The carboxymethylation of organosolv and kraft lignins

Summary Kraft and ethanol organosolv lignins from Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica were carboxymethylated with bromoacetic acid. Of the total hydroxyl groups in the lignins, 60–70% were carboxymethylated. The reaction led to an increase of the number-average molecular weights. The moisture adsorption of the carboxymethylated products is about one and a half as high as that of the original lignins. There are no remarkable differences between the solubilities of the treated and untreated products.The authors wish to express their appreciation to Mr. Dietrich Meier, Federal Research Organization for Forestry and Forest Products, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, for preparation and donation of lignin samples     

Zur Frage der Gefährdung von Weidevich bei Anwendung der Flächenbehandlung gegen Feldmäuse (Microtus arvalis PALLAS) auf Grünland

Zusammenfassung Die in eigenen Versuchen ermittelten Minimum - Dosierungen von Toxaphen und Endrin bei der Flächenbehandlung gegen Feldmäuse (Microtus arvalis PALLAS) werden an Hand der von anderer Seite veröffentlichten Untersuchungen zur Toxizität der Wirkstoffe für Weidevieh diskutiert. Die vorliegenden Versuche mit Futter, das unmittelbar nach der Applikation der Wirkstoffe verabreicht wurde, lassen jedoch keine Rückschlüsse auf die Verhältnisse bei der Feldmaus-Flächenbegiftung zu. Denn bei der Durchführung dieses Verfahrens während der Vegetationsruhe werden die Wirkstoffe in der zwangsläufig gegebenen Wartezeit bis zur Wiederbeweidung abgebaut, so daß es kaum zur Bildung von bedenklichen Rückstandsmengen in Fleisch, Fett und Milch der Weidetiere kommen kann. Eine einmalige Flächenbehandlung gegen Feldmäuse auf Grünland mit den jetzt erreichten Minimal-Dosierungen, die eine weitere Annäherung an den insektiziden Bereich bedeuten, ist augenscheinlich in toxikologischer Hinsicht nicht anders zu bewerten als z. B. eine zweimalige Behandlung von Kulturpflanzen mit insektiziden Konzentrationen.     

Die morphologischen Merkmale vonFormica rufa L. undFormica polyctena Först., zwei für die Vermehrung wichtige Ameisenarten

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie Arbeiten wurden mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.     

Growth Strategies for a Declining Market- the German Fresh Potato Market

To determine potential growth strategies for the German fresh potato market, production area, harvested quantities, producer prices and consumption values for the German potato market were examined using trend analysis. German potato harvests were stable over time due to improved growing techniques. Producer longterm prices stayed stable despite their periodic volatility. Overall production area and levels of fresh potato consumption are undergoing a sharp decline. Furthermore, there is a significant relation between total yield and producer prices as dependent variables. In order to compensate for the reduction in consumption, a framework was developed to change the commodity status of fresh potatoes into a differentiated product with new market potential. A consumer and product orientated market segmentation and analysis was applied to the fresh potato market to identify trends and future opportunities. Application of these new differentiated products will help stop the decline of fresh potato consumption by attracting new customers in urban and rural areas. In addition, these new markets are expected to reduce the producer price volatility.     

Protection of gruntlings against classical swine fever virus-infection after oral vaccination of sows with C-strain vaccine

The objective of this study was to investigate the maternal protection of gruntlings derived from wild sows vaccinated orally against classical swine fever (CSF) using C-strain vaccine. Three vaccinated sows and one unvaccinated control sow were included. Challenge infection of the progeny was carried out either intranasally or by contact at the beginning of the third month of life (61-65 days post-natum). Whereas, two of three litters had maternal antibodies, the progeny of one vaccinated sow was seronegative at challenge. The progeny of the control sow, which was challenged by contact infection, developed moderate clinical signs except for one animal which became ill and died. Two gruntlings derived from the vaccinated sows also died of CSF, although one of them had a relatively high maternal antibody titre (128 ND(50)). The transient infection and partial virus shedding observed in a small number of gruntlings with maternal antibodies and the fact that one animal with maternal antibodies became ill and died confirm the incomplete maternal protection at this age. The reason for this incomplete protection is discussed. As none of the surviving gruntlings could be shown to carry CSFV or viral RNA at the end of the experiment (36 or 70 d.p.i.), it may be concluded that these animals do not represent a potential CSFV reservoir.     

A common genetic variant is associated with adult and childhood obesity

Obesity is a heritable trait and a risk factor for many common diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. We used a dense whole-genome scan of DNA samples from the Framingham Heart Study participants to identify a common genetic variant near the INSIG2 gene associated with obesity. We have replicated the finding in four separate samples composed of individuals of Western European ancestry, African Americans, and children. The obesity-predisposing genotype is present in 10% of individuals. Our study suggests that common genetic polymorphisms are important determinants of obesity.     

Greenhouse gas emissions of two mechanised wood harvesting methods in comparison with the use of draft horses for logging

In this investigation, three different methods for the harvesting of spruce under otherwise identical conditions were analysed with respect to their greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output: a partially mechanised method using motor saws and draft horses, a more highly mechanised method using motor saws and a forestry tractor and a fully mechanised method with a harvester and forwarder. All the sub-steps from the harvesting of the fallen trees to the transportation to the road were included in the investigated greenhouse gas audit, which followed the rules of a streamlined life cycle assessment. The lowest greenhouse gas emissions were produced by the partially mechanised method (305.7?kg?CO₂e?ha^?1), followed by the more highly mechanised method (510.5?kg?CO₂e?ha^?1) and by the fully mechanised method (554.3?kg?CO₂e?ha^?1). The greatest proportion of the greenhouse gas audit within each method was taken up by the fuel, lubricant and hydraulic oil utilisation. In the horse audit, transportation to and from the site of operation caused the greatest effect (60%). With these results, it could be confirmed that horses when used for logging could be assessed as being more positive with respect to their climate friendliness than large-scale machines despite their lower harvesting capacity per hectare of spruce. However, as this study did not take all environmental impacts into consideration, this relatively better environmental audit for draft horses could be changed when other environmental impacts (e.g. land use) are also included. This possibility should be investigated in further investigations.     

Substrate-controlled succession of marine bacterioplankton populations induced by a phytoplankton bloom

Phytoplankton blooms characterize temperate ocean margin zones in spring. We investigated the bacterioplankton response to a diatom bloom in the North Sea and observed a dynamic succession of populations at genus-level resolution. Taxonomically distinct expressions of carbohydrate-active enzymes (transporters; in particular, TonB-dependent transporters) and phosphate acquisition strategies were found, indicating that distinct populations of Bacteroidetes, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria are specialized for successive decomposition of algal-derived organic matter. Our results suggest that algal substrate availability provided a series of ecological niches in which specialized populations could bloom. This reveals how planktonic species, despite their seemingly homogeneous habitat, can evade extinction by direct competition.     

Characterization of C-strain "Riems" TAV-epitope escape variants obtained through selective antibody pressure in cell culture

ABSTRACT: Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) C-strain "Riems" escape variants generated under selective antibody pressure with monoclonal antibodies and a peptide-specific antiserum in cell culture were investigated. Candidates with up to three amino acid exchanges in the immunodominant and highly conserved linear TAV-epitope of the E2-glycoprotein, and additional mutations in the envelope proteins ERNS and E1, were characterized both in vitro and in vivo.It was further demonstrated, that intramuscular immunization of weaner pigs with variants selected after a series of passages elicited full protection against lethal CSFV challenge infection. These novel CSFV C-strain variants with exchanges in the TAV-epitope present potential marker vaccine candidates. The DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) principle was tested for those variants using commercially available E2 antibody detection ELISA. Moreover, direct virus differentiation is possible using a real-time RT-PCR system specific for the new C-strain virus escape variants or using differential immunofluorescence staining.     

Water repellency and pore clogging at early successional stages of microbiotic crusts on inland dunes,Brandenburg, NE Germany

Biological soil crusts play a key role for hydrological processes in many open landscapes. They seal the topsoil and generate surface run-off. Utilization of the mineral substrate at early stages of microbiotic crusts was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water repellency indices were measured using the ethanol/water microinfiltrometer method, and steady state water flow was determined on the dry crusts and after 300, 600, 1200 and 1800 s of wetting, thus allowing to follow pore clogging through swelling of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). It was found that water repellency increases with initial crust development where filamentous cyanobacteria and filamentous green algae were dominating, but decreases as coccal algae, bryophytes and fungi associated with bryophytes emerged. Swelling of EPS took place immediately after wetting, and its influence on steady state water flow was most pronounced when filamentous cyanobacteria and algae partially filled in the matrix pores and enmeshed sand grains, still leaving micropore channels available for free water infiltration, but prior to appearance of coccal algae, bryophytes and associated fungi which formed a dense cover on the surface. It was concluded that a new phase of crust succession was accompanied by easier wettability but slower infiltration. Transition from hydrophobicity to pore clogging as ruling mechanisms causing water run-off may occur during wetting of individual biological crusts, but also during crust succession over time.