Inflammatory disorders of bone marro

Inflammatory lesions in bone marrow, observed during a 2 year period at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, were reviewed. Of 24 bone marrow specimens with evidence of inflammation, six were classified as acute inflammation, nine as fibrinous inflammation, five as chronic inflammation/hyperplasia, three as granulomatous inflammation and one as nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. Acute inflammation commonly accompanied bacterial sepsis. Two patterns of acute inflammation were identified. One pattern consisted of multifocal microabscesses. The other pattern of acute inflammation consisted of perivascular infiltrates of neutrophils, fibrin, edema, and hemorrhage. The most common disorder associated with fibrinous inflammation was disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Chronic inflammation was difficult to differentiate from chronic immune stimulation. Discrete granulomas were identified in the marrow of animals with systemic mycotic disease, idiopathic systemic granulomatous disease, and serous atrophy of fat. This study indicates that a broad variety of inflammatory disorders occur in animal bone marrow and that these disorders can be classified based on general categories of inflammation described in other tissues.     

Behaviour of smallholder farmers towards adoption of conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

Conservation agriculture is critical to sustainably increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing climate resilience and food security. Much research on adoption of conservation agriculture has focused on its agronomic benefits, but little attention has been paid to the contribution of the behaviour of farmers over its adoption. To close this gap, a study was carried out to investigate the behaviour of smallholder farmers towards the adoption of conservation agriculture in Chivi, Murehwa and Mutoko districts, Zimbabwe. Data were collected through a pre‐tested questionnaire administered to 360 farmers, selected through a multi‐stage sampling process. This method was triangulated through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and personal observations. Data were analysed using percentages, means and inferential statistics. The results show that, although fewer than 10% of the respondents had received any formal training in agriculture, more than 80% of them relied on it for their major source of income. The respondents had high levels of knowledge on the social, environmental and economic benefits of conservation agriculture. However, the majority of the non‐adopters had an indifferent perception towards conservation agriculture. The knowledge and perception of the farmers was explained by age, gender, education and experience with conservation agriculture. Results also show a weak but significant correlation between knowledge and perception (R_s = 0.306, p < 0.05), knowledge and adoption (R_s = 0.484, p < 0.05) but a strong and significant correlation between perception and adoption (R_s = 0.808, p < 0.05). Addressing perception gaps is key to enhance adoption of conservation agriculture.     

Nondestructive sampling of Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens for wood properties. III. Predicted pulp yield using Near Infrared Reflectance Analysis

  Within-tree variation in kraft pulp yield, predicted using near infrared reflectance analysis, was studied in thirty trees of E. globulus and fifty trees of E. nitens to develop a non-destructive sampling strategy. Trees, aged 5 to 9 years, were sampled across a range of sites in southern Australia. Simulated core samples were removed at six fixed heights easily accessible from the ground (0.5, 0.7, ... 1.5 m) and at seven percentage heights (0, 20, 30, ... 70%). Whole-tree values, calculated from percentage height data, were correlated with the core data to determine the optimal sampling height. Core samples were found to be good predictors of whole-tree pulp yield for E. globulus, with simulated cores taken from the recommended sampling height (1.1 m) explaining more than 50% of variation in whole-tree pulp yield. Results for E. nitens were variable with large site differences apparent. On high quality sites, core samples from the recommended sampling height (0.9 m) were good predictors of whole-tree pulp yield, explaining around 60% of the variation. On poor quality sites, cores were poor predictors of whole-tree pulp yield. Radial orientation of cores was not important and predicted pulp yield was not related to tree size, basic density or fibre length. To estimate stand mean pulp yield to an accuracy of ±1% would require sampling 6 trees of E. globulus and 4 trees for E. nitens using either multiple discs or core samples. A single sampling height (1.1 m) is recommended for sampling for basic density, fibre length, fibre coarseness and predicted pulp yield in E. globulus. For E. nitens the recommended sampling height for basic density and fibre length is 0.7 m and 0.9 m is recommended for predicted pulp yield on good quality sites. Received 17 September 1998     

Global genetic change tracks global climate warming in Drosophila subobscura

Comparisons of recent with historical samples of chromosome inversion frequencies provide opportunities to determine whether genetic change is tracking climate change in natural populations. We determined the magnitude and direction of shifts over time (24 years between samples on average) in chromosome inversion frequencies and in ambient temperature for populations of the fly Drosophila subobscura on three continents. In 22 of 26 populations, climates warmed over the intervals, and genotypes characteristic of low latitudes (warm climates) increased in frequency in 21 of those 22 populations. Thus, genetic change in this fly is tracking climate warming and is doing so globally.