Biological effects of staphylococcal protein A immunotherapy in cats with induced feline leukemia virus infection.

Biological effects of staphylococcal protein A (SPA) immunotherapy were studied in 5 viremic and 6 nonviremic cats with induced FeLV infection and in 6 control cats. The SPA therapy neither reversed FeLV viremia nor resulted in consistent improvement in humoral immune responses to FeLV antigens. However, SPA immunotherapy induced a proliferative response in bone marrow granulocytic lineage, possibly resulting in expression of FeLV-free mature neutrophils in the blood. Seemingly, viral burden and chemiluminescent responses were reversed in viremic cats during SPA immunotherapy.     

Clinicopathologic findings associated with chronic renal disease in cats: 74 cases (1973-1984)

The historic, physical, laboratory, and histologic findings for 74 cats with chronic renal disease were reviewed. Most cats were older, and no breed or sex predilection was detected. This most common clinical signs detected by owners were lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Dehydration and emaciation were common physical examination findings. Common laboratory findings were nonregenerative anemia, lymphopenia, azotemia, hypercholesterolemia, metabolic acidosis, hyperphosphatemia, and isosthenuria. The most common morphologic diagnosis was chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis of unknown cause. The other pathologic diagnoses were renal lymphosarcoma, renal amyloidosis, chronic pyelonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, polycystic renal disease, and pyogranulomatous nephritis secondary to feline infectious peritonitis.     

Incorporating biological information in local land-use decision making: designing a system for conservation planning

Human settlement is a formidable agent of change affecting fundamental ecological processes. Decisions governing these land-use changes occur almost exclusively at the local level and, as a result, they are made at many different locations and times. Consequently, it is difficult for ecologists to provide needed scientific support for these choices. We built an information system designed to support conservation decisions at local scales by offering data over the Internet. We collaborated with local stakeholders (e.g., developers, planners, politicians, land owners, environmental activists) to design the system. This collaboration produced several generalizations about effective design of information systems to support conservation. The most important of these is the idea that ecological data and analysis must be understood by those who will be affected by the decisions. Also, planning for conservation is a process that uses scientific data, but that ultimately depends on the expression of human values. A major challenge landscape ecologists face is to extend general landscape principles to provide specific scientific information needed for local land-use planning.     

Elemental compositions of comet 81P/Wild 2 samples collected by Stardust

We measured the elemental compositions of material from 23 particles in aerogel and from residue in seven craters in aluminum foil that was collected during passage of the Stardust spacecraft through the coma of comet 81P/Wild 2. These particles are chemically heterogeneous at the largest size scale analyzed ( approximately 180 ng). The mean elemental composition of this Wild 2 material is consistent with the CI meteorite composition, which is thought to represent the bulk composition of the solar system, for the elements Mg, Si, Mn, Fe, and Ni to 35%, and for Ca and Ti to 60%. The elements Cu, Zn, and Ga appear enriched in this Wild 2 material, which suggests that the CI meteorites may not represent the solar system composition for these moderately volatile minor elements.     

Chylous ascites in three dogs.

Chylous ascites was diagnosed in 3 dogs. Mesenteric lymphangiography was performed in 2 dogs and helped delineate abnormalities of the lymphatic system. The cause of chylous ascites in each dog appeared to be different. In 1 dog, a ruptured mesenteric lymphatic was identified at surgery. Evidence of abdominal lymphatic obstruction was found in another dog. Chylous ascites in the third dog appeared to be a complication of mesenteric lymphangiography for chylothorax.     

Analytical models integrated with satellite images for optimized pest management

The global field protection (GFP) was developed to protect and optimize pest management resources integrating satellite images for precise field demarcation with physical models of controlled release devices of pesticides to protect large fields. The GFP was implemented using a graphical user interface to aid the end-user to select location and define an arbitrary perimeter for protection. The system provides coordinates of drop points for the controlled release devices which can be delivered using drone technology, e.g. unmanned air vehicles. In this work, we present the first proof of concept of this technology. A vast number of pest management applications can benefit from this work, including prevention against vector-borne diseases as well as protection of large agriculture fields.