Compatible measurements of volumetric soil water content using a neutron probe and Diviner 2000 after field calibration

Field calibrations for a neutron probe and a capacitance sensor (Diviner 2000) for measuring the soil water content of a shrinking–swelling clay soil were substantially different from commonly used default values. Using our field calibrations, the two instruments estimated similar changes in the cumulative water content of a soil profile (0–1 m depth) over one growing season.     

Expression of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in melanomas of Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds. Since some of them are able to infect human cells, they might represent a risk for xenotransplantation using pig cells or organs. However, the expression and biological role of PERVs in healthy pigs as well as in porcine tumours is largely unknown. Since we and others have recently shown overexpression of a human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-K, in human melanomas, we studied the expression of PERVs in melanomas of selectively bred Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll. This breeding herd of MMS Troll is characterised by a high prevalence of melanomas, which histologically resemble various types of cutaneous melanomas in humans. Several genetic factors have been defined when studying inheritance of melanomas and melanocytic nevi in MMS Troll. Here we show that the polytropic PERV-A and PERV-B as well as the ecotropic PERV-C are present in the genome of all melanoma bearing MMS Troll investigated. Most interestingly, in the spleen, but not in other organs, recombinant PERV-A/C proviruses were found. PERV expression was found elevated in melanomas when compared to normal skin and viral proteins were expressed in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived melanoma cell cultures. During passaging of these cells in vitro the expression of PERV mRNA and protein increased and virus particles were released as shown by RT activity in the supernatant and by electron microscopy. Genomic RNA of PERV-A, -B and -C were found in pelleted virus particles. Although PERV expression was elevated in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived cell cultures, the function of the virus in tumour development is still unclear.     

Dwarf shrub litter as a food source for macro-decomposers in alpine pastureland

Dwarf shrub litter is thought to be of poor quality and palatability for macro-decomposers. In laboratory feeding experiments, however, it was found that this litter type represents a potential food source for earthworms and millipedes. Here we tested whether this is true under natural conditions by conducting a 1 year field experiment on an abandoned alpine pasture in Tyrol (Austria). As the natural isotopic signatures of plant litter do not allow discriminating between different plant species, dwarf shrub litter, artificially enriched in ¹⁵N, was offered in experimental plots to the macro-decomposer community. Both the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus and the millipede Cylindrojulus fulviceps fed on dwarf shrub litter as indicated by their increased δ¹⁵N signatures, but IsoError analysis indicated a clear preference for grass litter for all macro-decomposer species investigated.Soil δ¹⁵N signatures were only marginally affected by the experimental provision of ¹⁵N-enriched dwarf shrub litter, whereas litter from other, unlabelled, plants became enriched by the isotopic tracer to some extent. Except for one grass species, plants harvested at the end of the experiment were not enriched in ¹⁵N, suggesting that the N-uptake from decomposing litter material by plants on abandoned alpine pastureland is slow.     

Investigations on different Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale "ORT" isolates

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the antigenic relationship between different Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) isolates and to serotype field isolates obtained from turkey and chickens. Different antigen extractions (heat-stable, proteinase K-stable [lipopolysaccharide], and sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS] extractions) were prepared from each serotype (A, B, C, D, E, and G) as well as from 21 ORT field isolates and examined in agar gel precipitation (AGP) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests. The field isolates were cultured from turkey (16 isolates) and chicken (5 isolates) flocks showing respiratory manifestations. Monospecific reactions were obtained with heat-stable as well as proteinase K-stable antigens prepared from serotypes A, C, D, E, and G in AGP tests. On the other hand, with the same antigen preparations from a strain of serotype B in AGP tests, cross-reactions with antisera prepared against serotypes A and E could be detected. The cross-reactions were observed mostly between 48 and 72 hr. In applications of SDS-antigen preparations in AGP tests, cross-reactions between all serotypes except serotype C were detected between 24 and 72 hr. Testing all antigen preparation in ELISA, different cross-reactions were observed and the evaluation of the results is very difficult. Serotyping of the field isolates in AGP tests by using heat-extracted antigens showed after 24 hr that 10 out of 16 isolates from turkey belonged to serotype B, five to serotype A, and one to serotype E. Results obtained after 48-72 hr revealed cross-reactions between serotype B and E in 11 cases and between A and B in two cases. All five isolates obtained from chicken reacted after 24 hr only with serum against serotype A. After 48-72 hr, two isolates showed cross-reaction with antiserum against serotype B. Similar results were obtained with proteinase K-stable antigen.     

Verminous (Strongylus vulgaris) myelitis in a donkey

A fifth stage Strongylus vulgaris migrated through the spinal cord of a 2-year-old, male donkey resulting in progressive paraparesis and then tetraplegia. A profound neutrophilic pleocytosis was detected on analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. The parasite appeared to have entered the mid-lumbar spinal cord, migrated to the cranial thoracic segments, exited, then re-entered the spinal cord a few segments craniad. It then traveled further cranially and was found in the third cervical spinal cord segment. Some parts of the lesion were remarkably free from tissue necrosis, hemorrhage and inflammation. Severe granulomatous myelitis with hemorrhage and necrosis were seen at other sites. The latter were quite similar to lesions seen in equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.     

Studies of Coxiella burnetii infections in dairy herds with special regard to infections in men

Investigations of 1167 dairy cows out of 105 herds with fertility disorders on secretion of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) by the genitals as well as serological studies of these animals using ELISA demonstrated that C. burnetii infections are significantly associated with abortions but not with repeated inseminations without success or vaginal excretions. The demonstration of an increased risk of infections for persons caring for those dairy herds could be shown by a total of 253 serological studies. A comparison of these studies of farmers caring for dairy herds suffering from abortions a seroprevalence of > or = 20% showed that these persons revealed significantly more frequent antibodies against C. burnetii than farmers of the group compared with. Further studies showed that in herds suffering from abortions a seroprevalence of > or = 20% means an additional risk of infections of farmers. Vice versa abortions of the cows in herds with a seroprevalence of > or = 20% imply an additional infectious risk.     

Produktsicherheit bei Silomais durch optimiertes Reifemanagement

Maize production trials carried out in Germany from 1999–2004 were used for statistical analysis of the optimum date for silage maize ripeness. The Silage maize Ripeness Index (the ratio of dry matter content of maize grains to dry matter content of stover) is more suitable for the determination of harvest date, yield maximum and silage maize quality as the dry matter content of the plant. The analysis is cheaper as well as less material and time-consuming in comparison to the dry matter content of the silage maize of different hybrid maize populations and environments. Ensilage optimum and yield maximum almost correspond to the physiological ripeness of silage maize and are close to the grain dry matter content of 60–65%, to the dry matter content of stover under 24% and a ripeness index from 2.5 and higher. Recently, the silage maize harvest depends on dry matter content of maize plants. This can result in grain ripening rates less than 55 % and low starch as well as energy contents. The dry matter content of the silage maize is at a certain ripeness of grain and/or of starch only expression of aging of the stover. The stover has, together with the grain, a strong influence on the dry matter content of the whole plant maize. On these locations the crop should be harvested before reaching the optimum of ripeness and yield maximum. Therefore only hybrids with a long harvesting time, high starch storage and displaying a high digestibility of plant cell wall with slow drying of the stover, should be grown in the future. The Silage maize Ripeness Index (SRI) is, for whole plant maize, better than the Whole Plant Maize Ripeness Index (SRZ) for the choice of a hybrid in Germany. The dry matter content of grain in interaction with the dry matter of stover are better than dry matter content of the whole plant maize as ripeness indicator in the production of maize. SRI is also suitable for use in scientific trials as a standard for the harvesting time and for better “stay green” characteristic. It is a strong correlation between the Silage maize Ripeness Index (SRI) and Silage maize Nutrient Index (SNI) or Silage maize Quality Index (SQI), respectively, as indicator for the physiological reaction of starch and metabolised energy in the rumen as well as for the choice of a hybrid.     

中欧地区的森林培育及其启示

文中简述了中欧的林业发展史，特别对德国森林培育的现状和存在的问题进行了比较详细的分析。根据德国森林培育的历史和经验，提出了对中国林业建设的几点启示。     

Homogeneous shear stress field of wood in an Arcan shear test configuration measured by means of electronic speckle pattern interferometry: description of the test setup

Wood Science and Technology - Several studies have dealt with the problem of how to measure the shear modulus of small clear wood specimens, avoiding bias from normal compression, bending, tension...