Increasing productivity and protein content using early-maturing rices and efficient nitrogen management

Germplasm with shorter duration than that of the currently grown varieties is being generated to maximize productivity of irrigated rice. However, short-duration varieties often produce yields lower than the medium- and long-duration varieties. Experiments were conducted during the 1980–82 dry and wet seasons to increase productivity through the use of very early-maturing rices and the improved management of nitrogen (N) fertilizers.Results over three years showed that IR58 and IR9729-67-3 (growth duration 100 ± 5 days) yield as well as or higher than IR36 although earlier maturing. They generally had a higher productivity (kg ha^–1 day^–1) than IR36 (110 ± 5 days).Three years' data suggest that the improved timing of broadcast applications of urea in split doses increased grain yield comparable with the basal incorporation of slow-release sulfur-coated urea (SCU) or deep point-placement of urea supergranules (USG).Results on elite breeding lines showed that the early-maturing IR9729-67-3 produced higher protein yield ha^–1 than longer duration varieties such as IR8 and IR42 in the dry season. Furthermore, contrary to earlier results, single basal incorporation of slow-release SCU increased the protein yield of rice by 53 kg ha^–1 and deep point-placement of USG by 43 kg ha^–1 over split application of prilled urea.     

Polarographic determination of robenidine residues in chicken tissues, eggs, litter, soil, and plant tissue

Polarographic residue methods have been developed for determining robenidine (Robenz), 1,3-bis[p-chlorobenzylidene)amino]-guanidine monohydrochloride, in chicken tissues, eggs, litter, soil, and plants. The compound is extracted from chicken fat, skin, muscle, liver, and eggs with ethyl acetate; from blood with acetone; from plant tissue, litter, and kidney with acidic acetone; and from soil with basic methanol. After extraction by high-speed blending or overnight shaking, the extract is cleaned up by evaporation, solvent partition and/or elution from CG-50 ion exchange resin. Robenidine is quantitated by differential cathode ray polarography, using acidic aqueous methanol or acetic acid (1+1) supporting electrolyte. Recoveries ranged from 64 to 125% with an average overall recovery of 90%. The validated sensitivity is 0.1 ppm for chicken tissues, soil, and plants, 0.01 ppm for eggs, and 1 ppm for litter.     

Surgical treatment of renovascular hypertension

Two hundred sixty-four patients exhibiting renal artery occlusive disease underwent operation for renovascular hypertension between 1961 and 1977. Included were 27 pediatric patients. Fibrodysplastic disease affected 132 adults. Atherosclerotic lesions affected 51 patients with and 54 patients without clinically overt extrarenal arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Ischemic kidney renin hypersecretion (renal: systemic index greater than 0.48), associated with suppressed contralateral kidney renin secretion (renal: systemic index approaching 0.0) predicted curability most reliably. Three hundred forty-eight operations were performed, of which 297 were primary and 51 were secondary procedures. Nephrectomy was initial therapy in 15 cases. Three operative deaths occurred among 51 patients manifesting overt extrarenal arteriosclerotic disease. No operative mortality was encountered among the other 213 patients. Surgical benefits were afforded 96% of pediatric patients and adults with fibrodysplastic disease, 91% of patients with focal renal arteriosclerosis, and 73% of those exhibiting overt extrarenal arteriosclerosis.     

Intracranial hemorrhage in achondroplasia

The neurological manifestations of achondroplasia include megalencephaly, hydrocephalus, and progressive myelopathy or radiculopathy secondary to spinal stenosis. Subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage have not been previously reported in association with achondroplastic dwarfism. This report describes two patients with achondroplasia who have died secondary to intracranial hemorrhage. At autopsy, the source of hemorrhage was found to be an arteriovenous malformation of the choroid plexus in one case and a ruptured aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery in the other.     

Punctate pressure sensitivity: effects of skin temperature

The dependence on skin temperature of tactile sensitivity to punctiform (hair) stimulation of the finger tip came under study in five subjects. Their data show that punctate sensitivity is relatively stable over a wide range of thermal environments. On the average, some elevation of touch threshold occurred at a skin temperature of 20 degrees C (i.e., about 10 degree below normal), but severe loss of sensitivity first occurred at 10 degrees C. A small but possibly insignificant loss appeared at skin temperatures of 40 and 43 degrees C. The relatively stable behavior of the punctate threshold between about 20 and 40 degrees C contrasts with that of the vibrotactile threshold, which, at least for high frequencies, depends strongly on the skin temperature.     

Two unusual cases of intra-atrial gap

Two cases are described in which, during investigation of rhythm disturbances, it was shown that, by delivering atrial stimuli of increasing prematurity, a point was reached where the artificial stimulus failed to induce an atrial response. However, with even more premature stimulations, atrial responses were again observed. These observations are best explained by a gap phenomenon in which very early stimuli delivered during the effective refractory period of the atria were delayed long enough in the exit area around the pacing electrode to allow atrial recovery.