Effects of gypsum slotting on the hydraulic properties of a red-brown earth

In situ measurements of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (k) and sorptivity (S) were made on a transitional red-brown earth at two sites. The first site was a non-ameliorated soil (control). At the second site the soil had been modified by mixing the soil with gypsum to a depth of 0.4 m using a rotary digger (gypsum slot). Measurements were made using a disc permeameter (radius 100 mm) at the surface of both sites and at depths of 0.15, 0.4 and 0.6 m at the control site, at various potentials.

At the control site, the values of k and S decreased with depth and potential, except at the depth of 0.6 m. The range of S measured was within one order of magnitude. The values of k ranged over two orders of magnitude. The values of k and S measured for the surface horizon were similar to previous measurements by other workers. However, the values of k for the subsoil (0.4 and 0.6 m depth) were greater than previously published values. The values of k and S for the slot soil were intermediate between values for the surface horizon and subsoil of the control soil, and similar to the values at 0.15 m depth of the control soil.

The steady state infiltration rate into a slot was calculated using a model developed for vertical slot mulches and compared with values from previous infiltration experiments. The calculated and measured values of the steady state infiltration rate were in agreement. An equation was derived for predicting the increase in steady state infiltration rate, of a soil containing slots, from the slot depth and spacing. The slot width has only a small effect on the steady state infiltration rate. The maximum steady state infiltration rate occurs when the depth of the slot is 0.837 m. The relationship between the increase in the maximum steady state infiltration rate and the slot spacing is presented. This and the relationship between the increase in steady state infiltration rate, slot spacing and depth were used in examples to predict the increase in steady state infiltration rate for various slot spacings and dimensions.     

Prospective evaluation of complications associated with transesophageal echocardiography in dogs with congenital heart disease

BackgroundTransesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is useful in the assessment and procedural monitoring of congenital heart disease (CHD) with a relatively low complication rate in humans.ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety of TEE and report complications in dogs.AnimalsForty client‐owned dogs with CHD.MethodsProspective observational study including gastroesophagoscopy before and after TEE imaging. TEE was planned with a GE 6VT‐D adult probe in dogs weighing ≥4 kg and a GE 10T‐D microprobe alternating with an intracardiac echocardiography probe placed in the esophagus in dogs <4 kg. Difficulties with probe placement, probe interference and TEE probe imaging times were recorded. Dogs were monitored in the recovery period after TEE using an established nausea scoring system.ResultsNew gastroesophageal abnormalities were identified after TEE in 4 dogs including 4 areas of mucosal damage involving <25% of the lower esophageal sphincter (n = 4) and 1 lesion at the heart base (n = 1) and were not attributed to longer imaging times or a specific probe. Lesions identified before TEE in 4 dogs remained unchanged after TEE. The 6VT‐D probe could not be placed in 1 dog with enlarged tonsils, and it obstructed fluoroscopic views in 3 dogs. The probes did not compress any structures in dogs in which fluoroscopy was performed (n = 20). Four dogs had evidence to suggest nausea after the procedure.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceWhile major complications remain possible, complications in this study were mild and few in number. Dog size and probe characteristics are factors to consider when performing TEE.     

Targeted Isolation of Antibiotic Brominated Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Pseudoceratina durissima Using Virtual Screening and Molecular Networking

Many targeted natural product isolation approaches rely on the use of pre-existing bioactivity information to inform the strategy used for the isolation of new bioactive compounds. Bioactivity information can be available either in the form of prior assay data or via Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) information which can indicate a potential chemotype that exhibits a desired bioactivity. The work described herein utilizes a unique method of targeted isolation using structure-based virtual screening to identify potential antibacterial compounds active against MRSA within the marine sponge order Verongiida. This is coupled with molecular networking-guided, targeted isolation to provide a novel drug discovery procedure. A total of 12 previously reported bromotyrosine-derived alkaloids were isolated from the marine sponge species Pseudoceratina durissima, and the compound, (+)-aeroplysinin-1 (1) displayed activity against the MRSA pathogen (MIC: <32 µg/mL). The compounds (1–3, 6 and 9) were assessed for their central nervous system (CNS) interaction and behavioral toxicity to zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae, whereby several of the compounds were shown to induce significant hyperactivity. Anthelmintic activity against the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contorutus was also evaluated (2–4, 6–8).     

Calibrating the pesticide capture efficiency of passive dosimeters

A system has been devised for determining the absolute capture efficiency of passive dosimeters. The system is composed of three components: a wind tunnel, a tracer atomizer, and a capture efficiency test device (CETD). The CETD consists of a series of cylinders separated by nylon screens to intercept and capture the spray containing a tracer. The decline in tracer at the screens was used to determine the tracer incident on the first screen. This in turn was used to estimate the tracer incident on a test dosimeter of washed muslin. The capture efficiency of the dosimeter was expressed as the ratio of tracer captured to tracer incident on the dosimeter. The capture efficiency of the test dosimeter using the CETD was found to be independent of the time of exposure and quantity of tracer captured. The approach presented is novel in that the method for documenting capture efficiency does not require prior knowledge of the spray concentration. Elimination of this requirement allows the use of the device in a much larger array of test situations (e.g. field and greenhouse studies) than has been previously possible. Furthermore, the conceptual model can easily be modified to allow for capture efficiency measurements from a range of structures and materials such as plants or whole leaves, as well as insects and non-target animal species. The CETD is simple and portable and could be used to calibrate dosimeters in a variety of field situations.     

Dysidenin from the Marine Sponge Citronia sp. Affects the Motility and Morphology of Haemonchus contortus Larvae In Vitro

High-throughput screening of the NatureBank marine extract library (n = 7616) using a phenotypic assay for the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus identified an active extract derived from the Australian marine sponge Citronia sp. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CH₂Cl₂/MeOH extract from Citronia sp. resulted in the purification of two known hexachlorinated peptides, dysidenin (1) and dysideathiazole (2). Compound 1 inhibited the growth/development of H. contortus larvae and induced multiple phenotypic changes, including a lethal evisceration (Evi) phenotype and/or somatic cell and tissue destruction. This is the first report of anthelmintic activity for these rare and unique polychlorinated peptides.     

A Rapid Method for Screening Insecticides in the Laboratory

An efficient method for rapidly mass-screening insecticides for use against sap-feeding virus vectors is presented with a case study of 30 chemicals. The method permits large numbers of insecticides to be tested simultaneously and relatively inexpensively in a sequence of laboratory bioassays. The sequence is designed to find the most effective pesticide at the lowest concentration giving control without phytotoxicity. The system was derived to test candidate insecticides to control tomato yellow leaf curl virus vectored by the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennad., the most serious pest of greenhouse and field tomatoes in the Middle East. Although the insecticides were all more efficacious in the laboratory than in the field, bioassay results were highly correlated with results from field trials, giving high confidence that the screening process selected only the most efficacious insecticides. Most of the insecticides accepted by the screening process have since been adopted by vegetable growers in Israel. The method is not intended to eliminate field efficacy trials, but to reduce the number of trials and treatments that need to be performed, thereby reducing costs. The method provides for the optimization of application rates which will contribute to the expected life of insecticides before resistance develops, and will also help to reduce environmental contamination. In addition, the method is suitable for estimating relative efficacy for pesticide benefits assessments, a required part of the (re-)registration process for pesticides in some countries. Although developed for screening insecticides against virus-transmitting sap-feeding insects, the method could be modified to assess the efficacy of insecticides in controlling other insect pests.