Die Wurzelentwicklung von Zuckerrübenpflanzen auf einem Sandlöß-Standort und ihre Bedeutung für die Stickstoffernährung

Root development of sugar beet plants on a sandy loess site with regard to nitrogen nutrition.
Root development of sugar beet plants in a sandy loess soil (Haplic Phaeozem) was observed from the early seedling stage up to harvest by measuring at first the greatest vertical and lateral extension of the root systems of single plants and later the rooting density of the whole plant stands (auger method, profile wall method).
During the seedling stage not only the subsoil, but also large parts of the topsoil between the plants remained unoccupied by the root systems. In this phase the greatest lateral extension of single roots reaches nearly the length of the greatest leaf of the plant. With the closure of the canopy the rooting density in the topsoil accounts to 1–2 cm cm⁻³.
In summer roots penetrate to a depth of 100–150 cm with rooting densities of 0.1 to 1 cm - cm⁻³. Thus, the plants gain not only access to water reserves, but sometimes meet remarkable amounts of nitrate which under the relatively dry conditions of the region tends to accumulate in 60–120 cm depth and – when taken up by the beet plants in the late stage of growth – affects crop quality negatively.     

Effect of supplementing broiler chicken diets with green tea extract on the growth performance,lipid profile,antioxidant status and immune response

1. A trial was conducted to explore the effect of feeding graded concentrations of green tea extract (GTE; 125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg) on the growth performance, serum lipid profile, liver glutathione-reduced, thigh muscle malondialdehyde and humoral immune response against Newcastle disease virus vaccines of broiler chickens from hatching to 42 d of age. The results of broilers fed on GTE were contrasted to those fed on butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT; 125 mg/kg) or unsupplemented controls.

2. The obtained results revealed no significant difference among treatments in the measured growth performance parameters (body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio), per cent liveability and serum lipid profile (total lipid, total cholesterol, high-density, low-density and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterols).

3. Dietary intake of GTE resulted in a significant increase in the liver glutathione-reduced level compared to the control. The glutathione-reduced level of broilers fed on the BHT diet was not significantly different from that of broilers fed on GTE or control diets. Feeding GTE or BHT resulted in a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde level of meat tissue.

4. The specific antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus vaccines was significantly increased at 28 and 35 d of age in broilers fed on diets supplemented with GTE but not with BHT.

5. In conclusion, GTE was found to possess antioxidant and immunostimulant characteristics for broilers when supplemented to their diets, and its optimum inclusion level ranged from 125 to 500 mg/kg.

     

Tibial plateau symmetry and the effect of osteophytosis on tibial plateau angle measurements

A novel technique was developed to estimate the caudal medial tibial plateau landmark in the face of osteophytosis to improve accuracy in tibial plateau angle measurements. Using this technique, tibial plateau angles were evaluated in 31 normal dogs before and 8 months after right cranial cruciate ligament transection. There was no significant difference in mean tibial plateau angle before or after induction of osteophytosis. Additionally, it was determined that 90% of dogs had a difference of =2 degrees between right and left tibial plateau angles, which was considered symmetrical.     

Hydraulic model investigation of downstream erosion of large regulators: a case study

Flow conditions, which could not be explained, occurred in the stilling basin and outfall channel of the Feni Regulator sited at the western end of the Feni River closure dam. This regulator controls outflows from the upstream reservoir which supplies irrigation water to Muhuri Project in Bangladesh. Analysis of flood discharge data revealed that the design discharge for the structure was not exceeded; yet abnormal scour occurred in the outfall channel and the brick block rip-rap placed thereon was damaged. A model study was conducted to understand the causes of such unusual local erosion downstream of the stilling basin and to provide answers to two main questions:

-Is potential scour serious in terms of the stability of the structure?

-What protection measures could be taken to stabilize the scour at a safe level?

Using a 1:30 scale model, the probable maximum scour was simulated, and the performance of alternative rip-rap designs including that of the existing one were examined. The results of this study supplemented by field scour data collected during subsequent flood seasons indicated that even if the flow rate through the regulator approaches the design flood discharge, the downstream scour is not likely to extend up to an elevation of ? 10.7 m, a scour level observed in the previous year at a lower discharge. It also showed that the existing rip-rap blocks were marginally undersized and consequently the rip-rap was prone to failure if flow conditions departed from uniform. A suitable method of scour protection downstream of the stilling basin at the regulator exit also evolved from the study.     

Dactylospongia elegans—A Promising Drug Source: Metabolites,Bioactivities, Biosynthesis,Synthesis, and Structural-Activity Relationship

Marine environment has been identified as a huge reservoir of novel biometabolites that are beneficial for medical treatments, as well as improving human health and well-being. Sponges have been highlighted as one of the most interesting phyla as new metabolites producers. Dactylospongia elegans Thiele (Thorectidae) is a wealth pool of various classes of sesquiterpenes, including hydroquinones, quinones, and tetronic acid derivatives. These metabolites possessed a wide array of potent bioactivities such as antitumor, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. In the current work, the reported metabolites from D. elegans have been reviewed, including their bioactivities, biosynthesis, and synthesis, as well as the structural-activity relationship studies. Reviewing the reported studies revealed that these metabolites could contribute to new drug discovery, however, further mechanistic and in vivo studies of these metabolites are needed.     

Evapotranspiration predictions of CERES-Sorghum model in Southern Italy

The purpose of this study was to modify and calibrate the CERES-Sorghum water balance model for the dry, high radiation and windy conditions in an area in Southern Italy.

The equation for estimating potential evapotranspiration (E₀) was substituted by another one, calibrated in the study site and expressed as a function of equilibrium evaporation and maximum vapour pressure deficit (defined as the difference between the saturation vapour pressure at maximum and at minimum temperatures).

To calibrate the E₀ equation included in CERES-Sorghum, two drainage lysimeters, located at the Istituto Sperimentale Agronomico experimental farm, Foggia (Italy), were used to measure weekly evapotranspiration of well-watered, irrigated fescue grass, from 1976 to 1986.

A further drainage lysimeter, located in the same farm and cropped with well-watered grain sorghum (cv. NK 121) was used to calibrate the genetic coefficients input to the modified CERES-Sorghum model during the cropping seasons 1979 and 1980.

Simulated phenological dates (anthesis and maturity), grain yield, LAI, biomass and crop evapotranspiration were then compared with the measured ones in a fourth drainage lysimeter cropped with sorghum.

The modified model simulated grain yield accurately, but simulated daily evapotranspiration did not always match well the observed value, especially early in the crop cycle. Improvements are needed to the model in its simulation of soil evaporation and in the crop response function to temperature.     

Chemical synthesis of polypyrrole film and its adsorption capacity for aromatic polycarboxylic acids

Polypyrrole (PPy) film was prepared via in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole monomer on the surface of red-clay-brick (RCB) substrate. The deposited PPy film was characterized and used as an adsorbent for removal of benzene polycarboxylic acids from aqueous solutions. The effects of solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature on the adsorption process were systematically investigated to find the optimum operating conditions. Adsorption kinetic data were best fitted by pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption equilibrium data were most represented by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption amounts of Trimellitic, Hemimellitic, and Pyromellitic acids were 189.27, 177.26, and 203.31 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic studies indicate that the adsorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Also, the PPy-RCB film was successfully regenerated using sodium hydroxide solution. The regenerated PPy-RCB can be reused for more than four successive cycles with a low reduction in adsorption efficiency.     

Isolation and characterisation of biologically-active compounds from some plant extracts

Of the numerous fractions obtained from the crude plant extracts of Chenopodium ambrosioides, Conyza dioscordisis and Convolvulus arvensis, 11 were found to be active against stored grain pests. The chemical structures of compounds present in the 11 fractions were found by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to include predominantly long-chain fatty acid esters of hexadecanoic, arachidonic, and octadecanoic acids.     

Effect of different daily doses of gizzerosine on the serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol concentration in laying hens

Five groups of laying hens were treated with different gizzerosine doses (0, 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10.0 mg/kg/body weight of gizzerosine) daily over a 21-day period to determine the serum concentrations of 1.25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D), total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium. Blood samples were taken on days 7, 14, and 21 of the experiment. The concentration of 1,25(OH)2D remained unchanged after day 7 in the gizzerosine-treated birds compared to the control group. After 14 days, it was significantly lower in the birds receiving. gizzerosine, compared with the control group. On day 21, 1,25(OH2)D concentrations were also significantly decreased in all 4 gizzerosine-treated groups compared with the control hens. The serum total calcium, inorganic phosphorus and total magnesium concentrations varied significantly, but irregularly, during the period of the study.