Village poultry consumption and marketing in relation to gender,religious festivals and market access

This study aimed to examine village poultry consumption and marketing in Ethiopia in relation to gender, socio-cultural events and market access. The main objects of the research were producers, poultry markets, producer-sellers, and intermediary sellers in three locations representing different levels of market access in Tigray. About 3000 farm records were collected over a period of 12 months from 131 producers to obtain quantitative data on sales and consumption. Ninety-three semi-structured interviews with 58 producer-sellers and 35 intermediaries and 12 group discussions with these market actors were conducted to explore organization, price dynamics and socio-cultural aspects of poultry marketing. In total, 928 producer-sellers and 225 intermediaries were monitored monthly to examine participation by gender in poultry marketing. Better market access was associated with a shorter market chain and higher prices for the producers. Female-headed households had smaller poultry sales and consumption per household but sale and consumption per family member were 25% and 66% higher, respectively, than in male-headed households. While women dominated in the producer-sellers group, intermediaries were mainly men. Religious festivals periodically shifted local demand and prices of poultry. To improve the benefit of poultry keeping, poverty-stricken households may profit from better market access through better market information, infrastructure, market group formation and careful planning to match the dynamics in demand.     

一种适用于双向电泳的家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白的制备方法

本文对适用于双向电泳的微孢子虫总蛋白提取方法进行了探讨。研究表明，采用液氮多次冻融结合手工研磨，再用裂解液抽提的方法能够得到产率较高且适用于双向电泳的家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白。     

Effect of herbicides with different modes of action on physiological and cellular traits of Anabaena fertilissima

Cyanobacteria are important components of the lowland rice ecosystem. Therefore, it is important to examine the effect of herbicides (commonly used against weeds of rice crop) on the performance of cyanobacteria. We studied the toxic effects of three herbicides often used in rice field, viz. propanil, pretilachlor and glyphosate, on the performance traits of Anabaena fertilissima C.B. Rao. Pretilachlor [0–40 active ingredient (ai) mg/L] and glyphosate (0–80 ai mg/L) exhibited toxicity to A. fertilissima at higher doses than propanil (0–1.5 mg/L). Propanil had severe damaging effects on cellular characteristics of A. fertilissima when compared to pretilachlor or glyphosate. Propanil treatment of A. fertilissima resulted in the leakage of protoplast from the heterocyst due to the breakage of the plasma membrane and surrounding wall. Our study shows that photosystem II herbicides such as propanil could have deleterious effects on phototrophic (cyanobacterial) communities, which are an integral part of the rice ecosystem.     

Ethnoveterinary health management practices using medicinal plants in South Asia – a review

Animal rearing is the major occupation of most population of South Asian countries. Due to lack of resources and limited approach to modern medicine, most of the livestock raisers prefer to use plant-based traditional medicine also referred to as ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM). Indeed, the use of medicinal plants in South Asia dates back to several centuries with documented evidences. However, there is currently a dearth of documentation and compilation of use of medicinal plants for animal diseases in this part of the world. This review aims to provide an up-to-date compilation of common medicinal plants used for the treatment and/or management of common animal diseases in South Asian countries. Extensive literature search was conducted online and relevant data was retrieved from well-known scientific databases. A total of 276 plants belonging to 95 families have been documented to be in common use for managing 14 different categories of animal diseases. Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Leguminosae were most common plant families in terms of their plant species used for EVM. Gastric diseases were commonly reported and accounted for 72 species of plants used for its treatment followed by the miscellaneous disorders category and skin diseases comprising of 65 and 39 plant species respectively. Herbs accounted for 46% of the total plant species, followed by trees (33%), and shrubs (18%). The EVM were applied through different routes of administration; oral administration accounted for 72% followed by topical application 27%, while burning of plant parts to create smoke around animals to repel insects was less common (1%). It is anticipated that the present review will stimulate further ethnoveterinary research among livestock disease management practices in South Asia.     

兴隆山自然保护区华北珍珠梅物候期对水热条件的响应

华北珍珠梅(Sorbaria kirilowii)为蔷薇科珍珠梅属植物,具有抗病虫害等生态价值,是兴隆山自然保护区内主要的灌木种。本研究通过对甘肃省兴隆山国家级自然保护区内华北珍珠梅2004-2007年及2012-2015年9种物候特征的观察,分析了华北珍珠梅各物候期的变化趋势以及各物候期与月平均气温和月降水量的相关关系。结果表明,华北珍珠梅的春季物候期多数呈现推迟趋势,而秋季物候期主要呈现提前趋势,整个生长季的时间每年缩短达15.49d。华北珍珠梅物候期的变化趋势与月平均气温和月降水量具有密切的相关关系,其中开花期和果实膨大期与4月份的平均气温间呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),发芽期与2月份降水量,抽枝期与5月份降水量以及果实膨大期与7月份降水量均呈显著负相关关系(P0.05),而果实成熟期与10月份降水量呈显著的正相关关系(P0.05)。因此,受水热条件影响的华北珍珠梅生长季的缩短不仅会降低其生长繁殖,也会减少灌木层的郁闭度,不利于生活在灌木层的动物,如濒危物种马麝(Moschus sifanicus)等的栖息。     

Tenogenic induction of equine mesenchymal stem cells by means of growth factors and low-level laser technology

Tendons regenerate poorly due to a dense extracellular matrix and low cellularity. Cellular therapies aim to improve tendon repair using mesenchymal stem cells and tenocytes; however, a current limitation is the low proliferative potential of tenocytes in cases of severe trauma. The purpose of this study was to develop a method useful in veterinary medicine to improve the differentiation of Peripheral Blood equine mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs) into tenocytes. PB-MSCs were used to study the effects of the addition of some growth factors (GFs) as TGFβ3 (transforming growth factor), EGF2 (Epidermal growth factor), bFGF2 (Fibroblast growth factor) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) in presence or without Low Level Laser Technology (LLLT) on the mRNA expression levels of genes important in the tenogenic induction as Early Growth Response Protein-1 (EGR1), Tenascin (TNC) and Decorin (DCN). The singular addition of GFs did not show any influence on the mRNA expression of tenogenic genes whereas the specific combinations that arrested cell proliferation in favour of differentiation were the following: bFGF2 + TGFβ3 and bFGF2 + TGFβ3 + LLLT. Indeed, the supplement of bFGF2 and TGFβ3 significantly upregulated the expression of Early Growth Response Protein-1 and Decorin, while the use of LLLT induced a significant increase of Tenascin C levels. In conclusion, the present study might furnish significant suggestions for developing an efficient approach for tenocyte induction since the external administration of bFGF2 and TGFβ3, along with LLLT, influences the differentiation of PB-MSCs towards the tenogenic fate.     

猪冷冻精液在我国的应用现状和存在的问题

正2009年起,国家对购买良种猪精液给予补贴,在全国范围内推广猪人工授精技术,种猪常温精液人工授精在我国全面普及。具有一定规模和较强经济实力的社会化公猪站在全国各地建立起来,逐渐形成一个完备的全国种猪常温精液供精网络体系,积极推动了全国猪遗传改良计划的全面实施。各大种猪场间通过优质种公猪精液的交流来建立和增强场间遗传联系和跨群联系。但种猪常温精     

In vivo and in vitro comparisons of spray-drying and solvent- evaporation preparation of microencapsulated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for use as an orally administered vaccine for pigs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae that was prepared by spray drying or solvent evaporation. ANIMALS: Thirty 6-week-old, crossbred, specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs. PROCEDURE: Pigs were randomly allocated into 5 groups and housed in an SPF facility. Pigs in 2 groups (groups AQ and CAP) were fed M hyopneumoniae enteric-coated vaccine on days 0, 10, and 20. A third group (group IM) received an IM injection of M hyopneumoniae vaccine with aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant on days 0, 10, and 20. The last 2 groups (non-vaccinated-challenged [NV-C] and nonchallenged [NC]) were fed a sham treatment. All 24 pigs in groups AQ, CAFP IM, and NV-C were challenge exposed with 5 ml of a 10% pneumonic lung suspension administered on day 40 via intubation of the trachea. All pigs were slaughtered and the lungs removed and examined for lesions on day 68. RESULTS: In vitro studies indicated that these 2 microencapsulation techniques formed an effective shell and protected mycoplasmal antigen from gastric acid. Results of inoculation and challenge tests indicated that microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae were sufficiently potent to induce an immune response and provide good protection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orally administered microencapsulated M hyopneumoniae vaccines induced an immune response and reduced the severity of lung lesions in challenge-exposed pigs. Results suggest that this novel method can be applied to other antigens, because the spray-drying process yielded an orally administered M hyopneumoniae vaccine that induced a good immune response.     

桑树新品种育71-1的育成初报

育71—1是通过杂交、单株选择、株系选择和品比试验等一系列选育程序,培育成功的新桑树品种。其主要经济特性与湖桑32号相比,发芽期早2—3天,发芽率提高28.7％,产叶量提高47.7％,叶质较优,丝质成绩相仿;抗旱性较强。目前,正在江苏的海安、溧阳及山东等部分地区试种。