Keratitis due to Histoplasma spp. in a horse

A 5-year-old Holsteiner gelding from Germany was presented 2 months after a whitish discoloration of the left cornea was observed. Cytologic examination revealed intra- and extracellular globular structures, up to 4 micro m in size, consisting of a central spherical deeply basophilic body surrounded by an unstained halo. The structures were morphologically consistent with Histoplasma spp. Infection with Histoplasma organisms is not endemic in Europe. Topical use of fluconazole was successful in eliminating Histoplasma organisms within 10 days of initiation of treatment.     

Suitability of Amaranthaceae and Polygonaceae species as food source for the sugar beet weevil Asproparthenis punctiventris Germar

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - This study explores the food plant spectrum of the sugar beet weevil (Asproparthenis punctiventris Germar; Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the most...     

Epidemiology of canine glaucoma presented to University of Zurich from 1995 to 2009. Part 2: secondary glaucoma (217 cases)

Objective To investigate the epidemiology of canine secondary glaucomas in the cases presented to the University of Zurich, Vetsuisse Faculty (UZH) from 1995 to 2009 focusing on possible risk factors for developing secondary glaucoma in this population of dogs. Methods Information was obtained from the computer database of patients examined by members of the UZH Ophthalmology Service, between January 1995 and August 2009. Secondary glaucoma was diagnosed based on the presence of antecedent eye conditions. The data was evaluated for breed, gender, age at presentation, and for antecedent eye conditions known to cause glaucoma including anterior uveitis of unknown cause (AU), lens luxation (LL), intraocular surgery (SX), intraocular neoplasia (IN), unspecified trauma to the globe (T), ocular melanosis (OM), hypermature cataract (PY), hyphema (HY), and six other less frequent conditions. Results A total of 217 dogs were diagnosed with secondary glaucoma from 1995 to 2009. The age of the dogs with secondary glaucoma ranged between 88 days and 19 years (mean 7.7 ± 3.6 years). Data suggested a predisposition for secondary glaucoma in the Cairn Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier breeds from 2004 to 2009. Common causes of secondary glaucoma from 1995 to 2009 were AU (23.0%), LL (22.6%), SX (13.4%), IN (10.6%), T (8.3%), OM and PY (both 6.9%) and HY (3.23%). Conclusion The report presents the epidemiology of secondary glaucomas presented to UZH from 1995 to 2009. Fourteen risk factors were recorded for secondary glaucoma. This is the first paper documenting OM in the Swiss Cairn Terrier dog population.     

Einfluß niedriger SO2-Konzentrationen auf die Aktivität einiger Glykosidasen der Assimilationsorgane verklonter Waldbäume

Effect of low SO₂-concentrations on the activities of some glycosidases in the foliage of clonal forest trees. The aim was to find an early indicator of latent SO₂ injuries in a beech and a spruce clone. After exposure to 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ppm for several weeks in outdoor fumigation chambers, the activities of β-glucosidase in the beech and β-galactosidase in the spruce clone and β-l,3-glucanase in both species were significantly raised. As the beech clone was very sensitive to SO₂, an indication of latent injury could be ascertained only in the 0.05 ppm treatment where the rise of the β-glucosidase activity appeared some days before necroses. Contrary to beech, the spruce clone was tolerant to all SO₂-treatments and the enzymatical changes could be used as early indicators of latent injuries.     

Classification of thermally modified wood by FT-NIR spectroscopy and SIMCA

Quality assessment of thermally modified wood has evolved as one of the major fields in the research on thermal modification of wood. This study investigates NIR spectroscopy in combination with the pattern recognition method of soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA). Focus is put on identifying different treatment intensities of thermally modified samples of beech, ash, and Norway spruce. The results indicate that SIMCA classification based on NIR spectroscopy could be used for quality control of thermally modified wood. The method might be applicable for producers (pre-delivery checks) and customers (reception control). However, transfer from laboratory to industrial conditions needs further investigation.     

Wechselwirkungen zwischen Boden-Huminstoffen und Metall-Ionen II. Untersuchung von Boden-Huminstoffen mit der Gel-Permeations-Chromatographie und der Dampfdruck-Osmometrie

Interaction between soil humic substances and metal ions. II. Investigation of soil humic substances by gel permeation chromatography and vapour pressure osmometry By gel permeation chromatography and vapour pressure osmometry average molar masses of soil fulvic and soil humic acids from two horizons of a podzol were determined. For the fulvic acids average molar masses of 9000 g/mol were obtained by the chromatographic method, while 5000 g/mol were obtained by the osmometric method. In contrast to these results for the humic acids values were measured which are 3 - 4 times larger when measured by gel permeation chromatography and 2 - 3 times smaller when measured by vapour pressure osmometry. The average molar masses found show that the applied methods of isolation and purification as well as the different determination methods with the experimental conditions attached to them have a considerable influence on the molecular size of the isolated humic substances.     

Vertikaler Wasser- und Nitrattransport in tiefere Bodenschichten süddeutscher Ackerstandorte

Vertical water and nitrate movement into deeper soil layers on fields located in the south of Germany In Southern Bavaria, selected fields from deep loess and sandy sediments were sampled to a depth of maximum 10 m every 4 months, in order to determine the basic processes of water and nitrate movement in the course of the year. The downward movement of water and nitrate followed the principle of piston flow only in the intermediate vadose zone of loess soils with a leaching distance amounting 0.8 m per year. On the other hand, an accelerated as well as a delayed transport was observed in the zone of evapotranspiration of loess soils and in the whole profile of sandy soils, not being in accordance with the simple simulation model FLOTRA based on the classic theories of transport (Darcy flow, convection-dispersion-equation). Preferential flow led to the leaching of nitrate from the top soil to the lower boundary of the evapotranspiration zone of loess soils in 2 m depth, in winter and spring. In sandy soils nitrate was leached to the groundwater table in 4–6 m depth after extensive rainfall.     

Axonal neuregulin-1 regulates myelin sheath thickness

In the nervous system of vertebrates, myelination is essential for rapid and accurate impulse conduction. Myelin thickness depends on axon fiber size. We use mutant and transgenic mouse lines to show that axonal Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) signals information about axon size to Schwann cells. Reduced Nrg1 expression causes hypomyelination and reduced nerve conduction velocity. Neuronal overexpression of Nrg1 induces hypermyelination and demonstrates that Nrg1 type III is the responsible isoform. We suggest a model by which myelin-forming Schwann cells integrate axonal Nrg1 signals as a biochemical measure of axon size.