Role of Potassium Bearing Minerals in Desorption of Reserved Potassium in Some Soils of Northern Iraq

A laboratory study was conducted in order to explain successive extractions of reserved potassium by using concentrated HCI under reflux for 13 surface and sub-surface soil samples representing three chosen pedons of soil series （472 ECC Bashika, 463 EKC Rabeaa and 461 ECC Talafar） locations of Nineveh Province in Northern of Iraq. The aim is to investigate role of clay minerals on release of reserved potassium from soils. Results showed that dominated clay minerals were （smectite 〉 illite 〉 kaolinite 〉 chlorite） for both 472 ECC and 461 ECC soil series and were （illite 〉 smectite 〉 kaolinite 〉 chlorite） for 463 EKC soil series. Also results appeared that exchangeable K＋ released values were 2,483-4,575 mg/kg at 461 ECC and 463 EKC soil series, respectively; non-exchangeable phase ranged from 752-1,390 mg/kg at 461 ECC and 472 ECC soil series, respectively. Soil fertility was evaluated according to its K＋ mica release referring for high K＋ release content with range between 3,324-5,516 mg/kg at 461 ECC and 463 EKC soil series, but rate ofK~ released was very law according to parabolic diffusion me,del with range from 195-359 mg/kg at latter soil series respectively. Results reflect effect of clay minerals on potassium release as amount and rates in arid and semi-arid regions. It can be concluded the study soils have a high amount of potassium content with low rate release of it, in turn these soil need particular management.     

The application of medical informatics to the veterinary management programs at companion animal practices in Alberta,Canada: A case study

Companion animals closely share their domestic environment with people and have the potential to, act as sources of zoonotic diseases. They also have the potential to be sentinels of infectious and noninfectious, diseases. With the exception of rabies, there has been minimal ongoing surveillance of, companion animals in Canada. We developed customized data extraction software, the University of, Calgary Data Extraction Program (UCDEP), to automatically extract and warehouse the electronic, medical records (EMR) from participating private veterinary practices to make them available for, disease surveillance and knowledge creation for evidence-based practice. It was not possible to build, generic data extraction software; the UCDEP required customization to meet the specific software, capabilities of the veterinary practices. The UCDEP, tailored to the participating veterinary practices’, management software, was capable of extracting data from the EMR with greater than 99%, completeness and accuracy. The experiences of the people developing and using the UCDEP and the, quality of the extracted data were evaluated. The electronic medical record data stored in the data, warehouse may be a valuable resource for surveillance and evidence-based medical research.     

Cryptosporidium and Giardia in locally harvested clams in Iqaluit,Nunavut

High prevalences of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were recently found in enteric illness patients in the Qikiqtaaluk region of Nunavut, Canada, with a foodborne, waterborne or animal source of parasites suspected. Clams (Mya truncata) are a commonly consumed, culturally important and nutritious country food in Iqaluit; however, shellfish may concentrate protozoan pathogens from contaminated waters. The goal of this work was to investigate clams as a potential source of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in residents in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence and genetically characterize Cryptosporidium and Giardia in locally harvested clams. Clams (n = 404) were collected from Iqaluit harvesters in September 2016. Haemolymph (n = 328) and digestive gland (n = 390) samples were screened for Cryptosporidium and Giardia via PCR, and amplified products were further processed for sequence analyses for definitive confirmation. Giardia DNA was found in haemolymph from 2 clams, while Cryptosporidium was not detected. The two Giardia sequences were identified as zoonotic Giardia enterica assemblage B. The overall prevalence of Giardia in clams near Iqaluit was low (0.6%) compared with other studies in southern Canada and elsewhere. The presence of Giardia DNA in clams suggests human or animal faecal contamination of coastal habitat around Iqaluit in shellfish harvesting waters. Results from this study are intended to inform public health practice and planning in Inuit Nunangat.     

Genome-wide identification and characterization of novel long non-coding RNA in Ruminal tissue affected with sub-acute Ruminal acidosis from Holstein cattle

Veterinary Research Communications - Sub-acute ruminal acidosis is a type of metabolic disorder in which affected cattle show a considerable depression of rumen pH. This leads to a dramatic decline...     

Effect of diet quality and shearing on feed and water intake,in vitro ruminal methane production,and blood parameters of Omani sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diet and animal shearing on the feed and nutrient intakes, water intake, in vitro ruminal methane...     

Breeding system of Solanum integrifolium Poir. with an emphasis on sex potential and intercrossability

Summary The breeding system of Solanum integrifolium has been studied with the view of setting up a breeding programme. Three flower types are distinguished on the basis of style length. The results of crosses among these types have elucidated that only long-style flowers are female-fertile. The medium and short-style flowers are unable to set fruits. Some of the flowers, irrespective of their stylar morphism, also exhibit male sterility which is uncommon in Solanum. The biological significance of the stylar heteromorphism has been discussed in relation to evolutionary trends in the genus and the probable cause of this phenomenon speculated upon.     

Mushroom poisoning: a case report from Jordan

An eight years male child with his family ate fresh mushroom at lunch time from back garden at their home in a village in the North of Jordan. By the evening approximately six hours later all started feeling nausea, abdominal cramps and vomiting they rushed to nearest primary health care center. After getting general medical medication they were transfer to a referral hospital at city of Irbid. The boy got deteriorated with diarrhea in addition to the previous gastrointestinal complains and died on third day. The message from this case is to ascertain in the public opinion that unknown type of mushroom even eaten previously could be poisonous and fetal.     

Developing a typology of daily travelers based on transportation attitudes: Application of latent class analysis using a survey of millennials and older adults in Hamilton,Ontario

Using survey data of millennials and older adults in Hamilton, Ontario, this exploratory study sought to identify daily travelers based on their attitudes and perceptions toward transportation modes using latent class analysis. Four daily traveler types are identified—“walk and transit-oriented travelers,” “car-oriented commuters,” “multimodal travelers,” and “car-oriented travelers.” The study also examined the association of different sociodemographic characteristics and trip attributes with the four traveler types. Findings suggest that heterogeneity exists within travel-related attitudes among different traveler types. Further, heterogeneous traveler types exist among individuals belonging to the same generation, with the same living arrangements and possession of a driver's license.     

Phenotypic and genetic parameter estimates for reproductive traits in Zandi sheep

This study reports on the phenotypic and genetic (co)variance components for reproductive traits in Zandi sheep, using between 1,859 and 2,588 records obtained from 577 ewes. The data were collected from the Khojir Breeding Station of Zandi sheep in Tehran, Iran from 1994 to 2008. The basic traits were litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter mean weight per lamb born (LMWLB), and litter mean weight per lamb weaned (LMWLW), and the composite traits were total litter weight at birth (TLWB) and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW). Genetic analyses were carried out using the restricted maximum likelihood method that was explored by fitting the additive direct genetic effects and permanent environmental effects of the ewes as random effects and the ewe age at lambing and lambing year as fixed effects for all of the investigated traits. Akaike’s information criterion was used to choose the most appropriate model. LSB, LSW, LMWLB, LMWLW, TLWB, and TLWW direct heritability estimates were 0.07, 0.05, 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, and 0.14, respectively. The estimated fractions of variance due to the permanent environmental effects of the ewe ranged from 0.03 for LMWLB to 0.08 for LMWLW and TLWW. Corresponding repeatability estimates ranged from 0.10 for LSW to 0.22 for TLWW. Direct genetic correlations varied from ?0.61 for LSB–LMWLB to 0.88 for LSB–LSW and LSB–TLWB. Results indicate that genetic change depends not only on the heritability of traits, but also on the observed phenotypic variation; therefore, improvement of non-genetic factors should be included in the breeding programs.     

Characterization and electrochemical properties of poly(aniline-co-o-methoxyaniline)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites synthesized by solid-state method

The composites of copolymers of aniline (An) and o-methoxyaniline (OMA) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, named as copolymers/MWNT, (poly(An-co-OMA)/MWNT) were prepared by solid-state synthesis method at room temperature. The homopolymers/MWNT composites were synthesized for comparison. The structure and morphology of these composites were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM. The electrochemical performances of the composites were investigated by galvanostatic charge-discharge, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and cycle life measurements. The results from FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra showed that different molar ratio of [An]/[OMA] in reaction system has great influence on the oxidation degree, conjugation length and doping level of the copolymers in these composites. The presence of MWNT in the composites was confirmed from the characteristic peaks of MWNT in XRD patterns and the enwrapped MWNT in TEM images. The TEM images further indicates that the MWNT uniformly distributed and enwrapped with polymer in the case of composite from molar ratio of [An]/[OMA]=1:1. The results also showed that the morphology, crystallinity and solubility of composites were highly affected by the incorporation of OMA unit copolymer chain. The results from electrochemical performances suggested that the molar ratio of [An]/[OMA]=3:1 in reaction system can make the obtained composites displayed a higher specific capacitance, good rate ability and cycling stability.