Characterization of anti‐Müllerian hormone in a case of bovine male pseudohermaphroditism

The current report aimed to characterize plasma anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) in bovine male pseudohermaphroditism. The blood AMH concentration in a Japanese Black male pseudohermaphrodite calf was compared with pre‐ and post‐pubertal male and female calves and castrated calves. The concentration in the case was higher than in post‐pubertal males, castrated males, and pre‐ and post‐pubertal female calves (p < .05), but similar to that in pre‐pubertal male calves. After extraction of the testes, the concentration in the case dropped to a certain extent. The extracted testes expressed AMH, as detected by immunohistochemistry. This study is the first to show the characterization of AMH in a male pseudohermaphrodite calf. AMH levels in peripheral blood might be useful to diagnose male pseudohermaphroditism in cattle.     

Biodegradation of Synthetic Dyes—A Review

The upper Great Egg Harbor River watershed in New Jersey’s Coastal Plain is urbanized but extensive freshwater wetlands are present downstream. In 2006–2007, studies to assess levels of total mercury (THg) found concentrations in unfiltered streamwater to range as high as 187 ng/L in urbanized areas. THg concentrations were <20 ng/L in streamwater in forested/wetlands areas where both THg and dissolved organic carbon concentrations tended to increase while pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and nitrate decreased with flushing of soils after rain. Most of the river’s flow comes from groundwater seepage; unfiltered groundwater samples contained up to 177 ng/L of THg in urban areas where there is a history of well water with THg that exceeds the drinking water standard (2,000 ng/L). THg concentrations were lower (<25 ng/L) in unfiltered groundwater from downstream wetland areas. In addition to higher THg concentrations (mostly particulate), concentrations of chloride were higher in streamwater and groundwater from urban areas than in those from downstream wetland areas. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in unfiltered streamwater ranged from 0.17 ng/L at a forest/wetlands site to 2.94 ng/L at an urban site. The percentage of THg present as MeHg increased as the percentage of forest + wetlands increased, but also was high in some urban areas. MeHg was detected only in groundwater <1 m below the water/sediment interface. Atmospheric deposition is presumed to be the main source of Hg to the wetlands and also may be a source to groundwater, where wastewater inputs in urban areas are hypothesized to mobilize Hg deposited to soils.     

Economic evaluation of the production impact of bovine schistosomiasis and vaccination in the Sudan

This study was done to evaluate the estimated economic consequences of the recent discovery that an irradiated Schistosoma bovis vaccine was effective in reducing mortality and intensity of infection in cattle after field exposure to S. bovis in the White Nile province. The benefits and costs were hypothesized to occur over a 5-year period starting after the vaccine had been further developed to optimal commercial usefulness.

The potential benefits of vaccination are from the avoidance of mortality and growth delay losses caused by S. bovis infection and were based on an owner survey conducted in 1981. These benefits were discounted from the time of their potential marketing opportunity to the first year of a vaccination program at 15% per annum and were valued on a basis of 1982 prices for live cattle exported to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Variations in benefits stem from degree of infection probability, mortality and morbidity estimates and percent of animals vaccinated. Since clinical schistosomiasis (“gorag” — sunken-eyed appearance) and associated production losses occur almost exclusively in 6- to 30-month-old cattle, and there is evidence for long-term immunity, vaccinations would be given to cattle in this age-specific group or younger once in their lifetime. The principal variation in vaccination program costs, also valued at 1982 prices, is from vaccine production costs; $0.50 or $4.00 per dose. A vaccine efficacy of 70%, observed in a previously reported field trial, was used in these calculations.

Present value benefit—cost (b–c) ratios were estimated for the central, western and southern areas for high- and low-level effects of S. bovis impact on production and the vaccination program, cost and effectiveness. In an area (central provinces) of high infection probability (90%), high percentage of animals vaccinated (90%), high mortality (7.1%), and low vaccine production costs, the b–c ratio was 12.7. In contrast, a b–c ratio of 0.7 was estimated for an area (southern provinces) assuming low infection probability (50%), low percent of animals vaccinated (50%), lower mortality (3.55%) and high vaccine production costs. Potential returns from increased future milk and calf production and from faster herd build-up with younger females were not included in these benefit calculations. These results indicate that under most conditions further development of the vaccine and cost-effective vaccine production techniques would yield very favorable returns from improved livestock production efficiency in the Sudan. Export prices were assumed to not vary significantly with increased supply of export-quality cattle resulting from the estimated production losses avoided by vaccination against schistosomiasis.     

Analysis of wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) root exudates using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry

Plant root systems mediate ecological processes in the rhizosphere through the exudation of organic compounds. Although exudate composition is thought to depend strongly on plant nutrient status, little is known about the influence of multi‐nutrient stresses. In this study, we examined responses to short‐term (3 d) nutrient limitation in Helianthus annuus (common sunflower), and root exudates were collected for 2, 4, or 6 h with the trap‐solution method. Root exudates, analyzed by means of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, consisted of over 60 sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids, organic acids, and phosphates, with sugars and organic acids generally detected in the highest quantities. Twenty‐five of the detected metabolites, including half of the organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols, differed in relative abundance among the three sampling intervals, exhibiting higher abundance in sampling intervals greater than 2 h. Similarly, 24 of the detected metabolites, including half of the amino acids, phosphates, and sugar alcohols, were affected by nutrient supply, with 20 exhibiting higher abundance in the high‐nutrient treatment. Fumaric acid, quinic acid, and glucose were detected at significantly higher levels in the low‐nutrient treatment, potentially representing an adaptive response to nutrient limitation in sunflower. However, as sampling interval exerted a strong influence on the apparent effects of nutrient supply, future studies should consider the potential impacts of sampling‐interval length in comparative analyses of genotypes or treatments.     

The effect of number of joints on bending properties of laminated lumber made from poplar (Populus nigra)

Connection plays an important role in structural components and end jointing is one of the most common connections in structural applications.This study was designed to investigate some mechanical properties (MOE and MOR) of solid wood samples manufactured from poplar (Populus nigra),joined together through end jointing.As well,we studied combinations of lumber manufactured from 10-mm veneer,using a polyvinyl acetate adhesive.The results show that non-jointed lumber (control samples) have better bending properties (MOE and MOR) than jointed specimens and lumber made from laminated layers.On the whole,side-byside joints have a negative effect on the MOR and MOE of laminated products,which is more pronounced in the MOR.By increasing the number of joints,the properties of combination of three-ply,i.e.,bending strength and modulus of elasticity,decreased.     

Nutrient and amino acid profiles of egg and larvae of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch)

Fertilized eggs and developing larvae of hatchery reared Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), were analyzed to determine the changes occurring in their proximate and amino acid (AA) composition. The fertilized dry egg weighed 31 μg and contained 13.71 μg (44%) protein, 8.48 μg (27%) lipid and 0.657 J of gross energy. Dry weight decreased by 39% during hatching. The protein, lipid and carbohydrate nutrients decreased by 4.86, 4.15 and 0.09 μg, respectively from egg to 2-days post hatching (dph) larvae (pre-feeding). The protein content of the spawned eggs and larvae were hydrolysed to AA in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs had a total AA content of 42% of their dry weight. The egg contained 1.287 μg, 1.132 μg, 0.964 μg, 0.942 μg, 0.787 μg and 0.713 μg of leucine, lysine, arginine, valine, threonine and phenylalanine, respectively and these six indispensable amino acids (IAA) constituted approximately 78% of the total IAA. In the early feeding stages of L. calcarifer larvae, the ratio of IAA/DAA increased from 0.797 in the pre-feeding stage to 1.632 after 2 days of feeding. During larval growth of L. calcarifer, the percentage contribution of isoleucine and leucine to total IAA contents increased, while it decreased for lysine, phenyl alanine and arginine. L. calcarifer larvae were found to have proteins, which are rich in glutamic acid, leucine and lysine, and poor in threonine and histidine, suggesting high dietary leucine and lysine IAA requirement. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of the production potential of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in monoculture and in polyculture with Nile tilapia and common carp in Saudi Arabia

The feasibility of polyculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) with two fish species, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was examined and compared with monoculture of M. rosenbergii in 100-m² ponds. Overall percentage of females (56.8%) was higher than that of males (43.2%). The proportions of females, males and their morphotypes did not differ significantly between monoculture and polyculture. After 196 days of culture, the mean harvest weight of prawns in monoculture (30.2 g) was significantly greater than that in polyculture (21.3 g). Yield in monoculture (1152 kg ha^-1) was significantly greater than (1.62 times) that of polyculture (711 kg ha^-1). Total yield from polyculture including yield of tilapia (2544 kg ha^-1) and common carp (2999 kg ha^-1) was almost five times as great as that of prawn monoculture. Survival and food conversion rate of M. rosenbergii did not differ significantly between monoculture and polyculture.     

Effect of diet on preweaning performance of Sahiwal calves

The objective was to study the growth potential of Sahiwal calves given milk or milk replacer with or without concentrates. For this purpose, forty-eight Sahiwal calves were divided into four groups of 12 animals each with equal sex ratio. In each group, the calves were offered either milk or a milk replacer (MR) at a rate of 10% of their body weight adjusted weekly. In addition to this, calves were fed either a starter ration plus Egyptian clover hay (SR + H) or hay only (H) until the end of trial. The milk or MR was withdrawn gradually from day 56 until animals were weaned completely by day 84. Calves offered milk grew faster than those offered MR (357 ± 9 vs. 162 ± 9 g/day; p < 0.05) and displayed higher weaning weights (51.6 ± 0.8 vs. 35.2 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.05). The calves offered SR + H grew faster (311 ± 9 vs. 208 ± 9 g/day; p < 0.05) and displayed higher weaning weights (48.7 ± 0.8 vs. 38.1 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.05) than those fed H alone. Calves offered milk plus SR + H showed the highest growth rate and weaning weights (401 ± 13 g/day and 56.3 ± 1 kg, respectively). The lowest growth rate and weaning weights were observed in calves offered MR and H only (115 ± 13 g/day and 30.3 ± 1 kg, respectively). Calves offered the MR had higher number of scour days than those offered milk (13.5 vs. 3.3). The feeding of whole milk in combination with the starter ration and hay resulted in superior growth rates, higher weaning weights, and healthier calves than the other feeding regimens.     

A Recessive Allele (tgr-1) Conditioning Tomato Resistance to Geminivirus Infection Is Associated with Impaired Viral Movement

ABSTRACT Begomoviruses (the family Geminiviridae) are transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci and contain monopartite or bipartite circular single-stranded (ss)DNA genomes. They have emerged as severe problems in the production of agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. Here, we report the identification of a tomato breeding line, FLA653, that confers a high level of resistance to Tomato leaf curl virus (TLCV, monopartite). Genetic analysis indicated that the resistance is controlled by a single recessive allele named tgr-1, which is in contrast to previous reports that multiple genetic factors are involved in tomato resistance to begomoviruses. Particle bombardment of an infectious TLCV DNA construct into the detached leaves of FLA653 resulted in the viral replication, but the viral ssDNA accumulated at a much lower level than that in susceptible controls. In situ localization of TLCV in the bombarded leaves suggests that tgr-1 impaired TLCV movement, raising the possibility that it may specify a host factor essential for viral systematic infection. This makes tgr-1 a strong candidate for developing resistance in major crops carrying the gene homologue.