Analysis of effects of auxin on fruit size of tetraploid and diploid tomato fruits

Selfed and auxin-treated fruits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were obtained from tetraploid and diploid plants and compared to determine why selfed tetraploid fruits are smaller. Application of auxin to ovaries produced tetraploid fruits as large as normally set (selfed) diploid fruits but led to reduced fruit size in diploid fruits, reflecting a further potential for tetraploid fruit development. The selfed tetraploid fruits were found to be smaller because they had fewer cells per fruit. Cell size (diameter) at the end of fruit development was similar for all fruit types. DNA per cell did not closely match cell size during development, especially during the cell division stage. Protein per cell also failed to follow cell size. Protein per DNA showed one peak at around day 10 of fruit development and possibly a second one at day 30.     

Human tears contain a chemosignal

Emotional tearing is a poorly understood behavior that is considered uniquely human. In mice, tears serve as a chemosignal. We therefore hypothesized that human tears may similarly serve a chemosignaling function. We found that merely sniffing negative-emotion-related odorless tears obtained from women donors induced reductions in sexual appeal attributed by men to pictures of women's faces. Moreover, after sniffing such tears, men experienced reduced self-rated sexual arousal, reduced physiological measures of arousal, and reduced levels of testosterone. Finally, functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that sniffing women's tears selectively reduced activity in brain substrates of sexual arousal in men.     

Urethral obstruction in cats: predisposing factors, clinical, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis

Feline lower urinary tract diseases in general, and urethral obstruction (UO) in particular, are common clinical conditions in cats. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for UO, to characterise clinical and clinicopathological signs, outcome and recurrence, as well as risk factors for mortality and recurrence. Eighty-two cats with UO were compared to 82 sex and time matched controls. The mean age of cats with UO was significantly lower compared to controls, while the mean body weight was higher. The proportion of indoors-outdoors cats was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group, and the proportion of cats consuming only dry food was higher. Overall mortality was 8.5%. Ionised calcium was significantly higher in survivors compared to non-survivors, and the prevalence of hypocalcaemia was lower. Recurrence in 6 months and 2 years were 22% and 24%, respectively. Cats with recurrence had significantly lower urine pH at presentation.