Effects of dietary fish oil and vitamin E supplementation on canine lymphocyte proliferation evaluated using a flow cytometric technique

Lymphocyte proliferation and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) production of PGE(2) were assayed in 15 healthy dogs fed a basal diet supplemented with either sunflower oil (Group Sunflower oil), sunflower oil and menhaden fish oil (Group Fish oil), or sunflower oil and menhaden fish oil plus alpha-tocopherol acetate for 12 weeks (Group Fish oil + E). Lymphocyte proliferation was determined by a flow cytometric technique utilizing the fluorochrome carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE). The PBMC supernatant PGE(2) concentration was assayed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. Group Fish oil had a significant decrease in lymphocyte proliferation at week 12. PBMC production of PGE(2) was decreased in all three groups but only significantly reduced in groups receiving fish oil supplementation. Based on these results, this level of fish oil supplementation appears to suppress the lymphoproliferative response in healthy, young dogs but this response can be attenuated by high levels of dietary vitamin E supplementation. Furthermore, fish oil-induced reduction in lymphocyte proliferation appears to manifest through a PGE(2)-independent mechanism and is not associated with increased lipid peroxidation.     

Beeinflusst Magnetit Wassergehaltsmessungen mit time domain reflectometry (TDR)?

Does magnetite have an influence on measurements of water contents by time domain reflectometry (TDR)? An experiment was carried out to investigate an assumed influence of magnetite on TDR pulses. Sand was enriched with three different magnetite concentrations and six different volumetric water contents. The results of this sand standard experiment showed that magnetite up to a concentration of 6% (w/w) has no distinct influence on TDR measurements. Significantly higher water contents measured by TDR in the treatment with 6% magnetite compared to those with 0, 0.5 and 2% magnetite can be explained by the effect of the heavy clay-size magnetite (<2 μm, ρ = 5.1 g cm⁻³) on soil texture and bulk density. This was confirmed by a comparative investigation of three sandy topsoils. Measurements with vertical vs horizonal TDR-probe position gave the same results.     

Wirkung mechanischer Belastung auf Gefüge und Ertragsleistung einer Löss‐Parabraunerde mit zwei Bearbeitungssystemen

Effect of mechanical stress on structure and productivity of a loess‐derived Luvisol with conventional and conservation tillage In Germany farmers are committed to caring for the land by a soil protection law. Yet vehicles with ever increasing axle load endanger productivity and environmental quality of arable soils. In spring of 1995 a field experiment was startet on a wet silty Luvisol to test the effect of single mechanical loading on soil and crop characteristics, when managed by mouldboard ploughing (PL) or conservation tillage (CT). CT soils are considered to be more resistant against compactive stresses and to recover from degeneration more rapidly than PL soils. Beside an unwheeled control the loading treatments were light (2 × 2.5 t; number of wheel passes times wheel load); medium (2 × 5 t) and high (6 × 5 t). In 1995 even light loading of the PL soil caused a significant yield decline by 50% in spring barley, but this happened on CT soil only with high loading. In subsequent years with winter wheat and winter barley yield decline was less distinct. Loading of PL soil reduced total root length (from 4 to 1 km m⁻²) and rooting depth (from 70—90 to 40—70 cm), but on CT soil only root length was diminished by high loading. A tillage‐traffic pan (30—35 cm) hindered subsoil rooting in PL, which was favored in CT by earthworm channels. High loading caused compaction to at least 50 cm depth. Within the pan of the PL soil, penetration resistance attained 5 MPa and bulk density 1.65 g cm⁻³. In the CT soil the zone of maximum compaction was closer to the surface (15—25 cm). In PL soil the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the O₂‐diffusion coefficient gradually decreased with loading, but in CT soil only with heavy loading. The compacted top soil was broken in subsequent years by ploughing (PL: 25 cm) or rotary implements (CT: 5—8 cm). With PL, structure in the pan layer and subsoil did not recover, and rooting depth was still limited. Some restoration, however, was indicated with CT. Here transmitting properties increased in time, which was attributed to the reconstruction of root and earthworm channels, as demonstrated by computer tomography. We conclude that in silty soils compacted layers below ploughing depth will hardly be regenerated by internal processes. CT soils are less susceptible to loading, but high stresses are harmful too. Therefore recommending CT as a measure for protecting soil from compaction would not be enough, considering the present development towards heavy field machinery.     

Communication to the Editor Protection of Wood against the House Longhorn Beetle Hylotrupes bajulus with Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride

The effectiveness of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and potassium chloride as wood preservatives was tested against larvae of the house longhorn beetle Hylotrupes bajulus (L.). Immersion of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) blocks for 24 h provided only a shallow protective layer. In a test series according to EN 46 a concentration of 200 g litre^-1 potassium chloride was required for complete larval mortality within 12 weeks; 200 g litre^-1 sodium chloride failed to achieve this. With vacuum impregnation in tests according to EN 47 a concentration of 100 g litre^-1 sodium chloride achieved complete mortality of larvae within four weeks. Vacuum impregnation of 100 g litre^-1 potassium chloride attained complete mortality only after 12 weeks. Ovipositing female beetles did not avoid wooden blocks treated with either salt. © 1997 SCI.     

Semen biology of vendace (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus albula</Emphasis> L.)

The objective of this study was to describe the morphometry and motility parameters of vendace (Coregonus albula) spermatozoa. Morphometric parameters of vendace sperm head and tail were of values similar to rainbow trout. The effects of pH, sodium, potassium and calcium ion concentrations on computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) sperm motility characteristics were tested. Vendace sperm was motile in a wide pH range of 6.0–10.5 with the optimum pH established at 9.0. Increases in potassium and calcium ions caused decreases in the percentage of motile sperm. The CASA parameters and erratic sperm movement pattern of vendace spermatozoa were similar to whitefish (C. lavaretus) sperm motility, suggesting that there is a coregonid-specific sperm motility pattern.     

Botrytis cinerea — history of chemical control and novel fungicides for its management

Infections caused by Botrytis cinerea are of considerable economic importance in grapes, vegetables and berries world-wide, especially when grown under protection. Newly introduced botryticides are the anilinopyrimidines pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and mepanipyrim, the phenylpyrrol fludioxonil and the hydroxyanilide fenhexamid. Biochemical studies indicate that the anilinopyrimidines inhibit the biosynthesis of methionin by blocking cystathionine-β-lyase. The target site of fludioxonil seems to lie in the osmoregulatory signal transmission pathway. Although the exact biochemical target of fenhexamid is not yet characterized, there are clear indications that it is different from all other botryticides known. Therefore, fenhexamid is an effective tool for anti-resistance management strategies.     

Ultramicrotomy,its application in wood research

Summary Forced by the progressive perfectionation of the ultramicrotomes and by the improvement of preparation methods, the ultrathin sectioning technique has gained high importance for the electron-microscopical studies of the fine structure of wood cell walls.Wood has its own problems for ultramicrotomy. During cutting, the inhomogeneity of the cell wall and its chemical nature result in the formation of wrinkles and holes in the ultrathin sections. These artefacts are not completely avoidable but can be reduced by suitable embedding and by choosing the most suitable knife to a minimum.It is pointed out that for the best and most reliable statement on the object the cutting of serial sections is indispensable.

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Zusammenfassung Begünstigt durch die fortschreitende Perfektionierung der Ultramikrotome und durch die Verfeinerung der Präparationsmethoden erlangte die Ultradünnschnitt-Technik große Bedeutung für die elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung der Feinstruktur der Holzzellen.Als Objekt der Ultramikrotomie hat Holz seine eigenen Probleme. Beim Schneiden ergibt sich aus der Inhomogenität der Zellwand und ihrer chemischen Natur die Bildung von Falten und Löchern in den Ultradünnschnitten. Diese Artefakte lassen sich nicht völlig vermeiden, doch sie können durch eine geeignete Einbettung und die Wahl des am besten geeigneten Messers auf ein Minimum gebracht werden.Es wird hervorgehoben, daß für die beste und zuverlässigste Aussage über das Objekt die Herstellung von Serienschnitten unbedingt erforderlich ist.

     

Channel initiation and the problem of landscape scale

Since the 1940s it has been proposed that landscape dissection into distinct valleys is limited by a threshold of channelization that sets a finite scale to the landscape. This threshold is equal to the hillslope length that is just shorter than that necessary to support a channel head. A field study supports this hypothesis by showing that an empirically defined topographic threshold associated with channel head locations also defines the border between essentially smooth, undissected hillslopes and the valley bottoms to which they drain. This finding contradicts assertions that landscapes are scale-independent and suggests that landscape response to changes in climate or land use depends on the corresponding changes in the threshold of channelization.     

细胞分裂素和硝酸铵对欧洲云杉不定芽伸长的影响

报道细胞分裂素和硝酸铵对欧洲云杉不定芽伸长过程的影响.采用5年生的欧洲云杉1个无性系不定芽丛来研究玉米素和硝酸铵对不定芽生长的影响.试验3种诱导类型(玉米素浓度分别为6.84、13.68、20.52 μmol·L-1,激动素浓度0.69 μmol·L-1,培养4周),玉米素最高浓度处理诱导的伸长芽数量最多,在4个无生长调节剂继代培养过程中,加入了1个硝酸铵浓度逐渐增加的继代培养过程.经不含生长调节剂的低浓度的硝酸铵(2.5 mmol·L-1)培养基的继代培养后转入含有细胞分裂素的诱导培养基,下一个继代培养基补充的硝酸铵浓度分别为2.5、7.5、12.5、17.5 mmol·L-1,8周(2个继代培养)后转入含有硝酸铵浓度为2.5 mmol·L-1的培养基培养.硝酸铵浓度为7.5 mmol·L-1的处理可形成数量最多的不定芽,这对于采用不同浓度的玉米素进行诱导的处理结果是一致的,但随着硝酸铵的浓度增至12.5 mmol·L-1和17.5 mmol·L-1时则不定芽的数量减少.欧洲云杉的胚轴外植体经1次或多次诱导后,细胞分裂素(BA、激动素、玉米素、2iP)促进了不定芽的分化和发育,其中BA由于可诱导产生大量的不定芽而成为最有效的细胞分裂素.玉米素虽然诱导不定芽相对弱一些,却在BA多次诱导后可促进芽的伸长.这对获得具有形成不定芽能力并可扩繁的芽丛非常重要.     

Migration and movement profiles of a potadromous fish (Brachymystax lenok Pallas 1773) in a highly connected river system (Mongolia)

Understanding a species’ spatial and temporal movements along with the way these shift under extreme environmental conditions is vital for developing scientifically sound conservation and management strategies. The aim of this research was to describe and quantify the seasonal migration patterns and fine‐scale movement profiles of Brachymystax lenok, a threatened, potadromous salmonid that inhabits the highly connected, boreal river basins of Siberia and northern Asia. During this study 21 mature individuals were monitored over a 15 month period in the upper Eroo River basin, Mongolia, using passive acoustic telemetry. Mean (±SD) B. lenok home ranges were 19.1 ± 15.1 km (median = 11.5 km), with maximum longitudinal movements detected > 45.3 km. Two periods of increased movements were identified; the first in late summer/early autumn when 10 B. lenok moved into deeper, overwintering pools, with the second period occurring in late spring and early summer when nine B. lenok were detected entering the surrounding tributaries. Diel activity and depth typically increased during daylight hours followed by decreased activity or resting periods in shallower river sections at night. These results highlight the need to maintain a high level of river connectivity and adequate fishing season closures by implementing and enforcing an expansive spatiotemporal management plan that can better protect and recover the Mongolian B. lenok populations. Such measures should be transferable to other threatened, potadromous fish species residing throughout the world's boreal river basins.