Decamethyldizincocene, a stable compound of Zn(I) with a Zn-Zn bond

Unlike mercury, which has an extensive +1 oxidation state chemistry, zinc usually adopts the +2 oxidation state. Decamethyldizincocene, Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2, an organometallic compound of Zn(I) formally derived from the dimetallic [Zn-Zn]2+ unit, has been isolated from the low-temperature (-10 degrees C) reaction of Zn(C5Me5)2 and Zn(C2H5)2 in diethyl ether. X-ray studies show that it contains two eclipsed Zn(eta5-C5Me5) fragments with a Zn-Zn distance (+/- standard deviation) of 2.305(+/-3) angstroms, indicative of a metal-metal bonding interaction.     

Bovine herpesvirus 4-associated postpartum metritis in a Spanish dairy herd

In more than 10 Spanish dairy cows, a bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) associated postpartum metritis was confirmed by virus isolation, BHV4-glycoprotein B (gB) PCR and/or serology. In this study, 12 cows with, and, at the time of sampling, 3 cows without clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis from one large dairy herd in Spain were examined for bacterial and viral infections. Blood, placenta/caruncles and uterine contents were collected between day 1 and day 20 post-calving, and examined for the presence of bacteria and for viruses by virus isolation, BHV4 DNA by BHV4-gB PCR and/or BHV4 antibody titres. Bovine herpesvirus 4 was detected in 83% of the cases with clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis by virus isolation and/or BHV4-gB PCR. An increase of BHV4 antibodies was detected in all examined postpartum metritis cows and in the 3 cows without clinical metritis. Two of these 3 cows developed severe metritis a few dayss after collecting the first blood sample. A concurrent infections of BHV4 and bacteria, mainly Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Streptococcus sp., were detected in 73% of the examined uterine contents collected from postpartum metritis affected cows. This case-report study showed a clear association between BHV4 infections and acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows. In addition, the BHV4-associated postpartum metritis appeared to be an emerging syndrome in this Spanish herd.     

Side effects of grain protectants on biological control agents: How <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyptis</Emphasis> plant extracts affect parasitism and larval development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dinarmus basalis</Emphasis>

Dinarmus basalis Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), an ectoparasitoid of bruchid pests of stored cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), is a potential biological control agent. We investigated whether grain protectants from Hyptis spicigera and H. suaveolens (Lamiaceae) disturb parasitism and post-embryonic growth of the parasitoid. When cowpeas containing bruchid larvae were treated before being placed in the presence of D. basalis females, the rate of parasitism decreased on average up to 24% and 47% in the presence of, respectively, leaf dry powder and essential oils from both plant species. The estimated larval mortality was higher on treated (9.55 to 28.6%) than on non-treated parasitized hosts (2.8%), depending on the plant species and the plant extract tested. Additional larval mortality was higher for essential oil, and for H. suaveolens. An in-depth analysis of the pre-imaginal development in capsules adapted for this purpose showed that without treatment, mortality was recorded only for eggs and the first two larval stages. With treatment, mortality not only significantly increased on eggs but also spanned all other pre-imaginal stages. Pre-imaginal development was also significantly extended in the presence of treatment, depending on the type of extract and dose used. In conclusion, both plant species exert acute toxicity on D. basalis larvae and also act as growth inhibitors. These results provide additional information that enable us to move towards the harmonious use of allelochemical compounds from plants while protecting biocontrol agents from their adverse effects.     

Effects of road type during transport on lamb welfare and meat quality in dry hot climates

This study determined whether transporting lambs on paved (PR) or unpaved roads (UR) for 3 h had an effect on plasma stress indicators (cortisol, lactate, glucose, creatine kinase [CK], red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, and neutrophil/lymphocyte [N/L] ratio) and instrumental meat quality (pH24, bruising score, water holding capacity [WHC], color, and texture). A total of 48 Rasa Aragonesa male lambs were used that were approximately 100 days old (12.5 kg ± 1.64, carcass weight). The results suggest that transport on unpaved roads had a significant influence on physiological and hematological stress parameters. Road type had a significant effect on all variables, except for white and red blood cells, and hematocrit levels. The UR lambs had significantly higher (at least p ≤ 0.01) cortisol, lactate, glucose, and CK levels and a higher N/L ratio than PR lambs. Meat from UR lambs had some dark-cutting characteristics, with a darker color, higher ultimate pH, and higher tenderness values than PR. In conclusion, lambs transported on unpaved roads had a more intense stress response and poorer meat quality than lambs transported on paved roads. An effort to improve the logistics associated with route planning is necessary to prevent welfare problems during transport to slaughter.     

Effects of Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae) on the behaviour and development of Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), a pest of stored cowpeas

Abstract

The use of beni seed, Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae), to protect stored cowpeas from bruchid attacks is a widespread practice in West Africa. More knowledge about its actual effects on storage pests is needed to enhance its effectiveness. In this laboratory study, repellent and lethal effects of powder and essential oil from H. spicigera on Callosobruchus maculatus, the main pest of stored cowpeas, were studied. Repellency tests undertaken with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that powder was repulsive for C. maculatus adults. On the other hand, this product had no insecticidal activity. Essential oil had a dose-dependent insecticidal effect while sublethal doses repelled the adults. Both products reduced oviposition by 15 – 19 and 7 – 78% according to the doses of powder and essential oil, respectively, tested. Similarly, egg viability decreased with increasing doses of powder and essential oil used in a range of 40 – 75 and 24 – 86%, respectively. Only essential oil was lethal to C. maculatus larvae developing within cowpea seeds; however, oil activity was age-dependent, younger instars being more susceptible. These results are discussed with a view of controlling C. maculatus populations in stored cowpeas.     

Mineral composition of peach leaves affected by iron chlorosis

The effect of Fe chlorosis on the mineral composition of field grown peach tree leaves was studied in two different areas. No significant differences in total Fe content were found, whereas 2,2’ bipyridyl extractable Fe, K and the K/Ca ratio were significantly affected in both experiments. Phosphorus and the P/Fe ratio were significantly affected only in one experiment.     

Replacement of fish oil with vegetable oil blends in feeds for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) juveniles: Effect on growth performance,feed efficiency,tissue fatty acid composition and flesh nutritional value

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of fish oil (FO) substitution by a mixture of alternative vegetable oils (VO) on Seriola dumerili culture performance. A 154‐day feeding experiment was conducted using juveniles (39.2 ± 1.6 g average weight). Three isolipidic and isoenergetic meal‐based diets were formulated varying their lipid component. The control diet contained 100% FO (FO100), whereas diets VO50 and VO100 included 1/2 of oil blend and all the oil from blend of palm oil (PO) and linseed oil (LO) as substitute for FO, respectively. Dietary regime did not significantly affect growth performance, biometric indices, feed efficiency, plasma chemistry and liver and muscle lipid contents. Nonetheless, dietary VO inclusion impacted on the fatty acid profile of target tissues, especially in the liver. Fatty acid profiles of the fillets reflected those of the dietary oils except that there was apparent selective utilization of palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1n‐9) and apparent selective retention of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n‐3). The nutritional value and the potential ability to prevent the development of coronary heart diseases of the flesh lipid fraction decreased with gradual FO substitution.     

Apparent digestibility and protein quality evaluation of selected feed ingredients in Seriola dumerili

The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, and amino acids in fish, krill, squid, meat, defatted krill, soybean, wheat gluten, wheat, camilina, pea, sunflower, and fava bean meals were determined for juvenile Seriola dumerili. The results showed that the ADC of dry matter for yellowtail ranged from 57.7 to 87.2% for animal ingredients and from 42.2 to 82.2% for plant ingredients. An ADC of protein exceeding 90% was observed in fishmeal, while camilina meal and fava bean meal presented the lowest values. Pea meal presented the lowest lipid ADC (83.5%). The availabilities were generally higher in animal ingredients than those in vegetal ones. Except camilina and fava bean meal, the other ingredients appear to be favorable for S. dumerili diets, especially the ones from animal sources. Lower case chemical score values (minimum value from amino acid ratios [AARs]) were obtained in some vegetal ingredients (14–18%), while the highest ones were observed in marine ingredients (69–88%). According to Oser's Index, the most balanced protein for yellowtail with regard to essential amino acids was in krill, defatted krill, and fishmeal (92–96%). So, animal sources are suitable as protein ingredients, but they could be enhanced through some essential amino acid supplementation.     

Evaluating the strength of finger-jointed lumber of Gmelina arborea in Costa Rica

The use of finger-jointed lumber of Gmelina arborea (gmelina) for the production of glue-laminated beams is becoming more important to the wood industry in Costa Rica. At the request of the local wood industry, two different kinds of adhesives, thermoplastic polyvinyl emulsion (catalyzed PVA) and 1-part polyurethane adhesive (PU) were tested on finger joints of gmelina wood and their strength properties compared under dry, boiled, and saturated conditions. The results showed that under the boiled and saturated conditions, the PVA adhesive exhibited low tensile strength and poor distribution of failures while PU showed much more promise. Based on our preliminary results, the PU adhesive can be successfully used for finger-joint boards of gmelina. Palabras clave: Adhesivos, Melina, Modos de falla, Vigas laminadas Resumen. El uso de la madera unida con juntas de dedo (finger-jointed) para la producción de vigas laminadas-encoladas está tomando mayor importancia en la industria maderera de Costa Rica. Atendiendo la solicitud de la industria, sobre la calidad de los finger joints de la madera de melina, se ensayaron dos tipos diferentes de adhesivos, una emulsión de polivinilo catalizado (thermoplastic polyvinyl emulsion, catalizado, PVA) y un adhesivo de poliuretano (polyurethane adhesive, PU) de un componente, para comparar sus características de resistencia bajo condiciones secas, de ebullición y de saturación. Los resultados muestran que bajo condiciones de ebullición y saturación, el adhesivo PVA tiene una baja resistencia a la tensión y una deficiente distribución de fallas, mientras que el PU mostró resultados mucho más prometedores. Basados en los resultados preliminares, el adhesivo PU puede ser utilizado exitosamente para unir las tablas de melina con juntas de dedo.