Hereditary and clinical characteristics of lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon in Shetland sheepdogs

A study was conducted to define the mode of inheritance of lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in different lines of Shetland sheepdogs by examination of pedigree data. This pedigree analysis included affected and unaffected dams, sires, and offspring; common clinical signs; and age at onset. The clinical, histopathologic, and radiographic features of the disease were also studied. Of the 14 offspring from five matings of an affected sire to unrelated affected females, 100% were affected with lateral luxation of the SDF tendon. Of the 59 offspring from the same affected sire to unrelated, unaffected females, 44% were affected. The mating between normal parents produced 61% unaffected and 39% affected offspring. Application of the phenotypic findings in this study to a Mendelian genetic model of inheritance suggests that lateral luxation of the superficial digital tendon in Shetland sheepdogs is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive trait.     

Maternal immunity of tilapia broodstock vaccinated with polyvalent vaccine and resistance of their offspring against Streptococcus agalactiae

This study aimed to examine the use of Streptococcus agalactiae polyvalent vaccine in tilapia broodstock and the effect of maternal immunity and resistance on their offspring against S. agalactiae strain. The broodstock was injected with polyvalent vaccine of S. agalactiae at a dose of 10⁸ CFU per fish at 2nd gonadal maturity until spawning. Challenge test was carried out on the offspring at the 5, 10, 15 and 20 days after hatching using NK₁, N₁₇O, N₁₄G, N₃M, N₄M strain respectively and combination of them. We observed immunological parameters in broodstock, eggs and larvae and relative per cent survival (RPS) of larvae after challenged with pathogenic S. agalactiae. The results showed that the leukocytes, phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, lysozyme activity and antibody levels of vaccinated broodstock had higher level compared with unvaccinated broodstock. The high level of the lysozyme activity, antibody levels and recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) were also observed in eggs and larvae from vaccinated broodstock. Larvae produced from vaccinated broodstock when challenged with variety strain of pathogenic S. agalactiae had RPS value more than 50% until 20 days after hatching. In conclusion, polyvalent vaccine of S. agalactiae administrated in the broodstock could enhance immunity in the broodstock and protect their offspring from pathogenic S. agalactiae.     

Nonlinear regression for description of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) production

The aim of this study was to select growth models to describe strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)fruit production. To do this, data on 16 treatments (combination of 2 cultivars [Albion and Camarosa], 2 origins [National and Imported], and 4 organic substrates mixed [70% crushed sugar cane residue + 30% organic compost, 70% crushed sugar cane residue + 30% commercial substrate, 70% burnt rice husk + 30% organic compost, and 70% burnt rice husk + 30% commercial substrate]) conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replicates were used. Different parameterizations of the Logistic, Gompertz, and von Bertalanffy models were adjusted for number and weight of fruits per plant (g) accumulated in multiple harvests. The model adjustment and parameter estimation were obtained by ordinary least squares, using a Gauss Newton algorithm. The selection of the best model was chosen by intrinsic and parametric nonlinearity. Among the adjusted nonlinear models, the best adjustment for both variables was achieved by the parameterization 2 of the Logistic model and parameterization 1 of the Gompertz model, because they had lower results with less parametric and intrinsic nonlinearity. However, care should be taken when using the Gompertz model because it tends to overestimate the production estimate and may cause misunderstandings in interpretation.     

Airborne LiDAR-derived elevation data in terrain trafficability mapping

Heavy off-road traffic causes soil compaction and rutting, which can significantly reduce the yield of forest stands. Reliable information on terrain trafficability, that is, the ability of terrain to support the passage of vehicles, would enable significant enhancement of wood procurement planning and reduction of soil damage. The objective here was to determine the feasibility of airborne scanning light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-derived digital terrain models (DTM) in terrain trafficability mapping. Soil damage was inventoried from a total of 13?km of forwarding trails, and a logistic regression model was fitted for predicting the event of soil damage. DTM-derived soil wetness indices performed well as predictor variables, and DTM-derived local binary patterns also proved useful in terrain trafficability mapping. A prediction accuracy of 83.6% (Cohen’s kappa of 0.38) was observed for soil damage probability modelling, using only DTM-derived predictors, and a corresponding accuracy of 85.0% (kappa of 0.45) was achieved when an existing soil map was used as well. In addition to the topography-related features, soil stoniness proved to be a critical factor affecting soil resistance to rutting. Our results indicate that the utilisation of LiDAR-derived elevation data for terrain trafficability mapping is a feasible method in sustainable forest management.     

Comparison of terrestrial laser scanning and X-ray scanning in measuring Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) branch structure

While X-ray scanning is increasingly used to measure the interior quality of logs, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) could be used to collect information on external tree characteristics. As branches are one key indicator of wood quality, we compared TLS and X-ray scanning data in deriving whorl locations and each whorl’s maximum branch and knot diameters for 162 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) log sections. The mean number of identified whorls per tree was 37.25 and 22.93 using X-ray and TLS data, respectively. The lowest TLS-derived whorl in each sample tree was an average 5.56?m higher than that of the X-ray data. Whorl-to-whorl mean distances and the means of the maximum branch and knot diameters in a whorl measured for each sample tree using TLS and X-ray data had mean differences of ?0.12?m and ?6.5?mm, respectively. One of the most utilized wood quality indicators, tree-specific maximum knot diameter measured by X-ray, had no statistically significant difference to the tree-specific maximum branch diameter measured from the TLS point cloud. It appears challenging to directly derive comparative branch structure information using TLS and X-ray. However, some features that are extractable from TLS point clouds are potential wood quality indicators.     

Fate of the herbicides glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, phenmedipham, ethofumesate and metamitron in two Finnish arable soils

The fate of five herbicides (glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, phenmedipham, ethofumesate and metamitron) was studied in two Finnish sugar beet fields for 26 months. Soil types were sandy loam and clay. Two different herbicide-tolerant sugar beet cultivars and three different herbicide application schedules were used. Meteorological data were collected throughout the study and soil properties were thoroughly analysed. An extensive data set of herbicide residue concentrations in soil was collected. Five different soil depths were sampled. The study was carried out using common Finnish agricultural practices and represents typical sugar beet cultivation conditions in Finland. The overall observed order of persistence was ethofumesate > glyphosate > phenmedipham > metamitron > glufosinate-ammonium. Only ethofumesate and glyphosate persisted until the subsequent spring. Seasonal variation in herbicide dissipation was very high and dissipation ceased almost completely during winter. During the 2 year experiment no indication of potential groundwater pollution risk was obtained, but herbicides may cause surface water pollution.     

Injuries to scots pine mycorrhizas and chemical gradients in forest soil in the environment of a pulp mill in central Finland

The occurrence and condition of Scots pine mycorrhizas were studied at different distances from a pulp mill in Central Finland. The chemical analyses of the soil humus layer in the vicinity of the mill revealed increased levels of ammonium-nitrogen, sulphur and calcium but unaltered concentrations of phosphorus and magnesium. Higher nitrate levels and nitrification were clearly detected at some sites which had recently been limed. Significant decreases in root ramification index and number of living mycorrhizas were found in a zone 0–0.6 km zone surrounding the factory but these parameters increased with increasing distance. Within a 2 km zone around the mill there were abundantCenococcum geophilum andPaxillus involutus-type mycorrhizas while lowered frequencies of several other mycorrhizal types were detected. An ultrastructural study revealed changes in several types of mycorrhizas, the clearest of which were increased tannin deposition in cortical cells, intracellular growth of hyphae in cortical cells and the appearance of electron dense accumulations in the vacuoles of the fungal cells. The ultrastructural changes observed were distributed at least to a distance of 3 km from the mill and occurred in the roots of trees that had only a slight loss of needle mass. Nitrogen deposition is suspected to be the primary cause of root decline but atmospheric S0₂ through the tree crown is also likely to be a contributing factor.     

Chemical changes induced by methyl jasmonate in oilseed rape grown in the laboratory and in the field

The effect of methyl jasmonate (MJ) spraying on the chemistry of Brassica plants was investigated. Glucosinolates (GLS) in the leaves, stems, and roots of laboratory-grown oilseed rape (Brassica rapa subsp. oleifera cv. Tuli and Valo) 3 and 7 days after MJ treatment were analyzed. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from whole oilseed rape plants were collected 3 days after MJ treatment. GLS were also analyzed from field-grown oilseed rape (cv. Valo) treated with MJ. The production of indolyl GLS in laboratory-grown oilseed rape, especially the concentration of 4-hydroxy-3-indolylmethyl (4-OH-glucobrassicin) in leaves, stems, and roots, 3-indolylmethyl (glucobrassicin) in stems, and 4-methoxy-3-indolylmethyl (4-methoxyglucobrassicin) in roots, was induced after MJ treatment. The VOC emission profile changed after MJ treatment, and homoterpene (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) was detected only in MJ-treated plants. The GLS concentration in the field-grown plants was significantly higher in MJ-treated plants than in control plants. These results suggest that spraying with MJ induces the production of secondary compounds, that is, GLS and VOCs, in Brassica plants. The induction of VOC emissions in oilseed rape is comparable to that caused by insect feeding damage. Thus, MJ-treated crop plants may become less palatable to insect herbivores and more attractive to natural enemies of herbivores.     

Are phenolics leaching from the lichen Cladina stellaris sources of energy rather than allelopathic agents for soil microorganisms?

Lichen phenolics that are known to leach out from lichen thalli during rainfall episodes are considered to be allelopathic or antimicrobial agents. On the other hand, small organic molecules originating from aboveground vegetation generally constitute an important C source for the soil microbial community. We studied the effects of leaching lichen acids on soil microbial processes by chemically removing usnic (UA) and perlatolic acid (PA) from the extracellular space of mat-forming lichen, Cladina stellaris, a dominant component of the ground vegetation in boreal oligotrophic forests. Removal of UA and PA did not affect the intracellular contents of the lichen. We hypothesized that if lichen acids have an adverse effect on soil biota, microbial respiration would increase underneath chemically manipulated lichen mats. In turn, if these substances provide energy source for the microorganisms, microbial respiration would decline under lichens from which PA and UA has been removed. Microbial metabolic activity, qCO₂ was significantly lower under the lichens from which UA and PA had been removed, thus supporting the latter hypothesis. Removing UA and PA did not affect the amount of microbial C, N and P, or soil nutrient concentrations. Our results suggest that the microbial community in the soil under a lichen carpet is adapted to the presence of these lichen secondary metabolites and can utilize them as a C source. The approach of removing lichen substances from the system could be used as an effective research tool as it can overcome several problems that are often common in the studies on allelopathic interactions.     

The Role of Education in Self–Employment Success in Finland

This paper analyzes the effect of self–employed persons’ education on the success of their firms during the economic downturn and upturn of the 1990's. It is found that the business cycle affects the relative closure rates of firms run by self–employed with any level of education. Exit probability is lower for the highly educated during bust, but higher in boom. This is accounted for by two facts. First, running a small firm is argued to be a less attractive choice to wage work, particularly for the highly educated, due to lower earning prospects, less stable stream of earnings, and the cultural tradition of working in large corporations. Second, the highly educated faced a higher outside demand for their labor than did the less educated during economic upturn. Finally, it was found that regardless of the state of aggregate economy, firms run by the highly educated have higher growth probabilities than those run by less educated persons.