Comparison of terrestrial laser scanning and X-ray scanning in measuring Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) branch structure

While X-ray scanning is increasingly used to measure the interior quality of logs, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) could be used to collect information on external tree characteristics. As branches are one key indicator of wood quality, we compared TLS and X-ray scanning data in deriving whorl locations and each whorl’s maximum branch and knot diameters for 162 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) log sections. The mean number of identified whorls per tree was 37.25 and 22.93 using X-ray and TLS data, respectively. The lowest TLS-derived whorl in each sample tree was an average 5.56?m higher than that of the X-ray data. Whorl-to-whorl mean distances and the means of the maximum branch and knot diameters in a whorl measured for each sample tree using TLS and X-ray data had mean differences of ?0.12?m and ?6.5?mm, respectively. One of the most utilized wood quality indicators, tree-specific maximum knot diameter measured by X-ray, had no statistically significant difference to the tree-specific maximum branch diameter measured from the TLS point cloud. It appears challenging to directly derive comparative branch structure information using TLS and X-ray. However, some features that are extractable from TLS point clouds are potential wood quality indicators.     

Immune development in jejunal mucosa after colonization with selected commensal gut bacteria: a study in germ-free pigs

The immunological structure of the porcine jejunal lamina propria in germ-free piglets was compared with that of their counterparts associated with two strains of commensal Escherichia coli, A0 34/86 serotype O83:K24:H31 and the O86 E. coli strain, up to 20 days post-colonization. In the antigen-presenting compartment, both dendritic cells (DC) and cells expressing CD163, probably macrophages were investigated. In addition we also assessed the number of CD2+/CD3+ (T) cells. In contrast to some previous reports, we show a total lack of both DC and T cells for germ-free animals in the diffuse lymphoid tissue of villi and crypts of the jejunum. Association with either strain of commensal E. coli had a profound effect on the immune structure and resulted in extensive recruitment of DC to the lamina propria and of T cells to epithelium and lamina propria. The data suggest that the earliest immigrant cells were monocytes, which soon acquired the phenotype of mucosal DC. T cells migrated in at a slightly slower rate. Nevertheless, the response could be extremely rapid: within 3 days of colonization with O83, the magnitude of this response was comparable to that observed 20 days post-colonization.     

Blood coagulation times in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

Background:  Many causes of mortality in the European brown hare, such as bacterial and viral infections, anticoagulant poisoning, and trauma, may result in hemorrhage. There are, however, no reference values concerning blood clotting in this species.  Objectives:  The aim of this study was to determine reference values for blood coagulation times and related parameters in healthy European brown hares.  Methods:  Blood samples from 30 clinically healthy adult hares (15 males and 15 females) were obtained. Hares were physically restrained for blood collection from the cephalic vein into tubes containing citrate and EDTA.  Results:  Mean ± SD were obtained for thrombin time (TT) (13.97 ± 1.37 seconds), prothrombin time (PT) (13.32 ± 2.15 seconds), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (16.73 ± 1.86 seconds), fibrinogen concentration (2.98 ± 1.06 g/L), and platelet count (355.28 ± 128.73 × 10⁹/L). Conclusions: Reference values for blood coagulation times and other parameters associated with blood clotting will be useful in the laboratory evaluation of hemorrhage in the European brown hare.     

内蒙古阿拉善盟双峰驼驼乳理化性质研究

本文研究了10峰内蒙古阿拉善盟双峰驼不同泌乳时间驼乳的一般理化性质。其比重及pH值与已有报道的单峰驼驼乳结果基本一致,而酸度(%)高于单峰驼。电导率与乳中Na+、K+和Cl-含量之和有关,随三者之和的增减而增减。驼乳的蛋白质、脂肪、乳糖、干物质、灰分和钙的含量均高于牛乳,磷的含量比牛乳略低。驼乳的缓冲性与牛乳有差异:当乳样先酸化后用碱回滴时,驼乳和牛乳分别在pH4.4～6.6和pH5.0～6.6范围内出现典型的“弧形线”,驼乳的最大缓冲作用发生在pH近似4.4处,牛乳的最大缓冲作用在pH近似5.1处,但驼乳在pH4.9处仍有一个缓冲峰。双峰驼驼乳的酒精稳定性(75±2.0)%稍低于牛乳的酒精稳定性(77±1.0)%,驼乳与牛乳的酒精稳定性的变化趋势基本一致,加入Na+、K+都引起酒精稳定性降低,游离Ca2+浓度的降低或pH值的上升都会导致酒精稳定性的增加。     

驼乳及其抗微生物因子的特性

驼乳是干旱和半干旱地区人们重要的食物来源之一。世界上有些国家的人民还用驼乳来治疗疾病。笔者对驼乳的营养成分进行了介绍。还重点对它的抗微生物因子（溶菌酶、乳铁蛋白和免疫球蛋白等）及其作用进行了全面的阐述。     

A limited role for SsrA/B in persistent Salmonella Typhimurium infections in pigs

Virulence genes regulated by the SsrA/B system are indispensable for systemic disease in BALB/c mice. The role of this regulating system in the pathogenesis of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in pigs is not documented. In the present study, the interactions of Salmonella Typhimurium and an ssrA/B mutant were compared in vitro and in vivo. The ssrA/B mutant strain displayed decreased Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI-2) expression levels, showed a replication defect in mouse macrophages and was attenuated in a mouse model after oral inoculation. Using real time qRT-PCR and a porcine ileal loop model, it was shown that the ssrA/B mutant strain was not significantly attenuated in overall virulence and SPI-1 expression in specific. Flowcytometric analysis demonstrated that the ssrA/B mutant strain was defective in intracellular replication in porcine macrophages. After oral inoculation of piglets with the wild type strain or the ssrA/B mutant strain, the animals of both groups excreted Salmonella and were colonized by Salmonella to the same extent. In an intravenous mixed infection model, the ssrA/B mutant strain was defective in the colonization of several internal organs. These results suggest that the ssrA/B gene of Salmonella Typhimurium plays a limited role in the persistent intestinal colonization of pigs.     

Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Berries of Four Russian Cultivars of Lonicera kamtschatica (Sevast.) Pojark

Nowadays increasing attention has been focused on polyphenolic compounds as the main representants of antioxidants in horticultural crops including fruits. The edible honeysuckle has an unique position among lesser known fruits due to its high level of antioxidants. In the present study we determined polyphenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of four Russian cultivars of edible honeysuckle including ‘Gerda 25’, ‘Amfora’, ‘Morena’, ‘Lipnicka’, which found together in a single location in Mendel University in Brno, The Czech Republic. Polyphenolic compounds were detected by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED). The antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH test. According to the results there were differences among cultivars in terms of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity and Lonicera kamtschatica ‘Gerda 25’ were found to be possessed the highest content of phenolic compounds corresponding to the highest value of antioxidant activity.     

Type IV fimbrial subunit protein ApfA contributes to protection against porcine pleuropneumonia

ABSTRACT: Porcine pleuropneumonia caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae accounts for serious economic losses in the pig farming industry worldwide. We examined here the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the recombinant type IV fimbrial subunit protein ApfA as a single antigen vaccine against pleuropneumonia, or as a component of a multi-antigen preparation comprising five other recombinant antigens derived from key virulence factors of A. pleuropneumoniae (ApxIA, ApxIIA, ApxIIIA, ApxIVA and TbpB). Immunization of pigs with recombinant ApfA alone induced high levels of specific serum antibodies and provided partial protection against challenge with the heterologous A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 9 strain. This protection was higher than that engendered by vaccination with rApxIVA or rTbpB alone and similar to that observed after immunization with the tri-antigen combination of rApxIA, rApxIIA and rApxIIIA. In addition, rApfA improved the vaccination potential of the penta-antigen mixture of rApxIA, rApxIIA, rApxIIIA, rApxIVA and rTbpB proteins, where the hexa-antigen vaccine containing rApfA conferred a high level of protection on pigs against the disease. Moreover, when rApfA was used for vaccination alone or in combination with other antigens, such immunization reduced the number of pigs colonized with the challenge strain. These results indicate that ApfA could be a valuable component of an efficient subunit vaccine for the prevention of porcine pleuropneumonia.     

Breeding for value in a changing world: past achievements and future prospects

Large-scale tree improvement programs began in the 1950s. Tree improvement is now part of operational silviculture programs in many companies and countries around the world and tree breeding programs have produced very impressive results: (1) realized gains in plantations being established today of some 40–50 % in volume yield above unimproved material for many programs; (2) increased efficiencies in all aspects of breeding, selection, testing and deployment; and (3) a shortening of the generation interval by a factor of two from approximately 30 years in the first generation to less than 15 years today for pine programs. What about the future? What should tree breeders be thinking, planning and doing to ensure that results 60 years from now are even more impressive than those from the previous 60 years? Tree breeders today live in a rapidly changing world faced with: increasing demands for food, energy and water; globalization leading to an interconnectedness of markets and rapid spread of exotic organisms; climate change and its implications for genetic deployment; burgeoning technology in robotics, communications and molecular tools; shifting ownership patterns of forest land; and the real possibility of completely new forest products and markets in the future. Three ideas for “Breeding for Value in a Changing World” are: (1) adopt a robust philosophy that aims to ensure maximum value produced per ha even in a future world that will be quite different; (2) embrace technology at every phase in the tree improvement process; and (3) encourage interdisciplinary teams of scientists to solve complex problems that require expertise ranging from molecular to landscape scales.