Inhibited development of trichostrongylid worms in grazing cattle

Inhibition of development of gastro-intestinal trichostrongylid worms was studied using successive groups of tracer calves and groups of continuously grazed calves over one year in the Tully area of North Queensland lowland wet tropics. The results, assessed by means of worms from these calves recovered at necropsy 3 weeks after their removal from pastures, showed inhibition in the development of Haemonchus placei and Cooperia punctata at the early fourth stage at the approach to and during the relatively dry period in the area. Inhibition was however minor and inhibited larvae formed but only a small percentage of worm burdens in both categories of calves, indicating that they were not in any way of major epidemiological importance. It was suggested that the minor nature of inhibition was due to the mild climatic conditions which could not produce appropriate conditioning treatment, or caused only mild selection pressure for inhibition in the area.     

Degradation of the sulfonylurea herbicide LGC-42153 in flooded soil

LGC-42153, 2-fluoro-1-[3-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-ylcarbamoylsulfamoyl)pyridin-2-yl]propyl methoxyacetate, is a new sulfonylurea herbicide for use in rice. Its breakdown and metabolism were studied in soil under flooded condition using radioactive tracers labelled at either the propyl group or the pyrimidine ring. The half-life of LGC-42153 was approximately 3.0 days. The mass balance over 120 days ranged from 94.0 to 104.2% of applied radiocarbon, and no significant amount of volatiles or [14C]carbon dioxide were observed. Solvent non-extractable radiocarbon reached 11 approximately 14% of applied radiocarbon at 120 days after treatment. The major metabolic reaction was the cleavage of the carboxyl ester bond to give 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-[2-(1-hydroxy-2-fluoropropyl)pyridine-3-sulfonyl]urea, which underwent hydrolysis of the sulfonylurea bridge giving 2-(1-hydroxy-2-fluoro)propyl-3-pyridinesulfonamide and 4,6-dimethoxy-2-aminopyrimidine.     

In vivo pharmacokinetics of pyribenzoxim in rats

Pyribenzoxim, benzophenone O‐[2,6‐bis(4,6‐dimethoxypyrimidin‐2‐yloxy)benzoyl]oxime, is a new post‐emergence herbicide providing broad‐spectrum weed control in rice fields. [¹⁴C]Pyribenzoxim was used to study the pharmacokinetics of the compound after oral administration of a dose of 1000 mg kg^?1 to male Sprague–Dawley rats. The material balance ranged from 97.3 to 99.7% of the administered dose and urinary and fecal recovery accounted for 97.1%, with the majority of radioactivity recovered in feces (88.6%) by 168 h after treatment. Elimination as volatile products or as carbon dioxide was negligible. The following values were obtained for the compound in the blood: AUC_0–168h, 28400 µg equiv h g^?1; T_max, 12 h; C_max, 372 µg equiv g^?1; half‐life, 53 h. Radioactivity in tissue decreased from 96.1% of applied radiocarbon at 6 h to 0.4% at 168 h and the highest concentration of radioactivity among the tissues was observed in liver while the lowest residues were found in brain. The elimination half‐lives of radioactivity from tissues was in the range of 7 to 77 h and T_max values of 12, 24 and 12 h were observed for blood, liver and kidney, respectively. Except for that in the digestive tract, the tissue‐to‐blood ratio (TBR) was highest in the liver. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.     

Hatching rate and larval growth variations in Pseudoplatystoma punctifer : maternal and paternal effects

In Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (e.g. Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) larvae, parental effects on hatching, growth of initial stages and dry feed adaptation were evaluated as they could influence fry heterogeneity, which is responsible for the enhancement of cannibalism, and which remains one of the main factors of mortality during larval stages. A full factorial experiment was carried out with 3 females × 3 males producing nine families of full siblings, raised separately in triplicates into 30 L tanks at 28±0.5 °C in a water recirculating system. Paternal and maternal effects were observed on hatching success, yolk utilization efficiency and growth until 26 days post fertilization. Hatching success was generally over 80% except for one male × female combination (25%). Total length (TL) at hatching and during the first 4 weeks of exogenous feeding on live Artemia nauplii and dry feeds was determined in each family using digital photographs of larvae and nih image j analysis freeware. Mean TL was calculated for each family at each sampling time and analysed using multifactorial analysis of variance tests. These results indicate not only dam but also sire effects at very early developmental stages as well as in subsequent stages of P. punctifer.     

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitory effect of Vitis vinifera

Activity-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of Vitis vinifera bark led to the isolation of epsilon-viniferin, ampelopcin A, vitisin A and vitisin B. Vitisin A and vitisin B showed a remarkable inhibitory activity against 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase with IC50 value of 42.1 microM and 23.9 microM, respectively.     

Effects of High Rates of Coal Fly Ash on Soil,Turfgrass, and Groundwater Quality

A field study (1993–1996) assessed the effects of applying unusually high rates of coal fly ash as a soil additive forthe turf culture of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiroides).In addition, the quality of the soil and the underlying groundwater was evaluated. A Latin Square plot design was employed to include 0 (control, no ash applied), 280, 560, and 1120 Mg ha^-1 (mega gram ha^-1, i.e., tonne ha^-1)application rates of unweathered precipitator fly ash. The onceapplied fly ash was rototilled and allowed to weather for 8 months before seeding. Ash application significantly increasedthe concentrations in plant tissue of B, Mo, As, Be, Se, and Bawhile also significantly reducing the concentrations of Mg, Mn,and Zn. The other elements measured (i.e., N, K, Ca, Cu, Fe, Ag,Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, Na, and Al) were not affected. Of these elements Mg, Cu, and Mo concentrations in plant tissue increased with time while B and Se decreased temporally. The diminution of B and Na appears to be related to the leaching ofsoluble salts from ash-treated soils. Of all the elements measured, only Mn produced significant correlation (p = 0.0001) between the tissue and soil extractable concentrations. Ash treatment elevated the soil pH to as high as 6.45 with theenhanced effect occurring primarily in the 0–15 cm depth. Soilsalinity increased with the application rate with the largestincreases occurring in the initial year of application. However,by the second year, most of the soluble salts had already leachedfrom the treatment zone into deeper depths, and by the fourthyear, these salts had completely disappeared from the profile.The chemical composition of the underlying groundwater was notadversely impacted by the ash application. Plant tissue and groundwater data however, indicate that much higher rates of fly ash can be used on this type of land use where the plant species is tolerant of soil salinity and does not appear tobioaccumulate potentially toxic trace elements.     

Performance of small harvester head in a thinning operation

Medium to large size harvester heads mounted on large machines are popular in Japan. These machines encounter some problems during thinning operations,e.g. damage to residual stand and the compaction of soil. The performance of these large harvesters was compared with that of smaller ones operating simultaneously in the same line thinning operation of the same stand. The results of a time study showed that mean cycle times for the smaller and larger harvesters were not significantly different. This means that the work efficiency of the smaller harvester can be at the same level as the larger harvester on sites similar to those of this study. The mean values “Feed” element of the cycle time, however, were significantly different. Although this time difference appears to provide an advantage to the larger harvester, simulation results show that the advantage is not great enough to significantly shorten the total cycle times. That is to say, the work efficiency remains essentially the same even if the feeding performance of the small size harvester becomes as high as that of larger ones. The small harvester performs adequately in thinning operations, and is not inferior to the larger ones. This result indicates that there is economic potential for small base machines that can be mounted with small harvester heads, resulting in less damage to residual trees and site soils during thinning operation. A part of this paper was orally presented at the 109th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society (1998). The time study research presented in this paper was supported by the National Federation of Logging Contractors Cooperative Associations.     

Contents of Indigestible Fraction,Water Solubility,and Color of Pyrodextrins Made from Waxy Sorghum Starch

To investigate the effect of prethinning of starch by acid before pyrolysis on the formation of indigestible fraction (IF) in pyrodextrins, native and prethinned (50°C for 1, 4, and 24 hr) waxy sorghum starches were heated at 120–160°C with 20–60 μL of 9% HCl/g of starch. Pyrodextrin containing 14.6% IF, measured as total dietary fiber by enzymatic‐gravimetric method, was produced at 120°C with 20 μL of HCl from native waxy sorghum starch. Prethinning before pyrolysis increased IF content by 0–68%, depending on the conditions for pyrolysis, compared with that of the native starch. Reduction in the molecular size of starch by prethinning might cause greater mobility during pyroconversion reaction and thus generate higher IF contents. Increasing temperature and acid concentration during pyroconversion also increased IF content of pyrodextrins. Pyrodextrin of 44.9% IF was produced at 160°C with 60 μL of HCl from prethinned starch (50°C for 24 hr). Solubility of pyrodextrins was inversely proportional to IF content (r = ‐0.87) and had a range of 62.7–98.3%. Color of pyrodextrins became brownish with more severe pyroconversion conditions.