Long-term deformation of MDF panels under alternating humidity conditions

Summary Creep tests were carried out on 19 mm thick commercial MDF panels, raw and overlaid with melamin resin-impregnated 80 g/m² paper.The tests were carried out under cyclic environmental conditions with relative humidity levels of 30%–90%, a steady temperature of 20 °C, 3 different stress levels, 20%, 30% and 40%, and using mid-span loading.The relative creep of the MDF panels was considerably higher than that in particleboards with similar characteristics. Creep behaviour of the raw panels seems to be strongly influenced by melamin coating of the boards' surfaces but not by the edge coating, except when both were combined.This study debates the convenience of comparing the rheological behaviour of MDF and particleboards by means of the relative creep.     

Proliferation and Apoptosis in Aged and Photoregressed Mammalian Seminiferous Epithelium,with Particular Attention to Rodents and Humans

Imbalances in the proliferation and apoptosis processes are involved in numerous epithelial alterations. In the seminiferous epithelium, normal spermatogenesis is regulated by spermatogonia proliferation and germ cell apoptosis, and both processes are involved in diverse pathological alterations of the seminiferous epithelium. Other physiological phenomena including aging and short photoperiod, in which apoptosis and proliferation seem to play important roles, cause testicular changes. Aging is accompanied by diminished proliferation and increased apoptosis, the latter occurring in specific states of the seminiferous cycle and considered the cause of epithelium involution. However, there is no clear evidence concerning whether proliferation decreases in the spermatogonia themselves or is due to an alteration in the cell microenvironment that surrounds them. As regards the factors that regulate the process, the data are scant, but it is considered that the diminution of c‐kit expression in the spermatagonia, together with the diminution in antiapoptotic factors (Bcl‐x_L)) of the intrinsic molecular pathway of apoptosis play a part in epithelial regression. A short photoperiod, especially in rodents, produces a gradual involution of the seminiferous epithelium, which is related with increased apoptosis during the regression phase and a diminution of apoptosis during recrudescence. Proliferative activity varies, especially during the total regression phase, when it usually increases in the undifferentiated spermatogonia. In other species showing seasonal reproduction, however, decreased proliferation is considered the main factor in the regression of the seminiferous epithelium. Little is known about how both phenomena are regulated, although data in rodents suggest that both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis contribute to the increase in this process. In conclusion, regression of the seminiferous epithelium in physiological situations, as in many pathological situations, is a result of alterations in equilibrium between the proliferation and apoptosis of germinal cell types. However, both physiological phenomena showed important differences as regard proliferation/apoptosis and their regulation pathways, probably as a result of their irreversible or reversible character.     

Testicular histomorphometry and the proliferative and apoptotic activities of the seminiferous epithelium in Syrian hamster during spontaneous recrudescence after exposure to short photoperiod

Syrian hamsters are photoperiodic rodents in which reproduction, including testicular function, is stimulated by long photoperiod exposure and curtailed by exposure to a short photoperiod. The objectives of this study were to characterize the testis histomorphometrically and to determine the role of the proliferation and apoptosis phenomena in the recovery of the seminiferous epithelium during spontaneous recrudescence after exposure to short photoperiod. The study was performed using conventional light microscopy, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP in situ nick end labelling staining, image analysis software, and transmission electron microscopy in three recrudescence groups: initial recrudescence (IR), advanced recrudescence (AR) and total recrudescence (TR). The results morphometrically pointed to the gradual recovery of the testicular and tubular volumes, as well as of the seminiferous epithelium. Among the IR and AR groups, the increase in testicular and tubular volumes was accompanied by an increase in tubular diameter and length, with an increase in interstitial volume. From AR to TR, there was an increase in the tubular and total volumes, but, in this case, with a gradual increase in tubular diameter. Recovery of the seminiferous epithelium was accompanied by changes in apoptosis and proliferation activities. The first decreased halfway through the process, and the second remained higher than the control levels throughout the recrudescence stage. Alterations in the spermatozoa were ultrastructurally observed, which indicated that spermiogenesis was not yet completely normal. In conclusion, spontaneous testicular recrudescence in Syrian hamster comprises two histomorphometrical phases: the first related to an increase in tubular length and diameter and interstitial volume and the second depending principally on the gradual increase in tubular diameter. The restoration of the seminiferous epithelium is due to apoptosis reaching normal values in the AR group accompanied by higher proliferative activity than that observed in the Control group.     

Effect of growth conditions on wood density of Spanish Pinus nigra

The natural forests of Laricio Pine (Pinus nigra Subsp. salzmannii) cover in Spain an area of 353,000 ha, producing annually 310,000 m³ of roundwood. This species is considered as the fourth, most important Spanish conifer, being its timber frequently used in construction. The natural area of distribution of Laricio pine in Spain is officially divided into ten different regions of provenance, being only four of them considered as productive. The present study on the influence of growth conditions on extracted wood basic density (EBD) is carried out on 89 P. nigra trees, sampled from the two most productive Spanish regions of provenance (R.7 and R.8) in seven different sites. Cross-sectional disks were cut at 3 m (in 89 trees) and every 3 m height (in 18 trees) from the butt up to 15 m. For assessing the pattern of radial variation of the properties, 20×20×20 mm³ wood samples were taken radially from every cross-sectional disk. In every 20×20×20 mm³ wood sample, age and distance to the pith of the central annual ring was recorded, together with the average growth rate. Extractive content and EBD were measured in every sample. The results lead to the conclusion that there is not a significant relationship between EBD and provenance or growth rate. On the contrary, a significant relationship has been found between EBD and site quality or cambial age. The results also demonstrate that in a tree EBD tends to diminish from the base to the top and from the pith outwards. The main result of the present study is related with the observation that for the same cambial age, annual ring width has no significant influence on EBD, confirming that its utility as a predictor of the quality of timber is highly questionable, at least if the ring curvature is not considered.     

The cost of stress resistance: construction and maintenance costs of leaves and roots in two populations of Quercus ilex

We tested whether growth and maintenance costs of plant organs vary with environmental stress. Quercus ilex L. seedlings from acorns collected from natural populations in the northern Iberian Peninsula and in a lower elevation and putatively less stressful habitat in the southern Iberian Peninsula were grown in pots under the same conditions. Growth and maintenance respiration were measured by CO(2) exchange. Young leaves from 5-month-old seedlings of both populations had similar mean specific leaf areas, nitrogen and carbon concentrations and specific growth rates, and almost identical growth costs (1.26 g glucose g(-1)). Leaf maintenance cost was higher in northern than in the southern population (27.3 versus 22.4 mg glucose g(-1) day(-1), P < 0.01). In both populations, leaf maintenance cost decreased by 90% as leaves aged, but even in mature leaves, the maintenance cost was higher in the northern population than in the southern population (3.38 versus 2.53 mg glucose g(-1) day(-1), P < 0.01). The growth costs of fine roots < 1 mm in diameter were similar in the two populations (1.20 g glucose g(-1)), whereas fine root maintenance cost was higher in the northern population than in the southern population (9.86 versus 7.45 mg glucose g(-1) day(-1); P < 0.05). The results suggest that the cost of organ maintenance is related to the severity of environmental stress in the native habitat. Because the observed differences in both leaves and roots were constitutive, the two populations may be considered ecotypes.     

Population development of Phorodon humuli and predators (Orius spp.) within hop cones: Influence of aphid density on hop quality

The price of hops in Spain is given per kilogram of dry product and according to their content of alpha-acids. If any aphids are noted inside cones there is a penalty of up to 10% of the dry weight. Experiments were performed in a hop garden in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to investigate population development of the damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli, and its natural enemies in hop (Humulus lupulus) cones. Furthermore, we investigated if the alpha-acid content was affected by aphid populations. Aphids were first observed within hop cones at the beginning of August and numbers rose sharply from mid- to late August onwards. Aphid infestation of cones reflected the numbers observed on foliage in July, with a greater population halfway up the bines (3 m height) than at the top (6 m height). The alpha-acid content of dried hops was unaffected by the aphid population on leaves, but aphid contamination reduced the economic value of the crop because of arbitrary commercial criteria related to the presence of aphids in cones. The hop aphid’s main natural enemies within cones were anthocorids, all belonging to the genus Orius. The anthocorid population in cones grew in tandem with the aphid population, suggesting that these predators are worthy of consideration in an integrated management approach.     

Streptococcal toxic shock in a horse

A 14-year-old horse was admitted to the veterinary hospital for treatment of tachycardia and lethargy. Initial diagnoses were ventricular tachycardia and renal dysfunction. During hospitalization other findings included fever, renal failure, hepatic failure, hypotension, and intermittent ventricular arrhythmias. Bacteriologic culture of 2 blood samples collected during febrile crises 7 days apart yielded Streptococcus mitis. These culture results along with other clinical and physical examination findings fulfill the criteria for a diagnosis of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, previously described for humans and dogs. To our knowledge this is the first reported instance of this disease in a horse.