The Genome sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus

We sequenced the 29,751-base genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus known as the Tor2 isolate. The genome sequence reveals that this coronavirus is only moderately related to other known coronaviruses, including two human coronaviruses, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E. Phylogenetic analysis of the predicted viral proteins indicates that the virus does not closely resemble any of the three previously known groups of coronaviruses. The genome sequence will aid in the diagnosis of SARS virus infection in humans and potential animal hosts (using polymerase chain reaction and immunological tests), in the development of antivirals (including neutralizing antibodies), and in the identification of putative epitopes for vaccine development.     

Reconstruction of Current Flow and Imaging of Current-Limiting Defects in Polycrystalline Superconducting Films

Magneto-optical imaging was used to visualize the inhomogeneous penetration of magnetic flux into polycrystalline TlBa2Ca2Cu3Ox films with high critical current densities, to reconstruct the local two-dimensional supercurrent flow patterns and to correlate inhomogeneities in this flow with the local crystallographic misorientation. The films have almost perfect c-axis alignment and considerable local a- and b-axis texture because the grains tend to form colonies with only slightly misaligned a and b axes. Current flows freely over these low-angle grain boundaries but is strongly reduced at intermittent colony boundaries of high misorientation. The local (<10-micrometer scale) critical current density Jc varies widely, being up to 10 times as great as the transport Jc (scale of approximately 1 millimeter), which itself varies by a factor of about 5 in different sections of the film. The combined experiments show that the magnitude of the transport Jc is largely determined by a few high-angle boundaries.     

Sequential extraction methods for soil organic nitrogen

(pp. 825–831)
This study was carried out to clarify the effects of soil nitrate before cultivation and amounts of basal-dressed nitrogen on additional N application rate and yields of semi-forced tomato for three years from 1998 to 2000. The amounts and timing of additional N dressing were determined based on diagnosis of petiole sap nitrate. The top-dressing was carried out with a liquid fertilizer when the nitrate concentration of a leaflet's petiole sap of leaf beneath fruit which is 2–4 cm declined below 2000 mg L⁻¹.
For standard yield by the method of fertilizer application based on this condition, no basal-dressed nitrogen was required when soil nitrate before cultivation was 150 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil or higher in the 0–30 cm layer; 38 kg ha⁻¹ of basal-dressed nitrogen, which corresponds to 25% of the standard rate of fertilizer application of Chiba Prefecture, was optimum when soil nitrate before cultivation was 100150 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil; 75 kg ha⁻¹ of basal-dressed nitrogen, which corresponds to 50% of the standard, was optimum when soil nitrate before cultivation was under 100 mg kg⁻¹ dry soil. A standard yield was secured and the rate of nitrogen fertilizer application decreased by 49–76% of the standard by keeping the nitrate concentration of tomato petiole sap between 1000–2000 mg L⁻¹ from early harvest time to topping time under these conditions.     

In this issue – August 2011

History of veterinary education in Australia · Neurological diseases following bacterial and protozoal infections · Lameness model in sheep · Effects of barefoot trimming · EGFR and HER‐2 as prognostic makers in mammary tumours · Bacteria in semen fractions in dogs     

In this issue – April 2011

Lomustine‐associated toxicity · Iliopsoas fibrotic myopathy · Porcine circovirus‐associated disease in weaner pigs · Measures of welfare in Bos indicus heifers · eFSH for superovulation in mares · Recurrent Actinobacillus peritonitis in a horse     

Unilateral orbital lacrimal gland abscess in a horse

A 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented for evaluation of a periorbital dorsal swelling of the left eye that had been intermittently present for 3 months. Upon ocular examination, a firm, non-painful swelling was identified under the upper eyelid in the region of the orbital lacrimal gland, and was noted to extend anteriorly from underneath the dorsal orbital rim. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a mixed echogenic mass along the dorsal orbital rim that followed the contour of the globe. CT scan showed a moderately contrast enhancing mass that was contiguous with the eyelid. Differential diagnoses included neoplasia, inflammatory lesions such as a granuloma, foreign body or abscess. Surgical exploration and excision of the mass revealed a lobular structure with a purulent center. Histopathology identified the mass as the orbital lacrimal gland with concurrent severe dacryoadenitis. Culture of the purulent center of the mass revealed beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was maintained on supportive care and antibiotic treatment based on sensitivity postoperatively. No recurrence was reported 40 months later. This paper aims to identify bacterial dacryoadenitis as a cause for unilateral periorbital swelling in the horse. Differential diagnoses for this presentation, as well as successful surgical management are discussed. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case of bacterial dacryoadenitis and subsequent abscessation of the orbital lacrimal gland in the horse.     

Pyrethroid insecticides derived from 2,2′ -bridged biphenyl-3-ylmethanols

The addition of a hydrocarbon bridge between the 2- and 2′-positions in biphenyl constrains the twist angle between the two phenyl rings to fairly small limits. It has been found that the biological activity of a series of pyrethroid esters, of hydrocarbon bridged biphenyl-3-ylmethanols and of heterocyclic hydrocarbonbridged biphenyl analogues, changes with the length of the bridge. The optimum activity and the maximum biological activity spectrum were found for the esters of three-carbon bridged alcohols. The relationship of the activity to the twist angle for these bridged esters was compared with the activity and spectrum of a series of biphenyl and heterocyclic biphenyl analogues previously reported. A parallel exists between the two series. The optimum twist angle between the aromatic rings of the alcohols, in both the bridged and free rotating analogues, is around 50°. Pyrethroid esters showing the highest activity were produced from 6, 7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo-[a,c]cyclohepten-4-ylmethanol. The biological activity of a series of pyrethroid esters of this alcohol is also reported.     

Visceral mast cell tumour with eosinophilia and eosinophilic peritoneal and pleural effusions in a cat

Summary A cat with weight loss, pyrexia and recurrent lethargy and depression was found to have pleural and peritoneal eosinophilic effusions, peripheral eosinophilia, eosinophilic lymphadenitis and a massively enlarged mesenteric lymph node. Visceral mast cell neoplasia was diagnosed after histopathological examination of a biopsy of the mass. Palliative chemotherapy was attempted unsuccessfully and the cat was euthanased.