Bulk Carbohydrate Grain Filling of Barley β‐Glucan Mutants Studied by 1H HR MAS NMR

Temporal and genotypic differences in bulk carbohydrate accumulation in three barley genotypes differing in the content of mixed linkage β‐(1→3),(1→4)‐D‐glucan (β‐glucan) and starch were investigated using proton high‐resolution, magic angle spinning, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H HR MAS NMR) during grain filling. For the first time, ¹H HR MAS NMR spectra of flour from immature barley seeds are analyzed. Spectral assignments are made using two‐dimensional (2D) NMR methods. Both α‐ and β‐glucan biosynthesis were characterized by inspection of the spectra as well as by calibration to the reference methods for starch and β‐glucan content. Starch was quantified with very good calibrations to the α‐(1→4) peak (5.29–5.40 ppm) and the region 3.67–3.83 ppm covering starch glycopyranosidic protons from H5 and H6. In contrast, the spectral inspection of the β‐anomeric region 4.45–4.85 ppm showed unexpected lack of intensity in the high β‐glucan mutant lys5f at seed maturity, resulting in poor calibration to reference β‐glucan content. We hypothesize that the lack of β‐glucan signal in lys5f indicates partial immobilization of the β‐glucan that appears to be either genotypic dependent or water/β‐glucan ratio dependent.     

Proteome analysis elucidating post-mortem changes in cod (Gadus morhua) muscle proteins

Proteome analysis was successfully applied to study the alterations in fish muscle proteins during ice storage. The processes occurring during post-mortem metabolism are known to lead to characteristic changes in the texture and taste of fish muscle. Endogenous proteases are anticipated to play the major role in these processes, although the exact mechanisms during fish meat tenderization have yet to be depicted. Protein changes in cod (Gadus morhua) muscle were followed during 8 days of storage. Within the partial proteome (pI 3.5-8.0, MW 13-35 kDa) significant changes were found in 11 protein spots. In nine protein spots the intensity increased, and for eight of these the increases were significant (p < 0.05) within the first 2 h post-mortem. In contrast, two protein spots decreasing in intensity showed significant (p < 0.03) changes after 8 days, thereby indicating that in the fish muscle different biochemical processes are involved in the protein changes observed post-mortem.     

Serial exploitation of global sea cucumber fisheries

In recent decades, invertebrate fisheries have expanded in catch and value worldwide. One increasingly harvested group is sea cucumbers (class Holothuroidea), which are highly valued in Asia and sold as trepang or bêche‐de‐mer. We compiled global landings, economic data, and country‐specific assessment and management reports to synthesize global trends in sea cucumber fisheries, evaluate potential drivers, and test for local and global serial exploitation patterns. Although some sea cucumber fisheries have existed for centuries, catch trends of most individual fisheries followed boom‐and‐bust patterns since the 1950s, declining nearly as quickly as they expanded. New fisheries expanded five to six times faster in 1990 compared to 1960 and at an increasing distance from Asia, encompassing a global fishery by the 1990s. Global sea cucumber production was correlated to the Japanese yen at a leading lag. Regional assessments revealed that population declines from overfishing occurred in 81% of sea cucumber fisheries, average harvested body size declined in 35%, harvesters moved from near‐ to off‐shore regions in 51% and from high‐ to low‐value species in 76%. Thirty‐eight per cent of sea cucumber fisheries remained unregulated, and illegal catches were of concern in half. Our results suggest that development patterns of sea cucumber fisheries are largely predictable, often unsustainable and frequently too rapid for effective management responses. We discuss potential ecosystem and human community consequences and urge for better monitoring and reporting of catch and abundance, proper scientific stock assessment and consideration of international trade regulations to ensure long‐term and sustainable harvesting of sea cucumbers worldwide.     

Predicting plant species richness in a managed forest

This paper describes an attempt to predict ground flora species richness under various forest management scenarios. The approach is based on a geographic information system (GIS) and uses three standard map layers of topography, soils and stands to derive environmental gradients of light, nutrients, water and disturbance. A simple floristic survey provides the data necessary to relate plant distribution with environmental variables. The potential distribution of 60 understorey plant species is modelled based on the four derived gradients. The sum of these maps, i.e., the total potential diversity, is used as a proxy for the prediction of actual species richness. The model predicts high species diversity along roads and in relatively disturbed areas and low species diversity in stands with coniferous species and in stands of old, deciduous trees (mainly beech). The overall predicted pattern of species diversity corresponds well with observations made in the forests. However, the model explained only a fraction of the variation in the data set on the plot level. Dispersal effects, demographic stochasticity and biological factors are the probable causes of this. The combination of GIS-based spatial operations and fuzzy cognitive mapping proved to be an efficient way of producing gradient maps based on standard forestry maps and expert knowledge.     

Mapping species richness and human impact drivers to inform global pelagic conservation prioritisation

Given the widely recognized need to better protect the oceans but limited resources to do so, methods for prioritizing potential protected area sites are important. This is particularly true for the open oceans, where few protected areas currently exist and data availability is limited. Here, we examine the relationship between the distributions of tuna and billfish species richness (an indicator of pelagic biodiversity), the human impact drivers of fishing pressure (quantified as cumulative removals) and sea surface temperature increase (quantified as the increase in large positive anomalies) in tropical to temperate oceans at the scale of a 5° × 5° grid. We investigate relationships using Generalised Additive Models and Regression Tree analysis, and identify the top 50 “hotspot” cells for species richness and each of the two impact drivers. We find that both impact drivers significantly overlap with high species richness, but relationships are complex, non-linear and ocean-basin specific. Higher fishing pressure is associated with higher species richness in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and this overlap is particularly prominent in the central Pacific, and in the Indian Ocean around Sri Lanka. In the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, species richness is generally higher in areas that have seen lower levels of change in sea surface temperature and only one cell, near Easter Island, is a hotspot for species richness and sea surface temperature increase. While species richness and impact drivers overlap in some areas, there are many areas with high species richness and limited apparent impact. This suggests that area-based conservation strategies that aim to protect areas of high pelagic biodiversity may be achievable with limited displacement of fishing effort.     

Piglet performance and physiological effects linked to reduced glucosinolate transformations in feed products based on rapeseed pressed cakes

The nutritional quality of rapeseed press cakes (RPCs) in piglet feed is closely linked to its digestibility and the content of glucosinolates. This study investigates the significance of intact glucosinolate (glc) levels and degree of glc transformations on piglets performance. Four different RPCs were made from a low glc (11 µmol/g seed DM) containing B. napus L. seed variety Lioness (RPC‐LW, RPC‐LXW, RPC‐LC, RPC‐LCD). RPC made from the variety Excalibur containing the upper level of glc (24 µmol/g seed DM) of double rapeseed and produced at higher and prolonged temperature (RPC‐UXW) served as negative control, while soya bean protein concentrate served as positive control. Piglets (8 kg) were fed ad libitum diets balanced for RPC protein content, with RPC inclusion of 84–98 g/kg (day 0–14) and 151–178 g/kg (day 15–50). Glc transformation was reduced from 42% to 24% (7.3–4.2 µmol/g RPC) when the temperature input was lowered in the warm pressing of oil, while the glc loss was less pronounced (17%) when cold pressing was applied. The following feed pelleting process further reduced Glc concentration from 11% to 40% in warm‐pressed RPCs and 54 to 85% in cold‐pressed RPCs. The RPC products replaced soya bean protein without any negative effects on performance, except for piglets served cold‐pressed RPC, which had a reduction in average daily weight gain (ADG) (5%–7%, p < 0.05, Day 15–50). RPC in the feed led to increased liver weight in all piglets (p = 0.026). This may point at long‐term effects from feeding with RPC. Intestinal absorption of intact glcs was proven by their detection in urine. In conclusion, warm‐pressed RPC can be used as feed for piglet, while the presence of active myrosinase may have a negative effect on performance and cakes should either be included in lower amounts than used in the present study (18%) or include myrosinase inactivation before use.     

Mobile TDR for geo-referenced measurement of soil water content and electrical conductivity

The development of site-specific crop management is constrained by the availability of sensors for monitoring important soil and crop related conditions. A mobile time-domain reflectometry (TDR) unit for geo-referenced soil measurements has been developed and used for detailed mapping of soil water content and electrical conductivity within two research fields. Measurements made during the early or late season, when soil moisture levels are close to field capacity, are related to the amount of plant available water and soil texture. Combined measurements of water content and electrical conductivity are closely related to the clay and silt fractions of a variable field. The application to early season field mapping of water content, electrical conductivity and clay content is presented. The water and clay content maps are to be used for automated delineation of field management units. Based on a spatial analysis of the soil water measurements, recommendations are made with respect to sampling strategies. Depending on the variability of a given area, between 15 and 30 ha can be mapped with respect to soil moisture and electrical conductivity with sufficient detail within 8 h.     

The potential for liability in the use and misuse of veterinary vaccines.

The lack of specific rules regarding the use of animal vaccines by veterinarians leaves them vulnerable to legal action for negligence or breach of warranty. A veterinarian's liability may depend on the answers to the questions asked previously in this article. The answers ultimately depend on the specific circumstances of the case. Although no one can ensure that he or she is never going to be sued, veterinarians can go a long way in defending themselves against these kinds of allegations by conforming to the standards of practice as they apply to the care and use of vaccines; by adhering closely to the doctrines of informed consent; and by not providing undue warranty to the vaccine product he or she sells.     

Interaction of bacteria-feeding soil flagellates and Pseudomonas spp.

Pseudomonas strains may be used as alternatives to fungicides as some of them produce secondary metabolites, which can inhibit growth of plant pathogenic fungi. Increased knowledge of non-target effects of the antagonistic bacteria on other soil organisms as well as of the survival and predation resistance of the antagonistic bacteria is necessary for risk assessment and increased performance of antagonistic bacteria as biological control agents. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the difference between Pseudomonas spp. with respect to their predation resistance to and effects on the three different and common soil flagellates Bodo caudatus, Cercomonas longicauda, and Neocercomonas jutlandica. Two antagonistic Pseudomonas: Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 and P. fluorescens DR54 and two positive control strains: P. fluorescens DSM 50090^T and Pseudomonas chlororaphis ATCC 43928 were studied. CHA0, which is reported to produce a range of different antibiotic substances, was inhibitory to all the tested flagellates whereas DR54, which produces viscosinamide, only inhibited the growth rate of B. caudatus. Removal of spent medium from a CHA0 culture reduced the growth inhibition of C. longicauda, although the growth rate was still lowered compared with DSM 50090^T. In contrast, removal of spent medium from a DR54 culture had minor effect on C. longicauda. The flagellate B. caudatus was far more sensitive towards the antagonistic Pseudomonas strains of the tested flagellates.     

Fin condition and growth among rainbow trout reared at different sizes,densities and feeding frequencies in high-temperature re-circulated water

Rainbow trout were studied at different rearing densities, fish sizes and feeding frequencies so that we could evaluate the effect of these parameters on fin condition, growth and feed utilisation. In one study, two sizes of rainbow trout (18–70 g or 48–125 g), fed to near satiation at 17.7°C, were examined at two rearing densities (11–41 kg m⁻³ or 21–92 kg m⁻³). This study showed that the anal fin was healthier (P < 0.05) at low densities. In the second study rainbow trout were again fed to near satiation and grown from 50 g to 125 g in 16.4°C water, and they were fed either once daily or three times daily at two densities (18–45 kg m⁻³ or 54–124 kg m⁻³). Rainbow trout growth and feed utilisation were slightly but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at high densities, while dorsal fin condition, surprisingly, was better (P < 0.0001) at the high densities. Possible explanations to these findings are discussed. Condition of the left pectoral fin was improved at once daily feeding (P < 0.05) compared with three feedings per day, at which fights for feed possibly are more frequent.