Mermithid nematode infection in a colony of blue-winged grasshoppers (Tropidacris collaris)

A die-off occurred in a captive colony of blue-winged grasshoppers (Tropidacris collaris) at the Toronto Zoo. One fourth of the colony died within a year due to infection with worms initially mistaken for nematomorphs but later identified as nematodes belonging to the Mermithidae, genus Mermis. Mortality persisted and the grasshopper population dwindled over the following years. Mermithid larvae developed in the hemocoel of the insects until they eventually emerged from a hollowed-out exoskeleton. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the parasites were introduced with raspberry browse that was grown on site and contaminated with mermithid eggs.     

Evaluation of a multi‐agent chemotherapy protocol combining lomustine,procarbazine and prednisolone (LPP) for the treatment of relapsed canine non‐Hodgkin high‐grade lymphomas

The standard of care treatment for canine lymphoma is multi‐agent chemotherapy containing prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and an anthracycline such as doxorubicin (CHOP) or epirubicin (CEOP). Lomustine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (LOPP) has been evaluated as a rescue, with encouraging results; however, resistance to vincristine is likely in patients relapsing on CHOP/CEOP, and this agent may enhance LOPP toxicity without improving efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate responses to a modified‐LOPP protocol that does not include vincristine (LPP) and is administered on a 21‐day cycle. Medical records of dogs with high‐grade multicentric lymphoma from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed. Dogs with relapsed lymphoma that received LPP as a rescue protocol were enrolled. Response, time from initiation to discontinuation (TTD) and toxicity of LPP were assessed. Forty‐one dogs were included. Twenty‐five dogs (61%) responded to LPP including 12 complete responses (CR) and 13 partial responses (PR). Responders had a significantly longer TTD (P < .001) compared to non‐responders with 84 days for CR and 58 days for PR. Neutropenia was documented in 20 dogs (57%): 12 grade I to II, 8 grade III to IV. Thrombocytopenia was infrequent (20%): 5 grade I to II, 2 grade III to IV. Twelve dogs developed gastrointestinal toxicity (30%): 10 grade I to II and 2 grade III. Nineteen dogs had elevated ALT (59%): 9 grade I to II, 10 grade III to IV. Treatment was discontinued due to toxicity in 8 dogs (19%). The LPP protocol shows acceptable efficacy and toxicity‐profile and minimizes in‐hospital procedures.     

Self-assembled aggregates of rod-coil block copolymers and their solubilization and encapsulation of fullerenes

Amphiphilic poly(phenylquinoline)-block-polystyrene rod-coil diblock copolymers were observed to self-organize into robust, micrometer-scale, spherical, vesicular, cylindrical, and lamellar aggregates from solution. These diverse aggregate morphologies were seen at each composition, but their size scale decreased with a decreasing fraction of the rigid-rod block. Compared to coil-coil block copolymer micelles, the present aggregates are larger by about two orders of magnitude and have aggregation numbers of over 10(8). The spherical and cylindrical aggregates have large hollow cavities. Only spherical aggregates with aggregation numbers in excess of 10(9) were formed in the presence of fullerenes (C60, C70) in solution, resulting in the solubilization and encapsulation of over 10(10) fullerene molecules per aggregate.     

Tracking the long-term decline and recovery of an isolated population

Effects of small population size and reduced genetic variation on the viability of wild animal populations remain controversial. During a 35-year study of a remnant population of greater prairie chickens, population size decreased from 2000 individuals in 1962 to fewer than 50 by 1994. Concurrently, both fitness, as measured by fertility and hatching rates of eggs, and genetic diversity declined significantly. Conservation measures initiated in 1992 with translocations of birds from large, genetically diverse populations restored egg viability. Thus, sufficient genetic resources appear to be critical for maintaining populations of greater prairie chickens.     

Cephalosporins – pharmacological basis of clinical use in veterinary dermatology

Cephalosporins form a large group of β-lactam antibiotics which are used extensively in human medicine and to a lesser extent in domestic animals. In veterinary dermatology, the principle use for the cephalosporins is the clinical management of canine pyoderma associated with Staphylococcus intermedius . In practice, the use of orally administered first generation cephalosporin drugs to affected dogs is well tolerated and highly efficacious. Bacterial drug resistance appears to occur rarely.     

精密镗床旋转轴几何误差完备性测量与辨识

针对四轴卧式镗床旋转轴需测几何误差的数目不统一与完备性缺失的问题,提出了基于形状创成函数的四轴卧式镗床旋转轴PIGEs形成机理分析方法与旋转轴完备几何误差测量辨识方法。基于形状创成机理构建了卧式镗床几何误差创成函数,确定了旋转轴可通过误差补偿进行调整的最少与位置无关的几何误差(Position-independent geometric error, PIGEs)数目。建立了卧式镗床旋转轴4项PIGEs、6项与位置有关的几何误差(Position-dependent geometric error, PDGEs)、6项安装误差(Setup error, SEs)与球杆仪(Double ball bar, DBB)测量轨迹半径之间的完备性函数模型,设计了基于DBB的四轴联动Viviani曲线测量轨迹,构建了旋转轴6项PDGEs的NURBS表征与PIGEs、SEs辨识方法。开展了误差补偿对比实验验证,结果表明,利用几何误差完备性测量与辨识结果进行误差补偿,较仅单一补偿6项PDGEs可提升圆轨迹测量精度40.69%。     

短期玉米秸秆还田对冷凉地区土壤真菌多样性的影响

在玉米吐丝期,利用传统涂布平板法和高通量测序技术,设置常规秸秆不还田(CK)、秸秆深翻还田(SF)和秸秆旋耕还田(XG)3个处理,研究0~10 cm、10~20 cm和20~30 cm土层真菌群落丰富度、多样性和群落结构变化,揭示冷凉地区玉米秸秆还田真菌群落结构及其差异。结果表明:冷凉地区玉米秸秆还田对土壤真菌多样性的影响较大,秸秆还田土壤中可培养真菌数为SFXGCK;秸秆还田后土壤真菌优势菌群发生变化,CK优势菌为马拉色氏霉菌属、被孢霉属和葡萄孢属,XG优势菌为被孢霉属;XG和SF表层土壤中耐冷酵母菌属和被孢霉属是优势菌;SF处理20~30 cm土层优势菌为葡萄孢属。真菌菌群Alpha多样性、群落组成丰度、RDA(Redundancy analysis)和菌群相似性综合分析可知,SF和XG 0~20 cm土层菌群差异小;SF和XG均能增加10~30 cm土层真菌群落丰度。     

沙质草地、高平原草地牧草总糖与还原糖含量变化

研究了沙质草地与高平原草地六种牧草的总糖含量与还原糖含量变化情况.结果表明:沙质草地与高平原草地供试牧草的总糖含量变化(除糙隐子草外)和还原糖含量变化不同;除羊草和寸草苔外,其余几种牧草的还原糖含量都是高平原草地高于沙质草地.