Cytologic and ultrastructural evidence of spermatid selection in a 1/29, 14/20 centric fusion bull

A crossbred bull heterozygous for a double centric fusion was produced. At 14 months of age, semen volume and sperm characteristics were normal. Cytologic and ultrastructural evidence of spermatid degeneration was found coincident with abundant, apparently normal, sperm formation. Implications for the early detection of centric fusion in young bulls are discussed.     

Comparison of hematologic and biochemical values for blood samples obtained via jugular venipuncture and via vascular access ports in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hematologic and serum biochemical values for blood samples obtained from cats via vascular access ports (VAP) are comparable to those for samples obtained by direct venipuncture. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 14 healthy cats. PROCEDURE: A VAP was surgically implanted in a jugular vein in each cat. Blood samples were obtained from the VAP and by direct venipuncture of the contralateral jugular vein 10 weeks after VAP placement. Results of hematologic and serum biochemical analyses were compared by use of a paired t-test. The Pvalue to reject the null hypothesis was adjusted to account for multiple comparisons by using the Bonferroni procedure in which the nominal P-to-reject value is divided by the number of comparisons (0.05/24 = 0.002). RESULTS: Paired samples (VAP and venipuncture) obtained 10 weeks after VAP placement were evaluated for each cat. Of the 24 measured analytes, only potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations differed significantly (P< 0.001 for all 3) between VAP and venipuncture samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that samples obtained from VAP are suitable for routine hematologic monitoring of feline cancer patients. Sample hemolysis may account for a slight increase in potassium, total protein, and albumin concentrations obtained from VAP samples. However, the values of variables most critical for monitoring of patients receiving chemotherapy (ie, mature neutrophil and platelet counts) are comparable. If proper techniques are used, VAP may be used for administration of chemotherapy as well as for blood collection in cats undergoing cancer treatment.     

Cytogenetic survey of Holstein bulls at a commercial artificial insemination company to determine prevalence of bulls with centric fusion and chimeric anomalies

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of Holstein bulls with chromosomal anomalies, particularly the 1/21 centric fusion (CF), at a commercial artificial insemination (AI) company in the United States. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cytogenetic prevalence study. ANIMALS: All 606 Holstein bulls at a commercial AI company were cytogenetically screened to detect CF, chimerism, and other chromosomal abnormalities. PROCEDURE: Lymphocytes from heparinized blood samples were cultured by standard cytogenetic techniques, and chromosome spreads were prepared for microscopic examination. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected by examining 10 chromosome spreads per bull. Pedigree analysis was performed. RESULTS: None of the bulls had any type of CF. However, 6 bulls were identified as chimeras (i.e., contained lymphocytes with male [XY] and female [XX] chromosomes). One bull was sire or maternal grandsire to 85 of the bulls tested, and 739 of 1,212 (61%) sire and maternal-grandsire possibilities were accounted for by just 18 bulls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analysis of these results supports previous indications that CF is extremely rare in Holstein bloodlines available commercially via AI in the United States. However, chimeric bulls are more common, and they reportedly have decreased reproductive performance. Therefore, identification of chimeric sires in the AI facility reported here and the possibility of de novo onset of CF at any time indicates that early cytogenetic screening should be encouraged for prospective bulls intended for use in AI programs.     

Potassium,Phosphorus, Sulfur,and Boron Fertilization Effects on Soybean Isoflavone Content and Other Seed Characteristics

ABSTRACT

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds contain isoflavones that have positive impacts on human health. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of pre-plant mineral fertilization on isoflavone, oil and crude protein concentrations, and seed yield of field-grown soybean. The effects of potassium (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg K ha^?1), phosphorus (0, 25, 50, and 75 kg P ha^?1), sulfur (0, 15, 30, 45 kg S ha^?1), and boron (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 kg B ha^?1) were tested separately, each with two 00 soybean cultivars (‘Golden’ and ‘Grand Prix’) grown in replicated trials at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada in 2002/3. Seed total and individual isoflavone concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Seed yield, 100-seed weight, and oil and crude protein (CP) contents were determined concurrently. Across years and cultivars, no fertilizer treatments effects were observed for most variables. This overall lack of response to fertilizers was attributed to the relatively high initial fertility of the sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils used. However, total and individual isoflavone concentrations were significantly affected by year and cultivar. Across experiments, total isoflavone concentration was 33% greater on average in 2003 than in 2002, which was characterized by above-average temperatures and severe drought. Cultivar with the greatest isoflavone concentration varied depending on the year. Fertilization does not appear to be a viable strategy to increase isoflavone concentration of soybean seeds on medium-to high-fertility soils.     

Review on estimation of evapotranspiration from remote sensing data: From empirical to numerical modeling approaches

Different methods have been developed to estimate evapotranspiration from remote sensing data, from empirical approaches such as the simplified relationship to complex methods based on remote sensing data assimilation along with SVAT models. The simplified relationship has been applied from small spatial scale using airborne TIR images to continental scale with NOAA data. Assimilation procedures often require remote sensing data over different spectral domains to retrieve input parameters which characterize surface properties such as albedo, emissivity or Leaf Area Index. A brief review of these different approaches is presented, with a discussion about the main physical bases and assumptions of various models. The paper reports also some examples and results obtained over the experimental area of the Alpilles Reseda project, where various types of models have been applied to estimate surface fluxes from remote sensing data.