Bud inhibition of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers by inhibitor β or abscisic acid and the reversal of these effects by N-6-benzyl adenine*

The acidic ether fraction of methanol extracts from Cyperus rotundus L. (purple nutsedge) tubers contained inhibitory substances described hereafter as inhibitor β. Inhibitor β inhibited sprouting of excised C. rotundus buds and also the elongation of wheat coleoptiles. The inhibition of bud sprouting by inhibitor β was reversed by the application of N-6-benzyl adenine (BA). Applications of abscisic acid (ABA) also inhibited sprouting of the excised buds and this was similarly reversed by BA applications. Chromatographic evidence suggested that inhibitor β mainly consisted of phenolic materials and possibly ABA as a minor component. The role of BA in enhancing sprouting of C rotundus tubers is discussed. Inhibition des bourgeons de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. par I'inhibiteur β ou l'acide abscissique et réversion de ces effects par la N-6-benzyl adénine La fraction éther acide d'extraits, par le méthanol. de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. contient des substances inhibitrices decrites ci-après comme I'inhibiteur β. Cet inhibiteur β a inhibé la germination de bulbes isolés de C. rotundus ainsi que l'élongation de coléoptiles de blé. L'inhibition de la germination des bourgeons par I'inhibiteur βété renversée par l'application de la N-6-benzyl adénine (B.A.). Des applications d'acide abscissique (ABA) ont également inhibé la germination de bourgeons isolés et cet effet a été lui aussi renversé par des applications de B.A. Les chromatogrammes suggèrent que l'inhibiteur β est principalement constitué par des composés phénoliques et peut-être par I'ABA comme composant mineur. Le rôle de la B.A. dans l'inhibition de la germination des bulbes de C. rotundus est discuté. Knospenhemmung der Knollen von Cyperus rotundus L. durch Hemmstoff β oder Abscisinsäure und die Umkehrung dieser Effekte durch N-6-Benzylmlenin Die saure Fraktion aus methanolischen Extrakten von Cyperus rotundus L.-Knollen enthielten Hemmstoffe, die im folgenden als Hemmstoff β bezeichnet werden. Hemmstoff β hemmte das Sprossen isolierter C. rotundus-Knospen und die Streckung von Weizenkoleoptilen. Die Hemmung der Knospensprossung durch Hemmstoff β wurde durch An-wendung von N-6-Benzyladenin (BA) aufgehoben. Abscisinsäure (ABA) hemmte auch das Sprossen isolierter Knospen; durch BA wurde es auf ähnliche Weise aufgehoben. Der chromatographische Befund deutet darauf hin. Daß Hemmstoff β sich hauptsächlich aus phenolischen Verbindungen zusammensetzt und möglicherweise in gering-em Unfang ABA enthält. Die Rolle von BA auf die Förderung der Keimung von C. rotundus-Knollen wird diskutiert.     

Remediation of Fly Ash Dumpsites Through Bioenergy Crop Plantation and Generation: A Review

Utilization of fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion in thermal power plants, is a sustainable use of waste for power generation. Discarding fly ash as waste in landfills/ash ponds may not only be regarded as a loss of valuable land and essential nutrients, but also pose a significant health hazard due to fine air-borne particles and leaching of heavy metals. The presence of essential macro- and micronutrients and its porosity make fly ash an excellent soil amendment for plant growth as an organic nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) supplementation. As harmful heavy metals make fly ash unsafe for agronomy, bioenergy crop plantation and energy generation from different thermochemical conversions of the biomass would be an ideal method for coal fly ash utilization through which carbon-neutral fuel can be generated from fossil fuel, thus reducing climate change impact. This review summarizes the development of bioenergy plantation and silviculture at fly ash dumpsites with an integrated phyto-bio-rhizo-mycoremediation approach and assesses utilization of the valuable biomass for thermal energy, electricity, and biofuel generation with inclusion of a SWOT analysis (a strategic technique typically used to help identify the strength, weakness, opportunities, and threat). Bioenergy crop production through integrated phytomanagement can generate billions of dollars of wealth from waste and provides a sustainable solution for fly ash management, with environmental, economic, and social benefits.     

Economic feasibility of goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) recirculating aquaculture system

Economic analysis of a goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with rearing tank capacity of 5 m³ (RT5) has been evaluated based on two culture period in 2009 and 2010. The stocking density of goldfish was kept at 100 numbers per m³ of rearing water volume. Furthermore, based on the data obtained from RT5, four more hypothetical RASs of rearing tank capacities of 10 m³ (RT10), 20 m³ (RT20), 50 m³ (RT50) and 100 m³ (RT100) were conceptualized for economic analysis that assess and compare the effects of economies of scale on profitability. The payback period, accounting rate of return (ARR), net present value (NPV), profitability index (PI) and modified internal rate of return (MIRR) were evaluated for the different water volumes (up to 100 m³) assuming project life to be 10 years. The economic analysis revealed that a goldfish RAS with rearing tank capacity 20 m³ onwards can be feasible with a payback period less than 4 years, accounting rate of return 54%, net present value of Rs 241820 and modified internal rate of return of 23%. Sensitivity analyses revealed that market price of fish was most sensitive followed by survival rate, labour, maintenance, FCR, initial investment, discount rate, electricity cost and feed cost respectively. Interestingly, feed cost was found to be the least sensitive one.     

新型酸性亮蓝染色剂对蚕丝的染色匀度试验(英文)

新型酸性亮蓝是目前纺织印染的流行染色剂。用不均匀性指数对染色匀度进行分级,研究了该染色剂不同色度对蚕丝染色匀度的影响。以该染色剂的14个色度对蚕丝进行染色,测定各色度染液处理蚕丝的反光值(用K/S值表示),结果发现该染色剂对蚕丝染色的不均匀性指数在所有色度水平下并不是恒定的,染色均匀性在染色剂色度为1.5%时开始出现,其后随着色度增加染色匀度也越来越好,到染色剂色度为4%时染色匀度最好,之后染色匀度又变差。     

Influence of Storage Environment,Surface Coating,and Individual Shrink Wrapping on Quality Assurance of Guava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psidium guajava</Emphasis>) Fruits

Guava (Psidium guajava) fruits of cv. L-49 with individual shrink wrapping using 9 LLDPE film could be successfully stored up to 12 days at ambient and 18 days in evaporative cool chamber with negligible loss in vitamin C content. The untreated fruits lose 25–30% of ascorbic acid within 1week after harvest. Delay in senescence and metabolic activities as supported by less changes in soluble solids, sugars, acidity, respiration, and ethylene evaluation rate was also observed in individual shrink wrapped fruits in cool chamber. The spoilage of fruits by Fusarium rots was significantly less in cool chamber in individually shrink wrapped fruits followed by Sta-fresh treatment. Sta-fresh was more effective in cool chamber than ambient. Individually stored wrapped fruits scored a better value of sensory score than Sta-fresh under both the storage condition.     

Use of vitamin C as an immunostimulant. Effect on growth,nutritional quality,and immune response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis> (Ham.)

Teleost fish lack the enzyme for endogenous synthesis of ascorbic acid (AA), an essential micronutrient for fish. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of higher levels of dietary vitamin C on growth, nutritional quality, and immunomodulation in the Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita). Four groups of L. rohita were fed experimental diets containing either no vitamin C (control) or supplemented with vitamin C at 500 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-1), 1000 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-2), or 1500 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-3) for 60 days. Growth parameters (NWG, ADG, and SGR), serological parameters (TSP, TSA, TSG, and A:G), haematological parameters (TLC, TEC, Hct, MCV, and MCH), and different non-specific immunological parameters (PR, PI, respiratory burst activity, and bactericidal activity) were evaluated during the experimental trial. Fish fed a vitamin C-supplemented diet showed higher specific growth rate (SGR) up to 1000 mg kg⁻¹ compared with control fish. Different haematological and serological parameters along with non-specific immune parameters were influenced by vitamin C supplementation. Among the non-specific immune parameters phagocytic activity (PR and PI) and respiratory burst activity (NBT cells) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced by increasing doses of vitamin C supplementation. Higher levels of dietary vitamin C significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced protection against Aeromonas hydrophila (AH1) infection compared with controls. Results from this study help to establish the beneficial effect of vitamin C on growth and immunmodulation in rohu (L. rohita).     

Osteochondral Defects of the Lateral Trochlear Ridge of the Distal Femur of the Horse Clinical, Radiographic, and Pathological Examination and Results of Surgical Treatment

Osteochondral defects of the lateral trochlear ridge of the distal femur were identified in 15 joints of 10 horses. Lesions were bilateral in five horses and unilateral in five horses. Thirteen of these 15 defects were treated by curettage through a craniolateral femoropatellar arthrotomy. Subcutaneous seroma formation and partial skin dehiscence occurred in nine stifles. Lameness attributable to the stifle joint was no longer apparent at 6 and 12 months after surgery. The normal subchondral bony contour of the lateral trochlear ridge was altered in all joints after surgery. The subchondral bone was uniformly increased in density in all joints, and six lateral trochlear ridges had small focal radiolucent regions within the subchondral bone, which suggested that complete removal of the original lesion had not been achieved. Healing of the surgical site between 2 weeks and 14 months was evaluated in four joints. Granulation tissue from mesenchymal elements in subchondral marrow spaces gradually filled the defects with fibrocartilage.     

Design Characteristics of Spiral Aerator

In this study, the performance of a spiral aerator, a modified design of the paddlewheel aerator, was evaluated to determine its applicability in aquaculture ponds. The aeration characteristics of the spiral aerator were determined by conducting aeration experiments in a cement concrete tank of dimension 5 × 5 × 1.5 m. Nondimensional numbers related to oxygen transfer (E) and power consumption (Ne) were proposed and expressed as functions of geometric (number of handles per shaft, n) and dynamic (Froude and Reynolds number) parameters. Simulation equations for oxygen transfer and power consumption based on the Froude criterion were developed. The maximum brake power standard aeration efficiency was achieved at n = 13. Finally, an economic analysis was performed assuming a typical Indian major carp culture pond to determine the optimum rotational speed of the aerator at different pond volumes and dissolved oxygen concentration present in the pond at which the aeration cost is minimized. The results showed that the least aeration cost is achievable when rotational speed of the spiral aerator is only 70 rpm for pond volumes up to 700 m³ and from 120 to 220 rpm for pond volumes exceeding 700 m³.     

Bottom-up forcing and the decline of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in Alaska: assessing the ocean climate hypothesis

Declines of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) populations in the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska could be a consequence of physical oceanographic changes associated with the 1976–77 climate regime shift. Changes in ocean climate are hypothesized to have affected the quantity, quality, and accessibility of prey, which in turn may have affected the rates of birth and death of sea lions. Recent studies of the spatial and temporal variations in the ocean climate system of the North Pacific support this hypothesis. Ocean climate changes appear to have created adaptive opportunities for various species that are preyed upon by Steller sea lions at mid‐trophic levels. The east–west asymmetry of the oceanic response to climate forcing after 1976–77 is consistent with both the temporal aspect (populations decreased after the late 1970s) and the spatial aspect of the decline (western, but not eastern, sea lion populations decreased). These broad‐scale climate variations appear to be modulated by regionally sensitive biogeographic structures along the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska, which include a transition point from coastal to open‐ocean conditions at Samalga Pass westward along the Aleutian Islands. These transition points delineate distinct clusterings of different combinations of prey species, which are in turn correlated with differential population sizes and trajectories of Steller sea lions. Archaeological records spanning 4000 yr further indicate that sea lion populations have experienced major shifts in abundance in the past. Shifts in ocean climate are the most parsimonious underlying explanation for the broad suite of ecosystem changes that have been observed in the North Pacific Ocean in recent decades.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—EQUINE MAST CELL TUMOR

Equine mast cell tumors are typically benign solitary growths of the head, neck, trunk, or limbs. When involving the limbs, these masses tend to be adjacent to joints without involving them. In radiographs there is often a well-circumscribed soft tissue mass with granular mineralization. The Arabian breed appears to be over represented. Surgical removal is usually curative. In this report, we describe the diagnosis, clinical features, and management of mast cell tumors in the rear limb of a horse.