Determination of the Inflammatory Potential of Bioaerosols from a Duck‐Fattening Unit by Using a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Assay and Human Whole Blood Cytokine Response

Inhalation of bioaerosols from animal houses can induce acute inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract. Determination of the concentration of airborne endotoxins is widely used to characterize this risk. In this study, the activity of bioaerosol samples from a duck‐fattening unit to induce interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) in human blood and to react with Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) was investigated. The activity detected in the whole blood assay correlated well with the endotoxic activity found in the LAL assay (Spearmen's ρ = 0.902). However in all samples, the inflammation‐inducing potential was overestimated by the LAL assay. It is assumed that this overestimation could be, in part, a result of an overestimation of the inflammatory potential of endotoxins originating from Pseudomonadaceae by the LAL assay. Pseudomonadaceae were regularly isolated from the air of the duck‐fattening unit. The results presented here indicate that the whole blood assay can be used besides the LAL assay as an additional method to characterize the inflammation‐inducing potential of bioaerosols.     

A Dynamic, Stochastic Model of a Land-Based Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus Aquaculture Firm

Exploring the possibilities for commercial aquaculture has historically concentrated on reducing production uncertainty by focusing on an animal's biology and the engineering of the production facility. However, the aquaculturist faces both production and market uncertainty, both of which may significantly affect the economic feasibility of a production facility. We developed a dynamic stochastic model to compare alternative production and marketing scenarios and used the net present value of returns to evaluate the scenarios. Based on the model and the scenarios we examined, firms producing summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus are unlikely to be profitable unless they locate near and use a source of salt-water, sell their product predominately to sushi chefs (or other premium market outlets) who desire medium-sized live fish, and engage in strategies that account for market dynamics.     

Estradiol shortens the period of hamster circadian rhythms

Continuous administration of estradiol benzoate by means of subcutaneously implanted capsules shortened the free-running circadian period of locomotor activity of blind hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) that had had their ovaries removed. Estradiol also advanced the phase of the wheel running of sighted female hamsters without ovaries that were entrained to a photoperiod with 12 hours of light and 12 of darkness. These results, and findings from hamsters undergoing natural estrous cycles, indicate that endogenous estradiol is involved in the regulation of circadian periodicity.     

Dynamik verschiedener Schwefel-Fraktionen bei Abbauversuchen mit Brennesselblättern (Urtica dioica L.)

Dynamic of different sulfur fractions of decomposing leaves of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) Decomposition studies with leaves of Urtica dioica L. by means of the litter bag technique (mesh sizes 0.05 and 1.5 and 5.0 mm respectively) were performed on four sites, differing in soil type and vegetation cover. The aim of the study is to find out differences in decomposition of sulfur fractions owing to sites and decomposer groups. The site affects the time course of decomposition, but not the qualitative changes of the fractions. Total S is decreasing by about 55% from 7548 to 3430 ppm by mean of all samples, C/S-relation is increasing from 48 to 84 within 4 to 34 weeks decomposition time. Distinct differences are found in the fractions Ester-S and carbon-bound S, depending on the various groups of decomposers. Ester-S, not detectable at the start of the experiments is increasing in the nets with 5.0 mm mesh size to 34 and in the nets with 1.5 mm to 19% of total S. In contrast, C-bound S is decreasing, but increasing in the nets with 0.05 mm mesh size. Water soluble S is decreasing during decomposition in all the samples from averaged 77% at the start to 3 up to 32% of total S at the end of the experiment and amino acid S is increasing from 12 to 27 up to 50%. The influence of the different decomposer groups on the change of the fractions of sulfur is discussed.     

Schwefelformen in Waldböden SO2-belasteter Standorte des Fichtelgebirges

Sulfur fractions in forest soils of the SO₂-polluted Fichtelgebirge The sulfur status of a soil sequence (two Dystric Cambisols, Haplic Podzol, Eutric Cambisol) in SO₂-polluted coniferous and hardwood forests of the Fichtelgebirge (North-East Bavaria) is investigated. In the mineral soil layers S_t fluctuates between 37 to 943 ppm; 11–84% of S_t is S_p. Layers rich in clay contain up to 79%-S_E, whereas in sandy to silty substrates organic bound C?S-S dominates. The organic surface layers show 1.0–2.9‰ S_t, maximum in the Oh. 69–90% of S_t are C?S-S. S_p is low with a maximum in the L-horizons (9–19% of S_t). S_E is vice versa, because values increase from L (0–8% of S_t) to Oh (7–22% of S_t). The characterization of the sulfur status in a forest ecosystem by investigation of organic layers presumably is more reliable than the results of needle and mineral soil analyses.     

Investigations on airborne microorganisms in animal stables. 2. Report: further characterization of airborne Clostridium perfringens.

Toxovars of 97 airborne C. perfringens isolates and 10 C. perfringens isolates from fecal samples of a calf stable were determined by an EIA procedure. Most airborne and fecal isolates belonged to toxovar A (88.7% and 80.0% respectively). Eight point two% of airborne C. perfringens were identified as toxovar C and 3.1% as toxovar D. Toxovar B was not found in the airborne state. Twenty% of fecal C. perfringens belonged to toxovar D. Toxovar B and C was not isolated from fecal samples. In addition, all fecal and air-borne isolates of C. perfringens toxovar D strains were analyzed in SDS-PAGE for their polypeptide pattern. All isolates from both sources exhibited the same polypeptide pattern after electrophoretic analysis in SDS-PAGE. Both results, determination of toxovars as well as polypeptide pattern analysis in SDS-PAGE, suggest that a major source of airborne C. perfringens in animal stables is animal feces.     

Airborne Gram‐Negative Bacterial Flora in Animal Houses

The concentration and the species composition of airborne gram‐negative bacteria were studied in four cattle houses, one pig house and one poultry barn. On average only between 0.02 and 5.2 % of the total number of culturable aerobic bacteria were identified as gram‐negative bacteria. Obligate anaerobic gram‐negative bacteria were not isolated at all. In the airborne gram‐negative bacterial flora the following bacterial families dominated: the Enterobacteriaceae, the Pseudomonadaceae and the Neisseriaceae. Within the family of the Enterobacteriaceae the species Escherichia coli and Enterobacter agglomerans were predominant. In animal houses using straw as bedding material Ent. agglomerans was most frequent, whereas in animal houses without litter E. coli was mainly found. Airborne Neisseriaceae were isolated very frequently in cow barns with Acinetobacter lowffii as the primary species. Airborne Pseudomonadaceae were found in high concentrations during periods of high air humidity. The results presented may also give some indications on the origin and sources of airborne endotoxins in animal housing.     

Postsynaptic calcium is sufficient for potentiation of hippocampal synaptic transmission

Brief repetitive activation of excitatory synapses in the hippocampus leads to an increase in synaptic strength that lasts for many hours. This long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is the most compelling cellular model in the vertebrate brain for learning and memory. The critical role of postsynaptic calcium in triggering LTP has been directly examined using three types of experiment. First, nitr-5, a photolabile nitrobenzhydrol tetracarboxylate calcium chelator, which releases calcium in response to ultraviolet light, was used. Photolysis of nitr-5 injected into hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells resulted in a large enhancement of synaptic transmission. Second, in agreement with previous results, buffering intracellular calcium at low concentrations blocked LTP. Third, depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane so that calcium entry is suppressed prevented LTP. Taken together, these results demonstrate that an increase in postsynaptic calcium is necessary to induce LTP and sufficient to potentiate synaptic transmission.