GONG Observations of Solar Surface Flows

Doppler velocity observations obtained by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) instruments directly measure the nearly steady flows in the solar photosphere. The sun's differential rotation is accurately determined from single observations. The rotation profile with respect to latitude agrees well with previous measures, but it also shows a slight north-south asymmetry. Rotation profiles averaged over 27-day rotations of the sun reveal the torsional oscillation signal-weak, jetlike features, with amplitudes of 5 meters per second, that are associated with the sunspot latitude activity belts. A meridional circulation with a poleward flow of about 20 meters per second is also evident. Several characteristics of the surface flows suggest the presence of large convection cells.     

An economic assessment of porcine parvovirus vaccination

SUMMARY A decision analysis model was designed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of a vaccination program for preventing endemic or epidemic porcine parvovirus (PPV) Induced reproductive failure in a 100-sow pig herd. The results showed that the cost of vaccination was less than the cost incurred by continuing endemic PPV infection, or the cost of a severe epidemic. A long term vaccination program is a cost effective method for controlling PPV-induced reproductive failure in pig herds suffering endemic and epidemic PPV infection.     

OPTIMAL INTERPOLATION AND ISARITHMIC MAPPING OF SOIL PROPERTIES

Soil properties mapped in two intensive surveys had large nugget variances, leading to large estimation variances and erratic isarithms when mapped by punctual kriging. It is likely that both surveyors and survey clients are interested in average values of soil properties over areas rather than point values, and such values can be obtained by block kriging. Estimation variances are very much smaller, and maps of sodium and stone content at Plas Gogerddan, Central Wales, kriged over blocks 920m², and thickness of cover loam at Hole Farm, Norfolk, kriged over blocks of 400m², are much smoother than the punctually kriged maps. The map of Hole Farm has a distinct and meaningful regional pattern.     

Contamination and subsequent multiplication of soft rot erwinias on healthy potato leaves and debris after haulm destruction

Small plots of potatoes were inoculated with a mixture of Erwinia carotovora (E. c.) subsp. carotovora and E. carotovora subsp, atroseptica strains resistant to rifampicin. Subsequently the population off, c. subsp, carotovora and E. c. subsp, atroseptica (rifampicin-resistant and wild types) present as epiphytes on the surface of potato leaves was assessed using three methods, qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative, during 1986 and 1987. The population was generally low (< 10² colony forming units (> 10⁴cfu/g leaves) but reached higher levels (> 10⁴ cfu/g) on occasions later in the growing season, Rifampicin-resistant erwinias were reisolated only infrequently throughout this study. Different methods of haulm destruction (herbicide, pulverization, sulphuric acid treatment and natural senescence) greatly influenced the number of erwinias present in the resulting plant debris. Pulverization resulted in the highest population (10⁶-10⁷ wild-type cfu/g) in both seasons. In 1987. the wettest of the two seasons of this study, herbicide treatment resulted in similarly high populations. The results suggest that the high numbers of erwinias found in the haulm debris were probably derived from the generally low populations of epiphytic bacteria previously present on healthy leaves, E. c. subsp, carotovora was the most frequent subspecies in the rotting plant debris; E. c. subsp, atroseptica was more commonly found on healthy leaves. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the production of seed potatoes with a low risk of blackleg.     

Biocontrol of sclerotinia stem rot (Sclerotinia minor) in sunflower by seed treatment with Gliocladium virens

An isolate of Gliocladium virens from disease-affected soil in a commercial sunflower field proved highly antagonistic to Sclerotinia minor in culture. Significant disease control was obtained when a conidial suspension was applied over a limited area of potting medium and lateral roots were inoculated outside the treated area at the edge of the pot. Most promising, in terms of minimizing the amount of G. viren s required for disease control, was the significant bioprotection obtained by seed treatment. In glasshouse experiments following inoculation of lateral roots with S. minor at 6–7 weeks after sowing, disease incidence was reduced from 60.0% to 15.8% in potting medium and from 66.7% to 12.5% in field soil. Seed treatment was also effective in field microplots, where disease incidence was reduced from 37.0% to 22.2%. G. viren s applied on seed did not affect the dry weight of the lateral root system.     

Aspergillosis in camels affected with a specific respiratory and enteric syndrome

During the summer of 1990 deaths, occurred in racing camels (Camelus dromedarius) associated with a specific disease syndrome. Clinical signs included pyrexia, coughing, lachrymation, oedema of the throat and submandibular region and enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes. In terminal cases nervous signs were present and sometimes there was bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. Of 480 camels at least 70 animals were affected with the disease and about 40 died. Morbidity and mortality was greater in camels recently imported. Consistent necropsy findings were extensive petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhage beneath the epicardium, endocardium and visceral pleura and in the mediastinal lymph nodes, and haemorrhagic oedema of the pharyngeal and laryngeal areas. Haemorrhages occurred more variably in abdominal organs and on the omasal and abomasal mucosa. Bronchopneumonia, omasitis and abomasitis were observed on microscopic examination, together with liver and kidney lesions of presumed toxic origin. Fungal hyphae and, occasionally, the characteristic conidial morphology of Aspergillus fumigatus were seen in sections and direct smears from lesions in the respiratory and alimentary tracts. A fumigatus was cultured from trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lung tissue, heart blood, omasum, abomasum, ileum and submandibular lymph nodes. Whether the role of Aspergillus in the overall syndrome is primary or secondary has not been established; no other potential aetiological agent has been identified.     

Tuberculosis in a New Zealand (Hooker's) sea lion

Extract

Tuberculosis has been described in seven species of pinnipeds. Based on host preference, phenotype and genetic and antigenic testing, the causal bacterium has been classified as a distinct species, Mycobacterium pinnipedii, within the M. tuberculosis complex. An adult male New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) was found dead on the Otago coastline in mid 2005. Gross necropsy revealed multiple caseous foci throughout the lungs, subcutaneous and thoracic lymph nodes, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous lesions containing numerous intra-lesional acid fast organisms. The organism was confirmed as being a member of the M. tuberculosis complex, based on restriction enzyme analysis. Spoligotyping is pending. This is the first confirmed case of mycobacterial disease in a New Zealand sea lion.