"Inordinate Fondness" explained: why are there So many beetles?

The phylogeny of the Phytophaga, the largest and oldest radiation of herbivorous beetles, was reconstructed from 115 complete DNA sequences for the 18S nuclear ribosomal subunit and from 212 morphological characters. The results of these analyses were used to interpret the role of angiosperms in beetle diversification. Jurassic fossils represent basal lineages that are still associated with conifers and cycads. Repeated origins of angiosperm-feeding beetle lineages are associated with enhanced rates of beetle diversification, indicating a series of adaptive radiations. Collectively, these radiations represent nearly half of the species in the order Coleoptera and a similar proportion of herbivorous insect species.     

Anthropogenic influence on the autocorrelation structure of hemispheric-mean temperatures

It is shown that lagged correlations for and cross-correlations between observed hemispheric-mean temperature data differ markedly from those for unforced (control-run) climate model simulations. The differences can be explained adequately by assuming that the observed data contain a significant externally forced component involving both natural (solar) and anthropogenic influences and that the global climate sensitivity is in the commonly accepted range. Solar forcing alone cannot reconcile the differences in autocorrelation structure between observations and model control-run data.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle associated with Senecio lautu

Summary Serious incidents of pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle in 10 herds exposed to the Australian native plant, Senecio lautus (Asteraceae), were seen in central Queensland during 1988–1992. The deaths of 226 cattle were recorded. A mean of 8% of cattle died in affected groups (range 2 to 58%). Sickness and deaths usually occurred some months after access to S lautus. Typically, affected cattle lost body condition to the point of emaciation before dying and had persistent diarrhoea. Some animals developed abnormal behaviour and died after a shorter illness. Liver specimens from affected cattle in all herds contained lesions consistent with pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis. Thin layer chromatography of extracts of blood and liver samples from cattle from 5 herds detected pyrrolic metabolites. The identity of these was confirmed by mass spectroscopy on samples from one herd. Unseasonal autumn and winter rain after a dry summer appeared to favour growth of S lautus at the expense of other pasture species. A subsequent dry period promoted consumption of S lautus and was followed by a cluster of poisoning incidents.     

The distribution of lipoprotein lipase in tissues of the domestic fowl and the effects of feeding and starving

Lipoprotein lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3) has been detected and assayed in heart muscle and adipose tissue of immature male, immature female and egg laying female domestic fowl. The levels of the enzyme in heart muscle were similar in the three classes of birds studied, but the level of the enzyme in the adipose tissue of immature birds was much higher than in that of laying hens. On starving for 22 h or 72 h the level of the enzyme increased in both heart muscle and adipose tissue of immature males. The enzyme could not be detected in liver tissue or ovary tissue from laying hens. Tissue levels of lipoprotein lipase are not a sensitive index of the state of lipid metabolism in the domestic fowl.     

Systemic Concentrations of Endogenous and Exogenous FSH in Anoestrous Ewes Superstimulated with Folltropin®-V

The synchronization of follicular waves with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) and oestradiol‐17β (E₂‐17β) prior to ovarian superstimilation in anoestrous ewes reduces the variability in superovulatory responses by an unknown mechanism. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a primary promoter of antral follicular development, but the relevance of circulating FSH concentrations to the superovulation performance in ewes has not been examined. Eighteen anoestrous Rideau Arcott ewes (May–June) were superovulated with Folltropin^®‐V (porcine FSH), with (n = 8; treated ewes) or without (n = 10; control ewes) a single i.m. dose of 350 μg of E₂‐17β, given on the sixth day of a 14‐day treatment with MAP‐releasing intravaginal sponges (60 mg). The superovulatory treatment, begun 6 days after E₂‐17β injection, consisted of six i.m. applications of Folltropin^®‐V given twice daily (at 08:00 and 16:00 h), followed by an i.m. injection of GnRH (50 μg). Blood samples collected every 8 h throughout the 3‐day treatment, were analysed by radioimmunoassays for concentrations of ovine and porcine FSH, using species‐specific standards and primary antibodies. Serum concentrations of oFSH were greater (p < 0.05) in the controls compared to treated ewes at 40, 64 and 72 h and the variability in mean oFSH concentrations was greater (p < 0.05) in control ewes at 40, 48, 64 and 72 h after the 1^st Folltropin^®‐V injection. There were no differences (p > 0.05) between the two groups in serum concentrations of pFSH. Significant correlations were recorded between the number of corpora lutea (CL) and oFSH concentrations at 8 h (r = 0.72, p < 0.05), 16 h (r=0.63, p < 0.05) and 64 h (r = 0.84, p < 0.01) after the 1^st Folltropin^®‐V injection. The total number of recovered embryos was positively correlated to oFSH concentrations at 56 h (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). We concluded that changes in endogenous FSH concentrations during ovarian superstimulation with pFSH might contribute to the variability in superovulatory responses in ewes.     

替米考星对仔猪呼吸道感染的疗效试验

进行了替米考星对仔猪呼吸道感染的疗效试验,并与泰乐菌素、支炎净、氟苯尼考、克林霉素进行比较。替米考星治疗组仔猪死亡率、有效率、治愈率分别为5.88%、94.12%和88.23%,经统计学分析,效果显著优于对照组(P<0.01);替米考星预防组仔猪发病率、死亡率、有效率和15 d增重分别为4.76%、0、100%和(5.65±1.25)kg,经统计学分析,有效率、治愈率和相对增重显著高于对照组(P<0.01),仔猪发病率、死亡率明显低于对照组(P<0.01)。试验结果表明,替米考星对仔猪呼吸道感染疗效显著,具有临床使用和推广价值。     

Clinical outcomes in cats with renal carcinoma undergoing nephrectomy: A retrospective study

Renal carcinomas (RC) are uncommonly encountered in feline medicine. Limited information regarding clinical presentation and postoperative outcomes is available. The purpose of this multi-institutional, retrospective study was to describe the presenting features and clinical outcomes of cats with RC undergoing nephrectomy. Thirty-six client-owned cats were included. Medical records from participating institutions were searched to identify cats that had a histopathologic diagnosis of RC and underwent nephrectomy from January 2001 to October 2021. The most common presenting complaints were weight loss (36.1%) and hyporexia (30.6%). Based on preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings, eight cats had suspected metastasis at the time of surgery (22.2%). Twenty-eight cats survived to discharge (77.8%). Median progression free interval (PFI) could not be determined, as only six cats developed suspected recurrence (16.7%) and seven cats developed suspected metastasis (19.4%). The all-cause median survival time (MST) was 203 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 84, 1379 days). When cases that died prior to discharge were excluded, MST increased to 1217 days (95% CI: 127, 1641 days). One-year, two-year, and three-year survival rates were all 40.4%. Neither renal tumour histologic subtype nor the presence of preoperative azotemia, anaemia, erythrocytosis, haematuria, or suspected metastasis at diagnosis were found to influence survival. For cats surviving to discharge, prolonged survival times were possible. Further studies are necessary to elucidate other potential prognostic factors, the utility of postoperative adjuvant treatment, and to identify cats at-risk of mortality in the perioperative period.