Reliability of ground reaction forces measured on a treadmill system in healthy dogs

The reliability of repeated measurements of vertical ground reaction force (GRF) variables was determined using 10 clinically sound adult dogs walking on a treadmill three times daily on three different days. Peak vertical force, vertical impulse and duration of stance phase of each limb were determined and analysed for significant differences within and between days and between dogs. Contributions to the variance of GRF were determined using a random effect model including dogs, different days, trials and extremities. ANOVA did not show any significant differences in variables within and between days, but did reveal differences between dogs. Variance was mainly seen in different dogs, whereas different days and trials were less important factors. It was concluded that the ground reaction forces determined by a treadmill system are suitable and provide reproducible parameters in canine gait analysis. Such treadmill/force plate systems allow the simultaneous measurement of all four legs of dogs at a constant velocity walk.     

Further investigation of risk elements content in the bones of wild rodents from a polluted area in Slovakia

Background

Wild rodents are suitable for monitoring environmental pollution and exposure risk assessment for people living in contaminated areas. The content of selected risk elements in the femora of bank vole (Myodes glareolus), yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) and wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) was estimated from the Kolíňany area of Slovakia, which is characterized by a high degree of environmental pollution. The rodents were trapped in February 2011 using standard theriological methods. All animals (n = 32) were adult males in good physical condition. The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni in their bones were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results

The highest concentrations of Fe and Cu were detected in the bones of yellow-necked mouse. Significant differences were observed for the content of Fe between A. flavicollis and M. glareolus (P < 0.05). The highest levels of Zn and Ni were found in the femora of wood mouse; however, significant differences were not detected between the rodents. Moreover, the concentrations of Cu, Zn and Ni were significantly higher in the bones of all three species (P < 0.05) in comparison with the values obtained in the same animal species at the same site in February 2007.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate an increased accumulation of Cu, Zn and Ni in the femora of M. glareolus, A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus from the Kolíňany area and thus indicate towards ongoing contamination of this locality.     

Characterization of “Mais delle Fiorine” (Zea mays L.) and nutritional,morphometric and genetic comparison with other maize landraces of Lombardy region (Northern Italy)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The loss of agrobiodiversity is a topic of global impact. On a local scale, Lombardy, in the Alpine macro-Region, has lost more than 78% of its plant...     

Analysis of glycated and ascorbylated proteins by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Proteins or poly-L-lysine which were incubated in the presence of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid (ascorbylation), or various sugars (glycation) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To also detect more labile reaction products, the Maillard modified proteins or poly-L-lysine were enzymatically hydrolyzed and reacted with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide to form the N(O)-tert-butyldimethylsilyl (tBDMS) derivatives prior to GC analysis. Under these conditions, the known Maillard products N (epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (1), oxalic acid mono-N (epsilon)-lysinylamide (2), and N (epsilon)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (3) could be simultaneously detected and quantified in glycated and ascorbylated proteins. Additionally, N (epsilon)-(1-carboxy-3-hydroxypropyl)-L-lysine (4) was identified for the first time as a Maillard product of proteins. Under the conditions applied here, 4 was found only in ascorbylated proteins or poly-L-lysine, but not in glycated proteins. Maillard-modified poly-L-lysine was further subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis after enzymatic hydrolysis and formation of the phenyl isothiocyanate derivatized amino acids. Using this method, N (epsilon)-formyl-L-lysine (5), which cannot be distinguished from 2 by GC-MS analysis, was identified for the first time as a glycation product. Compound 5 is mainly formed from ribose, lactose, and fructose. The indicated Maillard products were quantified in beta-lactoglobulin (GC-MS) or poly-L-lysine (HPLC) which were glycated or ascorbylated using different precursors.     

A catena in northeast Brandenburg (Bölkendorf): Soil biota,root growth and soil structure

Typical for the morainal landscape of NE‐Germany are catenas with pronounced gradients of abiotic factors, such as soil texture and organic matter content. For adequate management of these regions, their ecology must be better understood. In this context, the biological interactions in soil play an important role. The present study is based on the hypothesis that the gradients of abiotic factors across the catena are reflected in soil biota, i.e. earthworms and microarthropods, and root growth.

Sampling was carried out at selected positions across the catenary sequence of Boelkendorf, Brandenburg, for earthworms, Collembola and roots in April 1994. The soil physical analysis comprised measurements of soil bulk density and penetration resistance.

A positive correlation between earthworm abundance, numbers of Collembola and root growth at different catena positions was found. The top position especially, a calcaric regosol with low organic matter content, was markedly different with respect to soil biological and physical characteristics. High bulk densities and high soil resistance in the subsoil coincided with low earthworm densities, low microarthropod numbers and impeded rootability of the soil.     

Assessment of phenotypic variation of Malus orientalis in the North Caucasus region

Malus orientalis Uglitzk. is the predominant Malus species of the Caucasian forests distributed in the north of Anatolia, Armenia, Russia as well as in Iran. It is considered as one of the probable minor ancestors of domestic apples. Although M. orientalis has a lower diversity of fruit quality, other valuable traits such as later blooming, adaptation to a wider array of habitats, and capacity for longer storage of the apples should be taken into account for improving the genetic makeup of the domestic apple. A joint expedition of scientists of the Julius Kühn-Institute from Germany and the Nikolaj I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry from Russia was performed into the North Caucasus region during August/September 2011. Altogether 101 M. orientalis accessions were collected from eight sites at the North Caucasus. Twenty-six traits such as size, color, shape, flavor and firmness of fruit and tree habit were used for phenotypic evaluation of the accessions. A high phenotypic diversity within the collected material of M. orientalis was indicated. Accessions characterized by suitable fruit traits like bigger size, larger cover color, less bitterness and better firmness as well as more sweetness and better flavor were found. However, small-sized flavorless fruits were also detected. Tree habit varied widely from upright to weeping. Subsequently, a comprehensive phenotypic and genetic evaluation of M. orientalis increases the knowledge of diversity, may provide new resources of agronomically important traits for breeding purposes, and gives support to determine accessions for a core collection.     

Methods for the very early selection of Pinus radiata D. Don. for solid wood products

? Introduction

There has been an increasing interest in very early selection of radiata pine to reduce the breeding cycle for solid wood products. For such selection, new approaches are required to assess wood quality in wood from very young stems.

? Methods

Nursery seedlings of clones of radiata pine were grown in leant condition using two leaning strategies for 18–20 months. Opposite wood and compression wood were isolated from the leaning stems and tested for dynamic modulus of elasticity, density, longitudinal shrinkage, volumetric shrinkage and compression wood area using new methods evolved for testing small size samples quickly and reliably. The methods were tested for their efficiency in differentiating clones by their wood properties.

? Results

Leaning of stems provided distinct opposite and compression wood for testing. Automated image analysis method used for compression wood area assessment was found to be a quick and effective method for processing large number of samples from young stems. Compression wood was characterised by high basic density, high longitudinal shrinkage and low volumetric shrinkage than that of opposite wood. Acoustic velocity in opposite wood had a strong negative association with longitudinal shrinkage. The study signifies the importance of preventing mixing of opposite wood with compression wood while assessing wood quality in young stems thus making leaning a critical strategy. The comparison of wood properties of opposite wood revealed significant differences between clones. Opposite wood of the clone with the lowest dynamic modulus of elasticity exhibited the highest longitudinal shrinkage.

? Conclusion

Significant differences in measurable wood properties between clones suggest the prospects of early selection for solid wood products.     

Large-scale genetic structure and drought-induced effects on European Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings

Seedlings of ten provenances of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the southwestern to the central part of the species distribution range were investigated in a greenhouse experiment under dry conditions compared to a well-watered control. We conducted an isozyme study and recorded phenology as well as growth traits during the first year of growth. Genetic variability and genetic diversity increased from the westernmost provenances to those central to the distribution. Provenances from the Apennines and Spain revealed the strongest genetic differentiation compared to all others, whereas populations from Germany, Poland and Bulgaria were found to belong to the same gene pool. Seedling development and bud set were faster in northern populations. Shoot length was highest for Polish and German provenances within both regimes, populations from France and Spain had the longest roots. Reduced soil moisture slowed later development stages and delayed bud set for all provenances by about 5 days. Shoot growth decreased considerably under the dry regime for all provenances. German provenances were the most sensitive to drought, whereas Spanish provenances showed adaptation to drought conditions indicated by the lowest reduction in shoot growth relative to optimum conditions. The results of this pilot study show that under more pronounced drought conditions with repeated drought events, the so far established superiority of northeastern provenances compared to southwestern ones could diminish in the future.