Resistance of bamboo scrimber against white-rot and brown-rot fungi

ABSTRACT

Bamboo scrimber is one of the most emerging structural materials for future building applications and it possesses properties comparable to other natural wood-based engineered materials such as glulam, laminated veneer lumber and cross-laminated timber. The goal of this work was to study the decay resistance of bamboo scrimber against white-rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown-rot fungi (Serpula lacrymans). Bamboo scrimber samples were incubated in petri dishes with the wood-decaying fungi and the weight loss after 12 weeks was measured. The surface morphology of fungal-degraded bamboo scrimber was evaluated using optical microscopy. Based on the percentage weight loss, bamboo scrimber could be classified as highly resistant against bio-deterioration by white and brown-rot fungi.     

Determination of Plant-Available Nutrients in Two Wood Ashes: The Influence of Combustion Conditions

Wood ashes were traditionally used as a fertilizing agent from the very beginning of working land but the fertilizing quality varies according to the combusted biomass and also the industrial burning equipment. The differences between wood ash originated from fluid and classic boiler were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Mehlich 3 and deionized water extraction procedures in relation to extraction time. The results, especially of the SEM and chemical extractions, have demonstrated that the type of burning boiler determines the portions of the leachable nutrient elements. The silica and alumina ash content conducted by the elevated temperature transforms the main proportion of calcium and potassium into the insoluble feldspars. Due to this effect only a small amount of nutrients could be released and served as a fertilizing matter.     

Cryptosporidium scrofarum n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa)

We describe the morphological, biological, and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium pig genotype II and propose the species name Cryptosporidium scrofarum n. sp. to reflect its prevalence in adult pigs worldwide. Oocysts of C. scrofarum are morphologically indistinguishable from C. parvum, measuring 4.81–5.96 μm (mean = 5.16) × 4.23–5.29 μm (mean = 4.83) with a length to width ratio of 1.07 ± 0.06 (n = 400). Oocysts of C. scrofarum obtained from a naturally infected pig were infectious for 8-week-old pigs but not 4-week-old pigs. The prepatent period in 8-week-old Cryptosporidium-naive pigs was 4–6 days and the patent period was longer than 30 days. The infection intensity of C. scrofarum in pigs was generally low, in the range 250–4000 oocysts per gram of feces. Infected pigs showed no clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis and no pathology was detected. Cryptosporidium scrofarum was not infectious for adult SCID mice, adult BALB/c mice, Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha), yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), or guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rRNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 gene sequences revealed that C. scrofarum is genetically distinct from all known Cryptosporidium species.     

Investigation on hydrostatic resistance and thermal performance of layered waterproof breathable fabrics

Waterproof breathable layered fabrics allow water vapor passing through, but resist liquid water to pass. This ability of the fabrics to protect rain and snow water while allowing sweat vapor to evaporate from inside to outside atmosphere, leads them to be used as outdoor sportswear or protective clothing. The big challenge of enhanced hydrostatic resistance of these fabrics with proper breathability and thermal comfort has widened the research scope. This study presents an experimental investigation on hydrostatic resistance and thermal behavior of layered waterproof breathable fabrics. Six different types of hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane laminated layered fabrics were evaluated by varying different fabric parameters in the experiment. Hydrostatic resistance and water vapor permeability of the laminated fabrics were measured by SDL ATLAS Hydrostatic Head Tester and PERMETEST respectively. Thermal properties were evaluated by ALAMBETA instrument. Moreover, FX-3300 air permeability tester was used to measure air permeability which represents the porosity of the fabrics and computer based See System software was used for water contact angle measurement on the outer fabric surface in order to determine the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. This experiment clearly discusses the influence of different fabric characteristics and parameters on hydrostatic resistance and thermal properties of the breathable laminated fabrics. The results show that fabric material composition, density, thickness, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic membranes have significant effects on hydrostatic resistance, breathability and thermal properties of different laminated fabrics.     

Discrimination of cheese products for authenticity control by infrared spectroscopy

Quality and authenticity control serve as the customers' and manufacturers' insurance, and thus the development of analytical tools providing these tasks represents an important step of each product development. The control of authenticity in food manufacturing is even more important due to the direct influence of its products on the health of the population. This study sought to develop an easy to use and robust method for the authenticity control of cheese products. The method is based on the measurement of infrared spectra of the gas phase obtained by heating of selected cheese under controlled conditions. Two different procedures, that is, treatment of samples in a desiccator and their freeze-drying, were compared, and also various temperatures and heating times were studied. It was found that suitable fingerprint infrared spectra can be obtained by both techniques; however, freeze-drying offered faster analysis times. The sample heating temperature and time were evaluated using advanced statistical approaches, and it was found that suitable results could be obtained using 120 °C heating for 90 min. This method was tested for the authenticity control of two cheese families, Tvaruzky and Romadur, for which four cheese products were evaluated and successfully discriminated for each family. This method can be potentially used as a cheap and easy to use alternative to other commercially available options.     

The effect of fungicidal treatment on selected quality parameters of barley and malt

Protection of barley grain against contamination by fungi such as Fusarium spp., particularly by those producing mycotoxins, secondary metabolites with adverse health effects, is of principal importance. Fungicides applied immediately after full heading of spring barley is one method of direct protection. In this work, extensive two-year field experiments combined with a detailed chemical laboratory analysis (barley and malt) were performed with the aim to study the effect of previous crops, different fungicides, and other conditions on the selected barley and malt quality parameters (content of beta-glucans, pentosans, oxalic acid, deoxynivalenol, and gushing), while the main task was to follow the effect of the fungicide (used as a treatment to protect against pathogens, mostly Fusarium) on changes of the chemical composition in barley and malt, and gushing. It was found that the relationship between the studied factors and the parameters usually applied to the evaluation of barley and malt quality is quite complex and not straightforward. The responses show typical features of a multifactorial influence with both positive and negative correlations resulting in a decrease or increase in grain quality (concentrations of beta-glucans, pentosans, deoxynivalenol, and other studied parameters). The role of previous crops was also found to be important. The fungicides should be applied at the time of heading but not at the very beginning of this period.     

Growth, healthy status and seed production of differently aged allochtonous and autochtonous Pinus mugo stands in the Giant Mts. over 30 years

Plant communities with Dwarf pine (Pinus mugo var. pumilio) form characteristic vegetation in the subalpine belt of the Giant Mountains (Krkono?e, Karkonosze and Riesengebirge, Czech Republic). This “island” of arcto-alpine tundra represents the northernmost edge of Dwarf pine natural range. We asked how concentration of sulphur in needles, growth, healthy status and fructification changed over three decades (1981–2011) with different air pollution in differently aged (45–120 years) autochtonous and allochtonous (introduced from the Alps) Dwarf pine stands. Different Dwarf pine stands above the alpine timberline were able to withstand 1980s, the period of heavy air pollution, without any decrease in growth rate or remarkable decrease in healthy status. Dwarf pine is thus highly tolerant to deposition of sulphur compounds. High concentration of SO₂ in the air positively affected sulphur concentration in needles and eliminated thus sulphur deficiency. Higher germination rate of seeds in 2000s in comparison with 1980s indicate that the air pollution could decrease germination ability of seeds. High insect outbreaks (by Thecodiplosis brachyntera and Neodiprion sertifer) in 1990s and 2000s caused decrease in needle year classes. As there was a gradual increase in mean annual temperature over years 1981–2011, Dwarf pine stands can be more and more endangered by insect outbreaks in the future. There was no remarkable difference between autochtonous and allochtonous stands in all measured growth, healthy status and fructification characteristics. To determine real effects of air pollution and insect outbreaks on Dwarf pine stands from year to year fluctuations, decade-long monitoring is necessary.     

Determination of ergosterol levels in barley and malt varieties in the Czech Republic via HPLC

Ergosterol is considered to be a suitable indicator of mold infestation in barley and malt. In this study ergosterol levels in different varieties of barley and malt produced in the Czech Republic were determined. A modified high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was statistically processed, validated (Effivalidation program), and applied to 124 samples of barley and malt. Ergosterol was isolated by extraction and saponification, and the quantification was performed using HPLC with diode array detection. The content of ergosterol ranged between the limit of detection (LOD) and 36.3 mg/kg in barley and between the LOD and 131.1 mg/kg in malt. Ergosterol is presumably connected with metabolites generated when barley grain is attacked by pathogens, and such barley often shows a high overfoaming (gushing) value. However, it was found that the content of ergosterol does not correlate with the degree of beer gushing.     

The symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contributes to plant tolerance to serpentine edaphic stress

Serpentine soils represent stressful environment with low calcium to magnesium ratio, deficiencies of essential macronutrients, increased concentrations of heavy metals and a low water-holding capacity. A considerable potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to promote plant growth and nutrition can be expected under these adverse conditions. We tested a hypothesis that both host plants and AMF have evolved edaphic tolerance, which enable them to cope with the conditions of serpentine habitats. A reciprocal transplant experiment with a full factorial design was conducted, involving serpentine and non-serpentine substrates, host plants (Knautia arvensis, Dipsacaceae) and AMF isolates. After three-month cultivation under greenhouse conditions, plant growth and nutrition and AMF development were assessed. Our results evidenced the edaphic differentiation and higher tolerance of both plants and fungi of serpentine origin to serpentine soil. The better performance of serpentine plants was likely based on their tolerance to magnesium accumulation in shoot tissues. The serpentine AMF isolate not only developed higher root colonisation in serpentine conditions, but it was also more efficient in the growth promotion of and phosphorus uptake by the serpentine plants. As it had only a slight impact on magnesium uptake and no influence on calcium and nickel uptake by the serpentine plants, the improved P nutrition seemed to be the crucial mechanism of the mycorrhizal promotion effect. In conclusion, our study proved the tolerance of a plant–mycobiont complex to specific conditions of serpentine soils, which may indicate that not only the individual components of serpentine communities but also their functional interactions are subjected to selective evolutionary forces.     

Blood mineral profile of the critically endangered Western Derby eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus) in two conservation breeding reserves in Senegal

For many nondomestic species, nutritional requirements and the challenges faced in their current habitats are unknown. This is the case of small semi-captive population of the critically endangered Western Derby eland held in two wildlife reserves (the Bandia and the Fathala) in Senegal. The aim of this study was to determine the mineral profile (Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Se, K, S) in blood serum and to identify potential mineral deficiencies. Serum data (11 individuals) were compared to other Tragelaphineae, where it was lower in almost all elements. Considerably low concentrations were recorded for Cu, Fe and Zn. Animals in the Bandia reserve had higher serum levels of Fe and K compared to the Fathala reserve and a higher serum level of S in the Fathala reserve compared to the Bandia reserve. Recorded mineral levels may reflect most likely the limited mineral background in the local environment. The knowledge of adequate nutritional requirements and health status of these animals is relevant for the conservation breeding programme. No other serum mineral reference values exist for Western Derby eland, neither for free-ranging nor captive animals. Therefore, the knowledge of reference intervals for minerals in serum may serve for monitoring of the population's health.