Study on antibacterial and comfort performances of cotton fabric finished by chitosan-silver for intimate apparel

The fabric used for intimate apparel is widely required to have excellent antibacterial and comfort performances. In order to improve its antibacterial ability, this paper studied chitosan-silver finishing on the cotton knitted fabric. The study indicates that the chitosan-silver attached to the fabric exhibits excellent antibacterial action against the typical bacteria of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureu). The anti-bacterial mechanism of chitosan-silver against E. coli and S. aureu were investigated. To guarantee its prominent comfort performance, measurements were made on the finished fabric of its air permeability, water vapor transmission, hydrophily, surface friction and bending ability against the control fabric, which is currently used for intimate apparel. The antibacterial and comfort performances were compared between the tested fabrics. The results show that the air permeability and the hydrophily of the finished cotton fabric are significantly better than the control one, while the water vapor transmission, the surface friction and the adjustable rate remain similar to each other. The bending rigidity of the finished fabric is slightly better due to the attachment of chitosan within accepted threshold. The dual compounding theory of chitosan-silver proves to be useful for a higher synergistic effect of anti-bacteria, lower whiteness degradation and overall optimization of comfort performance. This dual compounding theory of chitosan-silver is valuable for improving antibacterial and comfort performances of intimate apparel.     

茶叶区域公用品牌整合绩效影响因素分析——基于茶叶企业视角

为缓解突出的“一品多牌”问题,江西省实行了茶叶品牌整合策略,以加快茶叶产业发展。本文基于江西省茶叶企业调研数据,运用结构方程模型,从茶叶企业视角实证分析了茶叶区域公用品牌整合绩效的影响因素。结果显示,政策扶持对茶企参与区域公用品牌整合绩效是通过作用于企业内部管理间接产生显著的正向影响,有助于促进企业内部管理水平提升;品牌监管、营销推广、产业发展条件对茶企参与区域公用品牌整合绩效均有显著的正向影响。因此,加强区域公用品牌监管、提高产品营销推广能力、优化产业发展环境有助于改善茶叶企业经营绩效。     

Odour control studies on apparel fabrics finished with methanol extract of Terminalia chebula

This study aimed to analyse the odour retention characteristics of different textile fibers. The commercially used textile fibers like cotton, viscose, linen, nylon, 60/40 cotton/polyester and 100 % polyester swatches were used as a sweat absorbing material in vests and T shirts. The In-vivo wear analysis was carried out with sedentary and non-sedentary workers. The worn samples were collected and subjectively analysed for the odour intensity after 24 hour storage at normal atmosphere. The subjective analysis result reveals that, highest amount odour intensity is in polyester. The intensity level in the following order: polyester>nylon>cotton/polyester>linen>viscose>cotton. Methanolic extract of Terminalia chebula was applied on the textile material to analyse the odour reduction ability. The subjective analysis results revealed that, the odour formation in the textile material reduced significantly after Terminalia chebula finishing process invariantly with fiber except nylon. To confirm the odour reduction objectively, bacterial isolation studies were performed with the treated and untreated worn samples. The results revealed that, the amount of bacterial colony in the finished textile reduced considerably than the worn untreated samples except nylon. Further, FTIR studies confirmed the reduction of odour forming short chain fatty acids in the treated worn textile than the untreated. Agar diffusion test results of finished textile, against major odour causing bacteria in axilla shows zone of inhibition up to 42 mm for all the fibers except nylon fabric. Hence, this study suggests a promising application of natural herbal finish for the odour reduction in apparels.     

The effects of spatial variability of land use on stream water quality in a costal watershed

Researchers generally accept that land use types within a watershed closely relate with the water quality characteristics of streams. Despite numerous studies investigating the relationships between water quality and land use, there are increasing concerns about the geographical variation and lack of spatial integration in previous studies. We investigated the relationships between land use and water quality characteristics including biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and Escherichia coli in the Wha-Ong estuarine reservoir watershed in Korea, which has spatially integrated land uses. Residential and paddy areas appear to be positively and negatively correlated, respectively, with degraded water quality. The spatial variations of these relationships were also examined using zonal analysis. Some results contrasted with those of previous studies that were conducted mostly in developed Western countries and may reflect the different land use intensities and agricultural practices in Korea. Relationships across zones, distinguished by distances from streams, were inconsistent and erratic, suggesting that the relationships between remote land uses and water quality may be affected more significantly by sub-basin characteristics than by the land use itself. The geographical differences and spatial variations found in this study indicate that caution must be taken in generalizing the relationship between land use and water quality.     

Evaluation of Water-Saving Rice-Winter Crop Rotation System in a Suburb of Tokyo

Abstract

Water-saving rice-winter crop rotation systems were repeated for 4 cycles from 2000 to 2004 in an urban area, Nishitokyo, Japan, to assess the effects of water-saving (i.e. non-flooded vs. flooded) on grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and chemical constituents of percolating water. The effects of pre-rice winter cropping compared with fallow on rice yield were also examined. The pre-cultivated crops were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) or spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) with their above-ground parts removed, chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) or rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) with their above-ground parts incorporated before rice transplanting. Neither winter cropping effects nor its interaction with water-saving were significant for rice yield, although the yield after rapeseed incorporation tended to be 9 % higher than that after fallow. In 2001, 2003 and 2004, when more than 70% of irrigation water was saved in the non-flooded trial, average yield in non-flooded trial was 58 % of flooded trial, but water productivity increased (from 0.10 to 0.16 kg m^-3). Among the 3 years, yield in non-flooded trial was highest in 2004 when the amounts of irrigation and total water supply was larger, the frequency of dry spells was the lowest, and 2 seedlings were transplanted per hill. The nitrate and nitrite concentrations in the percolating water were far below the environmental standard values by WHO. The study showed that incorporation of winter crops had no negative effects on water-saving rice production at least for the first 4 years, and that under extreme water-saving, irrigation and planting methods could minimize yield reduction.     

Erratum to: Feeding preferences of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Nepal

Background

The relationships between group size, survival, and longevity vary greatly among social species. Depending on demographic and ecological circumstances, there are both positive and negative effects of group size variation on individual survival and longevity. For socially foraging species in particular there may be an optimal group size that predicts maximum individual survival that is directly related to the potential for information transfer, social coordination, and costs of conspecific interference. Our aim was to investigate this central aspect of evolutionary ecology by focusing on a socially foraging bat, Molossus molossus. This species optimizes foraging success by eavesdropping on the echolocation calls of group members to locate ephemeral food patches. We expected to find the highest survival and longest lifespans in small groups as a consequence of a trade-off between benefits of information transfer on ephemeral resources and costs of conspecific interference.

Results

In a mark-recapture study of 14 mixed-sex M. molossus social groups in Gamboa, Panama, spanning several years we found the expected relatively small and intermediate, but stable groups, with a mean size of 9.6 ± 6.7 adults and juveniles. We estimated survival proxies using Cox proportional hazard models and multistate-mark recapture models generated with recapture data as well as automated monitoring of roost entrances in a subset of the groups. Median survival of females was very short with 1.8 years and a maximum estimated longevity of 5.6 years. Contrary to our expectations, we found no relationship between variation in group size and survival, a result similar to few other studies.

Conclusions

Strong selection towards small group size may result from psychoacoustic and cognitive constraints related to acoustic interference in social foraging and the complexity of coordinated flight. The short lifespans were unexpected and may result from life at the energetic edge due to a highly specialized diet. The absence of a relationship between group size and survival may reflect a similar but optimized survival within the selected range of group sizes. We expect the pattern of small group sizes will be consistent in future research on species dependent on social information transfer about ephemeral resources.

     

GC-MS analysis of dyes extracted from turmeric

Standard extraction procedure for examining chromophoric substances of turmeric was investigated. Acetone and methanol were used as extracting solvents with different extraction procedures and pH levels. GC-MS analysis identified curcumene2 (6.7 min), feruloylmethane3 (8.3 min), coumaran4 (6.09 min), vanillin5 (6.2 min), and zingiberene6 (10.5 min) as the major products. Curcumin1 which has been known as the major chromophoric substance of turmeric was not detected in any samples. The maximum amount of curcumene2, which was used as the fingerprint product for turmeric dye, was obtained by utilizing presoaking and decanting step with methanol prior to actual extraction step using a waterbath shaker (WMM). The highest relative abundance of curcumene2 was detected in pH 6 sample followed by pH 5 indicating that the most appropriate pH level was in the range of pH 6–5. This research was funded by the 2004 Research Fund of University of Incheon.     

Estimation of the international virtual water flow of grain crop products in Korea

The Korean 2008 self-sufficiency rate for grain was only 26.2%. Because of this, the quantity virtual water (VW) for crop product imports is much greater than that of other countries. International VW trade is especially important to Korea due to its dependency on foreign imports to maintain food security and to establish an agricultural water resource policy. Using international crop products trade statistics during 2003?C2007, this study analyzed the virtual water content (VWC) and international virtual water flow (VWF) of major crops. The national water savings and global water savings were also estimated. Major grain products, including 28 products made from 13 crops, were selected for the analysis, based on the net import and export of products totaling more than 10,000 tons. VWCs were computed for the selected major crop products using the VWC of the primary crop of Korea. International VWFs were estimated using the VWC of each crop products. The amount of imported VW was 16,804 and 226?M?m³ was exported, so that the net imported VW was 16,578?M?m³. VW import is concentrated in wheat, rice, maize (corn), and soybean crops. A small number of countries, including the USA, China, Brazil, etc., account for over 96% of the imported VW, indicating Korea??s heavy dependence on these countries. The average national water savings for Korea and the average global water savings according to crop were estimated using VW flow from international crop products trade during 2003?C2007. The estimate of national water savings was 23,870.3?M?m³. Three major crops, namely wheat, maize and soybean, account for 95.3% of this total VW saving. Global water savings from the VW trade amounted to 7,253.0?M?m³. Korea depends heavily on VW imports concentrated in specific crops and which are primarily imported from a particular set of countries. This indicates that Korea is vulnerable to disruptions in the international grain harvest such as those caused by natural disasters such as floods and drought. Any such disruption could easily become a critical issue for governmental planners who establish food and water supply policies for Korea.     

Rice farming and strategy to rural development

Since 2004, Jong Wun Ahn is the President of Korea Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation (KARICO), which is a leading and unique government-run company in the field of agricultural and rural development and rural water management in Korea. He is also the Chairman of Korean National Committee (KCID) of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). For most of his 30-years career, he worked for agricultural policy planning and rural development in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as a specialist in agronomy and agricultural economy. One of his reports “In the Era of Globalization, Direction and Strategy on Rural Development in Korea” in which he put his findings and thoughts together based on his experience is still a good reference work for agricultural policy planners. President of Korea Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation (KARICO)     

Nitrogen Efficiency in Mixed Farming Systems

SUMMARY

The problem of nitrogen surpluses in Northwestern Europe is related in part to recent segregation of animal and crop production. A long-term solution can be found by re-integration of the main agricultural production components into mixed farming systems. In a new classification scheme of farming systems, high-input systems are placed in a sequence of modes in agriculture that each address sus-tainability problems in different ways. In this classification scheme, New-Conservation Agriculture (NCA) is considered to be a new mode of farming that aims to replace losses from the system, whilst not overloading it through critical use of non-renewable resources. Mixed farming systems that integrate crops and livestock are a typical example of NCA. The advantageous environmental features of mixed farming systems are illustrated by the favorable nitrogen balance of two experimental prototypes (a conventional and an organic one) where arable, dairy and sheep farming are integrated to a high degree. However, particularly the plowing of grass/clover swards caused serious problems on both farms regarding seedling survival and product quality in sugarbeet, maize, onion, and potato crops. This was due to the occurrence of large pest populations of leatherjackets (Tipula paludosa) and wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae).     

Varietal Difference in the Occurrence of Milky White Kernels in Response to Assimilate Supply in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

We examined the association of assimilate supply in the occurrence of milky white kernels in three cultivars with different percentages of milky white kernels in the field condition: ‘Hatsuboshi’, ‘Koshiibuki’ and ‘Koshihikari’. Five days after heading, the plants were placed in four controlled-environment chambers with either a high or low night temperature and elevated or normal [CO₂] supply. Plants in each chamber were either defoliated with only flag leaf remaining, flag leaf and second leaf remaining or left intact (control). The percentage of each type of chalky kernel was examined. The percentage of milky white kernels was increased by defoliation and decreased by elevated [CO₂], associated with assimilate supply. No association was observed between assimilate supply and white back or basal white kernels. The percentage of milky white kernels was negatively correlated with assimilate supply at a high night temperature in all cultivars. At a low night temperature, there was a clear threshold of assimilate supply, over which the percentage of milky white kernels was nearly zero. Cultivar differences were observed in the relation between the percentage of milky white kernels and assimilate supply. In conclusion, we found a varietal difference in the occurrence of milky white kernels in response to assimilate supply. In the cultivars used in this study, ‘Hatsuboshi’ was more sensitive to the low assimilate supply than ‘Koshihikari’.     

Genetic Variations in Dry Matter Production,Nitrogen Uptake,and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the AA Genome Oryza Species Grown under Different Nitrogen Conditions

Abstract

To clarify the genotypic variation of nitrogen (N) response in the AA genome Oryza species, we investigated dry matter production, N uptake, N and water use efficiencies (NUE and WUE), bleeding sap rate (BR), and root morphological traits at vegetative stage in 6 cultivars and 4 strains of 6 species (O. sativa, O. glaberrima, O. barthii, O. nivara, O. meridionalis, and O. rufipogon) grown under standard N (SN) and low N (LN) conditions. Some wild Oryza strains and O. glaberrima showed high dry matter production under both N conditions. In most plants, total dry weight decreased and root dry weight increased under the LN condition, resulting in decreased top-root ratio. In japonica cultivars of O. sativa, however, these traits were unaffected by the N condition. There were no significant differences in WUE with plant species or N conditions. In all plants, however, NUE was higher in the LN than SN condition, and was conspicuously high in most wild Oryza species and O. glaberrima. Some of them showed increased capacity of nitrate-N (NO₃-N) uptake under the LN condition. In cultivars and strains with a high NUE, root dry weight, root surface area, and BR were also higher under the LN condition. These results suggest that a high NUE is associated with the development of a root system, increased BR, and probably increased capacity of NO₃-N uptake. This study revealed the presence of superior wild Oryza strains for growth under LN that may be a promising genetic resource for low N-input agriculture.     

Effects of Soil Type,Vertical Root Distribution and Precipitation on Grain Yield of Winter Wheat

Abstract

In Abashiri in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Hokushin) in the western area, with umbric andosol or dystric cambisol soil types, are lower and unstable compared to those in the eastern area, with mostly haplic andosol soil type. The aim of this study was to evaluate yield differences between the eastern and western areas. The vertical root distribution of wheat plants was examined over two seasons in farmers’ fields in both areas by a wall profile method. Plants grown in the western area had shallower root systems than those grown in the eastern area. Poor soil porosity and high soil penetration resistance suppressed the vertical distribution of root systems in umbric andosol and dystric cambisol. Grain yields were not always correlated with the amount and distribution of the root system. Grain yield in the 2004/2005 season was not correlated with root depth index, whereas it was positively correlated in the 2005/2006 season. During the period from heading to maturity (mid June to late July) over the two seasons, grain yield was associated with precipitation more than with temperature and total solar radiation. In the 2005/2006 season, during the late growing stage of wheat, precipitation was extremely low and soils were very dry. The difference in grain yield between the eastern and western areas was significant and negatively related to precipitation during the period from heading to maturity. Significant correlations of yield with sunshine duration and solar radiation from the heading stage to maturity were observed only on haplic andosol. The results suggest that the major factor controlling yearly changes in the difference in grain yield of winter wheat between the eastern and western areas is the difference in photosynthetic ability, which is based on rooting depth and water supply in response to solar radiation during the late growing stage.     

浅析安化黑茶的电子商务营销

随着电子商务的发展和传统营销方式的变革,安化黑茶企业运用电子商务营销已经成为必然。本文在介绍安化黑茶的营销现状与国内互联网电子商务现状的基础上阐述安化黑茶企业在运用电子商务营销中存在的问题,探讨黑茶企业的电子商务模式。     

Influence of growth conditions on the value of crisphead lettuce

Crisphead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. varcapitata cvs.Marius andSaladin) were grown with a nitrogen supply from 50 to 200 kg N/hectare. Heads were stored for one or two weeks at 1 °C in cold storage or ice bank cooling. Samples were taken for measurement of dry matter, sugars, vitamin C and nitrate. The content of dry matter, sugars (glucose, fructose) and vitamin C decreased with increasing level of nitrogen, and the content of nitrate increased. Except for nitrate the contents of the other quality attributes decreased at all nitrogen supply levels during storage. No differences were found between the storage systems, and beside fructose no significant differences were found between the two cultivars. The content of dry matter, vitamin C, and nitrate decreased from the outer to the inner head fraction, while the content of sugars increased. Trimming decreased the content of dry matter, vitamin C and nitrate and increased the content of sugars. To obtain heads from storage with a relatively high content of dry matter, sugars and vitamin C, and a relatively low content of nitrate the nitrogen supply must be as low as possible. Except for nitrate where no distinct results were found in this experiment it must also be recommended to store the heads as short time as possible. Possibly the cv.Saladin has some advantage quality attributes after storage compared with the cv.Marius.     

Cost sharing and sustainability of Pongsak Muang Fai irrigation system

The centuries-old, self-organizing Muang Fai community irrigation institution in northern Thailand has high potential in illustrating exemplary practices in irrigation cost sharing. This paper examines the cost sharing structure of the Pongsak Muang Fai Irrigation System in Mae Hong Son Province and its relationship with the system water management and sustainability. Results show that this primitive and high cost system accepts costs of the weir, the entire length of main ditch, not only the individually related ditch sections, and the management as common costs that should be equally shared so that it can gather sizeable membership to support the system. The capacity of this small scale run-of-the-river irrigation system with no river flow limitation is a simple summation of all determined farm intake capacities. The maintenance cost of the system every year depends on how much water should be diverted and conveyed, hence the use of “relative” scale of each farm intake capacity as the basis for sharing cost in the wet season paddy farming. Such structure is directly related to the water management under which every intake shall be served with continuous supply without permitting mid-canal water check-up and the members prefer to take collective action to keep enough water supply without leaving any room for suspicion of unfair water distribution. The direct relationship makes the members understand the purpose of payment and be willing to share the costs which are transparently estimated in easily understood terms and clearly de-aggregated into categories.     

Isolation and Identification of Potent Allelopathic Substances in a Traditional Bangladeshi Rice Cultivar Kartikshail

Abstract

Aqueous methanol extracts of a traditional Bangladeshi rice cultivar (Oryza sativa L. cv. Kartikshail) inhibited root and shoot growth of cress (Lepidium sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), timothy (Phleum pratense), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and jungle rice (Echinochloa colonum). The inhibition was increased with increasing the extract concentration, which suggests that cv. Kartikshail may have growth inhibitory substances and allelopathic potential. The aqueous methanol extract of cv. Kartikshail was purified and two main inhibitory substances were isolated and identified by spectral data as 3-hydroxy-β-ionone and 9-hydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one. The concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition on cress roots and shoots, respectively, were 4.9 and 9.5 μM for 3-hydroxy-β-ionone, and 0.54 and 0.72 μM for 9-hydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one. The concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition on barnyardgrass roots and shoots, respectively, were 160 and 310 μM for 3-hydroxy-β-ionone, and 53 and 140 μM for 9-hydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one. The inhibitory activity of a mixture of the two compounds was much higher than that of the sum of the two compounds, suggesting that the two compounds may act synergistically to inhibit the growth of cress and barnyardgrass. The present research suggests that 3-hydroxy- β-ionone and 9-hydroxy-4-megastigmen-3-one may be responsible for the growth inhibitory effect of cv. Kartikshail and may play important roles in the allelopathy of cv. Kartikshail. The traditional Bangladeshi rice cultivar Kartikshail may be potentially useful for weed management as a weed suppressing agent when this rice cultivar is incorporated into the soil or included in rice-based cropping systems.     

Developing an approach to assess farmer perceptions of the value of pasture assessment technologies

Measurement and monitoring of pasture have been identified as foundations for profitable and sustainable grazing systems. The value that farmers place on pasture assessment in feed management is difficult to ascertain and has seen limited research. The objectives of this study were to test a survey to quantify the perceived value of pasture assessment and identify key criteria for design of pasture assessment technologies. An online survey methodology was piloted with 44 New Zealand farmers to assess perceptions of actual and great grazing management outcomes, good and great pasture assessment, and the value associated with moving from good to great pasture assessment. Results highlighted that many farmers perceive a small potential for improvements in their current pasture performance, whereas industry-level studies suggest that this is not the case. We found limitations with farmers linking better pasture management performance with eventual improvements in milk production. There were anomalies with assessing current and potential improved pasture performance through this type of survey methodology, with many farmers claiming very high levels of current performance, and some rating themselves as performing at more than 100% of potential. This research highlights that pasture assessment technology designers need to be aware of the high expectations of farmers regarding performance, for example measurement accuracy and data timeliness. Over, or under, specification of technology for specific tasks, such as daily allocation of pasture at a herd level, may lead to farmer dissatisfaction around costs of technology, return on investment, and if the technology is fit-for-purpose.     

美国玉米品种命名规则探析及启迪

品种是种子企业的生命线,品种名称也就逐步构成了企业的无形资产。没有一套科学合理、系统持续的品种命名系统,难以打造出知名企业品牌,也会导致销售混乱及统计模糊。本文对中、美两国种业农作物品种命名规则进行分析与探讨,分析美国品种命名规则与经验,针对中国种业存在的问题,对玉米审定品种、参试组合、成型自交系的命名规则提出建议。