Mastitis in Single and Multiple Trait Holstein Lines.

Cows diagnosed as having clinical mastitis and from two sire selection lines were compared to assess differences in somatic cell count scores, duration of clinical episode and number of antibiotic treatments applied. The effect of various environmental factors and type traits on somatic cell count score (SCCS) and on duration of episode was investigated and amount and cost of discarded milk was calculated. Data consisted of multiple observations on cows diagnosed as clinically infected at least once during a lactation. Single trait (ST) cows were daughters of sires selected based on predicted differences for milk. Multiple trait (MT) cows were daughters of sires selected based on an index of milk, fat and type. Single trait cows had significantly lower SCCS, had longer clinical episodes and received more antibiotic treatments than MT cows. Least squares mean estimates for SCCS were 1.71 for the ST line and 4.86 for the MT line. Means for days of discarded milk were 16.70 days for the ST line and 7.80 days for the MT line. Estimate for number of treatments were 24.58 for the ST line and 13.44 for the MT line. These differences increased across generations. Results indicated that slower milking cows tended to have lower SCCS, longer episodes and receive more antibiotic treatments. Cows with larger udders before milking had shorter episodes and received less treatments. Cows with larger udders after milking had longer episodes and required more treatments. Taller cows and cows with high udders had higher SCCS and shorter episodes. Single trait cows had significantly more milk discarded due to antibiotic treatment than MT cows. Means for amount of discarded milk for the ST and MT lines were 360.81 kg and 250.99 kg, respectively. The ST line was, however, significantly higher for milk production even after deducting milk losses. Amount of discarded milk was negatively associated with size of udder area before milking, udder height and wither height and positively associated with size of udder area after milking and machine time. Use of some mastitis traits in selection and culling decisions may be necessary

Algunas reflexiones sobre la posible modificación de la Constitución Española

En el presente artículo se analiza una iniciativa Legislativa Popular dirigida a eliminar la inconstitucionalidad de la Constitución española de 1978 (CE78). La superioridad jurídica de la CE78 hace que toda otra norma (Leyes, orgánicas u ordinarias, Decretos, etc., etc.) que la contradiga será nula de pleno derecho. Dentro de la CE78 el Título I “de los Derechos y deberes fundamentales”, por ser fundamentales, tiene igual superioridad jurídica sobre todos los demás artículos de la CE78. Los que los contradiga son también nulos de pleno derecho. “Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch’entrate”, decía en el infierno de Dante. Las últimas declaraciones papales dicen que el infierno no existe. Por eso, al entregar esta ILP en el Tribunal Constitucional no dejamos fuera nuestra esperanz

Gene expression differences in relation to age and social environment in queen and worker bumble bees

Eusocial insects provide special insights into the genetic pathways influencing aging because of their long-lived queens and flexible aging schedules. Using qRT-PCR in the primitively eusocial bumble bee Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus), we investigated expression levels of four candidate genes associated with taxonomically widespread age-related pathways (coenzyme Q biosynthesis protein 7, COQ7; DNA methyltransferase 3, Dnmt3; foraging, for; and vitellogenin, vg). In Experiment 1, we tested how expression changes with queen relative age and productivity. We found a significant age-related increase in COQ7 expression in queen ovary. In brain, all four genes showed higher expression with increasing female (queen plus worker) production, with this relationship strengthening as queen age increased, suggesting a link with the positive association of fecundity and longevity found in eusocial insect queens. In Experiment 2, we tested effects of relative age and social environment (worker removal) in foundress queens and effects of age and reproductive status in workers. In this experiment, workerless queens showed significantly higher for expression in brain, as predicted if downregulation of for is associated with the cessation of foraging by foundress queens following worker emergence. Workers showed a significant age-related increase in Dnmt3 expression in fat body, suggesting a novel association between aging and methylation in B. terrestris. Ovary activation was associated with significantly higher vg expression in fat body and, in younger workers, in brain, consistent with vitellogenin's ancestral role in regulating egg production. Overall, our findings reveal a mixture of novel and conserved features in age-related genetic pathways under primitive eusociality

Impairment of hydrogen sulfide synthesis in chondrocytes under high glucose environment: a link between type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis

Poster presentatio

Systematics and biology of some species of Micrurapteryx Spuler (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) from the Holarctic Region, with re-description of M. caraganella (Hering) from Siberia

During a DNA barcoding campaign of leaf-mining insects from Siberia, a genetically divergent lineage of a gracillariid belonging to the genus Micrurapteryx was discovered, whose larvae developed on Caragana Fabr. and Medicago L. (Fabaceae). Specimens from Siberia showed similar external morphology to the Palearctic Micrurapteryx gradatella and the Nearctic Parectopa occulta but differed in male genitalia, DNA barcodes, and nuclear genes histone H3 and 28S. Members of this lineage are re-described here as Micrurapteryx caraganella (Hering, 1957), comb. n., an available name published with only a brief description of its larva and leaf mine. Micrurapteryx caraganella is widely distributed throughout Siberia, from Tyumen oblast in the West to Transbaikalia in the East. Occasionally it may severely affect its main host, Caragana arborescens Lam. This species has been confused in the past with Micrurapreryx gradatella in Siberia, but field observations confirm that M. gradatella exists in Siberia and is sympatric with M. caraganella, at least in the Krasnoyarsk region, where it feeds on different host plants (Vicia amoena Fisch. and Vicia sp.). In addition, based on both morphological and molecular evidence as well as examination of type specimens, the North American Parectopa occulta Braun, 1922 and Parectopa albicostella Braun, 1925 are transferred to Micrurapteryx as M. occulta (Braun, 1922), comb. n. with albicostella as its junior synonym (syn. n.). Characters used to distinguish Micrurapteryx from Parectopa are presented and illustrated. These findings provide another example of the potential of DNA barcoding to reveal overlooked species and illuminate nomenclatural problems