Effects of the lateral growth rate on wood quality parameters of Eucalyptus grandis from different latitudes in Brazil and Argentina

Climate change resulting from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and shortages of fossil fuels such as petroleum are major problems worldwide. Under these conditions, demand for woody biomass resources is increasing. We investigated the feasibility of using fast-growing Eucalyptus grandis for material production. Samples of E. grandis were collected from four plantations in different latitude divisions, including tropical and subtropical Brazil and subtropical Argentina. Various xylem qualities were measured and related to the lateral growth rate. Lateral growth rate did not significantly affect the longitudinal released strain of the surface growth stresses or the xylem density at any of the sampling sites. Higher lateral growth rate, higher values of xylem density, and lower absolute values of the released strain were observed in plantations closer to the equator. Higher growth rates in tropical climate promote longer fiber length. In subtropical plantations, smaller diameter trees will produce tension wood with smaller microfibril angles. Planting E. grandis closer to the equator thus produces higher quality wood than in plantations at lower latitudes.     

Chlorophacinone exposure causing an epizootic of acute fatal hemorrhage in lambs.

This report describes an epizootic of chlorophacinone toxicosis in lambs with severe acute hemorrhages. Eleven lambs, approximately 1-2 months of age, suddenly developed epistaxis, respiratory distress, and facial and cervical swelling. Affected animals died within 1-2 hours from the onset of clinical signs. Two lambs were available for complete postmortem examination. Gross lesions included mucosal and organ pallor, icterus, melena, and lung edema, as well as thymic, cervical muscle, and intra-articular hemorrhage. Histologically hepatocellular centrolobular necrosis was observed. The anticoagulant chlorophacinone was detected in the livers at 0.58 ppm and 0.50 ppm (wet weight), respectively. The source of exposure to chlorophacinone was old bait material placed between the wall studs of the building housing the ewes and lambs. The lambs were able to reach the bait through a hole in the plywood interior wall of the building.     

Hydraulic characteristics and water relations in pigment-less mutant shoots of an orange tree

Phenotypes more or less deficient in photosynthetic pigments show reduced productivity. Not much is known, however, about the influence of pigment-less twigs on the water balance of whole trees. We studied the water relations and hydraulic properties of normal and pigment-less (white) and 1-year-old shoots of 12-year-old Citrus sinensis L. trees. Compared with green leaves, white leaves showed a pronounced deficiency of pigments, higher stomatal density, the absence of chloroplasts in the guard cells and a different organization of leaf parenchyma. Stomatal conductance (gL) and transpiration rate (EL) were higher in white leaves than in green leaves during the hottest hours of the day, especially in July and September. The absence of chloroplasts in the stomatal guard cells seemed to be one of the factors causing insufficient stomatal control. Hydraulic conductance (KL) was higher in white leaves than in green leaves (16.96+/-2.24x10(-5) versus 11.26+/-0.66x10(-5) kg s-1 m-2 MPa). The ratio between the sum of the fourth power of xylem conduit radius (Sigmar4) (which determines theoretical conductance) and the total leaf area supplied by petioles and midribs was higher in white leaves than in green leaves. This was because of a smaller leaf area in white leaves and a statistically different distribution of lumen diameters of the conduits in midribs and petioles. The hydraulic properties of white twigs profoundly disturbed the water balance and physiology of the whole tree.     

Impact of sourdough on buckwheat flour, batter and bread: Biochemical, rheological and textural insights

In this study, the impact of sourdough fermentation on the biochemical, rheological and bread-making performances of buckwheat flour was investigated. In order to assess the effects of the solely acidification, a chemically acidified batter with the same pH of the sourdough was prepared. Extensive hydrolysis of the globulin fraction and release of small polypeptides occurred upon fermentation. A major reduction in the extent of interactions was observed in the sourdough, mainly due to the modification of the major structural components of buckwheat during the fermentation. The hydrolysis of proteins and, possibly, starch was in turn responsible for the major decrease in elasticity observed in the sourdough. In the batters destined for bread-making, the presence of acids was the major cause for reduced elasticity and increased strength, which could be related to the enhanced water-holding capacity of the proteins and/or protein/starch complexes. The addition of sourdough induced dramatic inhibition of the CO₂ production by the baker’s yeasts during proofing, resulting in lower volume and harder crumb of the sourdough bread. On the other hand, the solely acidification induced hardening of the starch gel upon cooking, which was responsible for lower volume and irregular crumb grain in buckwheat bread.     

A dose-finding,long-term study on the use of calcium chloride in saline solution as a method of nonsurgical sterilization in dogs: evaluation of the most effective concentration with the lowest risk

Background

Canine overpopulation is a global issue with serious health and welfare implications. Nonsurgical methods of sterilization could yield positive impacts on this problem, but no long-term data on such methods are available. The objective of the current investigation was to determine the effects of intratesticular injections of calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl₂) in saline in dogs over a one year period. Five concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 60%) of CaCl₂ in saline were administered via intratesticular injection to groups of 10 dogs each. Total sperm count and motility, blood levels of testosterone, and side effects were examined at 0, 2, 6, and 12 months post-injection (PI). Testicular size and semen volume were examined at 0 and 12 months PI.

Results

Total sperm count, semen volume and testosterone showed significant dose-dependent decreases upon treatment with 10%-60% CaCl₂ compared with either the control group (0% CaCl₂) or baseline for each treatment group. Azoospermia was achieved for at least 12 months PI in 60% and 80% of treated dogs after administration of a 10% and 20% CaCl₂, respectively. Treatment with 30% or 60% CaCl₂ resulted in azoospermia in 100% of dogs, but more side effects were observed, while no side effects were noticed at lower doses. For each treatment group, testosterone levels had decreased an average of 35%-70% at 6 months following treatment. However, testosterone levels rebounded by the 12-month time point in all groups except the highest dosage group (60% CaCl₂), which remained at the low end of physiological range throughout the study. Sperm motility dropped to zero or near zero in all dogs treated with CaCl₂. Testicular size was significantly smaller at 12 months PI for all groups when compared to baseline.

Conclusions

This first long-term study confirms reports of the efficacy of CaCl₂ sterilization. However, at dosages free of adverse events, calcium chloride in saline may not provide permanent sterilization as previously believed. Future work should explore optimized solvents to increase the permanence of the well-tolerated 20% formulation.     

Dynamics of slow-moving landslides from permanent scatterer analysis

High-resolution interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) permanent scatterer data allow us to resolve the rates and variations in the rates of slow-moving landslides. Satellite-to-ground distances (range changes) on landslides increase at rates of 5 to 7 millimeters per year, indicating average downslope sliding velocities from 27 to 38 millimeters per year. Time-series analysis shows that displacement occurs mainly during the high-precipitation season; during the 1997-1998 El Ni?o event, rates of range change increased to as much as 11 millimeters per year. The observed nonlinear relationship of creep and precipitation rates suggests that increased pore fluid pressures within the shallow subsurface may initiate and accelerate these features. Changes in the slope of a hill resulting from increases in the pore pressure and lithostatic stress gradients may then lead to landslides.     

Effects of a diet enriched with eicosapentaenoic,docosahexaenoic and glutamine on cytokines as immunological markers for systemic inflammation in bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy

The post-operative period can generate immunological stress and can be modulated through supplementation with the omega-3 series of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets enriched with high doses of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids and glutamine on inflammatory mediators in dogs before and after ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Twelve female dogs were divided into two groups: group A was fed a commercial diet without the addition of EPA and DHA, and group B was fed an experimental diet enriched with EPA and DHA (0.2 g/100 kcal). Experimental diet intake initiated 21 days before surgery and continued until 30 days after OVH. Parameters measured were serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), IGF-1, lymphoproliferation and body composition before and after surgery. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS software considering the effects of age and diet and their interactions, and means were compared by the Tukey test. There was no difference between groups in body weight (p = .682), lean mass (p = .101) and body fat (p = .103). There were no group differences in serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IGF-1, CRP and the percentage of lymphocyte proliferation. However, a time effect for TNF-α was observed (p < .001), in which T_0P (10 days after the surgical procedure) presented lower values of this cytokine when compared to the other evaluation time points; and interaction effects between group and time were observed for serum concentrations of IL-6 (p < .001) and IL-10 (p = .002). OVH procedure was not considered invasive enough to increase inflammatory cytokines after 30 days of surgery, as well as the dosage of the EPA and DHA used before and after the surgery did not modulate the inflammatory markers.     

Proteomic profile of pre-implantational ovine embryos produced in vivo

The present study was conducted to decipher the proteome of in vivo-produced pre-implantation ovine embryos. Ten locally adapted Morana Nova ewes received hormonal treatment and were inseminated 12 hr after ovulation. Six days later, 54 embryos (morula and blastocyst developmental state) were recovered from eight ewes and pooled to obtain sufficient protein for proteomic analysis. Extracted embryo proteins were analysed by LC-MS/MS, followed by identification based on four database searches (PEAKS, Proteome Discoverer software, SearchGUI software, PepExplorer). Identified proteins were analysed for gene ontology terms, protein clusters and interactions. Genes associated with the ovine embryo proteome were screened for miRNA targets using data sets of TargetScan ( http://www.targetscan.org ) and mIRBase ( http://www.mirbase.org ) servers. There were 667 proteins identified in the ovine embryos. Biological processes of such proteins were mainly related to cellular process and regulation, and molecular functions, to binding and catalytic activity. Analysis of the embryo proteins revealed 49 enriched functional clusters, linked to energy metabolism (TCA cycle, pyruvate and glycolysis metabolism), zona pellucida (ZP), MAPK signalling pathway, tight junction, binding of sperm to ZP, translation, proteasome, cell cycle and calcium/phospholipid binding. Sixteen miRNAs were related to 25 pre-implantation ovine embryo genes, all conserved in human, bovine and ovine species. The interaction network generated by miRNet showed four key miRNAs (hsa-mir-106b-5p; hsa-mir-30-5p; hsa-mir-103a-5p and hsa-mir-106a-5p) with potential interactions with embryo-expressed genes. Functional analysis of the network indicated that miRNAs modulate genes related to cell cycle, regulation of stem cell and embryonic cell differentiation, among others. Retrieved miRNAs also modulate the expression of genes involved in cell signalling pathways, such as MAPK, Wnt, TGF-beta, p53 and Toll-like receptor. The current study describes the first major proteomic profile of 6-day-old ovine embryos produced in vivo, setting a comprehensive foundation for our understanding of embryo physiology in the ovine species.