Suspended sediment budget and intra-event sediment dynamics of a small glaciated mountainous catchment in the Northern Caucasus

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The sediment dynamics of (peri-)glacial catchments can be highly variable and complex. Understanding these dynamics and their underlying causes is not only of...     

Immune reactions in cattle after immunization with a Mycobacterium paratuberculosis vaccine and implications for the diagnosis of M. paratuberculosis and M. bovis infections

After immunization of four calves with a live modified Mycobacterium paratuberculosis vaccine the course of the humoral and cell mediated immune reactions was studied during a 2-year clinical investigation. Furthermore, the possibility of shedding of the vaccine strain and the influence of the vaccination on the tuberculin skin test was determined. In addition to standard procedures recently developed diagnostic methods (antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, interferon-gamma test, polymerase chain reaction) were used. A cell-mediated immune reaction, reflected in an increased, specifically induced, interferon-gamma production developed much earlier (1-2 weeks post-immunization) than humoral immunity (8-16 weeks post-gamma immunization). While the increase in antibody titres was transient, declining to extremely low levels 48-60 weeks post-immunization, cell-mediated immunity remained detectable until the end of the investigation. Spread of the vaccine strain into the body and shedding were never detected during the whole course of the study except for one colon site in one calf. As late as 2 years after vaccine application positive or doubtful skin reactions against M. bovis purified protein derivative were measured, reflecting possible interference of the immunization with the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. At the end of the investigation, a positive cell-mediated immune reaction was detected the control animal although clinical, pathological and bacteriological examinations gave no indication for a mycobacterial infection.     

A case study of forest change in the Swiss lowlands

This paper presents a regional case study of forest development and the history of forest use and management in the north-eastern lowlands of Switzerland during the 19th and 20th centuries. The analysis draws on historical documents related to forestry to consider the following aspects of forest change: forest types, growing stock, trees species composition and non-timber forest uses. Based on the data presented, three overlapping periods of forest use and management can be discerned. The period of traditional multiple use lasted until the second half of the 19th century. From the mid 19th to the mid 20th century, a period of primacy of timber production occurred. During the 20th century, the period of modern multi-impact management has developed. For these three periods, groups of main actors, their needs and interests, and how they were causing the changes in the aspects under study were defined. This procedure of defining periods and the respective groups of main actors is a critical link between landscape ecology and history, as changes in demands of the society can be directly linked with changes in land-use and land-cover.     

Studies of the tolerance and toxicity of Luzern-green-meal pellets after selenium fertilization

In a feeding trial, rabbits allotted in 3 experimental groups were fed rations containing 2.09, 9.83 and 19.5 mg selenium/kg feed in the form of selenium-enriched alfalfa green meal pellets. The selenium enrichment was done by foliar application (spraying) of the 20--25 cm high plant stand with 2.5 kg SeO2 per hectare in watery solution. The control animals were given normal alfalfa green meal pellets of 0.16 ppm selenium content. Toxicity and lethality, tolerance limit and nutritive effect of the pellets were studied. Plant-assimilated selenium was found to be converted more efficiently by the animal organism than was selenium from inorganic compounds (higher retention rate, better gain in body weight and lower feed expenditure). Therefore, the selenium supply to farm animals should be improved by feeding crops that were given selenium dressings.     

Comparison of radiographic assessments of the tibial plateau slope in dogs

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of 2 radiographic methods used to assess tibial plateau slope (TPS) in dogs and evaluate effects of film digitization and radiographic beam placement on TPS measurements. SAMPLE POPULATION: 16 hind limbs from dog cadavers weighing > 20 kg. PROCEDURES: Radiographs of tibiae were made with the radiographic beam centered over the stifle joint and midshaft of the tibia. Tibiae were collected, the femorotibial contact area was determined, and slope of the medial tibial condyle in relation to the tibial shaft was measured. Radiographs were digitized. Slope of the medial tibial condyle was measured on printed and digitized radiographs read in random order by 6 examiners unaware of anatomic measurements. Three examiners used a conventional measuring technique, and 3 examiners used an alternative measuring technique. RESULTS: Anatomic measurements were significantly higher than radiographic measurements made by use of the conventional interpretation method but did not differ from radiographic measurements made by use of the alternate method. Measurements from printed radiographs were lower than measurements from digitized radiographs for the 4 most experienced examiners. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurements made by use of a line tangential to the cranial, linear portion of the medial tibial condyle at the femorotibial contact point were accurate measurements of the anatomic TPS. Measurements made by use of the conventional TPS measurement method underestimated the anatomic TPS. Measurements made on digitized radiographs were typically more accurate than measurements made on printed radiographs.     

Renal abscess in a dog with transient diabetes mellitus

A nine-year-old, intact female dalmatian with diabetes mellitus and a renal abscess is described. The renal abscess was treated surgically by nephrectomy, and the diabetes mellitus resolved with ovariohysterectomy. Abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided aspiration of the abscess were helpful in establishing a diagnosis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a renal abscess in a dog with diabetes mellitus.     

Chemiluminescent immunoassay in comparison with the indirect ELISA as reference method for detecting Salmonella antibodies in swine meat juice

The efficiency of chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) in detecting Salmonella antibodies in the meat juice of slaughter swine was compared with the indirect ELISA (BgVV method). Based on the screening test results of 987 meat juice samples obtained from different laboratories in Germany, a good level of agreement between the two systems was obtained with a kappa value of 0.824 at 20% cut-off and 0.798 at 40% cut-off. At 20% and 40% cut-off levels, a sensitivity of 96.2% and 97.3%, respectively, and a specificity of 94.6% and 95.1%, respectively, were demonstrated between CLIA and ELISA. The detecting LPS antigen was tested for specificity and a cross-reaction with two E. coli and Yersinia strains was found when tested with ELISA. This reaction was not observed in CLIA, possibly because of the broader measurement spectrum of this test which allows a more distinctive definition of immunologic reactions. The same explanation can be given for the increased number of meat juice samples which were positively detected only in ELISA but not in CLIA. The positively classified samples in screening were further tested for reciprocal titers in both test systems, and a higher correlation between screening and titration results was obtained for CLIA. Towards the end of the study, a preliminary comparison of CLIA with two available commercial ELISA test kits was conducted and the same tendency was observed, namely, wider detection range of CLIA compared to the other tests. Based on the results of this study, CLIA can be used as a reference method in detecting Salmonella antibodies in the meat juice of slaughter pigs.     

Effects of supplementation with high linoleic or oleic cracked safflower seeds on postpartum reproduction and calf performance of primiparous beef heifers

Primiparous Angus x Gelbvieh (n = 36) rotationally crossed beef cows (initial BW = 487.9 +/- 10.5 kg, body condition score = 5.5 +/- 0.02) were utilized to determine effects of supplemental safflower seeds high in linoleic (76% 18:2) or oleic (72% 18:1) acid on cow BW change, body condition score, milk production and composition, calf weight gain, cow serum metabolites, and metabolic hormones. On d 3 postpartum, cows were randomly assigned to one of three isonitrogenous dietary supplements with equal total quantity of TDN: corn-soybean control supplement (n = 12); high-linoleate safflower seeds (n = 12); or high-oleate safflower seeds (n = 12). Safflower-seed supplements were formulated to provide 5% DMI as fat. Supplements were individually fed from d 3 postpartum through 90 d postpartum. Cows had ad libitum access to native grass hay (7.8% CP), trace-mineralized salt, and water. Date of parturition was evenly distributed across treatments with all cows calving within 14 +/- 0.8 d. There were no differences (P = 0.65) in total OM intake among treatments. Although cow BW change did not differ (P = 0.33) by treatment, supplementation influenced cow body condition score (P = 0.02) with linoleate-supple-mented cows in higher (P = 0.005) condition overall than oleate-supplemented cows (5.1 +/- 0.06 vs 4.9 +/- 0.06). Twenty-four-hour milk production did not differ (P = 0.68) among treatments. Percentage milk fat was not different at d 30; however, at d 60 and d 90 percentage milk fat was greater (P ( 0.05) in control and oleate-supplemented cows than in linoleate-supplemented cows. Calf BW gains (P = 0.27) and adjusted 205-d weights (P = 0.48) were not affected by supplement treatment. Supplementation did not influence serum concentrations of glucose (P = 0.38), NEFA (P = 0.61), GH (P = 0.29), IGF-I (P = 0.81), insulin (P = 0.26), or IGF-I binding proteins (P > or = 0.11). Days to conception did not differ (P = 0.40) among treatments. Although overall productivity of the primiparous cows and their calves was not altered by safflower-seed supplementation, differential effects were noted between supplements. Oleate supplementation increased percentage milk fat at d 60, and cow body condition score was lower than in linoleate-supplemented cows. Linoleate-supplemented cows had greater body condition scores by 90 d postpartum than either corn-soybean- or oleatesupplemented cows.     

Estimated nutrient content of diets commonly fed to pet birds

The owners of 135 pet birds were surveyed by questionnaire to determine their birds' weekly food consumption. The birds were divided into six food groups on the basis of the amounts of seeds, formulated products and human food they consumed. The formulated products and seeds were analysed for their nutrient content by two independent laboratories, the nutrient content of the human foods was obtained from a standard nutrition reference, and each bird's nutrient intake was estimated. The dietary content of individual nutrients was then compared with the estimated maintenance requirements for pet birds. Birds consuming less than approximately 50 per cent of their diets as formulated products had inadequate intakes of vitamins A and D3, and calcium. Diets high in human food were low in protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. Diets high in seed were excessive in fat and deficient in vitamins A and D3, and calcium.