Development and evaluation of an endoscopic technique permitting rapid visualization of the cardiac region of the porcine stomach.

Our study was designed to ascertain whether a flexible videoscope could be used to efficiently monitor ulcers of the pars esophagea in a large group of grower-finisher swine. Gastroscopy was performed on 2 separate occasions in 32 pigs following anesthesia with intravenous pentobarbital, and ulcers of the pars esophagea were subjectively graded. The pigs were then necropsied. Grades from the second endoscopic examination were compared for agreement with grades derived from gross inspection of the pars esophagea at necropsy, and with grades derived from histopathologic examination of sections of the same region. The pars esophagea was adequately visualized in all endoscopic examinations. The average duration of each examination, from anesthetic induction, was approximately 8 min. Gastroscopy permitted appreciation of a wide range of focal and diffuse superficial and deep ulcerative lesions of the pars esophagea, but failed to unequivocally identify parakeratosis of the pars esophagea. Agreement between endoscopic and subsequent necroscopic and histopathologic gradings of ulcerations was poor. We concluded that the use of a flexible videoscope permitted rapid inspection of the pars esophagea, and was therefore a practical method of experimentally monitoring the progression of spontaneous gastric ulcers in pigs. We also postulated that the poor agreement between endoscopic and postmortem findings occurred because endoscopy was possibly more sensitive at detecting small and superficial ulcerations. However, further studies are needed to verify the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis of gastric ulcers in the live pig.     

N2O, NO, and NH3 Emissions from Soil after the Application of Organic Fertilizers, Urea and Water

Agricultural soil is a major source of nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric oxide (NO) and ammonia (NH₃). Little information is available on emissions of these gases from soils amended with organic fertilizers at different soil water contents. N₂O, NO and NH₃ emissions were measured in large-scale incubations of a fresh sandy loam soil and amended with four organic fertilizers, [poultry litter (PL), composted plant residues (CP), sewage sludge pellets (SP) and cattle farm yard manure (CM)], urea fertilizer (UA) or a zero-N control (ZR) for 38 days. Fertilizers were added to soil at 40, 60 or 80% water-filled pore space (WFPS). The results showed that urea and organic fertilizer were important sources of N₂O and NO. Total N₂O and NO emissions from UA ranged from 0.04 to 0.62%, and 0.23 to 1.55% of applied N, respectively. Total N₂O and NO emissions from organic fertilizer treatments ranged from 0.01 to 1.65%, and <0.01 to=" 0.55%=" of=" applied=" n,=" respectively.=" the=" lower=">₂O and NO emissions from CP and CM suggested that applying N is these forms could be a useful mitigation option. Comparison of the NO-N/N₂O-N ratio suggested that nitrification was more dominant in UA whereas denitrification was more dominant in the organic fertilizer treatments. Most N was lost from PL and UA as NH₃, and this was not influenced significantly by WFPS. Emissions of NH₃ from UA and PL ranged from 62.4 to 69.6%, and 3.17 to 6.11% of applied N, respectively.     

Conservation-oriented forestry and early successional saproxylic beetles: Responses of functional groups to manipulated dead wood substrates

New conservation-oriented forestry aims to maintain intact populations of forest organisms by improving the conservation value of managed forests and providing protected areas. We tested the conservation value of treatments of dead wood for assemblages of early successional saproxylic beetles. In nine areas in northern Sweden, we selected one clear-cut, one mature managed forest and one reserve. In 2001-2002, we placed three blocks of spruce logs, each containing control, burned and shaded logs and a high stump (“snag”) at each site. Saproxylic beetles emerging from the dead wood were collected using emergence traps and beetles flying close to it were collected using flight-intercept traps. After one year of exposure, assemblage composition was examined, with respect to nutritionally-defined functional groups, red-listed species and fire-favoured species. Experimental snags were most complementary to control logs, supporting different assemblages of cambium consumers and fungivores and supporting more red-listed individuals. Burned logs supported depauperate assemblages, particularly with respect to cambium consumers, while shading of logs affected assemblages of fungivores, but only on clear-cuts. Despite containing less dead wood, managed forests provided valuable habitat, supporting similar assemblages of saproxylic beetles to reserves. Most functional groups were less abundant on clear-cuts than in older forests, but fire-favoured species were more common on clear-cuts, suggesting that clear-cuts may support assemblages of species associated with natural disturbances, if suitable substrates are available. Utilization of logs by saproxylic beetles changes over time, so long-term monitoring of our experimental logs will determine their lifetime conservation value.     

Infant responses to impending collision: optical and real

Twenty-four infants ranging in age from 2 to 11 weeks responded to symmetrically expanding shadows, which optically specify an approaching object, with an integrated avoidance response and upset. This response did not occur for asymmetrically expanding shadows nor for contracting shadows that specify an object on a miss path and a receding object. The response was observed in all the infants regardless of age, and the addition of kinetic depth information to the displays did not increase the intensity or likelihood of the response. In a second experiment, seven infants defensively reacted to the approach of a real object except when it was on a miss path.     

Nimbus-7 coastal zone color scanner: system description and initial imagery

The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) on Nimbus-7, launched in October 1978, is the only sensor in orbit that is specifically designed to study living marine resources. The initial imagery confirms that CZCS data can be processed to a level that reveals subtle variations in the concentration of phytoplankton pigments. This development has potential applications for the study of large-scale patchiness in phytoplankton distributions, the evolution of spring blooms, water mass boundaries, and mesoscale circulation patterns.     

镉对鲫非特异性免疫力的影响

采用毒性实验方法研究了镉对鲫非特异性免疫力的影响,确定镉诱导免疫毒性效应及其毒性参数。在试验剂量和时间范围内的结果显示,镉对鲫白细胞数量(WBC)、中性粒细胞的吞噬率(PR)和补体50%溶血活性(CH50)均有剂量-效应关系、时间-效应关系和Hormesis现象,1.25mg·kg-1注射染Cd2+胁迫时对WBC、PR和CH50有激活作用,2.5和3.75mg·kg-1注射染Cd2+胁迫时对WBC、PR和CH50有抑制作用;WBC顶点所对应的时间为染Cd2+后4d,PR顶点所对应的时间为染Cd2+后2d,CH50顶点所对应的时间为染Cd2+后1d。所以Cd2+对鲫具有明显的免疫毒性。     

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.