Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in a dog

A 9-year-old spayed female dog diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and hypertrophic osteopathy was negative for additional lesions on computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen. Resection of the affected liver lobe resulted in resolution of clinical signs. This is the first case of hypertrophic osteopathy secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma.     

SNP genetic polymorphisms of MDR-1, CYP1A2 and CYPB11 genes in four canine breeds upon toxicological evaluation

The fields of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics have become increasingly promising regarding the clinical application of genetic data to aid in prevention of adverse reactions. Specific screening tests can predict which animals express modified proteins or genetic sequences responsible for adverse effects associated with a drug. Among the genetic variations that have been investigated in dogs, the multidrug resistance gene (MDR) is the best studied. However, other genes such as CYP1A2 and CYP2B11 control the protein syntheses involved in the metabolism of many drugs. In the present study, the MDR-1, CYP1A2 and CYP2B11 genes were examined to identify SNP polymorphisms associated with these genes in the following four canine breeds: Uruguayan Cimarron, Border Collie, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. The results revealed that several SNPs of the CYP1A2 and CYP2B11 genes are potential targets for drug sensitivity investigations.     

Changes in the volatile composition of a semihard ewe milk cheese induced by high-pressure treatment of 300 MPa

The effect of high-pressure (HP) treatment (300 MPa, 10 min) on the volatile profile of semihard ewe milk cheeses was investigated. The HP treatment was applied at two different stages of ripening (1 and 15 days; 3P1 and 3P15) and microbiota, proteolysis indexes (soluble nitrogen and total free amino acid content), and volatile compounds were assayed at 15, 60, 90, and 150 days of ripening. The intensity of odor and aroma of cheeses was also assayed. 3P1 cheeses presented the highest content of free amino acids and were characterized by the lowest amounts of aldehydes, ketones, short-chain free fatty acids, and terpenes and higher levels of ethanol and ethyl esters. 3P15 cheeses were characterized by the highest content of short-chain free fatty acids and pyruvaldehyde and the lowest abundance of secondary alcohols and were more similar to control cheeses than those HP-treated on the first day. Intensities of odor and aroma were not significantly influenced by the HP treatment. However, the panellists found some differences in 3P1 as compared with control and 3P15 cheeses in what they perceived as lower odor and aroma quality.     

Essential oils-based repellents for the management of Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Journal of Pest Science - Aphids are one of the major agricultural pests in the world. Their pest management in pepper greenhouses is based on integrated control with release of natural enemies and...     

The role of learning in fish orientation

Past research on fish orientation and migration has tended to focus on genetically fixed patterns of behaviour. However, in most aquatic environments, the physical landscape as well as biologically important locations will be subject to varying degrees of change, favouring an ability to learn. Here, we review the evidence from field and laboratory‐based experiments that fish can and do use learning and memory to orientate within their natural environments, relying on information from a diverse array of different sources. Comparisons of different species and populations suggest that fish may be predisposed to learn specific associations at specific times or places, appropriate for the particular navigational problems that they are likely to encounter.     

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on strawberry tolerance to root damage and drought stress

Individually, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), drought stress, and root damage can alter terrestrial plant performance but the joint effects of these three factors have not been explored. Because AMF can improve water relations, colonization by these root symbionts may increase the host’s tolerance of drought especially when roots have been compromised by herbivory. This full factorial study examined effects of AMF, water deficit, and artificial root herbivory in three genotypes of wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana Duchesne that originated from the same restored tallgrass prairie as the AMF inoculum. Drought stress and root damage altered allocation to roots vs. shoots but the effects were not additive and the interaction did not depend on AMF treatment. Effects of AMF were absent with one exception: root damage significantly reduced belowground mass only in plants inoculated with AMF. Although drought stress did not interact with the AMF treatment, both drought stress and root damage reduced the abundance of arbuscules, and especially vesicles, and colonization varied among genotypes. Failure to detect strong effects of AMF on host growth could be due to variable responses of individual AMF species summing to no net effects. Functionally, AMF were primarily commensals of strawberry in this study.     

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity effects on seedling growth and establishment in four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> species

Introduction   

The great spatial and temporal heterogeneity of Mediterranean ecosystems can influence establishment success in woody species, whose natural regeneration occurs to a very small extent. In this work, the effect of the spatial pattern of environmental variables (light availability, soil moisture and herbaceous production) on seedling emergence, growth, survival and establishment success was examined by using a spatially explicit approach.     

Conserved structure for single-stranded telomeric DNA recognition

The essential Cdc13 protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a single-stranded telomeric DNA binding protein required for chromosome end protection and telomere replication. Here we report the solution structure of the Cdc13 DNA binding domain in complex with telomeric DNA. The structure reveals the use of a single OB (oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding) fold augmented by an unusually large loop for DNA recognition. This OB fold is structurally similar to OB folds found in the ciliated protozoan telomere end-binding protein, although no sequence similarity is apparent between them. The common usage of an OB fold for telomeric DNA interaction demonstrates conservation of end-protection mechanisms among eukaryotes.     

Platforms for collective action in multiple-use common-pool resources

Collective action processes in complex, multiple-use common-pool resources (CPRs) have only recently become a focus of study. When CPRs evolve into more complex systems, resource use by separate user groups becomes increasingly interdependent. This implies, amongst others, that the institutional framework governing resource use has to be re-negotiated to avoid adverse impacts associated with the increased access of any new stakeholders, such as overexploitation, alienation of traditional users, and inter-user conflicts. The establishment of platforms for resource use negotiation is a way of dealing with complex natural resource management problems. Platforms arise when stakeholders perceive the same resource management problem, realize their interdependence in solving it, and come together to agree on action strategies for solving the problem (Röling, 1994). This article sets the scene for a discussion in this Special Issue about the potential of nested platforms for resource use negotiation in facilitating collective action in the management of complex, multiple-use CPRs. The article has five objectives. First, we define collective action in the context of this paper. Second, we discuss the importance of collective action in multiple-use CPRs. Third, we introduce the concept of platforms to coordinate collective action by multiple users. Fourth, we address some issues that emerge from evidence in the field regarding the role and potential of nested platforms for managing complex CPRs. Finally, we raise five discussion statements. These will form the basis for the collection of articles in this special issue.