Influence of characteristics and extension of a forest road network on the supply cost of forest woodchips

A forest road network in northeastern Italy was explored by field investigations to evaluate the cost of covering annual demand of woodchips according to three scenarios. The first scenario (A) considered the current extent of the forest road network (mainly tractor road) and the associated qualitative characteristics; the second scenario (B) evaluated the possibility of increasing the availability of the technical amount of forest biomass by extending the forest road network by three tractor roads (3.9 km); the third scenario (C) considered the impact on woodchip supply of converting 9.3 km of tractor forest road into truck forest road. At a woodchip price of 60 € t⁻¹, the cost–supply curve of scenario C indicated a woodchip amount of 2886 t year⁻¹, which was 561 t year⁻¹ greater than scenario A and 161 t year⁻¹ greater than scenario B.     

Genome evolution following host jumps in the Irish potato famine pathogen lineage

Many plant pathogens, including those in the lineage of the Irish potato famine organism Phytophthora infestans, evolve by host jumps followed by specialization. However, how host jumps affect genome evolution remains largely unknown. To determine the patterns of sequence variation in the P. infestans lineage, we resequenced six genomes of four sister species. This revealed uneven evolutionary rates across genomes with genes in repeat-rich regions showing higher rates of structural polymorphisms and positive selection. These loci are enriched in genes induced in planta, implicating host adaptation in genome evolution. Unexpectedly, genes involved in epigenetic processes formed another class of rapidly evolving residents of the gene-sparse regions. These results demonstrate that dynamic repeat-rich genome compartments underpin accelerated gene evolution following host jumps in this pathogen lineage.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with systemic fungal infection in a German shepherd dog

A 2 yr old spayed female German shepherd presented with a chief complaint of acute onset paraparesis and weight loss. At presentation, the dog was pyrexic, nonambulatory, and had generalized muscle wasting. Neurolocalization was consistent with a thoracolumbar spinal cord lesion. An abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed a focal dilation (4 cm) of the terminal aorta with evidence of blood stasis consistent with an aortic aneurysm. The dog was euthanized shortly after admission to the hospital and a post mortem examination was performed. Fungal organisms were identified in the aortic aneurysm as well as from the thoracic vertebrae, mesenteric lymph nodes, axillary lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. Although the morphology was consistent with Candida spp., immunohistochemistry and PCR could not definitively identify the causative organism. Mycotic aortic aneurysms are a rare finding in humans and have not been previously reported in the dog. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first known report of an aortic aneurysm associated with systemic fungal infection in a dog.     

Immunization of Pups with Maternally Derived Antibodies to Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Using a Modified‐Live Variant(CPV‐2b)

The results of vaccination trials carried out on pups with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to canine parvovirus (CPV), using a modified‐live CPV‐2b variant vaccine (29‐97/40 strain), are reported. The vaccine was able to overcome the obstacle of MDA, and to elicit protective immunity in 100% of the pups whose antibody titres were 1:10–1:40, 83% of the pups with titres of 1:80, 57% of the pups with titres of 1:160, and even in 60% of the pups with antibody titres of 1:320.     

Performance of a small-scale chipper for professional rural contractors

The study determined the productivity, fuel consumption and product quality obtained with a new tractor OWered drum chipper, designed to reduce the gap between industrial chippers and small-scale chippers. The machine as tested with poplar logs and beech slabs, considered as representative of the raw material commonly used for ergy wood production. After accounting for accessory work and delays, productivity of green chips ranged between and 6 tons per scheduled machine hour, which was very good for a tractor-powered unit. Specific fuel consumption f oven-dry chips varied between 2.5 and 3.0 L per ton, or 0.6 L per m_3. These figures compared favourably with those btained from previous studies of both smaller and bigger chippers. Chip quality was very good. Samples contained no versize particles, qualifying for use in small-scale plants. The average size of beech chips was significantly larger than r poplar chips, possibly due to the higher strength of beech wood.     

The Disconnect Between Principles and Practice: Rural Policy Reviews of OECD Countries

Following the publication of the New Rural Paradigm (NRP) in 2006, the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) undertook a number of national rural policy reviews for member countries between 2006 and 2009. These reviews were paid for by the nation being reviewed and were structured to assess how well the national policy followed the guidelines of the NRP. International agencies, including the OECD, are seen as being well positioned to encourage policy transfer, and one might think that countries wishing to be reviewed would have adopted the NRP. We examine the set of reviews to determine which elements of the NRP were commonly adopted and which were not. While it may seem that the interval between 2006 and the time of the reviews is too short to expect much change, the ideas underpinning the NRP have their origins in OECD rural policy analysis that began in the late 1980s. Over 20 years, the OECD philosophy of rural development has evolved to parallel the academic research literature in endorsing “bottom‐up” investment‐oriented policies that engage a broad set of actors. Yet, just as academic research seems to have little impact on actual rural policy, so too there is limited evidence that countries fully adopt the NRP. Explaining why this lack of impact is the case is beyond the scope of the paper, but our results reinforce the challenges facing any effort to alter current rural policy.     

The Effects of Temperature, Age, and Acclimation to Salinity on the Survival of Farfantepenaeus paulensis Postlarvae

Abstract.— Salinity tolerance limits during the ontogenetic development of Farfantepenaeus paulensis postlarvae (PL) were determined at different temperatures. Initially, PL 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 maintained in 30 ppt (parts per thousand) salinity, 22‐25 C, were directly transferred to 15 combinations of salinity (2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 ppt) and temperature (15, 20 and 30 C) for 96 h. Irrespective of age or salinity, higher survival rates were registered at 25 C. PL 10 suffered high mortality, especially at low salinities combined with low (15 C) or high (30 C) temperatures. From PL 20 to PL 40, an increase in survival was observed in all combinations. For PL 60 and 80, tolerance to low salinity was reduced, suggesting that PL have a maximum age by which they are able to develop adaptability to low salinities. In general, the effect of temperature contributed more significantly to mortality in PL 10 and PL 30, but its influence decreased afterwards. From PL 40, salinity becomes the main factor determining mortality. In order to examine the effects of acclimation to salinity on the tolerance limits, a second set of experiments was performed with PL 5, 10, 15 and 25 acclimated to 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 ppt, 25 C, over a 5‐d period. Postlarvae were then transferred to different salinity levels (2, 5, 10, 20 and 30 ppt) and kept for 96 h. High mortality of PL 10 occurred after direct transfer from high to intermediate/low salinity levels. Although the acclimation to salinity increased survival, it was still poor. An increase in the salinity tolerance was observed from PL 15 to 30, even with no acclimation. Results indicate that PL 10 do not have a fully developed osmoregulatory capacity to cope with low and/or abrupt changes of salinity. It is recommended that non‐acclimated PL 10 should only be released in environments with salinity at or above 20 ppt. If acclimation is carried out, PL may be released in salinities above 10 ppt. The release of PL 10 in salinities below 5 ppt may result in mortality rates of up to 70%. The best age for the release of non‐acclimated F. paulensis PL in environments with low and/ or wide fluctuations of salinity would he PL 15‐30.     

Timely adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcome in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma undergoing splenectomy

Timely delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to be advantageous in many human cancers and canine osteosarcoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve outcome for canine splenic hemangiosarcoma. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether timely adjuvant chemotherapy administration resulted in better outcome in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma undergoing splenectomy. Medical records were searched for dogs with non-metastatic, splenic hemangiosarcoma that received splenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The number of days from surgery to the first chemotherapy dose (StoC) was evaluated to identify the cut-off value associated with the best survival advantage. StoC and other possible prognostic factors were tested for influence on time to metastasis (TTM) and overall survival (OS). Seventy dogs were included. Median StoC was 20 days (range: 4–70). The time interval associated with the greatest survival benefit was 21 days. Median TTM and OS of dogs with StoC ≤ 21 days were significantly longer than those with StoC >21 days (TTM: 163 vs. 118 days, p = .001; OS: 238 vs. 146 days, p < .001). On multivariable analysis, StoC >21 days was the only variable significantly associated with increased risk of tumour progression (HR 2.1, p = .010) and death (HR 2.3; p = .008). Starting adjuvant chemotherapy within 21 days of surgery may be associated with a survival benefit in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma, possibly due to the early targeting of newly recruited metastatic cells after surgery.     

Subcutaneous Liposarcoma in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 6-year-old spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) exhibiting clinical signs of weakness, anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, and frequent urination was presented for a veterinary evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the aforementioned abnormal behavior and clinical condition. Physical examination revealed a large, firm, painless, movable subcutaneous mass at the base of the tail. Radiographic and ultrasound images confirmed the presence of a soft tissue mass compressing the sacrococcygeal vertebrae, but there was no evidence of metastatic lesions. Because of the poor prognosis and progressive deterioration of the animal's clinical condition, the ferret was humanely euthanized. Gross necropsy revealed a 4 × 4 × 3.5 cm, firm, yellow-tan, ovoid, subcutaneous mass wrapped around the rectum and the anus. The mass did not appear to breach the serosa. Evaluation of the abdominal cavity revealed a pale yellow liver, possibly associated with hepatic lipidosis with no gross evidence of metastasis in the body cavity. The histopathological features of the mass were consistent with a liposarcoma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of subcutaneous liposarcoma reported in a ferret.