Bees have rules

Honey bees frequently dance with some view of the sky, orienting themselves to the sun or natural patterns of polarized skylight. Three new conventions have been discovered in the dance language which are used in these circumstances to eliminate potential ambiguity in the dance message.     

Writing, dictating, and speaking letters

It is commonly assumed that dictation requires a long time to learn, but authors eventually dictate much faster than they write. Performance results now show that novice dictators can learn in a few hours to dictate with the speed and quality with which they write. However, they do not think they perform this well. Dictators with years of experience are from 0 to 25 percent faster than novices, depending upon the complexity of the letters. Planning time is about two-thirds of composition time, regardless of the method of composition.     

Use of endogenous ACTH concentration and adrenal ultrasonography to distinguish the cause of canine hyperadrenocorticism

Twenty-nine dogs were diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). A single determination of endogenous plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and adrenal ultrasonography were used in a prospective study to differentiate between pituitary-dependent HAC (PDH) and adrenal-dependent HAC (ADH). In 27 out of the 29 dogs (93 per cent), both endogenous plasma ACTH concentrations and adrenal ultrasonography indicated the same cause of HAC. Twenty-one of the 29 cases (72 per cent) were shown to be pituitary-dependent; all had plasma ACTH concentrations of greater than 28 pg/ml (reference range 13 to 46 pg/ml) and both adrenal glands were ultrasonographically of similar size and of normal shape. All 21 cases responded well to mitotane therapy. Six cases (21 per cent) were shown to be adrenal-dependent; all had plasma ACTH concentrations below the limit of the assay (<5 pg/ml) and the presence of an adrenal mass on ultrasonography. The sensitivity and specificity of adrenal ultrasonography and endogenous ACTH determinations to identify the cause of HAC were demonstrated to be 100 per cent and 95 per cent, respectively, for ADH. These discriminatory tests are more accurate than published figures for dexamethasone suppression testing.     

Inheritance of fenvalerate and carbofuran resistance in colorado beetles—Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)—from North Carolina

Progeny from reciprocal F1 crosses and F1 backcrosses between fenvalerate-resistant and fenvalerate-susceptible Colorado beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), and between carbofuran-resistant and carbofuran-susceptible Colorado beetles were bioassayed to investigate the mode of inheritance of resistance to these chemicals. Bioassays of progeny from these crosses indicate that resistance to fenvalerate is inherited in a semi-recessive, sex-linked manner and carbofuran resistance is inherited in a partially dominant autosomal fashion. Log concentration/probit mortality lines and chi-square tests, however, indicate that multiple genes may be involved in resistance to both insecticides.     

Potentially hazardous sulfur conditions on beef cattle ranches in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sulfur content of water and forage samples from a geographically diverse sample of beef cow-calf operations in the United States and to estimate frequency and distribution of premises where forage and water resources could result in consumption of hazardous amounts of sulfur by cattle. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 709 forage samples from 678 beef cow-calf operations and individual water samples from 498 operations in 23 states. PROCEDURE: Sulfur content of forage samples and sulfate concentration of water samples were measured. Total sulfur intake was estimated for pairs of forage and water samples. RESULTS: Total sulfur intake was estimated for 454 pairs of forage and water samples. In general, highest forage sulfur contents did not coincide with highest water sulfate concentrations. Overall, 52 of the 454 (11.5%) sample pairs were estimated to yield total sulfur intake (as a percentage of dry matter) > or = 0.4%, assuming water intake during conditions of high ambient temperature. Most of these premises were in north-central (n = 19) or western (19) states. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that on numerous beef cow-calf operations throughout the United States, consumption of forage and water could result in excessively high sulfur intake. All water sources and dietary components should be evaluated when assessing total sulfur intake. Knowledge of total sulfur intake may be useful in reducing the risk of sulfur-associated health and performance problems in beef cattle.     

Pemphigus foliaceus in association with systemic lupus erythematosus, and subsequent lymphoma in a cocker spaniel

A seven-year-old neutered male cocker spaniel was presented with an 11-month history of generalised bacterial dermatitis. There were skin lesions over the entire body, which were round, slightly raised and encrusted. Skin biopsies were collected and the histological findings were consistent with pemphigus foliaceus. Immunohistochemical staining by the indirect immunoperoxidase method was positive, with desmosomal deposition of immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Haematological analysis revealed a regenerative anaemia and profound thrombocytopenia, while a Coombs' test was positive for polyvalent canine Coombs' reagent and anti-dog IgG. An antinuclear antibody test was positive, with a titre of 10,240. An ophthalmic examination demonstrated low tear production (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Seven months after initial referral, the dog was re-presented with severe generalised peripheral lymphadenopathy. Radiographic evaluation of the thorax and abdomen revealed enlarged cranial mediastinal and sublumbar lymph nodes. Tru-Cut biopsy from an enlarged lymph node confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma, which was phenotyped as a B-cell tumour. The diagnosis in this case was systemic lupus erythematosus, with the unusual feature of pemphigus foliaceus, and subsequent development of B-cell lymphoma. The case adds further to knowledge of the protean clinical presentations of canine autoimmune diseases and provides additional evidence for the potential association between autoimmunity and immune-system neoplasia in this species.