Soil Temperature Model for CERES and Similar Crop Models

Frequently the soil heat transfer is considered as a one-dimensional (vertical) process which may be described by the differential equation (DE) of soil heat flow. Regarding the upper boundary, equations for bare and cropped fields are developed by means of data of Kiel and Michigan. For the lower boundary a theoretical and an empirical equation are given. The soil heat conductivity was estimated by the formulas of M c I nnes (1981). Equations are proposed for estimating the clay and quartz contents which are needed in these formulas. The convective term in the differential equation (DE) may be omitted without significant loss of precision. For the SALUS model in which the two upper layers are 2 resp. 5 cm thick a simple approximative solution for these two layers is given. The temperatures of the deeper layers are calculated by the DE for which in this case only two time steps per day are necessary. This yields short computing times.     

Evaluation of serologic and cellular immune responses of cattle to a nonlipopolysaccharide antigen from Brucella abortus

Cows naturally infected with Brucella abortus developed antibody (Ab) responses to a nonlipopolysaccharide antigen (NLA) purified from B abortus strain 1119-3. Sera from strain 19-vaccinated cows did not have detectable amounts of Ab. Weak lymphoproliferative responses to NLA were observed in blood mononuclear cell suspensions obtained from infected cows. There was no evidence of NLA-specific lymphoproliferation in cell suspensions from healthy cows. Nonlipopolysaccharide antigen binding to bovine blood mononuclear cells was observed by antigen-consumption assays and direct binding of radiolabeled antigen. Cells from infected cows bound less NLA than did cells from healthy cows when assays were conducted with intact blood mononuclear cell preparations (monocytes plus lymphocytes). Monocytes obtained from any group did not bind NLA. Purified B lymphocytes from infected and healthy vaccinated cows bound about 3 times more NLA than did T lymphocytes, but there were no apparent differences between the 2 groups in extent of binding. Results of the study indicate that bovine lymphocytes have binding sites for a NLA purified from B abortus strain 1119-3.     

Consumption and ruminating behavior of sheep. 4. Experiments on young female sheep in different rearing intensities

In the framework of two rearing experiments with female merino meat sheep, measurings of the consumption and ruminating behaviour were carried out. Animals raised with a lot of roughage ruminated longer both in their lamb and young sheep periods. An increased quota of roughage in the ration increased both the ruminating time and the number of chewing moves and cycles significantly for young sheep. The dry matter intake capacity of animals raised with high quotas of roughage was by 14 and 8% resp. higher in the lamb period and by 26 and 18% resp. higher in the young sheep period. Rations with 24% chopped and dried green fodder and 11 ... 14% resp. crude fibre brought about a period of more than 6 hours ruminating and a minimum of 22,000 ruminating movements per day for lambs. Young sheep raised with high quotas of roughage showed an increased ruminating activity in subsequent periods of sole feeding with roughage.     

Hematologic changes induced by intravenous administration of diacetoxyscirpenol in pigs, dogs, and calves

Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) was given IV to pigs (0, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg of body weight), cattle (0 and 0.5 mg/kg), and dogs (0 and 0.5 mg/kg). Blood was collected and hemograms were done at 0.5-hour intervals for 8 hours. The animals were euthanatized at 8 hours after treatment, and bone marrow samples were taken and examined by light microscopy. Moderate to severe necrosis of bone marrow hematopoietic elements was found in animals given DAS. The sequential increase in the type and number of abnormal cells in the blood suggested a successive destruction of the hematopoietic elements. A marked left shift in the neutrophil population was found in animals given DAS. Metarubricytes and large platelets were found in the blood of animals given DAS. Lymphocytes were replaced with immature cells. Pathologic changes were most severe in the pigs given a dosage of 1.0 mg of DAS/kg. The order of species sensitivity to DAS was pigs greater than dogs much greater than cattle.     

Effects of Moringa oleifera seed extract on rumen fermentation in vitro.

Moringa oleifera is a pantropical tree of the family Moringaceae. A previously undescribed property of an aqueous extract from the seeds of this plant is the modulation of ruminal fermentation patterns, especially protein degradation, as demonstrated in a short-term batch incubation system. Gas, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and cellulolytic enzyme activities were determined as general fermentation parameters. A dot blot assay able to directly detect true protein in rumen fluid samples was used to quantify protein degradation. For complex substrates the interpretation of protein degradation profiles was amended by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the samples. When incubated with pure carbohydrates at a concentration of 1 mg ml(-1), the extract reduced microbial degradation of the model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), such that its concentration was at least 40% above the control after 12 h of incubation. Total protein degradation was thus delayed by approximately 9 h. When fermented along with wheat straw, leaf protein (Rubisco) was almost entirely protected during 12 h of fermentation. The degradation of soy proteins was retarded by at least 4-6 h, depending on the protein band. There were strong side effects on the fermentation of pure cellulose (SCFA yield-60% after 12 h), whereas cellobiose and starch fermentation were less affected (-18 and -8%, respectively). When the complex substrates were fermented, SCFA yield was reduced by approximately 30% after 12 h. In our work we clearly demonstrate the efficacy of the new substance, which is neither a tannin nor a saponin, in an in vitro system, using pure as well as complex substrates. The properties shown in vitro for the crude extract suggest that it could have a positive effect on the protein metabolism of ruminants under intensive management and that negative side effects can be overcome by an optimized dosage. If the chemical nature of the active substance and its mechanism of action can be clarified, it may provide an alternative to replace critical synthetic feed additives (such as antibiotics) for high yielding dairy cows.     

A Technique for Automated Quantification of Canine Glucocorticoid-induced Isoenzyme of Alkaline Phosphatase

A sensitive assay for the corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme (CAP), adaptable to most clinical chemistry autoanalyzers, is described and validated. This assay is based on the greater than 98% inhibition of liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme (LAP) activity with 4.2 mM levamisole, as compared to the 42% inhibition of CAP activity. Analysis of serum with total alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity within the reference range, resulted in a reference range of 0 to 19 U/L for CAP activity. Analysis of serum from 160 clinical patients with AP activity above the reference range, revealed 73% with increased CAP activity ranging from 20 to 7,000 U/L. The diagnostic significance of this increased CAP activity is discussed.     

Atomabsorptionsflammenphotometrische Manganbestimmung in Pflanzenaschen

In 3 Lysimetern (Standort Brandis bei Leipzig) mit Bodenmonolithen (Lys. 5 ‐ Braunerde, Lys. 7 ‐Pseudogley, Lys. 10 ‐ Schwarzerde) wurden im September 1994 vergleichend zu Bodenprofilen der Herkunftsflächen schichtweise bis Im Tiefe Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen von Lumbriciden durchgeführt. Die Anzahl der Regenwürmer stieg mit zunehmendem pH‐Wert und C_org‐Gehalt in der Reihenfolge Lys. 10 > Lys. 7 > Lys. 5. Auf Grund des geringen Probenumfangs können keine flächenbezogenen Aussagen abgeleitet werden. Es wurden überwiegend endogäische Würmer gefunden. Es ließ sich nicht mit Sicherheit feststellen, ob die anözischen Würmer in den Lysimetern leben oder sich nur kurzzeitig dort aufhalten. Durchgängige vertikale Regenwurmgänge, wie sie abschnittsweise in verschiedenen Tiefen an senkrechten Schnitten mit Hilfe der Computertomographie nachgewiesen wurden, würden für einen ständigen Aufenthalt anözischer Arten sprechen. Nur dann sind Schlußfolgerungen zur Tätigkeit der Tiefgräber und deren Einfluß auf Infiltration, Nähr‐ und Schadstofftransport möglich. Vergleichsuntersuchungen an Bodenprofilen der Herkunftsflächen zeigten, daß wohl auf Grund der andersartigen Bewirtschaftung nur eine partielle Übereinstimmung im Regenwurmvorkommen zwischen Lysimetern und Bodenprofilen besteht. Da auch viele Ackerböden einen sehr geringen Regenwurmbesatz aufweisen, scheint eine Übertragung der Lysimeterergebnisse auf das Freiland unter diesem Gesichtspunkt möglich zu sein.