Associations among Haemophilus parasuis,Mycoplasma hyorhinis,and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infections in pigs with polyserositis

The objective of this study was to determine the associations among Haemophilus parasuis, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus (EU-field strain) infections in 95 pigs with polyserositis. A significant association between H. parasuis and M. hyorhinis was identified. H. parasuis and M. hyorhinis were significantly more often detected in PRRS virus positive pigs.     

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...     

植保无人机低空低量施药雾滴沉积飘移分布立体测试方法

随着植保无人机在中国的广泛使用,植保无人机的沉积分布均匀性与雾滴飘移流失也引起各方面的重视。目前,针对植保无人机施药雾滴沉积飘移的测试方法较少,且着重于从沉积或飘移中某一方面分析植保无人机雾滴沉积飘移规律,未对作业中全方位的雾滴的沉积飘失规律进行系统测试。该文基于国际标准ISO22866和ISO24253建了1套针对低空低量植保无人机的立体测试方法,分别在地面布置沉积和飘移收集器,在空中架设立体沉积和空中飘移收集器,结合航拍影像所获取的植保无人机准确作业参数,对4个型号植保无人机分别搭载德国Lechler公司的IDK120-015和TR80-0067喷头进行了测试,系统分析了无人机周边的总沉积以验证方法准确性,计算了总地面沉降以表征可利用部分和空中耗散以评估环境风险。结果表明,各植保无人机地面沉积率在53.6%~76.6%,地面飘移率最高17.4%,空中飘移率可高达14.7%;该测试系统可收集62.4%~101.7%无人机喷洒出的雾滴。测试的4种植保无人机在搭载IDK喷头后均明显降低了雾滴飘移,但也同时降低地面沉积率;各植保无人机在搭载2种喷头时沉积规律不同,不同植保无人机设计需要选择不同喷头。该测试方法能够有效的收集并分析植保无人机在作业区域的雾滴立体分布状态,可为植保无人机综合评估提供新的参考依据。     

Heat,wheat and CO2: The relevance of timing and the mode of temperature stress on biomass and yield

Atmospheric CO₂ enrichment affects C3 crops both directly via increased carbon gain and improved water use efficiency and indirectly via higher temperatures and more frequent climatic extremes. Here we investigated the response of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Triso) to CO₂ enrichment (550 vs. 380 µmol/mol) and heat, applied as a constant +4°C increase or a typical heat wave either before or after anthesis, or as two typical heat waves before and after anthesis. We applied a climate chamber approach closely mimicking ambient conditions. CO₂ enrichment increased above‐ground biomass and yield by c. 7 and 10%, but was not able to compensate for adverse heat stress effects, neither before nor after anthesis, with few exceptions only. Yield depression due to heat stress was most severe when two heat waves were applied (?19%). This adverse effect was, however, compensated by CO₂ enrichment. Applying heat stress before or after anthesis did not exert different effects on yield for both +4°C warming and heat wave application. However, +4°C depressed yield more than a heat wave at ambient CO₂, but not so at elevated CO₂. Thus, the interactive effects were complex and prediction of future wheat yield under CO₂ enrichment and climate extremes deserves more attention.     

Malignant transformation of a unicameral bone cyst in a cat

A unicameral bone cyst in the proximal humerus of a 3-year-old Norwegian forest cat was diagnosed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, surgical exploration, and histopathology. Surgical curettage and incorporation of bone cement led to full recovery. An osteosarcoma developed at the surgical site 17 months later. Thoracic radiographs showed pulmonary lesions consistent with metastasis.     

High stability of nuclear microsatellite loci during the early stages of somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce

Somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) differentiate from proembryogenic masses (PEMs), which are subject to autodestruction through programmed cell death. In PEMs, somatic embryo formation and activation of programmed cell death are interrelated processes. We sought to determine if activation of programmed cell death in PEMs is caused by genetic aberrations during somatic embryogenesis. Based on the finding that withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin induces programmed cell death in PEMs, 1-week-old cell suspensions were cultured in medium either with or without auxin and cytokinin and then transferred to maturation medium containing abscisic acid. We analyzed the stability of three nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR) microsatellite markers at successive stages of somatic embryogenesis in two cell lines. There were no mutations at the SSR loci at any of the successive developmental stages from PEMs to cotyledonary embryos, irrespective of whether or not the proliferation medium in which cell suspensions had been cultured contained auxin or cytokinin. The morphologies of plants regenerated from the cultures were similar, although withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin significantly stimulated the yield of both embryos and plants. We conclude, therefore, that the high genetic stability of somatic embryos in Norway spruce is unaffected by the induction of programmed cell death caused by withdrawal of auxin and cytokinin.     

Modeling spatial variability in the life-cycle costs of low-volume forest roads

Cost estimation is probably the most decisive factor in the process of computer-aided, preliminary planning for low-volume road networks. However, the cost of construction is normally assumed to be route-independent for a specific project area, resulting in sub-optimal layouts. This is especially true for mountainous terrain and in areas with unstable subsoil. Here, we present a model for more accurately estimating spatial variability in road life-cycle costs, based on terrain surface properties as well as geological properties of the subsoil. This parametric model incorporates four structural components: embankment, retaining structures, pavement, and drainage and stream-crossing structures. It is linked to a geo-database that allows users to derive location-specific parameter values as input. In applying this model, we have demonstrated that variability in costs ranges widely for mountainous areas, with the most expensive construction being approximately five times greater there than on more favorable sites. This variability strongly affects the optimal layout of a road network. First, when location-specific slope gradients are considered, costs are reduced by about 17% from those calculated via currently available engineering practices; when both slope gradient and geotechnical formations are included, those costs are decreased by about 20%. Second, the length of the road network is increased by about 4% and 10% respectively, compared with current practices.