The influence of zinc-methionine bioplex supplementation to pregnant and lactating sheep on selected wool parameters

The most important nutrients affecting wool production include sulfur amino acids, such as methionine, and minerals, such as zinc, and their deficiency may cause wool production decrease. The aim of this study was to evaluate an effect of zinc and methionine chelate addition on the qualitative characteristics of Merino ewes wool and zinc content in wool fibers and on their surface. Histological evaluation of fibers was also performed. The study included 22 Polish Merino ewes divided into two groups: control and experimental (0.4&thinsp;g chelates daily per head). The experiment lasted for 4 months (3.5 months of pregnancy and 2 weeks of early lactation). The length, thickness and breaking force of wool fibers were higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Higher content of zinc in wool of sheep from the experimental group was also demonstrated. The histological structure of fibers from both groups did not differ, as the content of zinc on their surface. It can be concluded on the basis of the obtained results that the addition of chelates favorably influenced the thickness compensation of wool fibers and amount of wool obtained from sheep during pregnancy and early lactation, as well as mechanical features of wool.</p

Wpływ zawartości zanieczyszczeń i tłuszczopotu na wyniki ciepłochronności i dielektryczność włosa na podstawie wełny z alpaki huacaya i owcy rackiej

Infl uence of the content of impurities and grease on the results of heat resistance and hair cover dielectricity on the basis of wool from Huacaya alpaca and Racka sheep. In recent years, the test method has become more and more popular by defi ning the electrical characteristics of various materials. The test is based on the difference in characteristic of the material in the electromagnetic fi eld, which is described by the level of resistance or dielectric properties of the test material. The use of phenomena related to current fl ow and resistance makes it possible to evaluate the material being tested. Determination of the material quality by this method shows differences at molecular level, which makes it more accurate than in the case of traditional methods. The study investigated the effect of impurities and grease content on the results of heat resistance and dielectricity on hair cover on the basis of wool from Huacaya alpaca and Hungarian’s Racka sheep. Studies have shown that washed wool has a better dielectric strength than greasy wool, as it has a higher resistance (P < 0.05). Wool from the Racka sheep contained more organic, organic matter and grease than alpaca wool, so the heat insulation of sheep was higher than in alpaca. Research has also shown that greasy matter together with non-organic and organic infl uences the results of electric characteristics testing, reducing wool resistance of the tested species. Wool wash affected the level of heat resistance of sheep wool and alpaca wool (P < 0.05). To conclude, washed wool is a better dielectric, which has a more positive effect on the skin coatings of people wearing clothes. However, wool washing causes a decrease in the thermal insulation of the wool

In flight measurement of steady and unsteady blade surface pressure of a single rotation large scale advanced prop-fan installed on the PTA aircraft

An experiment was performed by Hamilton Standard, Division of United Technologies Corporation, under contract by LeRC, to measure the blade surface pressure of a large scale, 8 blade model prop-fan in flight. The test bed was the Gulfstream 2 Prop-Fan Test Assessment (PTA) aircraft. The objective of the test was to measure the steady and periodic blade surface pressure resulting from three different Prop-Fan air inflow angles at various takeoff and cruise conditions. The inflow angles were obtained by varying the nacelle tilt angles, which ranged from -3 to +2 degrees. A range of power loadings, tip speeds, and altitudes were tested at each nacelle tilt angle over the flight Mach number range of 0.30 to 0.80. Unsteady blade pressure data tabulated as Fourier coefficients for the first 35 harmonics of shaft rotational frequency and the steady (non-varying) pressure component are presented

Characterization of the hair coat of the Polish Konik and Hucul pony focusing on the physical features and histological structure of different hair types

Celem badań była analiza porównawcza okrywy włosowej konika polskiego i konia huculskiego, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem budowy histologicznej oraz parametrów fizycznych włosów. Włosy do badań pochodziły od 20 klaczy, po 10 z każdej rasy. Próby włosów zostały pobrane w okresie zimowym, z boku kłody, grzywy, ogona oraz szczotek. Włosy z boku kłody zostały podzielone na frakcję pokrywową i puchową. U obu ras zaobserwowano większy procentowy udział włosów puchowych (ok. 70%) w stosunku do włosów pokrywowych (ok. 30%). Włosy pokrywowe konika polskiego były o ok. 50% dłuższe w porównaniu do włosów konia huculskiego, natomiast długość włosów puchowych nie różniła się istotnie pomiędzy rasami. Zarówno włosy pokrywowe, jak i puchowe konika polskiego były o ok. 25% grubsze w porównaniu do włosów konia huculskiego. Zdolność do wydłużenia poszczególnych rodzajów włosów nie różniła się istotnie pomiędzy rasami. Najmniejsze wydłużenie (ok. 45%) stwierdzono dla włosów szczotek, natomiast największe (ok. 55%) – dla włosów grzywy. Budowa histologiczna kutikuli włosów nie wykazała różnic między analizowanymi rasami koni.The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of the hair coat of the Polish Konik and Hucul pony, focusing on the histological structure and physical parameters of the hair. Hair samples were obtained from 20 mares—10 of each breed. They were collected in winter, from the side of barrel, the mane, the tail, and front and rear fetlock. The hairs from the barrel were divided into overhair and underhair fractions. A higher percentage of underhair (about 70%) as compared to overhair (30%) was noted in both breeds. The overhair of the Polish Konik was about 50% longer than that of the Hucul pony, while the length of underhair did not differ between breeds. Both the overhair and the underhair of the Polish Konik were about 25% thicker than that of the Hucul pony. Elongation of particular types of hair did not differ significantly between the breeds. It was lowest for fetlock hair (about 45%) and highest for mane hair (about 55%). The histological structure of the cuticle layer of the hair did not differ between breeds

Avian influenza viruses in wild birds at the Jeziorsko reservoir in Poland in 2008-2010

During a 3-year surveillance study for avian influenza virus (AIV) infections at the Jeziorsko reservoir in central Poland, 549 oropharyngeal or cloacal swabs from 366 birds of 14 species belonging to 3 orders (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes and Gruiformes) were tested. AIV was detected in 14 birds (3.8%): Common Teals (12x), Mallard (1x) and Garganey (1x). Three potentially dangerous H5 AIV were detected in Common Teals (2x) and Garganey (1x) but all of them revealed a low pathogenic pathotype. A unique cleavage site amino acid motif PQREIR*GLF was found in one H5 isolate from a Garganey

Susceptibility of pigeons to clade 1 and 2.2 high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 virus.

&lt;p&gt;To assess the susceptibility of pigeons (Columba livia) to infection with H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV), four groups of 1-yr-old and 4-wk-old racing pigeons (10 birds in each group) were inoculated oculonasally with 106 50% egg infectious dose (EID50) of A/crested eagle/Belgium/01/2004 (clade 1) or A/swan/Poland/305-135V08/2006 (clade 2.2). Contact specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were kept in the same isolators as young pigeons (two chickens per group). At 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days postinfection (PI) two pigeons from each infected group were selected randomly, and oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs (pigeons and contact chickens) as well as a number of internal organs (pigeons) were collected for viral RNA detection in real-time reverse transcription PCR (RRT-PCR) and histopathology. At the end of the experiment (14 days PI) blood samples from two pigeons in each group and from contact SPF chickens were also collected, and sera were tested using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA). During the observation period all pigeons remained clinically healthy, and no gross lesions were observed in any of the infected groups. SPF contact chickens were also healthy and negative in RRT-PCR and HI tests. However, the clade 1 H5N1 virus produced more sustained infection manifested by the presence of histopathologic changes (consisting mainly of mild to moderate hemorrhagic and inflammatory lesions), prolonged persistence of viral RNA (detectable between 3 and 10 days PI) in a variety of tissues of both adult and juvenile birds (with highest RNA load in lungs and brain) as well as slight viral shedding from the trachea and cloaca, but without transmission to SPF contact chickens. Additionally, two clade 1-infected adult pigeons sacrificed at the end of experiment showed seroconversion in bELISA and HI test (using homologous virus as antigen). The viral RNA was found only at day 3 PI in one adult pigeon inoculated with dade 2.2 H5N1 virus, but neither microscopic lesions nor seroconversion were found in any other tested birds inoculated with A/swan/Poland/305-135V08/2006. Our results support the observations that pigeons are resistant to H5N1 HPAIV (no deaths or clinical signs), but there may be clade-dependent differences in the pathogenic potentials of H5N1 HPAIV of Asian origin.&lt;/p&gt;</p