In vitro generation of mature neutrophils from canine Lin- bone marrow cells

The major goal of this work was to describe the in vitro generation of mature functional neutrophils derived from a canine enriched haematopoietic progenitor cell population. We have utilised lineage depletion by immunomagnetic selection to isolate a canine haematopoietic progenitor cell population. The physical, immunological, metabolical and morphological methodologies employed in this study have permitted us to isolate and define a cell population enriched in Rh-123low and CD34+ cells. Irradiated pre-established long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) were utilised to determine the self-renewal ability of lineage negative (Lin-) cells, as well as their capacity to differentiate into mature functional neutrophils. The authors demonstrate for the first time that canine neutrophils derived from Lin- cells are able to produce oxyradicals, express a specific neutrophil surface antigen, and contain gelatinase granules. These characteristics enable them to migrate through basement membranes to act as a first line defence mechanism. The fact that these cells are able to differentiate into functional mature cells, and give rise to long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) after 35 days of culture, allows the authors to assure that the isolated canine enriched haematopoietic cell population exhibit functional characteristics, associated with primitive haematopoietic cells.     

Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen from fresh and anaerobically stored sheep manure in soils of different texture

A sandy loam soil was mixed with three different amounts of quartz sand and incubated with (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ (60 g N g^-1 soil) and fresh or anaerobically stored sheep manure (60 g g^-1 soil). The mineralization-immobilization of N and the mineralization of C were studied during 84 days of incubation at 20°C. After 7 days, the amount of unlabelled inorganic N in the manure-treated soils was 6–10 g N g^-1 soil higher than in soils amended with only (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄. However, due to immobilization of labelled inorganic N, the resulting net mineralization of N from manure was insignificant or slightly negative in the three soil-sand mixtures (100% soil+0% quartz sand; 50% soil+50% quartz sand; 25% soil+75% quartz sand). After 84 days, the cumulative CO₂ evolution and the net mineralization of N from the fresh manure were highest in the soil-sand mixutre with the lowest clay content (4% clay); 28% fo the manure C and 18% of the manure N were net mineralized. There was no significant difference between the soil-sand mixtures containing 8% and 16% clay, in which 24% of the manure C and -1% to 4% of the manure N were net mineralized. The higher net mineralization of N in the soil-sand mixture with the lowest clay content was probably caused by a higher remineralization of immobilized N in this soil-sand mixture. Anaerobic storage of the manure reduced the CO₂ evolution rates from the manure C in the three soil-sand mixtures during the initial weeks of decomposition. However, there was no effect of storage on net mineralization of N at the end of the incubation period. Hence, there was no apparent relationship between net mineralization of manure N and C.     

Effect of medetomidine administration on bispectral index measurements in dogs during anesthesia with isoflurane

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between bispectral index (BIS) and minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) multiples of isoflurane after IM injection of medetomidine or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution in anesthetized dogs. ANIMALS: 6 dogs. PROCEDURE: Each dog was anesthetized 3 times with isoflurane. First, the MAC of isoflurane for each dog was determined by use of the tail clamp method. Second, anesthetized dogs were randomly assigned to receive an IM injection of medetomidine (8 microg x kg(-1)) or an equal volume of isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution 30 minutes prior to beginning BIS measurements. Last, anesthetized dogs received the remaining treatment (medetomidine or isotonic saline solution). Dogs were anesthetized at each of 4 MAC multiples of isoflurane. Ventilation was controlled and atracurium (0.2 mg/kg followed by 6 microg/kg/min as a continuous infusion, IV) administered. After a 20-minute equilibration period at each MAC multiple of isoflurane, BIS data were collected for 5 minutes and median values of BIS calculated. RESULTS: BIS significantly decreased with increasing MAC multiples of isoflurane over the range of 0.8 to 2.0 MAC. Mean (+/- SD) MAC of isoflurane was 1.3 +/- 0.2%. During isoflurane-saline anesthesia, mean BIS measurements at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 MAC were 65 +/- 8, 60 +/- 7 52 +/- 3, and 31 +/- 28, respectively. During isoflurane-medetomidine anesthesia, mean BIS measurements at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 MAC were 77 +/- 4, 53 +/- 7, 31 +/- 24, and 9 +/- 20, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: BIS monitoring in dogs anesthetized with isoflurane has a predictive value in regard to degree of CNS depression. During isoflurane anesthesia, our results support a MAC-reducing effect of medetomidine.     

Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed cross-linking of feruloylated arabinoxylans with beta-casein

Heterologous conjugates of wheat arabinoxylan and beta-casein were prepared via enzymatic cross-linking, using sequential addition of the arabinoxylan to a mixture of beta-casein, peroxidase, and hydrogen peroxide. The maximal formation of adducts between the beta-casein and the feruloylated arabinoxylan was reached at a protein-to-arabinoxylan ratio of 10:1, in combination with a molar ratio hydrogen peroxide to substrate of 2:1 and a molar protein-to-enzyme ratio between 10(2) and 10(4). The protein-arabinoxylan adducts were separated from the arabinoxylan homopolymers by size exclusion and anion exchange chromatography. The molar ratio protein:arabinoxylan in the purified conjugates varied between 0.1 and 5.6. This is the first report on the large-scale enzymatic preparation of heterologous protein-arabinoxylan conjugates.     

The EFSA quantitative approach to pest risk assessment – methodological aspects and case studies

A new method for pest risk assessment and the identification and evaluation of risk‐reducing options is currently under development by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Plant Health Panel. The draft method has been tested on pests of concern to the European Union (EU). The method is adaptable and can focus either on all the steps and sub‐steps of the assessment process or on specific parts if necessary. It is based on assessing changes in pest population abundance as the major driver of the impact on cultivated plants and on the environment. Like other pest risk assessment systems the method asks questions about the likelihood and magnitude of factors that contribute to risk. Responses can be based on data or expert judgment. Crucially, the approach is quantitative, and it captures uncertainty through the provision by risk assessors of quantile estimates of the probability distributions for the assessed variables and parameters. The assessment is based on comparisons between different scenarios, and the method integrates risk‐reducing options where they apply to a scenario, for example current regulation against a scenario where risk‐reducing options are not applied. A strategy has been developed to communicate the results of the risk assessment in a clear, comparable and transparent way, with the aim of providing the requestor of the risk assessment with a useful answer to the question(s) posed to the EFSA Plant Health Panel. The method has been applied to four case studies, two fungi, Ceratocystis platani and Cryphonectria parasitica, the nematode Ditylenchus destructor and the Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma. Selected results from these case studies illustrate the types of output that the method can deliver.     

Note:Syringopais temperatella Lederer, 1855 and its parasitoids in wheat and barley fields in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey

Larvae of the cereal leaf minerSyringopais temperatella Led. (Lep.: Scythridae) collected from wheat and barley fields in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey during 2005–2006, and their parasitization rates, were determined in the laboratory,Bracon (Habrobracon) stabilis Wesmael andApanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were identified as its parasitoids for the first time.     

Application to soil of disinfectants through irrigation reduces Verticillium dahliae in the soil and verticillium wilt of olive

The application of disinfectants through drip irrigation could be a feasible practice against verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) of olive. OX-VIRIN (activated peroxide) and OX-AGUA AL25 (quaternary ammonium compounds) are two disinfectants that have shown efficacy against V. dahliae in irrigation water and potential for reducing the disease in young olive plants. In this work, various post-planting application strategies incorporating OX-VIRIN (once a month, or twice a month on alternate or successive weeks) or OX-AGUA AL25 (once a month, or twice a month on alternate weeks) were assessed for their effect on V. dahliae in soil, disease in olive trees, and olive yield, in a 2-year pot-experiment under natural environmental conditions. The disinfectants were injected via metering pumps into a drip irrigation system that irrigated olive trees planted in V. dahliae-inoculated soil. All the application strategies significantly reduced the total inoculum density in soil compared to controls with no disinfectants and noninoculated soil. The microsclerotia density was also significantly reduced in disinfested soils by 73.6–86.8%, depending on the strategy. The symptoms and infection incidence were always lower in treatments subjected to disinfestation. The treatment with OX-AGUA AL25 applied twice a month on alternate weeks most reduced the symptoms (by 53.0%) and colonization index (by 70.8%) with respect to untreated water control. This soil disinfestation also significantly strengthened the symptom remission. Tree growth and production were negatively affected by soil inoculation (reduced by 45.6% and 88.7%, respectively), but not so by disinfectants, which even relieved the reduction in inoculated soils, especially when OX-AGUA AL25 was applied.     

Effects of oxygen supersaturation on the culture of cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki Richardson, and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Richardson

Abstract. Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of rearing Snake River cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki Richardson, and Eagle Lake rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Richardson, in oxygen supersaturated water. The performance of cutthroat trout held at oxygen saturation as high as 172% was compared with that of control fish held in water at or below saturation. At an oxygen saturation level of 172%, total gas pressure reached 117% in late afternoon, and nitrogen saturation was reduced to 93%. The rainbow trout were held at a maximum of 150% oxygen saturation; total gas pressure did not exceed 112% in late afternoon and nitrogen saturation was reduced to 99%. Fish growth, fin quality and feed conversions were not significantly affected in either species. At the termination of the study gas bubble disease was observed in 94% of the cutthroat trout held in oxygen supersaturated water. Gas bubble disease was not observed in rainbow trout.     

Influence of irrigation and nitrogen management on potato yield and quality

The effects of irrigation, water and nitrogen management on yield and quality of the Russet Burbank cultivar are discussed relevant to developmental stages of growth. Recent research on the interactions of irrigation and nitrogen management on total and U.S. No. 1 yields and specific gravity are presented. Total and U.S. No. 1 yields decline with increasing soil moisture stress. Yield of U.S. No. 1 potatoes is particularly sensitive to short periods of irrigation deficit during tuber initiation. Total yield appears most sensitive to short periods of irrigation deficit during tuber bulking. Allocation of longer term irrigation deficits during years of limited water supply should be either a) avoided during mid-season tuber bulking, or b) uniformly distributed over the entire tuber bulking growth period. Yield increases with higher total available soil nitrogen under deficit irrigation, but the yield response diminishes as the amount of total seasonal water decreases. The influence of irrigation and nitrogen availability is also discussed for specific gravity and tuber maturity. Seasonal (split) nitrogen management is proposed as a method to improve yield, quality and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency of indeterminant cultivars.