Effect of hybridization on reproductive performance of Oreochromis karongae,Oreochromis shiranus and Oreochromis mossambicus

The study assessed the effect of hybridization on reproductive performance of Oreochromis karongae, Oreochromis shiranus and Oreochromis mossambicus for a period of 120 days. Number of eggs per batch, number of females spawned, relative fecundity, egg size, hatching period, hatchability and hatchling survival were assessed. The results revealed higher number of eggs per batch and relative fecundity in the crosses where O. shiranus and O. mossambicus were females than female O. karongae. The results also revealed that egg size, hatching period, hatchability and hatchling survival were species specific. Significant differences were noted for number of eggs and larvae produced by the three species (p < .05). Interspecific and pure crosses for the same female species did not differ significantly for the number of eggs per batch, relative fecundity, egg size, hatching period, hatchability and hatchling survival. However, number of female spawned was found to be higher in the interspecific crosses of female O. karongae than in pure cross of O. karongae. Findings from this study suggest that hybridization can be used to improve reproductive performance of O. karongae as the females spawned increased, and it is a value addition in aquaculture management of indigenous species.     

Immunohistochemical localization of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase within neurons of cattle with rabies

The expression of constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in the brains of cattle with natural rabies was studied. Increased expression of eNOS was detected in neurons of the brain stem and Purkinje cells of cerebellum. By contrast, iNOS was diffusely localized in the cytoplasm of affected neurons, and some inflammatory cells were positive. eNOS and rabies antigen were co-localized in inclusion bodies (Negri bodies) in neurons. The specific localization of eNOS, but not iNOS, in the Negri bodies suggests that eNOS is involved in the formation of rabies virus inclusion bodies.     

Procedure for predicting and designing moving sprinkler application patterns

Summary Water application pattern, WAP, is one of the most important factors that determine the instantaneous and the cumulative application rates of moving irrigation machines. The mathematical background of a procedure to predict and design the WAP of moving irrigation machines is introduced. It includes a mathematical analysis of the effect of pressure head, height and spacing between emitters on the WAP, and a nomograph that presents this analysis graphically and illustrates the design procedure of the application pattern of irrigation machines.Abbreviations P()a water application rate at a normalized radial distance from the emitter [m/s] - ka number of linear segments needed to represent the pattern - s/Ra normalized radial distance from the emitter - Ra wetted radius [m] - sa radial distance from the emitter [m] - n _j n _i/ha normalized water application rate at point - j, ha maximum water application rate [m/s] n _j water application rate at point j [m/s] - _j =m _j/Ra normalized radial distance of point j from emitter - m _ja radial distance of point - ja from emitter [m], CWAP - (x)a Cumulative Water Application Pattern: amount of water per unit area applied at a distance - xa from the travel path of the emitter [m³/m²] - xa distance from the travel path of the emitter [m] - T _xa time of application at a distance - xa from the travel path of the emitter [s] - va velocity of propagation of the machine [m/s] - k ₁a the outmost linear segment that its radial distance from the emitter - m _k1a is smaller than the distance of the travel path from the emitter - x, T _ja time at which the - j ^tha linear segment (ring) stops influencing the point located at a distance - xa from the emitter - ₁, ₂, ₃a dimensionless numbers derived by dimensional analysis - ua water jet velocity [m/s] - ga gravity acceleration [m/s²] - da nozzle diameter [m], v kinematic viscosity [m²/s] - Ha emitters height [m] - , a regression analysis coefficients - Paa Pattern fit coefficient for water application - F(r)a normalized desired water application pattern [1/m] - f(r)a normalized actual water application pattern [1/m] - La common distance on which - F(r) and f(r)a are defined [m], SP spacing interval between emitters [m] - DSa dimensionless spacing interval between emitters - DSa variation of dimensionless spacing interval - Paa variation of Pa coefficient - Pa pressure head [kPa]     

Resistance of domestic cats to a US sheep scrapie agent by intracerebral route.

Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is thought to have resulted from consumption of food contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the latter is believed to result from the consumption of food contaminated with scrapie. However, no direct experimental documentation exists to indicate that the scrapie agent is capable of amplifying in cats, and, therefore, crossing the species barrier. During 1979, 6 cats ranging in age from 3.5 to 18 months were intracerebrally inoculated with sheep scrapie (inoculum G-639-PP) and were observed for an extended period. Inoculated cats did not develop neurologic disease, and microscopic lesions of spongiform encephalopathy were not evident. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques failed to detect the abnormal form of prion protein (PrP(res)). These results indicate that the sheep scrapie agent (G-639-PP) used in this study was not capable of amplifying in cats and therefore was unable to cross the species barrier to produce FSE.