Prevention of Toxoplasma gondii abortion in goats by vaccination with oocysts of Hammondia hammondi

Nineteen does (female goats) were dosed with 500,000 oocytes of Hammondia hammondi prior to breeding. At about 90 days of gestation these, and 18 uninoculated does were challenged with 25,000 Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. The 19 H. hammondi--inoculated does produced 26 live and one dead kid (newborn goat). The 18 does not given H. hammondi produced 12 live and 19 dead kids. However, examination of all of the kids by isolation of T. gondii in mice, serology and histology revealed that they were all infected with T. gondii. Thus, while H. hammondi "vaccination" is protective against the deleterious effects of T. gondii on pregnant does, perhaps by reducing the severity of placental lesions, it does not prevent foetal infection.     

Agrarmeteorologische hinweise für die Ertragsbildung beim Wintergetreide: Ergebnisse aus einem EU‐Forschungsprojekt (AIR 3 CT94 ‐ 1296)

Aus Analysen des Jahreswitterungsverlaufes in Verbindung mit der Ertragsbildung der drei Wintergetreidearten ist ein Ertragbildungsmodell entwickelt worden. Mit Hilfe des Modells lassen sich die jahresspezifischen Ertragsbildungsbedingungen in Deutschland und einigen europäischen Ländern über den Witterungsverlauf regional quantifizieren. Danach besteht die Möglichkeit zum Schosstermin des Getreides (DC 30/31) das schlagspezifische Ertragspotential zu bestimmen und damit einen am Ertrag orientierten, effizienten und umweltverträglichen Einsatz von Intensivierungsmitteln zu ermöglichen.     

Ultrastructural changes during aging of wood cells

Although most of the wood cells which are produced in the cambium die after the deposition of secondary wall thickening and lignification, the parenchymous cells contain living substances throughout the sapwood and are used for transportation and storage of metabolic materials. In the electron microscope dark globular particles of different sizes were traced from cambium to heartwood border in the parenchymous cells of pine. In the sapwood-heartwood transition zone the dark particles loose their globular shape and the dark content is deposited upon the parenchymous cell wall and therewith upon the membranes of the window-like pits. In this state the membranes are darkly colored so that it is assumed that the dark materials diffuse into the membranes. Dark deposits were observed within the compound middle lamella, in the chambers of bordered pits, and within the fiber lumina. From these observations it is concluded that the dark substances migrate through the middle lamella into the pit chambers and from there into the cell lumina. There is evidence that the decomposition of the globular particles as well as the diffusion of the dark substances into the cell walls begin in a region which is macroscopically considered to be part of the sapwood. Subsequent reactions in the deposition places result in the formation of typical heartwood substances.Presented at the International Wood Chemistry Symposium held at the University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 1969.     

Influence of the degree of substitution and pretreatments on the surface structure of cellulose nitrate fibres

Summary Cellulose nitrate fibres of three different degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared by heterogeneous reaction. The fibre surfaces were observed in the scanning electron microscope. Apart from the DS the influence of pretreatments such as prenitration and boiling of the fibres prior to nitration was studied. The results reveal an interaction between the cell wall layers and the esterification and swelling capacity of the nitration medium. In all cases the DS was determined by the composition of the nitration medium. A pretreatment influenced the fibre surfaces after nitration. The peculiar role of the primary wall during esterification is emphasized.Supported by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology (BMFT)     

Studies on milled wood lignins from spruce part 1. Composition and molecular properties

Summary Isolation of six milled wood lignins (MWL) from spruce under different conditions resulted in variable yields between 2.2% and 11.8% related to wood lignin. The composition of crude and purified lignins was evaluated with regard to non-hydrolyzable residue, acid-soluble lignin and polysaccharide content, which varied from 0.9 to 2.5%, depending on isolation conditions. The polysaccharide moiety of the crude and purified lignins contained a high percentage of glucose, probably derived from cellulose. The molecular size distributions determined by gel chromatography on different gels showed a broad distribution for all isolated lignins. A probable maximum of 40,000 for the molecular weight of milled wood lignins was determined by ultracentrifugation. Some of the lignin fractions were examined in the electron microscope.The authors are indepted to Prof. E. Killmann and Mrs. M. Bäumle (Institute for Technical Chemistry, Technical University of Munich) for assistance with the ultracentrifuge measurements and Dr. M. Stoll for precious suggestions and discussions. Submitted by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).     

Apple polyphenols and products formed in the gut differently inhibit survival of human cell lines derived from colon adenoma (LT97) and carcinoma (HT29)

Colorectal tumor risks could be reduced by polyphenol-rich diets that inhibit cell growth. Here, apple polyphenols were studied for effects on the survival of colon adenoma (LT97) and carcinoma-derived (HT29) cell lines. Three apple extracts (AEs) from harvest years 2002-2004 were isolated (AE02, AE03, and AE04) and fermented in vitro with human fecal flora. Extracts and fermentation products were analyzed for polyphenols with HPLC. The cells were treated with AEs (0-850 microg/mL) or fermented AEs (F-AEs, 0-9%), and survival was measured by DNA staining. All AEs contained high amounts of polyphenols (311-534 mg/g) and reduced cell survival (in LT97 > HT29). AE03 was most potent, possibly because it contained more quercetin compounds. Fermentation of AEs resulted in an increase of short chain fatty acids, and polyphenols were degraded. The F-AEs were approximately 3-fold less bioactive than the corresponding AEs, pointing to a loss of chemoprotective properties through fermentation.     

Common Kibra alleles are associated with human memory performance

Human memory is a polygenic trait. We performed a genome-wide screen to identify memory-related gene variants. A genomic locus encoding the brain protein KIBRA was significantly associated with memory performance in three independent, cognitively normal cohorts from Switzerland and the United States. Gene expression studies showed that KIBRA was expressed in memory-related brain structures. Functional magnetic resonance imaging detected KIBRA allele-dependent differences in hippocampal activations during memory retrieval. Evidence from these experiments suggests a role for KIBRA in human memory.     

Haematic Mummification in a Mare With Twin Pregnancy

Mummification occurs when the fetus dies during the second or third trimester of gestation and remains in the uterine cavity because of the persistence of the corpus luteum or existence of another live fetus. Generally, the mummified fetus and fetal membranes undergo desiccation. The hematic process is similar, but the fetus appears like melted chocolate and becomes lodged between the uterus and chorion. This report describes the treatment of dystocia in a mare with twin pregnancy, with one fetus having undergone hematic mummification. Although difficult to diagnose, the possibility of a second fetus should be investigated in mares with dystocia.