Representation of animals in the paintings of Albert Anker (1831-1910)

Albert Anker broke with the old tradition to become a veterinarian and studied to be a painter at Paris. He lived from 1831-1910 and is one of the best known painters of Switzerland. His work consists of rough outlines, drawings, watercolours and numerous oil paintings (more than 800) in all fields of painting. In particularAlbert Anker gained great esteem with his numerous portraits and interpretations of the rural daily life (genre painting). Rarely pictorial representations of animals are to be found on his paintings in opposite to people. Especially these animals don't feature the fidelity of the details which is so typically for Albert Anker. Three examples demonstrate this lack and in what it consist of. An attempt will be made to explain the cause of this phenomenon.     

Expression of lymphocyte homing and adhesion molecules during intramammary infection of cows with Serratiamarcescens or Streptococcusuberis: correlation with bacterial colonization and clinical signs

We wished to determine the expression of trafficking/adhesion molecules on the surface of lymphocytes isolated from infected mammary glands of cows challenged with either Serratia marcescens or Staphylococcus uberis. Healthy Holstein cows in mid lactation were infected by intramammary infusion with S. marcescens or S. uberis. Following infection, milk samples were collected at various time points. Body temperatures of the cows were taken, and milk was analyzed for colony forming units (CFU) of bacteria and somatic cell counts (SCC). Leukocytes were isolated from the milk and analyzed by flow cytometry. Percentages and types of lymphocytes were determined as well as expression of CD62L, CD11a, LPAM-1 and CD44 on these cells. We found that the percentage of lymphocytes expressing either CD62L or CD11a showed a marked increase 12 h post infection (PI) with S. marcescens that was not seen in cows infected with S. uberis. Conversely, the percentage of lymphocytes expressing CD44 increased in cows infected with S. uberis at 12 h PI, but the increase was not seen in cows infected with S. marcescens. Expression of LPAM-1 was low at all time points in both groups of cows. Body temperatures became elevated in both groups of cows, peaking at 24 h PI in S. marcescens-infected cows and dropping thereafter. In contrast, temperatures of S. uberis-infected cows continued to rise and were still elevated 96 h PI. CFU of bacteria isolated from mammary glands of S. marcescens-infected cows dropped precipitously 24 h PI but continued at high levels in S. uberis-infected cows. SCC began falling in S. marcescens-infected cows 48 h PI but continued to increase in S. uberis-infected cows. Thus, a greater percentage of lymphocytes in milk had a phenotype consistent with recruitment from the peripheral pool following infection with S. marcescens than was seen following infection with S. uberis. Concurrent with the increases seen in percentages of this lymphocyte phenotype, clinical signs lessened in the S. marcescens-infected cows.     

Effects of heavy metal contamination and remediation on soil microbial communities in the vicinity of a zinc smelter as indicated by analysis of microbial community phospholipid fatty acid profiles

Heavy metal contamination in an area immediately surrounding a zinc smelter has resulted in destruction of over 485 hectares of forest. The elevated levels of heavy metals in these soils have had significant impacts on the population size and overall activity of the soil microbial communities. Remediation of these soils has resulted in increases in indicators of biological activity and viable population size, which suggest recovery of the microbial populations. Questions remain as to how the metal contamination and subsequent remediation at this site have impacted the population structure of the soil microbial communities. In the current study, microbial communities from this site were analyzed by the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) procedure. Principal component analysis of the PLFA profiles indicated that there were differences in the profiles for soils with different levels of metal contamination, and that soils with higher levels of metal contamination showed decreases in indicator PLFAs for mycorrhizal fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. PLFA profiles for remediated sites indicated that remediated soils showed increases in indicator PLFAs for fungi, actinomycetes, and Gram-positive bacteria, compared to unremediated metal contaminated soils. These data suggest a change in the population structure of the soil microbial communities resulting from metal contamination and a recovery of several microbial populations resulting from remediation.     

Trophic shift of stable isotopes and fatty acids in Collembola on bacterial diets

Fatty acid (FA) analysis is a promising tool to study trophic relationships in soil food webs. We determined FA biomarkers to trace bacterial food sources (Bacillus megaterium, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter aerogenes) of Collembola (Heteromurus nitidus, Protaphorura fimata, Folsomia candida). In addition, δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, C/N ratio, body weight and NLFA/PLFA ratio (neutral lipid/phospholipid fatty acids) of Collembola were assessed. These measures indicated that P. putida ranked first, B. megaterium second and E. aerogenes third in food quality. FAs specific for bacteria were found in the NLFAs of the Collembola reflecting the respective bacterial diet. Biomarker FAs for gram-positive bacteria were methyl branched i14:0, i15:0, a15:0 and i17:0. Consumption of gram-negative bacteria was reflected by the cyclic form cy17:0 (E. aerogenes, P. putida) and by 16:1ω5 (P. putida).     

Effects of beech and ash on small‐scale variation of soil acidity and nutrient stocks in a mixed deciduous forest

Trees interact in a complex manner with soils: they recycle and redistribute nutrients via many ecological pathways. Nutrient distribution via leaf litter is assumed to be of major importance. Beech is commonly known to have lower nutrient concentrations in its litter than other hardwood tree species occurring in Central Europe. We examined the influences of distribution of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), lime (Tilia cordata Mill. and T. platyphyllos Scop.), maple (Acer spp. L.), and clay content on small‐scale variability of pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg stocks in the mineral soil and of organic‐C stocks in the forest floor in a near‐natural, mature mixed deciduous forest in Central Germany. The soil is a Luvisol developed in loess over limestone. We found a positive effect of the proportion of beech on the organic‐C stocks in the forest floor and a negative effect on soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg in the upper mineral soil (0 to 10 cm). The proportion of ash had a similar effect in the opposite direction, the other species did not show any such effect. The ecological impact of beech and ash on soil properties at a sample point was explained best by their respective proportion within a radius of 9 to 11 m. The proportion of the species based on tree volume within this radius was the best proxy to explain species effects. The clay content had a significant positive influence on soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg with similar effect sizes. Our results indicate that beech, in comparison to other co‐occurring deciduous tree species, mainly ash, increased acidification at our site. This effect occurred on a small spatial scale and was probably driven by species‐related differences in nutrient cycling via leaf litter. The distribution of beech and ash resulted not only in aboveground diversity of stand structures but also induced a distinct belowground diversity of the soil habitat.     

Mineral nutrition of Gypsophila in vitro root culture

Mineral nutrition of panicled gypsophila roots (Gypsophila paniculata L.) (Caryophyllaceae) cultivated in vitro in two media with different mineral composition, a classical Gamborg's B5 medium and a modified MH3 medium, was studied over a growth cycle of 28 days, by continuous measurement of mineral element consumption, without opening the culture flasks. The comparison between the total mineral element quantities consumed from media and those absorbed by roots at harvesting showed a good correspondence, proving the validity of the technique used and the absence of insolubilized mineral forms in the in vitro culture media. The mineral element composition of the MH3 medium was found to be better suited to Gypsophila paniculata root culture since all mineral nutrient elements are supplied in adequate quantities which are non‐limiting and non‐excessive. Culture on B5 medium showed that phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu) are probably the factors limiting growth and revealed an ammonium (NH₄ ⁺)/potassium (K⁺) ion antagonism. The in vitro roots, although uncoupled from the aerial part, behave like the roots of whole plants in several ways: the evolution of the medium pH corresponds to the form of the mineral nitrogen (N) consumed by the roots; sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) are barely consumed and may be considered as non‐essential elements. Lastly, this in vitro root culturemodel makes itpossible to explain that the absorption of Na and Cl by the roots of whole plants is probably dependent on the transpiratory flow of the aerial part.     

Subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma induced by a foreign body (steel staple) in a cat

An 8-year-old, female domestic shorthair cat was presented with a ventral abdominal subcutaneous mass. A radiograph showed that the center of the mass contained what appeared to be steel sutures, presumed to be from an ovariohysterectomy performed 7 years earlier. The excised mass was irregular and contained numerous pockets filled with friable necrotic material and hemorrhages that were dissected by fibrous connective tissue bands. Multiple tangled and fragmented pieces of steel staples were deeply embedded within the mass. Histologically, the mass was non-encapsulated, densely cellular, and infiltrative. Neoplastic cells lined caverns and channels and were factor VIII-positive by immunohistochemistry. The neoplastic cells were oval to round with granular cytoplasm and vesicular nucleus and exhibited moderate cellular and nuclear pleomorphism. A diagnosis of subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma was made. To our knowledge, this is the first report of foreign body associated hemangiosarcoma and the first case of steel staple associated neoplasm in domestic animals.