Summary of workshop findings for porcine B-cell markers.

Based on cluster groups from the first-round analyses of the Third International Swine CD Workshop, 38 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) including eight internal controls were analysed by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (IH) in the second-round analysis of the B-cell section of this workshop. Targets in this section included peripheral blood lymphocytes and cells isolated from ileal Peyer's patches (PP), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of adult animals, bone marrow cells from newborn piglets and thymus cells isolated from foetuses at day 105 of gestation.Immunohistochemistry of these 38 MAbs identified four sets, whose ligands were co-expressed with CD21, which showed a tissue distribution compatible with specificity for cells including those of the B-cell lineage. Another group of miscellaneous antibodies appeared to identify other cells, several antibodies were negative. Two-colour flow cytometry (2C-FCM) was carried out by pairing each antibody of interest with antibodies to SWC7, CD21, sIgM and a polyclonal rabbit anti-swine immunoglobulin antiserum (RaSwIg).The anti-CD21 MAb BB6-11C9 (no. 20) and IAH-CC51 (no. 19), established in previous workshops, as well as the cross-reactive anti-human CD21 B-1y4 (no. 146), clustered together in FCM analyses of the first round and showed similar cellular distribution in IH. A further cluster was formed by the standard CC55 (no. 55) and 2A10/8 (no. 102) submitted as SWC7 specific. The second SWC7 standard 2F6/8 (no. 100) clustered separately, but IH showed an identical pattern of reactivity to the other SWC7 MAb.Unfortunately, this work could not identify any other novel clusters with specificity for B-cells, as the statistical clustering of other MAbs could not be substantiated by IH or subsequent two-colour-FCM work. However, we could identify MAb with similar cellular distribution. The ligands for the cross-reactive anti-human CD40 G28.5 (no. 25) and STH224 (no. 153) were expressed on very similar targets, similarly the ligands for the MAb pair JM1H1 (no. 139) with BB6-10A10 (no. 142) and the MAb pair 3F7/11 (no. 115) with 1C2F10 (no. 187).     

Estimation of economic weights for number of teats and sperm quality traits in pigs

Accurate predictive modelling facilitates efficient and effective trait selection in animal breeding and can decrease costs while maximizing profits when raising economically important animals. The objective of this study was to extend a previously developed bioeconomic model and computer program to calculate the marginal economic values (MEVs) and economic weights (EWs) for direct and maternal pig traits affected by new reproductive traits, namely the number of sow functional teats (NFTs) and boar sperm quality traits (SQTs) that included sperm volume, sperm concentration, motility percentage and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. The MEV of NFTs represented the cost differences between naturally and artificially reared piglets until weaning and the cost differences between naturally and artificially reared finished animals. The MEVs of SQTs expressed the saved costs for artificial insemination, assuming a decreased price per insemination dose when improving the SQTs. The absolute and relative EWs for the newly defined complex of traits in the breeding objectives for pig breeds involved in the Czech national three-way crossing system (Czech Large White [CLW], Czech Landrace [CL] and Pietrain [PN]) were calculated using gene flow methods. The NFT trait was included only for dam breeds, and the relative EW averaged 3.6% of the total economic importance based on the genetic standard deviations of all 19 simultaneously evaluated traits in CLW and CL breeds. The relative EWs of the four SQTs comprised 2.0% of the total economic importance of the 19 traits in the CLW and CL dam breeds and 8% of the total economic importance of the 18 traits in the PN sire breed. Therefore, inclusion of the NFTs for dam breeds and SQTs for sire breeds in the breeding goal is recommended to aid in obtaining ideal outcomes with optimal economic values.     

Development of forest carbon stock and wood production in the Czech Republic until 2060

? This study describes the scenarios of likely development of carbon pools in managed forest ecosystems of the Czech Republic. The analysis was based on a matrix scenario model (EFISCEN), adopting a novel parameterization based on forest stand site types and forest typology. The model was constrained by practical management rules as prescribed by the Czech Forestry Act and used to assess production potential for the next five decades under three management and three climate scenarios. The analysis provided data on carbon pool development, including both tree biomass and soil compartments.

? For the tested scenarios of sustainable forest management (wood removals not exceeding increment) the model indicated a slight increase of soil carbon pool. For the possibly largest removals (maximum sustainable felling scenario), soil carbon stabilized within two or three decades reaching a mean value of about 8.1 kg/m² for. At the same time, the mean carbon stock held in biomass reached about 10.2 kg/m² including belowground parts. No decline of soil carbon was observed for any of the tested scenarios.

? We conclude that it is reasonable to assume that soil carbon is not a source of carbon under the current management constraints as implemented in the Czech forestry practice.

     

Automated tree detection and crown delineation using airborne laser scanner data in heterogeneous East-Central Europe forest with different species mix

Identifying tree locations is a basic step in the derivation of other tree parameters using remote sensing techniques, particularly when using airborne laser scanning. There are several techniques for identifying tree positions. In this paper, we present a raster-based method for determining tree position and delineating crown coverage. We collected data from nine research plots that supported different mixes of species. We applied a raster-based method to raster layers with six different spatial resolutions and used terrestrial measurement data as reference data. Tree identification at a spatial resolution of 1.5 m was demonstrated to be the most accurate, with an average identification ratio (IR) of 95% and average detection ratio of 68% being observed. At a higher spatial resolution of 0.5 m, IR was overestimated by more than 600%. At a lower spatial resolution of 3 m, IR was underestimated at less than 44% of terrestrial measurements. The inventory process was timed to enable evaluation of the time efficiency of automatic methods.     

A comprehensive phylogeny of beetles reveals the evolutionary origins of a superradiation

Beetles represent almost one-fourth of all described species, and knowledge about their relationships and evolution adds to our understanding of biodiversity. We performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Coleoptera inferred from three genes and nearly 1900 species, representing more than 80% of the world's recognized beetle families. We defined basal relationships in the Polyphaga supergroup, which contains over 300,000 species, and established five families as the earliest branching lineages. By dating the phylogeny, we found that the success of beetles is explained neither by exceptional net diversification rates nor by a predominant role of herbivory and the Cretaceous rise of angiosperms. Instead, the pre-Cretaceous origin of more than 100 present-day lineages suggests that beetle species richness is due to high survival of lineages and sustained diversification in a variety of niches.     

Influence of Cultivation Conditions on the Sioxanthin Content and Antioxidative Protection Effect of a Crude Extract from the Vegetative Mycelium of Salinispora tropica

Due to their bioavailability, glycosylated carotenoids may have interesting biological effects. Sioxanthin, as a representative of this type of carotenoid, has been identified in marine actinomycetes of the genus Salinispora. This study evaluates, for the first time, the effect of cultivation temperature (T) and light intensity (LI) on the total cellular carotenoid content (TC), antioxidant activity (AA) and sioxanthin content (SX) of a crude extract (CE) from Salinispora tropica biomass in its vegetative state. Treatment-related differences in TC and SX values were statistically significantly and positively affected by T and LI, while AA was most significantly affected by T. In the S. tropica CE, TC correlated well (R² = 0.823) with SX and somewhat less with AA (R² = 0.777). A correlation between AA and SX was found to be less significant (R² = 0.731). The most significant protective effect against oxidative stress was identified in the CE extracted from S. tropica biomass grown at the highest T and LI (CE-C), as was demonstrated using LNCaP and KYSE-30 human cell lines. The CE showed no cytotoxicity against LNCaP and KYSE-30 cell lines.     

Technological Properties of Yeast Produced Surface Active Compounds in Connection with Their Application in Clean-Up Technologies

Biologically produced surfactants （SACs） can mobilize and solubilize non-aqueous phase liquids （NAPL） adsorbed onto soil constituents. The interest in microbial surfactants has increased during recent years due to their lower toxicity, higher biodegradability, selectivity and specific activity under extreme conditions than synthetic SACs. Main output of the project represents preparation of this yeast biosurfactant intended for washing of matrices contaminated by NAPL. The influence of cultivation media composition on biosurfactant production was studied and basic properties （critical micelle concentration （CMC）, minimum surface tension） of isolated biosurfactants were compared with properties of synthetic surfactant with surface tension measurement. The interracial tension of the systems containing aqueous solutions of different concentrations and non-polar substances was measured with petroleum compounds （kerosene Jet A-l）, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons （represented by toluene and hexane）. The solution of biosurfactant Yarrowia lipolytica （YAR） in the concentration range of 0-500 mg/L reduced interracial tension by 80% in all representative systems with model contaminants; biosurfactant Candida bombicola （CAN） was less efficient. Solubilization properties were proved with toluene and hexachlorocyclohexane （HCH） isomers alpha and gamma, and effective concentration of biosurfactants was determined as 100 mg/L for toluene and HCH. SACs produced by lipophilic yeast with non-toxic and non-pathogenic status （Yarrowia lipolytica, Candida sp., etc.） seem to be very promising. The results obtained will be used for the application of biosurfactants in the clean-up technologies as agents for the mobilization of non-polar contaminants as well as for stimulation of bioremediation processes.     

The Nutritive Value of Lucerne Leaf Meal for Pigs Based on Digestibility and Nitrogen Utilization

Abstract

Digestibility, energy metabolism and nitrogen utilization of a barley-based diet with increasing inclusion of lucerne leaf meal (LLM; 0, 5, 10 and 20%) were studied in a change-over experiment with growing pigs. In addition, digestibility and nitrogen utilization of the diets were evaluated with rats. The apparent digestibility of fibre increased with LLM inclusion, whereas the digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, fat and energy all decreased significantly. There was a significant reduction in the dietary content of digestible and metabolizable energy with increasing inclusion of LLM in the diet. Nitrogen retention and utilization were significantly increased with an increasing inclusion of LLM.