Approaches to increase recovery of bacterial and fungal abortion agents in domestic ruminants

Abortions in domestic ruminants cause significant economic losses to farmers. Determining the cause of an abortion is important for control efforts, but it can be challenging. All available diagnostic methods in the bacteriology laboratory should be employed in every case due to the many limiting factors (autolysis, lack of history, range of samples) that complicate the investigation process. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the recovery of diagnostically significant isolates from domestic ruminant abortion cases could be increased through the use of a combination of the existing aerobic culture and Brucella selective method with methods that are commonly recommended in the literature reporting abortion investigations. These methods are examination of wet preparations and impression smears stained by the modified Ziehl–Neelsen method, anaerobic, microaerophilic, Leptospira, Mycoplasma and fungal culture. Samples of placenta and aborted foetuses from 135 routine clinical abortion cases of cattle (n = 88), sheep (n = 25) and goats (n = 22) were analysed by the new combination of methods. In 46 cases, bacteria were identified as aetiological agents and in one case a fungus. Isolation of Brucella species increased to 7.4% over two years compared with the previous 10 years (7.3%), as well as Campylobacter jejuni (n = 2) and Rhizopus species (n = 1). Salmonella species (5.9%) and Trueperella pyogenes (4.4%) were also isolated more often. In conclusion, the approach was effective in removing test selection bias in the bacteriology laboratory. The importance of performing an in-depth study on the products of abortion by means of an extensive, combination of conventional culture methods was emphasised by increased isolation of Brucella abortus and isolation of C. jejuni. The combination of methods that yielded the most clinically relevant isolates was aerobic, microaerophilic, Brucella and fungal cultures.     

How to consider history in landscape ecology: patterns,processes, and pathways

Landscape Ecology - Landscape ecology early on developed the awareness that central objects of investigation are not stable over time and therefore the historical dimension must be included, or at...     

Positionality and protocol in field research: Undertaking community‐based investigations in Samoa

This article considers the experiences of a Samoan female geographer undertaking community‐based field research in her home country, and identifies some lessons for researchers working in similar circumstances. The paper suggests that ethical behaviour in research is ‘place‐specific’, and there is therefore a need to employ culturally sensitive and ‘location‐specific’ methodologies when undertaking community‐based research fieldwork. For the lead researcher, growing up in Samoa played a significant role in gaining an understanding of a set of robust and effective procedures to evaluate citizens' resilience to climatic and other environmental challenges. Fluency in everyday and more formal local languages, and awareness of local differences, each with multi‐layered connections to local communities, understanding cultural nuances and practising respect for va tapuia [sacred space or relationships] protocols, together facilitated the process of knowledge acquisition and helped to confirm the validity of the conclusions derived from the study.     

新生代员工企业文化内部整合感知对工作满意度的影响研究——基于汽车整车制造业的实证数据

企业文化内部整合两个特质“参与性”与“一致性”对于工作满意度存在积极影响。相比传统员工,新生代员工对于企业文化的内部整合感知对于工作满意度表现出更强的预测作用。管理者应注重新生代员工的参与性激励、团队凝聚力塑造,与其建立民主沟通模式。     

Preparation and Quality Evaluation of Nutritionally Enriched Jam Made from Blends of Indian Blackberry and Other Fruits

Jamun (Syzygium cumini) is a tropical, underutilized fruit which is highly perishable in nature. It is a good source of vitamin C, tannins, gallic acid and anthocyanins and its beneficial effects are mostly due to the presence of bioactive compounds (pigments and phenolic compounds) in it. Due to astringent and fibrous nature, preparation of jam from jamun pulp is quite difficult, but other fruits (apple and kiwifruit) can be incorporated in it to improve its quality. This study aims to develop jam from blends of jamun with other fruits and analyse various physico-chemical, nutritional, textural and sensory properties. It was found that physico-chemical properties of jams were not found to vary greatly, but the jamun–kiwifruit jam was found to have fairly high amount of antioxidants(46.75 ± 0.67%), tartaric acid (26.24 ± 0.02 mg/100g sample), ascorbic acid (0.08 ± 0.01 mg/100 g sample) and lactic acid (23.95 ± 0.01 mg/100g sample) and lowest amount of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (0.38 ± 0.04 mg/100 g sample). Jamun jam and jamun–kiwifruit jam possessed the texture required for jam while jamun–apple jam was found to be a relatively harder gel. Jam made with jamun and kiwifruit pulp was found to have highest acceptability on the basis of sensory evaluation.     

Application of Azotobacter enhances pond productivity and fish biomass in still water ponds

Two strains (derepressed-nitrogen fixing, Mac-27 and phosphate solubilizing, PS-21) of Azotobacter chroococcum were inoculated in fish culture ponds, singly and in combination with inorganic fertilizers (urea, single superphosphate–SSP). Physico-chemical parameters of pond waters, plankton production and fish biomass were studied. Inoculation of A. chroococcum (Mac-27) enhanced nitrogenase activity and rate of nitrogen fixation. A slight reduction in nitrogen fixation and nitrogenase activity was noticed when urea at 96 kg ha–1 y–1 was mixed with the biofertilizer (Mac-27). Inoculation of PS-21 enhanced phosphate solubilization, but Kjeldahl-nitrogen concentration values remained low in comparison with controls. On the other hand, inoculation of Azotobacter (either strain) enhanced the accumulation of ammonium-N, nitrite-N and nitrate-N. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration also took place when Azotobacter (both Mac-27 and PS-21) was inoculated in fish ponds. However, when used along with inorganic fertilizers, the reduction was not significant. The pH values were only slightly lowered when the phosphate-solubilizing strain (PS-21) of Azotobacter was inoculated. Inoculation of biofertilizer enhanced plankton production, net primary productivity and fish biomass. However, highest values in most of these parameters were noticed only in ponds that were treated with the higher doses of inorganic fertilizers (urea 192 kg and SSP 1500 kg ha–1 y–1). © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Influence of in-house produced biochars on cracks and retained water during drying-wetting cycles: comparison between conventional plant,animal, and nano-biochars

Purpose

Biochars produced from different feedstocks (such as wood, pig manure) possess varying physical and chemical properties, which have influence on crack and evaporation rate of biochar-amended soil (BAS). Furthermore, influence of compaction state and drying-wetting cycles on evaporation rate and cracking of BAS has not been investigated comprehensively. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar types, compaction state of BAS, and drying-wetting cycles on crack propagation and retained water (or evaporation rate).

Material and methods

An animal and plant feedstock-based biochars were produced in-house from pig manure (PM) and wood (W), respectively. In addition, nano structured chalk and wheat biochar (CWB) were also produced. Soil amended with individual biochars was compacted in petri-glass discs at two densities. Disc specimens were subjected to multiple drying-wetting cycles, and evaporation rate of specimens and crack area were monitored throughout the experimental period (70 days). Images were captured after every 24 h and processed using image processing technique to obtain the crack intensity factor (CIF).

Results and discussion

The results show that plant-based W BAS showed the high water retention, i.e., low evaporation rate and low CIF. Furthermore, the crack potential of CW BAS was seen to be higher. In dense compacted soil, maximum CIF% can be reduced from 3.9 to 0.4% for W BAS, from 3.9 to 1.7% for PM BAS, and from 3.9 to 1.6% for CW BAS.

Conclusion

WB was able to resist cracking more efficiently than other types of biochar. Evaporation was found to be minimal for plant-based W BAS at 10% biochar percentage. Higher biochar content in soil was seen to increase the water retention of BAS significantly. Dense state of BAS at high biochar content (i.e., 10%) was effective in reducing evaporation rate and crack progression.

     

A Fish of Weedy Waters: Golden Shiner Biology and Culture

The golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas, is a major bait and forage fish species in the USA. Farmers produce millions of golden shiners annually that are distributed live, many across state boundaries. Native over much of the eastern and central USA, this species is often present but rarely abundant in natural systems, as fish density is apparently controlled by predation rather than by food resources. Aquaculture of the golden shiner is a century‐old practice and culture methods have evolved over time, resulting in today's farm‐raised, certified specific pathogen– and aquatic nuisance species–free baitfish. Federal and state agencies and universities have a long history of developing culture methods and promoting baitfish culture to replace the indiscriminate and wasteful harvest of fish from natural waters. Despite advances in culture methods and the advantages of a farm‐raised species produced under controlled and biosecure conditions, golden shiner farming is only marginally profitable and remaining farmers survive on farm equity and increased market share from others exiting the business. Ironically, increasing regulations and restrictions leading to a reduction in the supply of farm‐raised baitfish could drive anglers back to harvesting bait from natural waters, the very concern that initiated government support for baitfish culture a century ago.     

Effects of bark mulch and npk fertilizer on yield,leaf nutrient status and soil mineral nitrogen during three years of strawberry production

The effects of bark mulch and NPK fertilizers on yield and leaf and soil nutrient status of ‘Korona’ strawberry plants (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.), were studied over a period of three years. A significant effect of mulching was found in the first harvest year, but additional fertilizer did not affect total yield. Bark mulch slightly decreased the level of leaf nitrogen, but increased the level of leaf phosphorus and potassium in all years. Bark had a significant, negative effect on soil nitrate and ammonium content in the two first seasons. Mulching increased the soil moisture content in all years.