The short-lived neon damsel Pomacentrus coelestis: implications for population dynamics.

Daily increments of Pomacentrus coelestis, an abundant and well-studied fish, were validated for the life of the fish and depending on the location, age-maxima were estimated to be 127-160 days on reefs separated by tens to hundreds of kilometres on the Great Barrier Reef. This contrasts with congeners and other damselfishes that live for 5 years or more. Otoliths of P. coelestis were thinner and had different patterns of banding when compared with relatively long-lived congeners. It is suggested that banding patterns in P. coelestis may be related to patterns of maturation and spawning. The consequences of a short life would have a great influence on the population dynamics of this widespread species. Further, the demographics and habitat preferences of this species suggest rapid colonization and establishment of breeding populations that would quickly change the relative abundance of sympatric fishes.

[Computed tomography of the pig lung. An innovative approach to the definition of the pulmonary health status]. / Computertomographie der Lunge des Schweines. Ein innovativer Ansatz zur Definition des Lungengesundheitsstatus.

OBJECTIVE: In veterinary medicine computed tomography (CT) imaging has gained importance in recent years, especially for diagnostics in pets, but also during the course of experimental studies in animal models for human medicine. In this study the applicability of CT as an imaging method for the depiction of the porcine thorax and in particular of the pig lung was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT examinations were performed with 11 healthy pigs of two age groups. For evaluation, CT findings were related to clinical, radiological, macroscopical, microscopical, and microbiological findings. RESULTS: Clinically relevant anatomical structures were determined and recorded using transverse slices. In ventral recumbency, lung parenchyma density measurements at the levels of the second, fourth and seventh thoracic vertebrae resulted in significantly higher densities of the ventral in comparison to those of the dorsal lung quadrants. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Computed tomography is a valuable tool for the high-contrast depiction of the porcine lung without superposition. In future studies this CT reference base for unaltered pig lungs may facilitate the identification of anatomical structures within the porcine lung as well as the assessment of pathological lung alterations.

Characterization of the porcine transferrin gene (TF) and its association with disease severity following an experimental Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection.

Transferrin (TF)-mediated provision of iron is essential for a productive infection by many bacterial pathogens, and iron-depletion of TF is a first line defence against bacterial infections. Therefore, the transferrin (TF) gene can be considered a candidate gene for disease resistance. We obtained the complete DNA sequence of the porcine TF gene, which spans 40 kb and contains 17 exons. We identified polymorphisms on a panel of 10 different pig breeds. Comparative intra- and interbreed sequence analysis revealed 62 polymorphisms in the TF gene including one microsatellite. Ten polymorphisms were located in the coding sequence of the TF gene. Four SNPs (c.902A>T, c.980G>A, c.1417A>G, c.1810A>C) were predicted to cause amino acid exchanges (p.Lys301Ile, p.Arg327Lys, p.Lys473Glu, p.Asn604His). We performed association analyses using six selected TF markers and 116 pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7. The analysis showed breed-specific TF allele frequencies. In German Landrace, we found evidence for a possible association of the severity of A. pleuropneumoniae infection with TF genotypes.

Atmospheric barrier-torch discharge deposited ZnO films: optical properties, doping and grain size effects.

Technology aspects, structure and characteristic properties of the atmospheric barrier torch discharge technique grown nominally pure and Al (0.1-5%) and Mn (0.05-0.5%) doped ZnO nanocrystalline thin films deposited on fused quartz substrates are reported. The set of films with various thicknesses in the range from 70 nm to 1000 nm were prepared for each composition. XRD and AFM analysis show well formed [001] preferably oriented hexagonal high quality films witch could be operatively fabricated in air atmosphere with controlled grain size. All films under study revealed n-type conductivity except some Mn doped films, which revealed p-type. Spectroscopic optical ellipsometry and luminescence spectroscopy studies evidenced luminescence properties typical for well formed ZnO and appreciable influence of Al doping and grain size on the optical absorption edge. Al doping shifts strongly absorption edge to the higher energies. The grain size decreasing (from 100 to 15 nm) leads to distinct diffusing of the absorption edge accompanied by increase of absorption in the near band edge region. For the smallest grains the pronounced Urbach-type absorption tail can be observed manifesting films inhomogeneity development.

Pollination ecology of the Neotropical gesneriad Gloxinia perennis: chemical composition and temporal fluctuation of floral perfume.

Although common among orchids, pollination by perfume-gathering male euglossine bees is quite rare in other Neotropical families. In Gesneriaceae, for example, it is reported in two genera only, Drymonia and Gloxinia. Flowers of G. perennis are known to emit perfume, thereby attracting male euglossine bees as pollinators. However, detailed reports on the pollination ecology, as well as on chemistry of floral perfume of individuals in natural populations, are still missing. In this study, we report on the pollination ecology of G. perennis, focusing on the ecological significance of its floral perfume. In natural populations in Peru, we documented the floral biology and breeding system of G. perennis, as well as its interaction with flower visitors. We also characterised the chemical composition of floral perfume, as well as its timing of emission. Gloxinia perennis is self-compatible and natural pollination success is high. Spontaneous self-pollination occurs as a 'just in case strategy' when pollinators are scarce. Perfume-collecting males of Eulaema cingulata and El. meriana were identified as pollinators. The perfume bouquet of G. perennis consists of 16 compounds. (E)-Carvone epoxide (41%) and limonene (23%) are the major constituents. Perfume emission is higher at 09:00 h, matching the activity peak of Eulaema pollinators. Flowers of G. perennis have evolved a mixed strategy to ensure pollination (i.e. self- and cross-pollination), but cross-pollination is favoured. The size and behaviour of Eulaema males enables only these bees to successfully cross-pollinate G. perennis. Furthermore, G. perennis floral perfume traits (i.e. chemistry and timing of emission) have evolved to optimise the attraction of these bees.

Dispersal in the spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, a coral reef fish species without a larval pelagic stage.

The spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, is widely distributed throughout the Indo-Australian archipelago. However, this species lacks a larval dispersal stage and shows genetic differentiation between populations from closely spaced reefs. To investigate the dispersal strategy of this unique species, we used microsatellite markers to determine genetic relatedness at five dispersal scales: within broods of juveniles, between adults within a collection site (approximately 30 m(2)), between sites on single reefs, between nearby reefs in a reef cluster, and between reef clusters. We sampled broods of juveniles and adults from seven reefs in the Capricorn-Bunker and Swain groups of the Great Barrier Reef. We found that extra-pair mating is rare and juveniles remain with their parents until fledged. Adults from single sites are less related than broods but more related than expected by chance. However, there is no evidence of inbreeding suggesting the existence of assortative mating and/or adult migration. Genetic differences were found between all of the reefs tested except between Heron and Sykes reefs, which are separated only by a 2-km area of shallow water (less than 10 m). There was a strong correlation between genetic distance, geographical distance and water depth. Apparently, under present-day conditions spiny damselfish populations are connected only between sites of shallow water, through dispersal of adults over short distances. Assuming that dispersal behaviour has not changed, the broad distribution of A. polyacanthus as a species is likely based on historical colonization patterns when reefs were connected by shallow water at times of lower sea levels.

Agreement between ELISA and complement fixation test used for diagnosing of paratuberculosis in goats.

An ELISA with a lipoarabinomannan as an antigen, developed for diagnosis of bovine paratuberculosis, has been adapted for use in goats, and compared with complement fixation test. Kappa value of 0.62 indicated good agreement between CFT and the adapted ELISA and proved that the investigated ELISA may be helpful in diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in goats. The ELISA has been used to screen a randomly selected representative sample of Polish breeding goat population (21.78% of herds, 21.33% of goats). It has been demonstrated that only 2.42% of animals coming from 15.79% of herds were seropositive. Within-herd seroprevalence varied from 1.69% to 38.10%. Most of the infected animals (67.07%) were 3- 4-years-old. No seropositive cases were found in group up to 1-year-old animals.

[Functional genome analysis investigating resistance to respiratory tract disease in a porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection model]. / Funktionelle Genomanalyse zur Resistenz gegen Atemwegsinfektionen am Beispiel der Actinobacillus-Pleuropneumonie des Schweins.

Here we present the work of the multidisciplinary consortium IRAS (Development of Genetic Markers for Immune Defence and Resistance in the Porcine Respiratory Tract) which includes different commercial and research institutions and was formed as a response to the call "Functional Genome Analysis in the Animal Organism (FUGATO)" by the German Ministry of Education and Research. IRAS started work in the fall of 2005 and--using the experimental infection of pigs with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae as model pathogen--aims at i) characterizing the course of infection by clinical as well as advanced laboratory tools (phenotypic-genetic approach) and ii) defining the diversity and distribution of allels known to be associated with immune defence in mouse and man (homolog-genetic approach). The intention is to identify genetic markers for increased resistance to infection thereby providing additional tools for the estimation of breeding values to the pig industry.

[Composting of poultry carcasses as an alternative method for disposal in case of an outbreak of an epizootic disease: first results]. / Kompostierung von Geflügeltierkörpern als alternative Beseitigungsmöglichkeit im Tierseuchenkrisenfall: erste Ergebnisse.

Composting of poultry carcasses represents an alternative method for disposal in case of an outbreak of an epizootic disease. Two composting experiments, each with a different construction of the compost pile, were carried out in a stable. In the first experiment two layers of turkey carcasses were formed. This compost pile covered with straw was directly built on the ground. In the second experiment no layers of carcasses were formed, and it was assembled on straw bales covered with plastic foil. One part of this compost pile was covered with straw, the other one was additionally covered with plastic foil. In the first experiment in the upper layers of the compost pile temperatures of up to 54.9 degrees C were reached and the decomposition of carcasses was very advanced with no soft tissues remaining after 30 days. In contrast temperatures of only 45.2 degrees C were reached in the lower layers and decomposition was far less advanced. This difference in decomposition was most likely caused by the temperature difference observed. In the second experiment the near complete decomposition seen in the upper layers of the compost pile at the first trial, was not achieved. Decomposition was more advanced in the straw covered part of this compost pile than in the part covered with straw and plastic foil. On the other hand, higher temperatures of up to 48.4 degrees C were measured in the lower layers of this compost pile most likely as a result of the increased heat insulation in particular to the ground.

Administration of non-pathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens type A to piglets in a herd affected with a high incidence of neonatal diarrhoea.

A bacterial cocktail of living strains of Clostridium perfringens type A (CPA) without ß2-toxin gene and non-pathogenic Escherichia coli was administered orally to newborn piglets before first colostrum intake and on 2 consecutive days on a farm with a high incidence of diarrhoea and antibiotic treatment in suckling piglets associated with E. coli and CPA. This clinical field study was driven by the hypothetic principle of competitive exclusion of pathogenic bacteria due to prior colonization of the gut mucosal surface by non-pathogenic strains of the same bacterial species with the aim of preventing disease. Although CPA strains used in this study did not produce toxins in vitro, their lack of pathogenicity cannot be conclusively confirmed. The health status of the herd was impaired by a high incidence of postpartum dysgalactia syndrome in sows (70%) and a high incidence of neonatal diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli and CPA during the study. No obvious adverse effect of the bacterial treatment occurred. On average, more piglets were weaned in litters treated (P=0.009). Visual pathological alterations in the small intestinal wall were more frequent in dead piglets of the control group (P=0.004) and necrotizing enteritis was only found in that group. A higher average daily weight gain of piglets in the control group (P<0.001) may be due to an increased milk uptake due to less competition in the smaller litters. The bacterial cocktail was tested under field conditions for its potential to stabilize gut health status in suckling piglets before disease development due to colibacillosis and clostridial infections; however, the gut flora stabilizing effect of the bacterial cocktail was not clearly discernible in this study. Further basic research is needed to confirm the positive effects of the bacterial treatment used and to identify additional potential bacterial candidates for competitive exclusion.

Personality disorders and obesity: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Studies demonstrate an association between personality traits and obesity as well as their prognostic influence on weight course. In contrast, only few studies have investigated the association between personality disorders (PDs) and obesity. OBJECTIVE: The present review summarizes through a comprehensive and critical evaluation the results of 68 studies identified by database research (PubMed and PsycINFO) covering the last 35 years that investigated the association between PDs, overweight and obesity as well as the predictive value of PDs for the development of obesity and the effectiveness of weight reduction treatments. RESULTS: Adults with any PD have a higher risk of obesity. In the female general population, there is an association between avoidant or antisocial PD and severe obesity. Further, women with paranoid or schizotypal PD have a higher risk of obesity. Clinical studies including foremost female participants showed a higher comorbidity of PDs, especially borderline PD and avoidant PD, in binge-eating disorder. Regarding both genders, patients with PD show less treatment success in conservative weight-loss treatment programmes for obesity than patients without PD. CONCLUSIONS: In prevention and conservative weight-loss treatment strategies, more care should be taken to address the special needs of patients with comorbid PDs.

Interaction of immobilized phosphofructokinase with soluble muscle proteins.

Selected glycolytic enzymes (including phosphoglucose isomerase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), as well as glycogen phosphorylase, creatine kinase, and adenylate kinase, bound to phosphofructokinase immobilized on an agarose gel. The affinity of phosphofructokinase to these various proteins differed, with phosphorylase exhibiting the strongest binding. Binding was reversed either by: (1) elution with high-ionic-strength buffer (0.4 M KCl); (2) the addition of a 5-10 mM concentration of ATP; or (3) high concentrations of fructose 6-phosphate (5 mM).

[Observations on the control and eradication of paratuberculosis in dairy herds]. / Uberlegungen zur Kontrolle und Bekämpfung der Paratuberkulose in Milchviehbeständen.

Johne's disease is widely seen in dairy herds in Germany. Estimates based primarily on epidemiological surveys in neighbouring states assume that 5 to 15 % of German herds are infected. In the past three years several authors have reported that the causative agent of Johne's disease, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is found ubiquitously in the environment and can be isolated from a number of different animals, including non ruminants. These results imply that MAP should be considered an environmental pathogen. Based on this assumption a concept for control and eradication of Johne's disease is presented aiming at minimizing the future spread of disease and reducing environmental contamination with the pathogen at low costs. The concept includes the classification of herds based on an bulk milk ELISA followed by a robot-compatible bulk milk PCR in ELISA-positive herds only. Due to the comparatively low costs combined with the high specificity of the approach a detection of heavily infected herds ("tip of the iceberg") all over the country would be possible; based on the eradication of strong shedders in these herds the input of MAP into the environment would be reduced considerably.

Personality traits and obesity: a systematic review.

Based on a bio-social-ecological systems model of the development and maintenance of obesity, there has been in the last few years a growing research interest in the association of obesity and personality traits. The aim of the present review was a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the existing literature taking into account the methodological quality of studies to enhance our understanding of personality traits associated with body weight, the development of overweight and obesity as well as the effectiveness of weight loss interventions including bariatric surgery. Personality traits play an important role both as risk as well as protective factors in the development of overweight and obesity. While thus in particular 'neuroticism', 'impulsivity' and 'sensitivity to reward' appear as risk factors, 'conscientiousness' and 'self-control' have been shown to have a protective function in relation to weight gain. Conscientiousness is a measure of regulation of internal urges and self-discipline, and may thus provide a potential source of control over impulsive reward-oriented behaviour. The results of the present review suggest that, within the context of therapeutic weight reduction measures, it is meaningful to identify subgroups of patients for whom specific treatment options need to be developed, such as measures for strengthening self-control skills.

Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2 Thin Films Modified with Ag and Pt Nanoparticles Deposited by Gas Flow Sputtering.

In this work, a gas flow sputtering (GFS) process which allows the production and deposition of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a vacuum environment is described. Aim of the study is to prove the potential of this technology for the fabrication of new TiO2 films with enhanced photocatalytic properties. For this purpose, Ag and Pt NPs have been produced and deposited on photocatalytic float glass coated with TiO2 thin films by magnetron sputtering. The influence of the process parameters and of the metal amount on the final properties of the particles (quantity, size, size distribution, oxidation state etc.,) was widely investigated. Moreover, the effect of the NPs on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting materials was evaluated for the case of the decomposition of stearic acid (SA) during UV-A irradiation. The reduction of the water contact angle (WCA) during the irradiation period was measured in order to test the photo-induced super-hydrophilicity (PSH).

Characterization of two genes encoding antigenically distinct type-1 fimbriae of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

A uropathogenic isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was shown to exhibit a mannose-sensitive hemagglutinating phenotype and to produce type-1 fimbriae consisting of subunits with a different electrophoretic mobility than those previously investigated. The gene cluster encoding expression of fimbriae was cloned and the genetic organization of the encoded polypeptides was determined. The gene encoding the major fimbrial subunit was localized and further examined by nucleotide sequence analysis. Comparison of two K. pneumoniae fimbrial genes revealed a nucleotide sequence agreement of 73%, and amino acid sequence agreement of 84% for the mature fimbrial subunits. Predictions of putative antigenic sites were correlated with regions demonstrating amino acid variability. In agreement with these predictions, no serological cross-reactivity between both fimbrial proteins could be demonstrated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Evolutionary trends in the genus Bordetella.

The genus Bordetella comprises seven species with pathogenic potential for different host organisms. This article attempts to review our current knowledge about the systematics and evolution of this important group of pathogens, their relationship to environmental microorganisms and about molecular mechanisms of host adaptation.

A single-step transconjugation system for the introduction of unmarked deletions into Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 using a sucrose sensitivity marker.

Research on the porcine respiratory tract pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae requires the availability of improved genetic tools. Therefore, using the sacB gene of Bacillus subtilis, we developed a sucrose-based counterselection system that allows rapid curing of an Escherichia coli-A. pleuropneumoniae shuttle vector as well as the introduction of unmarked mutations into the A. pleuropneumoniae chromosome. A cassette containing the Tn903 kanamycin resistance determinant (km(r)) and the sacB gene expressed from the A. pleuropneumoniae omlA promoter was introduced by homologous recombination into the ureC gene of A. pleuropneumoniae. The resultant stable plasmid cointegrates were kanamycin-resistant, sucrose-sensitive, and urease-positive. A simple counterselection on sucrose-containing agar plates without an additional transconjugation step allowed the efficient isolation of urease-negative A. pleuropneumoniae mutants that had lost the km(r)-sacB cassette.

Isolation and diagnostic potential of ISMav2, a novel insertion sequence-like element from Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.

A novel Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) specific insertion sequence has been identified by representational difference analysis and designated as ISMav2. ISMav2 has no similarity to known mycobacterial IS elements but shows more than 50% identity to a non-composite transposon of Streptomyces coelicolor at the DNA and protein level. ISMav2 is present in at least three copies on the genome as assessed by Southern blot analysis and its potential value as a diagnostic tool was confirmed by PCR analyses on 79 M. paratuberculosis field isolates, nine M. avium ssp. avium isolates, and the reference strains of nine other mycobacterial species.

Differentiation of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis isolates by rDNA-spacer analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns.

The ability to distinguish between isolates of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis isolates was studied using two molecular techniques. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the rDNA-spacer and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using decamer primers with GC contents of 60 to 70% were evaluated on 16 isolates of M. paratuberculosis from cattle. The rDNA spacer analysis did not discriminate between isolates as it revealed an identical sequence for all 16 strains tested but it showed one common difference to the sequence previously described for M. paratuberculosis J2A. In the RAPD analysis, 14 of the 60 decamer primers used resulted in distinct amplification products for most of the isolates. For seven of the primers the size of the amplification products varied among strains thus allowing the specific identification of eight of the 16 isolates; of the remaining eight isolates five could each be differentiated from 14 other isolates, two from 13, and one from 12 isolates. Therefore, these data illustrate the possibility of using RAPD-analysis with certain primers for the differentiation of individual M. paratuberculosis isolates.