Maize defence mechanisms against the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Maize is arguably the most widely grown crop in the world, but it is often associated with one of its major insect pests, the European corn borer (ECB). The damage caused by this species to maize production is generally variable, but in many cases it is economically significant. This review paper provides an overview of the research findings on the natural plant defence mechanisms against ECB larvae published till now. What is resistance and how it is achieved, what is the chemical response of maize plants to insect feeding and how tolerance can be increased. A short introduction in breeding for resistance and a discussion if the mentioned traits can be used in conventional breeding in order to create maize hybrids less affected by ECB are given.     

In vitro susceptibility of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to organic acids and essential oil components

The antibacterial potential of organic acids and essential oil components against Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, the causative pathogen of swine dysentery, was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 15 compounds were determined at pH 7.2 and pH 6.0, using a broth microdilution assay. In addition, possible synergism was determined. MIC values for the three tested strains were similar. For organic acids, MIC values at pH 6.0 were lower than at pH 7.2. B. hyodysenteriae was most sensitive to cinnamaldehyde and lauric acid, with MIC values <1.5 mM. Most antibacterial effects of binary combinations were additive, however, for thymol and carvacrol, synergism could be observed. In vitro results demonstrate the antibacterial action of certain essential oil components and organic acids against B. hyodysenteriae.     

Coating Cellulosic Materials with Graphene for Selective Absorption of Oils and Organic Solvents from Water

Development of efficient and eco-friendly sorbents used for selective oil removal after oil spill disasters is one of the main topics in environmental science. By using various cellulosic materials coated with graphene flakes, using simple, one-step dip-coating method, it was possible to manufacture environmentally friendly, selective oil sorbents. The cellulosic materials of different yarn size and distribution such as cotton roving, gauze, fabric, and cellulosic wipe and Whatman filter paper were chosen. The scanning electron microscopy showed that simple dip-coating of any cellulosic materials into graphene dispersion creates a uniformly distributed nanomaterial coating. The wetting tests confirmed that the coating endowed cellulosic materials with hydrophobic properties, regardless of their initial yarn distribution and purity. Moreover, the water repellent samples were simultaneously highly sorptive towards oils and organic solvents. Sorption tests performed for a representative group of organic solvents and oils have shown that depending on cellulosic material the oil sorption capacity varied from 4 g/g to 33 g/g for cotton fabric and roving, respectively. Moreover, the absorption selectivity of chloroform versus water exceeded 90 % for each sample and reached over 99 % for the graphene coated cotton roving and gauze. Finally, the recyclability tests have shown that graphene coated materials are less fragile for reuse than naturally hydrophobic sorbents.     

Discrimination of bark from wood chips through texture analysis by image processing

Utilization of wood chips for bioenergy requires classification and segregation of the constituents of the chipped mass to help optimize energy conversion. Wood chips obtained from processes such as forest thinning can contain a considerable amount of material other than wood chips, such as bark. An image processing algorithm was developed to discriminate bark from wood chips. The algorithm involved object identification, image capture, single value decomposition to describe wood texture evident in grayscale image with a single numerical value, and application of logistic models involving the single values representative of wood texture to predict whether a chip is bark. The percentage of correct predictions using this system was about 98%.     

Serological and parasitological survey of dourine in the Arsi–Bale highlands of Ethiopia

This study was conducted from August 2005 to January 2007 to determine prevalence and distribution of dourine in horses and to investigate the occurrence of clinical and carrier cases in donkeys and mules in the Arsi–Bale highlands. Study methodology was based on questionnaire, serological, clinical and parasitological survey. The questionnaire indicated that dourine is a major health problem of equines in the Arsi–Bale highlands. Though dourine is commonly observed throughout the year, it has a seasonal character and occurs mostly during the breeding season from June to late September. Serological screening of 646 horses showed a seroprevalence of 184 (28%), 161 (25%) and 125 (19%) for card agglutination test for trypanosomosis, LATEX and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Risk factors were parity number, previous history of abortion and body condition score. No trypanosomes could be detected by Giemsa staining or by haematocrit centrifugation technique. Ten puppies inoculated with blood samples, genital washes and oedematous fluids remained parasitologically negative. Different characteristic signs of dourine were observed. During the genital stage, mares showed vaginal oedema, discharge and presence of depigmented scars over the external genitalia. In stallions, oedema of the scrotum and prepuce, prepucial and urethral discharge, and ulceration of the genital mucosae mainly of the penile were observed. In both sexes, lameness in one or both legs, partial dragging and stiffness of the hind legs and incoordination were the dominant signs observed as nervous form of the disease.     

Thermal and spectrophotometric analysis of some fungal melanins and soil humic compounds

Seven types of fungal melanins were compared with humic compounds from chernozem and podzol soils and with commercial humic acid. The results indicate some similarities but also distinct differences between the melanins and humic substances in spectral characteristics in the UV and visible regions and in their resistance to thermal degradation.     

A Control System to Simulate Diel pH Fluctuation in Eutrophic Aquaculture Ponds

Abstract.— The toxicity of substances that vary in toxicity through time (daily) as a function of pH are not effectively assessed with static renewal test methods. A control system to simulate diel pH fluctuation in eutrophic aquaculture ponds was established in a flow-through, wet-laboratory setting. Water (100 L/ min) was conditioned in a packed column of 3.81-cm Pall rings prior to distribution to 48 189-L fish tanks. Control system components included a distributed data acquisition and control system, a personal computer, and various pH control devices. pH values greater than that of influent water (pH 8.0) were achieved by additions of concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions; pH values less than that of influent water were achieved by additions of carbon dioxide gas. Two data acquisition and control software strategies were developed to control pH: one from pH 7.4 to 8.0 and the other from pH 8.0 to 9.6. The basic control strategy involved comparison of a projected pH value to a set point. A moving linear regression was used to forecast the pH value that would result following base or gas addition, and the rate of chemical addition was adjusted accordingly. The system has resulted in acceptable pH control (deviation < 0.1 pH unit), indicating the potential utility of a relatively simple control system for evaluation of fish physiological response to the characteristically dynamic environment of eutrophic aquaculture ponds.     

Effect of montmorillonite and humate on growth and metabolic activity of some actinomycetes

In well-aerated culture solutions Ca-montmorillonite at 0.25% concentration markedly accelerated and increased growth, glucose consumption and CO₂ evolution by various Streptomyces, Micromonospora and Nocardia species. The montmorillonite was a little more active than Ca-humate and was usually still but somewhat less effective when confined to dialysis tubing. Ca-exchange resin, Na₂SiO₃ and finely powdered CaCO₃ exerted very little or no effect. In many cultures the relation of glucose consumption to biomass formation indicated a more efficient use of the glucose C for cell synthesis in the presence of clay. In other cultures the greater biomass formation was associated with a more rapid and complete utilization of the glucose present.     

Fungistatic activity of bicyclo[4.3.0]-γ-lactones

Five optically active and sixteen racemic lactones (nine of them new) of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane structure were synthesized. IC(50) values for the following phytopathogens were determined: Aspergillus ochraceus AM 456, Fusarium culmorum AM 282, Fusarium oxysporum AM 13, Fusarium tricinctum AM 16. Effect of compound structures, especially stereogenic centers, on fungistatic activity has been discussed. The highest fungistatic activity was observed for trans-7,8-dibromo-cis-3-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-2-one (3c), IC(50) = 30.1 μg/mL (0.10 μM/mL), and cis-7,8-epoxy-cis-3-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-2-one (3b), IC(50) = 72.2 μg/mL (0.47 μM/mL), toward F. oxysporum AM 13.