Fracture energy approach for the identification of changes in the wood caused by the drying processes

Specific fracture energy measurements were applied to identify changes caused by wood-drying processes of solid wood. Specimen design and geometry as well as parameters and specifications for a fracture energy test were determined experimentally. The specific test set-up was applied on plantation teakwood sample sets of standard as well as alternating convection kiln dryings and one oven drying. The results show that alternating changes of the drying temperature along with the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in a kiln schedule have a small but significant decreasing effect on the specific fracture energy in the radial/longitudinal as well as the tangential/longitudinal testing direction. Furthermore, oven drying at constant high drying temperature along with low EMC did not result in a significant change of specific fracture energy compared with standard drying, but caused greater scattering values in both transverse crack propagation systems.     

Preparation and comparative release characteristics of three anthocyanin encapsulation systems

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and their major polyphenolic constituents, anthocyanins, have preventive activities inter alia against colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, anthocyanins are sensitive to environmental conditions; thus their bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract is an important determinant of their in vivo activity. In the study reported here, the potential benefits of encapsulating an anthocyanin rich bilberry extract (BE) on anthocyanin stability were investigated. Nonencapsulated BE and three different BE loaded microcapsule systems were incubated in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF). After exposure to these media, released anthocyanins were identified and quantified by HPLC with UV/Vis detection. Although a rapid release of anthocyanins was observed within the first 20 min, encapsulation of anthocyanins doubled the amount of available anthocyanins after 150 min of incubation. These results illustrate the ability of encapsulation to inhibit early degradation of anthocyanins in the intestinal system.     

Monitoring rhizospheric pH,oxygen, and organic acid dynamics in two short‐time flooded plant species

The rhizosphere of two flooding‐resistant plant species (Arundinella anomala Steud., Alternanthera philoxeroides Mart.) from Three Gorges Reservoir area (China) has been examined for reactions to waterlogging and submergence. Rhizosphere parameters were monitored in natural sediment substrate by means of a dual‐access floodable rhizobox, which allows monitoring of oxygen and pH dynamics noninvasively with planar optodes in high temporal and spatial resolution, as well as simultaneous low‐invasive soil‐solution sampling. Analysis of samples for low‐molecular‐weight organic acids (LMWOA) was done by capillary electrophoresis. Roots could be observed easily in situ during growth and exposure to flooding. The floodable rhizobox is therefore considered a valuable tool for root‐reaction monitoring also under flooding conditions. During waterlogging, both species exuded oxygen into their rhizosphere and showed diurnal rhythms of rhizospheric acidification. The pH of the rhizosphere of growing root tips decreased up to 0.8 units corresponding to higher LMWOA concentrations. These rhythms weakened during flooding, but gained maximum amplitude again rapidly after resurfacing. We conclude that the root system was still fully functioning during and after flooding, and that flooding poses no threat to the physiology of the root system of the study species.     

Fungicide modes of action and resistance in downy mildews

Among oomycetes, Plasmopara viticola on grape and Phytophthora infestans on potato are agronomically the most important pathogens requiring control measures to avoid crop losses. Several chemical classes of fungicides are available with different properties in systemicity, specificity, duration of activity and risk of resistance. The major site-specific fungicides are the Quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs; e.g. azoxystrobin), phenylamides (e.g. mefenoxam), carboxylic acid amides (CAAs; e.g. dimethomorph, mandipropamid) and cyano-acetamide oximes (cymoxanil). In addition, multi-site fungicides such as mancozeb, folpet, chlorothalonil and copper formulations are important for disease control especially in mixtures or in alternation with site-specific fungicides. QoIs inhibit mitochondrial respiration, phenylamides the polymerization of r-RNA, whereas the mode of action of the other two site-specific classes is unknown but not multi-site. The use of site-specific fungicides has in many cases selected for resistant pathogen populations. QoIs are known to follow maternal, largely monogenic inheritance of resistance; they bear a high resistance risk for many but not all oomycetes. For phenylamides, inheritance of resistance is based on nuclear, probably monogenic mechanisms involving one or two semi-dominant genes; resistance risk is high for all oomycetes. The molecular mechanism of resistance to QoIs is mostly based on the G143A mutation in the cytochrome b gene; for phenylamides it is largely unknown. Resistance risk for CAA fungicides is considered as low to moderate depending on the pathogen species. Resistance to CAAs is controlled by two nuclear, recessive genes; the molecular mechanism is unknown. For QoIs and CAAs, resistance in field populations of P. viticola may gradually decline when applications are stopped.     

A comparative review of fisheries management experiences in the European Union and in other countries worldwide: Iceland,Australia, and New Zealand

This study compares the details and performance of fisheries management between the EU and a selection of other countries worldwide: Iceland, New Zealand, and Australia, which are considered in many respects to be among the most advanced in the world in fisheries management. Fisheries management in the EU, Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand has developed following different paths, despite being based on similar instruments and principles. Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand have been at the forefront of developing management practices such as stakeholder involvement, legally binding management targets (Australia, New Zealand), individual transferable quotas, and discard bans (Iceland, New Zealand). The EU has since the beginning of the 21st century taken significant steps to better involve stakeholders and establish quantitative targets through management plans, and a landing obligation is gradually being implemented from 2015 onward. The management of domestic fisheries resources in Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland has, overall, performed better than in the EU, in terms of conservation and economic efficiency. It should, however, be stressed that, compared to Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland, (i) initial over‐capacity was more of an issue in the EU when management measures became legally binding and also that (ii) EU has been progressive in developing common enforcement standards, on stocks shared by sovereign nations. The situation of EU fisheries has substantially improved over the period 2004–2013 in the northeast Atlantic, with fishery status getting close to that in the other jurisdictions, but the lack of recovery for Mediterranean fish stocks remains a concern.     

A novel crop water analysis system: identification of water stress tolerant genotypes of canola (Brassica napus L.) using non‐invasive magnetic turgor pressure probes

Changing global climatic conditions and irrigation water shortages impose water stress conditions on crops. To develop genotypes tolerant to water stress necessitates reliable high‐throughput methods to study plant water status and water stress tolerance mechanisms. We report the use of a non‐destructive, automated, precise and rapid system for assessing real‐time water status in canola plants. Leaf patch clamp pressure probes were clamped on the leaves of four different genotypes of canola grown under field conditions. The data generated diurnal curves characterizing the pattern of turgor pressure maintenance within the leaves. A novel methodology termed ‘inverse hysteresis’ was developed to measure relative water stress levels in plants using the probe‐derived data. The inverse hysteresis data show that genotypes CT12 and CT15 had a higher ability to withstand water stress and were more tolerant to water stress than DS23 and DS35. The chlorophyll content and seed yield were also higher in CT12 and CT15. This novel analytical tool for monitoring water status in canola plants will be of great benefit in other crop species to efficiently screen genotypes for water stress tolerance.     

Occurence of salmonellae in laying hens in different housing systems and inferences for control

As eggs represent now as ever the most important source for Salmonella infection in human beings and because of the currently occurring shift in housing conditions for laying hens from conventional cages to alternative systems it was studied whether the Salmonella prevalence in layers is influenced by the housing system. Following systems were considered: organic farming with free range management systems, floor management systems with free range, floor management systems without free range, conventional cages. 453 pooled faecal samples as single or double examination per herd from 329 flocks in different housing systems for table egg production from three Federal Lander were examined bacteriologically. The share of layer flocks which were Salmonella positive at least once independently of the housing system amounted to 32.2%. Analysis of the Salmonella findings in the single housing systems revealed that the share of Salmonella positive flocks was higher in conventional cage systems (46.3%) than in alternative housing systems (32.996% in organic farming with free range management systems, 21.9% in floor management systems with free range, 23.4% in floor management systems without free range).The results of the study clearly show that Salmonella Enteritidis (mostly phage type 4, other phage types rarely) presents with a share of 78% the dominant serovar in laying hens.The total number of all other serovars (apart from Salmonella Enteritidis and subspecies I rough) reached a share of ca. 14%, however, no other single serovar was dominant. As Salmonella Enteritidis is the predominant serovar in laying hens it is strongly recommended to use Salmonella Enteritidis vaccines for immunisation programmes of chickens during the rearing period. Because of the high prevalence of Salmonella organisms in the different housing systems, detailed information on the epidemiology of Salmonella in laying hens are needed to introduce effective control measures. Of particular interest is the question whether the Salmonella findings in laying flocks are the result of multiplication of already existing Salmonella organisms in the animals or whether the bacteria are introduced only during the laying period.     

Investigations on the water intake of growing bulls

The voluntary water intake was evaluated in 62 growing Holstein bulls (mean body weight range = 193 to 550 kg) during a whole fattening period. The diet was composed of corn silage and concentrates. Water was offered for ad libitum consumption. A total of 17,772 measurements of water intake were recorded over 282 days. The average daily water consumption was 18 kg/animal (S.D. = 6.7 kg). Applying a multiple regression analysis to the data set yielded the following equation: voluntary water intake (kg/day) = − 3.85 + 0.507  average ambient temperature (°C) + 1.494  dry matter intake (kg/day) − 0.141  roughage part of the diet (%) + 0.248  dry matter content of roughage (%) + 0.014  body weight (kg). The incorporation of the variables body weight gain, relative humidity, maximum ambient temperature, Na intake, and K intake into the equation did not increase the accuracy of the prediction.