Formation of mixed invasions of waterfowl

It is established that wild and synanthropic waterfowl of the order Anseriformes (gadwell, mallard, graylag goose, teal, garganey, etc.) are possible sources of mixed invasions i.e., an etiological factor in forming and maintaining ill-being of domestic geese with respect to the following diseases: echinostomatidosis, amidostomosis, ganguleterikidosis, thominxosis, streptocarosis, echinuriosis, as well as ectoparasites (bird lice).     

Fluorescence-force spectroscopy maps two-dimensional reaction landscape of the holliday junction

Despite the recent advances in single-molecule manipulation techniques, purely mechanical approaches cannot detect subtle conformational changes in the biologically important regime of weak forces. We developed a hybrid scheme combining force and fluorescence that allowed us to examine the effect of subpiconewton forces on the nanometer scale motion of the Holliday junction (HJ) at 100-hertz bandwidth. The HJ is an exquisitely sensitive force sensor whose force response is amplified with an increase in its arm lengths, demonstrating a lever-arm effect at the nanometer-length scale. Mechanical interrogation of the HJ in three different directions helped elucidate the structures of the transient species populated during its conformational changes. This method of mapping two-dimensional reaction landscapes at low forces is readily applicable to other nucleic acid systems and their interactions with proteins and enzymes.     

Changes in mass and chemical composition of grass roots during decomposition

The decomposition of dead roots of perennial grasses was examined in nylon litter bags not containing soil at two soil depths, 10 and 20 cm, and also in larger nylon bags containing soil at 020 cm depth. Bags were sampled three times during the growing season to determine weights of organic matter, crude protein, Klason lignin and non-structural and structural carbohydrates.
From 3 July to 5 October (94 days) the litter bags at 10 and 20 cm and the nylon bags lost, respectively, 35,38 and 65% of their organic mass of particle size < 1 mm.
Non-structural carbohydrates constituted 6% of the organic matter in the original sample but only 1% or less during the sampling period. Klason lignin increased from 22 to 29% and crude protein from 8 to 10% of the remaining organic matter, whereas structural carbohydrates changed very little.
The constituents were degraded at different rates. The non-structural carbohydrates had decomposed almost completely by the first sampling and of the other constituents the structural carbohydrates were degraded most rapidly. Before the first sampling unexpected amounts of structural carbohydrates, particularly glucans, had disappeared.
The results help to explain rapid declines in root mass (up to 50%) during summer in perennial grass leys observed in earlier experiments.     

Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of size film. I. Performance of individual size materials

Starch has been the most popular and economic size material. Synthetic binders have also been developed to be used as size material to improve weaving loom efficiency. Some synthetic size materials have got restrictions in use mainly because of ecological reasons. In the recent years, many modifications have come up in the starch as a sizing agent. Different modification can give different properties, which can be suited for a particular application. In the present study, for comparative analysis of different varieties of natural starch, modified starch and synthetic size material have been evaluated and mechanical properties like cohesion power, adhesion power, abrasion resistance, bending rigidity etc. were studied. PVA shows best properties among all size material. Among modified starch, starch ester shows better properties.     

Nitrogen utilization efficiency of safflower hybrids and open-pollinated varieties under Mediterranean conditions

The identification of the factors determining nutrient utilization of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is useful for the successful introduction of the crop to the cropping system of a region. A field study was conducted to compare and analyze the relative importance of the various component traits causing variation in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) of safflower under Mediterranean conditions. Ten genotypes, four hybrids and six open-pollinated varieties, were grown for two growing seasons without irrigation, on a silty clay (Typic Xerorthent) soil. Seed yield varied greatly among genotypes and ranged from 923 to 3391 kg ha⁻¹. Hybrids showed a mean seed yield superiority of 12.5% against varieties. Seed yield was the most important component of seed N yield and its contribution to the total variation in seed N yield among genotypes was at least 53%. NUE for biomass production during the seed-filling period was lower compared to that during the vegetative period. Genotypes differed in NUE for seed production (NUE_s) and the differences followed those of nitrogen harvest index (NHI). The contribution of NHI to the total variation in NUE_s among genotypes was much greater compared to that of yield per unit seed nitrogen and accounted for more than 79%. NUE_s is positively correlated with seed yield, suggesting that high yield was probably associated with more efficient exploitation of nitrogen. NUE_s is negatively correlated with (leaf + stem) N concentration at maturity, meaning that low straw N concentration may be indication of higher NUE_s. Results indicated that selection for NUE in safflower should be based on multiple criteria rather than just one criterion and also should be accompanied by evaluation for seed yield to ensure an improvement in both traits.     

Seed potato production in Northern Ireland

Summary With cool moist summer weather, Northern Ireland is suited for the production of vigorus healthy potato stocks. An export trade to Great Britain and countries in Europe, Asia and Africa has been developed during the last twenty years. As a result of research, particularly in plant pathology and nematology, and with the co-operation of both farmer and merchant methods have been developed to ensure that healthy stocks are propagated on land known to be free from potato root eelworm.

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Zusammenfassung Der kühle, feuchte Sommer Nordirlands begünstigt die Erzeugung kr?ftiger, gesunder Kartoffelbest?nde. Die Pflanzguterzeugung hat seit der Vorkriegszeit einen betr?chtlichen Aufschwung erfahren und in den letzten Jahren wurden j?hrlich nahezu 50 000 1 Saatkartoffeln nach Grossbritannien und eine gleiche Menge nach L?ndern in Europa, Asien und Afrika geliefert. Die Forschungsarbeiten auf dem Gebiet der Pflanzenpathologie werden besprochen. Die Züchtung erfolgt sowohl durch den Staat wie durch einen Privatzüchter, und viele der zur Zeit in Grossbritannien angebauten Sorten sind in Nordirland erzeugt worden. Die Verbreitung des Wurzel?lchens aus einigen wenigen befallenen G?rten und Feldern ist durch gesetzliche Massnahmen verhütet worden und die Züchtung nematodenfreier Sorten wird in die Hand genommen. Der gute Ruf, dessen sich das Pflanzgut aus Nordirland erfreut, ist mit der engen Zusammenarbeit der Forschungs- und Beratungsstellen des Ministeriums für Landwirtschaft mit Landwirt und H?ndler zu verdanken.

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Résumé Le temps d'été frais et humide de l'Irlande du Nord est favorable à la production de cultures saines et vigoureuses de pommes de terre. La production de plants a considérablement augmenté depui l'avant-guerre et des dernières années près de 50.000 tonnes de plants de pomme de terre ont été expédiées chaque année vers la Grande-Bretagne et une même quantité vers différents pays d'Europe, d'Asie et d'Afrique. Les recherches dans le domaine de la pathologie végétale, concernant entre autres les méthodes de lutte contre les malladies des tubercules et le mildiou, ainsi que la sélection et la multiplication de cultures exemptes de virus, sont discutées. Les travaux de sélection sont exécutés par le gouvernement et par un cultivateur privé; de nombreuses nouvelles variétés cultivées actuellement en Grande-Bretagne proviennent de l'Irlande du Nord. La propagation du nématode doré à partir d'un petit nombre de jardins et de champs infectés a été enrayéc par la législation et I'on s'occupe de la sélection de variétés résistantes aux nématodes. La renomméc des plants de pomme de terre de I'Irlande du Nord est due à l'étroite coopération des services de recherches et d'information du Ministère de l'Agriculture avec les cultivateurs aussi bien qu'avec le commerce.

     

A quick microtechnique for inspection of potato periderm or wound periderm formation

Summary A method for a quick inspection of wound periderm formation is described. Sections are freehand cut into a stain solution, and microscopic examination is accomplished with an epiplanatic lens.     

Giant piezoelectricity on Si for hyperactive MEMS

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) incorporating active piezoelectric layers offer integrated actuation, sensing, and transduction. The broad implementation of such active MEMS has long been constrained by the inability to integrate materials with giant piezoelectric response, such as Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) (PMN-PT). We synthesized high-quality PMN-PT epitaxial thin films on vicinal (001) Si wafers with the use of an epitaxial (001) SrTiO(3) template layer with superior piezoelectric coefficients (e(31,f) = -27 ± 3 coulombs per square meter) and figures of merit for piezoelectric energy-harvesting systems. We have incorporated these heterostructures into microcantilevers that are actuated with extremely low drive voltage due to thin-film piezoelectric properties that rival bulk PMN-PT single crystals. These epitaxial heterostructures exhibit very large electromechanical coupling for ultrasound medical imaging, microfluidic control, mechanical sensing, and energy harvesting.