Genome evolution following host jumps in the Irish potato famine pathogen lineage

Many plant pathogens, including those in the lineage of the Irish potato famine organism Phytophthora infestans, evolve by host jumps followed by specialization. However, how host jumps affect genome evolution remains largely unknown. To determine the patterns of sequence variation in the P. infestans lineage, we resequenced six genomes of four sister species. This revealed uneven evolutionary rates across genomes with genes in repeat-rich regions showing higher rates of structural polymorphisms and positive selection. These loci are enriched in genes induced in planta, implicating host adaptation in genome evolution. Unexpectedly, genes involved in epigenetic processes formed another class of rapidly evolving residents of the gene-sparse regions. These results demonstrate that dynamic repeat-rich genome compartments underpin accelerated gene evolution following host jumps in this pathogen lineage.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with systemic fungal infection in a German shepherd dog

A 2 yr old spayed female German shepherd presented with a chief complaint of acute onset paraparesis and weight loss. At presentation, the dog was pyrexic, nonambulatory, and had generalized muscle wasting. Neurolocalization was consistent with a thoracolumbar spinal cord lesion. An abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed a focal dilation (4 cm) of the terminal aorta with evidence of blood stasis consistent with an aortic aneurysm. The dog was euthanized shortly after admission to the hospital and a post mortem examination was performed. Fungal organisms were identified in the aortic aneurysm as well as from the thoracic vertebrae, mesenteric lymph nodes, axillary lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. Although the morphology was consistent with Candida spp., immunohistochemistry and PCR could not definitively identify the causative organism. Mycotic aortic aneurysms are a rare finding in humans and have not been previously reported in the dog. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first known report of an aortic aneurysm associated with systemic fungal infection in a dog.     

Performance of a small-scale chipper for professional rural contractors

The study determined the productivity, fuel consumption and product quality obtained with a new tractor OWered drum chipper, designed to reduce the gap between industrial chippers and small-scale chippers. The machine as tested with poplar logs and beech slabs, considered as representative of the raw material commonly used for ergy wood production. After accounting for accessory work and delays, productivity of green chips ranged between and 6 tons per scheduled machine hour, which was very good for a tractor-powered unit. Specific fuel consumption f oven-dry chips varied between 2.5 and 3.0 L per ton, or 0.6 L per m_3. These figures compared favourably with those btained from previous studies of both smaller and bigger chippers. Chip quality was very good. Samples contained no versize particles, qualifying for use in small-scale plants. The average size of beech chips was significantly larger than r poplar chips, possibly due to the higher strength of beech wood.     

The Disconnect Between Principles and Practice: Rural Policy Reviews of OECD Countries

Following the publication of the New Rural Paradigm (NRP) in 2006, the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) undertook a number of national rural policy reviews for member countries between 2006 and 2009. These reviews were paid for by the nation being reviewed and were structured to assess how well the national policy followed the guidelines of the NRP. International agencies, including the OECD, are seen as being well positioned to encourage policy transfer, and one might think that countries wishing to be reviewed would have adopted the NRP. We examine the set of reviews to determine which elements of the NRP were commonly adopted and which were not. While it may seem that the interval between 2006 and the time of the reviews is too short to expect much change, the ideas underpinning the NRP have their origins in OECD rural policy analysis that began in the late 1980s. Over 20 years, the OECD philosophy of rural development has evolved to parallel the academic research literature in endorsing “bottom‐up” investment‐oriented policies that engage a broad set of actors. Yet, just as academic research seems to have little impact on actual rural policy, so too there is limited evidence that countries fully adopt the NRP. Explaining why this lack of impact is the case is beyond the scope of the paper, but our results reinforce the challenges facing any effort to alter current rural policy.     

Timely adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcome in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma undergoing splenectomy

Timely delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to be advantageous in many human cancers and canine osteosarcoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve outcome for canine splenic hemangiosarcoma. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether timely adjuvant chemotherapy administration resulted in better outcome in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma undergoing splenectomy. Medical records were searched for dogs with non-metastatic, splenic hemangiosarcoma that received splenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The number of days from surgery to the first chemotherapy dose (StoC) was evaluated to identify the cut-off value associated with the best survival advantage. StoC and other possible prognostic factors were tested for influence on time to metastasis (TTM) and overall survival (OS). Seventy dogs were included. Median StoC was 20 days (range: 4–70). The time interval associated with the greatest survival benefit was 21 days. Median TTM and OS of dogs with StoC ≤ 21 days were significantly longer than those with StoC >21 days (TTM: 163 vs. 118 days, p = .001; OS: 238 vs. 146 days, p < .001). On multivariable analysis, StoC >21 days was the only variable significantly associated with increased risk of tumour progression (HR 2.1, p = .010) and death (HR 2.3; p = .008). Starting adjuvant chemotherapy within 21 days of surgery may be associated with a survival benefit in dogs with non-metastatic splenic hemangiosarcoma, possibly due to the early targeting of newly recruited metastatic cells after surgery.     

Subcutaneous Liposarcoma in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 6-year-old spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) exhibiting clinical signs of weakness, anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, and frequent urination was presented for a veterinary evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the aforementioned abnormal behavior and clinical condition. Physical examination revealed a large, firm, painless, movable subcutaneous mass at the base of the tail. Radiographic and ultrasound images confirmed the presence of a soft tissue mass compressing the sacrococcygeal vertebrae, but there was no evidence of metastatic lesions. Because of the poor prognosis and progressive deterioration of the animal's clinical condition, the ferret was humanely euthanized. Gross necropsy revealed a 4 × 4 × 3.5 cm, firm, yellow-tan, ovoid, subcutaneous mass wrapped around the rectum and the anus. The mass did not appear to breach the serosa. Evaluation of the abdominal cavity revealed a pale yellow liver, possibly associated with hepatic lipidosis with no gross evidence of metastasis in the body cavity. The histopathological features of the mass were consistent with a liposarcoma. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of subcutaneous liposarcoma reported in a ferret.     

Wood Extraction with Farm Tractor and Sulky: Estimating Productivity, Cost and Energy Consumption

A winch and a sulky can transform a farm tractor into an effective small-scale logging machine, closely resembling a wheeled cable skidder. The additional cost of these implements is very small, but they offer significant benefits when extracting timber under the conditions of small-scale forestry. The authors developed a productivity model for skidding timber with wheeled farm tractors, equipped with winch and sulky. The origin data pool contained over 300 individual skidding cycles, extracted from 8 separate tests. Statistical analysis of the data allowed calculating a simple mathematical relationship for estimating skidding productivity as a function of significant work conditions, such as: piece size, winching distance, tractor power, skidding distance and crew size. This model can provide useful directions to prospective users, contributing to operation planning, costing and optimization. It can predict a large proportion of the variability in the data and was successfully validated using reserved cycle records, extracted from the same data pool and not used for model development. Depending on tractor power and piece size, the average turn volume and productivity can exceed respectively 2 m³ per cycle and 4 m³ per Scheduled Machine Hour (SMH). Top performance can reach 8 m³ SMH⁻¹, with heavy tractors and large logs.     

Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Analyses of an Italian Collection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains

Physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains isolated in Italy from different host plants were analysed. Diseased plants were collected from several nurseries located in nine different regions. Out of 1293 strains isolated from 12 fruit tree and six ornamental plant species, a group of 120 strains was chosen as representative of the whole collection. The majority of the strains were biovar 2 (82.5%), agrocin 84 sensitive, and were isolated from stone fruit trees. Most of the strains identified as biovar 1 were isolated from ornamental plants and were insensitive to A. radiobacter antagonistic strain K84. Some strains that were isolated from Euonymus spp, Prunus GF 677 and Pyrus communis (pear) OHF tumours could not be allocated to any of the three Agrobacterium biovars. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism of the rrs gene plus the intergenic spacer was used for strain fingerprinting and characterisation. Results showed a wide genetic variability within the biovar 1 strains and homogeneity within the biovar 2 group. Biovar 2 strains from Sardinia were highly variable and differed from the biovar 2 strains isolated from the other regions of Italy.     

Benefits and well-being perceived by people visiting green spaces in periods of heat stress

In urban environments, green spaces have proven to act as ameliorating factors of some climatic features related to heat stress, reducing their effects and providing comfortable outdoor settings for people. In addition, green spaces have demonstrated greater capacity, compared with built-up areas, for promoting human health and well-being. In this paper, we present results of a study conducted in Italy and the UK with the general goal to contribute to the theoretical and empirical rationale for linking green spaces with well-being in urban environments. Specifically, the study focused on the physical and psychological benefits and the general well-being associated with the use of green spaces on people when heat stress episodes are more likely to occur. A questionnaire was set up and administered to users of selected green spaces in Italy and the UK (n=800). Results indicate that longer and frequent visits of green spaces generate significant improvements of the perceived benefits and well-being among users. These results are consistent with the idea that the use of green spaces could alleviate the perception of thermal discomfort during periods of heat stress.