Dietary supplement of selenium-rich yeast may relieve lipopolysaccharide-induced growth depression in piglets via improving immune and antioxidant status

Selenium protects cells from oxidative damage and reduces lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines. Because inflammatory cytokines induce growth depression, we hypothesized that selenium-rich yeast （SeY） would inhibit growth depression caused by LPS. Twenty Meishan weanling pigs [28 （s.d. 2 d）, 7.6 （s.d. 0.3 kg） body weight （BW）] were used in a 2×2 factorial design （n=5）. The main factors were dietary Se sources [selenium-rich yeast （SeY） vs. sodium selenite （SSe）] with supplement level at 0.3 mg Se/kg, and immunological stress （LPS vs. saline）. The experiment lasted for 28 d. On d 14 and d 21, half of pigs in each dietary treatment were intramuscularly injected with either 50 μg/kg BW LPS or an equivalent amount of sterile saline. Blood samples were collected at 3 h post-injection. There were no interactions between dietary Se sources and immunological stress on growth performance. LPS depressed average daily gain （ADG） （d 14-21, P〈0.05; d 21-28, P〈 0.01）, and elevated feed to gain ratio （F/G） （d 21-28, P〈0.05）, while SeY elevated ADG （d 0-14, P〈0.05; d 21-28 and d 0-28, P〈0.01）, and decreased F/G （P〈0.01）. Interactions were observed on interleukin-1β（IL-1β） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） from serum samples of d 14 and d 21 （P〈0.01）, as well as superoxide dismutase （SOD） and insulin like growth factor （IGF-1） of d 21 （P〈0.05）. In conclusion, SeY relieved the growth depression of piglets immunologically stressed by LPS, which maybe resulted from the decreased externalization of inflammatory cytokines and improved antioxidant status.     

Regulation of Calcium on Peanut Photosynthesis Under Low Night Temperature Stress

The effects of different levels of CaCl 2 on photosynthesis under low night temperature（8°C） stress in peanuts were studied in order to find out the appropriate concentration of Ca2＋through the artificial climate chamber potted culture test.The results indicated that Ca2＋,by means of improving the stomatal conductivity of peanut leaves under low night temperature stress,may mitigate the decline of photosynthetic rate in the peanut leaves.The regulation with 15 mmol L-1CaCl 2（Ca15） was the most effective,compared with other treatments.Subsequently,the improvement of Ca2＋on peanut photosynthesis under low night temperature stress was validated further through spraying with Ca15,Ca2＋chelator（ethylene glycol bis（2-aminoethyl） tetraacetic acid; EGTA） and calmodulin antagonists（trifluonerazine; TFP）.And CaM（Ca2＋-modulin） played an important role in the nutritional signal transduction for Ca2＋mitigating photosynthesis limitations in peanuts under low night temperature stress.     

Subsoiling and Ridge Tillage Alleviate the High Temperature Stress in Spring Maize in the North China Plain

High temperature stress（HTS） on spring maize（Zea mays L.） during the filling stage is the key factor that limits the yield increase in the North China Plain（NCP）.Subsoiling（SS） and ridge tillage（R） were introduced to enhance the ability of spring maize to resist HTS during the filling stage.The field experiments were conducted during the 2011 and 2012 maize growing seasons at Wuqiao County,Hebei Province,China.Compared with rotary tillage（RT）,the net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductance,transpiration rate,and chlorophyll relative content（SPAD） of maize leaves was increased by 40.0,42.6,12.8,and 29.7% under SS,and increased by 20.4,20.0,5.4,and 14.2% under R,repectively.However,the treatments reduce the intercellular CO 2 concentration under HTS.The SS and R treatments increased the relative water content（RWC） by 11.9 and 6.2%,and the water use efficiency（WUE） by 24.3 and 14.3%,respectively,compared with RT.The SS treatment increased the root length density and soil moisture in the 0-80 cm soil profile,whereas the R treatment increased the root length density and soil moisture in the 0-40 cm soil profile compared with the RT treatment.Compared with 2011,the number of days with temperatures 33°C was more 2 d and the mean day temperature was higher 0.9°C than that in 2012,whereas the plant yield decreased by 2.5,8.5 and 10.9%,the net photosynthetic rate reduced by 7.5,10.5 and 18.0%,the RWC reduced by 3.9,5.6 and 6.2%,and the WUE at leaf level reduced by 1.8,5.2 and 13.1% in the SS,R and RT treatments,respectively.Both the root length density and the soil moisture also decreased at different levels.The yield,photosynthetic rate,plant water status,root length density,and soil moisture under the SS and R treatments declined less than that under the RT treatment.The results indicated that SS and R can enhance the HTS resistance of spring maize during the filling stage,and led to higher yield by directly improving soil moisture and root growth and indirectly improving plant water status,photosynthesis and grain filling.The study can provide a theoretical basis for improving yield of maize by adjusting soil tillage in the NCP.     

Effects of Grafting on Root Exudates of Cucumber and Rhizosphere Environment under Copper Stress

[Objective] This study to aimed to investigate the effects of Cu stress on root exudates and microbial activities in rhizosphere of grafted and ungrafted cucum-ber seedlings, and therefore to elucidate the microbial mechanism of grafting for in-creasing cucumber plants tolerance to Cu stress [Method] Four treatments： （1） un-grafted seedlings ＋ test soil （U0）; （2） ungrafted seedlings ＋ test soil ＋ CuSO4·5H2O （U1）; （3） grafted seedlings ＋ test soil （G0）; （4） grafted seedlings ＋ test soil ＋ Cu-SO4·5H2O （G1） were set in the pot culture experiment. The contents of free amino acids, organic acids, phenolic acid and sugars, microbial population and enzyme ac-tivity in the four treatment were measured, respectively. [Result] The secretion of amino acids and organic acids were increased under Cu stress. The amino acids secretions of grafted seedlings roots were obviously higher than ungrafted seedlings except for Phe and Val. At the same time, the secretion of oxalic acid, malic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, cinnamic acid, ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid and benzoic acid of grafted seedlings were significantly higher than ungrafted seedlings as wel . There-fore, more Cu2＋ were restricted in soil by chelating, complexing and precipitation with root exudates, and its toxicity was decreased. The soil microbial biomass C and N in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in ungrafted cu-cumber rhizosphere, whereas basal respiration and metabolic quotient were signifi-cantly lower. Under Cu stress, the numbers of actinomyces and nitrogen fixing bac-teria decreased and the number of fungi increased significantly, whereas there was no significant difference in amounts of bacteria. The numbers of bacteria, actino-myces, and nitrogen fixing bacteria in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significant-ly higher than those in ungrafted cucumber rhizosphere, but the number of fungi was opposite. The activities of soil urease, phosphatase, sucrase and catalase in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in ungrafted cu-cumber rhizosphere. [Conclusion] These indicated that the soil microbial environment and soil enzymes activities were improved by grafting under Cu stress, and as a re-sult, the adaptability of cucumber to Cu stress was improved.     

Research Progress and Identification Method of Apple Stress Resistance

In the research, changes of apple chemistry, and molecule, under stresses, are n terms of morphology, physiology, bio- illustrated and research and identifica- tion methods of apple resistance are explored involving drought-resistance, flood-re- sistance, salt-stress resistance, cold-hardiness and heat-resistance. In addition prospects of apple resistance research are proposed, as well.     

Effect of Metallothionein on Cell Cycle,Apoptosis Rate and Subsets Distribution of Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood of Dairy Cattle under Heat Stress

[Objective] This study aimed to research the effect of metallothionein on cell cycle, apoptosis rate and subsets distribution of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of dairy cows under heat stress, so as to perfect the regulative mechanism re- searches of MT to anti-heat stress. [Method] Twenty lactating Chinese Holstein cows were randomly divided into four groups （A, B, C and D）, and injected with 0, 4.0, 8.0 and 12.0 mg Zn-metallothionein, respectively by intravenous route. Blood sam- ples were collected at 1＂, 16~, 31~, 46~ and 61~ day, and the dynamic changes of cell cycle, apoptosis rate and subsets distribution of lymphocytes were determined. [Result] The apoptosis rate of cells in group B and C was lower than those in group A by 26.63% （P〉0.05） and 24.84% （P〉0.05） respectively. The number of cells in the Gc/G1 phage in trial groups was increased and the number of cells in the S and GJM phages tended to decrease, but there were no significant differences （P〉 0.05）. The number of CD3~ T cell in three trial groups was greater than those in group A by 7.02% （P〉0.05）, 5.45% （P〉0.05） and 3.85% （P〉0.05） respectively, while the number of CD4~ T cell in trial groups was higher than those in control group by 31.04% （P〈0.05）, 35.68% （P〈0.05） and 39.34% （P〈0.05） respectively. The number of CD8＇ T cell and the levels of CD4＊/CD8~ in trial groups were increased observ- ably, but significant difference （P〈0.05） was observed in the levels of CD4~/CD8~ between groups A and C only. It demonstrated that exogenous Zn-metallothionein can decrease apoptosis rate, improve cell cycle and regulate subsets distribution of lymphocytes in dairy cattle in a dose-dependent manner. [Conclusion] This study will provide scientific basis for safe utilization of MT in dairy industry.     

Effect of SHAKTI and KUBOTA power tillers on physical properties of soil and rice yield under Sawah production system in Nigeria

The use of the power tillers （walking tractors） are increasingly popular in Nigeria among farmers adopting Sawah rice production technology. This study compares the effects of two types of power tillers on physical properties of soil and rice yield. because soil properties determine to a large extents rice yield. Data on soil properties and rice yield were collected and subjected to t-test statistics. The results show that, significant differences exit for all the physical properties of soils rice yields from fields where the two power tiller were used with yields from rice field where SHAKTI was used was higher than KUBOTA. It is important that farmers using these models of power tillers for rice production should not only focus on the purchase cost of these power tillers but their overall efficiency in order to achieve the desired high level of yield.     

Agricultural development and food security： The way out of crisis

The purpose of this study is to elicit how investments in agricultural development and food security would safeguard the Virgin Islands （BVI） and the Caribbean, by extension, from future global crisis. History shows that agriculture played a significant role in the rise of civilization globally and was the main contributor to the Caribbean economy before the 1950＇s. Overall, it was determined that the BVI population, in general, is desirous of more investment opportunities within the agricultural sector, to assist with the alleviation of poverty at the national level, to advance economic development and trade across the region and to make sustainable development more attainable for the Caribbean, as a whole. To do this, agricultural development and food security must become the focal point of the BVI and other Caribbean economies. Accordingly, the paper recommends that investment within the agricultural sector be undertaken more aggressively across the region. The mixed research approach method was used to validate these claims.     

Genotypic variations in nitrogen use efficiency of rice cultivars at various levels of nitrogen under subtropical environment

Insufficient N supply is an important constraint to productivity of lowland rice. Studies on N nutrition of rice cultivars with different durations representing the north western part of Indo-Gangetic Plains are scanty. A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2006 and 2007 at PAU, Ludhiana to assess the differences in grain yield and N utilization of three popular rice cultivars at varying N doses. Significant differences among genotypes were observed in grain yield, N uptake, N use efficiency and N utilization efficiency. The cultivar PAU-201 was found to be superior among all the tested genotypes. Total N uptake and grain N uptake was highest in cultivar PAU-201 followed by cultivars PR-115 and PR-113. On an average, the response to applied N for grain yield was observed upto 90 kg N ha1. Grain yield increased significantly up to 90 kg N hal in cultivars PR-115 and PAU-201 and up to 120 kg N ha1 in PR-113. Apparent recovery efficiency （ARE） and Partial factor productivity （PFPN） of N was significantly reduced at higher level of N （150 kg N hal）. It was concluded that N uptake is predominant factor in grain yield formation and cultivars differ in NUE suggesting that it may be possible to develop cultivars that are efficient at low nutrient level or are capable of using N more efficiently when applied as fertilizer.     

Re-examining Geos Neighbourhood for Its Energy Self-sustained Ability Through Ecological Footprints,Net Energy,and Life Cycle Assessment Tools

There are mounting evidences that human consume significant quantities of resources and have a major impact on the environment. Some research indicates that since the 1980 s human demands on the biosphere have exceeded its regenerrative capacity. One way to solve this problem is to minimize the inappropriate exploitation from environment.This essay will focus on energy self-sustained project, which is a specific way to reduce energy requirements. Energy self-sustained project refers to that energy production is equal to the amount consumed. Three concepts are quoted in the following to assess whether the project achieve zero-energy or not. First, ecological footprint, which provides an indication of the human load on the biosphere, is utilized to measure the inputs and outputs of the bioregion, which is also beneficial for defining the potential energy. Another one is life cycle assessment, which evaluates environmental load that relates to the entire life periodic system of a product, is helpful to measure the products used in the energy self sustained project. In addition, net energy, and gross resource abundance, definitions for selection, or hierarchy of different energy resources, can evaluate the new energy resources in project.Geos Neighbourhood, located in colorado, was planned as the largest net-zero energy neighbourhood in the United States. To meet the energy self sustainability,earth and sun power completely sustain the community's energy needs, and replace all fossil fuels. Compared with the traditional communities, Geos Neighbourhood minimize the adverse impact on the environment. As tools for assessment,ecological footprint, life circle assessment, and net energy, are all used to analyse the planning and design principles in the neighbourhood. By the research, the design principles and energy use in Geos Neighbourhood will be re-examined that whether the zero energy project achieves the reduction of ecological footprint, and energy self sustainability. In addition, life circle assessment will re-examine the materials used in the community also. Finally, the concept of ‘net energy' will test solar energy and earth power which is the major energy used in Geos Neighbourhood.     

Effect of probiotics on growth performance,development of small intestinal tract and microbial populations in broilers

The experiment was conducted using a total of 1392 one-day-old, Cobb commercial male broilers to investigate the effects of a commercial probiotic addition in diet on growth, the development of the small intestine and microbial populations of broilers. Broilers were randomly allotted by BW to 1 of 6 replicate cages （29 chicks per cage） for each of 8 treatments in a randomized block design involving one factorial arrangement of treatments. Dietary treatments included the basal diet （including corn, soybean, rapeseed, cottonseed meal） added with 100 mg/kg antibiotic, 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, 0.25% or 0.3%. The experiment last 42 d and divided into the starter period （1-21 d） and the finisher period （22-42 d）. The results showed that there were significant differences in broiler body weight （BW） （P〈0.001）, average daily feed intake （ADFI） （P=0.033）, relative length of the duodenum （P〈0.001）, jejunum （P=0.008）, ileum （P〈0.001） and the populations of lactobacillus （P〈0.001） and coliform （P〈0.001） in the rectum between the probiotics treatments and the control treatment only in the starter period of the trails. No significant differences were observed in intestinal morphology parameters in two periods of the experiment. Our results indicated that the probiotic was able to improve the performance of broiler chickens, and it was better in the starter period to be used than in the finisher period.     

Magnetic field increase weight and water content in date palm （Phoenix dactylifera L.）

Magnetic field effects on different plant species have been subject of many studies in the last decade. Magnetic fields are known to induce changes in plant metabolism, growth and productivity. In this study, effect of magnetic field on date palm weight and water content has been investigated. Seedlings of date palm were treated with two types of magnetic fields in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, seedlings were treated with static magnetic field SMF using electromagnetic circuit set to produce three levels of magnetic field intensities 10, 50 and 100 mT for different durations （0, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min）. In the second experiment seedlings were treated with alternating magnetic field AMF, using magnetic resonance imaging providing 1500 mT for 0, 1, 5, 10 and 15 min. After two months of exposure, plants growth parameters （fresh, dry weights and water content for both leaves and roots） were recorded. The measurements revealed that leaf fresh, dry weight and water content increased significantly in response to SMF treatment. Similarly, roots fresh weight and water content were increased significantly; however roots dry weight increasing were insignificant. In the second experiment, AMF has affected plant growth all parameters were increased significantly. Measurements reached the highest level at 15 min of exposure. This study revealed that magnetic fields affect date palm growth parameters by increasing osmotic pressure and water potential which increase water absorption and enhance flesh weight.     

Effects of Ligustrazine Combined with Cis- dichlorodiamine Platinum on Anti-proliferation,Cell Cycle and Apoptosis of Human Gastric Carcinoma SGC-7901 Cell Lines

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the combination effects of ligustrazine and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum （DDP） on anti-proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of SGC-7901 cell lines in vitro. [Methed] SGC-7901 cells were treat- ed with ligustrazine and DDP alone or combined for 48 h for morphology assay. Anti-proliferative effects with the same treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h were assayed by MTT method, respectively. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis assay of treated cells were performed in flow cytometry. Zhengjun Jin＇s protocol was used to assay the effect of drug combination. [Result] Ligustrazine significantly increased the prolif- eration inhibition rate of DDP on SGC-7901 cells in combination with DDP, com- paring with the effects of ligustrazine or DDP alone, and exhibited synergistic antitu- mor effect. The combination drug treatment induced cell cycle arrest occurred in S and G2 phase of the cell cycle and increased the apoptosis rate significantly. [Conclusion] Our results indicate that ligustrazine, as a low-toxic and natural herbal component, can significantly increase the anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis rate of antitumor drug DDP on human gastric carcinoma SGC：.-7901 cells.     

Spatio-temporal relationships of Clania miniscula （Lepidoptera： Psychidae） and garden spider （Araneae： Araneidae） in sasanqua orchard

Spatio-temporal relationship of the phytophagons Clania miniscula （Butler） and garden spiders was examined through analysis of their niche and distribution as they occur in sasanqua orchard in Southern Anhui, China from June 2003 to May 2004. The dynamic relationships between Clania minuscula and garden spiders were seasonal in time and space. Spatio-temporal niche breadth was high for the two groups, ranging from 0.57 to 0.98; niche overlap was also high between the two groups from 0.76 to 0.96 during the seasons of June 2003 to May 2004. Geostatistical results indicated that Clania minuscula and garden spiders were aggregated during the emergence periods. The pest Clania minuscula was spatially dependent to a range from 33.48 to 46.84 m while spatial dependence from 30.93 to 51.11 m for garden spiders. The correlation analysis of distribution maps further illustrate the distribution of garden spiders always coincided with that of Clania minuscula. These results showed spatio-temporal synchrony of Clania minuscula and garden spiders at different periods. Adequate knowledge of spatio-temporal correlation between Clania minuscula and garden spiders contributed to provide information for biocontrol at different periods in sasanqua orchard.     

Amylose contents of cereals; influence of household processing on the amylose contents of these foods

Amylose is a food starch found in cereals, legumes and root vegetables. Keeping in view the importance of amylose for various food industries as well as its importance on domestic level, the current study was conducted to analyze the amylose content of common cereals e. g rice （sela, coarse and basmati）, maize yellow, Kisan and Azam varieties and wheat （Tatara, Fakhr-e-sarhad and Bakhtawar-92） varieties as well as quantifying the influence of cooking/boiling procedures on the amylose contents of cereals. The maximum amylose content were observed for wheat variety Tatara （24.28%） followed by Bakhtawar-92 （22.74%） and Fakhr-e-sarhad （19.77%）. Among maize and rice varieties studied, Kisan and course rice were rich in amylose content with values of 27.19 and 30.48% respectively. The chapti of Tatra wheat were scored highest for appearance （7.6）, flavor （7.5）, texture （7.6） and overall acceptability （7.55）. The roti of Kisan and Azam varieties got maximum appearance score of 7.6 as compared to 7.4 for maize yellow variety. Basmati rice was scored highest regarding appearance （8.4）, flavor （8.6）, texture （8.6） and overall acceptability （8.53. The moisture content ranged from 10.61 （Azam） to 8.01% （wheat variety Fakhr-e-sarhad）. Cooking reduced the amylose content of wheat bread from （19.77%-24.28%） to （15.47%-15.94%） with cooking time of 5 min, maize bread from （21.48%-27.19%） to （19.53 %-25.85%） with maximum cooking time of 10 min and boiled rice from （24.90%-30.48%） to （24.18%-30.19%） with cooking time ranging from 12 to 20 min. It can be inferred from these studies that the reduction in amylose content were more in chapti/roti preparation of wheat and maize varieties as compared to boiling of rice varieties and that significant varietals differences exist in amylose content of the uncooked samples.     

Maize-rice cropping systems in Bangladesh： Status and research needs

Maize-rice cropping systems are expanding in Bangladesh. Hybrid maize has increasing demand and value, particularly for poultry feed, while rice remains the traditional dominant starch staple food. Bangladesh maize yields （with average farm yields around 5.7 t·ha^-1） are among the highest found in Asia. Cool winter （Rabi） season maize followed by T. Aman （monsoon） rice is the major cropping system; however it is now becoming diversified with many other crops including potato. Financially, hybrid maize is far more profitable than boro （irrigated） rice, wheat, or most other competing winter season Rabi crops. Although maize is relatively problem-free in Bangladesh, some constraints are intensifying with increased concern over input supply and soil-related environmental sustainability. An array of new technologies for sustainable intensive maize production systems is emerging in Bangladesh and some are being promoted and adopted. Continued sustainability of hybrid maize production in Bangladesh depends on optimization of planting time, quality seed of appropriate hybrids, balanced use of nutrient inputs along with soil fertility conservation and other management, for which further research would be high priority.     

New species of the diaspidid genus Lepidosaphes （Hemiptera： diaspididae） on cypress from Tibet of China

Cypress plays an important role in urban afforestation in Tibet of China, and scale insects are a serious pest group that attack Cypress. In this paper, a new species, Lepidosaphes xizangensis Feng, sp. n. from Tibet, is described. Its damages to cypress trees are recorded. The new species is similar to Lepidosaphes pineti Borchsenius, 1958, with its perivulvar disc pores arranging in eight groups, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics： （1） gland spines between median lobes longer than median lobes; （2） distance between median lobes similar than width of median lobes; （3） dorsal gland ducts are much more slender. It enriches the diversity of Lepidosaphes fauna of China and adds new information of coccids＇ damages to cypress.     

Ecoagriculture evaluation of household level in red soil area of China

A hundred and twenty-one households in Yujiang county, Jiangxi province were investigated by adopting questionnaire method, and the evaluation system of index was established according to the integrative, hierarchical, scientific, practical, comparative and dynamic principles. The investigation data were firstly standardized and then processed with SPSS software. The index weight was confirmed by principal component analysis. Finally, the evaluation scale of ecoagriculture was calculated. The results showed that the evaluation value ranged from 0.141 to 0.689 for 121 households. Agricultural status of 113 households got the primary phase of ecoagriculture which accounting for 93.38%; 7 households into the second phase, representing 5.79% and only 1 household into the third phase according to the evaluation value. However, the ecoagriculture was divided into 5 stages, according to the evaluation value. Therefore, the ecoagriculture has huge potential to develop in red soil area, China.