Casein hydrolyzate intramammary treatment improves the comfort behavior of cows induced into dry-off

The effectiveness of casein hydrolyzate as mean to improve the welfare of cows induced into involution was tested in high yielding cows induced into dry-off by abrupt cessation of milking. Treatment with casein hydrolysate prevented build up of udder pressure in cows induced into dry off and was clearly associated with signs (lying behavior and step numbers) that they were calmer and more comfortable than cows induced into dry off by the conventional means. We conclude that treatment with casein hydrolyzate is a viable treatment tool that can prevent the suffering associated with drying-off of high-yielding modern dairy cows.     

Book reviews

Rodents in Agriculture: A Review of Findings in Bangladesh. By H. Posamentier: Sonderpublikation der GTZ No. 176, 1989, 107 pp. ISBN 3–88085–306–1. Price DM 22.00 (approx. £7.50 or US$13.00).

Motivating Farmers for Action: how strategic multimedia campaigns can help; results and experiences of the Bangladesh rat control campaign. By R. Adhikarya and H. Posamentier. Eshborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), 1987, pp. 209. ISBN 3–88085–289–8.     

Geographical pattern and ploidy levels of the weed Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae) from Argentina

A total of 106 samples taken from natural Argentinean populations of the weedy Solanum elaeagnifolium (subgenus Leptostemonum) were studied cytologically to understand the impact of the different ploidy levels in its distribution and origin. Classical Feulgen staining was employed to determine mitotic chromosome numbers in all samples. 2C nuclear DNA content was determined by means of PI flow cytometry in eight samples of different ploidy levels. Principal component analysis and GIS tools were employed to compare altitude, annual precipitation and annual mean temperature among accessions. Three cytotypes were found: diploid (2n?=?24) which is widespread, tetraploid (2n?=?48) centered in western and southern Argentina, and hexaploid (2n?=?72) which predominates in central Argentina extending as well to the east. The annual precipitation is significantly different between tetraploids and hexaploids. Cx-values ranged from 1.231 to 1.275?pg, with statistical differences (of about 24.5–50.9?Mbp, p?≤?0.05) among accessions. Diploids are the most widespread cytotype and have adapted to a number of very different habitats. Tetraploids live in arid or semi-arid regions with a mean annual rainfall less than 500?mm. Hexaploids are successful in colonizing wetter areas, where no tetraploids were found. Thus, the distribution of cytotypes may be associated with habitat differences, particularly soil moisture. The observed cytotype pattern and the differences in DNA content suggest multiple places of origin for the polyploidy of S. elaeagnifolium in Argentina.     

Patterns of change in body condition in wintering Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds in shaded plantations in the Andes

Despite the widely accepted idea that shaded plantations are valuable habitats for Neotropical migrants in disturbed landscapes, little empirical evidence is available in relation to the quality of this habitat for Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds in the Andes. We evaluated the suitability of shaded plantations for overwintering Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds by examining diurnal and seasonal variation in body condition of migrants in these agroforests in the Andes. During October to April 2008–2009 and 2009–2010, we mist-netted eight species of Neotropical-Nearctic migrants in shaded plantations in the Colombian Andes. Body condition improved throughout the day for Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca), Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina), and especially Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis). Similarly, body condition improved across the season for Tennessee Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), and Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra). Our results provided additional evidence that several common Neotropical migrants, including species of conservation concern such as Cerulean Warbler and Canada Warbler, may improve their body condition in shaded plantations. However, about half of the species assessed in this study did not show any significant improvement in their body condition (e.g. Red-eyed Vireo). Furthermore, on average, species were in poor condition (i.e. body condition scores were negative) in these coffee farms. Thus, the extent to which this agricultural system represents high quality habitat should be looked with caution. Overall, our data contribute novel information on daily patterns of body condition improvement for several common migratory birds in Andean shaded plantations.     

Anabolism,catabolism and proteomic analysis in the slow‐twitch muscle of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) submitted to prolonged fasting followed by refeeding

Here, we aimed to study the slow muscle of the fish Piaractus mesopotamicus submitted to 30 days of fasting (D30) followed by 1 day (D31) or 30 days of refeeding (D60). Histological analysis of fibre diameter was performed in D30 and D60. The gene expression of parvalbumin (pvalb), atrogenes (murf1a, murf1b, mafbx) and anabolic genes (igf‐1, mtor) was analysed using RT‐qPCR in D30, D31 and D60. The proteome was obtained by shotgun proteomics at D30 and D60, and the set of differentially expressed proteins was analysed by bioinformatics. In all experiments, the control was regularly fed fish. The histological analysis showed no changes in muscle fibre diameter. The expression of catabolic and anabolic genes was not changed, except for the downregulation of igf‐1 in D30 and of mafbx in D31. The expression of pvalb was not changed in D30 and D60 but was decreased in D31. The proteomic analysis identified 169 proteins in D30 (24 upregulated and 18 downregulated) and 170 proteins in D60 (17 upregulated and 21 downregulated); many of them were related to energetic metabolism and intracellular Ca²⁺ homoeostasis. Overall, our results indicate that the slow‐twitch muscle presented few changes upon prolonged fasting and refeeding condition.     

Variant allometric scaling relationships between bud size and secondary shoot growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus faginea</Emphasis>: implications for the climatic modulation of canopy growth

• Introduction and statement of the research questions  

The relationships between primary and secondary growth in tree populations of contrasting climates are poorly understood. We tested the hypotheses that bud size and stem cross-sectional area are related through allometric relationship in shoots and that their scaling slopes change in response to climatic stress.     

Collaborative development of the Arrowsmith two node search interface designed for laboratory investigators

Arrowsmith is a unique computer-assisted strategy designed to assist investigators in detecting biologically-relevant connections between two disparate sets of articles in Medline. This paper describes how an inter-institutional consortium of neuroscientists used the UIC Arrowsmith web interface http://arrowsmith.psych.uic.edu in their daily work and guided the development, refinement and expansion of the system into a suite of tools intended for use by the wider scientific community.     

Liming as an ameliorator of copper toxicity in black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.)

This study aimed to assess the effect of liming as an ameliorator of copper (Cu) toxicity in black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) grown in soil with a sandy texture. The treatments were soil supplementation with increasing doses of lime (0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 g kg^?1) and two of Cu (0 and 50 mg kg^?1). Pre-germinated black oat seeds were sown for 30 days in the soil, subsequently, the plant height, root and shoot dry mass and concentration of total chlorophyll, chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids and total soluble carbohydrates and starch were analyzed. The dose of 50 mg kg^?1 soil Cu caused a toxic effect on black oat plant growth and development, affected the internal distribution of nutrients, decreased the leaf chlorophyll concentration and increased the leaf concentration of total soluble carbohydrates and starch. Increasing lime doses ameliorated the toxic effects of Cu.