Qualitative and quantitative control of carbonated cola beverages using ¹H NMR spectroscopy

1H Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (400 MHz) was used in the context of food surveillance to develop a reliable analytical tool to differentiate brands of cola beverages and to quantify selected constituents of the soft drinks. The preparation of the samples required only degassing and addition of 0.1% of TSP in D?O for locking and referencing followed by adjustment of pH to 4.5. The NMR spectra obtained can be considered as "fingerprints" and were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). Clusters from colas of the same brand were observed, and significant differences between premium and discount brands were found. The quantification of caffeine, acesulfame-K, aspartame, cyclamate, benzoate, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), sulfite ammonia caramel (E 150D), and vanillin was simultaneously possible using external calibration curves and applying TSP as internal standard. Limits of detection for caffeine, aspartame, acesulfame-K, and benzoate were 1.7, 3.5, 0.8, and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. Hence, NMR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics is an efficient tool for simultaneous identification of soft drinks and quantification of selected constituents.     

Long-term impacts of prescribed burning on regional extent and incidence of wildfires—Evidence from 50 years of active fire management in SW Australian forests

Prescribed burning is advocated for the sustainable management of fire-prone ecosystems for its capacity to reduce fuel loads and mitigate large high-intensity wildfires. However, there is a lack of comprehensive field evidence on which to base predictions of the benefits of prescribed burning for meeting either wildfire hazard reduction or conservation goals. Australian eucalypt forests are among the very few forest types in the world where prescribed burning has been practised long enough and at a large enough spatial scale to quantify its effect on the incidence and extent of unplanned fires. Nevertheless even for Australian forests evidence of the effectiveness of prescribed burning remains fragmented and largely unpublished in the scientific literature.     

Towards the identification of ecological management units: A multidisciplinary approach for the effective management of bottlenose dolphins in the southern Iberian Peninsula

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Correlated effects of exotic pollen‐fertility restorer genes on agronomic and quality traits of hybrid rye

In CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility)‐based hybrid rye (Secale cereale L.) breeding, effective pollen‐fertility restoration is an essential prerequisite for achieving maximum grain yield on the one hand and for minimizing ergot (Claviceps purpurea) infestation on the other. Restorer genes for the CMS‐inducing ‘Pampa’ cytoplasm derived from landraces collected in Iran and Argentina are used by breeders for achieving this goal. Here, restorer genes from four germplasm sources (‘Altevogt 14160’, ‘IRAN III’, ‘Trenelense’ and ‘Pico Gentario’) were analysed by producing three‐way cross hybrids between an elite CMS single cross and pollinators with and without a given restorer gene. Materials were evaluated on large drilled plots for restorer index (RI), grain yield, plant height and other traits in six environments. In experiment 1, a restorer gene from ‘Altevogt 14160’ was used. Seven pairs of marker‐selected carrier and non‐carrier backcross lines served as pollinators. In experiment 2, the pollinators were 17 backcross line pairs from the other three germplasm sources. These lines were grouped as high (RI > 67%) and low restorers (RI < 30%), respectively, using testcrosses with a highly diagnostic CMS tester. Hybrids carrying an exotic restorer gene suffered from a significant grain yield reduction by 4.4% and 9.4% and were 9.3 and 4.8 cm taller in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Thousand‐kernel weight was reduced, whereas quality traits were only slightly affected. For all traits, significant genetic variance existed among the testcrosses to the presence vs. absence of a given exotic restorer gene. This offers a chance for the breeder to reduce or ultimately overcome the presently observed performance reductions brought about by exotic restorer genes.     

A novel DNA virus associated with feather inclusions in psittacine beak and feather disease

The nature of feather inclusions was characterized in 32 psittacine birds (30 cockatoos, one peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), and one red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis] with naturally-acquired psittacine beak and feather disease. Intranuclear inclusions within feather epithelial cells and intracytoplasmic inclusions within macrophages in the feather epithelium and pulp cavity contained psittacine beak and feather disease viral antigen when stained by the avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase technique. Ultrastructurally, inclusions were observed primarily within macrophages and to a lesser extent within epithelial cell nuclei. Macrophage inclusions appeared as paracrystalline arrays of viral particles. Intranuclear inclusions were less well defined, although scattered viral particles were present. Intracytoplasmic and intranuclear particles in ultrastructural preparations were identified by colloidal gold labeling as psittacine beak and feather disease virus. Feather epithelium was more frequently and severely involved in the disease process than was adjacent follicular epithelium. Plucked feathers with an intact epidermal collar and feather epithelium were preferred to follicular biopsies for histopathologic examination.     

Clinical interpretation of leukocyte responses

Basic information has been presented concerning leukocyte (neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil) function, production, kinetics, and response to various physiological and disease states. Using this information, veterinary practitioners should be able to interpret leukogram data from sick and healthy dogs and cats. Specifically, characteristic leukogram patterns such as physiological leukocytosis, corticosteroid-associated changes, and the presence of infection or severe inflammation should be recognized. In addition, interpretation of individual leukocyte responses should be possible. Several tables have been provided to assist in constructing a differential diagnosis to explain increases or decreases in absolute leukocyte numbers that lie outside of expected reference intervals.