Nutrient Contribution and Release Kinetics of Vermicompost Amended Pine Bark

The composting of organic waste materials using earthworms yields the value-added product vermicompost (VC). The use of VC as a growing substrate amendment for containerized horticultural crop production is a sustainable nutrient management approach which can benefit crop production by providing plant nutrients and improving crop growth. In order to provide nutrient management guidelines for users of VC amended container substrates, a study was conducted to quantify nutrients supplied to substrates solution and to develop nutrient release kinetic models to predict plant available nutrient based on total initial loading rates. Experimental treatments and results were expressed on a volume basis (4-L container) for easy interpretation and application by growers of crops in containers.     

Growth, Survival and Reproductive Performance of Domesticated Australian Stocks of the Giant Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon, Reared in Tanks and Raceways

The growth, survival and reproductive performance of domesticated Australian stocks of the giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon were evaluated in trials conducted in 1997 and 2003. The 1997 trials assessed the performance of first generation progeny of wild broodstock from the northeast coast of Australia and fourth generation progeny of pond‐reared broodstock, which also originated from northeast coast wild stocks. In these trials, growth and survival of the shrimp were assessed when reared for 17 mo in tanks. Reproductive performance of the shrimp was assessed at 14.5 mo and 17 mo. The 2003 trials assessed the performance of first generation progeny of wild broodstock from the Gulf of Carpentaria (north coast of Australia). In these trials, growth and survival of shrimp were assessed when reared for 14 mo in tanks and raceways. Reproductive performance of the shrimp was assessed at 11 mo, 12 mo, and 15 mo. Growth and reproductive performance of the stocks varied between trials, families, ages and rearing systems. The most pronounced differences in growth and reproductive performance were between the 1997 and 2003 trials. At 11 mo of age, the average wet weight of the shrimp in the 2003 trials (females 117.1 ± 5.8 g; males 87.9 ± 7.6 g) was 200% greater than the average wet weight of shrimp in the 1997 trials (females 55.2 ± 6.8 g; males 41.2 ± 3.4 g). The reproductive performance of the shrimp was also higher in the 2003 trials in terms of the percentage of spawnings hatching (52.0% in 1997; 77.1% in 2003) and mean hatch rate (21.5% in 1997; 31.6% in 2003). Differences in the growth and reproductive performance of the tank‐reared stocks between years were indicative of significant improvements in the rearing environment, diet and husbandry techniques. Variation in the reproductive performance between families was consistent across rearing environments and at different ages and suggests the potential to improve reproductive performance through genetic selection. Notably, this study identified hatch rates of nauplii from the spawned eggs as a key area for future improvement of domesticated stocks reared in tanks and raceways. Future efforts to improve the growth and reproductive performance of domesticated P. monodon could benefit from integrating incremental improvements to husbandry with genetic selection.     

Temporal variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation at 26.5 degrees N

The vigor of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is thought to be vulnerable to global warming, but its short-term temporal variability is unknown so changes inferred from sparse observations on the decadal time scale of recent climate change are uncertain. We combine continuous measurements of the MOC (beginning in 2004) using the purposefully designed transatlantic Rapid Climate Change array of moored instruments deployed along 26.5 degrees N, with time series of Gulf Stream transport and surface-layer Ekman transport to quantify its intra-annual variability. The year-long average overturning is 18.7 +/- 5.6 sverdrups (Sv) (range: 4.0 to 34.9 Sv, where 1 Sv = a flow of ocean water of 10(6) cubic meters per second). Interannual changes in the overturning can be monitored with a resolution of 1.5 Sv.     

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: Advances in aetiology, pathogenesis and management

In most cases of dilated cardiomyopathy in the dog (and in man) the aetiology is unknown; these cases are designated idiopathic. Recent advances, particularly in the field of molecular biology, are providing a better understanding of the natural history of the disease and are shedding light on possible primary causes of dilated cardiomyopathy as well as some of the factors which may be responsible for the progressive nature of the disease process. Armed with this information, more specific therapeutic regimes can be developed with the aim of stopping or reversing myocardial damage. The use of skeletal muscle to assist the failing myocardium may offer a practical means of improving a patient's cardiovascular status, particularly in cases where conventional medical therapy is failing to control the progression of the clinical signs.     

Meniscal Mineralization in Domestic Cats

Objective: To (1) determine prevalence of radiographically detectable meniscal mineralization in domestic cats and (2) to evaluate the association between meniscal mineralization and degenerative joint disease (DJD). Study Design: Prospective study. Animals: Client‐owned cats (n=100) and 30 feline cadavers. Methods: Randomly selected client‐owned cats were used to determine the prevalence of meniscal mineralization. Stifles from feline cadavers were used to evaluate the relationship between meniscal mineralization (using high‐resolution X‐ray), radiographic DJD, and cartilage damage. Menisci were evaluated histologically. Results: Forty‐six percent of the client‐owned cats had meniscal mineralization detected in 1 or both stifles. Pain scores were not significantly different between stifles with meniscal mineralization and those with no radiographic pathology (P=.38). Thirty‐four of 57 cadaver stifles had meniscal mineralization, which was always located in the cranial horn of the medial meniscus. Percentage mineralization of the menisci was significantly correlated with the cartilage damage score of the medial femoral (r²=0.6; P<.0001) and tibial (r²=0.5; P<.0001) condyles as well as with the total joint cartilage damage (r²=0.36; P<.0001) score and DJD score (r²=0.8; P<.0001). Conclusion: Meniscal mineralization is a common condition in domestic cats and seems to indicate medial compartment DJD. Clinical Relevance: Clinical significance of meniscal mineralization is uncertain. Further work is needed to determine if the meniscal mineralization is a cause, or a consequence of joint degeneration.     

Linking temperate demersal fish species to habitat: scales,patterns and future directions

Adoption of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management relies on recognition of the link between fish and other components of the ecosystem, namely their physical and biological habitat. However, identifying the habitat requirements of marine fishes and hence determining their distribution in space and time is scientifically complex. We analysed the methodologies and findings of research on temperate, demersal fish habitat requirements to highlight the main developments in this field and to identify potential shortfalls. Many studies were undertaken over large spatial scales (≥100s km²) and these generally correlated abundances of fish to abiotic variables. Biological variables were accounted for less often. Small spatial scale (≤m²), experimental studies were comparatively sparse and commonly focused on biotic variables. Whilst the number of studies focusing on abiotic variables increased with increasing spatial scale, the proportion of studies finding significant relationships between habitat and fish distribution remained constant. This mismatch indicates there is no justification for the tendency to analyse abiotic habitat variables at large spatial scales. Innovative modelling techniques and habitat mapping technologies are developing rapidly, providing new insights at the larger spatial scales. However, there is a clear need for a reduction in study scale, or increase in resolution additional to the integration of biotic variables. We argue that development of sound predictive science in the field of demersal fish habitat determination is reliant on a change in focus along these lines. This is especially important if spatial management strategies, such as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) or No Take Zones (NTZ), are to be used in future ecosystem‐based approaches to fisheries management.     

N-linked glycosylation in Campylobacter jejuni and its functional transfer into E. coli

N-linked protein glycosylation is the most abundant posttranslation modification of secretory proteins in eukaryotes. A wide range of functions are attributed to glycan structures covalently linked to asparagine residues within the asparagine-X-serine/threonine consensus sequence (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr). We found an N-linked glycosylation system in the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni and demonstrate that a functional N-linked glycosylation pathway could be transferred into Escherichia coli. Although the bacterial N-glycan differs structurally from its eukaryotic counterparts, the cloning of a universal N-linked glycosylation cassette in E. coli opens up the possibility of engineering permutations of recombinant glycan structures for research and industrial applications.