Behaviour in one fast-growing and one slower-growing broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) hybrid fed a high- or low-protein diet during a 10-week rearing period

This study compared behavioural time budgets, presence of comfort behaviours and social behaviours in two different broiler genotypes (the fast-growing Ross 308 (R) and the slower-growing Rowan Ranger (RR)) fed organic diets with high (17.0% crude protein (CP)) or low (14.5% CP) protein content during a 10-week rearing period. 429-day-old chicks (218 R and 211 RR, respectively) were included in the study and behaviour was recorded at 2, 6 and 9 weeks of age. The results showed no effect of diet treatments but that R broilers were less active and sat, ate and drank more frequently than RR broilers, which stood and perched more frequently. However, both hybrids showed decreasing activity and foraging behaviour with increasing age, while time spent eating and sleeping was approximately similar over the entire rearing period.     

食品安全与食品低温流通中的温度监控

食品的温度监控是一种有效的保证食品安全及保持冷藏链完整的手段,对冷冻冷藏食品在低温流通过程中实行温度监控是非常有必要的。目前,我国冷藏运输中的温度管理情况并不乐观,消费者获得的货物通常不能达到预计的要求。要解决这一问题,必须要借助于时间-温度指示器等来对其整个运输过程进行温度监控。本文对温度立法的必然性和前景,温度监控的重要性、原理以及在冷藏运输中的应用作了较详尽的介绍,并列举了几种国外时间-温度指示器的工作原理。     

Assessing the within-herd prevalence of Coxiella burnetii milk-shedder cows using a real-time PCR applied to bulk tank milk

Thirty-seven bulk tank milk (BTM) and individual milk samples of all contributing cows were tested for Coxiella burnetii detection by a real-time PCR assay and used to assess the relationship between the BTM PCR-response and (i) the within-herd prevalence of milk-shedder cows and (ii) the proportion of heavy milk-shedder cows. The within-herd prevalence of milk-shedder cows (i) was found to be significantly higher in herds with a positive BTM and (ii) increased significantly with the estimated titre in Coxiella burnetii obtained in positive BTM. The proportion of heavy milk-shedder cows among the milk-shedder cows increased significantly with an increased estimated titre in Coxiella burnetii in positive BTM. Therefore, a real-time PCR assay applied to BTM samples collected repeatedly over time appears to be a valuable tool to assess on a larger scale the status of herds towards Coxiella shedding, and to evaluate the efficiency of control actions aimed at controlling and/or preventing Coxiella shedding in dairy herds.     

Effects of 2 concentrations of sodium citrate on coagulation test results, von Willebrand factor concentration, and platelet function in dogs

BACKGROUND: Blood collection tubes containing 3.2% (0.109 M) sodium citrate, instead of 3.8% (0.129 M) sodium citrate, have recently become available in the United States. These tubes are visually indistinguishable from the traditional 3.8% sodium citrate tubes, except for wording on the label. Consequently, samples for hemostatic evaluation are frequently collected in tubes containing the lower concentration of sodium citrate. HYPOTHESIS: Results of hemostasis assays are different in samples collected in 3.2% versus 3.8% sodium citrate. ANIMALS: Twenty healthy dogs. METHODS: This study aimed at determining whether results of standard coagulation tests, von Willebrand factor concentration (vWF:Ag), and platelet function with the platelet function analyzer PFA-100a were affected by the different concentrations of sodium citrate. Blood samples were collected in tubes containing either 3.2% or 3.8% sodium citrate concentrations and processed routinely for coagulation assays (one-stage prothrombin time [OSPT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], fibrinogen concentration, and platelet count), vWF:Ag, and platelet function assays with a PFA-100. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between samples collected in 3.2% versus those collected in 3.8% sodium citrate for OSPT, aPTT, fibrinogen concentration, platelet count, or vWF:Ag. The closure times with collagen/adenosine diphosphate were significantly shorter (66 +/- 8.1 versus 74.8 +/- 9.7 seconds; P < .0001) with the 3.2% than with 3.8% sodium citrate concentration, and the hematocrit was significantly higher (47.9 +/- 5.6 versus 46.0 +/- 4.7 seconds; P = .03) in samples collected in 3.2% than in those collected in 3.8% sodium citrate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: There is no clinically relevant effect of collection of blood into 3.2% or 3.8% sodium citrate.     

基于"3S"技术的甘肃子午岭自然保护区土地利用变化研究

以甘肃省子午岭自然保护区为研究对象,运用"3S"技术,对研究区的地形图、不同时相的TM遥感影像进行数据预处理,并分类提取了研究区2个时段的土地利用信息.对分类信息进行统计分析后并与实地调查数据进行比较,结果表明,近20年来甘肃子午岭自然保护区的森林覆盖面积在稳步提高,乔木林面积明显增加.为甘肃子午岭自然保护区工程的建设提供了基础信息,为林区植物种群生长及分布调查研究提供了宏观数据,并且输出了研究区不同时相土地利用专题图.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

二化螟dsRNA降解酶基因的克隆与表达分析

为解析二化螟Chilo suppressalis体内参与降解双链RNA(double-stranded RNA,dsRNA)的关键核酸酶的功能,克隆二化螟不同的非专一性核酸酶（non-specific nuclease,NUC）基因,并对这些基因进行生物信息学分析和组织定量表达分析,同时对dsRNA降解酶（dsRNA degrading nuclease,dsRNase）活力的组织分布进行研究。结果显示,共克隆获得5个NUC基因,其中有4个编码dsRNase亚家族基因（CsdsRNase1～CsdsRNase4）和1个编码Endonuclease G亚家族基因（CsEndoG）。5个NUC基因的开放阅读框核苷酸序列长度范围为828～1 338 bp,编码275～445个氨基酸残基,其分子量大小为31.68～49.57 kD,预测等电点为5.48～9.42。CsdsRNase1和CsdsRNase2含有信号肽序列,两者相似度极高,且与家蚕Bombyx mori和斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura中具有dsRNA降解酶活力的dsRNase同源聚类;CsdsRNase1和CsdsRN...     

草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨的捕食作用

为明确草栖钝绥螨Amblyseius herbicolus对二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae的控制潜能,在温度分别为19、22、25、28和31℃、相对湿度均为（85±5）%、光周期均为16 L∶8 D条件下测定草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨各螨态的捕食偏好性、捕食功能反应及自身干扰反应。结果表明,草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨幼螨和第1若螨具有嗜食性,对其捕食选择系数分别为2.22和1.27,均大于1.00,对二斑叶螨卵、第2若螨和雌成螨捕食选择系数分别为0.61、0.68和0.22,均小于1.00。在不同温度条件下,草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨各螨态的捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ型;在19～31℃范围内,草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨各螨态的瞬时攻击率、最大日捕食量和捕食能力均随着温度升高呈先升高后降低的趋势,在28℃时达到最大值;而草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨各螨态的处理时间随着温度升高呈先缩短后延迟的趋势,在28℃下处理时间最短。在相同温度下,草栖钝绥螨对二斑叶螨卵、幼螨和第1若螨的捕食作用较强。在有限的捕食空间和二斑叶螨密度固定的条件下,草栖钝绥螨单头捕食量和捕食作用率随其自身密度的增加而逐渐下降,说...     

光源、性别及光处理时间对草地贪夜蛾趋光行为的影响

为研发高效、精准的监测防控设备,利用八臂行为选择装置系统测定不同光源、性别和光处理时间下草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的趋光行为。结果显示,在紫外光（波长365 nm）、紫光（波长420～430 nm）、蓝光（波长465～475 nm）、绿光（波长525～535 nm）、黄光（波长585～595 nm）和红光（波长655～665 nm）6种波长光源下,草地贪夜蛾混合种群（雌雄成虫比为1∶1）对紫外光光源的趋光选择率最高,为25.61%,显著高于其他处理,其次为紫光和蓝光光源,趋光选择率分别为16.30%和8.82%,对红光的趋光选择率最低,为4.76%。在紫外光刺激下,草地贪夜蛾雌成虫的趋光选择率显著高于混合种群（雌雄成虫比为1∶1）,在红光刺激下,雄成虫的趋光选择率显著高于雌成虫。另外,在紫外光刺激下,光处理时间60 min草地贪夜蛾雌成虫的趋光选择率显著高于其他处理。表明光源与性别因素均影响草地贪夜蛾的趋光行为,光处理时间对草地贪夜蛾的趋光行为影响较小,且与光源及性别因素有关。