Mobility of the herbicide pyrithiobac through intact soil columns

The relative mobility of pyrithiobac [sodium 2-chloro-6-(4, 6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-ylthio)benzoate], a new herbicide used for postemergence control of broadleaf weeds in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), was evaluated and compared against that of bromide (Br(-)) tracer on four soils representative of cotton-growing regions using intact soil columns under saturated flow conditions. Pyrithiobac breakthrough curves were asymmetrical in shape with significant tailing and displaced to the left of 1 pore volume in the Houston Black clay (fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Udic Pellustert), Orelia fine sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Ochraqualfs), and Ships silty clay (very-fine, mixed, thermic Udic Chromustert) soils. Breakthrough of pyrithiobac in the Hidalgo sandy loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Calciustoll) was delayed and more symmetrical, with peak pyrithiobac concentration reached after 1.2 pore volumes. The immobile pore water (IPW) fractions estimated from the Br(-) breakthrough curves ranged from 20 to 87% of total pore water. The IPW values demonstrated that soils with the greatest amount of IPW (Ships with IPW = 87.3%) exhibited the most rapid movement of pyrithiobac (peak concentration after 0.04 pore volume). The experimentally determined pyrithiobac breakthrough curves confirmed the high mobility of this herbicide in these alkaline and predominantly smectitic soils. These results indicate that pyrithiobac mobility was influenced by soil type and preferential flow processes when leached through intact soil columns.     

棉铃虫田间分布型及在实践中的应用——2.棉铃虫田间卵量调查及序贯抽样检定防治标准的方法

在调查分析了解棉铃虫卵在田间呈核心理论分布型的基础上,研究了卵量调查方法的改进,应用序贯抽样检定防治标准,及统计资料的代换方法。根据棉铃虫卵在田间呈核心分布型,为了提高田间调查准确度,改进我国已经应用的田间取样方式,提出田间卵量调查方法是:以200株为取样量,采用平行线式,40个样点,每点单行五株。因为这样增多了样点和卵分布核心相遇的机会,经与原采用的单对角线式,双对角线式,棋盘式,分行式取样比较,平行线式取样准确度最高,降低了样本平均数代表性误差。为了节省田间卵量检查时间,可采用调查着卵株率计算百株卵量的办法,或对不同卵量密度的田块区别对待,百株卵量10粒以上检查100株,10粒以下检查200株。以田间百株卵量15粒或着卵株率11.77%为达到防治标准;卵量10粒或着卵株率8.36%为未达到防治标准,制定了序贯抽样检定防治标准的方法。检查卵量序贯抽样确定防治标准的方程:d_o=0.1127n-8.5353d_1=0.1127n 8.5353检查着卵株序贯抽样确定防治标准的方程:d_o=0.0998n-6.4228d_1=0.0998n 6.4228为了使用方便,制定了每次检查五株为单位的序贯抽样确定防治标准的田间实用检定表。实例计算表明,对棉铃虫卵和田间调查资料,进行变量分析,用对数和平方根代换均可。根据卵呈核心或嵌纹分布的特点,对数代换更为合理些。     

The chicken pituitary-specific transcription factor PIT-1 is involved in the hypothalamic regulation of pituitary hormones

Pit-1 is a pituitary-specific POU-domain DNA binding factor, which binds to and trans-activates promoters of growth hormone- (GH), prolactin- (PRL) and thyroid stimulating hormone-beta- (TSHbeta) encoding genes. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is located in the hypothalamus and stimulates TSH, GH and PRL release from the pituitary gland. In the present study, we successfully used the cell aggregate culture system for chicken pituitary cells to study the effect of TRH administration on the ggPit-l* (chicken Pit-1), GH and TSHbeta mRNA expression in vitro. In pituitary cell aggregates of 11-day-old male broiler chicks the ggPit-l * mRNA expression was significantly increased following TRH administration, indicating that the stimulatory effects of TRH on several pituitary hormones are mediated via its effect on the ggPit-l* gene expression. Therefore, a semiquantitative RT-PCR method was used to detect possible changes in GH and TSHbeta mRNA levels. TRH affected both the GH and TSHbeta mRNA levels. The results of this in vitro study reveal that ggPit-1 * has a role in mediating the stimulatory effects of TRH on pituitary hormones like GH and TSHbeta in the chicken pituitary.     

Sudden death attributable to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses: nine cases (1981-1983)

Pathologic changes are described in 11 horses that died during racing or training; 9 died of acute pulmonary hemorrhage (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage), 1 died of exsanguination, and 1 died of CNS trauma. Cardiac lesions were not found in any horse. Severe engorgement of pulmonary vessels, with hemorrhage into alveoli, airways, interstitium, and subpleural tissues, was observed in all 9 horses that died of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Infiltration of eosinophils and/or lymphocytes around vessels and airways was seen in 6 horses. Focally extensive fibrosis was observed in the pleura and interstitium of 6 horses, and collections of siderophages were seen in the fibrous tissue and in the airways. Focal occlusion of bronchioles with inspissated mucus, such as that associated with small airway disease, was found in 4 horses. Underlying respiratory tract lesions, particularly those associated with small airway disease or bronchiolitis, may have a role in fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.     

Anatrichosoma sp. in the footpads of a cat: Diagnosis and pathology of Namibian case

Anatrichosoma species are an unusual group of zoonotic trichuroid nematodes. Due to limited knowledge of their life cycle and diagnostic challenges, anatrichosomiasis has been reported only 3 times in domestic animals. A short-haired cat from central Windhoek, Namibia, presented with ulceration, swelling, and sepsis on all four paws, a severe generalized lymphadenopathy and considerable invasive eosinophilia. Histological analysis revealed epidermal hyperplasia, with severe serocellular crusting on the skin surface. One specimen revealed a series of thick-walled eggs within nematode segments with a few sections containing eggs with bioperculate appearance which is compatible with the Aphasmid group of nematodes, more specifically, the genus Anatrichosoma. Ivermectin treatment completely cleared the condition. This is the first report of Anatrichosoma sp. in the Republic of Namibia, identified from a unique location in the capital, Windhoek.     

Lateritic and redoximorphic features in a faulted landscape near Manaus, Brazil

The soils and sediments of the uplands in the Manaus region are described and analysed along a representative cross‐section. There are two broad types of features, lateritic and redoximorphic. Their formation is linked to two main processes acting under contrasted hydrological regimes. The first process, acting under well‐drained conditions, is lateritization. It has transformed strongly weathered sediment into soil and led to depletion of silica (mainly quartz) as well as to relative accumulation of both kaolinite and iron oxides (haematite and goethite). Crystallographic changes observed in the latter have resulted from alternating dissolution and crystallization cycles without significant transfer of iron and alumina. However, in the uppermost soil, dissolution of kaolinite has prevailed over crystallization, leading to depletion of clay and the formation of tiny crystals of gibbsite disseminated throughout the groundmass. The second process results from the development of reducing conditions in groundwater giving redoximorphic features in lateritic soils and sediments. In the sediments, iron has been depleted by regional aquifers to form a pallid zone. In the soil, large amounts of iron and minor amounts of alumina, mainly from aluminous goethite, have been mobilized at first in small patches, which with further mobilization and vertical transfer of these elements have increased in size and have led to the formation of bleached horizons over thin iron pans. Iron has crystallized predominantly as haematite in the iron pans and alumina as large crystals of gibbsite in soil voids. Formation of impervious iron pans holds up fluctuating perched groundwater in the overlying horizons depending on rainfall events. Neotectonic events (formation of uplifted blocks and small grabens) have markedly altered the hydrological regimes. In the uplifted blocks, the soil has been deeply truncated and iron loss has been checked in the uppermost sediment. By contrast, mobilization of iron has been initiated at various places in the soil of the small grabens. In this way tectonic events have checked mobilization of iron in sediments but activated it in soils, leaving spectacular fingerprints on the landscape.     

Proteomic analysis of intestinal mucosa responses to Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in naturally infected pig

Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium) is one of the most frequent Salmonella serotypes isolated from European pigs. Despite the advances in understanding the mechanisms involved in host–pathogen interactions and host cell responses to S. typhimurium, the global change that occurs in naturally exposed populations has been poorly characterized. Here, we present a proteomics study on intestinal mucosa of pigs naturally infected with S. typhimurium, in order to better understand the pathogenesis of salmonellosis and the pathways which might be affected after infection. Samples were analyzed by 2D-DIGE and 44 different proteins exhibited statistically significant differences. The data set was analyzed by employing the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and the physiological function most significantly perturbed were immunological and infectious disease, cellular assembly and organization and metabolism. The pathways implicated in the porcine immune response to S. typhimurium were gluconeogenesis and Rho GDI/RhoA signaling, and our results suggest that keratins and the intermediate filaments could play an important role in the damage of the mucosa and in the success of infection. The role of these findings in salmonellosis has been discussed, as well as the importance of analyzing naturally infected animals to have a complete picture of the infection. Also, we compared the results found in this work with those obtained in a similar study using experimentally infected animals.