The fate of chlorpyrifos-methyl in stored wheat: A comparison of a laboratory-scale experiment with a pilot-scale treatment

An experiment was carried out in which a pilot-scale treatment of a bulk of grain with chlorpyrifos-methyl was compared with a laboratory treatment of 1 kilogram of grain with ¹⁴C-radio-labelled chlorpyrifos-methyl. The conditions under which the grain was maintained in the laboratory resembled those of the pilot-scale treatment as closely as possible, with sampling and analysis being carried out at the same time and in a similar manner in both. The results from the two experiments were in general agreement with approximately 60% of the chlorpyrifos-methyl remaining intact at the end. A satisfactory level of insect control was achieved in the pilot-scale treatment although it was not possible to assess efficacy in the radiochemical experiment. The use of the radio-label enabled more information about the fate of the degraded insecticide to be obtained from the laboratory experiment. The majority of this radioactivity comprised a fraction which remained within the grain tissue after solvent extraction. The level of activity in the grain tissues gradually increased with time but its nature is as yet unknown. The good agreement obtained between the residue profile and the breakdown patterns in both experiments would suggest that such a laboratory-scale experiment can be a satisfactory model for the situation obtaining in a larger-scale treatment.     

Effect of diet on the feces quality in javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus auratus).

A high intake of easily fermentable carbohydrates and a low intake of fiber material are generally regarded as major factors affecting the health of captive langurs. The effect on fecal consistency of excluding fruits and vegetables from the diet was evaluated in Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus auratus). Cross-over trials were carried out at Rotterdam Zoo and at the Apenheul Zoo, The Netherlands. During the first and third dietary period, the langurs were fed their usual diet, which contained fruits, vegetables, langur pellets, and browse. During the second period, the vegetables and fruits were excluded from the diet and the diet essentially consisted of pellets and browse. Feces consistency was scored using a fecal score chart developed for langurs. During the second feeding period the feces consistency improved significantly in animals at both zoos. Across all trials, a firmer feces consistency was correlated with an increase in dietary cell wall (measured as neutral detergent fiber) and a decrease in dietary water. It is suggested that the combined decrease in the intake of soluble sugars, the increase of fiber intake, and a lower amount of dietary water in the diet resulted in more solid stools. The results indicate that a dietary neutral detergent fiber content of approximately 46% in dry matter will result in a feces consistency indicative of undisturbed gut function.     

Low-dose ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) modulates the course and magnitude of the antibody response to vaccination against Equid herpesvirus 1 in horses

The purpose of this study was to determine if ginseng fed at low levels enhances a horse's antibody response to vaccination against Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). For 28 d, 5 horses received ground, powdered ginseng (35 mg/kg body weight, 1.7 mg/kg total ginsenosides) in molasses as a carrier, and 5 received molasses only. On day 14, each horse was vaccinated against EHV-1. The time course of the antibody response to vaccination was significantly altered in the horses receiving ginseng, a clinically relevant increase in antibody titer being observed by postvaccination day 2 compared with day 6 in the control horses. The horses receiving ginseng also had a significant decrease in serum levels of sodium and a significant increase in serum levels of potassium. No adverse effects of ginseng treatment were identified by hematologic and blood biochemistry profiles. Thus, low-dose dietary supplementation with ginseng in healthy horses may be a useful adjunct to vaccination.     

Root growth,water relations and mineral uptake of young ‘Delicious’ apple trees treated with soil- and stem-applied paclobutrazol

Paclobutrazol (2R,3R + 2S,3S)-1-(4 chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-trizol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol), at 25, 50 and 150 mg active ingredient, was applied as a soil drench or stem application to 1-year-old ‘Topred Delicious’ apples. Root growth measured as relative root surface area was reduced by both soil and stem applications. There was no significant difference in dry weight of the root tissue. The root-to-leaf-area ratio was significantly increased in paclobutrazol-treated plants.Water relations measured as leaf conductance and leaf water potential were significantly influenced by paclobutrazol. Leaf conductance was higher in paclobutrazol-treated plants when the plants were turgid, as well as under some water stress. Leaf water potential was significantly higher in treated plants.There were no significant differences in the total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium levels found in the leaf or root tissue.     

A NMR study of water distribution in hardwoods at several equilibrium moisture contents

The water state of one tropical (Robinia coccinea) and two temperate (Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia) hardwoods was determined at different equilibrium moisture contents (EMC) during desorption at 25°C. NMR technique was used to separate different components of water in wood. The species studied presented different structures, which were apparent on the spin–spin relaxation T₂ values. Three different water components were separated: slow T₂ (liquid water in vessel elements), medium T₂ (liquid water in fiber and parenchyma elements) and fast T₂ (bound or cell wall water). The NMR results showed that even at equilibrated conditions a region exists where loss of liquid water and bound water takes place simultaneously. This region will vary according to the wood structure. Finally, liquid water was present at EMC lower than the fiber saturation point, which contradicts the concept of this point when considered as a bulk property of wood.     

Short-term response of salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh) to commercial harvesting for floral greenery

Salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh), which is widely used for floral greenery, is an important non-timber forest product (NTFP) from the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America. However, there are no known studies on the impacts of commercial salal harvesting on subsequent growth. A study was therefore initiated to quantify the growth of salal 1 year after commercial harvesting, and to compare this with growth of unharvested salal. The amount of biomass removed from shrubs through commercial harvesting (131 g m⁻²) was the same as the amount of annual growth in adjacent undisturbed plots (135 g m⁻²). One year later, the amount of regrowth in previously harvested plots (144 g m⁻²) was greater than the amount of new growth in adjacent undisturbed plots (111 g m⁻²). As there was little difference in the weight per current stem, the increased biomass after commercial harvesting was attributed to the observed increase in stem number (60 stems m⁻²) as compared to undisturbed salal (50 stems m⁻²). Our study does not incorporate either repeated annual harvesting or variable harvesting intensities, both of which have been anecdotally reported to affect levels of re-growth and therefore sustainability.