An extension of Jacobs' method for measuring residual growth strains in logs

Summary Previous methods for measuring residual longitudinal growth strain distributions in logs are reviewed. An extension is given of Jacobs' method for measuring growth strains which yields residual strain information at many points in the cross section other than along the diametrical plank. Some of the longitudinal growth strain distributions measured using the new method are presented.This work was supported in part by NSF Grant ENG-74-02428     

Bovine congenital erythropoietic protoporphyria in a crossbred limousin heifer in Ireland

An unusual case of an 11-month-old, black Limousin-cross heifer, with an 8-month history of episodic seizures and photosensitisation, was referred by a veterinary practitioner to the Farm Animal Section of the UCD Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland, in August 2014. Following an investigation, a diagnosis of Bovine Congenital Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (BCEPP) was made. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of such a case in Ireland. BCEPP should be considered as a differential diagnosis in young animals displaying periodic seizures and/or photosensitisation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13620-015-0044-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of non-composted and composted municipal solid waste in sandy soils

A sterilized, but undecomposed, organic by-product of municipal waste processing was incubated in sandy soils to compare C and N mineralization with mature municipal waste compost. Waste products were added to two soils at rates of 17.9, 35.8, 71.6, and dry weight and incubated at for 90 d. Every 30 d, nitrate and ammonium concentrations were analyzed and C mineralization was measured as total CO₂-C evolved and added total organic C. Carbon mineralization of the undecomposed waste decreased over time, was directly related to application rate and soil nutrient status, and was significantly higher than C mineralization of the compost, in which C evolution was relatively unaffected across time, soils, and application rates. Carbon mineralization, measured as percentage C added by the wastes, also indicated no differences between composted waste treatments. However, mineralization as a percentage of C added in the undecomposed waste treatments was inversely related to application rate in the more productive soil, and no rate differences were observed in the highly degraded soil. Total inorganic N concentrations were much higher in the compost- and un-amended soils than in undecomposed waste treatments. Significant N immobilization occurred in all undecomposed waste treatments. Because C mineralization of the undecomposed waste was dependant on soil nutrient status and led to significant immobilization of N, this material appears to be best suited for highly degraded soils low in organic matter where restoration of vegetation adapted to nutrient poor soils is desired.     

Infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) induces a natural killer (NK) cell response in cattle that is lacking following vaccination

Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in innate antiviral immunity by directly lysing virus-infected cells and producing antiviral cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-γ). We developed a system for characterizing the bovine NK response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which causes a disease of cloven-hoofed animals and remains a threat to livestock industries throughout the world. IL-2 stimulation of PBMC resulted in poor killing of human K562 cells, which are often used as NK target cells, while lysis of the bovine BL3.1 cell line was readily detected. Depletion of NKp46-expressing cells revealed that 80% of the killing induced by IL-2 could be attributed to NKp46⁺ cells. In order to characterize the response of NK cells against FMDV in vivo, we infected groups of cattle with three different strains of the virus (A24 Cruzeiro, O1 Manisa, O Hong Kong) and evaluated the cytolytic ability of NK cells through the course of infection. We consistently observed a transient increase in cytolysis, although there was variation in magnitude and kinetics. This increase in cytolysis remained when CD3⁺ cells were removed from the preparation of lymphocytes, indicating that cytolysis was independent of MHC-T cell receptor interaction or γδ T cell activation. In contrast, animals monitored following vaccination against FMDV did not exhibit any increase in NK killing. These data suggest that NK cells play a role in the host immune response of cattle against FMDV, and contrast with the suppression of NK activity previously observed in swine infected with FMDV.     

Putative human and avian risk factors for avian influenza virus infections in backyard poultry in Egypt

Highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 causes significant poultry mortality in the six countries where it is endemic and can also infect humans. Egypt has reported the third highest number of poultry outbreaks (n = 1084) globally. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify putative risk factors for H5N1 infections in backyard poultry in 16 villages in Damietta, El Gharbia, Fayoum, and Menofia governorates from 2010–2012. Cloacal and tracheal swabs and serum samples from domestic (n = 1242) and wild birds (n = 807) were tested for H5N1 via RT-PCR and hemagglutination inhibition, respectively. We measured poultry rearing practices with questionnaires (n = 306 households) and contact rates among domestic and wild bird species with scan sampling. Domestic birds (chickens, ducks, and geese, n = 51) in three governorates tested positive for H5N1 by PCR or serology. A regression model identified a significant correlation between H5N1 in poultry and the practice of disposing of dead poultry and poultry feces in the garbage (F = 15.7, p < 0.0001). In addition, contact between domestic and wild birds was more frequent in villages where we detected H5N1 in backyard flocks (F = 29.5, p < 0.0001).     

Treatment of Intraoperative Persistent Penile Erection in a Stallion

This case report describes the occurrence of persistent penile erection in a breeding stallion that occurred while the horse was under inhalant anesthesia for a carpal arthroscopy. The horse had no history of breeding problems, and no abnormalities were detected on physical examination, complete blood count, or serum chemistry tests performed prior to surgery. Anesthesia was induced with guaifenesin and ketamine after sedation with xylazine and was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Penile erection developed approximately 35 minutes after induction and persisted for over 2 hours despite various physical and pharmacological attempts to alleviate it (massage, cold compresses, intravenous benztropine administration, and intracavernosal phenylephrine). Successful resolution of the erection was obtained by cannulation and drainage of blood from the corpus cavernosum and subsequent irrigation with heparinized sterile saline and infusion of phenylephrine in the corpus cavernosum. The detumescent penis was placed back into the sheath, and purse string sutures were placed in the sheath to ensure the penis would remain inside the sheath during recovery. The stallion's recovery from anesthesia was uneventful, the sutures were removed, and the horse was fitted with a penile sling to prevent additional edema or trauma. The stallion recovered completely from the persistent penile erection. Semen was collected 6 days after the event, and he returned to normal pasture breeding 6 weeks after surgery.     

Environmental Manipulation of Growth and Sexual Maturation in Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens

Yellow perch, Perca flavescens, exhibit sexually dimorphic growth detected as the fish enter puberty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differential influences of photoperiod and temperature on the sexual maturation and dimorphic growth pattern of yellow perch. Four combinations of constant (CP) or natural (NP) photoperiod with constant (CT) or natural (NT) temperature were evaluated (CPCT, CPNT, NPCT, NPNT). Following 6 months of growth, results indicate that (1) CT is the strongest promoter of overall growth regardless of photoperiod. Perch reared under CT were 26.4 ± 8.1 g heavier than perch reared under NT (P < 0.0001). (2) CP also promotes overall growth regardless of temperature. CP perch outgrew NP perch by 7.0 ± 8.1 g (P < 0.0872). (3) NP (decreasing) initiates maturation in yellow perch regardless of temperature. (4) NT is required for late maturational processes. While both NP groups initiated maturation, only NPNT females were able to recruit oocytes to a vitellogenic stage. Only NPNT males were able to sustain spermiation to the end of the study. (5) CPCT confer the best overall growth performance, fully inhibit maturation in both genders, and suppress a sexually dimorphic growth pattern up to 53 g average weight. These results indicate that using a CPCT regime during intensive fingerling production will produce a larger, more uniform fish population that could alleviate losses as a result of cannibalism. Perch that remained immature did not exhibit a dimorphic growth pattern.