Crack formation due to weathering of radial and tangential sections of pine and spruce

The development of cracks and changes in appearance have been investigated on radial and tangential sections of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce (Picea abies Karst.) after exposure outdoors for 61 months. The degradation of the sections has also been studied at the micro-level. The annual ring orientation was the most important factor affecting crack development on weathering. After 61 months of outdoor exposure, the tangential sections of spruce had 1.7-2.2 times greater mean total crack length per area unit than the corresponding radial sections. In pine, the total crack length per area unit on the tangential sections was 2.2-2.6 times greater than that on the radial sections. Tangential and radial sections show the same colour change as a result of weathering. Tangential sections have more and deeper cracks than radial surfaces. The cracks on the tangential sections occur frequently in both earlywood and latewood. On radial sections, cracks occur primarily at the annual ring borders, but to a certain extent also in the earlywood. Decomposition of the cell wall takes place in both radial and tangential cell walls, and cracks tend to follow the fibril orientation in the S2-layer of the cell wall. The radial cell wall of the earlywood has a large number of pits which are degraded at an early stage.     

In vitro antioxidant activities of edible artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and effect on biomarkers of antioxidants in rats

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), an edible vegetable from the Mediterranean area, is a good source of natural antioxidants such as vitamin C, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavones. The antioxidant activity of aqueous-organic extracts of artichoke were determined using three methods: (a) free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(*)) scavenging, (b) ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and (c) inhibition of copper(II)-catalyzed in vitro human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. In addition, the present study was performed to investigate the ability of the edible portion of artichoke to alter in vivo antioxidative defense in male rats using selected biomarkers of antioxidant status. One gram (dry matter) had a DPPH(*) activity and a FRAP value in vitro equivalent to those of 29.2 and 62.6 mg of vitamin C and to those of 77.9 and 159 mg of vitamin E, respectively. Artichoke extracts showed good efficiency in the inhibition in vitro of LDL oxidation. Neither ferric-reducing ability nor 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonate) radical scavenging activity was modified in the plasma of the artichoke group with respect to the control group. Among different antioxidant enzymes measured (superoxide dismutase, gluthatione peroxidase, gluthatione reductase, and catalase) in erythrocytes, only gluthatione peroxidase activity was elevated in the artichoke group compared to the control group. 2-Aminoadipic semialdehyde, a protein oxidation biomarker, was decreased in plasma proteins and hemoglobin in the artichoke-fed group versus the control group. In conclusion, the in vitro protective activity of artichoke was confirmed in a rat model.     

Urine flavonoids and plasma carotenoids in the validation of fruit, vegetable and tea intake during pregnancy in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

OBJECTIVE: To validate a new food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for measuring the intake of fruit, vegetables and tea reported by women participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). DESIGN: Intake of fruits, vegetables and tea estimated by the FFQ was compared with urinary flavonoid excretion, plasma carotenoid concentration and intake measured by a 4-day weighed food diary (FD). The triangular method was applied to calculate FFQ validity coefficients using two independent biomarkers. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: One hundred and nineteen women participating in MoBa. RESULTS: The FFQ estimate of fruit intake was significantly correlated with urine phloretin (r = 0.33), citrus fruit/juice with urine hesperetin (r = 0.44), cooked vegetables with plasma alpha-carotene (r = 0.37), and tea with urine kaempferol (r = 0.41) (P < 0.01 for all). On average, 60% of the participants fell into the same or adjacent quintiles when classified by FFQ and biomarkers. Significant correlations between the FFQ and FD were found for fruit (r = 0.39), vegetables (r = 0.34), juices (r = 0.50) and tea (r = 0.53). The FFQ validity coefficient was 0.65 for citrus fruit/juice and 0.59 for cooked vegetables as calculated by the triangular method. CONCLUSIONS: The validation study shows that the MoBa FFQ can be used to estimate fruit, juice, vegetable and tea intake in pregnant Norwegian women, and to rank individuals within the distribution.     

In Situ Avoidance Response Of Adult Atlantic Salmon To Waste From The Wood Pulp Industry

An accidental release of non-toxic waste from decommissioned wood pulp industry in the River Numedalslågen, Southern Norway, occurred in the upper part of the accessible stretches for anadromous fish during a study of migration behaviour of radio tagged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, n=32, body length 51–99 cm). The fish had completed the migration phase and initiated the resident phase characterised by little movement until spawning. When the wooden fibres and pulp were released, 16 of 32 (50%) salmon showed an immediate avoidance response. Six (19%) salmon moved upstream and 10 (31%) salmon moved downstream. Of the salmon moving downstream, eight (25%) moved all the way to sea (average 14.8 km). Four re-entered the River Numedalslågen, two entered a neighbouring river and two were not recorded later. Fish moving downstream but without moving to the sea, moved on average 5.3 km during the episode, whereas those moving upstream moved on average 6.7 km. All fish recorded after the episode (n=30) survived until the spawning season. The study demonstrates that fish in nature may show an evident avoidance response, even to non-toxic contaminants. For Atlantic salmon, the size of the spawning population may be reduced by fish leaving the river (13% left the river and never came back). Moreover, the dispersal of salmon to other rivers may increase, and the distribution of the spawning population within the contaminated river may shift.     

氮肥用量及施用时间对土体中硝态氮移动的影响

土连续两年小麦—玉米轮作条件下 ,播前一次施氮量 130～ 5 2 0kghm-2 a-1时 ,氮肥用量对硝态氮在土体中的移动深度没有影响 ,但土壤剖面中残留的硝态氮量随施氮量增加显著增加。播前一次施用氮肥 ,差减法计算的肥料氮表观回收率 (作物携出量和土壤硝态氮的残留量 )为 6 2 %～ 82 7% ;就作物而言小麦的携出率高于玉米 ,在玉米生长季节有更多的硝态氮可能被淋移至土壤剖面的下层。小麦—玉米轮作一年 ,不同的施氮时间对肥料氮的表观回收率以及硝态氮在土壤剖面中的分布、累计没有明显影响。土区合适的氮肥用量是控制硝态氮向深层移动的主要措施     

菜地不同施氮量下N2O逸出量的研究

用田间原位密闭气室法和乙炔抑制原状土柱培养法 ,研究了蔬菜地不同施氮量下 N2 O的逸出量。结果表明 ,在一定施氮量范围内 ,N2 O通量随施肥量的增加而上升 ;除最高施肥量 (N4 50 )外 ,N2 O占 (N2 +N2 O)的比率随施肥量的增加而增加。在施肥水平低时 ,氮素的损失以 N2 为主 ,当施肥量高于 30 0 kg/ hm2后 ,则以 N2 O为主。 2 m土体中 NO3- N分析结果表明 ,试验结束时对照和 N4 50 处理土壤剖面中有 NO3- N累积 ,其余各个处理氮素都存在一定程度的损失 ,其中损失量最大的是 N1 50 处理 ,与 N2 O逸出量的趋势相一致。 N2 O逸出量占肥料 N总用量的 0 .15 %～ 0 .6 6 % ,肥料逸出量占土壤 N2 O总逸出量的 39.0 %～ 70 .3% ,且在施氮水平低于 N30 0 以下时 ,N2 O逸出量有随施肥量增加而上升的趋势     

Oxidants and antioxidants in disease: oxidative stress in farm animals

Important infectious diseases in farm animals, such as pneumonia and enteritis, are thought to be associated with the so-called oxidative stress, i.e. a chemical phenomenon involving an imbalance in the redox status of the individual animal. The specifics of oxidative stress and how it may result in disease or be prevented are complex questions with no simple answers. However, the considerable literature on the subject suggests that many researchers consider oxidative stress-related mechanisms to be important early events in disease development. A particularly intriguing aspect is that, at least theoretically, oxidative stress should be easily prevented with antioxidants yet the use of antioxidants as therapy remains controversial. The present knowledge on oxidative stress in farm animals is the topic of this review.     

硝、铵态氮肥对旱地土壤氧化亚氮排放的影响

用静态箱法在田间研究了黄土性土壤不同水分条件下施用硝态氮肥和铵态氮肥后土壤N2O的排放特点,并对包括温度、pH、水分等因子的影响进行了探讨.结果表明:在水分含量为田间持水量的90%和70%的条件下,铵态氮肥处理土壤的平均N2O排放量分别为233.6±165.4 μg/(m2·h)和166.4±153.3 μg/(m2·h);而施用硝态氮肥时则仅为75±40.2 μg/(m2·h)和49.27±17.0 μg/(m2·h).施肥后短期内,铵态氮肥排放的N2O量显著高于硝态氮肥处理,由此可说明黄土性土壤表层土壤N2O的主要来源是土壤氮的硝化过程.在自然矿化条件下黄土性土壤N2O的排放量约为17.0 μg/(m2·h).如果把两个水分处理相比较,土壤水分对铵态氮肥处理土壤N2O的排放影响不明显,而对施用硝态氮肥的土壤有明显影响,高水分处理更利于土壤反硝化作用的进行从而增加了土壤N2O的排放量.施用不同肥料种类在施肥后短期内影响土壤的pH值和有效NO-3-N、NH 4-N含量,而反过来土壤水分含量、土壤pH以及土壤温度均不同程度地影响着土壤N2O的产生和排放.