Investigations into the temporal development of epitheliocystis infections in brown trout: a histological study

Epitheliocystis in Swiss brown trout (Salmo trutta) is a chlamydial infection, mainly caused by Candidatus Piscichlamydia salmonis and Candidatus Clavichlamydia salmonicola. To gain a better understanding of the temporal development of infections in wild brown trout, we investigated epitheliocystis infections during the course of the summer and autumn months of a single year (2015), and compared this to sampling points over the span of the years 2012–2014. The survey focused on tributaries (Venoge and Boiron) of the Rhone flowing in to Lake Geneva. When evaluated histologically, epitheliocystis infections were found throughout the period of investigation with the exception of the month of June. Fifty to 86 animals per sampling were investigated. Highest prevalence and infection intensities were seen in September. A correlation between epitheliocystis infection and water temperatures was not evident. Interyear comparison revealed consistent levels of prevalence and infection intensities in late summer. The absence of infections in June, combined with the consistent interyear results, indicates seasonal fluctuation of epitheliocystis infections in brown trout with a reservoir persisting during winter months from which infections can re‐initiate each year. This could either be at levels below detection limits within the brown trout population itself or in an alternative host.     

Parallelism in thermal growth response in otoliths and scales of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from alpine lakes independent of genetic background

Low density in natural populations of salmonids has predominantly been managed by stocking of non‐native conspecifics. Due partly to domestication, introduced non‐native fish may be maladapted under natural conditions. Interbreeding between introduced and wild individuals may therefore impair local adaptation and potentially population viability. Brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from three headwaters (with stocked fish) and three interconnected lakes (with native fish) on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, southern Norway, were tested for differences in thermal effects on scale and otolith growth. Otolith and scale annuli widths from immature brown trout showed positive correlation with mean annual summer temperature for all six sampled populations. In mature individuals, a similar positive thermal correlation was evident for the otoliths only. Interannuli width measurements from scales indicate a halt in somatic growth for brown trout in this alpine environment when reaching ages between 7 and 9 winters, coinciding with age at maturity. Our study indicates that otolith growth follows summer temperature even when individuals do not respond with somatic growth in these populations and that introduced brown trout and introgressed populations have similar thermal growth responses. Due to the continued otolith growth after stagnation in somatic growth and the impact of fluctuations in summer temperature, the utilisation of otolith annuli widths for back calculation of length at age should be treated with caution.     

Disulphide structure of high-molecular-weight (HMW-) gliadins as affected by terminators

This study aimed at elucidating SS-bonds of HMW-gliadins (HGL) from wheat with the focus on terminators of glutenin polymerisation. HGL from wheat flour extracts non-treated or treated with the S-alkylation reagent N-ethylmaleinimide (NEMI) were compared. HGL from wheat flour Akteur were isolated, hydrolysed with thermolysin and the resulting peptides pre-separated by gel permeation chromatography and analysed by liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry using alternating electron transfer dissociation/collision-induced dissociation. Altogether, 22 and 28 SS-peptides from samples without and with NEMI treatment, respectively, were identified. Twenty-six peptides included standard SS-bonds of α- and γ-gliadins, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits. Eleven SS-bonds were identified for the first time. Fifteen peptides unique to HGL contained cysteine residues from gliadins with an odd number of cysteines (ω5-, α- and γ-gliadins). Thus, gliadins with an odd number of cysteines, glutathione and cysteine had acted as terminators of glutenin polymerisation. Decisive differences between samples without and with NEMI treatment were not obvious showing that the termination of polymerisation was already completed in the flour. The two HGL samples, however, were different in the majority of ten peptides that included disulphide-linked low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols such as glutathione and cysteine with the former being enriched in the non-treated HGL-sample.     

变温烘焙技术对丹桂乌龙茶香气品质的影响

采用L_(16)(4~5)正交设计探讨变温烘焙技术对丹桂乌龙茶香气感官品质及香气成分的影响。结果表明,处理13(A_4B_1C_4D_2E_3)丹桂乌龙茶香气品质最佳,变温烘焙较佳参数为120℃、20 min,90℃、130 min,120℃、30 min。烘焙后,丹桂乌龙茶中的醇类、醛类、碳氢化合物、含氮化合物含量相对较高;共检出香气成分64种,主要为反-橙花叔醇、α-合金欢烯、苯乙醛、吲哚、苯乙醇、2-甲基丁酸-2-苯乙酯、苯乙腈、二氢芳樟醇、苯甲醇、芳樟醇、苯乙烯等,约占香气总量的90%。极差分析表明,香气品质影响因子的主次顺序为:烘焙Ⅲ阶段温度、Ⅲ阶段时间Ⅰ阶段温度、Ⅰ阶段时间Ⅱ阶段温度,即3个烘焙阶段的影响顺序为ⅢⅠⅡ,该研究结果为深入研究丹桂乌龙茶的烘焙技术提供了理论依据与参考。     

基于玻璃化转变的稻谷变温热风干燥工艺研究

为保证稻谷干燥后品质、提高干燥效率,基于不同含水率稻谷的玻璃化转变温度,提出变温热风干燥工艺。采用三因素五水平中心组合试验方法,以稻谷温度、初始含水率和热风风速为影响因素,以稻谷爆腰指数、整精米率和干燥时间为评价指标,研究稻谷玻璃化转变温度、恒温和变温干燥特性,模拟解析稻谷干燥过程中传热传质规律,以5、10、15℃的变温幅度进行变温干燥试验。结果表明,稻谷玻璃化转变温度与其含水率呈负相关,恒温干燥最佳工艺参数为稻谷温度47℃、初始含水率22.0%、热风风速0.50 m/s,干燥后稻谷爆腰指数70、整精米率57.67%、干燥时间195 min;与恒温干燥相比,以5℃和10℃为变温幅度的变温干燥工艺,干燥后稻谷爆腰指数分别降低了20和10,整精米率提高12.6、7.7个百分点,干燥时间缩短30 min和60 min。研究表明,基于玻璃化转变的稻谷变温热风干燥工艺明显改善了稻谷干燥后品质,提高了干燥效率。     

不同沟垄覆盖下土壤水热效应对旱作马铃薯生长及产量的影响

针对宁南山区春季降雨少、低温不利于马铃薯出苗,而作物生育中后期高温胁迫限制马铃薯块茎形成导致减产等问题,于2016年设置垄覆地膜沟内覆盖塑料地膜(DM)、玉米秸秆(JG)、生物降解膜(SM)、麻纤维地膜(MM)、液态地膜(YM)及沟不覆盖(BM),以传统平作为对照(CK),研究沟垄覆盖模式对土壤温度、土壤水分、旱作马铃薯生长及块茎产量的影响.结果表明:处理DM,SM,MM和YM马铃薯生育期耕层土壤温度表现出增温效应,而处理JG和BM表现为降温效应,其中处理DM增温效果和处理JG降温效果最佳.处理YM,JG对马铃薯生长前期保水效果较好,分别较CK显著提高13.3%,27.0%,而处理JG,DM对生育中后期的保墒效果较佳,分别较CK显著提高22.4%,13.2%.处理JG可显著促进马铃薯生长,其增产效果最为显著,DM次之,分别较CK增产47.8%,44.8%,其他处理较CK差异不具有统计学意义.可见,在宁南山区实施垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆模式可调控土壤水热环境,对旱作马铃薯生长及增产效果最佳.     

Effects of late planting on fiber quality and within-boll yield components as mediated by sucrose metabolism in cotton bolls

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of late planting on sucrose metabolism in cotton bolls and the relationship to fiber properties and within-boll yield components. Two cotton lines A201 and A705 were employed in a sowing date experiment where two temperature regimes during boll maturation period were created at mean daily temperature of 26.8°C, 28.3°C for early planting and 25.2°C, 23.1°C for late planting in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Boll size, seed mass per boll, seed index and fiber length were increased, and lint percentage was decreased by late planting. Greater cell wall invertase activity and the resultant hexose concentration in fibers were observed in late planting, and thus led to decreased osmotic potential accounting for the enhanced fiber length. Similarly, late planting increased the maximum of vacuolar invertase activity in ovules occurring at 5 days post anthesis (DPA) and hexose concentrations in embryos from 10 DPA afterwards which may favor embryo cell division, and thus increase final seed size. Our data indicate that acid invertase and hexose are implicated in the formation of within-boll yield components and fiber properties as affected by the lower temperature regime due to late planting.     

The use of the hand-held infrared thermometer as an early detection tool for exertional heat illness in Thoroughbred racehorses: A study at racetracks in eastern Australia

Thoroughbred racehorses perform exercise at maximal intensities and typically display a hyperthermic exercise response, which can drive core body temperature to critical levels. Despite extremely efficient thermoregulatory mechanisms, certain weather conditions may affect the horse’s ability to cool and result in a syndrome referred to as exertional heat illness (EHI). This is characterised by central nervous system dysfunction, as well as cytotoxic effects of heat on cells, which can produce deleterious consequences. Early detection of exertional heat illness (EHI) in Thoroughbred racehorses can be difficult because signs are often vague and the measurement of rectal temperature as an indicator of hyperthermia is not practical. Best practice in the treatment of EHI in horses, as in human subjects, centres on early detection, rapid assessment and aggressive cooling. Research in human subjects has shown that EHI is manageable when recognised early and appropriate treatment provided. The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement of skin surface temperature (SST) by an infrared thermometer as an aid in the early detection of EHI. A skin surface temperature ≥39°C in the immediate postrace period is considered to be hot. It reflects the interaction of exercise-related metabolic heat production, physiological adjustments to the skin surface such as vasodilation and sweating, together with the effect of high ambient temperature. Most importantly, high SST is associated with a reduced core-to-skin temperature difference, which retards heat transfer from the deep body tissues to the skin and can hinder heat dissipation. Identification of horses with high SSTs can prioritise them for rapid cooling and curtail possible progression to EHI.     

温度效应对液压锥型节流阀内气穴形态的影响

液压锥型节流阀具有节流温升大的特点,在阀口部位极易产生气穴,而温度效应对气穴发展变化的影响不容忽略。为此,本文对锥型节流阀内气穴形态受温度效应的影响进行了实验研究。搭建了锥型节流阀气穴实验系统,设置了不同的温度条件和压力条件,采用有机玻璃制造实验锥型节流阀,利用高速摄像机采集气穴形态图像数据。实验表明,锥型节流阀产生的初生气穴气泡半径约为30μm;温度升高会使气穴发展更加充分,同时会降低液压油对微小气核的束缚,产生的气泡数量更多,气穴更加明显;在低强度时,锥型节流阀内气穴为片状气穴,随着气穴强度的增加,气穴会发展为云状气穴。     

Changes in phosphorus fractions in three tropical soils amended with corn cob and rice husk biochars

ABSTRACT

The formation of phosphorus (P) compounds including iron-P, aluminum-P and calcium-P in highly weathered tropical soils can be altered upon biochar addition. We investigated the effect of corn cob biochar (CC) and rice husk biochar (RH) pyrolyzed at three temperatures (300°C, 450°C and 650°C) on phosphorus (P) fractions of three contrasting soils. A 90d incubation study was conducted by mixing biochar with soil at a rate of 1% w/w and at 70% field capacity. Sequential P fraction was performed on biochar, soil and soil-biochar mixtures. Increase in most labile P (resin-P_i, NaHCO₃-P_i) and organic P fraction (NaHCO₃-P_o + NaOH-P_o) in CC and RH biochars were inversely related to increasing temperature. HCl-P_i and residual P increased with increasing temperature. Interaction of CC and RH with soils resulted in an increase in most labile P as well as moderately labile P (NaOH-P_i) fractions in the soils. CC increased most labile P in the soils more than RH. The increase in most labile P fraction in soils was more significant at relatively lower temperatures (300°C and 450°C) than 650°C. However, the increase in HCl-P_i and residual P of the soils was more predominant at high temperature (650°C). The study suggested that biochar pyrolyzed at 300–450°C could be used to increase P bioavailability in tropical soils.