In vitro activities of Maesa lanceolata extracts against fungal plant pathogens

In vitro tests were carried out using extracts of Maesa lanceolata var. goulungensis weir against a broad range of fungal plant pathogens such as Phytophthora cryptogea, Trichoderma virens, Aspergillus niger, Phoma sp., Fusarium oxysporium, Pythium ultimum, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii and Pyrenophora teres. M. lanceolata extracts were very active against all the pathogens tested except P. ultimum and R. solani.     

Quantifying stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to carbon assimilation resulting from leaf aging and drought in mature deciduous tree species

Gas exchange techniques were used to investigate light-saturated carbon assimilation and its stomatal and non-stomatal limitations over two seasons in mature trees of five species in a closed deciduous forest. Stomatal and non-stomatal contributions to decreases in assimilation resulting from leaf age and drought were quantified relative to the maximum rates obtained early in the season at optimal soil water contents. Although carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic capacity (V(cmax)) decreased with leaf age, decreases in V(cmax) accounted for about 75% of the leaf-age related reduction in light-saturated assimilation rates, with a secondary role for stomatal conductance (around 25%). However, when considered independently from leaf age, the drought response was dominated by stomatal limitations, accounting for about 75% of the total limitation. Some of the analytical difficulties associated with computing limitation partitioning are discussed, including path dependence, patchy stomatal closure and diffusion in the mesophyll. Although these considerations may introduce errors in our estimates, our analysis establishes some reasonable boundaries on relative limitations and shows differences between drought and non-drought years. Estimating seasonal limitations under natural conditions, as shown in this study, provides a useful basis for comparing limitation processes between years and species.     

Surface quality sensing of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) veneer products by near infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The potential of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate wood moisture content (MC), surface energy characteristics and adhesive bond strength were evaluated on aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) veneer subjected to different drying times. For samples dried progressively at 103°C, the best MC prediction model was for the total MC range (0–100%) with an R² value of 0.68. However, exposure at 180°C produced surface colour changes, and the CIE L*a*b* colour parameters measuring colour changes were better estimated using the 400–900 nm spectral data than the 1100–2400 nm spectral data. Increased exposure time at 180°C resulted in lower wettability and, hence, larger contact angles, especially when ethylene glycol was used as probe solvent. Lap shear strength tests on veneers showed that adhesion by phenol formaldehyde resins was impaired by the high temperature exposure; however, the lap shear strength test had high variability so there was not always a clear relationship between contact angle and lap shear strength test.     

Stream water quality and its influencing factor in lower order streams in upriver sections of Ashihe River

For understanding the reasons that caused the degradation of water quality in lower order streams, systematic sampling was conducted at different spatial locations aiong the low order streams （1 st-5th） of Ashihe River continuum in Maoershan Experimental Forest of Northeast Forestry University, Sharlgzhi City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The indexes of stream water quality, i.e., the pH, dissolved oxygen（DO）, turbidity, temperature, PO43-P, NO3-N and NH4^＋-N concentrations, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen （TDIN-N, including concentrations of NO3^＋-N and NH4^＋-N）, and total phosphorus （inorganic and organic phosphorous, TP） were measured and analyzed. The stream order, related environmental settings and land-use type were recorded for each sampling location. The indexes of stream water quality at different locations with different stream orders and land use types were compared by ANOVA analysis. The indexes of stream water quality at different sampling locations were analyzed by Hierarchical cluster analysis. Result showed that water quality had significant difference in different stream orders and land use types; some locations with different stream features （stream order and land use type） were grouped into same clusters, indicating that random disturbances produced the variations in water quality, which made the spatial variances of stream water quality inconsistent with the general rules.     

Planted forests: poplars

Poplars (Populus spp.) have been planted in Europe and Asia since very early times. Known in the Near East as the blessed tree, poplars have been the primary timber producer in regions lacking natural forests in the northern hemisphere. Now, though, we are seeing poplar plantations becoming part of the forest resources even in the abundantly forested Pacific Northwest. Though still a minor contributor to the world's timber supply, the area of land planted to poplars is, nevertheless, increasing rapidly, particularly in China, South Korea, and the United States. The 1992 report from the International Poplar Commission listed nineteen countries with at least 10,000 ha of planted poplars and seven with more than 100,000 ha. Much of the success of poplar plantations results from the breeding of fast-growing and disease-resistant poplar hybrids. Accordingly, at least eleven countries support poplar breeding programs. Uses of poplar wood range from peeled poles for rafters and other elements of construction in agrarian economies to the manufacture of paper, plywood, oriented strand board, and engineered lumber in industrial nations. Interest has also developed in poplar plantations as a renewable source of energy.     

The economic viability and potential of a novel poultry agroforestry system

Investigating agroforestry systems that incorporate poultry is warranted in Northern Europe as they may offer benefits including: improved welfare and use of range; reduced feed costs; price premia on products; reduced payback periods for forests; and, greater returns on investment. Free-range egg production accounts for 27% of the United Kingdom egg market and demand for outdoor broilers is increasing. No research has been conducted recently on the economic viability of agroforestry systems with poultry. An economic model was constructed to: assess economic viability of a broiler agroforestry system; and, investigate the sensitivity of economic performance to key factors and interactions, and identify those which warrant attention in research and management. The system modelled is a commercial trial established in Southern England in 2002 where deciduous trees were planted and broilers reared in six- or nine-week periods. The model uses Monte Carlo simulation and financial performance analyses run for a 120-year period. An Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 15.5% is predicted for the six-week system which remains viable under a ‘worst case’ scenario (IRR of 12.6%). Factors which affect financial performance most (decreasing in magnitude) are prices achieved for broilers, costs of brooding houses, chicks, arks, feed and timber prices. The main anticipated effects of biological interactions on financial performance (increased ranging on feed conversion and excess nutrient supply on tree health) were not supported by analysis. Further research is particularly warranted on the welfare benefits offered by the tree component and its relation to price premia.     

Hyadaphis tataricae (Ajzenberg), ein neuer Schädling in Mitteleuropa anLonicera tatarica L. und einigen anderenLonicera-Ziersträuchern (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Zusammenfassung Hyadaphis tataricae (Ajzenberg), ein ernstzunehmender Schädling anLonicera tatarica L. und auf dem europäischen Kontinent nach Westen vordringend, wurde zuerst im Jahre 1935 aus Moskau beschrieben. Seit 1959 ist die Blattlaus aus Polen bekannt, und im Jahre 1962 wurde sie zum ersten Mal westlich der Oder festgestellt. Im Jahre 1964 wurde sie an vielen Stellen im Stadtgebiet von Berlin, wo sie in einigen Fällen schwere Schäden verursachte, und außerdem in Rostock gefunden. Durch den Befall werden die Spitzen der Zweige zu großen, herabhängenden, verzweigten Gallen umgebildet.H. tataricae ist eine nicht wirtswechselnde Art, denn nahezu alle oviparen Weibchen sind die Nachkommen von Ungeflügelten. AußerL. tatarica kann auchL. bella Zabel stark geschädigt werden. Einige andere Formen vonLonicera spp. werden in geringerem Ausmaß befallen.Lonicera xylosteum L. wurde frei von Befall gefunden.

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Summary Hyadaphis tataricae (Ajzenberg), a heavy pest ofLonicera tatarica L. and spreading westward on the European continent, has been originally described in 1935 from Moscow. Since 1959 the aphid is known from Poland, and in 1962 it was noted for the first time west of the Oder. In 1964 it was found in many sites in the township Berlin, causing there in some cases severe damages, and also at Rostock. By the attack the tips of the branches are deformed to big hanging down and ramified galls.H. tataricae is a nonmigrating species, for nearly all oviparous females are the offspring of apterae. BesidesL. tataricae alsoL. bella Zabel may be heavily damaged. Some other forms ofLonicera spp. are infested to a minor extend.Lonicera xylosteum L. was not found to be attacked by the species.

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Sommaire Hyadaphis tataricae (Ajzenberg), une espèce extrêmement nuisible surLonicera tatarica L. et se répandant sur le continent européen vers l'occident, a été décrite originallement de Moscou en 1935. Depuis 1959, ce puceron est connu de Pologne, et en 1962 il fut découvert pour la première fois à l'ouest de l'Oder. En 1964, il fut trouvé dans des lieux nombreux dans le territoire de Berlin, où il faisait naître en plusieurs cas de grands dégâts, et de plus à Rostock. Par cette attaque, les bouts des ramaux sont déformés en grandes galles ramifiées pendant en bas.H. tataricae est une espèce sans changement d'hôte, car presque toutes les femelles ovipares son les descendants d'aptères. OutreL. tatarica, L. bella Zabel peut être détérioré gravement. Plusieurs autres formes deLonicera spp. sont attaquées d'un moindre degré.Lonicera xylosteum L. n'a pas été trouvé attaqué par le puceron.

     

Fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported functional health in men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk): a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported physical and mental functional health measured by an anglicised short-form 36-item questionnaire (UK SF-36). DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: General community in Norfolk, UK. SUBJECTS: A total of 16,792 men and women aged 40-79 years recruited from general practice population registers as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study, who completed food-frequency questionnaires in 1993-1997 and Health and Life Experiences Questionnaires 18 months later, were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Mean SF-36 physical component summary scores increased significantly with increasing total fruit and vegetable consumption in both men and women (P < 0.0001 for trend). Men and women in the top quartile of consumption compared with the bottom quartile had a significantly higher likelihood of reporting good physical health (defined as a score > or = 55); odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.53 for men and OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11-1.48 for women, after controlling for age, body mass index, smoking, education, social class, prevalent illness and total energy intake. Exclusion of current smokers and people with prevalent illness did not alter the associations. CONCLUSION: Higher fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with better self-reported physical functional health within a general population. Increasing daily intake by two portions of fruit and vegetables was associated with an 11% higher likelihood of good functional health. Since the current average consumption of fruit and vegetables in the UK is about three portions, the recommended 'five a day' strategy may have additional benefit for functional as well as other health outcomes in the population.     

Inhibitory activity on amyloid-beta aggregation and antioxidant properties of Crocus sativus stigmas extract and its crocin constituents

Crocus sativus stigmas are one of the widely known spices (saffron) and consist of unusually polar carotenoids. Alzheimer's disease is characterized pathologically by deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) fibrils. Oxidation is thought to promote Abeta fibril formation and deposition. To identify agents inhibiting the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, we examined in vitro the antioxidant properties of extract of C. sativus stigmas and its effect on Abeta(1-40) fibrillogenesis. The antioxidant properties were determined by measuring the ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity, while its effects on Abeta-aggregation and fibrillogenesis were studied by thioflavine T-based fluorescence assay and by DNA binding shift assay. The water:methanol (50:50, v/v) extract of C. sativus stigmas possesses good antioxidant properties, higher than those of tomatoes and carrots, and inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The main carotenoid constituent, trans-crocin-4, the digentibiosyl ester of crocetin, inhibited Abeta fibrillogenesis at lower concentrations than dimethylcrocetin, revealing that the action of the carotenoid is enhanced by the presence of the sugars. Our findings suggest the possible use of C. sativus stigma constituents for inhibition of aggregation and deposition of Abeta in the human brain.     

Serological testing—An alternative to boosters?

The issue of the duration of immunity, particularly for the modified live viral components of veterinary vaccines, has been a significant part of the recent vaccination debate. One manufacturer has increased the recommended booster interval for these components to 3 years give name and another now states 'up to 4 years' immunity. There remain many unanswered questions regarding this duration of immunity (DOI). Studies suitable for data sheet claims are time consuming and costly and can only be performed in laboratory dogs under tightly controlled conditions. Evidence from rabies serology testing in the UK shows that the response of individual animals to routine vaccination is highly variable. Much of the published field evidence on the persistence of antibody titres originates from North America, where vaccination strategies and reservoir species differ from Europe. Quantifying the effect of exposure to field virus on the maintenance of immunity in these studies is impossible, and little is known of the circulation of virus in unvaccinated dogs and wild mammals throughout Europe. If owners or vets are concerned about revaccination one option is to assess the need for each booster by performing a blood test. There is some published evidence of the relationship between antibody titres and protective immunity, and tests are available to measure responses to individual viral components of the routine canine and feline vaccines. It must be remembered that most commercial tests to assess immunity only measure antibodies, which are only one aspect of the immune response to vaccination. It is therefore possible that animals without or with low antibody titres are in fact protected. Serological tests are an option if owners are unwilling to have their animal boostered without evidence that it is needed. However, the cost of these tests is likely to exceed that of booster vaccination for the foreseeable future.