Untreated Half Research Articles

Cover crops and reduced tillage did not alter soil chemistry in first 3 years

AbstractCover crops have been promoted for increasing soil organic matter, which is critically low in many mid‐Southern US row crop production fields. This study was conducted to inform adaptive management in the early transition period of conservation adoption. Temporal change in soil chemistry was investigated with a split‐field experiment conducted over a 3‐year period in Mississippi corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotational cropping systems that newly implemented winter cover crops and simultaneously reduced tillage. Relative to the untreated (i.e., winter fallow and multiple tillage passes) half of each study field, the chemical soil properties of the treated (i.e., winter cover crop and reduced tillage) half of each study field were not significantly different at the 0.05 significance level. This was true for soil organic matter, all macronutrients, pH, cation exchange capacity, base saturations, and micronutrients, with the exception of iron. Given these results, it is unlikely that growers adopting cover crops while reducing tillage will be able to accumulate significant soil organic matter in the early transition period.

Evaluating the Impact of a Cream Containing Horse Placental Extract on Eye Corner Wrinkles in Healthy Women: Single-Blind Comparative Study.

Placental extract has been mostly used in skin care for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of various placental extracts has been limited due to the lack of established and effective application methods. In this study, we investigated the antiwrinkle effect of a cream formulation-LNC wrinkle eye cream (LNC-EC)-containing horse placental extract as the main ingredient. A total of 24 healthy women, aged 37-54 years, with wrinkle grades 1-3, were treated with LNC-EC for 2 weeks. The cream was applied on one-half of the participants' faces, and the results were compared with the untreated half of the face. Visual inspection, using the wrinkle grade standard, showed that the area treated with LNC-EC had a significantly lower wrinkle grade than the untreated area when comparing before and after the application of LNC-EC. In addition, replica analysis showed a significant reduction in both the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles in the LNC-EC-treated area in comparison to the untreated area before and after the application. These results suggest that LNC-EC has an antiwrinkle effect on the corners of the eyes based on parameters like the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. LNC-EC, with horse placental extract as its main ingredient, was shown to be effective in improving wrinkles at the eye corners, presumably due to a reduction in the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. Interpretation of the results is limited because this study was conducted only in the intervention group. A randomized controlled trial with a placebo control group is necessary to verify the antiwrinkle effects of horse placental extract.

Efficacy of Biological and Chemical Control Agents against Heterobasidion Spore Infections of Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Stumps on Drained Peatland

Treatment of conifer stumps with a control agent effectively prevents Heterobasidion spore infections in summer cuttings and protects the residual stand and the next tree generation from damage caused by Heterobasidion root rot. Thus far, stump treatment experiments have been carried out in mineral soils, and no information is available on the efficacy of stump treatment agents in boreal peatland conditions. In the present study, biological and chemical control agents (Phlebiopsis gigantea and urea, respectively) were tested in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands subjected to thinning, cap cutting, and clearcutting on drained peatland in Central Finland. The control efficacy of urea was high in both spruce and pine stumps (on average 99.5 and 85.3%, respectively), while the efficacy of P. gigantea was highly variable on both tree species and ranged from full protection down to negative control effect, i.e., there were more Heterobasidion infections on the treated than untreated half of the stumps. The moisture content of the stump wood or the thickness of the peat layer did not affect the control efficacy of either control agent. These results emphasize a need for further studies to determine the reasons for the unsteadiness of the biological control in peatland conditions.

Understanding cornea homeostasis and wound healing using a novel model of stem cell deficiency in Xenopus

Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) is a painful and debilitating disease that results from damage or loss of the Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells (CESCs). Therapies have been developed to treat LSCD by utilizing epithelial stem cell transplants. However, effective repair and recovery depends on many factors, such as the source and concentration of donor stem cells, and the proper conditions to support these transplanted cells. We do not yet fully understand how CESCs heal wounds or how transplanted CESCs are able to restore transparency in LSCD patients. A major hurdle has been the lack of vertebrate models to study CESCs. Here we utilized a short treatment with Psoralen AMT (a DNA cross-linker), immediately followed by UV treatment (PUV treatment), to establish a novel frog model that recapitulates the characteristics of cornea stem cell deficiency, such as pigment cell invasion from the periphery, corneal opacity, and neovascularization. These PUV treated whole corneas do not regain transparency. Moreover, PUV treatment leads to appearance of the Tcf7l2 labeled subset of apical skin cells in the cornea region. PUV treatment also results in increased cell death, immediately following treatment, with pyknosis as a primary mechanism. Furthermore, we show that PUV treatment causes depletion of p63 expressing basal epithelial cells, and can stimulate mitosis in the remaining cells in the cornea region. To study the response of CESCs, we created localized PUV damage by focusing the UV radiation on one half of the cornea. These cases initially develop localized stem cell deficiency characteristics on the treated side. The localized PUV treatment is also capable of stimulating some mitosis in the untreated (control) half of those corneas. Unlike the whole treated corneas, the treated half is ultimately able to recover and corneal transparency is restored. Our study provides insight into the response of cornea cells following stem cell depletion, and establishes Xenopus as a suitable model for studying CESCs, stem cell deficiency, and other cornea diseases. This model will also be valuable for understanding the nature of transplanted CESCs, which will lead to progress in the development of therapeutics for LSCD.

Radiofrequency Ablation of the Atherosclerotic Plaque: a Proof of Concept Study in an Atherosclerotic Model

Increased plaque vascularization is causatively associated with the progression of unstable atherosclerotic vessel disease. We investigated the safety and efficacy of heat-generating radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in reducing the number of vessels in the plaque and adventitia and its effect on plaque size and composition. To this end, New Zealand White rabbits were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet and subjected to balloon denudation of the infrarenal aorta to induce atherosclerotic plaque formation. After 13 weeks, the proximal or distal half of the infrarenal aorta was exposed to transluminal RFA. The untreated half served as an intra-individual control. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed directly after RFA. We found that RFA on the rabbit atherosclerotic plaque is safe and leads to decreased intraplaque vessel density and smooth muscle cell content but does not affect other components of plaque composition or size.

Abstract 12082: Radiofrequency Ablation of the Atherosclerotic Plaque: A Safety and Feasibility Study in an Atherosclerotic Rabbit Model

Introduction: Angiogenesis from the vasa vasorum plays a key role in atheroprogression and plaque vulnerability. Immature neovessels are prone to leakage, hence facilitating additional lipid and inflammatory cell accumulation and increasing intraplaque hemorrhage risk. Hypothesis: Heat-generating radiofrequency ablation (RFA) safely reduces vasa vasorum, decreases inflammatory cell influx and stabilizes the plaque. Methods: Thirteen New-Zealand White rabbits on a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched diet were subjected to balloon denudation of the infrarenal aorta. After 13 weeks, either the proximal or distal half of the infrarenal aorta was exposed to transluminal RFA, the untreated half served as an intra-individual control. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed directly after RFA. Results: Within 24 hours after RFA, no plaque ruptures or adverse events were observed by OCT or histology. Treated regions showed widespread decellularization of intimal, medial and (to a lesser extent) adventitial layers, which were recellularized after 7 and 28 days. Vasa vasorum density was not different between both regions at short-term (24 hours; RFA 19.8±5.1 vs. control 29.2±8.3/mm 2 ; p=0.15) or long-term follow-up (7 days; 39.1±11.5 vs. 41.7±8.6/mm 2 ; p=0.81 and 28 days; 46.4±13.4 vs. 38.5±6.6/mm 2 ; p=0.06). After 7 days, treated regions were comparable to control areas with respect to plaque size (5.6±1.7 vs. 5.5±1.5mm 2 ; p=0.62), intimal collagen (34.6±11.9 vs. 32.7±13.0%; p=0.22) and macrophage content (14.3±2.8 vs. 18.5±5.8%; p=0.32). RFA-treated regions did show a major decrease in intimal smooth muscle cell (αSMA) content (1.8±0.4 vs. 18.0±5.9%; p=0.038), which remained decreased after 28 days (6.8±3.8 vs. 12.6±1.6%; p=0.020). Again, after 28 days no differences were observed in plaque area (4.6±0.9 vs. 4.4±1.1 mm 2 ; p=0.46), intimal collagen (39.2±9.1 vs. 40.3±12.4%; p=0.85) or macrophage content (13.2±2.5 vs. 12.6±2.0%; p=0.73). Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation of the rabbit atherosclerotic plaque is safe and leads to a major reduction in αSMA content, but does not affect other aspects of plaque stability over time. It may thus serve as a therapeutic option for major (re)stenosis in peripheral arterial disease.

BIO-EFFICACY ASSESSMENT OF SAGE, SALVIA OFFICINALIS L. EXTRACTS ON SOME BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SPIDER MITE, TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH (ACARI:TETRANYCHIDAE)

The usage of plant extracts for pest control is considered as an alternative control method to synthetic pesticides. The effect of methanol and water extracts obtained from Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) plant from the Lamiaceae family on Tetranychus urticae Koch was evaluated. The sprayed leaf disk method was used to determine the effect of the plant extracts. The effect of Sage extracts on the eggs and adult females was examined. Four concentrations of the plant extracts 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% were evaluated. Mortality was observed after 1st, 3rd and 5th days from treatment. The highest death rates of T. urticae adults were found at 20% concentration as 92.85% and 87.14% for methanol and water Sage extracts, respectively. Both extracts gave poor toxic effect to eggs compared with adult females. Both extracts proved superiority in repellency to spider mite, T. urticae. Rate of repellency was decreased gradually by time elapsed after treatment. T. urticae females preferred to settle, deposit eggs and feed on the untreated half of the disc and the majority refused to settle on the treated part especially with the high concentrations. Both solvent extracts shortened the longevity and reduced fecundity of adult females of T. urticae. As a consequence, Sage extracts are thought to be used as an alternative safe method for mite control.

L-cysteine Stimulates Selenite Uptake through GSH Involving in Selenite Reduction in Rice Roots

The effect of L-cysteine on selenite uptake rate in rice roots was investigated in this study. The results indicated that L-cysteine stimulated selenite uptake significantly, but D-cysteine had no effect on selenite uptake. Selenite uptake increased significantly when the roots were exposed to the L-cysteine solution following a cleanup of the adsorbed L-cysteine on the root surface. Exogenous reduced glutathione stimulated selenite uptake significantly, but oxidized glutathione had no effect on selenite uptake. Split-root experiments showed that exogenous L-cysteine and reduced glutathione applied to one-half of the root system induced selenite uptake by the untreated half. Furthermore, reduced glutathione concentration in rice roots was increased or reduced significantly when exposed to L-cysteine or selenite solution, respectively. A correlation analysis revealed selenite uptake rate was positively correlated with reduced glutathione concentration in rice roots but not in rice leaves. L-cysteine stimulates selenite uptake through reduced glutathione involving in selenite reduction in rice roots.

Treatment of cosmetic tattoos with nonablative fractional laser in an animal model: A novel method with histopathologic evidence

Cosmetic tattoos are difficult to treat using Q-switched lasers. We introduce a novel method for the treatment of cosmetic tattoos using a nonablative fractional laser and investigate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in an animal model. Ten rats were tattooed on their backs with white and flesh-colored pigments. One-half of each tattoo was treated with a 1,550-nm, erbium:glass fractional laser system with energy settings of 17 mJ and 169 MTZ/cm(2) × 2 passes for five sessions at 1-month intervals. The untreated half of each tattoo served as the control. An independent physician reviewed the photographs and scored the clinical response. Serial skin samples were obtained at baseline and at various times after laser treatment. These tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunostained for types I, III, and IV collagen; laminin; fibronectin; and α-smooth muscle actin. White tattoos showed excellent responses in two rats and good responses in eight rats, whereas flesh-colored tattoos showed excellent responses in four rats and good responses in six rats (P = 0.001 in both cases compared with baseline). Both tattoos exhibited a similar clearance rate (P > 0.05) and histological reactions. Microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MEND) containing tattoo pigments and collagen fibrils appeared on day 1, increased on day 2, and was exfoliated after 5 days. The dermal-epidermal junction lost integrity 30 minutes after treatment, but recovered completely on day 3. The expression of fibronectin and collagen-III, which play key roles in wound healing, increased around the microscopic treatment zone on days 1-5 and 4-7, respectively. A few myofibroblasts appeared on days 4-7. Nonablative fractional lasers (NAFLs) successfully remove cosmetic tattoos by transepidermal elimination of tattoo pigments through the disrupted dermal-epidermal junction. This action is facilitated by the wound healing process.

Healing Spinal Cord Injuries

Healing Spinal Cord Injuries

Fusarium oxysporum endophytes induced systemic resistance against Radopholus similis on banana

AbstractFour mutualistic endophytic fungal isolates were investigated for their ability to induce systemic resistance in banana toward the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis in glasshouse experiments. Two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum and one of F. cf. diversisporum isolated from the cortical tissue of banana, and another isolate of F. oxysporum isolated from tomato, were compared. When the root systems of seedling banana plants were pre-inoculated with the four endophytic fungi, R. similis root penetration was reduced by 29-39% and 22-41% 5 and 15 days after nematode inoculation, respectively. Induction of systemic resistance to R. similis in banana roots by the same endophytic fungi was tested in a split-root system. Depending on the isolate, the penetration rates decreased between 30-38.5% and 26.7-45% after 5 and 15 days in the untreated half of the split-root system of plants treated with the endophytic strains when compared to those treated without the fungi. This is the first time that systemic resistance induced by a fungal endophyte has been demonstrated in banana.

Influence of laser photocoagulation on choroidal capillary cytoarchitecture

AIMTo identify if laser photocoagulation induces morphological changes specifically related to the choroidal capillary endothelial processes that protrude into Bruch's membrane.METHODSTwo human eyes and one adult macaque monkey eye received...

Slugs (Deroceras reticulatum and Arion ater agg.) Avoid Soil Treated with the Rhabditid Nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita

A series of experiments was done to determine whether the pest slugs Deroceras reticulatum and Arion ater agg. (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Stylommatophora) could detect the presence of and avoid soil treated with the parasitic nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Rhabditidae). One-half of the surface area of moist soil in experimental boxes was treated with infective juveniles of P. hermaphrodita at a density of 120/cm2. The other half of each box was left untreated. Five discs of Chinese cabbage leaf were placed in each half of each box. Slugs (D. reticulatum or A. ater agg.) were added to each box and food consumption and resting sites were recorded over a 12-day period. Both slug species were more likely to rest and feed on untreated soil than on nematode-treated soil. A series of boxes was also prepared with one-half untreated and the remaining half treated with 1, 4, 12, 38, or 120 nematodes/cm2. Slugs were less likely to rest or feed in the treated half of boxes containing 38 or 120 P. hermaphrodita/cm2 but showed no preference between the untreated and the nematode-treated soil at lower nematode densities. A final experiment showed that there was little movement of P. hermaphrodita from the treated half to the untreated half of each box.

Clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of oral etretinate with calcipotriol cream compared with etretinate alone in moderate–severe psoriasis

Background The aim of this clinical trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol cream associated with oral etretinate compared with etretinate alone in the treatment of moderate-severe psoriasis.Methods This controlled multicenter trial, within patients (hemiparts), enrolled 86 in- or out-patients (62 males, 24 females), mean (±SD) age 57.1±14.2 years, with psoriasis vulgaris on both sides of the body, and mean (±SE) baseline PASI score (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) 30.7±0.9. All patients took oral etretinate 50 mg/day and applied calcipotriol cream (50 μg/g) on one half of their body twice a day. Treatment was continued for 9 weeks, and patients were seen every 3 weeks.Results At the end of the first 3 weeks the PASI score indicated a significant clinical difference between the two sides of the body (P<0.001, ANOVA), with a reduction of 50.7% in the score for the calcipotriol-treated half, compared with a 39% reduction for the untreated half. By the 9th week of treatment the PASI score was 81.4% lower on the treated half, and 70.3% on the untreated side (P<0.001, ANOVA).Conclusions These findings suggest that patients with moderate-severe psoriasis might benefit from treatment with etretinate plus calcipotriol, with the aim of achieving a faster response and an overall smaller total dose of etretinate.

Clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of oral etretinate with calcipotriol cream compared with etretinate alone in moderate‐severe psoriasis

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this clinical trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of calcipotriol cream associated with oral etretinate compared with etretinate alone in the treatment of moderate‐severe psoriasis.MethodsThis controlled multicenter trial, within patients (hemiparts), enrolled 86 in‐ or out‐patients (62 males, 24 females), mean (±SD) age 57.1 ± 14.2 years, with psoriasis vulgaris on both sides of the body, and mean (±SE) baseline PASI score (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) 30.7 ± 0.9. All patients took oral etretinate 50 mg/day and applied calcipotriol cream (50 μg/g) on one half of their body twice a day. Treatment was continued for 9 weeks, and patients were seen every 3 weeks.ResultsAt the end of the first 3 weeks the PASI score indicated a significant clinical difference between the two sides of the body (P &lt; 0.001, ANOVA), with a reduction of 50.7% in the score for the calcipotriol‐treated half, compared with a 39% reduction for the untreated half. By the 9th week of treatment the PASI score was 81.4% lower on the treated half, and 70.3% on the untreated side (P &lt; 0.001, ANOVA).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that patients with moderate‐severe psoriasis might benefit from treatment with etretinate plus calcipotriol, with the aim of achieving a faster response and an overall smaller total dose of etretinate.

298 Root Restriction and Fertilizer Effects on Young Peach Trees

Shoot growth of peach trees can be managed by manipulating edaphic conditions such as root volume and soil fertility. In this experiment, 2-year-old peach trees (Prunus persica L. cv. Sentry on `Lovell' rootstock) were planted in pots with a split root design, so that half the roots were not treated and the other half received one of four treatments: root volume restricted with polypropylene nonwoven fabric (FAB), fertilizer alone (FER), FAB + FER, and untreated control (UTC). Total shoot growth and root growth were measured, and root growth in the split halves was compared. FER increased leaf number and weight by 48% and 60%, respectively, but not stem growth. Leaf nitrogen concentration and photosynthesis were greatest in FER treatment. FAB did not affect shoot weight or reduce total root weight or length, although roots did not grow past the fabric barrier. FER increased root weight and length (116% and 57%, respectively, compared to UTC) on the treated half but did not affect root growth on the untreated half. Greatest root growth occurred in the root half that received FAB + FER, particularly in the 5-cm soil segment proximal to the fabric (4.6 cm•cm-3 compared to 0.8 cm.cm-3 in UTC). Shoot length was greater in FAB + FER than FAB. Thus, fertilizer applied near fabric increased root growth and the combination of fertilizer and fabric may be used to regulate shoot growth. Specific root length (root length per gram dry weight) was highest in trees with no treatment, suggesting root acclimation to low nutrient soil conditions. Lower specific root length resulted in soils that were fertilized. The results indicate that nonwoven fabric restricts root growth in peach trees and reduces shoot elongation. The combined effect of fabric plus selected application of fertilizer may be used to regulate growth of peach trees.

A laboratory assessment of the behavioural responses of three strains of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) to three insecticides and the insect repellent N,N-diethyl- m-toluamide

The avoidance behaviour of two insecticide-resistant (0213 and FL) and a susceptible strain (LS) of Oryzaephilus surinamensis to the contact insecticides pirimiphos-methyl, etrimfos, and permethrin and to the insect repellent N,N-diethyl- m-toluamide (deet) was assessed in the laboratory. Adults were confined singly in untreated arenas, or arenas half-treated with insecticide at 25 or 250 mg/m 2 for pirimiphos-methyl and etrimfos and at 25 or 100 mg/m 2 for permethrin. The insect repellent was applied at 250 mg/m 2. The location of each insect either on the treated or untreated half of the arenas was recorded at intervals of 1 h for the first 7 h and at 24 h. Knock-down (KD) was also recorded at each assessment period. An avoidance response was demonstrated by a proportion of insects from all three strains of O. surinamensis to deet during the first 7 h of the test. Knock-down of insects of the 0213 strain exposed to 25 and 250 mg/m 2 pirimiphos-methyl was considerably higher than would have been predicted from its resistance ratio, based on responses on completely treated papers. This is in contrast to the low KD level of the FL pirimiphos-methyl susceptible strain. At the lower concentration of etrimfos, avoidance behaviour was observed for the LS and FL strains, whereas at 250 mg/m 2, any avoidance behaviour may have been obscured or influenced by high KD levels. A proportion of insects from all three strains demonstrated avoidance behaviour to 100 mg/m 2 permethrin, with the LS strain the least able to detect permethrin. The FL strain, which has a high level of resistance to permethrin was also able to detect permethrin readily, indicating that survival due to biochemical/physiological resistance may be enhanced by behavioural avoidance. The implications of these results in terms of the development of bioassay techniques are discussed.

Invertebrate community response to experimental lime (Ca(OH)2) treatment of an eutrophic pond

Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2), or hydrated lime, has recently been reintroduced in western Canada as a treatment to reduce macrophytes and algae in eutrophic waters. We examined the effects and recovery of aquatic invertebrates of the Ca(OH)2 treatment (250 mg L−1) of one half of a divided eutrophic pond compared to the untreated half. Nine weeks following treatment, total invertebrates on the untreated side were present at 1917 ± 555 individuals m−2, and on the treated side at 822 ± 186 individuals m−2. Notably, Chironomidae represented 13% of invertebrates on the untreated half, but dominated numerically with 72% on the treated half of the pond. The remaining five most abundant taxa in the untreated side were 88%–99% less abundant in the treated half of the pond. Diversity and evenness were twice as high for the untreated half as for the treated half of the pond. Because macrophytes were also extirpated with the Ca(OH)2 treatment, macrophyteassociated taxa were absent or at low numbers in the treated half. The death of organisms on the treated side of the pond may have been caused (directly or indirectly) by the pH shock associated with Ca(OH)2 treatments. Slow recolonization by most invertebrates during the year of treatment was probably due to the lack of heterogeneous macrophyte habitat. Follow-up sampling 3 years later indicated that the pond completely regained the abundance and biological diversity of flora and fauna.

Physical characterization of wood and wood‐polymer composites: An update

AbstractNew and reliable test methods have been developed, and are under development, for the physical characterization of wood and whole wood‐polymer composites (WPC is used in this article to refer to polymer‐impregnated whole wood). The methods described here have been designed for smaller samples than are required for most ASTM tests. It should be stressed that, when comparing treated samples to untreated samples in any type of testing, the initial density or specific gravity (density before treatment) of the treated sample should be the same as the untreated control sample. If possible, measurements should be made on a given sample before and after treatment; on a split sample, half should be treated and compared with the untreated half. If there is much variation in density between samples within a group, the effectiveness of the treatment cannot be determined with an acceptable degree of accuracy, since whole wood varies greatly between specimens and density is a major factor contributing to property variability. For example, swelling (due to moisture uptake), modulus, toughness, surface hardness, and compressive strength of wood all increase dramatically with increasing density for both untreated whole wood and WPCs.Scanning electron microscopy, coupled with x‐ray energy analysis, indicated the presence or absence of good interaction between wood components and in situ formed polymer. For example, poly(EHMA) (the homopolymer of ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate) and wood components were seen to be strongly bonded, and x‐ray activation elemental analysis confirmed the presence of poly(EHMA) and its copolymers within the wood cell walls. On the other hand, proton spin‐lattice relaxation in the rotating frame (T1p) measurements (by 13C solid‐state NMR) for balsa / EHMA WPCs gave two separate sets of relaxation times, one each for unique peaks corresponding to either the polymer or the wood components. It is probable that the region of interaction between poly(EHMA) and the wood component in the balsa / EHMA WPC (the interphase region) is small, as compared to the individual components, and is not observed. This result is consistent with a two‐parameter relaxation process for the peak at ca. 61 ppm, which includes overlapping peaks for the hydroxymethyl carbons of poly(EHMA) and cellulose. © 1993 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.

Utilization of Ensiled Corn Crop Residues by Holstein Heifers

Corn crop residues were harvested 1 to 2 d after harvest of high moisture corn. Half the harvested residues were treated with an aqueous solution of ammonia before ensiling to give 34g of ammonia/kg of residue DM. The untreated half was the control silage. Both silages were ensiled in bunker silos. More residues were harvested 2.5 wk later from the same field and combined with Brassica napus L. before ensiling in a bag, and this constituted the third forage treatment. Three diets containing 48.8, 46.5, and 63.8% residue silage (DM basis), with the latter containing corn crop residue and brassica in a 3:1 ratio, were designated as control, ammoniated, and brassica, respectively. The other ingredients of the diet were alfalfa silage, cracked corn, and urea. The diets were fed to Holstein heifers averaging 186kg (light BW) and 372kg (heavy BW).Weight gains were similar at 84 d for heifers fed the control and the ammoniated residue diets. Light and heavy heifers gained 619 and 631 g/d with the control diet and 678 and 631 g/d with the ammoniated residue diets. At 70 d, the heavy heifers fed control, ammoniated, and brassica diets had weight gains of 629, 671, and 786 g/d, respectively.Digestion coefficients were similar between the control and ammoniated residue diets: DM (62.6 and 58.7%), NDF (56.7 and 56.2%), and ADF (56.3 and 55.8%). Ammonia treatment of corn crop residue silage had no effect on animal performance or digestibility. Brassica appeared to improve animal performance when it was mixed with corn crop residue silage.