A Qualitative Multi-Attribute Model for The Multifunctional Assessment of ��Streuobst Stands�� in NE Slovenia

Streuobst stands, i.e., tall fruit trees on vigorous rootstock on traditional grassland, represent an important source of raw material for the processing industry and for traditional fruit processing on family-run farms. Apart from production aspects, the high-stem orchards also play a role in the conservation of the traditional landscape, and indirectly in maintenance of the viability of rural areas. In this paper, a qualitative multi-attribute model for the assessment of Streuobst stands with respect to their multifunctional characteristics is presented. The assessment is based on four groups of attributes: (1) production criteria (percentage of missing trees), (2) biodiversity (fruit species and varieties, artificial human intervention), (3) landscape diversity (visual appearance, eco-diversity and erosion protection), and (4) function of the stand (row or individual trees, countryside appearance). The assessment is based on the aggregation of input attribute values to an overall assessment through user-defined decision rules. The model was applied to 85 sample stands in NE Slovenia. The assessment shows that most of the stands (48) were rated as ??very poor?? or ??poor??, mainly as a result of poor cultivation and lack of maintenance.     

Occupational swine exposure and Hepatitis E virus,Leptospira, Ascaris suum seropositivity and MRSA colonization in Austrian veterinarians, 2017–2018—A cross‐sectional study

We investigated the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), Leptospira and Ascaris suum (A. suum) seropositivity, and of nasal methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization among Austrian practising veterinarians, and assessed the association with occupational swine livestock exposure. The 261 participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, intensity of occupational swine livestock contact and glove use during handling animals and their secretions. Participants' blood samples were tested for HEV, Leptospira and A. suum seropositivity and nasal swabs cultured for MRSA. We compared swine veterinarians (defined as >3 swine livestock visits/week) to non‐swine veterinarians (≤3 swine livestock visits/week) with regard to the outcomes through calculating prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Furthermore, the relationship between occupational swine livestock contact and the study outcomes was examined by age (</≥55 years) and glove usage. The prevalence of nasal MRSA colonization was 13.4% (95% CI: 9.3–17.6), of HEV seropositivity 20.8% (95% CI: 15.8–25.7) and A. suum seropositivity 44% (95% CI: 37.7–50.2). The highest anti‐leptospiral antibodies titres were 1:200 (L. hebdomadis) and 1:100 (L. autumnalis, L. caicola) found in three non‐swine veterinarians. Compared to non‐swine veterinarians, swine veterinarians were 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0–3.4) and 1.5 (95%CI: 1.0–2.3) times more likely HEV seropositive and A. suum seropositive, respectively, and 4.8 (95%CI: 2.5; 9.3) times more likely nasally colonized with MRSA. Among glove‐using veterinarians, occupational swine contact was no longer a determinant for HEV seropositivity (PR 1.6; 95% CI: 0.8–2.9). Similar was found for A. suum seropositivity, which was no longer associated with occupational swine livestock contact in the subgroup of glove using, ≥55‐year‐old veterinarians (PR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.4–3.3). Our findings indicate that >3 occupational swine livestock visits per week is associated with HEV and A. suum seropositivity and nasal MRSA colonization and that glove use may play a putative preventive role in acquiring HEV and A. suum. Further analytical epidemiological studies have to prove the causality of these associations.     

Past and present potential of the Adriatic deep sea sediments to produce methane hydrates

Journal of Soils and Sediments - There is a growing understanding that methane hydrates (MHs) distributed globally in permafrost and deep sea sediments present an enormous unconventional reservoir...     

Distribution of trichothecenes, zearalenone, and ergosterol in a fractionated wheat harvest lot

To investigate possible co-occurrences of type B trichothecenes and zearalenone within a Fusarium culmorum-infected wheat harvest lot, kernels were fractionated into six groups by visual criteria. The Fusarium-damaged kernels were subdivided into white, shrunken, and red kernel groups, and the remaining kernels were sorted into healthy, black spotted, and nonspecific groups. The distribution patterns of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ergosterol were determined for possible correlations. Significant correlations between the distribution patterns were found for the mycotoxins and ergosterol for the grouped kernels (r = 0.997-0.999, p < 0.0001). Additionally, remarkably outstanding levels of nivalenol (24-fold more than the mean at 1.16 mg/kg), deoxynivalenol (27-fold more than the mean at 0.16 mg/kg), zearalenone (25-fold more than the mean at 77 microg/kg), and ergosterol (17-fold more than the mean at 13.4 mg/kg) were found in the red kernel group. Further, detailed mycotoxin and ergosterol analyses were carried out on various segments (kernel surface, conidia, bran, and flour) of the red kernels. However, the mycotoxin and ergosterol distribution profiles revealed nonsignificant correlations for these kernel segments, with the exception of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol, which were moderately correlated (r = 0.948, p = 0.035).     

A Simple Flow-through System for Toxicity Testing with Daphnids

A simple and accurate flow-through system was developed for toxicity evaluation of biodegradable substances, wastewaters, and surface waters. The chronic toxicity of phenol to the daphnid Daphnia magna was studied during a 21 d exposure period, first using a semi-static and later a flow-through test. The flow- through system was advantageous especially when lower concentrations of phenol were examined. Its use provided a constant concentration of phenol in all tested samples. Exposure to phenol showed a similar influence on both survival and reproduction of daphnids; the IC25 value was 3.18 mg L-1.     

Detection of Potyviral Nuclear Inclusion b Proteins by Monoclonal Antibodies Raised to Synthetic Peptides

Potyviral nuclear inclusion b protein (NIb), the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, contains three highly conserved regions. Peptides corresponding to these regions were synthesised and used for immunisation. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was obtained. Most of the MAbs reacted with the peptides and a recombinant NIb of PVY in PTA-ELISA. Two of them specifically detected native NIb of potato A, potato V, potato Y, plum pox and turnip mosaic potyviruses in extracts of infected plants in Western blots. Time course experiments revealed that NIb protein can be first detected on the fifth day after infection.     

Nitrogen efficiency of canola genotypes varies between vegetative stage and grain maturity

There is no information on whether N efficiency in canola at maturity can be reliably determined by screening germplasm in the vegetative stage. Twelve canola genotypes identified in preliminary screening study as having either high or low N efficiency indices were tested for consistency in N efficiency between the vegetative stage and maturity. Plants were grown in a glasshouse under low or adequate N supply and N efficiency was assessed using the following criteria: dry weight at deficient N supply, relative yield at low vs. adequate N supply, and N utilisation efficiency. None of the 12 tested genotypes was classified as efficient or inefficient under all three criteria. One genotype (46C74) was classified as efficient under two criteria, and one genotype (Surpass 300 TT) was inefficient under two criteria. At maturity, three additional efficiency criteria were used: harvest index, N harvest index, and oil and protein concentration in seed. Two genotypes (Wesway and 46C74) (ranked as efficient at vegetative stage) remained efficient at maturity under most of the efficiency criteria used. On the other hand, genotype Surpass 603 CL ranked inefficient during the vegetative stage was ranked as efficient at maturity under two criteria. Overall, there was little consistency in the N efficiency ranking between vegetative stage and maturity in 12 tested genotypes. Screening canola germplasm for N efficiency for breeding purposes would therefore require an assessment at maturity.     

Comparing the interactive effects of water and nitrogen on durum wheat and barley grown in a Mediterranean environment

The understanding of the interactive effect of water and N availability, associated with the ability of crops to efficiently use these resources, is a crucial issue for stabilizing cereal production in Mediterranean areas. A 3-year side by side experiment on durum wheat and barley, under different water regimes and nitrogen levels, was carried out in a typical Mediterranean environment of Southern Italy, to identify the outstanding features of these species that contribute to enhanced grain yield and improved water and nitrogen use efficiency.