Investigations on the Behaviour of Fenpropimorph and its Metabolite Fenpropimorphic Acid in Soils

The fate of fenpropimorph and its metabolite fenpropimorphic acid was investigated in a silty sand soil and in a clayey silt soil. In laboratory and field experiments fenpropimorph disappeared without a lag phase. A few days after application fenpropimorphic acid was detected. Additional laboratory experiments with [¹⁴C]fenpropimorph emphasized the significance of mineralization and the formation of non-extractable residues. The determination of soil/water distribution coefficients of parent compound and metabolite yielded a higher leaching potential for fenpropimorphic acid due to its higher polarity. This was confirmed by performing a laboratory column test under worst-case conditions. Under field conditions, however, fenpropimorphic acid was detected only in the superficial soil layers (0–5 cm) of both investigation sites at very low concentrations.     

Changing Genotoxic Effects of a Filter Dust by Elutriation with Different Geologically Relevant Elutriation Media

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - A filter dust of a waste incineration plant provided for underground disposal was elutriated with three different elutriation media possibly be found in...     

Investigations on the metabolic fate of prochloraz in soil under field and laboratory conditions

The degradation of prochloraz in different soils was investigated in field and laboratory experiments. In laboratory degradation experiments in the dark, initial prochloraz concentrations decreased to 30–64% within 56 days, depending on temperature and soil pH. In neutral to basic soils, formation of up to 3.7% of the metabolite prochloraz-urea was observed. The rate of mineralization was strongly pH-dependent, not exceeding 3.2% in the acidic and 18.3% in the neutral to basic soils. Amounts of non-extractable residues ranged from 14 to 31%. Under field conditions, prochloraz disappeared much more rapidly with DT₅₀ values of 11–43 days. The metabolites prochloraz-formylurea and prochloraz-urea were found in significant concentrations. Laboratory experiments with fresh and sterilized soils under UV irradiation confirmed the enhancing effect of light on the formation of the primary metabolite, prochloraz-formylurea. The latter is hydrolysed to prochloraz-urea predominantly by microbial degradation. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

A study on the morphological structure of syrinx in ostriches (Struthio camelus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the topographical, anatomical and histological characteristics of syrinx in five ostriches. It was observed that the syrinx in the ostrich was tracheobronchial type and was composed of three different cartilage groups, namely tympanum, cartilagines (cartt.) tracheosyringeales and cartt. bronchosyringeales. Tympanum and cartt. tracheosyringeales were formed from three and four cartilage rings, respectively, while cartt. bronchosyringeales was formed from three C-shaped cartilage rings. The pessulus did not contain any ossified or cartilaginous tissues and was made up of a double folded mucous membrane extending dorsoventrally from median walls of bronchus primarius into the cavum syringis.     

The effects of seasonal,sex and size on the digestive enzyme activities in freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823)

The effects of seasonal, sex and size on digestive enzyme activities of Astacus leptodactylus in natural habitat were investigated in the present study. The freshwater crayfish were sampled 584 individual as seasonally from Egirdir Lake. Ten male and 10 female individuals were sampled randomly from caught crayfish in each two different size ranges (4.5–7.0, 7.1–9.9 cm) and each season. The gastrointestinal tract, gastric, intestine and midgut gland were individually dissected on ice for enzyme analysis and stomach contents. At the end of the study, amylase activities were affected by interaction of season × sex × size in intestinal, season × sex in midgut gland. However, any interaction was not determined in amylase activities of the gastric. Lipase activities were affected by interaction of season × sex × size in intestinal and gastric, season × sex in midgut gland. The protease activities in each organ were affected by interaction of season, sex and size (p ? .05). In all organs, amylase and lipase activities were similar. However, the highest protease activity was in stomach while the lowest protease activity was the intestine. The protease activities were higher than amylase and lipase activities. There is a positive correlation between protease enzyme activities in gastric with gonad maturation and active feeding period. It can be said based on data of digestive system and high protease activity that A. leptodactylus is an omnivore species in need high protein. In addition, the reason for the low levels of lipase activity may be A. leptodactylus not prefer high fat foods or not fed high fat foods.     

Antifungal effect of Origanum onites essential oil as an alternative to formalin in the artificial incubation of narrow‐clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823)

As alternative to formalin, the antifungal effect of a plant product [Origanum onites L. (Lamiaceae) oil] was investigated for use in the artificial incubation of narrow‐clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz) eggs. For this purpose, this study was conducted as two experiments. In experiment I, the eggs were artificially incubated for 40 days. In experiment II, juveniles were cultured to determine effects of O. onites oil on juveniles for 30 days. The experimental groups were as follows: formalin (3500 ppm for 15 min), O. onites oil (300 ppm for 15 min, 700 ppm for 2 min and 1000 ppm as a dip treatment 15 split‐second) and a control (no treatment). In the experiment I, the highest hatching rate (86%) and survival rate of stage II juveniles (80%) were observed in 1000 ppm dip group. These results were similar to that of formalin group (85% and 79%) respectively. The control group exhibited the lowest hatching rate (49%) and stage II rate (42%) compared with the 1000 ppm dip group and 3500 ppm formalin treatments. However, other concentrations (300 and 700 ppm) of O. onites showed toxic effects on the eggs and there was no hatching. In the experiment II, the survival rate and growth performance of the crayfish juveniles were similar in all groups. This study indicated that the 1000 ppm O. onites dip treatment could be a good alternative to formalin for improved egg hatchability in the artificial incubation of crayfish eggs.     

Sorption behavior of prochloraz in different soils.

The sorption behavior of the imidazole fungicide prochloraz [PCZ; N-propyl-N-[2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxy)ethyl]imidazole-1-carboxamide] was studied in batch experiments with different soils. The soil organic matter content was found to control the amount sorbed by different soils. K(d) values ranged from 56 +/- 0 to 552 +/- 10 (mean = 221 +/- 5) and K(OC) values from 7273 +/- 0 to 16250 +/- 1300 (mean = 11829 +/- 303). As calculated from a linear regression of K(d) versus %OC, K(OC) was 12900 +/- 1300. Additionally, the pH value of the soil had considerable influence on the sorption of the weakly basic PCZ (pK(a) = 3.8), giving rise to stronger sorption at lower pH. K(d) values determined on pH-modified soils confirmed the pH dependency. Sorption isotherms on two soils were recorded, initial concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 5.71 mg L(-)(1). The Freundlich isotherm was fitted to the values measured. The Freundlich exponents calculated were significantly smaller than unity, indicating nonlinear sorption. Sorption experiments with two metabolites of PCZ (PCZ-formylurea and PCZ-urea) revealed K(d) values one-fourth to one-third those for PCZ on two soils.     

Evaluation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of lycorine from Sternbergia fisheriana (Herbert) Rupr

The present study reports the potential antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of lycorine from Sternbergia fischeriana (Herbert) Rupr. (Amaryllidaceae). Lycorine was evaluated on mice by using acetic-acid induced writhing and tail-flick tests. Lycorine exhibited stronger inhibition than aspirin in acetic-acid induced abdominal stretching at 1.0 mg/kg dose. Lycorine also showed antinociceptive activity at 1.0 mg/kg dose in tail-flick test. The anti-inflammatory activity of lycorine was not found to be significant at dose of 0.5 mg/kg. However, at doses of 1.0 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg, i.p. showed a significant reduction with 53.45% and 36.42%, respectively in rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan against the reference anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (3 mg/kg, i.p.) (95.70%). The ED₅₀ of lycorine was determined as 0.514 mg/kg. Hepatoprotective activity of lycorine on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced acute liver toxicity following biochemical parameters were also evaluated. Rats were treated with lycorine at doses of 1.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg, i.p. Results of biochemical tests were confirmed by histopathological examination. Lycorine exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect at dose of 2.0 mg/kg i.p. dose.