Galloping exercise induces regional changes in bone density within the third and radial carpal bones of Thoroughbred horses

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that a localised bone hypertrophy could occur within the subchondral cancellous architecture of the third and radial carpal bones. Using 2 levels of controlled and defined exercise, it was observed that a high intensity treadmill exercise protocol resulted in functional adaptation of the carpal bones. The increase in trabecular thickening and density was seen to be localised to those regions underlying common sites of cartilage degradation, the interface of the thickened trabeculae with the normal architecture in the third carpal bone was coincident with a common site of clinical fractures. The bone changes were determined both qualitatively on examination of slab radiographs and quantified by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The findings from this study are relevant to mechanical factors involved in the pathophysiology of joint degeneration. The potential clinical implications of this study are in relation to changes in the type and duration of exercise regimens used in training of equine athletes. The rapid response of bone to mechanical stimulation has implications in the longer term for localised cartilage degradation. Imaging techniques could be developed to monitor these early bone changes in the specific areas identified in this study and thus allow appropriate changes in training intensity to minimise subsequent damage to the articular surface.     

Progesterone and Caspase-3 Activation in Equine Cyclic Corpora Lutea

Soon after ovulation, the newly formed corpus luteum (CL) starts secreting progesterone (P(4)), necessary for implantation. The CL, an ovarian transient endocrine organ, undergoes growth and regression throughout its life span. The objective of this study was to evaluate if caspase-3 mediates cell death in the equine cyclic luteal structures and relate it to luteal endocrine function. Blood and luteal tissue were collected during the breeding season after slaughter from 38 randomly assigned cycling mares. Luteal tissues were classified as corpora haemorrhagica (CH; n = 7); mid luteal phase corpora lutea (Mid-CL; n = 17); late or regressing corpora lutea (Late-CL; n = 9) and corpora albicans (CA; n = 5). Plasma P(4) concentration, determined by radioimmunoassay, showed a significant increase from CH to Mid-CL (p < 0.001), followed by a decrease to Late-CL (p < 0.001) and CA (p < 0.001). Caspase-3 processing and poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) degradation were assessed by western blotting. Active caspase-3 was twofold increased in Mid-CL, Late-CL and CA as compared with CH (p < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry also showed a significant increase in caspase-3 expression in large luteal cells in all structures when compared with CH (p < 0.05). Consistently, the endogenous caspase-3 substrate, PARP, was markedly degraded from CH to CA (p < 0.05). In fact, the ratio of full-length to degraded PARP showed a significant decrease from CH to Mid-CL, Late-CL and CA (p < 0.05). Finally, the decrease in P(4) from Mid- to Late-CL coincided with no further increases in apoptosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the effector caspase-3 of apoptosis, might play an important role during luteal tissue involution in the mare, even though its relationship with P(4) remains to be elucidated.     

抓低改促高产求发展——双峰乡实施毛竹丰产经营的调查

双峰乡是中国“毛竹之乡”——宜丰县的毛竹重点产区.在对毛竹林的经营中,双峰乡通过全面规划、分类改造,改革机制、多种管理方式经营,建设样板、典型带动推广,以及基地建设与竹材深加工开发相结合等一系列措施,使这个“双料”的毛竹之乡真正发挥了资源优势,实现了毛竹丰产高效,促进了地方经济发展.调查总结了其成功的竹林经营管理经验,还介绍了向全县推广的措施方法.     

Magnetic microstructure of magnetotactic bacteria by electron holography

Off-axis electron holography in the transmission electron microscope was used to correlate the physical and magnetic microstructure of magnetite nanocrystals in magnetotactic bacteria. The magnetite crystals were all single magnetic domains, and the magnetization directions of small superparamagnetic crystals were constrained by magnetic interactions with larger crystals in the chains. Shape anisotropy was found to dominate magnetocrystalline anisotropy in elongated crystals. A coercive field between 300 and 450 oersted was determined for one chain.     

Effect of breed of cattle on transmission rate and innate resistance to infection with Babesia bovis and B bigemina transmitted by Boophilus microplus

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of breed of cattle on the transmission rates of and innate resistance to Babesia bovis and B bigemina parasites transmitted by Boophilus microplus ticks. DESIGN: Groups of 56 purebred B indicus and 52 B indicus cross B taurus (50%, F1 generation) steers were placed in a paddock seeded with and also naturally infested with B microplus which were the progeny of females ticks fed on B taurus cattle specifically infected with a virulent isolate of B bovis. The cattle were placed in the infested paddock 50 days after seeding had started. PROCEDURE: Cattle were inspected from horseback daily for 50 days. Clinically ill cattle were brought to yards and assessed by monitoring fever, depression of packed-cell volume, parasitaemia and severity of clinical signs. Any animals that met preset criteria were treated for babesiosis. Blood samples were collected from all cattle on day 28, 35 and 42 after exposure and antibodies to Babesia spp and packed cell volume measured. RESULTS: All steers, except for one crossbred, seroconverted to B bovis and B bigemina by day 35 and 75% of the crossbred steers showed a maximum depression in packed cell volume of more than 15% due to infection with Babesia spp compared with only 36% of the B indicus group. Ten of the 52 crossbreds and 1 of the 56 B indicus steers showed severe clinical signs. Two of the crossbreds required treatment of which one died 2 weeks after initial treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pure-bred B indicus cattle have a high degree of resistance to babesiosis, but crossbred cattle are sufficiently susceptible to warrant the use of preventive measures such as vaccination. Transmission rates of B bovis and B bigemina to B indicus and crossbred cattle previously unexposed to B microplus were the same.     

Modeling Spatial Variability of Soil Chemical Parameters for Site-Specific Farming Using Stochastic Methods

Spatial variability of soil properties affects nutrient transport in the field. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of spatial variability in the soil chemical parameters, and to develop stochastic models to represent these variations. The parameters selected include concentration levels of Ca, Mg, Mn, NO3-N, P, K and Zn, and OM and pH of soil. Data were collected from 55 grids of 20 × 20 m size from a field within the Coastal Plains of Virginia. Analyses were performed based on the deterministic and stochastic components of the chemical parameters. All the parameters had different degrees of variability in the spatial domain. NO3-N, P, K and Zn exhibited greater degrees of variability compared to other parameters. Among the nine parameters, NO3-N and Zn had the greatest spatial variation with coefficient of variation (CV) of 40 and 49%, respectively, while pH had the lowest variation with a CV of only 4%. The spatial variations of each parameter were not random, but were mutually correlated with their values at the adjoining grids. The analysis showed that the deterministic component of these parameters could be represented by a Fourier series containing sine and cosine functions, while different types of models were required to describe their stochastic component. A second-order autoregressive model, AR(2), for Ca, Mg, Mn and OM; a first-order autoregressive model, AR(1), for pH; and a mixed autoregressive-moving average, ARMA(2,1), for NO3-N, P, K and Zn parameters were found suitable. These models were capable of describing the spatial structure of chemical parameters, and hence can be used to determine their values at any unsampled locations to develop site-specific nutrient management plans for the study site.