Reference values of the brainstem auditory evoked response of methoxyflurane anesthetized and unanesthetized dogs

The brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) was recorded from 7 unanesthetized and 27 methoxyflurane anesthetized dogs. A 0.1 msec, 70 dB stimulus delivered at 10 Hz evoked the expected seven wave BAER. Mean peak wave latencies and standard deviations were calculated. Differences were not found between neither right and left ears, nor male and female dogs. The anesthetized dogs had a significantly longer latency for all waves, except wave I, than the unanesthetized dogs. Use of the BAER as a diagnostic technique for brainstem lesions is recommended.     

Long term effects of saline irrigation on the yield and growth of mature Williams pear trees

Salt tolerance of mature Williams Bon Cretien pear trees was assessed in a field trial on a duplex, slowly permeable clay loam. The trees were irrigated with a range of salinities; electrical conductivity of irrigation water (EC_w) of 0.2 to 1.4 dS/m by flood for seven years or 0.2 to 2.1 dS/m by microjet sprinklers for nine years. Water-table levels were maintained below 3 m by a groundwater pump. Yield and leaf ion content were assessed during the treatment period. Aspects of growth and physiology were monitored in the 0.2 and 2.1 dS/m microjet treatments during the seventh irrigation season.Soil profile salinities varied between 3.0 and 4.3 dS/m for the most saline flood treatment and from 1.5 to 2.6 dS/m for the most saline microjet treatment. Soil sodicity (sodium absorption ratio) increased during the experiment, reaching a maximum of 9 in the most saline treatments. The salinity treatments caused reduced yields after seven years. In the most saline treatment (EC_w = 2.1 dS/m, microjet-irrigated), yield decreased to about 60 and 50% of the control in the eighth and ninth years, respectively, and 40% of trees were dead in the ninth year. Leaf ion concentrations (in January) of the most saline treatment were at excess levels (>0.1% Cl and >0.02% Na) from 1982 to 1990. There were significant (P<0.01) negative linear relationships between yield in 1990 and leaf Na and Cl, measured both in 1990 and in 1989. During the seventh season of saline irrigation, lateral shoot growth was reduced, leaves and fruit were smaller and leaf fall was earlier in the 2.1 dS/m treatment compared with the control. Dawn and midday water potential and osmotic potential were not significantly affected by saline irrigation. Midday CO₂-assimilation rates (A) and leaf conductance to water vapour diffusion (g) were similar for 2.1 dS/m irrigated and control trees, however there was a trend towards a reduction in A and g of these salt-treated trees late in the irrigation season when leaf Na and Cl had increased to 250 and 240 mM (tissue water basis) respectively.     

Prevention effectiveness of rollover protective structures--Part II: Decision analysis

This is the second of three articles that evaluate the consequences of using rollover protective structures (ROPS) on agricultural tractors. It presents the results of a decision analysis that compares three strategies for preventing injuries when agricultural tractors without ROPS overturn. The three strategies examined are "do nothing", "install ROPS", and "replace tractor". The strategies are implemented over a five-year period and health outcomes expressed as fatal and nonfatal injuries are calculated over a 23-year period. The "do nothing" strategy would result in 1,450 fatalities and 1,806 nonfatal injuries, while the "install ROPS" strategy would prevent 1,176 fatalities and 957 nonfatal injuries, and the "replace tractor" strategy would prevent 1,188 fatalities and 967 nonfatal injuries. The latter two strategies reflect more than an 80% reduction in fatalities and about 53% reduction in nonfatal injuries. The study does not consider overturn injuries that result from tractors lacking ROPS and for which ROPS are unavailable.     

RFLP mapping of an aphid resistance gene in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Summary Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis has several advantages over traditional methods of genetic linkage mapping, one of these being the starting point for map-based cloning. The recent development of an RFLP map of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) has allowed the investigation of associations between genes of interest and RFLP markers. A cross between an aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) resistant cultivated cowpea, TT84S-2246-4, and an aphid susceptible wild cowpea, NI 963, was screened for both aphid phenotype and RFLP marker segregation. One RFLP marker, bg4D9b, was found to be tightly linked to the aphid resistance gene (Rac ₁) and several flanking markers in the same linkage group (linkage group 1) were also identified. The close association of Rac ₁ and RFLP bg4D9b presents a real potential for cloning this insect resistance gene.     

Inheritance of resistance and genetic relationships among soybean plant introductions to races of soybean cyst nematode

Summary The objectives of this study were to determine if genes for resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in soybean PI 437654 were identical or different from the genes in Peking, and PI 90763. The F₂ plants and F₃ families were studied from crosses between PI 437654, Peking, and PI 90763. The cross PI 437654 × susceptible Essex was included to determine inheritance of resistance to SCN. For Race 3, PI 437654 was found to have genes in common with Peking and PI 90763. The segregation in PI 437654 × Essex indicated the presence of one dominant and two recessive genes. For Race 5, PI 437654 indicated the presence of similar genes as those in PI 90763 and Peking whereas, PI 437654 × Essex indicated the action of the segregation ratios of two dominant and two recessive genes. For Race 14, the data from the cross PI 437654 × PI 90763 indicated monogenic inheritance with resistance being dominant; whereas PI 437654 × Peking showed a recessive gene controlling resistance. The segregation in PI 437654(R) × Essex(S) suggested one dominant and two recessive genes for Race 14 reaction.     

Bacterial manganese reduction and growth with manganese oxide as the sole electron acceptor

Microbes that couple growth to the reduction of manganese could play an important role in the biogeochemistry of certain anaerobic environments. Such a bacterium, Alteromonas putrefaciens MR-1, couples its growth to the reduction of manganese oxides only under anaerobic conditions. The characteristics of this reduction are consistent with a biological, and not an indirect chemical, reduction of manganese, which suggest that this bacterium uses manganic oxide as a terminal electron acceptor. It can also utilize a large number of other compounds as terminal electron acceptors; this versatility could provide a distinct advantage in environments where electron-acceptor concentrations may vary.