Retention capacities of immiscible chemicals in unsaturated soils

Retention capacities were measured in the laboratory for n-hexane and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in three soils at varying soil water contents. Two experimental techniques were used; 1) saturation/drainage experiments where the soil columns were saturated with the chemical and allowed to drain freely for 24 h, and 2) spill simulations where a known amount of chemical was spilled on the surface of the soil column and allowed to infiltrate for one hour. Results show that the retention capacities on a volume basis were independent of chemical type. However, the retention capacities did decrease with decreasing porosity and increasing soil water content. The decrease of retention capacity with respect to soil water content was significant, with the decreases ranging from 38% to 94%. The implication of this decrease is rapid chemical penetration into the subsurface. Retention capacities obtained from spill simulations were consistently lower than those obtained by the saturation/drainage experiments due to hysteresis.     

Ultraviolet-C and induced stilbenes control ochratoxigenic Aspergillus in grapes

This study investigated the efficacy of ultraviolet-C (254 nm) and induced stilbenes to inhibit Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus tubingensis and control ochratoxin A production in grapes. In addition, the stilbene synthesis as a response to UV-C treatment and to infection of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus was compared. The initial microbial inactivation by a previously optimized UV-C illumination protocol for increasing trans-resveratrol content in grapes (50 W/m (2), 40 cm, 60 s) was similar on undamaged and damaged grapes, achieving 1.2 and 1.3 log conidia/100 g reductions, respectively. After 5 days of storage at 22 degrees C, UV-C treatment and the stilbenes induced by UV-C inhibited ochratoxigenic Aspergillus growth in undamaged grapes. UV-C elicited the biosynthesis of trans-resveratrol, while microbial infection and tissue damage triggered the biosynthesis of trans-piceid. trans-Resveratrol was not synthesized as a consequence of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus contamination. However, when trans-resveratrol was synthesized by UV-C, it contributed to inhibiting the development of ochratoxin A producing aspergilli. Furthermore, UV-C treatment also contributed to decrease ochratoxin A production by ochratoxigenic aspergilli. Therefore, UV-C is a promising emerging technology either for reducing the potential ochratoxigenic risk in grapes, which is of particular interest to the wine industry, and also for increasing trans-resveratrol content of grapes, which would provide an added value to the wine.     

氮肥减量对优质稻籽粒蛋白质影响及其合理性评价

氮肥作为保证水稻稳产和稻米品质的重要农业生产资源,在保证我国粮食安全方面发挥着重要的作用,但过多的氮肥投入势必对生态环境安全造成不利影响。为了明确浙北地区优质稻生产合理的施氮量,通过大田试验,采用随机区组设计,设置对照（不施肥,N0）、常规施氮（270kg/hm²纯氮,N）、氮肥减量15%（229.5kg/hm²纯氮,N-15%）和氮肥减量30%（189kg/hm²纯氮,N-30%）4个处理,研究氮肥减量对浙北优质稻籽粒蛋白质含量的影响,并对其施氮的合理性进行评价。结果表明,同N处理相比,N-15%和N-30%处理的产量与籽粒后期蛋白质及其组分含量差异不显著。N-15%和N-30%处理的氮素利用率分别提高了1.97%和8.11%,农田氮素盈余分别显著降低了20.56%和23.89%（P<0.05）,通过层次分析法（AHP）对浙北优质稻氮肥减量措施综合评价,得分为N-15%（0.86）>N-30%（0.67）>N（0.65）>N0（0.17）。综上所述,氮肥减量15%（229.5kg/hm²）为浙北地区优质稻生产较为适宜的施氮量。     

Effects of vitamin and mineral premix withdrawal from diets on carcass and meat quality of feedlot steers

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The primary objective of the present study was to assess the effects of vitamin and mineral premix (VMP) withdrawal from the diets 30 and 60&nbsp;days...     

Nutritional status of Amerindian children from the Beni River (lowland Bolivia) as related to environmental, maternal and dietary factors

OBJECTIVES: To report the nutritional status of children aged up to 15 years and their mothers living in a remote Amazonian area of Bolivia, and to study its main social, familial and maternal determinants.SETTING: Fifteen Beni River communities located at the foot of the Andes.DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of riverside populations. All childbearing mothers and their children in the 15 communities were examined.METHODS: Information on household production, dietary habits and demography was collected. Individual clinical, anthropometric and parasitological examinations were carried out.SUBJECTS: A total of 631 persons were examined: 171 mothers and 460 children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years.Results: There were no cases of severe wasting, but 41% of 0-5-year-olds and 36% of 5-10-year-olds were stunted. Among 346 stool specimens examined, 75% were positive for at least one helminth. Diversity of food and quality of diet were satisfactory in 54% of households, but 27% had low diversity scores. Mothers were lighter and shorter than those observed at the national level: 20% had height below 145 cm. Prevalence of anaemia (42%) was also higher. In pre-school children, multivariate analysis indicated a relationship between growth retardation and household factors such as dietary quality, ethnic group and clinical state, but not maternal anthropometry. In contrast, in school-age children and adolescents, growth retardation was related to maternal characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: Growth retardation appeared mainly during the weaning period and did not seem to improve thereafter. To ameliorate this situation, an effort should be made to prevent common parasitic and infectious diseases in young children. Follow-up of pregnant mothers during pregnancy and delivery also needs to be reinforced.     

Canine visceral leishmaniasis in urban and rural areas of Northeast Brazil

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory profiles of canine leishmaniasis in two distinct areas. Dogs from urban and rural areas were examined. The population studied in the metropolitan area included 54 dogs. Of these, 20 (37%) animals did not present with any signs suggestive of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among these, only eight were confirmed negative by ELISA (rK39 and CE) and 12 dogs, clinically negative for leishmaniasis, were seropositive by ELISA (rK39 and CE). Thinness, conjunctivitis and onychogryphosis were the most frequent clinical signs in the urban areas, followed by crusty lesions, alopecia, ulcerated lesions, hyperkeratosis and exfoliation. In the metropolitan area human VL cases occurred mainly in 1991, 1992, 1999 and 2000. In the rural areas the ELISA rK39 test detected a seroprevalence of 11.3% and ELISA CE (Leishmania crude extract) of 20.6%. Thirty-nine dogs were examined 6 months after the first visit. Serological exams using rK39 antigen showed seroconversion of only one dog, whereas Leishmania CE showed seroconversion of 13 (33.4%) dogs. In this rural environment 83.3% of the positive dogs were asymptomatic. Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. longipalpis were the most predominant sandfly vector species. Amastigotes were identified in spleen and liver fragments of symptomatic necropsied animals. PCR amplification of DNA isolated from promastigote culture indicated that the species was Leishmania chagasi. This finding suggests that delayed diagnosis and euthanasia of potentially infectious animals may occur with an increased transmission risk to sandflies and subsequently to humans.     

Stratigraphie und Entwickung einiger Moore des Bayerischen Maldes in Verbindung mit der waldgeschichte des Gebiets

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

In vitro inhibition of the carbonic anhydrase from saanen goat (Capra hircus) with pesticides

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro effects of four commonly used pesticides (Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, Parathion-methyl™ and 2,4-D™) on erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity from Saanen goats (SG). The enzyme was 262.57-fold purified by affinity chromatography and the purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Inhibitory effect of the pesticides on the purified enzyme was determined using the CO₂-hydratase activity method. IC₅₀ values of the pesticides that caused inhibition were determined by means of activity percentage diagrams. The concentrations of Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, and 2,4-D™ that inhibited 50% of the enzymatic activity were 0.352, 0.924 and 2.04 mM, respectively. Conversely, the enzyme activity was increased by parathion-methyl.     

Influence of cultivar and germination on bioactive amines in soybeans (Glycine max L. Merril)

The levels of amines in soybeans as affected by cultivar in two consecutive years and by germination were investigated. Spermidine, spermine, putrescine, agmatine, and cadaverine were detected, whereas tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, serotonine, and phenylethylamine were not. Spermidine was the predominant amine followed by spermine. High concentrations of these amines confirmed soybean as a rich source. Cadaverine was confirmed to be inherent to soybean. The percent contribution of spermidine and spermine to total levels was not affected by cultivar in either years. However, amine levels were affected by cultivars in different ways in the consecutive years. Cadaverine was affected more by the cultivar, whereas spermidine, spermine, and agmatine were affected by harvest year. During germination the levels of amines from soybean increased significantly, except for agmatine. Spermidine and spermine accumulated in the cotyledon, whereas cadaverine and putrescine accumulated in the radicle and hypocotyl.     

Morphological changes,peptidase activity,and effects of exogenous enzymes in the early ontogeny of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Aquaculture International - During the early ontogeny, the transition from endogenous (yolk protein) to exogenous feeding (artificial diets) represents a critical period linked to the...