基于深度学习的牛肉大理石花纹等级手机评价系统

大理石花纹是影响牛肉品质等级的重要指标,目前中国牛肉加工企业对大理石花纹的评价是由专业分级人员参照标准图谱完成,具有主观性强、耗费人工的缺点。针对上述问题,该研究提出了基于深度学习的智能分级方法,设计一种具有4层卷积的神经网络结构,实现了大理石花纹特征的自动提取,并基于智能手机开发了牛肉大理石花纹检测软件。该研究共采集样本图像1 800张,按3:1:1分为校正集、验证集和测试集。为进一步验证模型,将该方法与传统机器视觉方法进行了比较,提取了牛肉大理石花纹的大、中、小脂肪颗粒个数,脂肪总面积和脂肪分布均匀度5个参数,并建立了多元线性回归模型。试验结果表明,该研究所用方法大理石花纹检测准确率更高,验证集检测正确率为97.67%。最后编写了手机软件,将模型移植入Android手机,在手机平台上调用模型进行大理石花纹检测。试验表明,该软件对测试集样本的检测准确率为95.56%,单张检测时间低于0.5 s。该研究结合卷积神经网络分类能力强和智能手机运行速度快等优点,开发了牛肉大理石花纹的手机评价系统,具有较好的实用性和便携性,可提高牛肉大理石花纹检测效率,有助于提高农畜产品检测的智能化水平。     

Selection of soybean elite cultivars based on phenotypic and genomic characters related to lodging tolerance

Soybean lodging can result in serious yield reduction. Detecting the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with lodging tolerance for their further application in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) has the potential to enhance soybean breeding efficiency. In this study, a genome‐wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed to identify soybean accessions that could potentially be used to produce lodging‐tolerant varieties, based on the comprehensive evaluation of lodging scores (LS) obtained for the parental cultivar “Tokachi nagaha” and its 137 derived cultivars. Results showed that genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction significantly influenced LS. Of the 31 significant SNPs identified, 22 were consistently detected in two or more environments and 27 SNPs were located in or close to agronomically important QTL mapped by linkage analysis. Best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) of LS tend to decrease with the elite alleles contained by accessions increasing. Some excellent accessions, with lower BLUPs and D_i (stability coefficients) values and more elite alleles, were selected. This study contributed to understand the genetic mechanism of lodging, providing genetic and phenotypic information for MAS.     

成年鲁西牛肌内前脂肪细胞的分离培养

建立牛肌内前脂肪细胞体外培养方法，旨在更深入地研究组成肌肉内脂肪组织的肌内前脂肪细胞的增殖分化特性及其影响因素。选取来自成年育肥鲁西黄牛第6与第7肋骨间的肌肉内脂肪组织，利用Ⅰ型胶原酶消化法分离获得牛肌内前脂肪细胞。培养出的细胞成分均一，增殖旺盛，分化率高，经形态学动态变化观察、生长曲线、油红O脂肪染色提取法及对胰岛素和地塞米松反应的测定，证明是功能活跃的前脂肪细胞，并在体外重现了其增殖分化过程，同时经染色体核型分析证明体外培养的细胞倍性正常，可以用于后续研究。本试验成功分离得到了成年育肥牛肌内前脂肪细胞，这为下一步研究肌内脂肪的沉积机制，改善牛肉品质奠定了基础。     

Novel SNP in 5' flanking region of EDG1 associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Marbling, defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat, is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The endothelial differentiation , sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor , 1 ( EDG1 ) gene has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling. We have recently reported that 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), c.-312A > G in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and c.*446G > A in the 3' UTR in EDG1 were associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle, but this was not functional and a causal mutation for marbling. In the present study, we detected 2 novel SNPs, referred to as g.1475435G > A and g.1471620G > T , in the 5' flanking region of the EDG1 between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, which were previously shown to have EDG1 expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle. The g.1475435G > A SNP seemed not to segregate in Japanese Black beef cattle. The g.1471620G > T SNP was associated with the predicted breeding value for beef marbling standard number by the analyses using Japanese Black beef cattle population. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the g.1471620G > T SNP might have an impact on EDG1 expression and also marbling.     

影响莱芜猪肉质的肌内脂肪及其它化学性状的研究

本研究采用二因子多水平有重复试验的方法,对14头纯种育肥莱芜猪不同屠宰体重(80kg和90kg)及不同解剖部位(背最长肌、股二头肌、腰大肌、半膜肌和半腱肌)肌肉脂肪的含量和分布及其它化学性状进行研究,结果表明:肌肉脂肪及其它化学成分含量在不同屠宰体重间没有显著差异,而在各部位肌肉间则有极显著的差异。比较其它一些中外猪种发现:莱芜猪肌肉积脂能力很强,并且肌内脂肪组织与其中结缔组织呈交插状态分布,这在一定程度上为莱芜猪肉品品质优良和肉味浓郁香鲜之感觉印象提供有力佐证。试验进一步证明:主观评定的大理石纹实际上代表的是肌内脂肪与结缔组织的总和。     

Assessing the impact of non-governmental organization's extension programs on sustainable cocoa production and household income in Ghana

Globally, cocoa is famous for the production of chocolates and beverages. However, it also serves as a source of raw material for the manufacturing of high-quality cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Due to its high demand, cocoa is regarded as a major commodity for poverty alleviation in deprived cocoa farming communities. Government has therefore instigated relevant measures to address issues facing the sector by investing in extension programs. These programs act as information dissemination tools for teaching modern farming technologies and enhancing learning among farmers. This study highlighted the effects of the Cocoa Life Project(CLP) by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere(CARE) International on farm productivity and income of 200 cocoa farmers in three districts of the Eastern Region, Ghana. Regression on covariates, Heckman's treatment effects model, and propensity scores were used to test the robustness of the estimates. A positive association between extension program participation, farm productivity, and household income was discovered. Specifically, after correcting for selection bias, the estimated results of the Heckman's model showed that the extension program significantly increased participating farmers' cocoa yield by 14.3%. The effects on total farm income showed a significant increase of 25.1 and 42.9%, respectively from regression on propensity scores and the Heckman's model. Across all three models, program participation led to an increase in total household income by 46.1, 31.7, and 69.3%, respectively. Other variables such as farming characteristics, institutional and demographic factors affected farmers' income, depending on the estimation method used. This study reiterated the supporting role played by extension programs in enhancing cocoa production and increasing household income in Ghana. Conclusively, government and development partners should invest in extension programs by providing enough logistics, training qualified agents, and creating a conducive atmosphere to support learning and technology adoption.     

Effect of retinoic acid on gene expression profiles of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes during adipogenesis

To investigate genes involved in intramuscular adipogenesis in ruminants, 16 genes with dramatic variable expression were selected. These were selected from the differentiation‐ and proliferation‐phase libraries of our previous serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) studies of a clonal bovine intramuscular preadipocyte (BIP) cell line. We harvested the BIP cells over 12 days after adipogenic stimulation with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Quantitative real‐time PCR confirmed the earlier SAGE study results of the expression patterns of 15 of the genes. On day 6, TG accumulation increased significantly in the BIP cells but was completely inhibited in the 3T3‐L1 cells (the monogastric reference). ATRA enhanced expression levels of six genes whereas it suppressed expression of eight genes on day 3 of adipogenesis in the BIP cells. Forty‐eight hours after transfection, the messenger RNA expression level of the adipose differentiation‐related protein (ADFP), encoded by one of the upregulated genes, in the ADFP small interference RNA (siRNA)‐transfected cells was 3.5% of that in negative control‐transfected cells. Also, 6 days after induction the TG level in the ADFP siRNA‐transfected cells was 21.8% lower than that in negative control‐transfected cells. This analysis of gene expression profiles after ATRA treatment will contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in bovine intramuscular adipogenesis.     

Chemical evaluation of multimixes formulated from some local staples for use as complementary foods in Nigeria

The nutrient composition of eight multimixesformulated for use as complementary foods fromprocessed soybeans, cowpeas, maize, sorghum, yams,cocoyams, plantains and sweet potatoes were examined. The foods were processed by sprouting, cooking andfermentation. The samples were separately dried andmilled to fine flours. A ratio of 65% cereal, 30%legume and 5% starchy staple (65:30:5) calculated ona protein basis was used to formulate the multimixes. The blends were chemically analyzed using standardprocedures. The mixtures containing soybeans hadhigher protein, lipid, energy, crude fiber and calciumlevels but lower carbohydrate content than thosemixtures without soybean. The protein and energylevels of the multimixes were higher than those ofsome commercial infant foods (Cerelac, Farex andNestrum) in Nigeria but were comparable to that of`soy-ogi'. The multimixes contained fair quantitiesof calcium and phosphorus and an adequate amount ofsome of the essential amino acids. Methionine was themost limiting amino acid in all the mixtures. Blending cowpeas with maize produced a higher proteinscore than blending cowpeas or soybeans with sorghum. The cowpea/maize/sweet potato mixture had the highestprotein score.     

Relationship between amino acid scores and protein quality indices based on rat growth

Protein efficiency ratio (PER), relative PER (RPER), net protein ratio (NPR) and relative NPR (RNPR) values, and amino acid scores were calculated for 20 food products (casein, casein + Met, beef salami, skim milk, tuna, chicken frankfurters, sausage, heated skim milk, peanut butter, rolled oats, soy isolate, chick peas, pea concentrate, kidney beans, wheat cereal, pinto bean, lentils, rice-wheat gluten cereal, macaroni-cheese, and beef stew). In most cases, PER, RPER, NPR or RNPR ranked the products in the same order and positive correlations among the protein quality methods were highly significant (r=0.98–0.99). Amino acid scores (based on the first limiting amino acid, Lys-Met-Cys, Lys-Met-Cys-Trp or lys-Met-Cys-Trp-Thr) were positively correlated to the PER, RPER, NPR or RNPR data (r=0.61–0.75). Inclusion of the correction for true digestibility of protein improved the correlations between amino acid scores and the indices based on rat growth. The correlations were especially high between Lys-Met-Cys scores (corrected for true digestibility of protein) and PER, RPER, NPR or RNPR (r=0.86–0.91). Inclusion of the correction for true digestibility of individual amino acids did not result in further improvements of the correlations in most cases. It is concluded that adjusting amino acid scores for true digestibility of protein would be sufficient and further correction for digestibility of amino acids would be unnecessary in mixed diets.This paper was presented in part at the 71st annual FASAB meeting, Washington, DC, March 29–April 2, 1987.     

Effects of breed and different lipid dietary supplements on beef quality

Focus of this study was to evaluate the most suitable breed/crossbred and the appropriate nutritional strategies to increase marbling in beef muscle and to improve its healthy properties, in particular the n‐3 fatty acids content. One hundred and seventy‐six heifers of three crossbreed commonly reared by Emilia‐Romagna farmers: 48 Bleu Belge × Freisian (ITA), 48 Charolais × Aubrac (FRA), and 80 Angus (ANG) were used. Animals of each breed were randomly subdivided in two experimental groups that received two diets, differing for the dietary lipid source. Control group (C) received a basal diet containing protected vegetable fats, whereas treated one (T) received the same basal diet supplemented with 0.9 kg/head/day of extruded flaxseed. After slaughtering, a sample of Longissimus thoracis was collected from each animal for meat quality analysis. Our results demonstrated that, in a shorter fattening period, ANG animals obtained the best dry matter intake, average daily gain and the best fattening scores. ITA and ANG meat presented the highest marbling scores. ANG breed had the highest amount of C18:1, the highest unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio and the lowest n‐6/n‐3 ratio. The T animals, independently from breed, showed the highest amount of α‐linolenic acid (ALA). In addition, ANG‐T meat presented the highest ALA content.