Characterization of phosphate species in urban sewage sludges by high-resolution solid-state 31P NMR

The mineral forms of phosphorus in three urban sewage sludges were characterized using high-resolution solid-state phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) coupled to a sequential extraction. The sludges studied were an anaerobically-digested and heat-treated sludge (Paris-Achères), an activated sludge (Briare) and an anaerobically-digested sludge (Nancy). NMR observations were conducted using both single-pulse and cross-polarization sequences in order to distinguish between ³¹P nuclei far from ¹H nuclei, and ³¹P located within a fraction of a nanometre of ¹H. This approach showed that a complex mixture of P species was present in these sludges. A mixture of hydrogenated octocalcium phosphates and apatites was observed in the three samples. Monetite was present in the anaerobically-digested sludge and brushite in the activated sludge. Dehydrogenated condensed calcium phosphates (compounds with a Ca:P ratio higher than 1.0 such as fluorapatite or tricalcium phosphate) and dehydrogenated pyrophosphates were also probably present in the anaerobically-digested sludge. A poorly-ordered wavellite was observed in the three sludges after the HCl extraction. However, results were inconclusive as to whether this mineral was present in the three sludges, or had been precipitated during the sequential extraction.     

Flowering events in relation to smut susceptibility in pearl millet

In field experiments at ICRISAT, selected lines of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) resistant and susceptible to smut (Tolyposporium penicillariae) were evaluated for the timing of flowering events. In smut-resistant lines, the time from the boot-leaf stage (inoculation) to stigma emergence varied in the range 46–120 h, from boot to anther emergence 105–190 h, and from stigma emergence to anther emergence (protogyny period) 59–131 h; in smut-susceptible lines, the corresponding periods were 62–140 h, 146–200 h and 44–120 h, respectively. There were no significant correlations between timing of events and smut severity. Three cytoplasmically male-sterile lines showed longer protogyny periods and higher smut severity than their corresponding maintainer lines. Four lines having short protogyny periods (22–52 h) and resistance to ergot (Claviceps fusiformis) also showed high resistance to smut. Resistance to smut in most ergot-susceptible lines was independent of the timing of flow ering events, but in ergot-resistant lines it could be closely related to flowering events.     

桃需冷量遗传特性的研究

对桃的９个杂交组合４６３株杂种实生苗需冷量进行测定,统计结果表明：桃需冷量是由多基因控制的,Ｆ＿１需冷量平均值较亲中值短,不同组合偏离程度不同,南山甜桃、红日、玛丽维拉、白凤、大久保需冷量育种值分别为１５９、２１６、３１９、８３１、８３４ｈ,遗传传递力分别为７９%、５４%、９２%、８３%、９３%。需冷量的遗传力为８９．６９%。萌芽开花与需冷量密切相关。     

Factors influencing decline in soil pH in Hawaiian Eucalyptus and Albizia plantations

Soil pH declined from 5.9 to 5.0 in 8 years beneath plantations of Eucalyptus saligna (Sm.) in Hawaii. In stands of Albizia falcataria, (L.) Fosberg, the soil pH change was more dramatic, declining from 5.9 to 4.6. We measured several components of soil acidity beneath four mixtures of the two tree species to gain insight on the processes responsible for the decline in soil pH. These components were studied using an empirical method of comparing acid quantity, degree of neutralization (depletion of base cations), and acid strength. The decline in soil pH differed between species as a result of differences in the degree of neutralization of the soil exchange complex; the larger decrease in soil pH under Albizia was produced by greater acidification of the exchange complex. Empirical titration curves suggested that differences in acid strength moderated the divergence in soil pH beneath the species. Had the acids accumulating in the soil under Albizia been as strong as those in the Eucalyptus soil, the difference in soil pH would have been greater. Though the two species had contrasting effects on soil pH, the differences in degree of neutralization, responsible for the pH decline, were small compared with differences in the amount of cations stored in tree biomass. Continued supply of nutrient cations (from weathering or fertilization) will ultimately control both the extent of soil pH decline and the level of productivity sustained by the forest.     

Monoclonal antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus: cross-reactivities to field isolates and hog cholera virus strains.

Monoclonal antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were examined for binding with a large number of North American BVDV isolates and eight strains of the serologically related pestivirus, hog cholera virus (HCV). No single BVDV monoclonal antibody reacted with all BVDV isolates. The most cross-reactive monoclonal antibody was an anti-p80/p125 antibody which showed a positive reaction with 173 of 180 (96%) North American isolates. From a fewer number of isolates tested, one anti-gp53 monoclonal antibody also showed a high cross-reactivity (94%). All BVDV isolates showed a positive reaction with at least one of the seven monoclonal antibodies in the panel. Thus, the results indicated that a pool of these monoclonal antibodies may be used in place of polyclonal antisera for the detection of BVDV contamination of cell lines or for virus isolation. For HCV, all three anti-p80/p125 monoclonal antibodies reacted positively with all eight virus strains. In contrast, none of the anti-gp53 monoclonal antibodies were reactive to HCV strains. Thus, the anti-gp53 monoclonal antibodies may be useful for distinguishing between usually innocuous BVDV infections and the highly significant HCV infections in swine for foreign animal disease surveillance.     

Comparative effects of mu and kappa opiate agonists on the cecocolic motility in the pony.

The electrical and mechanical activity of the large intestine and its response to administration of opiate mu and kappa agonists were assessed from electrodes and inductograph coils chronically implanted on the cecocolic segment in six ponies given a diet of hay and concentrates. Before the drugs were given, migrating complexes propagating from the cecum into the colon occurred at the rate of 1.5 to 16/hour. During this propulsive activity, the cecocolic sphincter opened and closed allowing the outflow of cecal contents and preventing the backflow of colic contents. Each pony was used as its own control and was given fentanyl (0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and U50488H (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg, IV) at weekly intervals. The mu agonist fentanyl elicited a marked phase of inhibition of the propulsive activity and a closure of the cecocolic sphincter that lasted one to two hours depending on the dose. The kappa agonist U50488H induced an inhibition of the short spiking activity, i.e. of the resting muscle tone. It did not disturb the occurrence of migrating complexes nor that of the openings of the cecocolic sphincter. These kappa compounds may be drugs of choice to alleviate visceral pain in colic stases without inducing delay of transit unlike mu compounds.     

沙棘在西伯利亚面临的问题与解决办法

针对西伯利亚沙棘繁育发展中的问题，尤其是20世纪30年代从郭尔诺－阿尔泰地区引入的沙棘客体连续出现的品种变化，混杂和应淘汰等问题，指出：这里的沙棘，不但从野生发育形态方面出现诱变，而且目前在西伯利亚仅有20个左右繁育着的品种，在展示着原品种较为完备的特性；能按时结果；树冠低矮；有刺；浆果稳定。总的看，几乎在整个俄罗斯20个区域内传播着，占俄罗斯栽植品种的1／3。当然，每个品种都有有一个生物经济的所有制和栽植前的宣传发布与公认问题，解决这些问题，就能在各种不同地区加强推广和普及。但到目前为止，西伯利亚栽植繁育着的沙棘，还只是不多的原有一些品种，使用的还是过去认为效率高的多样化方法。     

The Phytotoxicity of Various Graminicides in Durum Wheat in Greece

The effect of three herbicides, diclofop-methyl (DM), imazamethabenz-methyl (IM) and fenoxaprop-ethyl (FE), was investigated at the recommended rate (×) and double the recommended rate (2×) in a durum wheat crop. FE had the smallest effect on root system characteristics, while IM had the greatest effect. For all herbicides, the double rate treatment gave a greater statistical reduction than the single rate for root system characteristics. FE had the smallest effect on the activity of aerobic microorganisms, while DM gave the greatest reduction, 10 days after application, and all three herbicides reduced earthworm abundance. DM gave the smallest reduction in the number of tillers and in plant height, while the double rate of IM gave the greatest reduction. For all three herbicides, double the recommended rate resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of 1000 seeds, while no statistically significant deviations were noted at the recommended rate. Finally, the use of all three herbicides resulted in significantly lower statistical yields compared to the sample (control plot), although there were no significant statistical differences among them, for either recommended or double recommended rates.     

葡萄品种需冷量及打破休眠研究

对上海地区葡萄促成栽培的几个主要品种的休眠需冷量进行了调查,发现在供试的5个品种中以里扎马特的需冷量最低,自然条件下仅为447.5h;其次为京亚和巨峰,需冷量均低于1000h;绯红和无核白鸡心需冷量最高,均超过1000h。由此推算,上海地区葡萄结束自然休眠的时间在1月上旬至2月中旬。打破休眠的试验表明以20%石灰氮12月中旬处理效果最佳。