Alfalfa Phytoestrogen Content: Impact of Plant Maturity and Herbage Components

Legumes contain a range of non‐nutritional phytochemicals that may have health‐promoting effects in humans. In this study, we determined the concentrations of four phytoestrogens (coumestrol, apigenin, luteolin and quercetin) in field‐grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Differences between plants of different stages of maturity, between plant parts, and different canopy segments were assessed. The concentration of individual phytoestrogen in whole herbage varied between 15 and 225 μg g^?1 dry matter (DM) and was strongly affected by stage of maturity. Coumestrol and apigenin concentrations were highest at early vegetative stages, luteolin and quercetin at early vegetative and late flowering stages. All phytoestrogens were found in lowest concentrations at the early flowering stage (average 68 μg g^?1 DM); stage at which alfalfa is usually harvested when used as a forage source for animals. At vegetative stages, apigenin was the predominant phytoestrogen in herbage followed by coumestrol, the reverse being observed upon initiation of flowering; luteolin and quercetin were found at all stages in similarly lower concentrations. Concentrations of luteolin, quercetin and apigenin were 225, 410 and 690 % greater, respectively, in flowers than in leaves or stems; coumestrol concentration was similar between plant parts. In flowers and stems the predominant phytoestrogens were apigenin and quercetin, followed by coumestrol and luteolin. Similar concentrations (average 26 μg g^?1 DM) of each of the four phytoestrogens were found in leaves. Concentrations through the herbage canopy varied and were greatest at >60 cm from the soil surface for apigenin and coumestrol, but greatest at >60 and 0–20 cm for quercetin and at 0–20 cm for luteolin. The results suggest that if alfalfa is to be used as a source of phytoestrogens and is harvested for the production of herbal supplements or nutraceuticals, management will need to be adapted.     

电超滤浸提土壤养分的研究 Ⅰ.石灰性土壤的电超滤特性

石灰性土壤的电超滤(EUF)特性主要是浸提时因需控制电流而必须大大降低电压。在一定范围内,降压程度与土壤 CaCO_3%有密切关系。控流限额愈低,电压需成比例地下降,但土壤EUF-值减小不多。电流控制在一定值时,离子的解吸总量亦为定值。控流主要控制了各石灰性土壤解吸/溶解份额特大的 Ca+Mg 量近于定值,对于含量小的其他养分离子则并无多大影响,仍可区辨各土壤间的差别。通过冬小麦盆栽试验和有关化学测试法等方面的相关研究,表明采用国际通用的5g 土样和控电流方法测定 EUF-K 和-P 等有效养分,对于石灰性土壤也是可行的,但其EUF-(Ca+Mg)值则毫无植物营养有效性的意义。土壤 EUF 值只是一种指数,并非真正的解吸离子量。石灰性土壤 EUF-K 值因浸提时降压控流而略低,80℃时5min 内解吸的钾不一定是非交换性钾。由于 Ca-P 和 CaCO_3在高温高电压时浸出较多,故石灰性土壤 EUF-P 和-(Ca+Mg)的80℃值/20℃值之比,与酸性土壤或非石灰性土壤相比要大得多。     

Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

槟榔红色素的抗氧化活性

测定槟榔红色素(areca red pigment,AP)对 DPPH·和·OH的清除能力、对脂质体过氧化的抑制能力、对Fe2+的络合能力,并测定其还原能力.结果表明:槟榔色素对DPPH·、·OH的清除能力较强:对脂质体过氧化的抑制能力很强,抑制率高达79.84%;与VE、没食子酸(gallic acid,GA)、BHT相比,槟榔色素的还原力、对Fe2+的络合能力较弱.说明槟榔红色素是较好的抗氧化剂.     

3种农药的微核效应研究

运用蚕豆根尖微核技术研究3种农药(甲胺磷、甲基硫菌灵和盐酸吗啉胍)在不同浓度下的诱变效应。结果表明,3种农药诱发蚕豆根尖细胞微核率与对照组相比均有不同程度的上升(P<0.05或P<0.01),农药浓度与微核率呈剂量-效应关系,盐酸吗啉胍的诱变效应大于其他2种农药。     

湖羊生长性状遗传参数的估测

对湖羊生长性状的表型参数和遗传参数的估测表明，性别对这些生长性状有极显著的影响，在遗传参数的估测中剔除性别的效应可提高估计的正确性。初生重、断奶重、三月龄重、六月龄重、周岁重和日增重等性状都属于高遗传力性状，遗传力分别为０．４１９０，０．３０４２．０．６０２３，０．６０７７，０．３９５６和０．６９４５．根据相关分析结果，为提高湖羊的生长速度和肉用性能，把日增重和三月龄重作为主要选择性状，预期可获得较好的效果     

β-葡聚糖对啤酒易滤性影响的研究

通过对啤酒中β-葡聚糖的定性定量分析和啤酒易滤性的测定,发现溶解状态的β-葡聚糖对啤酒的过滤没有明显的影响,而β-葡聚糖凝胶对啤酒过滤有严重影响.啤酒中β-葡聚糖凝胶的分子量在300 000以上,当含量达到20 mg/1时,就会使啤酒膜过滤困难.啤酒的易滤性与β-葡聚糖含量之间里r=-0.222的不显著负相关,而与β-葡聚糖凝胶的含量之间呈r=-0.841~(***)的极显著负相关.     

非洲黑鸵鸟人工饲养条件下繁殖性能的观察

14只2岁非洲黑鸵鸟按公母比例1:2～3分成4个繁殖组合,对产蛋、受精、孵化情况进行观察分析。结果显示,每只母鸵鸟年平均产蛋量为55.2枚,最高约为73枚,最低为39枚。4个组合鸟群之间种蛋的受精率存在显著的差异P<0.01,I组的受精率最高,为59.6%;IV组的受精率最低,仅8.9%。各组的受精率、孵化率差异不显著P>0.05,平均受精蛋孵化率达到92.6%。本次受精率较低的原因为公鸟年龄小,没有完全达到性成熟。     

Particle Size Distribution in Two Lipid Emulsions Used for the Enrichment of Artemia nauplii as a Function of Their Preparation Method and Storage Time

The present study examined the distribution of particle sizes in two experimental standardized lipid emulsions (distributed by ICES, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) as a function of the preparation method (hand shaking or ultrasonic blending) and as a function of storage time. A 24-h enrichment trial compared the incorporated HUFA levels in the nauplii of Artemia franciscana .
The emulsion droplets in the 50% HUFA emulsion (ICES 50, ethyl ester based) were much smaller than in the 30% HUFA emulsion (ICES 30, triacylglycerol-based) in which 90% of the droplets had a diameter below 12.3 μm as compared to 1.3 pn in ICES 50. The blending method highly affected particle sizes. High-shear blending instead of the classical hand shaking of the emulsion of both ICES 30 and 50 reduced the mean particle size from 5.06 to 1.07 μm and from 0.38 to 0.11 μm, respectively. The particle size distributions remained stable during the 1-wk storage, suggesting the absence of agglomeration or bacterial development. The fatty acid composition of 24-h enriched Artemia reflected differences in the HUFA profile of the emulsions, but was independent of observed differences in the size of the particles.     

Landscape and habitat factors affecting cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti occurrence in habitat fragments.

Cabot's tragopan Tragopan caboti is an endemic and endangered pheasant of the lower montane forests of southeastern China. The typical habitats of the tragopan have been seriously fragmented because of forest management for timber production and farmland reclamation in recent years. The effects of the fragment size and isolation on the distribution of the cabot's tragopan were studied in Wuyanling Natural Reserve. Thirty one habitat fragments (2.5-48.5 ha) surrounded by non-habitat sapling coniferous forests, in an intensively managed forested landscape, were surveyed over four seasons for the occurrence of cabot's tragopan. Five of the 31 fragments were occupied in all four seasons and nine were not occupied. Both landscape and habitat factors affected the occurrence of cabot's tragopan, with landscape factors having the greatest effect. Large and less isolated habitat fragments containing a larger amount of the tree Daphniphyllum macropodum were occupied significantly more often than small, isolated fragments. The appearance of cabot's tragopan in the habitat fragments was best explained by the size of the fragments, the distance to the nearest suitable habitat and the amount of macropdous daphniphyllum trees. Our results could be used to improve the management of the forests where Cabot's tragopan occurs in southeastern China.