Porosity and capillarity of weft knitted spacer structures

A geometrical model of weft knitted spacer structures made with mono-filament yarn has been analysed to understand the spacer yarn path. Theoretical models have been created to predict the porosity and the radius of the capillaries of a knitted spacer structure depending on their geometrical parameters, such as course spacing, wale spacing, stitch length, fabric thickness, count of yarn and fibre density. Polyester knitted spacer fabrics were produced with different parameters; their porosity was determined by measuring the weight and compared with the theoretical porosity. The validity of the model was confirmed by experimental results. The porosity of knitted spacer structures made out of mono-filament yarn can be maintained above a certain level by adjusting the fabric parameters such as fabric thickness, course spacing and wale spacing.     

Herbivory of an invasive slug in a model grassland community can be affected by earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi

Invasion of non-native species is among the top threats for the biodiversity and functioning of native and agricultural ecosystems worldwide. We investigated whether the herbivory of the slug Arion vulgaris (formerly Arion lusitanicus; Gastropoda), that is listed among the 100 worst alien species in Europe, is affected by soil organisms commonly present in terrestrial ecosystems (i.e. earthworms—Annelida: Lumbricidae and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi—AMF, Glomerales). We hypothesized that slug herbivory would be affected by soil organisms via altered plant nutrient availability and plant quality. In a greenhouse experiment, we created a simple plant community consisting of a grass, a forb, and a legume species and inoculated these systems with either two earthworm species and/or four AMF taxa. Slugs were introduced after plants were established. Earthworms significantly reduced total slug herbivory in AMF-inoculated plant communities (P?=?0.013). Across plant species, earthworms increased leaf total N and secondary metabolites, AMF decreased leaf thickness. Mycorrhizae induced a shift in slug feeding preference from non-legumes to legumes; the grass was generally avoided by slugs. AMF effects on legume herbivory can partly be explained by the AMF-induced increase in total N and decrease in C/N ratio; earthworm effects are less clear as no worm-induced alterations of legume plant chemistry were observed. The presence of earthworms increased average AMF colonization of plant roots by 140 % (P?<?0.001). Total shoot mass was significantly increased by AMF (P?<?0.001). These data suggest that the feeding behavior of this invasive slug is altered by a belowground control of plant chemical quality and community structure.     

Chemical and sensory quantification of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from recirculated aquacultures in relation to concentrations in basin water

Globally, aquaculture systems with water recirculation experience increasing problems with microbial taste and odor compounds (TOCs) such as geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). This study investigated the content of geosmin and MIB in water and the flesh of 200 rainbow trouts from eight recirculated aquaculture systems in Denmark. TOC content in the fish flesh was measured by a dynamic headspace extraction method and was evaluated by a sensory panel. The results showed significant correlations between TOC content in water and fish and between chemical analysis and sensory perception. When geosmin exceeded 20 ng/L in the water, 96% of the fish had an intense muddy flavor, but below 10 ng geosmin/L, 18% of the fish (only 3% in special depuration ponds) had an intense muddy flavor. The results indicate that TOC levels <10 ng/L will ensure that a negligible portion of the fish obtains an unpalatable taste and flavor due to TOCs.     

中国北方13省土地利用景观格局变化分析(1989～1999)

以北方13省为研究区，对该区1989～1999年的宏观土地利用景观格局变化进行了分析。结果表明：决定该区景观格局的主体要素类型为草地、难利用地和林地．其次为耕地。1989～1999年期间，区内景观异质性程度在逐渐提高．土地利用向着多样化和均匀化方向发展。景观空间格局变化特征是：耕地、林地和城镇用地破碎度最大；林地、草地和水域受到人类活动的严重干扰．斑块空间分布不断分散和破碎化．分离度和破碎度指标增加。草地的破碎度增加最为显著，严重影响该区农牧业的正常生产。景观要素之间的转化关系主要表现为林、草地和耕地之间的相互转化．以及草地退化为难利用地。表征了该区生态建设实践和生态破坏活动的相互作用以及草地的严重退化趋势．说明北方13省存在较为严重生态环境问题．急需解决。     

Determination of chlorate and chlorite and mutagenicity of seafood treated with aqueous chlorine dioxide.

The use of chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)) as a potential substitute for aqueous chlorine to improve the quality of seafood products has not been approved by regulatory agencies due to health concerns related to the production of chlorite (ClO(2)(-)) and chlorate (ClO(3)(-)) as well as possible mutagenic/carcinogenic reaction products. Cubes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and red grouper (Epinephelus morio) were treated with 20 or 200 ppm aqueous chlorine or ClO(2) solutions for 5 min, and extracts of the treated fish cubes and test solutions were checked for mutagenicity using the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. No mutagenic activity was detected in the treated fish samples or test solutions with ClO(2). Only the sample treated with 200 ppm chlorine showed weak mutagenic activity toward S. typhimurium TA 100. No chlorite residue was detected in sea scallops, mahi-mahi, or shrimp treated with ClO(2) at 3.9-34.9 ppm. However, low levels of chlorate residues were detected in some of the treated samples. In most cases, the increase in chlorate in treated seafood was time- and dose-related.     

Distribution and Phytoavailability of Lead in a Soil Contaminated with Lead Shot

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - This paper presents a study of Pb contamination of soil at a clay target shooting facility in Canterbury, New Zealand. The spatial distribution of Pb...     

An assessment of the core-break method for estimating rooting density of different crops in the field

Most of the methods available for plant rooting studies in field soil are very tedious and time-consuming. Several investigations have shown that the core-break technique, in which roots are counted that appear at the faces of a broken core of soil, provides acceptable estimates of root length density in some situations. We investigated the usefulness of the core-break technique for evaluating rooting density of four plant species in two soil types. We encountered several problems, but recommend the core-break method to researchers who wish to quantify root development rapidly under various soil tillage practices.     

Modifications of wheat flour proteins during in vitro digestion of bread dough, crumb, and crust: an electrophoretic and immunological study

The proteins of wheat flour have several biological activities that can affect human health and physiology when wheat-based foods are consumed. The modifications of bread crumb and crust proteins during an in vitro peptic/pancreatic digestion process were studied by electrophoresis and immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies specific for single proteins or groups of homologous proteins of the wheat flour, and the results were compared to those obtained for an unheated dough sample. The results show that baking affects the extent of proteolysis and the immunological and physicochemical features of the digestion products in relation to the level of the heat treatment. Therefore, the results concerning the digestion of the unheated wheat flour or dough are not representative of what happens when baked products enter the human digestive tract.     

Degradation of lignin in wheat straw during growth of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using off-line thermochemolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and solid-state (13)C NMR.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is widely cultivated on wheat straw (Triticum aestivum); however, there is a need to better understand the relationship between the chemical composition of the compost and mushroom growth. Wheat straw was degraded over a period of 63 days by P. ostreatus during which time it was sampled at weekly intervals. Off-line thermochemolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and solid-state (13)C NMR were then used in the molecular characterization of the undegraded wheat straw and the degraded samples. The degraded wheat straw samples had a lower proportion of syringyl- to guaiacyl-derived moieties and cinnamyl- to guaiacyl-derived moieties than the undegraded control. There were increases in both guaiacyl and syringyl acid to aldehyde ratios with composting time, which showed that side-chain oxidation has been mediated by P. ostreatus. The (13)C NMR spectra confirmed the increase in carboxyl content but indicated that the overall lignin and methoxyl contents remained relatively constant, although some nonsystematic variations were observed. The spectra also showed a decrease in amorphous noncellulosic polysaccharides in relation to the crystalline cellulose upon degradation.     

Magnetospheric dayside cusp: a topside view of its 6300-angstrom atomic oxygen emission

An interference filter photometer on the ISIS-1l spacecraft generates global maps of the atomic oxygen emission at 6300 angstroms from the ionosphere. The most prominent feature observed is a band of permanent red aurora on the dayside of the earth, centered on magnetic noon at about 78 degrees magnetic (invariant) latitude, brighter than the quiet-time nightside aurora.