Influences stationnelles sur l'alteration chimique des sols derives de till (Sherbrooke, Que., Canada)

In a small watershed of the canadian Appalachians, five trenches were studied in two catenas facing each other, one forested, the other under recent prairie vegetation (100 years of age), to investigate the character of chemical weathering in these sites. On the top of the forested catena there was a humo-ferric fragic podzol, and further down, and orthic gleysol. The other catena had a humo-ferric fragic podzol, then, downwards, a grey gleyified luvisol and a luvic fragic gleysol. Percolating waters near these trenches were sampled regularly, at various depth. The distribution of the ions on the meadow side indicated on one hand that H₄SiO₄, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ in percolating waters are related to the total volume of soil through wich waters percolate, that the dissolution of aluminium is accelerated in acid sites (upslope) and that the solubility of iron reaches a maximum in the zone influenced by the water table. On the other hand, calcium, which is easily liberated in the high sections, is in part fixed when the solutions get concentrated, iron and aluminium are soon traped, silicium is less mobile than the basic cations. The constituants of primary minerals organize as follows: concentration of Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ upslope, when the contrary is for the basic oxydes and SiO₂; this trend stands out more clearly in the top 30 cm. Thus on top of the forested catena, chemical weathering is intense, the aluminium and iron oxydes are highly evacuated in this podzol. At the same altitude, in the prairie podzol, which probaly had 100 years ago a less acidifying vegetation (hardwoods) than in the first case, feldspars and micas are degraded and we find mostly transformed minerals (montmorillonite — Al). Minerals are very much less degraded downslope because of their confined position and the high ionic content of the percolating waters.     

Geomorphological evidence for fluvial change during the Roman period in the lower Rhone valley (southern France)

The hydrological and geomorphological dynamics of the lower Rhone river (southern France) are studied during the Roman period (2nd–1st centuries BC, 2nd–3rd centuries AD). The crossing of archaeological and radiocarbon dating methods allow to study events at a pluridecadal to centennial scale. From the Avignon town to the delta, the 15 sites where Roman fluvial dynamics were recorded show higher flooding frequencies, higher energy levels during floods, rises in the marshes or groundwater levels, and/or active morphological dynamics such as channel migrations from 1st century BC to 1st–2nd centuries AD, with respect to the encircling periods. Although this fluvial change does not reach the amplitude of great climatic events such as the Little Ice Age in the Rhone valley, we show that it is also perceived in other parts of the catchment and could have a climatic origin. However, this event is not recorded in the immediate Mediterranean environment of the lower Rhone, so that the Rhone appears to efficiently transmit a foreign climatic change.     

Antibodies to Berne virus in horses and other animals

After inoculation into 2 foals, Berne virus induced neutralizing antibody, but did not cause clinical symptoms. In a horizontal study of seropositive mares and their offspring, a decline of maternal antibodies and a sudden synchronous seroconversion in all foals were observed, again without clinical symptoms. The virus is widespread in the Swiss horse population and has been so during the last decade; rises in antibody titers were noted in 9% of paired sera sampled at random. Positive reactions were also obtained in serum neutralization tests and ELISA using small numbers of horse sera from Germany, France and the U.S.A. The results of neutralization tests and ELISA were correlated in 83% of random samples tested; 13% were neutralization-positive and ELISA-negative and in 4% the inverse was observed. Neutralizing activity was found in the sera of other ungulates (cattle, goat, sheep and pig), laboratory rabbits and 2 species of wild mice (Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus sylvaticus). Inconclusive results were obtained with feline and human sera; those from dogs and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were consistently negative. The probable occurrence of antigenic variants in Berne-type viruses is discussed.     

Immune responses after local administration of IgY loaded-PLGA microspheres in gut-associated lymphoid tissue in pigs

Oral vaccination of large animals using PLGA MS (poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)microspheres) appeared to be more challenging than immunization of mice. The purpose of this study was to deliver to GALT an immunogenic model protein (IgY), free or encapsulated by spray-drying in PLGA MS, and to evaluate systemic immune response in SPF Large White pigs. Pigs were surgically processed for local administration of IgY in three sets of experiments. In two sets of experiments, administration was locally performed in temporary ligatured intestinal segments, in jejunal Peyer's patches and in mesenteric lymph nodes. In the third experiment, pigs received IgY via an intestinal cannula. Total IgY-specific antibodies were detected in the sera of pigs after a single local immunization, but not in the sera of cannulated pigs. The study of IgG1 and IgG2 isotypes indicated that PLGA MS are able to elicit a combined serum IgG2/G1 response with a predominance of IgG1 response when locally administered. PLGA MS can be a potential oral delivery system for antigen but our results underlined the difficulty to immunize large animals like pigs. Transposition of data between small and large animals appears to be complex and suggests that physiological features need to be considered to increase intestinal availability of oral encapsulated vaccines.     

Successful treatment of an intrathoracic bronchogenic cyst in a Holstein-Friesian calf

A 5-½-month-old female Holstein-Friesian calf was presented with a history of recurring ruminal tympany and poor development. The absence of lung sounds on the right hemithorax suggested a right-sided intrathoracic pathology. Radiography and computed tomography revealed a large thin-walled cavernous lesion with a gas-fluid interface which almost completely filled the right thoracic cavity. Fluid aspirated from the lesion was clear, yellowish and odorless. These findings led to the diagnosis of a bronchogenic cyst. Thoracotomy was performed under general anesthesia. The cyst strongly adhered to the adjacent lung tissue. After removal of the free wall, the adjacent lung tissue was sealed using surgical stapling instruments, and the non-removable part of the wall was curetted and rinsed. The intensive postoperative management included antibiotic therapy, oxygen supplementation and regional lidocaine infusion. Anti-inflammatory drugs were administered for further pain control. The calf recovered well and was released from the clinic on postoperative day 11. Intra- or extrathoracic bronchogenic cysts result from abnormal budding during the embryonic development of the tracheobronchial system. Successful treatment of this calf despite the size of the lesion and the invasive character of the surgical intervention indicates that resection of bronchogenic cysts in cattle may be an option for valuable animals.     

Does systemic lidocaine reduce ketamine requirements for endotracheal intubation in calves?

Objective

To investigate whether an intravenous (IV) lidocaine bolus in calves premedicated with xylazine-butorphanol reduces the amount of ketamine required to allow endotracheal intubation.

Anatomical and biochemical trait network underlying genetic variations in tomato fruit texture

Firmness is an indicator of fruit freshness and a main component of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit texture. In this work, the genetic variability in fruit firmness and stiffness was analyzed in pre- and postharvest periods and underlying anatomical and biochemical traits were identified. Three tomato contrasted parental lines and six derived quantitative trait loci (QTL)-NILs harboring texture QTL on chromosome 4 (QTL4) and 9 (QTL9) were analyzed; the seasonal variability was assessed on two distant trusses. Firmness and stiffness were measured by compression and puncture tests at harvest and after 7-day storage at 20 °C. QTL4 poorly influenced the textural variables, on the contrary to QTL9 which increased firmness measured by puncture test and had similar effects in the two genetic backgrounds. According to this test, firmness increased along the season, but ranks among genotypes and QTL effects were hardly affected. Only some of the QTL effects were still significant after storage and firmness losses were not predicted by firmness at harvest. Fruit firmness and stiffness measured by puncture tests correlated with both morphological (locular number, R = −0.89), histological (cell size, R < −0.80) and biochemical (dry matter (R > 0.82) and soluble sugar content (R < −0.74)) fruit traits. In contrast, compression test values hardly correlated with any of the measured traits. This work provided an original comprehensive approach to analyse fleshy fruit firmness and paves the way for a future predictive model.