FEM analysis of subsoil reaction on heavy wheel loads with emphasis on soil preconsolidation stress and cohesion

Heavy sugarbeet harvesters may compact subsoil. But it is very difficult to study this by field experiments that resemble agricultural practice. Therefore, an analysis was made by a finite element method (FEM) for a relevant calcaric fluvial soil profile, the mechanical properties of which were largely known. Measuring data of this Lobith loam soil includes preconsolidation stress, compression index and swelling index, all as a function of depth. Using these three types of soil parameters calculations have been done for tyre sizes, inflation pressures and wheel loads that occur with heaviest sugarbeet harvesters available on the European market in 1999. Because no values on soil cohesion were available, the calculations were done for several cohesion levels. The results include the detection of regions with Mohr–Coulomb plasticity and regions with cap plasticity (compaction hardening). For the soil studied—a typical soil strength profile for arable land with ploughpan in the Netherlands in the autumn of 1977—all studied combinations of wheel load and inflation pressure did not induce compaction in and below the ploughpan. The size of the region with Mohr–Coulomb plasticity decreased with increasing cohesion. It appeared from a sensitivity analysis that, although soil modelling may use a great number of soil parameters, the most important parameters seem to be: preconsolidation stress and cohesion. There is an urgent need for data of these parameters that are measured on a great range of subsoils and subsoil conditions.     

Simultaneous analysis of nivalenol and deoxynivalenol in cereals by liquid chromatography

A sensitive method is described for determination of nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals by using reverse phase liquid chromatography and UV detection at 222 nm. The sample is extracted with acetonitrile-water (85 + 15) and an aliquot is purified by passage through a combined column of cation exchange resin and alumina-carbon (20 + 1). Analysis at this stage is possible with some samples but the method recommends passing an aliquot through a carbon minicolumn after evaporation and solubilization in methanol. Interference from coextracted compounds at this point is negligible. Recoveries of both NIV and DON from spiked extracts taken through the full method were in the range 83-94%. The relative standard deviation, based on 5 replicate determinations from each of 2 corn samples, was approximately 5% for both NIV and DON. With a 10 microL injection, the minimum contamination (3 X signal/noise ratio) able to be detected in cereal samples was about 0.015 micrograms NIV/g and 0.05 micrograms DON/g. The cleaned up extracts are also suitable for analysis by gas chromatography.     

Evaluation of techniques for quantitative detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi

Three baiting techniques and a sieving technique were evaluated for the quantitative detection zof Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Baiting with seedlings of Lupinus angustifolius L. (blue lupins), cotyledons of Eucalyptus sieberi F. Muell. and pear fruits cv. Packham's Triumph, detected one chlamydospore introduced into 50 g of either sand or soil. Sieving detected one chlamydospore in 50 g sand and also in 5 g soil. In naturally-infested soil, diluted with a similar non-infested soil, P. cinnamomi was detected at dilutions of $\text{1}\text{8}$ and $\text{1}\text{128}$ by the sieving and the baiting techniques, respectively. In general, pears were the most satisfactory bait for the detection and isolation of P. cinnamomi. The potential of baiting techniques for estimating numbers of propagules of P. cinnamomi in naturally-infested soil is discussed.     

Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of ethephon and fenoprop residues in apples and their decline before and after harvest.

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) and fenoprop (2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid) may be determined in the same apple sample. After extraction with methanol, 2 separate methylation procedures were required to quantitatively convert each compound. Ethephon was esterified with diazomethane and analyzed by a flame photometric detector in the P-mode. Fenoprop was esterified with boron trifluoride/methanol and analyzed by electron capture gas chromatography. Average recoveries were about 95% at 0.05 ppm for both compounds. The limit of detection was 0.05 ppm for ethephon and 0.01 ppm for fenoprop in a 1 g sample. The persistence of both compounds before and after harvest was studied. Ethephon and fenoprop were applied simultaneously to apple trees at the recommended concentrations of 300 and 20 ppm, respectively. Ethephon residues averaged 1.6, 0.75, and 0.4 ppm at 2 hr, 10 days, and after washing at 13 days, respectively. The corresponding fenoprop residues were 0.70, 0.025, and 0.024 ppm.     

A NOTE ON THE ZERO-GRAZING OF BEEF CATTLE

Groups of 8 steers weighing 300–400 kg (660–880 Ib) were rotationally grazed on a ryegrass-dominant pasture for 115 days. The systems compared were zero grazing (Z), field grazing conducted at the same stocking rate (FC), and field grazing conducted at a stocking rate varied with the intention of giving the same liveweight gain per uiimal as zero grazing (FV). Mean daily liveweight gains were: Z, 0.98; FC, 0.78; FV, 0.90 kg/animal (2.2, 1.7 and 20 Ib/animal), and liveweight gains/unit area were in the ratio 100:78:85. Organic-matter intake, measured on four occasions, was, on average, Z, 6.54; FC, 6.18; FV, 687 kg/head daily (14.4, 13.6 and 15.1Ib). From these results it appears that a comparison of zero grazing and field grazing made at the same stocking rate is likely to underestimate the potential of field grazing for beef production from grass.     

Subacute toxicity of dietary 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol in mice.

3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol was incorporated into a semisynthetic diet at levels of 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 ppm and fed to mice for up to 48 days. Body weights and feed consumption were determined, and blood samples for hematological evaluation were taken. Selected tissues were examined microscopically and the humoral immune response was assessed using the Jerne plaque assay. 3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol caused a dose-related depressed feed consumption within the first seven days and reduced body weight until day 14 when fed at levels up to 10 ppm. When fed at a level of 20 ppm, an initial depression in body weight gain and a general malaise were followed by a return to normal. At necropsy, no macroscopic or microscopic lesions could be found. The immune response was not significantly affected after seven or 14 days, but at 21 days, a dose-dependent enhanced response was observed. The findings indicate that, after an initial period of reduced feed intake, animals are apparently able to overcome the toxic effects of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol.     

Second-harmonic generation from magnetic metamaterials

We observe second-harmonic generation from metamaterials composed of split-ring resonators excited at 1.5-micrometer wavelength. Much larger signals are detected when magnetic-dipole resonances are excited, as compared with purely electric-dipole resonances. The experiments are consistent with calculations based on the magnetic component of the Lorentz force exerted on metal electrons-an intrinsic second-harmonic generation mechanism that plays no role in natural materials. This unusual mechanism becomes relevant in our work as a result of the enhancement and the orientation of the local magnetic fields associated with the magnetic-dipole resonances of the split-ring resonators.     

Soil organic carbon and C abundance as related to tillage, crop residue, and nitrogen fertilization under continuous corn management in Minnesota

Long-term field experiments are among the best means to predict soil management impacts on soil carbon storage. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and natural abundance ¹³C (δ¹³C) were sensitive to tillage, stover harvest, and nitrogen (N) management during 13 years of continuous corn (Zea mays L.), grown on a Haplic Chernozem soil in Minnesota. Contents of SOC in the 0–15 cm layer in the annually-tilled [moldboard (MB) and chisel (CH)] plots decreased slightly with years of corn after a low input mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) for pasture; stover harvest had no effect. Storage of SOC in no-till (NT) plots with stover harvested remained nearly unchanged at 55 Mg ha⁻¹ with time, while that with stover returned increased about 14%. The measured δ¹³C increased steadily with years of corn cropping in all treatments; the NT with stover return had the highest increase. The N fertilization effects on SOC and δ¹³C were most evident when stover was returned to NT plots. In the 15–30 cm depth, SOC storage decreased and δ¹³C values increased with years of corn cropping under NT, especially when stover was harvested. There was no consistent temporal trend in SOC storage and δ¹³C values in the 15–30 cm depth when plots received annual MB or CH tillage. The amount of available corn residue that was retained in SOC storage was influenced by all three management factors. Corn-derived SOC in the 0–15 cm and the 15–30 cm layers of the NT system combined was largest with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ and no stover harvest. The MB and CH tillage systems did not influence soil storage of corn-derived SOC in either the 0–15 or 15–30 cm layers. The corn-derived SOC as a fraction of SOC after 13 years fell into three ranges: 0.05 for the NT with stover harvested, 0.15 for the NT with no stover harvest, and 0.09–0.10 for treatments with annual tillage; N rate had no effect on this fraction. Corn-derived SOC expressed as a fraction of C returned was positively biased when C returned in the roots was estimated from recovery of root biomass. The half-life for decomposition of the original or relic SOC was longer when stover was returned, shortened when stover was harvested and N applied, and sharply lengthened when stover was not harvested and N was partially mixed with the stover. Separating SOC storage into relic and current crop sources has significantly improved our understanding of the main and interacting effects of tillage, crop residue, and N fertilization for managing SOC accumulation in soil.     

Network on veterinary medicines initiated by the European Federation For Pharmaceutical Sciences

The European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS) was founded 25 years ago by more than 20 national pharmaceutical societies and faculty members. As a pan‐European organization, it brings together pharmaceutical societies as well as academic, industrial and regulatory scientists engaged in drug research and development, drug regulation and education of professionals working in these fields. EUFEPS represents pharmaceutical sciences in Europe and is recognized as such by both the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency. EUFEPS cooperates with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and other European organizations and maintains global connections with agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. EUFEPS has established specified networks forming the basis of its activities. The creation of a Network on Veterinary Medicines is prompted by the manifold problems resulting from the use of veterinary drugs and its inherent interconnections with human medicine, environmental and public health. A long‐term goal of this initiative was to expand the spectrum of available therapeutics for use in animals, including the development of innovative delivery systems.