Effects of growing conditions on purple corncob (Zea mays L.) anthocyanins

Purple corn ( Zea mays L.) has been used for centuries as a natural food colorant in South America and, more recently, in Asia and Europe. However, limited information is available on the factors affecting their anthocyanin concentration and profiles. In this study, 18 purple corn samples grown under different conditions in Peru were evaluated for quantitative and qualitative anthocyanin composition as well as total phenolics. High variability was observed on monomeric anthocyanin and phenolic contents with yields ranging from 290 to 1333 mg/100 g dry weight (DW) and from 950 to 3516 mg/100 g DW, respectively, while 30.5-47.1% of the total phenolics were anthocyanins. The major anthocyanins present were cyanidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-maloylglucoside, pelargonidin-3-maloylglucoside, and peonidin-3-maloylglucoside, and 35.6-54.0% of the anthocyanins were acylated. Potassium sources/concentrations on the soil and seedling density did not significantly affect anthocyanin composition. The growing location affected anthocyanin levels and the percentage of anthocyanins to total phenolics ( p < 0.01) and should be taken into account when choosing a material for color production.     

Detection of calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus in a sample of dairy calves in south-eastern Queensland

Objective To determine the proportion and incidence of calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus in calves (n = 1521) supplied to the Tick Fever Research Centre and to assess the test regime to detect calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus.
Design Calves, 1 to 6 weeks old, selected for use in the production of the tick fever vaccine were collected from 21 properties in 56 separate groups between October 1990 and December 1996. Each group was examined for the presence of calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus.
Procedure All calves were routinely tested for antibody to bovine pestivirus and bovine pestivirus antigen using a serum neutralisation test and an antigen-capture ELISA, respectively. Pooled lymphocyte samples from calves were also monitored for bovine pestivirus by inoculation of sheep. Whole herd testing was carried out in eight herds, using a serum neutralisation test as a screen test followed by an antigen-capture ELISA of cattle with a serum neutralisation test titre of less than 32.
Results Fourteen of the 1521 calves tested (0.9%), were detected as persistently infected and the incidence ranged from 0.0 to 3.0 % per year over 6 years. Persistently infected calves were found in 13 of the 59 groups and originated from 7 of the 21 herds used. In whole herd testing on the properties of origin, cattle persistently infected with bovine pestivirus were detected in four of the eight herds tested
Conclusions The proportion of calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus is similar to that in other countries and indicates that bovine pestivirus could be a significant cause of economic loss in Australian cattle herds. In detecting calves persistently infected with bovine pestivirus, the combination of sheep inoculation, paired antigen-capture ELISA and serum neutralisation tests appeared to be highly sensitive and specific.     

Historical Contaminated Sediments and Soils at the River Basin Scale

Background, Aims, and Scope  

Data from the Elbe River and its tributaries indicate, despite extensive improvement in water quality during the last 15 years, that the respective sediment situation of many priority pollutants has not reached an acceptable level. For the coming decades, risks for downstream sites and stakeholders will persist, mainly due to secondary sources originating from historical pollution of soils and sediments in the catchment area. In practice, a catchment-wide assessment of historical contaminated soil and sediment should apply a three-step approach: (i) Identification of substances of concern (s.o.c.) and their classification into ’hazard classes of compounds’; (ii) identification of areas of concern (a.o.c.) and their classification into ‘hazard classes of sites’; (iii) identification of areas of risk (a.o.r.) and their assessment relative to each other with regard to the probability of polluting the sediments in the downstream reaches. The conversion of this concept has to consider the underlying philosophy of the EU Water Framework Directive, particularly with respect to the analysis and monitoring of priority substances in solid matrices. However, major deficiencies are still in the assessment and prognosis of resuspension processes, and potential approaches to fill this gap are described both in theory and from examples of the Elbe River.     

Evaluating estimators of the numbers of females with cubs-of-the-year in the yellowstone grizzly bear population

Current management of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas requires annual estimation of the number of adult female bears with cubs-of-the-year. We examined the performance of nine estimators of population size via simulation. Data were simulated using two methods for different combinations of population size, sample size, and coefficient of variation of individual sighting probabilities. We show that the coefficient of variation does not, by itself, adequately describe the effects of capture heterogeneity, because two different distributions of capture probabilities can have the same coefficient of variation. All estimators produced biased estimates of population size with bias decreasing as effort in creased. Based on the simulation results we recommend the Chao estimator for model M _h be used to estimate the number of the female bears with cubs of the year; however, the estimator of Chao and Shen may also be useful depending on the goals of the research.     

Additional studies on the use of cracking catalysts in conjunction with activated sludge wastewater treating

A previous study indicated that regenerated spent fluid catalytic cracking catalyst, added to a test activated sludge system, increased the sludge settling rate, decreased the settled sludge volume (compaction), decreased the supernatant (effluent) TOC and increased the supernatant optical clarity. In addition, phosphate levels were markedly reduced in a municipal sewerage a ctivated sludge system. As an extension of this study, fresh, spent, and regenerated cracking catalysts have been examined to determine if the observed activity could be attributed to the carbon and metals deposited on the catalyst during the cracking operation. To do this the earlier studies have been repeated and adsorption isotherm tests have been conducted with fresh, spent and regenerated catalysts. The results indicate that: (1) the carbon and metals on the catalyst surface do not affect the improved settling and compaction of activated sludge observed when the catalyst is present, nor do they affect TOC removals; (2) none of the catalysts tested adsorb soluble TOC to an appreciable extent; and (3) the presence of catalyst, by enhancing compaction, may stabilize the activated sludge system during wet weather conditions.     

Direct cortical control of 3D neuroprosthetic devices

Three-dimensional (3D) movement of neuroprosthetic devices can be controlled by the activity of cortical neurons when appropriate algorithms are used to decode intended movement in real time. Previous studies assumed that neurons maintain fixed tuning properties, and the studies used subjects who were unaware of the movements predicted by their recorded units. In this study, subjects had real-time visual feedback of their brain-controlled trajectories. Cell tuning properties changed when used for brain-controlled movements. By using control algorithms that track these changes, subjects made long sequences of 3D movements using far fewer cortical units than expected. Daily practice improved movement accuracy and the directional tuning of these units.     

Tritiated digoxin binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase: possible allosteric site

Tritiated H(3)-digoxin specifically binds to a cardiac (Na(+) + K(+))-activated adenosine triphosphatase. In the presence of adenosine triphosphate and other nucleoside di- and triphosphates, binding is stimulated by sodium ion, the apparent rate constant being similar to that reported for phosphorus-32 incorporation from adenosine triphosphate and for the adenosine triphosphatase activity. In the presence of magnesium, manganese, inorganic phosphate, or other ions, sodium ion inhibits binding. The data support an allosteric type of sodium-potassium ion pump.