Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the egg quality,immune response,zinc retention,and blood parameters of laying hens in the late phase of production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) on the performance, egg quality, Zn retention, immunity responses, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), egg malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum parameters in laying hens in the late phase of production. A total of 288 laying hens at 64 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates, and 12 birds within each group. Experimental diets included a corn‐soybean meal‐based diet (without Zn supplementation) and a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg of Zn‐oxide, ZnO‐NPs, and Zn‐methionine. The results indicated that egg production and egg mass were significantly higher in the Zn‐methionine and ZnO‐NPs groups (p < .05). Also, eggshell thickness and shell strength increased in the ZnO‐NPs group as compared with the other groups (p < .05). Moreover, Zn supplementation decreased egg loss (p < .05). There were significant differences among treatments in Zn deposition in tibiotarsus, liver, pancreas, eggs, and excreta (p < .01). Antibody titre, heterophil (%(, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly higher in birds fed with Zn‐supplemented diets (p < .05). In treatments supplemented with ZnO‐NPs and Zn‐methionine, the SOD activity in the liver, pancreas, and plasma was greater as compared with the other treatments (p < .05). The MDA content in eggs was significantly reduced in groups supplemented with Zn (p < .01). Moreover, dietary Zn supplementation significantly affected serum total protein, albumin, glucose, alkaline phosphatase activity, carbonic anhydrase activity, and Zn level (p < .05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ZnO‐NPs can improve the performance of laying hens. Therefore, ZnO‐NPs can enhance zinc absorption in the intestine of aged layers and can be a more suitable source of zinc than regular Zn‐oxide in diets.     

穗期玉米昼夜生理状态规律的遥感综合探测研究

针对QY、PRI、NDVI、水势分别从不同的方面反映玉米的生理状况,以甜糯二号玉米作为材料,通过田间试验测量玉米昼夜4个参数值,研究了QY、PRI、NDVI、水势4个参数的昼夜变化,并且分析它们之间的相关性。结果表明,QY、水势、PRI三者具有很强的相关性,并且能建立回归模型表示它们之间的联系。     

Effects of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization in rabbit myocardium

AIM: To study the effect of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) in the 3-layer myocardium of isolated rabbit hearts. METHODS: Adult rabbits (n=18, 2.0 ~ 2.5 kg) were used to isolate the hearts for preparing Langendorff perfusion model. The hearts were randomly divided into 3 groups after perfusion with K-H solution for 15 min: the perfusion in control group (C group) continued for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil group (R group) were perfused with 12 μg/L remifentanil K-H solution for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil+aminophylline group (RA group) were given 60-min perfusion of 12 μg/L K-H remifentanil+30 mg/L aminophylline. The HR and 3 layers of myocardial monophasic action potential (MAP) in the left ventricular anterior wall were recorded at time points after balanced infusion for 15 min (T₀), and continued perfusion for 15 min (T₁), 30 min (T₂) and 60 min (T₃). The monophasic action potential duration of repolarization at 90% (MAPD₉₀) and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) were calculated. The early afterdepolarization, delay afterdepolarization and arrhythmia were also observed. RESULTS: In R group, slower HR and prolonger MAPD₉₀ and TDR at T₁~T₃ were observed as compared with those at T₀ (P<0.05). R group showed slower HR and longer MAPD₉₀ and TDR than C group and RA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil slows the HR, extends the MAPD₉₀ and increases the TDR, thus being prone to induce reentry. Aminophylline makes HR faster and MAPD₉₀ shorter, thereby reducing the TDR.     

高温胁迫下蝴蝶豆的生理响应和耐热性评价

以自然高温胁迫下的11份蝴蝶豆为材料,研究叶片厚度、叶绿素值、叶片含水量、电导率值和丙二醛(MDA)含量等外观和生理指标与对照的差异,隶属函数分析结果表明:在高温胁迫下,材料C4、C6、C11的生长表现较好,在叶绿素含量、质膜透性、叶片含水量、MDA含量中的综合反应均较好,相比其它8个材料具有较好的相对耐高温特性,C1和C5的综合反应较弱,为热敏材料.     

Predation on native sculpin by exotic brown trout exceeds that by native cutthroat trout within a mountain watershed (Logan,UT, USA)

We explored potential negative effects of exotic brown trout (Salmo trutta) on native sculpin (Cottus sp.) on the Logan River, Utah, USA by (i) examining factors most strongly correlated with sculpin abundance (e.g., abiotic conditions or piscivory?), (ii) contrasting the extent of brown trout predation on sculpin with that by native cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) and (iii) estimating the number of sculpin consumed by brown trout along an elevational gradient using bioenergetics. Abundance of sculpin across reaches showed a strong (r ≥ 0.40) and significant (P < 0.05) correlation with physical variables describing width (positive) and gradient (negative), but not with abundance of piscivorous brown trout or cutthroat trout. In mainstem reaches containing sculpin, we found fish in 0% of age‐1, 10% of age‐2 and 33% of age‐3 and older brown trout diets. Approximately 81% of fish consumed by brown trout were sculpin. Despite a similar length–gape relationship for native cutthroat trout, we found only two fish (one sculpin and one unknown) in the diets of native cutthroat trout similar in size to age‐3 brown trout. Based on bioenergetics, we estimate that an average large (> 260 mm) brown trout consumes as many as 34 sculpin per year. Nevertheless, results suggest that sculpin abundance in this system is controlled by abiotic factors and not brown trout predation. Additional research is needed to better understand how piscivory influences brown trout invasion success, including in‐stream experiments exploring trophic dynamics and interactions between brown trout and native prey under different environmental conditions.     

Geostatistical interpolation and aggregation of crop growth model outputs

Many crop growth models require daily meteorological data. Consequently, model simulations can be obtained only at a limited number of locations, i.e. at weather stations with long-term records of daily data. To estimate the potential crop production at country level, we present in this study a geostatistical approach for spatial interpolation and aggregation of crop growth model outputs. As case study, we interpolated, simulated and aggregated crop growth model outputs of sorghum and millet in West-Africa. We used crop growth model outputs to calibrate a linear regression model using environmental covariates as predictors. The spatial regression residuals were investigated for spatial correlation. The linear regression model and the spatial correlation of residuals together were used to predict theoretical crop yield at all locations using kriging with external drift. A spatial standard deviation comes along with this prediction, indicating the uncertainty of the prediction. In combination with land use data and country borders, we summed the crop yield predictions to determine an area total. With spatial stochastic simulation, we estimated the uncertainty of that total production potential as well as the spatial cumulative distribution function. We compared our results with the prevailing agro-ecological Climate Zones approach used for spatial aggregation. Linear regression could explain up to 70% of the spatial variation of the yield. In three out of four cases the regression residuals showed spatial correlation. The potential crop production per country according to the Climate Zones approach was in all countries and cases except one within the 95% prediction interval as obtained after yield aggregation. We concluded that the geostatistical approach can estimate a country’s crop production, including a quantification of uncertainty. In addition, we stress the importance of the use of geostatistics to create tools for crop modelling scientists to explore relationships between yields and spatial environmental variables and to assist policy makers with tangible results on yield gaps at multiple levels of spatial aggregation.     

一份多年生高粱属新材料的农艺性状及其饲用潜力评价

为明确高粱属新材料‘SX-1’的基本性能,对其饲用潜力进行初步评价,本研究以‘晋牧1号’高丹草(Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense cv. ‘Jinmu No. 1’)为对照进行连续2年品比试验,对其农艺性状、产量和营养成分等进行测定。新材料‘SX-1’表现为多年生且雄性不育,第1年抽雄期刈割时平均株高为311.33 cm,显著高于(P<0.05)‘晋牧1号’(263.00 cm),分蘖数为12.00~13.00个,第2年分蘖数极显著提高（可达40个以上）。建植第1年鲜草总产量为110822.43 kg/hm²,显著低于(P<0.05)‘晋牧1号’(125846.43 kg/hm²);但干草总产量(22300.71 kg/hm²)显著高于(P<0.05)‘晋牧1号’(19039.32 kg/hm²)。‘SX-1’建植第2年鲜、干草总产量为150373.33 kg/hm²和28866.77 kg/hm²,分别较‘晋牧1号’高10.53%和38.00%,同时较第1年增加了35.69%和29.44%。粗蛋白、中性洗涤纤维、粗脂肪含量年平均分别为9.98%、53.28%和2.20%,均与‘晋牧1号’(10.05%、53.93%、2.09%)差异不显著(P>0.05);酸性洗涤纤维年均为35.25%,显著低于(P<0.05)‘晋牧1号’(45.20%);粗灰分为8.59%,显著高于(P<0.05)‘晋牧1号’(7.57%)。相对饲用价值为107.27,高于‘晋牧1号’(92.61)。新材料‘SX-1’生物产量高、耐刈割、饲用品质优良,值得进一步开发利用。具有多年生高粱血缘的高粱属种间杂交种是选育饲草高粱的潜在方向。     

Hesperetin attenuates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells via inhibition of calcium overload

AIM: To investigate the effect of hesperetin on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced apoptosis in the H9c2 cells and to clarify the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The H/R model was established and the H9c2 cells were pretreated with hesperetin for 4 h. The cell viability and cell damage were measured by CCK-8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) detection. The apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. The intracellular calcium fluorescence intensity was measured by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The calcium-ATPase activity and the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were measured by ELISA. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by JC-1 staining. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Hesperetin reduced the apoptosis of the H9c2 cells induced by H/R, decreased intracellular Ca²⁺ fluorescence intensity, elevated Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, inhibited the mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and increased the level of ATP (P<0.05). In addition, hesperetin significantly reduced the release of Cyt-C protein from mitochondria to cytoplasma and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P<0.05). After using the calcium ion inhibitor nimodipine, the percentage of the cells with mitochondrial membrane depolarization was decreased, the ATP level was increased and the protein expression of mitochondrion-related apoptosis molecules were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hesperetin reduces the apoptosis of the H9c2 cells induced by H/R, which may be related to inhibition of calcium overload and improvement of mitochondrial function.     

原始云冷杉、红松林树木生长对氮沉降的响应

本文通过野外控制试验，设置4个梯度的施氮处理，分别为对照(CK，不加氮)、低氮(T_L，5 g/(m2·a))、中氮(T_M，10 g/(m2·a))、高氮(T_H，15 g/(m2·a))，研究云冷杉红松林主要树种的径生长对氮沉降增加的响应。结果表明，枫桦径生长随氮添加梯度的增加出现了先促进后抑制的趋势；臭冷杉和红松径生长随氮添加梯度的增加而受到抑制，其中臭冷杉表现出明显的衰退现象甚至死亡；花楷槭则表现出较为复杂的响应，可能与该树种对不同梯度氮添加的响应机制不同有关。同时还发现，各处理、各树种的胸径大小与径生长量存在相关性，可能与树种年龄及其所处的生态位相关。研究表明，氮沉降改变树木生长速率和死亡率，可能影响地上生态系统碳库和整个生态系统碳循环。      

阿魏酸对2种野生杜鹃种子萌发的化感作用

为探究化感物质阿魏酸对马缨杜鹃和露珠杜鹃种子萌发的化感作用,本研究采用不同浓度阿魏酸分别处理马缨杜鹃和露珠杜鹃种子,利用单因素方差对其发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和化感指数进行差异性分析.结果表明:阿魏酸显著抑制马缨杜鹃和露珠杜鹃种子的萌发,对2种杜鹃种子的抑制作用随浓度的增加而增加.阿魏酸对马缨杜鹃和露珠杜鹃种子均具有显著的化感作用,化感效应的最强浓度为1 000 μg/mL.