Veränderungen in der stofflichen Zusammensetzung von Buchenstreu und Gerstenstroh beim Abbau unter Laborbedingungen

Chemical changes of beech litter and barley straw during decomposition under laboratory conditions Beech litter and barley straw were incubated at 20°C and 70% of maximum water holding capacity in the presence and absence of artificial “soil” and earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Results show that beech litter biodegradation was enhanced by E. fetida during the first part, but delayed in later stages of the incubation period, as indicated by the changes of ash contents and C-to-N ratios with progressive decomposition. In the long run the organic matter (OM) of beech litter tended to be stabilised through the action of worms. In contrast, for barley straw a more intense biodegradation was observed in the presence of E. fetida throughout the experiment. Almost 80% of litter and straw OM could be identified by means of wet chemical degradation methods (70% polysaccharides, lignin; 10% lipids, protein). The proportion of the exclusively plant-derived constituents cellulose and lignin showed a partly strong decrease with progressive decomposition; simultaneously the contents of also microbially synthesised components such as non-cellulosic polysaccharides and protein increased. Changes of the non-cellulosic polysaccharide-cellulose-quotients (NCQ), lignin-cellulose-quotients (LCQ), and acid-to-aldehyde ratios (ac/al)_v and (ac/al)_s in the residual lignin reflected well the litter decomposition process. At the end of the experiment - irrespective of treatments - the degree of beech litter biodegradation was comparable to that of Of-Oh transitional layers in beech-derived forest humus profiles. In the case of barley straw only NCQ and LCQ, but not (ac/al)_v,s were valuable parameters for the characterisation of the decomposition process.     

A regional scale model for the calculation of episodic concentrations and depositions of acidifying components

An eulerian long-range transport model for the calculation of concentrations of SO₂, SO₄, NO _x , and NO₃ and wet and dry depositions of SO _x (sum of SO₂ and SO₄) and NO _y (sum of NO, NO₂ and NO₃) over Europe is presented. The model is developed in such a way that only routinely available, analyzed or prognostic meteorological fields are required as input data. In this way it is possible to obtain a forecast of the air quality during smog episodes. For evaluation of smog episodes the model provides a way to estimate the contributions of different sources and the effect of emission scenarios. The model has been evaluated for four winter and three summer episodes. The modeled concentrations of SO₂ and SO, are in agreement with the available measurements. A less good agreement is found for NO₂ and NO _x (sum of NO and NO₂) concentrations. For these components the model tends to underpredict the measured values.     

Impacts of SSIIa‐A Null Allele on Durum Wheat Noodle Quality

A small increase in amylose content may impact end‐product quality of wheat. The effect of elevated amylose content in durum wheat is not known. We surveyed 255 durum wheat accessions and found two genotypes that lacked the SGP‐A1 protein. These genotypes were crossed to Mountrail, an adapted durum genotype, to create populations segregating for the SSIIa‐Ab null allele. Our goal was to determine the influence of allelic variation at the SSIIa‐A locus on semolina properties and end‐product quality with noodles as a test product. Amylose content increased 3% and cooked noodle firmness increased 2.8 g·cm for the SSIIa‐Ab class compared with the SSIIa‐Aa class for the PI 330546 source, but no change in either trait was detected between classes for the IG 86304 source. The SSIIa‐Ab class had a 10% reduction in flour swelling compared with the SSIIa‐Aa class for both crosses. Grain protein and semolina yield did not differ between SSIIa‐A classes. The relationship between flour swelling power and noodle firmness did not differ between SSIIa‐A allelic classes within a cross. The different results for amylose content and noodle firmness between these sources may be because the two sources of the SSIIa‐Ab null mutation contributed different linkages to the segregating populations. Results show that the SSIIa‐Ab allele could be used to produce durum‐based products that are slightly more firm in texture. However, the effect of the SSIIa‐Ab allele may depend on the source.     

Interpretation and Compilation of Landsat TM Imagery for Land-use and Site Classification Mapping in the Korqin Sandy Lands, NE China

For the purpose of of forestation, planning and development in the Three-North Region, a series of 6 Landsat TM scenesfrom 1996 to 1997 were used to classify land-use conditions in the whole Korqin Sandy Lands at eastern part of Inner Mongolia, China, with an area of about 430×306 square kilometers. Later on, Site classiflcation was made and mapped for the 4 southern sandy counties. The annotation symbol for each agglomeration of site condition is comprised of six parts: land unit, land use pattern, soil texture, under ground water table, top-soil existence, wind erosion or salinisation condition. Field expedition and soil file augering help information extraction from the satellite imagery. The products include a land-use classiflcation map at scale 1/200,000 of the whole Korqin Sandy Lands, and a collection of site classiflcation maps at scale of 1/50,000, consisting of 135 pieces (42.8 cm×30.8 cm each). Electronic version of the maps is in raster form.     

Survey of cattle in northeast Colorado for evidence of chronic wasting disease: geographical and high-risk targeted sample.

A geographically targeted survey of potentially high-risk, adult cattle in chronic wasting disease (CWD)-endemic areas in Colorado was initiated to assess the possibility of the spread of CWD from deer to cattle under natural conditions. Surveyed cattle were sympatric with free-roaming deer in geographically defined areas where CWD occurs and where CWD prevalence has been estimated. To qualify for inclusion in the survey, cattle had to be at least 4 years old and had to have spent a minimum of 4 years in surveyed areas. Brains from culled cattle were examined microscopically and immunohistochemically for tissue alterations indicative of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Two hundred sixty-two brains were suitable for evaluation and were found to lack changes indicative of a TSE infection. Prion deposition was not demonstrable using a method involving formic acid and proteinase-K treatment before application of monoclonal antibody to bovine prion protein (F99/97.6.1). Some incidental neuropathologic changes unrelated to those of TSEs were detected. Findings from this study suggest that large-scale spread of CWD from deer to cattle under natural range conditions in CWD-endemic areas of northeast Colorado is unlikely.     

Differential diagnosis and management of human-directed aggression in cats.

Human-directed aggression in cats should be evaluated as a multifactorial problem. It results from the combined actions of heredity, environment, learning, human social requirements (or needs), client interactions, lack of understanding of normal feline behavior, unrealistic client expectations, and lack of meeting the cat's basic ethologic needs. Managing human-directed aggression in cats encompasses the use of environmental modification, therapies, and, when and if needed, regulatory drugs so as to increase learning capabilities and adaptation and decrease danger to the human victims.     

Pyrethrum dermatitis.II. The allergenicity of pyrethrum oleoresin and its cross-reactions with the saline extract of pyrethrum flowers

Tests on sensitised guinea pigs have indicated that crude pyrethrum oleoresin contains two types of allergens. The more potent are compounds with similar allergenic determinants to the allergens present in the 0.9% saline extract of pyrethrum flowers which have been tentatively classified as glycoproteins or glycopeptides with molecular weights distributed between about 60 000 and 200 000. The second class of allergens is the sesquiterpene lactones, principally pyrethrosin but these are of minor importance due to their low concentration in pyrethrum oleoresin. Contrary to a recent report, no allergenic activity was obtained from pyrethrin II.     

Organophosphorus poisoning: A comparative study of the toxicity of carbophenothion to the Canada goose,the pigeon and the Japanese quail

The acute single dose oral toxicity of carbophenothion (S-4-chlorophenylthiomethyl OO-diethyl phosphorodithioate) has been determined in Canada geese (Branta canadensis), pigeons (Columba livia) and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). At post mortem examination gross pathological changes were observed in Canada geese and pigeons and esterase levels were determined by conventional and electrophoretic methods on extracts of liver and brain from these two species. Carbophenothion residue levels were determined in liver, brain and gizzard contents from the geese and pigeons. The overall pattern of results suggests that esterase inhibition may not be the dominant factor in carbophenothion poisoning in geese. It is suggested that a brain carbophenothion residue level of 1 part/10⁶ is indicative of death by poisoning in geese.     

Chemical modifications of the insecticide binding sites on human serum albumin: Role of indole,bilirubin, and fatty acid binding sites

Interaction of carbamate and organophosphorus insecticides with chemically modified human serum albumin was studied by solubilization and difference spectra of bound insecticides and quenching of albumin fluorescence. Chemical modification involved oxidation of 1 tryptophan and 4 histidine residues, acetylation of 4 tyrosine and 26 lysine residues, and reaction of 7 arginine residues with 1,2-cyclohexanedione. There was a decrease in binding due to modification of arginine, tryptophan, and tyrosine residues and an increased binding due to lysine acetylation. The presence of bilirubin and octanoate also decreased the binding of insecticides. Changes in fluorescence of bound ANS due to binding of insecticides to albumin indicate localized perturbation of albumin conformation. The binding of insecticides was not affected by palmitate at physiological concentrations (molar ratio less than 2) although higher fatty acid concentrations caused a decrease. These preliminary observations suggest that warfarin, indole, and bilirubin sites are probably among the multiple insecticide binding sites.