Relationships between the Size of Aggregates,Particulate Organic Matter Content,and Decomposition of Plant Residues in Soil

Eurasian Soil Science - The distribution of total organic matter (Corg), particulate organic matter (CPOM), and potentially mineralizable organic matter (C0) in mega- (10–5 and 5–2 mm),...     

Application of Geoelectric Methods for Mapping Soil Heterogeneity

Eurasian Soil Science - Application of a set of electrical methods used in geophysics—direct current resistance and induced polarization—for the purposes of mapping soil heterogeneity...     

Changes in Physical Properties of Chernozems under the Impact of No-Till Technology

Eurasian Soil Science - This article presents the results of research on the impact of no-till technology on the natural bulk density and macro- and microaggregate composition of the topsoil...     

The non-specific stimulation of avian peripheral blood lymphocytes from uninfected chickens by paramyxoviruses and influenza viruses

Avian paramyxovirus-3 was mitogenic to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from about half the normal birds sampled from 3 inbred flocks. Eight other myxoviruses including Newcastle disease virus, Sendai virus and influenza virus were also irregularly mitogenic. This could complicate in vitro assays for specific immunity.     

Characterization of biological and antigenic properties of raccoon dog and blue fox parvoviruses: a monoclonal antibody study

Parvovirus isolates from blue foxes and raccoon dogs were characterized by studying their haemagglutination properties, host range in vitro and antigenic structure. In all 3 characters, raccoon dog parvovirus resembled canine parvovirus (CPV), while blue fox parvovirus was similar to mink enteritis virus (MEV). Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared against both viruses. Raccoon dog parvovirus, while resembling CPV, had a unique antigenic site which could be specified by MAbs. The pattern of MAbs prepared against blue fox parvovirus indicated that it is a member of Type 2 MEV.     

Arboviruses recovered from sentinel livestock in northern Australia

Over 700 arboviruses were recovered between 1981 and 1987 from the blood of sentinel livestock near Darwin. Twenty-three isolates were made from sheep, goats, swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and horses, and the remainder were from cattle. The isolates have been typed as 27 separate viruses belonging to the bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic disease, Palyam, Simbu, bovine ephemeral fever, Tibrogargan and alphavirus groups. Ten of these viruses have not been isolated elsewhere in Australia and four have been isolated only in Darwin. Considerable annual variations in virus activity and in the durations of detectable viraemia were observed.     

Concentrations of bioactive and immunoactive luteinizing hormone in bovine anterior pituitary tissue

Tissue concentrations of LH as determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) may not accurately measure actual changes that could occur in biological activity of the hormone. To examine this possibility, pituitary homogenates from 135 beef cows in various physiological states were analyzed for content of LH by both RIA and an in vitro bioassay. The ratio of biological/immunological active concentrations of LH remained constant (.52 +/- .02) even though tissue concentrations of immunoactive LH differed among groups. Tissue concentrations of bioactive LH were linearly related to, and highly correlated with (P less than .001), tissue concentrations of immunoactive LH. These data indicate that only a fraction of the immunoactive LH in the bovine pituitary is biologically active. However, this fraction does not vary with the reproductive status or plane of nutrition.     

Causes of death and illness in the native sheep of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. I. Adult sheep

Post-mortem examinations on 71 native sheep found dead on the island of North Ronaldsay, Orkney in four visits between April 1983 and July 1985 were carried out. The sheep in this almost feral flock have access to a small area of unmanaged moorland pasture but are otherwise restricted to the foreshore where they subsist largely on Laminaria spp. and other seaweeds. Young adult animals died largely of heavy parasite burdens combined with inadequate nutrition, while the older sheep often starved because of severe dental disease precipitated by heavy deposits of tartar on the cheek teeth--rarely seen in sheep on a more conventional diet. Other underlying metabolic conditions, such as the extensive mineralization of the kidney medulla in many mature sheep, may be debilitating. The pathological findings suggest that adaptation to the peculiar environmental rigours and dietary restrictions on North Ronaldsay is less complete than has previously been assumed.     

The development of a transport and enrichment medium for Campylobacter fetus

A transport and enrichment medium was developed for Campylobacter fetus. From inocula of between 10 and 35 organisms the medium was able to support the multiplication of 19 of 21 strains of C. fetus if the medium was incubated immediately after inoculation; when incubation was delayed for 3 days after inoculation, only seven of the 21 strains multiplied. From inocula of 100-350 organisms all 21 strains multiplied following immediate incubation, and 20 of 21 when incubation was delayed for 3 days. From inocula of about 10(4) organisms all strains multiplied following immediate or delayed incubation. The medium restricted the growth of Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.