Stichting Hout Research (Netherlands)

Despite its aquaculture potential, Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) has not yet been adopted for cage culture in Bangladesh. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of cage culture of this species in coastal rivers of Bangladesh. A total of six cages (18 m3 each) were installed in a coastal river and each was stocked with 50 fish (7.70 ± 0.18 g). Three feeding treatments were applied: 100% live feed (live and/or trashed juvenile tilapia) (T1); 50% live feed with 50% formulated feed (T2); and 100% formulated feed (T3). The experimental fish were reared for 12 weeks and fed at 8% of their body weight during the initial 3 weeks and at 6% during the later weeks. Fish refused formulated feed. Survival in T3 (64%) was significantly lower compared to that in T1 (88%) or T2 (82%) but did not differ between T1 and T2. Mean specific growth rates (SGR) were 1.66, 1.12, and 0.90 % d–1; daily growth rates (DGR) were 2.20, 0.74, and 0.44 g, and weight gain (WG) values were 182.50, 61.10, and 36.50 g in T1, T2, and T3, respectively. SGR values significantly differed among the treatments. DGR and WG values in T1 were significantly higher than that in T2 or T3 but did not differ between T2 and T3. Results indicate that cage culture of Asian seabass in Bangladesh requires live and/or trash fish as feed, or else advances in domestication and artificial feed development.

Abstract Fusarium wilt of cotton is a major production constraint worldwide caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum. Strain variations contribute to differences in disease expression across different geographic locations. Genomes for two Australian isolates of F. oxysporum isolated from cotton are presented. The strains differ in their symptomatology on cotton plants and group in distinct lineages, different to those cotton infecting strains found overseas.

rapport of RIKILT, geheel of gedeeltelijk te doen gebruiken ten behoeve van het instellen van claims, voor het voeren van gerechtelijke procedures, voor reclame of antireclame en ten behoeve van werving in meer

Different definitions of quality of life (QOL) are found in the literature. This raised the question which domains are viewed as really important by persons with dementia. In an explorative study the opinions of persons with dementia (community-dwelling and living in nursing homes), were compared to those of professional carers and instruments for QOL in dementia. Data were gathered through interviews, focus groups and literature study. Most QOL-domains mentioned as important by persons with dementia were also acknowledged by carers and in measurement instruments. Some domains, however, were not mentioned by the carers ('sense of aesthetics', 'financial situation', 'being useful' and 'spirituality'), or not selected in the measuring instruments ('security and privacy', 'self-determination and freedom', 'being useful' and 'spirituality'). This indicates differences in perspectives on quality of life between persons with dementia, professional caregivers and researchers. Subsequently it was studied to what degree professionals focus on the QoL-domains that persons with dementia consider essential. Caregivers working on 29 units and 3 day care facilities of 13 nursing homes and in 12 meeting centers filled out a questionnaire (N = 374). They reported to focus at least to some degree on most domains considered important by persons with dementia. However, little attention was paid to the domains 'financial situation' and 'being useful'. Professionals offering daytime activities focused more than 24-hour care staff on 'attachment', 'enjoyment of activities', 'sense of aesthetics', and 'being useful'. This article is a translation and merging of 1) Dröes et al. Quality of life in dementia in perspective; an explorative study of variations in opinions among people with dementia and their professional caregivers, and in literature. Dementia: The International Journal 2006; 5 (4): 533-558, and 2) Gerritsen et al. Differences in perspective: do professional caregivers focus on the Quality of life domains that are important for people with dementia? American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 2007; 22:176-183.

Influence of steaming on various mechanical and physical properties of two European (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Quercus robur L.) and two tropical (Intsia bijuga, Hymenolobium petraeum) hardwood species were investigated. Each of these wood species requires adequate adhesive systems for the use as dimension stock because of their highly reactive surface chemistry. In order to optimize the gluing behaviour of the timbers involved, steaming processes with five different sets of parameters (steaming time and temperature) were carried out. In addition to the adhesive test, bending strength, hardness, and colour of the modified timbers were examined.

Heat treatment of wood has been found an effective method to improve dimensional stability and durability against biodegradation. A two-stage heat treatment of wood at relatively mild conditions (<200 °C) was investigated by using different chemical analysing methods, such as a wood chemical component analysis, CHNO-elemental analysis, UV-spectroscopy, and analysis of the acetyl and free hydroxyl group content. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the typical reaction mechanisms occurring and of the effect of heat treatment on the properties of wood, as described in previous 13C-NMR and FTIR studies of heat treated wood.

The properties of acetylated solid wood were investigated earlier, in particular the anti-shrink efficiency and the resistance against decay. This study focuses on the possible changes and damage to the wood structure due to an acetylation process leading to weight per cent gains of up to 20%. Electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) was used to investigate the fine structure of acetylated beech, pine and spruce. Cell wall swelling was observed, but no evidence of damage could be seen as a result of the acetylation procedure. The fine structure of the wood tissue such as the pits and the thin parenchyma walls appeared untouched.