Effect of conventional and minimum tillage on physical and biochemical stabilization of soil organic matter

The objectives were to investigate (1) to which extent water-stable macro- and microaggregates sequester organic matter (OM) in a minimum tillage (MT) system compared to a conventional tillage (CT) system and (2) if the content of biochemically stabilized OM differs between both tillage systems, and (3) to study the temporal dynamics of the distribution of aggregate size classes and of storage of OM within aggregates in the field. Surface soils (0–5 cm) and subsoils (10–20 cm) were sampled after fallow (March 2007) and directly after tillage (November 2007) from a long-term experimental field near Göttingen, Germany. Macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) were in general less abundant after fallow than directly after tillage. In March, only 21% (CT) and 45% (MT) of C_org was stored within macroaggregates in the surface soil, whereas in November, the percentages increased to 58% and 73%, respectively. CT and MT soils of both depths were incubated as bulk soil (CT_bulk, MT_bulk) and with macroaggregates disrupted (<0.25 mm) (CT_md, MT_md) for 28 days at 22°C and water content of 50% of the maximum water holding capacity. For the MT_bulk and MT_md surface soils, C mineralization was significantly higher compared to the CT soils. Incubation of md soils did not generally result in a significantly higher C mineralization compared to the respective bulk soils, except for the MT_md subsoil. Acid hydrolysis showed that the proportion of biochemically stabilized, nonhydrolysable, C_org to total C_org was lower in the MT than in the CT soils. Overall, the data indicate that the effect of physical stabilization of OM stored in the macroaggregates may not be a mechanism protecting very labile C with a turnover time of weeks, but that longer preservation likely occurs after macroaggregate transformation into microaggregates, and the surplus of OM found in the surface soil of MT does not only depend on the biochemically stabilized OM. Finally, our data suggest that the temporal variability of distribution of aggregate size classes in the field is large, but spatial and operator variability also contributed to the observed differences.     

Primary ureteral giant cell sarcoma in a Pomeranian

An 8-year-old male neutered Pomeranian dog was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Oregon State University for surgical treatment of hydronephrosis of the left kidney and a left cranial abdominal mass. A primary ureteral mass was found during exploratory surgery, and the mass was resected and ureteral anastomosis was performed. Cytologic evaluation of the mass revealed 3 distinct cell populations, including a large number of multinucleated giant cells, a moderate number of thin spindle-shaped cells, and cohesive clusters of transitional epithelial cells. The cytologic diagnosis was giant cell sarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination, and immunohistochemical staining was performed. The spindle-shaped cells and multinucleated giant cells were both immunoreactive for vimentin and spindle-shaped cells for S-100. Tumor cells did not express wide-spectrum cytokeratin, broad-spectrum muscle actin, smooth muscle actin, sarcomeric actin, desmin, BLA36, Mac 387, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acid protein, or von Willebrand factor. These findings are most consistent with an anaplastic sarcoma with giant cells. This is the first case report of a primary ureteral giant cell sarcoma in a dog.     

Biomechanical comparison of cortical radial graft versus ulnar transposition graft limb-sparing techniques for the distal radial site in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of radial graft (RG) versus ulnar transposition graft (UTG) limb-sparing techniques in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric study. ANIMALS: Six pairs of normal canine thoracic limbs. METHODS: In each pair of limbs, 1 limb was subjected to the RG technique and the other to the UTG technique. Limbs were tested in axial loading until failure. Modes of failure and biomechanical properties were compared between the 2 groups. Percent coverage of the metacarpal bone by the plate was retrospectively compared between the limbs that failed by fracture of the metacarpal bones and those that did not. RESULTS: RG limbs had significantly greater stiffness, yield load, maximum load, maximum energy, and post-yield energy. All UTG limbs failed by cranial bending of the plate. Half of the RG limbs failed by caudal bending of the plate and half by fracture of the third metacarpal bone at the distal end of the plate. Limbs with <80% plate coverage of the metacarpal bone were significantly more likely to fail by metacarpal fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The RG technique was biomechanically superior to the UTG technique under the conditions studied. At least 80% plate coverage of the metacarpal bone should be achieved. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Exercise restriction and coaptation bandages should be considered for patients undergoing the UTG technique to minimize potential biomechanical complications.     

Therapeutic effects of recombinant feline interferon-omega on feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected and FeLV/feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-coinfected symptomatic cats

The clinical efficacy of a recombinant feline interferon, rFeIFN-omega, was evaluated for the treatment of cats presented with clinical signs associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and FeLV/feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) coinfection in the field. In this multicentric, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 81 cats meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly placed into 2 groups and treated subcutaneously with rFelFN-omega (1 million [M]U/kg per day) or placebo once daily for 5 consecutive days in 3 series (day 0, 14, 60). The cats were monitored for up to 1 year for clinical signs and mortality. During the initial 4-month period, interferon (IFN)-treated cats (n = 39) had significantly reduced clinical scores compared with placebo (n = 42), with all cats having received concomitant supportive therapies. Compared with the control, the IFN-treated group showed significantly lower rates of mortality: 39% versus 59% (1.7-fold higher risk of death for controls) at the 9-month time point and 47% versus 59% (1.4-fold higher risk of death for controls) at the 12-month time point. The IFN treatment was associated with minor but consistent improvement in abnormal hematologic parameters (red blood cell count, packed cell volume, and white blood cell count), apparently underlying the positive effects of IFN on clinical parameters. These data demonstrate that rFeIFN-omega initially has statistically significant therapeutic effects on clinical signs and later on survival of cats with clinical signs associated with FeLV infection and FeLV/FIV coinfection.     

Evaluation of a vacuum collector for insect pest control in potato

A field scale vacuum insect collector designed for the control of the Colorado Potato Beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) was tested on potatoes in 1990. The vacuum collector was more effective against adults and small larvae than against large larvae. Results suggested that a large proportion of potato aphids can also be removed from plants. The spread of plant diseases PSTVd and PVX, readily transmitted by contact, was not increased by the repeated use of the vacuum collector.     

Evidence for ozone formation in human atherosclerotic arteries

Here, we report evidence for the production of ozone in human disease. Signature products unique to cholesterol ozonolysis are present within atherosclerotic tissue at the time of carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that ozone production occurred during lesion development. Furthermore, advanced atherosclerotic plaques generate ozone when the leukocytes within the diseased arteries are activated in vitro. The steroids produced by cholesterol ozonolysis cause effects that are thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including cytotoxicity, lipid-loading in macrophages, and deformation of the apolipoprotein B-100 secondary structure. We propose the trivial designation "atheronals" for this previously unrecognized class of steroids.     

Use of diet and body condition assessments as intermediate indicators of translocation success in the Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

1. Intermediate metrics of translocation success are useful for long-lived, slow to mature species where survival and reproduction happen over decades.
2. With fewer than 150 individuals in the wild, the Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is one of the most threatened species on Earth. This study presents the first analysis of diet and body condition of wild Philippine crocodiles and headstarted (i.e. captive-reared) individuals released into the wild over the last decade, and uses these results to show how diet and body condition can be pertinent intermediate metrics of translocation success.
3. Analyses of stomach contents revealed 17 different aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate and vertebrate prey species. Interestingly, 70% of Philippine crocodiles showed snails to be the predominent prey type, followed by fish (36.7%), birds (33.3%) and reptiles (33.3%). More than 50% of crocodiles consumed the invasive golden apple snail, a leading agricultural pest. Regardless of crocodile history (wild vs. headstarted) or size class (juvenile vs. adult), no evidence was found for dietary differences in percentage occurrence, percentage composition or prey diversity.
4. Body condition was significantly higher in wild compared with headstarted individuals when analysed together in a pooled group, although neither group differed significantly from the standardized expectation, and headstarted individuals were not significantly different when body condition was derived independently for the two groups.
5. This study provides a working example of how assessing the convergence of diet and body condition between translocated and wild individuals can provide complementary monitoring parameters to demonstrate post-release establishment of translocated crocodylians. The congruent dietary composition and comparable body condition observed in this study suggest that headstarted crocodiles adapt well following release.
6. Crocodylus mindorensis survives in an agricultural landscape and is likely to play an ecologically important role by exploiting invasive species, reinforcing the importance of this species to local communities.

     

Lactation curves of dairy camels in an intensive system

Weekly milk records of 47 she-camels in a multibreed dairy camel herd were collected for over a period of 5 years. A total of 72 lactation curves were defined, and relationships with parity, calving season, lactation length, milk production level, following lactations, and dam weight were analyzed. Overall mean values were milk yield up to 12 months, 1,970?±?790 l; lactation length, 12.5 months; persistency, 94.7 %; weekly peak yield, 50.7 l; monthly peak yield, 220?±?90 l; and the number of weeks to reach peak yield, 28. The highest productivity was recorded in summer with a weekly mean of 48.2?±?19.4 l, compared with 34.1?±?16.3 l in winter. The highest average yield recorded was for camels at sixth parity, whereas the highest weekly peak was at eighth parity, and highest persistency at fifth parity. Camels that calved during the cold months (November to February) were most productives, with the highest persistency, peak yield, and longest lactation length. Four types of curves were identified corresponding to different parities and milk yield levels. Based on these data, specific models for camels are proposed.