Intake, digestibility, nitrogen (N) balance, microbial protein synthesis, weight gain, yields of the main commercial cuts and carcass morphometric measurements were evaluated in lambs fed diets containing different levels of chitosan. Sixty Santa Inês crossbred sheep with an average body weight (BW) of 24 ± 2.2 kg were assigned to three treatments (diets containing 0, 136 or 272 mg chitosan/kg BW) in a completely randomized design. There was no effect of chitosan on dry matter (DM) intake. Ingested and retained N showed a quadratic response, with the highest values estimated at the chitosan levels of 142 and 152 mg/kg BW, respectively. Similar to N balance, microbial protein synthesis showed the same quadratic response, in which the level of 136 mg/kg BW resulted in higher synthesis when compared with the other levels. No effect of chitosan was detected on average daily gain, final weight, or carcass variables (hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, yield of commercial cuts and morphometric measurements of the carcass). Conformation, visceral fat content and fatness of carcasses were also not altered by the use of chitosan. Chitosan improves the digestibility of DM, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, and increases N balance and microbial protein synthesis but does not change the production performance of feedlot lambs.

Simulated drift rates of bromoxynil followed by an in-crop application of metribuzin were applied to processing tomato in eight field studies conducted from 2008 to 2010 in Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, to determine if a synergistic interaction occurred due to the cumulative herbicide application. A transient synergistic response was observed 7 d after treatment (DAT) when bromoxynil drift rates of 8.5, 17, and 34 g ai ha−1 were followed 3 to 5 d later by metribuzin at 250 g ai ha−1. By 28 DAT, visible injury ratings were additive for 8.5, 17, and 34 g ha−1 bromoxynil followed by metribuzin treatments. However, when bromoxynil at 68 g ha−1 (20% of field rate) was followed by metribuzin, a synergistic interaction was evident and remained through harvest. Based on Colby's equation there was greater visible injury than expected at 7, 14, and 28 DAT when bromoxynil at 68 g ha−1 was followed by metribuzin. A corresponding synergistic reduction of plant dry weight and marketable tomato yield, compared with the nontreated control, was identified. Marketable yields were expected to be 65% of the control according to Colby's equation, but observed yield reductions were 49% when bromoxynil at 68 g ha−1 was followed by metribuzin. In general, tomato plants sprayed with metribuzin after bromoxynil drift had greater injury than treatments sprayed with bromoxynil alone.

During the past fifteen years, phytoadditives in animal nutrition have attracted attention for their potential role as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. The goal of this paper is to review the current scientific data on the use of phytoadditives in broiler nutrition. The efficacy of phytogenic applications in broiler nutrition depends on several factors, such as composition and feed inclusion level of phytogenic preparations, bird genetics, and overall diet composition. Difficulty arises when comparing different studies using phytoadditives due to the large variation in composition and sourcing, thus the potential biological effects of phytogenic compounds may differ. However, a great amount of research data supports a potential role of phytoadditives as natural, non-antibiotic growth promoters in broiler nutrition. The mechanisms behind growth promotion are far from being elucidated, as data on phytoadditive effects on nutrient digestibility, gut function and the immune system are still scarce. Phytogenic intake may certainly depress pathogen growth in the gut, however an understanding of their effects on the complex gut ecosystem is still far from clear. There is insufficient amount of studies describing the effects of phytoadditive dietary intake on carcass meat safety, whereas the beneficial effect of phytogenics on carcass meat quality is very well documented. As the last point of this review, further considerations on the efficient applications of phytoadditive compounds in broiler nutrition are given.

Eight field studies were conducted over a 3-yr period from 2008 to 2010 in Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, to determine the cumulative stress caused by simulated glyphosate spray drift followed by an in-crop application of metribuzin in processing tomato. As the simulated glyphosate spray drift rate increased so did the degree of injury to the tomatoes. At a simulated spray drift rate of 22.5 g ae ha−1 (2.5% of the recommended glyphosate field rate), a 23% decrease in red tomato yield was observed. Yield reductions increased to 88% of the control when 180 g ae ha−1 glyphosate (20% of the recommended field rate) was applied. Similarly when simulated spray drift rates were followed 3 to 5 d later with an in-crop application of metribuzin at 250 g ai ha−1, tomato yields decreased by 22 to 85% depending on glyphosate rate applied. A transient synergistic interaction was observed only when 22.5 g ae ha−1 glyphosate was followed by metribuzin. The synergistic response was no longer evident by the 28-d injury rating. Herbicide interactions were additive for crop injury, dry weight, fruit counts, and yield when glyphosate spray drift rates of 45, 90, or 180 g ae ha−1 were followed by metribuzin.

In weed science literature, models such as concentration addition, independent action, effect summation, and the parallel line assay technique have been used to predict and analyze whole-plant response to herbicide mixtures. Although a joint action reference model is necessary for determining whether the herbicide mixture provides less than (antagonistic), equal to (zero-interaction or additive), or greater than (synergistic) expected control, model selection often occurs with little regard to the model's underlying biological assumptions. The joint action models of concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) are the appropriate models to consider for analysis of herbicide mixtures of two active components. CA assumes additivity of dose, with herbicides differing only in potency, whereas IA assumes multiplicativity of effects, in which herbicides behave independently and sequentially within the plant. CA and IA predicted mixture responses were computed for a sample mixture data set of mesotrione plus atrazine. IA predicted lower mixture responses than CA; for example, mesotrione at 17.5 g ha−1 + atrazine at 140 g ha−1 was predicted to provide 45% (IA) compared with 53% (CA) control of Palmer amaranth. Joint action claims of synergism and antagonism were shown to be dependent on the reference model selected. Although mesotrione plus atrazine combinations were synergistic under IA assumptions, analysis under CA assumptions indicated mesotrione plus atrazine to be synergistic, additive, and antagonistic according to the selected effective concentration (EC x ) level and fixed-ratio mixture. Because it is not possible to determine the appropriate joint action model on the basis of fit of predicted to observed mixture data, the appropriateness of underlying biological assumptions was considered for the sample mixture data set. Additionally, we provide decision criteria to aid researchers in their selection of an appropriate joint action reference model.

The quasilinearity of certain composite functionals defined on convex cones in linear spaces is investigated. Applications in refining the Jensen, Hölder, Minkowski and Schwarz inequalities are given.

There is an ever-increasing body of literature examining gene–environment interactions in psychiatry, reflecting a widespread belief that such studies will aid identification of novel risk factors for disease, increase understanding about underlying pathological mechanisms, and aid identification of high-risk groups for targeted interventions. In this article we discuss to what extent studies of gene–environment interactions are likely to lead to any such benefits in the future.

We say that a function $h\,:\,\mathbb{R}\,\to \,\mathbb{R}$ is a Hamel function $(h\,\in \,\text{HF)}$ if $h$ , considered as a subset of ${{\mathbb{R}}^{2}},$ is a Hamel basis for ${{\mathbb{R}}^{2}}.$ We show that $\text{A}\left( \text{HF} \right)\,\ge \,\omega$ , i.e., for every finite $F\,\subseteq \,{{\mathbb{R}}^{\mathbb{R}}}$ there exists $f\,\in \,{{\mathbb{R}}^{\mathbb{R}}}$ such that $f\,+\,F\,\subseteq \,\text{HF}$ . From the previous work of the author it then follows that $\text{A}\left( \text{HF} \right)\,=\,\omega$ .

Thirteen field experiments were conducted in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario from 2005 to 2007 to determine the effects of simulated glyphosate drift followed by in-crop applications of nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron plus dicamba/diflufenzopyr or foramsulfuron plus bromoxynil plus atrazine on nontransgenic corn injury, height, stand count, shoot dry weight, and yield. Simulated glyphosate drift at 100 and 200 g/ha, resulted in 11 to 61% visual crop injury and a 19 to 45% decrease in corn height. Simulated glyphosate drift at 200 g/ha caused a reduction in shoot dry weight by 46%, stand count by 28% and yield by 49 to 56%. Generally, simulated glyphosate drift followed by the in-crop herbicides resulted in an additive response with respect to visual crop injury, height, stand count, shoot dry weight, and yield.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the response of velvetleaf, common cocklebur, and ivyleaf morningglory to mesotrione and atrazine applied PRE, and to characterize the nature of any interaction between mesotrione and atrazine. Sensitivity to mesotrione was as follows: velvetleaf > common cocklebur > ivyleaf morningglory. Sensitivity to atrazine was as follows: ivyleaf morningglory > common cocklebur > velvetleaf. Combinations of mesotrione and atrazine resulted in at least an additive interaction. The activity of mesotrione and atrazine applied in combination was generally additive for control of velvetleaf and ivyleaf morningglory but was synergistic for several rate combinations.

Diminished control of goosegrass was observed in tomato fields located in Manatee County, FL, after years of repeated paraquat use. Tolerance of the Manatee biotype to paraquat was confirmed by its comparison in greenhouse studies with a susceptible biotype from the Alachua County, FL. A 30-fold increase in paraquat rate was required to reach the 50% growth reduction level of the resistant biotype over the susceptible biotype. The Manatee biotype was not tolerant to clethodim, metribuzin, or sethoxydim. These herbicides provided adequate control of all the goosegrass biotypes tested.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate potential interactions among glyphosate mixtures with five acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides (chlorimuron, imazamox, imazaquin, MON 12,000, or pyrithiobac) for the control of purple nutsedge and sicklepod at two growth stages. Herbicides were tested alone at 0.5X and 1X rates (1X being suggested use rate for these herbicides) and in combination with glyphosate at 560 (0.5X) and 1,120 (1X) g ai/ha on 3-wk-old plants and at 1,120 g/ha on 6-wk-old plants. Glyphosate alone at 1,120 g/ha gave complete control of purple nutsedge and at least 78% control of sicklepod regardless of growth stage. In 3-wk-old purple nutsedge plants, three of the 20 herbicide combinations were antagonistic and 17 combinations were additive, whereas all five combinations were additive in 6-wk-old plants. In sicklepod, eight combinations were antagonistic and 12 combinations were additive in 3-wk-old plants, and all five combinations were antagonistic in 6-wk-old plants. In 3-wk-old plants, the glyphosate (0.5X) plus imazaquin (0.5X) combination resulted in highest antagonism in purple nutsedge control (79%), and the combination of glyphosate (0.5X) plus imazamox (0.5X) resulted in highest antagonism in sicklepod control (54%). These results indicate that mixing chlorimuron, imazamox, imazaquin, MON 12,000, or pyrithiobac with glyphosate does not increase glyphosate efficacy on purple nutsedge or sicklepod.

Rare earths (RE) is the common name for the metallic elements of the lanthanide series, together with yttrium and scandium, which make up 0.016% of the earth's crust. This review summarizes the results of experiments conducted in China in which RE were added to poultry diets. Additions of 30–1000mg/kg RE to layer diets resulted in increases in egg production of 3–15% and improved feed conversion efficiency of 2–22%. The hatchability of eggs increased by 5–15%. Improvements of 4–14% in body weight gain were observed in broilers fed 20–400 mg/kg, together with 3–6% better feed conversion efficiency and increases of 3–5% in eviscerated yield. Similar benefits have also been reported when feeding RE to ducks, although not statistically validated, and to meat-type pigeons. No adverse effects of feeding RE have been reported. It is concluded that rare earths have a role as feed additives in the poultry industry, particularly in conditions where the genetic potential for production traits is not achieved. Key information from some of the papers cited in the paper is summarized in an appendix.

Several herbicides control common ragweed postemergence in soybean. However, weed response may be altered if herbicides are tank-mixed and the choice of additive may also influence the degree of weed control. Imazethapyr and thifensulfuron could be tank-mixed with bentazon for broadleaf weed control and visual crop injury reduced compared to a bentazon plus acifluorfen tank-mix. Experiments determined common ragweed control with these herbicides and herbicide combinations when applied with various additives. In the greenhouse, bentazon at 560 g ai/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 95 to 97%. Common ragweed control with imazethapyr at 35 g/ha increased by 13 and 7% when 28% urea ammonium nitrate was applied with nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant, respectively. Tank-mixing imazethapyr with bentazon did not change dry weight of common ragweed compared with bentazon. Bentazon plus thifensulfuron plus nonionic surfactant required the addition of 28% urea ammonium nitrate to reduce dry weight of common ragweed comparable to that with bentazon. In field research, bentazon at 1120 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight 78 to 81%. Tank-mixing bentazon with thifensulfuron at 4.5 g/ha or imazethapyr at 71 or 35 g/ha reduced common ragweed dry weight at 14 d after treatment by 89 to 91%, thus enhancing control compared to each herbicide applied alone. Adding 28% urea ammonium nitrate to bentazon plus imazethapyr or bentazon plus thifensulfuron tank-mixes did not increase control compared to these treatments applied with either nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant. By 28 d after treatment only imazethapyr at 35 or 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus nonionic surfactant or petroleum oil adjuvant and bentazon plus imazethapyr tank-mixes provided 85% or more control of common ragweed in 1991, and only imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus 28% urea ammonium nitrate plus petroleum oil adjuvant or imazethapyr at 71 g/ha plus bentazon provided greater than 78% common ragweed control in 1992. Soybean yield was not different from the handweeded control only where bentazon plus 71 g/ha of imazethapyr or acifluorfen at 560 g/ha was applied.

Quackgrass biotypes collected from 15 locations exhibited differential response to primisulfuron at 20 g ha−1 in field experiments at Hudson, NY during 1990 and 1991. Quackgrass control ranged from 23 to 100% 77 days after application (DAA) in 1990 and from 38 to 100% 88 DAA in 1991. The biotype from Montpelier, OH was the most tolerant both years. Differential response of quackgrass biotypes from five locations was confirmed in greenhouse experiments. The primisulfuron rate required to reduce shoot regrowth by 50% in the greenhouse was estimated at 15, 15, 17, 17, and 37 g ha−1 for biotypes from Amherst, MA; Mahnomen MN; Fargo, ND; State College, PA; and Montpelier, OH, respectively. Quackgrass shoot regrowth was reduced more when primisulfuron was applied with the linear alcohol ethoxylate additive 1412-70 compared with Scoil, Sylgard 309, Agridex, or X-77.

A method of calculating confidence intervals of the “area of influence” of a weed plant, and of yield losses calculated from it, was developed. In a worked example using published data, the confidence intervals of the area of influence were found to be large. Yield losses calculated from this method were less precisely estimated than those from a more traditional additive density experiment. This limited evidence suggests that to give similar precision, the area of influence experiments may need to be at least double their present size. If this is indeed the case, published statements on the space, time, and effort advantages of the area of influence design will need to be treated with caution.

Experiments conducted in the greenhouse indicated that 2,4-D antagonism of glyphosate toxicity to wheat was sodium salt = butoxyethyl ester ≥ diethanolamine. Isopropylamine salt of 2,4-D generally was not antagonistic to glyphosate phytotoxicity. Isopropylamine salt of 2,4-D did not influence the antagonism of glyphosate by inorganic salts in the spray carrier. Antagonism of glyphosate toxicity to wheat by 2,4-D increased when sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, and ferric sulfate were in the spray carrier water. Isopropylamine alone as an adjuvant enhanced glyphosate toxicity to wheat, and overcame ferric sulfate and sodium bicarbonate antagonism of glyphosate. Diammonium sulfate adjuvant overcame antagonism to glyphosate phytotoxicity from 2,4-D, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium chloride each alone or the salts in combination with 2,4-D. Nonionic surfactants differed in enhancement of glyphosate but none overcame antagonism from salts or 2,4-D.

Six commercial petroleum oil (PO) adjuvants differed in their enhancement of imazethapyr phytotoxicity to green foxtail and kochia but not to redroot pigweed, when imazethapyr was applied postemergence at 17 g ha–1. Imazethapyr at 5 g ha–1 plus 27 combinations of three oils and nine emulsifiers reduced kochia growth by 61 to 88%. Optimum emulsifier concentration in a PO adjuvant ranged from 15 to 20% (v/v). All PO adjuvants tested produced fair to excellent oil-inwater emulsions with imazethapyr; however, emulsion stability did not correlate with weed control.

The design and analysis of competition experiments should be based on an unambiguous objective. Recent criticisms of particular designs have been made without reference to objectives and may be misleading. Three common designs are discussed: additive, replacement series, and response surface. Additive designs are well suited to agronomic objectives; replacement series are useful for comparing pairs of species; response surface designs can be used for most objectives but may be unnecessarily complex. The published criticisms of additive and replacement series designs are argued to be acceptable limitations within the bounds of the objectives for which they are used. Concerns about these designs confounding density and proportion are irrelevant to the objectives for which they are most suited. The continued use of multiple comparison tests is argued to be illogical. Regression approaches to analysis are more relevant, many non-linear equations are now easy to fit to data and these can be used without the need for linearization. However, there are various pitfalls not adequately reported to date. In particular, error structures need to be checked carefully and over-elaborate equations should be avoided.

Genetic analyses were carried out to determine inheritance of resistance, heterotic effects and reciprocal effects for resistance to the spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus in three maize crosses. Resistance was found dominant over susceptibility. Highly significant heterosis was detected for percentage dead hearts. Both additive and nonadditive gene effects were important in the inheritance of resistance to C. partellus in all crosses. Additive gene effects were highly significant for all the three resistance parameters: leaf-feeding, dead hearts and stem tunnelling. However, a high magnitude of nonadditive (dominance and epistatic) gene effects were detected for dead hearts. No cytoplasmic effects were detected in reciprocal crosses between resistant and susceptible maize lines, suggesting that the resistance to C. partellus is conferred only by nuclear genes. Recurrent selection methods should be used to accumulate alleles for resistance. Resistant F1 hybrids could be developed between resistant and susceptible lines in reciprocal combinations.