Natural stands diversity and population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lophira lanceolata</Emphasis> Tiegh. ex Keay,a local oil tree species in Burkina Faso,West Africa

Non Timber Forest Products play an important role as source of food and income generation in developing countries. In Burkina Faso, many wild tree species provide various useful products, among them the local oil tree, Lophira lanceolata which occurs in the western part of the country. This study aimed at assessing the habitat diversity and population structure of L. lanceolata’s natural stands according to land cover types. Two sites were considered: Banfora, where the use value of fruits is unknown and Orodara, where fruits are exploited for oil production. A stratified and oriented sampling scheme based on the occurrence of L. lanceolata and land cover was applied using rectangular plots of 50 m × 20 m. Phytosociological and quantitative inventories were carried out to assess the woody species diversity of stands and L. lanceolata population structure, respectively. Species diversity indices, structural parameters were computed and analyses of variance, Chi square test were performed to compare sites according to land cover types. The results showed high woody species diversity associated with L. lanceolata stands (H = 3.2–3.6). The densities of L. lanceolata ranged between 94 and 280 trees per hectare, with significant differences between land cover types and sites. The population pattern showed a good regeneration potential and high resource availability. L. lanceolata was fairly resilient to human pressure and tended to recolonize disturbed lands. With a high potential for sustainable management, L. lanceolata is a promising NTFP species which can contribute to improve the local and national economy.     

Ultrasound‐guided proximal paravertebral anaesthesia in cattle

ObjectiveTo develop and evaluate a method for ultrasound-guidance in performing the proximal paravertebral block for flank anaesthesia in cattle through a cadaveric study, followed by clinical application.Study designprospective experimental cadaveric study and clinical series.AnimalsPreviously frozen lumbar sections of cows without known spinal abnormalities were used. The clinical case group comprised of ten animals for which a right flank laparotomy was indicated.MethodsTwenty cow cadavers were used to perform ultrasound-guided bilateral injections of 1.0 mL dye (1.0 mL 1% Toluidine Blue in 1% Borax) at the intervertebral foramen at the level of T13, L1 and L2 spinal nerves. Distance and depth of injection, staining of the dorsal and ventral nerve branches, and deviation from the target were evaluated. The investigator’s confidence as to visualisation and expected success at staining the nerve was assessed. Ten clinical cases received the ultrasound-guided proximal paravertebral anaesthesia. Analgesic success was evaluated using a 4-grade scoring system at 10 minutes after the injection and during surgery, respectively. Categorical variables were described using frequencies and proportions.ResultsBoth dorsal and ventral branches of the spinal nerves T13, L1 or L2 were at least partially stained in 41% of injections, while in 77% of injections one of the branches was stained. Five out of ten clinical cases had a satisfactory anaesthesia. There was no significant association between confidence at injection and either staining or analgesic success.ConclusionResults from the cadaveric and clinical study suggest no significant improvement using ultrasound guidance to perform proximal paravertebral block in cows compared to our previous clinical experience and to references in the literature using the blind method.Clinical relevanceFurther research should be conducted to improve the ultrasound-guided technique described in this study.     

Negligible effect of ions on the hydrogen-bond structure in liquid water

The effects of ions on bulk properties of liquid water, such as viscosity, have suggested that ions alter water's hydrogen-bonding network. We measured the orientational correlation time of water molecules in Mg(ClO4)2, NaClO4, and Na2SO4 solutions by means of femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. The addition of ions had no influence on the rotational dynamics of water molecules outside the first solvation shells of the ions. This result shows that the presence of ions does not lead to an enhancement or a breakdown of the hydrogen-bond network in liquid water.     

Agronomic and socio-economic analysis of water management techniques for dry season cultivation of common bean in Malawi

A study was carried out in Malawi to compare agronomic and socio-economic aspects of different water management practices for two advanced bean lines. Four irrigation technologies and one control were studied in Chingale Area Development Program in Zomba District in southern Malawi. The technologies encompassed motorized pumps (MP), treadle pumps (TP), water cans, gravity-fed surface irrigation (GR) and a non-irrigated practice that used residual moisture. The study found that technologies that used <2 labour hours m^?3 were appropriate for such small-scale irrigation systems. The aggregated bean production labour cost and labourday thresholds were $893 ha^?1 and 2,978 LD ha^?1, respectively. An irrigation supply in the range of 7,000–10,000 m³ ha^?1 for the TP, MP and GR would be adequate. Assuming 20 irrigations season^?1, 400–600 m³ irrigation^?1 would be adequate, supplying 40–60 mm every 5–7 days. The study found that poor small-scale farmers in Malawi, particularly those using MPs, need fuel subsidies in order to offset operational costs. Basing on the findings in the study, we recommend further research on several bean lines in different agro-ecologies of Malawi using technologies that showed high yields, low labour efficiency and high water use productivity.     

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers for fingerprinting of Argyranthemum frutescens cultivars

Argyranthemum frutescens is a commercially important ornamental species with extensive breeding programmes in several countries. Since it is vegetatively propagated there is a great need for tools for identification of cultivars. Vegetatively propagated species require clean-up from diseases, often performed through meristem-tip cultures. Forty-three cultivars of A. frutescens propagated by meristem-tip culture and traditional cuttings were analyzed for genetic relatedness and possible somaclonal variation using AFLP. Five primer combinations resulted in a relatively high degree of polymorphism. Ten molecular markers generated by one primer combination could distinguish between all 43 cultivars. Differences in fingerprints between meristem-tip culture and cuttings from the same cultivars were found, but the proportion of fragments being specific for either tissue culture or cuttings was relatively low. Some cultivars that did not display somaclonal variation as judged by the AFLP-fingerprints may still be genetically unstable since some morphological variation was observed in the true to type test.     

Bovine natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells have received much attention due to their cytotoxic abilities, often with a focus on their implications for cancer and transplantation. But despite their name, NK cells are also potent producers of cytokines like interferon-gamma. Recent discoveries of their interplay with dendritic cells and T-cells have shown that NK cells participate significantly in the onset and shaping of adaptive cellular immune responses, and increasingly these cells have become associated with protection from viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. Furthermore, they are substantially present in the placenta, apparently participating in the establishment of normal pregnancy. Consequently, NK cells have entered arenas of particular relevance in veterinary immunology. Limited data still exist on these cells in domestic animal species, much due to the lack of specific markers. However, bovine NK cells can be identified as NKp46 (CD335) expressing, CD3(−) lymphocytes. Recent studies have indicated a role for NK cells in important infectious diseases of cattle, and identified important bovine NK receptor families, including multiple KIRs and a single Ly49. In this review we will briefly summarize the current understanding of general NK cell biology, and then present the knowledge obtained thus far in the bovine species.     

Influence of different food sources on the initial development of sexual recruits of reefbuilding corals in aquaculture

In coral aquaculture, sexual reproduction increasingly plays an important role for serving trade and reef restoration purposes. However, until coral juveniles reach a semi-stable size which makes them less vulnerable against algal growth and sedimentation, high mortality rates may occur in the first several weeks to months after settlement. In the present study, the influence of several food sources on the growth and survival of newly settled primary polyps was studied under laboratory conditions for 5 months. In order to estimate effects on specimens of both reproductive modes, experiments were carried out with the brooder, Favia fragum, and with the broadcast spawner, Acropora tenuis. Primary polyps kept in 2-liter aquaria were daily fed with freshly hatched Artemia salina, the micro algae Phaeodactylum tricornutum and a commercially available dry food (Nori Micro, Zoolife®), respectively, at various concentrations. Growth rates in both species were significantly higher in the Artemia treatment with maximum rates of 9.4 ± 4.9 mm² (mean ± S.D.; d = 5 months) for F. fragum and 26.8 ± 10.3 mm² (d = 5 months) for A. tenuis compared to all other treatments and the control (no additional food). Survival in F. fragum was overall higher than 60% in all treatments with maximum rates of 85.0 ± 12.6% at the highest Artemia concentration. Survival rates in A. tenuis ranged from 28.9 ± 4.7% (lowest Nori concentration) to 86.2 ± 5.9% (medium Artemia concentration). The present study shows that Artemia nauplii may greatly enhance the growth and partly enhance the survival of early sexual recruits which may significantly help to more rapidly overcome the early and most fragile post-settlement stages. As a consequence, the residence time for sexual coral recruits in cost- and labour-intensive hatcheries may be greatly reduced.     

Inheritance of pancreatic acinar atrophy in German Shepherd Dogs

OBJECTIVE: To assess the heritability of pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA) in German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) in the United States. ANIMALS: 135 GSDs belonging to 2 multigenerational pedigrees. PROCEDURE: Two multigenerational pedigrees of GSDs with family members with PAA were identified. The clinical history of each GSD enrolled in the study was recorded, and serum samples for canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) analysis were collected from 102 dogs. Dogs with a serum cTLI concentration < or = 2.0 microg/L were considered to have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and were assumed to have PAA. RESULTS: Pedigree I consisted of 59 dogs and pedigree II of 76 dogs. Serum cTLI concentrations were measured in 48 dogs from pedigree I and 54 dogs from pedigree II. A total of 19 dogs (14.1%) were determined to have EPI, 9 in pedigree I (15.3%) and 10 in pedigree II (13.6%). Of the 19 dogs with EPI, 8 were male and 11 were female. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Evaluation of data by complex segregation analysis is strongly suggestive of an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for EPI in GSDs in the United States.     

Changes in the species composition in an area dominated by Deschamsia flexuosa (L.) trin. as a result of cattle grazing

When marginal agricultural lands are left idle, a vegetation type develops which is not adapted to grazing. If such vegetation is grazed, as has happened in Mols Bjerge (Eastern Jutland, Denmark), changes occur in the composition of species,whereby the dominants are reduced while the less frequent species increase.In Mols Bjerge the main means of plant dispersal is vegetative (horizontal, rhizome) and endozoic (dispersal) via cattle. However, dispersal is very slow. Species such as Holcus mollis and Carex arenaria are dispersed vegetatively, while dicotyledonous herbs (especially Pimpinella saxifraga and Campanula rotundifolia) are dispersed endozoically.It is suggested that areas rich in species should be grazed by cattle immediately before those poor in species if it is desired to assist immigration of dicotyledonous species.