A Critical Comparison of Typologies of Small-Scale Forestry in Baden-Württemberg Derived Using Single and Multiple Criteria

The paper presents a typology of small-scale forest owners in Baden-Württemberg based on multiple criteria and derived using multivariate cluster analysis of long-term accountancy network data. Four distinct types of landholders are identified based on a combination of structural, financial and biophysical data. These groups fit well with the present knowledge on small-scale forest owners in Baden-Württemberg. In addition, the members of each group display clear differences in attitudes towards forestry, giving further support for the validity of the grouping. A comparison is made of this typology and typologies derived using the single criteria of forestry region, forest size class, cutting volume, proportion of coniferous trees, forest income and main source of income. This comparison demonstrates the advantages of using cluster analysis to identify types of small-scale forest owners in south-west Germany. No matter whether structural, natural or financial data are assessed, the multiple criteria typology produced by cluster analysis provides the highest percentage of statistically significant distinctions between the medians of the groups identified. A typology based on the single criterion of ‘regions’ provides the second best fit and has the advantage of being simple to develop. A more detailed comparison between these two typologies, whereby the differences between groups were analysed based on the links between individual groups in respect to individual variables, also indicated that the multiple criteria typology was superior.

Influence of altitudinal variation on the content of phenolic compounds in wild populations of Calluna vulgaris, Sambucus nigra, and Vaccinium myrtillus

This study deals with the effect of altitudinal variation on the content of phenolic compounds in three traditional herbal plants, which are also consumed as food in Central Europe. Herbs of Calluna vulgaris (L.) HULL, flowers and fruits of Sambucus nigra L., and berries of Vaccinium myrtillus L. collected in the Naturpark Solktaler (Austria) were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Identification and quantification of the constituents in the polar extracts (methanol 80%, v/v) were achieved by means of RP-HPLC-PDA and/or LC-PDA-MS analysis with external standards. 3,5- O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid was identified in flowers of S. nigra for the first time. Rising concentrations of flavonoids and especially flavonol-3- O-glycosides with adjacent hydroxyl groups in ring B in C. vulgaris and S. nigra with increasing altitude were observed. Anthocyanins from the berries of both S. nigra and V. myrtillus occurred in decreasing amounts with rising altitude. C. vulgaris showed the best radical scavenging capacity based on the DPPH assay.     

Bodenmerkmale montan-industrieller Standorte in Essen

Soil properties of coal, iron and steel industrial sites in Essen The physical and chemical soil properties of some Urbic Anthrosols derived from technogenic substrata in the study area Essen (Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany) were analyzed with special consideration of toxic elements. The sites are characterized by high contents of coarse fragments (> 2 mm) of different species and size whereby this fragments are partly porous. Bulk densities and particle densities are low due to the high contents of carbon. The sites show high pH-values with the exception of sulphur containing mining substrata, which are characterized by low pH-values in consequence of pyrite oxidation. Partly the technogenic substrata have a high content of carbon, especially of coal, before depositing. There are high contents of anorganic and organic toxic elements in some horizons due to the deposit species, e.g. high Cr-values in horizons with steel industrial slags and high PAH-values in horizons with coal tar containing material.     

Opinion — paper Kupfermangel,ein möglicher BSE-auslösender Faktor?

Cu deficiency — a potential factor in BSE? Recent data indicate that ”︁normal prions” contain copper as an antioxydative cofactor. In ”︁infective prions” Cu seems to be replaced by other trace metals. Cu deficiency symptoms of ruminants as described in the older literature are compared with the symptoms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).     

Beiträge zur Zellwandforschung in der planzlichen Gewebekultur

Zussamenfassung Alle untersuchten Zellwandpr?parate von isolierten Karottengeweben enthalten mehr oder weniger unl?slichen Stickstoff. Besonders hoch sind diese Stickstoffwerte in den Zellw?nden von Geweben, die auf kinetinhaltigen oder mit h?heren Auxinmengen versehenen N?hrmedien gewachsen waren. Relativ niedrige Stickstoffwerte erh?lt man dagegen in den Zellw?nden von Geweben auf Medien mit Fraktion G1. Das Problem der Anwesenheit von Proteinen und Nucleins?uren in den W?nden pflanzlicher Zellen wird anhand der Literatur diskutiert. Mit einem Ausblick auf die Kontrolle der Zellwandbildung durch die Zelle und den hierbei wirksam werdenden Informations-Rückkopplungs-Mechanismus schlie?t die Arbeit.

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Summary All the tested cell wall preparations of isolated carrot tissues contain more or less insoluble nitrogen. These nitrogen values are particularly high in the cell walls of those tissues grown on media containing kinetin or higher amounts of auxin. On the contrary, relatively low nitrogen values are found in the cell walls of tissues cultured on media containing the fraction G1. The problem of the presence of proteins and nucleic acids inside the walls of plant cells is discussed in relation to results obtained by other authors. The paper concludes with a brief review of the control mechanism of cell wall formation by the cell itself and of the feed back of informations involved in it.

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Résumé Toutes les préparations étudiées des parois cellulaires des tissus de carotte contiennent plus ou moins de l'azote insoluble. Particulièrement cette teneur en azote est très considérable dans les parois cellulaires des tissus cultivées sur des milieux contenants la cinétine ou des quantités d'auxines fort élevées. Contrairement on obtient des teneurs en azote relativement basses dans les parois cellulaires des tissus cultivées sur des milieux contenant la fraction G1. Le problème de la présence des protéines et des acides nucléiques dans les parois des cellules végétaux a été discuté suivant les résultats de la littérature. L'exposé est terminé par une revue de la régulation de la formation de la paroi cellulaire par la cellule elle-meme, et du mécanisme de couplage rétroactive de l'information.

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Isolation and molecular characterisation of equine rotaviruses from Germany

A total of 26 rotavirus positive faecal samples of diarrhoeal foals, and 8 equine rotavirus isolates were examined. Viral RNA patterns were generated, G typing was performed by PCR, and a P[12]-specific DNA probe was developed for P typing. Furthermore, five equine rotavirus isolates were sequenced in the genomic regions coding for VP7 and part of VP4. Rotaviruses of genotype G3 P[12] were found in 22 faecal samples and G14 P[12] type could be found in 4 faecal samples. These findings confirm that in Germany G3 P[12] is the predominating type of equine rotaviruses.     

Occurrence of Chlamydiaceae spp. in a wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) population in Thuringia (Germany)

Tissue samples from lungs, pulmonary lymph nodes, large intestine, and uteri of 14 wild boar bagged at a seasonal hunt were examined for the presence of chlamydiae, mycobacteria and mycoplasmas. Nested PCR detected chlamydial DNA in 57.1% of the animals, predominantly in the lung. DNA sequencing identified Chlamydophila psittaci as the predominant species, but Chlamydophila abortus and Chlamydia suis were also encountered. Immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections confirmed the presence of typical chlamydial inclusions in lungs and uteri. While the role of Chlamydiaceae as pathogens in wild boar has yet to be established, the present findings revealed a possible wildlife reservoir of these bacteria.     

Evaluation of a modified exogenous creatinine clearance as a suitable renal function test for the small animal practice

A suitable method in the routine veterinary practice for the quantitative determination of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs and cats has not been available until to date. Therefore, we modified the known plasma clearance model (=P-CL). The resulting P-CLterminal was assessed concerning its diagnostic value. P-CL of exogenous creatinine (P-CLcrea) and of inulin were determined in dogs (n=12, Beagle, 6 months of age) and cats (n=11, Domestic Short Hair, 14 months of age). The marker substances were administered as a bolus injection. In fasted dogs, P-CLcrea was 84.3 +/- 14.85 ml/min/m2 after a creatinine dose of 2.4 g/m2. An electrolyte infusion during the clearance determination did not alter the resulting values (p>0.05). In fasted cats, P-CLcrea was 54.7 +/- 5.8 ml/min/m2 (creatinine dose 2.0 g/m2). The inulin clearance, determined at the same time, was 104.5 +/- 19.81 ml/min/m2. Feeding the cats just before and during the test increased P-CL of both markers significantly (p<0.05). In order to adapt the clearance method for diagnostic assessment of GFR in the small animal practice, we aimed at minimizing the number of required blood samples (3 instead of 7 or more) and introduced the modified exogenous creatinine clearance (P-CLterminal). These values determined were 108.4 +/- 20.81 ml/min/m2 in fasted dogs and 66.3 +/- 11.81 ml/min/m2 in fasted cats. An electrolyte infusion (dogs) and feeding (cats) had the same effect on P-CLterminal values as described above for P-CL. In conclusion,the modified exogenous creatinine clearance is a suitable renal function test for the early diagnosis of renal disease in dogs and cats presented in small animal practices.     

Developmental competence of HMC(TM) derived bovine cloned embryos obtained from somatic cell nuclear transfer of adult fibroblasts and granulosa cells

To enable us to handle a large number of oocytes at a given time and to have an increased throughput of cloned embryos, we attempted the Handmade cloning (HMC) technique, a zona-free method of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer. Our objective was to study the developmental competence of the HMC derived embryos obtained using different types of somatic cells. A total of 6,874 cumulus-oocyte-complexes were used with either 7th or 11th passage fibroblasts (1st and 2nd groups, respectively), which were prepared from male animals, or granulosa cells (3rd group) as nuclei donors. The average cleavage rate was 65%, accompanied by a blastocyst rate of just 2% for the cleaved products and 5% for the >8-cell embryos, and there was no significant difference between the three groups. Out of 27 blastocysts recovered, 22 blastocysts were transferred to 22 recipients, resulting in two pregnancies. One pregnancy was lost after the fourth week while the other progressed to full term with the birth of a male calf. This first successful cloning of a male calf with the HMC technique in Europe indicates the successful adoption and establishment of this technique in our laboratory, and that this technique can be successful in producing viable embryos.     

Comparison of 13 single-round and nested PCR assays targeting IS900, ISMav2, f57 and locus 255 for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

For molecular biological detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), PCR methods with primers targeting different regions specific for MAP are used worldwide. However, some uncertainties exist concerning the specificity of certain target regions and the sensitivity. To identify the methods which are best suited for diagnostics, 8 single-round and 5 nested PCR systems including 12 different primer pairs based on IS900 (9 x), ISMav2 (1x), f57 (1x), and locus 255 (1x) sequences were compared regarding their analytical sensitivity and specificity under similar PCR conditions. Reference strains and field isolates of 17 Mycobacterium species and subspecies, 16 different non-mycobacterial bovine pathogens and commensals were included in this study. Single-round PCR resulted in a detection limit of 100 fg to 1 pg, and nested PCR in 10 fg or below. Depending on the specific primer sequences targeting IS900, false positive results occurred with one of the five single-round and two of the four nested PCR systems. This also applied to the single-round PCR based on ISMav2 and the nested PCR based on f57. A high number of non-specific products were primarily detected for the single-round PCR assay based on ISMav2, but also for a single-round PCR targeting the IS900 and the locus 255. In conclusion, stringent selection of IS900-specific primers ensures that IS900 remains a favourite target sequence for amplification of MAP specific loci. The studied PCR systems based on f57, and locus 255 can also be recommended. Revision of ISMav2 primers is necessary. Single-round PCR systems are very reliable. Nested PCR assays were occasionally disturbed by contaminations, thus bearing a risk for routine diagnostics.