Nodular dermatofibrosis and cystic renal disease in three mixed-breed dogs and a Boxer dog

Three mixed-breed dogs and a Boxer dog with nodular dermatofibrosis are described. The three mixed breed dogs had concurrent renal epithelial cysts ( n  = 2) or renal cystadenomas ( n  = 1); these lesions were visualized antemortem on ultrasonographic examination. One of these dogs was a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever-Gordon Setter mixed breed which survived 5 years after diagnosis, and was euthanized for unrelated causes. The Boxer dog had renal cystic adenomatous hyperplasia and renal cystadenocarcinomas which were not visualized on ultrasonographic examination but were diagnosed at necropsy.     

Effects of Added Shelter and Stocking Density on Growth of Sleepy Cod Oxyeleotris lineolatus in Ponds

Sleepy cod Oxyeleotris lineolatus is a species of freshwater goby in demand in Australian markets by consumers of Asian origin. It is related to marble goby Oxyeleotris marmoratus , the most expensive freshwater food fish in Asia, which is cultured throughout southeast Asia in ponds and cages. The performance of sleepy cod in culture conditions was investigated to assess the viability of farming them in northern Australia. Sleepy cod fingerlings (62.8 ± 0.8 mm total length and 2.56 ± 0.095 g) were stocked into experimental ponds at 32,857 fish/ha, and grown out for 8 mo. Shelter was provided in each of three replicate ponds and was absent in three control ponds. The provision of shelter in juvenile growout was found to be of no benefit, although fish in ponds provided with shelter weighed slightly more per unit length than fish in ponds without shelter. Cannibalism was not a problem in growout, and survival was close to 100%. After the shelter trial was completed, fish were graded into large and small classes (three replicates of each), and grown out without shelter at the same density for 158 d. Following that, fish were again graded, and the largest 30% retained from growout at a density of 8,857 fish/ha (large, 198 ± 6.44 g) or 10,000 fish/ha (small, 48.9 ± 1.27 g). These were grown out for 188 d. Growth of selected stock at low densities was slower than earlier growth rates, although smaller fish gained weight more rapidly than larger fish. Growth rates were better than the only published data for marble goby. Further investigation into high density culture and different genotypes of sleepy cod needs to be undertaken to determine the viability of pond culture.     

Members of soil bacterial communities sensitive to tillage and crop rotation

Pyrosequencing was used to study the effect of rotation and tillage on total bacterial communities. We designed primers to the bacterial 16s rDNA and amplified DNA from soil samples from a long-term tillage/rotation trial in Kansas for two seasons. The 2 × 2 factorial trial had two rotation treatments (wheat-wheat and wheat-soybean) and two tillage treatments (conventional and no-till). A total of 20,180 16s rDNA sequences were generated and 2337 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assembled using a 97% similarity cut-off. The phylum Proteobacteria represented 38% of 299 identified taxa. The second most abundant phylum was Acidobacteria, making up 20% of the sequences, the majority of which were Acidobacteria Group 1. The phyla Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes comprised 12% and 3.5% of the sequences. Other groups detected included TM7, Nitrospira, Verrucomicrobia, and Bacteroidetes. Some clusters of Acidobacteria Group 1 were more frequent in continuous wheat versus wheat-soybean rotation, some Acidobacteria Group 2 were more frequent in no-till, and some Acidobacteria Group 4 were more frequent in wheat-soybean rotation. These results were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Pyrosequencing provided taxonomic information about the overall bacterial community, and detected community shifts resulting from different cropping practices.     

In vivo investigation of changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress induced by plant food rich diets

It is well established that vegetables and fruit (VF) contain antioxidant phytochemicals. Consequently, it is expected that individuals who consume diets with a high content of VF should be better protected against oxidative cellular damage than individuals who do not, but not all data support this assumption. The objective of this study was to identify possible explanations for this conundrum. The effects of two diets that differed in VF content on markers of oxidative damage were studied. Sixty-four women participated in a 14-day dietary intervention. Subjects consumed on average either 3.6 or 12.1 servings of VF per day. The primary end points assessed were 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) in peripheral lymphocyte DNA and 8-isoprostaglandin F-2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha) excreted in urine. Subjects consuming the high versus low VF diet had lower concentrations of 8-oxo-dG (p < 0.01) and of 8-iso-PGF2alpha (p < 0.01). However, the reduction in oxidative end points by high VF was not uniform. Rather, an antioxidant effect was observed primarily in individuals whose oxidative end points at baseline were above the median for the study population. Using change in plasma carotenoids (end point minus baseline measurements) as an index of phytochemical intake, the reduction in oxidative markers was inversely proportional to change in plasma carotenoids; this effect was stronger for lipid peroxidation (p < 0.01) than DNA oxidation (p < 0.05). These findings imply that increasing exogenous antioxidant exposure may primarily benefit individuals with elevated levels of oxidative stress. Null findings do not necessarily indicate that an antioxidant compound lacks in vivo activity.     

Biogenic potassium salt particles as seeds for secondary organic aerosol in the Amazon

The fine particles serving as cloud condensation nuclei in pristine Amazonian rainforest air consist mostly of secondary organic aerosol. Their origin is enigmatic, however, because new particle formation in the atmosphere is not observed. Here, we show that the growth of organic aerosol particles can be initiated by potassium-salt-rich particles emitted by biota in the rainforest. These particles act as seeds for the condensation of low- or semi-volatile organic compounds from the atmospheric gas phase or multiphase oxidation of isoprene and terpenes. Our findings suggest that the primary emission of biogenic salt particles directly influences the number concentration of cloud condensation nuclei and affects the microphysics of cloud formation and precipitation over the rainforest.     

Adult Plant Phenotype of the Rp1-DJ Compound Rust Resistance Gene in Maize

ABSTRACT The complex structure of the rp1 rust resistance locus of maize allows two or more resistance genes to be recombined together in coupling phase. The phenotypic effects of the Rp1-DJ compound gene, which carries both Rp1-D and Rp1-J, were analyzed. The Rp1-DJ compound gene was associated with a chlorotic spotting phenotype in some genetic backgrounds. At the seedling stage, lines carrying Rp1-DJ are fully susceptible to Puccinia sorghi biotype HI1, which is virulent on lines with the two genes singly. At later stages of growth, however, Rp1-DJ lines show partial resistance when compared with sibling lines not carrying the compound gene. The Rp1-DJ gene also confers partial resistance to P. polysora in adult plants.     

Ecological Genomics and Epidemiology

The huge amount of genomic data now becoming available offers both opportunities and challenges for epidemiologists. In this “preview” of likely developments as the field of ecological genomics evolves and merges with epidemiology, we discuss how epidemiology can use new information about genetic sequences and gene expression to form predictions about epidemic features and outcomes and for understanding host resistance and pathogen evolution. DNA sequencing is now complete for some hosts and several pathogens. Microarrays make it possible to measure gene expression simultaneously for thousands of genes. These tools will contribute to plant disease epidemiology by providing information about which resistance or pathogenicity genes are present in individuals and populations, what genes other than those directly involved in resistance and virulence are important in epidemics, the role of the phenotypic status of hosts and pathogens, and the role of the status of the environmental metagenome. Conversely, models of group dynamics supplied by population biology and ecology may be used to interpret gene expression within individual organisms and in populations of organisms. Genomic tools have great potential for improving understanding of resistance gene evolution and the durability of resistance. For example, DNA sequence analysis can be used to evaluate whether an arms race model of co-evolution is supported. Finally, new genomic tools will make it possible to consider the landscape ecology of epidemics in terms of host resistance both as determined by genotype and as expressed in host phenotypes in response to the biotic and abiotic environment. Host phenotype mixtures can be modeled and evaluated, with epidemiological predictions based on phenotypic characteristics such as physiological age and status in terms of induced systemic resistance or systemic acquired resistance.     

Traffic safety and urban living

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Traffic accidents are certainly not limited to urban life but the bulk of them occur in and around cities. Intersections are most hazardous for automobile...