Expression of immunoregulatory tumor necrosis factor-like molecule TL1A in chicken chondrocyte differentiation

The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is not encoded in the chicken genome. However, 1 member of the TNF family, TNF-like molecule 1A (TL1A), which is an important immunoregulatory protein, has recently been characterized in chickens. In this study, chicken TL1A (chTL1A) and 1 of its receptors, decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) were found to be expressed in developing bone of 14.5-day-old chicken embryos. Chicken chondrocytes were shown to express TL1A by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA and by immunohistochemical studies. Tissue expression was localized to the epiphyeal region of tubular bones, particularly cells of the epiphyseal plate, the outer chondrocytes of the cartilage-interfacing synovia, most of the synovial cells, and the stromal fibroblastic cells of the vascular channels of the femoral head. A tissue-specific developmental function of TL1A was supported by the presence of DcR3 in the embryonic connective tissue.     

Pressure-volume index-based volume calculation of contrast medium for atlanto-occipital myelography in dogs

Subarachnoid pressure recordings were made during atlanto-occipital myelography in 45 dogs with clinical signs of spinal disease. Iohexol was injected at a dosage of 0.3 ml/kg body weight and simultaneous pressure values were recorded in the cerebellomedullary cistern. The mean subarachnoid pressure was 9 ± 3 mmHg before and 70 ± 32 mmHg at the end of administration. From the pressure change induced by the volume load, the pressure-volume index (PVI) of the subarachnoid space was calculated and found to be in close correlation with body weight and the crown-rump length (r = 0.94 and 0.87). Using the estimated PVI values, the appropriate volume of contrast medium can be calculated for an animal according to body weight. Dogs of a large body size require relatively less contrast medium than small-sized dogs (range 0.17-0.35 ml/kg). This calculated volume is unlikely to increase the subarachnoid pressure above 40 mmHg as a specific pressure limit. Using these data, simplified recommendations for the choice of contrast medium volumes have been generated.     

Partition of Cd,Cu, Pb and Zn among mineral particles during their sorption in soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Heterogeneity of soil mineral particles may lead to the misinterpretation of bulk sorption data on their role in metal sorption, which may be resolved through the...     

The live attenuated bovine viral diarrhea virus components of a multi-valent vaccine confer protection against fetal infection

Fetal infection with bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes severe economic loss and virus spread in cattle. This study investigated the ability of modified live BVDV I and II components of a commercially available modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (Breed-Back FP 10, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.) to prevent fetal infection and abortion, and therefore the birth of persistently infected animals. Heifers immunized with vaccine 4-8 weeks before insemination showed no adverse effects. All vaccinated animals had seroconverted to BVDV 4 weeks after immunization. Pregnant heifers were divided into two vaccination and two control groups and challenged with type I or II BVDV on days 60-90 of gestation. Seroconversion, clinical signs, immunosuppression, viremia, mortality, abortion rate, and fetal infection were studied. Post-challenge, 6/11 (type I challenged) and 8/11 (type II challenged) vaccinated heifers were free from clinical signs of BVD. Post-challenge clinical signs noted in the vaccinated groups were mild to moderate, while all unvaccinated controls had clinical signs ranging from moderate to severe. Viremia was not detected post-challenge in any of the vaccinated heifers. However, 100% of the controls were BVDV viremic on at least 1 day post-challenge. One of 22 vaccinated heifers had transient leukopenia, whereas 2/8 and 6/7 unvaccinated heifers in control groups I and II, respectively, had transient leukopenia. Type II BVDV infection led to abortion or death in 86% of unvaccinated heifers. The corresponding vaccinated group showed no deaths or abortions. All control group fetuses were infected with BVDV. The test vaccine gave 91% (type I BVDV challenged) and 100% (type II BVDV challenged) protection from fetal infection. This vaccine is safe and effective against fetal infection, abortion (type II BVDV) and the birth of persistently infected animals.     

Fun stories about Brucella: the "furtive nasty bug"

Although Brucella is responsible for one of the major worldwide zoonosis, our understanding of its pathogenesis remains in its infancy. In this paper, we summarize some of the research in progress in our laboratory that we think could contribute to a better understanding of the Brucella molecular virulence mechanisms and their regulation.     

Cytochrome P-450 Inducers and Inhibitors Interfering with Ecdysone 20-Monooxygenases and Their Activities during Postembryonic Development of Neobellieria bullata Parker

The cytochrome P-450-dependent microsomal and mitochondrial ecdysone 20-monooxygenase systems convert ecdysone into 20-hydroxyecdysone. The microsomal fraction of fat bodies of zero h wandering stage fleshfly larvae (Neobellieria bullata; Diptera: Sarcophagidae) has a high ecdysone 20- monooxygenase activity. The effects of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors were investigated in vitro on microsomal ecdysone 20-monooxygenase. Metyrapone, fenarimol and certain imidazole derivatives (KK-42, KK-110, KK-135 and PIM) are strong inhibitors. The IC₅₀ value of KK-110, which is the strongest inhibitor, is 2 × 10^?7 M. A triazolyl and two cyclopropylamine derivatives have low activity. The activities of different NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase inhibitors were also assessed; diquat dibromide is a moderate inhibitor of microsomal ecdysone 20-monooxygenase, while paraquat dichloride has no activity. In-vivo experiments with cytochrome P-450 inducers and inhibitors gave the following results: (a) fenarimol, FI-121, precocene-2 caused “permanent” first-instar larvae; (b) barbital, phenobarbital and their sodium salts caused significant delay in larval development; (c) PIM, PTM, metyrapone, KK-42, KK-135, J-2710, RH 5849 and colchicine caused moulting disturbances; (d) J-2710, PIM, PTM, KK-42, KK-135, RH 5849 and colchicine caused lethal spiracle and mandible malformation; (e) KK-110, fenarimol, barbital and phenobarbital caused precocious pupariation.     

Shrub Encroachment Under the Trees Diversifies the Herb Layer in a Romanian Silvopastoral System

Rangelands with scattered trees are complex and dynamic systems with a long history in Europe. Generally referred to as “wood-pastures,” they are considered to have outstanding conservation value. Thorny shrubs are important for supporting the biodiversity of these wooded rangelands, as well as facilitating the regeneration of trees by acting as nurse species. We assess the direct effects of temporary shrub encroachment under the cover of mature sparse trees on overall plant and habitat diversity. We surveyed the herb layer of the main landscape features of a wood-pasture: open pasture, trees with a grass understory, trees with shrubs, and adjacent forest edges. The herb layer under trees with shrubs resembled that of forest edges more than open pastures and trees with grass. Trees with grass had a higher cover of ruderal species than trees with shrubs, while forest edges and open pastures had a lower cover of them. Forest species were absent from open pastures but were well represented in the other sites. The herb layer of trees with shrubs and forest edges had similar cover values, while trees with grass had a significantly lower cover of herbs than the other types. Trees with shrubs had higher species richness than any of the other three landscape features and had a much higher proportion of diagnostic species. We conclude that the scattered trees and shrubs of the studied silvopastoral system have additive facilitative effects on their understory, probably through modifying the microenvironment and grazing pressure, leading to the formation of temporary diversity hot spots with distinct vegetation. Thus maintaining a moderate level of shrub-encroachment under sparse trees is recommended for not only creating safe havens for tree recruitment but also increasing the overall species and habitat diversity of wood-pastures.     

Forum: Social-Ecological System Archetypes for European Rangelands

Rangelands in Europe are imprinted by livestock production and embedded in mosaic landscapes of grasslands, croplands, woodlands, and settlements. They developed as social-ecological systems: People managed rangelands in order to maintain or enhance their ecosystem services, which in turn supported their well-being. The appreciation of ecosystem services provided by rangelands depends on the broad, socioeconomic aspirations and abilities of the managers and the capital available to achieve these aspirations. Here we propose four archetypical social-ecological system representations for European rangelands along the dimensions of socioeconomic aspirations (i.e., oriented toward conventional or sustainable production) and available financial capital (i.e., low or high) to employ farming technologies on rangelands. The four archetypes are aspiration misfit, pockets of sustainability, techno-dependence, and money dependent sustainability. We describe the landscape physiognomy, ecosystem service appreciation, and management-related synergies and trade-offs in ecosystem services supply related to each archetype and formulate a number of research questions to document and further understand them as social-ecological systems. We include the importance of urbanization, land grabbing, and institutional networks in shaping the social-ecological archetypes of rangelands and the relationship between our social-ecological archetypes and the resilience and transformability of rangelands.