Behavior studies by capacitance sensing

The movements of small burrowing animals submerged in sand are monitored through capacitance changes which detune radio-frequency oscillators. A new dimension of reptilian activity studies is possible by using this technique. Some early observations of several reptile species maintained in darkness in isothermal sand are given. Patterns of behavior during active phases, depth and rate of diving, and duration of quiescent periods are being revealed in detail for the first time.     

The structure of the upper atmosphere of mars: In situ accelerometer measurements from mars global surveyor

The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) z-axis accelerometer has obtained over 200 vertical structures of thermospheric density, temperature, and pressure, ranging from 110 to 170 kilometers, compared to only three previous such vertical structures. In November 1997, a regional dust storm in the Southern Hemisphere triggered an unexpectedly large thermospheric response at mid-northern latitudes, increasing the altitude of thermospheric pressure surfaces there by as much as 8 kilometers and indicating a strong global thermospheric response to a regional dust storm. Throughout the MGS mission, thermospheric density bulges have been detected on opposite sides of the planet near 90 degreesE and 90 degreesW, in the vicinity of maximum terrain heights. This wave 2 pattern may be caused by topographically-forced planetary waves propagating up from the lower atmosphere.     

THE ABSORPTION,TRANSLOCATION AND METABOLISM CHARACTERISTICS OF 4-(2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY)BUTYRIC ACID IN BIGLEAF MAPLE*

Summary. Detached leaves treated with 2,4-DB were used to demonstrate that the foliage of Acer macrophyllum Pursh. possesses the enzyme systems necessary for oxidation of the 2,4-DB side chain. Absorption and translocation studies showed that 2,4-DB was absorbed less but translocated more than some other phenoxy herbicides which have been tested on this species. Studies with excised stem phloem and excised roots showed that different plant tissues are not equally capable of decarboxylating 2,4-DB. An experiment with intact plants established that 2,4-DB was translocated unchanged, and that the primary product of the oxidation of 2,4-DB is 2,4-D. The results are discussed with respect to the translocation characteristics of this herbicide in bigleaf maple. Caractères de l'absorption, de la migration et du métabolisme de l'acide 4-(2,4-dichlorophénoxy) butyrique dans l'érable a grandes feuilles     

THE METABOLISM OF A SERIES OF CHLOROPHEN-OXYALKYL ACID HERBICIDES IN BIGLEAF MAPL. E,ACER MACROPHYLLUM PURSH.*

Summary. Studies of the metabolism characteristics of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, dichlorprop and fenoprop were made to gain a better understanding of the differential response of a woody Plant, big leaf maPl. e, to certain phenoxy-type herbicides. In one test in which detached leaves were used, it was established that decarboxylation is not an important detoxification mechanism in treated foliage. This same test showed the phenoxyacetic herbicides to be more stable than the α-phenoxypropionic herbicides in treated leaves. In intact Plants 2,4,5-T was consistently more stable than 2,4-D, but the relative amount of metabolism of the herbicides varied with the Plant part. The results are discussed with respect to the differential response of bigleaf maPl. e. Métabolisme d'une série d'herbicides du groupe des acides chlorophénoxyalkylés dans l'érable à grandes feuilles Acer macrophyllum Pursh.     

Experimental infection of goats with Brucella ovis

Six goats were inoculated with Brucella ovis. Two goats were inoculated with infected semen by the intratesticular route and 2 each by installation of the semen on to the nasal or preputial epithelium. All goats produced antibody responses as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedure and the serums of 5 goats reacted in complement fixation tests for B. ovis. The 2 goats inoculated by the intratesticular route and one receiving B. ovis instilled intranasally subsequently excreted B. ovis in their semen. The possibility of natural transmission is discussed.     

DIFFERENTIATION OF NEOPLASTIC FROM NON-NEOPLASTIC LESIONS IN DOG BRAIN USING QUANTITATIVE CT

The uptake and washout of iodinated contrast medium in neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in the dog brin was quantified using computed tomography. The magnitude of tissue contrast enhancement was measured during and up to 15 minutes following an intravenous infusion of contrast medium. Compartmental analysis was used to obtain rate contants for contrast medium movement into and out of brain lesions. In non-glioma tumors, contrast enhancement was maximum during the infusion and the rate of contrast washout was comparable to that measured in the normal brain. Mixed gliomas also showed maximum enhancement during infusion, but there was no washout of contrast. Contrast enhancement in radiation-induced brain damage and cystic encephalomalacia secondary to tumor compression continued to increase for 5–15 minutes after infusion; rate constants in these non-tumor lesions were different from all tumors studied. Hyperthermia-induced lesions had comparable rate constants for contrast washin and washout. These results indicate that kinetic CT studies provide a non-invasive measure of permeability differences between lesions, may be useful in differentiating certain types of intracranial lesions, and may provide an effective method for patient follow-up after treatment.     

Vulvovaginectomy and Perineal Urethrostomy for Neoplasms of the Vulva and Vagina

Vulvovaginectomy and perineal urethrostomy were performed in three dogs with extensive neoplasms of the vulva and vagina. One benign tumor (fibroleiomyoma) and two malignant tumors (transitional cell carcinoma and anaplastic spindle cell sarcoma) were diagnosed. Survival times were 9 weeks to 10 months. Urinary continence was preserved in all three dogs. The procedure may be curative for benign tumors or malignant tumors that have not yet metastasized; it is a palliative procedure for advanced malignancies.