Contribution of the Patagonia Icefields of South America to sea level rise

Digital elevation models of the Northern and Southern Patagonia Icefields of South America generated from the 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission were compared with earlier cartography to estimate the volume change of the largest 63 glaciers. During the period 1968/1975-2000, these glaciers lost ice at a rate equivalent to a sea level rise of 0.042 +/- 0.002 millimeters per year. In the more recent years 1995-2000, average ice thinning rates have more than doubled to an equivalent sea level rise of 0.105 +/- 0.011 millimeters per year. The glaciers are thinning more quickly than can be explained by warmer air temperatures and decreased precipitation, and their contribution to sea level per unit area is larger than that of Alaska glaciers.     

Prognostic indicators for dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of various clinical, ECG, echocardiographic, and Doppler echocardiographic variables in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. The relationship to survival of 11 variables was evaluated in 63 dogs. Studied variables were age at time of diagnosis, class of heart failure (HF), dyspnea, ascites, atrial fibrillation (AF), ejection fraction (EF), E-point septal separation, end-diastolic volume index, end-systolic volume index (ESV-I), and restrictive or nonrestrictive transmitral flow (TMF) pattern. Median survival time was 671 days (lower 95% confidence limit, 350 days). Survival curves showed that severity of HF, ascites, ESV-I greater than 140 mL/m2, EF less than 25%, and restrictive TMF pattern had a significant negative relation to survival time. Thirty-nine dogs with both sinus rhythm and AF presented adequate TMF recordings; in these dogs, after stratification by TMF pattern, the restrictive TMF pattern was the most important negative prognostic indicator. We conclude that in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy the restrictive TMF pattern appears to represent a useful prognostic indicator. Class of HF, ascites, ESV-I, and EF are also useful indexes if an adequate TMF pattern is not recorded.     

Competition between Ascorbate and Glutathione for the Oxidized Form of Methylated Quercetin Metabolites and Analogues: Tamarixetin, 4'O-Methylquercetin, Has the Lowest Thiol Reactivity

Quercetin (Q) is a bioactive compound with excellent antioxidant activity. However, the thiol reactivity of its oxidation product (oxQ) forms a disadvantage. The aim of the present study was to decrease this thiol toxicity. We found that methylated Q metabolites displayed lower thiol reactivity than Q. The most effective was tamarixetin, 4'O-methylquercetin (4'MQ), that has a corresponding oxidation product (ox4'MQ) with thiol reactivity 350 times lower than oxQ. The endogenous metabolism of Q to 4'MQ might be a physiological way to safely benefit from the antioxidant potential of Q in vivo. Our results were explained with Pearson's HSAB concept and corroborated by quantum molecular calculations that revealed a strong correlation between the relative thiol reactivity and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The polarity of the molecule and the π-π interaction between the AC- and the B-ring appeared to determine the LUMO and the thiol reactivity of the oxidation product.     

Coincident scrapie infection and nephritis lead to urinary prion excretion

Prion infectivity is typically restricted to the central nervous and lymphatic systems of infected hosts, but chronic inflammation can expand the distribution of prions. We tested whether chronic inflammatory kidney disorders would trigger excretion of prion infectivity into urine. Urinary proteins from scrapie-infected mice with lymphocytic nephritis induced scrapie upon inoculation into noninfected indicator mice. Prionuria was found in presymptomatic scrapie-infected and in sick mice, whereas neither prionuria nor urinary PrP(Sc) was detectable in prion-infected wild-type or PrP(C)-overexpressing mice, or in nephritic mice inoculated with noninfectious brain. Thus, urine may provide a vector for horizontal prion transmission, and inflammation of excretory organs may influence prion spread.     

Comparison of primary mitral valve disease in German Shepherd dogs and in small breeds

The case records of 58 German Shepherds (GS group) affected by mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and/or mitral valve regurgitation (MR), and 49 dogs weighing < 15 kg (D group), affected by chronic valvular disease (CVD) were reviewed. The dogs of the GS group were presented more often without a detectable heart murmur (p < 0.01), and less frequently with a high intensity heart murmur (p < 0.01). Atrial fibrillation (AF) was more common in the GS group (p < 0.001). MVP associated with mitral valve thickening was more common in the D group (p < 0.001). Fractional shortening (FS) was lower (p < 0.0001) and end-systolic volume index (ESV-I) was increased (p < 0.0001) in the GS group, whereas end-diastolic volume index (EDV-I) did not differ between the 2 groups. Prevalence and severity of pulmonary hypertension were similar in the 2 groups. Dogs with mitral valve disease weighing more than 20 kg had a 5.8 higher chance of developing decreased FS, increased ESV-I, AF and ventricular arrhythmias. In the GS group, the decreased FS and increased ESV-I were not associated with the presence of AF or ventricular arrhythmias (p > 0.05). It appears that GS may be affected both by mitral valve prolapse and mitral insufficiency. It also appears that a comparatively large proportion of GS shows no major mitral valve thickening or MVP, but still presents with significant mitral regurgitation, possibly suggesting a different cause for the important incompetence observed in most cases.     

雏禽的小肠健康——确保有一个良好的开端

在现代家禽生产中,人工孵化的雏禽无法从与其父母的直接接触中受益。在自然情况下,家禽孵化的环境含有大量来自于禽蛋孵化者粪便中的共生微生物。这些细菌极易在刚孵出的雏禽肠道内定植,并有助于雏禽免疫系统的成熟和保护其免遭病原体的侵入。 本文将重点关注在家禽生命期的早期建立共生微生物菌群的重要性，并将列举多种情景以介绍病原菌能够通过消化系统侵入家禽体内的环境条件。     

Factors influencing short-term parasitoid establishment and efficacy for the biological control of Halyomorpha halys with the samurai wasp Trissolcus japonicus

BACKGROUND

Classical biological control has been identified as the most promising approach to limit the impact of the invasive pest species Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This study investigated the parasitism rate at sites where the biocontrol agent Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was released and where its unintentional introduction took place, in the Trentino–South Tyrol region. The effect of land-use composition was studied to understand which factors favor the establishment of hosts and parasitoids, including native and exotic species.

RESULTS

The released T. japonicus were detected a year after the start of the program, with a significant parasitoid impact and discovery, compared to control sites. Trissolcus japonicus was the most abundant H. halys parasitoid, and Trissolcus mitsukurii and Anastatus bifasciatus were recorded also. The efficacy of T. mitsukurii was lower in sites where T. japonicus was successfully established, suggesting a possible competitive interaction. Parasitism level by T. japonicus at the release sites was 12.5% in 2020 and 16.4% in 2021. The combined effect of predation and parasitization increased H. halys mortality up to 50% at the release sites. Landscape composition analysis showed that both H. halys and T. japonicus were more likely to be found at sites with lower altitude and with permanent crops, whereas other hosts and parasitoids preferred different conditions.

CONCLUSION

Trissolcus japonicus showed a promising impact on H. halys, at release and adventive sites, with minor nontarget effects, mediated by landscape heterogeneity. The prevalence of T. japonicus in landscapes with permanent crops could support IPM in the future. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.