Application of urease inhibitor improves protein composition and bread‐baking quality of urea fertilized winter wheat

Background: Nitrogen losses is an economic problem for wheat production and a high risk to the environment. Therefore, improved N fertilizer management is a key to increasing the N efficiency and minimizing N losses. To increase N efficiency, enhanced fertilizers such as urea combined with urease inhibitor can be used. Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of different N forms on grain storage protein subunits in winter wheat and to examine whether the observed changes correlate with parameters of baking quality. Methods: The investigation was performed over two consecutive years at two locations in Germany. Protein subunits were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE. Results: Protein concentrations were similarly increased after fertilization with ammonium nitrate and urea + urease inhibitor. Analysis of the individual storage protein fractions indicated that both fertilizers specifically enhanced ω‐gliadins and HMW glutenins, but the effect was more pronounced in the ammonium nitrate treatment. Application of urea + urease inhibitor had greater influence on the protein composition and resulted in higher specific baking volume as well as the best fresh keeping ability, in comparison with urea treatment. Conclusion: Considering that the urea + urease inhibitor treatment resulted in almost comparable improvements of NUE and baking quality, with the additional benefit of reduced N losses in combination with easy handling, urea + urease inhibitor can be recommended as a viable alternative to both urea alone and ammonium nitrate treatments. This opens up an opportunity for the reduction of N loss in wheat production when use of urea is preferred.     

Suitability of Amaranthaceae and Polygonaceae species as food source for the sugar beet weevil Asproparthenis punctiventris Germar

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - This study explores the food plant spectrum of the sugar beet weevil (Asproparthenis punctiventris Germar; Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the most...     

Keratitis due to Histoplasma spp. in a horse

A 5-year-old Holsteiner gelding from Germany was presented 2 months after a whitish discoloration of the left cornea was observed. Cytologic examination revealed intra- and extracellular globular structures, up to 4 micro m in size, consisting of a central spherical deeply basophilic body surrounded by an unstained halo. The structures were morphologically consistent with Histoplasma spp. Infection with Histoplasma organisms is not endemic in Europe. Topical use of fluconazole was successful in eliminating Histoplasma organisms within 10 days of initiation of treatment.     

Serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in clinically normal dogs and dogs with acute and chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-[OH]2D3) and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-[OH]D3) in healthy control dogs and dogs with naturally occurring acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF). ANIMALS: 24 control dogs, 10 dogs with ARF, and 40 dogs with CRF. PROCEDURE: Serum concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3 were measured by use of a quantitative radioimmunoassay, and serum concentrations of 25-(OH)D3 were measured by use of a protein-binding assay. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD serum concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 was 153 +/- 50 pmol/L in control dogs, 75 +/- 25 pmol/L in dogs with ARF, and 93 +/- 67 pmol/L in dogs with CRF. The concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 did not differ significantly between dogs with ARF and those with CRF and was in the reference range in most dogs; however, the concentration was significantly lower in dogs with ARF or CRF, compared with the concentration in control dogs. Mean +/- SD concentration of 25-(OH)D3 was 267 +/- 97 nmol/L in control dogs, 130 +/- 82 nmol/L in dogs with ARF, and 84 +/- 60 nmol/L in dogs with CRF. The concentration of 25-(OH)D3 was significantly lower in dogs with ARF or CRF, compared with the concentration in control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 was within the reference range in most dogs with renal failure. Increased serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone indicated a relative deficiency of 1,25-(OH)2D3. A decrease in the serum concentration of 25-(OH)D3 in dogs with CRF appeared to be attributable to reduced intake and increased urinary loss.     

Classification of thermally modified wood by FT-NIR spectroscopy and SIMCA

Quality assessment of thermally modified wood has evolved as one of the major fields in the research on thermal modification of wood. This study investigates NIR spectroscopy in combination with the pattern recognition method of soft independent modeling of class analogies (SIMCA). Focus is put on identifying different treatment intensities of thermally modified samples of beech, ash, and Norway spruce. The results indicate that SIMCA classification based on NIR spectroscopy could be used for quality control of thermally modified wood. The method might be applicable for producers (pre-delivery checks) and customers (reception control). However, transfer from laboratory to industrial conditions needs further investigation.     

Einfluß niedriger SO2-Konzentrationen auf die Aktivität einiger Glykosidasen der Assimilationsorgane verklonter Waldbäume

Effect of low SO₂-concentrations on the activities of some glycosidases in the foliage of clonal forest trees. The aim was to find an early indicator of latent SO₂ injuries in a beech and a spruce clone. After exposure to 0.0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ppm for several weeks in outdoor fumigation chambers, the activities of β-glucosidase in the beech and β-galactosidase in the spruce clone and β-l,3-glucanase in both species were significantly raised. As the beech clone was very sensitive to SO₂, an indication of latent injury could be ascertained only in the 0.05 ppm treatment where the rise of the β-glucosidase activity appeared some days before necroses. Contrary to beech, the spruce clone was tolerant to all SO₂-treatments and the enzymatical changes could be used as early indicators of latent injuries.     

Effect of consumption of organically and conventionally produced apples on antioxidant activity and DNA damage in humans

The present study was performed to compare the effects on antioxidant activity and on DNA damage of organic and conventionally produced apples grown under controlled conditions in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Six healthy volunteers consumed either organically or conventionally grown apples (Golden Delicious, 1000 g) from two neighboring commercial farms in a double-blinded, randomized, cross-over study. The average content of total identified and quantified polyphenols in the organically and conventionally produced apples was 308 and 321 microg/g fresh weight, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the sum of phenolic compounds or in either of the polyphenol classes were found between the agricultural methods. Consumption of neither organically nor conventionally grown apples caused any changes in antioxidant capacity of low-density lipoproteins (lag time test), endogenous DNA strand breaks, Fpg protein-sensitive sites, or capacity to protect DNA against damage caused by hydrogen peroxide. However, a statistically significant decrease in the levels of endonuclease III sensitive sites and an increased capacity to protect DNA against damage induced by iron chloride were determined 24 h after consumption in both groups of either organic or conventionally grown apples, indicating the similar antigenotoxic potential of both organically and conventionally grown apples.     

Changes in the phytochemical composition and profile of raw, boiled, and roasted peanuts

Peanuts are consumed mostly as processed products. Although the effect of processing on isoflavone composition of legumes has been extensively studied, there has been no such study on peanuts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of processing (boiling, oil- and dry-roasting) on the phytochemical composition of peanuts. Boiling had a significant effect on the phytochemical composition of peanuts compared to oil- and dry-roasting. Boiled peanuts had the highest total flavonoid and polyphenol content. The biochanin A and genistein content of boiled peanut extracts were two- and fourfold higher, respectively. trans-Resveratrol was detected only in the boiled peanuts, with the commercial product having a significantly (p < or = 0.05) higher concentration. Ultraviolet and mass spectrometry chromatograms for the boiled peanut extracts show the presence of four additional peaks that were not observed in the raw peanut extracts.     

Nitrogen recovery in a decoupled aquaponic system with lamellar settler and trickling biofilter: implications for system management

Careful nitrogen (N) management will be needed to nourish the growing human population while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Aquaponic systems (AS) have a great potential to become a sustainable technology making further use of N-rich aquaculture wastewater. In the present study, we observed the N retention and losses in a running prototype of decoupled AS with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) over 24 days. N losses amounted to 32.5% of feed N input and were observed in the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) of the AS. Fish retained 21.1% of N input while 25.2% of N input accumulated in the RAS water. About 14.1% of the loss of N was caused probably by anaerobic denitrification processes in the lamellar settler (LS). In addition, 18.4% of N input was discharged during the three cleanings of LS. In the hydroponic unit of the AS that has been due to space limitations much smaller than an optimized AS could be (only about 20% of the optimal size relative to fish biomass), the tomato plants, including fruits, leaves, and stems, recovered 3.1% of N input with water uptake of 1700 L. The fish culture management, system design, and environmental management in the greenhouse affect the N recovery in the decoupled AS.

     

益生素可改善肠道微生物平衡和饲料卫生

肠道菌群与宿主动物间的关系是微妙的 ,而且二者间的应激作用对生产不利。即使在现代生产条件下 ,环境卫生改善 ,饲料配制合理 ,饲料中添加促生长剂、药物、口服疫苗 ,二者间的平衡也可能出现紊乱。随着对细菌性感染的了解 ,人们开始用饲料添加剂影响生物调节过程和通过稳定肠道菌群降低腹泻次数或消除腹泻。益生素与抗生素是有区别的 ,其微生物分类如下 :1母猪乳中细菌 :乳酸片球菌 ,嗜酸乳杆菌1 ,鼠李糖乳杆菌 ,胚芽乳杆菌 ,粪肠球菌。 2活酵母 :酿酒酵母。3产芽孢菌 :枯草芽孢杆菌 ,蜡状芽孢杆菌 ,地衣芽孢杆菌。 4其它 :米曲霉。益生素…