Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

退化草地群落演替趋向研究进展

草地群落的退化演替以植物个体、种群与群落层次上植物的动态以及土壤理化性状的改变等现象为表征。主要从植物个体形态特征、草地退化模式、草地土壤养分变化等方面对退化的响应,探讨了草地退化演替的特征和趋势,建议今后对草地的退化演替机理、放牧生态学、恢复生态学、界面生态学及草地的价值评估等方面进行更深入的研究。     

水氮供应对地下滴灌紫花苜蓿生长特征及草地小气候的影响

为探讨不同水氮处理条件下紫花苜蓿生长状况与草地小气候特征的关系,以2年生紫花苜蓿“巨能7号”为研究对象,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了宁夏引黄灌区地下滴灌条件下不同滴灌量和施氮量处理下紫花苜蓿生长特征和草地小气候的变化。结果表明:1)滴灌量和施氮量对紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量都有显著的影响,表现为紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量均随滴灌量和施氮量的增加而增加,当施氮量增加到一定值时,继续增施氮肥,其鲜草产量增产效果在不同滴灌量处理下表现出不同的趋势。2)与不施氮处理相比,增施氮肥降低了紫花苜蓿株间空气温度、浅层土层温度和株间光照强度,而增加了群体内部空气相对湿度。3)不同滴灌量对紫花苜蓿的生长微环境的调节作用不同,随着滴灌量的增加,紫花苜蓿群体相对湿度逐渐提高,而紫花苜蓿株间气温和浅层土层温度降温效应越明显。4)紫花苜蓿生育期间株高与叶面积、草产量和群体内部相对湿度呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与群体内光照强度、株间气温、浅层土壤温度呈极显著负相关(P<0.01)。合理减少滴灌量和施氮量不仅能维持紫花苜蓿良好的生长特征,而且能提高鲜草产量和改善草地生态环境条件。本研究旨在为紫花苜蓿群体微环境生态因子的改善及高产优质栽培措施提供科学依据。     

Multimarker and rare variants genomewide association studies for bone weight in Simmental cattle

Bone weight, defined as the total weight of the bones in all the forequarter and hindquarter joints, can reflect somebody conformation traits and skeletal diseases. To gain a better understanding of the genetic determinants of bone weight, we used a composite strategy including multimarker and rare‐marker association to perform genomewide association studies (GWAS) for that character in Simmental cattle. Our strategy consisted of three models: (i) A traditional linear mixed model (LMM) was applied (Q+K‐LMM); (ii) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with p‐values less than .05 from the LMM were selected to undergo the least absolute shrinkage and selector operator (Lasso) in the second stage (LMM‐Lasso); (iii) genes containing two or more rare SNPs were examined by performing the sequence kernel association test (gene‐based SKAT). A total of 1,225 cattle were genotyped with an Illumina BovineHD BeadChip containing 770,000 SNPs. After the quality‐control procedures, 1,217 individuals with 608,696 common SNPs and 105,787 rare SNPs (with 0.001 < minor allele frequency [MAF] <0.05) remained in the sample for analysis. A traditional LMM successfully mapped three genes associated with bone weight, while LMM‐Lasso identified nine genes, which included all genes found by traditional LMM. Only a single gene, EPHB3, surpassed the significance threshold after Bonferroni correction in gene‐based SKAT. In conclusion, based on functional annotation and results from previous endeavours, we believe that LCORL, RIMS2, LAP3, PRKAR2B, CHSY1, MAP2K6 and EPHB3 are candidate genes for bone weight. In general, such a comprehensive strategy for GWAS may be useful for researchers seeking to probe the full genetic architecture underlying economic traits in livestock.     

兔病毒性出血病病毒VP60蛋白基因研究进展

兔出血病病毒(RHDV)是引起兔病毒性出血病(RHD)的病原,严重威胁着世界养兔业的健康发展。在RHDV的感染和免疫研究方面,RHDV的衣壳蛋白VP60作为具有重要免疫原性的主要结构蛋白备受关注,论文对VP60蛋白基因的结构特征、核苷酸变异情况及在诊断方法建立和疫苗预防研究等方面进行了综述,为RHDV防控相关研究提供有用的参考资料。     

沼气池热传递过程研究进展

温度是沼气工程高效运行的关键,沼气发酵不仅要维持适宜的温度,还须保证温度的稳定性。为此,对沼气池热传递过程的相关研究进行分析介绍,主要包括沼气池发酵液温度的影响因素、发酵系统热流损失、增温方式和热传递模型研究,并指出增温方式的选择应建立在正确的热过程分析基础上,建议进一步改进优化热传递模型,更好地指导沼气工程实施。     

The routes to fruit: Governance of urban food trees in Canada

Interest in planting urban food trees (UFTs) in public spaces is growing in popularity as a form of urban greening and a potential food source. Currently there is minimal research on the governance and policy aspects of integrating food trees into cities. To fill this gap, we investigated the characteristics of UFT site governance and how it compares to current urban forest governance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant municipal officials in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Victoria about their perspectives and involvement with UFT sites in their city. A scan of policy documents was completed to supplement the interviews. The interviews were analyzed using a deductive coding framework based on the Policy Arrangement Approach. We found that key actors at the UFT sites were local organizations and site champions, with minimal municipal engagement. Most site resources provided by municipalities were in-kind. There are also basic knowledge gaps about how to care for UFTs. Currently municipal by-laws prohibit the harvesting and removal of plant material, and are at odds with the purpose of UFT sites, with few municipalities fully integrating UFTs in policies. The primary discussion around UFTs centre concerns for public health and safety, management, and use of public space with limited discussions of benefits. This research demonstrates the value of co-governance models to support UFTs, while a shift in focus from risks to benefits could encourage additional resources and policy integration. Further, including UFTs into policy would also support foraging and food tree maintenance in public spaces, and more fully reflect the plurality of urban forest engagement.     

年际气象差异对西南丘陵区玉米物质积累与产量的影响

基于2011-2016年大田试验和气象数据资料,研究了年际气象差异对西南丘陵区玉米物质积累与产量的影响,以期为西南丘陵区玉米生产的高产稳产提供理论支持。结果表明：西南丘陵地区雨热资源丰富,但气象因素存在明显的年际波动,降水量波动最大,积温波动最小,且玉米各生育阶段降水、积温和光照配置也有所不同。积温是该区玉米生育前期形态建成的主要限制因子,花前积温、花后日照和降水共同调控玉米的干物质积累与转运,而后期产量形成是各气象因子综合作用的结果。花后日照直接影响玉米穗部性状（穗长、穗粗）和产量构成（穗粒数、千粒重）,从而调控玉米的产量;花后积温和降水则通过影响玉米的穗粒数和千粒重对最终产量产生影响。因此,西南丘陵地区玉米在生产过程中可以通过调整播期,适当提高生育前期积温,促进植株生长发育,提高源器官的形态建成,为花后光合生产奠定良好的基础;减少花后降水量,提高花后日照时数,改善籽粒灌浆,提高籽粒充实度,从而实现高产。     

低效林的近自然经营技术

探讨了低效林的概念与类型,分析了低效林的成因及其改造方法,并针对我国长江上游大面积低效林的现状,试图通过引进近自然经营技术理念,为大面积地改造低效林,实现森林的可持续经营提供指导.