Local knowledge held by farmers in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) about the use of plants to maintain and improve animal health and welfare

Background

The sustainable management of animal health and welfare is of increasing importance to consumers and a key topic in the organic farming movement. Few systematic studies have been undertaken investigating farmers’ local knowledge related to this issue. Ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) is a discipline focusing on local knowledge and folk methods in veterinary medicine, however most ethnoveterinarian studies primarily address the treatment of animal diseases. Very few studies have explored prophylactic methods.

Methods

An ethnoveterinary research project in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) was conducted in 2004 and 2005 to gather information about local knowledge of animal husbandry from 144 informants, with the emphasis on plants that maintain livestock health and welfare.

Results

Informants mentioned a total of 87 plants and 22 plant-based generic terms in the context of maintaining and improving livestock health and welfare. The most important preventive measures for maintaining and improving animal health and welfare were practices related to “fodder” and “feeding”. In this category the plants mentioned could be grouped according to three different perceptions about their effect on animals: “Good or bad fodder”, “Functional fodder” and “Fodder medicine”. In addition to fodder, environmental management, the human-animal relationship, household remedies and cultural/religious activities were also mentioned. When asked about practices in the past that maintained animal health and well-being, interviewees mentioned, for example, the importance of the diversity of sources that used to be available to obtain feed and fodder.

Conclusions

The informants’ approach that feeding is central to livestock welfare is in line with the standard scientific literature on animal health, including in organic farming. Various scientific studies into common fodder evaluate the nutritive and dietary value, efficiency and safety of fodder. Future studies also have to consider the evaluation of traditional, local fodder resources. In fact, the value of ‘food as medicine’ for humans in the context of local knowledge has been widely assessed, but the potential health benefits of fodder and nutraceuticals in local and traditional ethnoveterinary methods require further attention.

     

Does a homogeneous population of elementary movement detectors activate the landing response of blowflies,Calliphora erythrocephala?

The landing response of tethered flying blowflies, Calliphora erythrocephala, was elicited by moving periodic gratings, and by stripes moving apart. The influence of binocular interactions on the landing response was investigated by comparing the responses of intact (“binocular”) animals to the response of flies which had one eye covered with black paint (“monocular” flies) effectively eliminating the input from this eye. Directions of motion eliciting a maximal response (preference direction) were determined in intact animals, and in “molecular” flies for different regions of the visual field. Preference directions determined in “monocular” flies follow the orientation of Z-axes (Fig. 4). Preference directions determined in intact animals and in “monocular” flies differ in the binocular eye region: in intact animals, the preference directions corresponds to vertical directions of motion; whereas the preference direction determined for the same area in “monocular” flies are inclined obliquely against the vertical plane. Sex-specific differences were found for the ventral binocular eye region in which the shift of preference directions is more pronounced in male than in female flies. The experimental data support the hypothesis that elementary movement detectors are aligned along the Z-axes of the eye, and that preference directions deviating from the orientation of elementary movement detectors are caused by binocular interactions.     

To be or not to be [fertile], that is the question

Background

According to our literature analysis, there are no data focused on spermatozoa emotional representations in childless men and data on the emotional repercussions of a diagnosis of infertility on men are still scarce. Thus, in this work, we investigated what the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the semen symbolize for men.

Material and methods

To answer this question, 441 childless heterosexual men participated in an anonymous, prospective, Internet-based survey.

Results

In response to the question “What would having a high or normal sperm count symbolize for you?” the most frequent answer was “ability to father a child”. Men living with a partner were significantly more likely than single men to answer “ability to father a child” (p?<?0.05) and less likely to answer “virility” and/or “ability to have an erection/ejaculation” (p?=?0.001). In response to the question “If you found out that you had a low sperm count or no spermatozoa at all, how would you feel?”, most of the men stated that they would be disappointed. Men living with a partner were more likely to state that they would feel ashamed (p?<?0.05) or guilty with regard to their partner (p?<?0.0001).

Conclusions

These preliminary results should help us to improve (i) the way that male infertility is announced (it is easier to find the right words if one understands the possible importance of having a high sperm count) and (ii) the psychological, marital and sexual counselling provided to men with a diagnosis of infertility.

     

Quantum simulation of nanosized materials: 100 years of mystery is solved

Application of alpha-oscillator theory to quantum electrodynamics (QED) solves the mystery (as Feynman said) of the double-slit phenomenon involved in the foundation of quantum mechanics (QM). Even if with the same initial condition given, different spots on the screen can be predicted deterministically with no introduction of hidden variables. The general proof has already been published in Ref. [3] and “what is new in this paper” is the concrete numerical algorithm of the extended normal mode technique in section “Concrete numerical algorithm of the extended normal mode technique” and concrete trajectory of one electron in section “Current of one electron”. The interference pattern is similar to, but cannot be reproduced quantitatively by, that of QM wave function, contrary to many-years-anticipation: a new prediction, awaiting experimental test over and above the Bohr–Einstein gedanken experiment. QED paves the way for the new generic quantitative theory of electronic structure and dynamics over and above QM. Alpha-oscillator theory presents new aspects of QED from basic physics to material sciences with mathematical rigor. Quantum simulation of nanosized materials is a realization of the new-generation quantum theory. A new era of quantum simulation of nanosized materials is realized. Correct theory of the double-slit phenomenon is QED. Correct quantum theoretical view of the double-slit phenomenon is relativistic quantum field theory (QFT).     

Novel Translation Products from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239 Env-Encoding mRNA Contain both Rev and Cryptic T-Cell Epitopes

Understanding the correlates of immune protection against human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) will require defining the entire cellular immune response against the viruses. Here, we define two novel translation products from the SIV env mRNA that are targeted by the T-cell response in SIV-infected rhesus macaques. The shorter product is a subset of the larger product, which contains both the first exon of the Rev protein and a translated portion of the rev intron. Our data suggest that the translation of viral alternate reading frames may be an important source of T-cell epitopes, including epitopes normally derived from functional proteins.The pathway from viral infection to the cellular immune response is not well understood. Despite the importance of T-cell responses in control of AIDS virus replication (1, 3, 8, 22), the sources of the peptides recognized by virus-specific T cells are still being discovered. AIDS virus-specific CD8⁺ T lymphocytes (CD8-TL) recognize complexes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and virus-derived epitopes presented on the surface of infected cells. These epitopes can be derived from exogenous viral proteins in the infecting virion (19, 20) or from de novo synthesis of viral proteins (9, 21). Additional sources of epitopes are also being explored (4, 6).CD8-TL can also recognize epitopes derived from translation of viral alternate reading frames (ARFs). Though CD8-TL specific for ARF-derived epitopes have been detected in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (2), they remain a largely unexplored source of epitopes that might elicit potent antiviral cellular immune responses. We recently showed that SIVmac239-infected rhesus macaques that spontaneously controlled viral replication, termed elite controllers, made immunodominant CD8-TL responses against an epitope (RHLAFKCLW, or cRW9) derived from an ARF of the env gene (15). This response selected for viral escape in vivo and suppressed viral replication in an in vitro assay. These findings imply that CD8-TL specific for ARF-derived epitopes might be an important component of the total AIDS virus-specific cellular immune response.Here, we show that the cRW9 epitope is translated as part of two distinct products that differ in size due to start codon usage. The larger and more frequent product contains both the first 23 amino acids of the Rev protein (exon 1) and 50 amino acids translated from the rev intron. The smaller is produced by translation initiation at a start codon within the rev intron and is a subset of the larger product. Finally, we show that these products are degraded after translation from the mature Env-encoding mRNA.     

Role of Neurochemicals in the Interaction between the Microbiota and the Immune and the Nervous System of the Host Organism

This work is concerned with the role of evolutionary conserved substances, neurotransmitters, and neurohormones, within the complex framework of the microbial consortium–immune system–nervous system axis in the human or animal organism. Although the operation of each of these systems per se is relatively well understood, their combined effects on the host organism still await further research. Drawing on recent research on host-produced and microbial low-molecular-weight neurochemicals such as biogenic amines, amino acids, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), we suggest that these mediators form a part of a universal neurochemical “language.” It mediates the whole gamut of harmonious and disharmonious interactions between (a) the intestinal microbial consortium, (b) local and systemic immune cells, and (c) the central and peripheral nervous system. Importantly, the ongoing microbiota–host interactivity is bidirectional. We present evidence that a large number of microbially produced low-molecular-weight compounds are identical or homologous to mediators that are synthesized by immune or nervous cells and, therefore, can bind to the corresponding host receptors. In addition, microbial cells specifically respond to host-produced neuromediators/neurohormones because they have adapted to them during the course of many millions of years of microbiota–host coevolution. We emphasize that the terms “microbiota” and “microbial consortium” are to be used in the broadest sense, so as to include, apart from bacteria, also eukaryotic microorganisms. These are exemplified by the mycobiota whose role in the microbial consortium–immune system–nervous system axis researchers are only beginning to elucidate. In light of the above, it is imperative to reform the current strategies of using probiotic microorganisms and their metabolites for treating and preventing dysbiosis-related diseases. The review demonstrates, in the example of novel probiotics (psychobiotics), that many target-oriented probiotic preparations produce important side effects on a wide variety of processes in the host organism. In particular, we should take into account probiotics’ capacity to produce mediators that can considerably modify the operation of the microecological, immune, and nervous system of the human organism.     

Autoimmunity and the microbiome: T‐cell receptor mimicry of “self” and microbial antigens mediates self tolerance in holobionts

I propose a T‐cell receptor (TcR)‐based mechanism by which immunity mediates both “genetic self” and “microbial self” thereby, connecting microbiome disease with autoimmunity. The hypothesis is based on simple principles. First, TcR are selected to avoid strong cross‐reactivity with “self,” resulting in selection for a TcR repertoire mimicking “genetic self.” Second, evolution has selected for a “microbial self” that mimics “genetic self” so as to share tolerance. In consequence, our TcR repertoire also mimics microbiome antigenicity, providing a novel mechanism for modulating tolerance to it. Also, the microbiome mimics the TcR repertoire, acting as a secondary immune system. I call this TcR‐microbiome mimicry “holoimmunity” to denote immune tolerance to the “holobiont self.” Logically, microbiome‐host mimicry means that autoimmunity directed at host antigens will also attack components of the microbiome, and conversely, an immunological attack on the microbiome may cross‐react with host antigens producing “holoautoimmunity.”

     

Triggering the immune response by proinflammatory cytokines

What determines whether or not an immune response takes place? The older view that it is only the presence or absence of T cells bearing appropriate receptors that matters has been replaced by one which lays at least equal emphasis on inflammation: whether or not antigenpresenting cells become activated and secrete proinflammatory cytokines. The evidence for this view comes partly from older work on animal models of autoimmunity and tolerance, partly signs of “immunological neglect” in transgenic mice akin to “immunological privilege”, and partly from some remarkably supportive genetics. The genetics includes genome scanning for quantitative trait loci determining disease susceptibility and case/control disease associations. Migration inhibitory factor is an interesting proinflammatory cytokine which does not yet fit into this scheme. We ask but do not answer the question whether protective T cell populations are subject to the same rules of activation.     

microRNA-mediated <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis> gene regulation: molecular scabbards for double-edged swords

Plant resistance (R) proteins are immune receptors that recognize pathogen effectors and trigger rapid defense responses, namely effector-triggered immunity. R protein-mediated pathogen resistance is usually race specific. During plant-pathogen coevolution, plant genomes accumulated large numbers of R genes. Even though plant R genes provide important natural resources for breeding disease-resistant crops, their presence in the plant genome comes at a cost. Misregulation of R genes leads to developmental defects, such as stunted growth and reduced fertility. In the past decade, many microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to target various R genes in plant genomes. miRNAs reduce R gene levels under normal conditions and allow induction of R gene expression under various stresses. For these reasons, we consider R genes to be double-edged “swords” and miRNAs as molecular “scabbards”. In the present review, we summarize the contributions and potential problems of these “swords” and discuss the features and production of the “scabbards”, as well as the mechanisms used to pull the “sword” from the “scabbard” when needed.     

Clinical course and seizure outcome of idiopathic childhood epilepsy: determinants of early and long-term prognosis

Background

Idiopathic epilepsies and epileptic syndromes predominate childhood and adolescence epilepsy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical course and outcome of idiopathic childhood epilepsy and identify variables determining both early and long-term prognosis.

Methods

We followed 303 children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy aged 1–14 years old, both prospectively and retrospectively. Outcome was defined at one, 2 and 4 years of follow-up, as well as at the end of the study period for all patients. Based on the data collected, patients were classified in four patterns of clinical course: “excellent”, “improving”, “relapsing” and “poor”. Variables defined at intake and after the initial year of treatment were analyzed for their prognostic relevance towards the clinical course and outcome of the patients.

Results

The mean age at seizure onset was 6,7 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 8,3 years (range 2,0-22,0,SD 4,24). During the initial year of treatment, 70,3% of patients were seizure-free. The course of epilepsy was “excellent” in 53,1% of the subjects, “improving” in 22,8%, “relapsing” in 22,1% whereas only 6 children with idiopathic epilepsy (2%) had a “poor” clinical course exhibiting drug-resistance. After multivariate analysis, variables predictive of a poor initial response to therapy were early seizure onset, multiple seizure types and history of status epilepticus. At the end of follow-up, early response to treatment was of significant positive predictive value, while the presence of multiple seizure types and the history of migraine had a negative impact on prognosis.

Conclusions

In the vast majority of children, the long-term prognosis of idiopathic epilepsy is favorable. More than half of the patients attain seizure freedom immediately and their clinical course is considered “excellent”. About one fifth exhibit either an improving or a fluctuating course. Early seizure onset, multiple seizure types and status epilepticus are predictive of an initial poor response to treatment in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Initial non-response to treatment, multiple seizure types and history of migraine are determinants of a less favorable final outcome after long-term follow-up.

     

Immunosenescence in aging: between immune cells depletion and cytokines up-regulation

Background

The immunosenescence is a relatively recent chapter, correlated with the linear extension of the average life began in the nineteenth century and still in progress. The most important feature of immunosenescence is the accumulation in the “immunological space” of memory and effector cells as a result of the stimulation caused by repeated clinical and subclinical infections and by continuous exposure to antigens (inhalant allergens, food, etc.). This state of chronic inflammation that characterizes senescence has a significant impact on survival and fragility. In fact, the condition of frail elderly occurs less frequently in situations characterized by poor contact with viral infections and parasitic diseases. Furthermore the immunosenescence is characterized by a particular “remodelling” of the immune system, induced by oxidative stress. Apoptosis plays a central role in old age, a period in which the ability of apoptosis can change. The remodelling of apoptosis, together with the Inflammaging and the up-regulation of the immune response with the consequent secretion of pro-inflammatory lymphokines represents the major determinant of the rate of aging and longevity, as well as of the most common diseases related with age and with tumors. Other changes occur in the innate immunity, the first line of defence providing rapid, but unspecific and incomplete protection, consisting mostly of monocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells, acting up to the establishment of a adaptive immune response, which is slower, but highly specific, which cellular substrate consists of T and B lymphocytes. The markers of “Inflammaging” in adaptive immunity in centenarians are characterized by a decrease in T cells “naive.” The reduction of CD8 virgins may be related to the risk of morbidity and death, as well as the combination of the increase of CD8+ cells and reduction of CD4+ T cells and the reduction of CD19+ B cells. The immune function of the elderly is weakened to due to the exhaustion of T cell-virgin (CD95?), which are replaced with the clonal expansion of CD28-T cells.

Conclusions

The increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes type 2, sarcopenia and a high risk of morbidity and mortality. A correct modulation of immune responses and apoptotic phenomena can be useful to reduce age-related degenerative diseases, as well as inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

     

Schalenmerkmale verkieselter Ostracoden: Sind die ordovizischen Duplikaturen nur Artefakte oder eher evolutionäre Vorversuche?

The post-Silurian, podocopine duplicature (calcified inner lamella) is reviewed, its phylogeny and ecological importance are shown. Taking the relevant literature into account, the phenomenon ofGramm’s Ordovician, “mesostene duplicature” is discussed. Features of the free margin shown in some Ordovician, podocopine species which were obtained from silicified (or silicified and calcium fluorite converted) shells, are either artefacts or results of optical illusions.Gramm’s conception of the “mesoplatic duplicature”, i.a. the marginal thickening in palaeocopine species, however, corresponds toBecker’s model of evolutionary dead-ends, after which the species level is determined to be the favoured experimental stage of the evolution (in concrete terms, the development of the free margin) in times of increased phylogenetic stress.     

The Semiosis of “Side Effects” in Genetic Interventions

Genetic interventions, which include transgenic engineering, gene editing, and other forms of genome modification aimed at altering the information “in” the genetic code, are rapidly increasing in power and scale. Biosemiotics offers unique tools for understanding the nature, risks, scope, and prospects of such technologies, though few in the community have turned their attention specifically in this direction. Bruni (2003, 2008) is an important exception. In this paper, I examine how we frame the concept of “side effects” that result from genetic interventions and how the concept stands up to current perspectives of the role of organism activity in development. I propose that once the role of living systems in constructing and modifying the informational value of their various developmental resources is taken into account, the concept of a “side effect” will need to be significantly revised. Far from merely a disturbance brought about in a senseless albeit complex system, a biosemiotic view would take “side effects” as at least sometimes the organism’s active re-organization in order to accommodate or make use of novelty. This insight is nascent in the work of developmental plasticity and niche construction theory (West-Eberhard 2003; Odling-Smee et al. 2003), but it is brought into sharper focus by the explicitly interpretive perspective offered by biosemiotics. Understanding the “side effects” of genetic interventions depends in part on being able to articulate when and where unexpected consequences are a result of semiotic activity at various levels within the system. While a semiotic interpretation of “side effects” puts into question the naive attitude that would see all unintended side effects as indications of disturbance in system functionality, it certainly does not imply that such side effects are of no concern for the viability of the organisms in the system. As we shall see, the fact that such interventions do not respect the translation of information that occurs in multi-level biological systems ensures that disruption is still likely. But it does unprivilege the human agent as the sole generator of meaning and information in the products of biotechnology, with important consequences on how we understand our relationship with other species.     

A note on the sampling theory for infinite alleles and infinite sites models

This note considers sampling theory for a selectively neutral locus where it is supposed that the data provide nucleotide sequences for the genes sampled. It thus anticipates that technical advances will soon provide data of this form in volume approaching that currently obtained from electrophoresis. The assumption made on the nature of the data will require us to use, in the terminology ofKimura (Theor. Pop. Biol.2, 174–208 (1971)), the “infinite sites” model of Karlin and McGregor (Proc. Fifth Berkeley Symp. Math. Statist. Prob.4, 415–438 (1967)) rather that the “infinite alleles” model of Kimura and Crow (Genetics49, 174–738 (1964)). We emphasize that these two models refer not to two different real-world circumstances, but rather to two different assumptions concerning our capacity to investigate the real world. We compare our results where appropriate with corresponding sampling theory of Ewens (Theor. Pop. Biol.3, 87–112 (1972)) for the “infinite alleles” model. Note finally that some of our results depend on an assumption of independence of behavior at individual sites; a parallel paper byWatterson (submitted for publication (1974)) assumes no recombination between sites. Real-world behavior will lie between these two assumptions, closer to the situation assumed by Watterson than in this note. Our analysis provides upper bounds for increased efficiency in using complete nucleotide sequences.     

Class-1 Translation Termination Factors Are Functional Analogs of Aminoacyl-tRNAs

Reviewed and discussed are the recent data demonstrating profound functional similarity between class-1 translation termination factors (RF1 and RF2 in prokaryotes, aRF1 and eRF1 in Archaea and eukaryotes, respectively) and aminoacyl-tRNA as regards their roles in the course of translation on the ribosome. The functional analogy of these two components of the cell protein-synthesizing machinery was suggested long ago; however, only now it has received ample experimental proof. This similarity implies that decoding of the genetic information by the ribosomal machine is performed likewise at all stages of translation, though tRNA plays the main role at initiation and elongation, while the protein is most important for termination. Earlier it was found that nucleic acids (ribozymes) can operate like the protein enzymes, and now we have got evidence for the reverse: a protein (translation termination factor) can act like a nucleic acid (tRNA). Thus one can speak of exchange of molecular functions between proteins and nucleic acids in specific cases when this provides a biological benefit. Therefore, the profound chemical difference between proteins and nucleic acids is not an insuperable barrier to their functional interchangeability in certain situations.     

The Development of Sociobiology in Relation to Animal Behavior Studies, 1946–1975

This paper aims at bridging a gap between the history of American animal behavior studies and the history of sociobiology. In the post-war period, ecology, comparative psychology and ethology were all investigating animal societies, using different approaches ranging from fieldwork to laboratory studies. We argue that this disunity in “practices of place” (Kohler, Robert E. Landscapes & Labscapes: Exploring the Lab-Field Border in Biology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002) explains the attempts of dialogue between those three fields and early calls for unity through “sociobiology” by J. Paul Scott. In turn, tensions between the naturalist tradition and the rising reductionist approach in biology provide an original background for a history of Edward Wilson’s own version of sociobiology, much beyond the William Hamilton’s papers (Journal of Theoretical Biology 7: 1–16, 17–52, 1964) usually considered as its key antecedent. Naturalists were in a defensive position in the geography of the fields studying animal behavior, and in reaction were a driving force behind the various projects of synthesis called “sociobiology”.