Iteratio: Calculating environmental indicator values for species and relevés.

Question: Is it possible to translate vegetation maps into reliable thematic maps of site conditions? Method: This paper presents a new method, called Iteratio, by which a coherent spatial overview of specific environmental conditions can be obtained from a comprehensive vegetation survey of a specific area. Iteratio is a database application which calculates environmental indicator values for vegetation samples (relevés) on the basis of known indicator values of a limited number of plant species. The outcome is then linked to a digitalized vegetation map (map of plant communities) which results in a spatial overview of site conditions. Iteratio requires the indicator values of a minimum of 10–20% of the species occurring. The species are given a relative weight according to their amplitudes: species with a narrow range are weighted stronger, species with a broad range are weighted weaker. Conclusion: The method presented here enables a coherent assessment of site conditions on the basis of a vegetation survey and the indicator values of a limited number of plant species

Marine Secondary Metabolites (MSM) from Macro Algae Enhance Bacterial Clearance in Hemolymph of Penaeus monodon

Marine secondary metabolites (MSM) from macro algae were incorporated into four experimental feeds for juvenile shrimp (Penaeus monodon) as follows: 1.0% Hypnea musciformis extract (diet 1); 0.1% H. musciformis extract (diet 2); 1.0% H. musciformis extract with 500 mg Ulva fasciata extract and 50 mg of the antibiotic levamisole (diet 3); 1.0% H. musciformis with 500 mg U. fasciata per kg body weight (diet 4). Diet 3 enhanced bacterial clearance to 99.69% in the hemolymph of shrimp challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio fischeri,significantlyhigherthanclearanceratesinall other treatments and the unmedicated control. Results suggest that feed containing MSM is a good alternative to application of antibiotics in controlling bacterial diseases in shrim

THE OPTIMIZATION OF FLOW RATES OF AN EXTRUDER

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The article addresses how the flow rates of an extruder can be optimized. It mentions the plastic recycling industry as an example, which is only one of many solid waste recycling industries. The literature on flow rates is reviewed to demonstrate a gap that the current study aims to fills, in the hope that it will stimulate further research in a fertile area.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die artikel adresseer die vraagstuk van vloeitempo van ‘n ekstrusieproses. Dit handel met ‘n voorbeeld van ‘n plastiekherwinningsproses wat spruit uit soliede afvalverwerking. ‘n Literatuurstudie toon hoedat die navorsing verdere areas wat braak lê, aanspreek in die hoop dat verdere studie gestimuleer sal word.</p&gt

Soil suppressiveness and functional diversity of the soil microflora in organic farming systems

Arable fields of 10 organic farms from different locations within the Netherlands were sampled in four subsequent years. The soil samples were analysed for disease suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia solani, Streptomyces scabies and Verticillium dahliae. Furthermore, a variety of microbial characteristics and chemical and physical soil properties were assessed. All these characteristics and different environmental factors were correlated by multivariate analyses. Significant differences in soil suppressiveness were found for all three diseases. Suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia was more or less consistent between the sampled fields in 2004 and 2005. This suppressiveness correlated with higher numbers of Lysobacter and Pseudomonas antagonists, as well as fungal diversity in DGGE patterns. Furthermore, results of 2006 showed that one year of grass-clover clearly stimulated Rhizoctonia suppression. Also Streptomyces soil suppressiveness was consistent between 2004 and 2005, but it concerned other soils than the ones which were suppressive against Rhizoctonia. Streptomyces suppression correlated with higher numbers of antagonists in general, Streptomyces and the fungal/bacterial biomass ratio, but with a lower organic matter content and respiration. Soil suppressiveness against Verticillium was not consistent between the years and therefore probably not related to soil factors

Effects of chlorpyrifos on macroinvertebrate communities in coastal stream mesocosms

This study measured the effects of a single pulse of chlorpyrifos at nominal concentrations of 1 and 10 μg/l on the macroinvertebrate community structure of a coastal stream mesocosm system. Analysis of data using Principal Response Curves (PRC) and Monte Carlo tests showed significant changes in the treated stream mesocosms relative to that of the controls. These changes in the macroinvertebrate assemblages occurred within 6 h, and persisted for at least 124 days after dosing. Significant community-level effects were detected at the lowest concentration on days 2 and 16 post-dosing, giving a no-observed effect concentration (NOECcommunity) of 1.2 μg/l (measured). The mayflies Atalophlebia sp. and Koorrnonga sp., Chironomidae and Acarina were all sensitive to chlorpyrifos and decreased in abundance in treated mesocosms after dosing. The fauna of these coastal stream mesocosms showed similar sensitivity to chlorpyrifos with that of other reported studies, but there was no evidence of recovery after 124 days. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Correlation between cholesterol levels and the severity of Parkinson disease

Background: Parkinson disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after dementia Alzheimer. In neurodegenerative disease such as PD, there is a disturbance of cholesterol metabolism in the brain that could affect plasma cholesterol level. Laboratory test of cholesterol level could be used as an alternative parameter in assessing the severity degree of PD. Our objectives in this study are to analyze the correlation between cholesterol level and the severity of PD. Methods: This study is a cross sectional study. The sample is collected from patients with PD that came too neurology clinic in Prof Dr. R. D. Kandou Manado Hospital. Patients will then be assessed whether they meet the inclusion criteria which is examined using unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS) questionnaire and Hoehn and Yahr (H and Y). If the inclusion criteria are met, subject will be tested for total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in plasma.Results: There are 60 subjects of PD patients with mean age 64.37±8.26 years old. Male subjects were more dominant (53.3%) than female. Total cholesterol level and LDL have moderate negative correlation with UPDRS I, UPDRS II, UPDRS III, and UPDRS total score. Total cholesterol and LDL level also has moderate negative correlation with H and Y severity.Conclusions: There is a moderate negative correlation between total cholesterol level and LDL with PD severity degree based on H&Y degree and UPDRS I, II, III, and UPDRS total score.

Palaeoecological study of South Milton Ley, South Devon

1. Attend South Milton Ley and obtain 6 sediment cores from 3 different areas of the ley to investigate the impact of discharges from the sewage treatment works (STW). 2. From each of the 3 locations, extrude one master core at appropriate intervals and describe its stratigraphy. 3. From each of the 3 locations, measure the dry weight and organic matter content of selected levels of the master core. 4. Date the master core from each of the 3 locations to provide a chronology of the ley sediments using radiometric dating methods and/or spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs). 5. Analyse the diatom assemblages in five to ten samples from selected depths of each master core. 6. Apply a diatom-phosphorus transfer function to the diatom assemblages of each master core to reconstruct total phosphorus concentrations and in turn determine the nutrient loading history of the ley. 7. Produce a summary report of the findings