Willingness to travel to avoid recreation conflicts in Danish forests

Conflicts among forest visitors have direct effects on the quality of a recreational experience. As the number of visitors to forests close to residential areas increases, as well as the number of different activities, so does the potential for perceived conflicts. According to the literature, expanding knowledge of conflict characteristics and their causes is important for recreation planners and managers who aim to reduce conflicts.In the present study, different forest user groups were identified and categorised according to their pursued activities, and for each group, causes of conflict were identified. Furthermore, a choice experiment was constructed to estimate the distance visitors are willing to travel to encounter few visitors as opposed to many visitors, and thereby potentially experience fewer conflicts. Comparing the marginal willingness to travel (WTT) of different user groups suggests that some groups have a WTT further than the average to reach a forest with ‘Few’ visitors. The average WTT to reach a forest area with ‘Few’ visitors. ‘Mountain bikers,’ ‘Peace and nature lovers’ and ‘Horse riders’ are willing to travel 4 km more than the average per visit to reach a less crowded forest. At the other end of the scale, we find that people who are doing physical exercise are willing to travel 2 km less than the average to reach a less crowded forest.     

Global and Phylogenetic Distribution of Quorum Sensing Signals,Acyl Homoserine Lactones,in the Family of Vibrionaceae

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and the corresponding signals, acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), were first described for a luminescent Vibrio species. Since then, detailed knowledge has been gained on the functional level of QS; however, the abundance of AHLs in the family of Vibrionaceae in the environment has remained unclear. Three hundred and one Vibrionaceae strains were collected on a global research cruise and the prevalence and profile of AHL signals in this global collection were determined. AHLs were detected in 32 of the 301 strains using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Chromobacterium violaceum reporter strains. Ethyl acetate extracts of the cultures were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) with automated tandem MS confirmation for AHLs. N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl) (OH-C6) and N-(3-hydroxy-decanoyl) (OH-C10) homoserine lactones were the most common AHLs found in 17 and 12 strains, respectively. Several strains produced a diversity of different AHLs, including N-heptanoyl (C7) HL. AHL-producing Vibrionaceae were found in polar, temperate and tropical waters. The AHL profiles correlated with strain phylogeny based on gene sequence homology, however not with geographical location. In conclusion, a wide range of AHL signals are produced by a number of clades in the Vibrionaceae family and these results will allow future investigations of inter- and intra-species interactions within this cosmopolitan family of marine bacteria.     

Effects of Salinity and Soil–Drying on Radiation Use Efficiency,Water Productivity and Yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Drought and salinity reduce crop productivity especially in arid and semi‐arid regions, and finding a crop which produces yield under these adverse conditions is therefore very important. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is such a crop. Hence, a study was conducted in field lysimeters to investigate the effect of salinity and soil–drying on radiation use efficiency, yield and water productivity of quinoa. Quinoa was exposed to five salinity levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 dS m^?1) of irrigation water from flower initiation onwards. During the seed‐filling phase the five salinity levels were divided between two levels of irrigation, either full irrigation (FI; 95 % of field capacity) or non‐irrigated progressive drought (PD). The intercepted photosynthetically active radiation was hardly affected by salinity (8 % decrease at 40 dS m^?1) and did not differ significantly between FI and PD. Radiation use efficiency of dry matter was similar between salinity levels and between FI and PD. In line with this, no negative effect of severe salinity and soil–drying on total dry matter could be detected. Salinity levels between 20 and 40 dS m^?1 significantly reduced the seed yield by ca. 33 % compared with 0 dS m^?1 treatment owing to a 15–30 % reduction in seed number per m², whereas the seed yield of PD was 8 % less than FI. Consequently, nitrogen harvested in seed was decreased by salinity although the total N‐uptake was increased. Both salinity and drought increased the water productivity of dry matter. Increasing salinity from 20 to 40 dS m^?1 did not further decrease the seed number per m² and seed yield, which shows that quinoa (cv. Titicaca) acclimated to saline conditions when exposed to salinity levels between 20 and 40 dS m^?1.     

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae osteomyelitis in pigs demonstrated by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

Necrotizing osteomyelitis and fibrinopurulent arthritis with isolation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 is reported in two pigs from a herd with lameness and mild coughing problems among 8 to 12-week-old pigs. Application of fluorescent in situ hybridization targeting 16S ribosomal RNA of A. pleuropneumoniae in formalin-fixed tissue was performed to verify the association of A. pleuropneumoniae with the bone and joint lesions. By in situ hybridization A. pleuropneumoniae was demonstrated as multiple microcolonies or single cells dispersed in focal fibrinonecrotizing pleuropneumonia, in joints with arthritis, and in bone necroses including lysis of growth plate and suppurative inflammation in the adjacent trabecular metaphysis, thus demonstrating that well-known infections manifest new, unusual lesions.     

Evaluation of the urinary Cortisol: creatinine ratio in the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism in dogs

The diagnostic accuracy of the urinary cortisol:creatinine ratio (CCR), with the cortisol being measured by ELISA, was evaluated by subjecting data from 18 dogs with and 20 dogs without hyperadrenocorticism to recelver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The area under the ROC curve (W 0–93, SE_w 0–044) was much higher than 045, indicating that the CCR did distinguish between dogs with and without hyperadrenocorticism.A cutoff value of about 60 × 10^-6 was assoclated with the highest sensitivity (1.0)and speciflcity (0–85). At the disease prevalence rate of the present study (0 47), the positive and negative predictive values were 0–87 and 1.0, respectively. These numbers indicate that canine hyperadrenocorticism may be safely excluded when the CCR Is below 60 × 10^-6 but that a test of higher specificlty (eg, the ACTH stimulation test) should be used to confirm the diagnosis of canine hyperadrenocorticism when the CCR Is above 60 × 10^-6.     

Evaluation of the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay, an improved version of the Brucella AMOS polymerase chain reaction assay for cattle.

In a blind test, 344 samples representing 80 bacterial isolates were analyzed by the Brucella abortus species-specific polymerase chain reaction (BaSS PCR) assay for the identification and discrimination of B. abortus field strains (wild-type biovars 1, 2, and 4) from 1) B. abortus vaccine strains, 2) other Brucella species, and 3) non-Brucella bacteria. Identical samples were tested in 2 laboratories. Half the samples were fully viable, and half were bacteria that had been killed by methanol fixation. The results in 1 laboratory correctly identified 100% of the samples, resulting in a predictive value of 100% for all categories and 100% sensitivity and specificity under the prescribed conditions. The second laboratory misidentified 31 samples, resulting in a range of 66.7-100% sensitivity, 93.2-99.7% specificity, and 77.3-98.2% predictive values depending on the category. There was no significant difference in viable versus fixed bacteria for either laboratory. Subsequent review of the protocol indicated that contamination was the likely cause of 26 of the 31 erroneous identifications. The results show that the BaSS PCR assay has the potential to be a very reliable screening tool for B. abortus identification. However, the data also provide a cautionary reminder of the importance of preventing contamination in diagnostic PCR.     

Procollagen type-III aminoterminal peptide in serum and synovial fluid of dogs with hip dysplasia and coxarthrosis

Hip dysplasia is an affection of the coxofemoral joint that progresses until stabilization is caused by fibrosis and osteoarthritic changes. This stabilization process can be examined by clinical and radiographic methods. The capability of evaluating the procollagen concentrations in liquids, such as serum and synovial fluid, has further offered the basis for an objective biochemical evaluation of the stabilization process. Our study was performed to evaluate whether determination of procollagen concentrations was suitable for the use in practice. The procollagen type-III aminoterminal peptide (P-III-NP) concentration was measured in serum and in synovial fluid from coxofemoral joints in 20 dogs. Dogs were grouped on the basis of evidence of dysplasia and osteoarthritic changes of the hip: (1) a control group of 6 dogs without clinical or radiographic signs of hip dysplasia, and (2) dysplastic group of 14 dogs, which was further grouped with respect to the coxofemoral joint laxity, as determined by the Ortolani test. Synovial fluid concentration of P-III-NP was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in fluid from dysplastic joints than in fluid from normal joints. Serum concentrations of P-III-NP were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in dogs in which results of the Ortolani test were positive.     

Characterization of circulating antibodies against Chlamydia psittaci in turkeys.

Plasma and joint fluids from turkeys experimentally inoculated with Chlamydia psittaci strain TT3 were evaluated by immunoblotting to identify antibodies elicited by chlamydial antigens during the course of infection. Protein antigens from elementary bodies of TT3 were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred electrophoretically to nitrocellulose before being probed with plasma or synovial fluid from TT3-inoculated birds. The major outer-membrane protein (MOMP), the 60,000-molecular-weight proteins, and a 97,400-molecular-weight protein were the predominant antigens recognized by IgG in the plasma and joint fluids. Plasma IgG specific for the 97,400 protein band was first detectable at day 10 postinoculation (PI). Antibodies to the 60,000-molecular-weight protein and MOMP were first detected at days 14-17 PI and at days 7-10 PI, respectively, in some birds, and as late as days 36-42 PI and days 42-70 PI in others. The antibodies were still present at day 142 PI. Immunoblotting techniques indicated that the antigens to which these antibodies were reacting were protein. These observations may have implications for the development of serodiagnostic assays as well as the identification of potential proteins for subunit immunogens in birds.     

A Biomechanical Comparison of Headless Tapered Variable Pitch and AO Cortical Bone Screws for Fixation of a Simulated Lateral Condylar Fracture in Equine Third Metacarpal Bones

OBJECTIVE: To compare drilling, tapping, and screw-insertion torque, force, and time for the 4.5-mm AO and 6.5-mm Acutrak Plus (AP) bone screws, and to compare the mechanical shear strength and stiffness of a simulated complete lateral condylar fracture of the equine third metacarpal bone (MC3) stabilized with either an AO or AP screw. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical assessment of screw-insertion variables, and shear failure tests of a bone-screw-stabilized simulated lateral condylar fracture. SAMPLE POPULATION: Eight pairs of cadaveric equine MC3s METHODS: Metacarpi were placed in a fixture and centered on a biaxial load cell in a materials-testing system to measure torque, compressive force, and time for drilling, tapping, and screw insertion. Standardized simulated lateral condylar fractures were stabilized by either an AO or AP screw and tested in shear until failure. A paired t test was used to assess differences between screws, with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: Insertion and mechanical shear testing variables were comparable for AO and AP insertion equipment and screws. CONCLUSION: The 6.5-mm tapered AP screw can be inserted in equine third metacarpal condyles and is mechanically comparable with the 4.5-mm AO screw for fixation of a simulated lateral condylar fracture. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Considering the comparable mechanical behavior, the potential for less-persistent soft-tissue irritation with the headless design, and the ability to achieve interfragmentary compression by inserting the screw in one hole drilled perpendicular to the fracture plane, the 6.5-mm tapered AP screw may be an attractive alternative for repair of incomplete lateral condylar fractures in horses.