Computed tomographic and radiographic morphometric study of cardiac and coelomic dimensions in captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva,Linnaeus, 1758) with varying body condition scores

This study aimed to assess radiographic and tomographic cardiac parameters, including width and length of the heart, and the ratio of heart width to coelom width of blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) with varying body condition scores. Thirty-five captive birds were included in the study and were allocated into one of three groups according to their respective body condition score: lean, ideal and obese. No differences were observed among the groups with regard to radiographic and tomographic measurements. Computed tomography enabled better identification of the structures of the cardiovascular system without interference from the overlying structures of the celomatic cavity observed in radiographic images. However, radiographic examinations should still be considered the standard screening method to identify cardiac alterations, such as increased or reduced organ dimensions. Standardizing the techniques and measurements performed in this study may serve as a basis for further research in the field.     

Anatomy,Morphometry and Radiography in the thoracic limb bones of the Patagonian Huemul Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus)

The aim of this study was to provide morphometric, anatomic and radiographic data of the thoracic limb bones of the Patagonian Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) including a functional interpretation of this, as a reference for clinical use, biomedical research and teaching purposes. Currently, the Patagonian huemul deer is in danger of becoming extinct due to multiple causes. Research carried out for its conservation has focused mainly on its ecology and pathology, leaving gaps in biological knowledge, which is basic and important for its comprehension. This study was conducted to reveal the gross osteology and radiology features of the thoracic limb bones of the Patagonian huemul deer. The osteological findings suggest the presence of powerful flexor muscles in the scapulohumeral and elbow joints, useful to cushion the jumps. Also, the principal nutrient foramen of Patagonian huemul differs in position with respect to domestic ungulates, which may be important to consider during surgical procedures. Finally, the radiographic data can provide new information about the tissue loading conditions in Patagonian huemul, so that this new knowledge can be of great importance for a better understanding of mechanically induced or adaptive changes in bone produced by habitat or other ecological phenomena.     

Seasonal Variation of the Proximate Composition,Mineral Content,Fatty Acid Profiles and Other Phytochemical Constituents of Selected Brown Macroalgae

The main objective was to determine the chemical, phytochemical, fatty acid and mineral profiles of three commercially relevant brown macroalgae (Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea and Ascophyllum nodosum) collected each season for two years off the west coast of Ireland. All the chemical, phytochemical, fatty acid and minerals analysed varied significantly depending on the macroalgal species, season and year of collection. Overall, the protein contents of macroalgae were negatively correlated with carbohydrate content. Protein (2–11%) was at its highest during winter and/or spring, decreasing to a minimum during summer and/or autumn. The three macroalgal species analysed in this study had clearly differentiated fatty acid profiles. The concentration of fatty acids was higher in A. nodosum compared with both Laminaria species. The mineral profile of the three macroalgal species was rich in essential metals, particularly Ca, Mg and P, while the levels of I were approximately 9- to 10-fold higher in both Laminaria spp. compared with A. nodosum. The levels of toxic metals (Cd, Hg and Pb) in all the macroalgal species studied were low in the current study; while the levels of total As were high (49–64 mg/kg DW macroalgae) compared with previous reports.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Water Extraction of Mastocarpus stellatus Carrageenan with Adequate Mechanical and Antiproliferative Properties

Ultrasound-assisted water extraction was optimized to recover gelling biopolymers and antioxidant compounds from Mastocarpus stellatus. A set of experiments following a Box–Behnken design was proposed to study the influence of extraction time, solid liquid ratio, and ultrasound amplitude on the yield, sulfate content, and thermo-rheological properties (viscoelasticity and gelling temperature) of the carrageenan fraction, as well as the composition (protein and phenolic content) and antiradical capacity of the soluble extracts. Operating at 80 °C and 80 kHz, the models predicted a compromise optimum extraction conditions at ~35 min, solid liquid ratio of ~2 g/100 g, and ultrasound amplitude of ~79%. Under these conditions, 40.3% carrageenan yield was attained and this product presented 46% sulfate and good mechanical properties, a viscoelastic modulus of 741.4 Pa, with the lowest gelling temperatures of 39.4 °C. The carrageenans also exhibited promising antiproliferative properties on selected human cancer cellular lines, A-549, A-2780, HeLa 229, and HT-29 with EC₅₀ under 51.9 μg/mL. The dried soluble extract contained 20.4 mg protein/g, 11.3 mg gallic acid eq/g, and the antiradical potency was equivalent to 59 mg Trolox/g.     

Spray Drying of Chitosan Acid Salts: Process Development,Scaling Up and Physicochemical Material Characterization

We investigated a spray drying process for preparing water-soluble salts of high molecular weight chitosan (CH) intended for pharmaceutical excipient applications. CH was derived from chitin of marine lobster origin (Panulirus argus). The effects of organic acid (acetic or lactic acid) and the ratio (difference) of inlet/outlet air temperature (140/90 °C or 160/100 °C) on spray drying were studied. The yield of spray-dried CH salt powders ranged from 50% to 99% in laboratory and industrial-scale processes. The spray-dried dry powder of CH salts consisted of spherical agglomerated particles with an average diameter of 36.2 ± 7.0 µm (CH acetate) and 108.6 ± 11.5 µm (CH lactate). After dispersing the spray-dried CH salt powder samples in purified water, the mean particle sizes obtained for the CH acetate salts were 31.4 nm (batch A001), 33.0 nm (A002) and 44.2 nm (A003), and for the CH lactate salts 100.8 nm (batch L001), 103.2 nm (L002) and 121.8 nm (L003). The optimum process conditions for spray drying were found: an inlet air temperature of 160 ± 5 °C, an outlet temperature of 100 ± 5 °C and an atomizer disk rotational speed of 18,200 min⁻¹. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results confirmed the amorphous state of the CH salts. The ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of CH acetate and lactate salts verified that the spray drying process does not affect the polymer backbone. In conclusion, both laboratory and industrial-scale spray drying methods for preparing water-soluble acid salts of CH are reproducible, and the physicochemical properties of the corresponding CH acid salts are uniform.     

Nitrogen Uptake and Allocation in Sweet Viburnum During a Root Growth Flush

Most woody ornamentals exhibit episodic growth flushes and nitrogen (N) uptake has also been demonstrated to be seasonal. However, there is little information on N uptake in relationship to plant growth cycle. In this study, N uptake and allocation of sweet viburnum during periods of low and high root elongation rates were studied. Plants were fertilized with ammonium nitrate (¹⁵NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃) and after 6 d N absorption was determined. Significantly more N was absorbed by plants with low root elongation rate compared with plants with high root elongation rate. About 70% of the N absorbed by plants with low root elongation rate was allocated to the mature leaves compared to 35% on plants with high root elongation rate. It was evident that root growth activity influenced N absorption and allocation. Although only a small amount of the N absorbed by plants with low root elongation rates was allocated to the immature leaves, significantly more N was allocated to the immature leaves by plants with high root elongation rates. It is possible that the N necessary to support immature leaf growth, when root elongation rate is low, is provided by mobilization from other parts, possibly mature leaves.     

Utilization of MSW Compost In Nursery Stock Production

This three year study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost as a soil amendment or a mulch to suppress weeds in the production of field grown nursery stock. In the soil amendment experiment, compost was applied at the rates of 0, 56, and 112 t/ha and incorporated into the soil prior to planting. In the mulch/weed control experiment, 224 t/ha of compost was applied to one set of plots as a mulch after planting and compared to plots treated with herbicide and untreated controls. Each plot in both experiments contained four rows with one each of red maple (Acer rubrum L.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and pin oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh.). Mortality and weed counts were determined during the first growing season. Annual measurements of crown height, crown width, and caliper (at the 1 foot level) were made the following three winters. Two inches of compost mulch (224 t/ha) provided adequate weed control only in the first year. Mowing suppressed the weeds that invaded the plots beyond the first year. For maples, first year mortality in plots mulched with 224 t/ha compost or amended with 112 t/ha compost was significantly less than unamended controls. In subsequent years, the mulched maples grew more than trees in the unamended controls. In the plots amended with 56 or 112 t/ha compost, sugar maples had increased height, canopy, and caliper growth compared to the unamended controls. The hearty pin oak saplings survived transplanting and there was a significant increase in caliper growth in plots amended with 112 t/ha (1 inch) of compost. Mortality of white pine increased when mulched with 224 t/ha compost. Increased mortality was most likely due to high concentrations of ammonium and soluble salts in the immature compost. Beyond the first year, there were no negative impacts on the growth of white pine from any of the compost treatments.     

Applying Leaf Compost to Reduce Fertilizer Use In Tomato Production

For two consecutive years, one-inch (50 T/A) of leaf compost was applied to plots on a sandy terrace soil (Windsor, Connecticut) and a loamy upland soil (Mt. Carmel, Connecticut). These compost-amended plots were fertilized with 10-10-10 (N-P₂O_5-K₂O) at three rates: 0, 650 (half), 1300 (full) lb/A and cottonseed meal at a rate of 2166 lb/A. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) yield from compost-amended plots were compared to yield from unamended control plots fertilized with 1300 lb 10-10-10/A. In both years, at both sites, plots only amended with compost had yields equivalent to the fertilized control plots. In both years, the greatest yields at Mt. Carmel were from plots amended with compost and the full rate of inorganic fertilizer. In the second year, yields from compost-amended plots fertilized at half the rate were equivalent to compost-amended plots fertilized at full rate. The yields from the organic plots were similar to the control plots the first year and to plots amended with compost and half the rate of fertilizer the second year. At Windsor, the greatest yields for both years were from plots amended with compost and the full rate of fertilizer. The compost-amended plots fertilized with cottonseed meal produced the lowest yields, both years. Cumulative effects of compost on soils were measured by increases in pH and organic matter percentage at both sites. Tomato fruit in plots amended with compost and no fertilizer developed less blossom-end rot than fruit in all other treatments.     

Chemical control of pink rot of potato (Phytophthora erythroseptica PethyB.)

Field trials have been carried out for seven years to control pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica) at the International Potato Center (CIP). This disease has been a serious problem in the maintenance of a germplasm collection at the CIP’s Experimental Station at Huancayo, Peru (3300 m.a. s.l.). Pink rot annually causes serious loss of germplasm accessions, particularly diploid cultivars. Protective and systemic soil fungicides and soil fumigation with Basamid (Dazomet 98%) did not diminish the incidence of pink rot. Ridomil 5G (Metalaxyl 5%) applied at planting time with a preplanting fumigant reduced disease incidence from 31% of infected tubers to around 1%. Optimum control and yield increase were achieved by using Basamid at 300 kg/ha + Ridomil 5G at 30 kg/ha.     

Field screening for resistance to potato smut in Peru

Field trials carried out between 1982 and 1984 to evaluate potato clones and cultivars for their resistance to potato smut indicated that from a total of 179 accessions tested seven were resistant during the three-year tests. Five accessions were resistant during two consecutive trials but then there were not enough tubers available for a retest for the third time. Accessions that were resistant during the three consecutive field trials included Peruvian cultivars Cuzco, Mariva, Mi Peru, Participación and Revolución, and CIP’s clones 376181.5 and 6956.52.