Design of a surface alloy catalyst for steam reforming

Detailed studies of elementary chemical processes on well-characterized single crystal surfaces have contributed substantially to the understanding of heterogeneous catalysis. Insight into the structure of surface alloys combined with an understanding of the relation between the surface composition and reactivity is shown to lead directly to new ideas for catalyst design. The feasibility of such an approach is illustrated by the synthesis, characterization, and tests of a high-surface area gold-nickel catalyst for steam reforming.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibody in wild macropods

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure total antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in serum samples from macropods. The validity of the assay was established by comparing parasite isolation in mice for 17 Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and 17 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus). The ELISA was then used to detect antibody against T. gondii in serum from 236 macropods, collected from 21 locations in Tasmania, including Flinders Island. Antibody against T. gondii was detected in 20 animals (15 T. billardierii and 5 M. rufogriseus). There was a significant (p less than 0.01) difference in possession of T. gondii antibodies between adult (greater than or equal to 1 year of age) Tasmanian pademelons and Bennett's wallabies.     

Relationships between Weather Variables, Airborne Spore Concentrations and Severity of Leaf Blight of Garlic Caused by Stemphylium vesicarium in Spain

Ascospores and conidia released into the air were recorded around plots on which garlic debris infected by Stemphylium vesicarium were fixed onto the soil surface. Symptoms in garlic trap plots located in the vicinity of infected debris, started in March and developed during April–May to reach disease incidence close to 100%, final disease severity values being lower in 1993 and 1995 than in 1994 and 1996. Whereas daily concentrations of ascospores were rather erratic, with 30% of captures between 0 and 6 h, conidia showed a daily periodicity with highest concentrations between 12 and 18 h, with a pronounced peak between 14 and 16 h, and lowest values at night. Ascospore release occurred mainly in February and March. It coincided with rainfall periods, 14 h with vapour pressure deficit 5 mb and solar radiation <145 W m^–2 on the current day of the capture. In contrast, greatest captures of conidia started in late April and were prevalent in May, and were associated with rainfall in days previous to the capture in which rather high temperature occurred and solar radiation was 109–345 W m^–2. Among the weather variables considered, rainfall appeared directly related to the aerial concentration of ascospores and conidia. The role of relative humidity seemed essential when rainfall did not occur. There was a relationship between conidia concentration in the air and number of hours with temperature in the range 12–21 °C. Ascospore production was not essential for infections to take place, since primary infection from conidia may occur and disease can develop from them readily.     

Mitochondrial Activity, Distribution and Segregation in Bovine Oocytes and in Embryos Produced in Vitro

Contents Bovine oocytes and embryos produced in vitro were studied to determine the mitochondrial pattern of distribution, segregation and activity using DIOC 6 and Jc-1 fluorescence. The highest fluorescence level observed in mature oocytes was taken as 100% activity and six activity levels were estimated as follows: (1) 0%, (2) 1-15%, (3) 16-30%, (4) 31-50%, (5) 51-75% and (6) 76-100%. Three patterns of mitochondrial distribution were found: (1) diffused throughout the cytoplasm in oocytes and embryos, (2) pericytoplasmic in oocytes and embryos, and (3) perinuclear only in embryos. The segregation of mitochondria in blastomeres showed two distinct patterns: (1) symmetrical with an even mitochondrial population, and (2) asymmetrical with different numbers of mitochondria in each blastomere. In immature oocytes, mitochondrial activity was very low and the distribution was diffuse or negligible, while in mature oocytes the activity was high and the distribution was diffuse or pericytoplasmic. Competent embryos up to the 16-cell stage showed intermediate levels of activity (16-50%) but activity decreased thereafter up to the blastocyst stage. Non-competent embryos showed low levels of activity (1-15%) at all stages. These results suggest that mitochondria might play an important role during early development and that a minimum threshold of activity regulates the potential competence for reaching the blastocyst stage.     

Assessment of the potential of dogs and cats as urban reservoirs of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses

Objective To determine whether dogs and cats are potential reservoirs of Ross River (RR) and Barmah Forest (BF) viruses
Method Young seronegative female dogs and cats were experimentally exposed to the viruses using Ochlerotatus vigilax (Skuse) mosquitoes.
Results Only one of the 10 dogs and one of the 10 cats exposed to RR developed neutralising antibody. None of the animals developed detectable viraemia or clinical signs. One dog and three cats exposed to BF developed neutralising antibody. In addition, a serological survey of sera obtained from domestic dogs and cats residing in the Brisbane region indicated that 23.7% and 1.3% of dogs, and 14% and 2% of cats, had neutralising antibodies to RR and BF respectively.
Conclusions Although dogs and cats are exposed naturally to these viruses, and can become infected, they are unlikely to be important urban reservoirs of either virus.     

Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Strontium Titanate at Cryogenic Temperatures

Piezoelectric materials have many applications at cryogenic temperatures. However, the piezoelectric response below 10 kelvin is diminished, making the use of these materials somewhat marginal. Results are presented on strontium titanate (SrTiO3), which exhibits a rapidly increasing piezoelectric response with decreasing temperature below 50 kelvin; the magnitude of its response around 1 kelvin is comparable to that of the best materials at room temperature. This "giant" piezoelectric response may open the way for a broad class of applications including use in ultralow-temperature scanning microscopies and in a magnetic field-insensitive thermometer. These observations, and the possible divergence of the mechanical response to electric fields at even lower temperatures, may arise from an apparent quantum critical point at absolute zero.     

泸州荔枝果园AM真菌菌根及孢子数量调查与分析

[目的]对泸州荔枝园AM真菌进行调查,确认荔枝菌根类型,了解果园土壤中AM真菌孢子种群数量的大致情况。[方法]利用"湿筛法"和Phllips&Hayman的方法对3个泸州荔枝果园春季的土壤AM真菌进行了调查分析。[结果]荔枝菌根是内生菌根,共生真菌为囊泡——丛枝菌根真菌,即AM真菌。春季的菌根感染率在9%~32%之间,普遍低于25%。VA菌根感染率的平均值在15%~21%之间,低于25%。三个荔枝园每25 g土样中AM真菌孢子数平均值为869±76个。[结论]果园生草或对果园进行有机覆盖,是促进荔枝生长,增加荔枝果实产量,改善荔枝果实品质的一种绿色环保途径。