Salmonellosis of mice: some characteristics of a heat-treated salmonella typhimurium vaccine

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) calves have been reared successfully after capture. Admission to the rearing unit is followed by a period in a darkened shed during which the calves are handled frequently and taught to bottle feed. Caesarian-derived calves are fed initially with ewe's colostrum and subsequently on milk mixtures until weaning. A variety of food is made available to the older calves. Respiratory insufficiency is the biggest single problem associated with premature calves and this can be overcome by the use of respiratory stimulants. To succesfully rear orphan calves through this period requires tender care, consistency in management routine, and good hygiene. Sick or injured calves require more care and more careful observation than healthy calves.     

Starch levels on performance,milk composition and energy balance of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of starch levels in diets with the replacement of citrus pulp for corn on milk yield, milk composition, and energy balance of lactating dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in seven 4?×?4 Latin squares conducted concurrently, and each experimental period consisted of 20 days (16 days for adaptation and 4 days for sampling). The experimental treatments comprised four starch levels: 15, 20, 25, and 30 % in the diet. The dry matter intake increased linearly with increasing starch levels. The milk yield and 3.5 % fat-corrected milk yield showed quadratic response to increasing starch levels. The milk protein content and milk total solids content responded linearly to increasing starch levels. The feed efficiency, milk lactose content, milk urea nitrogen, plasma urea nitrogen, and plasma glucose concentration were not affected by starch levels. The estimated net energy for lactation (NE_L) intake increased linearly as the starch level was raised. Although the milk NE_L output per kilogram of milk was not affected by starch, the milk NE_L output daily responded quadratically to starch levels. In addition, the NE_L in body weight gain also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. The efficiency of energy use for milk yield and the NE_L efficiency for production also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. Diets for mid-lactating dairy cows producing around 30 kg/day of milk should be formulated to provide around 25 % starch to optimize performance.

     

Classifying development stages of primeval European beech forests: is clustering a useful tool?

Background

Old-growth and primeval forests are passing through a natural development cycle with recurring stages of forest development. Several methods for assigning patches of different structure and size to forest development stages or phases do exist. All currently existing classification methods have in common that a priori assumptions about the characteristics of certain stand structural attributes such as deadwood amount are made. We tested the hypothesis that multivariate datasets of primeval beech forest stand structure possess an inherent, aggregated configuration of data points with individual clusters representing forest development stages. From two completely mapped primeval beech forests in Albania, seven ecologically important stand structural attributes characterizing stand density, regeneration, stem diameter variation and amount of deadwood are derived at 8216 and 9666 virtual sampling points (moving window, focal filtering). K-means clustering is used to detect clusters in the datasets (number of clusters (k) between 2 and 5). The quality of the single clustering solutions is analyzed with average silhouette width as a measure for clustering quality. In a sensitivity analysis, clustering is done with datasets of four different spatial scales of observation (200, 500, 1000 and 1500 m², circular virtual plot area around sampling points) and with two different kernels (equal weighting of all objects within a plot vs. weighting by distance to the virtual plot center).

Results

The clustering solutions succeeded in detecting and mapping areas with homogeneous stand structure. The areas had extensions of more than 200 m², but differences between clusters were very small with average silhouette widths of less than 0.28. The obtained datasets had a homogeneous configuration with only very weak trends for clustering.

Conclusions

Our results imply that forest development takes place on a continuous scale and that discrimination between development stages in primeval beech forests is splitting continuous datasets at selected thresholds. For the analysis of the forest development cycle, direct quantification of relevant structural features or processes might be more appropriate than classification. If, however, the study design demands classification, our results can justify the application of conventional forest development stage classification schemes rather than clustering.

     

Comparison of methods used in European National Forest Inventories for the estimation of volume increment: towards harmonisation

Key message

The increment estimation methods of European NFIs were explored by means of 12 essential NFI features. The results indicate various differences among NFIs within the commonly acknowledged methodological frame. The perspectives for harmonisation at the European level are promising.

Context

The estimation of increment is implemented differently in European National Forest Inventories (NFIs) due to different historical origins of NFIs and sampling designs and field assessments accommodated to country-specific conditions. The aspired harmonisation of increment estimation requires a comparison and an analysis of NFI methods.

Aims

The objective was to investigate the differences in volume increment estimation methods used in European NFIs. The conducted work shall set a basis for harmonisation at the European level which is needed to improve information on forest resources for various strategic processes.

Methods

A comprehensive enquiry was conducted during Cost Action FP1001 to explore the methods of increment estimation of 29 European NFIs. The enquiry built upon the preceding Cost Action E43 and was complemented by an analysis of literature to demonstrate the methodological backgrounds.

Results

The comparison of methods revealed differences concerning the NFI features such as sampling grids, periodicity of assessments, permanent and temporary plots, use of remote sensing, sample tree selection, components of forest growth, forest area changes, sampling thresholds, field measurements, drain assessment, involved models and tree parts included in estimates.

Conclusion

Increment estimation methods differ considerably among European NFIs. Their harmonisation introduces new issues into the harmonisation process. Recent accomplishments and the increased use of sample-based inventories in Europe make perspectives for harmonised reporting of increment estimation promising.

     

Bioavailability of cadmium from in vitro digested infant food studied in Caco-2 cells

The solubility and bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in infant foods, three cereal- and milk-based diets and two ready-to-use baby dishes, were studied after in vitro digestion and by using human intestinal Caco-2 cells. The solubility of Cd after in vitro digestion varied between diets; liver casserole had the highest solubility and was lower after infant as compared to adult digestion conditions. Generally, more Cd was soluble in infant intestinal than gastric juice in contrast to the results from the adult digestion. Caco-2 cells were incubated with supernatants of infant digests that had been equilibrated with (109)Cd during the in vitro digestion procedure, and cellular uptake and transport of (109)Cd were measured after 180 min. Statistically significant differences in both uptake and transport of Cd were detected between some of the diets and a control solution containing only digestive enzymes and (109)CdCl(2). Uptake of soluble Cd in the cells varied between diets from 4 to 6%, and the transport over the monolayers was 1-2% of the dose. We conclude that age specific digestion conditions as well as composition of diets affect both solubility and bioavailability of Cd.     

Microwave heating causes rapid degradation of antioxidants in polypropylene packaging, leading to greatly increased specific migration to food simulants as shown by ESI-MS and GC-MS

Microwave heating of commercial microwavable polypropylene packaging in contact with fatty food simulants caused significant antioxidant degradation and increased specific migration as shown by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Degradation of the antioxidants Irgafos 168 and Irganox 1010 was not detected during conventional heating of polypropylene packaging at the same temperature. The migration into aqueous food simulants was primarily restricted by the water solubility of the migrants. Using isooctane as fatty food simulant caused significant swelling and greatly enhanced overall migration values compared to the other fatty food simulant, 99.9% ethanol, or the aqueous food simulants 10% ethanol, 3% acetic acid, or water. ESI-MS spectra clearly reflected the overall migration values, and the number and amount of compounds detected decreased as the hydrophilicity of the food simulant increased. ESI-MS was shown to be an excellent tool for the analysis of semivolatile migrants and a good complement to GC-MS analysis of volatile migrants.     

Distribution of methyl-esterified galacturonan in chemical and mechanical pulp fibers

The effects of chemithermomechanical pulping (CTMP), high-temperature (HT)-CTMP pulping, and kraft pulping on the distribution of the pectin polymer, methyl-esterified polygalacturonan have been qualitatively evaluated using immunocytochemistry. Pectin was immunolocalized using an antibody (JIM7) specific for partly methyl-esterified polygalacturonan. A fluorescent antibody was linked to JIM7 and analyzed by epifluorescence microscopy. Pectin was found in both chemithermomechanical pulps in similar uneven patterns: Some fibers showed no labeling, whereas others showed extensive labeling in patches restricted to the fiber surfaces. Pectin labeling of bleached and unbleached kraft pulps did not show any presence of pectin. Labeling was correlated to the presence of compound middle lamella tissue left on the CTMP-treated surfaces. Pectin on pulp-fiber surfaces may affect the interfiber bonds and thereby the pulp properties.