Bilateral intraocular malignant neuroectodermal tumors in a telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus)

A 5‐year‐old male telescope goldfish (Carassius auratus) developed buphthalmia of the left eye. An enucleation was performed and a diagnosis of a neuroectodermal tumor was made on histological examination. Although the fish initially recovered, it was killed 49 days postsurgery due to a severe decline in its condition. On histological evaluation of postmortem tissue samples, it was determined that the fish also had a neuroectodermal tumor of the right eye with local invasion of the brain. On immunohistochemistry, the neoplastic cells were positive for S‐100. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first published case of naturally occurring bilateral intraocular neuroectodermal tumors in a fish.     

Radiotherapy for canine chronic superficial keratitis using soft X-rays (15 kV)

Objective  To evaluate the effect of soft X-ray therapy in the treatment of refractory chronic superficial keratitis (CSK).
Animals studied  Thirteen dogs with severe CSK, that had been refractory to prior medical and/or surgical therapy were treated with soft X-ray therapy.
Procedures  Both corneas of each dog were irradiated with soft X-rays (15 kV), to a total dose of 30 Gy, administered as two fractions over 48–96 h. Treatment was carried out under deep sedation in all dogs. Three dogs were treated by superficial lamellar keratectomy 48 h prior to radiotherapy. Changes in the extent of corneal pigmentation, pigment density and corneal vascularization were documented using a semi-quantitative grading scheme, schematic drawings and clinical photographs.
Results  Only minor, transient adverse effects of treatment, such as photophobia, epiphora and blepharitis were noted. Overall the effect of soft X-rays on the course of the keratitis was superior when compared to the effect of Sr-90 irradiation that had been determined in a previous study.
Conclusion  Soft X-ray irradiation combined with keratectomy is a safe and effective new treatment option for severe and advanced CSK with significant visual impairment due to corneal pathology.     

Evaluation of the DRAINMOD-N II model for predicting nitrogen losses in a loamy sand under cultivation in south-east Sweden

The DRAINMOD-N II model (version 6.0) was evaluated for a cold region in south-east Sweden. The model was field-tested using four periods between 2002 and 2004 of climate, soil, hydrology and water quality data from three experimental plots, planted to a winter wheat-sugarbeet-barley-barley crop rotation and managed using conventional and controlled drainage. DRAINMOD-N II was calibrated using data from a conventional drainage plot, while data sets from two controlled drainage plots were used for model validation. The model was statistically evaluated by comparing simulated and measured drain flows and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) losses in subsurface drains. Soil mineral nitrogen (N) content was used to evaluate simulated N dynamics. Observed and predicted NO₃-N losses in subsurface drains were in satisfactory agreement. The mean absolute error (MAE) in predicting NO₃-N drainage losses was 0.16 kg N ha⁻¹ for the calibration plot and 0.21 and 0.30 kg N ha⁻¹ for the two validation plots. For the simulation period, the modelling efficiency (E) was 0.89 for the calibration plot and 0.49 and 0.55 for the validation plots. The overall index of agreement (d) was 0.98 for the calibration plot and 0.79 and 0.80 for the validation plots. These results show that DRAINMOD-N II is applicable for predicting NO₃-N losses from drained soil under cold conditions in south-east Sweden.     

The value of white clover Trifolium repens L., Cultivar S100 planted on motorway verges to honeybees Apis mellifera L.

During two years the preferences shown by bees for five cultivars of white clover (S100, S184, Sabeda, Kent Wild and New Zealand Huia) were tested. Honeybees and bumblebees visited all the cultivars, but S100, the cultivar commonly planted on motorway verges, was one of the most attractive to them.     

小尺度土壤养分的空间变异及其影响因素探讨—以江苏省无锡市典型城乡交错区为例

以江苏省无锡市城乡交错区为例,在8km2范围内,采集102个土壤表层样,利用地统计学和G IS相结合的方法,研究了土壤全量和速效氮、磷、钾的空间变异特征,并对其影响因素进行了探讨。结果表明土壤养分空间变异程度从大到小依次为:土壤全氮>土壤全磷>土壤速效磷>土壤速效氮>土壤速效钾>土壤全钾。土壤全氮空间变异受到土壤类型的影响,土壤全磷的空间变异与居民点分布有关,土壤全钾空间变异与土壤粘粒关系最密切。土壤全量养分和相应的速效养分具有显著相关关系,在空间分布上,也分别存在不同程度的相似性。同时土壤全磷和土壤速效养分受土地利用影响也较大。研究还表明,城乡交错区土壤氮、磷流失风险增加,需要实施有效措施控制氮、磷肥料的过度施用。     

工业型城乡交错区农业土壤Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd的空间分布及影响因素研究

在江苏省无锡市工业型城乡交错区，选择8km2区域，采集119个土壤样品，对土壤Cu、Zn、Pb,Cd及其有效态含量的空间分布和影响因素进行探讨。结果表明：该区土壤Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd含量和变异系数都明显增加，土壤有效态重金属含量与相应的全量重金属含量具有显著相关性。土壤Cu、Zn、Cd空间变异主要受到工业影响，但由于该区工业类型的多样性和工厂分布的分散性，Cu、Zn、、Cd空间分布模式并不相同。本区土壤Pb的分布与工厂分布的相关性不大，但随与城市距离增加而降低。公路和土地利用与土壤重金属含量的关系表现不明显。该区工业污染对土壤重金属空间变异的影响可能掩盖了公路和土地利用等的影响，建议在城乡交错区合理安排工业布局以控制土壤受重金属污染的范围。     

C and N NMR spectroscopy as a tool in soil organic matter studies

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a valuable tool for the characterization of soil organic matter and humification processes in soils. This review highlights soil organic matter studies based mainly on solid-state ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy and some emerging applications, that may provide significant progress in our knowledge on soil organic matter. A major advantage of Nmr spectroscopy is that it can be used as a non-invasive method for solid soil samples or soil fractions. Although resolution is limited, one can obtain an overview on the organic matter structures present in the soil sample. Application of ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR to soils has, for a long time, been confined to the study of bulk soils or humic extracts for structural characterization. The transformations of soil organic C and N are now being investigated after addition of ¹³C- and ¹⁵N-labelled parent materials to the soil and following their evolution in different C and N pools. With labelling techniques it is also possible to study the interaction of organic pollutants with soil organic matter. Contamination of a soil with man-made additives, such as soot or brown coal dust, can also be detected in soils or individual soil fractions.     

Comparative assessment of stream acidity using diatoms and macroinvertebrates: implications for river management and conservation

• 1. Macroinvertebrates and phytobenthic organisms (e.g. diatoms) are frequently used as bioindicators of water quality, yet few studies compare their effectiveness despite both being emphasized in the EC Water Framework Directive.
• 2. Here, as a case study, the efficacy of each group in assessing acid–base status in the catchment of the Welsh River Wye was evaluated from surveys in 2 years.
• 3. Ordination showed that both diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages varied highly significantly with pH, alkalinity and calcium concentrations. Moreover, ordination scores were highly inter‐correlated between these groups in both study years.
• 4. There were also contrasts, with diatoms and macroinvertebrates changing in differing ways with catchment land‐use and channel hydromorphology. These differing responses suggest complementary indicator value, while variation in generation times between diatoms and macroinvertebrates suggests potentially contrasting speeds of response to variations over different timescales.
• 5. These data reveal that significant water quality problems in the River Wye, a proposed Special Area of Conservation, are generated from the continued acidification of low‐order, headwater streams and this has considerable significance for the objectives of the Water Framework Directive, and the EC Habitats Directive.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.