Chemical constituents and physical properties of guayule wood and bark

About 15 Parthenium species grow in the North American continent with Parthenium argentatum (guayule) as the only species containing harvestable amounts of the rubber latex. The predicted commercialization of the guayule plant for its hypoallergenic latex will result in a significant amount of waste fiber or bagasse biomass that can also be put to use for making wood, paper, and other chemical products, as well as in energy production. Thus, the guayule wood and bark fibers can be considered a new source of plant biomass that may be used as a direct substitute for forest-based wood fiber. However, little information is available on the chemical composition of the wood and bark tissues of guayule (P. argentatum). The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical and fiber composition of guayule and to compare it with other wood fiber sources.Three germplasm lines of mature guayule (Cal-6, AZ-101, and G7-15) and another species of Parthenium (P. tomentosum, PT), juvenile soft maple (Acer rubrum), a deciduous tree, and milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) that has long fibers were the plant sources. Separate wood and bark tissues were analyzed for hot water, 1% sodium hydroxide, and alcohol–toluene extracts. In addition, the lignin, holocellulose, alpha-cellulose, and pentosan contents were determined.All the chemical components in the wood fibers for the Partheniums were equal to or greater than the juvenile maple tree. Milkweed had higher alpha-cellulose and lower alcohol–toluene extract contents than both the guayule and soft maple. The guayule bark fibers had more chemical extracts than the wood fibers. The specific gravity of guayule wood was greater than the deciduous wood species. However, the fiber lengths of soft maple wood, guayule wood, and milkweed are similar. Based on the chemical composition, P. argentatum and P. tomentosum could serve as raw materials for the paper and chemical industries as well as for energy production.     

Pig and herd level prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Ontario finisher pigs in 2001, 2003, and 2004

The objective of this study was to estimate the apparent and true prevalence of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in Ontario finisher pigs. During the study period (2001 to 2004), sera from 6048 pigs were tested with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); 103 farms were included 1 to 3 times in the study. True prevalence was estimated using a Bayesian approach. Apparent prevalence at the pig level was 1.59% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45, 2.99] in 2001, 0.06% (95% CI: 0.00, 0.46) in 2003, and 0.26% (95% CI: 0.00, 0.82) in 2004. Apparent prevalence at the herd-level was 13.7% (95% CI: 7.5, 22.3) in 2001; 1.25% (95% CI: 0.03, 6.77) in 2003, and 3.75% (95% CI: 0.78, 10.6) in 2004. Similarly, posterior Bayesian estimates of true prevalence at the pig level were 1.7% [95% probability interval (PI): 1.2, 2.2] in 2001, 0.2% (95% PI: 0.04, 0.4) in 2003, and 0.3% (95% PI: 0.1, 0.7) in 2004. At the herd level, posterior estimates of prevalence were 11.6% (95% PI: 7.4, 16.8) in 2001, 0% (95% PI: 0.0, 2.5) in 2003, and 1.2% (95% PI: 0.0, 5.0) in 2004 when a herd cut-point > or = 1 was used. Exposure to T. gondii in finishing pig farms in Ontario appears to be infrequent.     

A study of physical modification on grey cotton by laser irradiation

The surface morphology of the CO₂ laser treated grey cotton fabrics was studied which showed a characteristics sponge-like structure on cotton fibres after treating with CO₂ laser irradiation. The laser treatment parameters ranging from 100 to 150 pixel time and 40 to 70 dot per inch (dpi) were irradiated on the grey cotton fabrics directly and the degree of physical modifications, such as surface morphology, wettability and fabric strength, were changed accordingly with various laser treatment parameters. The surface morphology, wettability and tensile strength of cotton fibre treating with laser were evaluated using different instruments, such as Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), contact angle meter and tensile strength machine. In spite of creating a sponge-like structure on fibre surface after treating with laser, the wettability of the samples was highly improved but the tensile strength was decreased.     

Broadening weed control with imazamethabenz combinations

Broad-spectrum weed control by use of imazamethabenz (AC 222 293) in herbicide combinations was investigated in the greenhouse. Imazamethabenz at rates ranging from 0·1 to 0·4 kg a.i./ha effectively controlled wild oats (Avena fatua L.). Additional control of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) was achieved when imazamethabenz, plus octoxynol surfactant, was applied in combination with MCPA (amine or ester) or commercial MCPA mixtures (bromoxynil/MCPA and cyanazine/MCPA). Only inclusion of propanil/MCPA in the combination reduced wild-oat control by imazamethabenz at the lower rate (0·1 kg/ha). Control of green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.) was also obtained by use of fenoxaprop-ethyl in combination with imazamethabenz (plus octoxynol). Three-way mixtures of imazamethabenz (or plus octoxynol), MCPA alone or mixture, and fenoxaprop-ethyl may provide practical control of grass and broad-leaved weeds in the field.     

Reproductive performance of a cow-calf herd following a Neospora caninum-associated abortion epidemic

This study examines the long-term impact of a Neospora caninum-associated abortion outbreak in a large cow-calf herd in northern Alberta. Blood samples were collected 4 times from all bred females and heifer calves born during the spring before the outbreak: (1) at the time of the outbreak, (2) the following spring, (3) the subsequent fall, and, finally, (4) the second spring after the outbreak. The samples were analyzed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for N. caninum. Calves born immediately following the outbreak were also monitored. Individual calving or abortion records were available from all cows for 2 calving seasons. All cows and heifers were pregnancy tested after the 2 subsequent breeding seasons. At the time of the abortion outbreak in 1997, 81% of all bred females and 87% of the heifer calves were serologically positive. In spring 1998, 49% of the cows and 47% of the heifer calves remained positive. In fall 1998, 48% of the remaining cows and heifers were serologically positive. After the first breeding season following the outbreak (1998), 13.5% of the heifers and 22.2% of the cows were open (not pregnant). Animals that were serologically positive in the spring were more likely to be open in the fall (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 3.7). No subsequent associations with increased risk of abortion, stillbirth, or nonpregnancy were identified.     

玉米不同生育期遭受螟害对产量损失的影响

1963年在北京防蛾网室的条件下,在盆栽春玉米上分期用人工接种螟卵,試驗螟害对产量损失的影响,得出如下的結果: 玉米产量的损失与玉米螟为害当时玉米的生育时期有密切的关系。在螟虫数量相同或接近的情况下,心叶期(心叶中期、心叶末期)被害较穗期(灌浆期)影响产量显著为大;心叶末期孵化的螟虫,其为害所造成的損失又显著较心叶中期为大。心叶期被害的处理,产量較对照区显著減低,但穗期被害的处理,每株平均虫数为3.5—15.1时,产量仍与对照差异不显著。同一接种时期,处理間平均虫数的差异大部分是显著的,但产量間的差异則不显著。玉米受害时期对产量的影响远較同一时期不同虫量的影响为明显。虫数与心叶中期和穗期接种的两个处理的产量有显著的負相关,相关系数分別为-0.89和-0.88;虽然产量随着虫数的增加而递減的趋势是明显的,但每株虫数在1—12头的范围內,产量间差异不一定显著。虫数与心叶末期接种的处理的产量,相关不显著,这可能是由于供試株数太少的原因。应用迴归方程式計算时,每增加一虫产量的損失,心叶中期为3.17％,穗期为1.84％。接种后被害玉米发育受到影响,心叶期遭受螟害植株高度減低17％。作者等指出心叶末期孵化为害的螟虫影响玉米产量特别严重的原因,可能是由于玉米抽雄时,这批幼虫尚未成熟,大量轉移蛀入茎稈或为害正在成长中的雌穗,妨碍营养物的輸送和雌穗的正常受粉所致。本文試驗所得的結果,初步指出当前用颗粒剂防治玉米螟,提倡在心叶末期施药的措施,不仅从減少虫数上看是适当的,从保証产量的角度来看也是有利的。     

In Vitro Binding of Bile Acids by Rice Bran,Oat Bran,Wheat Bran,and Corn Bran

The in vitro bile acid binding by rice, oat, wheat, and corn brans was determined using a mixture of bile acids normally secreted in human bile at a physiological pH of 6.3. The objective of the study was to relate bile acid binding of cereal brans to health promoting properties. Three experiments were conducted testing substrates on an equal weight (dry matter) basis, an equal total dietary fiber (TDF) basis, and an equal TDF and equal fat basis. Each experiment was repeated to validate the results (for a total of six experiments). The relative in vitro bile acid binding of the cereal brans on an equal TDF basis considering cholestyramine as 100% bound was rice bran 51%, wheat bran 31%, oat bran 26%, and corn bran 5%. The data suggest that cholesterol lowering by rice bran appears to be related to bile acid binding. The primary mechanism of cholesterol lowering by oat bran may not be due to bile acid binding by soluble fiber. Bile acid binding did not appear to be proportional to the soluble fiber content of the cereal brans tested. Bile acid binding by wheat bran may contribute to cancer prevention and other healthful properties.     

Cholesterol Response and Foam Cell Formation in Hamsters Fed Rice Bran,Oat Bran,and Cellulose + Soy Protein Diets With or Without Added Vitamin E

Four-week-old male golden Syrian hamsters were fed diets containing cellulose (control, CC), cellulose + soy protein (CS), CS + vitamin E, (CSE), rice bran (RB), RB + vitamin E (RBE), oat bran (OB), and OB + vitamin E (OBE) for six weeks (n = 10/treatment). Diets contained (by weight) 10% total dietary fiber, 3% N, 20% fat, 0.5% cholesterol, and some diets had an additional 0.1% vitamin E. After six weeks, RB and OB diets resulted in significantly higher weight gain than the CC diet. Plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values and the LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in hamsters fed CSE, RBE, OB, and OBE diets were significantly lower than in those fed CC diet. There were no significant differences in total plasma cholesterol values among the hamsters fed any of the diets. Liver cholesterol in animals fed OB and OBE diets was significantly lower than in all other groups. Foam cell areas in the inner bend of the aortic arch in animals fed all treatment diets were significantly reduced when compared with that in animals fed CC diet. The level of additional dietary vitamin E did not result in further significant reductions in foam cell area. The results of this study suggest that diets containing rice bran, oat bran, or soy protein significantly reduced the development of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.