Estimating evaporation: A comparison between Penman, Idso-Jackson, and zero-flux methods

A field evaporation—drainage study was conducted to compare three methods of predicting evaporative losses from a bare soil. Two of the methods (modified Penman combination and Idso—Jackson) are dependent only on measurements of atmospheric parameters whereas the third method (plane of zero flux) is dependent only on measurements of soil parameters.A Captina soil profile was wet up and allowed to dry by evaporation and drainage. For the initial two days after infiltration ceased all three methods predicted similar evaporative losses. Differences between the three methods occurred when the soil moisture content at the soil surface controlled the evaporation rates. Under the three drying conditions the three methods behaved somewhat differently in the prediction of the amounts of water evaporated from the soil surface. Lower losses by evaporation were predicted by the Idso—Jackson and zero-flux methods. In the case of the Idso—Jackson method this result was attributed to the influence of clouds on albedo, the impact of wind and the importance of albedo in the predictive equation. For the zero-flux method the decrease in evaporation was due to lower soil water contents and matrix potentials near the surface which resulted in lower transport rates of water to the surface.     

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) resistance in tomato derived from Lycopersicon chilense Dun. LA 1938

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) resistance wasidentified in Y118 (Fla 925-2), an F₁BC₁S₆ tomato line(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), derived from a crosswith L. chilense Dun. (LA 1938). This line waspreviously selected for tomato mottle virus (ToMoV)resistance in Florida. Progeny from crosses betweenFla 925-2 and three different TSWV susceptible L.esculentum parents were used in TSWV resistancestudies. A total of 75 F₁ and 596 F₂ plants from allthree crosses were screened for TSWV resistance. ForF₂ plants free of TSWV symptoms, evaluations were madeusing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TenF₃ populations used for further greenhouse and fieldscreenings were selected from F₂ plants found to befree of the virus using visual and ELISA criteria ateach evaluation. One F₁ and four F₃ lines werestudied under field conditions (Stellenbosch, SouthAfrica) in which 100% of the `Flora-Dade' susceptiblecontrols were severely infected with TSWV. Theresults of the field study clearly establish that TSWVfield resistance is present in the Fla 925-2 (Y118)derived lines. Studies conducted on these linesrevealed that this resistance has the distinctcharacteristic of often `recovering' from initiallyhigh levels of virus titer in the tissue to levelsbelow detection with ELISA.     

The characterization of cycad palm toxicosis and treatment effects in 130 dogs

The purpose of this retrospective study is to characterize the clinical signs, laboratory values, treatment modalities and mortality outcomes related to cycad palm toxicosis in dogs and to identify medical interventions that potentially correlate with mortality. Dogs with confirmed cycad palm ingestion were identified by reviewing medical records from two private veterinary referral centres for key terms and phrases indicative of cycad palm toxicosis. Of 130 dogs included, 107 (82.3%) presented with clinical signs. A total of 2 (1.5%) died and 14 (10.8%) were euthanized. Diarrhea, lethargy and mortality were all associated with an elevated initial alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration. Overall mortality was 12.3%, with a significantly higher proportion of dogs with an ALT concentration <125 U/L surviving compared to dogs with an elevated ALT concentration. Treatment with activated charcoal reduced the odds of death among all dogs by 82% and was even more protective among dogs with an elevated initial ALT concentration. Among dogs that had an initial platelet count performed, the presence of thrombocytopenia (<200,000/μL) was a negative prognostic indicator and was associated with a significant increase in mortality. Given the high mortality rates reported for cycad palm toxicosis, it is imperative to identify early clinical indicators of mortality as well as treatments that reduce mortality.     

Radiographic differentiation of mediastinal versus pulmonary masses in dogs and cats can be challenging

The ability to differentiate thoracic masses of mediastinal and pulmonary origins is often confounded by their complex spatial relationship. The objectives of this retrospective, observational cross‐sectional study were to assess radiographic differentiation of mediastinal versus pulmonary masses, and to determine if there are any correlations with specific radiographic findings. Thoracic radiographs of 75 dogs and cats with mediastinal and/or pulmonary masses identified on CT were reviewed. Radiographic studies were anonymized, randomized, and reviewed twice by three reviewers. Reviewers categorized the origin of each mass(es) as mediastinal, pulmonary, or both. On the second review, the presence or absence of 21 different radiographic findings was recorded for each mass. Agreement between the radiographic and CT categorization of mass origin, as well as inter‐ and intraobserver agreement, was calculated. Overall agreement between radiographs and CT was moderate for both mediastinal (68.6%) and pulmonary masses (63%). Overall, interobserver agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50‐0.74), with moderate to strong intraobserver agreement (κ = 0.58‐0.93). Masses within the mediastinum were significantly more likely to displace other mediastinal structures. Alternatively, masses lateral to midline and in the caudal thorax were found to be significantly positively correlated with a pulmonary origin. The results of this study highlight the limitations of radiography for differentiation of mediastinal and pulmonary masses, with mass location and displacement of other mediastinal structures potentially useful for radiographic findings that may help improve accuracy.     

Auranofin improves overall survival when combined with standard of care in a pilot study involving dogs with osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common paediatric primary bone malignancy. The major cause of death in osteosarcoma is drug‐resistant pulmonary metastasis. Previous studies have shown that thioredoxin reductase 2 is a driver of metastasis in osteosarcoma and can be inhibited by auranofin (AF). Moreover, studies have shown that AF significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in xenotransplant models. Here, we describe a phase I/II study of AF in canine osteosarcoma, a well‐recognized spontaneous model of human osteosarcoma. We performed a single‐arm multicentre pilot study of AF in combination with standard of care (SOC) (amputation + carboplatin). We recruited 40 dogs to the trial and used a historical SOC‐only control group (n = 26). Dogs >15 kg received 9 mg AF q3d PO and dogs <15 kg received 6 mg q3d. Follow‐up occurred over at least a 3‐year period. Auranofin plus SOC improved overall survival (OS) (P = .036) in all dogs treated. The improved outcome was attributable entirely to improved OS in male dogs (P = .009). At the time of writing, 10 dogs (25%) survive without measurable disease in the treatment group with survival times ranging between 806 and 1525 days. Our study shows that AF improves OS in male dogs when combined with SOC. Our findings have translational relevance for the management of canine and human osteosarcoma. Our data justify a larger multicentre phase 2 trial in dogs and a phase I/II trial in human patients with refractory disease at the time of initial surgery.     

Captive sentinel hosts efficiently measure the establishment,seasonality and dispersal of a parasitoid biological control agent

Introduced biological control agents are used to suppress populations and reduce the damage caused by many exotic herbivorous insects in New Zealand pasture. Understanding the dispersal behaviour of a recently introduced biocontrol agent in its new environment is important as it helps biocontrol practitioners make decisions on the number and location of future releases. In this study, a monitoring device which contained sentinel hosts was developed to monitor the establishment and dispersal of the Irish strain of Microctonus aethiopoides (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) into areas of the South Island of New Zealand where the clover pest Sitona obsoletus Gmelin (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) had recently become established. Field tests of the monitoring device at five sites in Marlborough confirmed that M. aethiopoides would enter the device through a 900 µm mesh and parasitise the sentinel weevils within. In a further trial conducted over 4 years at four sites in North Canterbury, monitoring devices successfully tracked the dispersal and establishment of M. aethiopoides at sites up to 27 km from the original release site. Monitoring devices containing sentinel hosts may help reduce the cost of classical biological control programmes as they enable rapid sampling of numerous sites and largely eliminate the time consuming practice of dissecting field collected hosts to determine the presence of the parasitoid.