Pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes and determination of their concentrations in milk,allantoic fluid,and newborn plasma

The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes following a single oral dose and to determine the plasma concentrations of these compounds in milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma. Eighteen healthy ewes were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 each): pregnant ewes at 12–13 weeks of gestation (group A), nonpregnant ewes (group B), and pregnant ewes at 1–2 weeks before expected lambing date (group C). Ewes in all groups received a single oral dose of toltrazuril at 20 mg/kg body weight. In groups A and B, blood samples were collected at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18 hr, every 6 hr to day 3, every 12 hr to day 7 and thereafter every 24 hr to day 14 post-toltrazuril administration. In group C, parturition was induced 24–36 hr after toltrazuril administration then milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma samples were collected immediately after birth. Drug metabolites were assayed using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection method (UHPLC-UV). The maximum concentration (C_max), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_0–t), AUC to 24 and 48 hr (AUC_0–24), and (AUC_0–48) were significantly higher in pregnant ewes. Longer apparent half-life (T_1/2), significantly higher apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) and total clearance (Cl/F) were observed in nonpregnant ewes. The time to maximum plasma concentration (T_max), mean residence time (MRT) and elimination rate constant (K_el) were similar in both groups. The AUC_0–24 and AUC_0–48 were significantly higher in nonpregnant ewes. The AUC_0–t was significantly higher in pregnant ones. The ratio of plasma toltrazuril concentrations in ewes and toltrazuril concentrations in newborn lambs' plasma, allantoic fluid, and milk were 68%, 2.3%, and 5.3%, respectively. Results of this study showed that toltrazuril is well absorbed after a single oral dose in ewes with widespread distribution in different body tissues.     

Three-dimensional modelling of computed tomography images of limb bones in gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

The objective of the present study was to model in 3D the detailed morphometric features of the thoracic and pelvic limb bones of the gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), whose natural habitat is only in the Sanliurfa province, by using multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) images. Materials from 14 (7 male and 7 female) dead gazelles were collected from the Harran University Veterinary Medicine Faculty clinics during or after treatment. MDCT images of the gazelles were taken and saved as DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) files. MIMICS 20.1 software was used to generate a 3D reconstruction of the data, and morphological and morphometrical evaluation was performed. In respect of morphological features, the combined metacarpus (Mc) III and metacarpus Mc IV were the main weight-bearing metacarpal bone, while Mc II and Mc V were rudimentary. On the femur, the lateral condyle was bigger than the medial condyle at the caudodistal end and the medial wing of the trochlea femoris was larger than the lateral. As with the thoracic limb, the combined metatarsus (Mt) III and metatarsus Mt IV were the main weight-bearing metacarpal bone and they displayed a synostosis structure. There was no secondary metatarsus in the gazelles’ pelvic limb. Based on digital measurements, the tibia was the longest bone of the gazelles’ skeletal system, and there was a statistically significant sexual dimorphism throughout the skeleton at the levels of p < .05, p < .01 and p < .001. As a result, the present study's findings are useful as reference data for further studies on anatomy, surgery and archaezoology, while also being useful for classifying species and for forensic sciences.     

Long-term productivity growth and sustainability of Greek irrigated agriculture

The present study examines the long-term productivity growth and sustainability of Greek irrigated agriculture. A log linear trend model was used to measure long-term productivity growth, and the total factor productivity (TFP) approach measures the sustainability of the irrigated production system. A time series database of inputs and outputs data were used for the production period of 1961?–?2001 (41 years) which revealed that there is an increasing trend in the irrigated area of the country. The annual growth rate of the irrigated area is 2.6% during this time period. The long-term trends in yields of crops grown in irrigated agriculture are positive. Fertilizer use rate per ha sharply increases during this period. The productivity of irrigated Greek agriculture also increases over the time period as a result of the introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV), seed, fertilizer and water technology. The measurement of TFP indices indicates that the long-term trend in productivity growth of irrigated Greek agricultural system is positive. The result implies that the irrigated Greek agricultural production system has long-term sustainability. The result also indicates that fertilizer, fixed capital, rainfall and temperature are positively contributing to the mean production of Greek irrigated agriculture. On the other hand, pesticide, labour and fixed capital reduces variability of irrigated agriculture. To this end, long-term agricultural sustainability depends on patterns of input use.     

Absorption and emission of CO2 by ponded water of a paddy field

In the daytime, the CO₂ concentration in the air close to the water surface of a ponded paddy field was lowest and it increased with the distance above the water surface, while an inverse relation was observed in the nighttime. On the other hand, the pH of the ponded water changed significantly throughout a day and was expected to affect atmospheric CO₂ in the vicinity of the water surface, because the solubility of CO₂ in water depends on the pH. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the changes in the pH of the ponded water and the response of the CO₂ concentration in the air above the water. The pH of the ponded water of the paddy field increased in the daytime and decreased in the nighttime, so that the water was alkaline in the daytime and weakly acidic in the nighttime. We found that the daily changes in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration gradient almost corresponded to the daily changes in pH. The increase of the pH of the ponded water in the daytime was due to the absorption of dissolved CO₂ by photosynthetic bacteria and micro-algae within the ponded water. Furthermore, we compared the pH with RpH, defined as the pH at which the CO₂ concentration of the water is in equilibrium with that of the air, to determine whether CO₂ was absorbed by or emitted from the ponded water. In the daytime, the pH value of the ponded water was higher than that of the RpH, and the water could therefore absorb CO₂ , whereas during the nighttime, since the pH value of the ponded water was lower than that of the RpH, the water was expected to emit CO₂. These results show that the ponded water absorbed CO₂ from the air above the water surface in the daytime and emitted CO₂ in the nighttime.     

Comparative effects of osmotic and ionic stresses on yield and biomass accumulation in IR64 rice variety

In the present study, the comparative effects of osmotic and ionic stresses on rice growth and yield were investigated. The treatments consisted of 3-level combinations of osmotic stress and times: medium (-0.25 MOPa),and high stress (-0.52 MPa)'app0ied at the vegetative stage (7-21 d after transplanting, DAT)and reproductive stage (35-63 DAT, starting when the rice plant reached panicle initiation). NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used as sources of osmotic stress. Both sources applied at the vegetative and reproductive stages delayed flowering, maturity and reduced the total biomass compared with the controD.Na⁺ concentration in the plant increased with NaCl addition but not with PEG, indicating that the plants were also subjected to ionic stress besides osmotic stress. There was no significant difference in biomass accumulation and yield between the PEG- and NaCl-treatments,imdicating that the salinity effect was mainly due to osmotic stress.     

Effect of Extraction Variables on the Biodegradable Chelant-Assisted Removal of Toxic Metals from Artificially Contaminated European Reference Soils

Development of aminopolycarboxylate chelants (APCs) having enhanced biodegradability is gaining increasing focus to replace the EDTA and its homologs with those used widely for the ex situ treatment of contaminated soils and are potential eco-threats. The paper reports the chelant-assisted extraction of the toxic metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) from the metal-spiked European reference soils (Eurosoil 1 and Eurosoil 4) using biodegradable APCs, namely EDDS, GLDA, and HIDS. The effects of chelant-to-metal molar ratio, solution pH, and metal/chelant stability constants were evaluated, and compared with that of EDTA. The selectivity aptitude of the biodegradable chelants towards the toxic metals was assumed from the speciation calculations, and a proportionate correlation was observed at neutral pH. Pre- and post-extractive solid phase distributions of the target metals were defined using the sequential extraction procedure and dissolution of metals from the theoretically immobilized fraction was witnessed. The effect of competing species (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn) concentrations was proven to be minimized with an excess of chelant in solution. The highlight of the outcomes is the superior decontamination ability of GLDA, a biodegradable APC, at minimum chelant concentration in solution and applicability at a wide range of pH environments.     

Effect of Foliar Salicylic Acid Applications on Growth,Chlorophyll, and Mineral Content of Cucumber Grown Under Salt Stress

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid (SA) applications on growth, chlorophyll, and mineral content of cucumber grown under salt stress. The study was conducted in pot experiments under greenhouse conditions. Cucumber seedlings were treated with foliar SA applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mM). Salinity treatments were established by adding 0, 60, and 120 mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) to a base complete nutrient solution. The SA was applied with spraying two times as before and after transplanting. Salt stress negatively affected the growth, chlorophyll content and mineral uptake of cucumber plants. However, foliar applications of SA resulted in greater shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight as well as higher plants under salt stress. Shoot diameter and leaf number per plant increased with SA treatments under salt stress. The greatest chlorophyll content was obtained with 1.00 mM SA treatment in both saline and non-saline conditions. Leaf water relative content (LWRC) reduced in response to salt stress while SA raised LWRC of salt stressed cucumber plants. Salinity treatments induced significant increases in electrolyte leakage. Plants treated with foliar SA had lower values of electrolyte leakage than non-treated ones. In regard to nutrient content, it can be interfered that foliar SA applications increased almost all nutrient content in leaves and roots of cucumber plants under salt stress. Generally, the greatest values were obtained from 1.00 mM SA application. Based on these findings, the SA treatments may help alleviate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of cucumber.     

Dynamics of dissolved oxygen (DO) in ponded water of a paddy field

The transfer of heat and dissolved oxygen (DO) through water is important to understand the phenomenon of ponded water in a paddy soil. The heat from solar radiation is absorbed at the soil surface and transferred into the ponded water by convection. This study clarified the dynamics of DO, as well as the role of convection in water in DO transfer in the ponded water of a paddy field. DO concentration in the ponded water of a paddy field was measured in situ in the daytime and during the night. The results were confirmed in lab-scale model experiments. The DO concentration and temperature profiles in the ponded water of a lab-scale paddy field model were investigated under convective and non-convective conditions using solar radiation and infrared radiation, respectively. Under the ponded condition, solar radiation was absorbed at the soil surface whereas infrared radiation was absorbed at the water surface and thereby convective and non-convective conditions were generated, respectively. The diurnal variation in DO concentration was closely related to the intensity of solar radiation. Oxygen generation by micro-algae and its subsequent circulation by convection resulted in uniform DO concentration profiles, with super-saturated values in the ponded water in the daytime. Eventually oxygen was released to the atmosphere by deaeration until DO in water was depleted to the saturated level. During the night the oxygen moved from the atmosphere into the water surface by reaeration which depends on the oxygen deficit related to saturation. The oxygen deficit is caused by the respiration of microorganisms. The oxygen, that moved from the atmosphere to the water surface, was transferred to the soil surface by convection in the water layer. Thus convection plays an important role in the DO transfer in the ponded water of a paddy field. The DO dynamics is correlated with biological processes in the ponded paddy soil.     

The utility of Trichoderma spp. isolates to control of Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The invasive ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a serious pest of hazelnut in Turkey, which is...     

Potato apical leaf curl disease: current status and perspectives on a disease caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Potato apical leaf curl disease (PALCD) caused by a unique bipartite virus [tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV)] has emerged as a global threat....