Chemisorption of phosphate ions and destruction of organomineral sorbents in acid soils

The chemisorption mechanisms of phosphate anions by iron (aluminum) containing sorbents in a soil under high phosphate loads were studied. The role of the metal-phosphate anions in the destruction of the sorbents was discussed. It was shown that the chemisorption of phosphate anions and the destruction of phosphated organomineral sorbents are interrelated processes. A significant part of the chemisorbed phosphates in association with sorbent metals and carbon passes into the liquid phase of soil systems.     

Microelements in anthropogenically contaminated soils in the central part of Petrozavodsk

Urban soils (Urbic Technosols) formed within or near the industrial sites removed of service show a considerable excess over the regional background in the content of Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, as well as over the average content of W, Mo, Pb, Sb, Cr, Cu, Sn, Ni, Zn, and Mn in urban soils. Microelements are concentrated for the most part in the soil fine earth, and above all, in the fraction with particle size <0.1 mm. Surface films (on quartz and feldspar grains) of quartz–feldspar–muscovite (partially with tremolite and chlorite) composition and undifferentiated dispersed mixture of quartz, albite, microcline, muscovite and organomineral soil substance are the strongest concentrators of heavy metals and metalloids. Pb and Sn are partially present in soils as oxides, and a part of Zn and Pb, in the form of substantial admixtures to technogenic chemical compounds. As a whole, distribution of elements in the studied soils is controlled by the specifics and type of contamination, resistance of coarser grains to weathering under the given physicochemical conditions, and by predominantly mineral (quartz–feldspar) composition of the solids in soil layers and the features of elements proper.     

Reference values for cortisol, T4 and T-uptake in different horse groups using the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA)

Reference values for Cortisol, T4 and T-Uptake, determined with the Fluorescence-Polarization-Immunoassays (FPIAs) in blood-plasma of different horse groups were established. The highest Cortisol values were measured in blood samples from thoroughbred racehorses and riding horses taken between 7 and 8 a.m. (181 +/- 37 and 268 +/- 43 nmol/l), the lowest gained between 5 and 6 p.m. (69 +/- 45 and 85 +/- 32 nmol/l respectively). Peak values for T4 in riding horses were found in blood samples collected between 1 and 2 p.m. (28.2 +/- 5.7 nmol/l) followed by the samples taken at 5-6 p.m. and 7-8 a.m. T-Uptake values did not show a diurnal variation. Values of thoroughbred racehorses were much lower than in thoroughbred broodmares and riding horses (0.11 +/- 0.03, 0.18 +/- 0.03 and 0.24 +/- 0.05 units). The blood samples collected on 5 successive days showed significant variations for Cortisol. T4-values were stable whilst T-Uptake had small variations.     

Amyloid angiopathy with cerebral hemorrhage and senile plaque in aged dogs

Amyloid angiopathy with cerebral hemorrhage and senile plaques was found in the brain of aged dogs. In all 9 cases examined, 13 to 19 years old, 6 males and 3 females, amyloid deposits were observed mostly in the wall of cerebral arterioles and capillaries showed hyaline degeneration. The accumulation of amyloid fibrils measuring about 10 nm in diameter was seen in the cerebral vessel wall by electron microscopy. The cerebral hemorrhage was observed in 6 of 9 dogs and 2 of them showed massive hemorrhage. The hemorrhagic foci were sometimes closely contact with the vessels involved in amyloid angiopathy. In addition, senile plaques being classified into 2 types were found in the cerebral cortex of 3 dogs. The first type was characterized by the accumulation of degenerative neurites and often contained granular argyrophilic material. The second type had a well-defined amyloid core with neuritic halo. Amyloid deposits were also found in or around intestinal vessel walls of 3 dogs. The amyloid deposited in the cerebral vessels, senile plaques and intestinal vessels showed characteristic green birefringence under the polarized light even after potassium permanganate treatment.     

Bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis: chemiluminescent response of bovine peripheral blood leukocytes to living and killed Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Escherichia coli

A luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) assay was used to evaluate the response of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes; (neutrophils [PMN]) to living and heat-killed Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida (type A, serotype 3), and P haemolytica (biotype A, serotype 1), and to heat-killed P haemolytica and sterile culture supernatant from living P haemolytica. Control cultures containing PMN that had not been phagocytically stimulated with bacteria had a modest increase in LDCL during the initial 10 minutes of incubation, followed by a gradual decline throughout the 120-minute incubation period. Bovine PMN emitted LDCL more efficiently when the cells were exposed to living E coli or P multocida than when they were exposed to the same bacteria killed by heat. The mean LDCL values for reaction mixtures containing living E coli or P multocida peaked at 30 minutes of incubation and remained above values for mixtures containing the same heat-killed bacteria. Kinetics of the LDCL response of bovine PMN to heat-killed P haemolytica were similar (although reduced in amplitude) to that observed with killed E coli or P multocida. The LDCL response of bovine PMN to living P haemolytica was not like that for E coli or P multocida, and was characterized by the development of a peak response at 10 minutes followed by a precipitous decrease in responsiveness and a subsequent complete cessation of LDCL. Addition of sterile culture supernatant from living P haemolytica to test samples containing heat-killed P haemolytica induced a response similar to that obtained with the living microorganism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metabolic and anatomical adaptations of heavy-bodied chicks to intermittent feeding. 2. Pancreatic digestive enzymes.

1. Activities of digestive enzymes in meat-type chickens under ad libitum or alternate-day feeding were determined from 14 to 83 d of age. 2. Final body weight of intermittently fed birds attained 75% of that of the ad libitum-fed controls. 3. When compared with the ad libitum-fed counterparts, a marked increase in the relative weight of the pancreas and intestinal contents were found on repletion days. On depletion days the relative weights of the pancreas and of the intestinal contents were about half those found in ad libitum-fed birds. 4. The activity of the digestive enzymes in the pancreas, expressed as U/g pancreas or U/kg body weight, was not affected consistently by the feeding regime. In the small intestine a marked increase in relative activity (U/kg body weight) was observed on repletion days and a marked decrease on depletion days as compared with ad libitum-fed controls. The activities per g intestinal contents following food restoration did not differ significantly from those of ad libitum-fed controls except for trypsin, which was higher in the former. On depletion days the activities per g intestinal contents were lowest, lipase excepted.     

Biochemical composition of fruit of apple cultivar clones and tetraploid forms

Data are given on the biochemical composition of apple fruits of spontaneous and induced clones and tetraploid forms. The possibility of improving it by means of spontaneous and induced clones is shown.