Pb/Ca in Thailand Coral Determined by LA-ICP-MS: Anthropogenic Pb Input of River Run-off into a Coral Reef from Urbanised Areas

In order to monitor lead pollution from urban areas to coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand, linear and two-dimensional distributions of Pb in corals from Khang Khao Island, Thailand and Rukan-sho, Okinawa, were analysed with high resolution. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was applied to measure Pb content in coral skeletons using synthetic Pb standards in a CaCO₃ matrix as calibration materials. Linear and two-dimensional ablation schemes were applied to determine the Pb content in corals collected from Khang Khao Island, Thailand and Rukan-sho, Okinawa. The coral skeleton was ablated by Nd:YAG laser (wavelength of 266 nm, beam diameter of 155 µm, scanning speed of 10 µm s^?1 and frequency of 10 Hz) along the growth axis, and ion counts for ²⁰⁸Pb were normalised to ⁴²Ca. Lead content in the corals was determined using a calibration curve obtained from the synthetic Pb standards (0–141 µg g^?1). The linear ablation track of the sample from Khang Khao showed over 30 peaks of Pb with an average value of 3.55 µg g^?1, while Pb content in the coral from Rukan-sho showed relatively small variation with an average value of 0.132 µg g^?1. Two-dimensional imaging of Pb in the coral skeletons was also carried out for an area of 7?×?20 mm on the sample from Khang Khao. The distribution patterns of Pb and Ba in the Thailand coral co-varied. These observations from the linear and imaging analyses suggest discontinuous inputs of anthropogenic Pb from rivers to the Gulf of Thailand.     

Chill unit models for blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars ‘Ben Gairn’, ‘Ben Hope’ and ‘Ben Tirran’

Temperate-zone crops require a period of winter chilling to terminate dormancy and ensure adequate bud break the following spring. The exact chilling requirement of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), a commercially important crop in northern Europe, is relatively unknown. Chill unit models have been successfully utilized to determine the optimum chilling temperature of a range of crops, with one chill unit equating to 1 h exposure to the optimum temperature for chill satisfaction. Two-year-old R. nigrum plants of the cultivars ‘Ben Gairn’, ‘Ben Hope’ and ‘Ben Tirran’ were exposed to temperatures of −10.1 °C, −3.4 °C, 0.1 °C, 1.5 °C, 2.1 °C, 3.4 °C or 8.9 °C (±0.7 °C) for durations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks and multiple regression analyses used to determine the optimum temperature for chill satisfaction.     

Oncolytic reovirus synergizes with chemotherapeutic agents to promote cell death in canine mammary gland tumor

The oncolytic effects of reovirus in various cancers have been proven in many clinical trials in human medicine. Oncolytic virotherapy using reovirus for canine cancers is being developed in our laboratory. The objective of this study was to examine the synergistic anti-cancer effects of a combination of reovirus and low doses of various chemotherapeutic agents on mammary gland tumors (MGTs) in dogs. The first part of this study demonstrated the efficacy of reovirus in canine MGTs in vitro and in vivo. Reovirus alone exerted significant cell death by means of caspase-dependent apoptosis in canine MGT cell lines. A single injection of reovirus impeded growth of canine MGT tumors in xenografted mice, but was insufficient to induce complete tumor regression. The second part of this study highlighted the anti-tumor effects of reovirus in combination with low doses of paclitaxel, carboplatin, gemcitabine, or toceranib. Enhanced synergistic activity was observed in the MGT cell line treated concomitantly with reovirus and in all the chemotherapeutic agents except toceranib. In addition, combining reovirus with paclitaxel or gemcitabine at half dosage of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) enhanced cytotoxicity by activating caspase 3. Our data suggest that the combination of reovirus and low dose chemotherapeutic agents provides an attractive option in canine cancer therapy.     

How does the application of different nitrification inhibitors affect nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching from cow urine in grazed pastures?

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas, and nitrate () is a water contaminant. In grazed grassland, the major source of both leaching and N₂O emissions is nitrogen (N) deposited in animal excreta, particularly in the urine. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of two nitrification inhibitors: (i) a solution of dicyandiamide (DCD) and (ii) a liquid formulation of 3,4‐dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) for reducing N₂O emissions and leaching from urine patch areas in two grazed pasture soils under different environmental conditions. In the Canterbury Templeton soil, the nitrification rate of ammonium from the animal urine applied at 1000 kg N/ha was significantly decreased by the application of DCD (10 kg/ha) and DMPP (5 kg/ha). N₂O emissions, measured over a 3‐month period, from dairy cow urine applied to the Canterbury Templeton soil were 1.14 kg N₂O‐N/ha, and this was reduced to 0.43 and 0.39 kg N₂O‐N/ha by DCD and the liquid DMPP, respectively. These are equivalent to 62–66% reductions in the total N₂O emissions. Nitrate leaching losses from dairy cow urine applied to the Waikato Horotiu soil lysimeters were reduced from 628.6 kg ‐N/ha to 400.6 and 451.5 kg ‐N/ha by the application of DCD (10 kg/ha) or DMPP (1 kg/ha), respectively. There was no significant difference between the DCD solution and the liquid DMPP in terms of their effectiveness in reducing N₂O emissions or leaching under the experimental conditions of this study. These results suggest that both the liquid formulations of DCD and DMPP have the potential to be used as nitrification inhibitors to reduce N₂O emissions and leaching in grazed pasture soils.     

Effects of codend circumference and twine diameter on selection in south-eastern Australian fish trawls

Two experiments, done in a south-eastern Australian trawl fishery targeting school whiting (Sillago flindersi: Sillaginidae), examined the relative efficiencies and selectivities of five codends and extension sections made from double-twine, 90-mm (inside stretched length) mesh netting. All extension sections were made from 3-mm diameter twine and were 100 meshes long and 100 meshes in circumference, while the codends were 25 meshes in length. The first experiment tested three codends made from 4-mm diameter twine: one with a circumference of 100 meshes and two of 200-mesh circumference, with one of the latter incorporating two cross-sectional joins in its extension piece. The second experiment compared two 200-mesh circumference codends, one constructed from 3-mm diameter twine and the other from 5-mm diameter twine. The codends were alternately fished with a small-meshed control. The results showed a general trend of reduced selection by the 200-mesh circumference and thicker twined codends, and especially by the industry-preferred 200-mesh circumference codend constructed from 5-mm diameter twine. Experiment 1 found that the 100-mesh codend caught significantly fewer school whiting, retained catch and total catch than did the two 200-mesh codends, and the 200-mesh codend with the modified extension section caught significantly fewer school whiting and retained catch than did the 200-mesh codend with the straight extension. In the second experiment, the 200-mesh 5-mm twine codend caught significantly more total and retained catch, school whiting, and longspine flathead (Platycephalus longispinis: Platycephalidae) than did the 200-mesh 3-mm twine codend. Across all codends, the smallest lengths at 50% probability of retention (L₅₀) were estimated for longspine flathead, redfish (Centroberyx affinis: Berycidae) and longfin gurnard (Lepidotrigla argus: Triglidae) in the 5-mm 200-mesh codend. The limited size range of school whiting resulted in unreliable estimation of selectivity in the 200-mesh 5-mm twine codend, but this design was the only one that retained a substantial proportion of individuals below the minimum marketable length (15 cm fork length). While the 200-mesh 5-mm twine codend retained commercial quantities of school whiting, it seems far from optimal. It is suggested that a more efficient design comprising possibly smaller, square-shaped meshes should be developed and used in conjunction with temporal, spatial and catch restrictions.     

Evaluation of a ceftiofur-washed whole cell Streptococcus suis bacterin in pigs

The efficacy of currently available washed whole cell Streptococcus suis bacterins is generally poor. We developed and tested the efficacy of a novel ceftiofur-washed whole cell bacterin. Sixty-six, 2-week-old specific pathogen free (SPF) pigs were randomly divided into 5 groups. Three groups were vaccinated 28 and 14 d prior to challenge. The 3 ceftiofur-washed whole cell bacterins each contained 1 of 3 different adjuvants (Montanide ISA 25, Montanide ISA 50, and Saponin). Pigs exhibiting severe central nervous system disease or severe joint swelling and lameness were euthanized immediately and necropsied. All remaining pigs were necropsied at 14 d post inoculation. The ceftiofur-washed whole cell S. suis bacterin with Montanide ISA 50 adjuvant significantly (P < 0.05) reduced bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, and mortality associated with S. suis challenge. Further work on this novel approach to bacterin production is warranted.     

Effect of fast freezing then thaw‐aging on meat quality attributes of lamb M. longissimus lumborum

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two different freezing rate then thaw‐aging regimens on the quality attributes of lamb loins. The loins were randomly allocated to one of five different freezing/thawing/aging regimes: fast‐(FF1A0) and slow‐(SF1A0) frozen only; fast‐(FF1A2) and slow‐(SF1A2) frozen then thaw‐aged for 14 days; aged for 14 days never frozen (A2). FF1A2 samples had a significantly higher water‐holding capacity compared to the slow frozen regardless of further aging periods. FF1A2 samples had lower (p < 0.05) shear force values than A2 and higher (p < 0.05) water‐holding capacity compared to the SF1A2. Fast freezing resulted in more intracellular cryo‐damage, whereas slow freezing resulted in extracellular cryo‐damage. FF1A0 and SF1A0 samples had lower (p < 0.05) myofibrillar proteins degradation. This study demonstrated that fast freezing then thaw‐aging can result in an improved water‐holding capacity and tenderness through the minimization of extracellular ice crystal formation, reduction in purge and drip losses, and improved proteolysis in thawed lamb.     

The effect of dicyandiamide on pasture nitrate concentration,yield and N offtake under high N loading in winter and spring

High nitrate () concentrations in pastures and forages represent a health risk to grazing livestock. A field trial was conducted on the Lincoln University Dairy Farm, New Zealand, to investigate the effects of applying the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) on soil extractable N and pasture concentrations in winter and spring. Treatments were control (T1), urea (T2), urea + DCD (T3), May urine + DCD (T4), August urine + DCD (T5), May urine (T6) and August urine (T7). Urine treatments were applied to the ryegrass‐white clover pasture in either May or August. The DCD treatments were applied at 10 kg DCD ha^?1 in May and August and urea at 25 kg N ha^?1 at selected intervals. Soil samples (0‐ to 75‐ and 75‐ to 150‐mm horizons) were taken regularly to monitor soil and ammonium () levels. Six pasture harvests were conducted from August 2007 to March 2008 and samples analysed for ‐N concentrations and total N content. Application of DCD significantly (P < 0·001) increased total dry‐matter (DM) production by 39 and 42% for the autumn and spring urine treatments, respectively, compared to the urine‐alone treatments. In addition, the application of DCD also significantly (P < 0·001) increased DM yield by 12% on the urea‐only treatment. DCD significantly (P < 0·001) reduced pasture concentrations in both autumn‐ and spring‐applied urine treatments where DCD was applied. This was directly linked to reductions in soil , and increases in soil , from DCD application. The preferential uptake by pasture for ‐N over ‐N may also have been a contributing factor. DCD application can therefore substantially reduce pasture ‐N concentrations to safe levels under high N‐loading (urine patch) conditions.