An age-related coagulation disorder associated with experimental infection with infectious bursal disease virus

Specific-pathogen-free White Leghorn chickens were inoculated with a field strain of infectious bursal disease virus. One group (A) was inoculated at 17 days after the chicks were hatched, and the other groups (C and E) were inoculated at posthatch day 42. Blood samples were obtained for determination of clotting times (whole blood recalcification, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times), virus-neutralizing antibody, and total hemolytic complement. There were significant increases in clotting times for groups C and E at 3 and 5 days after they were inoculated. There were no significant increases in clotting times at 3 days after inoculation in the group A chickens (inoculated at 17 days after hatching). There were no significant decreases in total complement activity in any of these chickens (groups A, C, and E). This study indicates that the mortality and clinical symptoms observed in chickens experimentally infected with infectious bursal disease virus may be associated with a clotting abnormality because it was noted only in chickens that developed severe clinical disease (inoculated at 42 days after hatching) and was not noted in chickens that remained clinically normal (inoculated at 17 days).     

Pocono mesic till barrens in retreat: topography,fire and forest contagion effects

The Pocono mesic till barrens (PMTB) are a unique assemblage of fire-maintained shrub communities that support numerous rare species. Historically these barrens covered a large area in the vicinity of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA. However, due largely to regional fire suppression instituted in the early 1960s, over 70% of the area covered by barrens succeeded to fire-intolerant forest that does not support the rare species. We investigated the influence of forest proximity on barrens succession across three geomorphic types during periods of high fire frequency and fire suppression, testing the hypothesis that forest processes such as seed rain, shading, and detrital enrichment of soils enhances barrens succession through a contagion effect. Evidence of a forest contagion effect should be shown by increased rates of barrens succession with increasing proximity to the nearest forest edge. In order to detect a forest contagion effect, barrens persistence and barrens succession were modeled in proximity zones of 0-50 m, 50-100 m, 100-200 m, and greater than 200 m from the nearest forest edge. We used existing GIS data layers for fire, geomorphology, and vegetation distribution in 1938, 1963, and 1992. The layers were modified and overlain using ArcView software to determine persistence and succession rates for each unique combination of layers in each proximity zone from 1938 to 1963 (pre-fire suppression) and 1963 to 1992 (post-fire suppression). ANCOVA results indicate that proximity to the nearest forest edge significantly affected barrens persistence rates in both time periods, but succession rates were significantly affected in 1938 to 1963 only. Twenty-eight percent of the 1938 barrens succeeded to forest by 1963; 56% of the 1963 barrens became forest by 1992. Results support previous findings that barrens persistence is enhanced by increased fire frequency, and that barrens persist longer where they overlie flat glacial till than on other geomorphology types.     

Boots on the ground: construction management of urbanizing irrigated farm land

Since its inception, in 1885 the Buckeye Irrigation Canal has delivered irrigation water in the Buckeye Valley, southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Throughout its tenure the owners of the canal have consulted design professionals for its engineering needs. Early engineering in 1885 established canal alignments, delivery points and channel capacity. Until recently, the Buckeye Valley was a rural area relying on agricultural revenues to drive the local economy. Now, due to the recent housing market boom new homes started springing up like corn in September driving the existing open-channel laterals below grade into a patch work redesigned pipeline system. Because of these changes, professional construction managers are an enormous benefit to the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District (BWCDD), the owner of the canal.As a result of this urbanization, contractors working for home developers are installing irrigation pipelines and systems with the focus of completing the project as quickly and economically as possible. Irrigation providers, on the other hand, focus on meeting the agricultural needs of their clients with consistent and uninterrupted water delivery. The services of a professional construction manager help both entities achieve their respective goals, shield BWCDD from construction of sub-par systems and risk, maintain uninterrupted service to growers and providing the technical expertise to communicate with both BWCDD and contractors.Construction managers provide a number of services to rural irrigation districts under-going urbanization. They team with an irrigation district by:

• Understanding irrigation design concepts;
• Understanding agricultural demands;
• Providing a thorough knowledge of construction practices and standards;
• Creating long-term design functionality;
• Reducing stress on and increasing productivity of personnel;
• Coordinating construction activities with water deliveries;
• Verifying constructed facilities perform as designed, which reduces maintenance costs.

Construction managers represent an irrigation district in the field by:

• Reviewing development plans for adherence to current construction standards and practices and coordinates construction schedules with water delivery needs;
• Observing construction for proper installation;
• Clarifying installers understanding of plans and specifications;
• Coordinating interruptions in service;
• Tracking multiple construction projects;
• Explaining agricultural practices to contractor personnel;
• Providing a single point of contact for construction related correspondence.

These “boots on the ground” create a local presence with a focus on the specific needs unique to an irrigation district. They provide a liaison while minimizing the impact to its growers.This paper will discuss the strain of urbanization on an irrigation district and the benefits of an engineering consulting firm to manage construction projects. The benefits include expertise, technical resources, design capability, coordination and inspection. Construction managers can help protect an irrigation district from being overwhelmed by rapid urbanization.     

Beobachtungen über Dicerca aenea (Buprestis), meffingfarbiger Spikprachtfäfer

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The exploitation of helix pomatia L.

The evidence at present available, although incomplete, gives rise to fears for the future of the edible snail Helix pomatia L. The scale of exploitation is increasing, particularly in Eastern Europe, to meet growing demand, mainly from the West. The growth of legislation to control collecting supports the evidence of declining numbers, but the legislation does not appear to be backed by sufficiently detailed population ecology studies. The need for co-ordinated international action on farming, legislation and ecological study is urged.     

Renal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pancreatic islet cell carcinoma in a binturong (Arctictis binturong).

A 19-yr-old binturong (Arctictis binturong) with acute upper respiratory disease was euthanized. Postmortem findings included hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic islet cell carcinoma, and renal adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the spleen, pleura, and pericardium. A link between primary hepatic and renal neoplasms has been noted in older humans.     

Fine structure of Henneguya pilosa sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), parasite of Serrasalmus altuvei (Characidae), in Brazil

Henneguya pilosa sp. n., a new species of myxosporean from the gill filaments of the white piranha, Serrasalmus altuvei Ramirez, 1965 (Characidae), a freshwater teleost fish collected in the Zoological Garden of the city of Teresina (Piauí), Brazil, is described from light and transmission electron microscope observations. This myxosporean produced small plasmodia (up to 0.2 mm in diameter), each one containing all life-cycle stages of the parasite, including numerous spores. The spores, laterally compressed, averaged 54.2 (52.3-56.0) microm in total length and consisted of two unequal valves adhering together along the suture line and two caudal processes. The spore body measured 21.1 (20.0-23.1) microm in length, 5.9 (5.5-6.3) microm in width, and 2.2 (1.9-2.6) microm in thickness. The two equal ellipsoidal polar capsules of 7.4 (7.1-7.6) microm long and 1.2 (1.0-1.3) microm wide possessed a polar filament with 11-12 (rarely 13) turns. All surfaces of the spores were covered with a tightly adherent complex network of numerous densely ramified granulo-fibrillar masses, the longest measuring 1.5 microm long, observed around the caudal processes. The prevalence of infection was 30%. The taxonomic affinities of this parasite with other of the same genus in freshwater South American fish species are discussed.