Analysis of methanogenic archaeal communities of rumen fluid and rumen particles from Korean black goats

Molecular diversity of methanogens in the rumen of Korean black goats was investigated with 16S rRNA gene clone libraries using methanogen‐specific primers. The libraries were composed of rumen fluid‐associated methanogens (FAM) and rumen particle‐associated methanogens (PAM) from rumen‐fistulated Korean black goats. Among the 141 clones of the FAM library, the sequences were mostly related to two phyla, the Methanobacteriaceae family (77.3%) and the Thermoplasmatales family (22.7%); and among the 68 clones of the PAM library, sequences were also mainly clustered in the two phyla, the Thermoplasmatales family (63.24%) and the Methanobacteriaceae family (35.29%). Most of the sequenced clones in the two libraries were closely related to uncultured methanogenic archaeon. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed that PAM (8.97 log 10) had significantly higher (P < 0.01) density of methanogens by the methanogenic 16S rRNA gene copies than FAM (7.57 log 10). The two clone libraries also showed difference in Shannon index (FAM library 1.70 and PAM library 1.59) and Chao 1 estimator (FAM library 18 and PAM library 17 operational taxonomic units). Apparent differences found in the microbial community from the two 16S rRNA gene libraries could be a result of such factors as the chemical and physical nature of the target material surface, types or component of diets, the interaction between the methanogens and other microbes, and age of the experimental goats.     

The influence of salinity on the morphological development of yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.)

The effects of incubation salinity on survival and morphological development of yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.), were studied at two salinities, 35.5%o and 32.3%o. Yolk sac larvae incubated at 35.5%o developed early tail deformities before 50 day-degrees (9 days post-hatch), and necrosis, oedema and calculus in the urinary bladder at about 150 day-degrees (28 days post-hatch). However, the incidence and severity of mouth deformity was not influenced by salinity. The cumulative mortality up to first feeding was 17% when the larvae were incubated at 3 5.5%o compared to 7% at 32.3%o. A broad variation between the different larval groups was noted in the extent of injuries induced by the higher salinity. Therefore, salinity must be considered as a critical environmental parameter for the yolk sac larvae of Atlantic halibut in aquaculture.     

Simple method for extracting the seasonal signals of photochemical reflectance index and normalized difference vegetation index measured using a spectral reflectance sensor

A spectral reflectance sensor(SRS) fixed on the near-surface ground was developed to support the continuous monitoring of vegetation indices such as the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) and photochemical reflectance index(PRI). NDVI is useful for indicating crop growth/phenology, whereas PRI was developed for observing physiological conditions. Thus, the seasonal change patterns of NDVI and PRI are two valuable pieces of information in a crop-monitoring system. However, capturing the seasonal patterns is considered challenging because the vegetation index values estimated by the reflection from vegetation are often governed by meteorological conditions, such as solar irradiance and precipitation. Further, unlike growth/phenology, the physiological condition has diurnal changes as well as seasonal characteristics. This study proposed a novel filtering method for extracting the seasonal signals of SRS-based NDVI and PRI in paddy rice, barley, and garlic. First, the measurement accuracy of SRSs was compared with handheld spectrometers, and the R~2 values between the two devices were 0.96 and 0.81 for NDVI and PRI, respectively. Second, the experimental study of threshold criteria with respect to meteorological variables(i.e., insolation, cloudiness, sunshine duration, and precipitation) was conducted, and sunshine duration was the most useful one for excluding distorted values of the vegetation indices. After data processing based on sunshine duration, the R2 values between the measured vegetation indices and the extracted seasonal signals of vegetation indices increased by approximately 0.002–0.004(NDVI) and 0.065–0.298(PRI) on the three crops, and the seasonal signals of vegetation indices became noticeably improved. This method will contribute to an agricultural monitoring system by identifying the seasonal changes in crop growth and physiological conditions.     

Long-term deep sedation using Zoletil and haloperidol for the treatment of streptococcal pneumonia in an orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

A 13-year-old Bornean orangutan diagnosed with life threatening Streptococcus pyogenes broncho-pneumonia was kept in a state of deep sedation for 20 days via continuous intra-venous (IV) infusion of zolazepam -tiletamine and IV haloperidol to allow consistent IV administration of ceftazidime and gatifloxacine. The use of long-term deep sedation allowed carrying out a particularly demanding treatment not generally associated with zoological patients. The treatment was ultimately successful.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE EXTERNAL EAR CANAL AND TYMPANIC MEMBRANE IN DOGS

Ultrasonographic imaging of the canine external ear canal, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bulla was described in five healthy beagle dogs before and after infusion of saline into the ear canal. Saline served as an acoustic window. With this method, the external ear canal, and tympanic bulla were visible in the same imaging plane and the integrity of the tympanic membrane could be evaluated indirectly by confirming an intact tympanic membrane, which appeared at the end of the ear canal as a hyperechoic line with reverberation. Experimentally, perforated tympanic membrane could be evaluated by identifying anechoic saline in the tympanic bulla lumen. The air and fluid-filled tympanic bulla were also visualized. Ultrasonography with saline as an acoustic window appears to be helpful for the evaluation of the external ear canal, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bulla and it may have the potential to be a useful clinical tool in evaluation of integrity of the tympanic membrane.     

醋糟菌糠对3种作物土壤微生物及酶活性的影响

为研究醋糟菌糠作为一种生物肥料对土壤肥力的影响,为解决食用菌菌糠对环境污染及其有效利用提供科学依据,本文通过田间试验,对玉米、高粱、糯玉米3种作物基施醋糟菌糠后不同生育期的土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性,细菌、放线菌和真菌数量,及微生物量碳、氮含量进行测试。研究结果表明:1)醋糟菌糠显著提高了作物根际土壤细菌、放线菌和真菌的数量。在作物整个生育期,加入醋糟菌糠的土壤细菌数量比对照提高32%~54%;放线菌数量在成熟期提高明显,玉米田土壤放线菌数量增幅最大,为101%;真菌数量变化总体趋势呈现先升高后下降的趋势。2)醋糟菌糠的施入增加了作物根际土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶的活性。种植高粱、玉米和糯玉米土壤的脲酶活性增长率分别为239%、189%和185%;3种作物的土壤过氧化氢酶活性在抽穗期最高,最大增长率为40%;3种作物的土壤蔗糖酶活性在不同生育期变化趋势不同,玉米各生育期土壤蔗糖酶活性变化较为稳定,其增长率分别为38%、28%、48%。3)醋糟菌糠的施入增加了作物根际土壤微生物碳氮的含量,不同生育期3种作物的土壤微生物碳含量增幅为58.10~407.67 mg·kg-1,微生物氮含量增幅为11.98~27.55 mg·kg-1。由此可见,醋糟菌糠的施用可以增强土壤生产力的可持续性,从而达到保护和改善土壤环境的效果。同时该研究也为醋糟菌糠的有效利用提供了一定的科学依据。     

Airborne Pollution in Five Drainage Basins in Eastern Finnmark, Norway: an Evaluation of Overbank Sediments as Sampling Medium for Environmental Studies and Geochemical Mapping

To study whether airborne pollution can be detected in overbank sediments, samples collected from five overbank sediment profiles in eastern Finnmark, Norway, at 1 cm depth intervals, were subjected to chemical analysis and ²¹⁰Pb dating. The studied drainage basins constitute parts of an area polluted by emissions from two Ni-Cu smelters in Russia. In the most polluted catchment area, the surface sample showed a 5-fold higher Ni concentration and a 3-fold higher Cu concentration than the pre-industrial sediments at depth. The increases started at the same time as the smelters. Slight Ni increases were also detected in the neighbouring drainage basin, while no significant concentration change was seen in drainage basins previously shown to be only weakly influenced by the smelter emissions. In the most polluted drainage basin, the increase in Ni accumulation rate did not equal the airborne deposition rate. Selective surface erosion of fine grained particles with adhering airborne Ni has probably caused excess Ni accumulation in both overbank and lake sediments. On the contrary, opening of minerogenic point sources may dilute the pollutant concentrations in the drainage sediments. Thus, dating of the sediment profiles is necessary to determine the airborne pollutant accumulation rates. However, dating is not necessary to map the resultant concentration increase, that may show the increased exposure of humans and biota in contact with the sediments.