Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol‐induced oxidative damage in laying hens

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256‐day‐old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH_45 min (p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol‐induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH‐PX, T‐SOD, T‐AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol‐induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.     

海南芒果寒害保险合同费率厘定与修正研究

利用海南岛1990—2010年的芒果产量数据和1961—2010年的气象数据,计算了芒果的寒害减产历史序列,应用极值理论构建了产量风险分布模型,依此对各市(县)纯保险费率进行了厘定。并根据寒害的气象风险与产量风险区划成果,通过聚类分析得到区域风险系数,对纯保险费率进行修正,确定了不同免赔额下海南各市(县)芒果寒害保险的纯保险费率。结果表明:不同免赔额下白沙、琼中、五指山和澄迈的纯保险费率最高,说明其寒害风险最高,儋州、临高、屯昌的纯保险费率次之,风险也较高,这与气象指标统计的寒害风险基本一致,说明中部和西北部的芒果种植受寒害影响较大,适合采用高免赔额的费率标准。本研究中纯保险费率是根据气象资料计算而得的,避免了因采用产量资料出现资料短而不稳定的问题,可以有效的防止逆向选择和道德风险,有利于其他热带水果气象指数保险产品设计的借鉴,并使更多的农户参与到保险中来。     

Abnormally modified tau and hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Tau is the most abundant microtubule-associated protein in the brain. If tau protein lost the normal function, the toxic effect should be showed and plays an important role in various central nervous system lesions. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important cause of mortality in the neonatal period and it is mainly characterized by neurological deficits such as cognitive limitations. However, the mechanism still needs further study, and the underlying relationship between tau protein and HIE lacks direct evidence. Some recent clinical study reported that tau protein expression elevated in the serum of asphyxia children and had a high correlation with behavior deficient. In this review, we focus on 3 key points to provide new insights to understand the tau protein-related pathogenesis of HIE as followed: (1) tau protein and its phosphorylation change during central nervous system development; (2) comparison of tau protein expression in developing brain and adult brain under some neurological disorders; (3) potential pathological change of tau in HIE related pathological conditions, such as dysmyelination, inflammation response and glutamate metabolism.     

危害沙棘的围连环夜蛾生物学特性及防治

围连环夜蛾在我国多有分布，但看见其幼虫的还是很少，因资料中寄主不祥，笔者经室内外观察。发现其危害多种植物的叶片，更喜欢危害沙棘树的叶片，笔者经2a的室内外观察得知。其生物学特性在辽宁西部每年1代，以蛹越夏及冬。对沙棘树危害较重，对栽植的大果沙棘危害尤为严重，在5a生的沙棘树上有100多头幼虫危害，成虫善飞翔。     

中国椰子寒害及其对策研究

椰子是一种典型的热带作物，受低温天气影响椰树会出现严重的落裂果、叶片变黄甚至整株枯死的现象；大灾之后，各地采取了一系列抗灾救灾措施，并取得了明显成效。本文对受2008年初椰树寒害的区域性、品种耐寒性进行回顾，对3年来的抗寒救灾措施进行全面总结，并对今后中国椰子生产发展提出可行性建议。     

耕地损毁鉴定指标体系研究

耕地损毁主要包括以下五种类型:耕地地面硬化、耕地地面塌陷、耕地挖损、耕地压占和耕地污染,笔者在分析耕地损毁类型特征基础之上,提出了耕地损毁鉴定体系指标选取的原则:综合性原则、分类指导原则、可操作性原则和耕地破坏程度认定与耕地恢复难易程度认定相当原则,由此得到耕地损毁程度的评价指标,采用层次分析法建立耕地损毁评价指标体系,并提出了完善法律法规,依法治理损毁、分类治理利用,推进耕地复垦、引导科学种田,加强耕地保护、创新防控机制等治理对策。研究结果可为耕地损毁鉴定、复垦方案的编制、复垦措施提供现实指导意义。     

Protective effects of taurine on LPS-induced myocardial damage in rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of taurine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced myocardial damage in rats. METHODS: Healthy male SD rats (n=30) were randomly divided into control group (CON), LPS model group (LPS) and taurine treatment group (TAU). The rats in CON group and LPS group were intravenously injected with normal saline, and the rats in TAU group were injected with taurine (100 mg/kg). After 2 h, the rats in LPS group and TAU group were intraperitoneally injected with LPS at 10 mg/kg, and the rats in CON group were injected with normal saline. Six hours after injection of LPS, the blood samples were collected for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. The myocardial tissues were processed for histological examination and the analysis of Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with CON group, LPS significantly reduced SOD activity in the serum and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) protein expression in the myocardial tissues, increased the serum content of MDA and levels of TNF-α and IL-6. LPS also significantly elevated the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and up-regulated the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the myocardial tissues. Taurine pretreatment significantly elevated SOD activity and HO-1 protein expression level, decreased the levels of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 and phosphorylated NF-κB. Histological observation showed that taurine reduced inflammatory response in the myocardial tissue. CONCLUSION: Taurine attenuates LPS-induced myocardial damage in rats. The beneficial effects of taurine may be associated with its reduction of p-NF-κB/COX-2 signaling by activation of HO-1/CO.     

A serological and molecular study on Francisella tularensis in rodents from Hamadan province,Western Iran

Introduction and purposeTularemia is a zoonotic disease, the most important hosts of which are rodents. Endemic regions and reservoirs of F. tularensis are not well-researched areas in Iran. The present study aimed to study F. tularensis infection in the rodent populations of western Iran.Materials and methodsSamples were collected in different areas of Kabudar Ahang County in Hamadan province (west of Iran) from 2014 to 2017. Tularemia serological and molecular tests were conducted using the tube agglutination test and Real-time PCR method tracking the ISFtu2 gene. Positive serum samples were evaluated for cross-reactivity with brucellosis.ResultsA total of 433 rodents, collected from 33 localities, were included in the study. The most abundant species belonged to the Persian jird (Meriones persicus; 75.5%), and Libyan jird (Meriones libycus; 10.1%). Among the studied samples, three (0.74 %) were seropositive and five (1.15%) were PCR positive. Seropositive samples were two M. persicus and one M. libycus, and PCR positive rodents were four M. persicus and one M. vinogradovi. Tularemia seropositive samples showed no cross-reactivity with brucellosis.ConclusionGiven the presence of infection in rodents with tularemia agent in the studied area, it is crucial to elucidate the risks of rodent exposure to tularemia for physicians, health personnel and the general population.     

Controlling sprouting in potato tubers using ultraviolet-C irradiance

Legislation limiting the use of chlorpropham (CIPC), the major potato sprout suppressant, has led to a need for new technologies to extend storage life of tubers. Ultra violet C (UV-C) has been used postharvest to reduce disease incidence on many crops, yet its use and efficacy as a sprout suppressant has not been investigated. The aim of this project was to identify the optimum dose and treatment timing of UV-C treatment on potato tubers as an alternative method of sprout suppression to reduce the dependence on chemical sprout suppressants. Up to six potato cultivars over two seasons were treated with varying doses of UV-C ranging from 0 to 30 kJ m⁻² either at harvest or at first indication of dormancy break. The tubers were stored at 9 °C and sprout growth and incidence assessed. Treatment with moderate UV-C doses (5–20 kJ m⁻²) suppressed sprout length and sprout incidence in a range of cultivars. Periderm DNA damage and programmed cell death were not detected in response to any of the UV-C doses. The inactive ABA metabolite, ABA-GE, increased in response to 10 or 20 kJ m⁻² within 72 h of treatment. Multivariate analysis showed a negative relationship between ABA metabolites and sprout growth/incidence during storage. This study found that UV-C reduced sprout growth in potato with no deleterious effects on tuber quality. This suggests potential for further development as an alternative or supplement to conventional sprout suppressant technologies.