Farmers' Perception of Land Degradation and Traditional Knowledge in Southern Ethiopia—Resilience and Stability

Land degradation is the major economic and environmental threat in Ethiopia. Since the 1960s, the various traditional land management systems have undergone unprecedented changes. Within the context of farmers' awareness of land degradation and local responses to the problems, the objective of this study is to examine the resilience and stability of traditional land management knowledge in Southern Ethiopia. Data were collected using interviews, group discussions and field observations. Results of the study demonstrate that farmers have a wealth of experience in identifying the severity, dynamics and causes of soil erosion and soil fertility decline and grazing land deterioration. In response to these problems, farmers have developed a wide range of traditional land management practices, supported across the generations by the traditional law (benee woga) and norms. However, recent changes include reduction and abandonment of fallowing, modification of crop rotation and large‐scale reduction of manuring. The current practices used to fulfil livelihood requirements are the main driving forces that affect the resilience of the system. Thus, environmental and land use management planning should consider rehabilitating land not only based on traditional land management knowledge but also with regards to raising its agricultural productivity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Defective lipolysis and altered energy metabolism in mice lacking adipose triglyceride lipase

Fat tissue is the most important energy depot in vertebrates. The release of free fatty acids (FFAs) from stored fat requires the enzymatic activity of lipases. We showed that genetic inactivation of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in mice increases adipose mass and leads to triacylglycerol deposition in multiple tissues. ATGL-deficient mice accumulated large amounts of lipid in the heart, causing cardiac dysfunction and premature death. Defective cold adaptation indicated that the enzyme provides FFAs to fuel thermogenesis. The reduced availability of ATGL-derived FFAs leads to increased glucose use, increased glucose tolerance, and increased insulin sensitivity. These results indicate that ATGL is rate limiting in the catabolism of cellular fat depots and plays an important role in energy homeostasis.     

Optimum geometric layout of a single cable road

Cable-based technologies have been a backbone for harvesting on steep slopes. The layout of a single cable road is challenging because one must identify intermediate support locations and heights that guarantee structural safety and operational efficiency while minimizing set-up and dismantling costs. Our study objectives were to (1) develop an optimization approach for designing the best possible intermediate support layout for a given ground profile, (2) compare optimization procedures between linearized and nonlinear analyses of a cable structure and (3) investigate the effect of simplifying a multi-span representation. Our results demonstrate that the computational effort is 30–60 times greater for an optimization approach based on nonlinear cable mechanical assumptions than when considering linear assumptions. Those nonlinear assumptions also stipulate lower heights for intermediate supports and a larger span length. Finally, compared with the unloaded case, tensile force in the skyline is increased by as much as 80% under load for a single-span skyline configuration. Our approach provides additional value for cable operations because it ensures greater structural safety at a lower cost for installation. Improvements are still needed in developing a stand-alone application that can be easily distributed. Moreover, our rather simple assumptions regarding set-up and dismantling costs must be refined.     

Substrate-controlled succession of marine bacterioplankton populations induced by a phytoplankton bloom

Phytoplankton blooms characterize temperate ocean margin zones in spring. We investigated the bacterioplankton response to a diatom bloom in the North Sea and observed a dynamic succession of populations at genus-level resolution. Taxonomically distinct expressions of carbohydrate-active enzymes (transporters; in particular, TonB-dependent transporters) and phosphate acquisition strategies were found, indicating that distinct populations of Bacteroidetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria are specialized for successive decomposition of algal-derived organic matter. Our results suggest that algal substrate availability provided a series of ecological niches in which specialized populations could bloom. This reveals how planktonic species, despite their seemingly homogeneous habitat, can evade extinction by direct competition.     

Experimental infection of South American camelids with bluetongue virus serotype 8

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non-contagious disease of wild and domestic ruminants. It is caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) and transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Since 1998, BT has been emerging throughout Europe, threatening not only the na?ve ruminant population. Historically, South American camelids (SAC) were considered to be resistant to BT disease. However, recent fatalities related to BTV in captive SAC have raised questions about their role in BTV epidemiology. Data on the susceptibility of SAC to experimental infection with BTV serotype 8 (BTV-8) were collected in an animal experiment. Three alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and three llamas (Lama glama) were experimentally infected with BTV-8. They displayed very mild clinical signs. Seroconversion was first measured 6-8 days after infection (dpi) by ELISA, and neutralising antibodies appeared 10-13 dpi. BTV-8 RNA levels in blood were very low, and quickly cleared after seroconversion. However, spleens collected post-mortem were still positive for BTV RNA, over 71 days after the last detection in blood samples. Virus isolation was only possible from blood samples of two alpacas by inoculation of highly sensitive interferon alpha/beta receptor-deficient (IFNAR(-/-)) mice. An in vitro experiment demonstrated that significantly lower amounts of BTV-8 adsorb to SAC blood cells than to bovine blood cells. Although this experiment showed that SAC are generally susceptible to a BTV-8 infection, it indicates that these species play a negligible role in BTV epidemiology.     

The incidence of agglutination and its influence on sperm quality and fertility of boar semen

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of sperm agglutinations and their relationships with sperm quality and fertility. Semen samples of 40 boars of an AI-station were investigated. Nineteen of the 40 investigated boars showed a constantly low (< 10% agglutinated sperm), 3 an intermediate (10-20%) and 6 boars a high level (> 20%) of agglutination in raw semen. The degree of agglutination in sperm samples of 12 boars varied distinctly during the investigation period. During summer more (P < 0.05) agglutinated sperm were observed (11.0 +/- 11.6%) than during winter (6.2 +/- 7.3%). There was no association between bacterial contamination and incidence of agglutinations (P > 0.05). After dilution in extender the percentage of agglutinated sperm decreased from 6.2 +/- 7.3% to 1.1 +/- 1.4% (P < 0.0001). Twenty-four hours after dilution the percentage of progressively motile sperm was 7.4% lower (P < 0.05) in ejaculates with an initially high degree of agglutination (> 20% agglutinated sperm) compared to samples with an initially low degree of agglutinated sperm (< 10%). Plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, acrosome reaction and chromatin structure were independent (P > 0.05) from the level of agglutination. Fertility data did not differ (P > 0.05) between boars with low and high numbers of agglutinated sperm in raw semen. The results show that there are individual, ejaculatory and seasonal variations in the incidence and degree of agglutination. Agglutinations have a negative effect on motility of sperm and disappear to a large extent after dilution in sperm extender. They have no negative consequences on fertility.     

The clinical diagnosis of BSE

Diagnosis of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is confirmed by specified laboratory methods on brain material. On the other hand clinical signs of manifest BSE are quite obvious. The first part of this paper describes case histories, clinical signs, laboratory findings and the most common differential diagnoses. On the basis of the data of actual prevalence in Germany, the role of clinical examination in eradication of BSE is dealt in the second part. Clinical diagnosis is a very sensitive and specific method when there is a high prevalence. According to the data from December 2000 to November 2001 prevalence in Germany was beyond 1 BSE case per 100,000 cattle or 3 cases per 100,000 cows. This very low prevalence decreases rapidly sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis made by clinical examination. Therefore the main focus of field-diagnostics has to be laid on specified laboratory diagnostic methods. On the other hand prevalence of BSE-positive cattle is distinctly higher in the group of animals slaughtered in cases of illness or emergency than in cattle slaughtered on the regulatory bases. Nevertheless every veterinary practitioner should be aware of the clinical picture of BSE, clinical examination-routine and differential diagnosis, because occurrence of BSE is still possible in any dairy herd. At the moment it is not possible to make any statement if eradication of BSE can be reached in future.