The use of computed tomography in the diagnosis of an ectopic ureter in a Quarter Horse filly

This report describes a 4‐month‐old Quarter Horse filly with an ectopic ureter. The filly presented with signs of urinary incontinence, which had been present since birth. Computed tomography (CT) examination and cystoscopy confirmed a diagnosis of a unilateral ectopic ureter. A nephrectomy of the left kidney was performed and renal function was closely monitored post operatively. The filly was treated for abdominal chylous effusion as a post operative complication. The filly survived to discharge from the hospital, and maintained normal urinary function at 12 months post operatively.     

Dye-sensitized photoinactivation of the lactic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase from the boll weevil,Anthonomous grandis

The lactic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase enzymes of the boll weevil, Anthonomous grandis, have been shown to be inactivated by dye-sensitized photooxidation mediated by substituted xanthenes. The efficiency of the photooxidation reaction was correlated with the degree of halogenation of the dye molecule, the efficiency of the dye in singlet oxygen formation, and the strength of binding to lactic dehydrogenase. Changes in the in vivo levels of these enzymes due to ingestion of rose bengal by adult weevils are not further modified in the presence of light.     

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.     

Prediction of clean mohair, fiber diameter, vegetable matter, and medullated fiber with near-infrared spectroscopy.

Four experiments were conducted in three separate years to test the utility of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict the clean mohair content of Angora goat fleece. Mohair fleece samples were obtained each year from yearling billies at the conclusion of the Angora Goat Performance Test conducted at the Texas A&M University Research Station, Sonora. In Exp. 1 (n = 293) and Exp. 2 (n = 256), fleeces were scanned with a Pacific Scientific (Silver Spring, MD) near-infrared spectrometer fitted with a fiber-optic probe, and calibrations were developed for clean mohair content. In Exp. 3, 59 mohair fleeces collected at the Texas A&M Research Station in San Angelo were sampled four times each. Each sample was scanned with the same spectrometer in reflectance mode fitted with a transport mechanism. This mechanism allowed the instrument to scan a 15-cm2 segment of the fleece sample. Conventional procedures to determine reference values for mohair yield, vegetable matter content, fiber diameter, and percentage of medullated and kemp fibers were conducted. Prediction equations were developed that related NIR spectra to reference values for yield and diameter parameters and were used to predict mohair characteristics for each fleece sample. The predicted and reference values were subjected to a simple analysis of variance to determine variation within and across samples. In Exp. 1, mohair base was related to NIR spectra with R2 = .46 and standard error of calibration (SEC) = 2.84%. In Exp. 2, similar repeatability errors for mohair base could be obtained for both reference- and NIRS-derived values. Fiber diameter and medullated fibers were poorly related to NIR spectra. When samples were scanned using the transport mechanism (Exp. 3), R2 and SEC were .82 and 1.19% for mohair base and .93 and .98 microm for fiber diameter, respectively. The CV for mohair base and diameter were 1.0 and 1.4%, whereas those for predicted mohair base and diameter were 1.4 and 3.4%, respectively. The increased variation within samples for predicted values represents sampling error and lack of fit between NIRS and the laboratory determined values. When the samples from Exp. 1 and 2 were rescanned with the NIRS transport (Exp. 4), R2 and SEC were .79 and 2.03% for mohair base and .52 and 3.49 microm for fiber diameter. The fiber optic probe would facilitate real-time analysis on the shearing floor, but our data indicate that the spectral limitations so far are too severe. A large sample device such as the transport gave excellent results for predicting mohair base and fiber diameter.     

Carcase characteristics of emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

1. Six emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) were slaughtered at 13 months of age in order to determine carcase, by-product and muscle yields. 2. Emus had a lower percentage of hot carcase weight (52%) and total fat (28%) to body weight but a higher lean meat to carcase weight (69%) than ostriches or rheas. 3. The amount of trimming of connective tissue from muscles of the lower leg (Gastrocnemius, Fibularis longus) has an influence (P<0.05) on the yields from these muscles.     

Modelling soil organic carbon turnover in improved fallows in eastern Zambia using the RothC-26.3 model

Scarcity of simple and reliable methods of estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) turnover and lack of data from long-term experiments make it difficult to estimate attainable soil C sequestration in tropical improved fallows. Testing and validating existing and widely used SOC models would help to determine attainable C storage in fallows. The Rothamsted C (RothC) model, therefore, was tested using empirical data from improved fallows at Msekera in eastern Zambia. This study (i) determined the effects of nitrogen fixing tree (NFT) species on aboveground organic C inputs to the soil and SOC stocks, (ii) estimated annual net organic C inputs to the soil using the RothC, and (iii) tested the performance of RothC model using empirical data from improved fallows. Soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from coppicing and non-coppicing fallow experiments in October 2002 for determination of SOC by LECO CHN-1000 analyser. Data on surface litter, maize and weed biomasses, and on weather, were supplied by the Zambia/ICRAF Agroforestry Project. Measured SOC stocks to 20 cm depth ranged from 32.2 to 37.8 t ha⁻¹ in coppicing fallows and 29.5 to 30.1 t ha⁻¹ in non-coppicing fallows compared to 22.2–26.2 t ha⁻¹ in maize monoculture systems. Coppicing fallows accumulated more SOC (680–1150 g m⁻² year⁻¹) than non-coppicing fallows (410–789 g m⁻² year⁻¹). While treatments with NFTs accumulated more SOC than NFT-free systems, SOC stocks increased with increasing tree biomass production and tree rotation. For food security and C sequestration, coppicing fallows are a potentially viable option.     

Genetic effects on acute phase protein response to the stresses of weaning and transportation in beef calves

The objective herein was to estimate heterosis and breed effects in purebred and crossbred Romosinuano, Brahman, and Angus calves on acute phase protein response to weaning and transportation. Calves (n = 1,032) were weaned in September of 2002, 2003, and 2004 at approximately 7 mo of age. Approximately 28 d after weaning, steer calves (n = 482) were transported 1,800 km (20 h) to Oklahoma. Concentrations of 3 acute phase proteins (ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen, and haptoglobin) were measured in blood samples. Calves (steers and heifers) were sampled at weaning, and 24 and 72 h postweaning. For separate analyses, steers sent to Oklahoma were sampled before shipment, upon arrival, and 24 and 72 h after arrival. Combinations of the following fixed effects were investigated: sire breed, dam breed, sampling time, birth location, calf sex (weaning only), year, cow age, and interactions. Effects of special interest were sire breed x dam breed as an indication of breed group of calf, and the interaction of sire and dam breeds with sampling time. Weaning age and BW were investigated as linear and quadratic covariates. Sire of calf within sire breed was a random term. The correlation structure of repeated measures was determined by comparison of information criterion values for different structures within each analysis. In general, plasma acute phase protein concentrations in weaned calves increased with sampling time. Concentrations in the transported steers increased through sampling at 24 h after arrival, and were lower at 72 h. Significant estimates of heterosis were detected for Brahman-Angus haptoglobin concentrations at weaning (0.38 +/- 0.14 mg/dL x 100; 44%), and for Romosinuano-Angus fibrinogen concentrations at weaning (11.4 +/- 5.5 mg/dL; 10%) and in transported steers (22.5 +/- 8.4 mg/dL; 20%). The direct effect of Romosinuano was to increase (P <0.004) ceruloplasmin concentrations of weaned calves (4.1 +/- 0.9 mg/dL) and of transported steers (3.9 +/- 1.3 mg/dL). The direct effect of Angus was to lower ceruloplasmin concentrations in weaned calves (-3.9 +/- 1.2; P = 0.001). Significant maternal effects were detected at weaning for ceruloplasmin concentrations in Romosinuano (-1.4 +/- 0.5 mg/ dL) and Angus (1.6 +/- 0.7 mg/dL) and fibrinogen concentrations in Brahman calves (-17.7 +/- 8.8 mg/dL). These data imply that acute phase protein concentrations in response to weaning and transportation are impacted by cattle breed.     

Nitrogen metabolism in crossbred steers with varying levels of Brahman using a nitrogen depletion-repletion regimen

Nine N metabolism trials were conducted in a N-depletion-repletion regimen using five breed crosses of steers with 0, 25 or 50% Brahman. Three steers from each breed cross (avg initial wt 239 kg) were standardized for 3 wk on an 18% protein diet and depleted for 5 wk on a 7.5% protein diet and then repleted for 4 wk on the 18% protein diet. Nitrogen balance and blood and urinary N metabolites were monitored to determine changes in metabolic status due to changes in dietary N intake. Reduced N intake during the depletion period almost completely inhibited fiber digestion (P less than .01), while ruminal ammonia concentration fell from an average concentration of 156 during standardization to 22 mg/liter (P less than .01) during depletion. Organic matter digestion was depressed (P less than .05) due to the reduced fiber digestion. Absolute amounts of intake, fecal, urinary, absorbed and retained N were severely depressed during depletion. Apparent digestibility of N was reduced from an average of 68% during standardization to 42% (P less than .05) during depletion, but truly digested N was not affected. Nitrogen retained, as a percentage of intake, or absorbed was reduced only during the first week of depletion. Urea N comprised the major identified urinary fraction during standardization and repletion, whereas creatinine was the major fraction during depletion. Brahman-cross steers excreted more urinary N (P less than .1) and retained less N (P less than .13) during repletion than Angus X Hereford steers. Creatinine excretion was also higher (P less than .01) during depletion for Brahman-cross steers. Blood urea and albumin N concentrations were higher (P less than .05) during both depletion and repletion among Brahman crosses. These experiments suggest that blood measurements were more sensitive than N balance to changes in dietary N state and that faster recharge of blood N measurements in Brahman cattle may help mitigate adverse effects of N depletion stress.     

Treatment of Domestic Wastewater by Three Plant Species in Constructed Wetlands

Three common Appalachian plant species (Juncus effusus L., Scirpus validus L., and Typha latifolia L.) were planted into small-scale constructed wetlands receivingprimary treated wastewater. The experimental design includedtwo wetland gravel depths (45 and 60 cm) and five plantingtreatments (each species in monoculture, an equal mixture of the three species, and controls without vegetation), with two replicates per depth × planting combination. Inflow rates (19 L day^-1) and frequency (3 times day^-1) were designed to simulate full-scale constructed wetlands as currently used for domestic wastewater treatmentin West Virginia. Influent wastewater and the effluent from each wetland were sampled monthly for ten physical, chemical and biological parameters, and plant demographic measurements were made. After passing through these trough wetlands, the average of all treatments showed a 70% reduction in total suspended solids (TSS) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 50 to 60% reduction in nitrogen (TKN), ammonia and phosphate, anda reduction of fecal coliforms by three orders of magnitude. Depth of gravel (45 or 60 cm) had little effect on wetland treatment ability, but did influence Typha and Scirpus growth patterns. Gravel alone provided significant wastewater treatment, but vegetation further improved many treatment efficiencies. Typha significantly out-performedJuncus and Scirpus both in growth and in effluent quality improvement. There was also some evidence that the species mixture out-performed species monocultures.Typhawas the superior competitor in mixtures, but a decline in Typha growth with distance from the influent pipe suggested that nutrients became limiting or toxicities may have developed.