A Biomechanical Comparison of Headless Tapered Variable Pitch and AO Cortical Bone Screws for Fixation of a Simulated Lateral Condylar Fracture in Equine Third Metacarpal Bones

OBJECTIVE: To compare drilling, tapping, and screw-insertion torque, force, and time for the 4.5-mm AO and 6.5-mm Acutrak Plus (AP) bone screws, and to compare the mechanical shear strength and stiffness of a simulated complete lateral condylar fracture of the equine third metacarpal bone (MC3) stabilized with either an AO or AP screw. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical assessment of screw-insertion variables, and shear failure tests of a bone-screw-stabilized simulated lateral condylar fracture. SAMPLE POPULATION: Eight pairs of cadaveric equine MC3s METHODS: Metacarpi were placed in a fixture and centered on a biaxial load cell in a materials-testing system to measure torque, compressive force, and time for drilling, tapping, and screw insertion. Standardized simulated lateral condylar fractures were stabilized by either an AO or AP screw and tested in shear until failure. A paired t test was used to assess differences between screws, with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: Insertion and mechanical shear testing variables were comparable for AO and AP insertion equipment and screws. CONCLUSION: The 6.5-mm tapered AP screw can be inserted in equine third metacarpal condyles and is mechanically comparable with the 4.5-mm AO screw for fixation of a simulated lateral condylar fracture. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Considering the comparable mechanical behavior, the potential for less-persistent soft-tissue irritation with the headless design, and the ability to achieve interfragmentary compression by inserting the screw in one hole drilled perpendicular to the fracture plane, the 6.5-mm tapered AP screw may be an attractive alternative for repair of incomplete lateral condylar fractures in horses.     

Effect of feeding fermented liquid feed and fermented grain on gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance in piglets

To investigate the microbial and nutritional characteristics of dry feed, liquid feed containing fermented liquid cereal grains, and fermented liquid feed, and their effect on gastrointestinal ecology and growth performance, 120 piglets from 40 litters were used and housed in pens with 5 animals in each. The 3 dietary treatments (all nonheated and nonpelleted diets) were: a dry meal diet (DRY); a fermented, liquid cereal grain feed (FLG); and a fermented liquid feed (FLF). The FLG diet was prepared by storing the dietary cereals (barley and wheat) and water (1:2.5, wt/wt) in a closed tank at 20 degrees C and adding the remaining dietary ingredients immediately before feeding. The FLF diet was prepared by storing compound feed and water (1:2.5, wt/wt) in a closed tank at 20 degrees C. Three times daily, 50% of the fermented cereals or compound feed and water stored in the tanks was removed and replaced with an equal amount of fresh cereals or feed and water. On d 14, 1 piglet from each pen was killed and samples from the gastrointestinal tract were obtained. The pH of the fermented cereals was 3.85 (SD = 0.10), that of the FLG diet was 5.00 (SD = 0.18), and the pH of the FLF diet was 4.45 (SD = 0.11). The dietary concentration of lysine (g/16 g of N) pointed to a decreased concentration in the FLF (5.46, SD = 0.08) compared with the DRY (6.01) and FLG (6.21, SD = 0.27) diets, and the concentration of cadaverine was greater in the FLF diet (890 mg/kg, SD = 151.3) than in the DRY (32 mg/kg) or FLG (153 mg/kg, SD = 18.7) diets. Fermenting only the cereal component of the diet (FLG) promoted the growth of yeasts to a greater extent than fermenting the whole diet (FLF). Terminal RFLP profiles of diets and digesta from the stomach and midcolon showed differences among dietary groups. The number of yeasts able to grow at 37 degrees C in the stomach and caudal small intestine was greatest in the FLG group compared with the other 2 dietary groups (P < 0.01). In the cecum and colon, the differences were only significant between piglets fed the FLG and the FLF diets (P < 0.05). The greatest number of yeasts able to grow at 20 degrees C was detected in the animals fed the FLG diet. However, the values were different from the FLF-fed piglets only in the stomach (P < 0.05) and midcolon (P < 0.05). There was a tendency (P < 0.10) for greater ADG of the piglets fed the FLG compared with the FLF diet. Feeding liquid feed containing fermented, liquid cereal grains as a means of avoiding microbial decarboxylation of free amino acids in the feed and increasing feed intake by improving palatability seems promising but requires further investigation.     

Resistance to the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, within Brassica fruticulosa

Two transgenic Bt rice lines, KMD1 and KMD2, both containing a synthetic cry1Ab gene from Bt, were crossed with conventional rice varieties. The inheritance of resistance to SSB of KMD1 and KMD2was investigated through LSB and field examination of their progenies, e.g. F₁, BC₁ and F₂ populations. In LSBs, 100.0% of newly hatched SSB larvae died on the second day after feeding on leaf tissues of F₁ and GUS positive BC₁ plants, of which the area of leaf tissues consumed by SSB is also similar to that of transgenic parents. These results imply that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB is dominantly controlled and could be easily exploited in hybrid rice production. Field evaluation showed that segregation ratios for SSB resistance to susceptibility in BC₁ populations fit the ratio of 1:1, which was also confirmed by LSBs. However, in F₂ populations, the ratio was significantly smaller than 3:1 for resistant to susceptible plants in all 6 indica × japonica (KMD1 and KMD2) crosses, though it fitted 3:1 in all 4 japonica × japonica crosses. The results implied that the resistance of Bt rice to SSB was controlled by a dominant gene which was present in a homozygous condition in both KMD1 and KMD2, but the inheritance could be affected by other factors. Assays for Cry1Ab protein showed that, in most crosses, the content of Cry1Ab is significantly higher in leaves of GUS positive F₁, BC₁ and F₂ plants than that in transgenic Bt parent plants, which accounts for the high resistance observed in these plants to SSB. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Powdery mildew resistance in barley landrace material. I. Screening for resistance

A total of 4,681 accessions of Hordeum vulgare landrace material from Ethiopia, East Mediterranean, Near East, Nepal and China were sown in the field and subjected to the natural powdery mildew epidemic in Denmark. Apparently resistant accessions were selected. Selfed progeny from them were retested and reselected in subsequent years at four locations in Denmark. Finally, 16 promising donors of resistance were retained. They were characterized in the field and tested in the seedling stage for reaction to up to 72 different isolates of the powdery mildew fungus. The absence of the corresponding virulences in the Danish airborne powdery mildew population was ascertained in five years. The resistances in the 16 donors are apparently mutually different and from known sources of powdery mildew resistance in barley. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of lupins as compared with peas and oats on the yield of the subsequent winter barley crop

New high yielding early maturing cultivars of lupins have been introduced in north-west Europe as grain protein crops in crop rotations. This paper reports on a comparative study of lupins with peas and oats, and of their effect on yield of subsequent winter barley crops. These crops were given five levels of N under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions on sand and loam. Under rain fed conditions the grain yield of pea, oat and lupin varied between 24–36, 34–53 and 18–37 hkg DM ha⁻¹, respectively. Supplemental irrigation raised grain yield of oat to 50–60 hkg DM ha⁻¹, while grain yield in pea was not affected and grain yield in lupin in most cases decreased due to gray mould attack and excessive vegetative growth in the indeterminate lupin variety. Under rain fed conditions, the grain nitrogen content of pea, oat and lupin varied between 137–172, 61–80 and 189–226 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively, and was significantly higher in lupin as compared with pea. On sandy soil, similar low-root densities were found for pea, oat and lupin below 30 cm depth. On sand, at final harvest the residual soil-N of lupin and pea, as measured in a subsequent winter barley crop not supplied with N fertilizer, was 15 and 8–10 kg N ha⁻¹ higher than in winter barley following oat, respectively. The nature of the probably more N-root residues of lupin is discussed. On loam, the residual N of lupin and pea was similar, 18–27 kg N ha⁻¹. On sand, under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea as compared with oat, increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application 77 and 49%, respectively; the effect of lupin was significantly higher than that of pea until the highest N-level 120 kg N-application ha⁻¹. On loam under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application by 36 and 62%, respectively, as compared with oat; at N-application>60 kg N ha⁻¹ the grain yield was similar after all three crops. For both soil types the same level of effect was found under irrigated conditions. Conclusions: Supplemental irrigation might result in lower grain yield in lupin due to gray mould attack and excessive growth if indeterminate lupin varieties are used. Grain nitrogen yield of lupin is significantly higher than that of pea. On sand, the effect of lupin on the subsequent winter barley grain yield is significantly higher than that of pea, probably due to greater N-root nitrogen residues. On loam, lupin and pea have similar effects on the subsequent winter barley crop.     

Associations between three ml-o powdery mildew resistance genes and agronomic traits in barley

Summary A population of 198 chromosome-doubled haploid lines of spring barley was scored for segregation in locus ml-o (powdery mildew reaction) on chromosome 4 and in the linked loci s (rachilla hair length) and ddt (reaction to the insecticide DDT) on chromosome 7. They were also tested in a disease-free field trial for the agronomic traits: grain yield, thousand grain weight, lodging, and necrotic leaf spotting. The three mutagen-induced resistance genes ml-o5, ml-o6 (from Carlsberg II) and ml-10 (from Foma) showed no detectable differences with respect to effects on agronomic traits. They all conferred a four per cent reduction in grain yield caused mainly by lower thousand grain weight, and an increase in necrotic leaf spotting. The two original mutants of Carlsberg II had additional mutant genes affecting agronomic traits. Lines with gene S (long hair) had on average a three per cent higher thousand grain weight than those with s. The alleles in locus ddt showed no association with the agronomic traits. It is concluded i) that the associations between the three ml-o alleles and agronomic traits are caused by pleiotropy, ii) that ml-o resistant, high-yielding lines may be selected, and iii) that the association between gene s and thousand grain weight may be due to genetic linkage.Abbreviations DH-lines chromosome-doubled haploid lines     

Distribution and Concentration of Pb and Cd in Two Adjacent Luvisols under Grassland and Forest in Denmark

The effect of land use (forest and grassland) on the deposition and mobility of Pb and Cd has been studied by extraction with 1M HCl, 1M NH₄Ac/HAc and 1M NH₄Ac. The soils were described pedologically and the main physical and chemical parameters were determined. The Pb concentration in the A horizon is higher in the profile under forest than in the profile under grassland. We assign this difference to the filter action of the forest. The Cd concentration is highest in the grassland profile because the forest soil is more degraded and Cd is leached to a higher degree in this soil. Both metals are more mobile (easier to extract) in the forest because the forest soil is most acidic, and because a greater part is bound to organic compounds (humic and fulvic acids) which are more abundant in the forest than in the grassland. The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the A horizons are 26 ppm and 0.1 ppm under the forest and 9 ppm and 0.2 ppm under grassland, respectively.     

A method for identification and mapping potentially acid sulfate soils in Jutland, Denmark

A method for mapping potentially acid sulfate soils in Jutland, Denmark is described. First the wetlands were outlined, using already existing topographic maps. Then 7900 profiles, evenly distributed over the wetland areas, were examined to point out areas with potentially acid sulfate soils. The method used to identify potentially acid sulfate material was, for carbonate-free samples, a pH-measuring at the sampling time and after the samples were inoculated with soil water extract from an acid sulfate soil and 2, 8 or 16 weeks of incubation. For carbonate-containing samples the pyrite content was compared to the acid-neutralizing capacity. A map was constructed showing the ratio of profiles containing potentially acid sulfate soil samples to total number of profiles examined within natural geographical wetland regions.The investigation showed that 35% of the wetlands in Jutland have a high frequency of potentially acid sulfate soils.