Residual effect of long-term applications of farmyard manure to silage maize

Sluijsmans and Kolenbrander developed a simple model to describe the availability of animal manure, assuming a readily available, an easily decomposable and a slowly decomposable N fraction. We tested this model on data from an experiment in which farmyard manure had been applied for eleven successive years to silage maize [Zea mays L.] grown on a light sandy soil. The residual effects of this FYM were then measured by growing Italian ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum Lamk.] in the 12th year. The measured uptake of N by the grass of the FYM residues was then compared with the computed values. The measured amounts of N taken up agreed fairly well with the calculated amounts for applications of 50 and 100 t FYM per ha per year.If the rates of manure application are adjusted to crop requirement, the model shows that the potential, long-term release of N from the residual N fraction of FYM will not exceed 20 kg N per ha. For cattle slurry with a smaller residual fraction, the release will be at most 10% of the total annual N application.     

Oriented crystallization and mechanical properties of polypropylene nucleated on fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene scaffolds

It is known that friction deposited polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layers are able to nucleate crystallization of thin films of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). In order to investigate the influence of PTFE on the crystallization behavior and morphology of iPP in bulk, PTFE‐particles of two different sizes in various concentrations were melt‐blended with iPP and subsequently processed by injection molding. For one size of particles, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR‐SEM) showed the presence of a PTFE scaffold consisting of highly fibrillated PTFE particles. With X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) pole‐figures, it was evidenced that, after melting and recrystallization of the iPP matrix, a strongly oriented crystallization of iPP on this PTFE scaffold takes place (quiescent crystallization conditions). With WAXD it was also shown that under processing conditions, PTFE acts as a nucleating agent for iPP and that PTFE strongly enhances the formation of processing induced morphologies. Impact and tensile performance of the mixtures were measured. Both the strain energy release rate (G_I) and the E‐modulus were found to increase upon introducing PTFE in iPP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:458–468, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Crystallization behavior of polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposites. Part II. Intercalated poly(ε-caprolactone)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

The combination of surfactant modified montmorillonite (MMT) silicate layers, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and the adopted melt processing procedure results in intercalated nanocomposites in which the silicate layers act as nucleating agents for the crystallization of the PCL matrix and by which in turn the overall crystallization rate increases. At a sufficiently high MMT concentration and degree of supercooling the polymer-swollen silicate layer stacks disturb crystal growth, resulting in a decrease in the overall crystallization rate. Simultaneous, time resolved, synchrotron small and wide angle X-ray scattering experiments reveal that—when the retarding effect is absent at a sufficiently high temperature—the final semicrystalline structures of pure PCL and its nanocomposites are identical. The poorer nucleation in the case of pure PCL, however, results in a time wise smearing of primary and secondary crystallization whereas in the nanocomposites these events are well separated due to a nucleation induced, efficient and rapid primary crystallization. Secondary crystallization involves the insertion of new lamellar crystals in between the already existing ones.     

Uncertainties in the fate of nitrogen I: An overview of sources of uncertainty illustrated with a Dutch case study

This study focuses on the uncertainties in the fate of nitrogen (N) in the Netherlands. Nitrogen inputs into the Netherlands in products, by rivers, and by atmospheric deposition, and microbial and industrial fixation of atmospheric N₂ amount to about 4450 Gg N y^–1. About 60% of this N is transported out of the Netherlands in products. The fate of the remaining 40%, however, is less clear. We discuss uncertainties in losses to the atmosphere (as ammonia or through denitrification), by leaching and runoff, and in N accumulation in biomass and soils. These processes may account for the fate of about 40% of the N in the Netherlands, and for the fate of about 60% of the N in Dutch agricultural soils. Reducing uncertainties in the estimates of these fluxes is necessary for reducing the impact of excess N in the environment. In particular, monitoring the environmental effects of ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching to groundwater and aquatic systems requires an increased understanding of the fate of N. Uncertainties arise because (1) some N fluxes cannot be measured directly and are usually quantified indirectly as the balance in N budgets, (2) direct measurements of N fluxes have inevitable inaccuracies, (3) lack of experimental data and other information (e.g. statistics) needed for upscaling, (4) large spatial and temporal variability of fluxes, and (5) poor understanding of the processes involved. These uncertainties can be reduced by additional experimental studies and by further development of process-based models and N budget studies. We prioritize these future research needs according to a range of different criteria.     

Textural and physical properties of north American stick margarines

Compression of cylindrical samples was found to be a sensitive method in detecting differences in textural attributes in stick margarines. Constant speed penetration by a probe was the second most sensitive method, while American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) cone penetrometer was the least sensitive method. Canola margarines were significantly harder than soybean margarines. Solid fat content in the product is related to its texture only to a certain extent. The nature of the crystal network is also of importance. To estimate the solids in the final product by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance it is best to use the AOCS cooling method with a tempering step at 25°C. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) cooling method results in much higher values.     

Influence of shear flow on the preparation of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites

In this paper the influence of melt-processing on the final polymer/layered silicate nanocomposite morphology is discussed. In particular the role of shear forces on the transformation of the original large clay agglomerates is of interest. Several polymer nanocomposites were prepared by melt-extrusion, involving polycaprolactone, poly(ethylene oxide), polyamide-12 or polyamide-6 as the matrix polymer. The nanocomposite morphology was characterised by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and the clay tactoid morphology with polarised optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The development of the tactoid and nanocomposite morphology during melt-mixing under shear was studied time-resolved by optical microscopy in conjunction with a rheometer and synchrotron X-ray scattering together with a Couette type flow cell. The shear forces in the melt-preparation of polymer layered mineral nanocomposites facilitate the break-up of large-sized agglomerates, whereas the extent of further exfoliation of the mineral layers is determined by the compatibility between the polymer matrix and the mineral layers rather than by shear forces.     

Ventilation and perfusion imaging by electrical impedance tomography: a comparison with radionuclide scanning

Cytokine gene transfer into tumor cells has been shown to mediate tumor regression and antimetastatic effects in several animal models via immunomodulation. Therefore, clinical protocols have been developed to treat cancer patients with cytokine gene-modified tumor cells. We inserted the genes coding for the p35 and p40 chain of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in two independent eukaryotic expression vectors and transduced melanoma cells of 15 different primary tumor cultures with both plasmids by a ballistic gene transfer approach. Secreted IL-12 demonstrated strong bioactivity by inducing interferon-gamma release from peripheral blood lymphocytes upon coculture with cell culture supernatants after IL-12 gene transfer which could at least partly be blocked by IL-12-specific antisera. Further enrichment of transduced tumor cells by magnetic separation directly after gene transfer increased cytokine secretion from a mean of 119 pg in the unsorted to 507 pg IL-12 (24 h/10(8) cells) in the magnetically enriched cell fraction. Irradiation of these cells led to a further elevation of secreted IL-12 (mean 987 pg). Elevated IL-12 levels were detected over 7 days after irradiation in vitro. In a subsequent first clinical phase I study six patients with metastatic melanoma were vaccinated with autologous, interleukin-12 gene-modified tumor cells. Melanoma cells were expanded in vitro from surgically removed metastases, transduced by ballistic gene transfer, irradiated and were then injected subcutaneously (s.c.) at weekly intervals. Clinically, there was no major toxicity except for mild fever. All patients completed more than four s.c. vaccinations over 6 weeks and were eligible for immunological evaluation. Post-vaccination, peripheral mononuclear cells were found to contain an increased number of tumor-reactive proliferative as well as cytolytic cells as determined by a limiting dilution analysis in two patients. Two patients developed DTH reactivity against autologous melanoma cells and one had a minor clinical response. Biopsies taken from that patient's metastases revealed a heavy infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In conclusion, vaccination induced immunological changes even in a group of advanced, terminally ill patients. These changes can be interpreted as an increased antitumor immune response.     

A phase II study of paclitaxel in heavily pretreated patients with small-cell lung cancer

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are major complications associated with total knee arthroplasty. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends twice-daily, fixed-dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) as routine prophylaxis in this patient population. This study represents a cost analysis of ardeparin and enoxaparin, the two LMWHs currently available for this indication in the United States. Costs for treating DVT, PE, and major bleeding episodes were derived from values reported in the literature. Both ardeparin and enoxaparin were found to produce significant cost savings when used routinely as DVT prophylaxis after knee replacement surgery compared with no prophylaxis. Based on the currently available data, enoxaparin 40 mg once daily appears to be the least costly LMWH for routine pharmacoprophylaxis of DVT in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.     

Bioprotective potential of lactic acid bacteria in malting and brewing

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are naturally associated with many foods or their raw ingredients and are popularly used in food fermentation to enhance the sensory, aromatic, and textural properties of food. These microorganisms are well recognized for their biopreservative properties, which are achieved through the production of antimicrobial compounds such as lactic acid, diacetyl, bacteriocins, and other metabolites. The antifungal activity of certain LAB is less well characterized, but organic acids, as yet uncharacterized proteinaceous compounds, and cyclic dipeptides can inhibit the growth of some fungi. A variety of microbes are carried on raw materials used in beer brewing, rendering the process susceptible to contamination and often resulting in spoilage or inferior quality of the finished product. The application of antimicrobial-producing LAB at various points in the malting and brewing process could help to negate this problem, providing an added hurdle for spoilage organisms to overcome and leading to the production of a higher quality beer. This review outlines the bioprotective potential of LAB and its application with specific reference to the brewing industry.     

Electrokinetic energy conversion efficiency in nanofluidic channels

We theoretically evaluate the prospect of using electrokinetic phenomena to convert hydrostatic energy to electrical power. An expression is derived for the energy conversion efficiency of a two-terminal fluidic device in terms of its linear electrokinetic response properties. For a slitlike nanochannel of constant surface charge density, we predict that the maximum energy conversion efficiency occurs at low salt concentrations. An analytic expression for the regime of strong double-layer overlap reveals that the efficiency depends only on the ratio of the channel height to the Gouy-Chapman length, and the product of the viscosity and the counterion mobility. We estimate that an electrokinetic energy conversion device could achieve a maximum efficiency of 12% for simple monovalent ions in aqueous solution.