Using a chain of models to simulate the distribution between quality clusters of a set of boards coming from a sessile oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus petraea</Emphasis> Liebl.) resource. Validation of the simulations

Taking sessile oak as an example, this paper initially presents a method to predict the final production (quantity and quality) coming from a forest resource when two sets of data are available. The data sets are from two models: measured or simulated ring width profiles from pith to bark of the constituent trees as well as a mixed model for the basic wood properties which are used to grade the boards into quality clusters. The second part of the paper contains a validation for the proposed method. Simulations are used to predict two basic wood properties (volumetric swelling coefficient and wood density) in the trees of a forest resource in relation to the ring width profile of each tree. The simulations are used to compute a map of these two basic properties in each plank derived from the trees. A quality index derived from this map of basic wood properties in the boards is then used to allocate the planks to quality clusters. The basic wood properties considered in this paper are modelled with linear mixed models. Since computation of the plank properties or definition of the grading rule can use several properties simultaneously, the models used to simulate the basic properties are joint models. Modelling jointly several properties with a mixed model consists of defining a covariance structure between the random effects of the model. Such a model can be substantial in terms of parameters and computational resources required, thus we compared three kinds of joint models. The simplest one is not quite a joint model but is simply obtained from the juxtaposition of independent models, one for each of the two properties taken into consideration. We also defined a model with a moderate covariance structure between the two properties, and lastly, we used a third model with a full covariance structure. Simulations of volumetric swelling coefficient, wood density and the resulting board grading were carried out with each of these three models. All give results roughly in accordance with the observations, but the two truly joint models give better results than the simplest model.     

Winter variation in xylem sap pH of walnut trees: involvement of plasma membrane H+-ATPase of vessel-associated cells

We studied seasonal variation in xylem sap pH of Juglans regia L. Our main objectives were to (1) test the effect of temperature on seasonal changes in xylem sap pH and (2) study the involvement of plasma membrane H+-ATPase of vessel-associated cells in the control of sap pH. For this purpose, orchard-grown trees were compared with trees grown in a heated (> or = 15 degrees C) greenhouse. During autumn, sap pH was not directly influenced by temperature. A seasonal change in H+-ATPase activity resulting from seasonal variation in the amount of protein was measured in orchard-grown trees, whereas no significant seasonal changes were recorded in greenhouse-grown trees. Our data suggest that H+-ATPase does not regulate xylem sap pH directly by donating protons to the xylem, but by facilitating secondary active H+/sugar transport, among other mechanisms.     

Rapid prediction of shrinkage and fibre saturation point on teak (Tectona grandis) wood based on near-infrared spectroscopy

? Dimensional stability, along with the natural durability and colour of the wood, is one of the most important characteristics of teak used as timber. However, it is very time-consuming to take measurements of this kind. For the purposes of selection for the production of improved varieties, the number of samples to be measured rapidly exceeds the capacity of a traditional laboratory.

? Near-infrared spectroscopy, based on a set of reference data, is a tool enabling many of the chemical properties of wood to be predicted and the number of laboratory measurements to be reduced exponentially. The issue here is a question of checking the effectiveness of NIRS tool to build models and predict the shrinkage and fibre saturation point of teak wood from Togo.

? The results show the possible use of NIRS to measure the dimensional stability of teak wood and that it is appropriate to choose the type of wood and type of surface to be measured by NIRS. The best prediction models for radial and tangential shrinkage and fibre saturation point give R ² values of 0.72, 0.83 and 0.87 respectively with ratios of performance deviation of 1.8, 2.4 and 2.8.

? Consequently, after verification on other sets of teak samples, which may or may not be included in the prediction model, NIRS can be used to predict shrinkage and fibre saturation point values accurately for a large number of samples, making it possible to include these characteristics in the selection criteria for classifying wood and high throughput phenotyping.

     

Fetal protection against bovine viral diarrhoea type 1 virus infection after one administration of a live-attenuated vaccine

A modified-live vaccine has been shown previously to prevent fetal infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-2 and, to some extent BVDV-1, when used in association with an inactivated vaccine in a two-step vaccination protocol. In this challenge study, the modified-live vaccine used alone was able to protect 13 heifers between 49 and 96 days of gestation at challenge from leucopenia and virus replication and, for a 4-month period, to prevent fetal infection. The efficacy of the BVDV-1f 22146/Han81 challenge was demonstrated by virus isolation from the fetuses of all nine non-vaccinated, control heifers. However, the small number of heifers tested meant that the vaccination failure rate could be as high as 10% in the field.     

Management of peritonitis in cattle.

Peritonitis commonly is included in a list of differential diagnoses in food animal practice. Understanding the physiology of the ruminant peritoneal cavity and its response to injury is important to institute an adequate therapeutic plan. Ancillary procedures are used often and are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and should be well-organized.     

Thymomas in rabbits: clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment

Thymomas are rarely recorded in rabbits, and the literature includes comparatively few cases. Medical records were reviewed to identify all pet rabbits in which a mediastinal mass was diagnosed between Feb 2007 and Jan 2010. Signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic work-up (including laboratory data, diagnostic imaging, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of the mediastinal mass), treatment modalities, survival time, and histologic findings were evaluated. Cytologic and/or histopathologic examinations revealed thymomas in all rabbits with mediastinal masses (n=13). Rabbits with thymomas showed clinical signs of dyspnea (76.9%), exercise intolerance (53.9%), and bilateral exophthalmos (46.2%). In seven rabbits the thymoma was removed surgically. Two rabbits were treated conservatively, and four rabbits were euthanized because of their poor clinical condition. The two rabbits that underwent surgery were euthanized 6 mo and 34 mo later. Mediastinal masses in rabbits appear to be more common than previously believed and consist primarily of thymomas rather than thymic lymphomas. Cytology of samples collected by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is an accurate diagnostic tool for the identification of thymomas in rabbits. Due to a high rate of perioperative mortality, intensive perioperative care and the provision of a low-stress environment are recommended for a successful thoracotomy.     

Human and bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine research and development

Human (HRSV) and bovine (BRSV) respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) are two closely related viruses, which are the most important causative agents of respiratory tract infections of young children and calves, respectively. BRSV vaccines have been available for nearly 2 decades. They probably have reduced the prevalence of RSV infection but their efficacy needs improvement. In contrast, despite decades of research, there is no currently licensed vaccine for the prevention of HRSV disease. Development of a HRSV vaccine for infants has been hindered by the lack of a relevant animal model that develops disease, the need to immunize immunologically immature young infants, the difficulty for live vaccines to find the right balance between attenuation and immunogenicity, and the risk of vaccine-associated disease. During the past 15 years, intensive research into a HRSV vaccine has yielded vaccine candidates, which have been evaluated in animal models and, for some of them, in clinical trials in humans. Recent formulations have focused on subunit vaccines with specific CD4+ Th-1 immune response-activating adjuvants and on genetically engineered live attenuated vaccines. It is likely that different HRSV vaccines and/or combinations of vaccines used sequentially will be needed for the various populations at risk. This review discusses the recent advances in RSV vaccine development.