Genetic analysis of production traits in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) using random regression models based on molecular relatedness

Reliable estimates of genetic parameters for growth traits as a trajectory of age are needed to optimize existing turbot breeding programmes. To evaluate the potential of early selection strategies, the use of biometric body measurements, length (L), width (W) and area (A), at early ages as alternative indicators for the selection trait at harvest was explored. Random regression model (RRM) based on molecular relatedness (MR) was used to analyse the trajectory of genetic parameters for growth traits in turbot from 162 to 756 days posthatch (dph). Heritability estimates for body weight (BW) ranged from 0.34 to 0.54. Heritability estimates for W, A and L were also moderate to high ranging from 0.18 to 0.43. Estimates for L and W declined with age, while those for A increased towards harvest age. Genetic (r_G) and phenotypic (r_P) correlations between BW and the three morphometric traits L, A and W were estimated using simple bivariate animal models at young (AC1), medium (AC2) and old (AC3) age classes. Correlations between BW and morphometric body traits were high, ranging from 0.7 to 0.9 in all three age groups. Genetic correlations between traits were highest (>0.9) in AC3. To explore the potential for early selection, genetic correlations were derived from the RRM between all days of measurement for all traits separately. From dph 300 onwards, intratrait estimates of r_G were moderate to high (above 0.7 for dph 410 and higher ages for traits BW, L and A). Results showed that genetic selection for BW, L and A is promising and that A and L could be successfully used as alternative indicator traits if measurements of BW are not available. Large BW and A at harvest could be achieved as a correlated response to early selection for these traits at around 500 dph.     

Investigations into shaking mink syndrome: an encephalomyelitis of unknown cause in farmed mink (Mustela vison) kits in Scandinavia.

An apparently novel neurological disease clinically characterized by shaking, tremors, seizures, staggering gait, and ataxia was first observed in farmed mink kits in Denmark in 2000 and subsequently in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland in 2001, and again in Denmark in 2002. Lymphoplasmacytic encephalomyelitis was found in the affected kits. The lesions were most severe in the brainstem and cerebellum and consisted of neuronal degeneration and necrosis, neuronophagia, focal and diffuse gliosis, perivascular cuffs formed by lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages, and segmental loss of Purkinje cells. Testing was conducted to determine the cause of the disease, including general virological investigations (virus culture, negative-staining electron microscopy, immunoelectron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction for herpesviruses, adenoviruses, pestiviruses, and coronaviruses), tests for specific viral diseases (canine distemper, Borna disease, Louping ill, West Nile virus infection, tick-borne encephalitis, Aleutian disease), tests for protozoa (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Encephalitozoon cuniculi), bacteria (general culture, listeria, Clamydophila psittaci), and intracerebral inoculation of neonatal mice. The results of all these investigations were negative. One group of 3 mink kits inoculated intracerebrally with brain homogenate of affected mink developed clinical signs and histological lesions similar to those observed in naturally infected mink. Based on the histopathological features, it is postulated that the disease is caused by a yet unidentified virus.     

Presence of Neospora caninum specific antibodies in three dairy farms in Georgia and two in Texas

Neospora caninum is known to cause abortion in cattle. This study demonstrated the presence of specific IgG to Neospora in milk and serum samples obtained from three dairy farms in Georgia and two in Texas. Samples from four hundred fourteen dairy cows were examined using a western blot assay of which 362 were milk and 87 were serum. Samples with antibodies to Neospora were identified in 32.1% (105/327) of the examined animals in Georgia, whereas in Texas it was identified in 10.3% (9/87). Positive Georgia samples were found in 24.4% from farm A (28/115), 21.6% from farm B (30/139), and 64.4% from farm C (47/73). In Texas, 13.5% (7/52) of animals in farm D and 5.71% (2/35) from farm E also had specific antibodies to Neospora. The number of animals from Georgia dairy farms with antibodies to Neospora was significantly higher than the Texas dairy farms. This may be related to the age of the animals examined in this study (more than 2 years old). Antibodies present in sera had excellent agreement with the antibodies present in milk. Collection of milk samples for serological testing is easier and less invasive than obtaining bovine sera, therefore offering an alternative for animal testing.     

Indications that site preparation increases forest ecosystem carbon stocks in the long term

Mechanical site preparation (MSP) causes a mixing disturbance of the soil, which may increase decomposition of soil organic matter and subsequent carbon (C) dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. MSP also promotes the establishment and growth of tree seedlings, and hence ecosystem C fixation. However, there are uncertainties regarding the net effects of MSP on C stocks at the ecosystem scale. To assess decennial effects of MSP on ecosystem C stocks, C stocks in soil, ground vegetation and trees at three experimental forest sites with Pinus contorta, Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies in Sweden were sampled and measured for ca. 25 years in a control and after three MSP treatments: disc trenching, mounding and ploughing. After 25 years, all of the MSP treatments resulted in larger ecosystem C stocks than the control treatment due to positive effects on the tree biomass C stock. The tree C stock was highest after ploughing, intermediate after mounding or disc trenching and lowest in untreated control plots at all experimental sites. The MSP treatments did not affect the soil C stocks down to 30?cm. We recommend mounding or disc trenching to promote C sequestration as they disturb sites’ ecological, aesthetic and recreational values less than ploughing.     

Consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweets and soft drinks are associated with psychological dimensions of eating behaviour in parents and their 12-year-old children

OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets and soft drinks and the psychological dimensions of eating in parents and their children. The role of the parent's characteristics for their children's food intake was also explored. DESIGN: Food intake patterns were assessed by self-reported consumption of the respective foods. Eating behaviour was measured by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and self-esteem by Harter self-perception scale. The participants were 1441 families (mother, father and their 12-year-old child), and additionally 354 mothers and thirty fathers. RESULTS: Among parents, reported intake of fruit and vegetables were associated with restrained eating, higher self-esteem, and higher education and age. Intake of sweets was related to more external and less restrained eating, and for mothers also emotional eating. Parent's intake of soft drink was foremost related to a younger age, and also weakly associated with psychological characteristics. The food intake of parents was more important for the children's food intake than any other characteristics. However, children's intake of sweets showed clear-cut positive associations with external eating. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological dimensions of eating behaviour are associated with patterns of food intake, in particular for consumption of sweets, and are most prominent in the parents. The children's food intake mirrored their parents' intake. Being sensitive to external food cues may increase unhealthy food consumption in our society, whereas more restrained eating may indicate proneness or intention to healthier food choices among parents. Emotional eating may imply a proneness to consume sweets for comfort, in particular among mothers.     

The implications of sample preparation on the particle size distribution of soil

Particle size distribution (PSD) is among basic parameters in soil and sediment characterization and provides essential information in sedimentological and environmental studies. The problem with the PSD determination is that for any given sample the result depends not only on the method used but also on the sample pre‐treatment, making them seldom comparable. In this study, the PSD of seven non‐treated and pre‐treated soil samples were determined by four granulometric methods (pipette, sedigraph, particle counter and laser diffraction analysis). Samples were subjected to pre‐treatments commonly used in sample preparation for the PSD determination, i.e., addition of dispersant (sodium metaphosphate) and removal of the organic matter (with hydrogen peroxide). The total organic carbon (TOC) analysis was used to estimate the content of organic matter before and after its removal. The effect of different pre‐treatments was evaluated based on the PSD variations and the changes in the specific surface area (SSA) of the samples. The results highlighted differences in the PSD curves of samples depending on the granulometric method and pre‐treatment applied. The most pronounced difference was the higher amount of clay fraction determined by settling techniques. The role of hydrogen peroxide in disruption of aggregates was evident in the increase in the SSA as well as the share of fine fraction determined by all four techniques, while sodium metaphosphate made no modifications of the SSA but acted in favour of prolonging settling of clay particles and increasing its content obtained by settling techniques.     

The effects of agrogenic transformation on soil profile morphology,organic carbon and physico-chemical properties in Retisols of Western Lithuania

The aim of this study was to determine changes in the morphological, physical and chemical properties of Retisols caused by their agrogenic transformation. The study carried out on Retisols on relatively natural and agrogenically affected land in 2016. Soil samples taken from the genetic horizons of all profiles to measure soil organic carbon, pH, hydromorphic and physical properties. Due to long-term, deep ploughing, the sequence of soil horizons in the Retisol profile had changed from O–Ah–El–ElBt to Ahp–ElBt. Intensive soil liming changed chemical properties and morphological features of Retisol. The clay and silt particles leached out of from the Ah and El horizons to the deeper layers due to illuviation and podsolization. The content of SOC in the 0–30 cm layer of the Ah horizon of agrogenically affected Retisol was 1.0%, and in the forest Retisol – 1.7%; however, forest Retisol was more acidic. Ploughing and no tillage management caused a reduction in total porosity, water holding capacity and plant available water content compared with the other land-uses. We conclude that the use of ploughless tillage on Retisol is not identical to the conditions of natural soil formation and soil fertility maintenance.     

Multi‐decadal variations in spawning ground use in Northeast Arctic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Despite the importance both in an ecological and management context, much uncertainty remains about the underlying factors controlling spawning ground use in marine fish. Here, we investigate how spawning ground use of Northeast Arctic (NEA) haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) has changed over time. By combining data from a Soviet‐Russian egg survey conducted over a 35 year period (1959–1993) with a biophysical drift model, we estimate annual median spawning latitudes of NEA haddock. Furthermore, we test for statistical association between the median latitude of spawning and covariates that are candidates for shaping the spawning distribution of haddock. The results indicate no association with temperature, as measured at the Kola transect, or demographic structure, as measured by the mean weight of spawners. However, we find a positive and significant association between spawning latitude and spawning stock biomass, indicating that density‐dependence may be more important in shaping spawning location than other factors such as temperature and demographic structure. A potential mechanism for the reported effect of spawning stock biomass may act through the distribution at the feeding grounds, which is reported to expand north‐ and eastwards at high population density.     

Intrafollicular thyroid hormone staining in whole-mount zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>) embryos for the detection of thyroid hormone synthesis disruption

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are known to impact multiple hormonal axes of vertebrates, among which the thyroid system is crucial for multiple developmental and physiological processes. Thus, the present study focused on the semi-quantitative visualization of intrafollicular triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) in zebrafish embryos as a potential test system for the detection of disrupted thyroid hormone synthesis. To this end, an antibody-based fluorescence double-staining protocol for whole-mount zebrafish embryos and larvae was adapted to simultaneously detect intrafollicular T3 and T4. During normal development until 10 days post-fertilization (dpf), the number of thyroid follicles increased along the ventral aorta. Concentrations of T4 and T3, measured by fluorescence intensity, increased until 6 dpf, but decreased thereafter. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to propylthiouracil (PTU), a known inhibitor of TH synthesis, resulted in a significant decrease in the number of follicles that stained for T3, whereas a trend for increase in follicles that stained for T4 was observed. In contrast, fluorescence intensity for both thyroid hormones decreased significantly after exposure to PTU. Overall, the zebrafish embryo appears to be suitable for the simultaneous visualization and detection of changing intrafollicular TH contents during normal development and after PTU treatment.     

Cytotoxic Alkylynols of the Sponge Cribrochalina vasculum: Structure,Synthetic Analogs and SAR Studies

A series of twenty-three linear and branched chain mono acetylene lipids were isolated from the Caribbean Sea sponge Cribrochalina vasculum. Seventeen of the compounds, 1–17, are new, while six, 18–23, were previously characterized from the same sponge. Some of the new acetylene-3-hydroxy alkanes 1, 6, 7, 8, 10 were tested for selective cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells over WI-38 normal diploid lung fibroblasts. Compound 7, presented clear tumor selective activity while, 1 and 8, showed selectivity at lower doses and 6 and 10, were not active towards NSCLC cells at all. The earlier reported selective cytotoxicity of some acetylene-3-hydroxy alkanes (scal-18 and 23), in NSCLC cells and/or other tumor cell types were also confirmed for 19, 20 and 22. To further study the structure activity relationships (SAR) of this group of compounds, we synthesized several derivatives of acetylene-3-hydroxy alkanes, rac-18, scal-S-18, R-18, rac-27, rac-32, R-32, S-32, rac-33, rac-41, rac-42, rac-43, rac-45, rac-48 and rac-49, along with other 3-substituted derivatives, rac-35, rac-36, rac-37, rac-38, rac-39 and rac-40, and assessed their cytotoxic activity against NSCLC cells and diploid fibroblasts. SAR studies revealed that the alcohol moiety at position 3 and its absolute R configuration both were essential for the tumor cell line selective activity while for its cytotoxic magnitude the alkyl chain length and branching were of less significance.