The influence of the extensional viscosity of very low concentrations of high molecular mass water-soluble polymers on atomisation and droplet impact

BACKGROUND: Water-soluble polymers are increasingly added to herbicide and pesticide formulations at very low concentrations (100-1000 mg L(-1)) in order to control the spray characteristics, notably to reduce spray drift and influence droplet bounce. The incorporation of polymeric adjuvants improves the efficacy of the spray solutions, thus enabling crop growers to maximise the performance of agrochemical sprays at lower dose rates of active ingredient. It is important to establish a fundamental understanding of how polymers influence the processes involved in droplet deposition.RESULTS: The shear and extensional viscosities of a series of high molecular mass (M(w)) poly(acrylamides) (M(w) approximately 10(6)-10(7)) have been determined at very low concentrations (100-1000 mg L(-1)). The polymer solutions demonstrated typical shear thinning characteristics under shear, and strain hardening behaviour under extension above a critical strain rate. The presence of the polymers was shown to increase the size of droplets produced in atomisation using an agricultural spray nozzle, as measured by laser diffraction. This was attributed to the increase in the extensional viscosity at the strain rates generated under pressure in the spray nozzle and was a function of both polymer concentration and M(w). In addition, the presence of polymer was found to have a significant influence on droplet bounce.CONCLUSIONS: The presence of very low concentrations of high molecular mass poly(acrylamides) significantly influences the size of droplets formed on atomisation and subsequent bounce characteristics. Large extensional viscosities generated above a critical strain rate are responsible for both processes.     

Molecular mapping of greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) resistance gene Rsg1 in barley

The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) is an extremely damaging aphid pest of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) particularly in the southern Great Plains of the USA. The simply inherited, dominant resistance gene Rsg1 is in all greenbug‐resistant US barley cultivars. In this study, we conducted molecular mapping of Rsg1 using an F_2:3 population derived from a cross between the greenbug‐resistant Post 90*4/R015 and susceptible CI2260 inbred lines. Segregation of host responses to greenbug biotype E infestation confirmed that a single dominant gene is responsible for greenbug resistance in Post 90*4/R015. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers evenly distributed along the seven barley chromosomes were employed for the construction of a framework genetic map. Linkage analysis placed the Rsg1 locus in the long arm of chromosome 3H (3HL) flanked by SSR markers Bmag0877 and GBM1420 that were 35 cM apart. Polymorphic single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in 3HL were identified from an Illumina GoldenGate SNP assay and used for targeted mapping to locate Rsg1 to an 8.4‐cM interval. Comparative analysis identified syntenic genomic regions in Brachypodium distachyon chromosome 2, in which 37 putative genes were annotated including a NB‐LRR‐type resistance gene homologue that may be a potential candidate gene for the Rsg1 locus of barley. Results from this study offer a starting point for fine mapping and cloning of this aphid resistance gene in barley.     

Folate deficiency is associated with nutritional anaemia in Lebanese women of childbearing age

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the determinants of anaemia in Lebanese women of childbearing age attending health centres in Lebanon. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study carried out between May and December 2003. Anthropometric measurements as well as sociodemographic, health and dietary intake data were collected using a questionnaire. Haemoglobin (Hb), plasma ferritin, plasma folate and vitamin B12 were assessed using standard laboratory methods. SETTING: Governmental health centres in Lebanon. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and seventy non-pregnant Lebanese women aged 15-45 years. RESULTS: Anaemia (Hb <12 g dl(-1)) and iron deficiency (ferritin <15 microg l(-1)) were prevalent in 16.0 and 27.2% of the study sample, respectively. Of the total sample, 7.7% had iron-deficiency anaemia. The percentage of women with either Hb or ferritin deficiency or both was 35.6%. Plasma folate and vitamin B12 deficiency was reported in 25.1 and 39.4%, respectively, and 12.6% of the women had both folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Of the anaemic group, 48.0% of the women had iron deficiency. The intake of iron was lower in iron-deficient than in non-deficient women and a positive relationship was shown between folate intake and its corresponding serum levels. Regression analysis showed that ferritin, plasma folate and family history of anaemia were significant determinants of the anaemia in the sample of women. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia not related to iron deficiency was partly explained by plasma folate deficiency. Measures to control folate and iron deficiency should be considered.     

Further studies on the anticancer activity of citrus limonoids

Research in this laboratory has shown that some citrus limonoids can inhibit the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced oral tumors. The data from these studies have suggested that certain rings in the limonoid nucleus may be critical to antineoplastic activity. Using the hamster cheek pouch model, three new limonoids (ichangensin, deoxylimonin, and obacunone) have now been tested for cancer chemopreventive activity. In the first experiment, it was found that the treatments with ichangensin had no effect on tumor number or burden. In the second experiment, obacunone reduced tumor number and burden by 25 and 40%, respectively, whereas deoxylimonin reduced tumor number and burden by 30 and 50%, respectively. The results with deoxylimonin were significant, p < 0.05. Overall, the data indicated that changes in the A ring of the limonoid nucleus can lead to a loss of anticancer activity, whereas changes in the D ring can be tolerated without any apparent loss of biological activity.     

Effects of Composting On Removal of Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Potassium from Sawdust Amended with Chicken Litter

A six month study evaluated composting affects on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) leaching from hardwood and furniture sawdust amended with 20% and 30% chicken litter. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) was obtained from substrates. Moisture was provided through precipitation, and the substrate was aerated once or twice per week, depending on the amount of rainfall. Samples were collected at 45 day intervals for analysis. A significant reduction in N and K concentrations occurred for all amended compost by day 180. Hardwood substrate matured quicker than furniture compost based on a radish seed germination test. Toxicity reduction occurred in every treatment by day 180. Chicken litter control showed the best overall weight loss; however, its toxicity levels were still much higher on day 180.     

Shoot growth,plant tissue elemental composition,and soil salinity following irrigation of alfalfa and tall fescue with high‐sulfate waters 1

Groundwater contaminated with sulfate (SO₄ ^2‐) at concentrations higher than allowable for drinking water might still be usable for irrigation. Objectives were to determine the growth response and mineral uptake of two forage crops irrigated with waters containing SO₄ ^2‐ at concentrations ranging from 175 to 1743 mg/L, and with electrical conductivities (EC) ranging from 1.2 to 3.6 dS/m. Plants were grown for 12 weeks in 8‐L pots containing a calcareous sandy loam and were harvested at 4, 8, or 12 weeks for plant growth measurements and tissue analysis. Digested leaves, stems, and reproductive tissues were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy at each harvest, as were saturated soil paste extracts. Shoot growth of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was not affected by irrigation water treatment, whereas shoot growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was increased by a moderate level of soil solution SO₄ ^2‐ Sulfur (S), boron (B), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in shoot tissues of both species showed a tendency to increase with increasing SO₄ ^2‐ content of irrigation water. Shoot tissue concentration of molybdenum (Mo) increased with maturation in both species, while the concentrations of B, potassium (K), manganese (Mn), Na, and Zn decreased. Soil saturated paste extract concentrations of Mg and Na increased with irrigation water Mg and Na concentrations, while Ca and S concentrations in the soil solution became saturated at the higher irrigation water concentrations of these elements.     

Accumulation and erosion of Mars' south polar layered deposits

Mars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion.     

U-HPLC-MS/MS to quantify liposoluble antioxidants in red-ripe tomatoes, grown under different salt stress levels

The growing interest of consumers in healthy food challenges growers to continuously improve the nutritional quality of their crops. In this research, the potential of a more saline growth environment for improved antioxidant concentration in tomato fruit was studied, and an U-HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of lycopene, β-carotene, and α-tocopherol was optimized. Analytes were thereby separated on a 1.9 μm Hypersil GOLD C(18) column and quantified on a TSQ Vantage triple-quadropole mass spectrometer. The method displayed a short analysis time (6 min), a high specificity, and an excellent repeatability (≤6.39%). Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the electrical conductivity level of the applied nutrient solution did not unambiguously influence antioxidant concentration in tomato fruits. Future research should focus on moderate salt stress only and should aim at reducing natural variation by more closely controlling the growth environment and a more objective determination of the ripening degree.     

Afforestation effects on soil carbon stocks of low productivity grassland in New Zealand

Soil carbon stock change between two major land uses in New Zealand was measured by sampling paired plots across the boundaries of low productivity grassland and forest planted pre‐1990. The national soil carbon monitoring system uses low productivity grassland as a benchmark to evaluate soil carbon stock change for other land uses. The goal was to validate earlier estimates of the effect of pre‐1990 afforestation and to reduce their level of uncertainty. We selected a set of sites to represent the national stocks of forests planted pre‐1990. Previous studies derived estimates of the land‐use effect on soil carbon for afforestation ranging from +1.6 to ?8.5 t/ha to 30 cm depth. For all estimates, the 95% confidence interval spanned zero. Our study used nine of the previous paired‐plot sites and sampled and analysed 21 new sites. The land‐use effect of change from grassland to forest planted pre‐1990 was estimated at ?17.4 t/ha. The 95% confidence interval ranged from ?10.1 to ?24.6 t/ha and did not include zero change. The result supported the soil carbon monitoring system assumption that forests planted pre‐1990 have significantly lower soil carbon stocks than the low‐productivity‐grassland standard. Evidence of stock change occurred in depth increments to 0.2 m but with no significant change for the 0.2–0.3 m increment. This suggests that the sampling depth of 0.3 m was adequate for the estimation of soil carbon stock change.