The administration of diets contaminated with low to intermediate doses of deoxynivalenol and supplemented with antioxidants and binding agents slightly affects the growth,antioxidant status,and vaccine response in weanling pigs

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of grading levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in the diet of weaned pigs, as well as the effects of a supplementation with antioxidants (AOX), hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicates (HSCAS), and their combination on the growth, AOX status, and immune and vaccine responses against the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). At weaning, 336 piglets were allocated to six dietary treatments according to a randomized complete block design. Treatments were as follows: basal diet (CTRL); basal diet containing DON at 1.2 mg/kg (DON1.2); basal diet containing DON at 2.4 mg/kg (DON2.4); DON2.4 diet + a mix of AOX which included vitamins A and E at 20,000 IU and 200 IU/kg feed respectively, selenized yeast at 0.3 mg/kg, and a grape seed extracts at 100 mg/kg feed (DON2.4 + AOX); DON2.4 diet + the mix of AOX and the modified HSCAS mentioned above (DON2.4 + AOX + HSCAS); DON2.4 + AOX + HSCAS. Pigs were vaccinated against PRRSV and PCV2 at 7 d; on 0, 14, and 35 d, growth performance was recorded, and blood samples were collected in order to evaluate the oxidative status, inflammatory blood markers, lymphocyte blastogenic response, and vaccine antibody response. Increasing intake of DON resulted in a quadratic effect at 35 d in the lymphocyte proliferative response to concanavalin A and PCV2 as well as in the anti-PRRSV antibody response, whereas the catalase activity decreased in DON2.4 pigs compared with the CTRL and DON1.2 groups (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the DON2.4 diet, the AOX supplementation slightly reduced gain to feed ratio (P = 0.026) and increased the ferric reducing ability of plasma as well as α-tocopherol concentration (P < 0.05), whereas the association of AOX + HSCAS increased the anti-PRRSV IgG (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the HSCAS supplement reduced haptoglobin levels in serum at 14 d compared with the DON2.4 group; however, its concentration decreased in all the experimental treatments from 14 to 35 d and particularly in the DON2.4 + AOX pigs, whereas a different trend was evidenced in the DON2.4 + HSCAS group, where over the same period haptoglobin concentration increased (P < 0.05). Overall, our results show that the addition of AOX and HSCAS in the diet may alleviate the negative effects due to DON contamination on the AOX status and immune response of vaccinated weanling pigs.     

Do biological expansion factors adequately estimate stand-scale aboveground component biomass for Norway spruce?

We developed site specific component (stem, branch, and foliage) biomass functions for two sites in Sweden (64° and 57° North latitude) where four treatments (control, irrigated, fertilized, irrigated plus fertilized) were applied in the existing Norway spruce stands (Picea abies L. Karst.) for 17 years. We tested for site effects in the component biomass equations and compared site specific biomass estimates to those generated using published functions ( 19 and 39). Site effects were significant for all components and indicated it would be unlikely to generate equations that well estimate biomass across the Norway spruce range as implicitly indicated in our efforts to generate species biomass expansion factors. We rejected our hypothesis that the published functions would well estimate component biomass for control plots. The published functions did not compare well with site specific component biomass estimates for the other treatments; both published functions well estimated stem mass up to stem mass of 25 Mg ha⁻¹, beyond which stem mass was overestimated, and both functions over and under estimated foliage and branch mass. Nor did the published functions compare well with each other, with stem, foliage and branch mass estimate differences of 12, 55, −8% and 11, 77, and 59% for the southern and northern sites, respectively, when averaged over all treatments and years. Adding limiting resources through fertilization increased stem, foliage and branch mass 57, 11, 18% and 120, 37, and 69% at the southern and northern sites, respectively, which would increase carbon sequestration and available stemwood and bioenergy materials. We recommend that more effort is spent in process-based modeling to better predict mass at a given site and ultimately provide better estimates of carbon sequestration and bioenergy material production changes.     

Influence of gaps on some selected tree characteristics of edge trees in Norway spruce plantations

The present study examined branch and stem characteristics of trees growing around gaps in Norway spruce plantations. Trees located at the edge of gaps with a radius of either 5 m or 7 m either unplanted or with supplementary planting were compared to trees in the original closed plantation. The experiment was carried out in two locations in the south of Sweden and the design included four blocks at each location and one replicate of each treatment in each block. The measurements were carried out on standing and felled trees in 2005 at the time of the first thinning. The results indicate a significant effect of gaps and supplementary planting on the diameter of the largest branch, the number of living branches close to breast height, branch basal area, height to the first living branch and taper. The effect of supplementary planting on branch and stem characteristics was greater in large gaps than in small ones. This study indicated that supplementary planting may be useful in affecting stem-form and branch parameters, although other studies have shown that the trees that result from supplementary planting contribute little to total production.     

Habituation and conditioning in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata): Effects of aversive stimuli,reward and social hierarchies

To tailor the farming environment to a fish species, we should understand the species‐specific responses to stimuli, including the degree of adaption and learning. Groups of gilthead sea bream were given a delay Pavlovian conditioning regime using a conditioning stimulus (CS) of light flashes signalling arrival of food. Controls were exposed to light flashes unrelated to feeding. Fish in both treatments showed an initial fear response of moving away from the CS combined with reduced swimming speed. In subsequent trials, the Control fish largely habituated the fleeing response but sustained to respond by reducing the swimming speed. The Conditioning fish also stopped to escape from the CS, but opposed to the Control group they gradually increased their swimming speed in response to the CS. In addition, the number of fish in the feeding/CS area increased and became similar to basal level after around 16 trials. A small and variable proportion of the fish displayed black vertical bands on their body and territorial behaviour, and a social hierarchy could interfere with the processes of habituation and conditioning. The swimming speed of the fish increased with number of dark individuals, but this was not found during the CS and the light stimulus thus seemed to overrule the effect of territorial behaviour. The persistent negative response to light flashes in the Control suggests that fish seemingly adapted to repetitive stressors are still in a state of alertness. The change in the response to light shows the potential for rewarding aversive stimuli to reduce stress.     

Comparison of different site preparation techniques: quality of planting spots,seedling growth and pine weevil damage

In northern Europe, there are high risks of severe pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) damage to newly planted conifer seedlings. Site preparation is one of the most important measures for reducing these risks and as several studies have shown the damage is highly dependent on the amount of pure mineral soil around the seedlings. We investigated effects of three site preparation techniques: (1) disc trenching with a conventional Bracke T26, (2) MidiFlex unit and (3) soil inversion with a Karl Oskar unit on characteristics of the planting spots, growth and pine weevil damage and survival rates of untreated and insecticide treated planted Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings. All three site preparation techniques reduced pine weevil damage in comparison with no site preparation, and the proportion of spots with pure mineral soil they created was inversely related to the rate of mortality caused by pine weevil. The results indicate that the quality of the planting spots depends on the technique used. In areas where pine weevil is the major threat to seedling survival, the amount of mineral soil in the planting spots is the most important factor in order to protect the seedling from damage. Without site preparation most planting spots consisted of undisturbed humus. Generally, the Karl-Oskar created the most spots with pure mineral soil, but on very stony soils the Bracke T26 created more mineral soil spots than other methods. Site preparation is a valuable tool in order to improve survival in regeneration areas and it is of great importance to make the right choice of technique depending on the particular circumstances on the actual site.     

Simulation of the long-term effects of different strategies for precommercial thinning in Pinus sylvestris

The influence of the intensity and timing of precommercial thinning (PCT) on stand development and financial return was studied in Scots pine stands. Functions describing the early development of the stand structure after PCT were developed. The functions were based on 195 plots within 41 PCT experiments in Sweden. The dimension distribution of the established stand was estimated and used as input to the decision support system Heureka, to simulate the stand development until final felling. The studied treatments included PCT to 1000, 2000 and 3000?stems?ha^?1 at mean heights of 2, 4 and 6 m. Separate simulations were carried out for different site fertilities. Mean annual volume increment increased with increasing number of stems after PCT whereas the timing of PCT had only a small effect. The land expectation value (LEV) generally decreased with increasing mean height at PCT, primarily because of the increased cost of PCT. LEV decreased with increasing number of stems after PCT at low fertility sites whereas only minor differences were found for PCT to 1000 and 2000?stems?ha^?1 at medium and high fertility sites. The general pattern persisted when different scenarios of future timber quality were simulated.     

#Metoo in the Swedish forest sector: testimonies from harassed women on sexualised forms of male control

This study adds to the literature on the gendered culture of the forest sector by examining testimonies of sexual harassment in relation to the gendering of forestry-related competence and organisations and the consequences that the sexualisation of social relations in organisations has, mainly for women. The empirical base of the study comprised testimonies within the campaign #slutavverkat published on Instagram to highlight experiences of sexual harassment of women in the Swedish forest sector. Qualitative content analysis of the testimonies suggested that the situations described in the testimonies in #slutavverkat comprise controlling actions that diminish women’s power in the forest sector. Sexualised forms of male control and harassment thus work to remind women that they are first and foremost a representation of women, rather than of forestry professions and knowledge. In that sense, sexualised forms of male control and harassment are part of, rather than deviating from, the overall gendering of forestry as a men-dominated sphere. The study adds to organisational understandings and policy developments on discrimination and harassment and suggests that researchers and policy-makers interested in reducing inequality in forestry need to pay more attention to issues of harassment and sexualisation of social relations.     

Analysis of tofu‐related traits by a bench‐scale tofu production method and their relationship with agronomic traits in European soybean

European tofu manufacturers are becoming more and more interested in locally grown soybeans. A prerequisite for the development of European tofu cultivars is to improve our understanding of how the environment and genetics affect soymilk and tofu quality, as well as how quality and agronomic traits are correlated. This study was based on 215 recombinant inbred lines derived from two populations and grown at three locations that were evaluated for tofu traits in a bench‐scale tofu laboratory. The heritabilities of most of the evaluated tofu traits were moderately high with h² > 0.6. We observed significant genotypic variance components, but an even stronger contribution of the location. The network analysis of the evaluated traits was population‐dependent; however, the tofu traits were not associated with any of the agronomic traits. Collectively, our results indicate the potential to improve tofu‐related traits in European soybean. The bench‐scale tofu production method provides a valuable tool to test soybean lines in breeding programmes; however, the method needs to be further improved and automated to minimize errors due to the laboratory staff.