Evaluating the Clinical and Cardiopulmonary Effects of Clove Oil and Propofol in Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum)

Our understanding of clinical anesthesia for amphibians is limited. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of clove oil and propofol as anesthetic agents for tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum). Twelve apparently healthy adult tiger salamanders were anesthetized in a water bath containing clove oil (450 mg/L of water). After a 2-week wash-out period, 11 of the salamanders were used to evaluate the effectiveness of propofol as an anesthetic agent. Propofol was administered intracoelomically at a dose of 25 mg/kg (n = 5) or 35 mg/kg (n = 6). Heart and respiratory rates were monitored at 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-, 90-, 100-, 120-, 150-, and 180-minute intervals after exposure to the anesthetics. Righting, escape, corneal, superficial pain, and deep pain reflexes were also monitored at these time intervals and ranked as (1) normal, (2) slow, or (3) absent. Surgical anesthesia was determined to be when all of the reflexes were lost. Clove oil produced a surgical level of anesthesia in 67% (8/12) of the salamanders. Propofol administered at 25 mg/kg produced surgical anesthesia in 40% (2/5) of the salamanders, whereas propofol at 35 mg/kg produced surgical anesthesia in 83% (5/6) of the animals. Clove oil did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect respiratory rate at any time, but did decrease heart rate significantly (P < 0.05) after 30 minutes. Propofol produced a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the respiratory rate at both doses. Heart rate was also found to decrease significantly (P < 0.05) for propofol at 25 mg/kg after 90 minutes and for propofol at 35 mg/kg at 60 minutes and after 80 minutes. Both clove oil and propofol were found to provide a surgical plane of anesthesia for tiger salamanders. However, clove oil provided more rapid onset of the desired level of anesthesia with a longer duration. Although the intracoelomic route for propofol was effective, the time to surgical anesthesia was prolonged. These anesthetics show promise and may prove useful to veterinarians or field biologists working with urodelans.     

Population dynamics and spread of Unaspis yanonensis in Calabria, Italy

The occurrence of Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Calabria (southern Italy) poses a serious threat to citrus cultivation. A regional survey was performed to record information about its distribution in local citrus orchards. Field population dynamics were also studied. The arrowhead scale, U. yanonensis, was recorded in the two main citrus cultivation areas of Calabria. In the investigated environments U. yanonensis completed two generations per year; a typical bi-modal oviposition was recorded. The arrowhead scale overwintered as second-instar males and pre-ovipositing females.     

Assessment of tissue culture-derived ‘Gala’ and ‘Royal Gala’ apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) for somaclonal variation

To assess somaclonal variation, ‘Gala’ and ‘Royal Gala’ trees obtained via axillary and adventitious bud formation were compared ex vitro to conventionally grafted trees. In general, tissue culture-derived trees were relatively erect in comparison to grafted trees. Their branch angles were narrower than those of grafted trees. All trees that flowered had pink blossoms. There were no obvious differences in flowering time or in floral morphology. Most of the seven-year-old grafted control trees produced more fruits than either axillary or regenerated trees. Although there were differences in the range of fruit color between ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Gala’ apples in both the control and tissue culture-derived plants (the fruits of ‘Royal Gala’ were darker red and more striped than those of ‘Gala’) and also in the degree of pigmentation from tree-to-tree, none of the variation exceeded that observed among apples harvested from an individual ‘Royal Gala’ or ‘Gala’ control tree for either the plants derived from axillary buds or adventitiously. Since both ‘Gala’ and ‘Royal Gala’ axillary buds showed very little somaclonal variation for the morphological and reproductive traits we studied, it appears that tissue culture may be a useful way to propagate these cultivars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Der Lanforser Bestand

Ohne ZusammenfassungJm Heft 26, Nr. 3, 1931, Mitt. aus der forstlichen Bersuchsanstalt Schwedens, habe ich neulich eine Abhandlung veröffentlicht, in der ein votlftändiger Bericht über diesen Bersuch mitgeteilt und Näheres zu ersehen ist.     

Tracing the origin of Spanish common bean cultivars using biochemical and molecular markers

Fifty-four accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris cultivated in Spain and representing a broad variability for this country, were studied together with 30 samples of wild forms of American origin. Two reference cultivars (from the Andes and Mesoamerica) plus two outgroups (P. coccineus and Vigna unguiculata) were also included. RAPD analysis of DNA leaf extracts were carried out with four selected primers. We also studied morphological characters of the seeds and the phaseolin electrophoretic patterns. Multivariate analysis with the UPGMA method using RAPD data clustered the samples in four groups and, comparing with morphological data and phaseolin types, showed that the Spanish cultivars were mainly of Andean origin. Nevertheless, occurrence of introgression in Spain and the consideration of the country as a second center of variability for beans can also explain the obtained results.     

An experimental set-up to study carbon, water, and nitrate uptake rates by hydroponically grown plants

The experimental system described allows concomitant hourly measurements of CO2, H2O, and NO3 uptake rates by plants grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. Plants are enclosed in an airtight chamber through which air flows at a controlled speed. Carbon dioxide exchange and transpiration rates are determined from respective differences of concentrations of CO2 and water vapor of the air at the system inlet and outlet. This set-up is based on the "open-system" principle with improvements made on existing systems. For instance, propeller anemometers are used to monitor air flow rates in the chamber. From their signal it is possible to continuously adjust air speed to changing environmental conditions and plant activity. The air temperature inside the system therefore never rises above that outside. Water and NO3 uptake rates are calculated at time intervals from changes in the volume and the NO3 concentration of the nutrient solution in contact with the roots. The precise measurement of the volume of solution is achieved using a balance which has a higher precision than any liquid level sensors. Nitrate concentration is determined in the laboratory from aliquots of solution sampled at time intervals. A number of test runs are reported which validate the measurements and confirm undisturbed conditions within the system. Results of typical diurnal changes in CO2, H2O, and NO3 uptake rates by fruiting tomato plants are also presented.     

气候类型和作为管理措施对菲律宾北部旱作高地环境的土壤侵蚀和产流的影响（摘选）

对菲律宾北部卡格扬河谷旱作高地区雨情和作物管理措施的影响进行了调查。该研究目的在于评价水蚀预报模型(WEPP)在估算旱稻栽培中的土壤侵蚀率和径流量估算的性能和可行性。研究了自动气象站和采用了3种养护管理作为处理的侵蚀点。对降雨特征(数量、强度、持续时间和频率)与侵蚀数据的关系进行了分析。对不同降雨量、坡度和水土保持情况的实测数据、模拟数据和敏感性分析进行了比较。统计学验证结果表明,WEPP模型可接受。实测和仿真数据表明,当田块周边设有绿篱时,可以减少50%的水土流失。水土流失率与坡度和长度呈线性关系,当坡降为10%~50%,坡长为10~40 m时,水土流失率为1.2~48.46 thm2。该模型可用于开发水土保持和丘陵地区农业流域农场资源优化和利用,提高可持续发展生产力的决策支持工具。     

Impact of Particle Size,Thermal Processing,Fat Inclusion and Moisture Addition on Pellet Quality and Protein Solubility of Broiler Feeds

The present study evaluated the effect of feed particle size, thermal processing, several levels of fat inclusion and moisture addition on pellet quality and protein solubility in potassium hydroxide （KOH） in a corn, soybean meal and animal by products based broiler diets. The different processing factors were combined in a 2 x 4 x 4 x 2 factorial arrangement in an eight randomized block consisting of eight production series： two particle sizes （coarse： 1,041 microns and medium： 743 microns）, four fat inclusion levels at the mixer （15, 25, 35 and 45 g/kg of feed）, four moisture addition levels in the conditioner （0, 7, 14 and 21 g/kg of feed） and two thermal processing treatments （conditioner-pellet press treatment or conditioner-expander-pellet treatment） which resulted in 64 different processed feeds. For the determination of the pellet durability index （PDI）, the amount of intact pellets and protein solubility determinations, eight feed samples （replicates） were collected for each treatment. The data were transformed using a variation of Box-Cox transformation in order to fit a normal distribution （p 〉 0.05）. Adding moisture up to 21 g/kg of feed in the conditioner improved pellet quality of the diets （p 〈 0.05）. Expansion of diets before pelleting improved （P 〈 0.05） PDI and amount of intact pellets by 26% and 31%, respectively, as compared to a simple conditioning-pelleting feed processing. Expander treatment （at 110 ℃） decreased （p 〈 0.05） protein solubility in KOH from 686 g/kg to 643 g/kg total protein as compared to pelleting process （at 80-82 ℃）. The amount of intact pellets reduced from 773 g/kg to 746 g/kg of feed （/7 〈 0.05） as particle size increased from medium to coarse grinding. Pellet quality was significantly reduced with fat inclusion levels higher than 35 g/kg of diet.     

The Trypanosoma cruzi proteome

To complement the sequencing of the three kinetoplastid genomes reported in this issue, we have undertaken a whole-organism, proteomic analysis of the four life-cycle stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Peptides mapping to 2784 proteins in 1168 protein groups from the annotated T. cruzi genome were identified across the four life-cycle stages. Protein products were identified from >1000 genes annotated as "hypothetical" in the sequenced genome, including members of a newly defined gene family annotated as mucin-associated surface proteins. The four parasite stages appear to use distinct energy sources, including histidine for stages present in the insect vectors and fatty acids by intracellular amastigotes.     

Total and EDTA-extractable element contents in ophiolitic soils from Tuscany (Italy)

Total and EDTA extractable element distributions in ophiolitic soils from Tuscany (Central Italy) were studied. The concentration levels recorded for total elements point to a slight pedogeochemical evolution of the soils investigated, since most of them fall in the concentration ranges of the parent materials. The levels of the EDTA extractable elements are consistent with the total element distribution within the soil profiles, and with the weathering patterns of the most common rock-forming minerals. They fall in the ranges which are considered “not toxic” to plants, especially those of heavy metals. It is suggested that the well-known infertility of such soils could be the consequence of major and trace elements synergism.