Natural bixin as a potential carotenoid for enhancing pigmentation and colour in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Discovering natural carotenoids for colour enhancement and health benefits of fish is important to develop new feed formulations. We have purified natural bixin from achiote seeds and evaluated the effect of colour enhancing and pigmentation in goldfish. Varying levels of bixin‐based diets were prepared with 420 g kg^?1 of crude protein and 120 g kg^?1 of lipid content. Our results clearly showed that bixin (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.60 g kg^?1) based diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the skin and fin colour at 30 and 60 days compared to diet without bixin. Interestingly, diet which contains 0.20 g kg^?1 bixin and commercial feed (with astaxanthin) had similar effect on carotenoid deposition in skin. Moreover, total carotenoid deposition in fin was higher than in skin of all bixin‐containing diets. However, 0.60 g kg^?1 bixin‐containing diet had lower specific growth rate (1.01 ± 0.01) and higher feed conversion ratio (2.05 ± 0.19) compared to the control group. The present results demonstrate that achiote bixin can be successfully used as an alternative natural carotenoid source against synthetic astaxanthin in fish feed. Our data indicate that 0.20 g kg^?1 is a suitable dietary level of bixin to ensure strong pigmentation, acceptable growth and feed utilization in goldfish.     

High fluid shear strain causes injury in silver shark: Preliminary implications for Mekong hydropower turbine design

The Lower Mekong Basin is facing unprecedented threats to fish diversity from hydropower development. There is increasing pressure on developers and construction authorities to design solutions to improve fish survival through turbines, thus protecting the resources in regions being developed for hydropower. A hydraulic characteristic of hydropower turbines with known fisheries impacts is fluid shear stress. Elevated shear stress occurs where rapidly flowing water passes near spillways, screens and within turbine draft tubes. Shear stress can have adverse impacts on fish, but no work has assessed whether this holds true for Mekong River species. A flume was used to determine critical tolerances of silver shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus (Bleeker), to shear stress rates at a high‐velocity jet which simulated a hydropower turbine. Fish were assessed for injury or mortality following exposure. Results were compared against a no‐shear control. Injury and mortality were greater at higher shear stress exposures. Injuries occurred at all shear exposure levels with mortality at shear levels higher than 600/s. This approach should help design future hydropower turbines if data on other species demonstrate similar results. If the likelihood of adverse impact is high, then shear stress will need to be considered in the design of future hydropower facilities.     

茶树MADS-box转录因子基因的克隆与非生物胁迫响应分析

本研究基于茶树转录组数据库,以茶树龙井43为试验材料,通过RT-PCR方法从该茶树的cDNA中克隆得到1个CsMADS1基因。序列分析表明:茶树CsMADS1基因开放阅读框长度为657 bp,编码218个氨基酸,是典型的植物MADS-box家族转录因子。序列多重比对显示,该序列与多个相关物种的MADS-box序列一致性为65.65%,含有高度保守的MADS结构域和半保守的K结构域。氨基酸理化性质、亲疏水性、亚细胞定位预测、无序化分析,以及二级和三级结构分析显示,CsMADS1转录因子是亲水性蛋白,可能定位于细胞核中,无序化程度明显,以α-螺旋结构为主,并与人MEF2蛋白具有相似的三级结构。利用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析了茶树龙井43中CsMADS1基因在非生物胁迫下的表达。结果表明,茶树中CsMADS1基因对高温、低温、干旱和高盐等不同非生物胁迫有响应,且表达存在差异。     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

水稻育性调控相关基因RNAi载体的构建及其表型鉴定

利用RNAi干扰技术研究不同基因对花粉发育、卵细胞发育和合子胚发育的影响是一种重要的手段。本研究通过筛选水稻在生殖发育过程中的9个重要调控基因,构建基因的RNAi表达载体,分析转基因植株育性及相关性状表型,以期探明RNAi表达载体对靶标性状的干扰效应。其中,AT61~AT63、AT64~AT66、AT67~AT69表达载体分别靶标花粉育性、卵细胞发育以及合子胚发育的调控。结果表明,除RNAi表达载体AT64没有获得转基因植株外,其余8个RNAi表达载体均获得了转基因植株;对T0代转基因植株的花粉育性、结实率以及潮霉素筛选(40 mg/L)发芽率检测的统计结果显示,RNAi表达载体AT62(花粉发育调控)、AT65(卵细胞发育调控)和AT67(合子胚发育调控)的干扰效应较强。本研究结果将为创制新型水稻基因工程不育系提供策略和选择。     

The Landscape Style and Features of Historical and Cultural Blocks in Handan,Hebei Province,China

The landscape style and features of historical and cultural blocks in Handan show the landscape characteristics of Handan in the specific cultural and historical period.To explore the landscape style and features of historical and cultural blocks in Handan is of great practical significance to maintain the characteristics of historical and cultural blocks,improve city quality,continue city culture and retain cultural characteristics.According to the advantaged natural geography,human geography factors and the current situation of landscape style and features in Handan City,this study discussed the landscape style and features of historical and cultural blocks through practical investigation and scientific research,found out the main problems and put forward corresponding protection and promotion strategies,in order to create a landscape pattern of historical and cultural blocks with cultural connotation,harmony and order,and distinctive characteristics.     

亮氨酸对早期断奶湖羊瘤胃发育及细菌菌群的影响

本试验旨在研究日粮中添加亮氨酸对早期断奶湖羊瘤胃发育及瘤胃细菌菌群组成的影响。选用36只5日龄的湖羊羔羊,依据体重相近原则随机分成对照组(C,0 g/d)、亮氨酸低剂量添加组(L,0.66 g/d)和高剂量添加组(H,1.33 g/d),每组4个重复,每个重复3只羔羊。于30日龄断奶当天每组每个重复取1只羔羊屠宰以获得瘤胃组织及内容物样品(n=4)。结果表明:H组瘤胃乳头的长度较C组显著增加(线性,P<0.01);添加亮氨酸可使瘤胃挥发性脂肪酸水平显著提高(二次,P=0.05),但并未改变乙酸、丙酸和丁酸的摩尔比例(P>0.05);与C组相比,L与H组的瘤胃氨态氮浓度均显著降低(线性,P<0.05;二次,P>0.05);L组羔羊瘤胃内容物中微生物蛋白含量显著高于C组(二次,P=0.05);亮氨酸的添加并未改变瘤胃细菌物种丰富度和多样性指数,但对菌群组成有一定影响;L组瘤胃内最多的是厚壁菌门(49.5%);H组拟杆菌门(51.4%)显著高L和C组(二次,P=0.05);H组的普雷沃氏菌属最多(线性,P>0.05;二次,P>0.05),而L组的巨型球菌属最多(二次,P <0.01);与C组相比,L组的双歧杆菌属(二次,P<0.05)和光岗菌属显著增加(二次,P<0.05)。由此可见,添加亮氨酸可促进羔羊瘤胃发育,改变瘤胃细菌菌群组成。     

美国德克萨斯州高地平原区地下水灌溉管理方法研究

德克萨斯州高地平原区是美国灌溉和旱地作物的生产基地,其灌溉水源主要来源于奥加拉拉(Ogallala)地下水含水层。然而,自从1950年灌溉农业发展以来,由于对奥加拉拉含水层地下水的过度开采,使得区域地下水位严重下降,有些地区地下水位下降超过50 m。为了保护地下水资源和实现地下水可持续利用,2000年以来美国德克萨斯州高平原地区在节水压采方面开展了一系列工作,取得了较好的成效。采取的主要措施包括:用德克萨斯州高地平原蒸腾蒸发网络(The Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration Network, TXHPET)进行灌溉及地下水管理,改变作物品种,改进灌溉技术,改变种植结构,保护性耕作方法,加强降雨管理,将小部分灌溉农田转为旱作农田等。该区域1958年的灌溉面积为183万hm~2,1974年灌溉面积达到峰值,为242万hm~2;1989年灌溉面积降为159万hm~2,由于喷灌技术的推广应用,2000年灌溉面积恢复到187万hm~2。1958年大多数灌区为地面灌溉,仅有11%的灌溉面积为喷灌。1974年之后,灌溉总面积在减少,主要灌溉方式转为喷灌,中心支轴式喷灌面积稳步增长。自1989年之后,喷灌在该区域快速发展,2000年喷灌面积已占该区域灌溉面积的72%。早期的喷灌系统在较高压力下运行,自20世纪80年代,低压喷灌系统已全面使用。我国华北地区长期超量开采地下水与美国德克萨斯州高原区地下水超采情况及问题相似。兹系统介绍了美国德克萨斯州高地平原区在地下水超采情况下采取的综合措施拟为我国地下水超采地区的地下水管理工作提供技术与经验参考。     

Effects of Salinity,Commercial Salts,and Water Type on Cultivation of the Cryptophyte Microalgae Rhodomonas salina and the Calanoid Copepod Acartia tonsa

Marine aquaculture facilities positioned far from the sea need access to seawater (SW); hence, commercial salts are often the chosen solution. In marine hatcheries, most fish larvae require live feed (zooplankton) that are in turn fed with microalgae. The objective of this research was to investigate the applicability of commercial salts and clarify the potential effects on the cultivation of the microalga Rhodomonas salina and the copepod Acartia tonsa. Three commercial salts were tested, Red Sea Salt (RS), Red Sea – Coral Pro Salt (CP), and Blue Treasure Salt. R. salina was cultured at salinities of 10, 20, and 30 psu resulting in equal growth rates at salinities 20 and 30 in SW and RS mixed with deionized (DI) water. The optimum salinity for R. salina was 29 psu. For A. tonsa eggs, we observed highest hatching success in 30 psu with CP or RS mixed with DI water. The egg hatching success was not affected by salinities 15–40 and optimal hatching was obtained at 27 psu. Results confirm it was possible to use commercial salts for rearing of both R. salina and A. tonsa, widening the application of these species for aquaculture facilities without access to SW.