Cohort-dependent seedling recruitment, survival and reproductive capacity of Tribulus terrestris

Knowledge of the population biology of the summer annual Tribulus terrestris can provide valuable information for managing the risk of its colonising crop fields. Because of spring‐summer crop management practices, fields can exhibit bare ground in late April and early May. In this situation, four cohorts in 2000 and three cohorts in 2001 were censused and monitored throughout the vegetative and reproductive season, in order to evaluate the relationship between time of emergence, survival, vegetative growth and plant reproductive capacities. To a great extent, seedling survivorship depended on emergence timing; the earlier the emergence of the seedlings, the higher was the proportion of survivorship (64% and 4%, for early and late emergences). The time of emergence also influenced plant development; in both years, surviving individuals of the first cohorts presented significantly greater plant biomass and larger numbers of reproductive structures (60.5 fruits per plant) than those of later cohorts (0.8 fruits per plant). Reproductive meristem allocation was also highest in the earliest cohorts. Results showed that T. terrestris can increase its population size in fields if gaps of bare soil surface are available from mid spring to early summer.     

Comparing rice germplasm groups for growth, grain yield and weed-suppressive ability under aerobic soil conditions

Germplasm and cultivars need to be selected as parents for breeding weed‐competitive aerobic rice in the tropics. Forty rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars belonging to the aus, indica and tropical japonica germplasm groups, or derived from crosses among them, were evaluated in adjacent weed‐free and weedy trials in aerobic soil conditions during the wet seasons of 2001–2003. The objectives of this study were to assess vegetative growth, grain yield under weed‐free (Y_F) and weedy (Y_W) conditions, and weed‐suppressive ability (WSA) of different germplasm groups. In the first 4 weeks after sowing, indica cultivars had faster growth in height, tillering and crop biomass than other groups. They also had high Y_F, Y_W and strong WSA. Aus cultivars were similar to the indica types in early growth and WSA, but were poor in Y_F. Tropical japonica groups and the group derived from indica/tropical japonica crosses were generally inferior to aus and indica groups in early growth and WSA. Both of their Y_F and Y_W were lower than that of the indica group. Therefore, indica germplasm seemed to be most suitable for breeding high‐yielding and weed‐suppressive aerobic rice for the tropics. The relationship of WSA with various traits within tropical japonica germplasm revealed that fast early growth, rather than plant erectness, is crucial to WSA.     

A nonlinear, dynamic, simulation model for transport, and whole plant allocation of systemic xenobiotics following foliar application. IV: Physicochemical properties requirements for optimum absorption and translocation

The relationship between the physicochemical properties (molar volume, partition coefficient, and dissociation constant) of slow-acting systemic postemergence xenobiotics and their uptake and translocation to the sites of action was investigated using the nonlinear, dynamic simulation model ERMESSE. When the pK_a was held constant at 4.0, the model enables the prediction of the uptake of a systemic xenobiotic as a function of its partition coefficient and molar volume. The model also considered the effects of the physicochemical properties of a systemic xenobiotic on its long-distance translocation within the vascular tissues. For instance, when the log K_ow and pK_a were held constant at 1.5 and 6.0, respectively, the model predicted a higher translocation rate (55%) for molecules with a small (e.g., MV = 100 cm³ mol⁻¹) as opposed to a large (e.g., MV = 300 cm³ mol⁻¹, 33%) molar volume. In addition, the theoretical predictions from the ERMESSE model showed that any xenobiotic with a molar volume not exceeding 300 cm³ mol⁻¹ could provide an uptake ?50% and a translocation rate ?25% when its log K_ow is between −0.5 and 2.5 and its pK_a is between 0.0 and 8.0.     

Isolation and Identification of Enterococcus faecalis from Fur-bearing Animals

In order to obtain Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals and evaluate its prebiotic properties,in this study,Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from the feces of healthy adult fur-bearing animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog),identified by morphological observation,biochemical test and 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The growth curve,acid production capacity and antibiotic sensitivity of the Enterococcus faecalis isolates were measured to evaluate their probiotic properties.Some strains were selected to determine their tolerance to temperature,artificial gastric juice and artificial bile salt.The results showed that five strains were Gram-positive,and their biochemical characteristics were basically consistent with the standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis,and they were identified as Enterococcus faecalis by 16S rRNA sequence analysis.The five strains all entered the logarithmic phase at 2 h after culture,and entered the stable phase at 8-10 h,and had weak acid production capacity.The resistance rate of the isolates to tetracycline and levofloxacin was 100%,followed by penicillin (80%),erythromycin (80%),gentamicin (80%) and chloramphenicol (40%).All the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin and vancomycin.Enterococcus faecalis from mink,fox and raccoon dog had strong tolerance to temperature below 60 ℃,artificial gastric juice with pH>3.0 and 0.3%-0.5% concentration of bile salt,but poor tolerance to temperature above 70 ℃,and artificial gastric juice with pH<3.0.In conclusion,five strains of Enterococcus faecalis from fur animals (mink,fox,raccoon dog) were obtained in this study.The isolated strains propagated rapidly,which were suitable for colonization and played a prebiotic role in fur animals' intestines,and had good prebiotic characteristics and stress resistance.They could be used as candidate strains for animal microbiological agents for further study.     

The Application and Research Progress of Chicken Embryo and Avian Cell Lines in Biomedicine

Chicken embryo has long been an important experimental model in basic and applied science because of its clear development process,especially in the early development of chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane stage,due to its abundant blood vessels,it is a natural immunodeficiency host and can be used as an ideal experimental model for pathology,pharmacology and oncology research.The authors briefly described the tissue structure of early stage of chicken embryo,the application of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane model in tumor,angiogenesis,organ transplantation,burn and other diseases,and the application of anti-cancer drug screening based on the pathological model of chicken embryo.The advances in the application of chicken embryo and avian cell lines in virus reproduction,vaccine production,therapeutic protein production and monoclonal antibody production were reviewed.A variety of human viruses,avian viruses and mycoplasma can proliferate in chicken embryos and avian cell lines and be used in vaccine production.In this paper,the development and characteristics of commonly used avian fibroblasts and pluripotent stem cells were described,and the source of commercial avian cell lines and some susceptible viruses were summarized.Chicken embryo expression system can produce human glycosylates at specific sites of target proteins,reduce the allergic reaction of the target protein to human,and poultry eggs are cheap and easily available,so it can be used as a suitable donor for the production of human monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins.In this paper,the recent progress in the application of chicken embryos and avian cell lines in the field of biomedicine was introduced,and the future application of chicken embryos as animal models was forecasted.     

Effects of Lactobacillus and Bacillus subtilis Mixed Fermentation Feed on Growth Performance,Slaughter Performance and Intestinal Morphology of Broilers

The purpose of this experiment was to study the usage and proportion of fermented feed in broiler feed.By adding 0,10% and 20% fermented complete formula feed to the broiler feed,and granulating normally,the influence of the usage mode of the fermented feed on the production performance,slaughter performance,intestinal tract and other related indexes of the broiler feed were studied,so as to provide reference for the application of the fermented feed in the broiler feed.180 1-day-old healthy AA male broilers were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates in each group and 10 chickens in each replicate.The three treatment groups were fed with 0,10% and 20% of the total fermented feed for 42 days.The results showed that:From the whole period (1-42 days old),the 10% fermentation feed substitution group significantly reduced the feed consumption and weight gain ratio (P<0.05),and the average daily weight gain increased (P=0.05).At 42 days old,there was no significant effect of fermented feed on slaughter performance (P>0.05).The ileal crypt depth of broilers in the 20% fermentation feed replacement group was significantly higher than that in the control group and the 10% replacement group (P<0.05).The length of duodenal villi and V/C in 20% and 10% fermentative feed substitution group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05).The results showed that the replacement of 10% fermented feed in broiler feed could reduce the ratio of feed to weight gain,increase the average daily gain,and have a certain impact on intestinal development.     

铜的来源和水平对生长猪生长性能禾粪铜排出量的影响

选用平均体重29．6kg的三元杂（杜×大×长）生长猪144头，按随机区组设计分为6个处理。饲粮中分别添加0、100、200mg／kg硫酸铜、200mg／kg碱式氯化铜、100mg／kg小肽铜、100mg／kg复合氨基酸螯合铜（以铜含量计）。结果表明：100mg／kg小肽铜和100mg／kg复合氨基酸螯合铜均能有效提高生长猪日增重和日采食量，其促生长效果与200mg／kg硫酸铜无显著（P〉0．05）差异，而粪中铜含量分别下降了36．8％和48．4％（P〈0．05）。     

生长激素基因多态性与生产性能关系的最新研究

生长激素是一种具有广泛生理功能的蛋白肽激素,尤其对动物的生长发育具有重要作用。研究GH基因功能区的突变对其蛋白功能的影响,以及对哺乳动物生长发育的影响,具有重要的理论意义和实践意义。因此在生产中探讨GH基因多态性与生产性能的关系,从而达到提高动物生产水平的目的,成为人们关注的重要课题。     

铬对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能和胴体品质的影响

用21日龄Arbor Acress(AA)肉公鸡336只,研究饲粮中添加铬对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫功能和胴体品质的影响。将试验鸡只共分为8个处理组,分别添加源于氯化铬的铬2．0、4．0、6．0、8.0、10．0、12．0和14．0mg/kg。结果表明:饲粮中添加2．0mg/kg铬显著提高了肉仔鸡胸腺重(P<0．10),降低了腹脂率(P<0．10),4．0、6．0mg/kg铬显著提高了全净膛率(P< 0．10),各试验组显著提高了T淋巴细胞转化率(P<0．10);饲粮中添加铬对其余指标则无显著影响(P>0．10)。     

肉鸡能量需要动态模型的建立和参数估计

本研究通过两个试验评价肉仔鸡的能量需要。试验1选用36只AA肉仔鸡新生雏笼养6周,分别于3周龄和6周龄评定2种饲粮的表观代谢能(AME)和表观氮校正代谢能(AMEn)。结果表明:氮校正使AME降低5%左右,AMEn和AME的相关性较强。试验2选用AA肉鸡新生雏240只,公母分饲笼养6周,每周测定空腹体重及采食量。用Compertz方程拟合公母鸡的生长曲线,微分建立日增重与日龄的函数关系,再与利用一元线性回归法建立的能量需要模型组合,形成动态的能量需要预测机制。