Characterization of phosphate species in urban sewage sludges by high-resolution solid-state 31P NMR

The mineral forms of phosphorus in three urban sewage sludges were characterized using high-resolution solid-state phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) coupled to a sequential extraction. The sludges studied were an anaerobically-digested and heat-treated sludge (Paris-Achères), an activated sludge (Briare) and an anaerobically-digested sludge (Nancy). NMR observations were conducted using both single-pulse and cross-polarization sequences in order to distinguish between ³¹P nuclei far from ¹H nuclei, and ³¹P located within a fraction of a nanometre of ¹H. This approach showed that a complex mixture of P species was present in these sludges. A mixture of hydrogenated octocalcium phosphates and apatites was observed in the three samples. Monetite was present in the anaerobically-digested sludge and brushite in the activated sludge. Dehydrogenated condensed calcium phosphates (compounds with a Ca:P ratio higher than 1.0 such as fluorapatite or tricalcium phosphate) and dehydrogenated pyrophosphates were also probably present in the anaerobically-digested sludge. A poorly-ordered wavellite was observed in the three sludges after the HCl extraction. However, results were inconclusive as to whether this mineral was present in the three sludges, or had been precipitated during the sequential extraction.     

Flowering events in relation to smut susceptibility in pearl millet

In field experiments at ICRISAT, selected lines of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) resistant and susceptible to smut (Tolyposporium penicillariae) were evaluated for the timing of flowering events. In smut-resistant lines, the time from the boot-leaf stage (inoculation) to stigma emergence varied in the range 46–120 h, from boot to anther emergence 105–190 h, and from stigma emergence to anther emergence (protogyny period) 59–131 h; in smut-susceptible lines, the corresponding periods were 62–140 h, 146–200 h and 44–120 h, respectively. There were no significant correlations between timing of events and smut severity. Three cytoplasmically male-sterile lines showed longer protogyny periods and higher smut severity than their corresponding maintainer lines. Four lines having short protogyny periods (22–52 h) and resistance to ergot (Claviceps fusiformis) also showed high resistance to smut. Resistance to smut in most ergot-susceptible lines was independent of the timing of flow ering events, but in ergot-resistant lines it could be closely related to flowering events.     

Comparative effects of mu and kappa opiate agonists on the cecocolic motility in the pony.

The electrical and mechanical activity of the large intestine and its response to administration of opiate mu and kappa agonists were assessed from electrodes and inductograph coils chronically implanted on the cecocolic segment in six ponies given a diet of hay and concentrates. Before the drugs were given, migrating complexes propagating from the cecum into the colon occurred at the rate of 1.5 to 16/hour. During this propulsive activity, the cecocolic sphincter opened and closed allowing the outflow of cecal contents and preventing the backflow of colic contents. Each pony was used as its own control and was given fentanyl (0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and U50488H (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg, IV) at weekly intervals. The mu agonist fentanyl elicited a marked phase of inhibition of the propulsive activity and a closure of the cecocolic sphincter that lasted one to two hours depending on the dose. The kappa agonist U50488H induced an inhibition of the short spiking activity, i.e. of the resting muscle tone. It did not disturb the occurrence of migrating complexes nor that of the openings of the cecocolic sphincter. These kappa compounds may be drugs of choice to alleviate visceral pain in colic stases without inducing delay of transit unlike mu compounds.     

沙棘在西伯利亚面临的问题与解决办法

针对西伯利亚沙棘繁育发展中的问题，尤其是20世纪30年代从郭尔诺－阿尔泰地区引入的沙棘客体连续出现的品种变化，混杂和应淘汰等问题，指出：这里的沙棘，不但从野生发育形态方面出现诱变，而且目前在西伯利亚仅有20个左右繁育着的品种，在展示着原品种较为完备的特性；能按时结果；树冠低矮；有刺；浆果稳定。总的看，几乎在整个俄罗斯20个区域内传播着，占俄罗斯栽植品种的1／3。当然，每个品种都有有一个生物经济的所有制和栽植前的宣传发布与公认问题，解决这些问题，就能在各种不同地区加强推广和普及。但到目前为止，西伯利亚栽植繁育着的沙棘，还只是不多的原有一些品种，使用的还是过去认为效率高的多样化方法。     

The Phytotoxicity of Various Graminicides in Durum Wheat in Greece

The effect of three herbicides, diclofop-methyl (DM), imazamethabenz-methyl (IM) and fenoxaprop-ethyl (FE), was investigated at the recommended rate (×) and double the recommended rate (2×) in a durum wheat crop. FE had the smallest effect on root system characteristics, while IM had the greatest effect. For all herbicides, the double rate treatment gave a greater statistical reduction than the single rate for root system characteristics. FE had the smallest effect on the activity of aerobic microorganisms, while DM gave the greatest reduction, 10 days after application, and all three herbicides reduced earthworm abundance. DM gave the smallest reduction in the number of tillers and in plant height, while the double rate of IM gave the greatest reduction. For all three herbicides, double the recommended rate resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of 1000 seeds, while no statistically significant deviations were noted at the recommended rate. Finally, the use of all three herbicides resulted in significantly lower statistical yields compared to the sample (control plot), although there were no significant statistical differences among them, for either recommended or double recommended rates.     

Effects of photostimulation at 18, 24 and 30 weeks of age on the productivity of female turkeys fed ad libitum or restricted until point of lay.

1. Turkey females were fed ad libitum or restricted from 6 weeks of age to achieve mean body weights of 0.6 of ad libitum fed birds on photostimulation at 18, 24 or 30 weeks of age. Body weight, food intake, egg production and hatchability were recorded to 54 weeks of age. 2. Restricted turkeys were fed ad libitum after first egg or 36 weeks of age. Food intake after 30 weeks of age averaged 170 g/bird/d and was similar for all treatments. At 54 weeks of age, restricted turkeys photostimulated at 24 and 30 weeks were not as heavy as turkeys photostimulated at 18 weeks and ad libitum fed turkeys. 3. A large proportion of restricted turkeys photostimulated at 18 weeks of age did not commence lay until 30 to 40 weeks and a significant number of restricted birds photostimulated at 24 weeks had short laying cycles. Restricted birds photostimulated at 30 weeks came into lay and showed similar persistency of lay to ad libitum fed turkeys. 4. Ad libitum fed turkeys laid 115.0, 122.0 and 101.0 and restricted turkeys 92.4, 99.5 and 103.4 eggs when photostimulated at 18, 24 and 30 weeks, respectively. The number of non-settable eggs was lower in restricted compared with ad libitum fed turkeys and declined with age at photostimulation. 5. Egg size at the end of the experiment was similar for ad libitum fed turkeys and restricted birds photostimulated at 18 weeks but was 2.3 g lower for restricted birds photostimulated at 24 and 30 weeks of age. 6. Hatchability was higher, and the proportion of second quality poults was lower with eggs from restricted turkeys. The mean numbers of poults hatched were 59.9, 75.1 and 66.0 for ad libitum fed and 71.7, 65.7 and 79.4 for restricted turkeys photostimulated at 18, 24 and 30 weeks of age.