The abomasal histology of worm-free sheep given primary and challenge infections of Haemonchus contortus

The histological changes in the abomasal mucosa of pairs of worm-free ewes and lambs were compared at various stages after infection and reinfection with 350 Haemonchus contortus L3 per kg bodyweight. In terms of worm burdens the ewes were relatively resistant to reinfection compared with the lambs and the histological changes in the abomasum at most stages after infection were more marked in the adult animals. These included increases in the numbers of mast cells, globule leucocytes, eosinophils and IgA plasma cells in the mucosa.     

Myocardial necrosis in a captive binturong (Arctictis binturong)

An adult male binturong, Arctictis binturong, which had been anorexic and lethargic for seven days became acutely dyspnoeic and died under anaesthesia. A postmortem examination revealed left ventricular hypertrophy with a thrombus occluding the left ventricular chamber. Histological findings included moderate to severe multifocal, vasculocentric myocardial degeneration and necrosis with fibrosis replacing myocardiocytes. Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were grown on cultures. The animal's serum vitamin E and selenium levels were considered adequate. The aetiology of the chronic myocardial changes could not be determined.     

Changes in glucosinolate concentrations, myrosinase activity, and production of metabolites of glucosinolates in cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. capitata) cooked for different durations

In cabbage, glucosinolates such as sinigrin are hydrolyzed by plant myrosinase to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), allyl cyanide, and, in the presence of an epithiospecifier protein, 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane (CEP). Isothiocyanates have been implicated in the cancer-protective effects of Brassica vegetables. The effect of processing on the hydrolysis of glucosinolates was investigated in cabbage. Cabbage was steamed or microwaved for six time durations over 7 min. Glucosinolate concentrations were slightly reduced after microwave cooking (P < 0.001) but were not influenced after steaming (P < 0.05). Myrosinase activity was effectively lost after 2 min of microwave cooking and after 7 min of steaming. Hydrolysis of residual glucosinolates following cooking yielded predominantly CEP at short cooking durations and AITC at longer durations until myrosinase activity was lost. Lightly cooked cabbage produced the highest yield of AITC on hydrolysis in vitro, suggesting that cooking Brassica vegetables for a relatively short duration may be desirable from a health perspective.     

Competence at graduation: implications for assessment

Assessment of clinical competence is an integral component of veterinary medical and medical programs. Assessing competence is not straightforward, however, and there have been many studies in the medical education literature on the subject. This article seeks to review developments and current thinking in this important area.     

Evaluation of soybean germplasm conserved in NIAS genebank and development of mini core collections

Genetic variation and population structure among 1603 soybean accessions, consisted of 832 Japanese landraces, 109 old and 57 recent Japanese varieties, 341 landrace from 16 Asian countries and 264 wild soybean accessions, were characterized using 191 SNP markers. Although gene diversity of Japanese soybean germplasm was slight lower than that of exotic soybean germplasm, population differentiation and clustering analyses indicated clear genetic differentiation among Japanese cultivated soybeans, exotic cultivated soybeans and wild soybeans. Nine hundred ninety eight Japanese accessions were separated to a certain extent into groups corresponding to their agro-morphologic characteristics such as photosensitivity and seed characteristics rather than their geographical origin. Based on the assessment of the SNP markers and several agro-morphologic traits, accessions that retain gene diversity of the whole collection were selected to develop several soybean sets of different sizes using an heuristic approach; a minimum of 12 accessions can represent the observed gene diversity; a mini-core collection of 96 accession can represent a major proportion of both geographic origin and agro-morphologic trait variation. These selected sets of germplasm will provide an effective platform for enhancing soybean diversity studies and assist in finding novel traits for crop improvement.     

Enabling Conditions for Successful Community Forest Enterprises

In search of sustainable forest landscapes that reduce poverty and mitigate climate change, many countries have adopted a forest policy model that encourages community forest enterprise (CFE). This paper draws on international experience from the Forest Connect alliance, involving teams supporting small forest enterprises in 12 countries with more than 800 associate members from 60 countries. The hypothesis emerging from this alliance is that three main enabling conditions are required for successful CFEs: accessible commercial forest rights; processes of enterprise-oriented social organisation; and infusion of competitive business skills. Having established criteria and indicators of successful CFE, this paper critically examines a series of eight national and sub-national case studies (for Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Laos, Mozambique and Nepal) to test this central hypothesis. Findings demonstrate a clear association between the implementation of these three enabling conditions and indicators of successful CFE. Examples from Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk (Nepal) and Monapo (Mozambique) illustrate the importance of ensuring these conditions. The paper concludes by drawing a number of policy implications about how to foster the enabling conditions necessary for successful CFE.     

Enzymatic transformation of humic substances by NDO

Enzymatic transformation of humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA) and indole was examined using naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase (NDO). NDO was used as a model for dioxygenase enzymes found in various microbial species. Indole was used as a model substrate for NDO-catalyzed reactions resulting in condensation products. Although NDO is not classified as a soil enzyme, all HA and FA tested were susceptible to NDO-induced transformation. The extent of NDO-specific NADH oxidation in solutions containing HA and FA paralleled the percent aromaticity of the HA and FA. Furthermore, the UV–Vis absorptive properties of NDO-treated HA and FA were altered in a manner suggesting condensation reactions similar to the formation of indigo from indole. Condensation reactions were enhanced in NDO-treated mixtures containing indole and an FA. NDO retained activity for 2 weeks under ambient conditions, and retained some enzymatic activity for 9 days based on detection of specific metabolites by HPLC, suggesting prolonged extracellular activity. Humic substances have not previously been known to be substrates for dioxygenases; even more significant was that dioxygenase enzymes can facilitate condensation reactions between indole-like functional groups well-known to be present in HA and FA. These results illustrate how dioxygenases can be potential humic-modifying enzymes when released into the environment upon microbial death and concurrent cell lysis which could alter the bioavailability of organic contaminants associated with dissolved organic matter through specific modulation of enzyme activity involving substrate competition.