Bioavailability of iron from four different local food plants in Jordan

The bioavailability of iron from local plants(black cumin seeds, milk thistle seeds, sesame seedsand thyme leaves) was investigated. Apparentabsorption of iron was calculated by subtracting fecal iron(using total collection of feces) from iron intake inSprague-Dawley rats. Two trials of animal feeding wereperformed. Liver and serum concentrations of iron, andserum hemoglobin concentration were taken as responseparameters for the bioavailability. Dry thyme wasparticularly rich in iron (117.2 mg/100 g dry matter)and milk thistle seeds in crude fiber (25 g/100 g drymatter). Rats fed the dry thyme diet or thatsupplemented with 5% egg white died but when the dietwas supplemented with 10% egg white, the animalssurvived. Iron intake and apparent and total ironabsorption were highest for the rats fed the drythyme-egg white diet. Liver weights for the groups fedblack cumin seeds and dry thyme were significantlyhigher (p < 0.05) than those for the groups fed milkthistle and sesame seeds. Liver content of ironwas highest for the animals fed black cumin seeds.Serum iron content increased significantly (p < 0.05)for the animals fed black cumin seeds, and serumhemoglobin concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the groups fed milk thistle seed and blackcumin seed diets, but decreased for the group fed thethyme-egg white diet. It is concluded from this studythat iron was better utilized from black cumin seedsas indicated by liver storage of iron. On the otherhand, thyme had the highest iron absorption but lowestutilization.     

Determination of the average lethal dose of 0.01% manganese succinate solution on white mice with intraperitoneal administration

Acute toxicity in a water solution of tetrahydrate manganese succinate has been studied in the course of intraperitoneal administration to mice. The results of investigations proved it to be a low-toxicity preparation which enables the application of manganese succinate in pharmacology, medicine, veterinary science, the food and chemical industries as a medical drug and a biologically active additive and reagent in various kinds of synthesis.     

Dynamics of the change in free blood serum amino acids of broiler chicks under the effect of lithium salts

The effect of lithium glycinate on the adaptive compensatory reaction in poultry during vaccinal stress is studied and its use as a stress protector is suggested.     

Soil cover patterns and land resources in the south of the Selenga mountainous region

Soil cover patterns within the Kyakhta area of pine stands and the Kudarinsk area of dry steppes in the south of the Selenga mountainous region are characterized. The groups of soil combinations are shown on the map developed on a scale of 1: 500000. The areas of particular soils composing the combinations have been calculated. Thus, this small-scale soil map generally preserves information reflected on large- and medium-scale soil maps.     

The wild ostrich (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Struthio camelus</Emphasis>): a review

The aim of the current report was to study the literature pertinent to wild populations of ostriches and their ecological and behavioural adaptations in the wild. Selected areas included palaeontology; ostrich distribution; conservation status and relationships with humans and habitat. There is an immediate and urgent need to conserve and protect the apparently rapidly declining populations of wild ostriches with the committed involvement of governments and funding bodies. Wildlife management is an important complement to the farming of livestock. Scientists need to understand the elements of ostrich behaviour in the wild in order to make informed decisions on their management and contact with other animals. Information of the like should be included in readily-accessible and annually updated wildlife manuals. We deemed that such information was an essential part in the conservation of this dwindling ratite.     

Importance of the axial gradients of electric potentials in the life activity of plants in microgravitation conditions

An installation that changes the unilateral action of the Earth’s gravitational field on a plant has been developed. Microgravitation is provided by simulating the weightlessness condition by rotating the vessel with the growing plants in a vertical plane with a constant slow speed (2 rpm), at which the action of centrifugal forces does not significantly affect the spatial orientation of the plants in the process of their development. Furthermore, the plants are affected by the gravitation vector from different sides, and it does not have time to adapt to the gravitation force. It is shown in terms of the KVS-701 corn hybrid that, in the conditions of microgravitation, the depolarization of the axial bioelectric polarity of the plant and depression of the gradients of the bioelectric potentials (BEP) to the values 0.1–0.2 mV/cm—under which a significant deterioration of the growth and development of the plants is observed—takes place. The restoration of the axial bioelectric polarity of the plants by the external low-energy electric potentials (LEP) to the natural level (approximately 1 mV/cm) leads to an increase of the adaptive capabilities of the grain crop to the microgravitation and restoration of the growth indicators, which is confirmed by the biometric data.