Preliminary observations on the relationship between gas production and microbial protein synthesis in vitro

The relationship between gas production and microbial protein synthesis was studied in vitro using the method of MENKE et al. (1979). 150 mg starch or cellulose or a mixture of 10% glucose, 40% starch and 50% cellulose was used as the carbohydrate source. The microbial protein synthesis and gas production occurring during 2 hrs after the 5th, 10th, and 23rd hr of incubation were studied. Total and net microbial synthesis were estimated using 32P as a microbial marker and by the net disappearance of NH3-N respectively. The data indicate that the type of carbohydrate and the rate of carbohydrate fermentation influence microbial protein synthesis per unit volume of gas produced. However, the relationship between total synthesis and cumulative gas production (up to 8 hrs incubation) with carbohydrate mixture as the substrate was linear. With reference to these observations, the possibilities and difficulties in using cumulative gas production as an index of microbial growth potential of the feedstuffs are discussed.     

Experimentally induced Mycobacterium avium serotype 8 infection in swine.

Five of 6 swine experimentally inoculated with Mycobacterium avium serotype 8 had microgranulomas in the cervical or mesenteric lymph nodes at necropsy 92 days later. In vivo tuberculin skin reactivity and in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation responses were evaluated at 10 and 12 weeks after the pigs were inoculated. Positive responses were obtained on both tests in inoculated pigs, whereas test results in noninoculated pigs and pigs given killed bacterial cells were negative. Mycobacterium avium serotype 8 was isolated at necropsy from the cervical or mesenteric lymph nodes of each of the pigs inoculated with viable microorganisms and from the 2 pigs kept in the pen with inoculated swine. Mycobacteria were not isolated from tissues of the noninoculated swine or those given killed cells.     

Interactive effects of biochar addition and elevated carbon dioxide concentration on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in mine spoil

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the effects of biochar on improving nitrogen (N) pools in mine spoil and examine the effects of elevated CO₂ on soil carbon (C) storage.

Materials and methods

The experiment consisted of three plant species (Austrostipa ramossissima, Dichelachne micrantha, and Lomandra longifolia) planted in the N-poor mine spoil with application of biochar produced at three temperatures (650, 750, and 850 °C) under both ambient (400 μL L^?1) and elevated (700 μL L^?1) CO₂. We assessed mine spoil total C and N concentrations and stable C and N isotope compositions (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), as well as hot water extractable organic C (HWEOC) and total N (HWETN) concentrations.

Results and discussion

Soil total N significantly increased following biochar application across all species. Elevated CO₂ induced soil C loss for A. ramossissima and D. micrantha without biochar application and D. micrantha with the application of biochar produced at 750 °C. In contrast, elevated CO₂ exhibited no significant effect on soil total C for A. littoralis, D. micrantha, or L. longifolia under any other biochar treatments.

Conclusions

Biochar application is a promising means to improve N retention and thus, reduce environmentally harmful N fluxes in mine spoil. However, elevated CO₂ exhibited no significant effects on increasing soil total C, which indicated that mine spoil has limited potential to store rising atmospheric CO₂.

     

Genomic Tandem Repeat Analysis Proves Laboratory‐Acquired Brucellosis in Veterinary (Camel) Diagnostic Laboratory in the United Arab Emirates

We report a case of a 64‐year‐old veterinarian working in a state camel veterinary laboratory who was diagnosed with and treated for acute brucellosis with complicating epididymo‐orchitis. Genomic tandem repeat analysis (MLVA‐16) revealed identical Brucella strains in patient cultures and from different dromedary milk samples positive for Brucella melitensis, thereby confirming the diagnosis of a laboratory acquired infection. The case illustrates the high (airborne) infectivity of brucellosis in laboratory settings and the need to implement vigorous bio‐safety measures in veterinary laboratories handling camel specimen diagnostic veterinary laboratory.     

Plant Uptake Response to Metals and Nitrate in Simulated Uranium Mill Tailings Contaminated Groundwater

Carrots, squash, and Sudan grass were irrigated with groundwater amended with manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and uranium stock solutions to simulate a range of concentrations found at ten inactive uranium ore milling sites to determine plant tissue levels after a 90 day growth period in sand in a greenhouse. Sudan grass was also dosed with a series of nitrate concentrations. Except for squash response to uranium, all plantsshowed an increased accumulation of each metal, someto unacceptable levels, with increased metal concentration dose. Squash did not accumulate uranium at any dose tested. Increased nitrate in the irrigation water did not have a major influence on Sudan grass accumulation of any metal.     

Melanesian blond hair is caused by an amino acid change in TYRP1

Naturally blond hair is rare in humans and found almost exclusively in Europe and Oceania. Here, we identify an arginine-to-cysteine change at a highly conserved residue in tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) as a major determinant of blond hair in Solomon Islanders. This missense mutation is predicted to affect catalytic activity of TYRP1 and causes blond hair through a recessive mode of inheritance. The mutation is at a frequency of 26% in the Solomon Islands, is absent outside of Oceania, represents a strong common genetic effect on a complex human phenotype, and highlights the importance of examining genetic associations worldwide.     

Antinociceptive effects of low dose lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine in healthy ponies

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low dose lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine in ponies. Antinociceptive effects of epidural ropivacaine were evaluated by means of mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) at several spinal levels in conscious ponies. The effects of ropivacaine on nociceptive afferent transmission to the spinal cord were also assessed by measuring spinal cord somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) in anaesthetised ponies. Ataxia scores were determined in conscious ponies to assess the effects on motor function. A randomised, placebo controlled, double blind cross-over design was used. Low dose lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine led to increases in MNTs at various anatomical locations with a maximum effect at the lumbosacral and sacrococcygeal regions, both with respect to increase in threshold and duration of effect. Analysis of SSEPs showed that epidural ropivacaine influenced both Aβ- and Aδ-mediated afferent transmission to the spinal cord at the level of the lumbosacral junction. Ponies showed mild ataxia after low dose lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine, but all ponies remained standing. Application of low dose lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine provided safe and efficacious antinociceptive effects in conscious and anaesthetised ponies, and could therefore be a valuable addition to multimodal analgesic protocols in Equidae.     

Importance of herd management in loose housing systems in the social behavior of dairy cows

In five loose housed dairy herds three different kinds of herd management were tested in two variants with respect to frequencies of agonistic social behaviour. Treatments were (1) a short (0.5 h) and a long (3 h) fixation time in the feeding rack, (2) single and group (3 animals) introduction of new heifers into the herd and (3) an open and a closed outdoor yard during nighttime. The investigated agonistic behaviour patterns were: pushing and chasing. The herds were observed in the evening after milking during one four-hour period starting one hour after opening the feeding rack when testing treatment (3) and immediately after opening the feeding rack when testing treatment (1) and (2). Statistical analysis were carried out with the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test for matched samples. Effects of fixation time differed inconsistently and were not significant. In 3 out of 5 farms the frequency of agonistic behaviour was lower, when cows were restrained 3 h in the feeding rack compared to 0.5 h. In two of these 3 herds, the animals had the possibility to drink water from bowls directly at the feeding rack, in the third herd the food was silage which has a higher water content. Therefore in these herds, the agonistic interactions at the drinking facility in the stable after opening the feeding rack was low. Contrary, in the two other herds, with dry feed (hay) and no drinking bowls at the feeding rack, frequency of agonistic behaviour was higher after the long restraint which might be due to higher competition at the drinking facilities. Agonistic interactions per cow as well as per new introduced heifer were lower (p < or = 0.05) when only a single heifer was introduced to the herd compared to the introduction of a group of 3 heifers. The frequency of agonistic social behaviour of horned dairy cows that had access to a yard at night was significantly lower compared to the situation when the yard was closed over night (p < or = 0.05). This may be due to the higher space allowances per cow but also to the additional structuring of the locomotion area.     

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