Effect of nitrogen fertilizer, root branch order and temperature on respiration and tissue N concentration of fine roots in Larix gmelinii and Fraxinus mandshurica

Root respiration is closely related to root morphology, yet it is unclear precisely how to distinguish respiration-related root physiological functions within the branching fine root system. Root respiration and tissue N concentration were examined for different N fertilization treatments, sampling dates, branch orders and temperatures of larch (Larix gmelinii L.) and ash (Fraxinus mandshurica L.) using the excised roots method. The results showed that N fertilization enhanced both root respiration and tissue N concentration for all five branch orders. The greatest increases in average root respiration for N fertilization treatment were 13.30% in larch and 18.25% in ash at 6°C. However, N fertilization did not change the seasonal dynamics of root respiration. Both root respiration and root tissue N concentration decreased with increase in root branch order. First-order (finest) roots exhibited the highest respiration rates and tissue N concentrations out of the five root branch orders examined. There was a highly significant linear relationship between fine root N concentration and root respiration rate. Root N concentration explained >60% of the variation in respiration rate at any given combination of root order and temperature. Root respiration showed a classical exponential relationship with temperature, with the Q(10) for root respiration in roots of different branching orders ranging from 1.62 to 2.20. The variation in root respiration by order illustrates that first-order roots are more metabolically active, suggesting that roots at different branch order positions have different physiological functions. The highly significant relationship between root respiration at different branch orders and root tissue N concentration suggests that root tissue N concentration may be used as a surrogate for root respiration, simplifying future research into the C dynamics of rooting systems.     

Characterization and neutralization requirements of two acidic lake sediments

Preparations for neutralization of two acidic lakes in the southwest Adirondacks included determination of base neutralization capacity for sediments as well as the water column. For sediments this involved assessing vertical and horizontal gradients in sediment properties related to sediment-bound acidity. The analyses showed significant variance vertically (depth within the sediment profile) and horizontally (due mainly to depth of overlying water) in both lakes. Base requirements, equivalent to the acidity present 3in 2 cm of sediments ranged between 0.011 and 0.022 kg CaCO₃ m^?3 for the two lakes. Preliminary observations indicate pH³ values and Ca content increased in the surficial sediments of both lakes after treatment.     

The effect of subsurface aluminium on the growth and uptake of surface‐applied phosphorus by wheat seedlings 1

Seedlings of four cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) differing in tolerance to aluminium (Al) were grown for 14 to 20 days using a split‐root sand/solution culture technique. Each culture tube was divided horizontally into two compartments by a root‐permeable paraffin wax barrier, so that phosphorus (P) and aluminium (Al) supply could be varied in the upper 0–80 mm (surface) and lower 80–180 mm (subsurface) compartments, respectively.

Root growth into the subsurface zone was enhanced by increased P supply to surface roots, but only in the absence of subsurface Al. Where subsurface Al was present, increased P supply to surface roots had no effect on the penetration of roots into the subsurface zone. Tolerance to Al in the cultivars used was therefore not related to the ability to translocate P to sites of Al injury.     

Limitations of soil microbial biomass carbon as an indicator of soil pollution in the field

The size of the soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) has been proposed as a sensitive indicator for measuring the adverse effects of contaminants on the soil microbial community. In this study of Australian agricultural systems, we demonstrated that field variability of SMBC measured using the fumigation-extraction procedure limited its use as a robust ecotoxicological endpoint. The SMBC varied up to 4-fold across control samples collected from a single field site, due to small-scale spatial heterogeneity in the soil physicochemical environment. Power analysis revealed that large numbers of replicates (3-93) were required to identify 20% or 50% decreases in the size of the SMBC of contaminated soil samples relative to their uncontaminated control samples at the 0.05% level of statistical significance. We question the value of the routine measurement of SMBC as an ecotoxicological endpoint at the field scale, and suggest more robust and predictive microbiological indicators.     

Cryopreservation of Babesia bigemina for in vitro cultivation

Babesia bigemina-infected RBC and merozoites were cryopreserved and used to initiate in vitro cultures in normal bovine RBC; the cryoprotectant was a final 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone in Vega y Martinez solution. A cooling rate of 20 C/min until -80 C and then rapid transfer to liquid N2 storage was satisfactory. Samples for culture initiation were rapidly thawed at 37 C, washed in Vega y Martinez solution and resuspended in complete culture media containing 10% normal bovine RBC. The optimum culture conditions to reestablish cultures were a 24-well plate (16 mm ID), 5 mm in depth, and an atmosphere of 2% to 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 93% to 90% N2.     

Using the Delphi method for determining criteria in agroforestry research planning in developing countries

Planning agroforestry research programs requires the participation of people from many disciplines. They may have different interests in allocating financial resources for research purposes and, therefore, the decision-making is complex. Guidelines are needed to improve the decision-making process. Such guidelines may include a list of weighted criteria identified by experts through group processes. This study used a qualitative approach (the Delphi method) to identify criteria to be used when planning agroforestry research programs in the developing countries. The panel of respondents was comprised of agroforestry experts who have experience and expertise in the developing countries. Fourteen (14) criteria were identified in questionnaire 1. These criteria were ranked in questionnaires 2 and 3. A Friedman test of analysis of variance followed by a Mann-Whitney U test of pairwise comparison produced four groups of criteria: group 1, the most highly ranked, comprises local people's needs, sustainability, adoptability and research quality; group 2 includes existing systems and economic criteria; group 3 encompasses biophysical effects, institutional capabilities, partnership and transferability; and group 4, the least ranked, includes diversity of products, tree/crop interface, flexibility and species selection. A Kruskal-Wallis test on each criterion and several respondent characteristics showed that the respondent characteristics of current work, highest degree held, ecosystem experience, geographic area of experience, and number of years experience influenced respondent criteria rankings. The test was not significant for background and respondent origin characteristics.     

Perianal neuroendocrine tumor with suspected lymph node metastasis causing colonic compression and subsequent megacolon

An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 4- to 5-month history of a progressively growing mass above her anus and an inability to defecate for 3 to 4 wk. External perianal and internal regional masses were subsequently identified and diagnosed as tumors of neuroendocrine origin through surgical excision and histopathologic evaluation. The cat was treated with 2 courses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.     

The role of acute phase proteins in diagnosis and management of steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis in dogs

Acute phase proteins (APPs) have become an important tool in the diagnosis, management and prognosis of inflammatory diseases in humans and are developing a similar utility in domestic species. Steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA) is a well-recognised inflammatory disease of the dog, the diagnosis of which remains unsatisfactory based on clinical criteria and non-specific laboratory investigations. In this prospective pilot study the authors examined the acute phase response throughout the course of SRMA in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by evaluating three key stages in disease management: presentation, treatment response and putative relapse.Serum APPs were found to be of value in supporting the diagnosis of SRMA and monitoring its treatment. C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid-A (SAA), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and haptoglobin (Hp) all exhibited an increase above our laboratory reference range in nine patients at initial presentation. During treatment APPs decreased significantly compared to presentation except Hp which increased (Wilcoxon–Signed–Rank-test: CRP, SAA and AGP P < 0.05). Serum CRP and SAA were also found to be of clinical value in the identification of putative relapse (seven cases), particularly in the light of unperturbed CSF parameters where APP concentrations were elevated. CSF APPs were found to be less reliable markers in the management of this disease. The results indicate that SRMA causes a significant APP response in dogs, which although not disease specific, is of value in supporting the diagnosis of SRMA.     

Effects of intracameral injection of viscoelastic solutions on intraocular pressure in dogs

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined in right eyes of 20 healthy dogs after sodium hyaluronate (1%, n = 5), sodium chondroitin sulfate (4%) and sodium hyaluronate (3%, n = 5), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (2%, n = 5), or balanced salt solution (control, n = 5) was injected into the anterior chamber. Applanation tonometry was used to measure IOP in both eyes of each dog for up to 168 hours. The 3 viscoelastic solutions resulted in an increased mean IOP by postinjection hours (PIH) 2; from PIH 12 until PIH 72, the IOP was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than baseline. The control group did not have an increase in IOP at PIH 2; mean IOP decreased below baseline measurements within 2 hours and remained lower until PIH 72. Mean differences in IOP were not found among treated eyes (P = 0.50), and a significant interaction of any treated eyes in a group was not detected (P = 0.21). By PIH 168, the IOP approached baseline values in all groups.     

Effects of inflammation and aqueous tear film deficiency on conjunctival morphology and ocular mucus composition in cats

An experimental model of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) was produced by removing the lacrimal gland and the gland of the third eyelid from the left eye of 6 cats. The right eye of each cat was left intact and used as a control. After 2 weeks, cats were euthanatized and the central portion of the upper eyelid from both eyes of each cat was excised. Histologic sections were stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or with a battery of biotinylated lectins including concanavalin A (conA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (S-WGA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), and PNA pretreated with neuraminidase. Consistent differences in histologic features were not observed between conjunctivas with KCS and control conjunctivas. A variable degree of mononuclear cell infiltration of the substantia propria was observed in control conjunctivas and those with KCS. In both groups, conjunctival goblet cell density decreased and epithelial stratification increased as the degree of submucosal inflammatory cell infiltration increased. Lectin binding sites for DBA, WGA, S-WGA, UEA, PNA, and PNA pretreated with neuraminidase were detected on conjunctival goblet cells of conjunctivas with KCS and control conjunctivas. The mucus/glycocalyx layer of conjunctival epithelial cells in both groups of conjunctivas bound lectins RCA, WGA, UEA, and conA, but inconsistently bound S-WGA. In both groups, DBA principally bound to the mucus layer overlying normal epithelium, whereas PNA pretreated with neuraminidase consistently bound to the mucus layer of stratified epithelial surfaces free of goblet cells. Binding of SBA to goblet cells and the mucus/glycocalyx layer was variable.