Associations of production characteristics with the on-farm presence of Fasciola hepatica in dairy cows vary across production levels and indicate differences between breeds

Fasciola hepatica is one of the economically most important endoparasites in cattle production. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relevance of production level on the associations of on-farm presence of F. hepatica with farm-level milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein in Holstein cows, a specialised dairy breed, and in Simmental cows, a dual purpose breed. Furthermore, we investigated whether differential associations were present depending on breed. Data from 560 dairy farms across Germany housing 93,672 cows were analysed. The presence of F. hepatica antibodies was determined via ELISA on bulk tank milk samples. Quantile regression was applied to model the median difference in milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein depending on the interaction of breed and fluke occurrence. Whereas a reduction in milk yield (-1,206 kg, p < 0.001), milk fat (-22.9 kg, p = 0.001), and milk protein (-41.6 kg, p <0.001) was evident on F. hepatica positive German Holstein farms, only milk fat (-33.8 kg, p = 0.01) and milk protein (-22.6 kg, p = 0.03) were affected on F. hepatica positive German Simmental farms. Subsequently, production traits were modelled within each of the two breeds for low, medium, and high producing farms in the presence of F. hepatica antibodies and of confounders. On Holstein farms, the presence of F. hepatica seropositivity was associated with lower production, while on German Simmental farms such an association was less evident. This work demonstrates that production level is relevant when assessing the associations between the exposure to F. hepatica with production characteristics. Moreover, both models indicate a breed dependence. This could point towards a differential F. hepatica resilience of specialised dairy breeds in comparison with dual purpose breeds

Acetylcholine Neurotransmitter Receptor Densities in the Striatum of Hemiparkinsonian Rats Following Botulinum Neurotoxin-A Injection

Cholinergic neurotransmission has a pivotal function in the caudate-putamen, and is highly associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Here, we investigated long-term changes in the densities of the muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M2, M3 (mAchRs) and the nicotinic receptor subtype α4β2 (nAchRs) in the striatum of the 6-OHDA-induced hemiparkinsonian (hemi-PD) rat model using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. Hemi-PD rats exhibited an ipsilateral decrease in striatal mAchR densities between 6 and 16%. Moreover, a massive and constant decrease in striatal nAchR density by 57% was found. A second goal of the study was to disclose receptor-related mechanisms for the positive motor effect of intrastriatally injected Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) in hemi-PD rats in the apomorphine rotation test. Therefore, the effect of intrastriatally injected BoNT-A in control and hemi-PD rats on mAchR and nAchR densities was analyzed and compared to control animals or vehicle-injected hemi-PD rats. BoNT-A administration slightly reduced interhemispheric differences of mAchR and nAchR densities in hemi-PD rats. Importantly, the BoNT-A effect on striatal nAchRs significantly correlated with behavioral testing after apomorphine application. This study gives novel insights of 6-OHDA-induced effects on striatal mAchR and nAchR densities, and partly explains the therapeutic effect of BoNT-A in hemi-PD rats on a cellular level

Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau

Regelflächen, das sind durch die Bewegung von Geraden erzeugte Flächen, haben für den Betonleichtbau unter den Gesichtspunkten Statik und Herstellung herausragende Eigenschaften: Auch wenn sie doppelt gekrümmt sind, können sie geradlinig bewehrt oder vorgespannt werden. Außerdem kann die Schalung beispielsweise durch Heißdrahtschneiden aus Polystyrol-Hartschaum gewonnen werden. In gängigen CAD-Systemen ist die Klasse der Regelflächen bislang nicht angemessen repräsentiert und steht deshalb für die Bauteilgestaltung nur eingeschränkt zur Verfügung. Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau liefert nun ein mathematisches Modell, das Regelflächen und auf sie wirkende Kräfte abbildet, und entwickelt daraus Formfindungswerkzeuge, die in einer vertrauten Entwurfsumgebung das Prinzip form follows force unterstützen. [Aus. Einführung]Ruled surfaces, which are surfaces created by the movement of straight lines, have outstanding properties for lightweight concrete construction from the viewpoints of statics and production: even if they are double-curved, they can be reinforced or prestressed in a rectilinear fashion. In addition, the formwork can be obtained ef ciently from rigid polystyrene foam by hot wire cutting, for example. In current CAD systems, the class of ruled surfaces has not yet been adequately implemented and is therefore only available to a limited extent for component design. This project Line Geometry for Lightweight Structures provides a mathematical model that represents ruled surfaces and the forces acting on them, and uses this to develop form finding tools that support the principle of form follows force in a familiar design environment. [Off: Introduction

Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau

Regelflächen, das sind durch die Bewegung von Geraden erzeugte Flächen, haben für den Betonleichtbau unter den Gesichtspunkten Statik und Herstellung herausragende Eigenschaften: Auch wenn sie doppelt gekrümmt sind, können sie geradlinig bewehrt oder vorgespannt werden. Außerdem kann die Schalung beispielsweise durch Heißdrahtschneiden aus Polystyrol-Hartschaum gewonnen werden. In gängigen CAD-Systemen ist die Klasse der Regelflächen bislang nicht angemessen repräsentiert und steht deshalb für die Bauteilgestaltung nur eingeschränkt zur Verfügung. Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau liefert nun ein mathematisches Modell, das Regelflächen und auf sie wirkende Kräfte abbildet, und entwickelt daraus Formfindungswerkzeuge, die in einer vertrauten Entwurfsumgebung das Prinzip form follows force unterstützen. [Aus. Einführung]Ruled surfaces, which are surfaces created by the movement of straight lines, have outstanding properties for lightweight concrete construction from the viewpoints of statics and production: even if they are double-curved, they can be reinforced or prestressed in a rectilinear fashion. In addition, the formwork can be obtained ef ciently from rigid polystyrene foam by hot wire cutting, for example. In current CAD systems, the class of ruled surfaces has not yet been adequately implemented and is therefore only available to a limited extent for component design. This project Line Geometry for Lightweight Structures provides a mathematical model that represents ruled surfaces and the forces acting on them, and uses this to develop form finding tools that support the principle of form follows force in a familiar design environment. [Off: Introduction

Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau

Regelflächen, das sind durch die Bewegung von Geraden erzeugte Flächen, haben für den Betonleichtbau unter den Gesichtspunkten Statik und Herstellung herausragende Eigenschaften: Auch wenn sie doppelt gekrümmt sind, können sie geradlinig bewehrt oder vorgespannt werden. Außerdem kann die Schalung beispielsweise durch Heißdrahtschneiden aus Polystyrol-Hartschaum gewonnen werden. In gängigen CAD-Systemen ist die Klasse der Regelflächen bislang nicht angemessen repräsentiert und steht deshalb für die Bauteilgestaltung nur eingeschränkt zur Verfügung. Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau liefert nun ein mathematisches Modell, das Regelflächen und auf sie wirkende Kräfte abbildet, und entwickelt daraus Formfindungswerkzeuge, die in einer vertrauten Entwurfsumgebung das Prinzip form follows force unterstützen. [Aus. Einführung]Ruled surfaces, which are surfaces created by the movement of straight lines, have outstanding properties for lightweight concrete construction from the viewpoints of statics and production: even if they are double-curved, they can be reinforced or prestressed in a rectilinear fashion. In addition, the formwork can be obtained ef ciently from rigid polystyrene foam by hot wire cutting, for example. In current CAD systems, the class of ruled surfaces has not yet been adequately implemented and is therefore only available to a limited extent for component design. This project Line Geometry for Lightweight Structures provides a mathematical model that represents ruled surfaces and the forces acting on them, and uses this to develop form finding tools that support the principle of form follows force in a familiar design environment. [Off: Introduction

Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau

Regelflächen, das sind durch die Bewegung von Geraden erzeugte Flächen, haben für den Betonleichtbau unter den Gesichtspunkten Statik und Herstellung herausragende Eigenschaften: Auch wenn sie doppelt gekrümmt sind, können sie geradlinig bewehrt oder vorgespannt werden. Außerdem kann die Schalung beispielsweise durch Heißdrahtschneiden aus Polystyrol-Hartschaum gewonnen werden. In gängigen CADSystemen ist die Klasse der Regelflächen bislang nicht angemessen repräsentiert und steht deshalb für die Bauteilgestaltung nur eingeschränkt zur Verfügung. Liniengeometrie für den Leichtbau liefert nun ein mathematisches Modell, das Regelflächen und auf sie wirkende Kräfte abbildet, und entwickelt daraus Formfindungswerkzeuge, die in einer vertrauten Entwurfsumgebung das Prinzip form follows force unterstützen

Associations of production characteristics with the on-farm presence of Fasciola hepatica in dairy cows vary across production levels and indicate differences between breeds

Fasciola hepatica is one of the economically most important endoparasites in cattle production. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relevance of production level on the associations of on-farm presence of F. hepatica with farm-level milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein in Holstein cows, a specialised dairy breed, and in Simmental cows, a dual purpose breed. Furthermore, we investigated whether differential associations were present depending on breed. Data from 560 dairy farms across Germany housing 93,672 cows were analysed. The presence of F. hepatica antibodies was determined via ELISA on bulk tank milk samples. Quantile regression was applied to model the median difference in milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein depending on the interaction of breed and fluke occurrence. Whereas a reduction in milk yield (-1,206 kg, p < 0.001), milk fat (-22.9 kg, p = 0.001), and milk protein (-41.6 kg, p <0.001) was evident on F. hepatica positive German Holstein farms, only milk fat (-33.8 kg, p = 0.01) and milk protein (-22.6 kg, p = 0.03) were affected on F. hepatica positive German Simmental farms. Subsequently, production traits were modelled within each of the two breeds for low, medium, and high producing farms in the presence of F. hepatica antibodies and of confounders. On Holstein farms, the presence of F. hepatica seropositivity was associated with lower production, while on German Simmental farms such an association was less evident. This work demonstrates that production level is relevant when assessing the associations between the exposure to F. hepatica with production characteristics. Moreover, both models indicate a breed dependence. This could point towards a differential F. hepatica resilience of specialised dairy breeds in comparison with dual purpose breeds

Acetylcholine Neurotransmitter Receptor Densities in the Striatum of Hemiparkinsonian Rats Following Botulinum Neurotoxin-A Injection

Cholinergic neurotransmission has a pivotal function in the caudate-putamen, and is highly associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Here, we investigated long-term changes in the densities of the muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M2, M3 (mAchRs) and the nicotinic receptor subtype α4β2 (nAchRs) in the striatum of the 6-OHDA-induced hemiparkinsonian (hemi-PD) rat model using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. Hemi-PD rats exhibited an ipsilateral decrease in striatal mAchR densities between 6 and 16%. Moreover, a massive and constant decrease in striatal nAchR density by 57% was found. A second goal of the study was to disclose receptor-related mechanisms for the positive motor effect of intrastriatally injected Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) in hemi-PD rats in the apomorphine rotation test. Therefore, the effect of intrastriatally injected BoNT-A in control and hemi-PD rats on mAchR and nAchR densities was analyzed and compared to control animals or vehicle-injected hemi-PD rats. BoNT-A administration slightly reduced interhemispheric differences of mAchR and nAchR densities in hemi-PD rats. Importantly, the BoNT-A effect on striatal nAchRs significantly correlated with behavioral testing after apomorphine application. This study gives novel insights of 6-OHDA-induced effects on striatal mAchR and nAchR densities, and partly explains the therapeutic effect of BoNT-A in hemi-PD rats on a cellular level