Reticulate evolution in glacial refuge areas : the genus Arabidopsis in the eastern Austrian Danube Valley (Wachau)

Hybridisierung und Polyploidisierung tragen wesentlich zur Artbildung im Pflanzenreich bei. Innerhalb der Gattung Arabidopsis ist Hybridisierung nur von Arabidopsis suecica aus Fennoskandinavien und Arabidopsis kamchatica aus Japan bekannt. Diese Studie befasst sich mit den Artkomplexen von Arabidopsis lyrata und Arabidopsis arenosa. Unser Ziel war es, herauszufinden, ob und in welchem Ausmaß Hybridisierung an der Artbildung beteiligt war, und ob Polyploidisierung durch Selbstverdopplung des Genoms stattfand. Zudem waren wir an der evolutionären Historie von Di- und Tetraploiden der beiden Artkomplexe interessiert. Wir näherten uns der Lösung dieser Fragestellungen sowohl auf weltweiter Ebene der Gesamtverbreitungsareale beider Artkomplexe als auch auf regionaler Ebene einer mitteleuropäischen Kontaktzone. Im ersten Kapitel „Amphi-beringische, allopolyploide Arabidopsis und die evolutionäre Historie des Arabidopsis lyrata Komplexes“ charakterisierten wir drei genetische Hauptlinien, eine eurasiatische, nordamerikanische und amphi-pazifische, mit den molekularen Markern ntDNA ITS, ntDNA PgiC und cpDNA trnL/F. Allopolyploidisierung zwischen eurasiatischer Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea und ostasiatischer Arabidopsis halleri ssp. gemmifera in der amphi-pazifischen Linie ereignete sich dreimal unabhängig voneinander in Japan, China und Kamtschatka. Wir identifizierten die unvergletscherten Bereiche der ostösterreichischen Alpen und das arktische Eurasien einschließlich Beringias als eiszeitliche Hauptrefugialgebiete der eurasiatischen Linie. Die nordamerikanische Linie überdauerte die Vereisungen im Südosten Nordamerikas. Genfluss zwischen der eurasiatischen und nordamerikanischen Linie fand wahrscheinlich sowohl zwischen den Perioden der Vergletscherung als auch nach der letzten Vereisung statt. Im zweiten Kapitel „Autopolyploidisierung in Arabidopsis und die evolutionäre Historie des Arabidopsis arenosa Komplexes“ fanden wir das Zentrum der Artbildung innerhalb des Arabidopsis arenosa Komplexes auf der Balkanhalbinsel und in den Karpaten mit vorwiegend diploiden neben vereinzelten tetraploiden Populationen. Polyploidisierung erfolgte durch Selbstverdopplung des Genoms. Sowohl die unvergletscherten ostösterreichischen Alpen als auch die Westkarpaten dienten als pleistozäne Refugialgebiete, was anhand des molekularen Markers cpDNA trnL/F ermittelt wurde. Diese beiden Gebirgsstöcke wurden von Arabidopsis arenosa einst unabhängig voneinander von der Balkanhalbinsel aus kolonisiert. Im dritten Kapitel „Retikulate Evolution in eiszeitlichen Refugialgebieten – die Gattung Arabidopsis im ostösterreichischen Donautal (Wachau)“ fanden wir rezente Introgression von Arabidopsis arenosa in Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea in zwei Hybridzonen, eine in der nördlichen Wachau, die andere am Fuße der Ostalpen. In diesen beiden Gebieten liegen die Populationen beider Arten nahe beieinander, was zur Annahme von aktuellem Genfluss zwischen ihnen führte. Die Hybridzone in der nördlichen Wachau wurde sowohl mit molekularen Markern (cpDNA trnL/F Sequenzdaten und sieben Mikrosatelliten) als auch morphologischen Daten charakterisiert. Die Hybridzone am Fuße der Ostalpen wurde mit Hilfe von Mikrosatelliten entdeckt. Tetraploide, besonders von Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea, zeigten stark erhöhte geno- und phänotypische Plastizität im Gegensatz zu Diploiden. Polyploidisierung innerhalb von Arabidopsis arenosa und Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea fand vermutlich durch Selbstverdopplung des Genoms statt

Status Quo and Farmers' Perspective

Veterinary Herd Health Management plays an important role in veterinary medicine on dairy farms and has also been mandatory at the European Union level since April 21, 2021. Despite the increasing importance of VHHM, little is known about the extent of utilization of VHHM by dairy farmers and their view on this type of collaboration. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the status quo of the currently practiced VHHM in Germany. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted among dairy farmers in November and December 2020. From 216 analyzed questionnaires, about half (n = 106) of the surveyed dairy farmers used VHHM at different scopes. However, regardless of the group, the term “veterinary herd health management” generally was given most relative importance by the participants as a veterinary service for herd fertility improvement, rather than the actual definition of a holistic approach. In contrast to this, the actual motivation of the VHHM participants, to take part in such a program was primarily based on the desire to safeguard animal health by employing preventive measures, that is, to avoid the occurrence of diseases via improved management and to improve farm performance (and profitability). Dairy farmers who opted for VHHM tended to manage larger higher yielding herds than those who did not. Additionally, the farmers in latter farms were more likely to make joint animal health decisions with their veterinarians. Using a latent class analysis, two groups of farmers among farms that were not currently using VHHM were identified, one of which expressed great interest in using VHHM while the other did not. Since the new legal basis makes the topic even more relevant than before, dairy farmers, animals, and veterinarians might benefit from the study to exploit hidden opportunities for VHHM collaboration

Application of Epidemiological Methods in a Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study in 765 German Dairy Herds - Lessons Learned

From 2016 to 2020, the “PraeRi” study, conducted by three German veterinary universities, was aimed at enhancing animal health and welfare in dairy farms. With 765 dairy farms visited and 101,307 animals examined, this study provided a basis for improving animal health and welfare. The study population comprised three different regions representing a broad variety of characteristics. To ensure representative estimates, a sample size of 250 farms was determined for each region, employing a stratified sampling plan based on farm size. According to the information provided by the farmers, the most commonly occurring disease in their herds was mastitis without general disorder (14.2% to 16.3% of the herd—depending on the region). For most disorders, prevalence data were lowest for the region South compared with the two remaining regions. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for various target variables, and the results were communicated through individual reports and benchmarking flyers to participating farmers. The authors encountered challenges in management and communication due to the project’s size in terms of personnel, data, and farms examined. Harmonizing data management and hypothesis testing across all involved parties added complexity

Factors Associated With Lameness in Tie Stall Housed Dairy Cows in South Germany

Lameness remains a major concern for animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Even though a trend toward loose housing systems exists and the public expects livestock to be kept under conditions where freedom of movement and the expression of natural behavior are ensured, restrictive housing systems continue to be the predominant type of housing in some regions. Factors associated with lameness were evaluated by application of multiple logistic regression modeling on data of 1,006 dairy cows from 56 tie stall farms in Bavaria, South Germany. In this population, approximately every fourth cow was lame (24.44% of scored animals). The mean farm level prevalence of lameness was 23.28%. In total, 22 factors were analyzed regarding their association with lameness. A low Body Condition Score (BCS) (OR 1.54 [95%-CI 1.05-2.25]) as well as increasing parity (OR 1.41 [95%-CI 1.29-1.54]) entailed greater odds of lameness. Moreover, higher milk yield (OR 0.98 [95%-CI 0.96-1.00]) and organic farming (OR 0.48 [95%-0.25-0.92]) appeared to be protectively associated with lameness. Cows with hock injuries (OR 2.57 [95%-CI 1.41-4.67]) or with swellings of the ribs (OR 2.55 [95%-CI 1.53-4.23]) had higher odds of lameness. A similar association was observed for the contamination of the lower legs with distinct plaques of manure (OR 1.88 [95%-CI 1.14-3.10]). As a central aspect of tie stall housing, the length of the stalls was associated with lameness; with stalls of medium [(>158-171 cm) (OR 2.15 [95%-CI 1.29-3.58]) and short (171 cm). These results can help both gaining knowledge on relevant factors associated with lameness as well as approaching the problem of dairy cow lameness in tie stall operations

Identifying cow – level factors and farm characteristics associated with locomotion scores in dairy cows using cumulative link mixed models

Lameness is a tremendous problem in intensively managed dairy herds all over the world. It has been associated with considerable adverse effects on animal welfare and economic viability. The majority of studies have evaluated factors associated with gait disturbance by categorising cows into lame and non-lame. This procedure yet entails a loss of information and precision. In the present study, we extend the binomial response to five categories acknowledging the ordered categorical nature of locomotion assessments, which conserves a higher level of information. A cumulative link mixed modelling approach was used to identify factors associated with increasing locomotion scores. The analysis revealed that a low body condition, elevated somatic cell count, more severe hock lesions, increasing parity, absence of pasture access, and poor udder cleanliness were relevant variables associated with higher locomotion scores. Furthermore, distinct differences in the locomotion scores assigned were identified in regard to breed, observer, and season. Using locomotion scores rather than a dichotomised response variable uncovers more refined relationships between gait disturbances and associated factors. This will help to understand the intricate nature of gait disturbances in dairy cows more deeply

Associations of cow and farm characteristics with cow-level lameness using data from an extensive cross-sectional study across 3 structurally different dairy regions in Germany

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between milk recording data, body condition score (BCS), housing factors, management factors, and lameness in freestall-housed dairy cows in 3 structurally different regions in Germany. These regions substantially vary regarding herd size, breeds, access to pasture, farm management (family run or company owned), and percentage of organic farms. The data used was collected in a large cross-sectional study from 2016 to 2019. A total of 58,144 cows from 651 farms in 3 regions of Germany (North, East, and South) was scored for locomotion and body condition. Additionally, data on milk yield, milk composition, breed, age, as well as information on housing and management were retrieved. One mixed-logistic regression model was fitted per region to evaluate the association of the data with the target variable “lame” and to allow for a comprehensive reflection across different kinds of farming types. In all regions, undercondition (BCS lower than recommended for the lactation stage; North: odds ratio [OR] 2.15, CI 1.96–2.34; East: OR 2.66, CI 2.45–2.88; South: OR 2.45, CI 2.01–2.98) and mid-lactation stage (102–204 d in milk; North: OR 1.15, CI 1.05–1.27; East: OR 1.24, CI 1.17–1.32; South: OR 1.38, CI 1.18–1.62) were associated with higher odds for lameness, whereas overcondition (BCS higher than recommended for the lactation stage; North: OR 0.51, CI 0.44–0.60; East: OR 0.51, CI 0.48–0.54; South: OR 0.65, CI 0.54–0.77) and parity of 1 or 2 was associated with lower odds (parity 1 = North: OR 0.32, CI 0.29–0.35; East: OR 0.19, CI 0.18–0.20; South: OR 0.28, CI 0.24–0.33; parity 2 = North: OR 0.51, CI 0.47–0.46; East: OR 0.41, CI 0.39–0.44; South: OR 0.49, CI 0.42–0.57), irrespective of the regional production characteristics. Low energy-corrected milk yield was associated with higher odds for lameness in South and North (North: OR 1.16, CI 1.05–1.27; South: OR 1.43, CI 1.22–1.69). Further factors such as pasture access for cows (North: OR 0.64, CI 0.50–0.82; and South: OR 0.65, CI 0.47–0.88), milk protein content (high milk protein content = North: OR 1.34, CI 1.18–1.52; East: OR 1.17, CI 1.08–1.28; low milk protein content = North: OR 0.79, CI 0.71–0.88; East: OR 0.84, CI 0.79–0.90), and breed (lower odds for “other” [other breeds than German Simmental and German Holstein] in East [OR 0.47, CI 0.42–0.53] and lower odds both for German Holstein and “other” in South [German Holstein: OR 0.62, CI 0.43–0.90; other: OR 0.46, CI 0.34 – 0.62]) were associated with lameness in 2 regions, respectively. The risk of ketosis (higher odds in North: OR 1.11, CI 1.01–1.22) and somatic cell count (higher odds in East: increased (>39.9 cells × 1,000/mL): OR 1.10; CI 1.03–1.17; high (>198.5 cells × 1,000/mL): OR 1.08; CI 1.01–1.06) altered the odds for lameness in 1 region, respectively. Cows from organic farms had lower odds for lameness in all 3 regions (North: OR 0.18, CI 0.11–0.32; East: OR 0.39, CI 0.28–0.56; South: OR 0.45, CI 0.29–0.68). As the dairy production systems differed substantially between the different regions, the results of this study can be viewed as representative for a wide variety of loose-housed dairy systems in Europe and North America. The consistent association between low BCS and lameness in all regions aligns with the previous literature. Our study also suggests that risk factors for lameness can differ between geographically regions, potentially due to differences in which dairy production system is predominantly used and that region-specific characteristics should be taken into account in comparable future projects

HUBUNGAN STATUS AKREDITASI PUSKESMAS DENGAN MUTU PELAYANAN DI KABUPATEN SIMALUNGUN

Accreditation of of Public health center an effort to improve the quality of clinical services. One indicator of service quality is patient satisfaction. The accreditation status of health center may be affected by the availability and completeness of health supplies, facilities, and infrastructure that support health services at the Public health center itself. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of Accreditation Status of Public health center with Quality of Service. This research was conducted in two Public health center of Simalungun Regency that is Tiga Dolok Public Health Center with accreditation Madya status and Huta Bayu Public Health Center which not yet accredited in February-April in 2018. This research use case control study approach (case and control), the sample use consecutive sampling technique with 92 respondents. Data were analyzed by using chi-square test and multiple linear regression test at 95% confidence. The results of this research know that from the results of bivariate tests, that the dimensions of service quality that related to the status of health center accreditation (p 0.05) are dimensions of tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance. Factors that have no relation to the status of health center accreditation (p 0.05) are emphaty dimensions. From the results of multivariate test, it is known that the most dominant factor on the status of health center accreditation is the quality of service based on responsiveness dimension it Expected for Public health center that have been accredited in order to maintain the quality of service, and to health centers that have not been accredited to further improve the quality of service, so that what is expected by the community can be realized. Keywords:    Public health center accreditation, service quality

The relationship between lameness prevalence and pasture access in 659 dairy herds in Germany

Lameness in dairy cows is an expression of pain most likely originating from a claw disorder, causing impaired animal wellbeing and substantial economic losses for farmers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of access to pasture, time spent on pasture, and season on farm level lameness prevalence. The survey was part of a cross-sectional observational study, in which farms in three regions of Germany (North, East and South) were visited by study veterinarians. On each farm (total: 659, N: 240, E: 247, S: 172), management data were recorded, and cows were scored for locomotion, according to Sprecher. Median farm-level lameness prevalence (Score 3/5 or higher) was 29.4% (IQR: 18.7% - 42.0%), and 8.2% (IQR: 3.7% - 14.0%) for severe lameness (Score 4/5 or higher). Farm-level lameness prevalence continuously decreased with increasing time spent on pasture (up to approximately 10 hours per cow per day). On farms that did not offer their cows access to pasture lameness prevalence did not show a seasonal variation. On farms where cows had pasture access for up to three hours per day lameness prevalence peaked in autumn. In contrast, on farms offering their cows access to pasture beyond three hours per day the peak of lameness was observed in spring. Our results revealed that even short periods of pasture access of at least two hours per cow and day (on average per year) are beneficial for the locomotion of dairy cows

One year after mild COVID-19: the majority of patients maintain specific immunity, but one in four still suffer from long-term symptoms

After COVID-19, some patients develop long-term symptoms. Whether such symptoms correlate with immune responses, and how long immunity persists, is not yet clear. This study focused on mild COVID-19 and investigated correlations of immunity with persistent symptoms and immune longevity. Persistent complications, including headache, concentration difficulties and loss of smell/taste, were reported by 51 of 83 (61%) participants and decreased over time to 28% one year after COVID-19. Specific IgA and IgG antibodies were detectable in 78% and 66% of participants, respectively, at a 12-month follow-up. Median antibody levels decreased by approximately 50% within the first 6 months but remained stable up to 12 months. Neutralizing antibodies could be found in 50% of participants; specific INFgamma-producing T-cells were present in two thirds one year after COVID-19. Activation-induced marker assays identified specific T-helper cells and central memory T-cells in 80% of participants at a 12-month follow-up. In correlative analyses, older age and a longer duration of the acute phase of COVID-19 were associated with higher humoral and T-cell responses. A weak correlation between long-term loss of taste/smell and low IgA levels was found at early time points. These data indicate a long-lasting immunological memory against SARS-CoV-2 after mild COVID-19