Anaerobic Treatment of Brackishwater Aquaculture Sludge: An Alternative to Waste Stabilization Ponds

Environmental pressure, land utilization, and economic feasibility have resulted in the development of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). For many RAS, sludge is collected and washed from the system to waste stabilization ponds (WSPs). However, disposal of brackishwater aquaculture sludge into WSP is often prohibited because the high salinity can interfere with treatment. Moreover, there are problems associated with WSPs because of elevated salt content, such as the common practice of reusing treated water and land application of stabilized sludge. We tested and compared the treatment of brackishwater aquaculture sludge in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor as an alternative to a WSP. In UASB, wastewater flows upward through a blanket of granular sludge and is treated by anaerobic micro‐organisms. Reduction in organic matter and 5‐d biochemical oxygen demand by 97 and 91%, respectively, was achieved in a UASB as compared to corresponding reductions of 22 and 41% in a WSP. During the UASB digestion process, methane is produced and recovered. Overall, a reduction in potential environmentally harmful factors such as salinization, land requirements, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as transportation costs are achieved, making the UASB reactor an attractive possible alternative for saline aquaculture sludge management.     

Agronomic and physiological contributions to the yield improvement of soybean cultivars released from 1950 to 2006 in Northeast China

Increasing yield is a high priority in most breeding programs. Approximately 600 soybean cultivars had been released by the end of the last century in Northeast China. Understanding the agronomic and physiological changes is essential for planning further plant breeding strategies in soybean. In this study, 45 representative soybean cultivars, from maturity groups 00 and 0, released from 1950 to 2006 in Northeast China were compared in field conditions for 3 consecutive years. A positive correlation between seed yield and year of cultivar release was indicated with a 0.58% average annual increase. Seed number per plant was the most important contributor to yield gain, with a 0.41% increase per year. Pod number per plant and seed size varied slightly with the year of cultivar release. Although variation in protein was from 37.0% to 45.5%, and oil concentration was from 16.7% to 22.0%, their concentrations were not consistently related to year of cultivar release. A 33% increase in the photosynthetic rate, 10.6% increase in plant dry weight and 19.0% increase in harvest index (HI) were found, while leaf area index (LAI) decreased by 17.3%. Modern cultivars have higher photosynthetic rates than their predecessors. The reduced plant height gave increased resistance to lodging, with the lodging score dropping from 3.2 in 1951 to 1.0 in 2006. Seed resistances to disease and pest infestation were also improved. Yield stability was enhanced over years, which could be attributed to the stable pod production across different environments. A flow diagram to explain the contributors to genetic improvement of soybeans in Northeast China was developed.     

Reliability of taurine concentrations measured in single urine samples obtained from dogs eight hours after eating

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of taurine concentrations measured in a single urine sample obtained from dogs 8 hours after eating, compared with taurine concentrations measured in 24-hour urine samples. ANIMALS: 18 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: After emptying the urinary bladder by transurethral catheterization, dogs were fed a canned maintenance diet. Approximately 8 hours later, urine, plasma, and serum samples were obtained for determination of fractional urinary excretion of taurine and urine taurine-to-creatinine concentration ratios (Utaur:Ucr). Results were compared with 24-hour urinary taurine excretion rate. RESULTS: Unbound and total fractional urinary taurine excretion correlated well with unbound and total 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. However, bound fractional urinary taurine excretion correlated poorly with bound 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. Unbound and total Utaur:Ucr correlated well with unbound and total 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. However, bound Utaur:Ucr correlated poorly with bound 24-hour urinary taurine excretion. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fractional urinary excretion of unbound and total taurine, and unbound and total Utaur:Ucr are reliable indicators of 24-hour urinary unbound and total taurine excretion in healthy dogs. However, determination of 24-hour urinary taurine excretion is recommended for evaluating urinary bound taurine concentrations of dogs.     

The migration of larval Toxocara canis in mice. I. Migration through the intestine in primary infections

Toxocara canis second stage larvae (L2) hatched in the stomach of mice and within 2 h reached all parts of the small intestine, the posterior half being the preferred site for larval penetration. Following penetration at the base of crypts of leiberkuhn they followed tortuous routes in the lamina propria, and entered the tunica muscularis obliquely. Larvae only appeared to be arrested in their migration in the submucosa and lamina propria by an inflammatory reaction composed mainly of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Larvae were seen entering and within lymphatic vessels as well as the peritoneal cavity and invasion of the vascular system followed though actual penetration of intestinal blood vessels was not seen. Proteolytic enzyme activity was detected in culture media in which L2 larvae were maintained.     

Keloidal fibromas and fibrosarcomas in the dog

Sixteen dogs (2-12 years of age) presented with one (n = 15) or two (n = 1) cutaneous nodules (n = 16) or a dermal plaque (n = 1). Intact males (n = 9) and neutered males (n = 4) were more affected than were females (n = 3). Histologically, these lesions were characterized by focal dermal and subcutaneous deposition of thick hyalinized collagen fibers intermingled with fibroblasts, and in 13 of 17 lesions, a variable number of CD18-positive cells were interpreted as reactive macrophages. Fibroblasts in three dogs formed intersecting fascicles, interpreted as evidence of malignant transformation. The terms keloidal fibroma and keloidal fibrosarcoma can be applied to these lesions. Excision was curative in five dogs with keloidal fibroma for which follow-up was available. However, because malignant transformation may occur, wide excision of canine keloidal lesions is warranted.     

甘蓝型油菜―萝卜附加系中萝卜染色体的(dp)RAPD标记

在已掌握甘蓝型油菜―萝卜附加系染色体构成,并构建萝卜分子连锁图谱的基础上,以甘蓝型油菜―萝卜附加系为材料,利用(dp)RAPD分子标记技术,筛选附加系中外源萝卜9条染色体(A～I)的分子标记,为进一步研究萝卜染色体与连锁群对应关系奠定基础.试验筛选了576个随机引物(组合),有413个能从附加系中扩增出萝卜染色体的(dp)RAPD标记,平均有效引物(组合)占71.7%,其中RAPD反应有效引物率67.7%,dpRAPD反应有效引物率73.2%.试验共得到899个萝卜染色体(dp)RAPD标记,包括354个RAPD标记和545个dpRAPD标记,覆盖萝卜整个基因组的全部9条染色体,不同染色体的标记数目变化范围在41～160,其中最多的是染色体C,最少的是染色体I.     

Genomic analysis of antifungal metabolite production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> Pf-5

The complete genomic sequences of several Pseudomonas spp. that inhabit the rhizosphere are now available, providing a new opportunity to advance knowledge of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) through genomics. Among these is the biological control bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5. Nearly 6% of the 7.07 Mb genome of Pf-5 is devoted to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics toxic to soilborne fungi and Oomycetes that infect plant roots, and two siderophores involved in iron acquisition. Three orphan gene clusters, for which the encoded natural product was unknown, also were identified in the genome of Pf-5. The product synthesized from one of the orphan gene clusters was identified recently using a new ‘genomisotopic approach’, which employs a combination of genomic sequence analysis and isotope guided fractionation. Application of the genomisotopic approach to one orphan gene cluster in Pf-5 resulted in the discovery of orfamide A, founder of a new group of bioactive cyclic lipopeptides with a putative role in biological control of plant disease.