Airborne fungal succession in a rice field of Cuba

This study characterised the airborne mycobiota of a rice plantation in Bauta (Havana, Cuba), with a view to improving crop quality. Culturable airborne fungi were sampled between March 2007 and February 2008 using a volumetric method (SAS Super 100) with potato dextrose agar as culture medium. The total fungal count was 51,425 cfu/m³. The 39 filamentous genera identified included several major rice pathogens (Bipolaris, Curvularia, Alternaria, Pyricularia, Cercospora and Fusarium) as well as potentially mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus. Analysis of the influence of weather-related factors on spore counts revealed that total counts and Penicillium counts correlated positively with daily relative humidity, mean temperature and dew point.     

A comparison of owner management and complications in 67 cats with esophagostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tubes

Esophagostomy feeding tubes were placed in 46 cats. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tubes were placed in 21 cats. Owner management and complications and facility of use were evaluated retrospectively by review of medical records and owner survey. Both tube types were equally effective for maintenance of body weight, ease of owner management, and complication rates. All of 12 owners surveyed were comfortable with PEG tube management. Ninety-six percent of 24 owners surveyed were comfortable with esophagostomy tube management. The esophagostomy tube can be placed less invasively, without specialized equipment, making it an excellent alternative to the PEG tube.     

RGB图像分析法测定台风0613诱发的竹叶黄化和坏死(英文)

遭遇台风0613号袭击之后,日本山口市的许多乔木和灌木出现叶尖和叶缘甚至整叶黄化和坏死的症状。同一竹林林分中既有黄化叶片也有坏斑叶片。本文用非破坏、非接触的RGB图像分析法研究了这一现象。研究表明,室内拍摄的黄化竹单叶图像的G/R值与叶绿素计(SPAD)值之间呈紧密的正相关,平方回归相关系数0.961;与坏死斑面积率之间呈反逻辑斯蒂函数关系,平方回归相关系数0.958。用RGB图像分析法不仅可以估测叶片的黄化程度而且可也估测叶片的坏死斑面积。研究还发现,光线差异较大时拍摄的图片,相同叶片的G/L值的方差小于G/R值的方差值,尤其是绿色叶片。与G/R相比,黄化叶片的G/L值得到了与SPAD更紧密的相关性。室外拍摄的竹林冠分析表明,光线差别较大的图像G/L值与林分距海岸的距离的相关性也高于G/R值。     

Rapid detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peste des Petits Ruminants</Emphasis> (PPR) virus antigen in Sudan by agar gel precipitation (AGPT) and haemagglutination (HA) Tests

AGPT and HA tests were employed for rapid diagnosis of PPRV infection in sheep and goats in Sudan. Forty lymph nodes and spleen samples from suspected cases of PPR in both sheep and goats were examined by AGPT and HA tests for detection of PPRV antigen. Viral antigen was detected from (77.5%) of the samples tested by AGPT and (92.5%) tested by HA test. The results of both tests revealed that HA test was more sensitive than AGPT for detection of PPRV antigen (Kappa statistics 0.4366). Another advantage of the HA test over AGPT was that it can differentiate PPRV from RPV. Thus the HA test represents a quick, easy, simple, cheap and reliable confirmatory test for the diagnosis of PPR and differential diagnosis of PPRV and RPV. The HA test was carried out using chicken, goat and pig RBCs. Chicken RBCs were found to be the most sensitive for detection of PPRV antigen, followed by goat then pig RBCs. The HA time when using chicken RBCs was 20–25 minutes, using goat RBCs was 25–30 minutes and using pig RBCs was 40–45 minutes. The distribution of PPR infection in four different regions of Sudan was investigated.     

Numerical analysis of injection molding for the Syringe Barrel with optimum design and processing condition

The numerical analysis was performed to predict the potential problem, often occurring during the manufacturing process of the disposable medical device of a great volume. The cavity filling analyses were performed for the new design of the 3cc Syringe Barrel using polypropylene(PP1), and a new nucleated polypropylene(PP2) material for better clarity. These analyses have been performed for different processing conditions as well as various wall thickness designs for both materials. With the nucleated material, only the original wall thickness design has been studied at two different processing conditions for comparison purpose. This study was conducted to investigate the optimum part design and processing condition for two different materials. The most desirable design was selected with Design 3 for material utilization and reduced flow stresses by comparing the field results. The new nucleated polypropylene provided slightly better product quality and processing.     

Characterization of common bean wild populations for their in situ conservation in Northwestern Argentina

In situ conservation of wild species is a method of conservation that allows keeping populations in their natural environments, and set the strategies for maintaining the natural populations. The Active Bank of Northwestern Argentina (BANOA) is in charge of the in situ conservation of wild populations of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Northwestern Argentina (NOA), and has an ex situ collection of 401 landraces and 221 wild accessions from the NOA. We evaluated the phenotypic diversity of 68 common bean wild populations from the NOA both in protected and unprotected areas, finding a moderate variation among them. Ten phenotypic reproductive characteristics related to pod and seed displayed significant differences in the analysis of variance; these traits together with the seed weight were the basis for the multivariate analysis. The cluster analysis ordered the populations in 12 groups but trends in geographical distribution or phenotypical variation were not recognized. For the conservation in situ of the wild bean populations, their diversity should be considered. Two types of populations can be highlighted: (i) candidates for in situ conservation in order to preserve the novel variation generated by convergence with cultivated sympatric germplasm (populations 433, 437, 471, 509, 513 and 517) and (ii) those whose phenotype represents clearly the wild status and should be preserved in situ as such in their current status (populations 480, 495, 496, 525 and 533).     

BMC ecology image competition 2017: the winning images

For the fifth year, BMC Ecology is proud to present the winning images from our annual image competition. The 2017 edition received entries by talented shutterbug-ecologists from across the world, showcasing research that is increasing our understanding of ecosystems worldwide and the beauty and diversity of life on our planet. In this editorial we showcase the winning images, as chosen by our Editorial Board and guest judge Chris Darimont, as well as our selection of highly commended images. Enjoy!     

LED-UV grafting of vinylsulfone dyes onto photo-oxidized wool fabrics

Photografting coloration of wool was carried out under UV-LED irradiation at room temperature using aqueous vinylsulfone dye solution containing vinylsulfonic acid as a comonomer. UV-LED irradiation of the 395 nm emission is more energy efficient, less damaging to the dyes, and much safer to human eyes compared with polychromatic mercury UV lamps. However, in case of the UV-LED lamps, the wool needs to be photo-oxidized either by UV/ozone or polychromatic UV irradiation before the dye photografting. The surface treatments increased the sulfur and oxygen contents in the modified wool surfaces. While the optimally photografted wool fabrics under the UV-LED lamp yielded a K/S value of 9.9, the K/S of the grafted wool increased to 25.2 and 13.6 after the UV/Ozone or polychromatic UV preoxidation at UV energies of 10.6 J/cm² and 25 J/cm² respectively. The color fastness properties of the photografted fabrics were far better than with those of the conventionally reactive-dyed fabrics, implying that the high-molecular-weight photografted dyes seemed to be more durable than the low-molecular dyes.     

Fabrication of electropsun PLGA and small intestine submucosa-blended nanofibrous membranes and their biocompatibility for wound healing

In recent decades, tremendous research has focused on the production of nanoscale fibers using synthetic polymers, with the goal of fabricating nanofibrous scaffolds for wound healing. However, the hydrophobicity of such polymers typically hinders attachment and proliferation of the cells. In this study, we combined poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) and small intestine submucosa (SIS) to fabricate blended nanofibers for wound healing by electrospinning. PLGA and SIS were dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro isopropanol to produce different weight ratios of PLGA/SIS-blended nanofibrous membranes (NFM). Physicochemical characterization of the electrospun NFM was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle analysis, degradation test and tensile testing. The PLGA/SIS-blended NFM showed improved hydrophilicity and tensile strength. Better infiltration, attachment and proliferation of rat granulation fibroblasts of PLGA/SIS-blended NFMs compared to PLGA NFMs were identified by morphological differences determined by SEM and a water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay kit. Based on our results, the PLGA/SIS blended NFMs were found to be suitable for use as a potential material for wound dressing.     

Individual growth pattern of juvenile stages of the Chinese mitten crab (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocheir sinensis</Emphasis>) reared under laboratory conditions

The specific growth pattern of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, during the juvenile stages was investigated under an individual rearing system for 160 days, including parent crab selection, hatchery management, larval stages, and juvenile cultivation. There were 36 males and 40 females developed from megalopa to the juvenile crab stage 10 (M–C10), with a total survival of 38%. The survival rate in early stages (M–C3) remained less than 80%, which was lower than that in latter stages (>?90%). The intermoult duration sharply increased in an exponential manner (y?=?3.1059e^0.2149x R²?=?0.9383) from 4?±?0.54 days to 38?±?6.26 days. The increments in wet weight, carapace width, and carapace length per moult were recorded throughout the experiment, which followed certain patterns with progressing moulting time. In addition, moulting increment in wet weight varied greatly from C1 to C6, with a minimum increment of 108.09%. Meanwhile, the specific growth rate markedly increased in the early stages and subsequently decreased, mainly because of significant increases in the intermoult duration starting from C6 stage. Males and females could be differentiated at C4 based on sexual dimorphism in the abdomen, and the most distinct changes in female and male juvenile crabs occurred in the shape of the abdomen and amount of cheliped fluff, respectively.