Rapid typing of P multocida

Fowl cholera, caused by P. multocida, is a serious disease of poultry with sudden surges in mortality and an emerging disease of the free ranged poultry industries. This project will develop a more rapid and cost effective screening method for P. multocida. The impacts of this new method are manifold: It will lead to an improved understanding of the epidemiology of fowl cholera and the possible sources of entry onto the farm leading to improved biosecurity measures and control programs. Another impact is improved serotyping, which will ensure more effective and targeted vaccination programs. Improving prevention and control programs and decreasing the reliance on antibiotics will enhance the sustainability and profitability of the industry.

Invasion impacts on biodiversity: responses of ant communities to infestation by cat’s claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae) in subtropical Australia

Ants are the dominant soil faunal group in many if not most terrestrial ecosystems, and play a key role in soil structure and function. This study documents the impacts of invasion by the exotic cat’s claw creeper vine, Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) Gentry (Bignoniaceae) on surface-situated (epigaeic) and subterranean (hypogaeic) ant communities in subtropical SE Queensland Australia where it is a major environmental weed of riparian areas, rainforest communities and remnant natural vegetation, smothering standing vegetation and causing canopy collapse. Soil ants were sampled in infested and uninfested areas at eight sites spanning both riparian and non-riparian habitats in subtropical SE Queensland. Patterns of ant species composition and functional grouping in response to patch invasion status, landscape type and habitat stratum were investigated using ANOVA and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination. The epigaeic and subterranean strata supported markedly different ant assemblages, and ant communities also differed between riparian and non-riparian habitats. However, M. unguis-cati invasion had a surprisingly limited impact. There was a tendency for ant abundance and species richness to be lower in infested patches, and overall species composition was different between infested and uninfested patches, but these differences were relatively small, and did not occur consistently across sites. There were changes in functional group composition that conformed to known functional group responses to environmental change, but these were similarly limited and inconsistent across sites. Our study has shown that ant communities are surprisingly resilient to invasion by M. unguis-cati, and serves as a warning against making assumptions about invasion impacts based on visual appearances.

NMR study of the oil build-up in sunflower seeds

THE use of NMR to investigate the quality of the oil as a function of maturity of the seeds is demonstrated for sunflower seeds. The percentages of the saturated and individual unsaturated aids are determined as a function of time after flowering of the seeds. The percentage of saturated fatty acids is found to decrease with maturity of seeds whereas the extent of the unsaturated acids increases.

NMR spectra of 2-fluoropyridine in nematic liquid crystals

The NMR spectra of 2-fluoropyridine in two nematic liquid crystal solvents have been investigated. The direct dipole-dipole coupling constants thus derived have been used to obtain the structural information. The values of the interproton distance ratios arc found to be similar to those in pyridine. The results indicate negligible anisotropic contributions of lH-l9F indirect couplings.

Interrupted creep behaviour of Mg alloys developed for powertrain applications

A conventional magnesium alloy, AZ91D, and two creep resistant magnesium alloys, developed for powertrain applications, MRI 153M and MRI 230D, are prepared by high pressure die casting. These alloys are tested for their creep behaviour in the continuous manner, as is the Current practice, and in the interrupted manner, which represents the real life Situation more closely. It is observed that the interrupted creep tests give rise to a primary creep appearing at the beginning of each cycle resulting in a higher average strain rate than that encountered in the continuous creep tests. Further, the shorter the cycle time, higher is the average strain rate in the interrupted creep tests. A higher average strain rate will give rise to a higher strain over the same period. This is attributed to the recovery taking place during the cooling and heating between two cycles. The effect of additional precipitation during interrupted creep tests depends on the nature of the precipitates. The additional precipitation of beta phase during the cooling and heating between two cycles increases the steady state strain rate in the AZ91D and MRI 153M alloys. whereas the additional precipitation of C36 phase during the cooling and heating between two cycles decreases the steady state strain rate in the MRI 230D alloy. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, spectral and structural studies on metal complexes of Schiff bases involving vitamin B6 and histamine

Six metal complexes of Schiff bases involving Vitamin B6 and the decarboxylated amino acid histamine have been synthesised and characterized. Crystal structures have been determined for [CuL1(H2O)Br]-NO31(L1= pyridoxylidenehistamine) and [Cu2L22(NO3)2]·6H2O 2(L2= 5′-phosphopyridoxylidenehistaminate). The crystal structure of complex 1[space group P[1 with combining macron], a= 8.161(2), b= 10.368(2), c= 11.110(2)Å, α= 105.18(1), β= 102.12(1), γ= 72.10(1)° and Z= 2; R= 0.072, R′= 0.083] consists of square-pyramidally co-ordinated copper with the tridentate Schiff base in the zwitterionic form, whereas in 2[space group P[1 with combining macron], a= 8.727(1), b= 10.308(1), c= 12.845(2)Å, α= 110.00(1), β= 78.94(1), γ= 114.35(1)° and Z= 1; R= 0.035, R′= 0.034] the copper has the same co-ordination geometry but the tetradentate Schiff-base ligand exists as a monoanion. The conformational parameters deduced from such structures are important for understanding the stereochemical aspects of Vitamin B6-catalysed model reactions involving histidine.

Influencia de la rotación de cultivos y control de malezas sobre la cenosis y el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento del cultivo de la soya (Glycine max (L) Merr) c.v. cristalina

Con el objetivo de determinar la influencia de dos rotaciones y tres métodos de control de malezas sobre el crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento de la soya se realizó un estudio en los terrenos de la Hacienda "Las Mercedes" en Managua, sobre un suelo de textura arcillosa. La siembra se realizó el siete de septiembre de 1990, utilizando un diseño en bloques completos al azar en parcelas divididas con cuatro réplicas. Siendo el factor "A": rotación; a3 = maíz, a4 = pepino; y el factor "B": Métodos de control de malezas; b1 = químico, b2 = período crítico, b3=limpia periódica. Los resultados reflejan que el cultivo antecedente maíz representa menor abundancia, cobertura y biomasa de malezas a la cosecha de la soya, siendo la especie más abundante Rottboellia cochinchinensis. El cultivo antecedente pepino presenta la menor diversidad, con mayor abundancia de la especie R. cochinchinensis seguida de Cyperus rotundus. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas solamente en altura de planta a los 27 y 42 días después de la siembra a favor del cultivo antecedente maíz, también se obtuvo mayor número de plantas 39.4 pta/m2, altura de plantas 63.9 cm, número de vainas por plantas 13.92, número de ramas por planta 1.4, diámetro del tallo 3.98 mm, peso seco de paja 4824.5 kg/ha y rendimiento de grano 2289.42 kg/ha. Respecto a los métodos de control la menor abundancia, cobertura y biomasa de malezas se presentó en limpia periódica y el mayor valor el control químico fomesafén en post-emergencia. La diversidad al momento de la cosecha fue similar en los controles limpia periódica y período crítico. Las variables de crecimiento, desarrollo y rendimiento presentaron diferencias significativas para altura de plantas 67.3 cm a favor del control químico; número de semillas por vaina 2.80 a favor de periodo crítico; número de nódulos por planta en R5 14.25, número de ramas por planta 2.4, número de vainas 24.75, diámetro del tallo 5.0 mm, peso seco de paja 7645.8 kg/ha, peso de 1000 semillas 153 g y rendimiento del grano 4141.5 kg/ha a favor del control limpia periódica. En el control químico se presentó el menor número de semillas por vaina 2.55, vainas por planta 5.5, peso seco de nódulos: R1=0.15 g/pta y R5=0.34 g/pta y rendimiento con 832 kg/ha.

Immunosensor Interface Based on Physical and Chemical Immunogylobulin G Adsorption onto Mixed Self-Assembled Monolayers

An immunosensor interface based on mixed hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of methyl and carboxylic acid terminated thiols with covalently attached human Immunoglobulin G (hIgG), is investigated. The densely packed and organised SAMs were characterised by contact angle measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The effect of the non-ionic surfactant, Tween 20, in preventing nonspecific adsorption is addressed by ellipsometry during physical and covalent hIgG immobilization on pure and mixed SAMs, respectively. It is clearly demonstrated that nonspecific adsorption due to hydrophobic interactions of hIgG on methyl ended groups is totally inhibited, whereas electrostatic/hydrogen bonding interactions with the exposed carboxylic groups prevail in the presence of surfactant. Results of ellipsometry and Atomic Force Microscopy, reveal that the surface concentration of covalently immobilized hIgG is determined by the ratio of COOH/CH3-terminated thiols in SAM forming solution. Moreover, the ellipsometric data demonstrates that the ratio of bound anti-hIgG/hIgG depends on the density of hIgG on the surface and that the highest ratio is close to three. We also report the selectivity and high sensitivity achieved by chronoamperometry in the detection of adsorbed hIgG and the reaction with its antibody.

Estudio de tres densidades de siembra sobre el rendimiento industrial de tres variedades de tabaco habano (Nicotiana tabacum L.) en el Municipio de Condega, Estelí

El presente estudio se desarrolló en la finca “Cerro Azul”, Comunidad de San Pedro, municipio de Condega, Estelí, situado a 620 msnm, 14 ̊ 72’ 24’’ Latitud Norte y 86 ̊ 56’ 30’’ Longitud Oeste, con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de tres densidades de siembra (26814, 30629 y 37725 plantas ha -1 ) sobre el rendimiento de tres variedades de tabaco habano (Habano Criollo 751, Habano 2000 y Habano 98). Los tratamientos se establecieron en febrero-2004 sobre un diseño en Bloques Completos al Azar con arreglos en Parcelas Divididas con cuatro réplicas. Los resultados fueron sujetos a un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y categorización de medias según Tukey ( ∞ =0.05). Los resultados determinaron que las distancias no presentaron efecto significativo en las variables evaluadas, con excepción del peso final al beneficiado. Asimismo, las variedades demostraron alta significación estadística en la altura de planta y cortes realizados. El cultivar Habano 98 con la menor densidad presentó la mejor relación Beneficio/Costo, obteniendo una ganancia de 2.03 dólar por cada dólar invertido.

Cruise 6 of the N. B. Scofield for 1953. Cruise Report 53-S-6

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Evolução geológica do Complexo Quirino, Terreno Paraíba do Sul, Setor Central da Faixa Ribeira, com base em dados isotópicos de Sm-Nd e Sr

A área estudada está inserida na Faixa Ribeira, Segmento Central da Província Mantiqueira (Almeida et al., 1973, 1977, 1981), que representa um cinturão de dobramentos e empurrões gerado no Neo-proterozóico/Cambriano, durante a Orogênese Brasiliana, na borda sul/sudeste do Cráton do São Francisco (Almeida, 1971, 1977; Cordani et al., 1967, 1973; Cordani & Brito Neves, 1982; Teixeira & Figueiredo, 1991). Neste contexto, o Complexo Quirino é o embasamento retrabalhado do Terreno Paraíba do Sul (Heilbron et al., 2004). O Complexo Quirino é formado por extensos corpos de ortognaisses foliados a homogêneos, leuco a mesocráticos, de granulometria média à grossa, composicionalmente variando entre granitóides tonalíticos/granodioríticos a graníticos, e apresentando enclaves de rochas ultramáficas, máficas e cálcio-silicáticas (ricas em tremolita). Os ortognaisses tonalíticos/granodioríticos apresentam porfiroblastos de plagioclásio e a hornblenda como máfico principal, contrastando com os de composição granítica que apresentam porfiroblastos de K-feldspato e biotita predominante. Como acessórios aparecem zircão, titanita, apatita e epidoto. Também estão associados a estes ortognaisses, granitóides neoproterozóicos que formam corpos individualizados ou lentes anatéticas no conjunto paleoproterozóico. Estes são compostos predominantemente por biotita gnaisse e hornblenda-biotita gnaisse. A análise litogeoquímicas dos ortognaisses do Complexo Quirino demonstrou a existência de duas séries magmáticas distintas. A primeira pertencente à série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K apresenta uma composição mais expandida granítica-adamelítica/granodioritica/tonalítica e é correlacionável aos bt-ortognaisses e alguns hb-bt-ortognaisses. Os ortognaisses da série médio-K apresentam composição predominantemente tonalítica, sendo correlacionáveis à maioria dos hornblenda-biotita gnaisses. Enclaves lenticulares de metapiroxeníticos e anfibolíticos ocorrem em muitos afloramentos. Também ocorrem granitóides neoproterozóicos de composição graníticas a quartzo-monzoníticas O estudo isotópico de Sm-Nd e Sr demonstrou que os ortognaisses da série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K e aqueles da série cálcio-alcalina de médio-K possuem idades modelo TDM variando entre paleoproterozóicas a arqueanas, consistentes com dados U-Pb em zircão publicados na literatura. A série cálcio-alcalina de alto-K é mais antiga (2308 9,2 Ma a 2185 8 Ma) do que a série calcio-alcalina de médio-K (2169 3 a 2136 14 Ma) e a existência de zircões herdados com idades mínimas de 2846 Ma e 2981 Ma para série de médio-K e 3388 16 para série de alto-K. Os granitóides brasilianos possuem idades de cristalização neoproterozóica correlacionada a Orogênese Brasiliana (602 a 627 Ma) (Viana, 2008; Valladares et al., 2002)./Com base nos dados de Sr e Sm-Nd foi possível caracterizar 4 grupos distintos. Os grupos 1 e 2 são formados por rochas de idade paleoproterozóica (2,1 a 2,3 Ga) com idades modelo TDM variando de 2,9 e 3,4 Ga, εNd entre -8,1 e -5,8 e 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0,694707 (Grupo 1) e TDM variando de 2,5 a 2,7 Ga, εNd entre -5,8 e -3,1 e 87Sr/86Sr(t) = 0,680824 (Grupo 2), formados no paleoproterozóico com contribuição de uma crosta arqueana. O grupo 3 é formado por rochas juvenis de idade paleoproterozóica, com idades de cristalização variando entre 2,0 e 2,2 Ga e com idades modelo TDM variando de 2,1 a 2,2 Ga e εNd entre + 1,5 e + 1,2. O grupo 4 é formado durante o neoproterozóico (645 Ma) por rochas possivelmente de idade paleoproterozóico com idades modelo TDM igual a 1,7 Ga e εNd igual a -8,3.

贵州四个山羊品种mtDNA多态性及起源分化

采用15种限制性内切酶,研究贵州省4个山羊(capra sp.)品种共93只个体的线粒体DNA多态性。其中BamHI、HindIII和SalI3种酶的酶切类型存在多态。共检测到18种限制性态型,归结为3种mtDNA单倍型。单倍型I和II在贵州山羊4个品种中分布频率较高,分别为77.42%和21.50%,单倍型III分布频率较低(1.08%);品种间亲缘关系聚类分析表明白山羊和黑山羊亲缘关系最近,其次为黔北麻羊,而与小香羊的亲缘关系最远。