An indirect hemagglutination test for the detection of antibodies to Clostridium chauvoei

An indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test using sonicated extract as the antigen was developed for the detection of antibodies to Clostridium chauvoei. This antigen can be adsorbed onto glutaraldehyde-fixed sheep red blood cells treated with tannic acid and can be destroyed by trypsin and heat treatment. It corresponded well with the flagella of the organism, when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the gel diffusion test. No serological cross-reactivity was found in the IHA test when the antigen was tested against 4 species of clostridial antibodies. Our results suggest that the IHA test mainly detects antibodies against the flagella of C. chauvoei.     

Rapid and simple mutation screening of G(M1) gangliosidosis in Shiba dogs by direct amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid from various forms of canine whole-blood specimens.

This report describes a rapid and simple method for mutation screening of G(M1) gangliosidosis in Shiba dogs by direct amplification of DNA from canine whole-blood specimens using a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reagent cocktail, which can eliminate the DNA extraction process and amplify the genomic DNA directly from human or murine whole blood. The strategy of this mutation screening is based on the identification of a nucleotide deletion by restriction enzyme analysis, coupled with the direct PCR amplification. The target sequence of the canine beta-galactosidase gene could be amplified directly from various forms of canine whole-blood specimens, including anticoagulated blood, blood stored frozen for 1 year, dried blood held in filter paper for 1 year at room temperature, and dry powder of blood stripped from Giemsa-stained blood films, which had been prepared 10 years earlier, resulting in the determination of genotypes in all the specimens. This method simplified the molecular diagnosis and carrier screening of G(M1) gangliosidosis in Shiba dogs, making it simple to examine specimens from the large, widely distributed population of these dogs.     

Are Phenological Observations Sufficient to Estimate the Quality of Seed Crops from a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus grandis</Emphasis> Open-pollinated Seed Orchard? Consequences for Seed Collections

Reproductive phenology was observed over three years in a Eucalyptus grandis seed orchard in Madagascar to determine the impact of geographic differences of parental selections on the expected genetic composition of seed crops. Pollen flow (observed pollen cloud) was deduced from a paternity assignment based on sampling from one year’s seed production. The two approaches were used to verify whether knowledge of phenology is sufficient to predict the genetic quality of the seeds collected. Despite the high flowering level, with a constant cycle over three years, the results demonstrated wide reproductive phenological differences associated with the parents’ origin, suggesting putative pollination disequilibrium. From both observed and expected pollen clouds, the results showed preferential mating among different provenances, which has consequences for seed crop composition. Phenological observations, which can be made inexpensively, can be used to promote methods of effective seed orchard management in order to improve the genetic quality of seeds.     

Factors affecting the adoption of agroforestry practices by farmers in Cameroon

This paper presents empirical evidence on the impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Cameroon. The analysis uses primary farm-level data collected from June to December 1996. Three major provinces of the country were covered, namely Centre, Southwest and Northwest Several agroforestry technologies have been promoted among farmers in the zone, including alley farming, improved fallow, live fencing, cut-and-carry fodder and apiculture. The status of adoption of each agroforestry practice is described and factors that affect adoption identified. These are gender of farmer, household family size, level of education, farmer’s experience, membership within farmers’ associations, contact with research and extension, security of land tenure, agroecological zone, distance of the village from nearest town, village accessibility and income from livestock. Research findings indicate that since factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices differ across techniques, generalisation is to be avoided.     

The impact of shade on morphology,growth and biomass allocation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea sitchensis</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">eurolepis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thuja plicata</Emphasis>

To determine the effect of shade on morphology, growth and biomass allocation in Picea sitchensis, Larix × eurolepis and Thuja plicata, seedlings were grown in the open or under shadehouses providing 25%, 50% and 75% reductions of full-light for two growing seasons. For most of the characteristics assessed there was no significant interaction between species and shade indicating that the morphological responses to changing shade treatments were not species-dependent. After two growing seasons the mean height increment for the three species was significantly greater in 25% (76.1 cm) and 50% shade (74.9 cm) than in the open (69.5 cm). Root collar diameter increment, shoot, root and total biomass declined significantly with increasing shade while the opposite was true for the height:diameter ratio. In both western red cedar and hybrid larch the shoot:root ratio was significantly greater in the shade while in Sitka spruce this characteristic was not influenced by shade. While all species had significantly greater specific shoot areas in 75% shade than in 0% shade, this trend was particularly pronounced in hybrid larch. In hybrid larch and western red cedar, the normalised specific projected shoot area increased significantly with increasing shade. The opposite trend was observed for Sitka spruce. We conclude that in the main the species studied demonstrated similar shade acclimation responses despite their reported differences in shade tolerance.     

Proteins in Norway spruce thermomechanical pulp

Two methods of cytochemical staining using Coomassie dye and Cu⁺-bicinchoninic acid, respectively, showed that there are proteins in thermomechanical pulp (TMP) of Norway spruce. Protein isolated from TMP was analyzed for amino acid composition. There was about twice the amount of acidic amino acid material compared with basic amino acids, and the presence of glucosamine indicated that the isolated polypeptides also contained glycoproteins. The presence of proteins in ray cells and fiber tracheids in TMP adds to the chemical heterogeneity of the structurally complex high-yield pulp.     

Rural livelihood benefits from participation in the taungya agroforestry system in Ondo State of Nigeria

This study examines the strategies and benefits of the taungya farming system to both the government and the rural economy in Nigeria. An interview survey was conducted in which data were collected from 115 randomly selected farmers in five villages in the Oluwa forest reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study examines the extent of participation of rural dwellers in plantation development through taungya farming and the degree of success of this system as an afforestation method. The farmers were predominantly illiterate, within the age bracket of 35–54 years and with small farm holdings. Twenty nine percent relied totally on food from the forest reserve for their livelihood, while 71% also had farm holdings in free areas. Land within the reserve is allocated to farmers free of charge but compensation is paid to landlords on land from free areas. A statistically significant difference was detected in income from the two sources of farmland for the households and but not in the size of land allocated under taungya and free areas. About 184 farmers are involved in taungya annually, and 410 ha of Tectonia grandis has been established for the government of Ondo State.     

Newly recorded species of the genus Isohypsibius （Tardigrada; Hypsibiidae） from China

This paper reports two newly recorded species, lsohypsibius lunulatus Iharos, 1966 and lsohypsibiusprosostomus Thulin, 1928, of the genus lsohypsibius （Tardigrada; Hypsibiidae） from China. The specimens of lsohysibius lunulatus were collected from Taibai Mt （34°18′N, 107°42′E） at 2,500 m a.s.1, and those oflsohypsibius prosostomus from Taibai Mt （34°10′N, 107°35′E） at 2,000 m above sea level. All specimens are deposited at the College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, China. A key to the Chinese species of lsohypsibius was also given.