Mammary carcinoma arising in an adenoma in a ewe

A large, firm, multi-cystic mammary gland mass grew slowly over 4 y in a 12-y-old, female Finn–Shetland cross sheep. A diagnosis of epithelial malignancy was suspected following fine-needle aspiration cytology at 30 mo after initial observation. The sheep was euthanized when the flock was downsized 18 mo later. A field postmortem examination revealed a large mammary mass, but an absence of metastases to internal organs. Imprint cytology of the mammary tissue supported a benign proliferative process. Histologically, mammary tissue was obliterated by cystic, tubular, and papillary adenomatous arrangements of mammary epithelium, with an anaplastic component, consistent with mammary carcinoma arising in an adenoma. IHC showed strong nuclear positivity to the antibody against progesterone receptor and minimal positivity to the antibody against estrogen receptor alpha expression. Intrinsic subtyping for basal or luminal epithelial origin was attempted through adaptation of companion animal IHC classification panels; high- and low-molecular-weight cytokeratins (CK5, CK8, CK18) failed to stain, but p63 expression for basal epithelium was positive.     

Thermal performance curves based on field movements reveal context-dependence of thermal traits in a desert ectotherm

Landscape Ecology - Thermal traits likely mediate organismal responses to changing thermal environments. As temperatures increase, predicting species responses will depend on understanding how...     

Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Vepsuche zur Ermittlung der Inkubationszeit der Tödlichen Vergilbung der Kokospalme (Lethal Yellowing Disease of coconut palm) in der Wirtspflanze

Zusammenfassung Das Aussetzen von 24 Serien von Palmen in Kübeln in einem Krankheitsgebiet für eine beschränkte Zeit, 7 Sätze von 15–20 Palmen für einen Monat, 3 Sätze für zwei Monate und 14 Sätze für drei Monate, diente zur Ermittlung der Inkubationszeit für die Tödliche Vergilbung der Kokospalme. In den meisten Fällen, die zur Ansteckung im Krankheitsgebiet führten, lag die geschätzte Inkubationszeit zwischen 3 und 6 Monaten; nach dem aufgestellten Histogramm betrug die durchschnittliche Inkubationszeit 150–160 Tage. Die lange Expositionszeit bei der größeren Zahl der Sätze erlaubt keine genaue Festlegung der Zeitspanne. Nach Entfernen von Käfigen in einem zweiten Versuch, die als Schutz gegen Infektionen dienten, traten erstmals Symptome an Palmen nach 6 (1 Palme) und 7 (2 Palmen) Monaten auf. Unter Berücksichtigung, daß der Ausbruch einer Krankheit Schwankungen unterworfen ist und auß erdem wesentlich vom Infektionszeitpunkt abhängt, fügen sich diese Daten gut in die für die Inkubationszeit angenommene Zeitspanne ein.Bodenorganismen (Nematoden) scheiden als Überträger der Tödlichen Vergilbung aus, da die Palmen in Kübeln keinen Bodenkontakt hatten. Die Palmen in den Käfigen dagegen konnten, soweit sie in den Boden gepflanzt waren, mit ihren Wurzeln unter den Käfigrand vordringen und wären dadurch der Infektion zugänglich gewesen.Da nur in den Sätzen, die den Infektionsbedingungen eines Krankheitsgebietes zwischen den Monaten Februar und August ausgesetzt waren, einzelne Palmen in den Gruppen erkrankten, dürfte in dieser Zeitspanne der Ü berträger besonders aktiv oder in der übrigen Zeit des Jahres relativ selten sein, anders wäre die Häufung der Infektionen in diesen Monaten nicht zu erklären.

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Summary A transfer experiment using 17 sets of coconut palms, planted in drums and transferred bimonthly or three-monthly from a healthy into a diseased area (2 or 3 months exposure time) and 7 sets exposed for only a month, provided us with good information about the incubation period of Lethal Yellowing in a palm. The most probable incubation period ranges between 3 and 6 months; according to the dates on the histogram the mean incubation period appeared to be 150–160 days. The long exposure time used for most of the sets does not allow a more accurate assessment of this time interval.In a second experiment, groups of coconut palms which had been protected by cages for at least a year against infections were exposed to the natural infection conditions by removal of the cages. The first case of disease was recognized 6 months after cage removal, 2 additional cases a month later. Taking into consideration that the development of symptoms varies within a time interval depending upon the date of infection, growing conditions etc, this observation agress with the inferred incubation period gained in the transfer experiment.Soil organisms (nematodes o. a.) can be excluded as transmitters of the Lethal Yellowing pathogen. The palms used in the transfer experiment which later on showed symptoms were planted in drums; the roots having no connection with the soil in the field. The soil for filling the drums was collected in a healthy area. The roots of caged palms which were planted directly into the soil could penetrate under the cage border into the unprotected part of the plot which contained a lot of naturally diseased palms scattered across the field.Only sets of palms which were partly or fully exposed to the infection conditions of a diseased area during February to August developed a number of cases of Lethal Yellowing. The occurrence of infection during this period indicates this to be a time of particular vector activity.

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F.A.O.- Expert in Kingston, Jamaica; jetzt: Biologiche Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forwirschaft, Berlin-Dahlem.

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F.A.O.- Associate-Expert in Kingston (Coconut Industry Board.

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Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirstchaft, 1 Berlin 33 Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 19.     

Comparison of greenhouse and environmentally controlled growthroom root growth potential testing of 2+0 eastern white pine seedlings

Two-year-old estern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings were measured for Root Growth Potential (RGP) in a hydroponic system over two years in both a greenhouse and an environmentally controlled growthroom. Analyses of variance showed no significant differences (alpha = 0.05) between testing environments for either year. This study demonstrates the validity of using greenhouse RGP testing for 2+0 eastern white pine.     

Polymerisation of added coniferyl alcohol by inherent xylem peroxidases and its effect on fungal decay resistance of Norway spruce

It is known that active peroxidase isozymes exist in mature wood of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and that they remain active for years and are found even in the heartwood (in Scots pine), where all cellular activity has ceased. This peroxidase activity was utilised in the impregnation of wood blocks with a natural monolignol, coniferyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. The hypothesis was that the internal wood peroxidases would oxidise the added monolignol and bind it stably into the cell wall matrix, which could hinder fungal decay. Since coniferyl alcohol is not very soluble in water, the impregnation was done under vacuum with an acetone–water solution containing 10% coniferyl alcohol and 0.4 mM H₂O₂ at room temperature (ca. 0.02 g of coniferyl alcohol was added to 1 g of wood). After impregnation, dimers of coniferyl alcohol and free coniferyl alcohol were found in acetone extracts with GC–MS analysis. Penetration of coniferyl alcohol and non-extractable reaction products were studied from the wood blocks with FTIR PAS technique. The wood samples treated were also subjected to a fungal decay test with Coriolus versicolor. This treatment hindered fungal decay in a 60-day experiment and led to a dry weight loss of 8.8% in comparison with 19.9% in the control. The reactions of coniferyl alcohol and H₂O₂ in the presence of peroxidases are discussed as well as the use of monolignols to increase wood decay resistance.     

Variation in sugar maple root respiration with root diameter and soil depth

Root respiration may account for as much as 60% of total soil respiration. Therefore, factors that regulate the metabolic activity of roots and associated microbes are an important component of terrestrial carbon budgets. Root systems are often sampled by diameter and depth classes to enable researchers to process samples in a systematic and timely fashion. We recently discovered that small, lateral roots at the distal end of the root system have much greater tissue N concentrations than larger roots, and this led to the hypothesis that the smallest roots have significantly higher rates of respiration than larger roots. This study was designed to determine if root respiration is related to root diameter or the location of roots in the soil profile. We examined relationships among root respiration rates and N concentration in four diameter classes from three soil depths in two sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forests in Michigan. Root respiration declined as root diameter increased and was lower at deeper soil depths than at the soil surface. Surface roots (0-10 cm depth) respired at rates up to 40% greater than deeper roots, and respiration rates for roots < 0.5 mm in diameter were 2.4 to 3.4 times higher than those for roots in larger diameter classes. Root N concentration explained 70% of the observed variation in respiration across sites and size and depth classes. Differences in respiration among root diameter classes and soil depths appeared to be consistent with hypothesized effects of variation in root function on metabolic activity. Among roots, very fine roots in zones of high nutrient availability had the highest respiration rates. Large roots and roots from depths of low nutrient availability had low respiration rates consistent with structural and transport functions rather than with active nutrient uptake and assimilation. These results suggest that broadly defined root classes, e.g., fine roots are equivalent to all roots < 2.0 mm in diameter, do not accurately reflect the functional categories typically associated with fine roots. Tissue N concentration or N content (mass x concentration N) may be a better indicator of root function than root diameter.     

Zur Repellentwirkung von Königskerzen auf Hausmäuse

Zusammenfassung Nach einer Mitteilung aus dem Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts sollen sich in Blüte stehende Pflanzen vonVerbascum thapsus als Mittel zur Vertreibung vonMus musculus undRattus norvegicus eignen. Eine Nachprüfung dieser Empfehlung mitV. thapsus, lychnitis undthapsiforme anMus verlief negativ.

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Summary At the end of the eighteenth centuryGoeze reports about the action ofVerbascum thapsus as a repellent againstMus musculus andRattus norvegicus. A revision of this information withV. thapsus, lychnitis andthapsiforme andMus musculus as test animals does not confirm his findings.

     

Field measurements of root respiration indicate little to no seasonal temperature acclimation for sugar maple and red pine

Increasing global temperatures could potentially cause large increases in root respiration and associated soil CO2 efflux. However, if root respiration acclimates to higher temperatures, increases in soil CO2 efflux from this source would be much less. Throughout the snow-free season, we measured fine root respiration in the field at ambient soil temperature in a sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forest and a red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation in Michigan. The objectives were to determine effects of soil temperature, soil water availability and experimental N additions on root respiration rates, and to test for temperature acclimation in response to seasonal changes in soil temperature. Soil temperature and soil water availability were important predictors of root respiration and together explained 76% of the variation in root respiration rates in the red pine plantation and 71% of the variation in the sugar maple forest. Root N concentration explained an additional 6% of the variation in the sugar maple trees. Experimental N additions did not affect root respiration rates at either site. From April to November, root respiration rates measured in the field increased exponentially with increasing soil temperature. For sugar maple, long-term Q10 values calculated from the field data were slightly, but not significantly, less than short-term Q10 values determined for instantaneous temperature series conducted in the laboratory (2.4 versus 2.62.7). For red pine, long-term and short-term Q10 values were similar (3.0 versus 3.0). Sugar maple root respiration rates at constant reference temperatures of 6, 18 and 24 degrees C were measured in the laboratory at various times during the year when field soil temperatures varied from 0.4 to 16.8 degrees C. No relationship existed between ambient soil temperature just before sampling and root respiration rates at 6 and 18 degrees C (P = 0.37 and 0.86, respectively), and only a very weak relationship was found between ambient soil temperature and root respiration at 24 degrees C (P = 0.08, slope = 0.09). We conclude that root respiration in these species undergoes little, if any, acclimation to seasonal changes in soil temperature.     

Hydrology influences breeding time in the white-throated dipper

While nitrogen and carbon stable isotope values can reflect ecological segregation, prey choice and spatial distribution in seabirds, the interpretation of bulk stable isotope values is frequently hampered by a lack of isotopic baseline data. In this study, we used compound-specific isotope analyses of amino acids (CSIA-AA) to overcome this constraint and to study interspecific differences, seasonal and historical changes in trophic positions of five seabird species, three penguins and two petrels, from a sub-Antarctic seabird community. CSIA-AA allowed comparing trophic positions of seabirds with temperate and polar distributions. Gentoo and Magellanic penguins had the highest trophic positions during the breeding season (3.7 and 3.9), but decreased these (2.9 and 3.3) during the feed-up for moult. Intra-specific differences were also detected in Thin-billed prions, where carbon isotope values clearly separated individuals with polar and temperate distributions, both in the breeding and interbreeding periods. Thin-billed prions that foraged in polar waters had lower trophic positions (3.2) than conspecifics foraging in temperate waters (3.8). We further investigated historical changes by comparing museum samples with samples collected recently. Our pilot study suggests that Rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins and Thin-billed prions with temperate non-breeding distributions had retained their trophic levels over a 90–100 year period, while Gentoo penguins and Thin-billed prions with polar non-breeding distributions had decreased trophic levels compared to historical samples. In contrast, Wilson’s storm-petrels had slightly increased trophic levels compared to samples taken in 1924–1930. We applied compound-specific stable isotope analyses across a range of contexts, from intra-specific comparisons between stages of the breeding cycle to inter-specific seabird community analysis that would not have been possible using bulk stable isotope analyses alone due to differences in isotopic baselines.