Hyperaldosteronism and hyperprogesteronism in a cat with an adrenal cortical carcinoma

A12-year-old castrated male, domestic long-haired cat weighing 4.93 kg was evaluated for weight loss and an abdominal mass. The cat had a 3-month history of diabetes mellitus treated with 2 units of ultralente insulin^a twice daily. Hypokalemia, mild azotemia, mild hyperglycemia, and glucosuria were noted on recent laboratory evaluations     

Control of foot-and-mouth disease through vaccination and the isolation of infected animals

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within Saudi Arabian dairy herds has been controlled for the past decade through vaccination. Data from 19 outbreaks on Saudi farms has suggested that the durability of these vaccines extended for 2.5 months, providing an 81–98% level of protection. Vaccination has nevertheless failed to prevent the establishment and sometimes persistence of the disease. This is probably because the highly contagious nature of FMD creates increasing levels of viral excretion during an outbreak, and the co-habitation in Saudi farms of affected/susceptible animals following diagnosis, predisposes the herds to re-infection. Pre-clinical excretion of the virus leads to the infection of additional in-contact susceptible animals prior to diagnosis, so the isolation of clinically infected animals does not guarantee a removal of infection. Saudi Arabian farms are subdivided into managed farm pens and isolation (away from the farm) of all animals in infected pens not only removes the infectious individuals showing clinical signs, but also those that are sub-clinical and excreting virus. Simulations suggest that removing all infectious animals from the herd significantly reduces the per cent infected in the herd.     

Control of potato powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranea by foliage cover and soil application of chemicals under field conditions with naturally infested soil

Powdery scab (PS), caused by Spongospora subterranea, reduces the quality and marketability of potatoes worldwide. Disease symptoms include lesions on the tuber surface and root galling, which may lead to yield losses. In the current study we report a sustainable approach to reduce PS by manipulating soil temperature during tuber initiation. Plant cover with nonwoven fabric significantly reduced PS on tubers by 54%–69% in 2017 and 84%–93% in 2019, compared to the control, and root galling by 96% in 2019, due to an increased average minimum and maximum soil temperature of 1.8 and 4.2 °C in respective years. Additional preplanting soil treatments were also evaluated in naturally infested soil. In 2017, disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced using 2.5 or 5 L a.i./ha fluazinam in broadcast application or in-furrow, and by 0.375 or 0.75 L a.i./ha flusulphamide applied in-furrow. In 2019, disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced by the broadcast application of fluazinam, and 75 kg/ha calcium cyanamide, but the latter had a negative impact on yield. Soil fumigation with metam sodium resulted in a 98% reduction in PS. Root galling was significantly reduced by calcium cyanamide, metam sodium, and fluazinam in the 2019 trial only. Foliar application of resistance-inducing phosphonates combined with fluazinam application had no additive effect on PS incidence and severity. Integrated approaches such as tolerant cultivars, soil testing, preplanting fungicide application, and sustainable means of control such as foliage cover for a short period may be implemented in order to control the disease and minimize damage.     

Variations in municipal urban forestry policies: A case study of Toronto, Canada

Urban forest conditions are driven by a range of biophysical and social factors, including urban form, socioeconomic conditions, and municipal policy. However, relatively little attention has been paid to policies, particularly those aimed at private property. The purpose of this study was to identify the types of urban tree policies that exist in the Greater Toronto Area, begin to understand why those variations may occur, and determine if such variations lead to on-the-ground differences. To address these objectives, we conducted a survey to identify policies covering the planting and removal of privately owned trees, as well as publicly owned trees along roadways in 29 municipalities. The results of the survey were then compared to census and vegetation abundance data to determine the relationship between municipal characteristics, level of policy adoption, and on-the-ground differences. We found substantial variation in the type of policies in place, with regulations addressing tree protection on private property occurring only in larger municipalities. The existence of on-the-ground differences was less clear, possibly because of the relatively recent adoption of most policies. These results highlight the need to assist smaller municipalities in developing urban forestry policies and to monitor these policies’ influence over the long term to better understand their role in shaping the urban forest.     

THE OUTPUT OF IRISH PASTURES

During the years 1956 and 1957, an attempt was made to assess the output of Irish Pastures using methods proposed by a Sub-Committee of the B.G.S. (9). It was found that the best results were obtained when output was determined on a single field, rather than on the whole farm basis. The yields showed highly significant correlations with both botanical composition and nutrient status of the pastures. The results were in agreement with the findings of others working on similar grasslands. It is suggested that the method might find a useful place in a programme either of advisory work or surveys concerned with grassland improvement.     

Genetic changes in quantity and composition of vegetable oils

Summary The oil contents of single kernels of corn can be determined by wideline nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Since this analytical procedure does not alter seed composition or viability, it could accelerate the development of crops having higher oil contents. A highly significant correlation was found between the oil contents of single kernels of corn and their progeny ears. This indicates that single-kernel differences in oil content are heritable. The importance of this development in terms of the increasing world-wide demand for polyunsaturated oils is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Der Öl-Gehalt einzelner Maiskörner kann durch kernmagnetische Resonanz-Spektroskopie festgestellt werden. Da dieses analytische Verfahren weder die Samenzusammensetzung noch die Lebensfähigkeit des Samens ändert, könnte sie dazu benutzt werden, die Entwicklung von Maisbeständen mit höherem Ölgehalt zu beschleunigen. Es wurde eine höchst beachtliche Korrelation zwischen dem Ölgehalt der einzelnen Kerne und dem der daraus entstehenden Kerne gefunden. Dies weist darauf hin, daß Einzel-Kern-Unterschiede im Ölgehalt vererbbar sind. Die Bedeutung dieser Entwicklung in Bezug auf die weltweite Nachfrage nach mehrfach ungesättigten Ölen wird besprochen.

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Résumé La quantité d'huile contenue dans les grains de maïs isolés peut être déterminée par la spectroscopie à résonance magnétique nucléaire à grande amplitude. Comme ce procédé ne cause aucune altération de la composition ou de la viabilité de la semence il pourrait accélérer la production de récoltes a rendement d'huile élevé. Une corrélation très étroite a été établie entre la quantité d'huile contenue dans les grains individuels et celle contenue dans leur progéniture. Ceci indique que la difference entre les quantités d'huile contenues dans deux grains individuels peut-être héritée. Cet article traite de l'importance de cette application scientifique en liaison avec la demande croissante d'huiles polyinsaturées dans le monde entier.

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with 4 figs.

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Paper presented at 6th International Congress of Nutrition, Edinburgh, August 9–15, 1963.     

Viability and stability of biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seeds

Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi-year, multi-state regional (south-eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping-off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non-Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short-term (< or = 3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (i.e. isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera (Bacillus and Paenibacillus) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non-Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T-22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package.