The distribution of the coronary arteries in the Angora rabbit

The aim of this study was to determine the origin, course, termination and anastomosing of the coronary arteries in Angora rabbits. Eight adult healthy male Angora rabbits were used. Coloured latex was injected into the ascending aorta. A. coronaria sinistra of the Angora rabbit had larger diameter than a. coronaria dextra. It was divided into r. proximalis atrii sinistri, r. interventricularis paraconalis and r. circumflexus sinister in six Angora rabbits as well as r. septi interventricularis in two. R. septi interventricularis that stem directly from a. coronaria sinistra in two animals and from r. interventricularis paraconalis in six was a principal vessel responsible for the septum interventriculare. R. marginis ventricularis sinistri originating from r. circumflexus sinister was the most prominent artery on the auricular surface of the heart. R. interventricularis subsinuosus was not detected in Angora rabbits examined. A. coronaria dextra, crossing the sulcus coronarius immediately after its origin, ran obliquely in direction of the sulcus interventricularis subsinuosus to supply the right portion of the heart. The ventricular and septal branches of a. coronaria sinistra and a. coronaria dextra ran subepicardially at the beginning then intramyocardially and mostly parallel to the muscle fibres as surrounded by a thin adipose tissue. Their atrial branches were seen continuously to run subepicardially.     

Prediction of the Weight of Aquacultured Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by Image Analysis

Prediction relationships between weight and image features were established with a high correlation for whole aquacultured rainbow trout. Three hundred fish from three different farms were used. The fish were temporarily removed from the raceway, anesthetized, and their picture was taken by a digital camera. A reference square of known surface area and color was placed beside the fish. The fish were then returned to the raceway alive. The image was analyzed, and the view area of the fish was calculated using the area of the reference square. The average color of the fish was also determined (L*, a*, and b* values). The following equations were used to fit the view area (X) vs. weight (Y) data: linear, power, and second order polynomial. The R² values for the used equations were: linear = 0.98; power = 0.99; polynomial = 0.98. Image analysis can be used reliably to predict the weight of whole aquacultured rainbow trout. In addition, color and other visual attributes can be objectively determined by image analysis to sort by visual quality.     

Optimization of Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Compound Extraction Conditions from Red Seaweed (Laurencia obtuse)

ABSTRACT

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions including solvent:seaweed ratio (10:1–30:1), extraction temperature (30–50°C), and extraction time (30–60 min) on the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of red seaweed (Laurencia obtuse) extracts. The optimum extraction parameters for maximum phenolic content were as follows: solvent:seaweed ratio, 30:1; extraction temperature, 50°C; and extraction time, 42.8 min. The experiment results showed that the solvent:seaweed ratio was the most significant parameter for the extraction. The optimum extraction conditions for maximum antioxidant activity were as follows: solvent:seaweed ratio, 24.3:1; extraction temperature, 45.3°C; and extraction time, 58 min. Under the above-mentioned conditions, the experimental total phenolic content and antioxidant activity value were 26.23 ± 0.75 mg GAE/g seaweed and 120.89 ± 0.81 TEAC, respectively, of seaweed tested, which are well compatible with the predicted contents.     

崖柏群落优势乔木种群生态位

采用定量分析方法,对崖柏群落中15个优势乔木种群的重要值、生态位宽度和生态位重叠进行分析.结果表明:崖柏种群的重要值和水平生态位宽度都显著高于其他种群,川陕鹅耳枥、高山栎和华千金榆等种群的水平生态位宽度值较大,虎皮楠、铁杉、中华槭和川鄂山茱萸种群的水平生态位宽度值较小;各种群的水平生态位宽度值与重要值呈显著正相关;崖柏种群对其他种群的水平生态位重叠值高于其他种群对崖柏种群的生态位重叠值,反映出崖柏种群具有较强的竞争能力;崖柏群落优势乔木种群间水平生态位重叠值较小,说明现存崖柏群落结构具有一定的稳定性;高山栎、乌岗栎和青榨槭的垂直生态位宽度值大于崖柏,原因在于崖柏结实母树少,林下更新幼苗、幼树少;崖柏对小叶青冈、城口青冈、乌岗栎和铁杉等种群的垂直生态位重叠值较大,说明它们之间在利用随着高度变化的以光因子为主导的生态资源方面存在较强的竞争.     

Pollution attenuation by roadside greenbelt in and around urban areas

Greenbelts are effective tools for mitigation of traffic induced air and noise pollution. In this study, the potential role of greenbelts along the roadside for the reduction of air pollution and noise levels has been assessed by using seasonally monitored data in a megacity of Bangladesh. Correlation analysis was performed between the vegetation status, measured by canopy density and shelterbelt porosity, and the total suspended particles (TSP) removal percentage. Further, the reduction of noise level was also analyzed. The results showed that the greenbelts greatly contributed to reduce TSP pollution and it was as much as 65%. Noise level reduction was also achieved up to 17 dB when compared to the open area. Moreover, TSP removal percentage was correlated to the crown density. Area having higher crown density demonstrated less air pollution and lower level of noise compared to the area having lower crown density. Greenbelt showed better performance in summer time than winter.     

The morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia in Holstein cattle

This study was carried out to describe morphologically and morphometrically the hypoglossal dorsal root and its ganglia, using heads of 20 adult Holstein cattle of both sexes. The dorsal root of the hypoglossal nerve (XII) has always an evident dorsal root ganglion (DRG) including the accessory in 30% (6 of heads) or satellite ganglia in 10% (2 of heads). There were statistically significant differences between the lengths (right: 8.64+/-0.22 mm, left: 7.91+/-0.31 mm, p<0.01) of peripheral roots of the DRG in male. Statistical significance existed in the lengths (right: 7.01+/-0.43, left: 8.27+/-0.47, p<0.05) of the central roots of the DRG in male. Since the histological findings showed that each ganglion placed on the dorsal root of the XII had the general feature of a spinal ganglion, it can be said that the XII has the intracranial peripheral (sensory) fibers and carry directly sensory input to the brain stem. In conclusion, the present study is the first to reveal the morphology of the hypoglossal dorsal root with ganglia in Holstein cattle.     

Influence of Humic Substances and Nitrogen on Yield,Fruit Quality,and Leaf Mineral Elements of ‘Early Spur Rome’ Apple

The effects of humic substances (AgriPlus, Humi-Zyme, and Humic Acid 6%) and nitrogen (N) on growth, yield, quality, and leaf minerals in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) were studied during 1997–2000. Trees receiving medium or high N tended to be larger than trees with other treatments in 2000. Trees receiving AgriPlus with high N had higher yield than untreated control trees in 1998. Trees receiving medium N had larger fruits than control trees. Fruits of trees receiving high N (alone) had less red color than the control. Soluble solids concentrations (SSC) in fruits of all treatments were higher than those of the control at harvest in 1999. Fruit from the untreated control and low Humi-Zyme tended to be firmer than that from other treatments. The untreated control and low Humi-Zyme trees had lower leaf N and manganese (Mn), but higher leaf potassium (K) than trees under most other treatments. Leaf iron (Fe) in trees receiving medium Humi-Zyme was higher than that in the untreated control in two years. AgriPlus-treated trees showed higher water retention in the root zone.     

Impact of grafting and rootstock on nutrient-to-water uptake ratios during the first month after planting of hydroponically grown tomato

Tomato plants (cv. Primadonna F₁), non-grafted, self-grafted, or grafted onto the commercial rootstocks ‘He-man’ and ‘Maxifort’, were grown in recirculating nutrient solution. The uptake concentrations (UCs), i.e. mean nutrient-to-water uptake ratios of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B, were estimated based either on depletion from the nutrient solution or on accumulation in the plant biomass. Grafting onto both commercial rootstocks increased the total plant biomass. Hetero-grafting also increased the leaf N, Ca, and Cu concentrations but decreased those of Mg and Fe in comparison with self- and non-grafted plants. The mean UCs of N, Ca, and Cu were higher in plants grafted onto both commercial rootstocks in comparison with self- and non-grafted plants. However, hetero-grafting also raised the UCs of P, Fe, Mn, and B, because of an increased deposition of these nutrients to the roots in comparison with self-rooted plants. The method used to estimate the UCs, i.e. nutrient removal from the recirculating nutrient solution vs. nutrient recovery from plant biomass per volume unit of transpired water, resulted in similar values for N, Ca, Zn, and Cu, but had a significant impact on those of P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and B.     

Bioremediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Water: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Arsenic contamination of groundwater and surface water is widespread throughout the world. Considering its carcinogenicity and toxicity to human and animal health, remediation of arsenic-contaminated water has become a high priority. There are several physicochemical-based conventional technologies available for removing arsenic from water. However, these technologies possess a number of limitations such as high cost and generation of toxic by-products, etc. Therefore, research on new sustainable and cost-effective arsenic removal technologies for water has recently become an area of intense research activity. Bioremediation technology offers great potential for possible future application in decontamination of pollutants from the natural environment. It is not only environmentally friendly but cost-effective as well. This review focuses on the state-of-art knowledge of currently available arsenic remediation methods, their prospects, and recent advances with particular emphasis on bioremediation strategies.