Glucose transport and milk secretion during manipulated plasma insulin and glucose concentrations and during LPS‐induced mastitis in dairy cows

In dairy cows, glucose is essential as energy source and substrate for milk constituents. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of long‐term manipulated glucose and insulin concentrations in combination with a LPS‐induced mastitis on mRNA abundance of glucose transporters and factors involved in milk composition. Focusing on direct effects of insulin and glucose without influence of periparturient endocrine adaptations, 18 dairy cows (28 ± 6 weeks of lactation) were randomly assigned to one of three infusion treatments for 56 h (six animals each). Treatments included a hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp (HypoG), a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (EuG) and a control group (NaCl). After 48 h of infusions, an intramammary challenge with LPS from E. coli was performed and infusions continued for additional 8 h. Mammary gland biopsies were taken before, at 48 (before LPS challenge) and at 56 h (after LPS challenge) of infusion, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in mammary gland metabolism was measured by RT‐qPCR. During the 48 h of infusions, mRNA abundance of glucose transporters GLUT1, 3, 4, 8, 12, SGLT1, 2) was not affected in HypoG, while they were downregulated in EuG. The mRNA abundance of alpha‐lactalbumin, insulin‐induced gene 1, κ‐casein and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase was downregulated in HypoG, but not affected in EuG. Contrary during the intramammary LPS challenge, most of the glucose transporters were downregulated in NaCl and HypoG, but not in EuG. The mRNA abundance of glucose transporters in the mammary gland seems not to be affected by a shortage of glucose, while enzymes and milk constituents directly depending on glucose as a substrate are immediately downregulated. During LPS‐induced mastitis in combination with hypoglycaemia, mammary gland metabolism was more aligned to save glucose for the immune system compared to a situation without limited glucose availability during EuG.     

The role of competitors for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysomela lapponica</Emphasis>, a north Eurasian willow pest,in pioneering a new host plant

The Palaearctic leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica usually feeds upon willows in the northern region of its occurrence. However, in Central Europe, some populations are known that have specialised on birch. In this study, we investigated the significance of other herbivores occurring together on the same host plants as possible exploitative competitors of C. lapponica. Two populations were studied: a population from Finland specialised on the willow Salix borealis, and a population from the Czech Republic, specialised on the birch Betula pubescens. Abundances of folivorous and suctivorous insects on both host plants were recorded at both population sites. The willow leaf beetle Phratora vitellinae was the most abundant herbivorous insect at both study sites on willow. A field study was conducted to examine the effects of P. vitellinae on the performance of C. lapponica. The presence of P. vitellinae larvae on the same twig upon which C. lapponica larvae were feeding did not affect increase of body weight in C. lapponica larvae. Thus, the high resource availability of both willows and birches suggest that interspecific competition is unlikely to be a selection factor driving the evolution of host shift in C. lapponica.     

The impact of clonality on an endangered tree (Elaeocarpus williamsianus) in a fragmented rainforest

The occurrence and distribution of clonality in the endangered rainforest tree Elaeocarpus williamsianus (Elaeocarpaceae) was investigated using SSR and RAPD analyses for 170 apparent individual trees found across seven sites. The results obtained with the two molecular techniques were in complete agreement in showing that single clones are present in most of the E. williamsianus sites with two genets occurring at the largest and most adequately protected site. In addition, seed production, viability and germinability were determined for four of these populations. Fruit were produced in all four populations tested although sterile fruit were very common. Only two E. williamsianus trees representing different genets within the same site produced viable seed. The overall genetic diversity within E. williamsianus is much lower than expected and thus the potential for sexual reproduction has been significantly diminished. It is concluded that habitat fragmentation removed an existing balance between vegetative and sexual reproduction in this species. Such findings have added urgency to the management of this species which could include a reintroduction program incorporating the collation of all clones within selected sites.     

Enzymatic O-methylation of flavanols changes lag time, propagation rate, and total oxidation during in vitro model triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein oxidation

3'-O-Methyl derivatives of flavan-3-ols, (+)-catechin (C), (-)-epicatechin (EC), and (-)-catechin gallate (CG) were prepared enzymatically. Hexanal (EC and CG family, 5 mmol/L) and conjugated diene (C and EC family, 0.25-10 mmol/L) formation following CuSO4-mediated triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein oxidation was measured. All EC and CG compounds significantly reduced hexanal formation (p < 0.02). O-Methylation improved the ability of CG (more polar) while reducing the ability of EC (less polar) to limit hexanal formation. 3'-O-methyl EC was 18% (p < 0.001) and 4'-O-methyl 65% (p < 0.001) less able than EC to suppress hexanal formation. At >1 micromol/L all EC and C compounds significantly increased lag time. Parent compounds were more effective (> 4-fold increase) than metabolites (1.5-fold increase). Parent compounds did not influence propagation rate (DeltaOD/min). At >1 mmol/L O-methylated EC and C reduced propagation by 20-40% (p < 0.01). Notably, at 0.25 mmol/L O-methylated EC and C increased propagation rates 22% (p < 0.01) despite prolonging lag time.     

The relationships of the clay mineral suites to the parent rocks of eight soil profiles in Sarawak,Malaysia

The clay mineralogy of eight selected soil profiles developed on acid igneous, pyroclastic and sedimentary rocks was investigated. The effects on the clay mineralogy of the parent-rock mineralogy and physical conditions within each soil profile were evaluated.The results indicate that the mineralogies of the parent rocks control the type of clay minerals formed in Sarawak. In the soils derived from pyroclastic and coarse-grained acid igneous rocks without muscovite, the clay-mineral suites consist almost exclusively of kaolinite and gibbsite with small amounts of goethite. In contrast, in the soils developed from fine-grained acid igneous and sedimentary rocks with muscovite, the clays contain relatively large amounts of interstratified mica-vermiculite and chlorite-vermiculite in addition to gibbsite and/or kaolinite. The presence of gibbsite in these soils depends on the presence of plagioclase feldspar in the parent rock.     

Anaerobic Treatment of Brackishwater Aquaculture Sludge: An Alternative to Waste Stabilization Ponds

Environmental pressure, land utilization, and economic feasibility have resulted in the development of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). For many RAS, sludge is collected and washed from the system to waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). However, disposal of brackishwater aquaculture sludge into WSP is often prohibited because the high salinity can interfere with treatment. Moreover, there are problems associated with WSPs because of elevated salt content, such as the common practice of reusing treated water and land application of stabilized sludge. We tested and compared the treatment of brackishwater aquaculture sludge in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor as an alternative to a WSP. In UASB, wastewater flows upward through a blanket of granular sludge and is treated by anaerobic micro‐organisms. Reduction in organic matter and 5‐d biochemical oxygen demand by 97 and 91%, respectively, was achieved in a UASB as compared to corresponding reductions of 22 and 41% in a WSP. During the UASB digestion process, methane is produced and recovered. Overall, a reduction in potential environmentally harmful factors such as salinization, land requirements, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as transportation costs are achieved, making the UASB reactor an attractive possible alternative for saline aquaculture sludge management.     

Automated method for the determination of niacin and niacinamide in cereal products: collaborative study.

In a collaborative study, an automated method for the determination of niacin and niacinamide in cereal products was compared with the official final action microbiological (43.121-43.125) and chemical (43.044-43.046) methods. Ten samples of cereal products, including enriched flour, yeast-leavened baked products, fortified breakfast cereals, and baked pet food products, were submitted to 14 laboratories. Nine laboratories reported values by the automated method, 6 reported values by the microbiological method, and 7 reported values by the chemical method. The results from the microbiological method were not subjected to analysis of variance because of the unusually large between-laboratory variation. The between-laboratory coefficients of variation for the automated and chemical methods were 10.90 and 10.18%, on the basis of results from 7 and 4 laboratories, respectively. There was no significant (p greater than 0.05) difference between methods when results from the 4 laboratories who used both methods were compared. The automated chemical method has been adopted as official first action.