Effect of enzyme treatment and wood pulp variation on physical characteristics and fabric hand of lyocell fabrics

The purpose of the research was to examine the effect of three different levels of enzyme treatment on the physical characteristics and the end-use suitability of the lyocell fabrics made with four different types of commercial wood pulp. The appropriate enzyme concentration for obtaining an optimum as well as consistent physical characteristics and fabric hand trait was 3 g/l for the concentration levels tested in the present investigation. Weight loss was more affected by higher enzyme concentration than other physical properties. H2 was least affected by enzyme treatment for all three physical properties and fabric hand. 5 g/l concentration exhibited little difference from 3 g/l in the physical characteristics, whereas the KES-FB values indicated a significant loss of fabric hand in most PHVs with the 5 g/l concentration level. Among different garment parameters, all four fabric types were relatively inappropriate for the men’s slacks (MS) fabric due to the lower hand value of koshi required by the MS parameter. However, despite the relatively low koshi values, high fukurami values required for men’s dress shirt (MWDS) resulted in the highest THV among the four garment parmeters. The four fabric types, which represent the usage of four different wood pulps, in general seem to exhibit a higher applicability to women’s winter thin dress (WWTD) than women’s winter suit (WWS) garment parameter.     

Yield of early white cabbage grown under mulch and non-mulch conditions with low populations of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman)

The damage caused by Thrips tabaci to a susceptible hybrid of early white cabbage was studied in field experiments undertaken during 2004 and 2005. The three treatments tested were beds of cabbage mulched with: (1) barley straw, (2) hay, and (3) black polyethylene (PE) sheeting. Bare-soil (un-mulched) beds were used as the control treatment. One early and one late experiment were performed in both years. In the early experiments, the mulches were applied at the start of the experiment, whereas in the late experiments the soil was first covered with black polyethylene for approximately 1 month. In both years, the springs were cold and wet, and so the thrips appeared late and their numbers were low. The highest mean actual weight and trimmed weight were recorded for cabbage grown in 2005 under PE mulch (actual early: 995 g, actual late: 1184 g, trimmed early: 870 g, trimmed late: 1056 g). Year 2004 gave lower values (110g for both variables) under barley straw and hay mulch (165 g and 160 g, respectively). There was no evidence of an allelopathic effect of water extracts of either barley straw or hay.     

Serum amyloid A isoforms in serum and milk from cows with Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis

Serum amyloid A proteins (SAA) are very sensitive acute phase proteins, displaying multiple isoforms in plasma and different body fluids. They are currently under investigation as biomarkers of diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare the concentration and isoform expression of SAA in serum and milk of cows with bacteriologically negative milk (control group) and naturally occurring Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) subclinical mastitis (subclinical mastitis group). Somatic cell count (SCC) and bacteriological analyses were performed to establish the control and subclinical mastitis group. SAA concentration was evaluated using a commercial ELISA kit, while expression of different isoforms (serum A-SAA and milk M-SAA3 isoforms) was visualized by denaturing isoelectrical focusing and immunoblotting. The SAA concentrations in sera and milk of cows in the subclinical mastitis group were three and 100 times higher than in those from the control group of cows, respectively. Cows in the subclinical mastitis group had more acidic SAA isoforms in serum with the most prominent one at pI 5.5. This isoform was not detected in sera from the control group. Milk samples in the subclinical mastitis group contained abundant highly alkaline M-SAA3 isoforms and most of the serum isoforms, except for that at pI 5.5. In the subclinical mastitis group SAA isoforms with equivalent pI as serum isoforms accounted for 20% of the total SAA concentration in milk. There were significant differences in the concentrations and isoform patterns of SAA in serum and milk between the control and subclinical mastitis groups of cows. Also, we demonstrated that serum SAA isoforms were not transferred to milk proportion to their plasma content.     

Fungicide sensitivity,growth rate,aggressiveness and frost hardiness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia fructicola</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia laxa</Emphasis> isolates

Monilinia fructicola, the most destructive pathogen of the genus Monilinia, has recently been introduced into Serbia and many other European countries. Since then, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the characteristics of Monilinia species that have a role in the establishment and survival of the pathogen in new areas. The present study assessed the capacity of M. fructicola to repress and replace Monilinia laxa in Serbia based on: fungicide sensitivity, growth rate and aggressiveness at different temperatures, as well as frost hardiness of the isolates of both species. The results showed that the isolates of M. fructicola, compared to M. laxa, were significantly less sensitive to the following fungicides: iprodione, tebucanozole, chlorothalonil, azoxystrobin, fluopyram, and boscalid. In addition, M. laxa isolates exhibited little variation in sensitivity to all of the tested fungicides, whereas M. fructicola isolates displayed a wide range of sensitivity. The temperature of 5°C favored M. laxa growth and aggressiveness, while at 30°C M. fructicola grew faster and had higher lesion expansion rate. These results support an assumption that M. fructicola will continue to spread in Serbian orchards in coming years, particularly on stone fruits harvested during hot summer weather.     

Plant Accumulation of Natural Radionuclides as Affected by Substrate Contaminated with Uranium-Mill Tailings

Environmental concern due to plant accumulation of natural radionuclides is a major concern in uranium mining areas. To evaluate the risk associated with the transfer of radionuclides to edible plants, the uptake of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb by Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt) grown in soils contaminated with uranium-mill tailings (UMT) was investigated. Test plants were grown under controlled conditions in substrate composed of soil and UMT in different ratios. Activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb in substrate, leaves, and roots were measured and the concentration ratios determined. Soil characteristics were determined, since they directly affect bioavailability of radionuclides. Concentration ratios of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb in leaves varied from 0.001 to 0.006, 0.024 to 0.172, and 0.004 to 0.011, respectively, and in roots from 0.020 to 0.126, 0.015 to 0.241, and 0.033 to 1.460, respectively. Concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb in leaves and roots were found to correlate with the amount of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb in the substrate. A higher amount of ²²⁶Ra accumulated in aboveground parts (57–877 Bq kg^?1 d. m. for leaves) compared to ²³⁸U (0.6–4.7 Bq kg^?1 d. m. for leaves) and ²¹⁰Pb (8–53 Bq kg^?1 d. m. for leaves), which were mainly stored in the roots. The relationships between the amount of radionuclides in plants and soil characteristics and their role in radionuclide uptake are discussed and critically evaluated.     

Survival of spray‐dried and free‐cells of potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 564 in soft goat cheese

A high viability of probiotics in food product, with a living cells threshold of 10⁷/cfu/g (colony‐forming units/g) is a challenge to achieve in food production. Spray drying is an efficient and economic industrial method for probiotic bacterial preservation and its application in food products. In this study, the survival of free and spray‐dried cells of potential probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum 564 after production and during 8 weeks of storage of soft acid coagulated goat cheese was investigated, as well as compositional and sensory quality of cheese. Total bacterial count of spray‐dried Lb. plantarum 564 cells were maintained at the high level of 8.82 log/cfu/g in cheese after 8 weeks of storage, while free‐cell number decreased to 6.9 log/cfu/g. However, the chemical composition, pH values and sensory evaluation between control cheese (C1 sample made with commercial starter culture) and treated cheese samples (C2 and C3, made with the same starter, with the addition of free and spray‐dried Lb. plantarum 564 cells, respectively) did not significantly differ. High viability of potential probiotic bacteria and acceptable sensory properties indicate that spray‐dried Lb. plantarum 564 strain could be successfully used in the production of soft acid coagulated goat cheeses.     

Laparoscopy-guided prostate biopsy in dogs--a study of 13 cases

This paper describes laparoscopy-guided prostate biopsy experiments in 13 dogs. Biopsy material was evaluated histopathologically to diagnose causes of prostatic gland enlargement. Laparoscopic biopsy was performed in male dogs diagnosed with prostatic gland enlargement, based on clinical symptoms and results of rectal examinations.     

Morphological characterization of ‘Oblačinska’ sour cherry by multivariate analysis

A wide range of ‘Obla?inska’ sour cherry germplasm was collected from the most important growing regions in Serbia. Twenty nine variables were recorded in 41 accessions to determine the overall degree of polymorphism and to detect similarities among genotypes. The highest degree of variability was observed in traits related to number and composition of fruiting twigs, fruit set and yield. The majority of significant correlation coefficients were found in the characteristics representing fruit and leaf size. Principal component analysis (PCA) makes the phenotypical diversity determination and separation of similar genotypes possible. Variables with high discriminating values were those related to fruit and leaf size, yield efficiency, blooming time and flowering density. Based on the results from this study, the genotypes XI/3 and II/10 can be recommended for cultivation. The clonal selection and conservation of the highly diverse autochthonous population of sour cherry are also recommended.     

棉麦两熟种植方式对中熟直播棉棉铃发育的影响

研究结果表明：种植方式对铃重、纤维伸长和纤维素累积影响作用大,表现为３∶２式优于３∶１式。种植方式对棉籽（仁）脂肪和蛋白质累积、棉仁棕榈酸、硬酯酸和油酸含量影响作用较小,对棉仁亚油酸含量作用表现为３∶２式优于３∶１式;棉仁多数氨基酸含量及氨基酸总量差异明显表现为３∶２式大于３∶１式。种植方式对中熟直播棉棉铃发育的影响作用小于播期作用。