Diatomaceous earth as an inorganic additive to reduce formaldehyde emissions from particleboards

The presented research is about the use of a new type of a functional inorganic additive in particleboards, for the purpose of reducing free formaldehyde releases. One-layered particleboards were prepared in the laboratory by mixing industrial wood particles and urea-formaldehyde resin. Natural, abundantly and cheaply available nano-mesoporous diatomaceous earth (DE) was used, without and in combination with urea as a scavenger. Silica quartz sand was also added as a nonporous analogy. Particleboards were pressed at two press factors (9 and 15 s/mm). Formaldehyde release was determined using the rapid 3-hour-flask method (DIN EN 717-3). As a result, DE additions insignificantly reduced bending properties of particleboards. Internal bonding was in part significantly lowered. The particleboard produced with 3% urea loaded on 5% DE prior to application almost halved (–45%) the formaldehyde release. Formaldehyde release was on the average 17% lower when pressed at 15 s/mm instead of 9 s/mm. By loading urea onto the nano-mesoporous structure of DE, an improved scavenging function of urea could be shown.     

anwendung der „vergleichsmethode standort (vermost)” zur bewertung der erosionsgefährdungspotenziale als datenbasis für förderinstrumente am beispiel des landes Brandenburg: Application of the site comparison method (vermost) to assess the potential erosion risk as a basis to examine instruments of environmental policy – the example of Brandenburg

This paper presents a comparative method (VERMOST) to evaluate complex site conditions at the level of a federal state (Brandenburg) and at different areal units. The methodology uses primary site conditions and provides the possibility to objectively compare and judge different ecological questions. Objects with heterogeneous content are pooled in comparison groups. Considering the main site characteristics allows a goal-oriented allocation of subsidies. The use of VERMOST is demonstrated for the wind and water erosion risk assessment across different scales from a federal state down to a parcel of land. The ‘parcel’ aggregation-level proves to be useful to assess the erosion risk. Larger scales are less useful in the assessment of subsidies policy with regard to erosion risk. A moving-window-technique combined with VERMOST is demonstrated to be suitable for comparing and assessing regional aspects more objectively compared with data administratively linked.     

A formulary for lizards, snakes, and crocodilians.

A formulary of drug dosages for use in lizards, snakes, and crocodilians based primarily on a survey of the existing literature is provided. The formulary is presented as a series of four tables: antimicrobial drugs; parasiticide drugs; anesthetic and analgesic drugs; and miscellaneous drugs. An extensive bibliography is included.     

Potassium and lasalocid effects on performance and digestion in lambs

Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of dietary potassium (K) concentration and lasalocid (L) in lamb finishing diets. Treatments were arranged in a 2 X 2 factorial and consisted of a 65% concentrate diet with 1.1% K (C), .9% K + 21.3 mg L/kg (CL), 2.1% K (P) and 2.5% K + 20 mg L/kg (PL). In trial 1, 64 fine-wool lambs (initial wt 35.3 kg) were randomly assigned to the four treatments (two pens of four wethers and four ewes/treatment) for a 56-d feeding trial. Average daily gain was not affected by K, but was increased (P less than .10) by L (.23 vs .26 kg/d). Lasalocid tended (P less than .20) to improve feed:gain ratio (5.6 vs 6.3). A K X L interaction (P less than .06) was noted for feed intake, with values of 1.37, 1.45, 1.49 and 1.51 kg X head-1 X d-1 for the C, CL, P and PL groups, respectively. In trial 2, 16 wether lambs (four/treatment fed at 2% of body weight) were used in a site and extent of digestion and nitrogen (N) balance trial, using the same four diets as in trial 1. Site of digestion was estimated from abomasal samples taken at slaughter, with indigestible acid detergent fiber as a marker. Total tract organic matter digestibility was increased (P less than .05) with added K (80.1 vs 76.4%) and L (80 vs 76.4%). Ruminal starch digestibility was not affected by added K, but was decreased (P less than .10) by added L (71.8 vs 88.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The Sclerophomas associated with dieback of Douglas-fir

Two new species of Sclerophoma Höhn. are described from dieback of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in British Columbia, Canada, viz. S. xenomeria n. sp. (conidial Xenomeris abietis Barr), and S. semenospora n. sp. Morphological and cultural characteristics are compared with S. pithyophila (Corda) Höhn., another common species in the same disease syndrome.     

Comparison of fecal culture and Danish Mix-ELISA for determination of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica prevalence in growing swine

In the USA, control of food-borne salmonellosis associated with meat consumption has been predominantly focused at slaughter and processing. It is expected that standards at slaughter and processing will become more stringent, creating pressure to reduce prevalence of Salmonella-positive food animals through on-farm interventions. The aim of this study was to compare traditional fecal culture and the Danish Mix-ELISA (DME) for determination of Salmonella prevalence pre-harvest in swine. In Trial 1, five cohorts of individually identified pigs were longitudinally sampled during the growing period to compare the kinetics of prevalence as estimated by fecal culture and the DME. In Trial 2, the correlation between fecal prevalence and seroprevalence was estimated pre-marketing in 49 groups of pigs. In Trial 1, fecal prevalence and seroprevalence showed similar kinetics, with a tendency of a higher OD% cut-off to more closely approximate fecal prevalence. In Trial 2, correlations between fecal culture and the DME were 0.40, 0.36, 0.43, and 0.43 (p<0.001) for OD% cut-offs > or =10, 20, 30, and 40, respectively. Based on these results, a higher OD% cut-off would be recommended if more approximate estimation of fecal prevalence is desired and longitudinal sampling would be suggested for evaluating the impact of on-farm interventions for Salmonella reduction whether utilizing fecal culture or the DME. Further evaluation of the impact of Salmonella serovar present on farms on seroprevalence and the relationship of on-farm seroprevalence with food safety risk are needed prior to utilizing the DME for pre-harvest Salmonella diagnostics in the US swine herd.