Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva in the Cat

Clinical, radiographic, electromyographic, and pathologic findings in a cat with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva are described. The features of five previously reported cases of this feline disorder are also presented. This disorder affects young adult to middle-aged cats of both sexes. Characteristic clinical features include progressive stiffness of gait, with enlargement of proximal limb musculature. Radiography reveals multiple mineralized densities within the affected musculature. The clinical course is rapid, with development of severe disability within 2 weeks to several months. Electromyographic and pathologic findings suggest that this is a disorder of connective tissue, affecting primarily the epimysium, tendons, and fasciae, and results in marked proliferation of fibrovascular connective tissue, with associated chondroid and osseous metaplasia.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Agave tequilana var. Azul using RAPD markers

By federal law in Mexico, A. tequilana Weber var. Azul is the only variety of agave permitted for the production of any tequila. Our objective was to assay levels of genetic variation in field populations of A. tequilana var. Azul using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Ten plants were collected from each of four different fields, with two fields being located in each of two principal regions of Mexico for the cultivation of A. tequilana var. Azul. The two regions are separated geographically by approximately 100km. Genetic relationships between A. tequilana var. Azul and two other varieties of A. tequilana Weber, ‘Chato’ and ‘Siguin’, were also investigated using RAPDs. Among the three varieties, 19 decamer primers produced 130 markers, of which 20 (15.4%) were polymorphic betweenA. tequilana var. Chato and A. tequilana var. Siguin. The results of RAPD analysis suggest that A. tequilana var. Siguin is more closely related to A. tequilana var. Azul than is A. tequilana var. Chato. Among the 40 field selections of A. tequilana var. Azul, only 1 of124 RAPD products (0.8%) was polymorphic and 39 of 40 plants were completely isogenic. This is one of the lowest levels of polymorphism detected to date for the analysis of a crop species, and is proposed to be the result of the promotion of a single conserved genotype over many years due to an exclusive reliance on vegetative propagation for the production of new planting materials. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to breeding programs focused on the improvement of A. tequilana var. Azul. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Yield, Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition Evaluated in Androgenetic Plants in Brassica juncea

Homozygous diploids were obtained through anther culture in Indian mustard, Brassier juncea, cultivar TM-4, Seeds could be harvested from 97 such plants in the A; generation. The androgenetic lines were further selected and the yield and yield components were compared in the A₄ and A₅ generations, Androgenetic lines showed variations for most of the characters studied including seed oil content and fatty acid composition. However, it was possible to recover seven lines out of 25 which were equal in seed yield and three equal in oil content compared TO the anther donor parent TM-4.     

Interspecific hybrids of Cucumis metuliferus × C. anguria obtained through embryo culture and somatic embryogenesis

Summary Interspecific crosses between Cucumis metuliferus Naud. and C. anguria L. were obtained through embryo culture. Embryos in the rabbit-ear to advanced fluke-shaped stages were rescued 34–99 days after pollination. Plants were obtained through direct embryo culture, and through somatic embryogenesis from immature embryos. For direct embryo culture, fluke-shaped embryos were stored in sterile water in darkness for three days at 25C prior to transfer on Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium plus 1.0 M 6-benzylamino-purine. Multiple plants were obtained from single embryos through somatic embryogenesis of rabbit-ear stages on MS plus 10 M indole-3-acetic acid and 5 M 6-benzylamino-purine. Evidence of hybridization included leaf shape intermediate between the two parents, penduncle shape prior to fertilization which resembled the male parent, low pollen viability and isoelectric focussing of protein bands for acid phosphatase of leaf extracts.     

Investigation of the coagulation mechanism of the suspended particulate matter in coastal waters

The granulometry of the suspended matter in various coastal waters collected around the Patras city in Greece, together with the average particle diameters, have been determined during 12 mo by means of a simple, quick, inexpensive and relatively accurate photosedimentometer. The particle size distributions were found to be self-preserving and independent of time, hydrologic regime, nature and amount of particulate materials and particle mobility. The experimental results show that the Brownian diffusion is the factor dominant in the flocculation processes in coastal waters. The flocculation processes of the suspended particles taking place when river water meets sea water were also investigated.     

Measurement needs for developing and assessing ozone-control strategies

The monitoring programs needed to design control strategies differ from those required to assess the impact of the strategies on air quality. The former are short-term and intensive. They are designed to obtain the data required to apply an urban-scale grid model, like the Urban Airshed Model, or a combination of an urban-scale and regional-scale model, like the Regional Oxidant Model, to an area without having to assume important input data. Such measurements include three-dimensional pollutant and meteorological measurements throughout the modeling domain. Detailed and accurate emissions inventories are also required. Model validation should compare not only the O₃ predictions with actual data, but also include comparisons for NO _x , individual volatile organic compounds (VOC), and if possible, additional species such as PAN, H₂O₂, formaldehyde, and HNO₃. To assess the impact of control strategies, long-term monitoring networks that measure O₃, NO _x and speciated VOC are needed. O₃ trends should be examined using robust, meteorologically-adjusted O₃ statistics. Such statistics need to be related to a robust National Ambient Air Quality Standard.     

Behavioral responses of a marine bivalve (Venus verrucosa) to pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons

The effects of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) on the burrowing behavior, valve activities and siphonal and foot reactions of the clam, Venus verrucosa were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. Such exposure did not significantly alter the burrowing activities of this species. The foot, siphons and mantle folds failed to respond both to low and high concentrations of PHC. After 130 days of exposure to 100 μg L^?1 of water-accommodated fractions of oil, both the response time and the recovery period of the siphonal response to light stimuli were significantly prolonged. Increased valve activities were also recorded. The biological significance of such altered behavior and activities is discussed.     

Supplemental oxygenation of electric generating station cooling water

The Delaware River Basin Commission established the requirement that the Philadelphia Electric Eddystone Generating Station shall add 5000 pounds (≈2.3 tonnes) of dissolved oxygen (DO) per day to the Delaware River as a condition for increased use of cooling water at this station. It has been found that the Eddystone Station normally adds from ≈1 to 3 tonnes per day of DO to the river arising from entrainment of air into the cooling water discharge tunnel. Further additions can readily be accomplished by bleeding air into the condenser tailpipe. The Delaware River Basin Commission's requirements can readily be met without significant expenditure of funds and without altering normal plant operating conditions.