Prevalence of Salmonella in fattening pigs- risk factors and spread

The objective of this study was to analyse herd-level factors increasing the risk of Salmonella infections in fattening pigs. Therefore, 1836 blood samples from 32 fattening farms in Northern Gennany were examined for Salmonella antibodies, considering the management and hygienic conditions on the respective fanns. This additional information was collected by questionnaires. Nearly 14% of all blood samples were classified as Salmonella-positive and only five farms were free from Salmonella. A logistic regression model showed that the application of antibiotics increased the Odds Ratio (OR) by the factor of 5.21 compared to untreated pigs. In addition, a partly slatted floor raised the prevalence of Salmonella as well as an insufficient usage of overalls for visitors or the lack of feed tube cleaning (OR circa 2). Regarding the proximity to other swine herds, it was shown that a distance of at least 2 km decreased the chance of a positive Salmonella result (OR~ 0.27). This study clearly supported the benefit of hygienic measures for the reduction of Salmonella in pigs

Effects of residue management on decomposition in irrigated rice fields are not related to changes in the decomposer community

Copyright: © 2015 Schmidt et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Decomposers provide an essential ecosystem service that contributes to sustainable production in rice ecosystems by driving the release of nutrients from organic crop residues. During a single rice crop cycle we examined the effects of four different crop residue management practices (rice straw or ash of burned straw scattered on the soil surface or incorporated into the soil) on rice straw decomposition and on the abundance of aquatic and soildwelling invertebrates. Mass loss of rice straw in litterbags of two different mesh sizes that either prevented or allowed access of meso- and macro-invertebrates was used as a proxy for decomposition rates. Invertebrates significantly increased total loss of litter mass by up to 30%. Initially, the contribution of invertebrates to decomposition was significantly smaller in plots with rice straw scattered on the soil surface; however, this effect disappeared later in the season. We found no significant responses in microbial decomposition rates to management practices. The abundance of aquatic fauna was higher in fields with rice straw amendment, whereas the abundance of soil fauna fluctuated considerably. There was a clear separation between the overall invertebrate community structure in response to the ash and straw treatments. However, we found no correlation between litter mass loss and abundances of various lineages of invertebrates. Our results indicate that invertebrates can contribute to soil fertility in irrigated paddy fields by decomposing rice straw, and that their abundance as well as efficiency in decomposition may be promoted by crop residue management practices

Closed Strings with Low Harmonics and Kinks

Low-harmonic formulas for closed relativistic strings are given. General parametrizations are presented for the addition of second- and third-harmonic waves to the fundamental wave. The method of determination of the parametrizations is based upon a product representation found for the finite Fourier series of string motion in which the constraints are automatically satisfied. The construction of strings with kinks is discussed, including examples. A procedure is laid out for the representation of kinks that arise from self-intersection, and subsequent intercommutation, for harmonically parametrized cosmic strings.Comment: 39, CWRUTH-93-

The impact and significance of tephra deposition on a Holocene forest environment in the North Cascades, Washington, USA.

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. High-resolution palaeoecological analyses (stratigraphy, tephra geochemistry, radiocarbon dating, pollen and ordination) were used to reconstruct a Holocene vegetation history of a watershed in the Pacific Northwest of America to evaluate the effects and duration of tephra deposition on a forest environment and the significance of these effects compared to long-term trends. Three tephra deposits were detected and evaluated: MLF-T158 and MLC-T324 from the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama, MLC-T480 from a Late Pleistocene eruption of Mount Mazama and MLC-T485 from a Glacier Peak eruption. Records were examined from both the centre and fringe of the basin to elucidate regional and local effects. The significance of tephra impacts independent of underlying long-term trends was confirmed using partial redundancy analysis. Tephra deposition from the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama approximately 7600 cal. years BP caused a significant local impact, reflected in the fringe location by changes to open habitat vegetation (Cyperaceae and Poaceae) and changes in aquatic macrophytes (Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton, Equisetum and the alga Pediastrum). There was no significant impact of the climactic Mazama tephra or other tephras detected on the pollen record of the central core. Changes in this core are potentially climate driven. Overall, significant tephra fall was demonstrated through high resolution analyses indicating a local effect on the terrestrial and aquatic environment, but there was no significant impact on the regional forest dependent of underlying environmental changes

Neck emergency due to parathyroid adenoma bleeding: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma accompanied by extracapsular hemorrhage is a rare, potentially fatal, condition and is a cervicomediastinal surgical emergency.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This report describes an atypical two-step spontaneous rupture of an asymptomatic parathyroid adenoma in a 56-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a painful mass in the right side of her neck.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based on this case report and similar cases reported in the medical literature, a diagnosis of extracapsular parathyroid hemorrhage should be considered when a non-traumatic sudden neck swelling coexists with hypercalcemia and regional ecchymosis.</p

The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition

The amount of carbon stored in deadwood is equivalent to about 8 per cent of the global forest carbon stocks. The decomposition of deadwood is largely governed by climate with decomposer groups—such as microorganisms and insects—contributing to variations in the decomposition rates. At the global scale, the contribution of insects to the decomposition of deadwood and carbon release remains poorly understood. Here we present a field experiment of wood decomposition across 55 forest sites and 6 continents. We find that the deadwood decomposition rates increase with temperature, and the strongest temperature effect is found at high precipitation levels. Precipitation affects the decomposition rates negatively at low temperatures and positively at high temperatures. As a net effect—including the direct consumption by insects and indirect effects through interactions with microorganisms—insects accelerate the decomposition in tropical forests (3.9% median mass loss per year). In temperate and boreal forests, we find weak positive and negative effects with a median mass loss of 0.9 per cent and −0.1 per cent per year, respectively. Furthermore, we apply the experimentally derived decomposition function to a global map of deadwood carbon synthesized from empirical and remote-sensing data, obtaining an estimate of 10.9 ± 3.2 petagram of carbon per year released from deadwood globally, with 93 per cent originating from tropical forests. Globally, the net effect of insects may account for 29 per cent of the carbon flux from deadwood, which suggests a functional importance of insects in the decomposition of deadwood and the carbon cycle

Prevalence of Salmonella in fattening pigs- risk factors and spread

The objective of this study was to analyse herd-level factors increasing the risk of Salmonella infections in fattening pigs. Therefore, 1836 blood samples from 32 fattening farms in Northern Gennany were examined for Salmonella antibodies, considering the management and hygienic conditions on the respective fanns. This additional information was collected by questionnaires. Nearly 14% of all blood samples were classified as Salmonella-positive and only five farms were free from Salmonella. A logistic regression model showed that the application of antibiotics increased the Odds Ratio (OR) by the factor of 5.21 compared to untreated pigs. In addition, a partly slatted floor raised the prevalence of Salmonella as well as an insufficient usage of overalls for visitors or the lack of feed tube cleaning (OR circa 2). Regarding the proximity to other swine herds, it was shown that a distance of at least 2 km decreased the chance of a positive Salmonella result (OR~ 0.27). This study clearly supported the benefit of hygienic measures for the reduction of Salmonella in pigs.</p

The impact of high tephra loading on late-Holocene carbon accumulation and vegetation succession in peatland communities

Peatlands are major terrestrial stores of carbon (C) of importance to the global climate system. Recent studies have made progress in understanding the climatic controls on the C cycle; however, important interactions between volcanic deposition and peatland C stores remain to be addressed. This study uses a 3000-year peatland record from northern Japan to examine the interactions between carbon accumulation, vegetation community succession and volcanic ash deposition. Plant macrofossil and testate amoebae records are presented alongside records of total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous. Age–depth models are developed using a Bayesian approach, with seven AMS radiocarbon dates and two identified historical tephras from Baitoushan (AD 969 (981 cal. BP)), and Hokkaido-Komagatake (AD 1640 (310 cal. BP)) volcanoes. Results show that moderate to high tephra loading can shift peatland plant communities from Sphagnum to monocotyledon domination. This vegetation change is associated with increased peat humification and reduced carbon accumulation. Where tephra deposition and reworking has occurred, the apparent rate of carbon accumulation can be halved while high tephra loading of the mire surface is sustained. Sphagnum species vary in their tolerance to tephra deposition. After each ash fall Sphagnum magellanicum disappeared from the plant macrofossil record, whereas Sphagnum papillosum showed apparent continuity of development through the 1856 (94 cal. BP) Ko-c1 tephra. High rates of carbon accumulation (peaking at &gt;100 g m?2 yr?1), 2–3 times faster than the average for northern peatlands, were recorded in the Sphagnum communities that established after the cessation of tephra deposition and reworking from the AD 969 Baitoushan ash fall (B-Tm tephra). This peak in C accumulation was coincident with a radical shift in mire nutrient cycling most probably caused by the interaction of S. magellanicum with leachates from the underlying tephras. The phase of high C accumulation continued for over 300 years, offsetting the initial negative impact of the B-Tm tephra on peatland C accumulation. These results suggest that management for ash-tolerant Sphagnum species could be a highly effective strategy for minimising volcanic disruption to peatland carbon accumulation. The study also shows that consideration of volcanic impacts on peatlands is essential for development of more realistic terrestrial carbon balance models in volcanically active regions

Incidence of Ovarian Cancer by Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 1992–1997

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among U.S. women.1 An estimated 23,400 new cases were expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2001. As is the case for breast and endometrial cancers, ovarian cancer is more common among women in northern and central Europe, and North America compared with Africa, South America, and Asia.2 In the U.S., substantial racial and ethnic variations also are observed in the incidence of ovarian cancer. rates reportedly are highest among non-Hispanic white and American Indian women, and are lower among Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Asian women.3 Among white women in the U.S., there has been a gradual decline in the incidence and mortality from ovarian cancer since 1973, whereas rates among black women during this time period have been fairly stable.4 The epidemiology of ovarian cancer was discussed in the article by Goodman and Howe.

Effects of detritivorous invertebrates on the decomposition of rice straw: evidence from a microcosm experiment

© 2017, The International Society of Paddy and Water Environment Engineering and Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature. Decomposition of crop residues is a key process in agricultural systems that influences nutrient cycling and productivity. To clarify the roles of different groups of invertebrates in decomposition in paddy fields, we conducted a microcosm experiment, testing the effects of soil eluate filtered through a 21 μm mesh (control treatment) against the effects of microfauna (< 0.1 mm) and small gastropods (juvenile golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata), ca. 2 mm shell diameter), both separately and in combination, on rice straw decomposition. Rice straw in litterbags was incubated at the soil surface and in the soil together with standardized amounts of the respective detritivores for 10 and 21 days. Compared to the control treatment, snails and microfauna enhanced the reduction in straw mass on the soil surface by 19 and 22%, respectively. Both groups combined increased the reduction in straw biomass by 30%. Below the soil surface, the contribution of detritivores to decomposition was smaller, reducing straw biomass by just 1% (snails), 11% (microfauna) and 14% (snails + microfauna) compared to the control. The effects of microfauna and snails on decomposition were not fully additive, a pattern that could be due to competition or trophic interactions. Model selection using Akaike’s information criterion on nested linear mixed effects models led to a model including the main effects (snails, microfauna, position and time), several two-way interactions and the three-way interaction snails * microfauna * litterbag_position as the most parsimonious description of the data. Keeping straw accessible to aquatic invertebrate detritivores should be a suitable management strategy to enhance decomposition in paddy fields, although trade-offs with other management issues such as pest control need to be considered