第四纪红粘土发育的红壤在施用石灰和石膏后元素的淋溶特征

本文利用模拟土柱试验研究了施用石灰和石膏对第四纪红粘土发育的红壤中元素淋溶过程的影响。结果表明,施用石灰后１０ｃｍ土层中除Ｃａ＾２＋以外的阳离子元素的淋失量减少,而ＳＯ４＾２－和ＨＣＯ３＾－的淋失量增加;施用石膏后１０ｃｍ土层中所有阳离子元素,特别是ＡＩ＾３＋的淋失量增加。红壤中Ｃａ＾２＋的淋失以自由态为主,施用石膏后与ＳＯ４＾２－结合的比例增加,不同处理中３０ｃｍ土层处铝的淋失以自由态为离,１０     

Separation of Fiber from Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Using Sieving and Elutriation

A process was developed to separate fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in a dry‐grind corn process. Separation of fiber from DDGS would provide two valuable coproducts: 1) DDGS with reduced fiber, increased fat, and increased protein contents; and 2) fiber. The process, called elusieve process, used two separation methods, sieving and elutriation, to separate the fiber. Material carried by air to the top of the elutriation column was called the lighter fraction and material that settled to the bottom of the column was called the heavier fraction. We evaluated the compositions of fractions produced from sieving and elutriation. Two commercial samples of DDGS were obtained from two dry‐grind corn plants. Sieving over four screens (869, 582, 447, and 234 μm openings) created five size categories. The two smallest size categories contained >40% (w/w) of the original DDGS and had reduced fiber and increased protein and fat contents relative to the original DDGS. Elutriation of the remaining three size categories increased protein and fat contents and reduced fiber contents in the heavier fractions. Elutriation at air velocities of 1.59–5.24 m/sec increased the protein content of the heavier fraction by 13–41% and increased the fat content of the heavier fraction by 4–127% compared with the bulk fractions of each size category. This process was effective in separating fiber from both DDGS samples evaluated. Elusieve process does not require changes in the existing dry‐grind process and can be implemented at the end of the dry‐grind process.     

Economics of Fiber Separation from Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Using Sieving and Elutriation

Separation of fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) provides two valuable coproducts: 1) enhanced DDGS with reduced fiber, increased fat and increased protein contents and 2) fiber. Recently, the elusieve process, a combination of sieving and elutriation was found to be effective in separating fiber from two commercial samples of DDGS (DDGS‐1 and DDGS‐2). Separation of fiber decreased the quantity of DDGS, but increased the value of DDGS by increasing protein content and produced a new coproduct with higher fiber content. Economic analysis was conducted to determine the payback period, net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) of the elusieve process. The dependence of animal foodstuff prices on their protein content was determined. Equipment prices were obtained from industrial manufacturers. Relative to crude protein content of original DDGS, crude protein content of enhanced DDGS was higher by 8.0% for DDGS‐1 and by 6.3% for DDGS‐2. For a dry‐grind plant processing corn at the rate of 2,030 metric tonnes/day (80,000 bushels/day), increase in revenue due to the elusieve process would be $0.4 to 0.7M/year. Total capital investment for the elusieve process would be $1.4M and operating cost would be $0.1M/year. Payback period was estimated to be 2.5–4.6 years, NPV was $1.2–3.4M, and IRR was 20.5–39.5%.     

Analysis of Alkylresorcinols in Wheat Germ Oil and Barley Germ Oil via HPLC and Fluorescence Detection: Cochromatography with Tocols

Alkylresorcinols are long‐chain phenolic compounds that have been reported to be localized in the outer layers of the kernels of wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. A sensitive HPLC method with fluorescence detection was recently reported for the quantitative analysis of alkylresorcinols in cereal grains and products. Using this new HPLC method we report for the first time that wheat germ oil contains moderate levels of alkylresorcinols, approximately 800–1,500 µg per gram of oil. We also found that commercial wheat germ oil and some experimental samples of wheat germ oil and barley germ oil also contained three unknown peaks. Upon further evaluation of these peaks it was found that the peaks appeared to be tocopherols (one peak of α‐tocopherol, one peak of δ‐tocopherol, and a peak with the combination of β‐ and γ‐tocopherol), even though the excitation and emission wavelengths for alkylresorcinols (excitation 274 nm and emission 300 nm) are different than those for tocols (excitation 294 nm and emission 326 nm). We also found that with this HPLC system one alkylresorcinol, AR17, had the same retention time (7.6 min) as δ‐tocotrienol and that another alkylresorcinol, AR19, had the same retention time (10.8 min) as α‐tocotrienol.     

Illumina sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region 16S rRNA gene reveals extensive changes in bacterial communities in the cecum following carbohydrate oral infusion and development of early-stage acute laminitis in the horse

In the equine carbohydrate overload model of acute laminitis, disease progression is associated with changes in bacteria found in the cecum. To date, research has focused on changes in specific Gram-positive bacteria in this portion of the intestinal tract. Metagenomic methods are now available making it possible to interrogate microbial communities using animal protocols that sufficiently power a study. In this study, the microbiota in cecal fluid collected from control, non-laminitic horses (n = 8) and from horses with early-stage acute laminitis induced with either oligofructan (n = 6) or cornstarch (n = 6) were profiled. The microbiota were identified based on sequencing the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The results of the study show that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus sp. and Streptococcus sp. increased significantly (p < 0.05) following OF and CS infusion. Other significant changes included an increase (p < 0.05) in relative abundance of Veillonella sp. and Serratia sp., two potentially pathogenic, Gram-negative bacteria. Significant decreases in the relative abundance of presumptive normal flora were detected as well. Although changes in cecal microbiota described in this communication are from a pilot study, it is hypothesized that an overgrowth of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria develops and contributes to enterocolitis, pyrexia and lameness in the carbohydrate overload model of acute laminitis.     

Isolation and characterization of Babesia pecorum sp. nov. from farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

The diversity of Babesia species infecting cervids in parts of central and southern Spain was analyzed by collecting blood from farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus). Babesia sp. was isolated in vitro from two red deer herds in Cádiz and Ciudad Real. The number of Babesia sp. carriers differed between the two herds: 36/77 in Cádiz and 1/35 in Ciudad Real. Hyalomma lusitanicum was the most prevalent tick species identified on the Cádiz farm vegetation and on sampled animals, and is therefore a candidate vector. The molecular characteristics of 21 isolates were determined by complete (8 isolates) or partial (13 isolates) 18S rRNA gene sequencing. The sequences were highly similar (over 99.4% identity) and 6 sequence types were identified at the level of one herd only, demonstrating a rather high genetic diversity. They formed a monophyletic clade, and members of the three main sequence types shared a similar morphology and the same erythrocyte susceptibility pattern. This clade also included Babesia sp. Xinjiang isolated from sheep in China and Babesia sp. identified in giraffe in South Africa, with identities higher than 98.3% and statistically relevant phylogenetic support. None of the biological properties analyzed for both Babesia from red deer and Babesia sp. Xinjiang allowed their differentiation (ability to develop in vitro in erythrocytes from cattle and sheep, as well as in erythrocytes from different cervids, unsuccessful infection of calves). We propose the Babesia isolated from red deer as a new species named B. pecorum. Whether Babesia sp. Xinjiang and the Babesia characterized in South Africa belong to the same species is debated.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0078-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Discovery of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in corals

Colonies of the Caribbean coral Montastraea cavernosa exhibit a solar-stimulated orange-red fluorescence that is spectrally similar to a variety of fluorescent proteins expressed by corals. The source of this fluorescence is phycoerythrin in unicellular, nonheterocystis, symbiotic cyanobacteria within the host cells of the coral. The cyanobacteria coexist with the symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) of the coral and express the nitrogen-fixing enzyme nitrogenase. The presence of this prokaryotic symbiont in a nitrogen-limited zooxanthellate coral suggests that nitrogen fixation may be an important source of this limiting element for the symbiotic association.     

Relativistic spin precession in the double pulsar

The double pulsar PSR J0737-3039A/B consists of two neutron stars in a highly relativistic orbit that displays a roughly 30-second eclipse when pulsar A passes behind pulsar B. Describing this eclipse of pulsar A as due to absorption occurring in the magnetosphere of pulsar B, we successfully used a simple geometric model to characterize the observed changing eclipse morphology and to measure the relativistic precession of pulsar B's spin axis around the total orbital angular momentum. This provides a test of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity in the strong-field regime. Our measured relativistic spin precession rate of 4.77 degrees (-0 degrees .65)(+0 degrees .66) per year (68% confidence level) is consistent with that predicted by general relativity within an uncertainty of 13%.     

Introduction and present status of exotic carp in Africa

This paper presents a review of all introductions of various carp species: Common carp, Cyprinus carpio (L.), but also major Chinese and Indian carp into Africa. The historical background of the present situation of carp culture is provided for 16 African countries. This contribution shows that, despite important efforts at aquaculture and fisheries development, carp production remains at a very low level except in Egypt. Various consequences of carp introductions are also discussed.     

Post-fire analysis of pre-fire mapping of fire-risk: A recent case study from Mt. Carmel (Israel)

The recent devastating wildfire on Mt. Carmel provided a unique opportunity to evaluate a fire-risk map constructed for the region, published two years ago in this journal. This largest forest fire in the history of Israel, occurred during December 2010, covering 2180 ha, burning more than half-million trees and causing the loss of life of 45 people.A study of fire risk in this area was conducted between 2007 and 2009 utilizing a combination of Monte Carlo simulation of spatial spread of fire ignition with fire behavior model (FARSITE). The fire risk map produced in 2009 is assessed here with reference to the area burnt during December 2010. The results showed that most of burnt areas corresponded to high risk levels in the risk map. According to a null model, the five lower risk levels taken together would have corresponded to 50% of the burnt area, while in fact they were presented in only 5.6% of the area. In contrast, the three highest risk levels, for which the null model expectation would be a representation of 30%, were represented in 87% of the area. Comparing the fire risk map against the map of the real recent fire provided support to the general approach, and strengthened the confidence of our fire risk model.