Visible quantum cutting in LiGdF4:Eu3+ through downconversion

For mercury-free fluorescent lamps and plasma display panels, alternative luminescent materials are required for the efficient conversion of vacuum ultraviolet radiation to visible light. Quantum cutting involving the emission of two visible photons for each vacuum ultraviolet photon absorbed is demonstrated in Eu3+-doped LiGdF4 with the concept of downconversion. Upon excitation of Gd3+ with a high-energy photon, two visible photons can be emitted by Eu3+ through an efficient two-step energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+, with a quantum efficiency that approaches 200 percent.     

Evidence against hydrogen-based microbial ecosystems in basalt aquifers

It has been proposed that hydrogen produced from basalt-ground-water interactions may serve as an energy source that supports the existence of microorganisms in the deep subsurface on Earth and possibly on other planets. However, experiments demonstrated that hydrogen is not produced from basalt at an environmentally relevant, alkaline pH. Small amounts of hydrogen were produced at a lower pH in laboratory incubations, but even this hydrogen production was transitory. Furthermore, geochemical considerations suggest that previously reported rates of hydrogen production cannot be sustained over geologically significant time frames. These findings indicate that hydrogen production from basalt-ground-water interactions may not support microbial metabolism in the subsurface.     

Deaths in sheep exported by sea from Western Australia - analysis of ship Master''s reports

Mortality reports were studied for 181 shipments of live sheep from Western Australia to the Middle East and Singapore in 1985 and 1986. Samples of pelleted feed for 93 shipments were analysed for quality. Overall death rate in the 6.46 million sheep exported in the period of the study was 2.18%. In sheep bound for the Middle East, most of the deaths occurred during the voyage (overall rate 1.7%, range 0.4-4.4% per shipment), although substantial mortality was recorded during discharge (rate 0.4%, range 0.0-1.8%). There were few deaths during loading (rate 0.07%, range 0.0-0.8%). Deaths in sheep bound for Singapore were almost 10-fold lower than those sent to the Middle East. Several findings suggested that ship design and management may contribute to mortality. Death rates were invariably low on some ships and often high on others. Death rates were nearly always higher in enclosed decks than in open decks on 4 vessels, and point epidemics of mortality were observed in several shipments. Temperature and relative humidity measured on the ship's bridge were not closely related to daily death rate. Antibiotics estimated to cost $226,000 were used during 33 voyages in 1986 and were considered of dubious efficacy on shipboard mortality. Analysis of feed pellets used on ship showed that the quality of the diet was within the range set by draft national standards for pellets used in the live sheep export industry.     

Johne's disease in alpacas (Lama pacos) in Australia

SUMMARY: Johne's disease was diagnosed in 10 alpacas ( Lama pacos ) in Australia between February 1993 and May 1994. Eight of the animals were between 12 and 24 months of age, one was a 6-year-old female, and one was a 4-year-old male. Five, including the 6-year-old and the 4-year-old alpacas, showed weight loss and diarrhoea before death or slaughter. The other cases showed no clinical signs of Johne's disease but 4 gave a positive result on faecal culture and one gave a positive result on testing with the caprine ACID assay and had acid-fast organisms in its faeces. At necropsy, all cases had grossly enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Johne's disease was diagnosed after histological examination of the lymph nodes with conventional culture and polymerase chain reaction testing of tissue samples. This report outlines the clinical, epidemiological, and pathological findings in these cases.     

Sugarbeet tolerance and weed control efficacy with split applications of phenmedipham plus desmedipham

Sugarbeet and weeds were treated with phenmedipham plus desmedipham either as single applications or as split applications in which 50% of the equivalent single application rate was applied at each application. Split application did not alter the phytotoxicity to the crop when environmental conditions did not predispose the Sugarbeet to injury by the herbicide. Split applications at 1-1 or 1-4 kg ha^?1 spaced from 0-5 to c. 5 days apart caused more injury to the crop than the respective single applications when environmental conditions were such that injury to the crop resulted from the single applications. Injury to Sugarbeet following application of 0-72 kg ha^?1 of phenmedipham plus desmedipham was always low, regardless of the type of application. Susceptible weeds were controlled by single applications of 1 1-1 ?4 kg ha^?1, but 0-72 kg ha^?1 did not reliably provide adequate control. Split applications c. 3-8 days apart gave improved control. Control achieved by 0-72 kg ha^?1 of the herbicide applied as split treatments equalled or exceeded that produced by single applications of 1-4 kg ha^?1. Improvement in the control of tolerant weed species by split applications of phenmedipham plus desmedipham was species dependent. Use of low-rate split applications of phenmedipham plus desmedipham thus resulted in reduced injury to the Sugarbeet, and the introduction of less herbicide into the ecosystem, while maintaining or improving the control of susceptible weeds.     

THE ABSORPTION,TRANSLOCATION AND METABOLISM CHARACTERISTICS OF 4-(2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY)BUTYRIC ACID IN BIGLEAF MAPLE*

Summary. Detached leaves treated with 2,4-DB were used to demonstrate that the foliage of Acer macrophyllum Pursh. possesses the enzyme systems necessary for oxidation of the 2,4-DB side chain. Absorption and translocation studies showed that 2,4-DB was absorbed less but translocated more than some other phenoxy herbicides which have been tested on this species. Studies with excised stem phloem and excised roots showed that different plant tissues are not equally capable of decarboxylating 2,4-DB. An experiment with intact plants established that 2,4-DB was translocated unchanged, and that the primary product of the oxidation of 2,4-DB is 2,4-D. The results are discussed with respect to the translocation characteristics of this herbicide in bigleaf maple. Caractères de l'absorption, de la migration et du métabolisme de l'acide 4-(2,4-dichlorophénoxy) butyrique dans l'érable a grandes feuilles     

Lythrum hyssopifolia (lesser loosestrife) poisoning of sheep in Victoria

Objective To document an ovine disease attributed to the consumption of Lythrum hyssopifolia (lesser loosestrife). Procedures Historical and histological review of field and experimental cases. Results 1–20% mortality occurred in sheep flocks grazing paddocks where L. hyssopifolia was the predominant green vegetation. Well‐documented disease outbreaks occurred in summer on nine farms across Victoria between 1974 and 2002. Liver damage occurred in all nine outbreaks, with kidney damage in at least eight. Hepatocyte necrosis was usually zonal to midzonal (zone 2) in the liver samples from four farms and periacinar (zone 3) in those from three farms, but some livers showed only single‐cell necrosis. Multinucleate hepatocytes near necrotic areas were a feature in six cases. Proximal tubular epithelium appeared to be the primary renal target and brown granules were often present in renal tubules. Biochemical and histological evidence of liver and kidney damage was obtained from two sheep experimentally pen‐fed harvested L. hyssopifolia. Conclusion Chemicals in L. hyssopifolia are toxic to ovine hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells.     

THE METABOLISM OF A SERIES OF CHLOROPHEN-OXYALKYL ACID HERBICIDES IN BIGLEAF MAPL. E,ACER MACROPHYLLUM PURSH.*

Summary. Studies of the metabolism characteristics of 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, dichlorprop and fenoprop were made to gain a better understanding of the differential response of a woody Plant, big leaf maPl. e, to certain phenoxy-type herbicides. In one test in which detached leaves were used, it was established that decarboxylation is not an important detoxification mechanism in treated foliage. This same test showed the phenoxyacetic herbicides to be more stable than the α-phenoxypropionic herbicides in treated leaves. In intact Plants 2,4,5-T was consistently more stable than 2,4-D, but the relative amount of metabolism of the herbicides varied with the Plant part. The results are discussed with respect to the differential response of bigleaf maPl. e. Métabolisme d'une série d'herbicides du groupe des acides chlorophénoxyalkylés dans l'érable à grandes feuilles Acer macrophyllum Pursh.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of the palmar aspect of the equine podotrochlear apparatus: normal appearance

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of the palmar structures of the equine podotrochlear apparatus by means of retrospective evaluation of MR imaging studies of 16 cadaver limbs. The articular aspect of the distal sesamoid bone was not evaluated in this study. Equine digits were imaged with a human knee radiofrequency coil in a 1.5 T magnetic field, using spin echo (SE) T1-weighted, turbo spin echo proton density (TSE PD)-weighted with and without fat saturation (FS), and FS TSE T2-weighted sequences. The limbs were dissected after imaging to validate the absence of gross abnormalities of the flexor aspect of the distal sesamoid bone, of the deep digital flexor tendon, and the distal impar sesamoidean ligament. Seven deep digital flexor tendons were subjected to histologic examination to exclude any microscopic tendon pathology. The anatomic structures of the podotrochlear apparatus were easily identified on MR images. Compact bone of the flexor cortex of the distal sesamoid bone had low intensity signal on all sequences. In 11 digits an increased signal was seen within the thickness of the sagittal eminence of the flexor cortex in SE T1-weighted images and in TSE PD-weighted images without FS. Trabecular bone had a granular appearance and high signal in SE T1-weighted sequences and TSE images without FS. The deep digital flexor tendon had low signal on FS T2-weighted images, while on short echo time sequences (T1- and PD-weighted sequences), the tendon signal varied depending on the relative orientation between its fibers and the static magnetic field. Seven tendons had stippled appearance due to small intratendonous foci of slightly increased signal on transverse T1-weighted images. MR imaging provides a thorough evaluation of the anatomical structure of the podotrochlear apparatus: A good knowledge of the MR imaging appearance and anatomy and an awareness of potential pitfalls will improve diagnostic specificity for the detection of pathologic changes.