Short-term behavioural response of polar bears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ursus maritimus</Emphasis>) to snowmobile disturbance

In this study the distance, at which polar bears detected and actively responded to approaching snowmobiles was measured and the behavioural response was recorded. The study was performed on Svalbard, an arctic island where human traffic has increased substantially in recent years. Fieldwork was conduced in April and/or May during the years 2003–2005. Polar bears were observed on ice with telescopes and binoculars. Undisturbed polar bears were observed continuously and their behaviours recorded, during the time when two snowmobiles moved toward the bear(s). Distances between the bear, the observer, and the approaching snowmobiles were measured using GPS positions taken on the track towards the bear. Data on the behavioural response of 20 encounters with bears were collected. On average, bears were alerted to the snowmobiles at 1,164 m. Mean distance at which the locomotive response occurred was 843 m, and there was a statistical significant difference in distance between sex and age classes [326 m (95% CI = 138–496 m) for adult males; 1,534 m (95% CI = 508–2,768 m) for adult females with cubs; 164 m (95% CI = 49–543 m) for two adult females without cubs; and 1,160 m (95% CI = 375–1,353 m) for single medium sized bears]. The responses of the polar bears to the snowmobiles were categorized according to intensity and persistence of reactions. Females with cubs and single medium sized bears tended to show more intense responses than adult males and lone adult females. Wind direction affects sound and odour transmission, and although an effect on response distance was not found, the response intensity was affected by wind direction. We conclude that female polar bears with small cubs in particular may have a greater risk to be disturbed, since they react at greater distances with amplified reactions; thus, users of snowmobiles should take particular care in areas where females with cubs are present.     

The pyridine nucleotide and non-pyridine nucleotide dependence of L-glutamate dehydrogenase in the histochemical system

Summary Under histochemical conditions (fresh frozen sections from liver, kidney and cerebellum of the rat) it was shown that the oxidation of L-glutamic acid was carried out by the NAD-dependent L-glutamate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.4.1.2) and/or the NAD- or NADP-dependent L-glutamate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.4.1.3) as well as by an enzyme system which is not dependent on externally added NAD, NADP, FAD, FMN or CoQ₁₀ for activity.This non-pyridine dependent activity was related to the L-glutamate dehydrogenases proper, owing to the following: a) the localization of activity noticed corresponds to that obtained with the NAD- or NADP-containing media, b) the incubation time needed for initial formation of red and blue formazans is similar to that with coenzyme-containing media, c) pre-extraction experiments reveal similarity in enzyme diffusion rates, d) the named activity is influenced by the same agents and to the same extent as the activity obtained by the inclusion of NAD or NADP (e.g. dissociation of the dehydrogenase molecule into subunits due to urea, inhibition of activity due to N-ethyl maleimide and 1.10-phenanthroline, activation due to the allosteric effect of ADP and to high substrate concentration, allosteric inhibition caused by GTP and inhibition caused by -ketoglutaric acid, no inhibitory effect of KCN), and e) the named activity was not affected by added PMS (excluding activity due to L-aminoacid oxidase).In the in situ localization of enzyme activity it was found that L-glutamate dehydrogenases E.C. 1.4.1.2 and E.C. 1.4.1.3 co-exist in the cells of kidney and cerebellum, while the L-glutamate dehydrogenase E.C. 1.4.1.3 only was present in liver cells.Finally, it was stated that incubation time should be kept as short as possible in order to avoid Nothing dehydrogenase reaction as well as inhibition due to accumulation of -ketoglutaric acid. Only gel incubation media should be applied.Recipient of a research grant from the Danish Ministry of Education     

Seasonal variation in the sex and age composition of the woodcock bag in Denmark

The Eurasian woodcock is a highly valued game bird in Western Europe from which c. 2.7 million individuals are harvested annually from an estimated population of 20–26 million birds. The population size and status remains uncertain due to the cryptic behaviour and widespread and solitary occurrence of woodcock, on breeding and wintering areas, making reliable population surveys difficult. Hunting bag records provide age ratios amongst bagged birds, but sex ratios remain poorly known because of the sexually monomorphic nature of this species. We used DNA analysis to determine sex ratios amongst 327 shot woodcocks from two hunting seasons in Denmark (1 October–31 January, 2012/13 and 2013/14). Based on bag totals, age ratios and sex ratios, juvenile females constituted 37%, juvenile males 27%, adult females 16% and adult males 20% of the annual woodcock bag. The female bias was related to a significant deviation from parity in the sex ratio amongst juvenile birds in October, although no such deviation was found at other times or amongst adults. Compared to limited data from other European countries, our data suggest that autumn migration of woodcock involves an initial wave of juvenile females followed by juvenile males and adults, and perhaps that males stay further north in Europe than females during autumn and winter. This migratory pattern would suggest that postponing the opening of the hunting season could reduce the hunting bag on reproductively valuable females in this polygamous species.     

Infrared Thermography and Ultrasonography to Indirectly Monitor the Influence of Liner Type and Overmilking on Teat Tissue Recovery

Eight Danish Holstein cows were milked with a 1-mm thick specially designed soft liner on their right rear teat and a standard liner mounted under extra high tension on their left rear teat. Four of the animals were overmilked for 5 min. Rear teats were subjected to ultrasound examination on the first day and to infrared thermography on the second day. Teats were submersed in ethanol 20 min post-milking on the second day. Ultrasonography measurements showed that teat canal length increased by 30–41% during milking. Twenty minutes after milking, teats milked with modified standard liners still had elongated teat canals while teats milked with the soft liner were normalized. Overmilking tended to increase teat wall thickness. Approximately 80% of variability in teat canal length, from before teat preparation to after milking, could be explained by changes during teat preparation. Thermography indicated a general drop in teat temperature during teat preparation. Teat temperature increased during milking and continued to increase until the ethanol challenge induced a significant drop. Temperatures approached pre-challenge rather than pre-milking temperatures within 10 minutes after challenge. Teat temperatures were dependent on type of liner. Mid-teat temperatures post-challenge relative to pre-teat preparation were dependent on overmilking. Thermography and ultrasound were considered useful methods to indirectly and non invasively evaluate teat tissue integrity.     

Characterization of cationic liposomes based on dimethyldioctadecylammonium and synthetic cord factor from M. tuberculosis (trehalose 6,6'-dibehenate)-a novel adjuvant inducing both strong CMI and antibody responses

Incorporation of the glycolipid trehalose 6,6'-dibehenate (TDB) into cationic liposomes composed of the quaternary ammonium compound dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA) produce an adjuvant system which induces a powerful cell-mediated immune response and a strong antibody response, desirable for a high number of disease targets. We have used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the effect of TDB on the gel-fluid phase transition of DDA liposomes and to demonstrate that TDB is incorporated into DDA liposome bilayers. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and cryo-TEM confirmed that liposomes were formed when a lipid film of DDA containing small amounts of TDB was hydrated in an aqueous buffer solution at physiological pH. Furthermore, time development of particle size and zeta potential of DDA liposomes incorporating TDB during storage at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C, indicates that TDB effectively stabilizes the DDA liposomes. Immunization of mice with the mycobacterial fusion protein Ag85B-ESAT-6 in DDA-TDB liposomes induced a strong, specific Th1 type immune response characterized by substantial production of the interferon-gamma cytokine and high levels of IgG2b isotype antibodies. The lymphocyte subset releasing the interferon-gamma was identified as CD4 T cells.     

Differential binding of ligands to the apolipoprotein E receptor 2

Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (apoER2) is an important participant in the Reelin signaling pathway that directs cell positioning during embryogenesis. ApoER2 is a cell surface molecule that elicits intracellular signal transduction through binding of Reelin. The structural requirements for Reelin binding to apoER2 and the receptor domains involved in this process are unclear at present. Using a series of receptor mutants, we characterized the interaction of apoER2 with Reelin and compared this interaction to that of apoER2 with the receptor-associated protein (RAP), an apoER2 ligand that does not induce signaling. By surface plasmon resonance we demonstrate that apoER2 exhibits 6-fold higher affinity for Reelin than the very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), which also functions as a Reelin receptor (K(D) 0.2 nM versus K(D) 1.2 nM). Acidic amino acid residues in complement-type repeat domains 1 and 3 of apoER2 are required for Reelin binding. The same regions of the receptor are also bound by RAP with a 25-fold lower affinity (K(D) 5 nM). Whereas RAP binds to apoER2 with a 1:1 stoichiometry, experimental evidence suggests that Reelin associates with two or more receptor molecules simultaneously to achieve high-affinity interaction. This finding indicates that aggregation of apoER2 by multivalent ligands such as Reelin may be the structural basis for signal transduction.     

Pediatric Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Caused by Vaccine Serotypes following the Introduction of Conjugate Vaccination in Denmark

A seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in the Danish childhood immunization program (2+1 schedule) in October 2007, followed by PCV13 starting from April 2010. The nationwide incidence of IPD among children younger than 5 years nearly halved after the introduction of PCV7 in the program, mainly due to a decline in IPD caused by PCV7-serotypes. We report the results from a nationwide population-based cohort study of laboratory confirmed IPD cases in children younger than 5 years during October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010 and describe the characteristics of children suspected to present with a vaccine failure. The period between April 19 and December 31, 2010 was considered a PCV7/PCV13 transitional period, where both vaccines were offered. We identified 45 episodes of IPD caused by a PCV7 serotype (23% of the total number) and 105 (55%) caused by one of the 6 additional serotypes in PCV13. Ten children had received at least one PCV7 dose before the onset of IPD caused by a PCV7 serotype. Seven children were considered to be incompletely vaccinated before IPD, but only three cases fulfilled the criteria of vaccine failure (caused by serotypes 14, 19F and 23F). One case of vaccine failure was observed in a severely immunosuppressed child following three PCV7 doses, and two cases were observed in immunocompetent children following two infant doses before they were eligible for their booster. None of the IPD cases caused by the additional PCV13 serotypes had been vaccinated by PCV13 and there were therefore no PCV13-vaccine failures in the first 8-months after PCV13 introduction in Denmark.     

CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase, Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase, and Glutathione Peroxidase in Blood from Individuals Homozygous for Asp90Ala CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase Mutation

Abstract: The Asp⁹⁰Ala CuZn-superoxide dismutase mutation is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in both homo- and heterozygous form. We analyzed antioxidant enzymes in blood from 44 individuals homozygous and 114 individuals heterozygous for the Asp⁹⁰Ala mutation as well as 66 blood relatives carrying the wild-type allele only. Erythrocyte CuZn-superoxide dismutase activity was reduced by 9% in the homozygous individuals, confirming previous findings on a smaller cohort. The specific activity of Asp⁹⁰Ala mutant CuZn-superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes was equal to that of isolated mutant enzyme and slightly higher than that of isolated wild-type enzyme. There was no evidence for the presence of inactive mutant molecules in erythrocytes, and the lower activity is due to the occurrence of fewer active molecules. There were no significant differences between the groups in plasma extracellular superoxide dismutase content, and the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activities were virtually identical. Also, there were no differences in these parameters between homozygous individuals with or without ALS. There was no evidence for any association with ALS of a polymorphic extracellular superoxide dismutase mutation, Arg²¹³Gly. The absence of response of the blood antioxidant enzymes to the Asp⁹⁰Ala CuZn-superoxide dismutase mutation does not support the theory that the ALS-linked CuZn-superoxide dismutase mutations cause disease by increased oxidant stress.     

Overview of the Distribution,Habitat Association and Impact of Exotic Ants on Native Ant Communities in New Caledonia

Ants are among the most ubiquitous and harmful invaders worldwide, but there are few regional studies of their relationships with habitat and native ant communities. New Caledonia has a unique and diverse ant fauna that is threatened by exotic ants, but broad-scale patterns of exotic and native ant community composition in relation to habitat remain poorly documented. We conducted a systematic baiting survey of 56 sites representing the main New Caledonian habitat types: rainforest on ultramafic soils (15 sites), rainforest on volcano-sedimentary soils (13), maquis shrubland (15), Melaleuca-dominated savannas (11) and Acacia spirorbis thickets (2). We collected a total of 49 species, 13 of which were exotic. Only five sites were free of exotic species, and these were all rainforest. The five most abundant exotic species differed in their habitat association, with Pheidole megacephala associated with rainforests, Brachymyrmex cf. obscurior with savanna, and Wasmannia auropunctata and Nylanderia vaga present in most habitats. Anoplolepis gracilipes occurred primarily in maquis-shrubland, which contrasts with its rainforest affinity elsewhere. Multivariate analysis of overall ant species composition showed strong differentiation of sites according to the distribution of exotic species, and these patterns were maintained at the genus and functional group levels. Native ant composition differed at invaded versus uninvaded rainforest sites, in the absence of differences in habitat variables. Generalised Myrmicinae and Forest Opportunists were particularly affected by invasion. There was a strong negative relationship between the abundance of W. auropunctata and native ant abundance and richness. This emphasizes that, in addition to dominating many ant communities numerically, some exotic species, and in particular W. auropunctata, have a marked impact on native ant communities.     

Pressure pain sensitivity and hardness along human normal and sensitized muscle

The spatial distribution of pressure sensitivity and muscle hardness was examined on normal muscle tissue and muscle tissue after induction of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The pressure sensitivity and muscle hardness were assessed at nine sites on the tibialis muscle from the proximal to distal tendon on two separate days. In total 37 healthy volunteers participated in three experiments. In the first experiment pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance (PPTO) were assessed. Decreased PPT and PPTO were found on day 2, 7 days after day 1. Proximal and distal stimulation sites were harder compared to muscle belly sites. In a second experiment two different probe sizes were used. Variation in PPT between the nine sites was found for the large probe with muscle belly being less sensitive to pressure stimulation compared to proximal and distal sites. The most proximal stimulation site was harder compared to muscle belly sites. In a third experiment PPT and muscle hardness were assessed before and 48?h after eccentric exercise. PPT at two muscle belly sites was significantly decreased during DOMS. No specific sites were harder during DOMS, the average muscle hardness across sites was however significantly increased. Decreased PPT and increased muscle hardness did not correlate. In conclusion, within subjects the pressure sensitivity varies along the musculoskeletal unit. In DOMS, specific muscle belly sites were more sensitive to pressure stimulation. Muscle–tendon sites were harder compared to muscle belly sites.