Selectivity in a trawl codend during haul-back operation—An overlooked phenomenon

The selectivity of a 99 mm trawl codend was assessed using a codend cover fitted with a MultiSampler, which was acoustically triggered to take separate samples at three different phases of the haul. The first sample was collected during towing, the second during haul-up and the third at the surface. A total of 18 hauls were conducted with a commercial fishing vessel west of Scotland. It was demonstrated that escapes take place not only during the tow but also in the short period when the trawl is hauled back from the seabed and when the codend is at the surface. For haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), respectively, the mean percentages escaping at the surface were 16, 12 and 38% of the total escape while 17, 8 and 28% escaped during the haul-up phase. Compared to towing, the escape rate (no./min) increased for haddock by a factor 2.7 during haul-up and by a factor 1.7 at the surface, whereas the escape rates of whiting were similar for the three phases. The escape rate of Norway lobster increased by a factor of approximately 7 for both the haul-up and surface phases, compared to the towing phase. The selectivity parameters L50 (50% retention length) and SR (selection range = L75–L25) were estimated and compared for the three different phases and for the whole haul for haddock, whiting and Norway lobster. For all three species there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in L50 between the three phases of the haul. There was also no significant difference for whiting and Norway lobster when comparing the SR of the three phases, whereas the SR was significantly lower for haddock when comparing the surface phase with towing and haul-up. The estimate of L50 when towing was about 6 cm lower for haddock and whiting and 9 mm for Norway lobster compared to the selection curve estimated conventionally for the whole haul. Finally, the effect of sea state, duration and codend catch on the selectivity parameters were estimated for the individual phases and for the whole haul. A significant effect of at least one variable was found in all phases.     

Effect of precooling at 5 or −1°C on shoot growth,flowering and carbohydrate metabolism in tulip bulbs

Precooling of dry tulip bulbs at ?1°C may be advantageous, compared with precooling at 5°C. Increasing the duration of precooling enhanced the growth of the shoots after planting, improved flower quality, and reduced the number of days to flower. The positive benefit of a stepwise precooling (5°C for 3 weeks, then ?1°C) was evident.Shoot elongation was promoted, and number of days to flower was reduced when the bulbs were precooled at ?1°C for less than 12 weeks. Extension of precooling beyond 12 weeks, however, was more effective with 5°C precooling. With few exceptions, sufficient precooling at either 5 or ?1°C gave a high percentage of flowering plants with first-quality flowers. Short durations (6–8 weeks) of precooling sometimes promoted flower blasting.Precooling at 5 or ?1°C had a similar effect upon the carbohydrate interconversion in scales and shoots of the bulbs, which as a rule is more pronounced at the lower temperature. The shoots accumulated sucrose, and to some extent fructosyl sucroses, during the 15 weeks precooling. Starch was also accumulated, the highest concentration being obtained at 5°C. The amount of starch was reduced in the scales during precooling, while the concentration of sucrose and fructosyl sucroses increased to a maximum value and then slowly diminished after about 9 weeks of precooling. The monosaccharides, glucose and fructose showed very small variations.     

Growth of pot roses and post-harvest rate of water loss as affected by air humidity and temperature variations during growth under continuous light

The effect of diurnal variations in air humidity and temperature under continuous lighting period (LP) on growth, flowering and water loss were studied in two pot-rose cultivars.     

Staphylococcal Nuclease in Udder Secretions of Cows with Acute Mastitis

High concentrations of nuclease produced by Staphylococcus aureus were demonstrated within a few hours by direct examination of udder secretions from cows with a severe staphylococcal mastitis. A positive correlation between the nuclease concentration and the severity of the mastitis was found. The cows with high nuclease concentrations were generally young individuals and/or in the first 2 weeks of the lactation period. Most had a low titre of antibodies against staphylococcal nuclease. Two-thirds of the cows in which high nuclease concentrations were demonstrated were culled or died because of the mastitis attack.The role which nuclease plays for staphylococcal virulence is discussed, and it is concluded that nuclease contributes to the pathogenicity of S. aureus.     

An Improved Bacteriological Method for the Detection of Sulfonamide Residues in Food

The addition of trimethoprim to Mueller-Hinton medium was found to improve the sensitivity of test bacteria towards sulfonamides by 20—50 times. Depending on the test bacteria used, the optimal concentrations of trimethoprim added to the medium are 1 μg per ml (Micrococcus luteus), 0.25 μg per ml (Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis) and 0.1 μg per ml (Bacillus megaterium). Using Micrococcus luteus or Bacillus megaterium a concentration of 0.25 μg sulfanilamide per ml may be detected, and 0.1 μg per ml may be detected when Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis is used.     

Reactive and nonreactive scattering of H2 from a metal surface is electronically adiabatic

The Born-Oppenheimer approximation of uncoupled electronic and nuclear motion is a standard tool of the computational chemist. However, its validity for molecule-metal surface reactions, which are important to heterogeneous catalysis, has been questioned because of the possibility of electron-hole pair excitations. We have performed experiments and calculations on the scattering of molecular hydrogen from a catalytically relevant metal surface, obtaining absolute probabilities for changes in the molecule's velocity parallel to the representative Pt(111) surface. The comparison for in-plane and out-of-plane scattering and results for dissociative chemisorption in the same system show that for hydrogen-metal systems, reaction and diffractive scattering can be accurately described using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation.     

Landscape practise and key concepts for landscape sustainability

Conceptual frameworks which have seen man and nature as being an integrated whole were widespread before they became suppressed by developments within both capitalism and socialism. Therefore an idealistic use of such concepts in scientific work has often had limited practical value. At the same time, the practice behind such conceptual frameworks has survived in many land use systems, being a fundamental source of inspiration for the modern challenge of landscape sustainability. Here, the concept and practice of carrying capacity is used as an example. We provide a modern interpretation and relate it to an empirical study of sustainable tourism in eight protected areas and their regions in the Baltic. They are subject to large differences in human pressure. The political commitment to the related EU Natura 2000 networks has been taken as our point of departure for a more detailed analysis of accessibility and its related conflicts, and opportunities for a sustainable development of tourism in and around the protected areas. It is concluded that the concept of carrying capacity cannot meaningfully be used for sustainability studies at an abstract conceptual level, but proves its relevance through a detailed context specific analyses of visitor related conflicts.     

Measurement of Staphylococcus Aureus Nuclease and Antinucleases: Applicability for The Assessment of Mastitic Milk

The concentration of the nuclease produced by Staphylococcus aureus and titres of antinucleases were determined in the udder secretions of 539 cows, most of them with clinical S. aureus mastitis. On average, the nuclease was detected in 85 % of the samples from mastitic quarters. In milk from most cows, antinucleases neutralize the activity of the nuclease, and a successful demonstration of this thermostable enzyme presupposed the inactivation of antibodies by heating the samples on boiling water-bath. The nuclease was demonstrated most frequently, and at highest concentration, in samples from cows with a severe mastitis and from cows which did not recover completely.The test for nuclease, performed out both non-heated and heated quarter samples, and the antimuclease test, may supplement conventional laboratory methods. The advantages and limitations of the methods in the diagnosis of mastitis are discussed.     

The Inhibition of Clostridium Botulinum Type B and E in Salami Sausage

Vegetative cells and spores of Clostridium botulinum type B and E were inoculated into salami sausages with and without the preservatives sodium nitrite and sodium benzoate. The growth and toxin production of Clostridium botulinum type B and E were inhibited in this type of salami sausages, even without any addition of preservatives. The use of a starter culture with pH-lowering components has both technological and hygienic advantages.