Comparison of the bovine blood gas parameters produced with three types of portable blood gas analyzers

BackgroundA definite diagnosis should be made in the bovine practice field, however, it was difficult to perform laboratory analysis immediately. Currently, three types of portable blood gas analyzers are available in Korea.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the correlations among these three analyzers.MethodsSeventy-two plasma samples from Holstein-Friesian cows were used for blood gas analysis, and three instruments (EDAN i15 Vet, VETSCAN i-STAT, and EPOC) were operated simultaneously. Moreover, plasma calcium levels were compared between these portable analyzers and blood chemistry device, which is usually used in a laboratory environment. Pearson analysis was performed to confirm the correlation of each parameter produced with the three instruments and blood chemistry analyzer.ResultsAs results, high correlation was observed in parameters of pH, pO₂, potassium ion, ionized calcium, and glucose (p < 0.001, r > 0.7). In addition, pCO₂ showed a moderate correlation among the three analyzers (p < 0.001, r > 0.5), and there was no correlation among all instruments for sodium ions. There was also a high correlation between ionized calcium from the three portable devices and total calcium from the biochemistry analyzer (p < 0.001, r > 0.9).ConclusionsIn conclusion, there was a high correlation between results from the three different blood gas analyzers used in the bovine clinical field in Korea. Thus, a consistent diagnosis can be made even with different equipment if the operator is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each piece of equipment and operates it properly.     

ARDRA and RAPD analyses of human and animal isolates of Streptococcus gallolyticus

A total of 23 Streptococcus gallolyticus strains, consisting of 12 strains from feces of healthy animals and 11 from clinical cases of human or cow mastitis milk, were examined genealogically. Four strains of S. bovis "biotype II/1" and 3 strains of S. equinus, the closely related organisms to S. gallolyticus, were also analyzed for outgroup comparison. Neither the amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) nor the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis that had been designed to recognize S. gallolyticus strains virulent in pigeons could differentiate clinical strains from the others of S. gallolyticus. No correspondence between the DNA profile in either analysis and the host animal species was detected.     

Effects of pearl millet silage ammoniation with urea on carcass and meat quality of lambs

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Thirty‐two noncastrated crossbred lambs at 4–5 months of age, with an average initial body weight of 17.39 ± 2.16 kg, were distributed into four treatments in a randomized block experimental design with eight animals per treatment. Experimental diets were composed of pearl millet silage ammoniated with four levels of urea (0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, on dry matter basis (DM). Carcass conformation and fatness decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Except for the fat content, the proximate composition was not influenced (p < 0.05) by the diets. Meat lightness and yellowness increased linearly (p < 0.05). There was no effect of diets (p > 0.05) on cooking losses or shear force. The levels of oleic and erucic fatty acid levels in the meat decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas linoleic and eicosadienoic acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA:SFA ratio and ω6 contents increased (p < 0.05). Pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea allows for the production of good‐quality lamb meat, with greater concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, lambs fed diets with pearl millet ammoniated with up to 6% lead to a reduction of carcass characteristics without significantly affecting loin‐eye area possibly associated with low palatability of the additive used. The lower acceptance of the silages with higher levels of urea is due to the ammonia retention in the material is attributed to the ammonization process. Thus, in spite of the benefits on lamb meat quality, it is suggested that the use of this additive in the ammonization of tropical forages be carried out with care, in limits of up to 6%.     

Reduction in CO2 emission from normal and saline soils amended with coal fly ash

Purpose

Fly ash can reduce CO₂ emission from soils via biochemical (i.e., inhibition of microbial activity) and physicochemical (i.e., carbonation) mechanisms. This study investigated the effects of fly ash amendment on biochemical and physicochemical reduction in CO₂ emission from normal and saline soils.

Materials and methods

The physicochemical mechanisms of reduction in CO₂ emission by fly ash were estimated in a batch experiment with carbonate solution as a CO₂ source by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma analyses. Biochemical mechanisms of reduction in CO₂ emission by fly ash were investigated in a 3-day laboratory incubation experiment with normal and saline soils in the absence and presence of fly ash. Finally, the effects of fly ash amendment at a variety rate from 2 to 15?% (w/w) on CO₂ emission from normal and saline soils in the presence of additional organic carbon source (glucose) were investigated through a 15-day laboratory incubation study.

Results and discussion

In the batch experiment with carbonate solution, both the SEM image of fly ash and changes in soluble Ca and Mg concentrations during reaction with carbonate suggested that the formation of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃ via carbonation was the principal physicochemical mechanism of carbonate removal by fly ash. In the 3-day incubation study conducted to examine biochemical mechanisms of reduction in CO₂ emission by fly ash, microbial respiration of saline soil was inhibited (P?<?0.05) by fly ash due to high pH, salinity, and boron concentration of fly ash; meanwhile, for normal soil, there was no inhibitory effect of fly ash on microbial respiration. In the 15-day incubation with glucose, fly ash application at a variety rates from 2 to 15?% (w/w) reduced CO₂ emission by 3.6 to 21.4?% for normal and by 19.8 to 30.3?% for saline soil compared to the control without fly ash. For saline soil, the reduction in CO₂ emission was attributed primarily to inhibition of microbial respiration by fly ash; however, for normal soil in which suppression of microbial respiration by fly ash was not apparent, carbonation was believed to play an important role in reduction of CO₂ emission.

Conclusions

Therefore, fly ash may be helpful in reducing CO₂ emission from normal soils via carbonation. For saline soil, however, fly ash needs to be carefully considered as a soil amendment to reduce CO₂ emission as it can inhibit soil microbial activities and thus degrade soil quality.     

Variations of δ13C AND δ15N in Pinus Densiflora Tree-Rings and their Relationship to Environmental Changes in Eastern Korea

Natural abundances of carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 were analyzed in 3-year bands of annual rings of three red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) trees in eastern Korea to elucidate their variations in relation to changing environmental conditions, particularly air pollution. Tree ring width had a trend to decrease with time (r = ?0.79, P < 0.001); however, tree-ring indices did not show any consistent pattern of change over time. Tree ring indices were correlated neither with the respective precipitation nor temperature. The δ¹³C (range: ?25.7 to ?24.4ä) of tree rings became less negative as tree ring indices increase (r = 0.43, P < 0.05), suggesting that radial growth of trees might have been affected by environmental factors such as nutrient deficiency and acid rain that affect carboxylation efficiency. Increasing N concentration (range: 0.40 to 0.68 g N kg^?1) with decreasing δ¹⁵N (range: +4.2 to ?0.6ä) of tree rings (r = ?0.84, P < 0.01) during the period (since 1980s) of increasing NO _x emission in Korea was consistent with the hypothesis that increasing deposition of N depleted in ¹⁵N may lead to ¹⁵N depletion in tree tissues. However, quantitative information on inter-ring translocation of N which may cause N isotopic fractionation is necessary to use the δ¹⁵N signal as a reliable indicator of air pollution.     

Effect of cadmium on life-history parameters in Dendrobaena octaedra (Lumbricidae: Oligochaeta) populations originating from forests differently polluted with heavy metals

This study examined whether earthworm (Dendrobaena octaedra) populations originating from three differently polluted mixed oak-pine forests differ in life history parameters, and whether any observed differences are adaptive. Three forests were chosen: the most polluted forest, near Olkusz, affected by a zinc smelter and on soil containing metal ore; the Niepo?omice Forest, moderately polluted by industry; and the relatively unpolluted Kampinoska Forest. Parent animals (P generation) were collected from each forest and thereafter cultured in the laboratory. From cocoons laid in the laboratory the F1 generation was reared and observed to determine whether it inherited features observed in the parent generation. To distinguish the effect of the metal studied (Cd) from that of soil edaphic conditions, individuals collected in the field were divided into two groups: one cultured in unpolluted medium, the other in medium spiked with cadmium. Earthworms originating from polluted forests (parent generation) exhibited higher cadmium storage capacity, and a higher cadmium concentration factor (cadmium in animal/cadmium in soil). No interpopulation differences in cadmium accumulation were found in their offspring (F1 generation), meaning that the cadmium accumulation ability was acclimatory and not adaptive. Cadmium in low doses negatively affected reproduction parameters: cocoon production, mass of produced cocoons, and reproductive allocation (weight of offspring divided by the weight of adults). The effect of cadmium was stronger in animals originating from the unpolluted forest than in those from the heavily polluted forest. F1 animals originating from the heavily polluted forest exhibited the highest cadmium tolerance (higher mean survival time and median survival time, lower hazard rate probability per time unit that an individual surviving to the beginning of a given interval will die within that interval). The observed tolerance to cadmium (higher reproduction, better survival) in the population from the heavily polluted forest apparently was heritable, suggesting adaptation of D. octaedra to life in a polluted environment.     

Soil organic matter characterization of temperate peatland soil with FTIR‐spectroscopy: effects of mire type and drainage intensity

Peatlands are an important component of the global carbon cycle because they comprise huge amounts of terrestrial carbon (C). Different conditions during peat formation and secondary peat decomposition affect the quantity and composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in peats. There are few comparative studies on the chemical composition of SOM in temperate peatland soil. This study investigates compositional changes of SOM functional groups in peats and corresponding peat‐forming plants by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Three plant samples and 29 peat samples were taken from seven temperate peatland sites with different genesis and land‐use intensity. Site‐specific differences, such as genesis of the peat, were found to be reflected in the FTIR spectra. In general, there was more variation in FTIR spectra in samples from fens than in those from bogs and peat‐forming plants. The samples from fens have a smaller C–H absorption band than those from bogs and plants, which reflects greater biochemical activity in the minerotrophic than ombrotrophic environments. In addition to peat genesis, drainage and secondary peat decomposition also affect SOM composition substantially. The larger amounts of aliphatic compounds in undrained peats could be explained by selective preservation caused by anaerobic conditions. With increasing drainage of the sites, there was a decrease in the C–H absorption that was accompanied by a relative increase in C=O absorption. These changes in absorption intensities reflect the enhanced aerobic decomposition and mineralization that accompanies drainage and land‐use intensity. However, the ‘degree of peat decomposition’, a diagnostic tool used in the field, is not reflected by OM composition determined by FTIR spectroscopy. Our results contribute to further understanding of changes in SOM composition during peat formation and processes of secondary decomposition caused by drainage.     

Relating Tree Ring Chemistry of Pinus densiflora to Precipitation Acidity in an Industrial Area of South Korea

To test the possible use of tree ring chemical properties as proxies for precipitation acidity ([H⁺]), we investigated the relationships between tree ring chemistry (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, Ca-to-Al ratio, and N concentration) of Pinus densiflora and precipitation [H⁺] between 1992 and 2005 in an industrial area in the southwest region of South Korea. Statistical analyses showed that all tree ring chemistry parameters were significantly correlated with precipitation [H⁺]. Tree ring δ¹³C was negatively correlated with precipitation acidity (r?=??0.67, P?<?0.01), reflecting the photosynthetic fixation of ¹³C-depleted CO₂ from fossil fuel combustion that would be the primary source of precipitation acidity. A positive correlation of N concentration (r?=?0.89, P?<?0.001) and a negative correlation of δ¹⁵N (r?=??0.63, P?<?0.05) in tree rings with precipitation acidity most likely reflected the influence of ¹⁵N-depleted N compounds deposited via precipitation. The Ca-to-Al ratio was negatively (r?=??0.58, P?<?0.05) correlated with precipitation acidity, indicating that soil acidification caused the loss of Ca from the soil and solubilization of Al resulting from acid precipitation. Such relationships suggest that δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, N concentration, and Ca-to-Al ratio in tree rings can be reliably used to evaluate the impact of acid precipitation on the studied P. densiflora stands.     

Concentrations of C-reactive Protein in Normal Monkeys (Macaca irus) and in Monkeys Inoculated with Bordetella bronchiseptica R-5 and Measles Virus

The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum from normal crab-eating monkeys (Macaca irus) were measured by means of a monkey-specific turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA), and the changes in the serum CRP concentrations in crab-eating monkeys inoculated with Bordetella bronchiseptica R-5 and measles virus (Ichinose or NK 3 strain) were also examined. The CRP concentrations in sera from 54 normal crab-eating monkeys ranged from 0 to 8.3 g/ml (mean 2.2±1.9). No significant difference was found in the CRP concentrations between males and females (p>0.05). The concentrations of CRP in the sera from four crab-eating monkeys inoculated intrabronchially with 10⁹ live B. bronchiseptica increased gradually to a peak at 2 days after inoculation. The peak concentrations of CRP were from 102.4 to 313.2 g/ml, 54–96 times the preinoculative values of 1.9–5.6 g/ml. When the same four crab-eating monkeys were inoculated intrabronchially with measles virus 34 days after inoculation of B. bronchiseptica, the serum CRP concentrations did not increase. Monitoring of CRP is useful for assessing monkeys with acute B. bronchiseptica infection and will probably be of value in the diagnosis of other bacterial infections.