Quality evaluation of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) by near-infrared spectroscopy

The legal method (polarimetric measurement) for the determination of sucrose content and the wet chemical analysis for the quality control of sugar beet uses lead acetate. Because heavy metals are pollutants, the law could forbid their use in the future. Therefore, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was evaluated as a procedure to replace these methods. However, there are alternatives to lead clarification, such as the use of aluminum salts, which have been applied at many sugar companies. The real advantage of NIRS is in speed and ease of analysis. The aim of this study was to determine simultaneously the concentration of several components which define the industrial quality of beets. The first objective was the determination of sucrose content, which determines the sugar beet price. The standard error of prediction (SEP) was low: 0.11 g of sucrose/100 g of fresh beet. NIRS was also able to determine other beet quality parameters: brix, marc, glucose, nitrogen, sodium, potassium, sugar in molasses (i.e. sucrose in molasses), and juice purity. The results concerning brix, marc, sugar in molasses, and juice purity were satisfactory. NIRS accuracy was lower for the other parameters. Nevertheless, RPD (ratio standard deviation of concentration/SEP) and RER (ratio concentration range/SEP ratio) show that NIRS might be used for the sample screening on nitrogen, potassium, sodium, and glucose content.     

Soil macrofaunal biodiversity in Amazonian pastures: Matching sampling with patterns

Soil biodiversity varies through space as influenced by habitat features and land-use history. The performance of any sampling strategy highly depends on its relevance with regards to this pattern. We surveyed the soil macrofaunal species richness in the pastures of the Benfica Field Station (Eastern Amazonia, State of Pará, Brazil) and described its variability in 4 independent replicate plots. We designed a within-plot sampling scheme that accounted for the soil spatial variation (stratified sampling). Replicated pasture plots had different species richness (49-65) corresponding to a low proportion (40-53%) of the total number of species (123). Pairs of replicated plots showed an outstandingly low number of shared species (28-41% of the species pool). Likewise, different classes of soil thickness, corresponding to a Ferralsol-Cambisol sequence, had different species richness (12-44) and exhibited a very low proportion of shared species (15-29%). The proportion of rare species, i.e. singletons, ranged from 40-51% of the total species richness depending on the plot considered. We used the abundance-based coverage estimator of species richness (ACE) and the Chao shared species estimator that provides a correction based on the relative abundance of rare species. These indices also showed both a high between plots dissimilarity and a substantial within plot variability of species composition. Because of the high proportion of rare species, the rarefaction curves failed to reach any asymptote in all replicated plots. Bootstrap resampling showed that less than 5 samples per stratum (class of soil thickness) provided inconsistent species richness values. We simulated the efficiency of sampling strategies that included our 4 replicate plots and the 3 classes of soil thickness but with varying sampling effort within each stratum. The results indicated that a fairly large (74%) proportion of species would be recorded if strata were sampled using 5 sampling units (hence 15 samples per plot for a total of 4×15=60 samples). This study showed the need for adequate plot replication in soil macrofaunal biodiversity studies. Also, the main relevant factors of within-replicate plot spatial heterogeneity (e.g. soil, vegetation) should be accounted for through stratified sampling. The results showed that there is no way of reducing the local sampling effort below a certain level (here, 5 sampling units per stratum).     

Genetic parameters of growth,straightness and wood chemistry traits in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis>

Introduction   

Tree breeding is giving an increasing attention to wood properties in order to better fit the requirements of the saw, board, pulp and paper industries. In particular, it has been reported that lignin and cellulose content display moderate to high heritabilities making them prime candidates for genetic improvement of wood chemistry. Moreover, these traits have been shown to be negatively correlated at both phenotypic and genetic levels. However, they have generally been evaluated against a narrow genetic background, and little is known about their correlations with mandatory selection criteria such as growth and straightness.     

Inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α regulate lymphocyte trafficking through the local lymph node

Lymphocyte trafficking from blood to lymph and back is a tightly regulated process. Given appropriate stimuli, trafficking of cells through the lymph node changes from a 'steady-state' to a bimodal flow. Initially, a 'shutdown' phase occurs, leading to a dramatic reduction in efferent cell output. This is followed by a 'recruitment' phase whereby the efferent cell output becomes greatly elevated before returning to baseline levels. The shutdown/recruitment process is hypothesised to promote encounters between Ag-specific lymphocytes and APCs in an environment conducive to immune response induction. Cytokines, such as TNF-α have been shown to play an important role in regulating lymphocyte trafficking. Here, we unravel the role of cytokines in the regulation of cell trafficking using an in vivo sheep lymphatic cannulation model whereby the prefemoral lymph nodes were cannulated and recombinant cytokines were injected subcutaneously into the draining area of the cannulated node. We demonstrate that local injection of purified IL-6 or TNF-α stimulates shutdown/recruitment in the draining lymph node. While the effect of IL-6 appears to be direct, TNF-α may mediate shutdown/recruitment through IL-6.     

Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase expression in four pineapple varieties (Ananas comosus L.) after a chilling injury

Pineapple internal browning (IB) is a chilling injury that produces enzymatic browning associated with flesh translucency. Pineapple biodiversity allowed the investigation of how polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities with their different isoforms are involved in the IB mechanism. Fruits of four varieties that expressed IB symptoms differently, Smooth Cayenne (SCay) and the hybrids MD2, Flhoran 41 (Flh 41), and Flhoran 53 (Flh 53), were stressed by cold. The susceptible varieties showed classical brown spots but different patterns of IB, whereas MD2 and controls showed no IB. Enzymatic activities were measured on fruit protein extracts and PPO and POD isoforms separated on mini-gels (PhastSystem). Only PPO activity was significantly enhanced in the presence of IB. Up to six PPO isoforms were identified in the susceptible varieties. PPO was barely detectable in the nonsusceptible variety MD2 and in controls. The number of PPO isoforms and the total PPO activity after chilling are varietal characteristics.     

Habitat selection by forest-dwelling caribou in managed boreal forest of eastern Canada: Evidence of a landscape configuration effect

Habitat alteration caused by forest harvesting seems to contribute to the decline of forest-dwelling caribou, an ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) inhabiting the boreal ecosystem. To serve as basework to the establishment of conservation measures for the species, we have studied the hierarchical habitat selection of forest-dwelling caribou in a boreal landscape of Québec strongly impacted by logging. Fifteen females were surveyed by GPS telemetry between April 2004 and March 2006. Home ranges showed a high proportion of 90–120 year-old forests, a low proportion of regenerating forests (20–40 years old) and a tendency to include a greater proportion of 6–20 year-old clearcuts in relation to their availability in the study area. At the home range scale, selection patterns differed between periods, possibly reflecting specific requirements linked to caribou life cycle. Caribou selected open lichen woodlands throughout the year while mature closed forests (≥50 years) were selected uniquely during summer. The 6–20 year-old clearcuts were avoided during calving, in summer and during the rutting period but were selected during spring. Our results indicate that mature forest and open lichen woodlands are highly selected forest cover types by caribou at both spatial scales. Although clearcuts were generally avoided at the home range scale, such avoidance was not observed at the larger scale, the search for 90–120 year-old forests being hampered by a uniform distribution of clearcuts. An a posteriori landscape analysis highlighted the spatial association between 6–20 year-old clearcuts and 90–120 year-old forests, an association that can be explained by the current regulations used in Québec. Our results underline the importance of pursuing research concerning the impact of such an exploitation regime on the long-term maintenance of the forest caribou in the boreal landscape.     

Results of preemptive epidural administration of morphine with or without bupivacaine in dogs and cats undergoing surgery: 265 cases (1997-1999)

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of adverse effects associated with epidural administration of morphine with or without bupivacaine in dogs and cats undergoing surgery and evaluate effects of epidural administration of morphine on postoperative pain severity. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 242 dogs and 23 cats. PROCEDURE: Morphine with or without bupivacaine was administered prior to surgery with a Tuohy needle, spinal needle, or epidural catheter. In 18 dogs that underwent surgery twice, results of preemptive epidural administration of morphine with or without bupivacaine were compared with results of systemic administration of oxymorphone and ketoprofen. RESULTS: The delivered fraction of isoflurane was significantly lower in animals given morphine and bupivacaine than in animals given morphine alone. Analgesia was of significantly longer duration in dogs given morphine and bupivacaine than in dogs given morphine alone. During anesthesia, mild respiratory and cardiovascular depression was reported. Seven dogs and 2 cats had urine retention, and 2 dogs developed pruritus. Six dogs vomited when a second dose of morphine was given epidurally the day after surgery. Eight of 72 dogs had delayed hair growth. In 18 dogs that underwent surgery twice, the delivered fraction of isoflurane was significantly lower and the duration of analgesia was significantly longer when morphine with or without bupivacaine was given epidurally than when oxymorphone and ketoprofen were given. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that preemptive epidural administration of morphine with or without bupivacaine is a safe and effective method of inducing long-lasting analgesia in dogs and cats and is superior to standard management of postoperative pain with repeated injection of oxymorphone and ketoprofen.