Genetic Variation for Maize Epicuticular Wax Response to Drought Stress at Flowering

Drought stress is thought to promote epicuticular wax accumulation on maize leaves, which reduces plant water loss. We evaluated 62 maize inbred lines and their hybrid testcross progeny for epicuticular wax accumulation on flag leaves at flowering under full and limited irrigation regimes. Extracted wax was measured as a percentage of wax weight to leaf weight (WLW) and leaf area (WLA). Eleven genotypes had above average WLW as both inbred lines and hybrid testcrosses. Thirteen genotypes had above average WLA as either inbred lines or hybrid testcrosses. The drought treatment did not significantly alter WLW or WLA. Heritability of WLW was 0.17 (inbred lines) and 0.58 (hybrid testcrosses). Heritability of WLA was 0.41 (inbred lines) and 0.59 (hybrid testcrosses), suggesting it is a better trait than WLW for epicuticular wax screening. Correlations (r) between inbred lines and their testcross progeny were 0.44 and 0.18, for WLW and WLA, respectively. Heritability of grain weight per ear and plot yield was highest in hybrid testcrosses, with no correlation between inbred and hybrid germplasm. It is not warranted to evaluate epicuticular wax accumulation as the sole drought tolerance mechanism. However, it may be a good secondary trait to observe in relation to grain yield production in hybrids tested under water‐limiting conditions.     

Radiosurgery using a stereotactic headframe system for irradiation of brain tumors in dogs.

Radiation therapy of brain tumors in dogs typically involves administration of multiple fractions over several weeks. Fractionation is used to minimize damage to normal tissue. Radiosurgery uses multiple non-coplanar stereotactically focused beams of radiation in a series of arcs to deliver a single dose to the target with extreme accuracy. The large number of beams facilitates a high degree of conformation between the treatment area and the target tumor and allows for a steep dose gradient; the use of nonintersecting arcs minimizes exposure of normal tissue. Computed tomography with a stereotactic localizer secured to the skull allows generation of a 3-dimensional image of the target and provides accurate spatial coordinates for computerized treatment planning and delivery. Three dogs were treated with radiosurgery, using 1,000 to 1,500 cGy. A linear accelerator mounted on a rotating gantry was used to generate and deliver the radiation. Two dogs with meningiomas survived 227 and 56 weeks after radiosurgery. A dog with an oligodendroglioma survived 66 weeks. No complications were observed following the use of this technique.     

Interstellar sulfur hydride: a search for the 111-megahertz lines

Similarities in the energy-level structure of the sulfur hydride radical and the hydroxyl radical suggest that sulfur hydride in the interstellar medium might be detectable because of a population inversion or anti-inversion similar to that of the hydroxyl radical. We have searched for the 111.54-megahertz transition [F (total angular momentum quantum number) = 2 --> 2] and for the 111.22-megahertz transition (F = 1 --> 1) in the galactic radio source W49, one of the brightest hydroxyl emission sources. No sulfur hydride emission lines with half-power widths of 130 hertz or greater were detected with the 1000-foot Arecibo antenna. The upper limits established with 100-hertz filters were 50 and 60 flux units (1 flux unit= 10(26) watt meter(-2) hertz(-1)), respectively, for the two lines.     

Ion-pair reverse phase liquid chromatographic determination of sodium acifluorfen in feed

Ion-pair reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) and UV detection at 280 nm have been used to determine sodium acifluorfen (sodium-5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate), an experimental diphenyl ether herbicide, in dog feed. Sodium-5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate is used as the internal standard. The feed is homogenized in 0.01N HCl, followed by ethyl acetate extraction, and centrifugation. The organic layer is removed and evaporated and the residue is reconstituted in methanol and filtered before LC analysis (mobile phase methanol-water (58 + 42), 0.005M in tetrabutylammonium phosphate and 0.045M in (NH4)2HPO4, at pH 7.4). The ion-pair technique offers a high degree of control over the retention characteristics of the herbicide and internal standard. The use of the internal standard permits precise and accurate quantitation and substantially reduces analysis time compared with the external standard method.     

Controlling microbial contamination on beef and lamb meat during processing

SUMMARY The microbiological quality of carcases, meat and environmental surfaces was evaluated in commercial boning rooms processing beef and lamb. There was considerable variation in the level of microbial contamination on both carcases and meat, with counts ranging from less than 20 to 10⁸/cm² on carcases and to 2 times 10⁷/cm² on meat. The level of microbial contamination on meat was influenced by the level of carcase contamination at boning and by the boning process itself. Carcase contamination was the major determinant of microbiological quality, as more than 70% of carcases had microbial counts greater than 10³/cm². Cutting boards were a major source for microbial dissemination during boning, particularly when carcase counts were less than 10³/cm². If carcases were heavily contaminated, the contamination of processing surfaces was irrelevant in determining microbial loads on meat. Where carcase contamination was at low to moderate levels, the contribution of the boning process to the contamination on meat assumed increased significance. Under these conditions, improved sanitation of cutting surfaces in the boning room resulted in a significant reduction in microbial contamination on the surface of meat. These results can form the basis for ensuring that improvements made in carcase management before boning, to improve microbiological quality, will be preserved through attention to cutting board hygiene during boning.     

Three cases of a presumptive atypical myopathy in New Zealand horses

CASE HISTORY: Three weanling Thoroughbred fillies were presented during autumn with depression, muscle rigidity and, in one case, colic symptoms and cardiovascular shock.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: All fillies had abnormal physical examinations that included elevated heart rates and respiratory rates coupled with muscle rigidity through the back and rump. Biochemistry revealed markedly elevated creatinine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase which indicated a myopathy.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: All three horses were diagnosed with presumptive equine atypical myopathy. The horses received supportive therapy as per the literature available at the time regarding this condition; two responded to supportive therapy and survived, and one was euthanased due to a rapid deterioration in clinical status.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Following post mortem of one case, histology of the trapezius muscle demonstrated an acute, severe myofibre degeneration.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Atypical myopathy and a very similar disorder termed seasonal pasture myopathy in North America are potentially fatal, pasture-related syndromes that have been described in Europe and America but have not been previously described in New Zealand. This report describes three presumptive cases of this unique syndrome in New Zealand for the first time; it outlines the characteristics of the condition; and includes recently published information regarding diagnosis and treatment.     

Ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog

CASE HISTORY: A 14-year-old neutered male Bearded Collie was presented with a history of recurrent, intermittent urinary incontinence of 7 years duration.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: A large, firm, non-painful mass was found in the mid-abdominal region on palpation. Ultrasonography of the mass revealed a compartmentalised structure with mixed echogenicity, and which did not appear to be associated with any of the abdominal organs. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates contained several clusters of epithelial cells with cytological features of hepatocytes. At exploratory laparotomy, the mass was found in the gastrosplenic ligament within the greater omentum.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Histopathologically, the mass consisted of sheets of hepatocytes, but without the characteristic hepatic architecture. The cells showed moderate variation in nuclear size and were sometimes binucle- ate. A diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the mesentery was made.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of ectopic hepatic tissue has been reported rarely in man and cats, but not in the dog. Neoplastic transformation of ectopic hepatic tissue is seen in man. This is the first report of the presentation, clinical findings and treatment of a dog with ectopic HCC.