Zinc Cu,Ni and Cd in the forest floor in the Northeastern United States

A regional study was conducted to assess current levels of trace metals in the forest floor, and to establish a baseline for future studies of metal accumulation. Quantitative forest floor samples collected from 78 sites in 9 states in the northeastern United States in 1978 and 1980 were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd. Mean amounts present in the forest floor were 9.8 ± 1.9 (standard error of the mean), 1.7 ± 0.2, 0.86 ± 0.08, and 0.13 ± 0.01 kg ha^?1, for Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd, respectively. Mean concentrations were 133 ± 25, 19.5 ± 1.6, 11 ± 0.8, and 1.7 ± 0.1 mg kg^?1, respectively. Differences in metal and organic matter concentrations and amounts among forest types were attributed to geographic location of specific forest types rather than to direct biotic influence. No element was strongly correlated with elevation for the entire sample area. Regional patterns of elemental amounts showed that trace metal levels are slightly higher in the southern part than in the northern part of the study region. Regional variation of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd in the forest floor was not indicative of atmospheric deposition except near point sources of pollution.     

Microparticle dispensers for the controlled release of insect pheromones

The potential utility of micrometer-sized particles as controlled-release devices for the volatilization of insect pheromones for mating disruption applications is evaluated in this study for two pheromone/model compound systems (codlemone/1-dodecanol and disparlure/1,2-epoxyoctadecane). To expedite the measurement of release rates from these particle devices, two techniques based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been exploited: isothermal TGA (I-TGA) at elevated temperatures (40-80 degrees C) with N(2) convection and volatilization temperature (VT) by dynamic TGA. A correlation between these two methods has been established. Samples that exhibit a higher VT provide a lower release rate from a particle substrate. Using these techniques, it has been demonstrated that chemical interactions between adsorbed liquids and particle surfaces may play a small role in defining release characteristics under conditions of low surface area, whereas parameters associated with total surface area and micropore structure appear to be much more significant in retarding evaporation for uncoated particles containing an adsorbed liquid. Additional regulation of release rates was achieved by coating the particle systems with water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers. By careful selection of particle porosity and coating composition, it is envisioned that the evaporation rate of pheromones can be tailored to specific insect control applications.     

Decadal trends in abundance,size and condition of Antarctic toothfish in McMurdo Sound,Antarctica, 1972–2011

We report the analyses of a dataset spanning 39 years of near‐annual fishing for Dissostichus mawsoni in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972–2011. Data on total length, condition and catch per unit effort (CPUE) were derived from the > 5500 fish caught, the large majority of which were measured, tagged and released. Contrary to expectation, the length frequency of the McMurdo Sound catch was dominated by fish in the upper two‐thirds of the overall distribution exhibited in the industrial catch for the Ross Sea shelf. Fish length and condition increased from the early 1970s to the early 1990s and then decreased. Fish length positively correlated with Ross Sea ice extent in early spring, a relationship possibly caused by more ice encouraging larger fish to move farther south over the shelf and into the study area. Fish condition positively correlated with the amount of open water in the Ross Sea during the previous summer (Feb), perhaps reflecting greater availability of prey with the higher productivity that more open water brings. Decreasing fish size corresponds to the onset of the fishery, which targets the large individuals. CPUE was constant through 2001 and then decreased dramatically. We hypothesize that this decrease is related to the industrial fishery, which began in the 1996–97 austral summer, and concentrates effort over the ice‐free Ross Sea continental slope. As a result of limited prey choices and close coupling among mesopredators of the region, Antarctic toothfish included, the fishery appears to be dramatically altering the trophic structure of the Ross Sea.     

Otoacoustic emission in a dog

A 7-month-old female Poodle was evaluated for a sound continuously emanating from its left ear. The frequency and intensity of the tone was matched by use of a multifrequency audiometer. The frequency and intensity of the sound were 9,594 Hz and 45.5 decibels sound pressure level, respectively. On the bases of normal brain stem auditory-evoked responses and behavioral response to sound, the dog was believed to have normal hearing in both ears. Emission of sound from an ear, referred to as an otoacoustic emission, is a condition that has been reported in human beings and small animals. Successful treatment in human patients with drugs and masking sounds is difficult, and treatment has not been reported in animals. This condition in dogs is not considered life-threatening.     

The effects of selenium, housing and management on the incidence of pneumonia in housed calves

The occurrence and incidence of pneumonia in housed calves were not related to the selenium status of the herd as measured by blood glutathione peroxidase activity nor were they affected by selenium treatment of calves during the neonatal period. Pneumonia was related more closely to herd size and building design.     

Maedi-visna virus infection in commercial flocks of indigenous sheep in Britain

The recent identification of maedi-visna virus infection in three commercial flocks of indigenous sheep in Britain is described. In one flock the evidence suggested that overt clinical disease was present. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

Thyroid hormone concentrations in selenium deficient and selenium sufficient cattle

Selenium deficient calves when compared to selenium supplemented calves had increased plasma thyroxine concentrations and decreased plasma tri-iodothyronine concentrations. These changes in the selenium deficient calves were accompanied by significant increases in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations and decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. The demonstration that low selenium status can cause imbalances in thyroid hormone metabolism may provide an explanation for some of the effects of the deficiency.     

Development of a physiologic-based pharmacokinetic model for estimating sulfamethazine concentrations in swine and application to prediction of violative residues in edible tissues

OBJECTIVE: To develop a flow-limited, physiologic-based pharmacokinetic model for use in estimating concentrations of sulfamethazine after IV administration to swine. SAMPLE POPULATION: 4 published studies provided physiologic values for organ weights, blood flows, clearance, and tissue-to-blood partition coefficients, and 3 published studies provided data on plasma and other tissue compartments for model validation. PROCEDURE: For the parent compound, the model included compartments for blood, adipose, muscle, liver, and kidney tissue with an extra compartment representing the remaining carcass. Compartments for the N-acetyl metabolite included the liver and the remaining body. The model was created and optimized by use of computer software. Sensitivity analysis was completed to evaluate the importance of each constant on the whole model. The model was validated and used to estimate a withhold interval after an IV injection at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The withhold interval was compared to the interval estimated by the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD). RESULTS: Specific tissue correlations for plasma, adipose, muscle, kidney, and liver tissue compartments were 0.93, 0.86, 0.99, 0.94, and 0.98, respectively. The model typically overpredicted concentrations at early time points but had excellent accuracy at later time points. The withhold interval estimated by use of the model was 120 hours, compared with 100 hours estimated by FARAD. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of this model enabled accurate prediction of sulfamethazine pharmacokinetics in swine and has applications for food safety and prediction of drug residues in edible tissues.