Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

Ileal amino-acid digestibility of wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by-products for broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to determine true and apparent ileal amino‐acid digestibility of a native cultivar of wheat (Mahdavi), autoclaved wheat (120°C for 30 min) and spaghetti by‐products available in Iran. One hundred 21‐day‐old broiler chickens were fed a standard corn–soybean meal starter diet from day 0 to 28 post hatch. At 28 days 80 chicks were distributed according to possessing very nearly the same average bodyweight to 20 wire cages. The experimental units were allocated at random to five dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. The basal diet contained corn and soybean meal as the major ingredients. Three test diets were formulated containing wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by‐products as the sole source of dietary protein and each test diet was combined with a basal diet 50:50 on a weight basis to form three assay diets. The apparent and true digestibility of amino acid in the test ingredients were estimated from those in the assay diets basal/test diet mixtures, using the difference method. The apparent and true amino‐acid digestibility of the test ingredients were significantly different (P < 0.01). Autoclaving of wheat increase its amino‐acid digestibility (P < 0.01). Among the test ingredients, the average ileal amino‐acid digestibility of spaghetti by‐products was higher than wheat and autoclaved wheat but it was lower than values for the basal diet (P < 0.01).     

Molecular characterization and genetic relationship among almond cultivars assessed by RAPD and SSR markers

RAPDs and SSRs were used to study the genetic diversity of Iranian almond cultivars and their relationship to important foreign cultivars and three related species. Eight unidentified almond Shahrodi cultivars and three wild almonds (Prunus communis, Prunus orientalis and Prunus scoparia) were also included. Of the primers tested, 42 (out of 80) RAPD and 18 (out of 26) SSR primers were selected for their reproducibility and high polymorphism. A total of 664 polymorphic RAPD bands were detected out of 729 bands. The number of presumed alleles revealed by the SSR analysis ranged from 3 to 10 alleles per locus with a mean value of 6.64 alleles per locus. Both techniques discriminated the genotypes very effectively, but only RAPDs were able to discriminate the cultivars Monagha and Sefied. Results demonstrated an extensive genetic variability within the tested cultivars as well as the value of SSR markers developed in peach for characterization of almond and related species of Prunus. Dice similarity coefficient was calculated for all pair wise comparisons and was used to construct a UPGMA dendrogram. For both markers a high similarity in dendrogram topologies was obtained although some differences were observed. All dendrograms, including that obtained by the combined use of both the marker data, depicted the phenetic relationships among the cultivars and species, depending upon their geographic region and/or pedigree information. Almond cultivars clustered with accession of P. communis showing their close relationship. P. orientalis and P. scoparia were clustered out of the rest of P. dulcis.     

Comparison of embryo development between intracytoplasmic and Piezo-assisted sperm injection after treating mouse sperms by Ca2+ ionophore

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and Piezo-assisted sperm injection after pretreatment with calcium ionophore (CaI) on the mouse embryo development. METHODS: In this study, the conventional ICSI and Piezo-ICSI procedures were used. The efficacy of the methods was examined after mouse matured oocytes were fertilized with or without CaI-treated sperms. RESULTS: Piezo-ICSI demonstrated significantly more favorable results, with a fertilization rate of 64% (conventional ICSI: 42%, P<0.001) and a cleavage rate of 73% (conventional ICSI: 58%, P<0.05). When the Piezo-ICSI procedure was performed with CaI-pretreated sperms, the cleavage rate significantly increased (92% vs. 73%, P<0.05). However, the fertilization rate did not change significantly (64% vs. 56%). CONCLUSION: The Piezo-ICSI accompanies with CaI-treated sperms is more efficient than the conventional ICSI method for fertilizing and thus obtaining more mouse embryos.     

Changes induced by osmotic stress in the morphology,biochemistry, physiology,anatomy and stomatal parameters of almond species （Prunus L. spp.） grown in vitro

We investigated the influence of different levels of osmotic stress on growth and development in selected wild almond species(eight Prunus spp.) grown in vitro. The study, while endorsing the efficacy of in vitro screening of auxiliary buds of wild almond for osmotic stress tolerance, showed species variability in its response to osmotic stress. Osmotic stress reduced growth and development of all the species. However, the putative tolerant Prunus spp. showed better performance than the putative susceptible genotypes. On average there was an 80% decrease in shoot dry weight at-1.2 MPa. Reduction in shoot weight was more common in osmotic stress-susceptible species in the section labeled ‘Euamygdalus'. The tolerant Prunus species produced smaller changes in biochemical responses than the sensitive cultivars for malondialdehyde content, catalase activity, relative permeability of protoplast membranes, and net photosynthetic rate. The tolerant species maintained cell integrity better than drought sensitive species. Wild almond species in the section labeled ‘Spartioides'(Prunus arabica(Olivier) Neikle, Prunus glauca (Browicz) A.E. Murray, Prunus scoparia Spach) and ‘Lycioides'(Prunus lycioides Spach, Prunus reuteri Bossi. et Bushe) were best adapted to osmotic stress. Increase in chlorophyll concentration and leaf thickness under high osmotic stress can be considered as preliminary selection parameters for osmotic stress tolerance in Prunus spp. The study confirmed the efficacy of the in vitro method for screening of large number of genotypes for osmotic stress tolerance in wild almond species.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline CoWO4@silk fibers with antibacterial activity under ultrasound irradiation

The present investigation reports the novel synthesis of CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk fiber under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of temperature, power of ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the CoWO₄ particles were studied. Results show a decrease in the particles size as the temperature and power of irradiation decreased. The fibers containing CoWO₄ nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity. The results show the CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk with strongest fluorescence characteristics can be obtained in this method. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Investigation of salinity impacts on germination and growth of two forest tree species at seedling stage

Soil salinity is becoming an increasingly serious constraint to plant growth in many parts of the world;this is particularly common in semi-arid and arid zones. This study was conducted to evaluate the...     

Oxidant related biochemical traits are significant indices in triticale grain yield under drought stress condition

Two separate experiments, one as drought stress conditions and the other one as the normal irrigation conditions based on randomized complete block design with three replications were implemented to examine 20 triticale (Triticoseclae wittamack X) genotypes of which 19 genotypes have recently been generated by crossing different parent lines and the other one was Javaniloo, a common cultivar. Based on the results of different statistical techniques and comparing relationships among traits for normal irrigation and stress condition, enzymatic antioxidant could be used as criteria for screening tolerant genotypes of triticale. On the other hand, it is pointed out that superoxide dismutase are the most important criteria to achieve higher tolerant genotypes through indirect selection. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content having high relationship with rain yield are also the different possible criteria for screening triticale genotypes for water stress conditions in which genotypes with lower content of these traits could be screened.     

蛋黄抗体——抗生素的替代品

在寻找家禽生产中抗生素替代品的过程中,不应忽视鸡能够产生可预防许多疾病的抗体的能力。这些抗体(在蛋黄中的抗体)能够被其它家禽所利用吗?本文向你展示了其可能性。     

蛋黄抗体IgY在禽病预防中的应用

为了更好的理解抗生素在控制和预防疾病感染过程中的重要作用,更重要的是了解蛋黄抗体是如何有可能被用作抗生素的替代物的。以下就蛋黄抗体对数种禽病的预防效果作简单介绍。