Density of Mars' south polar layered deposits

Both poles of Mars are hidden beneath caps of layered ice. We calculated the density of the south polar layered deposits by combining the gravity field obtained from initial results of radio tracking of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter with existing surface topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft and basal topography from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results indicate a best-fit density of 1220 kilograms per cubic meter, which is consistent with water ice that has approximately 15% admixed dust. The results demonstrate that the deposits are probably composed of relatively clean water ice and also refine the martian surface-water inventory.     

Distribution of prion protein genotypes in breeds of sheep in New Zealand

AIM: To use an established high through-put genotyping procedure to gain an estimate of the frequency of alleles of the prion protein (PrP) gene in some common sheep breeds in New Zealand.

METHODS: Using a genotyping procedure based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-TOF), DNA samples from 3,024 sheep from New Zealand, including breeds such as Romney, Texel, Coopworth, Merino and mixedbreed, were isolated, genotyped and the results analysed.

RESULTS: The 15 scrapie genotypes commonly reported, and derived from the five commonly reported allelic variants (ARR, ARQ, AHQ, ARH and VRQ), were all observed in the samples analysed. The estimates were indicative of the frequencies in the population of alleles present in breeds of sheep in New Zealand. There was a significant difference between the frequencies of alleles between breeds, but the ARQ, followed by the ARR allele, were, except in Carwell sheep, the most common alleles present.

CONCLUSION: This study gave an indication of the percentages of PrP gene alleles in sheep in New Zealand, including data previously unreported from breeds in this country. It is of interest because of the relatively large size of the sheep population in New Zealand compared with many countries, and it provides some useful information on the genetic susceptibility or resistance of the sheep population in New Zealand to scrapie. The frequencies of the alleles can be different for an individual breed compared between countries.     

Distal aortic aneurysm presumed to be secondary to an infected umbilical artery in a foal

Abstract

CASE HISTORY:?A 3-month-old female Warmblood foal was presented after displaying signs of colic with pyrexia for 5 days.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS:?The foal continued to show signs of colic, frequently passed urine, and was pyrexic with an elevated white blood cell count. The umbilical stalk was thickened but there was no evidence of purulent material. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an enlarged left umbilical artery remnant tightly adhered to the bladder wall. The left umbilical artery continued to an aneurysm involving the distal aorta. The foal was subject to euthanasia and post-mortem examination confirmed a spherical aortic aneurysm, in the dorsal midline caudal to the kidneys that contained a large thrombus. Histopathological examination revealed inflammation and necrosis of the tunica intima and tunica media of the left umbilical artery with suppuration and bacterial colonies evident in the periarterial tissues.

DIAGNOSIS:?Infected aortic aneurysm presumably caused by an umbilical artery infection.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:?A previously undetected umbilical infection appears to have resulted in an unusual delayed complication causing signs of colic in a foal. Veterinarians should be aware of this condition, and the possibility that it may be a cause of signs of colic in foals. Diagnosis based on ultrasonography should be possible, but may require sedation, visceral analgesia and careful examination.     

Study of Sperm Concentration,Seminal Plasma Composition and their Physiological Correlation in the Persian Sturgeon,Acipenser persicus

The objectives of the present study were to determine ionic and organic composition of seminal plasma, sperm concentration and their relationships in the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus). In this regard, ionic content (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^?, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) and organic content (total protein, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride) along with sperm concentration were measured in 17 specimens of the Persian sturgeon. The seminal plasma contained 59.53 ± 2.56 mm /l sodium, 9.1 ± 1.42 mm chloride, 4.72 ± 0.3 mm potassium, 1.45 ± 0.075 mm calcium and 0.7 ± 0.072 mm magnesium. The following organic contents were found: total protein 0.11 ± 0.02 g/dl, glucose 22.18 ± 4.16 mg/dl, cholesterol 6.67 ± 1.04 mg/dl and triglyceride 15.2 ± 0.65 mg/dl. The mean sperm concentration was estimated to be 1.6 ± 0.12 (×10⁹ sperm/ml). A significant relationship was found between sperm concentration and K⁺ of seminal plasma (r = 0.533, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between ionic contents: Na⁺ vs Cl^? (r = ?0.854, p < 0.01) and Mg²⁺ vs K⁺ (?0.583, p < 0.05). Also, level of triglyceride was negatively correlated with Mg²⁺ (r = ?0.503, p < 0.05). Presented data could be considered as a complementary study for developing special extenders and protectant solutions for improving artificial fertilization in this valuable species.     

Comparative IFN-τ Secretion after Hatching by Bovine Blastocysts Derived Ex Vivo and Completely Produced In Vitro

The interferon-tau (IFN-tau) secretion levels after hatching by bovine blastocysts derived from in vitro maturated oocytes (Group A) and from in vivo (Group B) were investigated considering embryo quality. Only very homogeneous blastocysts of excellent or good quality were considered from day 7 of culture (Group A) and day 7 after artificial insemination with frozen-thawed from the same bull used for in vitro fertilization (Group B). All embryos were individually cultured into a 50 microl droplet of synthetic oviduct fluid medium with 10% fetal calf serum. After 24-h culture both Group A (n=44) and B (n=40) secreted <54 pm IFN-tau. After 48-, 72-, 96- and 120-h culture, Group A daily secreted 143 +/- 24 pm IFN-tau (n=19) vs 85 +/- 12 pm IFN-tau (n=21) for Group B (p < 0.01), 491 +/- 128 pm IFN-tau (n=29) vs 216 +/- 37 pm IFN-tau (n=23) (NS), 499 +/- 135 pm IFN-tau (n=26) vs 353 +/- 93 pm IFN-tau (n=21) (NS), 559 +/- 136 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 333 +/- 75 pm IFN-tau (n=20) (NS), respectively. Taken all together during 5 days, Group A produced per embryo 1690 +/- 290 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 982 +/- 182 pm IFN-tau (n=20) for Group B (p < 0.05). For all culture time there were sizable percentages of embryos that did not produce concentrations of IFN-tau above a certain cut-off level, and as such were not used to compute the means. In respect of the embryo quality whatever the groups after days 7-12 of culture, IFN-tau secretions were 1815 +/- 453 pm (n=10) for the embryos of excellent quality vs 1356 +/- 200 pm (n=28) for those of good quality (NS) and 360 +/- 188 pm (n=4) (p < 0.05) for embryos of fair quality. A positive relationship between IFN-tau production and in vitro development of quality I embryos was observed, whatever the embryos origins and, the embryos completely produced in vitro secreted more IFN-tau than the embryos produced in vivo.     

Racemat und Enantiomere von Ipsdienol zur Anlockung vonIps amitinus (Eich.) (Col., Scolytidae)

Zusammenfassung Enddarmextrakte des Kleinen Buchdruckers (Ips amitinus) ergaben, daß die Männchen während der Aggregationsphase hauptsächlich (+)-Ipsdienol und Amitinol produzieren.Cis-Verbenol,trans-Verbenol, Myrtenol, Verbenon und (–)-Ipsenol werden nur in geringen Mengen freigesetzt. Das von den Weibchen produzierte 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol, das beim Großen Buchdrucker als Landestimulus dient, scheint ablenkend zu wirken.Freilanduntersuchungen mit den Enantiomeren von Ipsdienol, gemischt mit Amitinol, zeigten, daß die Mischung von (+)-Ipsdienol mit Amitinol für beide Geschlechter attraktiv ist. Das Racemat/Amitinol-Gemisch zeigt eine geringe Lockwirksamkeit, während die Kombination von (–)-Ipsdienol/Amitinol gar nicht attraktiv ist.

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Racemate and enantiomeres of Ipsdienol for attractingIps amitinus (Eichh.) (Col., Scolytidae)

Hindgut extracts ofIps amitinus revealed that males of this polygamous bark beetle produce mainly (+)-Ips-dienol and Amitinol in the attraction phase.Cis- andtrans-Verbenol, Myrtenol, Verbenon and (–)Ipsenol are produced only in minor amounts. 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol is produced by females and seems to be inhibitive.Field experiments with different enantiomeric mixtures of Ipsdienol and Amitinol showed that the mixture (+)-Ipsdienol and Amitinol is attractive for both males and females. The mixture of racemic Ipsdienol and Amitinol seems to be less attractive; (–)-Ipsdienol and Amitinol is not attractive at all.

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Management Strategies Aiming to Improve Horse Welfare Reduce Embryonic Death Rates in Mares

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of management strategies aiming to improve animal well‐being on pregnancy and embryonic death (ED) rates. Breeding records of a cohort of 1206 Thoroughbred mares brought to a stallion station facility, to be bred with the stallions housed there, were evaluated during ten breeding seasons. Mares were blocked according to management strategies in two groups: Stress and Relax. Strategies used to improve animal well‐being (Relax group) were as follows: stopping the teasing routine, reducing or eliminating stall confinement, reducing the number of mares per group and maintaining herd stability during the breeding season. In barren mares, the pregnancy rate was higher in the Relax group (91.8%) when compared to the observed in Stress group (84.7%). However, no difference in pregnancy rates were observed (Stress = 85.2% vs. Relax = 86.2) in foaling mares. ED rate was higher in barren and foaling mares of the Stress group mares (25.5% and 26.8%, respectively) compared with the Relax group (16.1% and 14.7%, respectively). No significant differences were observed on foal heat pregnancy rate between groups; yet, the embryo loss on foal heat was significant reduced in Relax mares (Relax = 8.7% vs Stress = 24.5%). In conclusion, management strategies aimed to reduce social stress can reduce early pregnancy losses and the average cycles per pregnancy, improving reproductive performance in mares.     

Therapeutic approaches targeting the prion receptor LRP/LR

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies known as prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. The generally accepted principle of the disease is that the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) into the disease associated isoform PrP(Sc) leads to spongiform degeneration of the brain and amyloid plaque formation. Until now no therapy leading to potential alleviation or even cure of the disease exists. It is therefore important to develop therapeutic approaches for the treatment of TSEs since these infections are inevitably fatal and, especially in the case of vCJD, they affect youngsters. Besides current conventional therapeutic strategies, this review summarizes new therapeutic tools targeting the prion receptor LRP/LR.