Swine trichinosis in mid-atlantic slaughterhouses: Possible relationship to hog marketing systems

Digests of diaphragms from 33 482 hogs slaughtered in the mid-atlantic states were examined for the presence of Trichinella spiralis larvae. The samples were obtained from 7 slaughterhouses, ranging in slaughter capacity from less than 50 per day to more than 4000 per day. The sources of the hogs varied from “backyard” operations, raising hogs for home use, to commercial farms. The means by which hogs were brought to the slaughterhouse also differed; the larger slaughterhouses often purchased directly from the producer while the smaller slaughterhouses (1000 hogs per day or less) usually purchased through dealers or brokers. Infected hogs were detected more frequently than was expected from previously-published prevalence studies; overall, 0.58% of samples examined contained T. spiralis larvae. All of the infected hogs were marketed through the smaller slaughterhouses (less than 1000 per day) and nearly all were marketed through brokers. The mean number of larvae per gram of diaphragm, determined by slaugterhouses type, ranged from 0.5 to 74.6; most infections were light although 5 had counts of 1000–2480.Most of the positive samples were obtained from one slaughterhouse, the data from which exhibited marked differences in the frequency of infection by day of the week; 128 positive samples of the total of 190 found were obtained on Fridays, although only 10% of all samples were obtained on that day. Analysis of the geographic origin of shipments containing infected hogs revealed that most originated in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, although the hogs shipped from the latter state might originated in New England or Maryland. Attempts to trace back infected hogs for further epidemiological investigation were largely futile, owing to the absence of an identification system.     

Effect of creep feeding on structural and functional changes of the gut of early weaned pigs

Dose-dependent hypersensitivity responses mounted against antigenic constituents of creep feeds have been previously implicated in intestinal damage, digestive disorders and impaired performance of early weaned pigs. In the present study biochemical and histological investigations of the small intestine were undertaken to determine the putative relationship between creep feed level and hypersensitivity response in pigs weaned at 14 days. Creep feed was administered by gastric intubation and weaned pigs received the same diet by gastric intubation for five days. Mucosal structure and function at weaning were not affected by creep feeding regimen. Villus height decreased and crypt depth increased in weaned compared to suckled pigs, but morphology was unaffected by prior exposure to creep. Xylose absorption was not influenced by either creep feed level or weaning. Intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers increased during weaning but were not affected by the creep feeding regimen. Mucosal carbohydrase activity in weaned pigs was not significantly affected by preweaning treatment. The results do not support the hypothesis that post weaning changes in structure and function of the gut are related to creep feed level or to immune responses to dietary antigens.     

Forest soils research and changing societal needs and values

The 10th North American Forest Soils Conference was held in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, 20–24 July 2003. These conferences, held at 5-year intervals since 1958, are intended to provide a forum to discuss and summarize the state of knowledge on selected topics related to forest soils. Approximately 60 papers were presented on a variety of topics related to understanding and managing soils that support forests with particular emphasis given to field research, soil carbon, and site management/classification. We discuss the topics of this conference in relation to earlier ones and conclude that advances are made unevenly and that there is a need for new approaches to investigating many of the topics. We note the change in forest management that has occurred since the first of these conferences and the resulting changes needed in our approach to research and management. The need for interaction of scientists and clientele groups is noted as necessary for development of sound management and research policy. The interaction of scientific disciplines is needed to attack problems that have been difficult to elucidate. The challenge to forest soil scientists is to mesh their scientific interests with the needs of society to obtain the resources needed to advance science and provide information that will improve forest management.     

专业化的中国木业国际盛会——2005中国木制品进出口贸易洽谈会

2005年10月30日至11月2日，由中国木业国际公司、中国木业国际网和加拿大R.E.Taylor ＆ Associates Ltd.共同主办的第四届《中国木制品进出口贸易洽谈会》在风景秀丽，气候宜人的广东东莞隆重举行，     

Rheological Studies on the Reaction of Zein with Polyethylenemaleic Anhydride

There continues to be interest in developing solvent‐resistant articles from biobased renewable materials to successfully compete with petrochemical products. It was previously shown that reaction of zein with polyethylenemaleic anhydride (PEMA) provides articles that are solvent resistant. The gelation kinetics for the reaction of PEMA with zein was investigated rheologically to better understand this chemistry. The reaction of the nucleophilic groups on zein with the anhydrides on PEMA is the main cause for the gelation reaction. The gelation time was defined as being the point when the elastic modulus (G′) and viscous modulus (G″) cross. In this work, the rate of reaction, in terms of time to gelation, was studied in N,N‐dimethylformamide solution for which the amount of PEMA, the reaction temperature, and the overall reaction concentration were varied. Exponential relationships were found between the gelation time and % PEMA, temperature, and % solids, as well as between elastic modulus with either % PEMA or % solids. The concentration of PEMA had the largest impact on gelation time, for which going from 2.5% PEMA to 6% PEMA reduced the gelation time from 63,114 to 1,576 s. The temperature dependence of this gelation reaction was well described by an Arrhenius plot with an apparent activation energy of 50.5 kJ/mol.     

Soil carbon distribution and quality in a montane rangeland-forest mosaic in northern Utah

Relatively little is known about soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in montane ecosystems of the semi-arid western U.S. or the stability of current SOC pools under future climate change scenarios. We measured the distribution and quality of SOC in a mosaic of rangeland-forest vegetation types that occurs under similar climatic conditions on non-calcareous soils at Utah State University's T.W. Daniel Experimental Forest in northern Utah: the forest types were aspen [Populus tremuloides] and conifer (mixture of fir [Abies lasiocarpa] and spruce [Picea engelmannii]); the rangeland types were sagebrush steppe [Artemisia tridentata], grass-forb meadow, and a meadow-conifer ecotone. Total SOC was calculated from OC concentrations, estimates of bulk density by texture and rock-free soil volume in five pedons. The SOC quality was expressed in terms of leaching potential and decomposability. Amount and aromaticity of water-soluble organic carbon (DOC) was determined by water extraction and specific ultra violet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA) of leached DOC. Decomposability of SOC and DOC was derived from laboratory incubation of soil samples and water extracts, respectively.

Although there was little difference in total SOC between soils sampled under different vegetation types, vertical distribution, and quality of SOC appeared to be influenced by vegetation. Forest soils had a distinct O horizon and higher SOC concentration in near-surface mineral horizons that declined sharply with depth. Rangeland soils lacked O horizons and SOC concentration declined more gradually. Quality of SOC under rangelands was more uniform with depth and SOC was less soluble and less decomposable (i.e., more stable) than under forests. However, DOC in grass-forb meadow soils was less aromatic and more bioavailable, likely promoting C retention through cycling. The SOC in forest soils was notably more leachable and decomposable, especially near the soil surface, with stability increasing with soil depth. Across the entire dataset, there was a weak inverse relationship between the decomposability and the aromaticity of DOC. Our data indicate that despite similar SOC pools, vegetation type may affect SOC retention capacity under future climate projections by influencing potential SOC losses via leaching and decomposition.     

Hemorrhage in the central canal of the cervical spinal cord in a coonhound diagnosed with canine juvenile polyarteritis (steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis)

Patchy meningeal and parenchymal contrast enhancement of the spinal cord with multifocal central canal dilations was noted in a computed tomography myelogram of the cervical spine of a 6-month-old intact female coonhound with a confirmed diagnosis of canine juvenile polyarteritis and associated hemorrhage within the central canal.