Feeding preferences of woodpigeons and flea-beetles for oilseed rape and turnip rape

Winter turnip rape Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera was shown to have reduced palatability to woodpigeons, enhanced susceptibility to adult flea beetle feeding and reduced susceptibility to larval flea-beetle infection when compared with winter oilseed rape (B. napus) cultivars in field trials. Levels of leaf waxes were negatively correlated with feeding preferences of adult flea beetles. Analysis of volatiles from damaged leaves showed that while all cultivars produce a similar range of nitriles, cyanoepithioalkanes and isothiocyanates, derived from 3-butenyl, 4-pentenyl and phenylethyl glucosinolates, B. rapa leaves produced relatively high levels of 1-methylpropyl isothiocyanate, although there was significant plant-to-plant variation. The possible involvement of this mustard oil glycoside and variation in epicuticular waxes in plant-herbivore interactions are discussed.     

Brucellosis and veterinary surgeons.

Forty-six veterinary surgeons were given a full clinical examination, serological examinations with estimates of immunoglobulins, and supplementary haematological and radiological investigations. Thirty-five complained of one or more symptoms, and eight had abnormal physical signs which might have been caused by infection with Brucella abortus, but neither sereological tests results nor immunoglobulin estimates bore any special relation to the clinical features. The soundest way of assessing ill health which had possibly been caused by brucellosis seemed to be thorough clinical examination and disregard of serologican findings. Interpreting results by the usual serological tests in the absence of a clinical examination is probably of doubtful value and may even be misleading.     

Orthopaedic surgeons and thromboprophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE--To assess attitudes to the use of thromboprophylaxis among orthopaedic surgeons in the United Kingdom. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS--Single page postal questionnaire to all 926 active orthopaedic surgeons who are members of the British Orthopaedic Association. RESULTS--The response rate was 70% (659 surgeons), of whom 595 (90%) used some form of prophylaxis. Most (548; 83%) used drugs but 47 (7%) used only elasticated stockings. A history of thromboembolic disease, hip surgery, and obesity was seen as the main risk factor. Ineffectiveness was the principal reason for not using prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS--Most orthopaedic surgeons use regimens of thromboprophylaxis, though many of these are of limited value. Improvements in the efficacy and safety of prophylactic agents, combined with ease of administration, would increase the use of such agents and make orthopaedic surgery safer for the patient.     

外源四环素对土壤酶活性和油菜品质的影响

通过向土壤中添加四环素溶液研究种植油菜条件下,不同浓度（0、0.30、0.60、0.90 mg·kg^-1）的外源四环素对土壤酶活性和油菜品质的影响.结果表明：各处理土壤的脲酶与0.90 mg·kg^-1浓度处理的土壤转化酶活性在整个培养期均受到抑制,0.30、0.60 mg·kg^-1浓度处理的土壤转化酶活性则表现为激活-抑制-激活趋势,各处理土壤蛋白酶活性表现为抑制-激活趋势,且土壤酶活性受到外源四环素的影响程度及持续时间与处理浓度呈正相关（r=0.950**）.各处理土壤过氧化氢酶活性在前期被激活,后期差异不明显.四环素对土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、转化酶和蛋白酶活性的作用时间分别为：7周、6～8周、7周和6～7周.收获时0.30、0.60、0.90 mg·kg^-1处理的油菜叶片中可溶性糖含量与对照相比分别下降91.99%、87.92%和90.12%,而可溶性蛋白质含量分别上升26.47%、28.13%和23.22%.