Genetic diversity evaluation of a loquat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriobotrya japonica</Emphasis> (Thunb) Lindl) germplasm collection by SSRs and <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-allele fragments

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) is a minor Rosaceae fruit of growing interest as an alternative to the main fruit crops. In this context, the selection of new cultivars to satisfy the market demand will request the suitable characterization of the available germplasm. In this work, genetic relationships among 83 loquat accessions from different countries belonging to the European loquat germplasm collection, held at the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) in Moncada (Spain) were evaluated using microsatellites and S-allele fragments. A total of nine single sequence repeats (SSRs) from Malus and Eriobotrya genera revealed 53 informative alleles and the S-RNases consensus primers detected 11 self-incompatibility putative alleles. The combined data allow to distinguish unambiguously 80 out of the 83 accessions studied. Unweighted pair-group method (UPGMA) cluster and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), based on Dice’s genetic distance, generally grouped genotypes according to their geographic origins and pedigrees. Discrepancies and similarities of the results obtained with other variability analysis, based on pomological traits or molecular markers, on the same loquat collection are discussed.     

Scanning electron microscopic description of cellular activity and mineral changes in feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions

The cellular activity and changes in mineral composition of dental tissues involved in feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions were investigated. Teeth with at least 1 lesion (n = 10) were extracted from 10 different cats that were presented primarily for chronic gingivostomatitis and/or severe periodontal disease. Scanning electron microscopic methods were used to determine the presence of resorptive cells in 8 teeth while 2 teeth were evaluated for pathologic changes in dental mineral composition. Observations were complicated by the presence of organic wear on the dental surfaces, however resorptive cells could be clearly identified in feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions. Resorptive cells had morphologic features indicative of "osteoclast-like" cells or odontoclasts. Resorptive cell activity created a resorption area of darker dentin continuous with physiologic dentin. The darker dentin area seemed poorly mineralized and showed a significantly lower calcium/phosphorous ratio compared with adjacent physiologic denting in 1 tooth. A significantly higher level of magnesium combined with available carbonate ions may have increased the solubility in areas of darker dentin.     

Total nitrogen,carbon and phosphorus digestibility in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed with conventional and organic commercial feeds: implications for particulate waste production

Organic fish farming is postulated as a more environmentally friendly activity than conventional activities. However, environmental sustainability as regards waste output has not been addressed. In this respect, the most important environmental problems associated with fish farming are those related with the discharge of particulate wastes. In this study, total nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus digestibility was estimated in a wide size range of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fed a commercially available conventional diet and an organic feed, as a previous step to assessing particulate waste output. Neither fish size nor feed nutrient content was seen to influence nutrient digestibility in either species. The organic diet provided higher carbon but lower nitrogen and phosphorus digestibility than conventional feed in both species. Simulations under real ongrowing conditions resulted in lower values for nitrogen and higher values for carbon particulate wastes when conventional feed was supplied to both species. Particulate phosphorus wastes were 2.6‐ to 3.4‐fold higher for fish fed the organic diet. Restrictions concerning NO the raw materials used for organic diet formulation and differences in nutrient bioavailability between the diets seemed to be the underlying reason for the differences found.     

Spontaneous emission spectrum in double quantum dot devices

A double quantum dot device is a tunable two-level system for electronic energy states. A dc electron current was used to directly measure the rates for elastic and inelastic transitions between the two levels. For inelastic transitions, energy is exchanged with bosonic degrees of freedom in the environment. The inelastic transition rates are well described by the Einstein coefficients, relating absorption with stimulated and spontaneous emission. The most effectively coupled bosons in the specific environment of the semiconductor device used here were acoustic phonons. The experiments demonstrate the importance of vacuum fluctuations in the environment for quantum dot devices and potential design constraints for their use for preparing long-lived quantum states.     

CT findings in 20 dogs and six cats with confirmed nasal foreign bodies

The diagnosis and treatment of nasal foreign bodies usually includes a combination of rhinoscopy and imaging techniques, such as CT. The purpose of this retrospective, multicenter study was to describe the CT characteristics of nasal foreign bodies in dogs and cats and to determine if different nasal CT features exist between acute and chronic cases. Twenty dogs and six cats met the inclusion criteria. Eleven nasal foreign bodies (42%) were detected confidently with CT. The foreign body had a linear shape in 81% of cases and displayed a “tubular‐like appearance” in 54% of cases. In five cases (19%), a foreign body was suspected but not clearly visible. Additional CT changes were present in the nasal passages in 96% of the cases. The presence of turbinate destruction (P = .021) and mucosal thickening (P = .014) on CT were associated with the presence of a chronic nasal foreign body. In this sample, the nature of the foreign body did not influence its visibility and was not associated with specific CT characteristics. Computed tomography may be useful in the investigation of nasal foreign bodies, however, a negative CT examination does not exclude their presence.     

Cells infected with Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus are detected in the bone marrow of asymptomatic sheep

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a transmissible lung cancer caused by Jaggsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). It is difficult to identify animals infected with JSRV but are clinically healthy. The virus does not induce a specific antibody response and, although proviral DNA sequences of JSRV can be found in mononuclear blood cells, the detection is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of JSRV in the bone marrow of infected sheep and develop a more consistent screening method. Immunohistochemical examination of bone marrow samples from 8 asymptomatic JSRV-infected sheep revealed the presence of positively labelled cells. However, JSRV could not be detected by a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in bone marrow aspirates periodically collected from these animals. Results suggest that JSRV-infected cells may be present in the bone marrow of symptomless animals, but the number is below the detectable level for PCR. Therefore, this technique does not seem to be helpful for preclinical diagnosis of OPA.     

The nutritional value of diets based on starchy foods and common beans

Feeding trials were carried out to determine the minimum amount of common beans, with and without methionine supplementation, needed to obtain positive weight gains of rats fed cassava, sweet potato, plantain and potato flours. The protein content of these materials was 1.4, 3.8, 3.1 and 9.5% on a dry weight basis as compared to 22.8% in common beans. The amount of beans added varied from 0 to 40.0% without and with 0.3% methionine. Without methionine addition, the amount of beans required to maintain body weight was 24.8% for plantain, 19.3% for cornstarch, 20.0% for cassava and 40.1% for sweet potatoes. With just potato flour in the diet, the animals gained weight. With methionine addition, the amount of beans required for body weight maintenance was: 20.1% for plantain, 10.1% for cornstarch, 14.5% for cassava, 14.6% for potato and 29.3% for sweet potatoes. Mixtures of potatoes with as little as 10% beans with methionine gave excellent protein quality values. The results confirm previous findings on sulfur amino acid contents of beans. It is of interest to point out that factors other than a low level of protein in the starchy food tested are influencing the level of beans needed in the presence or absence of methionine supplementation.INCAP Publication I-1355.     

Oxygen Consumption Response to Gradual Hypoxia in Spider Crab,Maja brachydactyla: Critical and Lethal Oxygen Saturations and Recovery Ability

Spider crab, Maja brachydactyla, is a crustacean with interesting biological characteristics for intensive aquaculture. However, physiological studies are needed to establish the optimal conditions for its culture and maintenance. We analyzed the oxygen consumption response of spider crab to gradual hypoxia in relation to animal weight (W: 0.42–1.62 kg) and water temperature (T: 17.8–26.3 C), along with its ability to recover. Spider crab behaved as an oxygen regulator, maintaining its oxygen consumption constant until it reached critical oxygen saturation. This value varied between 24.1 and 53.3% oxygen saturation (42.4 ± 7.4% Sat.; 2.95 ± 0.43 mgO₂/L), and significantly depended on the temperature (P < 0.01). The lethal oxygen saturation varied from 6.8 to 19.3% Sat. (12.57 ± 4.25% Sat.; 0.88 ± 0.29 mgO₂/L) depending on temperature and body weight (P < 0.05). When oxygen levels were re‐established after exposure to acute hypoxia, the animals recovered, oxygen consumption remaining above the routine value for up to 15–20 h. We suggest survival oxygen saturation levels for spider crab of between 100 and 65% in the experimental conditions of this study.