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Downy mildew, caused by Peronospora belbahrii, is a new disease of basil (Ocimum spp.) in the United States. In 2009, different basil species, cultivars, and advanced breeding lines of sweet basil (30 in total) were evaluated for susceptibility to basil downy mildew in field trials in southern and northern New Jersey. Popular commercial sweet basil cultivars such as Martina, Nufar, and Poppy Joe were among the most susceptible to downy mildew. Symptoms and sporulation of P. belhahrii on Ocimum ×citriodorum and O. americanum cultivars were present but far less than on most O. basilicum cultivars evaluated. The cultivars Spice, Blue Spice, and Blue Spice Fil were the least susceptible to basil downy mildew with no visible symptoms. Similar results were observed in both field trials. This is the first report of potential resistance in Ocimum spp. to basil downy mildew. Observations from this study show that the development of resistant cultivars may be possible. Selection criteria such as foliar morphology, plant architecture as well as the presence of secondary metabolites are being examined as potential traits for developing downy mildew resistant basil cultivars.

This paper deals with a simple solution to a problem that has plagued overbuilt distribution circuits for decades-namely, protection for sustained overvoltage events. When two overhead circuits of different voltages exist on the same poles, the possibility exists that contact between the two circuits will occur. When this takes place, damage and failures occur to utility equipment on the lower voltage circuit and to customers' end use equipment served from the lower voltage circuit. Traditional approaches have met with limited success largely due to their high costs or operational difficulties. The author's preferred solution utilizes polymer housed station class arresters on the lower voltage circuit to limit the resulting overvoltage. They are intended to be employed in an expendable mode (i.e., they need to be replaced following a sustained overvoltage event). A field trial was arranged to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. This trial proved to be quite successful and cost effective, leading to the deployment of many more station class arresters for this function on the Dominion distribution system. A screening technique was devised to aid in applying the solution to a range of distribution voltage combinations and breaker/recloser clearing times.

Although large intestine impactions are commonly treated with i.v. fluids combined with the osmotic laxative MgSO4, enteral fluids are less expensive and also appear to be efficacious for impactions. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the systemic and gastrointestinal effects of enteral fluids with the changes produced by i.v. fluids combined with MgSO4. Four horses with a fistula in the right dorsal colon alternately received both treatments in 2 periods one week apart. Sixty litres of fluids were administered continuously (10 l/h) through a venous catheter or a nasogastric tube. Magnesium sulphate (1 g/kg bwt) was administered via nasogastric tube before i.v. fluid therapy. Two horses had mild abdominal discomfort at the end of enteral fluid therapy. Pollakiuria, hypostenuria, increased bodyweight, increased faecal and ingesta hydration, and decreased PCV, plasma protein and plasma magnesium were produced by both treatments. Abdominal distention and more pronounced changes in bodyweight and ingesta hydration were seen with enteral fluids. Intravenous fluids plus MgSO4 produced hypocalcaemia and more pronounced changes in plasma protein. These results indicate that enteral fluid therapy is more effective in promoting ingesta hydration and produces less pronounced systemic effects than i.v. fluid therapy plus MgSO4.

Apoptosis-associated tyrosine kinase (AATYK) is up-regulated by phosphorylation in cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) undergoing apoptosis upon switch to low KCl-containing medium. However, the underlying signaling pathways remain to be fully characterized. When CGN at culture day 7 were switched from 25 mM KCl (K25) to 5 mM (K5) medium, AATYK band migration on SDS-PAGE shifted to a more slowly migrating position expected for the hyperphosphorylated protein. The apoptosis-inducing agent C(2)-ceramide also caused a mobility shift of the AATYK protein. Exposing CGN (K25) to L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel antagonists shifted the AATYK band to the K5-induced position, while the Ca(2+) channel activator FPL-64176 had the contrary effect. FK-506, a calcineurin inhibitor caused AATYK hyperphosphorylation under high KCl conditions. CGN death in K5 medium is linked to inhibition of the PI 3-kinase/Akt survival pathway and concomitant activation of the pro-apoptotic downstream target glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). GSK-3 inhibitors blocked the K5-induced mobility shift of AATYK. Moreover, CGN cultured from AATYK-deficient mice remained sensitive to death in K5 medium. Thus, AATYK activation may not be a physiologically relevant principal regulatory target of the GSK-3 death pathway in KCl-deprived CGN.

Thomas Walter in 1788 described and named two species now assigned to Arundinaria. His two names, Arundo gigantea and Arundo tecta, are now believed to represent not only synonyms but developmental stages of the same taxon. If Arundinaria in the southeastern United States is interpreted to consist of two species, the smaller plant, the Switch Cane, may correctly be known as A. gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. The second, larger plant, the Giant Cane, then becomes A. macrosperma Michx. To provide greater stability to these names, an epitype has been selected for each. Arundinaria (Poaceae/Gramineae) is a genus of very large grasses, the only widespread true bamboos in North America. In the southeastern United States two taxa are usually recognized, perhaps more readily addressed by their common names than by their uncertain scientific designations. Switch Cane is found commonly on moist soils along the Atlantic seaboard, from eastern Virginia to central peninsular Florida and west along

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the most important pest of bell peppers in New Jersey and weekly applications of insecticide sprays are needed to control this pest. Most pepper production (up to 80%) utilizes black plastic mulch with drip irrigation and high wooden stakes, limiting pesticide application equipment. A new chemistry insecticide, chlorantraniliprole, is highly soil systemic, very soluble, and effective against ECB at very low rates. Because of these properties, a 3-year study was undertaken beginning in 2004 and continuing in 2005 and 2007 applying chlorantraniliprole through a drip irrigation system in bell peppers for control of the ECB. Each year, on every harvest date examined, chlorantraniliprole injected through a drip irrigation system at either 0.05 or 0.07 kg·ha−1 was as effective, or more effective, in reducing percentage of ECB-infested peppers than a standard grower pesticide program of two applications of acephate followed by ...

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and breed predisposition of congenital alacrima in dogs. Animals studied Dogs with congenital keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Procedures A search of the medical records of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1974–2005 and the University of California–Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1986–2006 for dogs under 1 year of age with a diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was performed. These cases were further reviewed for dogs with a Schirmer's tear test I of ≤ 5 mm/min before 6 months of age, with no known causes for KCS, which did not respond to appropriate KCS therapy; these cases were considered to have congenital alacrima. These breeds were compared to all other breeds using the Fisher's exact test with correction for multiple comparisons. Results Congenital alacrima was identified in 19 dogs representing 11 breeds and mixed breeds. Yorkshire Terriers and Bedlington Terriers were statistically overrepresented compared to reference populations (P

We examined trends in utilization of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), THA, and hemiarthroplasty (HA) for femoral neck fractures. Closed femoral neck fractures managed with ORIF or hip arthroplasty (n = 162,257) were extracted from 1990 to 2001 Nationwide Inpatient Samples. Trends were examined during three periods (1990–1993 [Period I], 1994–1997 [Period II], and 1998–2001 [Period III]). Utilization of HA increased from 67.8% in Period I to 75.3% in Period III. In the same period, utilization of THA decreased from 11.6% to 6.6%. The trend of decreased use of THA was consistent regardless of age, hospital, or surgeon volume. In Period III, 28.7% of patients were managed at urban teaching hospitals as compared with 19.6% in Period I. Increased utilization of HA conforms with recent evidence that arthroplasty has better outcomes than ORIF. However, the decrease in THA is contrary to what was expected, and its impact on patient outcomes needs to be evaluated. The increase in the proportion of femoral fractures managed at urban teaching hospitals may reflect a change in the organization of trauma systems during the last decade. Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The effects of two pumpkin cultivars and five fungicide programs on cucurbit powdery mildew development and yield were evaluated in southern New Jersey from 2005 to 2007. Each year, five separate fungicide programs were applied to powdery mildew-tolerant cv. Magic Lantern or powdery mildew-susceptible cv. Howden pumpkin. The five fungicide programs applied season-long (10 applications per program) included: 1) protectant fungicides only: manzate + sulfur [Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) codes M3 + M2] alternated weekly with maneb + copper hydroxide (FRAC codes M3 + M1); 2) standard program: chlorothalonil + myclobutanil (FRAC codes M5 + 3) alternated with azoxystrobin (FRAC code 11); 3) intensive program: maneb + myclobutanil (FRAC codes M3 + 3) alternated with [famoxadone + cymoxanil] (FRAC codes 11 + 27); 4) FRAC code 3 weekly: chlorothalonil + myclobutanil (FRAC codes M5 + 3) alternated with myclobutanil (FRAC code 3); and 5) FRAC code 11 weekly: chlorothalonil + azoxystrobin (FRAC codes M5 + 11) alternated with azoxystrobin (FRAC code 11). In each year, there were no significant interactions between the fungicide program and cultivar. In each year, area under disease progress curve values were highest when a FRAC code 11 fungicide was applied weekly compared with a FRAC code 11 fungicide applied in a weekly rotation with a FRAC code 3 fungicide or a FRAC code 3 fungicide applied weekly. Visual examination of leaves at the end of each production season revealed there were no significant differences in powdery mildew development on the top (adaxial) or bottom (abaxial) sides of leaves in untreated subplots. Powdery mildew development was lower on the bottom sides of leaves when a Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) code 3 fungicide was applied weekly compared with a FRAC code 11 fungicide applied weekly or when a FRAC code 3 fungicide was rotated weekly with a FRAC code 11 fungicide in each year of the study. There were no significant differences in total number of harvested fruit, number of harvested orange fruit, average weight of orange fruit, or percentage of harvested orange fruit between fungicide programs in each year of the study. Results of this study, based on arcsine-transformed area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values and top and bottom leaf surface ratings, suggest that the weekly use of the FRAC code 11 fungicide lead to the development of practical resistance in the field population of cucurbit powdery mildew. Rotating a FRAC code 11 and FRAC code 3 fungicide weekly resulted in lower AUDPC values and powdery mildew development on the bottom side of leaves in 2 of 3 years of this study. However, based on AUPDC values and leaf rating values, the level of control obtained with the high-risk FRAC code 3 fungicide was less during each consecutive year. The immediate erosion of control (i.e., qualitative resistance) as observed with the FRAC code 11 fungicide or the gradual decline of control (quantitative resistance) as observed with the FRAC code 3 fungicide over three growing seasons shows the importance of being able to detect and understand the mechanisms of practical resistance development. This understanding will allow appropriate fungicide control recommendations to be made in a timely (i.e., real-time) manner. Importantly, fungicide resistance is most likely to develop on the bottom side (abaxial) of pumpkin leaves when effective, low-risk (nonmobile) fungicides (FRAC code M numbers) are tank-mixed with high-risk fungicides in cucurbit powdery mildew control programs. Tank-mixing fungicides that have a high risk for resistance development with protectant fungicides that have a low risk for resistance development remains critically important when controlling cucurbit powdery mildew and reducing the potential for fungicide resistance development. This is the first report of cucurbit powdery mildew developing practical resistance to a FRAC code 11 and FRAC code 3 fungicide in New Jersey.

A 5-day-old Angus x Hereford calf presented for bilateral haired masses on the eyes and nasolabial planum since birth. The masses were surgically excised from the inferonasal cornea and bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes and the left and right side of the dorsomedial nasolabial planum. Histopathology of the excised tissue confirmed bilateral corneoconjunctival dermoids with ectopic lacrimal glands, and bilateral nasal choristomas and ectopic nasal glandular tissue. Surgery was curative and healing was uneventful. Bilateral ocular dermoids in combination with nasal choristomas and ectopic glandular tissue have not been documented previously in cattle.

Statement of the Problem: Presently, there are no generally accepted standards for designing smiles using tooth proportion relationships. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether North American dentists prefer smile designs created using the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion, other mathematically defined tooth proportion relationships, or naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions previously reported to occur in the North American population. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one North American dentists were surveyed to determine their preferences of imaged smiles exhibiting different anterior tooth width proportions and the primary proportion influencing their decision. One-sample t-tests were used to compare preferences of constructed smiles. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to assess the independence of the relationship between the subjects’ demographic attributes and the factors reported as being instrumental in their decision processes. Results: Fifty-seven percent of dentists surveyed preferred the smiles with the 70% RED proportion over the smiles with the naturally occurring maxillary anterior tooth width proportions in normal-length teeth. Dentists preferred the smiles of the naturally occurring maxillary tooth proportions (70%) and the 70% RED proportion (75%) over the golden proportion. In smiles with tall teeth, the golden proportion was preferred by 58% of the surveyed dentists over the naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions as previously defined by Preston. Sixty-two percent of dentists cited the overall balance as the primary factor affecting their selection. Twenty-three percent made their selection based on the size of the maxillary central incisors, whereas 15% used other teeth or factors. Conclusion: Smiles created using the principles of the RED proportion were preferred by a majority of dentists surveyed. The majority of dentists reported that overall balance was the primary factor affecting their selection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The RED proportion may be useful in creating smiles preferred by North American dentists. Seventy-five percent of North American dentists preferred using the RED proportion when designing smiles with normal-length teeth over using the golden proportion, which has been a pseudostandard in esthetic dentistry. Applying the golden proportion universally in smile design should be reconsidered as it was found to be the least pleasing and accepted in this study for normal-length teeth. (J Esthet Restor Dent 19:324–339, 2007)

The name Quercus sinuata, published by Thomas Walter in 1788, has been interpreted to apply to some species of oak native to the southeastern United States, most often the Bluff Oak (Q. austrina Small). Inspection of the vegetation in the immediate vicinity of Walter’s North Carolina homesite disclosed no Bluff Oak, but did reveal several trees that well matched Walter’s description. Specimens from these trees have been identified as the hybrid of the Southern Red Oak (Q. falcata Michx.) and the Willow Oak (Q. phellos L.), both of which were found at the same location. To provide stability to the name Q. sinuata, a neotype has been selected. In the second half of the 18th century Thomas Walter, an English expatriate, maintained a home and plantation on the Santee River, Berkeley County, South Carolina. In 1788 Walter published his Flora Caroliniana, a record of the plants he had encountered, matching many as best he could with those in the books of Carl Linnaeus, and including others that he believed to be new. His modest volume, the first flora published in America to follow the new Linnaean system of binomial nomenclature, contained 436 genera and approximately 1050 species. For each species he gave a brief diagnosis in Latin and a two-part Latin name. Walter described 13 species of Quercus, the oaks. Most are readily recognized: Q. sempervirens Walt. (5Q. virginiana Mill., Live Oak), Q. phellos L. (Willow Oak), Q. humilis Walt. (5Q. incana Bartr., Blue-jack Oak), Q. prinus non L. (5Q. michauxii Nutt., Swamp Chestnut Oak), Q. nigra non L. (Q. marilandica Muench., Blackjack Oak), Q. aquatica Walt. (5Q. nigra L., Water Oak), Q. rubra non L. (5Q. falcata Michx., Southern Red Oak), Q. laevis Walt. (Turkey Oak), Q. alba L. (White Oak), Q. lyrata Walt. (Overcup Oak), Q. villosa Walt. (5Q. stellata Wangenh., Post Oak). These determinations are in agreement with conclusions of a recent careful study of Walter’s oaks (Wilbur 2002). One of Walter’s oaks is less clear. The Running Oak, a shrubby, rhizomatous species, has been known since its publication as Quercus pumila Walt. Recently Wilbur (2002) has argued that Walter’s diagnosis was inadequate and that a new name was required; he supplied the need with Q. elliottii Wilbur. Walter had described the lower leaf surface as glaucis. Wilbur is correct in noting the lower surface is densely gray-puberulent, not glaucous. But Walter, probably lacking adequate magnification, can be forgiven for interpreting the gray lower surface as showing glaucescence. Granting this reasonable latitude, Walter’s description fits the Running Oak quite well. Further, Wilbur’s dismissal of Q. pumila leaves Walter’s work without a name for the Running Oak, a plant he could not help but have known in the dry oak-pine habitat adjacent to his Santee River home. Yet another of Walter’s oaks has continued to puzzle later workers. He named this species Quercus sinuata, with the diagnosis ‘‘foliis sinuatis laevibus obtusis supra pallidis, subtus subglaucis, glandibus mediocribus globosis calyce subplano’’ (i.e., leaves sinuate-margined, obtuse, pale above, subglaucous beneath, the

Evidence is strong that the specimens in the folio volume commonly known as the "Walter Herbarium," Natural History Museum, London, and often assumed to be the basis for the names in Thomas Walter's Flora Caroliniana (1788), are a collection gathered by John Fraser and, though seen and partially annotated by Walter, were in large part not employed by him in preparation of his book. In no case may a specimen be considered a holotype. A small number of specimens, of species from outside the area studied by Walter, may have been part of materials brought to him by Fraser, and may be interpreted as lectotypes. The great majority of specimens, though contemporary in time and often bearing Walter's handwriting, are irrelevant to typification of the Walter names of his Flora. This argument is based on identification by photograph and direct examination of many of the specimens, on determination of the handwriting of the labels as of Walter or of Fraser, and on comparison of the names of the book with the specimens of the folio.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the tear film osmolality and electrolyte composition in healthy horses. ANIMALS 15 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Each horse was manually restrained, and an ophthalmic examination, which included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and a Schirmer tear test, was performed. Tear samples were collected from both eyes with microcapillary tubes 3 times at 5-minute intervals. The tear samples for each horse were pooled, and the osmolality and electrolyte concentrations were measured. The mean (SD) was calculated for each variable to establish preliminary guidelines for tear film osmolality and electrolyte composition in healthy horses. RESULTS The mean (SD) tear film osmolality was 283.51 (9.33) mmol/kg, and the mean (SD) sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium concentrations were 134.75 (10), 16.3 (5.77), 3.48 (1.97), and 1.06 (0.42) mmol/L, respectively. The sodium concentration in the tear film was similar to that in serum, whereas the potassium concentration in the tear film was approximately 4.75 times that of serum. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results provided preliminary guidelines with which tear samples obtained from horses with keratopathies can be compared. Measurement of tear film osmolality in these horses was easy and noninvasive. The tear film concentration of divalent cations was greater than expected and was higher than the divalent cation concentrations in the tear films of rabbits and humans. These data may be clinically useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of hyperosmolar ocular surface disease in horses.

We report the fabrication and characterization of a gate-defined double quantum dot formed in a Si/SiGe nanomembrane. In the past, all gate-defined quantum dots in Si/SiGe heterostructures were formed on top of strain-graded virtual substrates. The strain grading process necessarily introduces misfit dislocations into a heterostructure, and these defects introduce lateral strain inhomogeneities, mosaic tilt, and threading dislocations. The use of a SiGe nanomembrane as the virtual substrate enables the strain relaxation to be entirely elastic, eliminating the need for misfit dislocations. However, in this approach the formation of the heterostructure is more complicated, involving two separate epitaxial growth procedures separated by a wet-transfer process that results in a buried non-epitaxial interface 625 nm from the quantum dot. We demonstrate that in spite of this buried interface in close proximity to the device, a double quantum dot can be formed that is controllable enough to enable tuning of the inter-dot tunnel coupling, the identification of spin states, and the measurement of a singlet-to-triplet transition as a function of an applied magnetic field., 9 pages, 4 figures

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary emboli (PE), known together as venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease remain major complications following elective hip and knee surgery. This study compares three chemoprophylactic regimens for VTE following elective primary unilateral hip or knee replacement, one of which was designed to minimize risk of post-operative bleeding. Patients were randomized and stratified for hip vs. knee to receive A: variable dose warfarin (first dose on the night preceding surgery with subsequent target INR 2.0–2.5), B: 2.5 mg fondaparinux daily starting 6–18 h postoperatively, or C: fixed 1.0 mg dose warfarin daily starting 7 days preoperatively. All treatments continued until bilateral leg venous ultrasound day 28 ± 2 or earlier upon a VTE event. The study examined primary endpoints including leg DVT, PE or death due to VTE and secondary endpoints including effects on D-dimer, estimated blood loss (EBL) at surgery and hemorrhagic complications. Three hundred fifty-five patients were randomized. None was lost to follow-up. Taking 1.0 mg warfarin for seven days preoperatively did not prolong the prothrombin time (PT). Two patients in Arm C had asymptomatic distal DVT. One major bleed occurred in Arm B and one in Arm C (ischemic colitis). Elevated d-dimer did not predict delayed VTE for one year. Fixed low dose warfarin started preoperatively is equivalent to two other standards of care under study (95 % CI: -0.0428, 0.0067 for both) as VTE prophylaxis for the patients having elective major joint replacement surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier # NCT00767559 FDA IND: 103,716

Proportional smile design is a useful tool for evaluating and designing smiles that are in harmony with the face. Although not always observed in nature, the recurring esthetic dental proportion is preferred by dentists surveyed to the width proportions observed in nature with normal-length teeth. The width/length ratio of the central incisor is a key determinant in providing a smile that is pleasing to dentists. Using the desired tooth length while maintaining the preferred 78% width/length ratio of the central incisor in conjunction with the recommended recurring esthetic dental proportion is a good method for designing a smile balanced with the face.

T he State of Florida is home to between 3400 and 3900 plant species that thrive outside of cultivation (Ward1 counts 3448, Wunderlin2 3834). Of these, very nearly onethird are introduced and naturalized (Ward: 925, Wunderlin: 1180). Nine members of the Crassulaceae, including six species of Kalanchoe (broadly interpreted to include Bryophyllum), are considered to have become part of the state’s flora3. The six naturalized kalanchoes, as frost-sensitive plants, are confined to the Florida peninsula. Though they may occur in dense local stands, none are frequent or common. Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi, K. gastonis-bonnieri and K. laciniata have been ranked1 as “rare”, while K. daigremontiana, K. delagoensis and K. pinnata are ranked as “infrequent”. All of these species share the conflicting characteristics of horticultural appeal and—by their properties of invasiveness and toxicity—habitat degradation. Now still another kalanchoe, morphologically distinct but seemingly of hybrid origin, has been found to be well established outside of cultivation in four widely separated areas of the Florida peninsula. Though known in cultivation for at least sixty-five years4, this taxon has not received a scientific binomial. This attractive plant now appears to be sufficiently naturalized to be considered a member of the Florida flora. It has been found in some abundance on the central east coast, Merritt Island, Brevard County; on the southwest coast

To evaluate the relationship between endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancers of dogs, circulating concentrations of these 2 tumor-associated markers were measured prospectively in healthy dogs (n 5 44), dogs with tumors (n 5 54), and dogs with nonneoplastic diseases (n 5 42 for endostatin; n 5 16 for VEGF). A canine-directed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used for determination of endostatin, and a human-directed kit was validated for detection of canine VEGF. Concentrations of endostatin for all dogs were 28–408 ng/mL. Increasing serum endostatin concentration was associated with increasing age (P 5 .0396). Concentrations of endostatin were not different among groups of dogs (P 5 .1989) when adjusted for age. Mean endostatin concentrations for all dogs were higher in dogs (P 5 .0124) with detectable VEGF concentrations. Endostatin concentrations, when corrected for age, were related to decreasing PCV (P 5 .032) but not white blood cell count (P 5 .225) or platelet count (P 5 .1990). Measurable VEGF ($2.5 pg/mL) was detected in 3 (7.0%) of 43 healthy dogs. Dogs with tumors had detectable VEGF in 24 (44%) of 54 dogs, with concentrations ranging from 2.5–274 pg/mL; only 1 dog with a nonneoplastic disease process had detectable VEGF. VEGF concentrations for all dogs after correcting for age, endostatin, and disease categories were associated with increased white blood cell count (P 5 .0032) and platelet counts (P 5 .0064) and decreased PCV (P 5 .0017). Linkage between increased endostatin and VEGF concentrations suggests that similar factors may influence concentrations of these markers. Further evaluation of endostatin and VEGF associations in dogs with tumors may provide information on the extent and progression of the disease.

Wether lambs (n = 27, average BW = 40 kg) were used to test response to forage treated with Tasco-Forage (an extract of the brown kelp Ascophyllum nodosum) prior to conserving, or to direct feeding of the extract (Tasco-EX). Hays made from endophyte (Neoyphodium coenophialum)-infested tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)-based pasture received 0 or 3 kg of Tasco/ha prior to harvest. Lambs, blocked by weight, were randomly allotted to three diets: (1) control hay, (2) treated hay, and (3) #1 + Tasco-EX fed at 1% of the diet. Hays were low in CP (

Equivocal clinical evidence for involvement of manganese in development of Parkinson’s disease necessitates experimental studies on this issue. The aged, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyropyridine–treated C57BL/6 mouse is one of the most common models for Parkinson’s disease. However, there is little information on brain bioaccumulation of manganese, and little or no information on clinical/behavioral manifestations of manganese neurotoxicity, in this strain. Male C57BL/6 retired breeder mice were given a single subcutaneous injection of either 0, 50, or 100 mg/kg of MnCl2 (single-dose regimen) or three injections of either of these doses over 7 days (multiple-dose regimen). Behavioral assessment was performed 24 h after final injection, followed by sacrifice, and body weight was recorded each day. There was a 105% increase in striatal manganese concentration 1 day after a single 100 mg/kg injection, and 421% and 647% increases, respectively, 1 day after multiple doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg of MnCl2. One day after a single injection, there were respective 30.9% and 38.9% decreases in horizontal movement (grid crossing) for the 50 and 100 mg/kg doses and a 43.2% decrease for the multiple dose of 100 mg/kg. There was no significant main effect of dose level on rearing, swimming, grip strength, or grip fatigue. Unlike previous work with the C57BL/6 strain using smaller intraperitoneal doses, this study established dosing regimens that produced significant increases in basal ganglia manganese concentration reminiscent of brain increases in the CD-1 mouse following subcutaneous doses close to our lowest. A decrease in locomotor behavior, significant but not severe in this study, has been reported following manganese exposure in other mouse strains. These data, particularly the significant increase in basal ganglia manganese concentration, provide guidance for designing studies of the potential role of manganese in Parkinson’s disease using the most common animal model for the disorder.

Objective—To evaluate the precision of intradermal testing (IDT) in horses. Animals—12 healthy adult horses. Procedure—IDT was performed on the neck of each horse by use of 2 positive control substances (histamine and phytohemagglutinin [PHA]) and a negative control substance. An equal volume (0.1 mL) for each injection was prepared to yield a total of 20 syringes ([4 concentrations of each positive control substance plus 1 negative control substance] times 2 positive control substances times 2 duplicative tests) for each side of the neck. Both sides of the neck were used for IDT; therefore, 40 syringes were prepared for each horse. Hair was clipped on both sides of the neck, and ID injections were performed. Diameter of the skin wheals was recorded 0.5, 4, and 24 hours after ID injection. Results—Intra- and interhorse skin reactions to ID injection of histamine and PHA resulted in wheals of uniform size at 0.5 and 4 hours, respectively. Significant intra- and interhorse variation was detected in wheals caused by PHA at 24 hours. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—ID injection of histamine and PHA caused repeatable and precise results at 0.5 and 4 hours, respectively. Concentrations of 0.005 mg of histamine/mL and 0.1 mg of PHA/mL are recommended for use as positive control substances for IDT in horses. This information suggests that consistent wheal size is evident for ID injection of control substances, and variation in wheals in response to ID injection of test antigens results from a horse's immune response to specific antigens. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:1341–1347)

The effect of recombinant equine IL-1beta (EqIL-1beta) on steady-state mRNA levels of equine articular chondrocytes in high-density monolayer culture was investigated using a customized cDNA array analysis. Total RNA samples isolated from chondrocytes cultured in media alone or with the addition of 1 ng/ml EqIL-1beta for 1-, 3-, and 6-h durations of exposure were reverse transcribed, radiolabeled, and hybridized to a customized 380-target cDNA array. Means of duplicate log base 2 transformed hybridization signals were normalized to equine glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mean signal intensities. Differentially expressed transcripts were identified using a two-stage mixed linear analysis of variance model (Statistical Analysis Software, Cary, NC). A time-dependent pattern was observed in the number of transcripts increased > or =two-fold in response to EqIL-1beta after 1, 3 and 6h (1, 2 and 109 transcripts, respectively). At 6 h of EqIL-1beta stimulation, signal intensities for 88 cDNA targets with purported function in processes related to cell cycle, intracellular signaling, transcription, translation, extracellular matrix turnover, and inflammation, as well as a number of cDNAs lacking homology to previously reported cDNA sequences, were increased >two-fold and were associated with p

In humans, pancreatic hyperechogenicity and duct dilation are reported as normal aging changes. Similar changes have been reported with pancreatitis in the cat. We attempted to determine if aging changes occur in the ultrasound appearance of the normal feline pancreas. The pancreas of 84 normal (based on history, physical exam, biochemical profile, and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentrations) cats of varying ages was scanned. Pancreatic width at the left limb and body, pancreatic duct diameter at left limb and body, and pancreatic echogenicity compared with liver and surrounding fat were noted and compared with age and body weight. Lower and upper limits of the 95% reference intervals for pancreatic left limb width were 2.6 and 9.5 mm, and 3.5 and 8.5 mm for the pancreatic body width. There was no significant difference in pancreatic width between the left limb and body. Lower and upper limits of the 95% reference interval for the diameter of the pancreatic duct at the left limb and body were similar, and were 0.65 and 2.5 mm. There was a weak but significant linear correlation between pancreatic duct diameter and age, with increasing pancreatic duct diameter with increasing age. There was no correlation of pancreatic width with age, and no correlation of pancreatic echogenicity with age or body weight. Based on this study, feline pancreatic size and echogenicity do not change with age. Pancreatic duct diameter increases slightly with age and should not be used as a sole indicator of pancreatitis in the geriatric cat.

Objective To evaluate the effect of vaccination against leptospirosis on frequency and days to recurrence of uveitis and progression of disease in horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). Animals Forty-one horses with ERU. Procedure Horses were randomly assigned to experimental (vaccinated) or control groups. Vaccine containing six serovars of Leptospira or placebo was administered, an ophthalmic examination performed and blood samples drawn on days 0, 28, 180 and 365. Antibody titers were measured against each serovar. Recurrence of uveitis was verified by ophthalmic examination. Results of the initial and final ophthalmic examinations were compared and progression of disease defined as an increase in extent of synechiae, or development of new or progression of an existing cataract. Results Vaccination increased the average geometric mean serum antibody titer from 225 on day 0, to 4077 and 593 on days 28 and 180, respectively. After the second vaccination, days to first recurrence was significantly longer (median 126 days; range 24–231 days) when compared with controls (median 86 days; range 14–192 days, P = 0.04). Recurrence of ERU was observed among 7/20 (35%) vaccinated horses and 12/21 (57%) controls; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.061, OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06, 1.07). More horses in the experimental group 13/20 (65%) experienced progression of disease when compared with controls 12/21(57%); however, this difference was statistically nonsignificant (P = 0.35). Conclusions Vaccine significantly increased days to recurrence, but failed to slow the progression of disease. These data do not support the use of vaccination against leptospirosis as adjunct therapy for the routine treatment of horses with ERU.

Objective—To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of orally administered carvedilol in healthy dogs with doses that might be used to initiate treatment in dogs with congestive heart failure. Animals—24 healthy dogs. Procedure—Dogs were randomly allocated to receive carvedilol PO at a dose of 1.56, 3.125, or 12.5 mg, twice daily for 7 to 10 days; 6 dogs served as controls. Investigators were blinded to group assignment. Hemodynamic variables were recorded prior to administration of the drug on day 1 and then 2, 4, and 6 hours after the morning dose on day 1 and days 7 to 10. Change in heart rate after IV administration of 1 µg of isoproterenol/kg and change in systemic arterial blood pressure after IV administration of 8 µg of phenylephrine/kg were recorded 2 and 6 hours after administration of carvedilol. Results—Administration of carvedilol did not significantly affect resting hemodynamic variables or response to phenylephrine. The interaction of day and carvedilol dose had a significant effect on resting heart rate, but a significant main effect of carvedilol dose on resting heart rate was not detected. Increasing carvedilol dose resulted in a significant linear decrease in heart rate response to isoproterenol. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In healthy conscious dogs, orally administered carvedilol at mean doses from 0.08 to 0.54 mg/kg given twice daily did not affect resting hemodynamics. Over the dose range evaluated, there was a dose-dependent attenuation of the response to isoproterenol, which provided evidence of β-adrenergic receptor antagonism. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:637–641)

Hypertension is a common complication of canine hyperadrenocorticism. Increased pressor sensitivity to endogenous catecholamines is currently believed to be the main mechanism involved in the development of hypertension in human hyperadrenocorticism. The aim of this study was to evaluate pressor sensitivity to norepinephrine in dogs after induction of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (I-HAC) by serial arterial blood pressure measurements during infusions of increasing dose rates of norepinephrine (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 μg/kg/min) in eight dogs with I-HAC and eight control dogs. Systolic, diastolic, mean blood pressure and heart rate measurements were recorded. The changes in these parameters between the two groups of dogs were compared. Dogs in the I-HAC group had a more pronounced pressor response to norepinephrine infusions than control dogs since the infusions had to be stopped in seven of the dogs due to severe hypertension (>240 mmHg). The mean maximum tolerated dose rate in the control group was 0.6 μg/kg/min with a standard error of 0.0. and 0.34 μg/kg/min with a standard error of 0.08 in the I-HAC group. The study demonstrated the presence of increased pressor sensitivity to norepinephrine in dogs with I-HAC.

Objective—To determine the duration of effect and the effect of multiple doses of topical ophthalmic application of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride on corneal sensitivity in clinically normal dogs. Animals—8 clinically normal dogs. Procedure—Dogs were randomly allocated to treatment order in a 2 × 2 (period × treatment) crossover study. Treatments consisted of topical application of ophthalmic 0.5% proparacaine (1 drop or 2 drops at a 1-minute interval); treatments were applied to both eyes. A Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer was used to determine corneal touch threshold (CTT) before corneal application, 1 and 5 minutes after corneal application, and at 5-minute intervals thereafter for 90 minutes. Results—The CTT value before treatment differed significantly from CTT values after treatment until 45 minutes after application in the 1-drop group and until 55 minutes after application in the 2-drop group. As determined by use of the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer, a significantly greater anesthetic effect was detected for the 2-drop treatment, compared with the effect for the 1-drop treatment, at 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 minutes after application. Maximal anesthetic effect lasted for 15 minutes for the 1-drop treatment and 25 minutes for the 2-drop treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Duration of corneal anesthetic effect induced by topical ophthalmic application of 0.5% proparacaine in dogs of this study is considerably longer than that reported elsewhere. Serial application of doses of 0.5% proparacaine increases the duration and magnitude of corneal anesthetic effects. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:77–80)

Background Methylnitrosourea (MNU), an alkylating agent derived from creatinine metabolism, is cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. Midgestational exposure to MNU leads to distal limb defects in mice. Previous studies have shown that nonspecific maternal immune stimulation protects against MNU-induced teratogenesis. A role for immune-mediated placental improvement in this effect remains uncertain. METHODS The immune system of timed-pregnant C57BL/6N and CD-1 mice was stimulated by GD 7 intraperitoneal (IP) injection with the cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ). A teratogenic dose of MNU was then administered by IP injection on the morning of GD 9 to disrupt distal limb formation. Fetal limb length, body length, digital deformities, and placental integrity were evaluated on GD 14. RESULTS The incidence of syndactyly, polydactyly, and interdigital webbing in MNU-exposed mice was decreased by maternal IFN-γ treatment. In C57BL/6N mice, these defects were reduced by 47, 100, and 63%, respectively, as compared to previous reports on CD-1 mice, by 39, 71, and 20%, respectively. Administration of IFN-γ significantly diminished MNU-induced endothelial and trophoblast placental damage in both strains of mice. CONCLUSIONS These findings support a possible link between maternal immunity, placental integrity, and fetal distal limb development. Further, these results suggest that IFN-γ might act through placental improvement to indirectly protect against MNU-induced fetal limb malformations. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Diabetes mellitus alters placental structure and function, events that may be related to embryopathy. Three different methods of maternal immune stimulation that modulate placental function and that result in approximately equal reduction of diabetic embryopathy were studied: footpad injection with complete Freund's adjuvant, intraperitoneal injection with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or intraperitoneal injection with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). A gene microarray was then used to examine expression of 151 placental genes. We hypothesized that maternal immune stimulation may overcome an embryopathy-inducing effect of diabetes on placenta, that might be detected by a shared profile of placental gene expression changes induced by the different immune stimulation procedures. However, the immune stimulation that caused the greatest reduction in birth defect incidence, IFN-γ, did not change the placental gene expression profile ascompared to control or diabetes. Complete Freund's adj...

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the etiologic agent of swine pleuropneumonia. Live, non-encapsulated vaccine strains have been shown to be efficacious in preventing acute disease in pigs. Recombinant DNA technology has the advantage of generating defined mutants that are safe, but maintain critical immunoprotective components. However, some recombinant strains have the disadvantage of containing antibiotic resistance genes that could be transferred to the animal's normal bacterial flora. Using DNA allelic exchange we have constructed attenuated, capsule-deficient mutants of A. pleuropneumoniae that contain a kanamycin resistance (Kn(R)) gene within the capsule locus of the genome. Following intranasal or intratracheal challenge of pigs the encapsulated parent strains colonized the challenge pigs, and were transmitted to contact pigs. In contrast, the capsule-deficient mutants were recovered only from the challenged pigs and not from contact pigs. Each kanamycin-resistant colony type recovered from the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts of pigs challenged with the recombinant strain was screened with a probe specific for the Kn(R) gene. All probe-positive colonies were assayed for the specific Kn(R) gene by amplification of a 0.9 kb fragment of the antibiotic resistance gene by PCR. The 0.9 kb fragment was amplified from the recombinant A. pleuropneumoniae colonies, but not from any of the heterologous bacteria, indicating there was no evidence of transmission of the Kn(R) gene to resident bacteria. Following aerosol exposure of 276 pigs with recombinant, non-encapsulated A. pleuropneumoniae the recombinant bacteria were not recovered from any nasal swabs of 75 pigs tested or environmental samples 18 h after challenge. Statistical risk analysis, based on the number of kanamycin-resistant colonies screened, indicated that undetected transmission of the Kn(R) gene could still have occurred in at most 1.36% of kanamycin-resistant bacteria in contact with recombinant A. pleuropneumoniae. However, the overall risk of transmission to any resident bacteria was far lower. Our results indicate there was little risk of transmission of capsule-deficient, recombinant A. pleuropneumoniae or its Kn(R) gene to contact pigs or to the resident microflora.

An animal (rat) model of chronic stress (corticosterone in the drinking water) was used to study the interaction of stress and the organophosphorus (OP) neurotoxicants chlorpyrifos (60 mg/kg subcutaneously in a single dose) and tri-ortho-tolyl phosphate (TOTP, at 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg given 7 times orally in a 2-wk period). Adult male Long-Evans rats were provided with corticosterone in drinking water (400 microg/ml, w/v) for a total of 28 d, which led to significantly decreased weight and decreased cellularity of the thymus and spleen. Seven days after initiation of corticosterone treatment, half of the rats were given chlorpyrifos, and an additional 7 d later the 2-wk, 7-dose treatment of TOTP was initiated. During the 28-d test period, behavior of rats was evaluated using a functional observational battery (FOB), motor activity, and passive avoidance. Reductions in body weight, grip strength, and ambulatory movements occurred as a result of corticosterone treatment. Decreased body weight and grip strength were also elicited by TOTP, and the interactions of corticosterone and TOTP enhanced the effects on body weight and grip strength. Blood cholinesterase levels were obtained during the 28-d study period and found useful for monitoring OP exposure. At the end of the 28-d testing period, rats were sacrificed and activities of cholinesterase, neurotoxic esterase (neuropathy target esterase), and/or carboxylesterase were evaluated in blood, liver, and/or brain regions (basal forebrain, caudate putamen, cerebral cortex, hippocampus). All these esterases in brain were inhibited in a dose-related manner by TOTP, with some enhancement in rats drinking corticosterone-containing water. In addition, choline acetyltransferase, glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP), glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were evaluated in one or more of the brain regions already identified. Choline acetyltransferase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were unaffected by treatments. However, GFAP was elevated above control levels in the cerebral cortex of rats by all treatments (corticosterone, chlorpyrifos, TOTP). Neuropathological examination revealed early stages of dose-related increased distal myelinated fiber axonal degeneration seen in the medullary fasciculus gracilis at only the highest dose of TOTP (300 mg/kg).

BACKGROUND Methylnitrosourea (MNU) is a potent carcinogen and teratogen that is associated with central nervous system, craniofacial, skeletal, ocular, and appendicular birth defects following transplacental exposure at critical time points during development, and preliminary studies have suggested that nonspecific maternal immunostimulation may offer protection against development of these birth defects. METHODS Our study examined morphologic alterations in fetal limb and digital development and placental integrity following maternal exposure to MNU on GD 9 in CD-1 mice, and characterized the improvement in placental integrity and abrogation of fetal defects following maternal immune stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on GD 7. RESULTS Fetal limbs were significantly shortened (p < 0.0001) and incidence of limb and digital defects (syndactyly, polydactyly, oligodactyly, clubbing, and webbing) was dramatically increased following midgestational maternal MNU exposure. Maternal immune stimulation with IFN-γ on GD 7 lessened incidence of fetal limb shortening and maldevelopment on GD 12 and 14. Further, disruption of placental spongiotrophoblast integrity, increased cell death in placental trophoblasts with increased intercellular spaces in the spongiotrophoblast layer and minimal inflammation, and increased loss of fetal labyrinthine endothelial cells from MNU-exposed dams suggested that MNU-induced placental breakdown may contribute to fetal limb and digital maldevelopment. MNU + IFN-γ was associated with diminished cell death within all layers of the placenta, especially in the labyrinthine layer. CONCLUSIONS These data verify improved distal limb development in MNU-exposed mice as a result of maternal IFN-γ administration, and suggest a link between placental integrity and proper fetal development. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The immune system is a potential target for estrogenic endocrine disrupters. To date, there is limited information on whether estrogenic endocrine disruptors modulate the immune system of aged individuals. To address this issue, groups of 74-week-old mice were given nine oral doses of selected estrogenic endocrine disrupters: diethylstilbestrol (DES, 3 microg/100 g bw), alpha-zearalanol (0.5 mg/100 g bw), or genistein (0.15 mg/100 g bw) in corn oil, or corn oil alone, over 2.5 weeks. Both developmental (thymus) and mature (spleen) lymphoid organs were affected, although specific effects varied with the chemical. DES significantly decreased thymocyte numbers. However, relative percentages of thymocyte subsets were not altered. While splenic cellularity and percentages of T and B cells were unchanged, splenocytes from DES-exposed mice had significantly decreased ability to proliferate in response to Concanavalin-A (Con-A). Con-A-activated splenocytes from mice treated with genistein or alpha-zearalanol had decreased levels of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) protein in their culture supernatants compared to similar cultures from oil-treated mice. RT-PCR analysis of Con-A-activated splenocytes revealed that the expression of IFNgamma gene is altered by DES or genistein treatment. Together, these results suggest that estrogenic endocrine disruptors modulate the immune system of aged mice.

Objective—To determine whether pharmacokinetic analysis of data derived from a single IV dose of iohexol could be used to predict creatinine clearance and evaluate simplified methods for predicting serum clearance of iohexol with data derived from 2 or 3 blood samples in clinically normal foals. Animals—10 healthy foals. Procedure—Serum disposition of iohexol and exogenous creatinine clearance was determined simultaneously in each foal (5 males and 5 females). A 3-compartment model of iohexol serum disposition was selected via standard methods. Iohexol clearance calculated from the model was compared with creatinine clearance. Separate limited-sample models were created with various combinations of sample times from the terminal slope of the plasma versus time profile for iohexol. Correction factors were determined for the limited-sample models, and iohexol clearance calculated via each method was compared with exogenous creatinine clearance by use of method comparison techniques. Results—Mean exogenous creatinine clearance was 2.17 mL/min/kg. The disposition of iohexol was best described by a 3-compartment open model. Mean clearance value for iohexol was 2.15 mL/min/kg and was not significantly different from mean creatinine clearance. A method for predicting serum iohexol clearance based on a 2-sample protocol (3- and 4-hour samples) was developed. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Iohexol clearance can be used to predict exogenous creatinine clearance and can be determined from 2 blood samples taken after IV injection of iohexol. Appropriate correction factors for adult horses and horses with abnormal glomerular filtration rate need to be determined. (Am J Vet Res 2003;64:1486–1490)

Objectives of this study were to determine occurrence of urinary tract infection and describe results of urine analysis and urine culture in dogs with experimentally induced hyperadrenocorticism. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive either hydrocortisone (nine dogs) or placebo (eight dogs) for 49 consecutive days. Before and on day 49 of treatment, evaluation of dogs included physical examination, abdominal ultrasound, urine culture, urinalysis, adrenal function testing, and measurement of urine protein and creatinine and activity of serum alkaline phosphatase. All dogs in the experimental group had clinical and laboratory findings of hyperadrenocorticism. Urine specific gravity was significantly decreased and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was significantly increased in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. Urinary tract infection did not occur in any dogs. We conclude that administration of hydrocortisone created a model of hyperadrenocorticism; however, urinary tract infection did not occur. Additional evaluation is needed to determine association between urinary tract infection and hyperadrenocorticism.

Objective—To determine the effects of endotoxin administration on thyroid function test results and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) activity in healthy dogs. Animals—6 healthy adult male dogs. Procedures—Serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), 3,3'5'-triiodothyronine (rT3), free T4 (fT4), and endogenous canine thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and TNF-α activity were measured before (day–1; baseline), during (days 0 to 3), and after (days 4 to 24) IV administration of endotoxin every 12 hours for 84 hours. Results—Compared with baseline values, serum T3 concentration decreased significantly, whereas rT3 concentration increased significantly 8 hours after initial endotoxin administration. Serum T4 concentration decreased significantly at 8 and 12 hours after initiating endotoxin administration. Serum T4 concentration returned to reference range limits, then decreased significantly on days 6 to 12 and 16 to 20. Serum fT4 concentration increased significantly at 12, 24, and 48 hours after cessation of endotoxin treatment, compared with baseline values. Serum rT3 concentration returned to reference range, then decreased significantly days 5 and 7 after stopping endotoxin treatment. Serum TNF-α activity was significantly increased only 4 hours after initial endotoxin treatment, compared with baseline activity. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Endotoxin administration modeled alterations in thyroid function test results found in dogs with spontaneous nonthyroidal illness syndrome. A decrease in serum T4 and T3 concentrations and increase in serum rT3 concentration indicate impaired secretion and metabolism of thyroid hormones. The persistent decrease in serum T4 concentration indicates that caution should be used in interpreting serum T4 concentrations after resolution of an illness in dogs. (Am J Vet Res 2003;64:229–234)

Objective—To evaluate the effect of frequent milkout (FMO) on the outcome of experimentally induced Escherichia coli mastitis in cows. Design—Randomized complete block study. Animals—16 Holstein dairy cows. Procedure—Cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups and were either not infected and not treated (NI-NT), experimentally infected with E coli and not treated (EC-NT), not infected and FMO (NI-FMO), or experimentally infected with E coli and FMO (EC-FMO). The infected quarter in cows in FMO groups was milked out every 4 hours from 16 to 36 hours and every 6 hours from 36 to 84 hours after challenge, with the aid of oxytocin administration. Somatic cell counts (SCC); times to bacterial, clinical, and systemic cures; and serum concentrations of α-lactalbumin were determined. Results—Use of FMO did not appear to affect SCC. For EC-NT and EC-FMO groups, mean bacterial cure times were 203 and 159 hours, clinical cure times were 276 and 360 hours, and systemic cure times were 144 and 159 hours, respectively; these times were not significantly different. Concentrations of α-lactalbumin were significantly increased in the EC-NT group at 12 hours and in the NI-FMO group at 36 and 60 hours after challenge, compared with values of cows in other treatment groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Compared with results in control cows, FMO does not appear to be an efficacious treatment for experimentally induced moderate to severe E coli mastitis. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:63–66)

Achieving controllable coupling of dopants in silicon is crucial for operating donor-based qubit devices, but it is difficult because of the small size of donor-bound electron wavefunctions. Here we report the characterization of a quantum dot coupled to a localized electronic state, and we present evidence of controllable coupling between the quantum dot and the localized state. A set of measurements of transport through this device enable the determination of the most likely location of the localized state, consistent with an electronically active impurity in the quantum well near the edge of the quantum dot. The experiments we report are consistent with a gate-voltage controllable tunnel coupling, which is an important building block for hybrid donor and gate-defined quantum dot devices., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures