Cd Distribution in the Tissues of Oysters (Crassostrea Gigas) Exposed Chronically In Situ

This study was designed to monitor the evolution of the nature of Cd-binding molecular compounds in oysters transplanted from a low-contaminated area to a highly Cd-polluted site. These compounds have been compared to those found in oysters from the low-contaminated site, used as control, and from the native molluscs of the polluted area. We have also studied the influence of the length of exposure, collecting oysters after transplantation having been going on for 1 or 3 months. We have compared the quantities of Cd bound to soluble or insoluble compounds. The Cd distribution among cytosolic compounds was analyzed by gel permeation. Four classes of Cd-binding molecular compounds were separated and their relative significance in metal fixation was found to differ among resident and transplanted oysters.     

Cooking behavior of rice in relation to kernel physicochemical and structural properties

A set of 27 rice varieties were evaluated for their morphological grain characteristics (length, width, thickness, thousand kernel weight, TKW), chemical composition (amylose, protein, and ash content) and starch properties (gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, amylose-lipid complex). In addition, cell walls were characterized by the arabinoxylan and beta-glucan contents. A rapid method for determining optimum rice cooking time was developed based on the swelling ratio; a fixed value of 2.55 gave a gelatinization level of 95% assessed by differential scanning calorimetry and translucence testing. Optimum cooking time appears positively correlated with kernel thickness and TKW but also with ash content. Confocal laser and scanning electron microscope observation of uncooked rice grains revealed different structural features (cell size) and fracture behavior: for some cultivars, the fracture showed ruptured cells, whereas for others most cells were intact. These structural differences, which may be linked to pectin content, could partly explain rice kernel cooking behavior.     

Phenotypic Variation of Agromorphological Traits of the Shea Tree, Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn., in Mali

Forty-one shea tree populations were sampled, spanning the main climatic zones of Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn. in Mali and 10–35 adult trees were chosen randomly in the agroforestry parklands of each area. A total of 12 morphological traits, related to tree morphology, fruit size and leaf form were measured. The variance components showed that variation among populations represented the smaller percentage of the total variation with most of the values varying between 15 and 30%. The repeatability coefficient was generally high for tree within populations with values ranging between 0.23 and 0.78. Although genetic correlations cannot be accurately estimated, due to difficulties in separation from environmental effects, the results indicate that there is a very low genetic relation between the three kinds of traits, i.e., between those related to tree, those related to leaf and those related to fruit. Leaf and fruit size traits were positively and significantly correlated with rainfall, although tree circumference was negatively correlated with rainfall and the significantly larger shea trees were noted in the drier areas – an observation thought linked to human management of the parklands. Soil drainage and parkland density, however, did not explain differences between populations for fruit traits. This study offers preliminary information for the development of a breeding population for a shea tree improvement programme. The value of repeatability, the low correlation between sets of traits and the distribution of variation, suggest that selection of many individual trees within a few populations, would allow capture of large genetic gain especially for fruit traits.     

Quantification of circulating tumour cells over time in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma

Enumeration of circulating tumour cells (CTC) has shown promise for prognostication and guidance of therapeutic decisions in human cancers. The objective of this study was to enumerate CTC over time in dogs with naturally occurring osteosarcoma (OSA), and to determine correlation with patient outcome. Twenty-six dogs with OSA and no evidence of metastatic disease at the time of amputation were enrolled. Dogs were assessed for lung metastases and CTC prior to and following amputation, and at each chemotherapy visit. Twenty-one dogs completed the study. Nineteen dogs were euthanized and two were alive and free of metastases. Overall survival time ranged from 88 to 1058 days (median survival time (MST) 374 days). Increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity, advanced age, and higher body weight were significantly associated with lower MST. Dogs with OSA had a mean of 356 (0 to 4443) CTC/10⁶ leukocytes. In 12 of 15 dogs that developed radiographic evidence of metastasis, a pre-metastatic CTC spike was retrospectively detectable on average 36.5 (1–100 days) days prior to metastasis and was associated with significantly shorter MST (301 ± 64 vs. 626 ± 55 days; p = .0107). In a multivariable analysis, dogs with a CTC spike were 10× more likely to die compared with those without. These results suggest that a spike in CTC frequency precedes detection of metastasis in dogs with OSA and is associated with shorter survival. More frequent enumeration of CTC in a larger cohort of dogs with OSA may be warranted.     

First Isolation of a Rabid Bat Infected with European Bat Lyssavirus in Luxembourg

Rabid bats are regularly reported in Europe, especially in countries that have implemented a bat surveillance network. In May 2013, bat rabies was evidenced for the first time in Luxembourg (southern city of Differdange). The rabies virus, an EBLV‐1b strain, was diagnosed in a serotine bat that bit a 29‐year‐old male person while he was asleep. The man received rapidly a post‐exposure RABV treatment and was put under strict medical supervision.     

Using near-infrared hyperspectral images on subalpine fir board. Part 2: Density and basic specific gravity estimation

Abstract

Wood density (ρ_MC) and basic specific gravity (BSG) are important properties in several forest products manufacturing processes. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral images were tested to produce two-dimensional (2D) ρ_MC and BSG images of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa Hook) board. A total of 107 cubic samples with the size of 4 cm were prepared from 14 boards. All samples were dried to various moisture contents (MCs) during several steps until being completely dried. The resulting MCs ranged from 1% to 137% (dry basis). After the last drying step, the samples were soaked in water to determine BSG. Hyperspectral images and weight measurements were acquired over each sample at each drying step. ρ_MC was also estimated at each MC level. Partial least squares (PLS) models were developed for estimating both ρ_MC and BSG from the near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) system absorbance spectra acquired over all the samples during each drying step. The ρ_MC model provides a reasonable accuracy with the validation data-set (R² = 0.81, RMSE = 39 kg/m³, and RPD = 2.3). For BSG, only models built with samples having MC of less than 12% are significant. The calibration data-set provides similar accuracy as the ρ_MC model (RMSE = 0.004, R² = 0.82, and RPD = 2.28), but the accuracy is lower with the validation data-set (RMSE = 0.007, R² = 0.53, and RPD = 1.39). Our data-set has BSG values varying only from 0.326 to 0.374, and further work is needed to apply these methods to a data-set that includes a more extended range of BSG variations for improving estimation accuracy.