Book reviews

Birds Their Structure and Function, By A. S. King and J. McLelland, 1984. 2nd ed. 334 pp. illustrated. London, Baillière Tindall. £9.50. ISBN 0 7020 0872 9.

Proceedings of the 2nd European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, 1985. 360 pp. illustrated. German Branch of the World's Poultry Science Association, Celle, Institut für Kleintierzucht.     

Optical experiments and weak interactions

Recent optical experiments have demonstrated cases in which mirror symmetry in stable atoms is broken during absorption of light. These results, which are in contradiction with quantum electrodynamics, support the theory of unification of the electromagnetic and weak forces. The interpretation of these experimental results is based on exchanges of weak neutral Z(0) bosons between the electrons and the nucleus of the atom. The information obtained from low-energy experiments is different from, but complementary to, the results of high-energy experiments. Sensitive measurements in a simple, reliably computable atom are in quantitative agreement with the standard electroweak theory and put stringent constraints on alternative models. Attaining sufficient accuracy in the experiments and the computations for the electroweak radiative corrections to manifest themselves is now the challenge for experimenters and theorists.     

Changing climate: geothermal evidence from permafrost in the alaskan arctic

Temperature profiles measured in permafrost in northernmost Alaska usually have anomalous curvature in the upper 100 meters or so. When analyzed by heat-conduction theory, the profiles indicate a variable but widespread secular warming of the permafrost surface, generally in the range of 2 to 4 Celsius degrees during the last few decades to a century. Although details of the climatic change cannot be resolved with existing data, there is little doubt of its general magnitude and timing; alternative explanations are limited by the fact that heat transfer in cold permafrost is exclusively by conduction. Since models of greenhouse warming predict climatic change will be greatest in the Arctic and might already be in progress, it is prudent to attempt to understand the rapidly changing thermal regime in this region.     

Porcine rabies in a closed feeder barn

Rabies was diagnosed in a 40 kg pig from a closed feeder barn in which recently unexplained deaths of eight to ten pigs had occurred. A stray cat, probably crawling through a ventilation duct into the barn, was the suspected vector. Over a four and one-quarter year period a disproportionate 53 cases of animal rabies had been diagnosed within a 5 km radius of the farm (13% of the cases in the county in 3% of the county area). Histological lesions, mostly lymphocytic cuffing of blood vessels in the brain with lymphocytic meningitis, patchy to focal gliosis and satellitosis with neuronal necrosis were nonspecific and Negri bodies were rare. Fluorescent antibody technique examination of the brain for rabies virus antigen was positive.     

Lung sounds in cattle, horses, sheep and goats

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of pulmonary auscultation for the clinician. It suggests a clarification and simplification of the terminology to be used which would be helpful to veterinary students and allow better communications between veterinarians. The interpretation of these sounds and the relationships to conditions and diseases of the lungs in cattle, horses, sheep and goats are discussed.