Recombinant human lactoferrin and iron transport across Caco-2 monolayers: effect of heat treatment on the binding to cells

Recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) from Aspergillus awamori bound to Caco-2 cell membranes in a saturable manner. The dissociation constant for the apo form was (Kd)=2.2 x 10(-7) M; however, the specific binding of the iron-saturated rhLF and of lactoferrin from human milk (hLF) was too low to calculate the binding parameters. Recombinant human lactoferrin subjected to heat treatment did not lose the ability to bind to cell membranes except at high temperature and long time treatments (85 and 89 degrees C for 40 min) for which there was a slight decrease in the binding. No significant differences have been found in the transport of iron bound to rhLF or to hLF across Caco-2 cell monolayers. Nevertheless, the amount of iron-saturated hLF transported across Caco-2 monolayers was significantly higher than that of rhLF. For both lactoferrins, the amount of intact protein in the lower chamber was about 4.5% of the total radioactivity transported, indicating the degradation of lactoferrin in the passage across Caco-2 cells.     

Faster residue decomposition of brittle stem rice mutant due to finer breakage during threshing

In intensive tropical rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping systems with short fallows, it would be advantageous that rice straw decompose fast enough to facilitate land preparation and planting of the subsequent crop. The straw of a brittle stem rice mutant of IR68 was tested for more rapid decomposition compared with non-brittle IR68 straw. The hypothesis was that the brittle mutant straw would break into smaller pieces during threshing, and that both the smaller piece size and the differences in biochemical straw composition would enable more rapid decomposition. Brittle straw broke into smaller pieces than non-brittle straw during a replicated trial of three threshing methods: hand threshing, pedal threshing, and axial-flow machine threshing. In a litter bag study to determine the effect of straw piece size on decomposition rate of each straw type over 10 weeks, smaller straw pieces decomposed faster than larger pieces as indicated by changes in amount of straw and its C/N ratio over time (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between straw types at the same size. It was concluded that the finer breakage of brittle straw during field operations is likely to be more important than the biochemical differences in overall residue decomposition rate.     

宁夏盐池平沙地主要植物群落土壤水分季节动态

采用样方法,调查了盐池沙地主要植物群落,并测定了4-10月各主要植物群落样地的土壤含水量,研究了不同植物群落土壤含水量的季节动态.结果表明.在根层以下为不透水层的平沙地,各样地平均土壤含水量由小到大依次为:赖草(Leymus secalinus)群落(4.91%)<猫头刺(Oxytropis aciphylla)群落(7.42%)<柠条(Caragana korshinskii)群落(10.36%)<黑沙蒿(Artemisia ordosica)群落(12.55%)<裸地(16.27%);同一植物群落(包括裸地)的土壤含水量在各个季节也不相同.在进行沙地植被建设时,适宜采用柠条和黑沙蒿,并注意控制其合理密度及配置比例,以期达到长期稳定的治理效果.     

Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.     

龙井茶适制茶树品种多性状综合评价——基于多元统计分析

确定适宜加工龙井茶的茶树品种的多性状评价指标,建立龙井茶适制品种农艺性状的综合评价体系,为鉴定筛选优良龙井茶适制品种或资源提供技术支撑。对浙江省15份主要栽培茶树品种（系）的芽叶长宽比、百芽重、展叶角度、亮度值(L)、红绿属性(a)、黄蓝属性(b)、色彩饱和度(C)、氨基酸、茶多酚、水浸出物、咖啡碱、酚氨比、外形、汤色、香气、滋味和叶底17项农艺性状进行综合比较,并联合使用主成分分析、聚类分析和层次分析对茶树品种（系）的龙井茶适制性进行综合评价。17项农艺性状的平均变异系数为12.05%,百芽重的变异系数最大(28.15%),叶底的变异系数最小(0.86%),适制龙井茶农艺性状变量间既相对独立又密切相关,应用主成分分析法,将17个评价指标压缩成6个综合指标,经过分析6个主成分函数式中的17项农艺性状系数,可以将17项农艺性状分为外形因子、内质因子、感官因子3个主要指标,这3个主要指标可以较准确地评价龙井茶适制品种,其中芽叶长宽比、a值、茶多酚、酚氨比、外形、香气和汤色是主要性状。采用聚类分析,可以将15个品种分为2个大的类群,采用层次分析可以将茶树品种采制龙井茶的适宜性进行综合排序。采用多元统计分析中的主成分分析和聚类分析对15份茶叶品种的17项农艺性状进行龙井茶适制性综合评价是可行的,结合层次分析可以得到更加准确的排序,可以从不同角度进行较全面客观评价,为龙井茶适制品种的选育提供参考。     

2013年杂多县气候评述

本文通过对2013年杂多县气象资料以及与历年气象要素值的对比分析,评述了该县气候条件和气象灾害及气候对农牧业的影响,得出本年度的气候特征。     

The effect of omeprazole paste on intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Administration of omeprazole paste per os to healthy neonatal foals has been shown to effectively increase intragastric pH, but has not been evaluated in sick neonatal foals. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of orally administered omeprazole paste on intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals requiring nasogastric intubation. METHODS: Intragastric pH was measured continuously for 24 h using an indwelling electrode and continuous data recording system in hospitalised neonatal foals age < or =2 days. Intragastric pH was measured for 12 h prior to (pretreatment period) and 12 h following (post treatment period) treatment with omeprazole paste (4 mg/kg bwt per os). All foals displayed periods of acidity (pH <4) prior to treatment. Statistical analysis compared pre- and post treatment mean and median intragastric pH, and percentage of time below pH 4. RESULTS: Eight foals were evaluated age 1-3 days, a gestational age of at least 320 days or reported to be full term. The mean (3.19 +/- 1.50 vs. 6.20 +/- 0.93) and median (4.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 6.86 +/- 0.89) pH were significantly higher and the percentage of time below pH 4 (32.25 vs. 1.1%) was significantly lower in the post treatment compared to the pretreatment period. CONCLUSION: Omeprazole paste effectively increases intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals after one dose at 4 mg/kg bwt orally.     

Genetic components of heat stress in finishing pigs: development of a heat load function

The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of heat stress during the life of a pig on its final weight, as a first step toward a genetic evaluation for heat tolerance. Data included carcass weights of 23,556 crossbred pigs [Duroc x (Landrace x Large White)] raised on 2 farms in North Carolina and slaughtered from May 2005 through December 2006. Weather data were available from a nearby weather station. Lifetime of a pig was assumed to be partitioned into 2 periods. During an initial period, the effect of heat stress was assumed to be negligible or compensated for later. During the second period ending in slaughtering, the ADG was assumed to be affected linearly by heat load. Weekly heat load was calculated as degrees of average temperature-humidity index in excess of a threshold (18 degrees C). The total heat load (H) was the sum of weekly heat loads during the second period. During the months of January to May H was 0; H reached a peak in September. The final BW during the peak of heat stress decreased about 6 kg compared with BW during months of non-heat stress. Weekly and monthly averages of carcass weight generally moved similarly to H. However, there were large fluctuations unrelated to H; the fluctuations were different on the 2 farms. The model included the effects of farm-year of slaughter, sex, age at slaughter, and H, where age at slaughter and H were linear regressions. In analyses, the threshold was varied from 16 to 20 degrees C, and the second period was varied from 8 to 16 wk. The greatest R(2) (10.4%) was at the threshold of temperature-humidity index = 18 degrees C for a period of 10 wk. Varying the threshold and the length of time reduced R(2) less than 1%. Least squares means of year-month and year-week of carcass weight were calculated using a model with the fixed effects farm-year-month or farm-year-week of slaughter, sex, and age at slaughter (linear covariate), and the random effect of birth litter. Changes in BW of finisher pigs due to heat stress can be quantified by H during the last 10 wk of the life of the pig.