Widespread persistent thickening of the East Antarctic ice sheet by freezing from the base

An International Polar Year aerogeophysical investigation of the high interior of East Antarctica reveals widespread freeze-on that drives substantial mass redistribution at the bottom of the ice sheet. Although the surface accumulation of snow remains the primary mechanism for ice sheet growth, beneath Dome A, 24% of the base by area is frozen-on ice. In some places, up to half of the ice thickness has been added from below. These ice packages result from the conductive cooling of water ponded near the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountain ridges and the supercooling of water forced up steep valley walls. Persistent freeze-on thickens the ice column, alters basal ice rheology and fabric, and upwarps the overlying ice sheet, including the oldest atmospheric climate archive, and drives flow behavior not captured in present models.     

Lack of evidence for claims of farmers in south-eastern Germany regarding adverse reactions ascribed to BTV-8 vaccines

Farmers in south-eastern Germany who claimed adverse reactions due to the application of BTV-8 vaccines during the compulsory vaccination programme in 2008/2009 were invited to participate in an epidemiological study to prove whether there was evidence for a plausible relationship between the immunizations and the reported symptoms. Ten farms were available for on-site visits; all other farmers (N = 120) who had registered to participate in the study were asked to complete a questionnaire and to provide evidence for the claimed adverse reactions. 25 questionnaires were returned. Although a wide range of symptoms were reported, in most cases the documentation of clinical signs, pathological alterations and fatalities was not sufficient to conclude on a causal relationship. Similarly, most of the suspected adverse events evaluated as pharmacovigilance reports had to be categorized as "unclassified due to insufficient information".     

Sensory characteristics and volatile profiles of parsley ( Petroselinum crispum [Mill.] Nym.) in correlation to resistance properties against Septoria Blight ( Septoria petroselini )

Sixteen different genotypes of parsley, including two cultivars, six populations, and eight inbred lines, were investigated regarding their sensory characteristics in relation to the volatile patterns and resistance to Septoria petroselini . The sensory quality was determined by a combination of profile analysis and preference test, whereas the volatile patterns were analyzed by headspace-SPME-GC of leaf homogenates with subsequent nontargeted data processing to prevent a possible overlooking of volatile compounds. The more resistant genotypes are characterized by several negative sensory characteristics such as bitter, grassy, herbaceous, pungent, chemical, and harsh. In contrast, the contents of some volatile compounds correlate highly and significantly either with resistance (e.g., hexanal and α-copaene) or with susceptibility (e.g., p-menthenol). Some of these compounds with very strong correlation to resistance are still unidentified and are presumed to act as resistance markers.     

Effect of tibial tuberosity advancement on cranial tibial subluxation in canine cranial cruciate-deficient stifle joints: an in vitro experimental study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) on tibiofemoral shear force as reflected by measurement of cranial tibial subluxation (CTS) and patella tendon angle (PTA) in the canine cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle joint. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro cadaver study. ANIMALS: Canine cadaveric hind limbs (n=10). METHODS: CTS and PTA were evaluated from lateral radiographic projections in axially loaded intact CrCL stifle joints, after transection of the CrCL, at a maximally advanced tibial tuberosity position, and at a critical point position. A custom-designed hinge plate allowed alteration of the tibia to tibial tuberosity distance (Ti-TT) under axial load. Digitized radiographic images were used to quantify CTS, PTA, and Ti-TT. Comparisons within groups were made using 1-way repeated measures ANOVA. A post hoc Tukey's HSD test was used to determine post-ANOVA pair-wise comparison within these groups. Significance was set at a value of P<.05. RESULTS: CTS occurred after CrCL transection, which was significantly different from the intact position (P<.01). Subsequent stability of the stifle joint was obtained by advancing the tibial tuberosity. In the maximally advanced tibial tuberosity position, caudal tibial thrust was generated resulting in caudal tibial subluxation that was significantly different from the transected CrCL position (P<.01) and from the intact CrCL position (P<.01). Despite a stable joint, there was slight CTS at the critical point position, which was significantly different from the intact CrCL position (P<.05). The PTA at the maximally advanced position was significantly different from the intact, critical point and reference 90 degrees PTAs (P<.01). The PTA at the critical point position was significantly different from the intact and maximally advanced tibial tuberosity PTAs (P<.01), but not different (P>.05) from the reference 90 degrees PTA. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that advancement of the tibial tuberosity neutralized cranial tibial thrust, and converted cranial tibial thrust into caudal tibial thrust. Neutralization of tibiofemoral shear forces occurred at a PTA of 90.3+/-9.0 degrees. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TTA can effectively change the magnitude and direction of the tibiofemoral shear force, and thus may be used to prevent craniotibial translation in a CrCL deficient stifle joint.     

Characterization of cation exchange capacity (CEC) for agricultural land-use areas

Spatial assessment of soil properties needs conversion of point data to an area-oriented model. Methods are required that create a reproducible map. The development of a map is shown by the example of cation exchange capacity. Twenty sorption types are formed and derived from the vertical sequence of values for substrate types and are aggregated to six main types. A qualitative assessment of the main CEC sorption types is carried out with comparative ranking. The association of different substrate types on an areal soil pattern requires the identification of sorption association types. These are shown by the areal share of the main sorption types for the substrate types involved in each case. For interpreting the site parameters from the MMK (Mittelmaßstäbige Landwirtschaftliche Standortkartierung), the procedure is presented in detail. An example of the results is shown with CEC maps. Tables complement the visualization for different areas, defined by administrative or natural landscape boundaries. The application of this method for relative evaluation of CEC is demonstrated using KA5-rules. The CEC characterization of agricultural areas can be reproduced on the basis of the mapping units of soil maps with different scales (BÜK 200). The areal-specific labeling of CEC constitutes soil-related decision guideline.     

Gemeindebezogene standortinformationen im agraratlas sachsen‐anhalt

Im Agraratlas des Landes Sachsen‐Anhalt werden für raumstrukturelle Entscheidungen natürliche und ökonomische Faktoren und Bewertungen in ihrer regionalen Anordnung dargestellt. Der vorliegende Beitrag bezieht sich auf den Teilkomplex “Gemeindebezogene Standortinformationen”; und beinhaltet methodisches Vorgehen und Ergebnisse zu den thematischen Karten:

Geologische Substratherkünfte, Hangneigungsverhältnisse, Hydromorphieverhältnisse, Steinigkeit, Bodenbedingte Anbaueignung, Substratbedingte Bewirtschaftungseignung und Potentielle Gefährdung für Wasser‐ und Winderosion.

Zu den Karteninhalten werden tabellarisch gemeindebezogene Häufigkeiten von Legendeneinheiten und Flächenangaben zum Vorkommen von Merkmals‐ und Beurteilungsklassen mitgeteilt.     

Feed-induced Changes in the Transport of Butyrate,Sodium and Chloride Ions Across the Isolated Bovine Rumen Epithelium

A short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) burst feeding strategy to dry cows (periodically high SCFA concentration in the ruminal fluid) has been hypothesized to increase the ruminal surface area and absorptive capacity. The present paper deals with the effects of a SCFA burst feeding strategy on epithelial transport function in dry cows. The epithelial transport capacity for [¹⁴C]butyrate and Na⁺ across the rumen epithelium in vitro was significantly increased by the SCFA burst feeding strategy, compared with the controls. The transport of Cl^- was significantly increased by the SCFA burst feeding strategy at the high feeding level, but non-significantly decreased at the low feeding level. The increase in transport capacity could not be attributed to changes in epithelial resistance, to the concentration of Na⁺/K⁺-ATP-ase or to the epithelial surface area and structure (data on epithelial surface area and structure were published by Andersen et al., Report No. 23 from the National Institute of Animal Science, Denmark, 1994). The observed changes in transport must reflect a change in either composition of the cell membranes or processes that facilitate transport through the cell, including metabolic processes. The presented results support the existence of a saturable SCFA transport system in the epithelial cells and the results show that the capacity of this transport system can be the subject for feed-induced regulation.