Origin and growth mechanisms of the sulfated crusts on urban limestone

Building stone surfaces exposed to the urban environment are subjected to rapid and differentiated deterioration, due to various chemical and physical attacks. Apart from a chemical deterioration below the sufated crusts, which mainly grow outwards at the unaltered gypsum/carbonatic rock interface, another physical deterioration was observed. The latter is, at times, even more important than the rapid chemical attack typical of the zones which are subjected to heavy washing by rainwater. The formation and growth of three different kinds of deterioration layers are discussed with reference to the main kinds of deterioration characterized by white, grey and black external appearance. Analyses of airborne particulate matter and of deterioration layers of urban monuments led to the conclusion that not all the gypsum of crusts which can be observed on marble monuments is derived from the transformation of the underlying rock, but it is also partially transported by aerosols.     

Climate change impacts on soil erosion in Midwest United States with changes in crop management

This study investigates potential changes in erosion rates in the Midwestern United States under climate change, including the adaptation of crop management to climate change. Previous studies of erosion under climate change have not taken into account farmer choices of crop rotations or planting dates, which will adjust to compensate for climate change. In this study, changes in management were assigned based on previous studies of crop yield, optimal planting date, and most profitable rotations under climate change in the Midwestern United States. Those studies predicted future shifts from maize and wheat to soybeans based on price and yield advantages to soybeans. In the results of our simulations, for 10 of 11 regions of the study area runoff increased from + 10% to + 310%, and soil loss increased from + 33% to + 274%, in 2040–2059 relative to 1990–1999. Soil loss changes were more variable compared to studies that did not take into account changes in management. Increased precipitation and decreasing cover from temperature-stressed maize were important factors in the results. The soil erosion model appeared to underestimate the impact of change in crop type, particularly to soybeans, meaning that erosion increases could be even higher than simulated. This research shows that future crop management changes due to climate and economics can affect the magnitude of erosional impacts beyond that which would be predicted from direct climate change alone. Prediction of future soil erosion can help in the management of valuable cropland and suggest the need for continually changing soil conservation strategies.     

Chlorpyrifos residue levels in avian food items following applications of a commercial EC formulation to alfalfa and citrus

Two 10-day field residue studies were conducted to measure the amount of chlorpyrifos residue found in typical avian food following applications of a commercial 480 g liter(-1) EC (Lorsban 4E) at 1.1 kg AI ha(-1) (1 lb AI acre(-1)) to alfalfa and at 2.3 kg Al ha(-1) (2.0 lb AI acre(-1)) to citrus. Avian food items used in these studies included: crickets (Acheta domestica (L)), earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L), darkling ground beetle larvae (Tenebrio molitor L), seed heads (Triticum sp), and naturally occurring flying and ground-dwelling insects. The studies incorporated a design involving three main study plots placed within larger treated areas of an alfalfa crop and a mature orange grove. The three main study plots represented three replications and each contained four sub-plots. One sub-plot, on each study plot, was sampled on day 0 (2-h post-application), day 1, day 5 and day 10 post-application. Chlorpyrifos residues were present in all avian food sampled following the application; however, residue levels were lower than estimated residue values typically used by the US EPA to establish expected environmental concentration (EEC) used in screening assessments of risk to terrestrial wildlife.     

Intra‐articular administration of lidocaine in anaesthetized dogs: pharmacokinetic profile and safety on cardiovascular and nervous systems

The intra‐articular administration of lidocaine is a frequent practice in human orthopaedic surgical procedures, but an eventual absorption of the drug into the bloodstream can lead to toxicity, mainly concerning the central nervous system and the cardiovascular systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the safety, in terms of cardiovascular and CNS toxicity, of lidocaine after intra‐articular administration to anesthetized dogs undergoing arthroscopy. Lidocaine 2% was administered to eight dogs before surgery in differing amounts, depending on the volume of the joints involved, and blood samples were taken at predetermined time points. The maximum serum concentration of lidocaine ranged from 0.50 to 3.01 μg/mL (mean ± SD: 2.18 ± 0.91 μg/mL), and the time to reach it was 28.75 ± 15.74 min. No signs of cardiac toxicity were detected during the entire procedure, and possible signs of CNS toxicity were masked by the anaesthesia. However, concentrations reported in literature as responsible for neurotoxicity in dog were achieved in three of eight investigated subjects. Pending further studies, veterinarians should consider the possibility of side effects occurring following the intra‐articular administration of local anaesthetics.     

Effects of intra-vineyard variability and soil heterogeneity on vine performance,dry matter and nutrient partitioning

Three vigor zones, identified in a Barbera vineyard by remote sensing at full canopy, were carefully ground-truthed to determine, over 2 years, the relative weight of soil factors in affecting within-field variability, and to investigate vigor zone influence on dry matter (DM) and nutrient partitioning into different vine organs. Regardless of season, high vigor (HV) achieved stronger vine capacity as total vegetative growth and yield while resulting in markedly less ripened fruits than low vigor (LV) vines. PCA analysis carried out on ten different soil and vine variables clearly separated the three vigor levels and the correlation matrix highlighted that the factors mostly contributing to HV were soil depth, soil K and P concentration, total available water, clay fraction and N_leaf concentration. Conversely, sand fraction was the main marker for LV. When annual DM retrieved in clusters, canes, leaves, and shoot clippings was calculated for each vigor level and expressed as content (i.e. kg/ha) there was a general decreasing trend moving from HV to LV. However, when DM partitioned to each organ was given on a relative basis (i.e. percentage over total) results were similar across vigor levels. Similarly, when nutrients were given as content (e.g. kg or g/ha) out of 120 within-vigor combinations (12 nutrients, 2 seasons, 5 organs), 65 showed a significant difference between HV and LV. Conversely, with data expressed on a concentration basis (i.e. % DM) the number of significant differences between the vigor level means fell to 15. The study strengthens the causal link between soil properties and intra-vineyard spatial variability and clarifies that patterns of dry matter and nutrient partitioning to different vine organs are mildly affected by vine vigor when referred on a relative basis.

     

Applications of Trichoderma formulations in crop protection

The choice of active Trichoderma strains is important in designing effective and safe biocontrol applications. Many species of Trichoderma have multiple strategies for fungal antagonism and indirect effects on plant health, such as growth promotion, systemic resistance induction and fertility improvements. Some strains are powerful antibiotic producers, and their suitability for use in biocontrol systems must be carefully assessed. However, many other active strains have no antibiotic cap…     

The differential binding and biological efficacy of auxin herbicides

Background

Auxin herbicides have been used for selective weed control for 75 years and they continue to be amongst the most widely used weed control agents globally. The auxin herbicides fall into five chemical classes, with two herbicides not classified, and in all cases it is anticipated that recognition in the plant starts with binding to the Transport Inhibitor Response 1 (TIR1) family of auxin receptors. There is evidence that some classes of auxins act selectively with certain clades of receptors, although a comprehensive structure–activity relationship has not been available.

Results

Using purified receptor proteins to measure binding efficacy we have conducted quantitative structure activity relationship (qSAR) assays using representative members of the three receptor clades in Arabidopsis, TIR1, AFB2 and AFB5. Complementary qSAR data for biological efficacy at the whole-plant level using root growth inhibition and foliar phytotoxicity assays have also been analyzed for each family of auxin herbicides, including for the afb5-1 receptor mutant line.

Conclusions

Comparisons of all these assays highlight differences in receptor selectivity and some systematic differences between results for binding in vitro and activity in vivo. The results could provide insights into weed spectrum differences between the different classes of auxin herbicides, as well as the potential resistance and cross-resistance implications for this herbicide class. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Liquid chromatographic identification of meats

Raw beef, pork, veal, lamb, chicken, turkey, and duck have been identified with a liquid chromatographic (LC) method. Meat samples are blended in water, and soluble proteins in the aqueous blends are separated by the LC method. Meat cuts and parts from same species had similar chromatographic profiles and differed only quantitatively. However, meat cuts or parts from different species resulted in different chromatographic profiles. The qualitative and quantitative chromatographic differences among meat species were used for their identification. The LC method applies only to fresh and frozen meats. It is simple, rapid, and reliable, and can be used for quantitative detection of meat species in unheated meat blends.     

New herbicidal derivatives of 1,2,4-triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine

Two new structural classes of herbicide have been discovered which are based on the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine ring system. These compounds are related to the known herbicidal sulfonylureas and imidazolinones and other studies have shown that they have a similar mode of action, involving the inhibition of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis, the site of action being the enzyme acetolactate synthase. The design, synthesis and structure- activity relationships of these new classes of compounds are described.