Effects of dietary supplementation of nucleotides from late gestation to lactation on the performance and oxidative stress status of sows and their offspring

Increased metabolic burdens in breeding sows, which are induced by elevated systemic oxidative stress, could increase the need for nucleotides to repair lymphocyte DNA damage; however, de novo synthesis of nucleotides may be insufficient to cover this increased need. This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides on milk composition, oxidative stress status, and the reproductive and lactational performance of sows. Forty multiparous sows were assigned to 2 dietary treatments (Control group, and 1 g/kg Nucleotides group) based on a randomized complete block design using their BW at 85 d of gestation as a block. Sows from 2 groups were fed a restricted diet during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. The experiment lasted from 85 d of gestation to 21 d of lactation. The reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of suckling piglets were measured. Oxidative stress parameters and milk components were also analysed. Data were analyzed using contrasts in the MIXED procedure of SAS. Sows in the Nucleotides group consumed more feed during the first week (P < 0.01) and from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05) of lactation than those in Control group. Correspondingly, the litter weight gain of piglets showed a tendency to increase from cross-fostering to 9 d (P = 0.09) and from cross-fostering to 20 d (P = 0.10) in the Nucleotides group relative to the Control group. Additionally, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the concentrations of uridine 5''monophosphate, guanosine 5''monophosphate, inosine 5''monophosphate, adenosine 5''monophosphate and total nucleotides in milk. Furthermore, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01) for sows at 109 d of gestation and glutathione peroxidase for weaning piglets, but lower at the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (P < 0.05) in serum of weaning piglets. This study indicated that maternal dietary nucleotides could promote piglet growth, probably due to the higher lactational feed intake and higher concentration of nucleotides in the milk of sows, and lower oxidative stress for both sows and piglets.     

高产棉花太阳辐射能利用率及干物质分配规律研究

通过对1988～1989年高产棉花栽培试验结果进行分析发现,棉花的太阳辐射利用率在叶面积系数小于2.0时随叶面积系数的增加而线性增加,大于2.0时增加变缓。从生育时间看,7月中旬前太阳辐射利用率指数上升,7月中旬至8月底相对稳定在1.2～1.4克/兆焦左右,9月以后又不同程度线性下降。生长季内子棉太阳辐射经济效率1988和1989年分别为0.14和0.15克/兆焦。收获指数与最大叶面积系数呈显著负相关;盛花期之前棉株各器官之间的同伸关系或明显,盛花期后器官的生长相互间无明显的确定性关系。如能调节密度与叶面积系数的关系,使得既提高5～6月的辐射能利用率,同时使7～8月叶面积系数维持在3.0～3.5的适宜范围内,9～10月群体又不早衰,则有利于获得高产。     

红薯秧茎破碎还田机的研制

针对红薯秧茎的蔓生性及北方红薯种植模式,研制了适合于垄作红薯秧茎破碎还田机。该机主要由挑秧机构、秧茎破碎装置、刀轴总成、碎秧输送装置和地轮总成等组成。该机由轮式拖拉机牵引,可一次完成秧茎的收割、粉碎、还田等项作业。工作时,动力通过万向节从拖拉机的动力输出轴传出,经过锥齿轮减速器变向增速后,动力分成两路,分别传给秧茎破碎装置、碎秧输送装置和嫩秧切断装置。随着拖拉机前进,秧茎先被挑秧机构挑起,然后被机器前部高悬的旋转圆盘刀切断,高速旋转的破碎刀轴产生负压将切断的秧茎及剩余主干上的薯叶吸进破碎刀轴和护罩间破碎,碎秧落入碎秧输送装置的输送带,被均匀输送抛撒至垄沟。     

胡萝卜自动分级机机械装置的研制

机械装置结合计算机视觉技术可以对胡萝卜等细长型蔬果进行自动分级。为此,设计了胡萝卜自动分级机的机械装置部分,主要由双级匀果装置、链条辊轮输送装置和直线电机打果装置3部分组成。匀果装置通过带有隔板的交错格输送带和差速带对胡萝卜进行初次和二次匀果,实现精确单果输送;辊轮输送装置推动单个胡萝卜自转进入计算机视觉系统的CCD相机视场,可获得胡萝卜全面的形状特性,使其分级精确;直线电机打果装置接收到胡萝卜等级决策信号后将胡萝卜按不同等级经U型导管推入包装箱,推果平稳、快捷,伤果率低。     

Evaluating and Comparing the Natural Cell Structure and Dimensions of Honey Bee Comb Cells of Chinese Bee,Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Italian Bee,Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The hexagonal structure of the honey bee comb cell has been the source of many studies attempting to understand its structure and function. In the storage area of the comb, only honey is stored and no brood is reared. We predicted that honey bees may construct different hexagonal cells for brood rearing and honey storage. We used quantitative analyses to evaluate the structure and function of the natural comb cell in the Chinese bee, Apis cerana cerana and the Italian bee, A. mellifera ligustica. We made cell molds using a crystal glue solution and measured the structure and inclination of cells. We found that the comb cells of A. c. cerana had both upward-sloping and downward-sloping cells; while the A. m. ligustica cells all tilted upwards. Interestingly, the cells did not conform to the regular hexagonal prism structure and showed irregular diameter sizes. In both species, comb cells also were differentiated into worker, drone and honey cells, differing in their diameter and depth. This study revealed unique differences in the structure and function of comb cells and showed that honey bees design their cells with precise engineering to increase storage capacity, and to create adequate growing room for their brood.     

Effects of water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation on post mortem glycolysis,AMP‐activated protein kinase and meat quality of broilers after transport during summer

Effects of water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation on post mortem glycolysis, adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and meat quality of broilers after transport during summer were investigated in the present paper. A total of 105 mixed‐sex Arbor Acres broilers were divided into three treatment groups: (i) 45 min transport without rest (T); (ii) 45 min transport with 1 h rest (TR); and (iii) 45 min transport with 15 min water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation and 45 min rest (TWFR). Each treatment consisted of five replicates with seven birds each. The results indicated that the water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation could mitigate the stress caused by transport under high temperature conditions during summer, which reduced the energy depletion in post mortem Pectoralis major (PM) muscle. This resulted in a higher energy status compared to the T group, which would decrease the expression of phosphorylation of AMPK (p‐AMPK). Furthermore, decreased the expression of p‐AMPK then slowed down the rate of glycolysis in post mortem PM muscle during the early post mortem period, which in turn lessened the negative effects caused by transport on meat quality. In conclusion, water‐misting sprays with forced ventilation may be a better method to control the incidence of the pale, soft and exudative meat in broilers.     

Effect of urea supplementation on performance and safety in diets of Dorper crossbred sheep

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dietary urea in sheep rations having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio. Sixty‐four Dorper × thin‐tailed Han crossbred ram lambs with an average body weight of 30.8 (±0.02) kg were randomly divided into four groups of 16 sheep each, and each group was fed one of the following diets: a basal diet (CON), or CON supplemented with 0.5% (0.5UTM), 1.5% (1.5UTM) or 2.5% (2.5UTM) urea. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, non‐carcass offals, meat quality and peptic tissue lesions were assayed. The average daily weight gains for CON, 0.5UTM, 1.5UTM and 2.5UTM were 216, 218, 200 and 170 g, respectively, with the CON and 0.5UTM groups higher than 2.5UTM group (p < 0.05). Sheep from the 2.5UTM treatment had a significantly lower dry matter intake (1.29 kg/day) than those from the CON and 0.5UTM treatments (1.42 and 1.43 kg/day, p < 0.05), and the feed conversion ratio in the 2.5UTM group was the highest (p < 0.05). Carcass characteristics, including shrunk body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dress percentage, and the absolute or relative weight (% body weight) of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, were not altered by the treatments (p > 0.05). The muscular pH of 2.5UTM was higher than that of CON (5.68 vs. 5.52, p < 0.05), and shear force in 0.5UTM was lower compared with CON and 2.5UTM (p < 0.05). The anatomical structure lesions in kidneys became more serious with the increasing dietary urea concentrations, with the 2.5UTM animals showing the most severe lesions compared with CON animals. Therefore, supplementary urea as a non‐protein nitrogen source for sheep should not exceed 1.5% of ration having a 50:50 concentrate:roughage ratio to ensure efficacy and safety.     

氮素对巨菌草苗期生长和光合生理特性的影响

以巨菌草为试材,采用水培方法,研究了不同浓度的氮素对巨菌草苗期生长和光合生理特性的影响。结果表明:随着氮素浓度的增加,株高、根总长、根表面积、根体积、分根数、根尖数呈先升后降的趋势,叶片数、叶面积、茎粗则呈上升趋势;净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)先增大后减小,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)则逐渐降低;光合色素、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量,过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈先升后降的趋势,硝态氮(NO-3-N)含量、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈上升趋势,丙二醛(MDA)含量呈下降趋势。研究表明,适量的氮素供应(5.00~10.00mmol/L)可以促进植株生长,提高光合能力,增加渗透调节物质含量、减少MDA含量及提高抗氧化物酶活性,有利于植株生长并增强了其抵抗逆境胁迫的能力,氮素供应不足(0.00~0.50mmol/L)或过量(15.00mmol/L)均不同程度限制了植株的正常生长及生理代谢活动。     

我国黑果枸杞研究进展

黑果枸杞集药用价值、经济价值、生态价值于一体,开发应用潜力巨大。现从资源分布、栽培育种、化学成分、遗传学及产品加工等方面,对近年来我国黑果枸杞研究进行了综述,以期为黑果枸杞的进一步开发和利用提供参考依据。     

Mutant-prevention concentrations of enrofloxacin for Escherichia coli isolates from chickens

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the development of enrofloxacin resistance among Escherichia coli isolates obtained from chickens by determining mutant-prevention concentrations (MPCs) and sequence the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA and parC genes in selected isolates. SAMPLE POPULATION: 15 chicken-derived E coli isolates. PROCEDURES: For all isolates, MPC and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of enrofloxacin were determined. The MPCs and maximum serum drug concentrations attained with enrofloxacin doses recommended for treatment of E coli infections in chickens were compared. Mutation frequencies and QRDR sequence changes in gyrA and parC were also determined. RESULTS: In 2 of 15 E coli strains, MPCs were low (0.016 and 0.062 microg/mL), MPC:MIC ratios were 2 and 4, and the GyrA and ParC proteins had no mutations. In 9 susceptible isolates with a GyrA point mutation, MPCs ranged from 2 to 16 microg/mL. For isolates with double mutations in GyrA and a single mutation in ParC, MPCs were > 32 microg/mL (several fold greater than the maximal plasma concentration of enrofloxacin in chickens); mutation frequencies were also much lower, compared with frequencies for single-mutation isolates. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For E coli infections of chickens, MPC appears to be useful for determining enrofloxacin-dosing strategies. The high MPC:MIC ratio may result in enrofloxacin-treatment failure in chickens infected with some wild-type gyrA E coli isolates despite the isolates' enrofloxacin susceptibility (MICs 0.125 to 1 microg/mL). For infections involving isolates with high MPCs, especially those containing mutations in gyrA and parC genes, treatment with combinations of antimicrobials should be adopted.