Fractal dimension estimates of a fragmented landscape: sources of variability

Although often seen as a scale-independent measure, we show that the fractal dimension of the forest cover of the Cazaville Region changes with spatial scale. Sources of variability in the estimation of fractal dimensions are multiple. First, the measured phenomenon does not always show the properties of a pure fractal for all scales, but rather exhibits local self-similarity within certain scale ranges. Moreover, some sampling components such as area of sampling unit, the use of a transect in the estimation of the variability of a plane, the location, and the orientation of a transect all affect, to different degrees, the estimation of the fractal dimension. This paper assesses the relative importance of these components in the estimation of the fractal dimension of the spatial distribution of woodlots in a fragmented landscape. Results show that different sources of variability should be considered when comparing fractal dimensions from different studies or regions.     

Evidence that a Leaf-Disk Test Allows Assessment of Isolate-Specific Resistance in Brassica oleracea Crops Against Downy Mildew (Peronospora parasitica)

A rapid resistance/susceptibility test for Peronospora parasitica (downy mildew) was established by inoculating leaf-disks of four Brassica oleracea accessions. Several conditions were tested: disk disinfection or not, agar medium with or without nutrients and with 50 or 100 ppm of benzimidazole. Using disinfected disks placed on agar (no nutrient and benzimidazole at 50 or 100 ppm), the responses of leaf-disks to four isolates were similar to those obtained using the classical cotyledon test, whereas undesired contaminations occurred in all other conditions. The possible effect of the particular leaf used for obtaining the disks was also studied. In each incompatible interaction tested, disks were resistant whatever the leaf used. In compatible interactions, susceptible phenotypes were observed on disks derived from the six lowest leaves, but disks from upper leaves were resistant. The genetic basis of resistance in a F1 hybrid broccoli was assessed, by testing six isolates on an F2 population derived from this hybrid. The cotyledon test only allows inoculation of two isolates per seedling, whereas many isolates can be tested on each plant by using leaf-disks. The segregation of the resistance to each of the six isolates was analysed: two dominant genes (tightly linked) control resistance to all isolates (one to five isolates; the other to only one isolate).     

Black carbon estimation in French calcareous soils using chemo‐thermal oxidation method

We studied the black carbon (BC) content of ca. 405 samples from French topsoil and artificial soil and carbonate mixtures. Our protocol involved three main steps: (i) decarbonation by HCl, (ii) elimination of non‐pyrogenic organic carbon in a furnace at 375 °C, and (iii) quantification of residual carbon by CHN analysis. BC content increased for calcareous soils according to their carbonates content. Subsequent analyses confirmed the existence of a methodological artefact for BC determination only in calcareous soils. Decarbonation changes the thermal properties of organic matter, creating more recalcitrant carbon than in the initial sample. Higher CaCO₃ and organic carbon content results in a more pronounced artefact. The reversal of the first two steps of the chemo‐thermal oxidation method (i.e. thermal oxidation before soil decarbonation) eliminates this artefact. Overall, our results suggest that BC content may have been overestimated in a large number of studies on calcareous soils.     

Polymorphonuclear proteolytic activity and milk composition change

Relationships between Quarter Milk Cell Count (QMCC) and Tank Milk Cell Count (TMCC) with milk biochemical and technological parameters in milk and dairy products were investigated. All parameters measured were affected by the increase of TMCC and QMCC between 0 and 600 000 cells/mL. The variable effect of lactation stage which is different for different authors, is discussed. The three mechanisms, measured during the inflammation of the udder, implicated in the modification of milk quality are described (a decrease in synthesis, a decrease in the milk barrier permeability and an increase in proteolytic activities). The direct effect of plasmin in caseinolysis is well known; the specific role of the increase of somatic cells (especially PMN) in the modification of milk quality is described. Several specific proteolytic activities of PMN are described and the impact of these activities on caseinolysis is evaluated. Two hypothetical mechanisms of caseinolysis by PMN are suggested and a synthetic scheme of the role of plasmin, bacteria and somatic cells in caseinolysis is discussed.     

Variation of pesticide sorption isotherm in soil at the catchment scale

The variation of the sorption isotherm of pesticides has seldom been explored at the catchment scale. Such a study was conducted at the scale of a 187-ha agricultural catchment for three herbicides: atrazine, isoproturon and metamitron. Partition coefficient (Kd) values were measured in batch experiments on 51 topsoil samples, and showed moderate variability at the catchment scale (coefficient of variation CV approximately 30%). Values of Kd ranged from 0.47 to 1.70 litre kg(-1) for atrazine, 0.47 to 1.81 for isoproturon, and 0.55 to 2.21 for metamitron. A clustering method was used to reduce the number of samples on which to measure sorption isotherms to 14. Sorption isotherms agreed with the Freundlich rather than the linear model. Kf parameters had CV values similar to those for Kd, with values ranging from 0.78 to 2.13 mg(1 - Nf) litre(Nf) kg(-1) for atrazine, 0.61 to 1.82 for isoproturon, and 0.69 and 2.58 for metamitron. Nf exponents showed little variation (CV < 5%). Nf values were between 0.86 and 0.98 for atrazine, 0.85 and 0.90 for isoproturon, and 0.82 and 0.87 for metamitron. More than 97% of the Kf catchment-scale variations could be explained by the variations of the soil organic carbon content.     

Early hepatic immune response in rats infected with Fasciola hepatica

We investigated the phenotype of the T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) that produced Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) during the firsttwo weeks of experimental fasciolosis in rats. We also followed the kinetics of the cytokine and proliferative responses of hepatic mononuclear cells (HMNC) over the same period. We found that HMNC were more numerous in the infected animals than in the controls. The percentage of CD4+ cells increased significantly after infection, whereas the percentage of CD8+ cells did not change. Moreover, the frequency of the cells producing (CP) cytokine changed after infection. The frequency of CP IFN-gamma on 7 days postinfection (pi) was similar to that in control animals. However, the frequency of CP IFN-gamma was clearly lower on day 14 pi, whereas the frequency of CP IL-4 and CP IL-10 had increased. The CP IL-10-were mostly CD4+. Mitogenic stimulation (phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin) of HMNC led to an increase in the amounts of the Th2 cytokines in the supernatant on days 7 and 14 pi, with the increase more pronounced on day 14. In contrast, IFN-gamma levels also increased by day 7 pi but then decreased to below control levels by day 14. In addition, HMNC proliferation in response to mitogen followed a similar pattern to IFN-gamma production. These findings suggested that, during the first 2 weeks of infection, F hepatica induced a transient ThO cytokine profile followed by downregulation of the cellular response and the induction of a Th2 cytokine profile.     

Evaluation of the hepatic NK cell response during the early phase of Fasciola hepatica infection in rats

The in situ distribution of NK cells in rat liver during the first 28 days of an experimental infection with F hepatica was investigated. NK cells were distributed homogeneously throughout the hepatic parenchyma in uninfected animals. The total number of hepatic mononuclear cells increased significantly following infection, but the proportion of NK cells did not change. After infection, these cells were found around the portal space, around the centrolobular vein, in the periportal fibrosis and in the band of collagen. However, no NK cells could be detected in or around the granuloma during infection. The frequency of both I L-2- and IFNgamma-producing NK cells was higher on day 7 postinfection (pi) but only the percentage of IFNgamma -CD161+ subsets remained elevated thereafter, whereas the percentage of both IL-2+CD161+ and IL-4+CD161+ subsets returned to the baseline. The number of CD161+IL10+ cells did not change significantly. These results suggest that NK cells could be another source for the early production of IFNgamma but provide no evidence that these cells are involved in early events associated with granuloma formation.     

Effects of topical application of three pyrethroid insecticides on spontaneous activity in sensory nerves of Periplaneta americana and Blabera craniifer

Electrophysiological techniques were used to analyse the effects, on the activity in the sensory nerves of Periplaneta americana and Blabera craniifer, after topical applications of three different pyrethroid insecticides: deltamethrin, (1R)-tetramethrin, and 5-benzyl-3-furylmethyl (E)-(1R)-cis-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-oxothiolan-3-ylidenemethyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate (RU-15525; ‘Kadethrin’). The insecticides were applied: (a) to the cercus, and the activity was recorded on the cercal nerve and on the central nervous connectives; or (b) to the last segments of the metathoracic leg, and the corresponding activity was recorded on the crural nerve. In both cases, several categories of receptor were affected but the major part of the recorded activity came from the mechanoreceptors, the functional properties of which were monitored throughout the experiments. In most cases, topical application of small amounts of pyrethroid were found to induce an increase in the spontaneous activity, followed by decrease in excitability. Characteristic differences were, however, found between the three compounds and the effects were concentration- and solvent-dependent. The results were consistent with those obtained from experiments on the sense organs of vertebrates but did not support the idea that the effectiveness of pyrethroid insecticides with an α-cyanobenzyl group, compared with those without an α-cyanobenzyl group, originates from a greater effect on the peripheral sensory receptors.     

Moisture content-water potential relationship of red pine sapwood above the fiber saturation point and determination of the effective pore size distribution

Summary The pressure membrane and pressure plate techniques were used to establish the moisture content-water potential (M-) relationship of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood in desorption above the fiber saturation point. The moisture content-water potential relationship is required for the development of a model of drying considering the gradient of water potential as the driving force of moisture in wood. This relationship was established at 18, 56 and 85 °C for radial desorption. The results obtained demonstrate that water potential increases with temperature T at a given moisture content M. There is no significant variation of /T with temperature. Also, there is no plateau at intermediate moisture contents as was the case for the M- relationship of aspen sapwood established in a previous work. The effective integral and differential pore size distributions inferred from the M- relationship are also presented. The largest proportion of effective pore openings was found for a radius of 0.2 m. This value can be related to the pit membrane openings of red pine.This research project is currently supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under grant no. OGP0121954