Quality of handling and holding yard environment, and beef cattle temperament: 2. Consequences for stress and productivity

This experiment assessed the effects of different quality and quantity of handling and quality of the holding yard environment on the productivity and physiological parameters indicative of stress in beef cattle. One-hundred-and-forty-four steers were given one of three human handling and yarding experiences on six occasions during a 12-month grazing period post-weaning (backgrounding): Good handling/yarding, Poor handling/yarding and Minimal handling/yarding. At the end of this phase the cattle were lot-fed for 78 days, with no handling/yarding treatments imposed, before being transported for commercial slaughter. Temperament was assessed by flight speed (FS) and a fear of humans (FOH) test, which measured the proximity to a stimulus person (ZA), the closest approach to the person (CA) and the amount the cattle moved around the test arena (TT). Mid-way through backgrounding, the Minimal treatment group was heavier than the Good, which was heavier than the Poor (mean weights 207, 201 and 194 kg, respectively; P = 0.05; LSD = 5.4), but by the end of backgrounding there was no difference between treatments and treatment did not affect liveweight during lot-feeding. At the end of backgrounding, plasma cortisol levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the Good treatment group compared to the Poor and Minimal groups but at the end of lot-feeding there was no significant difference between the groups. Treatment affected plasma non-esterified fatty acid levels in backgrounding (P = 0.060) and lot-feeding (P = 0.046) with levels being higher in the Minimal than the Good and Poor groups (backgrounding: 0.52, 0.44 and 0.47 nmol/L, respectively; SE 0.02; lot-feeding: 0.46, 0.41 and 0.41 mmol/L, respectively; LSD = 0.05). Significant weak to moderate (r-value <0.50) negative correlations were found between FS and average daily gain, but there were no consistent correlations between measures from the FOH test and productivity. FS and TT were weakly positively correlated with plasma l-lactate, glucose and cortisol levels, and CA was weakly to moderately negatively correlated with l-lactate and glucose levels. The results indicate that, whilst being imposed, the Good treatment reduced stress and the Poor treatment negatively impacted on liveweight gain. Minimal handling/yarding appeared to cause the cattle to experience stress, perhaps because of the relative novelty of being handled and confined. This work also confirms previous findings that cattle with high FS have poorer liveweight gains under both pasture and feedlot conditions and FS has some value as a predictor of productivity. Correlations also indicated that agitated cattle show a heightened arousal and stress responses when being handled. Fear of humans, as assessed by ZA, CA and TT, did not adversely affect productivity.     

Fisheries management in practice: review of 13 commercially important fish stocks

This paper comparatively reviews several commercially important fish stocks, their state and their management in various regions of the world including Japanese anchovy, Bay of Biscay anchovy, North Sea sandeel, North Sea herring, Icelandic cod, Barents Sea cod, South African cape hakes, sockeye salmon, chinook salmon, southern bluefin tuna, Pacific halibut, Greenland halibut and Patagonian toothfish. The reviewed fish stocks are systemized in three categories: (1) stock properties and status; (2) management structure and objectives; and (3) management advice. We gather evidence to outline qualities of management regimes that are recommended and highlight those that most often fail. Robust management, biological limits (reference points), implementation and consensus are critical points that separate successful and unsuccessful management regimes. We evaluate each fish stock’s management performance relative to its management objectives and current conservation issues. Furthermore, we point out the importance of stakeholder involvement in fisheries management as well as the problems that international fisheries commissions face through examples from the case studies. Management successes tended to be single-nation and single-stock fisheries with capacity control and clear stakeholder involvement. Fisheries with fleet overcapacity, unclear objectives and illegal activity characterized the case studies with management problems.     

Comparative strategies of heavy metal accumulation by crustaceans: zinc,copper and cadmium in a decapod,an amphipod and a barnacle

This study investigates the comparative strategies of accumulation under standardised laboratory conditions of the essential metals zinc and copper, and the non-essential metal cadmium by three crustaceans of different taxa; vizPalaemon elegans Rathke (Malacostraca: Eucarida: Decapoda),Echinogammarus pirloti (Sexton & Spooner) (Malacostraca: Peracarida: Amphipoda) and the barnacleElminius modestus Darwin (Cirripedia: Thoracica).The decapodP. elegans regulates body zinc concentrations to a constant level (ca. 79 µg Zn g^–1) over a wide range of dissolved metal availabilities until regulation breaks down at high Zn availabilities and net accumulation begins. The amphipodE. pirloti accumulates zinc at all dissolved zinc concentrations but at a low net rate such that the accumulation strategy approaches that of regulation. The barnacleE. modestus accumulates zinc to high body concentrations with no significant excretion of accumulated zinc. In the case of copper,P. elegans similarly regulates body copper concentrations to a constant level (ca. 129 µg Cu g^–1) over a range of dissolved copper availabilities until regulation breaks down at high copper concentrations. Both the amphipodE. pirloti and the barnacleE. modestus on the other hand accumulate copper at all dissolved copper exposures with no evidence of regulation. All three crustaceans accumulate the non-essential metal cadmium at all dissolved cadmium concentrations without regulation.Heavy metal accumulation strategies therefore vary between crustacean taxa and between metals. Uptake rates for zinc and cadmium have been estimated for the three crustaceans and can be interpreted in terms of cuticle permeability and way of life of each crustacean. Examination of these uptake rates provides an insight into possible reasons behind the adoption of particular metal accumulation strategies.     

Oxidative stress and Nrf2 in the pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy: old perspective with a new angle

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an economically detrimental pig pathogen that causes significant losses for the pig industry. The immunostimulatory effects of hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) in cancer therapy and the adjuvant efficacy of HVJ-E have been previously evaluated. The objective of this study was to investigate the adjuvant effects of HVJ-E on immunization with killed PRRSV vaccine, and to evaluate the protective effects of this immunization strategy against virulent PRRSV infection in piglets. Next, the PRRSV-specific antibody response, lymphocyte proliferation, PRRSV-specific IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ production, and the overall protection efficacy were evaluated to assess the immune responses of the piglets. The results showed that the piglets inoculated simultaneously with killed PRRSV vaccine and HVJ-E had a significantly stronger immune response than those inoculated with killed PRRSV vaccine alone. Our results suggest that HVJ-E could be employed as an effective adjuvant to enhance the humoral and cellular responses of piglets to PRRSV.     

Health of Antarctic birds: a review of their parasites,pathogens and diseases

Antarctic birds are not beyond the effects of parasites or pathogens. However, potential ecological consequences of wide-spread infections for bird populations in Antarctica have received little attention. In this paper, we review the information published about disease and parasites, and their effects on Antarctic birds. The information on host species, parasites and pathogens, and geographic regions is incomplete and data on ecological effects on the populations, including how birds respond to pathogens and parasites, are almost inexistent. We conclude that more research is needed to establish general patterns of spatial and temporal variation in pathogens and parasites, and to determine how such patterns could influence hosts. This information is crucial to limit the spread of outbreaks and may aid in the decision-making process should they occur.     

Forest conservation and environmental management in Nepal: a review

This paper provides information on the status of forests and environmental problems related to forestry in Nepal. It aims to integrate the conservation and sustainable management of forests as a part of environmental planning. A critical review of the main environmental problems with prioritization within the forestry sector; thorough review of all forest related documents, strategies, development plans, programs, institutional arrangements, policies mentioned in the Master Plan for Forestry Sector Nepal of 1988, and other relevant documents; identification of major gaps and constraints of forestry policy and plans and current practices of forest conservation and management have been done. The decline in forestry resources in Nepal took place in the past due to lack of appropriate policy to guide the legal, institutional and operational development for the forestry sector. Forestry policy in Nepal, in the past, was shaped by political and economic motives rather than ecological considerations. Policy formulation mechanisms exist in Nepal; however, there is an excessive delay in translating policies into legislation and then into operational rules and administrative orders. There is a need to implement the international obligations by transforming them into regulations in order to make them legally binding. The data to be generated in the coming years in the areas of forestry at both national and international levels suggest that we should revise the research priorities and strategies. Research to add value to the forest resource products has yet been neglected. More attention is required on regular monitoring and evaluation of the projects. A thorough evaluation of the programs and planning for the forestry sector in Nepal is urgently required to update the progress and revise the programs.     

Invertebrate pests of canola and their management in Australia: a review

Abstract  In Australia, canola is subject to attack by at least 30 species of invertebrate pests, although the composition of this pest complex can vary between regions. Mites (e.g. the redlegged earth mite Halotydeus destructor and the blue oat mites Penthaleus spp.), lucerne flea ( Sminthurus viridis ) and false wireworms (e.g. the grey false wireworm Isopteron punctatissimus and the bronzed field beetle Adelium brevicorne ) are the major pests threatening the seedling establishment, whereas aphids (the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae , the turnip aphid Lipaphis erysimi and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae ), the native budworm ( Helicoverpa punctigera ), the diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella ) and the Rutherglen bug ( Nysius vinitor ) can cause irregular and unpredictable damage to the flowering and podding plants. Current tactics of pest management for canola rely largely on the use of synthetic pesticides, but this single-technology approach is likely to incur negative effects on natural enemies and the risk of pest resistance. Thus, the sustainable production of canola requires integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, in which cultural control, crop resistance and biological control are used as important components, with chemical inputs applied only when absolutely needed to restrict pests from reaching economically damaging densities. Such IPM strategies should be built around a fundamental understanding of pest ecology at both regional and local farm levels and the integration of renewable technologies. Therefore, future research efforts need to be focused on the canola-cropping system, with a particular emphasis on the impact of pest species, natural enemies of the pests, varietal resistance to pests and the spatial ecology of pest species.     

Reservoirs and alternate hosts for pathogens of commercially important crustaceans: a review

There is a considerable body of literature describing the causative agents of many diseases of crustaceans. Given that many of these crustaceans support commercially important fisheries, it is somewhat surprising that comparatively little information is available regarding the natural transmission pathways and reservoirs of many of the disease-causing agents. In this paper we review what is known about reservoirs and alternate hosts for several important diseases of commercially important crustaceans and provide recommendations on future areas of research.     

Health and nutrition in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the decade of transition: A review of the literature

The collapse of the Soviet Union was the most important historical event at the close of the 20th century. The jarring nature of this transition has resulted in large fluctuations in household resources and increased uncertainty in all facets of life for the individuals concerned. Much academic research and popular writing has explored the socioeconomic and political ramifications of bringing these countries into mainstream capitalism. This paper provides a review of the literature examining health outcomes in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the transition period. The research, which has studied the human face of transition, spans multiple disciplines and it is thus currently difficult for interested researchers to obtain an overview of the basic facts, as well as, the more detailed nuances, concerning developments. This paper highlights what we currently know about health outcomes in transition countries and what we do not know, and suggests future areas of research which may help fill important gaps in our knowledge.     

羊口疮病毒分子特征与免疫逃逸策略

羊传染性脓疱皮炎(Contagious ecthyma)俗称羊口疮(Orf)是由羊口疮病毒(Orf virus,ORFV)引起的一种人畜共患传染病。ORFV是痘病毒科副痘病毒属的代表性成员之一,具有鲜明而独特的种属特征。在进化过程中,病毒捕获一系列免疫调节/致病性相关基因,通过各种表达产物协同性地限制宿主的免疫清除效应,以庇护种群的增殖和病毒粒子成熟。本文综述了ORFV的分子特征,着重分析了病毒主动干预宿主免疫应答、设计免疫逃逸的分子机制。明确病毒的免疫调节/致病性元件及其效应途径,有利于加深对ORFV生物学特性的理解,同时有利于针对Orf建立有效的防制。     

Towards numerical forecasting of long-range air transport of birch pollen: theoretical considerations and a feasibility study

This paper considers the feasibility of numerical simulation of large-scale atmospheric transport of allergenic pollen. It is shown that at least small grains, such as birch pollen, can stay in the air for a few days, which leads to a characteristic scale for their transport of ∼10³ km. The analytical consideration confirmed the applicability of existing dispersion models to the pollen transport task and provided some reference parameterizations of the key processes, including dry and wet deposition. The results were applied to the Finnish Emergency Dispersion Modelling System (SILAM), which was then used to analyze pollen transport to Finland during spring time in 2002–2004. Solutions of the inverse problems (source apportionment) showed that the main source areas, from which the birch flowering can affect Finnish territory, are the Baltic States, Russia, Germany, Poland, and Sweden—depending on the particular meteorological situation. Actual forecasting of pollen dispersion required a birch forest map of Europe and a unified European model for birch flowering, both of which were nonexistent before this study. A map was compiled from the national forest inventories of Western Europe and satellite images of broadleaf forests. The flowering model was based on the mean climatological dates for the onset of birch forests rather than conditions of any specific year. Utilization of probability forecasting somewhat alleviated the problem, but the development of a European-wide flowering model remains the main obstacle for real-time forecasting of large-scale pollen distribution.     

Computer models of auxin transport: a review and commentary

With the recent proliferation of computer models of auxin transport, it is important that plant biologists understand something about these techniques and how to evaluate them. The paper begins with a brief introduction to the parts of a computer model, followed by a discussion of the limitations of the most common auxin modelling technique. Lastly, several recent models of organ initiation in the shoot apical meristem (i.e. phyllotaxis) are reviewed. The cell and molecular biology of phyllotaxis is now understood well enough that computer models can go beyond a simple 'proof of principle' and start to provide insights into gene function.     

Invited overview: conclusions from a review of electrofishing and its harmful effects on fish

These conclusions are extracted from a published review and synthesis of literature on electrofishing and its harmful effects on fish. Although a valuable sampling technique for over half a century, electrofishing, which involves a very dynamic and complex mix of physics, physiology, and behavior, remains poorly understood. New hypotheses have been advanced regarding power transfer to fish and the epileptic nature of their responses to electric fields, but these too need to be more fully explored and validated. Fishery researchers and managers are particularly concerned about the harmful effects of electrofishing on fish, especially endangered species. Although often not externally obvious or fatal, spinal injuries and associated hemorrhages sometimes have been documented in over 50% of fish examined internally. Such injuries can occur anywhere in the electrofishing field at or above the intensity threshold for the twitch response. These injuries are believed to result from powerful convulsions of body musculature (possibly epileptic seizures) caused mostly by sudden changes in voltage as when electricity is pulsed or switched on or off. Significantly fewer spinal injuries are reported when direct current, low-frequency pulsed direct current ( 30 Hz), or specially designed pulse trains are used. Salmoninae are especially susceptible. Other harmful effects, such as bleeding at gills or vent and excessive physiological stress, are also of concern. Mortality, usually by asphyxiation, is a common result of excessive exposure to tetanizing intensities near electrodes or poor handling of captured specimens. Reported effects on reproduction are contradictory, but electrofishing over spawning grounds can harm embryos. Electrofishing is often considered the most effective and benign technique for capturing moderate to large-size fish, but when adverse effects are problematic and cannot be sufficiently reduced, its use should be severely restricted.     

Fate and Transport of Naproxen in a Sandy Aquifer Material: Saturated Column Studies and Model Evaluation

Naproxen-C₁₄H₁₄O₃ is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which has been found at detectable concentrations in wastewater, surface water, and groundwater. Naproxen is relatively hydrophilic and is in anionic form at pH between 6 and 8. In this study, column experiments were performed using an unconsolidated aquifer material from an area near Barcelona (Spain) to assess transport and reaction mechanisms of Naproxen in the aquifer matrix under different pore water fluxes. Results were evaluated using HYDRUS-1D, which was used to estimate transport parameters. Batch sorption isotherms for Naproxen conformed with the linear model with a sorption coefficient of 0.42 (cm³ g^?1), suggesting a low sorption affinity. Naproxen breakthrough curves (BTCs) measured in soil columns under steady-state, saturated water flow conditions displayed similar behavior, with no apparent hysteresis in sorption or dependence of retardation (R, 3.85-4.24) on pore water velocities. Soil sorption did not show any significant decrease for increasing flow rates, as observed from Naproxen recovery in the effluent. Sorption parameters estimated by the model suggest that Naproxen has a low sorption affinity to aquifer matrix. Most sorption of Naproxen occurred on the instantaneous sorption sites, with the kinetic sorption sites representing only about 10 to 40% of total sorption.     

The concept of uptake and retrograde transport of neurotrophic molecules during development: History and present status

In the present review honoring Hans Thoenen's contributions to the concept of uptake and retrograde transport of trophic molecules, I have attempted to identify the major historical pathways that had to converge before this concept could be accepted as a fundamental principle in neurobiology. Some of the critical events in this history which are discussed here include: neuron-target interactions, bidirectional trophic signals, axoplasmic transport, receptor-mediated endocytosis, transneuronal trophic signals, the discovery of NGF, the retrograde transport of NGF, and the production of NGF by target tissues. Only when all of these diverse pieces of the puzzle were in place was the concept finally confirmed as being the mechanism that mediates the many phenomena attributed to the regulation and maintenance of neurons by their targets. Special issue dedicated to Dr. Hans Thoenen.     

Ethnobiology, socio-economics and management of mangrove forests: A review

There is growing research interest in the ethnobiology, socio-economics and management of mangrove forests. Coastal residents who use mangroves and their resources may have considerable botanical and ecological knowledgeable about these forests. A wide variety of forest products are harvested in mangroves, especially wood for fuel and construction, tannins and medicines. Although there are exceptions, mangrove forest products are typically harvested in a small-scale and selective manner, with harvesting efforts and impacts concentrated in stands that are closer to settlements and easiest to access (by land or by sea). Mangroves support diverse, local fisheries, and also provide critical nursery habitat and marine productivity which support wider commercial fisheries. These forests also provide valuable ecosystem services that benefit coastal communities, including coastal land stabilization and storm protection. The overlapping of marine and terrestrial resources in mangroves creates tenure ambiguities that complicate management and may induce conflict between competing interests. Mangroves have been cut and cleared extensively to make way for brackish water aquaculture and infrastructure development. More attention is now given to managing remaining forests sustainably and to restoring those degraded from past use. Recent advances in remotely sensed, geo-spatial monitoring provide opportunities for researchers and planners to better understand and improve the management of these unique forested wetlands.     

Cancer pagurus (Linnaeus, 1758) physiological responses to simulated live transport: Influence of temperature, air exposure and AQUI-S

Cancer pagurus is a commercially important crab, mostly appreciated in Southern European countries, including Portugal, being usually live transported from UK and France. Once in Portugal, crabs are redistributed across the country in small refrigerated vivier lorries in air or immersed conditions, while some are sent exposed to air to the Azores archipelago with mortality reaching 40-60%. In order to optimise transport conditions and survival, simulated live transport of immersed and air exposed crabs sedated or not with an anaesthetic, AQUI-S^®, was tested at different temperatures. It was found that crabs experienced stress during the experiment (with increased l-lactate, d-glucose and lowered pH), but with different magnitudes according to temperature, treatment and transport duration, resulting in 100% mortalities at 16 °C in immersed conditions and when exposed to air with AQUI-S^®. Results indicate that long duration transport in semi-dry conditions is viable at low temperatures (8 °C), while immersed transport is viable at 12 °C. AQUI-S^® was not an efficient solution at low temperatures in semi-dry conditions, but for short duration transport in immersed conditions at 16 °C it was the only treatment without mortality.