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The aim of the present study was to identify the adaptability of Normandy cows raised in a loose system to the climatic and technological conditions and to compare their adaptability with already acclimatized Simmental cows in one farm in Southwestern Bulgaria. Total of 20 cows at same age (II – IV lactation) and same body weight (630-660 kg) from both breeds were classified into 2 groups (each having 10 cows) and subjected to skin thickness measurement, fibers total weight determination and fiber categorization during the winter and summer season. The results have shown that during the winter season, the Normandy breed had significantly higher skin thickness at the elbow compared to the Simmental breed, whereas no differences were observed in the skin thickness between both breeds either at the neck or at the middle of the last rib. During the summer season, the differences on the skin thickness compared to the Simmental breed were observed at the neck (p0.05). During the winter seasons, the coat of Normandy cows contained more soft fibers in comparison to the Simmentals cows. Furthermore, the changes in the observed parameters, influenced by climatic conditions showed similar pattern in both breeds. It can be concluded that the two breeds have emphasized their genetic potential and have a good adaptability to the temperate continental climate of the region.

Introduction: The African Goat Improvement Network Image Collection Protocol (AGIN-ICP) is an accessible, easy to use, low-cost procedure to collect phenotypic data via digital images. The AGIN-ICP collects images to extract several phenotype measures including health status indicators (anemia status, age, and weight), body measurements, shapes, and coat color and pattern, from digital images taken with standard digital cameras or mobile devices. This strategy is to quickly survey, record, assess, analyze, and store these data for use in a wide variety of production and sampling conditions.Methods: The work was accomplished as part of the multinational African Goat Improvement Network (AGIN) collaborative and is presented here as a case study in the AGIN collaboration model and working directly with community-based breeding programs (CBBP). It was iteratively developed and tested over 3 years, in 12 countries with over 12,000 images taken.Results and discussion: The AGIN-ICP development is described, and field implementation and the quality of the resulting images for use in image analysis and phenotypic data extraction are iteratively assessed. Digital body measures were validated using the PreciseEdge Image Segmentation Algorithm (PE-ISA) and software showing strong manual to digital body measure Pearson correlation coefficients of height, length, and girth measures (0.931, 0.943, 0.893) respectively. It is critical to note that while none of the very detailed tasks in the AGIN-ICP described here is difficult, every single one of them is even easier to accidentally omit, and the impact of such a mistake could render a sample image, a sampling day’s images, or even an entire sampling trip’s images difficult or unusable for extracting digital phenotypes. Coupled with tissue sampling and genomic testing, it may be useful in the effort to identify and conserve important animal genetic resources and in CBBP genetic improvement programs by providing reliably measured phenotypes with modest cost. Potential users include farmers, animal husbandry officials, veterinarians, regional government or other public health officials, researchers, and others. Based on these results, a final AGIN-ICP is presented, optimizing the costs, ease, and speed of field implementation of the collection method without compromising the quality of the image data collection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the exterior faults in selected Slovak breeds of rabbits of different colour varieties according to a current Book of Rabbit Standards. Of 336 rabbits from 9 exhibitions organized in the territory of the Slovak and Czech Republics, 2 national medium-sized breeds of Liptov Bold-Spotted Rabbit (270 pcs) and Nitra Rabbit (66 pcs) were selected. The qualities and exterior faults of typical breed traits were evaluated in seven positions including: weight, shape, type, coat, top colour (eventually markings), under-colour (eventually intermediate colour), condition and health. Our evaluations showed that the most common exterior faults in these categories were in the: positions, shape, type, coat, and top-colour. In the shape position there were found significant exterior faults, such as slightly protruding hips with slanting rump, and worse legs position with loose skin on the body. In the type position, the faults observed in all selected breeds included: narrow chest, body too lean or too long, more delicate head with ears too fine and longer. The coat was usually thick and less elastic with a lighter under-colour at the base of the skin and non-sharply defined intermediate colour. In the top colour position of evaluated breeds there were numerous deficiencies involving uneven, and incomplete colour, and significant faults in the drawing. The data obtained in this study were innovative, as they represented a new approach that may help to characterize the Slovak breeds of rabbits included in this study and to select individuals with the best exterior traits towards improving the quality of these breeds.

Clothing plays an important role in the tragedy ‘König Ottokars Glück und Ende’ by the Austrian dramatist Franz Grillparzer – however, this role has not yet been adequately explored. Coats, jackets, helmets and garters are not mere props in the play; sometimes they are elevated to the level of symbols which can (and indeed must) be interpreted. Two types of garment play a particularly important symbolic role: Emperor Rudolf’s grey jacket (jerkin) and King Ottokar’s gold-embroidered coat. The King’s coat is a symbol of his power and authority, yet it also evokes his alienation from his Bohemian subjects. It can also be interpreted as an allusion to the French Emperor Napoleon, whose features are clearly transferred into the figure of Ottokar.

Generally, in recent times across the breeding spectrum, rabbits of giant, medium, small and dwarf breeds have been reared. The largest representation among breeders at most breeding exhibitions held in central European countries is amongst giant and medium breeds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the qualities and exterior faults in selected giant and medium rabbit breeds in different colour varieties according to a current book of rabbit standards. Of 1779 rabbits from 11 exhibitions held in the territory of the Czech and Slovak Republics, 646 giant rabbits weighing 5.5 kg and over and 1133 medium rabbits between 3.25 to 5.5 kg of different breeds and colour varieties were selected. Giant (large) breeds population included 210 of Giant, 187 of Giant Papillon and 249 of Lop. In the medium weight category, 308 of Big Light Silver, 184 of Chinchilla Giganta and 641 of Vienna group breeds were selected. The qualities and exterior faults of typical breed traits were evaluated in six positions: weight, shape, type, coat, top colour or markings and undercolour. The results of the work show that the most common exterior faults in these categories were in the shape, type and coat positions. In the shape position, significant exterior faults were found, such as slightly protruding hips with slanting rump, worse legs position with bowed or splayed limbs and loose skin on the body. Especially observed in the type position in all selected breeds were narrow chest, body too lean or too long and a more delicate head with finer structure of ears. The coat was usually thick and less elastic with the lighter undercolour at the base of the skin and non-sharply defined intermediate colour. The data obtained are ground-breaking, representing a new approach to assist in the characterisation of giant and medium rabbit breeds included in a study and to select individuals with the best exterior properties with a view to improving the breed quality.

In the recent past, tissue materials such as hair/coat and nails/claws have proved to be useful for the study of long-term hormonal changes in humans and animals and shown to be advantageous in terms of being collectable without invasiveness, with a benefit in terms of animal welfare. However, studies using these tissue materials in cats are scarce, especially on sexual hormone measurement. In this study, the concentrations of 17-β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were assessed in 20 male and 18 female domestic postpubertal cats at the time of neutering/spaying during the breeding season. Hormones were measured in coat shaved from the forearm (ACOAT) and from the surgical area (SCOAT); claws were collected from the forearms (CLAWS) and the dewclaws (DCLAWS). Although all these tissue materials were shown to be useful for E2 and T long-term measurement, only T concentrations were higher (p < 0.001) in males from both ACOAT and SCOAT samples when compared to females and therefore useful for distinguishing between the two sexes. Within each sex, E2 and T concentrations can be assessed on coat, but also on the dewclaws, providing an alternative, practical, matrix for sexual steroid measurement in postpubertal cats during the breeding season.

The study presents an analysis of traditional forms of clothing serving for women’s veiling in Central Asia in the period from the second half of the 19th century to the 20th century, focusing on its occurrence and importance in both everyday and ceremonial practices. The study addresses particular types of veiling, their common features, and differences related to the manner of wearing, as well as the materials and the decorative designs used. An important part of the study is a catalogue representing individual types of clothing from the above determined period from the museum collections of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg and the National Museum – the Náprstek Museum in Prague.

Adsorbents for whole blood apheresis need to be highly blood compatible to minimize the activation of blood cells on the biomaterial surface. Here, we developed blood-compatible matrices by surface modification with polyzwitterionic polysulfobetainic and polycarboxybetainic coatings. Photoreactive zwitterionic terpolymers were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of zwitterionic, photoreactive, and fluorescent monomers. Upon UV irradiation, the terpolymers were photodeposited and mutually crosslinked on the surface of hydrophobic polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene and hydrophilic polyacrylamide-co-polyacrylate (DALI) beads. Fluorescent microscopy revealed coatings with an average thickness of 5 µm, which were limited to the bead surface. Blood compatibility was assessed based on polymer-induced hemolysis, coagulation parameters, and in vitro tests. The maintenance of the adsorption capacity after coating was studied in human whole blood with cytokines for polystyrene beads (remained capacity 25–67%) and with low-density lipoprotein (remained capacity 80%) for polyacrylate beads. Coating enhanced the blood compatibility of hydrophobic, but not of hydrophilic adsorbents. The most prominent effect was observed on coagulation parameters (e.g., PT, aPTT, TT, and protein C) and neutrophil count. Polycarboxybetaine with a charge spacer of five carbons was the most promising polyzwitterion for the coating of adsorbents for whole blood apheresis.

The article presents a study of the process of designing women’s garments of the coating and suiting assortment, made from different fabrics to determine the fabric properties effect on the parameters of shaping the volume-silhouette form of clothes. An expert evaluation of the signifi cance of material properties for the creation of tectonic forms of clothes was carried out and the most signifi cant properties were determined, i.e. rigidity, thickness, drapeability, mass per unit area, type of weave, raw material composition. An experimental study of physical and mechanical characteristics of overcoating fabrics was performed. To validate the research results, we made samples of women’s coats in different forms at a garment company. It was determined that the raw material composition of fabrics does not affect signifi cantly their physical and mechanical characteristics (drapeability, rigidity). The weave of fabrics which determines other indicators was considered to be more signifi cant. As a result, the relationships between the physical and mechanical properties of fabrics of the coat group and the shaping of women’s coats in different volume- silhouette forms were identifi ed. The latter can be used in the design of garments for an individual and mass production.

ABSTRACT Bacterial spores produced by the Bacillales are composed of concentric shells, each of which contributes to spore function. Spores from all species possess a cortex and coat, but spores from many species possess additional outer layers. The outermost layer of Bacillus anthracis spores, the exosporium, is separated from the coat by a gap known as the interspace. Exosporium and interspace assembly remains largely mysterious. As a result, we have a poor understanding of the overarching mechanisms driving the assembly of one of the most ubiquitous cell types in nature. To elucidate the mechanisms directing exosporium assembly, we generated strains bearing mutations in candidate exosporium-controlling genes and analyzed the effect on exosporium formation. Biochemical and cell biological analyses argue that CotE directs the assembly of CotO into the spore and that CotO might be located at or close to the interior side of the cap. Taken together with data showing that CotE and CotO interact directly in vitro, we propose a model in which CotE and CotO are important components of a protein interaction network that connects the exosporium to the forespore during cap formation and exosporium elongation. Our data also suggest that the cap interferes with coat assembly at one pole of the spore, altering the pattern of coat deposition compared to the model organism Bacillus subtilis. We propose that the difference in coat assembly patterns between these two species is due to an inherent flexibility in coat assembly, which may facilitate the evolution of spore outer layer complexity. IMPORTANCE This work dramatically improves our understanding of the assembly of the outermost layer of the B. anthracis spore, the exosporium, a layer that encases spores from many bacterial species and likely plays important roles in the spore’s interactions with the environment, including host tissues. Nonetheless, the mechanisms directing exosporium assembly into a shell surrounding the spore are still very poorly understood. In this study, we clarify these mechanisms by the identification of a novel protein interaction network that directs assembly to initiate at a specific subcellular location in the developing cell. Our results further suggest that the presence or absence of an exosporium has a major impact on the assembly of other more interior spore layers, thereby potentially explaining long-noted differences in spore assembly between B. anthracis and the model organism B. subtilis.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fur length in the evaluation of knees temperature in healthy dogs, using infrared thermography. This is a non-invasive diagnosis that is able to assess the microcirculation of the internal skin. Changes in temperature reflect from inflammatory reactions and vascular infarction to neurological disorders. Knees of 30 healthy dogs were analyzed, with up to 11 pounds of weight, screened by clinical examination and radiographic examination. Group A, consisting of 13 dogs with short fur, with 26 knees evaluated in total. Group B included animals with long fur, consisting of 17 animals, with 29 knees evaluated in total. The average temperatures of the cranial, lateral, caudal and medial sides of knees were analyzed. A significant difference between the groups was observed, with group A temperature being greater than the group B in all four analyzed faces. Comparing the temperatures of the faces in the contralateral limb, in both groups, the statistical analysis revealed no significant difference. In group A it was observed that temperatures in the cranial and lateral sides were similar, but different from the others. In group B, the statistical analysis showed the cranial lateral and caudal faces was similar, but differed from the medial side. The thermographic examination proved to be sensitive in the evaluation of temperature of small dogs’ knees;however, the length of the fur influenced the result.

ABSTRACT The spore-forming bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of health care-associated infections in the United States. In order for this obligate anaerobe to transmit infection, it must form metabolically dormant spores prior to exiting the host. A key step during this process is the assembly of a protective, multilayered proteinaceous coat around the spore. Coat assembly depends on coat morphogenetic proteins recruiting distinct subsets of coat proteins to the developing spore. While 10 coat morphogenetic proteins have been identified in Bacillus subtilis, only two of these morphogenetic proteins have homologs in the Clostridia: SpoIVA and SpoVM. C. difficile SpoIVA is critical for proper coat assembly and functional spore formation, but the requirement for SpoVM during this process was unknown. Here, we show that SpoVM is largely dispensable for C. difficile spore formation, in contrast with B. subtilis. Loss of C. difficile SpoVM resulted in modest decreases (~3-fold) in heat- and chloroform-resistant spore formation, while morphological defects such as coat detachment from the forespore and abnormal cortex thickness were observed in ~30% of spoVM mutant cells. Biochemical analyses revealed that C. difficile SpoIVA and SpoVM directly interact, similarly to their B. subtilis counterparts. However, in contrast with B. subtilis, C. difficile SpoVM was not essential for SpoIVA to encase the forespore. Since C. difficile coat morphogenesis requires SpoIVA-interacting protein L (SipL), which is conserved exclusively in the Clostridia, but not the more broadly conserved SpoVM, our results reveal another key difference between C. difficile and B. subtilis spore assembly pathways. IMPORTANCE The spore-forming obligate anaerobe Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrheal disease in the United States. When C. difficile spores are ingested by susceptible individuals, they germinate within the gut and transform into vegetative, toxin-secreting cells. During infection, C. difficile must also induce spore formation to survive exit from the host. Since spore formation is essential for transmission, understanding the basic mechanisms underlying sporulation in C. difficile could inform the development of therapeutic strategies targeting spores. In this study, we determine the requirement of the C. difficile homolog of SpoVM, a protein that is essential for spore formation in Bacillus subtilis due to its regulation of coat and cortex formation. We observed that SpoVM plays a minor role in C. difficile spore formation, in contrast with B. subtilis, indicating that this protein would not be a good target for inhibiting spore formation.

Foram utilizados dados de 498 cavalos registrados na Associação Brasileira dos Criadores de Cavalo Campeiro, entre 1985 e 1999. Foram incluídas informações individuais de 16 medidas lineares: alturas da cernelha (AC), do dorso (AD), da garupa (AG), dos costados (ACost) e do vazio subesternal (Vaz); comprimentos da cabeça (CC), do pescoço (CP), do dorso-lombar (CD), da garupa (CG), da espádua (CE) e do corpo (CCorp); larguras da cabeça (LC), do peito (LP) e da anca (LA); perímetros torácico (PT) e de canela (PC). Com os dados de registro, foram calculados o peso (P) e os índices: peitoral (IP), dáctilo-torácico (IDT), corporal (IC), torácico (IT), conformação (ICF), carga para trabalho a trote e a galope (ICG1), carga para trabalho a passo (ICG2), compacidade (ICO1 e ICO2) e relação corporal entre AC e AG (RCG). A análise de variância foi realizada considerando-se os efeitos fixos de mês (MRO) e ano de registro (AR), do sexo, da idade e da cor da pelagem. Os índices obtidos mostraram aptidão intermediária entre trabalho de sela e tração leve. O peso médio foi de 419,96 kg e o IC de 0,849, indicando ser animal mediolíneo, ideal para equitação. A partir do ICG1 e ICG2, estima-se que possa suportar, em média, peso de 117 kg, em trote ou a galope, e 199 kg, em caminhada rápida. Os coeficientes de variação apresentaram grande amplitude, predominando valores baixos. Sexo e cor da pelagem não foram causas importantes de variação nas medidas e nos índices. O MR influenciou CC, CP, CD, CE, LP, LA, PT, PC e a maior parte dos índices. O AR não influenciou AC, AD e ACost, CC, LP e PT, fazendo-o nas demais medidas lineares, mas, entre os índices, teve efeito importante apenas no IT. A idade dos animais influenciou ACost, CD, LC, LP, LA, PT e a maioria dos índices. A cor da pelagem em maior proporção na população foi castanha, seguida por baia e tordilha.Data was available on 498 horses registered by the Brazilian Association of Campeiro Horse Breeders. This included individual data on 16 linear traits [shoulder height (SH), mid back height (MBH), withers height (WH), back height (BH), head length (HL), neck length (NL), back length (BL), shoulder length (SL), hip length (HiL), body length (BOL), head width (HW), chest width (CW), hip width (HIW), chest circumference (CC), cannon bone circumference (CBC)], space under horse (SUH), coat color, temperament and nine subjective traits taken at registration. Body indices and weight were calculated from standard formulae where pectoral index (PI)= WH/SUH, dactyl-thoracic index (DTI), weight (BW), length index (LI), body index (BI), thorax index (TI), conformation index (CI), work index 1 (WI1) and work index 2 (WI2), compact index 1 (COI1) and compact index 2 (COI2). The effect of sex of animal, month, age and year of registration as well as coat color on the measurements was carried out using SAS® (Statistical Analysis System). The Campeiro horse is well proportioned with WH (1.46 m) slightly higher than SH. It is an animal that is between saddle and light traction, with a mean weight 419.96 kg, and medium length. WI1 and WI2 show that it can support 117.16 kg at a trot or gallop and a maximum weight of 198.76 kg at a fast walk. Variance coefficients varied widely but low measures predominated. Sex and coat color were not important sources of variation for measurements and indices. Month of registration influenced CC, CP, CD, CE, LP, LA, PT, PC and most indices. Year of registration did not influence AC, AD, ACost, CC, LP and PT, but was significant for the other linear measures and only for IT in the indices. Age influenced ACost, CD, LC, LP, LA, PT and most indices. The most popular coat color was chestnut followed by bay and dark grey.

Alterações adquiridas na coloração da pelagem de cães são raras. Schnauzers miniaturas podem apresentar desenvolvimento idiopático de coloração dourada do pelame, primariamente do tronco, chamada de aurotriquia. O presente trabalho relata a ocorrência de aurotriquia em um cão da raça schnauzer, de três anos de idade, sendo esse o primeiro relato de caso de aurotriquia em schnauzer no Brasil. Por se tratar de alteração de rara ocorrência, torna-se necessária maior atenção a características raciais e um melhor exame físico e anamnese, mesmo se tratando de alteração considerada meramente de fenótipo, pois existem as alterações de coloração bem piores, ligadas a doenças de prognóstico.Coat color changes in adult dogs are rare. Miniature schnauzers can development golden hair coat color, primarily in the trunk, called aurotriquia. This paper reports the occurrence of aurotriquia in a schnauzer, three years old, being this the first case report of aurotriquia schnauzer in Brazil. Due to its rare occurrence there is a need for greater attention to racial characteristics and a better physical examination and medical history, Despite, being only a change in the phenotype, there are color changes related to worse disease prognosis.