Imidazenil,a new drug for the management of convulsions in organophosphate intoxication in rodents

The summary deals with the anti-convulsant and antilethal effects of a new benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist, imidazenil, in DFP intoxication. It has been demonstrated that imidazenil (2–5 mg kg⁻¹) significantly decreases convulsion intensity, rapidly inhibits seizure patterns in brain bioelectrical activity and significantly increases the anti-lethal efficacy of atropine plus obidoxime therapy. These effects are comparable to diazepam at 5 mg kg⁻¹. However, diazepam exhibits myorelaxant activity at therapeutic doses, which are only observed at 5–10 times the therapeutic doses of imidazenil.     

Top-crossing with evaluation of slaughtering value in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) offspring

A three-year test of growth performance andoffspring survival from top-crossing of commoncarp hybrids in low altitude (350 m above thesea level, middle European climate) and in highaltitude (750 m above the sea level, middleEuropean climate) was terminated by assessmentof slaughtering value of edible parts in therespective strains. A recently establishedHungarian synthetic mirror carp strain (HSM)was chosen for testing as maternal strain. TheHSM, as well as wild Amur carp (AC), Ropshacarp (ROP) and Tata carp (TAT) were used aspaternal strains.The evidential strain*altitude interactioneffect was demonstrated as significant forweight of fish (0.0005), fillet without skin(0.0001), index of highbackedness (0.005),index of head length (0.0404),Fulton's coefficient (0.0497),index of widebackedness (0.0315) andgonadosomatic index (0.0082). The interactioneffect was demonstrated as insignificantbetween altitude*sex and betweenstrain*sex.The comparative test of analysis of variance(ANOVA) revealed significantly (P < 0.05)higher weight of fish after killing on lowaltitude (1611.6 g) than on high altitude(1090.3 g), but processed body yield andpercentage of fillet without skin was notsignificantly different (64.0 and 34.2 for lowaltitude, 64.2 and 33.4 for high altitude). Thepercentage of processed body weight andpercentage of fillet without skin in analysisboth altitudes were significantly better infemales (65.5 and 34.6%) than in males (62.5and 33.00%), respectively. The highestsignificant differences in weight of fish afterkilling were found between HSM (890.8 g) andHSM × AC (1283.3 g) in high altitude. In lowaltitude, it was between HSM (1527.2 g) andHSM × AC (1706.9 g) and HSM × ROP (1693.0 g).     

Comparison of photosynthetic induction and transient limitations during the induction phase in young and mature leaves from three poplar clones

We tested the hypothesis that leaf age affects photosynthetic induction, because conductance to CO2 diffusion usually decreases with increasing leaf age. Photosynthetic inductions, primarily determined by the light modulation of Rubisco activity and stomatal opening, were investigated in both young and mature leaves, as defined by leaf plastochron index (LPI), from three poplar clones: Populus alba L., P. nigra L. and P. x euramericana (Dode) Guinier. In all clones, maximum assimilation rates (A max), maximum stomatal conductance (G Smax) and dark respiration rates (RD) were higher in young leaves (LPI = 3-5) than in mature leaves (LPI = 10-14), and A max decreased from P. alba via P. x euramericana to P. nigra. The clones with high photosynthetic capacity had low induction states 60 s after leaf illumination (IS60; indicating a slow initial induction phase), and required less time to reach 90% photosynthetic induction (T90). In contrast, the clone with the lowest photosynthetic capacity (P. nigra) exhibited high IS60 (high initial induction state) but a long induction time (high T90). A comparison of mature leaves with young leaves revealed significantly (P < 0.01) lower IS60 values in mature leaves of P. nigra only, and significantly higher T90 values in mature leaves of P. alba only. In all clones, young leaves exhibited a lower percentage of maximum transient stomatal limitation during photosynthetic induction (4-9%) compared with mature leaves (16-30%). Transient biochemical limitation, assessed on the basis of the time constants of Rubisco activation (tau), was significantly higher in mature leaves than in young leaves of P. alba; whereas there were no significant differences in tau between young and mature leaves of the other poplar clones. Thus, our hypothesis that leaf age affects photosynthetic induction was confirmed at the level of transient stomatal limitation, which was significantly higher in mature leaves than in young leaves in all clones. For the induction parameters IS60, T90 and tau, photosynthetic induction was more clone-specific and was dependent on leaf age only in some cases, an observation that may apply to other tree species.     

Potential vector species of carp edema virus (CEV)

During a PCR‐based CEV survey in Poland in 2015–2017, the virus was detected in many farms both in clinical and asymptomatic cases and in common as well as in koi carp (Cyprinus carpio). In order to evaluate the potential carrier role of fish species that share the same habitats with carp, an experimental trial was performed. Investigations carried out on specimens of bleak (Alburnus alburnus), crucian carp (Carassius carassius), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and tench (Tinca tinca) cohabited with CEV‐infected carp yielded positive results. These species of fish were experimentally cohabited with CEV‐infected common carp at a temperature of 16°C ± 1. Material from the brain, gills, spleen, kidneys, intestine and skin was investigated for the presence of CEV DNA. Similar investigations were performed with uninfected fish designated controls. Samples were tested for CEV by qPCR.     

Dietary isoflavone intake and tissue concentration in cultured sturgeons

A common global trend in modern aquaculture is to reduce or replace fishmeal in fish diets with alternative protein sources, mainly from protein‐rich plants such as soybean; however, plant‐based aquafeeds are a source of substantial amounts of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens belong to endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which can negatively interfere with fish reproduction; thus, they should be avoided in sturgeon diet. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate concentrations and the profile of dietary isoflavone phytoestrogens in the two commercial sturgeon diets. A substantial amount of isoflavones, reaching in total from 1.5 to 50 mg/kg of feed, were found in analysed diets. Genistein and daidzein, which are typical constituents of soybean, were the most abundant phytoestrogens in the analysed feeds. Equol, the third most abundant phytoestrogen in the tested samples, was originated most probably from animal components. Additionally, the accumulation of dietary isoflavones in the liver, blood and gonads of two commonly farmed sturgeon species (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and Acipenser baerii) after long‐term dietary exposure was also assessed. Significant concentrations of isoflavones were found in liver and blood samples of both sturgeon species at 600th and 800th dph, indicating high accumulation of these compounds, which may lead to endocrine disturbance.     

Dietary n‐3/n‐6 ratio affects the biochemical composition of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) semen but not indicators of sperm quality

In general, the effects of dietary fatty acids (FA) on sperm quality have received less attention than egg quality, and were never studied in perch. This study investigated the effects of dietary FAs on the quality and chemical composition of sperm in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). Two experimental diets containing 16% lipids and 45% proteins were compared. The n‐3/n‐6 ratios tested were 0.2 for diet 1 (D1) and 7.0 for diet 2 (D2). No significant effects of the n‐3/n‐6 ratio were observed on the sperm characteristics, either in terms of the sperm volume (around 1.2 mL) and density, spermatozoa motility (94%) and velocity, or the sperm osmolality. All these parameters corresponded to semen of good quality in Eurasian perch. Interestingly, both the FA composition and the lipid class profile of the semen were correlated to the tested diet. However, basal levels of certain highly unsaturated FAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5 n‐3 and docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n‐3, were maintained in the sperm irrespective of the diet tested. Perch semen was characterized by high levels of cholesterol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. In conclusion, the dietary n‐3/n‐6 ratio affects the lipid composition of perch semen but not the indicators of sperm quality.     

Cuphea growth, yield, and oil characteristics as influenced by climate and soil environments across the upper Midwest USA

Cuphea is a potential new oilseed crop rich in medium-chain fatty acids (C8:0 to C14:0) that may serve as a renewable, biodegradable source of oil for lubricants, motor oil, and aircraft fuel. Impacts of climate and soil environment on cuphea growth and development are not well understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of climate and soil on growth, seed yield, and seed oil characteristics of two semi-domesticated cuphea genotypes [PSR23 and HC-10 (Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. × C. lanceolata W.T. Aiton)] and three wild species [Cuphea wrightii, Cuphea lutea, and C. viscosissima (VS-6-CPR-1)] that show potential for domestication. The study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 at field sites in North Dakota (ND), Minnesota (MN), Iowa (IA), and Illinois (IL). Cuphea PSR23 and HC-10 were direct seeded in the field, while the three wild species were transplanted. The two plantings were treated as separate experiments. Plant growth, seed yield and oil content for the two direct-seeded lines tended to be distinctly greater in MN and ND than IL and IA, which was related more to growth temperature than soil environment. The three wild species generally performed similarly across the four different environments. C. wrightii had the greatest oil content, ranging from 320 to 360 g kg⁻¹, which was comprised of 59-64% lauric acid. For each genotype, the content of its most prominent saturated medium-chain fatty acid (e.g., C10:0 or C12:0) increased with decreasing latitude of field site. Seed yields for C. wrightii and C. lutea were as high as 1116 kg ha⁻¹. Combined with relatively high seed oil contents (280-350 g kg⁻¹) these species may be good candidates for domestication. Results indicate that PSR23 and HC-10 are more regionally adapted than the wild species studied, which tended to exhibit a greater range of adaptability to climate and soil conditions.     

Restoring forests: regeneration and ecosystem function for the future

Conventions and policies for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation state the need for increased protection, restoration and climate change adaptation of forests. Much degraded land may be targeted for large-scale forest restoration, yet challenges include costs, a shortage of regeneration material and the need for restored forests to serve as a resource for communities. To ensure ecosystem function for the future, forest restoration programs must: (1) learn from the past; (2) integrate ecological knowledge; (3) advance regeneration techniques and systems; (4) overcome biotic and abiotic disturbances and (5) adapt for future forest landscapes. Historical forest conditions, while site-specific, may help to identify the processes that leave long-term legacies in current forests and to understand tree migration biology/population dynamics and their relationship with climate change. Ecological theory around plant–plant interactions has shown the importance of negative (competition) and positive (facilitation) interactions for restoration, which will become more relevant with increasing drought due to climate change. Selective animal browsing influences plant–plant interactions and challenges restoration efforts to establish species-rich forests; an integrated approach is needed to simultaneously manage ungulate populations, landscape carrying capacity and browse-tolerant regeneration. A deeper understanding of limiting factors that affect plant establishment will facilitate nursery and site preparation systems to overcome inherent restoration challenges. Severe anthropogenic disturbances connected to global change have created unprecedented pressure on forests, necessitating novel ecological engineering, genetic conservation of tree species and landscape-level approaches that focus on creating functional ecosystems in a cost-effective manner.