Breed associations for canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of breed associations is valuable to clinicians and researchers investigating diseases with a genetic basis. HYPOTHESIS: Among symptomatic dogs tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) by canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) assay, EPI is common in certain breeds and rare in others. Some breeds may be overrepresented or underrepresented in the population of dogs with EPI. Pathogenesis of EPI may be different among breeds. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with clinical signs, tested for EPI by radioimmunoassay of serum cTLI, were used. METHODS: In this retrospective study, results of 13,069 cTLI assays were reviewed. RESULTS: An association with EPI was found in Chows, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), Rough-Coated Collies (RCC), and German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) (all P < .001). Chows (median, 16 months) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS (median, 72 months, P < .001), but not significantly different from GSD (median, 36 months, P = .10) or RCC (median, 36 months, P = .16). GSD (P < .001) and RCC (P = .015) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS. Boxers (P < .001), Golden Retrievers (P < .001), Labrador Retrievers (P < .001), Rottweilers (P = .022), and Weimaraners (P = .002) were underrepresented in the population with EPI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: An association with EPI in Chows has not previously been reported. In breeds with early-onset EPI, immune-mediated mechanisms are possible or the disease may be congenital. When EPI manifests later, as in CKCS, pathogenesis is likely different (eg, secondary to chronic pancreatitis). Underrepresentation of certain breeds among dogs with EPI has not previously been recognized and may imply the existence of breed-specific mechanisms that protect pancreatic tissue from injury.     

SBELTS: A model of soybean production under tree shelter

Farmers in the North Central region of the United States often are reluctant to use shelterbelts because of inadequate information clearly showing their benefits. We developed a computer model, called SBELTS for ShelterBELT and Soybeans, that simulates the influence of a shelterbelt on soybean (Glycine max L.) production across an agricultural field in the midwestern United States. Objectives of this study were to 1) describe the structure of SBELTS, 2) present model simulations, and 3) discuss model limitations. SBELTS is composed of three submodels. The first submodel produces characteristics of a shelterbelt that are passed to the second submodel that estimates daily windrun at user-specified distances leeward (away from the prevailing wind) of the shelterbelt. Estimated daily windruns are merged with other microclimatic information to produce weather files for each specified distance. Finally, the third submodel uses a soybean growth/yield model to estimate soybean yield at specified distances, and the yields are averaged. Data collection was not a part of the present project, so SBELTS was evaluated by comparing predicted results with published information. SBELTS was used to predict soybean yield across a field leeward of a 7.6 m tall shelterbelt, and the predicted yield curve compared well with published yield curves. The sensitivity of SBELTS to variation in rainfall was evaluated by predicting yields for 3.8 m tall and 7.6 m tall shelterbelts in wet, normal, and dry years. Results showed no shelterbelt influence in wet years, some influence in normal years, and a sizable influence in dry years. Results showed that the 7.6 m shelterbelt had more influence than the 3.8 m shelterbelt. Although SBELTS has limited use, it is the first step in the development of more advanced models that will be able to simulate production of soybeans and other crops under the influence of shelterbelts on a variety of soil types.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

关于内蒙古大兴安岭林区大径材培育的探讨

文章通过对内蒙古大兴安岭林区培育大径材的目的、意义、必要性及方法等方面的分析,论述了大径级材培育是促进林区生态、经济和社会协调发展的有力措施。     

Isotopic fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide

We propose an isotopic fractionation mechanism, based on photolytic destruction, to explain the 15N/14N and 18O/16O fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) and reconcile laboratory experiments with atmospheric observations. The theory predicts that (i) the isotopomers 15N14N16O and 14N15N16O have very different isotopic fractionations in the stratosphere, and (ii) laboratory photolysis experiments conducted at 205 nanometers should better simulate the observed isotopic fractionation of stratospheric N2O. Modeling results indicate that there is no compelling reason to invoke a significant chemical source of N2O in the middle atmosphere and that individual N2O isotopomers might be useful tracers of stratospheric air parcel motion.     

Predicting maize and soybean production in a sheltered field in the Cornbelt region of North Central USA

Shelterbelts (field windbreaks) are an important tool for farming in semi-arid areas but are not commonly used. An obstacle to the adoption of shelterbelts is the lack of site-specific information about the benefits and costs associated with establishing and maintaining them. A group of researchers has been developing a modeling system that will estimate site-specific effects, benefits, and costs for sheltered fields that produce maize or corn (Zea maize) and soybean (Glycine max) in the U.S. Corn Belt region. Akey component of the modeling system is the use of the CROPGRO-Soybean and CERES-Maize models to simulate yield response to microclimatic changes acrossa sheltered field. In this work, we tested the ability of both models to simulate yield in a sheltered field, evaluated the potential yield increase of shelterbelts based on long-term simulations, and compared the influence of shelter induced changes in temperature and windrun on yield. Both models simulated yield increases due to shelter. The soybean model was more responsive to microclimatic differences than the maize model. Long-term simulations generally showed a field level increase in yield due to shelter for maize and soybeans with an average increase of 4.1 and 3.3, respectively. Change in windrun due to shelter is more important in increasing yield than changes in temperature. The CERES-Maize model seems to be more sensitive to changes in windrun than the CROPGRO-Soybean model.     

Long-term survival after combination chemotherapy for bilateral renal malignant lymphoma in a dog

CASE HISTORY: A 6-year-old, entire male Flat-coated Retriever was presented with a history of lethargy, polydipsia and seizures. Clinical chemistry had shown marked azotaemia. CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Radiography and ultrasonography revealed bilateral renomegaly, and cytology of fine needle aspirates from the kidneys was diagnostic of malignant lymphoma. The dog was treated with a modified high-dose cyclophosphamide-, vincristine-, and prednisolone-based chemotherapy protocol, achieved remission, and returned to normal quality of life. Survival time was 346 days from the time of diagnosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malignant lymphoma in the kidneys of dogs has been considered to carry a uniformly poor prognosis. Long-term remission after medical treatment has not previously been reported. The favourable outcome in this case illustrates the limitations of clinical staging in determining the outcome for individual patients.     

Hydrocephalus and hypertrichosis in Golden Retriever dogs

Congenital hydrocephalus has been reported in most species of domestic animals and is one of the most common congenital malformations of the canine central nervous system⁽¹⁾. Small, toy and brachycephalic breeds are at higher risk of hydrocephalus than larger breeds. Newborn and immature hydrocephalic puppies typically show an enlarged, domeshaped cranium, open fontanelles, visual and auditory impairment, poor growth rate and sometimes an uncoordinated gait. The pathogenesis of hydrocephalus is unclear but inheritance as an autosomal recessive trait has been identified in some breeds. Suspected inherited polymicrogyria and hydrocephalus has been identified in young Standard Poodles and a similar condition seen in a Golden Retriever dog in the USA⁽¹⁾. During the past 2 years, congenital and suspected inherited (as an autosomal recessive trait) hydrocephalus has been diagnosed in Golden Retriever puppies in New Zealand.     

Optical studies of individual InAs quantum dots in GaAs: few-particle effects

Optical emission from individual strained indium arsenide (InAs) islands buried in gallium arsenide (GaAs) was studied. At low excitation power density, the spectra from these quantum dots consist of a single line. At higher excitation power density, additional emission lines appeared at both higher and lower energies, separated from the main line by about 1 millielectron volt. At even higher excitation power density, this set of lines was replaced by a broad emission peaking below the original line. The splittings were an order of magnitude smaller than the lowest single-electron or single-hole excited state energies, indicating that the fine structure results from few-particle interactions in the dot. Calculations of few-particle effects give splittings of the observed magnitude.