Size fractions of organic matter pools influence their stability: Application of the Rock-Eval® analysis to beech forest soils

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a complex heterogeneous mixture formed through decomposition and organo-mineral interactions, and characterization of its composition and biogeochemical stability is challenging. From this perspective, Rock-Eval^® is a rapid and efficient thermal analytical method that combines the quantitative and qualitative information of SOM, including several parameters related to thermal stability. This approach has already been used to monitor changes in organic matter (OM) properties at the landscape, cropland, and soil profile scales. This study was aimed to assess the stability of SOM pools by characterizing the grain size fractions from forest litters and topsoils using Rock-Eval^® thermal analysis. Litter (organic) and topsoil samples were collected from a beech forest in Normandy (France), whose management in the last 200 years has been documented. Fractionation by wet sieving was used to separate large debris (> 2 000 μm) and coarse (200-2 000 μm) and fine particulate OM (POM) (50-200 μm) in the organic samples as well as coarse (200-2 000 μm), medium (50-200 μm), and fine (< 50 μm) fractions of the topsoil samples. Rock-Eval^® was able to provide thermal parameters sensitive enough to study fine-scale soil processes. In the organic layers, quantitative and qualitative changes were explained by the progressive decomposition of labile organic compounds from plant debris to the finest organic particles. Meanwhile, the grain size fractions of topsoils presented different characteristics. The coarse organo-mineral fractions showed higher C contents, albeit with a different composition, higher thermal stability, and greater decomposition degree than the plant debris forming the organic layer. These results are consistent with those of previous studies that microbial activity is more effective in this fraction. The finest fractions of topsoils showed low C contents, the highest thermal stability, and low decomposition degree, which can be explained by the stronger interactions with the mineral matrix. Therefore, it is suggested that the dynamics of OM in the different size fractions be interpreted in the light of a plant-microbe-soil continuum. Finally, three distinct thermostable C pools were highlighted through the grain size heterogeneity of SOM:free coarse OM (large debris and coarse and fine particles), weakly protected OM in (bio)aggregates (coarse fraction of topsoil), and stabilized OM in the fine fractions of topsoil, which resulted from the interactions within organo-mineral complexes. Therefore, Rock-Eval^® thermal parameters can be used to empirically illustrate the conceptual models emphasizing the roles of drivers played by the gradual decomposition and protection of the most thermally labile organic constituents.     

High Embryonic Recovery Rates with In vivo and Ex vivo Techniques in the Bitch

The embryonic collection techniques in dogs present a vast methodological variation and low recovery rates. The objectives were to compare and describe two techniques as to the recovery of canine embryos, on the 12th day after the first mating or artificial insemination. Embryos were recovered through uterine horn flushing in vivo, before performing the ovariohysterectomy (OHE) (Group 1; n = 9) or ex vivo, immediately after the OHE (Group 2; n = 9). In total, 43 and 47 embryonic structures were recovered in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between groups on recovery rates (72.8% and 81.0%, respectively). We inferred that both in vivo and ex vivo techniques allow a high rate of embryonic recovery; in the collection technique prior to the OHE, it is essential to carefully handle the reproductive system during the trans‐surgical period and that the 12th day (D12) after the first mating/artificial insemination is an efficient option for the high recovery rate of morulae and blastocysts.     

Population pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation of single and multiple dose administration of meloxicam in cats

Lehr, T., Narbe, R., Jöns, O., Kloft, C., Staab, A. Population pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation of single and multiple dose administration of meloxicam in cats. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 33 , 277–286. The objectives of these investigations were: first, to describe the pharmacokinetic properties of meloxicam in cats following single and multiple oral administration and secondly, to simulate different oral dosage regimes for meloxicam in cats after multiple dose administration to illustrate and evaluate those dosage regimes for the alleviation of inflammation and pain in cats. Six healthy domestic short hair cats were treated orally with various dosage regimes (0.05–0.2 mg/kg/day). Plasma samples were collected at predefined times and quantitatively analysed using liquid/liquid extraction followed by reverse phase HPLC with UV‐detection. Meloxicam plasma concentration data were analysed using the population pharmacokinetic approach (software: NONMEM). The final model was used to simulate different dosage regimes. The plasma concentration–time profiles of meloxicam in cats after oral single and multiple dose administration were best described by an open one‐compartment model with first‐order absorption and first‐order elimination. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated to be 0.00656 L/h/kg for the total apparent body clearance (CL/F), 0.245 L/kg for the apparent volume of distribution (V/F), 1.26 1/h for the absorption constant (K_A) and 25.7 h for the mean plasma terminal half‐life. Simulations showed that the median trough steady‐state concentrations of 228 ng/mL were reached after five, one or 6 days following a single initial dose of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg each followed by 0.05 mg/kg/day.     

Ionic strength effects on surface charge and adsorption of phosphate and sulphate by soils

Two surface soils (Patua and Tokomaru) of contrasting mineralogy were incubated with several levels of either CaCO₃ or HC1. The effects of ionic strength on pH, on surface charge, and on the adsorption of phosphate and sulphate were measured in three concentrations of NaCl. The pH at which the net surface charge was zero (point of net zero charge—PZC) was 1.8 for the Tokomaru soil and 4.6 for the Patua soil: differences that can be related to mineralogical composition. There was an analogous point of zero salt effect (PZSE) that occurred at pH 2.8 for the Tokomaru soil and at 4.6 for the Patua soil. The presence of permanent negative charge in the Tokomaru soil resulted in an increase in PZSE over PZC. The effect of ionic strength on adsorption varied greatly between phosphate and sulphate. For phosphate, there was a characteristic pH above which increasing ionic strength increased adsorption and below which the reverse occurred. This pH (PZSE for adsorption) was higher than the PZC of the soil and was 4.1 for the Tokomaru soil and 5.3 for the Patua soil. In contrast, increasing ionic strength always decreased sulphate adsorption and the adsorption curves obtained in solutions of different ionic strengths converged above pH 7.0. If increasing ionic strength decreases adsorption, the potential in the plane of adsorption must be positive. Also, if increasing ionic strength increases adsorption, the potential must be negative. This suggests that, depending upon pH, phosphate is adsorbed when the potential in the plane of adsorption is either positive or negative, whereas sulphate is absorbed only when the potential is positive.     

Rate Constants for Charge Transfer Across Semiconductor-Liquid Interfaces

Interfacial charge-transfer rate constants have been measured for n-type Si electrodes in contact with a series of viologen-based redox couples in methanol through analyses of the behavior of these junctions with respect to their current density versus potential and differential capacitance versus potential properties. The data allow evaluation of the maximum rate constant (and therefore the electronic coupling) for majority carriers in the solid as well as of the dependence of the rate constant on the driving force for transfer of delocalized electrons from the n-Si semiconducting electrode into the localized molecular redox species in the solution phase. The data are in good agreement with existing models of this interfacial electron transfer process and provide insight into the fundamental kinetic events underlying the use of semiconducting photoelectrodes in applications such as solar energy conversion.     

Effect of liming and phosphate additions on sulphate leaching in soils

The effect of lime (CaCO₃) and phosphate additions on surface charge characteristics and their effect on the leaching of sulphate were examined for two soils (Patua loam and Tokomaru silt loam) which differed in their adsorption capacities for sulphate.
Incubation of soils with either CaCO₃ (0–600 mmol kg⁻¹) or phosphate (0-208 mmol kg⁻¹) resulted in a two- to five-fold increase in the net negative charge and a similar decrease in the adsorption of sulphate. The effect of either lime or phosphate addition on both the surface charge and sulphate adsorption was more pronounced for the allophanic Patua soil than for the Tokomaru soil containing mainly vermiculite.
In a column experiment, liming induced the leaching of sulphur either by the desorp-tion of adsorbed sulphate or by the mineralization of organic sulphur. During a miscible displacement study, addition of either CaCO₃ or phosphate resulted in an early breakthrough of sulphate in the leachate. In a pulse experiment, in which soils were incubated with sulphate (3.12 mmol kg⁻¹) for 1 week and subsequently leached with water, more added sulphate was lost in the leachate of the soils previously incubated with either CaCO₃ or phosphate.     

Incidence of lymphoma in a captive-bred colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Objective   To assess the incidence of lymphoma and wasting-related deaths in the National Baboon Colony of Australia and relate it to the presence of simian T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (STLV-1) infection.
Design and procedure   The records of all animals that had died since establishment of the National Baboon Colony in Australia were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical signs and histopathological findings were recorded and assessed to determine the involvement of lymphoma in the deaths. The presence of STLV-1 was recorded if known and correlated with the STLV-1 status of the colony.
Results   Of the deaths from disease or illness, 53% were diagnosed as or suspected to be lymphoma, occurring in mature animals with no sex predisposition. The most common presentation was rapidly occurring generalised lymphadenomegaly.
Conclusions   This study has described a relatively high prevalence of lymphoma in a colony of captive-bred baboons, and it is evident that STLV-1 may play a role in the disease. Management practices in baboon colonies need to take into account the possible presence of STLV-1 and aim to reduce the transmission of the virus by preventing sexual contact between positive and negative animals. Lymphoma needs to be considered as one of the more common causes of wasting and death.