Plants as de-worming agents of livestock in the Nordic countries: historical perspective, popular beliefs and prospects for the future.

Preparations derived from plants were the original therapeutic interventions used by man to control diseases (including parasites), both within humans and livestock. Development of herbal products depended upon local botanical flora with the result that different remedies tended to develop in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, in some instances, the same or related plants were used over wide geographic regions, which also was the result of communication and/or the importation of plant material of high repute. Thus, the Nordic countries have an ancient, rich and diverse history of plant derived anthelmintic medications for human and animal use. Although some of the more commonly used herbal de-wormers were derived from imported plants, or their products, many are from endemic plants or those that thrive in the Scandinavian environment. With the advent of the modern chemotherapeutic era, and the discovery, development and marketing of a seemingly unlimited variety of highly efficacious, safe synthetic chemicals with very wide spectra of activities, herbal remedies virtually disappeared from the consciousness--at least in the Western world. This attitude is now rapidly changing. There is a widespread resurgence in natural product medication, driven by major threats posed by multi-resistant pest, or disease, organisms and the diminishing public perceptions that synthetic chemicals are the panacea to health and disease control. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive account of the depth of historical Nordic information available on herbal de-wormers, with emphasis on livestock and to provide some insights on potentially rewarding areas of "re-discovery" and scientific evaluation in this field.     

Correlating volatile compounds, sensory attributes, and quality parameters in stored fresh-cut cantaloupe

Changes in post-cutting volatiles, quality, and sensory attributes during fresh-cut storage (4 degrees C) of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. var. Reticulatus, Naudin, cv. 'Sol Real') harvested at four distinct maturities (1/4-, 1/2-, 3/4-, and full-slip) were investigated after 0, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 14 days in a 2-year study. Increased fruity and sweet taste attributes were negatively correlated with percent acetates, aromatic acetates, and total aromatic compounds, and positively correlated with percentage non-acetate esters. Ethyl hexanoate was strongly positively correlated with fruity and sweet taste. Cucurbit, water-like, hardness, cohesiveness, and denseness were positively correlated with percentage acetates, aromatic acetates, and total aromatic compounds, and negatively correlated with percentage non-acetate esters. Several non-acetate esters such as ethyl 2-methyl propanoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl 2-methyl butanoate, and ethyl hexanoate were negatively (often strongly) correlated with cucurbit. Hardness was positively and strongly correlated with aromatic acetates and all aromatic (benzyl) compounds. In summary, firmer and denser cubes contained more acetates and fewer non-acetate esters. The apparently negative or undesirable attributes cucurbit and water-like were associated with higher acetates and aromatic compounds. Overall, relatively strong (year x maturity x day) correlations among numerous physiological, volatile, and sensory measures were found in this study. Highly significant (stronger) correlations were found in a year x day analysis used to pair maturity means; however, year and interaction effects require prudence when interpreting that data. Nonetheless, both analyses delivered almost identical trends, and strong correlations occurred even though samples were randomized from numerous fruits, per maturity, per juice catcher container, over 2 years. Further interpretation and biochemical explanation are needed to rationalize why mainly only non-acetate esters were highly correlated with desirable sensory and quality parameters.     

烟草生产全程机械化作业研究

为了探索烟叶生产过程中各机械的性能及工作效率,2013年在福建省建阳市莒口镇河坝新村开展了烟叶生产全程机械化作业试点研究。结果表明,起垄环节,碎土率方面邵武华友履带式起垄机表现最好(89.9%),沟底积土方面松溪永顺表现最好;覆膜环节,各测试机型表现中等,在效率方面优于人工覆膜;移栽环节,漏栽率上江苏久泰移栽机高于江苏井关移栽机;培土环节,漳州南冠培土机操作简便,掉头灵活,单人操作,单行双侧作业,深受烟农喜爱;拔杆环节,龙岩诚德拔杆机单人操作,操作简便,动力较足,拔杆顺畅,拔杆带土较少,效果较好,适应性较强。