Potato notes

American Journal of Potato Research -     

Ultrasonographic visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature as an indicator of large colon right dorsal displacement or 180�� volvulus (or both) in horses

Visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature during transabdominal ultrasonographic examination of horses with colic can be a predictor of right dorsal displacement of the large colon or 180° large colon volvulus, or both. Medical records of 82 horses having had surgical treatment of colic and having received a transabdominal ultrasonographic examination on admission were reviewed. Colonic mesenteric vessels were sonographically identified coursing laterally on the right side of the abdomen in 24 of the 82 cases. Horses with colonic vessels identified on ultrasound were 32.5 times more likely to be diagnosed at surgery with either large colon right dorsal displacement or 180° large colon volvulus than those in which vessels were not seen (P < 0.001). Visualization of colonic mesenteric vessels on ultrasound provided a sensitivity of 67.7%, specificity of 97.9%, positive predictive value of 95.8%, and negative predictive value of 81% for large colon right dorsal displacement or 180° large colon volvulus, or both.     

Development of the components of a cytoplasmic male sterility hybrid system in rye through anther culture

Anther culture was applied as a method to develop the essential components of a cytoplasmic male sterility hybrid system in rye (Secale cereale L.). These components are the male sterile seed parent (A line), its isogenic maintainer counterpart (B line) and the restorer pollen parent (R line). Australian rye cultivars were crossed reciprocally to the cultivar ‘Luchs’ which carries the Pampa male sterile cytoplasm (cms-P). Anthers of the F1s in the cms-P cytoplasm (primary cross) and their reciprocals in the normal cytoplasm (reciprocal cross) were cultured in a modified C17 medium. Male sterile and male fertile doubled haploids were obtained from the anther culture of the F1s in the cms-P cytoplasm. Testcrosses indicated that the male sterile doubled haploids were A lines and the male fertile doubled haploids were R lines (restorers). The anther culture of genotypes in the normal cytoplasm (reciprocal cross) gave all male fertile doubled haploids. Testcrosses indicated that the male fertile doubled haploids were R lines (restorers) in the normal cytoplasm. The expected maintainer B lines were not identified because of the limited number of doubled haploids obtained from the anther culture of reciprocal crosses. Experimental single cross hybrids between male sterile and restorer male fertile doubled haploids showed high levels of heterosis. The results of this study have significant economic implications especially in the production of hybrids in several species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Enhancing the effectiveness of biological control programs of invasive species through a more comprehensive pest management approach

Invasive species are one of the greatest economic and ecological threats to agriculture and natural areas in the US and the world. Among the available management tools, biological control provides one of the most economical and long‐term effective strategies for managing widespread and damaging invasive species populations of nearly all taxa. However, integrating biological control programs in a more complete integrated pest management approach that utilizes increased information and communication, post‐release monitoring, adaptive management practices, long‐term stewardship strategies, and new and innovative ecological and genetic technologies can greatly improve the effectiveness of biological control. In addition, expanding partnerships among relevant national, regional, and local agencies, as well as academic scientists and land managers, offers far greater opportunities for long‐term success in the suppression of established invasive species. In this paper we direct our recommendations to federal agencies that oversee, fund, conduct research, and develop classical biological control programs for invasive species. By incorporating these recommendations into adaptive management strategies, private and public land managers will have far greater opportunities for long‐term success in suppression of established invasive species. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bone development in black ducks as affected by dietary toxaphene

Black ducks, Anas rubripes, were exposed to dietary toxaphene concentrations of 0, 10, or 50 μg/g of food for 90 days prior to laying and through the reproductive season. Toxaphene did not affect reproduction or survival, but reduced growth and impaired backbone development in ducklings. Collagen, the organic matrix of bone, was decreased significantly in cervical vertebrae of ducklings fed 50 μg/g, and calcium conentrations increased in vertebrae of ducklings fed 10 or 50 μg/g. The effects of toxaphene were observed only in female ducklings. In contrast to effects on vertebrae, toxaphene exposure did not alter tibia development. Toxaphene residues in carcasses of these ducklings averaged slightly less than the dietary levels.     

Representation of the quantity of visual items in the primate prefrontal cortex

Deriving the quantity of items is an abstract form of categorization. To explore it, monkeys were trained to judge whether successive visual displays contained the same quantity of items. Many neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex were tuned for quantity irrespective of the exact physical appearance of the displays. Their tuning curves formed overlapping filters, which may explain why behavioral discrimination improves with increasing numerical distance and why discrimination of two quantities with equal numerical distance worsens as their numerical size increases. A mechanism that extracts the quantity of visual field items could contribute to general numerical ability.     

Influence of exercise on thermographically determined surface temperatures of thoracic and pelvic limbs in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine the amount of time required for surface temperatures of thoracic and pelvic limbs in horses to return to pre-exercise temperatures after high-speed treadmill exercise, as detected via infrared thermographic imaging. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 6 Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURES: All horses had been trained on and conditioned to use of a high-speed treadmill. Baseline thermographic images were obtained 3 days prior to exercise (baseline). Horses were exercised on a treadmill at a walk for 5 minutes, a slow trot (3 m/s) for 5 minutes, a trot (5 to 6 m/s) for 5 minutes, and a slow gallop (6 to 8 m/s) for 5 minutes, then back to a trot for 3 minutes, a slow trot for 3 minutes, and a walk for 3 minutes prior to stopping. Thermal images were obtained immediately after stopping exercise (0 minutes) and 5, 15, 45, and 60 minutes and 6 hours after stopping exercise. Ambient temperature surrounding each horse was recorded. RESULTS: In all regions, significant differences in surface temperatures were detected between thermograms obtained before exercise and those obtained immediately after, 5 minutes after, and 15 minutes after exercise was stopped. There were no significant differences in surface temperatures between thermograms obtained before exercise and those obtained > or = 45 minutes after exercise was stopped. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In horses, images generated via infrared thermography are not influenced by exercise-generated heat > or = 45 minutes after exercise is stopped.     

关于北美阔叶材行业优先研究项目的调查研究

美国林产品杂志58卷37期发表了David Brinberg等人的论文,报道了一项关于如何确定北美阔叶材行业优先研究项目的调查研究,论文指出了过去所用方法的缺点,报道了一种谋求改进的新方法。