Dyserythropoeisis, sideroblasts/siderocytes and hemoglobin crystallization in a dog

Dyserythropoiesis characterized by enhanced intramedullary destruction, pathologic sideroblasts and siderocytes, and hemoglobin crystallization was detected in a female Cocker Spaniel presented for poor exercise tolerance. Examination of peripheral blood revealed intraerythrocytic crystals, granulation of erythrocytes, nucleated erythroid cells, reticulocytosis and marked variation in erythrocyte morphology in the absence of anemia. Bone marrow examination revealed sideroblasts, a low M:E ratio and evidence of enhanced intramedullary destruction of erythroid cells. Electron microscopy of peripheral blood and bone marrow confirmed pathologic mitochondrial iron accumulation in erythroid cells and the presence of intraerythrocytic hemoglobin crystals. A cause for the hematologic changes was not identified. After the animal became clinically normal, siderocytes disappeared from peripheral blood but intraerythrocytic crystals and reticulocytosis persisted.     

B cell development in gut associated lymphoid tissues

B lymphocyte development can occur in a variety of anatomical sites. While typically considered to be a process that occurs in the bone marrow throughout life, it is becoming clear that gut associates sites of B cell development are critically important in many species of veterinary importance. Among these sites, the bursa of Fabricius in chickens and the ileal Peyer's patches of sheep are among the best studied. In these organs, it has become clear that many of the properties associated with B cell development in rodent and primate bone marrow do not apply. Thus while bone marrow B cell development typically involves an ongoing maturation of mature B cells from immature B lineage precursors that lack the expression of a surface immunoglobulin complex, gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs) may be colonized by a single wave of precursor cells during embryo development. Nonetheless, molecular analysis of the requirements for B lymphocyte development in GALTs reveals some striking parallels with requirements identified for B cell development in bone marrow. This article will discuss differences between B cell development in the bone marrow and GALTs and recent evidence emerging that yields insights into how these processes are regulated.     

Factors affecting the adoption of agroforestry practices by farmers in Cameroon

This paper presents empirical evidence on the impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Cameroon. The analysis uses primary farm-level data collected from June to December 1996. Three major provinces of the country were covered, namely Centre, Southwest and Northwest Several agroforestry technologies have been promoted among farmers in the zone, including alley farming, improved fallow, live fencing, cut-and-carry fodder and apiculture. The status of adoption of each agroforestry practice is described and factors that affect adoption identified. These are gender of farmer, household family size, level of education, farmer’s experience, membership within farmers’ associations, contact with research and extension, security of land tenure, agroecological zone, distance of the village from nearest town, village accessibility and income from livestock. Research findings indicate that since factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices differ across techniques, generalisation is to be avoided.     

Genetics of wood quality attributes in Western Larch

Context

Wood quality traits are important to balance the negative decline of wood quality associated with selection for growth attributes in gymnosperm breeding programs. Obtaining wood quality estimates quickly is crucial for successful incorporation in breeding programs.

Aims

The aims of this paper are to: (1) Estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between growth and wood quality attributes, (2) Estimate heritability of the studied traits, and (3) Assess the accuracy of in situ non-destructive tools as a representative of actual wood density.

Methods

Wood density (X-ray densitometry), tree height, diameter, volume, resistance drilling, acoustic velocity, and dynamic modulus of elasticity were estimated, along with their genetic parameters, for 1,200, 20-year-old trees from 25 open-pollinated families.

Results

Individual tree level heritabilities for non-destructive evaluation attributes were moderate ( $ {\widehat{h}}_i^2=0.37-0.42 $ ), wood density and growth traits were lower ( $ {\widehat{h}}_i^2=0.23-0.35 $ ). Favorable genetic and phenotypic correlations between growth traits, wood density, and non-destructive evaluation traits were observed. A perfect genetic correlation was found between resistance drilling and wood density (r _G ?=?1.00?±?0.07), while acoustic velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity showed weaker genetic correlations with wood density (r _G ?=?0.25?±?0.24;?0.46?±?0.21, respectively).

Conclusion

This study confirmed that resistance drilling is a reliable predictor of wood density in western larch, while the weak genetic correlations displayed by acoustic velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity suggest limited dependability for their use as fast in situ wood density assessment methods in this species.     

Growth hormone (GH) and reproduction: a review

Interaction between growth and reproduction occurs in many vertebrates and is particularly obvious at certain stages of the life cycle in fish. Endocrine interactions between the gonadotropic axis and the somatotropic axis are described, the potential role of GH being emphasised. A comparative analysis of these phenomena in mammals, amphibians and fish, suggests a specific role of GH in the physiology of puberty, gametogenesis and fertility. It also shows the original contribution made by studies on the fish model in this field of investigations.     

Trend and Stability Analysis to Interpret Results of Long-Term Effects of Application of Fertilizers and Manure to Cotton Grown on Rainfed Vertisols

A field experiment was conducted from 1985–1986 to 2002–2003 on Vertisols under rainfed conditions to evaluate the effect of cropping systems and application of fertilizers and manure on seed cotton yield. To determine the long‐term effects, trends and stability analyses were performed. Soil samples (0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m) were collected at the end of year 18 and analysed for available P and AB‐DTPA extractable Zn. Among cropping systems, Asiatic diploid cotton (Gossypium arboreum) yielded 233 kg ha^?1 more seed cotton than the upland tetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Yield trend was positive for G. arboreum compared with G. hirsutum. However, the slope was not significant. Stability analyses indicated overall higher yield stability for G. arboreum than G. hirsutum. Compared with monocropping G. hirsutum, G. hirsutum–sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) (H‐S) rotation was significantly more stable. Soil samples (0–0.30 m) of the manure‐amended plots had significantly greater P and Zn content (above the critical limit) compared to those receiving inorganic fertilizers alone. With regard to nutrient management practices, seed cotton yield was the highest for the integrated nutrient management (INM) treatment receiving a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Among primary nutrients, the effect of P was significant while that of K was not. Balanced fertilizer application was significantly better than treatments receiving N and NK. Yield trends were, in general, not significant. However, a positive trend was noticed for treatments receiving manure compared to fertilizer alone. Stability analysis, on the other hand, indicated that the slopes were, in general, significant. Among the nutrients, mean yield response with and without P was 1007 and 672 kg ha^?1 respectively. Combined application of manure and fertilizer (INM) resulted in the highest mean yield response (1218 kg ha^?1) and the slope was highly significant (P < 0.004). In the manure‐amended plots, a better nutrient status probably imparted a greater degree of yield stability. The present study suggests that compared to trend analysis, stability analysis being sensitive as it recognizes the treatment × environment interaction, is a better option to interpret results from long‐term agronomic experiments.     

Changes in glucosinolate concentrations, myrosinase activity, and production of metabolites of glucosinolates in cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. capitata) cooked for different durations

In cabbage, glucosinolates such as sinigrin are hydrolyzed by plant myrosinase to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), allyl cyanide, and, in the presence of an epithiospecifier protein, 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane (CEP). Isothiocyanates have been implicated in the cancer-protective effects of Brassica vegetables. The effect of processing on the hydrolysis of glucosinolates was investigated in cabbage. Cabbage was steamed or microwaved for six time durations over 7 min. Glucosinolate concentrations were slightly reduced after microwave cooking (P < 0.001) but were not influenced after steaming (P < 0.05). Myrosinase activity was effectively lost after 2 min of microwave cooking and after 7 min of steaming. Hydrolysis of residual glucosinolates following cooking yielded predominantly CEP at short cooking durations and AITC at longer durations until myrosinase activity was lost. Lightly cooked cabbage produced the highest yield of AITC on hydrolysis in vitro, suggesting that cooking Brassica vegetables for a relatively short duration may be desirable from a health perspective.     

Tracing Hydrologic Pathways Using Chloride at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed,Georgia, USA

An analysis of chloride (Cl-) concentrations and fluxes at the 41 ha Panola Mountain Research Watershed indicates that Cl- may be used effectively to differentiate "new" and "old" water flow through the hillslope and their respective contributions to streamwater. Rainfall and throughfall, the "new" water inputs, are marked by low Cl- concentrations (<15 µeq L-1). Stormwater moves rapidly to depth along preferred pathways in a deciduous forest hillslope, as evidenced by low Cl- concentrations (<20 µeq L-1) in mobile soil water from zero-tension stainless-steel pan lysimeters. "Old" waters, matrix soil waters and groundwater, typically have high Cl- concentrations (>30 µeq L-1). Timing of soil water transport is not sufficiently rapid to suggest that soil water from this hillslope site (20 m from the stream) contributes to streamwater during individual rainstorms. The source of streamflow, therefore, must be a combination of channel interception, overland flow and soil water from near-channel areas, and runoff from a 3 ha bedrock outcrop in the headwaters. Groundwater contribution to streamflow was estimated using Cl- concentrations of throughfall and groundwater as the two end members for a two-component hydrograph separation. For the study period, groundwater contributed 79% of the streamflow and from 1985 to 1995, contributed 75% of the streamflow. Rainfall was the source of 45% of the Cl- flux from the watershed in the long term; the remaining Cl- is hypothesized to be derived from dry deposition, consistent with the enrichment noted for throughfall. At peak flow during individual rainstorms, "new" water can contribute 95% of the runoff.