Screening for Differential Gene Expression in Atropa belladonna Leafy Gall Induced Following Rhodococcus fascians Infection

To better characterise at the molecular level the nature of plant responses to infection by Rhodococcus fascians PCR-based differential display patterns of Atropa belladonna leafy gall (LG) and non-infected plant tissues were compared. Six differentially expressed genes were identified and their altered expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Three of them corresponded to up-regulated genes which encode proteins involved in plant defence. The three remaining cDNA fragments which correspond to down-regulated genes in LG, encoded proteins with similarity to a multicystatin, a miraculin and a methallothionein-like protein, respectively. Upon elimination of the bacteria from infected plant tissue, the expression of up-regulated genes was maintained, whereas expression of down-regulated genes resumed suggesting a potential role of these up-regulated genes in plant growth and development.     

家禽肠道螺旋体病

家禽肠道螺旋体病Avain Intestinal spirochaetosis，AIS）被普遍认为是家禽生产中一个越来越严重的疾病。本病由多种螺旋体引起。螺旋体为一类外形呈螺旋状的细菌，它们主要定殖在大多数哺乳动物和家禽（包括猪、人类和家禽）的大肠中。     

Combining top-down and bottom-up dynamics in land use modeling: exploring the future of abandoned farmlands in Europe with the Dyna-CLUE model

Land use change is the result of interactions between processes operating at different scales. Simulation models at regional to global scales are often incapable of including locally determined processes of land use change. This paper introduces a modeling approach that integrates demand-driven changes in land area with locally determined conversion processes. The model is illustrated with an application for European land use. Interactions between changing demands for agricultural land and vegetation processes leading to the re-growth of (semi-) natural vegetation on abandoned farmland are explicitly addressed. Succession of natural vegetation is simulated based on the spatial variation in biophysical and management related conditions, while the dynamics of the agricultural area are determined by a global multi-sector model. The results allow an exploration of the future dynamics of European land use and landscapes. The model approach is similarly suitable for other regions and processes where large scale processes interact with local dynamics.     

Crystallization behavior and texture of trans-containing and trans-free palm oil based confectionery fats

The objective of this study was to gain insight into the role of trans fatty acids in determining the crystallization behavior and texture of palm-based confectionery fats. Therefore, the isothermal crystallization behavior of two series, each of three fats, one trans-containing and one trans-free, was examined by pNMR, DSC, and rheology. Furthermore, the hardness of these samples was examined at three different storage times at 10 degrees C. All of the trans free samples showed a two-step crystallization at 10 degrees C which is hypothesized to be an alpha-mediated beta' crystallization for two of the samples and a fractionated crystallization in the beta' polymorph for the third, while the trans-containing fats crystallized in a single step, probably a direct beta' crystallization. The trans-containing fat series clearly crystallized faster than the trans-free fat series and also yielded higher hardness values at all storage times investigated. The presence of trans fatty acids seems to reduce the effect of compositional variations on the crystallization process. For the trans free fats, chemical composition was much more critical in determining the crystallization rate, the SFC, and the final hardness value.     

Haloperoxidase Mediated Quorum Quenching by Nitzschia cf pellucida: Study of the Metabolization of N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones by a Benthic Diatom

Diatoms are known to produce a variety of halogenated compounds, which were recently shown to have a role in allelopathic interactions between competing species. The production of these compounds is linked to haloperoxidase activity. This research, has shown that this system may also be involved in diatom-bacteria interactions via the H₂O₂ dependent inactivation of a type of quorum sensing (QS) molecule, i.e., N-β-ketoacylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), by a natural haloperoxidase system from the benthic diatom Nitzschia cf pellucida. The AHL degradation pathway towards corresponding halogenated derivatives was elucidated via HPLC-MS analysis and the synthesis of a broad series of novel halogenated AHL analogues as reference compounds. Furthermore, their biological activity as quorum sensing modulators was directly compared and evaluated against a series of naturally occurring β-keto-AHLs. It has been demonstrated that the loss of the QS activity results from the final cleavage of the halogenated N-acyl chain of the signal molecules.     

Small cetacean captures in Peruvian artisanal fisheries: High despite protective legislation

We detail the first direct, at sea monitoring of small cetacean interactions with Peruvian artisanal drift gillnet and longline fisheries. A total of 253 small cetaceans were captured during 66 monitored fishing trips (Gillnet: 46 trips; Longline: 20 trips) from the port of Salaverry, northern Peru (8^o14′S, 78^o59′W) from March 2005 to July 2007. The most commonly captured species were common dolphins (Delphinus spp.) (47%), dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) (29%), common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (13%) and Burmeister’s porpoises (Phocoena spinipinnis) (6%). An estimated 95% of common dolphin bycatch was of long-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus capensis). Overall bycatch per unit effort for gillnet vessels (mean ± sd) was estimated to be 0.65 ± 0.41 animals.set⁻¹ (range 0.05-1.50) and overall catch (bycatch and harpoon) was 4.96 ± 3.33 animals.trip⁻¹ (range 0.33-13.33). Based upon total fishing effort for Salaverry we estimated the total annual average small cetacean bycatch by gillnet vessels as 2412 animals.year⁻¹ (95% CI 1092-4303) for 2002-2007. This work indicates that, in at least one Peruvian port, bycatch and harpooning of small cetaceans persist at high levels and on a regular basis, particularly in driftnet vessels, despite the existence since the mid-1990s of national legislation banning the capture of marine mammals and commerce in their products. It is concluded that the coast of Peru is likely still one of the world’s principal areas for concern regarding high small cetacean bycatch and there is clearly an urgent need to increase the geographic scope of observer effort to elucidate the full magnitude of this issue.     

Discrimination of Aphid Mutualists by an Ant Based on Chemical Cues

A chemical basis for discrimination between attended and unattended aphid mutualists by the ant Lasius niger (L.) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) was investigated. In an arena bioassay, hexane extracts of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera, Aphididae), which had been attended by the ant colony provoked significantly longer examination by ants than extracts of unattended aphids. Extracts of the ants themselves were significantly more active than hexane. In an olfactometer, ants spent significantly longer in the arm containing the odour of live aphids that had been attended by the ants than in arms containing the odour of unattended aphids. When unattended aphids were introduced onto an aphid-infested plant under attendance by L. niger, they suffered higher levels of attack and removal by the ants than did previously attended aphids. Unattended aphids treated with the extract of attended aphids suffered higher levels of attack than attended aphids, but lower levels of removal than unattended aphids. The results show that L. niger can discriminate between aphids that the colony have attended and unattended aphids of the same species using chemical cues.     

Neuritis of the cauda equina in a dog

This study presents the first case report of neuritis of the cauda equina in a dog, including characterisation of the inflammatory infiltrate. The dog in question, a 6-year-old Welsh springer spaniel, was presented with flaccid tail and faecal and urinary incontinence. The histological lesions included severe mononuclear cell infiltration of the nerve roots of the cauda equina and of the lumbar nerve roots. The infiltrate was composed of large numbers of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes and small numbers of macrophages. Polymerase chain reactions of brain and spinal tissues were positive for Neospora caninum.     

New device to simulate swallowing and in vivo aroma release in the throat from liquid and semiliquid food systems

This paper describes a novel device to simulate in vivo aroma release from liquids. This artificial throat simulates the act of swallowing followed by exhalation and shows aroma release curves that are similar in shape to in vivo release profiles. Liquids are poured down a tube, and a thin liquid film remains at the inner wall of the tube. Subsequently, aroma compounds release from this film into a stream of air flowing through this tube, which is analyzed by MS-Nose analysis. The effects of air flow rate, contact time with glass surface, presence of saliva, and addition of whey protein, as well as volume, concentration, temperature, and viscosity of the liquid have been studied and compared with aroma release measurements in vivo. A high level of agreement was found. These results confirm the importance of swallowing for aroma release of liquids, as mentioned in the literature, and the usefulness of the new mimicking device.     

Handling missingness when modeling the force of infection from clustered seroprevalence data

Modeling infectious diseases data is a relatively young research area in which clustering and stratification are key features. It is not unlikely for these data to have missing values. If values are missing completely at random, the analysis on the complete cases is valid. However, in practice this assumption is usually not fulfilled. This article shows the effect of ignoring missing data in modeling the force of infection of the bovine herpesvirus-1 in Belgian cattle and proposes the use of weighted generalized estimating equations with constrained fractional polynomials as a flexible modeling tool.