Study on the Prepressing of Flakeboard Containing Waste Paper

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the strength properties of a composite board containing waste paper as a core material, could be improved by the prior prepressing of the core material before pressing the product to final thickness. Results indicated that intermediate cold prepressing of the core layer had no effect on the bending strength and MOE and can thus be eliminated. Flakeboard containing Kraft waste paper appears to be superior to commercial particle boards, with regard to thickness swelling in water. Results so far obtained indicate that waste paper can be utilized for flakeboard manufacture.     

Presence of Ureaplasma diversum in the Australian cattle population

In cattle, Ureaplasma diversum has been associated with decreased fertility, granular vulvovaginitis, endometritis, salpingitis and spontaneous abortion in cows and seminal vesiculitis, balanoposthitis and changes in bull sperm. The presence of U. diversum within the Australian cattle population has not been established. One of the aims of this study was to determine if U. diversum was present in Australian cattle, using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), both of which are considered to be gold standards for bacterial identification. Of 100 samples collected from 66 male and 34 female cattle, 15 were positive for U. diversum. Therefore, Australia can no longer be considered free of U. diversum. Further studies should be conducted to ascertain the effects of U. diversum within Australian cattle herds and, if warranted, to investigate prevention, treatment and eradication protocols.     

Effects of low‐density lipoproteins as additive on quality parameters and oxidative stress following cryopreservation of mithun (Bos frontalis) spermatozoa

Artificial breeding of mithun poses several challenges including lack of standard protocol for cryopreservation of spermatozoa. This is further complicated by harmful effects of hen's egg yolk (EY) as additive in extender. Purified low‐density lipoproteins (LDL) extracted from EY have been shown as beneficial over EY extender for long‐term semen storage in several species. This investigation explored use of LDL versus EY on semen quality and oxidative stress following freezing–thawing of spermatozoa. A total of 25 of 50 ejaculates based on biophysical parameters were selected for the experiment. After diluting with the Tris‐citrate‐glycerol (TCG) extender, each sample was split into three equal aliquots: Group I, control, EY; Group II and Group III contained 8% and 10% purified LDL, respectively. Frozen–thawed samples were evaluated for motility parameters (progressive, and in the bovine cervical mucus penetration test [BCMPT]), viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, and enzymatic (leakage of intracellular contents) and biochemical (oxidative stress) profiles and in vitro fertility (IVF) assay. Study revealed a significant (p < .05) improvement in viability, sperm and nuclear abnormality, acrosome integrity, motility (progressive and in cervical mucus), cholesterol content, and reduction in the leakage of intracellular enzymes in Group II. Moreover, intactness of acrosome and biochemical membranes was protected significantly (p < .05) in addition to significant (p < .05) improvement in binding per cent and binding index in IVF assay in extender containing 8% LDL. These results demonstrate that although cryopreservation of mithun's spermatozoa in EY was comparable with other species, addition of 8% LDL holds a clear advantage over EY or 10% LDL.     

Localization of metastable atom beams with optical standing waves: nanolithography at the heisenberg limit

The spatially dependent de-excitation of a beam of metastable argon atoms, traveling through an optical standing wave, produced a periodic array of localized metastable atoms with position and momentum spreads approaching the limit stated by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Silicon and silicon dioxide substrates placed in the path of the atom beam were patterned by the metastable atoms. The de-excitation of metastable atoms upon collision with the surface promoted the deposition of a carbonaceous film from a vapor-phase hydrocarbon precursor. The resulting patterns were imaged both directly and after chemical etching. Thus, quantum-mechanical steady-state atom distributions can be used for sub-0.1-micrometer lithography.     

Evaluation of potato varieties and selections for resistance to bacterial soft rot

Potato varieties and selections were evaluated for resistance to bacterial soft rot caused byErwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora and Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica in mist chamber. A randomized complete block design with a single treatment and 3 replications was used in this study. Potato lines were inoculated with bacterial suspension (10 tubers / line) using the puncture inoculation method and incubated for 4 days in a mist chamber at 21 C and 100 % relative humidity in the dark. Although there were differences in incidence of soft rot and in amount of weight reduction, most of the potato lines were susceptible to tuber soft rot. Mean incidence (%) of soft rot ranged from 10 to 100%. Mean reduction of tuber weight (%) ranged from 0.13 to 16.43 %. Among the varieties and selections tested, AF 522-5 was the most resistant to tuber weight loss, while AF 1424-7 was most susceptible. There were also significant differences between years, and a variety by year interaction. Testing over a period of years is recommended. A significant correlation coefficient of soft rot incidence (%) and reduction of tuber weight (%) was obtained (r=0.65; P=0.05), indicating that incidence was a fair measure of soft rot potential. However, the greater variability in results for incidence make weight loss a better measure of soft rot reaction. There was a significant difference among varieties in the reduction of tuber weight when potato lines were inoculated either 1 month or 2 months after harvest, but the interaction of time by year prohibits a conclusion as to which time gives a better test reaction. Late maturing varieties had slightly less weight loss than earlier maturing varieties.     

Averting the baiji syndrome: conserving habitat for critically endangered dolphins in Eastern Taiwan Strait

• 1. Numbering no more than 100 individuals and facing many threats, the geographically isolated Eastern Taiwan Strait population of Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) is in peril. The estuarine and coastal waters of central‐western Taiwan have historically provided prime habitat for these dolphins, but environmental conditions today bear little resemblance to what they were in the past.
• 2. The humpback dolphins must share their habitat with thousands of fishing vessels and numerous factories built upon thousands of hectares of reclaimed land.
• 3. They are exposed to chemicals and sewage released from adjacent terrestrial activities. Noise and disturbance associated with construction, vessel traffic and military activities are features of everyday life for these animals.
• 4. Measures to slow the pace of habitat deterioration and reduce the many risks to the dolphins are urgently needed. As one practical step in this direction, this paper describes the habitat needs of these small cetaceans so that decision makers will be better equipped to define ‘priority habitat’ and implement much needed protection measures under the terms of local legislation.
• 5. The preferred habitat of these dolphins in Taiwan consists of shallow (<30 m), near‐shore marine waters with regular freshwater inputs.
• 6. For such a small, isolated and threatened population, ‘priority habitat’ should not be limited to areas of particularly intensive dolphin use or high dolphin density, but rather it should encompass the entire area where the animals have been observed (their current ‘habitat’), as well as additional coastal areas with similar bio‐physical features (‘suitable habitat’). Such a precautionary approach is warranted because the loss of only a few individuals could have serious population‐level consequences.
• 7. While conventional socio‐economic analysis might suggest that implementing protection measures over an area stretching ～350 km north–south along Taiwan's west coast and ～3 km out to sea would be too ‘costly’, the loss of this charismatic species from Taiwan's waters would send a troubling message regarding our collective ability to reconcile human activities with environmental sustainability. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Genetic variability among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from sugar beet

Fusarium yellows, caused by the soil‐borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae (Fob), can lead to significant yield losses in sugar beet. This fungus is variable in pathogenicity, morphology, host range and symptom production, and is not a well characterized pathogen on sugar beet. From 1998 to 2003, 86 isolates of F. oxysporum and 20 other Fusarium species from sugar beet, along with four F. oxysporum isolates from dry bean and five from spinach, were obtained from diseased plants and characterized for pathogenicity to sugar beet. A group of sugar beet Fusarium isolates from different geographic areas (including nonpathogenic and pathogenic F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. proliferatum and F. avenaceum), F. oxysporum from dry bean and spinach, and Fusarium DNA from Europe were chosen for phylogenetic analysis. Sequence data from β‐ tubulin, EF1α and ITS DNA were used to examine whether Fusarium diversity is related to geographic origin and pathogenicity. Parsimony and Bayesian MCMC analyses of individual and combined datasets revealed no clades based on geographic origin and a single clade consisting exclusively of pathogens. The presence of FOB and nonpathogenic isolates in clades predominately made up of Fusarium species from sugar beet and other hosts indicates that F. oxysporum f. sp. betae is not monophyletic.     

Sunrise: An early maturing,golden nematode resistant,round, white potato variety

The Sunrise potato variety is an early maturing variety with round to oblong, moderately smooth, white skinned tubers with medium-shallow eyes. Its characteristics are closely parallel to those of Superior, except Sunrise is resistant to race A of the golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis). Sunrise is primarily a table potato; however, in southern areas it can be used for chips when processed without prolonged storage at low temperatures. Sunrise is resistant to virus X and does not show the net necrosis symptoms caused by leafroll virus. Its parents are Wauseon and B 6563-2, a selection from the USDA breeding program.     

Mainestay: A high-yielding, round white potato variety for fresh market

The Mainestay potato variety is high-yielding and late-maturing producing attractive, round, white-skinned, white-fleshed tubers with medium-shallow eyes. Its major use is expected to be as a maincrop tablestock variety. Mainestay appearance ratings are similar to those of Katahdin, and greening in Mainestay tubers is less than in Kennebec. Most boil and bake qualities were rated equal to Katahdin in at least half of the tests, and Mainestay usually has a low incidence of internal defects. However, purple streak, heat necrosis, vascular discoloration, and heat sprouts have been seen on occasion. Mainestay tubers do not show the net necrosis caused by potato leafroll virus, and have shown very little hollow heart or blackspot bruising. Mainestay is susceptible to common scab and acid scab, but moderately resistant to verticillium wilt (Verticillium, albo-atrum andV. dahliae), early blight (Alternaria solani), rhizoctonia (Rhizoctonia solani), dry rot (Fusarium sambucinum), and pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica). It is moderately susceptible to the common race of late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Mainestay tubers are slow to mature after vine kill, and additional time is required prior to harvest in order to allow for proper periderm development and to reduce storage losses.