Subacute ruminal acidosis affects fermentation and endotoxin concentration in the rumen and relative expression of the CD14/TLR4/MD2 genes involved in lipopolysaccharide systemic immune response in dairy cows

The first objective of this study was to investigate the effects of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on fermentation, ruminal free lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and expression of the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2) complex in white blood cells involved in the systemic immune response in dairy cows. The second objective was a study of whether increased expression of the LPS receptor complex led to increases in the concentrations of plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and serum Ca. Three hundred five dairy cows located in 13 Polish high-yielding dairy commercial farms were selected according to their days in milk (40-150 d; average = 75), 305-d milk yield (10,070-12,041 kg; average = 10,940), and number of lactations (primiparous, n = 139 and multiparous, n = 166). Next, the herds were segregated into 3 groups based on the percentages of cows with an assigned value of ruminal fluid pH: SARA-positive, SARA-risk, and SARA-negative herds. Moreover, 305 selected dairy cows were divided according to the classification based on ruminal fluid pH into 3 groups as healthy (pH > 5.81), risk (pH 5.8-5.6) and acidotic cows (pH < 5.6). Rumen fluid samples were collected via rumenocentesis. In the AC group, we recorded higher concentrations of ruminal free LPS [4.57 Log(10) endotoxin units (EU)/mL; 42,206 EU/mL] compared with the healthy group (4.48 Log(10) EU/mL; 34,179 EU/mL). Similarly, the concentration of ruminal free LPS was higher in SARA-positive herds (4.60 Log(10) EU/mL; 43,000 EU/mL) compared with SARA-negative herds (4.47 Log(10) EU/mL; 32,225 EU/mL). The relative mRNA abundance of genes associated with the function of LPS receptors, such as CD14, TLR4, and MD2, in white blood cells differed between all experimental groups on both cow and herd levels. In the acidotic group, we recorded higher concentrations of HDL (78.16 vs. 68.32 mg/dL) and serum amyloid A (10.80 vs. 9.16 mu g/mL) and lower concentrations of Ca (8.26 vs. 10.16 mg/dL) and haptoglobin (470.19 vs. 516.85 ng/mL) compared with the healthy group. Similar results were obtained in the SARA herd status analysis, but the concentration of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein differed statistically. Moreover, the pH of ruminal fluid was negatively correlated with relative mRNA abundance of genes such as CD14, TLR4, MD2, and concentrations of serum HDL and serum amyloid A, although positively correlated with serum Ca. The results indicated that decreases in ruminal fluid pH increased the release of free LPS into the rumen and stimulated the expression of the LPS receptor complex and immune response. Moreover, an increase in the expression of the LPS receptor led to higher concentrations of plasma HDL and lower serum Ca, which may be a protective mechanism against endotoxemia. However, the biological significance of these results needs to be investigated further in larger field trials

Soil Sequences Along a Slope of the Opalenica Plain

The paper presents the results of a study on differentiation of the morphological structure of soil and selected physical and chemical properties of soils in toposequence of the Opalenica Plain. The study was conducted in a 1200 m long transect running through a typical soil toposequence for the Polish Lowland, and therefore the results presented in this study can be extrapolated to similar geomorphological conditions of the area. On the basis of pedological cross-section, the following soil units were distinguished: PWspgl – Albic Luvisols (Arenic) with glossic properties, PAt – Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic), PAsp – Albic Glossic Retisols (Aric, Arenic), PAspgg – Albic Glossic Retisols (Aric, Arenic, Oxyaquic), PWsggl – Albic Luvisols (Aric, Arenic, Stagnic) with glossic properties, PWgggl – Albic Luvisols (Aric, Loamic, Stagnic) with glossic properties, CZgg – Mollic Reductigleyic Eutric Gleysols (Aric, Loamic), CFt – Fluvic Phaeozems (Aric, Arenic). Each of these units has its own specific position in toposequence but the occurrence of Fluvic Phaeozems (Aric, Arenic) are associated with geogenetic processes of Mogilnica river. In this work, using a multiple regression analysis a statistically significant relationships between the position of the soils in relief and the terrain slopes and the organic carbon content in Ap horizon, the cation exchangeable capacity, the sum of exchangeable bases and the pH were obtained. Systematic variability of most soil properties of Ap horizon have shown two distances of spatial variation. The first concerns the systematic changes in shorter distance (from 132 to 344 m) and can be associated with differences in soil properties between separate soil units. The second distance of spatial correlation ranges from 431 m to 792 m, which testify to the fact that quantitative changes in the properties of soils are realized gradually and distinctly, together with the differentiation of the slope, over several separate cartographic units

Przestrzenna ocena zawartosci i zasobow materii organicznej w glebach w nawiazaniu do krajobrazow glebowych Wielkopolski

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań nad przestrzenną oceną zawartości i zasobów materii organicznej w nawiązaniu do krajobrazów glebowych Wielkopolski. Badania przeprowadzono na terenie falistej moreny dennej Równiny Kościańskiej. Do oceny przestrzennego zróżnicowania zawartości i zasobów materii organicznej zastosowano metody geostatystyczne. Wyniki badań wykazały, że zarówno miąższość poziomu akumulacyjno-próchnicznego (A), zawartość w nim materii organicznej oraz całkowite jej zasoby wykazują wyraźny związek z katenalnym układem pokryw glebowych. Należy podkreślić, że zawartość jak i zasoby materii organicznej w badanych glebach kształtują się na niskim poziomie i średnia jej zawartość w eluwialnych glebach płowych nie przekracza 1.5% a w semihydrogenicznych czarnych ziemiach 2.6%. Na podkreślenie zasługuje fakt, że intensywna uprawa rolnicza w Wielkopolsce prowadzi do powiększenia zasobów materii organicznej na skutek rozwoju poziomu agric.A study of quantitative spatial evaluation of organic matter content and its accumulation in Wielkopolska soils has been described in this paper. The experiment area was located on a gently undulating ground moraine of the Kościan Plain. The spatial variability of soil organic matter was characterized using standard geostatistical technics. The results indicate that the thickness of humose horizon and organic matter content as well as total organic matter accumulation in soils are spatialv distributed in accordance with drainage soil catenas. Average organic matter content in Alfisols, covered a top of eluvial plains is below 1.5% and in Aquolls occupied local depresion is below 2.6%

Soil Sequences Along a Slope of the Opalenica Plain

The paper presents the results of a study on differentiation of the morphological structure of soil and selected physical and chemical properties of soils in toposequence of the Opalenica Plain. The study was conducted in a 1200 m long transect running through a typical soil toposequence for the Polish Lowland, and therefore the results presented in this study can be extrapolated to similar geomorphological conditions of the area. On the basis of pedological cross-section, the following soil units were distinguished: PWspgl – Albic Luvisols (Arenic) with glossic properties, PAt – Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic), PAsp – Albic Glossic Retisols (Aric, Arenic), PAspgg – Albic Glossic Retisols (Aric, Arenic, Oxyaquic), PWsggl – Albic Luvisols (Aric, Arenic, Stagnic) with glossic properties, PWgggl – Albic Luvisols (Aric, Loamic, Stagnic) with glossic properties, CZgg – Mollic Reductigleyic Eutric Gleysols (Aric, Loamic), CFt – Fluvic Phaeozems (Aric, Arenic). Each of these units has its own specific position in toposequence but the occurrence of Fluvic Phaeozems (Aric, Arenic) are associated with geogenetic processes of Mogilnica river. In this work, using a multiple regression analysis a statistically significant relationships between the position of the soils in relief and the terrain slopes and the organic carbon content in Ap horizon, the cation exchangeable capacity, the sum of exchangeable bases and the pH were obtained. Systematic variability of most soil properties of Ap horizon have shown two distances of spatial variation. The first concerns the systematic changes in shorter distance (from 132 to 344 m) and can be associated with differences in soil properties between separate soil units. The second distance of spatial correlation ranges from 431 m to 792 m, which testify to the fact that quantitative changes in the properties of soils are realized gradually and distinctly, together with the differentiation of the slope, over several separate cartographic units

Temporal Variability of Selected Dissolved Components Content in Groundwater of the Catena System of Poznań Lakeland

This paper presents results of temporal variability of groundwater chemical composition in catena of arable Albeluvisols and Gleysols/Chernozem. The purpose of this study was to assess temporal variability of dissolved components in groundwater with particular reference to soil toposequence. The researches were carried out in the cultivated catchment area of the Przybroda Experimental Station located in the north-central part of the Poznań Lakeland (west part of Poland) within the Szamotuly Plain. Every two or four weeks from 2004 to 2006 the groundwater samples from six stationary points (wells) were collected. In groundwater samples the Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, HCO3-, SO2-4, PO43-, pH and EC were determined. Temporal variability of dissolved components in groundwater of catena was determined using the geostatistical analysis in which the semivariance is the basic function. Relations between values of semivariance and time correlation ranges were determined using the Variovin and the Surfer programmes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal variability of concentrations of the selected components dissolved in groundwater using geostatistical methods. The results of the researches indicate, that the quantity of dissolved components in groundwater was connected with a soil location in a relief and properties of soil parent materials. The groundwater of soil located higher in a catena ware characterized by smaller concentrations of the analyzed components, compared with water of lowest elements of the slope. The results show that temporal changes in the content of the analyzed components were characterized by large values of systematic variability and small values of random variability (nugget effect). Low nugget effects indicate that the temporal changes in concentration of the analyzed components were temporary correlated. Systematic variability was characterized by two temporary structures. The first concerns the systematic changes in shorter periods of time, which could be the result of groundwater inflow of compounds dissolved in percolating water and lateral inflow and outflow. The second was characterized by changes for longer periods, which can be related to the dynamic balance established between the weathering processes and translocation of weathering products, as well as their solubility and precipitation. Depending on a relief, the systematic variability has shown shorter temporal range for concentrations of analyzed dissolved components in groundwater (in both the first and in the second structure of semivariograms). This relationship should be associated with a shorter duration of migration of rainwater to groundwater table by decreasing the thickness of the unsaturated zone with decreasing soil position on the slope. Values of the time correlation range obtained in this study indicate that on the one hand it is possible to monitor the concentrations of the components dissolved in the groundwater in longer time intervals but on the other hand the temporal intervals depend on well location in a catena

Regeneration of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the Sudety Mountains on soils with different physico-chemical properties

The purpose of this study was to determine the basic physico-chemical properties of soil in silver fir stands with different stage of natural regeneration. The investigations were carried out in south-west part of Poland – in the Sudety Mountains. From 854 silver fir stands, 40 testing sites, varying in terms of habitat conditions and degree of natural regeneration, were selected. Soil samples were collected from litter (organic horizon – O) with a thickness of 7–15 cm and from mineral A horizon lying up to 20 cm below the organic horizon and were then analysed for pH, EC, C org., total N, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na, H and Al), soluble Mn, Fe, Zn and Pb as well as particle size distribution (samples from A horizon). The analysed soil samples are characterized by very high acidity and low content of bases. According to the performed statistical tests, none of the factors analysed within the samples tested has a significant impact on the natural regeneration of silver fir. The only dependence between potassium content in soil and the regeneration of silver fir in the Sudety Mountains is close to statistically significance

Groundwater chemistry and hydrogeochemical processes in a soil catena of the Poznan Lakeland, central Poland

An attempt has been made to identify the chemical processes that control the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the catena of Retisols/Luvisols and Gleysols/Phaeozems within the Opalenica Plain, central Poland. Groundwater samples were collected from 6 representative piezometers. The quantity of dissolved components in groundwater was connected with the location of piezometers in the relief studied and the properties of the soil’s parent materials. The groundwater of soil located higher in the soil catena was characterised by smaller concentrations of the components when compared with the composition of water from the lowest sites on the slope. The dominant hydrochemical facies are Ca,Mg–HCO3,SO4, Ca,Mg-mixed or Ca,Mg–HCO3 types in the groundwater from the higher part of the slope and Mg–HCO3,SO4 and Mg–HCO3 types in the water from the lower part of the catena. The chemistry of groundwater is the product of the weathering of carbonate minerals and silicate. The Ca2+/alkalinity molar ratio in the groundwater samples from piezometers located higher in the soil catena indicate that the weathering of both calcite and dolomite can occur there, while only dolomite weathering takes place in the groundwater of the catena pediment. The Ca2+/Mg2+ molar ratio in the water samples from the footslope shows an excess of magnesium over calcium, which could be a result of water interacting with Mg-rich silicate minerals, as an additional process to dissolution of dolomite. Furthermore, data for a few water samples from the footslope cover the evaporation zone of the Gibbs plot. This suggests that while contamination could affect the amount of dissolved components, evaporation can modify the groundwater chemistry of footslope. Cluster analysis grouped groundwater samples into two groups with similar characteristics, indicating the influence of the location of a piezometer in the soil catena on the groundwater chemistry

Groundwater chemistry and hydrogeochemical processes in a soil catena of the Poznan Lakeland, central Poland

An attempt has been made to identify the chemical processes that control the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the catena of Retisols/Luvisols and Gleysols/Phaeozems within the Opalenica Plain, central Poland. Groundwater samples were collected from 6 representative piezometers. The quantity of dissolved components in groundwater was connected with the location of piezometers in the relief studied and the properties of the soil’s parent materials. The groundwater of soil located higher in the soil catena was characterised by smaller concentrations of the components when compared with the composition of water from the lowest sites on the slope. The dominant hydrochemical facies are Ca,Mg–HCO3,SO4, Ca,Mg-mixed or Ca,Mg–HCO3 types in the groundwater from the higher part of the slope and Mg–HCO3,SO4 and Mg–HCO3 types in the water from the lower part of the catena. The chemistry of groundwater is the product of the weathering of carbonate minerals and silicate. The Ca2+/alkalinity molar ratio in the groundwater samples from piezometers located higher in the soil catena indicate that the weathering of both calcite and dolomite can occur there, while only dolomite weathering takes place in the groundwater of the catena pediment. The Ca2+/Mg2+ molar ratio in the water samples from the footslope shows an excess of magnesium over calcium, which could be a result of water interacting with Mg-rich silicate minerals, as an additional process to dissolution of dolomite. Furthermore, data for a few water samples from the footslope cover the evaporation zone of the Gibbs plot. This suggests that while contamination could affect the amount of dissolved components, evaporation can modify the groundwater chemistry of footslope. Cluster analysis grouped groundwater samples into two groups with similar characteristics, indicating the influence of the location of a piezometer in the soil catena on the groundwater chemistry

Variabilidad cuantitativa del contenido de heterocromatina constitutiva (CBG) en el cariotipo del zorro azul ("alopex lagopus")

El cariotipo del zorro azul (2n=50) tiene veinte cromosomas (diez parejas) con un brazo enteramente heterocromático. Se ha descrito la variabilidad de tamaño en estos brazos en cromosomas da bandeo CBG (Makinen et al., 1981) y utilizando análisis complejo sinaptonémico (Switonslci et al., 1991). En el presente trabajo, 49 animales han sido bandeados con CBG. Se describen cuatro cariotipos distintos. En el primero los veinte cromosomas tenían brazos heterocromáticos (grupo 1; 26 animales); en el segundo se encontró una carencia de brazo heterocromático en un solo cromosoma (grupo 2; 15 animales); en el tercero, dos cromosomas no presentaron este brazo heterocromático (grupo 3; 5 animales); y en el cuarto, en tres cromosomas faltaban brazos heterocromáticos (grupo 4; 3 animales). Nuestra meta en el presente trabajo fue esclarecer si el tamaño total de brazos CBG de estos cromosomas es constante o variable en esta especie. La longitud de los brazos heterocromáticos y eucromáticos de 10 parejas de cromosomas han sido medidos con el sistema de ordenador Multiscan 4.01 (Computer Scanning Systems Ltd, Poland), que estaba conectado a un microscopio Jenamed. En cada animal han sido analizadas tres metafases. La longitud relativa total de brazos CBG varió, entre los animales, de 0,53 a 1,04. Un análisis de varianza unimodal demostró que esta variabilidad era significativa (p<0,01). La longitud total media de brazos CBG en cuatro grupos distintos era: 0,64, 0,75, 0,65 y 0,67 repectivamente. La aplicación del análisis de contraste demostró que la diferencia entre estos grupos, con la excepcion de grupo 4 vs grupo 3, era significativa (p<0,01 o p<0,05)

Effects of heavy metals on the activity of dehydrogenases, phosphatases and urease in naturally and artificially contaminated soils

Most of the processes occurring in soil are catalysed by enzymes. As a result of their sensitivity towards heavy metals, enzymes in contaminated soils are usually less active. The purpose of this paper was to assess the influence of bioavailable forms of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn on the activity of dehydrogenases, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase, and to compare the results obtained from naturally and artificially contaminated soils. A pot experiment was carried out on two loamy sand soils, naturally and artificially contaminated with Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The total content of heavy metals classified these soils as very heavily contaminated with Cu, heavily contaminated with Pb and contaminated with Cd and Zn, all according to the IUNG system (1995). One of the following organic materials: swine manure or triticale straw, was added to the soil batches. The experiment was carried out in three replications, in two pH ranges: slightly acid and acid. Soil samples for analyses were taken after 14, 28, 165 and 450 days of incubation. The results of the experiment showed that the activity of soil enzymes depended on the content of bioavailable heavy metals; the total concentration of trace elements and H+ were less important. However, considerable differences were found in enzyme activity between naturally and artificially contaminated soils. This indicates that results obtained from other research conducted on freshly contaminated soils cannot be easily transferred to field conditions. The analysed enzymes responded differently to the concentration of bioavailable forms of heavy metals. Alkaline phosphatase was the least tolerant to bioavailable forms of heavy metals, unlike urease, which was the most tolerant soil enzyme. A similar pattern of sensitivity toward trace elements, which could be ordered as Zn > Cd > Cu > Pb, was noticed for dehydrogenases, acid and alkaline phosphatases. Urease was found to be more tolerant to Zn