Accuracy of the thermodilution method in estimating high flow - an in vitro study

The accuracy of thermodilution for measuring flow rates of 10–40 L/min was evaluated using a commercially available thermodilution cardiac output computer in an in vitro model. Water (36.5–37.5°C) was directed through a mixing chamber via a constant flow pump. Thermodilution estimates of flow using four different volumes (10, 20, 30, 40 ml) of iced water injectate were compared to simultaneous measurements of timed samples of effluent from the mixing chamber. Injectate volume had a significant impact on the accuracy of thermodilution estimation (p < 0.05). Thermodilution overestimated measured flow when 10 and 20 ml of injectate were used to determine flow rates < 20 L/min but underestimated flow when injectate volumes of 30 and 40 ml were used, or when measured flow was > 25 L/min. The discrepancy between thermodilution flow and measured flow increased as rate of fluid flow increased.     

Predicting the degree of phosphorus saturation using the ammonium acetate–EDTA soil test

As a result of the important role played by phosphorus (P) in surface water eutrophication, the susceptibility of soils to release P requires evaluation. The degree of phosphorus saturation, assessed by oxalate extraction (DPS_ox), has been used as an indicator. However, most laboratories do not include DPS_ox in routine soil tests because of cost and time. This study evaluates the suitability of the ammonium acetate extraction in the presence of EDTA (AAEDTA), the standard soil test P (STP) in Wallonia (Southern Belgium), to predict DPS_ox; we also compared it with the Mehlich 3 extraction. Ninety‐three topsoil samples were collected in agricultural soils throughout Wallonia. Good correlations were found between the AAEDTA and the Mehlich 3 methods for P, Fe and Al (r = 0.85, 0.77 and 0.86, respectively). An exponential relationship was found between P_AAEDTA and DPS_ox. Results of principal component analysis and regression demonstrated that STP can be used to predict DPS_ox (r = 0.93) after logarithmic transformation. Soil test Al was also a good indicator of the P sorption capacity (PSC_ox) of soils (r = 0.86). Including the clay fraction in regression equations only slightly improved the prediction of PSC_ox (r = 0.90), while other readily available data (such as pH or organic carbon) did not significantly improve either DPS_ox or PSC_ox predictions.     

Salinity tolerance in young Allis shad larvae (Alosa alosa L.)

Abstract –  Estuarine migration in Allis shad ( Alosa alosa ) usually does not take place before mid-summer, but exposure to salinity in brackish water may occur earlier as many spawning areas are of necessity located in upper estuarine zones due to the placement of dams. Therefore, Allis shad conservation programmes need to consider the risk of mortality due to the ability of young Allis shad to tolerate salinity. To evaluate larval mortality due to the inability of larvae to withstand salinity during early ontogeny, we exposed larvae of different ages (from few days old to 27 days old) to salinities ranging from 0 to 30 g·l⁻¹. Results indicate that direct seawater exposure induces high mortality in young larvae whatever the ontogenetic stage. However, young larvae can easily deal with upper estuary salinity conditions.     

Effects of Magnesium Compound with Fertilizer on Daylily （Hemerocallis citrina Baroni） Growth and Soil Nutrients

Effects of two kinds of magnesium compound with fertilizer on Daylily （Hemerocallis citrina Baroni） growth, yield, and soil nutrients in red soil were studied. The results indicated that significant effects of magnesium applied to soils were observed in increasing Daylily （Hemerocallis citrina Baroni） yield, improving its growth, and strengthening its antivirus property as well as increasing the amount of exchangeable Mg, N, P, and K in red soil. In particular, the effects of magnesium compound fertilizer Ⅱ （MCF2） with higher Mg content were better than that of the others, which increased Daylily （Hemerocallis citrina Baroni） yield by 57.4, 32.8, and 14.5% compared to that of control treatment （CK）, chemical fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium treatment （CF）, and magnesium compound fertilizer Ⅰ treatment （MCF1） with lower Mg content. It increased soil Alkali N, available P, exchangeable K, and exchangeable Mg by 94.9, 46.5, 31.1, and 35.3%, respectively, compared with that of CK treatment. Therefore, the application of magnesium compound with fertilizer is an optimum method for improving red soil quality.     

Use of ongrownArtemia in nursery culturing of the tiger shrimp

Juvenile and adultArtemia produced in a semi flow-through culture system were used as food for postlarval shrimp. The growth performance of shrimp reared on such ongrownArtemia live prey is identical to the growth obtained when feeding newly hatchedArtemia. However, a significantly better stress resistance is obtained when the postlarvae are exposed to a low salinity in a stress test. Besides nutritional and energetic advantages, the use ofArtemia biomass for feeding postlarval shrimp also results in improved economics as expenses for cysts and weaning diets can be reduced.     

Roles of iron and clay in Genesis of acid soils under a humid,temperate climate

The occurence of acid brown soils, podzols and podzolic soils, and the intermediate types of ochreous brown and brown podzolic soils over arenaceous granite in Vosges was closely correlated with the contents of iron rather than with calcium plus magnesium in the parent materials. Acid brown soils were associated with high and podzols and podzolic soils with low contents of iron, the limiting value being near 5 percent. Additional investigations in beech forests of soils derived from a variety of acid rocks indicated that contents of iron and clay in the parent materials controlled the type of humification of litter. With higher contents of iron and clay, humification gave rise to mull. With lower contents, mor or moder was formed. The nature of humification was believed responsible for tilting pedogenesis toward brunification or toward podzolization. In brunification, the clay-iron-humus complexes that are formed tend to be immobile and promote formation of crumbly structure. The “active iron” occurs as films around clay particles and thus links them to humus. In podzolization, on the other hand, the complexes formed are of humus with iron or aluminum but without clay. These are mobile and are translocated downward in profiles to form spodic horizons. The organo-metal complexes in ochreous brown and brown podzolic soils are mobile to only a limited extent. The combined results of these investigations demonstrate that contents of iron and clay rather than calcium in parent materials determine the pathway of pedogenesis from acid rocks under humid, temperate climates.     

Transport of ova through the oviduct of merino ewes

Dissection of the heads of 12 male Red deer revealed that the innervation and blood supply of the antler resembles those in the goat, in that the infratrochlear and zygomaticotemporal nerves supply the antler pedicle accompanied by two main branches of the superficial temporal artery and vein. Analgesia of the antler should be produced by injecting local anaesthetic solution both dorsal to the orbital rim and immediately caudal to the zygomatic process of the frontal bone.