Venom of the Scorpion Vejovis spinigerus

The chemical composition of lyophilized venom from Vejovis spinigerus is reported. At least 13 distinct bands were obtained on disc electrophoresis; on Sephadex G-50, four major peaks were found. The lethal activity was associated with the second peak. The intravenous lethal dose, median (lethal for 50 percent of inoculated group), of the crude venom was 4.87 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Neither the crude venom nor its fractions had a deleterious effect on neuromuscular transmission, reflex discharge, or antidromic inhibition. Crude venom evoked simultaneous changes in systemic arterial, venous, and cisternal pressures.     

Shock-wave damage in minerals of lunar rocks

The mineral fragments that constitute the Apollo 11 microbreccia and fines show a number of shock-induced microstructural effects including multiple twinning on (001) in clinopyroxene and incipient development of lattice-controlled discontinuities in olivine. These structures coupled with the effects of shock-induced melting as manifested by spherules and angular fragments of glass and their partly to completely crystallized equivalents indicate that Apollo 11 materials were subjected to weak to moderate shocks with associated peak pressures of the order of 100 to 200 kilobars.     

Chemical reactions in cells from leukemic cats

Cytochemical staining for leukocyte alkaline phosphatase(LAP), nonspecific esterase (NSE), nonspecific esterase with fluoride inhibition (NSE-F), periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reactivity, and peroxidase (PO) was valuable in identification of the neoplastic cell type in 10 leukemic cats. Staining both blood and bone marrow smears was often necessary for making the correct diagnosis. Cytochemical staining resulted in changing the morphologic diagnosis of leukemia in two of the 10 cats. Also, increased LAP activity, probably a marker for myelocytic leukemia in the cat, was observed in bone marrow cells from three nonleukemic, FeLV-positive cats.     

A cellulolytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium cultured from the gland of deshayes in shipworms (bivalvia: teredinidae)

A novel bacterium has been isolated in pure culture from the gland of Deshayes in six species of teredinid bivalves. It is the first bacterium known to both digest cellulose and fix nitrogen, and it is a participant in a unique symbiotic relation with shipworms that may explain how teredinids are able to use wood as their principal food source.     

Images of Jupiter's Sulfur Ring

Images of the ring of singly ionized sulfur encircling Jupiter obtained on two successive nights in April 1979 show that the ring characteristics may change dramatically in approximately 24 hours. On the first night the ring was narrow and confined to the magnetic equator inside Io's orbit. On the second it was confined symmetrically about the centrifugal symmetry surface and showed considerable radial structure, including a "fan" extending to Io's orbit. Many of the differences in the ring on the two nights can be explained in terms of differences in sulfur plasma temperature.     

Surgical repair of rectovaginal fistulae in mares: Twelve cases (1983-1991)

The case records of 12 mares at the Ontario and Atlantic Veterinary Colleges were reviewed to evaluate the success rates of surgical techniques used to repair rectovaginal fistulae. A modified horizontal perineal technique was used in eight mares; it was unsuccessful in one mare, but the fistula was subsequently successfully repaired using the same technique. One rectovaginal fistula that was converted to a third-degree perineal laceration was successfully repaired on the third attempt, using the suture principles of the modified horizontal perineal technique. A modified transvaginal technique was used in three mares, in two of which it failed; their fistulae were subsequently converted to third-degree perineal lacerations and repaired using a one-stage closure. We conclude that the modified horizontal perineal technique is a one-stage procedure that is technically easy to perform, results in less tension on the suture lines, and is effective in modifying poor vulvar conformation.     

Effects of hemolysis on serum chemistry analytes in ratites

Since hemolysis has been a common problem in submitted ratite serum samples, a study was performed to determine interference by hemolysates. Nine chemistry analytes including glucose, total protein, albumin, creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AS7), calcium (Ca), phosphorus, and uric acid were evaluated on a wet reagent analyzer (Ciba Corning Express 550) and on a dry slide reagent analyzer (VetTest 8008). In emus, increasing hemoglobin concentrations increased total protein, albumin, and CK for both analyzers. With increasing hemoglobin concentrations, the Ciba Corning 550 analyte values were increased for AST, Ca, and uric acid and decreased for glucose and phosphorus, the opposite effect was seen in values from the VetTest 8008. GGT levels were variable or sometimes undetectable. Changes in ostrich analytes with hemolysis were similar to emus using the same analyzer. The effects of serum hemolysis often differed in magnitude and direction between the two chemistry analyzers. Interferographs were constructed to aid in rapid assessment of the effects of hemolysis on submitted serum samples.