Integration of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) residues with a pre-plant herbicide enhances weed suppression in broad bean (Vicia faba)

Field trial was conducted with the aim of utilizing allelopathic crop residues to reduce the use of synthetic herbicides in broad bean (Vicia faba) fields. Sunflower residue at 600 and 1,400 g m-2 and Treflan (trifluralin) at 50, 75 and 100% of recommended dose were incorporated into the soil alone or in combination with each other. Untreated plots were maintained as a control. Herbicide application in plots amended with sunflower residue had the least total weed count and biomass, which was even better than herbicide used alone. Integration of recommended dose of Treflan with sunflower residue at 1,400 g m-² produced maximum (987.5 g m-2) aboveground biomass of broad bean, which was 74 and 36% higher than control and recommended herbicide dose applied alone, respectively. Combination of herbicide and sunflower residue appeared to better enhance pod number and yield per unit area than herbicide alone. Application of 50% dose of Treflan in plots amended with sunflower residue resulted in similar yield advantage as was noticed with 100% herbicide dose. Chromatographic analysis of residue-infested field soil indicated the presence of several phytotoxic compounds of phenolic nature. Periodic data revealed that maximum suppression in weed density and dry weight synchronized with peak values of phytotoxins observed 4 weeks after incorporation of sunflower residues. Integration of sunflower residues with lower herbicide rates can produce effective weed suppression without compromising yield as a feasible and environmentally sound approach in broad bean fields.

Production of Chemicals from Woody Biomass by Wet Oxidation

The production of chemicals from sawdust by wet oxidation has been investigated. Two different concentrations of sawdust; 54054 mg/l and 32683 mg/l were used in the study. The wet oxidation operating conditions were; 175 deg.C – 225 deg.C, 1MPa Oxygen, and 40 minutes to 120 minutes reaction time. Carboxylic acids were among the chemicals produced in the process. The total yield of carboxylic acids was found to increase with temperature. Also, higher yields of carboxylic acids were observed at a lower sawdust concentration. This was probably due to the high oxygen-biomass ratio at lower sawdust concentration. Higher oxygen availability at low sawdust concentration resulted in increased conversion of the sawdust; hence the higher yields of carboxylic acids. At lower sawdust concentration, a total carboxylic acid yield of 25.59 wt% was attained at 200 deg.C and 40 minutes reaction time. At higher sawdust concentration, a total carboxylic acid yield of 15.57 wt% was attained at 200 deg.C and 40-minutes reaction time. The carboxylic acids identified include formic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid and oxalic acid. The optimum temperature for the production of formic acid was found to be 200 deg.C, while the optimum temperature for the production of acetic acid was found to be 225 deg.C. A temperature of 225 deg.C and relatively short reaction time of 10 minutes was found to be the optimal condition for the production of succinic acid. Formic acid was produced in the highest yield, with an optimal yield of 13.69wt %, when the reaction temperature and time are 200 deg.C and 40 minutes respectively. The yield of formic acid was found to decrease significantly when further increasing the temperature to 225 deg.C. This was presumably due to thermal decomposition of formic acid at relatively higher temperature. However, the yield of acetic acid was found to steadily increase with temperature. This is because acetic is more thermally stable than formic acid. The yield of acetic acid did not decrease after the temperature was increased to 225 deg.C. Optimal yield of acetic acid (7.98wt %) was achieved at; 225 deg.C, and 40 minutes reaction time. Succinic acid was produced only at temperatures of 200 deg.C and 225 deg.C. Optimal yield of succinic acid (5.66wt %) was attained under the following conditions; 32683 mg/l, 225 deg.C, 1MPa O2, and 10-minutes reaction time. Oxalic acid was produced in the lowest yield and, less frequently. The optimal yield of oxalic acid (4.02 wt%) was attained at 175 deg.C and 80-minutes of reaction time The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is found to be higher when increasing the operating temperature, thus suggesting that more organic compounds are formed at higher temperatures. The identified carboxylic acids could only account for less than 30% of the measured COD content of the various wet oxidation samples. This implies that some other unidentified compounds (reaction products) must have been present. In general, wet oxidation seems to be an effective method for converting lignocellulosic biomass into useful chemicals. Relatively higher temperatures have been found to favor the production of carboxylic acids from sawdust.

Infestation of weed species in pre-planting of soybean in succession to winter crops

This study aimed to evaluate different crops and plant species planted after soybeans for one year, in terms of their potential to inhibit the occurrence of weed species. The following crops that were planted as second crop after soybeans were evaluated: (1) corn (Zea mays) planted at spacing of 90 cm between rows, intercropped with Brachiaria ruziziensis in the inter-rows; (2) sunflower (Helianthus annuus); (3) crambe (Crambe abyssinica); (4) radish (Raphanus sativus); (5) rapeseed (Brassica napus); and (6) winter fallow - no plantation after soybeans. Phytosociological characterization of weed species was carried out at the pre-planting of soybeans in the following cropping season. Estimations of relative abundance, relative frequence, relative dominance and Importance Value Index were made for each species present. Areas were also intra-characterized by the diversity coefficients of Simpson and modified Shannon-Weiner, and areas were compared using the Jaccard similarity coefficient for presence-only, by multivariate cluster analysis. In the short‑term (a single cropping season), cultivation of winter crops do contribute for lower occurrence of weed species at the pre-planting of soybeans on the subsequent cropping season. The suppressive effects depend both on the species grown in the winter and in the amount of straw left on the soil by these winter crops. Radish was more efficient in inhibiting the occurrence of weed species and rapeseed showed composition of infestation similar to that observed at the area under fallow.

Herbicide efficacy on Borreria densiflora control in pre- and post-emergence conditions

The weed Borreria densiflora is a management issue in soybean and sugarcane crops from North and Northeastern Brazil. Knowledge upon chemical control of B. densiflora contributes to the integrated management of this weed species, especially when active ingredient options become reduced due to the selection of herbicide resistant or tolerant weed species. Experiments in pre- and post-emergence of B. densiflora were conducted in greenhouse, in a randomized block design and four replications. In pre-emergence, the dose-response curve methodology was used and 7 herbicides were tested. In post-emergence, 9 herbicides at the recommended rate and 4 herbicide mixtures were tested. For pre and post-emergence conditions, evaluations were conducted at 60 and 21 days after treatment (DAT), respectively, and the variables analyzed were weed control and dry weight (%). The results showed options of pre-emergent herbicides that can be used for controlling B. densiflora, especially in sugarcane, where chemical weed control is mainly based on pre-emergent applications. In the current glyphosate resistance scenario, one should consider the use of pre-emergent herbicides within an integrated management of B. densiflora. For satisfactory post-emergence control, B. densiflora plants should be sprayed at the phenological stage of up to three pairs of leaves. Herbicide mixtures have been and will continue to be an important tool in chemical weed management, broadening the spectrum of weed control, while diversifying herbicide mechanisms of action, which helps to prevent or delay the appearance of herbicide resistance.

WEED MANAGEMENT WITH HERBICIDES APPLIED IN PRE AND POSTEMERGENCE ON CASTOR CROP

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate the weed management with herbicides applied in pre and postemergence on castor crop. The treatments were constituted by management systems using herbicides in pre (PRE) and postemergence (POS): 1) S-metolachlor at 576 g ha-1 (PRE 1) and chlorimuron-methyl at 15 g ha-1 (POS 1); 2) PRE 1 + clomazone at 650 g ha-1(PRE 2) and POS 1; 3) PRE 1, POS 1 and halosulfuron-methyl at 112.5 g ha-1(POS 2); 4) PRE 1, POS 1 and ethoxysulfuron at 60 g ha-1 (POS 3); 5) PRE 1, POS 1 and ethoxysulfuron at 120 g ha-1 (POS 4); 6) PRE 1 + PRE 2, POS 1 and POS 2; 7) PRE 1 + PRE 2, POS 1 and POS 3; 8) PRE 1 + PRE 2, POS 1 and POS 4; 9) hand-hoeing control and 10) non-weeded control. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The association of the herbicides in PRE combined to sequence applications of chlorimuron-ethyl and halosulfuron-methyl or ethoxysulfuron in POS resulted in the highest control levels of Richardia scabraand Cyperus ferax. Mild phytointoxication symptoms to the crop were more persistent with ethoxysulfuron at 120 g ha-1. The acceptable control of the weed species and similar yield to the hand-hoeing control permitted to conclude that S-metolachlor + clomazone PRE, followed by chlorimuron-ethyl and halosulfuron-methyl POS proved to be more adequate as a weed management strategy on castor crop.

Nova tabula magni ducatus Finlandiae in provincias divisa, multis locis aucta et correcta pre F. de Witt

1 kartta :, käsinvär. ;, 44,2 x 53,4 cm, lehti 53 x 62 cm

Description de la Tartarie tirée en partie de plusieurs cartes qui en ont esté faictes en partie de diverses relations et de divers autheurs arabes qui ont esté au jour jusques à présent

Julkaisussa: Cartes générales de la géographie ancienne et nouvelle, ou les empires, monarchies, royaumes, estats, républiques, et peuples. Vol I

L'Asie divisée en ses principales régions, et ou se peuvent voir l'estendue des empires, monarchies, royaumes et estats qui partagent présentement l'Asie

Nimeke- ja tekijätiedot nimiönkehyksissä

Pre- and postnatal nutrition – target for allergy risk reduction

A rapid increase in allergic diseases in Western societies has led to the conclusion that our modern lifestyle is a risk factor for immune dysregulation. Potential culprits and benefactors are searched among early dietary and microbial exposures, which may act to program later allergic disease. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of early maternal and child nutrition in reducing the risk of child allergy. The study population comprised of 256 mother – child pairs from families with a history of allergy participating in a randomized controlled dietary counseling and probiotic intervention (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12) study from early pregnancy onwards. The dietary counseling aimed for a diet complying with dietary recommendations for pregnant and lactating women, with special attention to fat quality. Maternal dietary counseling was reflected in cord blood fatty acids suggesting better essential fatty acid status in infants in the counseling group. Dietary counseling with probiotics or placebo had no effect on child allergy risk, but associations between maternal diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding and child allergic outcomes were found in secondary analyses. During pregnancy, milk intake was related to decreased and cheese intake to increased risk of child atopic eczema. During breastfeeding, intake of vitamin C was related to increased risk of asthma and intake of egg was related to decreased risk of atopic eczema. The timing of introduction of complementary foods to infant’s diet was not associated with risk of atopic eczema, when adjusted with parental opinion of child allergic symptoms (i.e., potential reverse causality). In conclusion, the results demonstrate that infant fatty acid supply can be modified via maternal dietary changes. In addition, interesting associations of maternal diet with child allergy risk were discovered. However, no difference in the incidence of allergic diseases with dietary counseling was observed. This suggests that more potent dietary interventions might be necessitated to induce clinical risk reduction of allergy. Highrisk families can safely adhere to dietary recommendations for pregnant and lactating women, and the results support the current conception that no additional benefit is gained with delaying introduction of complementary feeding.

Short duration of neutralizing antibody titers after pre-exposure rabies vaccination with suckling mouse brain vaccine

The human anti-rabies pre-exposure treatment currently used in Brazil, employing a 1-ml dose of suckling mouse brain vaccine (SMBV) administered on days 0, 2, 4 and 28, was compared to an alternative treatment with two 1 ml-doses on day 0, and one 1 ml-dose injected on days 7 and 21. The latter induced higher virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) titers on day 21. Both Brazilian rabies vaccines produced with PV or CVS rabies virus strains were tested. Two additional volunteer vaccinee groups, receiving the pre-exposure and the abbreviated post-exposure schedules recommended by the WHO using cell-culture vaccine (CCV) produced with PM rabies virus strain, were included as reference. The VNA were measured against both PV and CVS strains on days 21, 42 and 180 by the cell-culture neutralization microtest. The PV-SMBV elicited higher seroconversion rates and VNA by day 21 than the CVS-SMBV. Both, however, failed to induce a long-term immunity, since VNA titers were <0.5 IU/ml on day 180, regardless of the schedule used. Cell-culture vaccine always elicited very high VNA on all days of collection. When serum samples from people receiving mouse brain tissue were titrated against the PV and CVS strains, the VNA obtained were similar, regardless of the vaccinal strain and the virus used in the neutralization test. These results contrast with those obtained with sera from people receiving PM-CCV, whose VNA were significantly higher when tested against the CVS strain.

Plan de Paris dedié à Messieurs les Prévôt des Marchands et Échevins de la ville

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Promoting Cleantech in Emerging Markets: Business Model for Waste Pre-treatment Equipment in China

Waste incineration is becoming increasingly widespread method of waste disposal in China. Incineration plants mostly use grate and circular fluidized bed (CFB) technology. Waste combustion in cement production is also beginning to gradually increase. However, Chinese waste composition is causing problems for the energy utilization. Mechanical waste pre-treatment optimizes the combustion process and facilitates the energy recovery. The objective of this study is to identify how Western waste pre-treatment manufacturer could operate in Chinese markets. Chinese waste management industry is reviewed via PESTEL analysis. The current state and future predictions of grate and CFB incineration as well as cement manufacturing are monitored. Grate combustion, which requires lesser waste pre-treatment, is becoming more common at the expense of CFB incineration in China. The most promising future for waste treatment is in cement production industry. Waste treatment equipment manufacturer should try to create pilot projects with biggest cement producers with a view of growing co-operation in the future.

Effect of acute and repeated restraint stress on glucose oxidation to CO2 in hippocampal and cerebral cortex slices

It has been suggested that glucocorticoids released during stress might impair neuronal function by decreasing glucose uptake by hippocampal neurons. Previous work has demonstrated that glucose uptake is reduced in hippocampal and cerebral cortex slices 24 h after exposure to acute stress, while no effect was observed after repeated stress. Here, we report the effect of acute and repeated restraint stress on glucose oxidation to CO2 in hippocampal and cerebral cortex slices and on plasma glucose and corticosterone levels. Male adult Wistar rats were exposed to restraint 1 h/day for 50 days in the chronic model. In the acute model there was a single exposure. Immediately or 24 h after stress, the animals were sacrificed and the hippocampus and cerebral cortex were dissected, sliced, and incubated with Krebs buffer, pH 7.4, containing 5 mM glucose and 0.2 µCi D-[U-14C] glucose. CO2 production from glucose was estimated. Trunk blood was also collected, and both corticosterone and glucose were measured. The results showed that corticosterone levels after exposure to acute restraint were increased, but the increase was smaller when the animals were submitted to repeated stress. Blood glucose levels increased after both acute and repeated stress. However, glucose utilization, measured as CO2 production in hippocampal and cerebral cortex slices, was the same in stressed and control groups under conditions of both acute and chronic stress. We conclude that, although stress may induce a decrease in glucose uptake, this effect is not sufficient to affect the energy metabolism of these cells.

Modulation of the perception of temporal order by attentional and pre-attentional factors

When two stimuli are presented simultaneously to an observer, the perceived temporal order does not always correspond to the actual one. In three experiments we examined how the location and spatial predictability of visual stimuli modulate the perception of temporal order. Thirty-two participants had to report the temporal order of appearance of two visual stimuli. In Experiment 1, both stimuli were presented at the same eccentricity and no perceptual asynchrony between them was found. In Experiment 2, one stimulus was presented close to the fixation point and the other, peripheral, stimulus was presented in separate blocks in two eccentricities (4.8º and 9.6º). We found that the peripheral stimulus was perceived to be delayed in relation to the central one, with no significant difference between the delays obtained in the two eccentricities. In Experiment 3, using three eccentricities (2.5º, 7.3º and 12.1º) for the presentation of the peripheral stimulus, we compared a condition in which its location was highly predictable with two other conditions in which its location was progressively less predictable. Here, the perception of the peripheral stimulus was also delayed in relation to the central one, with this delay depending on both the eccentricity and predictability of the stimulus. We argue that attentional deployment, manipulated by the spatial predictability of the stimulus, seems to play an important role in the temporal order perception of visual stimuli. Yet, under whichever condition of spatial predictability, basic sensory and attentional processes are unavoidably entangled and both factors must concur to the perception of temporal order.