Impact of Distillery Effluent on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Vertisol of Central India

Distilleries produce a huge quantity of effluents, popularly known as spent wash (SW), which when bio-methanated produce post-methanation effluents (PME). A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for five consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ten treatment combinations consisting of control, 100% NPK + Farmyard Manure (FYM), and graded level of SW and PME were applied. Total carbon content of soil increased significantly with applications of FYM and DE. SW was found superior in enhancing carbon content of soil in comparison to PME. Farmyard Manure contributed more carbon toward the recalcitrant pool, whereas DE contributed more carbon toward the active and slow pool. Nitrogen (N) availability was significantly improved with the application of DE. Balanced application of DE may act as amendment for increasing C and N stocks in Vertisol.     

The effect of quality bucking and automatic bucking on harvesting productivity and product recovery in a pine-dominated stand

On-board computers (OBC) of harvesting machines can now provide optimized bucking (task of cutting stems into different log lengths) by relying on value and demand matrices. Despite existing benefits of these systems in certain countries, they remain largely underutilized and generally poorly understood in German mechanized forest operations. The study aimed to compare and quantify the differences in harvesting productivity and value recovery between two treatments: quality bucking (OFF) and automatic bucking (ON). A mature forest stand with a high proportion of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was divided into plots (30 m × 100 m) where initial tests of both treatments were randomly distributed and replicated 10 times for a total of 11 plots per treatment. Pre-harvest inventory was performed on each tree targeted for removal via a commercial thinning silvicultural treatment. Mechanized harvesting was performed with an excavator-based Atlas Kern T23 Königstiger single-grip harvester. The same assortment specifications and prices were used for both treatments but on-board optimized bucking solutions were applied in the ON plots, whereas the operator had full control of the products to be recovered in the OFF plots. During harvesting operations, continuous time and motion was performed in all plots. Average harvesting productivity was higher—but not statistically significant—in OFF plots compared to ON plots by 2.0 and 0.46 m³/PMH₀ for pine and spruce trees, respectively. Even if there was no difference detected in volume recovery for both treatments and tree species, value recovery was more than 1.60 € per cubic meter higher for pine in larger diameter classes when using quality bucking. This may be due to the fact that the algorithm of the OBC is designed for pine trees with a simpler crown architecture than trees harvested in this study. Results supporting quality bucking over automatic bucking in a Scots pine-dominated stands provide important forest operational information to managers.

     

Muscle protein metabolism in finishing pigs fed ractopamine

Forty crossbred barrows (average initial weight, 66.4 kg) were utilized to determine the effects of ractopamine (a phenethanolamine/beta adrenergic agonist) on protein accretion and synthesis, activities of cathepsins B, H, L and calcium-dependent proteinase and nucleic acid content of semitendinosus muscle (ST). All pigs were offered a 16% protein, mineral and vitamin fortified corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with either 0 or 20 ppm ractopamine for 14, 21, 28, 35 or 42 d. Protein synthesis (fractional rates) was studied in pigs at d 21 and 35; ST protease activities, protein and nucleic acid content were measured on d 14, 28 and 42. Ractopamine increased (P less than .01) ST total protein content and maintained RNA muscle concentration and total ST muscle RNA content. DNA content (mg/g ST) declined (P less than .05) upon ractopamine feeding, but total DNA per muscle remained unchanged except for d 42, when the ST muscles were largest. Fractional accretion rates (FAR) were 1.0 and 1.2% for control and ractopamine-fed pigs, respectively. Fractional protein synthesis rate (FSR) was higher (P less than .06) in ractopamine-fed pigs (6.1%/d) than in control pigs (4.4%/d). Fractional protein synthesis rate could account for the observed muscle hypertrophy and increased FAR. Estimated fractional breakdown rates (FBR = FSR - FAR) were 3.4%/d and 4.9%/d for control and ractopamine-fed pigs, respectively. The activities of the catheptic proteases and calcium-dependent proteinase were not affected by the treatments.     

Effects of phenethanolamines and propranolol on the proliferation of cultured chick breast muscle satellite cells

Satellite cells were isolated from 20-d embryonic chick breast muscle via a Percoll density gradient fractionation technique. Culturing of these cells gave rise to at least 89% fusion (myotube nuclei number/total nuclei number). Proliferation of cultured satellite cells (indicated by myotube nuclei number) was increased in a dose-dependent manner when fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was included in the medium (25 to 200 ng/ml). Similar cultures were used to examine the effects of ractopamine and isoproterenol on satellite cell proliferation. Ractopamine and isoproterenol were added to culture medium (10(-11) to 10(-4) M) 24 h after initial plating. After a 72-h treatment period, the treatments were removed and replaced with a medium to promote fusion for 48 h. Cells then were fixed and stained, and myotube and total nuclei were counted. In later experiments, ractopamine and isoproterenol each increased (P less than .01) myotube nuclei number vs that observed in control cultures by 2.3 and 2.1 times, respectively. Similar differences were observed with total nuclei number. The number of myotube nuclei observed in cultures treated with 10(-6) M ractopamine or isoproterenol was reduced (P less than .01) by 25.4 and 23.6%, respectively, when propranolol, a beta adrenergic antagonist, was included at 10(-5) M with the respective agonist. These results indicate that ractopamine and isoproterenol each enhance the proliferative activity of chick satellite cells in culture and that the beta adrenergic receptor mediates this proliferative effect.     

Morphology of the Canine Omentum Part 1: Arterial Landmarks that Define the Omentum

Although the omentum remains an enigmatic organ, research during the last decades has revealed its fascinating functions including fat storage, fluid drainage, immune activity, angiogenesis and adhesion. While clinicians both in human and veterinary medicine are continuously exploring new potential omental applications, detailed anatomical data on the canine omentum are currently lacking, and information is often retrieved from human medicine. In this study, the topographic anatomy of the canine greater and lesser omentum is explored in depth. Current nomenclature is challenged, and a more detailed terminology is proposed. Consistent arteries that are contained within folds of the superficial omental wall are documented, described and named, as they can provide the anatomical landmarks that are necessary for unambiguous scientific communication on the canine omentum. In an included dissection video, the conclusions and in situ findings described in this study are demonstrated.     

Successful surgical debridement of a cerebral Streptococcus equi equi abscess by parietal bone flap craniotomy in a 2-month-old Warmblood foal

Brain abscesses and intracranial masses have been regularly described in horses. Treatment often is difficult and unrewarding and mortality rate high. This case report describes the successful treatment of a cerebral abscess in a 2-month-old female Warmblood foal with severe neurological signs of acute onset. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 3 × 4 × 4 cm cerebral mass in the left brain hemisphere with severe cerebral oedema. Craniotomy, using a parietal bone flap technique, allowed the abscess to be sampled, drained and lavaged. Immediately, post-surgery the foal showed significant clinical improvement. Sample culture confirmed Streptococcus equi equi infection. The foal was medically treated for 6 weeks, leading to complete clinical and radiographical recovery. Intracranial surgery in equine medicine is limited. Using a parietal bone flap instead of partial craniectomy to gain access to the cerebrum is a less invasive procedure leading to a better aesthetic result and should be considered for the treatment of cerebral masses in the horse.