A survey on the environmental impact of pond aquaculture in Hungary

The aim of the study was to survey the nutrient loads of receiving waters and evaluate the nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter budget of the conventional fishponds in Hungary. The average nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and organic matter (OM) concentrations in the filling-up water of the fishponds were 2.51 ± 1.25, 0.57 ± 0.57 and 23.8 ± 13.4 mg l^?1, respectively. Contrarily, the N, P and OM concentrations in the effluents of fishponds were 1.64 ± 2.19, 0.37 ± 0.51 and 30.2 ± 20.5 mg l^?1, respectively. The sediment nutrient content in the fishponds during the operation was 5.77 ± 4.42 mg g dry sediment^?1 for N, 1.25 ± 0.75 for P and 30.5 ± 43.3 for total organic carbon. The retained nutrients represented on average 53 % (84 kg ha^?1 year^?1) of N, 74 % (21 kg ha^?1 year^?1) of P and 74 % (2400 kg ha^?1 year^?1) of OM, introduced into the fishponds. In the fishponds, the ratio of input N, P and OM accumulated in fish biomass was 18.4 ± 6.7, 10.4 ± 4.4 and 6.8 ± 2.1 %, respectively. The investigated fishponds discharged 48 % less N and 62 % less P into the recipient waters than received with the intake water. However, 78 % more OM was discharged with the effluent from the fishponds than received with the inlet and supplement water.     

Determination of shear modulus on construction size timber

Shear modulus determination of construction size timber was examined. Three different Techniques were used: torsional vibration, simultan E&G, and variation of span technique. We found that the simultan E&G technique is quite sensitive to the error of natural frequency determination and provides only an estimate for G. Better shear modulus determinations are the static and torsional techniques, but the torsional technique is most precise. The torsional vibration technique can be a good solution for shear modulus determination in an industrial environment because it provides quick and precise etermination, but standardization of the method would first be necessary. We found a high correlation coefficient (0.80) between the screw withdrawal resistance and shear modulus of 2 by 4 timber. Based on this result it is possible to estimate the shear modulus of timber even if the timber is installed in a structure.This study was conducted with financial support of the Science and Technology Agancy Japan via an STA fellowship     

Characterization of rice storage proteins by SE-HPLC and micro z-arm mixer

While the effect of protein content and composition on the functional properties of wheat flour is well studied, our knowledge on the same properties of rice flour is limited. This work was conducted to study the relationship between the dough mixing properties of flour from different rice cultivars and protein content and composition. An efficient sonication-based two-step extraction procedure was applied to isolate rice flour proteins. The size-exclusion HPLC (SE-HPLC) method, originally developed for separating wheat proteins, was applied with some minor modifications in order to study the size distribution of rice flour proteins. Four fractions were distinguished on the SE-HPLC profile and were further characterized by SDS-PAGE. Fractions I–III consisted of glutelins, while fraction IV contained albumin, globulin and prolamin proteins. When rice dough was characterized on the basis of mixing parameters in a micro z-arm mixer, significant differences were observed depending on the protein composition of the flour. Statistical analysis results indicated that the functional properties of the flour from different rice cultivars were associated with the amount of polymeric proteins and their size distribution.     

Preparative Method for In Vitro Production of Functional Polymers from Glutenin Subunits of Wheat

An in vitro method for preparative‐scale production of artificial glutenin polymers utilizes a controlled environment for the oxidation of glutenin subunits (GS) isolated from wheat flour to achieve high polymerization efficiency. The functionality of in vitro polymers was tested in a 2‐g model dough system and was related to the treatment of the proteins before, during, and after in vitro polymerization. When added as the only polymeric component in a reconstituted model dough (built up from gliadin, water solubles, and starch fractions), in vitro polymers could mimic the behavior of native glutenin, demonstrating properties of dough development and breakdown. Manipulating the high molecular weight (HMW)‐GS to a low molecular weight (LMW)‐GS ratio altered the molecular weight distribution of in vitro polymers. In functional studies using the 2‐g mixograph, simple doughs built up from homopolymers of HMW‐GS were stronger than those using homopolymers of LMW‐GS. These differences may be accounted for, at least in part, by different polymer size distributions. The ability to control the size and composition of glutenin polymers shows the potential of this approach for investigating the effects of glutenin polymer size on dough function and flour end‐use quality.     

Interactions of Nereistoxin and Its Analogs with Vertebrate Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Molluscan ACh Binding Proteins

Nereistoxin (NTX) is a marine toxin isolated from an annelid worm that lives along the coasts of Japan. Its insecticidal properties were discovered decades ago and this stimulated the development of a variety of insecticides such as Cartap that are readily transformed into NTX. One unusual feature of NTX is that it is a small cyclic molecule that contains a disulfide bond. In spite of its size, it acts as an antagonist at insect and mammalian nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The functional importance of the disulfide bond was assessed by determining the effects of inserting a methylene group between the two sulfur atoms, creating dimethylaminodithiane (DMA-DT). We also assessed the effect of methylating the NTX and DMA-DT dimethylamino groups on binding to three vertebrate nAChRs. Radioligand receptor binding experiments were carried out using washed membranes from rat brain and fish (Torpedo) electric organ; [³H]-cytisine displacement was used to assess binding to the predominantly high affinity alpha4beta2 nAChRs and [¹²⁵I]-alpha-bungarotoxin displacement was used to measure binding of NTX and analogs to the alpha7 and skeletal muscle type nAChRs. While the two quaternary nitrogen analogs, relative to their respective tertiary amines, displayed lower α4β2 nAChR binding affinities, both displayed much higher affinities for the Torpedo muscle nAChR and rat alpha7 brain receptors than their respective tertiary amine forms. The binding affinities of DMA-DT for the three nAChRs were lower than those of NTX and MeNTX. An AChBP mutant lacking the C loop disulfide bond that would potentially react with the NTX disulfide bond displayed an NTX affinity very similar to the parent AChBP. Inhibition of [³H]-epibatidine binding to the AChBPs was not affected by exposure to NTX or MeNTX for up to 24 hr prior to addition of the radioligand. Thus, the disulfide bond of NTX is not required to react with the vicinal disulfide in the AChBP C loop for inhibition of [³H]-epibatidine binding. However, a reversible disulfide interchange reaction of NTX with nAChRs might still occur, especially under reducing conditions. Labeled MeNTX, because it can be readily prepared with high specific radioactivity and possesses relatively high affinity for the nAChR-rich Torpedo nAChR, would be a useful probe to detect and identify any nereistoxin adducts.     

Genetic parameters of birth weight trait in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Birth weight data of dromedary calves from the database of one of the world’s largest dairy herds (Dubai, UAE) were analyzed for the period from 2007...     

Influence of pH, iron source, and Fe/ligand ratio on iron speciation in lignosulfonate complexes studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Implications on their fertilizer properties

Iron chlorosis is a very common nutritional disorder in plants that can be treated using iron fertilizers. Synthetic chelates have been used to correct this problem, but nowadays environmental concerns have enforced the search for new, more environmentally friendly ligands, such as lignosulfonates. In this paper, Fe coordination environment and speciation in lignosulfonate (LS) complexes prepared under different experimental conditions were studied by (57)Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy in relation to the Fe-complexing capacities, chemical characteristics of the different products, and efficiency to provide iron in agronomic conditions. It has been observed that the complex formation between iron and lignosulfonates involves different coordination sites. When Fe(2+) is used to prepare the iron-LS product, complexes form weak adducts and are sensitive to oxidation, especially at neutral or alkaline pH. However, when Fe(3+) is used to form the complexes, both Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) are found. Reductive sugars, normally present in lignosulfonates, favor a relatively high content of Fe(2+) even in those complexes prepared using Fe(3+). The formation of amorphous ferrihydrite is also possible. With respect to the agronomical relevance of the Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) speciation provided by the M?ssbauer spectra, it seems that the strong Fe(3+)-LS complexes are preferred when they are applied to the leaf, whereas root uptake in hydroponics could be more related with the presence of weak bonding sites.     

Molecular Diversity of Agriculturally Important Aspergillus Species

Although Aspergillus species are not usually considered as serious plant pathogens, Aspergilli are frequently encountered in plant products. The most important consequence of their presence is mycotoxin contamination. The main mycotoxins produced by Aspergilli are the aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and patulin, which are produced by a variety of Aspergillus species in different plant commodities. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster is useful for clarifying taxonomic relationships among toxigenic Aspergilli causing pre- and postharvest contamination of agricultural products. Molecular data has enabled us to clarify the taxonomy of black Aspergilli, A. flavus and its relatives, and sections Circumdati and Clavati, which include ochratoxin and patulin-producing species. Phylogenetically unrelated species were found to produce the same mycotoxins, indicating that mycotoxin-producing abilities of the isolates have been lost (or gained) several times during the evolution of the genus. The data also indicate that biosynthetic gene-based probes are necessary for molecular detection of these mycotoxin-producing organisms. The organisation of the biosynthetic genes of patulin and ochratoxins is unknown, although experiments are in progress in several laboratories to clarify the genetic background of biosynthesis of these mycotoxins. Identification of biosynthetic genes responsible for mycotoxin production is essential for clarifying the evolution of mycotoxin biosynthesis in Aspergilli, and to develop specific gene probes for the detection of mycotoxin-producing Aspergilli in agricultural products.     

Potential of nutrient reutilisation in combined intensive–extensive pond systems

The experiments on the intensive–extensive system were carried out between 2008 and 2010 in three ponds (area 310 m², depth 1 m) serving as extensive units, where cages were placed as an intensive units (volume 10 m³) one in each pond. In the intensive units, African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was cultured and fed with pellet whilst common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was stocked in each extensive unit and raised without any artificial feeding. Three different setups of extensive ponds were tested: the additional artificial plastic substrate for periphyton development equalled to 0, 100 and 200 % of the pond surface area (PP0 %, PP100 % and PP200 %) at feed loading level of 1.2, 1.9 and 2.8 gN m^?2 day^?1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The additional net fish yields in the extensive unit were 2.8–6.5 t ha^?1 in PP0 %, 5.1–8.1 t ha^?1 in PP100 % and 2.1–4.3 t ha^?1 in PP200 %. The nitrogen recovery in the additional fish yields of extensive ponds, expressed as the percentage of feed load, was 5.6–6.1, 6.8–10 and 2.1–6.1 % in the treatments PP0 %, PP100 % and PP200 %, respectively. The combined fish production resulted in higher protein utilisation by 22–26 %; even this ratio can be increased by 33–45 % with periphyton application.