Cell-mediated immune response in swine infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium

The zoonotic characteristic of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) represents a veterinary and economic problem in infected pigs. In this study, we analysed cell-mediated immunity six months after experimental infection by measuring interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production and by performing lymphocyte transformation tests after in vitro re-stimulation with the MAA-derived antigen. At the same time, IFN-γ-producing cells were characterised by flow cytometry. In MAA-infected animals, the production of IFN-γ increased in response to the MAA antigen in the blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Similarly, a positive antigen-driven response was detected by the proliferation assay. In contrast, IFN-γ production and proliferation was undetectable after stimulation with the MAA antigen in uninfected control animals. These results indicate that both methods can be used for the identification of individual MAA-infected pigs. Using flow cytometry, we found that double-positive CD4(+)CD8(+) lymphocytes were the major T lymphocyte subset producing IFN-γ after in vitro re-stimulation.     

Large-scale permafrost degradation as a primary factor in Larix sibirica forest dieback in the Khentii massif,northern Mongolia

The objective of this study is to investigate the potential causes of widespread Larix sibirica Ledeb.mortality observed in the Khentii massif of northern Mongolia.The ratio of deadwood to living trees in affected stands in the Goricho region,the southernmost study site situated close to the Gobi Desert,was as high as 3.6:1.Moisture fluctuations monitored over 2 years using electrical impedance spectrometry revealed that the Goricho study site had higher soil moisture levels than the two less affected sites Barun Bayan and Dzun Bayan.High soil moisture was recorded in an area characterized by highly skeletal soils,ones with more than 35%by volume of rock fragments,and comparatively shallow soil horizons,from valley to mountains.The layer of permafrost influencing hydrogeological processes is much deeper in the Goricho region compared to the undisturbed study sites.Redundancy analysis confirmed a significant number of dead L.sibirica on sites with developed soils.Live forest stands,however damaged,grow in this region on well-drained scree slopes or on rocky bastions.The mass mortality observed for L.sibirica may be directly linked to accelerated permafrost thaw in the area bordered by the Tuul and the Terelj Rivers.Our assumption is that L.sibirica root system necrosis occurred as a result of long-term waterlogging of developed soils with high spatial heterogeneity,normally able to absorb high quantities of groundwater.The areas unaffected were scree fields and rocky bastions characterized by adequate drainage.All of our findings support the primary stages of large-scale permafrost thaw,i.e.,correlating increases in soil moisture with increasing permafrost active layer thickness.     

Determination of Toxicity of Spoil Substrates After Brown Coal Mining Using a Laboratory Reproduction Test with Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta)

Laboratory-reared cultures of Enchytraeus crypticus were used in a reproduction toxicity test to evaluate the toxicity of 46 spoil substrates collected in four brown coal mining areas in the Czech Republic and Germany. A set of substrate parameters (pH, conductivity, Na, Ca, K, Al, Fe, loss of ignition and polyphenol contents) were measured for each spoil and correlated with spoil toxicity for E. crypticus. Toxicity increased with decreasing pH and increasing Al, Fe content. Spoil with a pH below 3 did not support the survival of E. crypticus. However, some alkaline spoils with high conductivity and ion concentration were also toxic. Toxicity was positively correlated with the loss of ignition and polyphenol content. The results indicate that the toxicity of post-mining spoil substrates have multiple origins. Most frequently the toxicity of post-mining substrates corresponds with low pH and consequent toxicity of Al and Fe. However some substrates may be toxic due to high ion concentrations. The potential role of fossil organic matter (namely polyphenols) in toxicity of post-mining substrates requires further research.     

Measurement of in situ Phosphorus Availability in Acidified Soils using Iron-Infused Resin

A hybrid anion resin was tested for in situ phosphorus (P) availability measurement in soils of two stands recovering from acidification and having different P-sorption characteristics. The phosphate (P-PO₄) sorption capacity of the resin (before saturation) was 48 µmol g^?1. Sorption and elution were tested under P-PO₄ concentrations common in acidic soils (0–0.42 mmol l^?1) either with or without the presence of sulfate (0.2 mmol l^?1). The efficiency of P-PO₄ sorption was independent of the sulfate and was 100 ± 0.2% (n = 56, ± SD). The P-PO₄ recovery stabilized after six elution steps (each: 50 ml of 0.5 M sodium hydroxide, resin/solution 5:1). The efficiency of P-PO₄ recovery was 80 ± 7% and was used to evaluate field measurements. We determined the amount of P-PO₄ in the field using resin bags in three consecutive years. The results indicate that bioavailable P is negatively related to the soil ability to retain P.     

Litter decomposition along a primary post-mining chronosequence

Biology and Fertility of Soils - The aim of this study was to describe the decomposition of litter along a successive series of sites developed at a post-mining overburden deposit over 12, 21 and...     

The influence of plant residues on soil aggregation and carbon content: A meta-analysis

Background

Soil aggregation and organic carbon (OC) content are important indicators of soil quality that can be improved with plant residue amendments. The extent of the effects of plant residue amendments on soil aggregation and OC content across different plant residue and soil types is not fully understood.

Aim

In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of plant residue amendments on soil aggregation and OC content for different plant residues (fresh, charred) and soil types varying in clay content, initial OC content, and pH.

Methods

Our meta-analysis included 50 published studies (total of 299 paired observations). We estimated the response ratios of mean weight diameter (MWD) and separate aggregate size classes, total soil OC (TSC), and aggregate-associated OC. We also considered the effect of experimental factors (study duration, residue type, residue amount, initial soil OC, clay content, and pH).

Results

The benefit of plant residue amendment on soil aggregation was larger in soils with initially low OC content and neutral pH. Initial soil OC content and pH were more important than soil clay content for OC storage in soil aggregates. Both fresh and charred plant residue amendments were effective in forming aggregates, whereas charred residues were more effective in increasing TSC. We found only a weak positive relationship between the response ratio of TSC and MWD indicating that other factors besides soil aggregation contributed to the increase in soil C storage.

Conclusions

While plant residue amendments can enhance soil aggregation and TSC, these effects are likely governed by the type of plant residue and soil properties such as the initial soil pH and OC content.     

采后UV-B照射保持贮藏番茄果实感官品质及抗氧化能力的研究

对绿熟期的番茄果实采用不同剂量(10、20、40、80 kJ.m-2)的UV-B进行照射后,在温度34℃、相对湿度95%的环境中避光贮藏34 d。结果表明,在4个处理中,以20、40 kJ.m-2剂量的UV-B照射处理贮藏效果最好,有效地保持了果实硬度,并延缓了果实的转色时间。此外,20、40 kJ.m-2的UV-B照射处理还可促进果实总酚及黄酮成分的积累,从而增强果实在贮藏过程中的抗氧化能力,但UV-B照射处理却降低了果实中抗坏血酸的含量。10 kJ.m-2的UV-B照射处理同样具有类似效果,但作用程度较小。较高的照射剂量80 kJ.m-2尽管促进了果实番茄红素的积累,但同时也给果实质地、颜色及抗氧化功能方面带来了不利影响。因此,用于保持番茄果实感官品质及抗氧化能力的最佳UV-B照射剂量为20 kJ.m-2或40 kJ.m-2。UV-B照射作为一种非化学手段可以有效保持番茄采后感官品质并提高其抗氧化能力。     

Amino acid composition of edible parts of three-year-old experimental scaly crossbreds of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758)

The aim of this study was to compare the amino acid (AA) composition of edible parts of three experimental groups of carp, i.e. a pure line of Přerov scaly carp (PS), a hybrid line of Přerov scaly carp and Northern mirror carp (PS × M72), and a hybrid line of Přerov scaly carp and Ropsha scaly carp (PS × ROP), with the quality of the edible parts of control hybrids of Hungarian and Northern mirror carp (M2 × M72) in harvest size (K₃). A comparison between the controls (M2 × M72) and experimental carp (PS, PS × M72, PS × ROP) showed that their muscle tissues contained the same amounts of 10 AA [essential amino acids (EAA): Thr, Val, Leu, Phe, Lys, His; non‐essential amino acids (NEAA): Asp, Gly, Ala, Tyr] of the 16 AA determined. Glu, Asp, Lys and Leu were the AA with the highest muscle concentrations. The total EAA_sum and NEAA_sum contents in the fastest‐growing PS × ROP hybrid, in spite of specific differences found (P<0.05: Arg, Met; P<0.01: Pro), were practically identical to those found in the control group of M2 × M72 mirror carp. PS × ROP hybrid female and male muscle tissues differed (P<0.05) only in Met and Ala levels. Hard roes of experimental female carp (PS, PS × M72, PS × ROP) contained the largest quantities of Glu and Val, and that of control female carp (M2 × M72) the largest quantities of Glu and Gly. Hard roes of PS × ROP hybrids contained the largest quantities (P<0.01) of EAA_sum (52.44±0.19%). Compared with hard roes, soft roes from all groups of carp contained more EAA_sum (PS × ROP: 55.03±0.26%). The two most abundant AA in soft roes were Lys and Arg. The most abundant AA in the hepatopancreas in all carp groups were Glu, Asp, Leu and Arg. Hepatopancreas EAA_sum levels in experimental carp (PS, PS × M72, PS × ROP) were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those in controls (M2 × M72).