Stable carbon isotope ratios of rock varnish organic matter: a new paleoenvironmental indicator

Stable carbon isotope ratios of organic matter in rock varnishes of Holocene age from western North America and the Middle East show a strong association with the environment. This isotopic variability reflects the abundance of plants with different photosynthetic pathways in adjacent vegetation. Analyses of different layers of varnish on late Pleistocene desert landforms indicate that the carbon isotopic composition of varnish organic matter is a paleoenvironmental indicator.     

Comparison of the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the complement fixation test (CFT) for the serodiagnosis of bovine brucellosis

Complement fixation and ELISA tests were carried out on 8772 bovine sera. Results showed that ELISA titres were, on average, approximately sixteen times higher than the corresponding C.F. titres. The specificity of ELISA appeared comparable to that of the C.F.T. There was no evidence to show that the ELISA could detect infection earlier than the C.F.T.     

Submitting canine blood for prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time determinations

Practitioners commonly submit samples from dogs for partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time determinations. Controversy exists as to the necessity for rapid separation of plasma and cells, and submission of the plasma on ice (or frozen). The purpose of this study was to address three questions. First, is it better to submit plasma or is whole blood satisfactory? Second, is it necessary to refrigerate the sample or is maintenance at room temperature (20° C) adequate? Third, does the sample have to arrive at the laboratory within a few hours of collection or can reliable partial thromboplastin time/prothrombin time determinations be made on samples up to 48 hours old?It has been shown by this study that reliable partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time determinations can be carried out on canine plasma for up to 48 hours after collection regardless of whether or not the plasma is separated immediately; however the samples must be kept at 4°C. If the samples are maintained at room temperature, reliable prothrombin time determinations can be obtained for up to six hours after collection regardless of whether or not the plasma is separated immediately. Reliable partial thromboplastin time determinations can be made on plasma stored at 20°C for up to 24 hours after collection and possibly longer (up to 48 hours) if the plasma has been separated immediately.     

Effects of lauryl sulphate on egg‐shell quality in laying hens

1. The effect of feeding the detergent, sodium lauryl sulphate at concentrations up to 10 g/kg diet on egg‐shell quality was examined in laying hens at 24, 36 and 48 weeks of age.

2. Lauryl sulphate at 2.5 g/kg or more in the diet significantly increased shell breaking strength, shell thickness and shell weight at 24 and 36 weeks. In 48‐week‐old hens only shell breaking strength was increased significantly. Egg production and egg weight were not affected significantly by lauryl sulphate.

3. Lauryl sulphate might increase these measures of quality by increasing shell deposition and/or shell elasticity.     

Synthetic pyrethroids and avermectin for controlling the grapevine pestsLobesia botrana,Cryptoblabes gnidiella andDrosophila melanogaster

Field treatments in a vineyard with 0.015 or 0.01% a.i. of cypermethrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin or AC-222,705 were more efficient in controlling the grape-berry moth (Lobesia botrana Schiff.) and the honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella Mill.) than four standard treatments consisting of two with 0.05% a.i. fenitrothion and two with 0.075% a.i. diazinon. In pyrethroid-treated plots, infestation at the end of the trials ranged between 2.5 and 12%, compared with 21% in the standard treatment plots and 34% in the untreated plots. Cypermethrin, fenpropathrin and AC-222,705 exhibited similar field activity, while that of fenvalerate was somewhat lower. Under laboratory conditions, cypermethrin at 0.005 and 0.01% a.i. was significantly more potent than fenvalerate, fenpropathrin and AC-222,705; at a higher concentration, 0.015% a.i., all pyrethroids were highly active, with mortality ranging between 75 and 95%. Under laboratory conditions the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster Meig.) was in general more susceptible to pyrethroids than was the grape-berry moth. Cypermethrin and AC-222,705 at 0.005% a.i. and avermectin at 0.0035% a.i. were potent compounds against the vinegar fly and more active than fenvalerate and fenpropathrin.     

STUDIES ON THE TRANSLOCATION IN AGROPYRON REPENS OF 14C-LABELLED 2,2-DICHLOROPROPIONIC ACID

Summary. Previous findings suggested that the translocation in Agropyron repens of 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (dalapon) may be considerably affected by the transpiration rate. This relationship has been studied further in the present investigation using ¹⁴C-labelled material and autoradiography.
It was found that when dalapon was applied to the leaves and the treated plants were placed in darkness a reduction in the transpiration rate of ca. 90% was associated with a marked increase in the amount of dalapon translocation into the roots and tillers. The evidence provided by the autoradiographs was confirmed by a quantitative assay of the ¹⁴C present in the roots. It was also found, however, that translocation was not appreciably affected either by a 50% reduction in the light intensity or when the transpiration rate was reduced by placing the plaints under conditions of high humidity in the light or by the application of white petroleum jelly to the leaves. An alternative hypothesis, namely that the effect of darkness on the movement of the herbicide might be due to changes induced in the normal pattern of assimilate translocation was also investigated but was not supported by the results obtained. Further experimentss, in which various parts of the treated shoot were placed in the dark, suggested that the effect of darkness on the translocation of dalapon is exerted primarily on the treated leaf itself.
Etudes sur to migration dans Agropyron repens de l'acide 2,2-dichloropropionique marqué avec ¹⁴C     

Methods of analysis for toxic elements in food products. 3. Limit of determination of methods for assuring safety

To evaluate the suitability of the analytical methods used in determining food safety, a new metrological characteristic "MQS" is suggested. MQS is defined as the absolute minimum quantity in micrograms of a substance that can be determined in a test solution (solubilized test portion). MQS accounts for 2 factors: (a) the necessity for a reliable determination of ML (maximum permitted level, i.e., regulatory tolerance), and (b) the optimum quantity of test portion of a food product to be analyzed, and thus assists in evaluating the suitability of a method to assure food safety. The MQS of 8 toxic elements in any food are As, 3; Cd, 0.5; Cu, 20; Fe, 50; Hg, 0.2; Pb, 4; Sn, 200; Zn, 100 micrograms. To characterize the applicability of any given method, the specific minimum limit of determination, MQSM, must be established for each method. The method in question may be used to control food safety only if MQSM is less than MQS. MQSM values are given for the common polarographic and colorimetric methods for determining these elements.