A Rapid General Method for Appraising the Rheological Properties of the Starchy Endosperm of Cereal Grains

A rapid, simple method was developed to prepare small, parallelepipedal test samples of endosperm of wheat, corn, and rice grains. Compression tests performed on endosperm samples revealed the following mechanical properties: modulus of elasticity (E, GPa), breaking stress (σ_rup, MPa), and maximum breaking strain (∊_rup, %). All tests were performed on several endosperm test samples of each cereal species. The results displayed good repeatability and several significant differences in the mechanical behavior of different endosperm structures, especially among soft, hard, and durum wheats. Rice and corn endosperm displayed mechanical behavior similar to that of durum wheat endosperm. The method proposed appears to be sufficiently sensitive and repeatable for studying the incidence of hardness and vitreousness of cereal grain endosperm in relation to its suitability for milling.     

First detection of Deformed wing virus of honeybees in Algeria

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is reported for the first time in honeybee colonies in Algeria.     

Visualising the premature brain using 17.6 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a 17.6 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) microscope to determine external and internal structures and three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering of premature bovine brain tissue. Two bovine embryos (Carnegie-stages 16 and 21) were examined. 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with a high field MR-scanner at a field strength of 17.6 Tesla. Images with isotropic nominal resolutions up to 39.1 μm were acquired. The MR images corresponded very well with histological slices. 3D virtual models of the embryonic brain were easily produced in a relatively short time and the high field scanner provided highly detailed images of formalin fixed brain tissue. Manual segmentation and automatic volume rendering is a valuable tool for the fast generation of 3D brain models and, to some degree, can replace conventional techniques in comparative embryology.     

Genetic control of some polymeric glutenin fractions in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Reciprocal crosses were made between seven different hexaploid wheat genotypes. Hybrid kernels and their parents were used to determine the amount of polymeric glutenin fractions by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromotography (SE-HPLC) analysis. Quantitative aspects of the genetic control for various glutenin fractions were investigated through diallel cross analysis. The association between the potential effect on hexaploid wheat quality of various allelic types and the quantitative expression of the polymeric glutenin fractions was confirmed. Significant average heterosis effects were demonstrated for insoluble glutenin (pFi), total soluble and insoluble glutenin (pF1 + pF2 + pFi) and the ratio of soluble to insoluble glutenin, (pF1 + pF2)/pFi. Some genotypes showed significant positive or negative combining abilities and general reciprocal effects for the glutenin fractions studied. For gluten quality, ‘Qualital’ was the best combiner for determining an optimal glutenin composition (high values for pFi and pF1 + pF2 + pFi and low values for pF1/pF2 and (pF1 + pF2)/pFi, respectively). These results should be of great interest in breeding programmes aimed at improving hexaploid wheat quality.     

Impacts of Irrigation with Water Containing Heavy Metals on Soil and Groundwater – A Simulation Study

This research work intended to study the impacts of irrigation water containing various levels of copper, lead, and zinc on adsorption capacity of soil packed in 4′′ plastic columns and obtained from two locations around the city of Nablus: Salem (A) and Deir Sharaf (B). Results of simulation experiments showed an increase in the copper, lead, and zinc concentrations in soil and in leachate with increasing the amount of metal in irrigation water. Copper, lead, and zinc concentrations increased also with soil depth and duration of application. The results also indicate that the self purification of both soils was highly affected by physical factors, i.e. the intermittent application of irrigation water to the soils in the columns caused soil wetting and drying cycles whichresulted in the formation of cracks in shrinked soils specially in the top half of the columns. Crack formation is common in such clay soils due to the climatic conditions (Mediterranean type: dry summers and wet winters) and type of clay minerals in the soil. Thus, short circuiting of water through cracks results in moving contaminants fast and deep in the soil profile.     

Cortisol Circadian Rhythm Ratio: A Simple Method to Detect Stressed Horses at Higher Risk of Colic?

With the hypothesis that police horses with abnormal cortisol circadian rhythm (CCR) had more chance to develop colic, the aim of this study was to determine the CCR ratio in horses subjected to different housing and work conditions and to associate abnormal CCR ratio with incidence of colic. A total of 116 police horses belonging to four different groups were studied. In all, 31 were full-time stabled and performed urban patrolling activity, 27 were full-time stabled and performed equine therapy and sports activities, 25 were part-time stabled and performed urban patrolling, and 33 animals were kept full-time on pasture and did not perform any kind of work activity. Venous blood samples were collected between 6 and 7 am and also 8 hours later, and cortisol concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay to calculate the CCR ratio. Annual colic incidences (6 months before and after the day on which CCR ratio was determined) were assessed by examining individual medical files. The overall incidence of abnormal CCR ratio (<0.30) was 63.3%, and 107 cases of colic were reported for this population with a mean incidence of 0.92 colic/horse/yr. Horses with abnormal CCR had 2.3 times more chance to have colic (95% CI: 1.07 to 5.28, P = .03) when compared with those with normal CCR. In conclusion, high incidence of abnormal CCR ratio indicates that police horses were under stressful conditions. Horses with abnormal CCR ratios were more prone to suffer colic episodes, indicating that CCR ratio determination could perhaps be useful in detecting horses at risk of colic.     

Ultrahigh-Resolution X-ray Tomography

Ultrahigh-resolution three-dimensional images of a microscopic test object were made with soft x-rays collected with a scanning transmission x-ray microscope. The test object consisted of two different patterns of gold bars on silicon nitride windows that were separated by approximately 5 micrometers. Depth resolution comparable to the transverse resolution was achieved by recording nine two-dimensional images of the object at angles between -50 and +55 degrees with respect to the beam axis. The projections were then combined tomographically to form a three-dimensional image by means of an algorithm using an algebraic reconstruction technique. A transverse resolution of approximately 1000 angstroms was observed. Artifacts in the reconstruction limited the overall depth resolution to approximately 6000 angstroms; however, some features were clearly reconstructed with a depth resolution of approximately 1000 angstroms.