or absence) of flukes was confirmed by fecal examinations and examination of dissected livers at necropsy of the sheep. The dot-ELISA incubations were done at ambient room temperature. Nitrocellulose disks dotted with 1 microliter (50 ng of protein) of F hepatica excretory/secretory products were placed in 96-well tissue culture plates. After nonspecific binding sites on the disks were bound with bovine serum albumin-triethanolamine-buffered saline solution, dilutions (1:2) of positive- and negative-control serum samples or experimental serum samples were placed in appropriate wells for a 30-minute incubation. Wells were washed (3 times), and 50 microliters of horseradish peroxidase conjugated rabbit anti-sheep immunoglobulin G was added to each well for a 30-minute incubation and then aspirated. Substrate solution (4-chloro-1-naphthol, methanol, triethanolamine-buffered saline solution, and H2O2; 50 microliters) was added for a 30-minute incubation and then aspirated. Disks were air dried for visualization: solid purple dot = positive sample, or no dot = negative sample.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Potential errors in measurement of nonuniform sap flow using heat dissipation probes

The empirical calibration of Granier-type heat dissipation sap flow probes that relate temperature difference (DeltaT) to sap velocity (v) was reevaluated in stems of three tropical tree species. The original calibration was confirmed when the entire heated probe was in contact with conducting xylem, but mean v was underestimated when part of the probe was in contact with nonconducting xylem or bark. Analysis of the effects of nonuniform sap velocity profiles on heat dissipation estimates showed that errors increased as v and the proportion of the probe in nonconducting wood increased. If half of a 20-mm probe is in sapwood with a v of 0.15 mm s(-1) and the other half is in nonconducting wood, then mean v for the whole probe can be underestimated by as much as 50%. A correction was developed that can be used if the proportion of the probe in nonconducting wood is known. Even with the entire heated probe in contact with conducting xylem, v would be underestimated when radial velocity gradients are present. In this case, the error would be smaller except when velocity gradients are very steep, as can occur in species with ring-porous wood anatomy. Errors occur because the relationship between DeltaT and v is nonlinear. Mean DeltaT along the probe is therefore not a measure of mean v, and users of heat dissipation probes should not assume that v is integrated along the length of the probe. The same type of error can occur when DeltaT is averaged through time while v is changing, but the error is small unless there are sudden, step changes between zero and high sap velocity. It is recommended that relatively short probes (20 mm or less) be used and that probes longer than the depth of conducting sapwood be avoided. Multiple probes inserted to a range of depths should be used in situations where steep gradients in v are expected. If these conditions are met, heat dissipation probes remain useful and widely applicable for measuring sap flow in woody stems.     

A mathematical model for generating land-use allocation alternatives for agroforestry systems

Agroforestry has been considered a viable land-use system particularly in the tropical regions. In developing or designing agroforestry systems, various concerns have to be addressed namely: (1) economic; (2) biological and physical; and (3) silvicultural and ecological considerations. This paper addresses these concerns from an interdisciplinary perspective. A land-use allocation model which ensures the simultaneous consideration of these concerns is proposed.     

Marking and retention of harlequin bug,Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), on pheromone-baited and unbaited plants

Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica) is an important pest of cole crops in the USA. The adults and nymphs feed on aboveground plant tissues by sucking cell contents and can seriously damage the host. Current insect control measures on cole crops target mainly lepidopteran pests, and the insecticides generally used do not control harlequin bug, so alternative management practices need to be explored. Previous research has established the existence of a male-produced pheromone attractive to both sexes and nymphs of M. histrionica. In this work, two systems of marking bugs were tested to verify if the mark affected fitness traits such as survival and host location. In a second phase, marked individuals were placed on trap host plants baited with synthetic pheromone lures to test whether migration rates were related to M. histrionica density on the trap plants and the presence of the attractants. Neither marking system affected the survival or orientation of the subjects compared to unmarked individuals. The pheromone lures significantly increased the attractiveness of the trap plants, but did not increase the retention time of the plants compared to unbaited plants. Emigration from the trap plants showed a constant rate and seemed unrelated to bug density on the plants. However, a mean peak density of ca. 36 bugs/plant was calculated. Beyond this number, density tended to decrease. These successful marking methods and retention time models support development of M. histrionica management with trap crops, by providing tentative control thresholds and decision rules.