禽用谷物品质的预测和改善

小麦、大麦和黑小麦等谷物在营养价值方面(例如代谢能)的变化已被业界人士广为了解,这种营养价值的变异造成了肉鸡料肉比不可预测及在某些情况下能产生粘湿的粪便.现已充分认识到,上述谷物中所含的可溶性长链阿拉伯木聚糖和β-葡聚糖是引起肠道食糜高粘性等问题的主要原因.非淀粉多糖酶,如木聚糖酶和β-葡聚糖酶,能通过部分的破坏上述物质的纤维结构从而有效地减少肠内的粘性.这种作用的衍生效应是成倍的,而最终结果是增加了养分的利用率.自80年代末期开始,使用小麦、大麦和黑小麦作为饲料能源谷物的国家便已经商业化地使用非淀粉多糖酶来提高养殖的经济效益,而最近研发的小麦品质快速测定法(芬兰饲料国际公司的AvicheckTM 应用软件)能使饲料厂根据小麦的品质和用量来优化酶制剂的最佳添加量,从而达到最大的利润.     

Sublethal effects of a synthetic pyrethroid,deltamethrin, on the glycemia,the lipemia,and the gut alkaline phosphatases of honeybees

A sublethal dose (0.1 pmol per honeybee, i.e., approx. 0.9 pmol/g body wt) of the synthetic pyrethroid, deltamethrin, was injected intrathoracically into the hemocoel of emerging bees and the biochemical effects were determined over a period of 3 hr. The variations in hemolymph concentrations of trehalose, glucose, phospholipid, steroid, and diacylglycerol were limited, but large variations were observed for other lipids. Mono- and triacylglycerols increased dramatically 1.5 hr after injections; then a peak of free fatty acid appeared at the same time (3 hr) as the monoacylglycerols reached their maximum and the triacylglycerols started to decrease. Atypical forms of triacylglycerols accumulated from 1.5 hr to a maximum level 2 hr after injection. Then, after 3 hr, the concentrations of regular fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, and atypical triacylglycerols returned to normal while longer-chain fatty acids and different forms of ceride simultaneously appeared. The gut alkaline phosphatase parameters (V_M, K, and Hill coefficient) also showed large variations 1.5 and 2 hr after injection, indicating an initial inhibition phase followed by superimposed induction and inhibition mechanisms. These data are discussed according to the hemolymph-lipid transport scheme from the biosynthetic to the utilization sites. Hormone release associated to mitochondrial alteration could be responsible for the observed effects.     

The Effect of Ivermectin on Convulsions in Rats Produced by Lidocaine and Strychnine

Ivermectin is one of the most commonly used drugs in pharmacotherapy of parasitic diseases in domestic and wild animals caused by parasitic nematodes and arthropods. However, ivermectin and other avermectins very often produce side-effects in hosts. The most dominant clinical symptom of ivermectin toxicity in domestic and wild animals is CNS depression. In nematodes, the target site of ivermectin’s action is glutamate-gated chloride-channel receptor and GABA receptor. The depressive effect of ivermectin in mammals might include more than one mechanism; therefore, the anticonvulsive effect of ivermectin against convulsions caused by lidocaine and strychnine was evaluated. Ivermectin antagonized lidocaine- and strychnine-induced convulsions in rats, although these have different mechanisms. In the present study, the anticonvulsive ED₅₀ of ivermectin for lidocaine-induced convulsions was 2.44 mg/kg (95% CL 1.67 to 3.57 mg/kg), whereas for convulsions induced by strychnine it was higher at 4.25 mg/kg (95% CL 2.32 to 3.78 mg/kg). At the same time, both anticonvulsive doses are significantly lower then the observed LD₅₀ of ivermectin (18.20 mg/kg). Furthermore, flumazenil (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg), an antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors, antagonizes just one part of these anticonvulsive effects of ivermectin. Our results show the significant anticonvulsive properties of ivermectin and support the findings that ivermectin in the CNS of mammals produces multiple inhibitory effects, probably through participation in the function of GABA-sensitive and GABA-insensitive chloride channels.     

Chromosomal interchanges and phylogeny of some accessions of Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta

Summary The occurrence of chromosomal interchanges was studied in F1 hyrids in two diallel schemes, including nine accessions of Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta, originating from Iran, Europe and North Africa, and the common wheat variety Chinese Spring as a reference. Seven accessions of subsp. spelta differed in one translocation from Chinese Spring. The European accession Grey differed in one or perhaps two interchanges from the reference variety, and Iran 417a showed a difference of three interchanges with Chinese Spring. In total six or perhaps seven interchanges were observed. Thus the number of translocation events in subsp. spelta appeared to be low. One translocation was unique and occurred only in the accession from North Africa. Also one accession from Europe, the landrace Schwarzwald, possibly carried a unique translocation. In both diallels an interchange with a relatively low coefficient of multivalent realisation at first meiotic metaphase was observed in most accessions. The two extra translocations in Iran 417a are considered to be the result of more recent translocation events, whereas the possible second translocation in accession Grey showed such a low coefficient of multivalent realisation that its existence could be doubted.     

Apple and pear peel and pulp and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets

The aim of this study was to assess the bioactive compounds of apple and pear peel and pulp in vitro and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in vivo. The antioxidant potentials measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), beta-carotene bleaching (beta-carotene), and nitric oxide inhibition radical scavenging (NO) tests in apple peel and pulp were significantly higher than in pear peel and pulp, respectively. The ethanol extract of apple peels showed the strongest inhibition of lipid peroxidation as a function of its concentration and was comparable to the antioxidant activity of butylated hydroxyanisole. The pear pulp extract had the weakest antioxidant ability, whereas other extracts such as apple pulp and pear peel were nearly equal. The antioxidant activities comprised contributions from polyphenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids and correlated well with polyphenols and flavonoids. The correlation coefficients between polyphenols and antioxidant activities by DPPH, beta-carotene, and NO were as follows: 0.9207, 0.9350, and 0.9453. Contrarily, the correlation coefficient between the content of dietary fiber and the antioxidant activities test was low. The content of all studied indices in apple and pear peel was significantly higher than in peeled fruits (p < 0.05). Diets supplemented with fruit peels exercised a significantly higher positive influence on plasma lipid levels and on plasma antioxidant capacity of rats than diets with fruit pulps.     

Phosphorus-use efficiency of kale genotypes from coastal Croatia

Understanding the mechanisms of phosphorus (P)-use efficiency (PUE) may contribute to enhancing crop P nutrition because species growth variability at low-P is well known. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of kale genotypes to different P supply in randomized block design in three replications. Low-P supply led to a decrease in most parameters, whereas an increase was recorded in root growth parameters. Genotypes differed in shoot dry weight (DW), leaf area, root length and area, and shoot and root P content and concentration. Root traits significantly positively correlated with PUE. Genotypes Red Russian (RR) and IJK 17 were superior in terms of shoot DW production at low P supply, and had the highest uptake efficiency. Genotypes IJK 17 and 81 had the highest P utilization efficiency, while Vates blue curled (VBC) showed the lowest PUE. Genotypes had similar shoot P content and concentration at low P supply, but large PUE differences, implying the importance of P utilization efficiency.     

Precipitation chemistry and atmospheric processes in the forested part of Croatia

The influence of mesoscale weather patterns on the chemical composition of daily precipitation samples is analysed. The data of pH, sulphur from sulphates and total nitrogen are analysed for two rural sites: Plitvice station in forested part of Central Croatia (1981 to 1990) and Puntijarka suburban station on the mountain near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia (1982–1991). The two prevailing weather types in precipitation days are selected and the comparison of chemical composition of precipitation is made for each of them. The frequency distributions of pH, sulphur and nitrogen show that concentration of major ions in precipitation apparently depends on the regional scale weather type. It is shown that the seasonal variation of deposition is related to the seasonal variation in precipitation amount. In both weather types Plitvice receives more pollution than Puntijarka that is closer to urban and industrial pollution sources. Both locations are under the prevailing influence of regional pollution sources.     

Challenges of Organizing Private Forest Owners in Serbia

Small-scale forestry in Serbia is characterized by high fragmentation of properties, a large number of parcels and forest owners. Numerous activities for private forest owners in Serbia supported by the State, FAO and CEPF have resulted in an increased interest of owners in forming private forest owners’ associations (PFOA). The goal of this paper is to explore preconditions that are necessary for organizing private forest owners in Serbia into effective associations. In order to reach this goal, results of PRIFORT project were used. The over-arching research questions of this paper are: “What is the level of interest among forest owners in forming owners’ associations?”; “Why has forest owner interest in organizing developed so slowly?” and “What are the necessary preconditions for the development of private forest owners’ organizations in the country?” In order to answer these questions, quantitative survey with 42 close, open and Likert scale questions was conducted. Sample size was determined following Malhotra’s proportion method and, in total, 350 private forest owners, from nine municipalities were interviewed. Results of this paper show that majority of respondents are very little or not at all aware of existing legislation. Almost half of respondents consider that their interests are not represented well. Although about 50% of interviewed forest owners miss interest organization, only 0,3% are members of PFOA. More than 70% are ready to join association, if it would provide some economic advantages.     

Host resistance to lung infection mediated by major vault protein in epithelial cells

The airway epithelium plays an essential role in innate immunity to lung pathogens. Ribonucleoprotein particles primarily composed of major vault protein (MVP) are highly expressed in cells that encounter xenobiotics. However, a clear biologic function for MVP is not established. We report here that MVP is rapidly recruited to lipid rafts when human lung epithelial cells are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and maximal recruitment is dependent on bacterial binding to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. MVP was also essential for optimal epithelial cell internalization and clearance of P. aeruginosa. These results suggest that MVP makes a substantial contribution to epithelial cell-mediated resistance to infection.