Composted MSW Effects on Soil Properties and Native Vegetation in a Degraded Semiarid Shrubland

Three rates of dried composted MSW (40, 80 and 120 Mg ha^?1) were surface applied to a degraded semiarid shrubland site near Madrid in central Spain. Various soil and plant parameters were determined one year after its application. MSW amendment had an effect on soil chemistry and nutrient levels. Available P and K, concentration of N-NO₃ and EC. increased significantly after the MSW application. The concentration of total soil heavy metals, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu rose with the application of MSW as compared with the control plot, but these increases were only significant in total Zn, Pb and Cu. Zn and Cu amounts of DTPA-extractable soil were also significantly higher in the amended soil. Total plant cover increased significantly in the plots treated with low and intermediate MSW rates. Total biomass production increased as compost rates were added but this rise is not proportional to the amount of MSW added. The degraded soil used in this study may require MSW rates up to 80 Mg ha^?1 to improve soil chemical properties as well as to produce minimal changes in the native vegetation.     

Euphresco: an opportunity for phytosanitary research coordination and funding in the EPPO region and abroad

The European Phytosanitary Research and Coordination network (Euphresco, www.euphresco.net ) is a network of organisations which were initiated as EU funded ERA‐NET projects in 2006 and 2010. The goal of the network is to strengthen the networking of research activities carried out at national or regional level and the mutual opening of research programmes. In 2014, having received EU funding twice, Euphresco members decided to continue to work together as a long‐term and self‐sustaining network. The coordination of Euphresco is now hosted within the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), and in addition to consolidating the network and its procedures, it is also preparing the ground for future developments.     

Monitoring the helmintological situation in a large-scale reproduction of pigs]

In 1976 to 1978, the occurrence of helminths in a large reproduction herd of pigs was studied in different age categories of the animals kept. Six helminth species were found in 30.7% of the sows: Ascaris suum (6.6%), Oesophagostomum dentatum (24.0%), Hyostrongylus rubidus (3.3%), Trichocephalus suis (1.3%), Strongyloides ransomi (0.7%), Metastrongylus sp. (0.3%). Four- to seven-month-old auction gilts had only the eggs of A. suum (4% of all cases). No helminith eggs were found in fattened piglets. Breeding boars were invaded by the species O. dentatum, H. rubidus and Metastrongylus sp. In elite herds and in gilts introduced from these herds, a higher extensity of invasion by different helminth species was found during quarantine and the findings even included the eggs of the species Capillaria sp. The anthelmintic effectiveness of Helmirazin (SpOFA) was also tested: in A. suum its effectiveness was 77.1%, in O. dentatum 66.2%, in T. suis the preparation remained ineffective. The technology of large-scale pig breeding under the conditions of reproduction herd of the PM-013-AGP type appears to be suitable from the helminthological points of view. In the planned introduction of animals from other breeding establishments it is necessary to subject the gilts to double treatment with an effective anthelmintic.     

Combination anesthesia in sheep with ketamine-(fentanyl)-guaifenesin (My 301)-laughing gas-halothane

The concept of combined anaesthesia, the centrally-acting muscle relaxant guaifenesin (My 301) in a 5% solution with ketamine (and/or fentanyl) in addition to the inhalation of nitrous oxide and halothane is based upon the principle of "balanced anaesthesia". Guaifenesin amplifies the effect of several anaesthetics, which complement one another, allowing the dosage to be decreased and thereby reducing the cardiovascular stress. To induce anaesthesia, the combination of a cataleptic anaesthetic (ketamine = Ketanest, Ketolar) and a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant (guaifenesin = Myolaxin, My 301) is used. Because of the risk of aspiration the animal should be intubated as soon as possible. Anaesthesia will be prolonged by the carrier gas nitrous oxide (65%, weakly analgesic)/oxygen (65%), low concentrations of halothane (1.0 to 0.6 to 0.4%, weakly hypnotic and analgesic) and by a continuous drip infusion of 5% guaifenesin (relaxing, mild analgesic and sedative). The effect of all the other anaesthetics is increased by guaifenesin. To increase the analgesia and to control the cardiovascular parameters the additional injection of ketamine or fentanyl is recommended. The recovery period is short and the general condition is good both after a lengthy anaesthesia of 9 hours (n = 32) and after anaesthesia of 2 hours. No significant adverse effects on the cardiovascular system were detected.     

The principle of "balanced anesthesia" in high risk canine patients

The concept of balanced anaesthesia aims at an anaesthetic method for high risk patients by combination of different anaesthetic drugs. The anaesthetics and muscle-relaxants have to work in a way as to potentiate their effects and to reduce the side effects as well as the applied dosage. With this sensible regime the circulation and the metabolic energy should be less burdened. For the introduction of balanced anaesthesia, a combination of benzodiazepines (relaxing and sedative), morphine (analgetic and sedative) and quickly metabolizing hypnotics of the imidazol group (hypnotic and relaxing) is used. A fentanyl-drip-infusion continues and deepens the analgesia. After endotracheal intubation with the help of the carrier-gas nitrous oxide (weakly analgetic) and oxygen (2:1) a low concentration of volatile inhalation anaesthetics (weakly hypnotic) is added. Under artificial respiration low doses of competitive antidepolarizing neuromuscular blockers help to potentiate and reduce drug amounts of other anaesthetics especially of that for inhalation. At the end of balanced anaesthesia an antagonization of benzodiazepines, morphines and competitive neuromuscular blockers is recommended for emergency situations only because of possibly occurring changes of cardiovascular parameters.     

The hormone profile in the blood plasma of heifers after cycle synchronization with prostaglandin F2alpha

Highly sensitive radio-immuno assay (RIA) was used for 21 days to study the curves of several steroid hormones, progesterone (P), oestradiol 17 beta (E2), and testosterone (T), as well as of luteinizing hormone (LH) in peripheral blood of six heifers to which oestrus had been induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha. The validity of the authors' RIA for P, E2, and T determination in blood plasma was positively verified by two reliability criteria, correctness and accuracy, as well as by comparative determinations, using reference methods. Only four of the six heifers returned to oestrus, within 21 days from first oestrus induction. A typical cycle-related curve of the P concentration in peripheral blood with peak values between the 13th and 17th days of cycle (15-26 nmol/l) was recorded from four animals. The peak values of pre-ovulatory E2 and LH were between 33.0 and 53.2 pmol/l or between 19.5 and 52.5 micrograms/l. Some of the T rises in peripheral blood were in parallel to E2 concentrations. All hormone curves are presented in detail and are discussed in relation to clinico-physiological findings.     

Experimental endocrinological studies in gilts near the time of ovulation using Gn-RH vet. "Berlin Chemistry"

Knowledge of endocrine processes in pro-oestrus and oestrus in conjunction with physiological alterations is of greatest importance to biotechnological control of follicular maturation and ovulation. Methods of hormonal analysis and ovarian diagnosis were used to check on the effectiveness of Gn-RH vet. "Berlin-Chemie" for induction of the luteinising hormone (LH) peak and ovulation. Release in gilts of LH was found to depend on dosage, after 100, 300, and 900 micrograms Gn-RH had been administered at 3 p.m. on the 4th day after synchronisation of ovulation. LH release and induction of ovulation due to these variants were insufficient in some of the animals. Ovulation was then decisively improved in animals with LH peak by subsequent injection of 300 or 900 micrograms Gn-RH at 8 a.m. on the 5th day. Repetitive injections of 300 micrograms Gn-RH at 8 and 8.45 a.m. on the 5th day did not trigger off increased LH release from the pituitary gland. The Gn-RH effect was substantially improved by use of an absorption-retarding preparation (polystyrene sulphonic acid).     

Phenolic and triterpenoid antioxidants from Origanum majorana L. herb and extracts obtained with different solvents

Antioxidant properties of marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) herb and extracts obtained with ethanol, n-hexane, and supercritical CO2 extraction are presented. Individual antioxidants, ursolic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol, were quantified with high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of different parameters (temperature and pressure) of high-pressure extraction on the yield of carnosol were studied. Furthermore, two marjoram herbs from Hungary and Egypt were compared measuring hydrogen-donating abilities with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl by spectrophotometric and the total scavenger capacities by chemiluminometric methods from the aqueous extracts of the herbs. The antioxidant activities of the solvent extracts were performed using the Rancimat method. The Egyptian herb and its extracts possessed better antioxidant activities than Hungarian ones. Applying supercritical CO2 extraction, the highest value of carnosol was obtained at 400 bar and 60 degrees C.