Gross Anatomy of the Pancreatic Lobes and Ducts in Six Breeds of Domestic Ducks and Six Species of Wild Ducks in China

A previously unreported pancreatic duct was found by Liu (1989) in Pekin ducks. This duct has now been consistently found in six breeds of domestic ducks and six species of wild ducks in China. For purposes of Nomina Anatomica Avium it is hereby called the ‘first pancreatic duct’(Ducius pancreaticus primus) since it enters the duodenum at or near the flexure where the descending duodenum becomes the ascending duodenum. All other pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum later, closer to where it joins the jejunum. This first pancreatic duct drains the caudal extremity of the dorsal lobe of the pancreas and can be easily exteriorized for experimental purposes. Within the parenchyma of the dorsal lobe of the pancreas this duct communicates with the dorsal pancreatic duct. In the present study of the gross anatomy of the pancreatic lobes of domestic and wild Chinese ducks we describe and illustrate variations in position and number of all biliary and pancreatic ducts.     

An analysis of structure of tree seedling populations on a Lahar

The structure of a tree seedling population is dependent on the interaction of several processes including seed dispersal, germination, survival, and competition on a physical landscape. Structural components (composition, size distributions, spatial distributions, age distributions, density, and history) of a tree seedling population on the Muddy River Lahar on the east side of Mount St. Helens were examined over a range of extents (1/10 m to 1000 m). Many of these component have rarely been examined at the larger extents listed here. Composition reflected distances to seed source and seed morphology. Seedling sizes are inversely proportional to depth to a buried soil if one existed. Spatial patterns indicated that seedling are clustered for tree seedlings less than 200 m apart, random for tree seedling from 200 m to 400 m and uniform for seedling greater than 400 m apart. This was confirmed by two measures of multidimensional spatial point pattern. Age distributions did not reflect the size distributions; old seedlings could be almost any size, young seedlings were constrained to be small in size. Densities appear to be typical for forests in the area. History of disturbance events (the lahar establishment, and successive ash, pumice, and erosion) has strongly influenced this tree seedling community.     

Rootstock influence on ‘delicious’ and ‘golden delicious’ apple fruit quality at harvest and after storage

The influence of 9 rootstocks (M2, M7, M25, M26, MM104, MM106, MM109, MM111 and seedling) on fruit quality at harvest and after storage of ‘Wellspur Delicious’ (WS) and ‘Goldspur’ (GS), and of 3 rootstocks (M7, M26 and MM106) on fruit quality of ‘Red King Delicious’ (RK) and ‘Golden Delicious’ (GD) apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) was evaluated during a 4-year period. Fruits from trees on M26 were larger, developed earlier color and soluble solids (SS), and maintained higher levels of acidity (at harvest and during storage) in comparison with other rootstocks. Fruit from trees on M2 tended to have high SS. Fruit color from trees on MM104, MM106 and MM109 tended to be comparatively poor. There were significant rootstock effects on SS, starch, acidity, color, circumference, weight and box size.     

Local vs official criteria and indicators for evaluating community forest management

Processes to develop criteria and indicators (C and I) for sustainableforest management are often expert driven. Although the long-termobjective of the Nepalese forest policy is sustainable forestmanagement, no national level C and I specifically for thishave been developed. However, the Ministry of Forests and SoilConservation awards an annual prize to successful communityforest user groups (CFUGs) based on evaluation according to10 criteria. This study explored local C and I for successfulforest management in Nepal through six meetings with CFUG members.A total of 14 local criteria and 52 indicators for awardinga prize to successful CFUGs were identified, and comparisonwith official C and I was undertaken. Most conspicuously, localC and I focus more on environmental and governance-related aspectsthan the official list, and the official list leaves much tothe discretion of the evaluator. The study concludes that developmentof a national level C and I for sustainable forest managementcould benefit from involvement of local forest users.     

Root growth potential, seedling morphology and bud dormancy correlate with survival of loblolly pine seedlings planted in December in Alabama

First-year survival of December-planted loblolly pine seedlings sampled from 20 nurseries ranged from 36 to 86%. Various characteristics of the seedlings including root growth potential (RGP), shoot/root ratio, root weight and stem length were correlated with survival. A regression model using the number of new roots >/= 0.5 cm and the shoot/root ratio accounted for 80% of the variation in first-year survival. Alone, the number of new roots >/= 0.5 cm accounted for 76% of the variation in survival. Foliar nutrients were not correlated with survival. Seedlings with a high proportion of quiescent buds at planting had a higher RGP and better survival than seedlings with dormant (endodormant) buds. The data suggest that seedlings with dormant buds should not be planted on sites where rapid new root growth is needed for survival.     

Effects of ozone on gas exchange,frost resistance,flushing and growth of different provenances of European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)

Photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration were studied in different Abies alba provenances during and alter ozone exposure at three different levels (0/control, 125, and 250 ppb O₃, respectively). The after-effects of ozone on frost resistance and growth rate were also analyzed. Pronounced reductions of photosynthesis and transpiration rates and an increased respiration were registered as a response to O₃. Five months after exposure the winter frost resistance was significantly reduced, and growth depressions were registered during the following year. Differences in ozone sensibility and regeneration ability between provenances could be demonstrated.     

Different clinical,virological, serological and tissue tropism outcomes of two new and one old Belgian type 1 subtype 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) isolates

In this study, the pathogenic behavior of PRRSV 13V091 and 13V117, isolated in 2013 from two different Belgian farms with enzootic respiratory problems shortly after weaning in the nursery, were compared with the Belgian strain 07V063 isolated in 2007. Full-length genome sequencing was performed to identify their origin. Twelve weeks-old pigs were inoculated intranasally (IN) with 13V091, 13V117 or 07V063 (9 pigs/group). At 10 days post inoculation (dpi), 4 animals from each group were euthanized and tissues were collected for pathology, virological and serological analysis. 13V091 infection resulted in the highest respiratory disease scores and longest period of fever. Gross lung lesions were more pronounced for 13V091 (13%), than for 13V117 (7%) and 07V063 (11%). The nasal shedding and viremia was also most extensive with 13V091. The 13V091 group showed the highest virus replication in conchae, tonsils and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. 13V117 infection resulted in the lowest virus replication in lymphoid tissues. 13V091 showed higher numbers of sialoadhesin⁻ infected cells/mm² in conchae, tonsils and spleen than 13V117 and 07V063. Neutralizing antibody response with 07V063 was stronger than with 13V091 and 13V117. It can be concluded that (i) 13V091 is a highly pathogenic type 1 subtype 1 PRRSV strain that replicates better than 07V063 and 13V117 and has a strong tropism for sialoadhesin⁻ cells and (ii) despite the close genetic relationship between 13V117 and 07V063, 13V117 has an increased nasal replication and shedding, but a decreased replication in lymphoid tissues compared to 07V063.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-015-0166-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Changes in various metabolic parameters in blood and milk during experimental Escherichia coli mastitis for primiparous Holstein dairy cows during early lactation

Background:The objective of this study was to characterize the changes in various metabolic parameters in blood and milk during IMI challenge with Escherichia coli(E.coli) for dairy cows during early lactation.Thirty,healthy primiparous Holstein cows were infused(h = 0) with-20-40 cfu of live ? coli into one front mammary quarter at ~4-6wk in lactation.Daily feed intake and milk yield were recorded.At-12,0,3,6,12,18,24,36,48,60,72,96,108,120,132,144,156,168,180 and 192 h relative to challenge rectal temperatures were recorded and quarter foremilk was collected for analysis of shedding of E.coli.Composite milk samples were collected at-180,-132,-84,-36,-12,12,24,36,48,60,72,84,96,132 and 180 h relative to challenge(h = 0) and analyzed for lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),somatic cell count,fat,protein,lactose,citrate,beta-hydroxybutyrate(BHBA),free glucose(fglu),and glucose-6-phosphate(G6P).Blood was collected at-12,0,3,6,12,18,24,36,60,72,84,132 and 180 h relative to challenge and analyzed for plasma non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA),BHBA and glucose concentration.A generalized linear mixed model was used to determine the effect of IMI challenge on metabolic responses of cows during early lactation.Results:By 12 h,E.coli was recovered from challenged quarters and shedding continued through 72 h.Rectal temperature peaked by 12 h post-challenge and returned to pre-challenge values by 36 h post-IMI challenge.Daily feed intake and milk yield decreased(P 0.05) by 1 and 2 d,respectively,after mastitis challenge.Plasma BHBA decreased(12 h;P 0.05) from 0.96 ± 1.1 at 0 h to 0.57 ±0.64 mmol/L by 18 h whereas concentration of plasma NEFA(18 h) and glucose(24 h) were significantly greater,11 and 27%,respectively,after challenge.In milk,fglu,lactose,citrate,fat and protein yield were lower whereas yield of BHBA and G6 P were higher after challenge when compared to pre-challenge values.Conclusions:Changes in metabolites in blood and milk were most likely associated with drops in feed intake and milk yield.However,the early rise in plasma NEFA may also signify enhanced adipose tissue lipolysis.Lower concentrations of plasma BHBA may be attributed to an increase transfer into milk after IMI.Decreases in both milk lactose yield and%after challenge may be partly attributed to reduced conversion of fglu to lactose.Rises in G6 P yield and concentration in milk after challenge(24 h) may signify increased conversion of fglu to G6 P.Results identify changes in various metabolic parameters in blood and milk after IMI challenge with E.coli in dairy cows that may partly explain the partitioning of nutrients and changes in milk components after IMI for cows during early lactation.