Influence of processing cassava peels on the hydrogen cyanide concentration, nutritive value and performance of growing rabbits

Forty-eight rabbits used to investigate the response of growing rabbits to diets containing differently processed cassava peel meals were divided into four groups balanced for sex and weight. These groups were then assigned at random to the experimental treatments. Four diets were formulated such that the diets contained 200 g/kg of the experimental feedstuffs, sun-dried cassava peel meal (S), ensiled cassava peel meal (E) and retted cassava peel meal (R), and the control did not contain any cassava peels. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentration in the processed cassava peel meal was lower relative to the unprocessed meal. It was, however, lowest in R and highest in E. With the exception of S, fibre fractions were lower in the processed meal compared to the unprocessed meal. The E depressed (p < 0.05) feed and digestible nutrient intakes, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, digestible protein (DP), digestible energy (DE) and DP/DE ratio but increased protein intake to gain and feed to gain ratios compared to other diets. Intake of HCN decreased (p < 0.05) successively in this order: R, S and E. The results indicate that retting and sun-drying are more effective in cassava peel detoxification than ensiling, and dietary HCN concentration and intake of 56 and 4 mg/kg BW, respectively, were not toxic under the conditions of the experiment.     

Relationship between streamflow and nutrient and sediment losses from an oak-beech forest watershed during an 18-year long monitoring study in Turkey

The objectives of this study were to quantify the amount of the stream discharge, nutrient fluxes, suspended sediment loss, and to define the relationship between streamflow and these parameters in a forest-covered watershed. The study was carried out in an experimental watershed, which has been monitored since 1979 in the Belgrad forest in Istanbul. Significant linear regressions were obtained between streamflow and discharge of selected water quality parameters. Mean monthly losses were 10.01 kg/ha for HCO₃ ⁻, 5.92 kg/ha for CI⁻, 0.07 kg/ha for total N, 1.29 kg/ha for Mg²⁺, 3.59 kg/ha for Ca²⁺, 2.59 kg/ha for Na⁺, 1.82 kg/ha for K⁺, 0.0113 kg/ha for P-PO₄ ³⁻, and 35.82 kg/ha for suspended sediments. Among the monitored water quality parameters, HCO₃ ⁻, CI⁻, and Ca²⁺ had greater losses than the rest of the chemical parameters studied in the watershed. Net gains (influx exceeded outflux) calculated for total N, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and P-PO₄ ³⁻ in the annual basis can be considered as an addition to the ecosystem’s organic nutrient pool. In contrast, net losses occurred for HCO₃ ⁻, CI⁻, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺.     

Investigation on the storage possibilities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhyzobius lophantae</Emphasis> Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at different temperatures and periods

Storage of natural enemies at low temperatures has an important role in biological control programs. It is an very critical factor that the stored individuals is used without losing their characters such as longevity, survival, fecundity, etc. In this study, the storage possibilities of Rhyzobius lophantae Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) adults under low temperatures (4 °C and 12 °C) for four different periods (10, 20, 30 and 40 days) were investigated. The survival rates and life span of adults (male and female), daily and total egg numbers laid by females stored at 4 °C and 12 °C for 10, 20, 30 and 40 days were determined. The survival rates of adults stored at 4 °C for 10 and 20 days were found to be 94.54% and 58.02% respectively. However, no adults stored at 4 °C for 30 and 40 days were observed to survive. The highest survival rate was 88% for the adults stored at 12 °C for 10 days. The average daily laid egg numbers were 12.51 and 9.37, and total egg numbers were 850.30 and 738.30 of adults stored at 4 °C for 10 and 20 days, respectively. The decrease in daily and total egg numbers of females stored at 12 °C was observed with increasing storage period. There was no significant difference in longevities of male and female stored at 4 °C and 12 °C. These results show that short-term storage at low temperatures does not affect certain properties of the predator when compared to 12 °C and storage periods.     

TEMPO-treated CNF Composites: Pulp and Matrix Effect

This study examined the effects of matrix (PVA and Si) on the properties of TEMPO-treated nanocomposites preparing from different pulp sources (Kraft and NaBH₄ treated Kraft). Chemical characterization and crystallization were determined via FT-IR, thermal stability via TGA and morphological alterations via SEM. UTM and DTMA were used to measure the Young’s and storage moduli. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and electric modulus were evaluated using an impedance analyzer. After interaction, prominent vibrations and alteration of crystallinity were seen. Storage and Young’s moduli decreased after Si and PVA interaction. The Si-TOCN films showed higher permittivity properties and all of the films followed a similar trend of significantly dropping ε' and ε'' values at high frequency. The PVA-TOCN films had mechanical advantages at room temperature compared to the Si-TOCN films. However, the Si-TOCN films had better thermomechanical properties at high temperatures. NaBH₄ revealed favorable effects on mechanical properties of the films.     

Using UAVs for detection of trees from digital surface models

A difficult problem in forestry is tree inventory.In this study, a GoProHero attached to a small unmanned aerial vehicle was used to capture images of a small area covered by pinus pinea trees. Then, a digital surface model was generated with image matching. The elevation model representing the terrain surface, a ‘digital terrain model’,was extracted from the digital surface model using morphological filtering. Individual trees were extracted by analyzing elevation flow on the digital elevation model because the elevation reached the highest value on the tree peaks compared to the neighborhood elevation pixels. The quality of the results was assessed by comparison with reference data for correctness of the estimated number of trees. The tree heights were calculated and evaluated with ground truth dataset. The results showed 80% correctness and 90% completeness.     

Analyzing dynamic curve widening on forest roads

Forest roads require important design specifications to ensure all-season access for various vehicles. Long and heavy log trucks can face serious maneuvering problems on forest roads due to insufficient amount of area to the left for road widening on horizontal curves. In order to provide safe and continuous shipment and transportation,appropriate curve widening areas should be provided for long vehicles along horizontal curves. In this study, a statistical model was developed to provide curve-widening solutions for long trucks(e.g., those with 18 wheels) considering various curve radius and deflection angles. The dynamic curve widening feature of Plateia 2013 program was employed to calculate curve widening for the specified vehicle. During the solution process, nine different horizontal curve diameters from 10 to 50 m(by 5 m intervals)and 17 different deflection angles from 90° to 170°(by 5°intervals) were evaluated to run horizontal curve-widening analysis. Using a multiple regression model, we made suitable predictions about curve widening. The curvewidening areas decrease as the horizontal curve radius increases, while increasing the deflection angle on horizontal curves increases curve widening areas. Clearly, the computer-based dynamic curve widening model developed in this study can be effectively used in determining optimum widening for horizontal curves by evaluating the number of alternatives that fit geometrical specifications and vehicle types.     

Mineral Nutrient Acquisition by Cotton Cultivars Grown under Salt Stress

Physiological responses were investigated in two cotton cultivars grown at various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to determine the degree of the tolerance of the cultivars to salt stress and understand the physiological responses with respect to utilization of mineral nutrients. After germination of the seeds of cotton cultivars, they were transferred into standard pots with 210 g sterilized compost and watered with 30 ml Hoagland’s solution containing different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM) of NaCl at two-day intervals for 3 months. Growth parameters were measured and the mineral nutrient analyses were done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltman, MA). It was observed that plant growth and mineral nutritional status of both cultivars were altered extensively in those grown with NaCl. Excess NaCl reduces the concentrations of certain mineral nutrients and increases that of others, the patterns depending on the mineral nutrient and the plant part and varieties being compared to the control.     

A new application method of chitosan for improved antimicrobial activity on wool fabrics pretreated by different ways

Antimicrobial treatments have become more important for the textile materials especially used in sportswear, activewear, and casual wear since they can easily be contaminated by perspiration leading to bacterial growth and body odor. In this work, antimicrobial activity of chitosan in a silica matrix on pretreated wool fabrics was studied. The pretreatment processes were applied by two different ways (enzymatic and enzymatic+hydrogen peroxide). Afterwards chitosan solutions were applied to the untreated samples and to the samples that were pretreated by two different ways to give antimicrobial effects. The antimicrobial activity of wool fabrics treated in various methods was assessed before and after repeated washings (up to 10 cycles) by the application of standard test method AATCC 147-1998. The morphology of the treated fabrics was investigated by SEM and their characterizations were made by the FT-IR spectral analysis. Results revealed that pretreatment ways and chitosan application methods were quite important for adsorption and diffusion of chitosan on wool fabrics and washing stability. From the SEM images, it was clearly observed that pretreatment processes caused some degradation on the surface of the fiber; but combined processes were found to be less degradative and more effective.     

《中国学术期刊影响因子年报》系列数据库首发式的北京召开沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性分析

[目的]了解新疆沙雅县胡杨林土壤可培养细菌的多样性.[方法]沙雅县胡杨林采集土壤样品,采用两种不同的培养基(LB,TSA)分离纯化细菌,并对它们进行16S rDNA测定和系统进化分析.[结果]分离纯化不同表型的57株细菌.对它们16S rDNA序列分析表明,57株菌分别属于3个大类群厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria),13个属,33个种;芽孢杆菌属是优势细菌种群,它占已测种群的67.2;.其中6株菌M28,M13,CT3,YS30-1,CM5,CL19初步被认为是潜在的新种(16S rDNA相似率为96.780;～97.961;).[结论]沙雅县胡杨林可培养细菌不仅具有比较高的多样性,并存在一些潜在的新的细菌菌种资源,极具进一步发掘的潜力.     

新疆库米什金矿土壤可培养细菌的多样性分析

[目的]了解新疆库米什一处金矿土壤可培养细菌的多样性及建立菌种资源库.[方法]采集库米什金矿土壤样品,采用两种不同培养基(LB,TSB)分离纯化细菌,对其进行形态观察(菌落及细胞)、生理测定、16SrDNA测序和系统进化分析.[结果]从两种培养基上总共得到50株细菌,根据基于16S rDNA的系统进化分析表明,50株菌分别属于3个大类群:厚壁菌门(Firmicutes ),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobaeteria),12个属,30个分类单元.其中芽抱杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势细菌种群,占已测种群的63.3;.菌株L10-5与Bacillus foraminis (AJ717382)有96.463;的相似率,可能为潜在新种.[结论]库米什金矿土壤可培养细菌具有较高的多样性,存在潜在新菌种资源,值得进一步研究.