Inheritance of rol-genes from Agrobacterium rhizogenes through two generations in Kalancho?

Transformation of Kalancho? blossfeldiana ‘Molly’ using the naturally occurring bacterium Agrobacterium rhizogenes is a non-GMO strategy to breed compact plants. In the present study, crosses resembling a commercial breeding strategy were made to determine if the improved ornamental quality observed in the T1 generation was inherited to the offspring. F1 lines were produced by crossing the commercial Kalancho? cultivar ‘Sarah’ with a selected T1 line. Subsequently, F2 populations were produced by self-pollination of individual selected lines. The rol-genes were inherited to the progeny and the presence of rol-genes was confirmed in all F1 and many F2 plant lines exhibiting dwarfism. Screening of F1 and F2 plants showed that the rol-genes were inherited together. Besides decreased plant height, several F1 and F2 lines containing rol-genes exhibited changes in plant diameter, number of branches, flower diameter and time to first open flower and duration of flowering compared to the WT ‘Molly’. Furthermore, increased ethylene tolerance was observed in several lines containing rol-genes compared to the WT ‘Sarah’. Screening of three selected F2 populations derived from self-pollination of F1 lines containing rol-genes indicated a shift in distribution towards a lower mean plant height within the entire plant population compared to a control population of plants without rol-genes. Moreover, one of these F2 populations also exhibited earlier flowering compared to the control population. Compact potted plants and lines without delayed flowering and with improved ethylene tolerance were obtained and are valuable in commercial breeding programmes without using recombinant DNA technology.     

Dipolar antiferromagnetism and quantum criticality in LiErF₄

Magnetism has been predicted to occur in systems in which dipolar interactions dominate exchange. We present neutron scattering, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility data for LiErF(4), establishing it as a model dipolar-coupled antiferromagnet with planar spin-anisotropy and a quantum phase transition in applied field H(c|| = 4.0 ± 0.1 kilo-oersteds. We discovered non-mean-field critical scaling for the classical phase transition at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature that is consistent with the two-dimensional XY/h(4) universality class; in accord with this, the quantum phase transition at H(c) exhibits three-dimensional classical behavior. The effective dimensional reduction may be a consequence of the intrinsic frustrated nature of the dipolar interaction, which strengthens the role of fluctuations.     

The landscape matrix modifies the effect of habitat fragmentation in grassland butterflies

The landscape matrix is suggested to influence the effect of habitat fragmentation on species richness, but the generality of this prediction has not been tested. Here, we used data from 10 independent studies on butterfly species richness, where the matrix surrounding grassland patches was dominated by either forest or arable land to test if matrix land use influenced the response of species richness to patch area and connectivity. To account for the possibility that some of the observed species use the matrix as their main or complementary habitat, we analysed the effects on total species richness and on the richness of grassland specialist and non-specialist (generalists and specialists on other habitat types) butterflies separately. Specialists and non-specialists were defined separately for each dataset. Total species richness and the richness of grassland specialist butterflies were positively related to patch area and forest cover in the matrix, and negatively to patch isolation. The strength of the species-area relationship was modified by matrix land use and had a slope that decreased with increasing forest cover in the matrix. Potential mechanisms for the weaker effect of grassland fragmentation in forest-dominated landscapes are (1) that the forest matrix is more heterogeneous and contains more resources, (2) that small grassland patches in a matrix dominated by arable land suffer more from negative edge effects or (3) that the arable matrix constitutes a stronger barrier to dispersal between populations. Regardless of the mechanisms, our results show that there are general effects of matrix land use across landscapes and regions, and that landscape management that increases matrix quality can be a complement to habitat restoration and re-creation in fragmented landscapes.     

Comparative genomics of multiple plasmids from APEC associated with clonal outbreaks demonstrates major similarities and identifies several potential vaccine-targets

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is associated with several types of extraintestinal infections, collectively known as colibacillosis. A heterogeneous population structure has hindered development of vaccines protective against all APEC. Recently, however, the existence of different APEC subpathotypes have been suggested, which are defined by specific disease syndromes and associated virulence genes. A collection of 14 APEC isolates representing clonal outbreaks of salpingitis accompanied by peritonitis and sepsis were characterized in the present study. All the strains carried large plasmids and the aim of the study was to investigate the similarity of these by sequencing, annotating and comparative analysis to identify potential vaccine targets. In addition, a comparison with gene content of human extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC) subtypes was conducted. Results obtained demonstrated highly similar plasmid contents of the 14 APEC strains, despite the diversity of their chromosomal background. All 14 APEC carried the colicin V operon and numerous virulence genes. These included iss, traT, hlyF, eitABC, ompT, iroBCDEN, sitABCD, iutA and lucABCD. Several of these are shared with human ExPEC, implicating a possible zoonotic potential. Despite a diverse chromosomal background, it was concluded that the plasmid content of virulence genes are highly similar for the investigated APEC subpathotype. Based on their frequency, protein uniformity and subcellular localization iroN, iutA, iss, traT, ompT and etsC are suggested as vaccine-candidates. Experimental studies are, however, necessary to determine the protective potential of the candidates against the APEC subpathotype characterized by salpingitis, peritonitis and possibly septicaemia.     

Vaccination elicits a prominent acute phase response in horses

European and American guidelines for vaccination against tetanus and influenza in horses recommend annual and annual/semi-annual vaccinations, respectively, against the two pathogens. Too-frequent vaccination may, however, have adverse effects, among other things because an inflammatory response is elicited with subsequent alterations in homeostasis. The objective of the study was to compare the acute phase response (APR) in 10 horses following administration of two different types of vaccines, namely, an inactivated Immune Stimulating COMplex (ISCOM) vaccine and a live recombinant vector vaccine. Blood was sampled before and after vaccination to measure levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, white blood cell counts (WBC) and iron. Vaccination induced a prominent APR with increased WBC, elevated blood levels of SAA and fibrinogen, and decreased serum iron concentrations. The ISCOM vaccine caused significantly (P<0.05) greater SAA, fibrinogen and WBC responses than the vector vaccine. During the APR muscle catabolism and liver and kidney metabolism are altered. Also drug metabolism may change during the APR. The findings of the present study may be relevant for advising horse owners about convalescence after vaccination.     

Circulating cytokine concentrations in dogs with different degrees of myxomatous mitral valve disease

Cytokines have been associated with the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF) in humans and may be implicated in the pathophysiology of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the serum concentrations of cytokines in dogs with MMVD. The study included 16 Cairn terriers with no or minimal mitral regurgitation (MR), 41 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) with different degrees of MR and 11 dogs of different breeds with CHF due to MMVD. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, interferon-γ-induced protein and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured using a canine-specific multiplex immunoassay. CHF dogs had significantly higher MCP-1 concentrations than dogs with no or minimal MR. Among the CKCS, IL-2 and IL-7 decreased with increasing left atrial size and IL-7 also decreased with increasing MR. IL-8 decreased with increasing left ventricular end-systolic internal dimensions. MCP-1 was increased in CHF dogs compared to healthy control dogs and IL-2, IL-7 and IL-8 decreased with increasing indices of disease severity. The results suggest a role for these cytokines in canine MMVD and CHF.     

A review of decision-making approaches to handle uncertainty and risk in adaptive forest management under climate change

• Context  

This review paper provides an overview of approaches to which we may resort for handling the complex decision problems involving uncertainty and risk that climate change implies for forest managers. Modelling approaches that could support adaptive management strategies seem to be called for, not only as climate change denotes increased economic uncertainty but also because new and more reliable information becomes available as time passes and climate changes.     

Associations between use,activities and characteristics of the outdoor environment at workplaces

Today, office work in western societies is more sedentary and more mentally demanding than ever before. This way of working plays a role in the increase in lifestyle diseases related to sedentary routines and stress. Green outdoor environments have been found to motivate physical activity and reduce stress levels. In this study, we therefore considered these environments to have a positive affect on work force health and wellbeing. However, research on the workplace outdoor environment is still limited. To investigate how and why the workplace outdoor environment is used by office workers and the impact of these environments on office workers’ health and wellbeing, five research questions were formulated. The questions addressed the use of the outdoor environments; the outdoor activities; encouragement and impediments for going outdoors; characteristics of the outdoor environment, and the impact of workplace outdoor environments on employees’ health, job satisfaction and work performance. In order to answer these research questions, we conducted a web-based questionnaire, completed by (N) 402 office workers from six Danish companies. The results show that 37.8% of the respondents spent time outdoors during their working day, and that the proportion of men spending time outdoors was higher than the proportion of women. Eight outdoor activities were identified, and significant relationships between the outdoor activities and perceived sensory dimensions (PSD) of the outdoor environment were found, indicating that the presence of the dimension ‘serene’ increased the odds for respondents going outdoors and that five of the eight activities would be performed. Only few significant relationships between outdoor environment use and employee health, job satisfaction and work performance were identified.     

Herd prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Danish pig herds after implementation of the Danish Salmonella Control Program with reference to a pre-implementation study

The problems addressed are: (1) comparison of prevalences of Salmonella spp. in different herd types in the Danish pig population after implementation of the Danish Salmonella Control Program (DSCP), and (2) to make a reference to a study from 1993/1994 (pre-implementation) with a discussion of possible biases when diagnostic methods differ slightly. The objectives were to present the prevalences of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Typhimurium, and multiresistant S. Typhimurium DT104 in Danish pig herds in 1998. Further, to discuss how herd prevalences may be compared to a previous study.A bacteriological study in 1998 comprised: (a) a random sample of slaughter pig producing herds (N=1962); (b) a random sample of farrow-to-grower (sow) herds (N=305); and (c) all breeding and multiplying (genetic) herds (N=366). A previous bacteriological study on Salmonella presence in 1993/1994 served as a model for the present study. The results of the study were that multiresistant S. Typhimurium DT104 was detected in one herd producing slaughter pigs. The herd apparent prevalences (HAPs) of Salmonella spp. were 11.7, 16.7 and 11.4% in genetic, sow, and slaughter pig herds, respectively. The conclusion of the study was that prevalence of multiresistant S. Typhimurium DT104 was low in the examined slaughter pig herds. The herd true prevalence (HTP) of Salmonella spp. in pigs had declined from before the start of the DSCP in 1993/1994 to 4 years later (1998).