Dose–responses of zinc–methionine supplements on growth,blood metabolites and gastrointestinal development in sheep

The effects of zinc–methionine (Zn‐Met) supplementation on growth, blood metabolites and gastrointestinal development were investigated in two experiments with sheep. The objective of Experiment 1 was to determine the effects of Zn‐Met supplementation on hormones and metabolites involved in growth and energy balance regulation, while Experiment 2 aimed to determine the effects of Zn‐Met on feed intake, body weight, gastrointestinal development and liver glycogen concentration in lamb. The animals were assigned to groups with different concentrations of dietary Zn‐Met (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 g/day) in both experiments. In Experiment 1, feeding different doses of Zn‐Met increased plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) concentration, but it linearly decreased plasma growth hormone (GH). No differences were observed in blood cortisol, insulin and glucose concentrations among the treatments. In Experiment 2, addition of Zn‐Met to the diets did not lead to changes in the body weights of the lambs. Both average daily gain and dry matter intake (DMI) increased linearly with increasing concentrations of dietary Zn‐Met. Lambs receiving Zn‐Met showed higher liver glycogen concentrations than the control. While significant increases were observed in the villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum and jejunum as a result of Zn‐Met supplementation, no change was detected in blood glucose concentrations (p > 0.05). Our findings suggest that dietary Zn‐Met may improve growth, energy balance and gastrointestinal development in sheep.     

Fabrication and characterization of PET nanofiber hollow yarn

In this study, various concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymeric solution were investigated to produce hollow nanofiber yarn. First, the electrospining apparatus was designed in a way that to put PVA multifilament in the core and to twist PET nanofibers onto multifilament yarn as a sheath simultaneously, followed by dissolving PVA yarn in hot water, PET hollow nanofiber yarn was produced. In this survey, it has been observed that the average thickness of sheath increased by increasing concentrations of PET polymeric solution. Results showed that maximum efficiency of extracting the PVA multifilament from the hollow yarn under certain conditions (concentration of 18 % (w/v) of PET, applied voltage of 10 kV, and flow rate of 0.0526 ml/h) was more than 85 %. The mechanical and physical properties of PET hollow yarns were investigated and indicated that the hollow nanofiber yarns at concentration of 30 % and 18 % polymeric solution had the lowest strength and the highest regain moisture, respectively.     

The impact of mulch type on soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools in a sloping site

Three mulch treatments were tested for their ability to control erosion on a sloping site. Additionally, the choice of mulch can also enhance revegetation success and improve soil organic matter input. This study aimed to investigate the effects of three mulching treatments, hydro-seeding, granite mulch and forest mulch, on soil C and N pools at different positions on highly erodible slope with approximately 30 % gradient. Soil moisture, total C (TC), total N (TN), hot water-extractable organic C (HWEOC), hot water-extractable total N (HWETN), microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN), inorganic N and potentially mineralisable N were measured. All variables were significantly higher in soils amended with forest mulch than those with hydro-seeding and granite mulch, for the same slope positions. Soil moisture was significantly higher in the lower slope position than middle and upper slope positions in hydro-seeding and granite mulch treatments, whereas no slope effect was observed on soil moisture under the forest mulch application. In the forest mulch treatment, the upper slope position had higher soil TC, TN, HWEOC, HWETN, MBC, MBN, NO₃ ^?-N and total inorganic N than the middle and lower slope positions. Five years following mulch application, forest mulch still exerted a significant influence on soil fertility compared to the other treatments and the influence on soil moisture suggests that this treatment would be the most effective in the control of water-driven soil erosion on this steep site.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils from Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth

The supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the aerial parts of Perovskia atriplicifolia Benth. was studied. The effect of different parameters such as pressure, temperature, modifier identity, and modifier volume on the SFE of the plant was investigated. The extracts were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and compared with the essential oil obtained from P. atriplicifolia Benth by steam distillation. The supercritical extracts and the steam-distilled products had very different compositions. The main constituents of the oil obtained by steam distillation were 1,8-cineole, limonene, camphor, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, camphene, and alpha-humulene. On the other hand, the major components of SFE extracts were 1,8-cineole, limonene, camphor, beta-caryophyllene, gamma-cadinene, alpha-pinene, and alpha-terpinyl acetate. The results showed that increasing the temperature from 35 to 65 degrees C (at a constant pressure of 100 atm) drastically reduced the number of extracted components. Also, the number of extracted constituents and the percent of main analytes increased when lower pressures were used. Using different modifiers (e.g., methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane) for the extraction of the plant at low pressure (100 atm) and temperature (35 degrees C) showed that hexane was more selective than the other modifiers.     

Salt free reactive dyeing of cationized cotton

In this study 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride was used as a cationic agent to cationize cotton fabric by a pad-batch process. The cationized cotton samples were dyed with different reactive dyes containing various reactive groups. The dyeability of the cationized cotton samples with reactive dyes without salt was significantly improved due to an increase in the ionic attraction between the dye and cationized cotton. The results showed that the wash and dry rubbing fastness of the cationized cotton dyed with different reactive dyes are similar to those of the untreated cotton. However, the light fastness of some of the cationized fabric samples was improved.     

Effect of Zinc × Boron Interaction on Plant Growth and Tissue Nutrient Concentration of Corn

ABSTRACT

A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse on a calcareous soil (fine, mixed, mesic, Fluventic Haploxerepts) to study the interaction of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on the growth and nutrient concentration of corn (Zea mays L.). Treatments consisted of a factorial arrangement of seven levels of B (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg kg^{? 1}as boric acid), two sources of Zn [zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄ · 7H₂O) and zinc oxide (ZnO)], and three levels of Zn (0, 5, and 10 mg kg^{? 1}) in a completely randomized design with three replications. Plants were grown for 70 d in 1.6 L plastic containers. Applied Zn significantly increased plant height and dry matter yield (DMY) of corn. Source of Zn did not significantly affect growth or nutrient concentration. High levels of B decreased plant height and DMY. There was a significant B × Zn interaction on plant growth and tissue nutrient concentration which were rate dependent. In general, the effect of B × Zn interaction was antagonistic on nutrient concentration and synergistic on growth. It is recommended that the plants be supplied with adequate Zn when corn is grown in high B soils, especially when availability of Zn is low.     

Factors Influencing Consumers' Attitudes Toward Organic Agricultural Products

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing consumers' attitudes toward organic agricultural products. The study is correlational research. Results of regression analysis indicated that the variables of health awareness, knowledge of organic products, and consumers' motivations and age explained 32% of the changes in attitudes about organic products. The authors therefore recommend educational initiatives to increase knowledge and awareness and influence attitudes and consumption habits.     

Effect of different seed treatments on dormancy breaking and germination in three species in arid and semi-arid lands

Seeds of many woody plant species have one of several types of dormancy. They do not germinate unless specific environmental signals are in place or events occur. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of scarification treatments on seed dormancy and germination of Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del., Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. and Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. The following treatments were applied: T1, untreated seed (control); T2, sulphuric acid (97%) for 45 min; T3, boiling water for 5 min. The seeds were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium after sterilization. The responses of seeds to treatments were compared with each other and with the control treatment. Germination was observed daily for a 30-day period. Results indicated positive responses to treatments, while impermeable seed coats may be responsible for low germination rates in intact seeds as seen experimentally in the untreated control. The highest germination was obtained for P. juliflora and D. viscosa acid-scarified seeds (80.8%-90.8%) and for scarified seeds of A. nilotica (50.2%) boiled in water. The germination indices, i.e., final germination percentage (FG), mean daily germination (MDG) and germination rate (GR), were significantly affected by treatments and species (p<0.01).     

Effects of concentration and propagule age on the efficacy of gibberellic acid for breaking dormancy in potato minitubers

Summary

The effects of a post-harvest application of gibberellic acid (GA₃) at various concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, or 100 mg l^–1) and for different periods of incubation (1, 2, or 3 h) on the breaking of dormancy and on sprouting in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Marfona) minitubers of two ages (freshly-harvested or 1 week after harvest) were investigated. Compared with untreated, control minitubers, GA₃-treated minitubers showed a significantly shorter period of dormancy (46 d), especially when the minitubers were treated at all concentrations immediately after harvest (41 d). GA₃ treatment had a greater effect on dormancy in freshly-harvested minitubers than in 1 week-old minitubers, probably because of the reduced uptake of GA₃ solution after skin-set. At lower concentrations of GA₃, the period of dormancy tended to decrease the longer the minitubers were immersed in the GA₃ solution. In contrast, at higher concentrations of GA₃, the duration of immersion only had an effect up to 2 h and any longer immersion was ineffective. The average number of sprouts was not affected by GA₃ concentration, or by the time of incubation, but was significantly higher for freshly-harvested minitubers (1.4) than for 1 week-old minitubers (1.2). The lengths of the sprouts increased with an increase in GA₃ concentration, especially in freshly-harvested minitubers. Consequently, immersing freshly-harvested potato minitubers in a low concentration of GA₃ (up to 25 mg l^–1) for up to 3 h effectively shortened the period of dormancy and led to the formation of sprouts of optimum length.     

Tissue distribution of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus serotype Sp in naturally infected cultured rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum): an immunohistochemical and nested‐PCR study

This study investigates the occurrence and distribution pattern of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) within the pancreas, liver, kidney and spleen of naturally infected cultured rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), using immunohistochemistry (IHC). A nested PCR was also employed to confirm the presence of the virus in the pooled tissues of the specimens. All the examined tissues except spleen were immunohistochemically positive for IPNV, but staining intensity and distribution pattern varied. The kidney tubules had the most intense and widespread staining by IHC, indicating a specific tissue tropism at least for this particular serotype. The nucleotide sequence had the greatest identity with the Sp serotype confirming the presence of the nucleic acid of IPNV in the pooled tissues. Based on the present findings, it could be concluded that the absence of lesions consistent with infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) disease in the H&E‐stained sections cannot rule out the presence of the IPNV, and the use of an alternative rapid confirmatory method such as IHC with formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue sections is helpful for the final diagnosis of IPN in rainbow trout.