Suppression of volcanism during rapid extension in the basin and range province, united states

Continental extension and volcanism are generally thought to be complementary. Stratigraphic and structural data from some highly extended parts of the Basin and Range province reveal instead that rapid extension appears to have suppressed volcanism. This relation may reflect enhanced crystallization of midcrustal magmas during extension resulting from exsolution of magmatic volatiles, increased interaction of magmas with meteoric water, and dispersal of magma into smaller bodies. Some rift environments may thus be characterized by voluminous synextensional plutonism with little or no concomitant volcanism.     

Elephant herpes virus--a problem for breeding and housing of elephants]

Herpesvirus infections which take a fatal turn on African elephants as well as on Asian elephants seem to occur increasingly not only in the USA but also in European stocks. The endotheliotropic herpesvirus causes a rapidly progressing and severe disease which makes any therapeutical effort unsuccessful and finally results in death of the animal, especially in young Asian elephants. As all attempts to culture the virus failed up to now, molecular biological procedures have to be used more often for diagnostical purpose together with the common methods of pathology, virology, and electronmicroscopical evaluation. This is a report on the case of 'KIBA', an eleven year old male elephant at the Zoological Garden Berlin, infected with the endotheliotropic elephants herpesvirus. 'KIBA' was born at the Zoo in Houston, Texas, and raised within his herd. Upon arriving in Berlin in November 1997 he adapted to the new premises and climate and new social circumstances without any problems. In June 1998 he already serviced three females of his new herd several times. In August 1998 he died after passing a peracute progression of the disease after residenting in Berlin for only 9 months. The dissection of the animal revealed some evidence on an agent damaging the endothelium. Major signs indicating this agent were bleedings in several serous membranes, mucosa and on the the right atrium, as well as other parts of the myocardium. Furthermore there have been ulcerations at various localisations of the whole digestive tract. Slightly basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies have been found histologically in endothelial cells of different organ samples. An examination of altered organ-material by electronmicroscopy made some herpesvirus-like particles visible. A virological investigation first revealed evidence of giant cell formations with solitary basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in different cell cultures, however, without any distinct cytopathogenic effect. Supported by molecular biological procedures the infection of 'KIBA' could be verified as the elephants herpesvirus. By means of PCR and subsequent sequence analysis a DNA-sequence typical for the elephants herpesvirus could be obtained which showed an identity of 97% with the terminase sequence of the elephant herpesvirus described by American authors. The deduced amino acid-sequences were 100% identical. To the terminase of the human cytomegalovirus, the elephant sequence had an identity of 53% (similarity: 74%). Based on the cooperation of ILAT, Institute of Veterinary-Pathology/Free University Berlin, Robert-Koch-Institut Berlin, and Zoological Garden Berlin, the cause of 'KIBA's' death could be discovered immediately. Possible implications of this case especially on breeding and keeping elephants are discussed briefly.     

周小舟教授治疗肝癌经验

周小舟教授认为肝癌的病因是内因正气亏虚和外因外染疫毒相互作用所致,其主要病机是气虚血瘀,针对主要病机设立芪术抗癌方辨证加减治疗,临床疗效显著;周教授通过实验及临床研究亦初步阐明了芪术抗癌方的作用机制,值得临床借鉴。     

Hygroscopic salts support the stomatal penetration of glyphosate and influence its biological efficacy

The objective of this study was to better understand the role of chaotropic and kosmotropic salts in stomatal uptake, a process that occurs in parallel with cuticular penetration and affects the bioefficacy of glyphosate. In Trial 1, salt solutions of kosmotropic (NH₄)₂SO₄ and chaotropic NaClO₃, with or without the organosilicone surfactant, Break‐Thru® S233 (BT), and with or without glyphosate, were prepared. In Trial 2, sodium salts with a kosmotropic‐to‐chaotropic nature (Na₂SO₄, NaCl, NaNO₃ or NaClO₃) and BT were prepared with or without glyphosate. At very high concentrations, the salts of a kosmotropic nature induced a slight decrease in the surface tension, whereas those of a chaotropic nature triggered a significant decrease in the surface tension. Solution droplets were deposited onto the leaves of Viola arvensis and Chenopodium album. The dried deposits were analyzed with an environmental scanning electron microscope. The salts formed structures linking the exterior to the interior of the stomata in the crystalline ([NH₄]₂SO₄) or amorphous (NaClO₃) form. However, the low surface tension alone did not appear to be the unique driving force for stomatal uptake. With glyphosate, amorphous globular structures of glyphosate salt were formed in the Na₂SO₄ (kosmotropic) solution. Differently, the salts of a rather chaotropic nature (NaNO₃ or NaClO₃) formed a colloidal matrix. In general, salt residues were observed over the periclinal cell walls and inside the stomatal chamber. Neither (NH₄)₂SO₄ nor Na₂SO₄ had a significant impact on glyphosate bioefficacy. However, the chaotropic salt, NaNO₃, enhanced the bioefficacy of glyphosate the most, with a performance that was comparable to that of the solution glyphosate + organosilicone surfactant.     

热处理对水牛乳稳定特性的影响

为比较不同热处理条件对水牛乳稳定性的影响,实验采用不同条件热处理后的pH缓冲容量、总溶解固体（total dissolved solids,TDS）、蛋白沉淀量及表观黏度等指标研究杂交高代水牛乳样品。结果表明：与未经处理的水牛乳样品相比,水牛乳经不同条件热处理后,其pH缓冲容量、TDS、蛋白沉淀量及表观黏度皆发生显著变化。其中水牛乳分别在经121℃/15 min和95℃/5 min处理后,其pH缓冲容量、TDS、蛋白沉淀量及表观黏度分别达到最大值和最小值。因此,认为在本实验研究范围内,水牛乳经121℃/15 min及95℃/5 min处理后,对其稳定性影响最大。     

Monocytic leukemia in a horse

On clinical examination, a six-year-old Hassian gray gelding with a history of impaired performance, slight cough, colic, and edema of the ventral abdomen, prepuce and the legs had reduced skin turgor, pale mucous membranes, forced costoabdominal breathing, reduced venous return, enlarged lymph nodes, and splenomegaly. Hematologic findings revealed anemia, leukocytosis and a high percentage of monocytoid leukemic cells. Generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, ascites, hydrothorax, and a diffusely thickened gut wall were found at necropsy. Massive infiltration with monocytoid leukemic cells was detected in lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, liver, gut wall, kidneys, and choroid plexus. Incubation of living cells obtained from a leukocyte concentrate with latex particles revealed phagocytosis in the leukemic cells on light and electron microscopy. The leukemic cells also had a marked alpha-naphthyl-acetate and naphthol-AS-acetate esterase activity, but were only weakly positive to naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase. A very weak alkaline phosphatase activity only was demonstrated in a few leukemic cells. On scanning electron microscopy, the leukemic cells had prominent ruffles and ridge-like profiles. These features of the leukemic cells excluded lymphocytic and granulocytic leukemia, and monocytic leukemia was diagnosed.     

Gongylonema pulchrum infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a vari (Lemur macaco variegata; Kehr 1792).

This report describes the morphologic and histologic features of a case of esophageal Gongylonema pulchrum infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a 17-yr-old, female vari (Lemur macaco variegates). The lemur had lived in a German zoo and had a clinical history of dyspnea, vomiting, and anorexia. At necropsy, a whitish, soft, nodular, centrally necrotic mass was found in the caudal third of the esophagus. In addition, numerous intraepithelial nematodes (G. pulchrum) were observed in the entire esophagus. Results suggest a relation between infection with G. pulchrum and development of an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.