The value of sea urchin,Lytechinus variegatus,egesta consumed by shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Sea urchins produce high‐energy, membrane‐bound fecal pellets that contain residual nutrients and large quantities of microbiota. These egesta are readily consumed by the shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Egesta of the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus, were evaluated as a feed supplement or total replacement for a commercial shrimp diet. Shrimp were stocked at 0.49 g ± 0.06 g initial body weight and housed individually in 2.8‐L tanks in a commercial recirculating zebrafish system. Shrimp were assigned to one of six diets: commercial shrimp feed, reference sea urchin feed, collected dried sea urchin egesta, collected wet sea urchin egesta, half ration of shrimp feed and half collected wet sea urchin egesta, and egesta naturally produced by two sea urchins in polyculture. Equivalent dry matter amounts of each diet were proffered to shrimp in each treatment twice daily, except for those that had complete access to natural egesta excreted by sea urchins in polyculture. Sea urchins were proffered a reference sea urchin feed at 2% body weight daily. After 27 days, shrimp proffered collected dried or wet egesta did not differ significantly in percent weight gain and showed the lowest weight gain. The percent weight gain of shrimp fed the commercial shrimp diet did not differ significantly from that of the shrimp fed half commercial shrimp diet and half egesta. The highest weight gain was recorded for those shrimp that consumed the untouched egesta produced by sea urchins in polyculture. These data suggest that consumed egesta have noteworthy nutritional value and therefore would be beneficial to the culture of extractive species in an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system.     

Heterosis and recombination effects in Hampshire and Landrace swine: II. Performance and carcass traits.

Twelve different mating types among the Hampshire and Landrace breeds were used to determine direct, maternal, heterosis, and recombination effects for performance and carcass traits. Mating types used were two purebred, two F1, two F2, two F3, and four backcross. Carcass data were collected on 238 barrows and 262 gilts over four replications. Traits measured were length (LENG), 10th rib off midline backfat (BF10), longissimus muscle area (LMA), and dressing percentage (DRS%). Average backfat (AVBF) was calculated as the mean of three midline fat depths measured opposite the first rib, last rib, and last lumbar vertebra. The model used to evaluate the carcass traits included main effects of mating type, farrowing season, and sex and included slaughter weight as a covariate. The performance traits of ADG, feed efficiency (FE), daily feed consumption (DFC), lean gain per day (LNGN), and lean efficiency (LNEF) were measured on a pen basis. Comparisons of reciprocal F1 crosses showed that carcasses from pigs sired by Hampshire boars were leaner and had more LMA than those sired by Landrace boars. Heterosis percentages were significant for AVBF (7.2%; P less than .01), BF10 (8.8%; P less than .01), DRS% (1.5%; P less than .01), ADG (11.5%; P less than .01), DFC (10.2%; P less than .01), LNGN (10.6%; P less than .01), and LNEF (6.0%; P less than .05). Epistatic recombination losses in the offspring were significant for LENG (3.6 cm; P less than .05) and approached significance for BF10 (6.1 mm; P less than .10).     

Quasi-non-linear fracture mechanics analysis of splitting failure in simply supported beams loaded perpendicular to grain by dowel joints

A quasi-non-linear fracture mechanics model based on beam on elastic foundation theory is applied for analysis of the splitting failure of dowel joints loaded perpendicular to grain. Simply supported beams symmetrically loaded by two dowels are considered, and the effects of edge distance, dowel spacing, and distance between dowels and supports are accounted for. The foundation modulus used in the beam on elastic foundation model is chosen so that the perpendicular-to-grain tensile strength and fracture energy properties of the wood are correctly represented. This ensures that a conventional stress analysis and failure criterion lead to the same solution as the compliance method of fracture mechanics. A semiempirical efficiency factor is proposed to account for the influence of the total beam depth, which does not enter the beam on elastic foundation model, but the effect of which is evident from tests. It is shown that the so-called Van der Put/Leijten model, which recently has been adopted in Eurocode 5, appears as a special case of the model presented. Tests on simply supported beams with a single dowel joint at midspan are compared with the theoretical predictions. Various edge distances, beam depths, and spans were tested.     

The effects of straw disposal and depth of cultivation on the growth, nutrient uptake and yield of winter wheat on a clay and a silt soil

Abstract. Experiments were conducted for one year on two different soil types. On a clay soil straw was either (a) burnt, (b) baled leaving the stubble, or (c) chopped and spread. The soil was tine cultivated to depths of 5, 10 or 15 cm or ploughed to 20 or 30 cm before winter wheat was sown conventionally. In addition, a direct-drilled crop was sown after each straw treatment. On a silt loam soil the direct-drilled, tine cultivated to 15 cm and ploughed to 30 cm treatments following burning or chopping and spreading straw were repeated.
Tine cultivation incorporated less straw than ploughing, decreased plant establishment and early growth but did not decrease yield. Direct-drilling through chopped straw decreased yield on the silt loam but not on the clay soil. Short straw (< 5 cm) was easier to incorporate than longer straw. Ploughing was the most efficient method of straw incorporation because it inverts soil. Early effects on crop growth and nutrient uptake following straw incorporation were transient and associated with large amounts of straw in the seeded layer of soil.     

A simple field method for spinal cord removal demonstrated in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

Removal of the spinal cord is considered time consuming and difficult. A delay in the necropsy procedure, especially in the central nervous system, can result in significant tissue autolysis and subsequent diagnostic difficulties. In the field, where many necropsies are performed, suitable electric saws are mostly unavailable. A technically simple and rapid method for spinal cord removal, requiring only a straightforward tool, has been devised. No necropsy-induced structural damage has been noted on histopathologic examination.     

Expression of β2-integrin on monocytes and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the periparturient period in dairy cows

The hypothesis that an altered expression of CD11/CD18 on bovine circulating monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), or both, contributes to an increased mastitis susceptibility in periparturient cows was tested. Expression of CD18 and CD11a, -b, -c on bovine monocytes and PMN were assessed in 8 Friesian-Holstein cows by flow cytometry from 2 wk before calving to 5 wk after calving. Minor changes in adhesion molecule expression levels were detected throughout the experimental period. Compared with PMN, monocytes exhibited an expression level that was similar for CD18, higher for CD11a and CD11c, but lower for CD11b. Differences in density may reflect the relative importance of these adhesion molecules on both leukocyte types. In this study, the decreased number of milk resident macrophages and PMN observed during the periparturient period could not be attributed to changes of CD11/CD18 levels on circulating leukocytes.     

Eosinophilic leukaemoid reaction in a dog

A haematological disorder in a dog characterised by a massive leucocytosis, mainly composed of eosinophils and their precursors is reported here. The normal composition of cells in the bone marrow was displaced in favour of the eosinophils and their precursors. No apparent cause for the pronounced eosinophilia could be determined by clinical, haematological, clinical-chemical, radiological or pathological examinations. A diagnosis of eosinophilic leukaemoid reaction was suggested as the criteria for the diagnosis of eosinophilic leukaemia in the dog but this was not firmly established.     

The redox potential of growing cultures of Streptococcus bovis Orla-Jensen compared with other facultative anaerobes.

The changes of redox potential were measured in growing cultures of three strains of Streptococcus bovis, together with three strains of Staphylococcus aureus and one strain of each of Lactobacillus plantaram, Lactobacillus casei, and Eschericia coli. It was found that both S. aureus and E. coli could reduce the redox potential of the growth medium to very low values (between —400 mv and —600 mv), whereas the streptococci and lactobacilli were able to cause only slight or insignificant changes of the redox potential. Respirometric measurements confirmed that the capacity of oxygen consumption of S. bovis was very small compared to that of E. coli and S. aureus. On this basis the authors conclude that S. bovis in all probability is unable to contribute significantly to maintenance of the low redox potential of its natural habitat, the rumen. This function must be carried out by other bacteria, such as enterobacteria or staphylococci, which are capable of performing a true, aerobic respiration.     

Study of Resistance to Orobanche ramosa in Host (Oilseed Rape and Carrot) and Non-host (Maize) Plants

Orobanche ramosa is a parasitic Angiosperm responsible for severe yield losses in several economical crops. It is a serious threat in oilseed rape in France and Morocco and is appearing in carrot crops in Morocco. In this study, several varieties of oilseed rape and carrot were screened in order to identify resistant cultivars and to characterize the resistance mechanisms involved. All the 15 oilseed rape varieties tested were susceptible. In carrot, the varieties 'Colmar à coeur rouge' and 'Nantaise demi-longue' were susceptible, whereas 'Palaiseau' and 'Buror' were resistant. In the susceptible 'Colmar à coeur rouge' carrot no defence reactions were found and the development of the parasite inhibited carrot tap root formation. In the resistant carrot varieties, the parasite germinated, became attached to the host root but became necrotic before emergence. In 'Buror' carrot, formation of a mechanical barrier was associated with the restriction to the cortex of the parasite. In maize cv. 'Vigni', a non-host of O. ramosa, thickening of xylem vessels, cell divisions in the central cylinder and formation of an encapsulation layer were observed in association with restricted development of Orobanche haustoria.