Atmospheric nitrate deposition and the microbial degradation of cellobiose and vanillin in a northern hardwood forest

Human activity has increased the amount of N entering terrestrial ecosystems from atmospheric NO₃⁻ deposition. High levels of inorganic N are known to suppress the expression of phenol oxidase, an important lignin-degrading enzyme produced by white-rot fungi. We hypothesized that chronic NO₃⁻ additions would decrease the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting phenol oxidase and the depolymerization of lignocellulose. This would likely reduce the availability of C from lignocellulose for metabolism by the microbial community. We tested this hypothesis in a mature northern hardwood forest in northern Michigan, which has received experimental atmospheric N deposition (30 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for nine years. In a laboratory study, we amended soils with ¹³C-labeled vanillin, a monophenolic product of lignin depolymerization, and ¹³C-labeled cellobiose, a disaccharide product of cellulose degradation. We then traced the flow of ¹³C through the microbial community and into soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial respiration. We simultaneously measured the activity of enzymes responsible for lignin (phenol oxidase and peroxidase) and cellobiose (β-glucosidase) degradation. Nitrogen deposition reduced phenol oxidase activity by 83% and peroxidase activity by 74% when compared to control soils. In addition, soil C increased by 76%, whereas microbial biomass decreased by 68% in NO₃⁻ amended soils. ¹³C cellobiose in bacterial or fungal PLFAs was unaffected by NO₃⁻ deposition; however, the incorporation of ¹³C vanillin in fungal PLFAs extracted from NO₃⁻ amended soil was 82% higher than in the control treatment. The recovery of ¹³C vanillin and ¹³C cellobiose in SOC, DOC, microbial biomass, and respiration was not different between control and NO₃⁻ amended treatments. Chronic NO₃⁻ deposition has stemmed the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting the activity of ligninolytic enzymes, but it increased the assimilation of vanillin into fungal PLFAs.     

Evidence for the involvement of arabinoxylan and xylanases in refrigerated dough syruping

The relationship between syruping in refrigerated doughs upon prolonged storage and different aspects of arabinoxylan (AX) hydrolysis was investigated using Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor (TAXI) and different xylanases in the dough formula. Dough characteristics were evaluated with strong emphasis on the AX population and its fate as a function of storage time. Selective reduction of part of the flour endogenous xylanase activity in dough by added TAXI reduced dough syruping after 12 and 20 days of storage by 50%, providing straightforward evidence for the involvement of xylanases and, thus, AX in the syruping phenomenon. Addition of xylanases with different inhibitor sensitivities [an inhibition-sensitive Bacillus subtilis xylanase (XBS(i)) as well as a noninhibited mutant (XBS(ni)) thereof] to dough confirmed the importance of xylanases in dough syruping, on one hand, and the power of wheat flour TAXI to constitute a significant barrier against xylanase-mediated dough syruping, on the other hand. Use of xylanases with different substrate selectivities [an Aspergillus aculeatusxylanase (XAA) versus XBS(ni)] showed degradation of water-extractable AX (WE-AX) and solubilized AX to low molecular weight molecules rather than the conversion of water-unextractable AX (WU-AX) to high molecular weight water extractable components to be the main factor influencing dough syruping.     

Mechanical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus throughout a coordinated sequence of events during cold weather

Using a field-based model, mechanical transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was assessed throughout a coordinated sequence of events that replicated common farm worker behavior during cold weather (< 0°C). The model involved fomites (boots and containers), vehicle sanitation, transport, and the movement of personnel. A field strain of PRRSV was inoculated into carriers consisting of snow and water, and carriers were adhered to the undercarriage of a vehicle. The vehicle was driven approximately 50 km to a commercial truck washing facility where the driver's boots contacted the carriers during washing, introducing the virus to the vehicle interior. The vehicle was then driven 50 km to a simulated farm site, and the driver's boots mechanically spread virus into the farm anteroom. Types of containers frequently employed in swine farms (styrofoam semen cooler, metal toolbox, plastic lunch pail, and cardboard animal health product shipping parcel) contacted drippings from footwear on the anteroom floor. The truck wash floor, vehicle cab floor mats, boot soles, anteroom floor, and the ventral surface of containers were sampled to track the virus throughout the model. Ten replicates were conducted, along with sham-inoculated controls. At multiple sampling points PRRSV nucleic acid was detected in 8 of 10 replicates. In each of the 8 PCR-positive replicates, infectious PRRSV was detected on the surfaces of containers by virus isolation or swine bioassay. All sham-inoculated controls were negative. These results indicate that mechanical transmission of PRRSV can occur during coordinated sequence of events in cold weather.     

Evaluation of mosquitoes, Aedes vexans, as biological vectors of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

The objective of this study was to determine whether mosquitoes, Aedes vexans (Meigen), could serve as biological vectors of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Specifically, the study assessed the duration of viability and the site of PRRSV within mosquitoes, and evaluated whether PRRSV could be transmitted to a susceptible pig by mosquitoes following a 7- to 14-day incubation period after feeding on an infected pig. For the first experiment, a total of 100 mosquitoes were allowed to feed on a pig, experimentally infected with PRRSV (day 7 post-inoculation) and were then maintained alive under laboratory conditions. A set of 10 mosquitoes were collected at 0 hour (h), 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 days (d), 7 d, 10 d, and 14 d post-feeding (pf). Samples of exterior surface washes, salivary glands, thorax carcasses, and gut homogenates were collected from each set of mosquitoes, and tested for PRRSV. Infectious PRRSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction and swine bioassay only from the gut homogenates of mosquitoes collected at 0 h and 6 h pf. For the second experiment, a total of 30 mosquitoes were allowed to feed on a pig, experimentally infected with PRRSV and the mosquitoes were then maintained under laboratory conditions. On each of day 7, 10, and 14 pf, a set of 10 mosquitoes were allowed to feed on a susceptible pig. Transmission of PRRSV to susceptible pigs did not occur, and PRRSV was not detected from the mosquitoes. These findings indicate that mosquitoes are not likely to serve as biological vectors of PRRSV.     

Der Nitratgehalt von Gemüsen in Abhängigkeit von Pflanzenart und einigen Umweltfaktoren

Zusammenfassung Zur Prüfung der für die menschliche Ernährung wichtigen Frage des in gesundheitlicher Beziehung nicht ganz unbedenklichen Nitratgehaltes von Gemüse wurden an der Bundesanstalt für Qualitätsforschung in Geisenheim/Rheingau umfangreiche Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Die Nitratbestimmungen ergaben verschieden hohe Gehalte je nach botanisch-systematischer Zugehörigkeit der einzelnen Gemüsearten. Typische Nitratspeicherer unter den häufiger genossenen Gemüsepflanzen sind der Spinat, die Rote Rübe und die Kohlarten. Die einzelnen Pflanzenorgane führten Nitrat in unter-schiedlicher Höhe.Einen entscheidenden Einfluß auf die Menge des gespeicherten Nitrats hat die Art und Höhe der Stickstoffdüngung. Verabfolgung von Jauche führte, ebenso wie Salpeterdüngung zu höheren Nitratgehalten als eine Düngung mit ammoniumhaltigen Mineraldüngern. Je höher die Stickstoffgaben waren, desto höher stieg im allgemeinen auch der Nitratgehalt des untersuchten Pflanzenmaterials. Auch die Lichtintensität erwies sich als mitbestimmender Faktor auf die Höhe des Nitratgehaltes, wie Klimakammerversuche bei abgestufter künstlicher Beleuchtung mit Spinat zeigten (hohe Licht-Intensität = niedriger, geringe L.I. = hoher Nitratgehalt). Standortversuche, ebenfalls mit Spinat, an klimatisch differenten Orten ergaben, daß die Nitratgehalte bei sonnigen warmen Witterungsbedingungen (Geisenheim/Rhein) niedrig, bei kühlen niederschlagsreichen, also lichtärmeren (Kiel), hoch waren.Mit diesem im Nitratgehalt unterschiedlichen Spinat wurden (nach Dosenkonservierung) Ernährungsversuche mit Säuglingen in der Universitätskinderklinik Kiel (Direktor: Prof. Dr. med.W. Catel) durch Dr. med.W. Kübler durchgeführt, die in seiner nachfolgenden Arbeit beschrieben werden (16).

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Summary Experiments have been carried out at the Bundesanstalt für Qualitätsforschung pflanzlicher Erzeugnisse in Geisenheim/Rhine on vegetables to determine the amount of nitrates, to be looked upon as somewhat detrimental for human health. Determinations of nitrate showed contents, different according to systematic relationships of vegetables. Those vegetables, as spinach, beet roots, cabbages and kale are typical plants storing nitrates. Plant organs differ in the amount of nitrates stored.Nitrogen-fertilizers influence the amount of accumulated nitrates depending on N-fertilizers and amount of Nitrogen. Liquid manure and nitrate supply gave rise to higher contents of nitrate as ammoniac fertilizers.The higher the amount of nitrogen, the higher raised the contents of nitrate in plant material investigated. Different light intensities, mesured in climate chambers, have been proved to be a determining factor regarding amount of nitrates in plants. High light intensity show low contents of nitrate, low one a high amount of NO₃. Environmental experiments with spinach on places, different in climatic conditions, resulted in contents of nitrates which were low when sunny warm weather conditions (Geisenheim/Rh.) prevailed and vice versa (Kiel).After canning, this spinach differing in nitrate-contents has been administered babies in nutritional trials by Dr. med.W. Kübler in the Univ. Klinik Kiel (Director Prof. Dr. med.W. Catel). The results are given in the following paper by Dr.Kübler (16).

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Mit 5 Tabellen und 2 Fig.

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Gemeinschaftsversuche der BAQ mit der Universitätskinderklinik Kiel (Direktor: Prof. Dr. med.W. Catel) vgl. auch S. 297.     

Insecticidal isosteres of DDT-pyrethroid structures

Several new series of insecticidally active oxime O-ethers are reported, and compared structurally and biologically with known oxime O-ether insecticides. These compounds can exist in two geometric forms. Biological results demonstrate that the configuration of the active isomer and the effect of substituents around the C-N double bond vary between series. A detailed structure-activity examination is presented.     

SNOMED representation of explanatory knowledge in veterinary clinical pathology

BACKGROUND: The Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) is an established standard nomenclature for the expression of human and veterinary medical concepts. Nomenclature standards ease sharing of medical information, create common points of understanding, and improve data aggregation and analysis. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether SNOMED adequately represented concepts relevant to veterinary clinical pathology. METHODS: Concepts were isolated from 3 different types of clinical pathology documents: 1) a textbook (Textbook), 2) the Results sections of industry pathology reports (Findings), and Discussion sections from industry pathology reports (Discussion). Concepts were matched (mapped) by 2 reviewers to semantically-equivalent SNOMED concepts. A quality score of 3 (good match), 2 (problem match), or 1 (no match) was recorded along with the SNOMED hierarchical location of each mapped concept. Results were analyzed using Cohen's Kappa statistic to assess reviewer agreement and chi-square tests to evaluate association between document type and quality score. RESULTS: The percentage of good matches was 48.3% for the Textbook, 45.4% for Findings, and 47.5% for Discussion documents, with no significant difference among documents. Of remaining concepts, 40% were partially expressed by SNOMED and 14% did not match. Mean reviewer agreement on quality score assignments was 76.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Although SNOMED representation of veterinary clinical pathology content was limited, missing and problem concepts were confined to a relatively small area of terminology. This limitation should be addressed in revisions of SNOMED to optimize SNOMED for veterinary clinical pathology applications.     

Congenital stationary night blindness in a Thoroughbred and a Paso Fino

This report documents congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in two non-Appaloosa horse breeds (Thoroughbred and Paso Fino). History of vision impairment since birth, normal ocular structures on ophthalmic examination, and electroretinographic findings were consistent with CSNB. In one horse (Thoroughbred), a 9-year follow-up was carried out. In the Paso Fino, severe vision impairment from birth to approximately 1 year of age in both dim and bright light situations led to humane euthanasia and histopathologic confirmation of the disorder.