On-line Analysis of Stack Gas Composition by a Low Resolution FT-IR Gas Analyzer

Stack gases of wood and oil burning boilers were analyzed by a low resolution FT-IR gas analyzer. Concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor (H₂O) were predicted in real time by multicomponent analysis. Detection limits, linearity, analysis accuracy and long time repeatability were experimentally determined for selected gas components. Applicability of the measurement method was demonstrated by analysis of stack gas mixtures of known concentrations. The results indicate that all the primary stack gas components can be measured by the low resolution FT-IR gas analyzer with comparable results to single component measurement methods.     

A novel method to analyze betaine in chicken liver: effect of dietary betaine and choline supplementation on the hepatic betaine concentration in broiler chicks

Betaine was measured from liver tissue by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method developed for this study. The method involves homogenization of liver in acetate buffer at pH 6 and precipitation of protein with trichloroacetic acid, which was removed by diethyl ether extraction. Betaine was separated using a cation exchange column in Ca(2+) form and detected with a refractive index detector. This method also allows the determination of S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) from the same liver extract but with different HPLC conditions. Broiler chicks were fed with experimental diets supplemented with four different doses of betaine or choline ranging from 0 to 5 mol equiv. After a 3 week feeding period, the livers were analyzed for betaine and S-AM. Dietary betaine was twice as efficient in increasing the hepatic betaine concentration as dietary choline. The hepatic S-AM concentrations were similar in all dietary treatments.     

Using multi-source data to map and model the predisposition of forests to wind disturbance

Natural disturbances such as wind are known to cause threats to ecosystem services as well as sustainable forest ecosystem management. The objective of this research was to better understand and quantify drivers of predisposition to wind disturbance, and to model and map the probability of wind-induced forest disturbances (P_DIS) in order to support forest management planning. To accomplish this, we used open-access airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data as well as multi-source National Forest Inventory (NFI) data to model P_DIS in southern Finland. A strong winter storm occurred in the study area in December 2011. High spatial resolution aerial images, acquired after the disturbance event, were used as reference data. Potential drivers associated with P_DIS were examined using a multivariate logistic regression model. The model based on LiDAR provided good agreement with detected areas susceptible to wind disturbance (73%); however, when LiDAR was combined with multi-source NFI data, the results were more promising: prediction accuracy increased to 81%. The strongest predictors in the model were mean canopy height, mean elevation, and stem volume of the main tree species (Norway spruce and Scots pine). Our results indicate that open-access LiDAR data can be used to model and map the probability of predisposition to wind disturbance, providing spatially detailed, valuable information for planning and mitigation purposes.     

The effect of feeding essential oils on broiler performance and gut microbiota

1.?In this study the effect of a blend of essential oils (EO) comprising 15 g/tonne thymol and 5 g/tonne cinnamaldehyde on the performance and intestinal microbiota of broilers was investigated.

2.?A total of 720 male Ross broilers were divided into two dietary treatments with 12 replicate pens per treatment. Broilers were given a control soybean-wheat-based diet with or without added EO in two diet phases (0–21 d and 22–42 d).

3.?The blend of EO increased body weight gain of broilers from 0 to 42 d by 4?5%.

4.?Caecal microbiota were affected by the EO blend; in particular increases in the proportions of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli at 41 d was observed.

5.?The EO blend had major effects on caecal metabolites. The proportion of caecal butyrate at 20 and 41 d of age increased, whereas the proportion of caecal acetic acid at 20 d, and propionic acid and isovaleric acid at 41 d, decreased with the EO blend. In addition, the caecal proportion of spermine increased and tyramine decreased at 41 d of age with the EO treatment.

6.?The present study shows that EO supplementation exerts a positive effect on intestinal microbiota with a concomitant enhancement in growth performance. The study suggests that modulation of broiler gut microbiota composition and activity through the administration of EO offers an effective means for improving broiler performance.     

The evolution of maximum body size of terrestrial mammals

The extinction of dinosaurs at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary was the seminal event that opened the door for the subsequent diversification of terrestrial mammals. Our compilation of maximum body size at the ordinal level by sub-epoch shows a near-exponential increase after the K/Pg. On each continent, the maximum size of mammals leveled off after 40 million years ago and thereafter remained approximately constant. There was remarkable congruence in the rate, trajectory, and upper limit across continents, orders, and trophic guilds, despite differences in geological and climatic history, turnover of lineages, and ecological variation. Our analysis suggests that although the primary driver for the evolution of giant mammals was diversification to fill ecological niches, environmental temperature and land area may have ultimately constrained the maximum size achieved.     

Prevalence of stocked whitefish in River Kemijoki,Finland, inferred by micro X‐ray fluorescence analysis of otoliths

Micro X‐ray fluorescence (µ‐XRF) analysis of otoliths was evaluated as a method to estimate the proportion of stocked one‐summer‐old whitefish Coregonus lavaretus L. in catches of adult fish (n = 20) ascending the River Kemijoki to spawn. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis was applied as control. Polished otoliths were scanned with µ‐XRF to obtain strontium maps that were used to infer visually the provenance of the whitefish. Thirteen of the fish showed signs of being stocked as one‐summer‐old fingerlings. LA‐ICP‐MS was applied to determine the elemental composition in a spot outside the core of the otolith. The results were largely consistent with the visual inspection of the µ‐XRF mapped otoliths. In conclusion, µ‐XRF mapping successfully identified whitefish stocked as one‐summer‐old fingerlings. The vast majority of whitefish returning to the River Kemijoki to spawn were stocked fish.     

Butterflies and diurnal moths along road verges: Does road type affect diversity and abundance?

Roadsides form potential habitats for several grassland species adapted to regular mowing management. We studied the communities of butterflies and day-active moths in 51 sites along the verges of the three road types, i.e., highways, urban roads and rural roads. Despite different traffic densities and widths of the road and verge, the groups were rather similar with regard to soil properties, vegetation structure and mowing intensity. The species richness and total abundance of butterflies (53 species, 5964 individuals) and diurnal moths (46 species, 4626 individuals) were also rather similar in each road type, although a preference for wider verges was observed. Butterfly diversity increased (but not significantly) from the verges of narrow rural roads to wider highways. The highest numbers of meadow species were recorded along highways and the total abundance, especially of diurnal moths, decreased in accordance with the road size. High nectar abundance was the most important factor increasing the numbers of meadow butterflies along road verges, while meadow moths were mostly favoured by shelter provided by tall vegetation. Verges surrounded by cultivated fields were generally related to low numbers of both Lepidoptera groups, whereas adjacent forests increased the total number of all species and favoured several butterflies inhabiting forest edges. The adjacent environment inflicted compositional differences on the Lepidoptera fauna of the three road types. The results indicate that road verges should be considered an important reserve for species dependent on semi-natural grasslands in Finland. A growing interest in accommodating current roadside management for conserving biodiversity is likely to benefit Lepidoptera communities in the verge habitats.     

Malignant catarrhal fever in pigs and a genetic comparison of porcine and ruminant virus isolates in Finland

An outbreak of the sheep-associated form of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) in a Finnish sow herd was diagnosed by histopathology and confirmed by PCR. Several gilts and sows were suffering from high fever and anorexia and had aborted, and six of them had died. Typical signs of lymphoproliferation and vasculitis were observed histologically in several tissues, including the uterus. Ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) was detected by PCR in two sows. Sequences of the OvHV-2 tegument protein gene obtained from the sows and from three cases of sheep-associated mcf in Finnish cattle were compared and found to be identical. These are the first confirmed cases of mcf in pigs in Finland.