Assay of aroma active components of virgin olive oils from southern Italian regions by SPME-GC/ion trap mass spectrometry

An SPME-GC/ion trap method was exploited to determine the chromatogram of volatile compounds of organic olive oils of southern Italian regions. The method is based on the assay of the terminal species of the "lipoxygenase pathway", which are present in the volatile fraction of the sampled compounds. Ethyl isobutanoate was used as internal standard in either the EI or CI ionization mode. The absolute concentration values of each analyte were evaluated through good-to-excellent calibration curves. Case studies on oils obtained from different cultivars or harvesting times are presented. The quantitative data for each compound were subjected to principal component analysis to characterize the different cultivars of this work.     

An investigation of bovine serum copper levels in Lincolnshire and South Humberside

Analysis of more than 2000 bovine serum samples showed a large monthly variation in copper levels. There was also a difference in levels between beef and dairy cows although all showed the same monthly pattern. This monthly variation was correlated with rainfall; the higher the rainfall the lower the copper level. The interpretation of single herd blood copper values must be considered carefully in view of this variation.     

Maedi-visna virus infection in commercial flocks of indigenous sheep in Britain

The recent identification of maedi-visna virus infection in three commercial flocks of indigenous sheep in Britain is described. In one flock the evidence suggested that overt clinical disease was present. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

Effects of CD28 blockade on subsets of naïve T cells in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether human CTLA4-Ig ([hu]CTLA4-Ig) inhibits costimulation-dependent lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, compare the effects of (hu)CTLA4-Ig with cyclosporine and steroids on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell lymphocyte proliferation, and determine whether memory T-cell function remains intact in the presence of (hu)CTLA4-Ig. ANIMALS: 29 cats. PROCEDURE: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with concanavalin A (costimulation-dependent mitogen) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin (costimulation independent mitogens) alone or in the presence of (hu)CTLA4-Ig, cyclosporine, or dexamethasone; effects of these treatments on lymphocyte proliferation were assessed by incorporation of thymidine labeled with tritium or flow cytometry. Antigen-specific proliferation was determined by stimulating PBMCs from 2 healthy cats seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii with soluble Toxoplasma antigen alone or in the presence of (hu)CTLA4-Ig or cyclosporine. RESULTS: (hu)CTLA4-Ig inhibited costimulation-dependent lymphocyte proliferation in vitro but had no effect on costimulation-independent lymphocyte proliferation. Compared with mitogen alone, (hu)CTLA4-Ig caused a significant decrease in responder frequency and proliferative capacity of CD4+ T cells; however, the effect on CD8+ T cells was not significant. Cyclosporine alone or with dexamethasone had a significantly greater suppressive effect on responder frequency and proliferative capacity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, compared with (hu)CTLA4-Ig. Compared with cyclosporine, (hu)CTLA4-Ig appeared to have a sparing effect on antigen-specific proliferation of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: (hu)CTLA4-Ig selectively inhibited costimulation-dependent proliferation of lymphocytes in vitro and had a sparing effect on antigen-specific proliferation of memory cells. The specificity of its mechanism of action suggests that (hu)CTLA4-Ig may prevent allograft rejection but leave memory responses to previously encountered antigens intact.     

Survey of the large-animal diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine regarding knowledge and clinical use of polymerase chain reaction: implications for veterinary education

A questionnaire was developed to document the knowledge base of large-animal diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) regarding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and to identify the common use of this technology in equine practice. Ninety-three of the 278 mailed questionnaires were returned, for an overall response rate of 33.4%. Ninety respondents (99%) reported being familiar with the general principles of nucleic acid probe technology; however, only 52 (57%) knew the difference between conventional (traditional) and real-time (second-generation) PCR. The majority of the respondents (88%) emphasized the need for continuing education on molecular diagnostics. Eighty-four (92%) of the respondents regularly use PCR (conventional and/or real-time) for the detection of equine pathogens, and 80 (88%) commonly submit their samples to university/state veterinary laboratories. Blood, nasal swabs, and feces are the three equine specimens most commonly submitted for PCR analysis of Streptococcus equi, Lawsonia intracellularis, Neorickettsia risticii, equine herpesvirus 1/4, Rhodococcus equi, Sarcocystis neurona, and equine influenza virus. Diplomates reported costs associated with molecular diagnostics and unreliability of PCR as the most common limitations of PCR. Didactic training in veterinary curricula and during continuing-education opportunities continues to be necessary to produce veterinarians who have an understanding of the clinical applications of molecular diagnostics.     

Impacts of biodiversity loss on ocean ecosystem services

Human-dominated marine ecosystems are experiencing accelerating loss of populations and species, with largely unknown consequences. We analyzed local experiments, long-term regional time series, and global fisheries data to test how biodiversity loss affects marine ecosystem services across temporal and spatial scales. Overall, rates of resource collapse increased and recovery potential, stability, and water quality decreased exponentially with declining diversity. Restoration of biodiversity, in contrast, increased productivity fourfold and decreased variability by 21%, on average. We conclude that marine biodiversity loss is increasingly impairing the ocean's capacity to provide food, maintain water quality, and recover from perturbations. Yet available data suggest that at this point, these trends are still reversible.     

Effects of a therapeutic riding program on at-risk and special education children

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a therapeutic riding program on psychosocial measurements among children considered at risk for poor performance or failure in school or life and among children in special education programs. DESIGN: Observational study. POPULATION: 17 at-risk children (6 boys and 11 girls) and 14 special education children (7 boys and 7 girls). PROCEDURE: For the at-risk children, anger, anxiety, perceived self-competence, and physical coordination were assessed. For the special education children, anger and cheerfulness were measured, and the children's and their mothers' perceptions of the children's behavior were assessed. Measurements were made before and after an 8-session therapeutic riding program. RESULTS: For boys enrolled in the special education program, anger was significantly decreased after completion of the riding program. The boys' mothers also perceived significant improvements in their children's behavior after completion of the program. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that an 8-session therapeutic riding program can significantly decrease anger in adolescent boys in a special education program and positively affect their mothers' perception of the boys' behavior.     

Phylogeny, diversity, and species delimitation in some species of the Xiphinema americanum-group complex (Nematoda: Longidoridae), as inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphology

During nematode surveys in southern Spain and Italy 14 populations of Xiphinema species tentatively identified as Xiphinema americanum-group were detected. Morphological and morphometrical studies identified three new species and six known Xiphinema americanum-group species, viz.: Xiphinema parabrevicolle n. sp., Xiphinema parapachydermum n. sp., Xiphinema paratenuicutis n. sp., Xiphinema duriense, Xiphinema incertum, Xiphinema opisthohysterum, Xiphinema pachtaicum, Xiphinema rivesi, and Xiphinema santos. The Xiphinema americanum-group is the most difficult Xiphinema species group for diagnosis since the morphology is very conservative and morphometric characters often overlap. This group includes vectors of several important plant pathogenic viruses that cause significant damage to a wide range of agricultural crops. Molecular characterisation of these species using D2-D3 expansion regions of 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, ITS1-rRNA and the protein-coding mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 was carried out and maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among these species and with other Xiphinema americanum-group species.