COLOR DOPPLER AND DOPPLER SPECTRAL ANALYSIS IN THE SPINAL CORD OF NORMAL DOGS

Doppler ultrasonography of the spinal cord was performed in 34 normal, anesthetized dogs following hemilaminectomy. This study was part of an investigation to evaluate the efficacy of a 21-aminosteroid compound and high dose methylprednisolone for the treatment of spinal cord trauma. Grey-scale images of the canine spinal cord were similar to those described for the spinal cord of people. Doppler waveforms of intraparenchymal spinal arteries exhibited high end diastolic blood flow velocities, indicating low resistance to flow. Doppler values (mean ± SD) for arteries immediately ventrolateral to the central canal were: Peak Systolic Velocity = 5.78 ± 2.5 cm/sec, Minimum Diastolic Velocity = 3.5 ± 1.62 cm/sec, Mean Velocity = 4.45 ± 1.96 cm/sec, Minimum Diastolic Velocity = 3.5 ± 1.62 cm/sec, Mean Velocity = 4.45 ± 1.96 cm/sec, Systolic/Diastolic ratio = 169 ± 0.19, Pulsatility Index = 0.53 ± 0.09, and Resistance Index = 0.4 ± 0.06.     

Myelitis and meningitis.

Animals with meningomyelitis have clinical neurologic signs that typically range from paraspinal discomfort to tetraplegia; however, most affected animals also show evidence of multifocal CNS involvement with brain stem and cerebral cortical structures being affected most commonly. The cause, duration, and host response to the disease process will determine the clinical signs in individual animals. Confirmation of a specific causative agent is difficult, but CSF analysis and immunotesting of serum and CSF yield the most rewarding diagnostic results. Successful treatment is based on formulation of an appropriate and aggressive therapeutic regimen. In some diseases, no effective treatment is available, and some animals may develop permanent neurologic disabilities.     

Diurnal variations of blood pressure in cats

Blood pressure (BP) was analyzed invasively using the telemetry system in unanesthetized, unrestrained healthy adult mongrel cats. After surgical implantation of a telemetry transmitter, BP was transiently elevated due to the invasive nature of the surgery, but it was gradually decreased. BP was largely stabilized seven to ten days postsurgery. Once BP was settled, systolic, diastolic and mean BPs(2) were obtained at 5-min intervals in individual cats. Hourly averages of these BP values revealed a diurnal variation with two peaks at 8:00 and 19:00. We also found that BP was significantly higher when cats were active compared to when they were sleeping or at rest (p<0.05). The average 24-hr BP in 20 healthy cats was 118.4+/-11.0 (systolic), 78.0+/-8.7 (diastolic) and 94.8+/-9.5 mmHg (mean) by the telemetry system.     

Nutrient and heavy metals in decaying harvest residue needles on drained blanket peat forests

Harvest residue decomposition can significantly contribute to nutrient and heavy metal exports to receiving water courses. This study monitors the nutrient and heavy metal dynamics in decaying Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine harvest residue needles on Atlantic blanket peat forests in the west of Ireland. Using the litterbag method, harvest residue was placed both within and between furrows in two uncut forest and two clear-cut sites. On the clear-cut sites, the litterbags were positioned outside the harvest residue piles (i.e. brash windrows). Over the 2-year monitoring period, the needles decomposed slower at the clear-cut sites than the uncut forest sites, with mass losses of 46–55 and 58–77 %, respectively. Approximately 20 % less phosphorous (P) was released from the decaying needles at the clear-cut sites, while nitrogen (N) was released only at the uncut sites. Tree species was a significant factor contributing to nutrient and heavy metal release and accumulation patterns, with higher concentrations of aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in the decaying spruce needles than in pine. Conversely, the spruce needles showed accelerated depletion of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) relative to the pine. The harvest residue needle positioning (inside furrow/between furrows) and the site soil characteristics contributed significantly to Al transformations in spruce needles and iron (Fe) in both spruce and pine needles, with more accumulation occurring inside the furrows where Al and Fe contents of the peat were high. Manganese (Mn) was released from the needles in three of the four sites with a total release of over 90 % within 2 years. In the remaining site, where the Mn content of the peat was high, an accumulation of Mn in the needles was observed. The decomposition of needles on blanket peat catchments may be a significant source of P to receiving water courses, owing to their fast release of P, but not a likely source for N export.     

Divergent evolution of rice blast resistance <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pi54</Emphasis> locus in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza</Emphasis>

Background

The rice blast resistance gene Pi54 was cloned from Oryza sativa ssp. indica cv. Tetep, which conferred broad-spectrum resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae. Pi54 allelic variants have been identified in not only domesticates but also wild rice species, but the majority of japonica and some indica cultivars lost the function.

Results

We here found that Pi54 (Os11g0639100) and its homolog Os11g0640600 (named as #11) were closely located on a 25 kbp region in japonica cv. Sasanishiki compared to a 99 kbp region in japonica cv. Nipponbare. Sasanishiki lost at least six genes containing one other R-gene cluster (Os11g0639600, Os11g0640000, and Os11g0640300). Eight AA-genome species including five wild rice species were classified into either Nipponbare or Sasanishiki type. The BB-genome wild rice species O. punctata was Sasanishiki type. The FF-genome wild rice species O. brachyantha (the basal lineage of Oryza) was neither, because Pi54 was absent and the orientation of the R-gene cluster was reversed in comparison with Nipponbare-type species. The phylogenetic analysis showed that #11gene of O. brachyantha was on the root of both Pi54 and #11 alleles. All Nipponbare-type Pi54 alleles were specifically disrupted by 143 and 37/44?bp insertions compared to Tetep and Sasanishiki type. In addition, Pi54 of japonica cv. Sasanishiki lost nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeat (NBS–LRR) domains owing to additional mutations.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Pi54 might be derived from a tandem duplication of the ancestor #11 gene in progenitor FF-genome species. Two divergent structures of Pi54 locus caused by a mobile unit containing the nearby R-gene cluster could be developed before domestication. This study provides a potential genetic resource of rice breeding for blast resistance in modern cultivars sustainability.

     

Increasing forest biomass supply in northern Europe – countrywide estimates and economic perspectives

Woody biomass is the largest source of renewable energy in Europe, and the expected increase in demand for wood for energy purposes was the stimulus for writing this paper. Opportunities to increase the supply of forest biomass in the short and long term are discussed, as well as environmental side effects of intensive forest management. Focusing on northern Europe, national estimates of potential annual fellings and the corresponding potential amounts, simulated by the European Forest Information Scenario model, are then presented, as well as reported fellings. For the region as a whole, there seems to be substantial unused biophysical potential, although recent data from some countries indicate underestimated annual felling rates. We argue that an economic perspective is lacking in the debate about wood production for energy purposes in Europe and harvest potentials, and we discuss the effects of biophysical capacity limits in forest yield from a partial equilibrium perspective. Using a larger proportion of the biophysical potential in northern Europe than at present will entail trade-offs with environmental and social values, which means that strategies are needed to protect and account for the benefits and costs of all forms of ecosystem services.     

Increasing and Decreasing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Trends in Runoff from Drained Peatland Forests—Is There a Legacy Effect of Drainage or Not?

A recent study on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exports from drained peatland forests reported increasing concentrations over long time since their initial drainage. Concurrently, some other studies have suggested decreasing trends from drained peatland forests, particularly for P. To evaluate these contradictory findings, we re-analyzed past data and reviewed the literature related to temporal N and P concentration trends in runoff from drained peatland forests. Review of literature indicated that decreasing trends are found particularly in sites where initial P concentrations are high (>?50 μg P l^?1), plausibly because of relatively recent fertilization and drainage operations. Decreasing N trends have been found in sites where ditch cleaning temporarily decreased concentrations. Increasing N trends have occurred in sites, where initial concentrations have been low, close to the levels found in pristine peatlands. Complementing past published data with additional data from sites with no recent forestry operations indicated that N concentrations correlated positively with drainage age (years since initial drainage), percentage of drained peatlands in the catchment (drainage proportion), and southern location of the study site. P concentrations correlated most strongly with drainage age. Our study indicated that four factors, in particular, need to be considered when interpreting nutrient concentration trends in runoff from drained peatlands: 1) management history, 2) drainage age, 3) drainage proportion, and 4) site location. Our results supported earlier conclusions in that the estimates which ignore the legacy effect of drainage remarkably underestimate the true impact of forestry on water courses in intensively drained regions.     

Effects of muscle type on beef taste‐traits assessed by an electric sensing system

To assess the role of muscle fiber type in beef taste‐traits, we analyzed cooked meats from bovine masseter, diaphragm, psoas major, longissimus thoracis, and semitendinosus muscles with an electric taste sensing system (INSENT SA402B). The system is composed of five taste sensors of polymer membranes fixing different lipids. The sensors, CT0, CA0, AAE, C00 and AE1 are designed to respond to the individual tastes of salty, sour, umami, bitter and astringent, respectively. The system found significant differences in the converted outputs of CA0 (cvCA0), C00 (cvC00) and AE1 (cvAE1) among the bovine muscles. The slow‐type muscles (masseter and diaphragm) showed lower cvCA0, higher cvC00, and higher cvAE1 than did the fast‐type muscles (psoas major, longissimus thoracis, and semitendinosus). Lactic acid content was different among muscle types and was highly related to the cvCA0 output and pH. carbonyl compounds and free fatty acids were higher in the slow‐type muscles. Free fatty acids were major components causing the difference in the C00 output among the muscle types. Iron content was also different among the muscle types and related to the cvC00 and cvAE1 outputs. These results suggested that the muscle fiber type affects the beef taste characteristics.