Ammunition is the principal source of lead accumulated by California condors re-introduced to the wild

The endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) was reduced to a total population of 22 birds by the end of 1982. Their captive-bred descendants are now being released back into the wild in California, Arizona, and Baja California, where monitoring indicates they may accumulate lead to toxic levels. Fragments of ammunition in the carcasses of game animals such as deer, elk, and feral pigs not retrieved by hunters or in gut piles left in the field have been considered a plausible source of the lead, though little direct evidence is available to support this hypothesis. Here, we measured lead concentrations and isotope ratios in blood from 18 condors living in the wild in central California, in 8 pre-release birds, and in diet and ammunition samples to determine the importance of ammunition as a source of exposure. Blood lead levels in pre-release condors were low (average 27.7 ng/mL, SD 4.9 ng/ mL) and isotopically similar to dietary and background environmental lead in California. In contrast, blood lead levels in free-flying condors were substantially higher (average 246 ng/mL, SD 229 ng/mL) with lead isotopic compositions that approached or matched those of the lead ammunition. A two-endmember mixing model defined by the background 207Pb/206Pb ratio of representative condor diet samples (0.8346) and the upper 207Pb/206Pb ratio of the ammunition samples (0.8184) was able to account for the blood lead isotopic compositions in 20 out of the 26 live condors sampled in this study (i.e., 77%). Finally, lead in tissues and in a serially sampled growing feather recovered postmortem from a lead-poisoned condor in Arizona evidence acute exposure from an isotopically distinct lead source. Together, these data indicate that incidental ingestion of ammunition in carcasses of animals killed by hunters is the principal source of elevated lead exposure that threatens the recovery in the wild of this endangered species.     

A new model for the prediction of agricultural operator exposure during professional application of plant protection products in outdoor crops

A new predictive model for the estimation of agricultural operator exposure has been developed on the basis of new exposure data to improve the current agricultural operator exposure and risk assessment in the EU. The new operator exposure model represents current application techniques and practices in EU Member States (MS) and is applicable for national or zonal authorisation of plant protection products as well as for approval of active substances in plant protection products (PPP) supporting a stepwise risk assessment. 34 unpublished exposure studies conducted between 1994 and 2009 were evaluated for the new model. To ensure a very high quality of data the studies had to meet a set of quality criteria, e.g. GLP conformity or compliance with OECD guidance. Exposure data and supplementary information on the trials were used for a statistical analysis of exposure factors. The statistical analyses resulted in six validated models for typical outdoor scenarios of pesticide mixing/loading and application. As a major factor contributing to the exposure of operators, the amount of active substance used per day was identified. Other parameters such as formulation type, droplet size, presence of a cabin or density of the canopy were selected as factors for sub-scenarios. For two scenarios the corresponding datasets were too small to identify reliable exposure factors; instead the relevant percentiles of the exposure distribution were used. The whole project report on the development of the new model (including the underlying study data) and the corresponding exposure calculators will be published at the BfR website (http://www.bfr.bund.de) after confirmation of the model by EU MS.     

The effect of meloxicam on behavior and pain sensitivity of dairy calves following cautery dehorning with a local anesthetic

Effects of a single injection of meloxicam on calf behavior, pain sensitivity, and feed and water intakes were examined following dehorning. Sixty Holstein heifer calves were blocked by age and randomly assigned to receive an i.m. injection of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) or a placebo. All calves were given a lidocaine cornual nerve block (5 mL per horn). Treatments and nerve blocks were administered 10 min before cautery dehorning. Continuous sampling of behavior was performed during five 1-h intervals using video recordings, and total daily activity was monitored using an accelerometer. A pain sensitivity test was administered with a pressure algometer, and feed and water intakes were recorded daily. Calves were sham-dehorned 24 h before actual dehorning to establish baseline values, and all variables were assessed at the same times following dehorning and sham dehorning for up to 48 h post-dehorning. Meloxicam-treated calves displayed less ear flicking during the 44 h following dehorning (increases of 4.29 ± 1.10 and 1.31 ± 0.66 ear flicks/h in the first 24 h, and increases of 3.27 ± 0.89 and 0.55 ± 0.50 ear flicks/h during the second 24 h, for control and meloxicam calves, respectively) and less head shaking during the first 9 h following dehorning (increase of 2.53 ± 0.54 and 0.85 ± 0.46 headshakes/h over baseline for control and meloxicam, respectively). Meloxicam-treated calves were less active than controls during the first 5 h following dehorning (activity 34.1 ± 3.2 and 30.6 ± 2.6 for control and meloxicam, respectively) and displayed less sensitivity to pressure algometry 4 h after dehorning (pressure tolerance of 1.62 ± 0.13 kg of force and 2.13 ± 0.15 kg of force for control and meloxicam calves, respectively). Changes in behavior suggest that meloxicam was effective for reducing post-surgical pain and distress associated with calf dehorning.     

Influence of the range of molecular weight distribution of beer components on the intensity of palate fullness

The effect of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the beer components on the intensity of palate fullness was studied. The range of MWD for different types of maltodextrin and for nine commercial pilsner beers was determined using AF4/MALLS/RI. Sensory analysis (DIN 10952, DIN ISO 4120 and DIN 10963/ISO 8587) was carried out by a trained Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, German Agriculture Society (DLG) tasting panel. The intensity of the palate fullness of a spiking trial (beer + maltodextrin) and the threshold concentration of the maltodextrins in beer was determined. The association between the ranges of MWD and the intensity of the palate fullness of the commercial pilsner beers was studied. AF4/MALLS/RI and sensory analysis were used to study the effect of variations of the brewing process on the range of MWD and the palate fullness of beer. The intensity of the palate fullness differed significantly (p < 0.0001) within commercial pilsner beers. Strong associations were found between the range of MWD of the commercial beers and intensity of the palate fullness (p < 0.05). The range of MWD of the commercial pilsner beers (3–13 kDa) corresponded to those found for maltodextrins with intermediated range of MWD (3.4–22.3 kDa). The threshold concentration was higher (p < 0.0001) for those maltodextrins with lower range of MWD (2.7–8.9 kDa). Beers produced with malted barley with Kolbach Index of 36 % exhibited a higher range of MWD (2.9–13 kDa) compared to those with Kolbach Index of 41 % (1.7–11.6 kDa). Slight differences in the palate fullness were perceived according to variations on the initial temperature of the mashing process among those beers produced using Kolbach Index of 36 %, whereas a great difference (p < 0.0001) was perceived using Kolbach Index of 41 %. The intensity of the palate fullness of the pilsner beer was influenced by the range of MWD of the beer components which would vary according to differences in the mashing process and of the quality of the malted barley.     

机械制浆方法的最新发展

ＲＴＳ是ＴＭＰ制浆方法的最新发展。它是以提高成纸质量、降低磨浆能耗为目的，通过改变磨浆机速度、磨浆温度及浆料停留时间来实现的。这项新工艺引起了人们的关注。     

An empirical validation of the daylighting algorithms and associated interactions in building energy simulation programs using various shading devices and windows

Empirical validation of building energy simulation programs is an important technique in examining the effectiveness and accuracies of implemented algorithms. In recent years, daylighting algorithms incorporated in building energy simulation programs have become increasingly sophisticated in their abilities to predict the illuminance, light power reductions, and the associated thermal load interactions. The focus of this study was to examine measured and simulated light levels in an actual building constructed for research purposes. Daylighting models were constructed in EnergyPlus and DOE-2.1E and the predicted illuminance and light power were compared with measurements; an assessment of heating and cooling interactions using a variable-air-volume reheat (VAVRH) system was also performed by analyzing reheat coil powers for the VAV boxes. The average differences from EnergyPlus for reference point daylight illuminance, light power, and reheat coil power predictions were within 119.2%, 16.9%, and 17.3%, respectively. DOE-2.1E predicted reference point daylight illuminances were within 114.1%, light powers were within 26.3%, and reheat coil power were within 25.4%.     

Gap junctions in hemodichorial and hemotrichorial placentae

Gap junctions were found to be a constant feature of chorioallantoic placentae with two or three trophoblastic layers. The gap junctions connect layers I and II in hemodichorial and layers II and III in hemotrichorial placentae. Although the gap junctions vary in form and in the packing density of membrane-associated particles, they cover an extensive surface area in all species examined. The gap junctions always connect adjacent membranes of two trophoblastic layers, which show no evidence of micropinocytotic activity; at least one of these trophoblastic layers is syncytial. It is therefore concluded that the gap junctions play an important role in diaplacental transport. We consider that gap junctions act as molecular sieves, resulting in limitations in the transport of large molecules. The passage of small molecules, on the contrary, would be facilitated by the gap junctions.     

Possible involvement of IFNT in lymphangiogenesis in the corpus luteum during the maternal recognition period in the cow

The corpus luteum (CL), which secretes large amounts of progesterone and is thus essential for establishing pregnancy, contains various types of immune cells that may play essential roles in CL function by generating immune responses. The lymphatic system is the second circulation system and is necessary for immune function, but the lymphatic system of the bovine CL has not been characterized in detail. We collected bovine CLs on days 12 and 16 of the estrous cycle (C12 and C16) and days 16 and 40 of early pregnancy (P16 and P40). Lymphatic endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1) protein was detected in the CL by immunohistochemistry and western blotting and increased at P40 compared with C16. The mRNA expression levels of lymphangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGFC), VEGFD, and their common receptor VEGFR3, as well as the lymphatic endothelial cell (LyEC) marker podoplanin, increased in P16 and P40 CLs. Thus, it is suggested that the lymphatic system of the bovine CL reconstitutes during early pregnancy. Interferon tau (IFNT) from the conceptus in the uterus is a candidate for activating luteal lymphangiogenesis during the maternal recognition period (MRP). We found that treatment of LyECs isolated from internal iliac lymphatic vessels with IFNT stimulated LyEC proliferation and significantly increased mRNA expression of VEGFC and IFN-stimulated gene 15. Moreover, both IFNT and VEGFC induced LyECs to form capillary-like tubes in vitro. In conclusion, it is suggested that new lymphangiogenesis in the bovine CL begins during the MRP and that IFNT may mediate this novel phenomenon.     

Is organically produced wheat a source of tocopherols and tocotrienols for health food?

Forty organically grown spring and winter wheat genotypes were investigated for content and compositions of tocopherol and tocotrienol. The selected genotypes belonged to five different genotypic groups, i.e. landraces, old cultivars, modern cultivars, spelt wheat, and primitive wheat. The total tocochromanols content (21.9–37.3 mg/kg) wheat were in similar ranges as previously reported for conventionally grown wheat. The vitamin E activity varied among the genotypic groups and corresponded to 12–25% of the recommended daily intake. Primitive wheat was found to contain the highest percentage of tocotrienols (74%). Content of tocochromanols and vitamin E activity are known to decrease by heating. Organic wheat is more commonly consumed as whole and sprouted grain when compared to conventional wheat and might therefore be a good source of tocochromanols in health food. The large variation in tocopherols and tocotrienols in the investigated wheat genotypes indicated a great potential for the development of specific wheat genotypes with health promoting properties in future breeding programmes.