Effects of travel distance and season of the year on transport‐related mortality in cattle

The number of animals that die during transport to a slaughterhouse or shortly after being delivered to a slaughterhouse may serve as an indicator of animal welfare during transport. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate in cattle resulting from transport to slaughter in the Czech Republic in the period from 2009 to 2014, and to investigate the effect of travel distance and season of the year. Transport‐related mortality rates were recorded for all categories of cattle for the following travel distances: up to 50 km, 51–100 km, 101–200 km and over 200 km. Higher mortality rates occurred with shorter travel distances (<50 km and 51–100 km) when compared to longer travel distances (101–200 km and > 200 km), with a significant difference (P < 0.01) between short and long travel distances being found in feeders and dairy cows. Also, the season of the year had a significant impact on the mortality rate among transported cattle. The highest mortality rate in all categories was observed in spring months. The lowest mortality rate was found in autumn months for fat cattle and dairy cows and in winter months for feeders and calves.     

Predicting the solubility of Cd,Cu, Pb and Zn in uncontaminated Croatian soils under different land uses by applying established regression models

Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total trace metal concentration (M_(tot)) control the solubility of metals in the soil. Several regression models have included these soil chemical variables for the prediction of metal solubility and free metal ion (FMI) concentrations in contaminated soils. We hypothesize that models developed on contaminated soils (after optimization of the coefficients) can be used on samples from uncontaminated sites. Soil samples were collected from unpolluted agricultural and forest soils located in Eastern Croatia and extracted with water to determine the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. We used these data to test the applicability of three regression models on existing conditions under different land uses. The same predictors issued in the three models and the same regression coefficients were utilized in the present study. The results showed a good correlation between the observed and predicted values of metal solubility. However, the models overestimate the total solution concentration (M_(sol)) and the concentrations of free metal ions (FMI) in solution, and therefore the same regression coefficients were optimized to fit our own observations. This was found to be very successful. The results showed that pH and DOC played a very important role in controlling metal solubility, while SOM and CEC were somewhat less significant. The impact of total soil concentration of metals (M_(tot)) was rather minor. However, we feel that to carry out good predictions of M_(sol) and FMI, the M_(tot) is needed in such regression models.     

Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughter pigs in Serbia: seroprevalence and demonstration of parasites in blood

ABSTRACT: A seroepizootiological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection involving a total of 488 slaughter pigs (468 market-weight pigs and 20 sows) in the Belgrade area, also included examination of the presence of T. gondii in the blood. Blood sampled at the slaughter line was examined for specific antibodies by modified direct agglutination, and blood clots of those seropositive at titres of 1:50-1:12800 were bioassayed in mice. The overall seroprevalence was 9.2%, significantly higher (p = 0.0063) in sows (30.0%) than in market-weight pigs (8.3%). Amongst the 22 bioassays performed, a total of 16 (72.7%) were positive, by observation of T. gondii cysts (12), seropositivity (7, including 3 in which cysts were not detected), and/or detection of T. gondii DNA by real-time PCR (12, including one otherwise negative). The positive bioassays originated from the blood of 12 market-weight pigs and 4 sows. Despite a general increase in the rate of demonstration of T. gondii with the increase in the specific antibody level, the association was not significant (p = 0.101). The risk of infection was 41-fold increased in sows vs market-weight pigs, and 15-fold in pigs from smallholders' finishing type farms vs those from large farrow-to-finish farms. The presence of viable T. gondii in a proportion of the samples indicates that some of the pigs had an active parasitaemia at the time of slaughter, which, along with the seroprevalence established, points to a potential source of human infection in Serbia. This is the first report on parasitaemia in naturally infected swine.     

Ethnobotanical knowledge and agrobiodiversity in subsistence farming: case study of home gardens in Phong My commune, central Vietnam

Ethnobotanical survey was conducted in 101 randomly selected home gardens of Phong My commune, central Vietnam, situated in the buffer-zone of Natural Reserve. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and direct observation. Sixty-seven species belonging to 35 families were identified to be used for various purposes. For each species the botanical and vernacular names, plant parts used and main purposes of use are given. The major use categories reported for plant species were food (86%), medicine (32%) and firewood (32%), however, seventy-seven percent of all inventoried plants have multiple uses. The species Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Citrus grandis Osbeck, Citrus reticulata Blanco, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. and Musa spp. were identified as the main sources of plant foods consumed within the households. Statistical analyses indicated by Shannon-Wiener and Margalef indices have shown that local species diversity and richness is affected by home garden size. On the contrary, no relationship between diversity and home garden age was found. On the basis of a cluster analysis of plant species diversity, five home garden types were differentiated. In comparison to previously reported studies on tropical home gardens, the diversity in Phong My is lower, probably due to market-oriented strategy. Nevertheless, based on the results achieved, we can conclude that useful plants cultivated in local home gardens provide valuable foods complementing daily diet and subsequently contributing to socioeconomic status of the households.     

Dynamics of Atmospheric Aerosol Number Size Distributions in the Eastern Mediterranean During the ��SUB-AERO�� Project

Measurements of number size distributions of submicron aerosols have been performed at the Eastern part of Mediterranean as part of an extensive measurement campaign to study photo-oxidants and aerosols (SUB-AERO Project). The measurements were made at the Finokalia station on the island of Crete (Greece) and onboard the research vessel ??Aegaeon??. Two campaigns were performed during July 2000 and January 2001 using two scanning mobility particle sizers. The particle distributions measured in the range between 7.8 < d _p < 327 nm during the summer measurements and between 7.5 < d _p < 316 nm during the winter measurements, where d _p is the mobility particle diameter. The concentration of ultrafine particles (7.5 < d _p < 30 nm) was higher during the winter period and varied mainly between 5 × 10¹ and 2 × 10³?cm^?3 with concentration peak values for this mode exceeding 1 × 10⁴?cm^?3. During the summer campaign, an average number concentration of 1 × 10²?cm^?3 at Finokalia and about 5 × 10¹?cm^?3 aboard the ??Aegaeon?? vessel was measured. An average concentration of 1 × 10³?cm^?3 was measured for the particles in the size range between 30 and 100 nm, whereas in the size range 100?C300 nm, the measured concentration ranged between 1 × 10² and 5 × 10³?cm^?3. Diurnal patterns in number concentrations were observed in connection with the transport of air masses and local sources. During the winter period, three nucleation events were observed in connection with the appearance of a particle mode at 20 nm.     

The occurrence of reflexes and reactions in cattle following stunning with a captive bolt at the slaughterhouse

The difference in the frequency of the occurrence of reflexes/reactions in 355 cows (average weight 505.5 ± 7.9 kg) and 262 bulls (average weight 735.6 ± 8.4 kg) following stunning with a Matador SS 3,000 B trigger‐activated captive bolt gun (Termet) was determined. The stun shot more than 2 cm from the ideal position was found in 79.6% of animals. Vocalization, corneal reflex, rhythmic breathing, blinking, eyeball rotation and the absence of tongue protrusion occurred more frequently in bulls (p < .05). Spontaneous limb movements and nystagmus occurred more frequently in cows (p < .05). No difference between bulls and cows was determined in the occurrence of a response to painful stimuli or attempts to regain normal posture. No dependency was determined between the frequency of the occurrence of a reflex/reaction and the distance of the stun shot from the ideal point on the skull for any of the monitored signs. This study shows that the occurrence of reflexes/reactions following the stunning of cattle with a captive bolt is not only dependent on the position of the shot if placed within a 9 cm radius from the ideal point on the cattle skull.     

New Deoxyisoaustamide Derivatives from the Coral-Derived Fungus Penicillium dimorphosporum KMM 4689

Seven new deoxyisoaustamide derivatives (1–7) together with known compounds (8–10) were isolated from the coral-derived fungus Penicillium dimorphosporum KMM 4689. Their structures were established using spectroscopic methods, X-ray diffraction analysis and by comparison with related known compounds. The absolute configurations of some alkaloids were determined based on CD and NOESY data as well as biogenetic considerations. The cytotoxic and neuroprotective activities of some of the isolated compounds were examined and structure-activity relationships were pointed out. New deoxyisoaustamides 4–6 at concentration of 1 µM revealed a statistical increase of PQ(paraquat)-treated Neuro-2a cell viability by 30–39%.     

Growth Responses,Metal Accumulation and Phytoremoval Capability in Amaranthus Plants Exposed to Nickel Under Hydroponics

Surfactant-enhanced solubilization and subsequent biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene from aqueous solutions by Arthrobacter strain Sphe3 was investigated. The results show that growth of Arthrobacter strain Sphe3 was increased upon increase in concentration of Tween 20 and Tween 80. Inhibition of bacterial growth was observed with increasing Triton X-100 concentrations, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) totally inhibited this bacterial growth. Phenanthrene and pyrene solubilization was enhanced in the presence of surfactants and found to be linearly proportional to their concentrations, above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In addition, Tween 20 and Tween 80 enhanced the biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene. The high correlation coefficient (R ²) values obtained at all the concentrations studied, suggest that biodegradation kinetics of both phenanthrene and pyrene in the presence of Tween 20 and Tween 80 follow first-order kinetic equation model. Experimental results suggest that Tween 20 and Tween 80 may have great potential for applications in bioremediation of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds using Arthrobacter strain Sphe3.     

Influence of Plant Phosphorus and Iron Concentrations on Growth of Soybean

Growth responses to phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) are commonly assessed based on element concentrations to which plants are exposed. Such data offer little insight about responses to the concentration of P and Fe actually accumulated in plants. In this study, soybean (Glycine max Merr., cv. ‘Biloxi’) was grown on nutrient solutions to induce varying P and Fe concentrations in plant tissues. Leaf P and Fe concentrations were correlated at lower concentrations. However, under high P treatments there was an apparent excess of accumulated P based on plant response. These results were interpreted to indicate that these plants could accumulate P in excess of the amount required for normal physiological activity. There appeared to be no excess accumulation of Fe so that correlations between leaf Fe concentration and leaf area and plant mass were significant for all data. Root mass did not correlate significantly with either leaf P or Fe concentration.