Mineral absorption in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as compared with the domestic horse

To test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro- and microminerals in eight black rhinoceroses from three zoological institutions in a total of 32 feeding trials with total faecal collection, with additional data from three unpublished studies (18 feeding trials). Feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Co. The resulting aA coefficients, and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content [per 100 g dry matter (DM)], were compared with data for domestic horses. Rhinoceroses had significantly higher aA coefficients for Ca and Mg (because of a higher calculated 'true' absorption), and lower ones for Na and K (because of calculated higher endogenous faecal losses). High absorption efficiency for divalent cations is hypothesized to be an adaptation to a natural diet of particularly high Ca:P ratio (approximately 14:1); an effective removal of Ca from the ingesta guarantees sufficient P availability at the fermentation site in the hindgut. Higher faecal losses of Na and K are hypothesized to be linked to a higher faecal bulk per DM intake in black rhinoceroses as compared with horses because of a generally lower digestive efficiency. There were no relevant differences in the absorption patterns of microminerals. In particular, there were no discernable differences in Fe absorption within the rhinoceroses for diets with and without tannin supplementation. Several of the zoo diets assessed in this study were deficient in Cu, Mn or Zn, and most contained excessive levels of Fe when compared with horse requirements. The findings of this study indicate that differences in mineral absorption between occur even between species of similar digestive anatomy; that in particular, Ca absorption might vary between hindgut fermenters with Ca:P ratio in their natural diet; that Na might be a particularly limiting factor in the ecology of free-ranging rhinoceroses; that moderate doses of tannins do not seem to markedly influence mineral absorption; and that diets for captive animals should contain adequate, but not excessive mineral levels.     

A novel mutation of the CLCN1 gene associated with myotonia hereditaria in an Australian cattle dog

BACKGROUND: Heritable myotonia is a genetic muscle disorder characterized by slow relaxation of skeletal muscles. The main clinical signs are skeletal muscle stiffness, especially after vigorous contraction, and muscle hypertrophy. Muscle stiffness may be enhanced by inactivity, and often is relieved by exercise. Myotonia can be inherited in an autosomal dominant or recessive manner (Thomsen- or Becker-type myotonia, respectively). In mice, goats, Miniature Schnauzer dogs, and most affected humans, the disorder is caused by mutations in CLCN1, which encodes the skeletal muscle voltage-gated chloride channel, Cl1C-1. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that an Australian Cattle Dog with generalized muscle stiffness and hypertrophy examined at the Ontario Veterinary College would have a mutation in the CLCN1 gene. ANIMALS: A pure-bred Australian Cattle Dog from Ontario, Canada, was used. METHODS: Based on clinical signs and electromyographic test results, a diagnosis of myotonia hereditaria was made, and a muscle biopsy was collected for genetic analysis. RESULTS: Sequence data obtained from the affected dog confirmed that it was homozygous for a single base insertion in the CLCN1 coding sequence. This mutation would result in a truncated ClC-1 protein being expressed, which, based on molecular evidence from other studies, would result in functionally compromised chloride conduction in the skeletal muscles of the animal. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this report describes the Ist case of myotonia in an Australian Cattle Dog and represents the 1st non-Schnauzer canine myotonia to be genetically characterized. In addition, we developed a polymerase chain reaction-based genetic screen to detect heterozygotes with this mutation in the at-large Australian Cattle Dog population.     

Being exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr has detrimental effects on the mobility of Trogoderma granarium

BACKGROUND

Sublethal effects of insecticides may negatively affect several biological and behavioral traits of insects. The lethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr have been previously showed on Trogoderma granarium, but little knowledge is available about their sublethal effects at low concentrations on both sexes. Herein, the sublethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr on the mobility of T. granarium males and females were investigated.

RESULTS

Lethal concentration (LC) values of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr were lower for T. granarium females than males. LC values on males were LC₁₀ = 0.000788 and 0.00139 mg active ingredient (a.i.) cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00350 and 0.00535 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00986 and 0.0136 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. LC on females were LC₁₀ = 0.000704 and 0.00110 mg a.i. cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00323 and 0.00428 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00925 and 0.0110 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. The walking duration of beetles exposed to LC₃₀ of pirimiphos-methyl was significantly lower than the individuals exposed to LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ of both insecticides and control ones. Pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-exposed males remained more time on their back (101.7 s) than females (46.9 s), while the latter stayed immobile longer than males (381.7 s versus 371.9 s). The highest speed was recorded for control beetles (14.17 mm s⁻¹ females vs. 12.44 mm s⁻¹ males), while the lowest speed was observed in pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-treated males (8.36 mm s⁻¹) and females (9.66 mm s⁻¹).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, males and females exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr showed reduced motility. This knowledge can be exploited further to unlock behavioral effects of insecticides for effective pest management programs in warehouses. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中对天敌生物的影响研究进展

昆虫病原真菌是一类重要的微生物杀虫剂,广泛应用于农林害虫的生物防治。由于寄主范围广和主动侵染的特点,昆虫病原真菌在侵染、致死靶标害虫的同时,对包括天敌昆虫在内的非靶标节肢动物等会产生潜在的致病或亚致死风险。本文总结了昆虫病原真菌在害虫防治中的研究进展及对天敌生物的影响,并展望了昆虫病原真菌作为极具潜力的生物农药与天敌生物联合防治害虫的未来发展方向。     

Ananlysis on the Liability Financing in Leverage Buyouts

This article briefly introduces the principle and the character of the leverage buyouts since the rate of finance lever and the risk is high in the LBO, this article gives a game-theory analysis on the financing process between the purchaser and the investor in LBO by using the ROSS model. It is expected that some beneficial proposal to either side can be put forward by parting the equilibrium.in the last, it poses that LBO can be a way of broadening the financing channel on the annexation between the enterprises in our country.     

Controlling Techniques of Channel Sharing in HFC Network

The techniques of sharing a channel in HFC are original with regard to those of Ethernet and Ring. In this paper, the analysis is stressed on the method of the upstream bandwidth allocation, the collision resolving, and the relationship among them, beginning with MAP management message. The MAP is a complex frame, in which the messages of ranging opportunity needed by the CM at the access beginning, bandwidth allocation contention, bandwidth allocation and collision detection are included. The access way for a user is explained after the frame format and functions of a MAP are illustrated. Finally, upstream bandwidth allocation, the cause of collision, algorithm and the process to solve the collision and so on are studied.     

Performance Analysis of Anti-CW Interference in MC-CDMA Systems

The multicarrier-code division multiple access (MC-CDMA),which is the combination of direct sequence CDMA (DS-CDMA) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) techniques, offers various advantages over single-carrier CDMA system. Some of the advantages are that MC-CDMA systems possess can remove the intersymbol interference (ISI) and enhance narrow-band interference suppression capabilities. So the MC-CDMA technique becomes a focus in the field of mobile communication. The authors introduce the typical MC-CDMA system model, discuss the decision statisticalvariable in Rayleigh fading channel included the CW interference, and give the expressions of probability of error in uplink. An approach is proposed with Modified Equal Gain Combining (MEGC) to decrease the effect of CW interference. Theoretical analysis and numerical results show that the anti-CW interference performance of MC-CDMA system can be improved used the MEGC approach.     

滴灌灌水器迷宫流道数值模拟与结构优化设计

FEMLAB软件是COMSOL公司生产的一个专业有限元数值分析软件包,是基于偏微分方程的科学和工程问题进行建模和仿真计算的交互开发环境系统。利用FEMLEB软件对迷宫滴头进行三维的流道参数建模,在迷宫流道流态分析、压力流量关系、结构分析、流速分布、抗堵塞性能模拟上,进行参数逻辑化的选择和确定,建立参数化灌水器结构与性能参数关系模型,从而达到产品设计的目的。     

Passage of sediment through flumes and over weirs

This paper reports on laboratory research on the sediment passagecapability through long-throated flumes and broad-crested weirs withwhich the Froude number in the approach channel does not exceed 0.6over a distance of about 20 times the water depth upstream of thestructure. Design rules are given for any combination of flume or weirin combination with any channel.