Structure/activity studies on aphid alarm pheromone derivatives and their field use against transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus

Derivatives produced by 1,4-cycloaddition reactions between acetylenecarboxylic acid esters and the aphid alarm pheromone, (E)-β-farnesene, and analogues in which other features of the pheromone molecule were modified, were tested for activity against aphid colonisation. The most active compound, formed from (E)-β-farnesene and diundecyl acetylenedicarboxylate, decreased aphid-transmitted barley yellow dwarf virus infection of autumn-sown barley.     

Evaluation of the diffusion of corticosteroids between the distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinically effective concentrations of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone can be achieved in the navicular bursa after injection of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) or triamcinolone acetonide (TA) into the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) and whether clinically effective concentrations of these drugs can be achieved in the DIPJ after injecting the navicular bursa with the same doses of MPA or TA. ANIMALS: 32 healthy horses. PROCEDURES: Horses in groups 1 through 4 received 40 mg of MPA in the DIPJ, 10 mg of TA in the DIPJ, 40 mg of MPA in the navicular bursa, and 10 mg of TA in the navicular bursa, respectively. Concentrations of corticosteroids that diffused into the adjacent synovial structure were determined. RESULTS: For group 1, injection of MPA into the DIPJ yielded a mean +/- SD concentration of 0.24 +/- 0.072 microg of methylprednisolone/mL in the navicular bursa. For group 2, injection of TA into the DIPJ yielded 0.124 +/- 0.075 microg of triamcinolone/mL in the navicular bursa. For group 3, injection of MPA into the navicular bursa yielded 0.05 +/- 0.012 microg of methylprednisolone/mL in the DIPJ. For group 4, injection of TA into the navicular bursa yielded 0.091 +/- 0.026 microg of triamcinolone/mL in the DIPJ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A clinically effective concentration of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone diffused between the DIPJ and navicular bursa after intra-articular or intrabursal injection, which would justify injection of the DIPJ with MPA or TA to ameliorate inflammation of the navicular bursa.     

Accurate genomic predictions for BCWD resistance in rainbow trout are achieved using low‐density SNP panels: Evidence that long‐range LD is a major contributing factor

Previously accurate genomic predictions for Bacterial cold water disease (BCWD) resistance in rainbow trout were obtained using a medium‐density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Here, the impact of lower‐density SNP panels on the accuracy of genomic predictions was investigated in a commercial rainbow trout breeding population. Using progeny performance data, the accuracy of genomic breeding values (GEBV) using 35K, 10K, 3K, 1K, 500, 300 and 200 SNP panels as well as a panel with 70 quantitative trait loci (QTL)‐flanking SNP was compared. The GEBVs were estimated using the Bayesian method BayesB, single‐step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) and weighted ssGBLUP (wssGBLUP). The accuracy of GEBVs remained high despite the sharp reductions in SNP density, and even with 500 SNP accuracy was higher than the pedigree‐based prediction (0.50–0.56 versus 0.36). Furthermore, the prediction accuracy with the 70 QTL‐flanking SNP (0.65–0.72) was similar to the panel with 35K SNP (0.65–0.71). Genomewide linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed strong LD (r² ≥ 0.25) spanning on average over 1 Mb across the rainbow trout genome. This long‐range LD likely contributed to the accurate genomic predictions with the low‐density SNP panels. Population structure analysis supported the hypothesis that long‐range LD in this population may be caused by admixture. Results suggest that lower‐cost, low‐density SNP panels can be used for implementing genomic selection for BCWD resistance in rainbow trout breeding programs.     

Mineralization can be an incidental ultrasonographic finding in equine tendons and ligaments

Tendon/ligament mineralization is recognized in horses but information regarding its clinical significance is limited. The aims of this observational study were to report the structures most commonly affected by ultrasonographically detectable mineralization and, for these, determine frequency of diagnosis and key clinical features. Cases presented at our hospital in April 1999–April 2013 and September 2014–November 2015 were included: a total of 27 horses (22 retrospective, five prospective). Mineralizations were most common in deep digital flexor tendons (10) and suspensory ligament branches (eight), representing 10% and 7% (estimated), respectively, of horses diagnosed with injuries to these structures during the study. Two deep digital flexor tendon and three suspensory ligament branch cases showed bilateral mineralization. Deep digital flexor tendon mineralization was restricted to the digital flexor tendon sheath, most commonly in the proximal sheath (±sesamoidean canal), and seven of 10 cases involved hindlimbs. Suspensory ligament branch mineralization was visible in the same ultrasound window as the proximal sesamoid bones in 10/11 limbs and six of eight cases involved forelimbs. Previous corticosteroid medication was a feature of one deep digital flexor tendon and one suspensory ligament branch case. Mineralization was associated with lameness in some but not all limbs. Mineralized foci within the deep digital flexor tendon preceded hypoechoic lesion formation in two limbs. Of the cases with deep digital flexor tendon or suspensory ligament branch injury only, one of three and two of three cases, respectively, became sound. Findings indicated that tendon/ligament mineralization can be associated with lameness in some horses, but can also be an incidental finding.     

Urban green space, street tree and heritage large tree assessment in Bangkok, Thailand

Three inventories were conducted to quantify Bangkok's green infrastructure for future planning and improvement in the context of a seasonal monsoonal dry climate. Total green space was quantified by extracting surface cover areas from remotely sensed data in a geographical information system (GIS) environment, and this information was used to designate suitable sites for future green spaces such as parks. Street trees were inventoried for species identification and size. Trees of heritage value were identified through a public awareness campaign, and then were subsequently surveyed for species identification, height and trunk diameter. GIS green space analysis showed that per capita park space was approximately 1.8 m², but a master plan proposed increasing per capita park area to 4 m² within 25 years. The increased park area will be largely in the form of lower cost, semi-naturalized tree parks. The inventoried street tree population, approximately 200,000, was skewed somewhat towards a monoculture, as 42% were the facultative evergreen Pterocarpus indicus Wild. By contrast, none of the other species exceeded 7% of the total. That most of the other species consisted of smaller trunk diameters than P. indicus, and therefore younger, suggests that Bangkok's street tree plantings are becoming more diverse. The heritage large tree inventory was dominated by evergreen tree species, particularly exceptionally large Ficus species, found largely on Buddhist temple grounds, followed by Albizia saman (Jacq.) Merr. The slower growing evergreen heritage species are worth careful appraisal and preservation because they are less likely to be commonly planted. Careful species selection balancing drought deciduous and dry evergreen species can achieve adaptation to the monsoonal dry season with diverse aesthetic quality in both Bangkok's street tree population and in its semi-naturalized tree parks.     

Root biomass dynamics in a semi-natural grassland exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 for five years

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on root dynamics were studied in a semi-natural grassland in central Sweden during five consecutive summer seasons. Open-top chambers were used for ambient and elevated (+350 μmol mol^?1) concentrations of CO₂, and chamberless rings were used for control. Root dynamics were observed in situ with minirhizotrons during the five summers and root biomass production was measured with root in growth cores during the last two years, from which total root biomass was estimated for each of the five years. The elevated CO₂ treatment showed both a greater increase in root numbers during the early summer and a greater decline in root numbers during autumn and winter than the ambient CO₂ treatment. Mean root production under elevated CO₂ was 50% greater than ambient CO₂ during the five years, and the difference increased from +25% in the first year to +80% in the last two years. Conversely, during the same period, the elevated to ambient CO₂ difference in shoot biomass decreased from +50% to +5%. This resulted in a dramatic change in root to shoot ratios in elevated CO₂ compared with the ambient treatment, which increased from ?15% in 1996 to +70% in 2000. Similar differences were seen between elevated CO₂ and the chamberless grown control plants, where root to shoot ratios increased steadily from ?47% in 1996 to +27% in 2000. Less dynamically, the root to shoot ratios of ambient CO₂ grown plants compared with the chamberless control plants were consistently ?29%±6% during the experimental period. In conclusion, during the 5 years this grassland was studied, there was a clear shift in plant biomass partitioning from above to below ground for plants exposed to elevated CO₂.