624 research outputs found
Exploratory studies of liquid behavior in randomly excited tanks - Lateral excitation
Fluid behavior in unbaffled circular cylindrical tank under relatively low frequency random lateral excitatio
Effects of Salinity Changes on the Photodegradation and Ultraviolet-Visible Absorbance of Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter
We performed laboratory studies to determine the effects of salinity on the photodegradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia, an important source of terrestrial DOM to the lower Chesapeake Bay. Samples were created by mixing Great Dismal Swamp water (ionic strength approximate to 0 mol L-1) with modified artificial seawater solutions of differing salinities while keeping the final dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration constant. These samples were then irradiated for 24 h in a light box providing ultraviolet (UV) light similar to that of natural sunlight. Light absorbance and DOC concentrations decreased after photoexposure, whereas dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations increased. Variations in salinity affected both DIC production and UV absorption, with the higher salinity samples showing lower DIC production and less photobleaching. Addition of an iron chelator eliminated the relationship between photochemistry and salinity by reducing both photobleaching and DIC production at low salinities. As terrigenous DOM transits through an estuary, its photochemical reactivity and optical properties may change significantly as a function of salinity, probably as a result of changes in DOM conformation or changes in iron-DOM photochemistry, or both
Toxicity in Beef Cattle Grazing \u3cem\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e in Queensland, Australia
Improved pastures based on the leguminous shrub Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) are the most productive, profitable and sustainable for beef cattle production in northern Australia. Leucaena forage contains the toxic, non-protein amino acid mimosine, which is rapidly converted to 3-hydroxy-4(1H)-pyridone (DHP) upon ingestion by grazing cattle. This is a potent goitrogen and appetite suppressant. Animals suffering severe DHP toxicity exhibit distinctive symptoms (e.g. hair loss, excessive salivation, goitre and weight loss), while subclinical DHP toxicity can suppress live weight gain by 30-50% without producing any obvious symptoms. Prior to the discovery and introduction of the DHP-degrading rumen bacteria Synergistes jonesii into Australia in 1982, DHP toxicity severely limited animal performance from leucaena pastures and was a major impediment to adoption. Initial rumen inoculation of cattle in Australia with S. jonesii successfully protected them against DHP toxicity and the bacterium appeared to be easily and rapidly transmitted between grazing animals. Consequently many scientists and graziers believed that a single inoculation of a herd with S. jonesii, combined with simple ongoing herd management, was sufficient to overcome the problem of DHP toxicity. However, during the 2003 drought there were several reports of severe leucaena toxicity (including animal deaths) in cattle grazing leucaena in Queensland. Toxicity was evident even in herds that had followed recommended control measures. Preliminary results are presented of a study, designed to ascertain the prevalence and possible causes of leucaena toxicity in Queensland cattle herds. Meat and Livestock Australia Limited funded this research (NBP.340)
Diurnal Urinary Excretion of DHP in Steers Fed \u3cem\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e
Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) contains the toxin mimosine which is quickly degraded by rumen microorganisms to isomers of dihydroxypyridine (DHP). DHP is detrimental to animal production, causing reduced thyroid hormones, reduced weight gain, goiter and severe deficiencies in essential minerals (Tsai and Ling 1971; Hammond 1995). There are several methods of testing for exposure to DHP toxicity but the simplest is the colorimetric urine spot test (Graham et al. 2013). Several researchers have noted high variability in the excretion of DHP among animals on similar leucaena diets (Dalzell et al. 2012; Phaikaew et al. 2012) and even in the same animal over sequential samplings (O\u27Reagain and Shelton 2013). They noted that it was possible to obtain samples with very low DHP in unprotected animals on high leucaena diets, leading to the false conclusion that the animal was successfully degrading DHP in the rumen. This study examined the extent and possible causes of variation of DHP concentration in spot urine samples taken over a 6-week period, including an intensive sampling over a 24 hour period
Root canal instrumentation efficacy of non-fused and fused primary molar roots:a micro-computed tomography study
Purpose Pulpectomy may be indicated in restorable primary teeth exhibiting irreversible pulpitis or pulpal necrosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the cleaning and shaping efficacy of NiTi systems (Reciproc(R) Blue and MTwo(R)) with manual stainless-steel instrumentation in primary molars using micro-CT analysis. Methods Fifty-seven maxillary second primary molars were scanned using micro-CT. Teeth with three divergent roots were divided randomly (n = 15) according to instrument type (K file, MTwo (R), and Reciproc (R) Blue). Teeth with root fusion were instrumented manually as a separate group (n = 12). Pre- and post-instrumentation micro-CT images were superimposed, and the instrumentation area (IA) and procedural complications were recorded. Results No statistically significant differences in IA between file systems was observed in the non-fused teeth. The mean IA of fused roots was significantly lower than in the non-fused distobuccal (p = 0.003) and palatal (p 60%) occurred in both non-fused and fused primary teeth with fewer procedural complications observed after manual instrumentation
The Growth Response of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Forage Species to Increasing Salinity
There is currently a growing coal seam gas (CSG) industry in Queensland, Australia. The industry requires beneficial-use strategies to consume the significant volumes of water released during CSG extraction. Irrigation of tropical and sub-tropical forage species for beef production is one option, however coal seam (CS) water is of varying quality due to moderate to high salinity and alkalinity. The application of chemically amended CS water over time could potentially increase soil salinity, which is known to reduce plant biomass production. While there were studies of salinity tolerance of many tropical and sub-tropical forage species 30 years ago, there is a need to examine the tolerance of more recently released species and cultivars which are suitable for planting in the Queensland CSG area
The Efficacy of \u3cem\u3ein vitro Synergistes jonesii\u3c/em\u3e Inoculum in Preventing DHP Toxicity in Steers Fed Leucaena-Grass Diets
Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a valuable forage tree legume for tropical animal production that contains the toxin mimosine. The breakdown products of mimosine in ruminants (3,4-DHP and 2,3-DHP) can adversely affect their health and limit weight gains (Jones and Hegarty 1984). The rumen bacterium Synergistes jonesii, introduced into Australia in 1983 was shown to completely and rapidly degrade these toxins to safe levels (Jones and Megarrity 1986). Since 1996, an in vitro produced inoculum has been made commercially available to Australian graziers (Klieve et al. 2002). Accordingly, the issue of leucaena toxicity in Australia was thought to be resolved. However, extensive testing in 2004 found that up to 50% of Queensland cattle herds consuming leucaena were excreting high levels of urinary DHP suggesting sub-clinical toxicity remained an issue for graziers (Dalzell et al. 2012). Some of these herds had previously been inoculated with in vitro S. jonesii suggesting the inoculum may not be able to either persist within a herd, or remain effective in degrading DHP.
The aim of this study was to assess the capability of the in vitro S. jonesii inoculum to efficiently break down DHP in a controlled feeding trial environment
The Effect of Tree Densities on the Biomass of \u3cem\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eChloris gayana\u3c/em\u3e Using a Nelder Fan Design
Leucaena leucocephala-grass pastures are widely used for ruminant feeding in tropical and subtropical regions. In Australia, over 200,000 ha of leucaena grass pasture have been planted with more plantings expected as it is recognized as the most productive, profitable and sustainable feeding system (Shelton and Dalzell, 2007). Planting densities and planting configurations for the leucaena component vary, ranging from single or double leucaena hedgerows 3 to 12 m apart (Radrizzani et al., 2010). There is little information about how tree/grass planting configurations and resulting inter- and intraspecific competition affect above and below-ground interactions. We hypothesise that individual leucaena tree biomass will be inversely related to leucaena tree density, with greatest competition at low density, while medium to high leucaena densities will reduce grass biomass production
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