Management Zones Classified With Respect to Drought and Waterlogging

Within-field variations in potential grain yield may be due to variations in plant available soil water. Different water holding capacities affect yield differently in different years depending on weather. By estimating plant-water availability in different weathers, scenarios could be created of how yield potential and thereby fertilizer demand may vary within fields. To test this, measured cereal grain yields from a dry, a wet and an intermediate year were compared with different soil moisture related variables in a Swedish arable field consisting of clayey and sandy areas. Soil water budget calculations based on weather data and maximum plant available water (PAW), estimated from soil type and rooting data, were used to assess drought. A reasonable correlation between estimated and measured soil moisture was achieved. In the dry year, drought days explained differences in yield between the clayey and the sandy soil, but yield was better explained directly by maximum PAW, elevation, clay content and soil electrical conductivity (SEC). Yield correlated significantly with SEC and elevation within the sandy soil in the dry year and within the clayey soil in the wet year, probably due to water and nitrogen limitation respectively. Dense SEC, elevation and yield data were therefore used to divide the field into management zones representing different risk levels for drought and waterlogging. These could be used as a decision support tool for site-specific N fertilization, since both drought and waterlogging affect N fertilization demand.     

Binary Pulsar PSR 1913 + 16: Model for Its Origin

The existing observational data for the binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16 are sufficient to give a rather well-defined model for the system. On the basis of evolutionary considerations, the pulsar must be a neutron star near the upper mass limit of 1.2 solar masses (M.). The orbital inclination is probably high, i>/= 700, and the mass of the unseen companion probably lies close to the upper limit of the range 0.25 M. to 1.0 M.. The secondary cannot be a main sequence star and is probably a degenerate helium dwarf. At the 5.6-kiloparsec distance indicated by the dispersion measure, the magnetic dipole model gives an age of approximately 4 x 104 years, a rate of change of the pulsar period of P approximately 2 nanoseconds per day, and a surface magnetic field strength approximately (1/3) that of the Crab pulsar. The pulsar is fainter than an apparent magnitude V approximately + 26.5 and is at least approximately 80 times fainter than the Crab pulsar in the x-ray band. The companion star should be fainter than V approximately + 30, and a radio supernova remnant may be detectable near the position of the pulsar at a flux level of 相似文献   

Stem modeling and simulation of conversion of cork oak stems for quality wood products

Recent research is underway to study cork oak (Quercus suber L.) wood potential for production of wood components. A total of 35 stems of young and mature cork oaks were sampled, live sawn into flitches, scanned using VTT’s WoodCIM^®, and the measured data computed by VTT’s PuuPilot software, allowing stem 3D reconstruction. Sawing simulations were run for 0.5 m and 1 m logs and the whole stem. Sawn products were (1) planks, (2) parquet, (3) lamparquet, and (4) external component of multilayer planks. Cork oak stems showed a moderate to small taper (mean 24 mm/m). Curviness varied between straight to significantly crooked stems (mean value 40 mm) Batch yields for the tested products ranged 25–43% and 37–50% for 0.5 m logs of young and mature trees, respectively; for 1 m logs, batch yields ranged 19–41% and 25–54%. When using the whole stem, batch yields were lower, ranging 11–38% and 15–50%. Higher yields were obtained for all log lengths and samples for production of lamparquet, parquet, and multilayer component.     

International and collaborative strategies to enhance genetic health in purebred dogs

Health problems in pedigree dogs have recently been highlighted in the media worldwide and verified internationally by cynological organisations. Collaborative actions are now needed to deal with both existing and future issues. In this article, potential roles for various stakeholders are discussed and the value of national and international platforms for collaborations is stressed. Development of specific strategies for action must be based on criteria of significance, such as severity, prevalence and inheritance, as well as availability of effective preventive measures. Assessment of options should be founded on evidence from appropriate populations-at-risk and consider broader issues, such as demographics and human-animal interactions. Existing data, such as those from insurance statistics and health surveys, should be used as a reference until representative national/international population-level breed-specific data are available. Key issues and challenges, as well as possible strategies to address them, are discussed.     

Investigation of Fresh and Freeze-Dried Seabream Spurus uurufu L. Eggs as a Fatty Acid Source in the Enrichment of Bruchionus sp.: Potential Use of a Waste Product

Abstract— Most marine fish larviculture is dependent on the culture and nutritional manipulation of live prey, of which the rotifers Brachionus sp. are one of the most commonly used. The particular reproductive characteristics of gilthead seabream Spus aurata L. lead to an egg overproduction in commercial hatcheries, where the excess is normally wasted. This study was developed with the objective of testing seabream eggs as an enrichment product for Brachionus sp., using as control the commercial product Algamac 2000×. In view of the need to preserve and store the eggs produced in excess, freezedrying was examined as a possible technical solution for this purpose. The fatty acid profiles of the tested enrichment products (fresh seabream eggs, freeze-dried eggs and Algamac 2000×), as well as of the enriched rotifers at 0 h and after 3,6,12, 15, 18 and 24 h of enrichment, were analyzed. Freeze-dried eggs were stored for 14 and 58 wk prior to analysis, in order to examine a potential deterioration of the fatty acid nutritional quality. A potential use of seabream eggs as an enrichment product for Brachionus sp. was demonstrated. Rotifers enriched with eggs, fresh and freeze-dried, presented relatively high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA; × C20 and 2 double bonds), and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio of about 2 and a fairly high (n-3)/(n-6) ratio, especially during the first 3-6 h of enrichment. When freeze-dried eggs were stored in a dry atmosphere during 14 and 58 wk, only a slight and nonsignificant decrease was noted in the fatty acid content over this period of time. Therefore, freeze-drying may be an effective way of preserving the eggs in excess, at least up to 58 wk of storage.     

New lignans from the perisperm of Sesamum indicum

A procedure, based on XAD-4 adsorption resin, which permits the obtainment of enriched polyphenolic extracts from Sesamum indicum perisperm (coat) has been developed. Chemical analysis of the obtained extracts led to the identification of 16 lignans. Among them, two new lignans, (+)-saminol and (+)-episesaminone-9-O-beta-D-sophoroside, have been isolated. Additionally, the relative stereochemistry of (-)-sesamolactol, previously reported as todolactol A epimer, has been unequivocally defined using X-ray crystallography. The structures of all new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly by the concerted application of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and mass spectroscopy.     

Biofilm-forming ability profiling of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis mastitis isolates

Biofilm-forming ability has been increasingly recognized as an important virulence factor in Staphylococci, facilitating their persistence in the host, evading its defences and allowing bacterial survival at high antimicrobial concentrations. Staphylococcus aureus remains a major pathogen of chronic mastitis, but in the last years Staphylococcus epidermidis has emerged as a relevant mastitis pathogen. The present work aimed at the evaluation of the biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococci field isolates from bovine subclinical mastitis and at the development of a fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) protocol that would allow the direct observation of biofilm formation in milk samples. The analysis of phenotypic expression in Congo Red Agar (CRA) and by FISH, showed that 37.5% of the S. aureus isolates produced biofilm, while by optical density measurement only 18.75% isolates revealed this phenotype. The results showed a fair agreement according to the kappa coefficient test (kappa = 0.259). Regarding S. epidermidis mastitis isolates, 37.5% revealed the ability to produce biofilm, but only four isolates were positive by all methods. This agreement was moderate (kappa = 0.467). The application of FISH to artificially contaminated milk samples allowed the direct observation of biofilm production by 37.5% isolates, showing total agreement with the CRA results. This method better mimics the in vivo conditions, especially in terms of the presence of calcium and iron, which in high concentrations, respectively, are known to inhibit or induce biofilm production.     

Genetic relationships and hybrid vigour in olive (Olea europaea L.) by microsatellites

The olive (Olea europaea) is one of the most important oleaginous crops of the Mediterranean basin. Increased demand for olive oil creates a need for new olive varieties to help meet the requirements of the global market. However, olive breeding has been handicapped by such varied challenges as a prolonged juvenile period, agrotechnical problems and insufficient genetic knowledge. The use of DNA markers has the potential to overcome these problems and increase the effectiveness of classical breeding programmes. In this study, co‐dominant polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were used as markers to analyse the genetic relationships between several local and other ‘non‐native’ olive cultivars. Cluster analysis revealed four major groups among the 15 cultivars examined in this study. Table and oil cultivars were clustered in different groups. However, the clusters did not differentiate between cultivars of different geographical origins. In addition, we used the data gathered to analyse genetic relationships to evaluate the effects of heterosis in agricultural traits. Genetic distances between cultivars were determined based on the SSR genotype data and were used for evaluating the possible effects of heterosis in various F₁ populations. Interestingly, phenotypic data of F₁ progenies from crosses between different cultivars indicated the potential effects of heterosis as expressed in several traits. Genetic distance between parents was significantly correlated to F₁ performance for three traits: percentage of dry fruit weight, oil content and commercial oil production. Thus, crosses between olive cultivars exhibiting relatively extensive genetic distances one from the other are expected to result in better progeny performance in future Olea breeding programmes. Our study linked assessment of biodiversity of commercial olive cultivars with the application of this information in olive breeding programmes for selection of specific parents to generate superior new cultivars.