Immobilization of nitrogen from urea and plant residues in a ferrallitic soil: Laboratory experiments and study by size-fractionation

Summary The fate of N when incorporated in a ferrallitic soil was investigated during a 3-month incubation, using either ¹⁵N-labelled urea or ¹⁵N-labelled crop residues (sugarcane roots and leaves). The organic matter was characterized by particle-size fractionation. The urea-derived organic ¹⁵N was mainly found in the clay-sized fractions and was ascribed to biological activity. The plant-derived ¹⁵N was observed both in the sand-sized and in the clay-sized fractions; the former pool was ascribed to the persistence of crops residues, the latter to biological immobilization. The relative proportions of organic ¹⁵N recovered in the various clay fractions (coarse, fine, and very fine) were similar, irrespective of the nature of the added ¹⁵N. The very fine clay fraction (F<0.05 m) showed the highest isotopic excess, and thus gave rise to the highest turnover rate.     

不同光截获下番茄形态结构的动态模拟与比较

为研究不同光截获对番茄植株形态结构的影响，基于结构-功能互反馈建模原理建立了番茄结构-功能模型。采用基于番茄拓扑结构的多目标估算方法，利用实验观测数据对模型进行多目标校准和验证。对局部遮阴和无遮阴栽培条件下番茄植株的生长过程进行动态模拟，并对不同生长阶段番茄植株的形态结构、器官周期累积生物量以及器官三维形态输出进行比较，结果表明：无遮阴栽培条件下，番茄植株茎杆节间短粗，叶片和果实较大。而局部遮阴栽培条件下番茄植株茎杆细长，叶片稀薄，果实较小。不同光截获下模型的输出结果与观测数据拟合较好，验证了模型的有效性。     

Application de la CCM à l'étude des produits obtenus dans la démucilagination des huiles de germe de maïs

Résumé Lorsque l'on traite des huiles végétales brutes par de l'eau, de la vapeur d'eau, des solutions salines ou des solutions acides, dans des conditions que la technique industrielle précise, il se sépare une phase aqueuse dite phase de démucilagination. Celle-ci contient des substances dotées de propriétés tensioactives comparables, mais de constitutions chimiques très différentes: des polyholosides qui représentent les mucilages proprement dits, mais aussi des phosphoaminolipides de natures diverses. De plus, des lipides simples: glycérides, acides gras libres et matières insaponifiables peuvent être entraînés dans ce milieu doté de propriétés émulsives.La présente étude est consacrée à l'analyse des produits de démucilagination, obtenus au laboratoire par action d'une quantité d'eau limitée sur l'huile brute extraite du germe de maïs.On sépare d'abord les glucides de l'ensemble lipidique en solubilisant celui-ci par un lavage avec de l'hexane. La solution est séchée, évaporée sous pression réduite et soumise à l'analyse chromatographique sur plaque de Kieselgel de Merck. Après les manipulations d'usage, la mise en évidence des taches pouvait être obtenue au moyen de la vapeur d'iode ou par pulvérisation d'acide sulfurique. Nous avons préféré utiliser la rhodamine B qui nous a permis de mettre en évidence, près de la base, une série de quatre tâches correspondant à des lécithines, (ce fait a été vérifié en soumettant la matière première à l'hydrolyse, ce qui a permis de mettre en évidence la seule choline sans trace d'éthanolamine, constituant caractéristique des céphalines), et près de la ligne de front d'autres dépôts, qui repris, ont été identifiés à des stérols. Il a été vérifié que glycérides et acides gras ne migrent pas dans nos conditions expérimentales.En complément de la chromatographie sur plaques, la chromatographie gazeuse a permis de connaître l'identité des acides gras consituant les lécithines et celle des stérols.

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Summary When raw vegetable oils are treated by water, vapour, solutions of salts or acids, in conditions that are defined by industrial technique, an aqueous phase, called de gumming phase is separated. This phase contains substances possessing compared surface-active properties but differing by their chemical constitutions: poly holosides, which are the gums proper, but also phospho aminolipids of various nature. Furthermore, simple lipids: glycerides, free fatty acids, unsaponifiables may be drawn into this medium endowed with emulsifying properties.The present study is concerned with the analysis of the products of degumming obtained in the laboratory by the action of a limited quantity of water on the raw oil extracted from corn germ.First the carbohydrates are separated from by the complex of lipids by solubilizing it with a washing by hexane. The solution is dried, evaporated under reduced pressure, and chromatographically analyzed on aMerck Kieselgel plate. After the usual manipulations the evidencing of the spots could be obtained with the help of iodine vapours or by spraying with sulphuric acid. We preferred to use Rhodamin B which enabled us to show, near the base, a series of four spots corresponding to lecithins (this fact was verified by the hydrolysis of the raw material which enabled us to isolate only the choline, without any trace of ethanolamine, a characteristic constituant of cephalins), and near the front line, other spots, which, when redissolved, were identified as sterols. It was verified that in our experimental conditions the glycerides and fatty acids do not migrate.As a supplement for plate chromatography, gas-chromatography has enabled us to identify the fatty acids constituting the lecithins, and also to identify the sterols.

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Zusammenfassung Wenn man die rohen Pflanzenöle mit Wasser, Wasserdampf, Salzlösungen oder Säurelösungen unter den Bedingungen der präzisen industriellen Technik behandelt, scheidet sich eine wässerige, sogenannte Entschleimungsphase aus. Diese enthält Stoffe, die vergleichbare tensioaktive Eigenschaften haben, aber deren chemische Beschaffenheit sehr verschieden ist: Polykolloide, welche die eigentlichen Schleime bilden, aber auch Phospho-amino-Lipide verschiedener Natur und auch einfache Lipide: Glyceride, freie Fettsäuren und nicht verseifbare Stoffe, die in diesem mit emulgierenden Eigenschaften ausgestattetem Medium weggespült werden können. Diese Arbeit ist der Analyse der Entschleimungsprodukte gewidmet, die im Laboratorium durch Einwirkung einer beschränkten Menge Wassers auf rohes Öl aus Maiskeimen entstanden ist.Man scheidet zuerst die Kohlenhydrate aus der Gesamtheit der Lipide aus, die durch Waschen mit Hexan lösbar gemacht werden. Die Lösung wird getrocknet, unter reduziertem Druck verdampft und der chromatographischen Analyse auf Kieselgel vonMerck unterworfen. Nach den üblichen Behandlungen wurden die Substanzflecken durch Joddampf oder Besprühen mit Schwefelsäure sichtbar gemacht. Wir bevorzugten Rhodamin B weil wir mit diesem Entwicklungsreagenz eine Reihe von vier Flecken in Startnähe erkennen konnten, die den Lecithinen zugeordnet wurden. (Es handelt sich um Lecithin, da bei der Hydrolyse des Rohmaterials nur Cholin und keine Spur Äthanolamin, dem charakteristischen Bestandteil der Kephaline, gefunden wurde.) In der Nähe der Front lagen Substanzflecken, die sich als Sterole identifizieren ließen. Es konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß Glyceride und Fettsäuren unter den Versuchsbedingungen nicht wandern.Als Ergänzung zur Chromatographie auf Platten hat die Gaschromatographie die Identifizierung der Fettsäuren, welche die Lecithine bilden, und der Sterole ermöglicht.

     

Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) infection in lambs elicits an unequivocal Th2 immune response

Selection of resistant animals and host immunization have been proposed as alternative methods for the control of gastrointestinal nematode parasites. However, a better knowledge of the mechanisms involved in protective immunity against these parasites is required for the development of optimal strategies. In this study, 3 month old INRA 401 lambs (n = 81) were allocated into three groups: uninfected control, challenged either once (primary-infected animals) or twice (previously-infected animals) with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus L3. Uninfected control and challenged animals were sequentially sacrificed at 3, 7, 15 and 28 days post challenge. In both challenged groups, a clear Th2-oriented immune response was observed in the abomasal lymph node and mucosa. IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA over-expression, recruitment of eosinophils, mast cells and globule leukocytes and production of specific systemic IgG and mucosal IgA were observed earlier in previously-infected animals than in primary-infected ones. At 28 days post infection, no differences between intensities of these responses were observed between the challenged groups. Worm establishment rates were similar in previously-infected and primary-infected lambs. However, reductions of worm development, female fecundity and fecal egg output were observed in previously-infected sheep. We conclude that H. contortus infection in young INRA 401 lambs induced an unequivocal Th2 immune response resulting in the regulation of worm egg production without affecting their establishment.     

Progressive myelopathy due to a spontaneous intramedullary hematoma in a dog: pre- and postoperative clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow-up

A 4-year-old, male Jack Russell terrier was presented for a 6-month history of progressive right hemiparesis with episodic cervical hyperesthesia. The neurological examination showed a right-sided, upper motoneuron syndrome and partial Horner's syndrome. Two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed 3 months apart and revealed a persistent cervical intramedullary hematoma. A dorsal myelotomy was performed. A subacute hematoma was confirmed histologically without underlying lesions. Eighteen months later, the dog's clinical signs were minimal. Two MRI examinations were performed 2 weeks and 5 months after surgery and revealed regressing signal abnormalities at the surgical site, consistent with a surgical scar.     

Spatial patterns of Bovine Corona Virus and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the Swedish beef cattle population

Background

Both bovine coronavirus (BCV) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections are currently wide-spread in the Swedish dairy cattle population. Surveys of antibody levels in bulk tank milk have shown very high nationwide prevalences of both BCV and BRSV, with large variations between regions. In the Swedish beef cattle population however, no investigations have yet been performed regarding the prevalence and geographical distribution of BCV and BRSV. A cross-sectional serological survey for BCV and BRSV was carried out in Swedish beef cattle to explore any geographical patterns of these infections.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 2,763 animals located in 2,137 herds and analyzed for presence of antibodies to BCV and BRSV. Moran''s I was calculated to assess spatial autocorrelation, and identification of geographical cluster was performed using spatial scan statistics.

Results

Animals detected positive to BCV or BRSV were predominately located in the central-western and some southern parts of Sweden. Moran''s I indicated global spatial autocorrelation. BCV and BRSV appeared to be spatially related: two areas in southern Sweden (Skaraborg and Skåne) had a significantly higher prevalence of BCV (72.5 and 65.5% respectively); almost the same two areas were identified as being high-prevalence clusters for BRSV (69.2 and 66.8% respectively). An area in south-east Sweden (Kronoberg-Blekinge) had lower prevalences for both infections than expected (23.8 and 20.7% for BCV and BRSV respectively). Another area in middle-west Sweden (Värmland-Dalarna) had also a lower prevalence for BRSV (7.9%). Areas with beef herd density > 10 per 100 km² were found to be at significantly higher risk of being part of high-prevalence clusters.

Conclusion

These results form a basis for further investigations of between-herds dynamics and risk factors for these infections in order to design effective control strategies.     

Anthropogenic factors and the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1: prospects from a spatial-based model

Beginning in 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus spread across Southeast Asia, causing unprecedented epidemics. Thailand was massively infected in 2004 and 2005 and continues today to experience sporadic outbreaks. While research findings suggest that the spread of HPAI H5N1 is influenced primarily by trade patterns, identifying the anthropogenic risk factors involved remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated which anthropogenic factors played a role in the risk of HPAI in Thailand using outbreak data from the “second wave” of the epidemic (3 July 2004 to 5 May 2005) in the country. We first performed a spatial analysis of the relative risk of HPAI H5N1 at the subdistrict level based on a hierarchical Bayesian model. We observed a strong spatial heterogeneity of the relative risk. We then tested a set of potential risk factors in a multivariable linear model. The results confirmed the role of free-grazing ducks and rice-cropping intensity but showed a weak association with fighting cock density. The results also revealed a set of anthropogenic factors significantly linked with the risk of HPAI. High risk was associated strongly with densely populated areas, short distances to a highway junction, and short distances to large cities. These findings highlight a new explanatory pattern for the risk of HPAI and indicate that, in addition to agro-environmental factors, anthropogenic factors play an important role in the spread of H5N1. To limit the spread of future outbreaks, efforts to control the movement of poultry products must be sustained.