Immune Responses to Vibrio anguillarum in Yellowtail Kingfish,Seriola lalandi,Fed Selenium Supplementation

Effects of dietary selenium (Se) on immune competence of yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, were investigated. The fish were fed one of the three experimental diets including a control diet without Se supplementation and two diets supplemented with Se from Se‐yeast (Selplex) at 2 and 4 mg/kg. After feeding for 6 wk, the fish were challenged by injecting Vibrio anguillarum and observed for 2 wk. Dietary Se had no effect on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and survival over the course of 6‐wk feeding; however, it significantly increased weight gain and Se content in muscle. Following the bacterial infection, the immune‐stimulating effects of Se were observed in antibody, lysozyme, and bactericidal responses, and there was a corresponding increase in survival and hematocrit by Se. Under infectious condition, antioxidant capacity of fish as measured in terms of resistance of red blood cells to peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity also increased by supplementation of Se. Liver necrosis and kidney melano‐macrophages were only seen in surviving fish fed the control diet after the challenge. Furthermore, there was evidence of myopathy in fish fed the diet without Se supplementation. This study suggests that Se, supplemented at 2 or 4 mg/kg, can improve growth and health of yellowtail kingfish.     

Early resynchronization protocols for goats: Progestogens can be used prior to an early pregnancy diagnosis without affecting corpus luteum functionality

This study aimed to evaluate the exogenous progesterone (P4) effect on the luteal function from Day 16 to Day 21 of the oestrous cycle in inseminated goats with unknown pregnancy status. A total of 54 does passed through a short progestin-based synchronization protocol and, on Day 16 of the following oestrous cycle, 27 does received a new P4 device which was retained until Day 21. Blood samples were collected daily from all does during this period, as well as on Day 24. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on Day 30. Serum P4 values from 26 animals (G_NPSP: Group of non-pregnant does with second sponge: n = 8; G_NPNSP: Group of non-pregnant does without second sponge: n = 6; G_PSP: Group of pregnant does with second sponge: n = 5; G_PNSP: Group of pregnant does without second sponge: n = 7) were determined by radioimmunoassay commercial kits. No P4 differences were found between groups (G_NPSP: 3.1 ± 2.8; 1.7 ± 1.8; 0.4 ± 1.0; and 0.0 ± 0.0 vs. G_NPNSP: 4.4 ± 1.8; 3.0 ± 2.2; 0.8 ± 0.8; and 0.0 ± 0.0 or G_PSP: 4.2 ± 1.0; 3.4 ± 0.6; 3.3 ± 1.6; 3.2 ± 0.9; 3.6 ± 1.2; 3.5 ± 1.3; 2.7 ± 1.3 vs. G_PNSP: 4.4 ± 1.6; 3.6 ± 1.5; 3.7 ± 1.5; 3.8 ± 1.4; 3.2 ± 1.2; 3.1 ± 1.2; 3.6 ± 1.1; D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D24, respectively) or for the interaction of group and time. In conclusion, a second progestogen device had no effect on luteolysis or early pregnancy in the following oestrous cycle.     

生物炭对不同酸化水平稻田土壤性质和重金属Cu、Cd有效性影响

针对南方稻田土壤酸化严重,导致养分流失有毒重金属活化,严重影响稻米质量安全的重大现实问题。以水稻秸秆和谷壳等农业废弃物为原料制备生物炭(分别记为RSC和RHC),研究不同原料生物炭对酸化土壤改良及其对重金属有效性的影响。设置3个生物炭用量(0,20,50 g/kg,分别记为CK、C1、C2),4种土壤酸化水平(pH 4.01,4.25,4.33,4.58,分别记为L1、L2、L3、L4),生物炭与重金属污染土壤共同培养60天后测定土壤pH、全氮、有机质、有效磷、速效钾和有效态Cu、Cd含量。结果表明:RSC对酸化土壤pH的改良效果明显优于RHC,且施炭量越高提高幅度越大,RSC的C2处理使4种酸度水平的土壤pH分别提高了0.68,0.97,1.29,1.71个单位。2种生物炭均能提高土壤的全氮、有效磷、速效钾和有机质含量,其中各施炭处理有机质显著提高,尤以速效钾的增幅最为显著,RSC对4种养分的提高均优于RHC。RHC对土壤有效态Cu含量无显著影响;RSC的C2较C1处理更能降低土壤中有效态Cu含量,使4种酸度水平的土壤分别降低了13.62%,6.57%,4.36%,7.88%。RHC处理的L3、L4土壤中有效态Cd含量显著降低,最大分别降低了13.79%,19.23%。RSC使4种酸度土壤有效态Cd含量最大分别降低了20.00%,25.81%,20.69%,19.23%。相关分析表明,土壤pH与有效态重金属含量呈显著负相关关系。水稻秸秆炭用于改良酸化土壤、降低重金属Cu和Cd有效性的效果更佳,且降低污染土壤中Cd的有效性较Cu好;生物炭对酸化程度越低的土壤pH和有效磷含量的提高以及有效态Cd含量的降低效果较好,而有效态Cu含量的降低效果则在酸化程度越高的土壤中表现更佳;土壤pH是生物炭调控重金属Cu、Cd有效性的主要影响因素。     

基于随机森林算法和气象因子的砀山酥梨始花期预报

准确预报始花期是制定砀山酥梨花期管理措施和赏花活动方案的重要基础。该文利用1983-2018年砀山酥梨始花期的定位观测物候数据和平行观测的气象资料，采用线性趋势法，揭示始花期演变趋势；采用相关分析，筛选影响始花期的关键气象因子，依据不同预报日期构成特征变量集；采用随机森林算法（Random Forest, RF），自3月11日开始预报到3月25日终止预报，每日训练1个预报模型。结果表明，1）1983－2018年始花期呈极显著提早发生趋势，每10a约提前2.750 d（P＜0.001）。2）16个逐日气象预报模型中，共计有200个气象因子与始花期早迟密切相关，相关系数在0.469～0.789之间；各气象预报模型的训练集与测试集的平均正确率（Nd）分别为92.9%和75.5%、平均均方根误差（RMSE）分别为1.693～2.870和2.240～7.237、平均决定系数（R2）分别为0.891和0.701。3）2019年试验预报中，提前15日准确预报出当年始花期。该文研究表明RF在梨树始花期逐日气象预报中有一定业务应用潜力，预报准确率基本满足气象服务需求。     

Study on Expression and Preliminary Immunocompetence of CIC Protein Containing Molecular Adjuvants

To express CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) protein and evaluate its immunogenicity, CTB (as a molecular adjuvant) could be tandem linked with IsdBid-Clfais gene by the overlapping PCR method, then CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) was inserted into pET-32a(+) vector to construct recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais. The recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais were transformed into Escherichia coli (E.coli) BL21 to express the CTB-IsdBid-Clfa(CIC) protein, the CIC expression protein and its immune activity were detected by Western blotting and ELISA,respectively. The results showed that the length of CIC gene were 2 072 bp, and CIC was correctly inserted into the pET-32a(+) plasmids, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. Western blotting result confirmed that the molecular weight of CIC proteins was 95.9 ku, which were correctly expressed by E.coli BL21 with pET-32a (+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais plasmids. ELISA results showed that there was no significant difference among the CIC, IsdBid and Clfais protein groups (P>0.05), and there was extremely significant difference between CIC and BSA protein groups (P<0.01). In conclusion, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed, CIC proteins were correctly expressed, and were able to react with serum from mice immunized with IsdBid and Clfais,respectively,therefore, CIC proteins had strong immune activity.     

Caecal intussusceptions in horses: a New Zealand perspective

Objective To establish the prevalence of intussusceptions involving the caecum in a population of horses admitted to a university hospital for colic. Design Retrospective clinical study Methods Medical records of all horses admitted to the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1991 and 2004 were examined for information of those horses diagnosed with an intussusception involving the caecum. Results A total of 135 horses were admitted for colic surgery during the study period and 61 horses had a diagnosis of ileocaecal (37), caecocaecal (5) or caecocolic intussusception (19) made either at surgery or necropsy. Of the horses with ileocaecal intussusception, 32 had an incomplete hand-sewn ileocaecostomy without reduction and 29 survived to discharge. All the horses with caecocaecal intussusceptions were diagnosed preoperatively via rectal examination and/or transabdominal ultrasound: 2 were euthanased at surgery and 3 survived to discharge. In the 19 horses with caecocolic intussusceptions, manually reduction at surgery was performed in 6 and 5 of them survived to discharge. A typhlectomy was performed via a colotomy in 6 horses, 3 of which survived to discharge. Conclusions The high prevalence of intussusceptions involving the caecum seen at this referral centre may indicate a higher prevalence in New Zealand than is reported elsewhere in the world. Clinical relevance Intussusceptions involving the caecum should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses presenting with chronic low-grade colic. Transabdominal ultrasound is useful for identifying caecocaecal and caecocolic intussusceptions. Hand-sewn side-to-side incomplete ileocaecostomy is a quick, effective and safe method of surgical treatment of ileocaecal intussusceptions.     

Effect of feed restriction on dairy cow milk production: a review

In the dairy cow, negative energy balance affects milk yield and composition as well as animal health. Studying the effects of negative energy balance on dairy cow milk production is thus essential. Feed restriction (FR) experiments attempting to reproduce negative energy balance by reducing the quantity or quality of the diet were conducted in order to better describe the animal physiology changes. The study of FR is also of interest since with climate change issues, cows may be increasingly faced with periods of drought leading to a shortage of forages. The aim of this article is to review the effects of FR during lactation in dairy cows to obtain a better understanding of metabolism changes and how it affects mammary gland activity and milk production and composition. A total of 41 papers studying FR in lactating cows were used to investigate physiological changes induced by these protocols. FR protocols affect the entire animal metabolism as indicated by changes in blood metabolites such as a decrease in glucose concentration and an increase in non-esterified fatty acid or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; hormonal regulations such as a decrease in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I or an increase in growth hormone concentrations. These variations indicated a mobilization of body reserve in most studies. FR also affects mammary gland activity through changes in gene expression and could affect mammary cell turnover through cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and exfoliation of mammary epithelial cells into milk. Because of modifications of the mammary gland and general metabolism, FR decreases milk production and can affect milk composition with decreased lactose and protein concentrations and increased fat concentration. These effects, however, can vary widely depending on the type of restriction, its duration and intensity, or the stage of lactation in which it takes place. Finally, to avoid yield loss and metabolic disorders, it is important to identify reliable biomarkers to monitor energy balance.     

番鸭产蛋各期肝脂肪酸组成及AMPK信号通路基因表达研究

旨在探究产蛋各期番鸭肝腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶（AMPK）信号通路基因表达和肝脂肪酸组成,为番鸭肝脂质代谢应答产蛋提供机理研究。本研究选取开产前22周龄、产蛋初期30周龄、产蛋中期40周龄和产蛋末期60周龄母番鸭各15羽,全自动生化仪测定血脂水平,苏木精-伊红（HE）染色和油红O染色观察肝组织学结构,实时荧光定量PCR （qRT-PCR）检测肝AMPK通路基因表达,气相色谱-质谱联用法（GC-MS）检测产蛋各期肝脂肪酸组成。结果表明,总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、甘油三酯（TG）和极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（VLDL-C）水平在40周龄显著高于22、30和60周龄（P<0.05）;高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平在30和40周龄显著低于22和60周龄（P<0.05）。肝HE和油红O染色切片显示,肝在22周龄呈实质状,至产蛋40和60周龄,肝脂滴沉积明显（P<0.05）。AMPKα1在22、30、40和60周龄呈本底低水平表达,并显著低于产蛋各期肉碱脂酰转移酶1（CPT1）和脂肪酸合成酶（FAS）的表达量（P<0.05）,FAS在22、40和60周龄均呈高水平表达（P<0.05）;羟甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶（HMGR）、肝细胞核因子4α（HNF4α）、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶1（ACC1）和固醇调控元件结合蛋白-1（SREBP1c）在40周龄表达量显著高于22和30周龄（P<0.05）。肝中饱和脂肪酸（SFA）、单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA）和多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）主要由C16∶0、C18∶0、C18∶1和C20∶2 n-6构成,分别占总脂肪酸含量的32%、16%、30%和9%。C14∶0和C16∶0含量在40周龄显著高于22周龄（P<0.05）;C24∶0、C20∶2 n-6和PUFA含量在60周龄显著高于22和40周龄（P<0.05）。综上,番鸭产蛋期肝通过上调FAS等脂质合成基因表达,合成大量长链脂肪酸,沉积于肝,并增加血脂水平。     

Differentially expressed genes identified through RNA‐seq with extreme values of principal components for beef fatty acid in Nelore cattle

The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the Longissimus thoracis muscle of Nelore cattle related to fatty acid (FA) profile through RNA sequencing and principal component analysis (PCA). Two groups of 10 animals each were selected containing PC1 and PC2 extreme DEG values (HIGH × LOW) for each FA group. The intramuscular fat (IMF) was compared between cluster groups by ANOVA, and only the sum of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and ω3 showed significant differences (p < .05). Interestingly, the highest percentage (95%) of phenotypic variation explained by the sum of the first two PC was observed for ω3, which also displayed the lowest number of DEG (n = 1). The lowest percentage (59%) was observed for MUFA, which also revealed the largest number of DEG (n = 66). Since only MUFA and ω3 exhibited significant differences between cluster groups, we can conclude that the differences observed for the remaining groups are not due to the percentage of IMF. Several genes that have been previously associated with meat quality and FA traits were identified as DEG in this study. The functional analysis revealed one KEGG pathway and eight GO terms as significant (p < .05), in which we highlighted the purine metabolism, glycolytic process, adenosine triphosphate binding and bone development. These results strongly contribute to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms involved in meat FA profile of Nelore cattle.