Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Detectable Antibodies in Equids in Alabama

A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out to screen the equine population of the nonendemic state of Alabama for the presence of detectable antibody titers against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. A second objective was to determine the association of detectable titers with risk factors such as exposure to ruminants or previous travel to endemic states. A total of 342 equine serum samples from 40 Alabama counties were analyzed using the synergistic hemolysis inhibition test (SHI). The prevalence of detectable antibody titers (≥1:8) was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47%–57.9%). Titers ≥1:128 were detected in 2.63% (95% CI, 1.2%–4.9%), and titers ≥1:512 were detected in 0.3% (95% CI, 0%–1.6%) of the sampled population. In the final generalized linear model, age (P < .001), breed (P = .023), and contact with cattle (P = .05) were associated with increasing SHI titers. Contact with goats was associated in the initial but not in the final analysis (P = .19). Previous travel was not associated with increasing SHI titer (P = .97). The results demonstrated a high prevalence of low detectable titers and low prevalence of titers ≥ 1:128 in a nonendemic population. Further evaluation of SHI cutoff titers and accuracy is warranted to reduce the risk of a false positive diagnosis.     

Effect of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with Ce (IV) on growth,immunity and disease resistance against Vibrio splendidus of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicas

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide complex with cerium (Ce IV) (COS‐Ce) on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicas. Five isonitrogenous (18.6%) and isolipidic (1.1%) practical diets were formulated with graded level of COS‐Ce (0, 150, 300, 600 and 1200 mg kg^?1 dry feed), which were named as COS‐Ce/0, COS‐Ce/150, COS‐Ce/300, COS‐Ce/600, COS‐Ce/1200 respectively. Each diet was allocated to four replicates of sea cucumbers (Initial weight: 6.72 ± 0.02 g). Sea cucumbers were fed to apparent satiation once daily (19:00 hours) for 56 days. During the experiment, water temperature was kept at 16 ± 0.5°C, pH 7.8–8.2, dissolved oxygen beyond 5 mg L^?1, ammonia nitrogen below 0.5 mg L^?1 and salinity from 30‰ to 31‰. Results showed that the specific growth rate of sea cucumbers was significantly higher in COS‐Ce/600 than that in other four treatments. Activities of phagocytosis, respiratory burst, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in COS‐Ce/600 were significantly higher than that in COS‐Ce/0 (P < 0.05) respectively. On the contrary, cumulative mortality was the lowest in COS‐Ce/600 following 14 days exposure to Vibrio splendidus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results confirmed that dietary COS‐Ce had beneficial effects on growth performance, nonspecific immunity and disease resistance of sea cucumber.     

Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

Prediction of baking results from farinograph measurements by using stepwise linear regression and artificial neuronal networks

In an effort to extract additional data from farinograph experiments a model was developed to simulate the measurements and correlate the parameters of the model with results from baking tests. This additional information can be used in bakeries to predict the baking properties of the flours and adjust the recipes to maintain a constant product quality. For this eight different flours were characterized with a farinograph and 13 different results from baking experiments. An approach with five nonlinear differential equations was able to model the farinograph measurements very well (average R² = 0.995 ± 0.005). While a stepwise multilinear regression only showed weak correlations in cross validation between a single parameter of the model and the baking volume (R² = 0.745) and the volume yield (R² = 0.796) respectively, the artificial neuronal network was more successful. For the baking weight (R² = 0.926), the dough yield gross (R² = 0.909) and net (R² = 0.913) strong correlations were found. A good correlation for the baking volume (R² = 0.853) was also determined, while the volume yield showed comparable results to the linear regression (R² = 0.792).     

Soil sterilization effects on root growth and formation of rhizosheaths in wheat seedlings

Sterilized soils are frequently used in experiments related to soil biology. Soil sterilization is known to alter physicochemical characteristics of soil, plant growth and community structure of the newly developed bacterial population. However, little information exists regarding soil sterilization effects on belowground processes mediated through root–microbe–soil interactions, e.g., development of rhizosheaths which significantly promote the plant growth under stress environments. The present study was conducted to elucidate effects of soil sterilization on wheat root growth and formation of rhizosheaths in relation to chemical changes caused by soil sterilization and the proportion of expolysaccharide (EPS)-producers in bacterial population recolonizing the sterilized soils. Wheat plants were grown for two weeks under greenhouse conditions either in the unsterilized soil or in soils sterilized by autoclaving (121 °C, 1 h) or by gamma (γ)-irradiation (50 kGy). While soil sterilization had no effect on the release of macronutrients, both sterilization procedures significantly increased the electrical conductivity, water-soluble carbon and DTPA-extractable Mn. Seedlings grown in sterilized soils produced higher root biomass and the rhizosheath soil (RS) mass as compared to those grown in the unsterilized soil. Soil sterilization also increased the root length, surface area, volume and number of tips. In bulk soil, RS and on roots, the proportion of EPS-producers in the total bacterial population was higher in sterilized treatments than in the unsterilized. Amending the unsterilized soil with glucose-C increased the root biomass, whereas adding Mn II increased the RS mass. The results showed that soil sterilization by autoclaving or γ-irradiation increases the root growth and RS mass of wheat seedlings. The water-soluble C and DTPA-extractable Mn released upon sterilization, and the increased proportion of EPS-producers in the bacterial population recolonizing the sterilized soils were involved in the observed effects. The results may have implications in studies using autoclaved or γ-irradiated soils to investigate soil–plant–microbe interactions and signify the need to account for intrinsic stimulatory effects of soil sterilization.     

超重力处理对大白菜生理生化特性影响的研究

以新丰抗90白菜种子为试验材料,在1 000×g、2 000×g、4 000×g 3种不同超重力的条件下分别处理20、40、60 min后,幼苗期采取叶片测定其游离脯氨酸含量、过氧化物酶活性、超氧化物歧化酶活性。结果显示,2 000×g,40 min处理游离普氨酸含量最低;4 000×g,60 min处理游离脯氨酸含量最高,与对照相比,所有处理均抑制游离普氨酸的形成。1 000×g,20 min处理后的POD活性最高;2 000×g,60 min处理后的POD活性最低,但高于对照,超重力处理能显著提高POD活性。1 000×g,40 min处理SOD活性最高,4 000×g,60 min处理SOD活性最低,适宜的超重力处理有利于提高SOD活性。     

40%乙烯利水剂催熟对香蕉品质的影响

以七成熟的威廉斯香蕉为试材，采用两种不同稀释浓度(1 000和1 500 mg/kg)的40%乙烯利溶液进行浸泡处理，分别贮存于16和22℃的室内进行催熟，并定期对香蕉进行取样，检测香蕉各感官及生理指标的变化。结果表明，不同处理浓度的乙烯利催熟效果无显著差异，样品均成熟且色泽光亮，营养损失不大。22℃条件下催熟的香蕉比16℃条件下催熟的香蕉成熟速度快，食用品质更佳，有利于采摘后快速投放市场。综合考虑乙烯利残留量的安全问题以及催熟成本，建议采用1 000 mg/ kg的乙烯利溶液在常温下(22℃)催熟。     

环保包装及环保包装的设计

在当今社会,包装扮演着越来越重要的角色.本文从实际出发,阐述了环保包装的重要性,环保包装是未来包装行业的发展趋势.文章从包装材料、设计等方面进一步阐明了环保包装的设计理念、设计方法,并且明确了作为设计师的职责及作为社会公民应具有环保意识.环保的设计理念必将成为未来包装行业的核心理念,环保、绿色包装是时代发展的必然要求.     

果蝇引诱物的引诱效果与杨梅甜度、反光率的关系

经室内筛选,得到一果蝇引诱物,并对其进行田间引诱效果试验。结果发现,在杨梅逐渐成熟至干枯过程中,杨梅甜度先增加后减少,反光率越来越低,果蝇引诱物的引诱效果则呈现先升高后降低再升高的趋势。     

Azospirillum brasilense mitigates water stress imposed by a vascular disease by increasing xylem vessel area and stem hydraulic conductivity in tomato

Water stress, with its negative consequences on plant growth and survival, can be mitigated by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. In tomato, A. brasilense delays wilting caused by a vascular pathogen, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, by yet unknown mechanisms. We studied morphological, anatomical and physiological changes induced by A. brasilense in tomato that relate to water stress tolerance, which could explain the deferral in symptom expression. For this purpose, tomato seeds were treated or not with A. brasilense BNM65, and 5 weeks later plants were challenged with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis or mock inoculated with water. There was a large growth promotion associated to Azospirillum: treated plants had higher total biomass and leaf area. In relation to water stress tolerance, Azospirillum treated plants had larger xylem vessel area, higher stem specific hydraulic conductivity, thicker stems, and lower shoot/root dry matter and specific leaf area. These changes were opposite to those induced by C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. We conclude that A. brasilense favoured a better adjustment of plant-water relations by several mechanisms, and thus, transitorily alleviated symptoms expression of a vascular disease.