Influence of stocking density and layer age on production traits and egg quality in Japanese quail

1. Japanese quail hens were housed from 6 to 26 weeks of age in cages providing areas of 150, 180, 210 and 240 cm²/bird.

2. Body weight gain, age at 50% egg production, mortality, hen‐day egg production and food conversion values showed significant improvement with proportionate increase in cage space per layer.

3. Egg weight gradually increased with age but shell thickness was influenced neither by age of the hen nor by stocking density.

4. Yolk index and colour were superior in the lowest stocking density (more cage space) group; other egg quality traits and egg weight were not influenced by stocking density.

5. The albumen index, internal quality unit, yolk index and yolk colour values increased with age.     

Cerebral Blastomyces dermatitidis infection in a cat

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of signs of depression, circling, and visual deficits. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The cat had no cutaneous lesions, and results of an ophthalmologic examination and thoracic radiography were within reference limits. Computed tomography of the brain revealed a mass lesion involving the right parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes; the mass was in broad-based contact with the skull and smoothly marginated and had strong homogenous enhancement after contrast agent administration. During craniectomy, samples of the mass were collected for cytologic and histopathologic evaluations and microbial culture. A diagnosis of Blastomyces dermatitidis-associated meningoencephalitis with secondary pyogranulomatous inflammation was made. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Amphotericin B (0.25 mg/kg [0.11 mg/lb], IV) was administered on alternate days (cumulative dose, 1.75 mg/kg [0.8 mg/lb]). To minimize the risk of nephrotoxicosis, assessments of serum biochemical variables (urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations) and urinalyses were performed at intervals. The third dose of amphotericin B was postponed 48 hours because the cat became azotemic. The cat subsequently received fluconazole (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h) for 5.5 months. Six months after discontinuation of that treatment, the cat appeared healthy and had no signs of relapse. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brain infection with B dermatitidis is typically associated with widespread disseminated disease. The cat of this report had no evidence of systemic disease. Blastomycosis of the CNS should be considered as a differential diagnosis for brain lesions in cats from areas in which B dermatitidis is endemic.     

N-(pyrid-3-yl)thioureas and derivatives as acaricides. II. Quantitative structure-activity relationships and chemodynamic behaviour

The biological activity of a series of N-(pyrid-3-yl)thioureas and -carbodiimides, analogues of the insecticide/acaricide diafenthiuron, towards the carmine spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisd.) and the two-spotted spider mite (T. urticae Koch) was analysed using QSAR methodology. A canonical correlation analysis allowed for the establishment of a prediction model and the identification of outliers within that model. The chemodynamic behaviour of certain compounds in the two series, including these outliers, determined by using photochemical experiments in the laboratory as well as in the glasshouse, was shown to be responsible for anomalous results obtained in the biological tests. It was found from the above study that the biological activity towards both spider mite species is extremely sensitive to the kinetics of formation of the carbodiimides from the corresponding thioureas and to the photostability of the former. The results obtained with a thiourea which underwent no appreciable photochemical transformation into the corresponding carbodiimide supported the hypothesis that the thioureas are also in-vivo propesticides of the acaricidal carbodiimides.     

Toxicological and mechanistic studies on neonicotinoid cross resistance in Q-type Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is a serious pest in numerous cropping systems and has developed a high degree of resistance against several chemical classes of insecticides. One of the latest group of insecticides introduced to the market were the neonicotinoids (chloronicotinyls), acting agonistically on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides has recently been shown to occur, especially in Q-type B tabaci in some places in Almeria, Spain, whereas control of B-type B tabaci in many other intense cropping systems worldwide has remained on high levels. Our study revealed that neonicotinoid-resistant Q-type strains from Almeria were often more than 100-fold less susceptible to thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and imidacloprid when tested in discontinuous systemic laboratory bioassays. The resistance factors were generally 2- to 3-fold lower in leaf-dip bioassays. In addition to the Spanish strains, we obtained two other highly neonicotinoid-cross-resistant B tabaci greenhouse populations, one from Italy (December 1999) and one from Germany (June 2001). A molecular diagnostic analysis revealed that both strains also belong to the (Spanish) subtype Q of the B tabaci species complex. The resistance levels of Q-type whitefly strains derived from Almeria greenhouses in 1999 remained stable for at least two years, even when maintained in the laboratory without any selection pressure. The biochemical mechanisms conferring resistance to neonicotinoids have not yet been elucidated in detail, but synergist studies suggested a possible involvement of microsomal monooxygenases. Furthermore, we checked two Almerian strains of B tabaci isolated in 1998 and 1999 and demonstrated that neonicotinoid resistance is not due to an altered [3H]imidacloprid binding site of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.     

Einsatz der Tracermethodik zur Lokalisierung von Nestzentren lästiger Hausameisen (Lasius brunneus LATR.,Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Summary By feeding¹³¹J mixed with a honey solution it was possible to label a colony ofLasius brunneus (LATR.) which is often a pest in buildings. Using a scintillation detector the distribution of the parts of the nest in an infested room could be determined. This was the precondition for a directed control. That method seems to be suitable also for a control ofMonomorium pharaonis (L.).      

Laminar sorption and swelling theory for wood and cellulose

Summary The known requirements for the sorption and swelling of wood are reviewed. These are shown to be compatible, in the case of softwoods, with the following simplified model. The fibers are continuous with either rectangular or circular cross sections and lumen of the same shape with a constant size. The fiber walls consist of concentric lamina made up of small repeating units 100 Å by 100 Å, consisting of a microcrystalline core surrounded by an amorphous sheath. All sorption and swelling occurs at the surfaces of or within the amorphous sheath. The major portion of the sorption and swelling is inter-laminar with just sufficient intra-laminar sorption and swelling to avoid laminar distortion. Calculations give the generally accepted internal sorption surface for water of about 200 square meters per gram. The portion of the total sorption that is intra-laminar varies from 5 ... 20 percent in going from wood with a specific gravity of 0.3 ... 1.0. Thickness of sorption in water molecules per sorption site vary from 6.1 ... 4.9 for inter-laminar sorption and 0.35 ... 1.35 for intra-laminar sorption in going from wood with a specific gravity of 0.3 to one of 1.0. Similar values are obtained from experimental swelling data where lumen cross sections change. Similar calculations for super swelling of wood and pulps show that laminar separations may become sufficiently great to be microscopically visible. The calculations show that bound water fiber saturation points for wood normally fall in the range of 25 ... 40 percent. Super swollen wood, chemically isolated fibers and beaten fibers may as a result of reduced restraints have fiber saturation points greater than 150 percent. The latter are attributed to dispersion or diffusion forces rather than the conventional bound water forces of hydrogen bonding for intact wood.

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Zusammenfassung Die bekannten Bedingungen für die Sorption und Quellung von Holz werden erörtert. Sie sind auf Nadelholz unter Anwendung des folgenden, vereinfachten Modells anwendbar. Die Fasern sind durchgehend und haben rechteckigen oder kreisförmigen Querschnitt, mit Zellhohlräumen gleicher Form und konstanter Größe. Die Faserwände bestehen aus konzentrisch angeordneten Schichten, die wiederum aus kleinen, sich wiederholenden 100 ×100 großen Einheiten zusammengesetzt sind; diese wiederum bestehen aus einem mikrokristallinen Kern, umgeben von einer amorphen Auflagerung. Alle Sorptions- und Quellungsvorgänge finden an der Oberfläche oder innerhalb dieser amorphen Auflagerung statt; sie spielen sich in der Hauptsache in der Schicht selbst ab (inter-laminar), jedoch findet genügend Zwischenschicht-Sorption und-Quellung (intra-laminar) statt, um Verformungen der Schichten zu vermeiden. Durch Berechnung erhält man die allgemein anerkannte Größe der inneren Sorptionsfläche für Wasser von etwa 200 m²/g. Der Anteil der intra-laminaren Sorption an der Gesamtsorption schwankt zwischen 5 und 20% bei Holz mit Rohdichten von 0.3 bis 1.0. Die Schichtdicke der sorbierten Wassermoleküle je Sorptionsstelle liegt für inter-laminare Sorption zwischen 6.1 und 4.9, und für intra-laminare Sorption zwischen 0.35 und 1.35 bei Holz mit Rohdichten zwischen 0.3 bis 1.0. Ähnliche Werte ergaben sich aus experimentell ermittelten Quellungsdaten bei Zellhohlräumen mit sich änderndem Querschnitt. Vergleichbare Berechnungen der Super-Quellung des Holzes und des Zellstoffes zeigen, daß laminare Abtrennungen so groß werden können, daß sie mikroskopisch sichtbar werden. Sie zeigen ferner, daß die Fasersättigungspunkte bei gebundenem Wasser meist zwischen 25 und 40% liegen. Extrem gequollenes Holz, chemisch herausgelöste und gemahlene Fasern können aufgrund verringerter Behinderung Fasersättigungspunkte über 150% erreichen. Diese letztere Erscheinung ist eher den Dispersions- oder Diffusionskräften zuzuschreiben als den Kräften aus Wasserstoffbrücken des gebundenen Wassers im intakten Holz.

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Paper No. 2743 of the Journal Series of the N. C. State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Anselme Payen award paper of the Cellulose, Wood and Fiber Div., Am. Chem. Soc. presented at their 156th National Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, September, 1968.     

Penetration of hardwoods by liquids

Summary Oven dry highly evacuated sticks of the sapwood of various hardwoods, 40 cm long by 1.0 to 1.2 cm in the radial and tangential directions, took up water to the extent of 44 to 82% of saturation by capillary flow in one minute. Heartwood sticks took up 15 to 38% of saturation in one minute. The initial rapid penetration was followed by a penetration in which the take up increase directly with the square root of elapsed time. In this range, the slope of toluene take up plots was about twice that of the water take up. This is close to the theoratical value on the basis of viscous flow control. The linear portion of the plots is followed by a curvilinear decrease in rate of take up to a final equilibrium value. Water take ups approached 100% of the theoretical values.Times to 0.99 of theoretical filling with water varied from 9 minutes for tupelo gum sapwood to 14.6 to 17.3 days for white oak heartwood. Complete filling with toluene was never attained. Diffuse porous hardwoods filled to the extent of 93.5 to 96.5% of saturation. Ring porous oaks filled to the extent of 88 to 92%, the lower values being for heartwood. Edge coating of the sapwood of yellow poplar and yellow birch with epoxy glue reduced the rate of penetration only slightly. End coating reduced the rate to a higher degree. Moisture gradients in the fiber direction for tyloses-free hardwoods were negligible at various stages of penetration, indicating that filling of the vessels was practically instantaneous. White oak heartwood gave an initial longitudinal gradient followed by a negligible gradient, indicating that longitudinal penetration is primarily through the lumen of the fibers rather than continously through the vessels. Longitudinal penetration was calculated to be 31.5 times as deep as transverse penetration in 100 minutes and 33.3 times as deep in 25 minutes for white oak heartwood. The ratios are of the same order of magnitude as for Loblolly pine. In both cases the ratios are smaller than values calculated from the fiber dimensions alone as ray cell penetration and cross grain effects tend to lower the ratios.Paper No. 3947 of the Journal Series of North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N. C.