Yield losses in weed-free wheat and barley due to post-emergence herbicides

The tolerance of weed-free wheat and barley to a range of herbicides (bromoxynil, methabenzthiazuron, MCPA, bromoxynil + MCPA. linuron, prometryne, diuron, 2,4-D ester and 2,4-D amine) when applied at the crop three-leaf stage, was examined over the 5-year period 1968–72. All chemicals lowered grain yields to some extent, but the variation between chemicals was greater for wheat than for barley. In both crops, methabenzthiazuron was the safest chemical causing only small (<2·0%,) yield losses at rates up to 2·25 kg a.i./ha. At this rate of application yield losses of up to 36% were recorded for the substituted urea derivatives. Both crops had a low tolerance to 2,4-D ester and amine. Yield losses from bromoxynil, bromoxynil + MCPA and MCPA were similar, varying from 4 to 8% al 0·5 kg a.i./ha to 9–24% at 2·25 kg a.i./ha. Pertes de rendement dans le blé et l'orge provoquées, en l'absence de mauvaises herbes, par des herbicides de postlevée Pendant une période de 5 années (1968–1972) les auteurs ont examiné la résistance du béet de l'orge. Traités, en l'absence de mauvaises herbes, au stade 3 feuilles, avec une série d'herbicidcs (bromoxynil, méthabenzthiazuron, MCPA, bromoxynil-i-MCPA, linuron, prométrync. ditiron, 2,4-D ester et 2,4-D a mine). Tous ces produits ont diminué les rendements en grains dans des proportions variées, mais la variation entre produits a été plus grande pour le blé que pour l'orge. Pour les deux céréales, le méthabenzlhiazuron a été le produit le moins toxique, provotjuant seulement de faibles penes de rendement inférieurcs à 2,0%, à des doses allant jusquà 2,25 kg/m.a/ha. A cette dose d'application, des pertes de rendement allant jusquà 36% ont élé enregistrées avec des urées substituées. Les deux éréles ont manifesté uoe faible resistance au 2,4-D estr et amine. Les pertes de rendement provoquées par le bromoxynil, le bromoxynil + MCPA, et le MCPA ont été analogues, variant de 4 à 8% pour 0,5 kg/m.a./ha, jusqu’à 9 à 24% pour 2,5 kg/m.a./ha. Ertragsverluste durch Nachaufiatifherbizide in unkrautfreiem Weizen und Gerste In unkrautfreien Weizen- und Gerstebestánden wurde in fünfjáhrigen Versuthcn (1968–72) die Toleranz der beiden Arten gegenüber folgenden Herbiziden untersucht: Bromoxynil, Methabenzthiazuron, MCPA, Bromoxynil + MCPA. Linuron, Prometryn, Diuron, 2,4-D-Eister und 2,4-D-Amin- salz. Die Behandlung erfolgte jeweils im 3-Blattstadium. Alle Verbindungen erniedrigten zu einem gewissen Grad den kornertrag. Beim Weizen waren aber die Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Herbiziden grösser als bei der Gerste. Methabenzthiazuron war bei Aufwandmengen bis zu 2.25 kg A.S./ha in beiden Getreidearten das sicherste Herbizid und verursachte nur geringe Ertragsdepressionen (<2%). Bei dieser Aufwandmenge wurden bei den Harn-stoffherbiziden bis zu 36% Ertragsverlust festgestellt. Gegen 2,4-D-Ester und 2,4-D-Aminsalz waren Weizen und Gerste wenig tolerant. Die Ertragsverluste durch Bromoxynil, Bromoxynil + MCPA und MCPA waren etwa gleich und betrugen 4–8% bei 0.5 kg A.S./ha bis 9–24% bei 2,25 kg A.S./ha.     

THE REACTION OF TRIFOLIUM REPENS (L.) IN GRASSLAND TO 2,4-D, MCPA AND MIXTURES OF 2,4-D AND MCPB

Summary. Eight experiments were carried out on a range of pasture lypes under different management and in different years to lest the reaction of white clover ( Trifolium repens in grasstand to doses of up to 4 lb/ac of the herbicides MCPA-sodium or-potassium and 2,4-D-amine. The initial effect of the treatments was to reduce the amount of dover in the sward, the size of the reduction varying greatly from field to field for any one dose. In general, the higher the dose, the more severe was the depression of the clover 1 month after spraying. Both herbicides at 2 and 4 lb/ac caused substantial depressions on some of the fields. The growth of the treated clover was examined during the year following spraying. The ability of the clover to recover from the initial depression varied considerably in the different fields; on some, recovery started in the year of spraying and on others in the following year. Quick recovery was usually associated with a high initial resistance but there were fields in which the clover showed contrasting rates of recovery following similar depressions. The experiments produced no clear-cut evidence as to why the initial resistance and speed of recovery varied in different fields. In one experiment the effects of MCPB-sodium and 2,4-D-amine on white clover were compared separately and in a series of mixtures. An examination made 6 weeks after spraying showed that MCPB at up to 8 lb/ac had no significant effect on the clover, whereas 2,4-D at 1 lb/ac caused a 22% reduction. Mixtures containing up to 0.37 lb 2,4-D and up to 6 lb MCPB caused no reduction while those containing 0.75 lb 2,4-D and 4 lb MCPB were not significantly different from 1 lb 2,4-D alone.
Reaction de Trifolium repens (L.) en prairie au 2,4-D, au MCPA, et aux mélanges de1, 2,4-D et de MCPB     

Mechanistic links between climate and fisheries along the east coast of the United States: explaining population outbursts of Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)

Climate has been linked to variation in marine fish abundance and distribution, but often the mechanistic processes are unknown. Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) is a common species in estuarine and coastal areas of the mid‐Atlantic and southeast coasts of the U.S. Previous studies have identified a correlation between Atlantic croaker abundance and winter temperatures in Chesapeake Bay, and have determined thermal tolerances of juveniles. Here we re‐examine the hypothesis that winter temperature variability controls Atlantic croaker population dynamics. Abundance indices were analyzed at four life history stages from three regions along the east coast of the U.S. Correlations suggest that year‐class strength is decoupled from larval supply and is determined by temperature‐linked, overwinter survival of juveniles. Using a relation between air and water temperatures, estuarine water temperature was estimated from 1930 to 2002. Periods of high adult catch corresponded with warm winter water temperatures. Prior studies indicate that winter temperature along the east coast is related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO); variability in catch is also correlated with the NAO, thereby demonstrating a link between Atlantic croaker dynamics, thermal limited overwinter survival, and the larger climate system of the North Atlantic. We hypothesize that the environment drives the large‐scale variability in Atlantic croaker abundance and distribution, but fishing and habitat loss decrease the resiliency of the population to periods of poor environmental conditions and subsequent weak year classes.     

Analysing the Changing Landscape of European Financial Centres: The Role of Financial Products and the Case of Amsterdam

ABSTRACT The turn of the twenty‐first century saw the re‐emergence of debates about the reconfiguration of European financial geographies and the role of stock exchange mergers in this process. There has been, however, no systematic attempt to date to analyse such changes. This paper proposes a specific conceptual framework to explore these issues. It uses a product‐based analysis to examine, in the context of recent stock exchange mergers, the factors affecting the competitiveness of a financial centre. It argues that it is important to understand three intertwined influences—product complementarities, the nature of local epistemic communities, and regulation—and their contingent effects on change. This is exemplified by a tentative application of the framework to the case of Amsterdam in order to better understand its recent decline in competitiveness as a European financial centre.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF INTRACRANIAL ASTROCYTOMAS AND OLIGODENDROGLIOMAS IN DOGS

Astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas represent one third of histologically confirmed canine brain tumors. Our purpose was to describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of histologically confirmed canine intracranial astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas and to examine for MR features that differentiate these tumor types. Thirty animals with confirmed astrocytoma (14) or oligodendroglioma (16) were studied. All oligodendrogliomas and 12 astrocytomas were located in the cerebrum or thalamus, with the remainder of astrocytomas in the cerebellum or caudal brainstem. Most (27/30) tumors were associated with both gray and white matter. The signal characteristics of both tumor types were hypointense on T1‐weighted images (12 each) and hyperintense on T2‐weighted images (11/14 astrocytomas, 12/16 oligodendrogliomas). For astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, respectively, common findings were contrast enhancement (10/13, 11/15), ring‐like contrast enhancement (6/10, 9/11), cystic regions within the mass (7/14, 12/16), and hemorrhage (4/14, 6/16). Oligodendrogliomas were significantly more likely to contact the brain surface (meninges) than astrocytomas (14/16, 7/14, respectively, P=0.046). Contact with the lateral ventricle was the most common finding, occurring in 13/14 astrocytomas and 14/16 oligodendrogliomas. No MR features were identified that reliably distinguished between these two tumor types. Contrast enhancement was more common in high‐grade tumors (III or IV) than low‐grade tumors (II, P=0.008).     

In vitro glucuronidation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan in the cat: a comparison with other species

Ebner, T., Schänzle, G., Weber, W., Sent, U., Elliott, J. In vitro glucuronidation of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan in the cat: a comparison with other species. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.  36 , 154–160. Glucuronidation of telmisartan comprises nearly its entire metabolic clearance in several mammalian species including human. However, data were lacking for the cat, a species noted for its inability to glucuronidate some drugs. Therefore, the glucuronidation of telmisartan was investigated using feline liver microsomes and compared to liver microsomes of rats, dogs, and human, intestinal human microsomes and cell lines expressing human UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGT). Incubation of telmisartan with cat liver microsomes readily yielded telmisartan glucuronide, and pooled (N = 3 for each gender) cat liver microsomes even showed the highest glucuronidation rate (cat > dog >> human > rat). Michaelis Menten kinetics were observed with K_m of 7.5 and 10 μm and V_max of 3.9 and 3.3 nmol/min/mg for male and female cats, respectively. Confirming the in vitro data, telmisartan glucuronide was detected as the major circulating metabolite in cat plasma. To elucidate which UGT enzymes are involved, telmisartan was incubated with cell lines expressing human UGTs. The highest glucuronidation activity was observed for UGT1A8, UGT1A7, and UGT1A9. In conclusion, telmisartan was effectively glucuronidated in cats. Defects of the UGT1A6 gene in cats do not affect the glucuronidation of telmisartan as it is not a substrate of human UGT1A6.     

INTRACRANIAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ARTIFACTS AND PSEUDOLESIONS IN DOGS AND CATS

Normal anatomic variation, study design, external factors, and tissue characteristics can all influence the manifestation of structures on magnetic resonance images (MRI). For the purpose of this review, imaging artifacts are considered to be nonpathologic abnormalities resulting from study design, intrinsic tissue characteristics, or external factors, while MRI pseudolesions are due to normal anatomic variation. Awareness of imaging artifacts and pseudolesions, as well as normal anatomic structures, is important when determining pathologic vs. normal or clinically insignificant abnormalities. The purpose of this report is to examine the literature to compile a review of selected artifacts and pseudolesions that are commonly encountered when imaging the canine and feline brain.     

Aldosterone receptor antagonists – how cardiovascular actions may explain their beneficial effects in heart failure

Ovaert, P., Elliott, J., Bernay, F., Guillot, E., Bardon, T. Aldosterone receptor antagonists – how cardiovascular actions may explain their beneficial effects in heart failure. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33 , 109–117. Historically, aldosterone receptor antagonists (ARA) have been classified as ‘potassium sparing diuretics’. However, the positive effect of spironolactone, the most extensively studied ARA, on morbidity and mortality observed in humans suffering cardiac insufficiency could not be explained by the renal effect of the drug alone, and a pivotal clinical study has led to extensive research. Many experimental studies have demonstrated that ARA have previously unexpected beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system including reduction in remodelling of the vascular smooth muscle cells and myocytes and improvement of endothelial cell dysfunction in heart failure. These effects improve vascular compliance and slow down the progression of left ventricular dysfunction and end‐organ damage. Furthermore, aldosterone receptor blockade also restores the baroreceptor reflex, improving heart rate variability in heart failure in humans. Some of these effects have been demonstrated in dog models of cardiac disease and so justified further investigation of the potential benefit of ARA in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Positive effects of spironolactone on morbidity and mortality appear to have been seen in studies conducted in dogs suffering from naturally occurring CHF. In addition, eplerenone has been shown to have benefits in canine models of heart failure. The precise mechanisms by which ARA produce these beneficial effects in dogs remain to be determined but this group of drugs clearly provide therapeutic actions out‐with their diuretic effects.     

Use of proxy measurements of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretory response to distinguish between normal and previously laminitic ponies

Reasons for performing study: Insulin resistance may be a risk factor for pasture‐associated laminitis. Diagnosis of insulin resistance could help identify individuals at increased risk of laminitis. Objective: To calculate proxy measurements of insulin sensitivity (reciprocal of the square root of insulin: RISQI and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index: QUICKI) and insulin secretory response (modified insulin‐to‐glucose ratio: MIRG) based on basal glucose and insulin concentrations in normal (NP) and previously laminitic (PLP) ponies. Methods: Proxies were calculated in 7 NP and 5 PLP from 20 separate measurements of insulin and glucose taken in spring, summer and winter when ponies were adapted to eating either pasture or hay. Proxies were RISQI: Insulin^‐0.5, QUICKI: 1/(log[fasting Insulin]+ log[fasting Glucose]) and MIRG: (800?0.3×[Insulin‐50]²)/[Glucose‐30]. A modified insulin‐to‐glucose ratio for ponies (MIGRP) was investigated using: (3000?0.012 ×[Insulin‐500]²)/[Glucose‐30]. Statistical analysis used linear mixed models. Results: Diet did not significantly affect measurements, so values were pooled for further analysis. RISQI (mean ± s.d.) was lower in PLP (0.26 ± 0.15 [mu/l]^‐0.5) than NP (0.29 ± 0.12 [mu/l]^‐0.5; P = 0.05). QUICKI was lower in PLP (0.31 ± 0.05) than NP (0.33 ± 0.04; P = 0.047). There was no difference in MIRG between NP and PLP. MIGRP (median [interquartile range]) was greater in PLP (4.0 [7.9][mu_ins]²/10·l·mg_gluc) than NP (2.6 [3.2][mu_ins]²/10·l·mg_gluc; P = 0.022). In spring, NP had higher RISQI and QUICKI and lower MIGRP than PLP (P<0.001). In PLP, RISQI and QUICKI were higher in summer than spring (P<0.02) and MIGRP was lower in summer than other seasons (P<0.01). In NP, RISQI, QUICKI and MIGRP were each different between seasons (P<0.017). MIRG did not vary with season. Conclusions: RISQI, QUICKI and MIGRP, but not MIRG, differentiated between NP and PLP. None of the proxies accurately identified individual PLP. Seasonal changes in insulin sensitivity and insulin secretory response were apparent. Potential relevance: Current proxy measurements cannot determine an individual's laminitis susceptibility. MIGRP may be useful in hyperinsulinaemic animals.