The sorption of water vapour by chemically modified softwood: analysis using various sorption models

The sorption data for Corsican pine wood chemically modified with a homologous series of linear chain carboxylic acid anhydrides was analysed using various models, namely, BET, Dent, Le and Ly, Hailwood and Horrobin, Nelson, and Henderson. Hailwood and Horrobin resulted in the more appropriate model to represent the equilibrium data of chemically modified wood. In the present study, the parameter representing the molecular weight of the dry cell wall in the Hailwood and Horrobin isotherm was perfectly correlated with the weight percentage gain of anhydride. A linear relation was proposed between these two parameters in order to fit all experimental isotherms (the results showed an r²=0.993).     

Oviposition responses of culex pipiens to a synthetic racemic Culex quinquefasciatus oviposition aggregation pheromone

The oviposition pheromone of Culex quinquefasciatus was synthesized in a racemic form in a simple (five steps), efficient, high yielding (45% total yield), and low cost way (use of relatively low cost reagents). Our synthetic racemic pheromone (SRP) was tested in the laboratory for its bioactivity on Culex pipiens biotype molestus, which is a member of the species complex that Culex quinquefasciatusbelongs. In the testing conditions, bioactivity at the doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 microg per cage was found with the best bioactivity achieved at 1 mug per cage. The effectiveness of our SRP offers a capable tool for improving mosquito oviposition traps for surveillance or even control programs.     

Strontium Absorption by Two Trifolium Species as Influenced by Soil Characteristics and Liming

Strontium absorption by plants is specific to individual species and also depends on the underlying soil properties. The purpose ofthis study was to evaluate the effect of certain soil characteristics and liming on Sr absorption by twoTrifolium species. One-liter volume of two inorganic and three organic soilswere treated with a combination of three CaCO₃ levels, 0, 3.6 and 7.2 g, × two Sr levels, 50 and 100 mg, (treatments) in four replications. Trifolium repens L. was grown in thetreated soils, in pots, harvested twice, and Sr in theabove-ground biomass of each harvest and soil exchangeable Caof each treatment were determined. The experiment was repeatedwith Trifolium subterraneum L., harvested once. For bothspecies, Sr transfer factor (T.F.) values of the varioustreatments were calculated. Shoot Sr concentrations weresignificantly affected by soil characteristics and Sr additionrates and were greater in T. repens. In all cases, theSr concentrations of plants grown in the organic soils, whichwere characterized by higher exchangeable Ca and cationexchange capacity (C.E.C.) values, were lower than those ofplants grown in the inorganic soils. Among the organic soils,Sr concentrations of the plants grown in the soil with thehighest values of C.E.C., organic matter and exchangeable Cawere the lowest. Liming decreased significantly the Srconcentrations in T. repens and T. subterraneumgrown in the two acid soils, while the pH and exchangeable Cawere increased. Shoot Sr concentration (log scale) wassignificantly, negatively correlated with soil exchangeable Ca. Strontium T.F. values were quite similar between the two Sr application rates and were affected by the same soil characteristics.     

Sorption of acetylated pine wood decayed by brown rot, white rot and soft rot: different fungi—different behaviours

Acetylated wood was exposed to decay by brown, white and soft rot in order to address the sorption behaviour of decayed wood. The sorption isotherms were analysed using the Hailwood–Horrobin model. It was found that the different types of decay exhibit different sorption properties. Brown rot decayed wood exhibits significantly lower hygroscopicity in both total, monomolecular and polymolecular sorption. Soft rot decayed wood followed the same pattern as the brown rot decayed wood; however, the reduction in hygroscopicity was not significant. White rot decayed wood showed a different behaviour, with increased hygroscopicity in total and polymolecular sorption and decreased hygroscopicity in monomolecular sorption.     

Development and validation of a tertiary simulation model for predicting the growth of the food microorganisms under dynamic and static temperature conditions

The use of predictive modeling software may markedly contribute to the better understanding of the microbial behavior in foods. In this paper, the development and validation of a tertiary model, which provides predictions of microbial growth in foods under dynamic or static temperature conditions, is presented. In particular, the UGPM (Unified Growth Prediction Model) software applies the Baranyi and Roberts (1994) primary model, coupled to a secondary temperature model, in order to simulate growth of a given microorganism during storage of a specific food or food category. The software, intended to be used by both expert and non-expert users, may be a valuable decision support tool for the food industry, by assisting in the management of foods based on their actual shelf-life and microbial safety, thereby limiting the deterministic “best-by” practice for the determination of shelf-life. The latter is commonly based solely on empirical observations and has high uncertainty. This in turn, may result in the rejection of large quantities of unspoiled or safe foods, or even in the distribution of spoiled and unsafe foods, due to ignorance of the effect of temperature abuse on the microbial spoilage and safety of products.     

The effect of butorphanol on the incidence of dexmedetomidine‐induced emesis in cats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antiemetic effect of butorphanol (BUT) when co-administered with dexmedetomidine (DEX) in cats.Study designDouble-blind, randomized controlled cross-over experimental study.AnimalsFourteen purpose-bred healthy Domestic Short Hair cats, seven females and seven males, aged median (range) 14–84 (78) months and weighing 1.7–5.5 (4.0) kg.MethodsEach cat received five different treatment protocols intramuscularly (IM): (A) 25 μg kg⁻¹ DEX; (B) 20 μg kg⁻¹ DEX and 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ BUT; (C) 20 μg kg⁻¹ DEX and 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ BUT; (D) 25 μg kg⁻¹ DEX and 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ BUT; and (E) 20 μg kg⁻¹ DEX. Episodes of emesis, incidence and severity of nausea, and time to lateral recumbency were recorded for a period of 8 minutes after treatment administration, and the sedation was scored at the end of this period. The Friedman test and the Cochran’s Q-test were used to analyse the data. Significance was evaluated at the 5% level.ResultsThe proportion of cats that vomited was significantly lower with the treatment protocols that included BUT (B, C and D) compared with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E). The proportion of cats that had nausea was significantly higher with the protocols that included only DEX (A and E) compared with protocols B and D. Time to lateral recumbency (p = 0.09) and sedation score (p = 0.07) was not statistically different between the treatment protocols.Conclusions and clinical relevanceButorphanol can be used to prevent emesis and reduce the incidence and the severity of nausea caused by DEX in cats. It seems that the combination of BUT and DEX is very useful not only when emesis could result in serious complications, but also to provide comfort and well-being in cats sedated for minor procedures.     

Exploration of Betalains and Determination of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Profile of Orange and Purple Opuntia spp. Cultivars in Greece

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Replacing synthetic dyes with natural pigments has gained great attention over the past years in the food industry, due to the increased alertness of consumers for...     

First record of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Greece

After the first introduction of chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, in Italy, it has spread rapidly in several other European countries, probably largely due to trade in chestnut plants. Despite the measures taken to prevent further spread of this pest to other countries, D. kuriphilus was detected in Greece for the first time in 2014. However, surveys have shown that the pest is still of very limited distribution in Greece. Having faced the damage caused by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) over the last 50 years, the production of chestnuts in Greece is now seriously threatened by chestnut gall wasp, which has already caused extensive losses in chestnut production of other countries. In order to minimize the impact of chestnut gall wasp, control measures are being designed involving the release of the parasitoid Torymus sinensis.