Interbreed variation in serum serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) concentration in healthy dogs

Introduction

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) has several biological functions. In different species, excessive 5-HT has been linked to valvular lesions, similar to those seen in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. Previous studies suggest higher 5-HT in healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs), a breed highly affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease, compared to other breeds.

Endometrial response to conceptus-derived estrogen and interleukin-1β at the time of implantation in pigs

The establishment of pregnancy is a complex process that requires a well-coordinated interaction between the implanting conceptus and the maternal uterus. In pigs, the conceptus undergoes dramatic morphological and functional changes at the time of implantation and introduces various factors, including estrogens and cytokines,interleukin-1β2(IL1 B2), interferon-γ(IFNG), and IFN-δ(IFND), into the uterine lumen. In response to ovarian steroid hormones and conceptus-derived factors, the uterine endometrium becomes receptive to the implanting conceptus by changing its expression of cell adhesion molecules, secretory activity, and immune response. Conceptus-derived estrogens act as a signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy by changing the direction of prostaglandin(PG) F2αfrom the uterine vasculature to the uterine lumen. Estrogens also induce the expression of many endometrial genes,including genes related to growth factors, the synthesis and transport of PGs, and immunity. IL1 B2, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is produced by the elongating conceptus. The direct effect of IL1 B2 on endometrial function is not fully understood. IL1 B activates the expression of endometrial genes, including the genes involved in IL1 B signaling and PG synthesis and transport. In addition, estrogen or IL1 B stimulates endometrial expression of IFN signaling molecules,suggesting that estrogen and IL1 B act cooperatively in priming the endometrial function of conceptus-produced IFNG and IFND that, in turn, modulate endometrial immune response during early pregnancy. This review addresses information about maternal-conceptus interactions with respect to endometrial gene expression in response to conceptus-derived factors, focusing on the roles of estrogen and IL1 B during early pregnancy in pigs.     

2015年非洲口蹄疫流行状况与分析

2015年,非洲共有29个国家向世界动物卫生组织（OIE）通报发生771起口蹄疫疫情,包括A、O、SAT 1、SAT 2和SAT 3等5种血清型。O型和SAT 2型是非洲地区的主要流行血清型;病毒多通过野生动物散播;东非是非洲的主要疫区;感染家畜以牛为主。2015年非洲的口蹄疫流行状况和特点提示：该地区的口蹄疫防控任务十分艰巨,短期难以控制或根除;南非型口蹄疫病毒通过野生动物迁徙或非法动物产品贸易等途径向外扩散的风险依然存在,需提高警惕。     

利用质量控制图监控不同实验条件对布鲁氏菌试管凝集实验结果的影响

运用建立的质量控制图,监控不同实验条件对布鲁氏菌试管凝集实验结果可能造成的影响。在每次日常检测时对标准阳性血清进行试管凝集实验并使用浊度仪测量其上清液的光密度(OD值),在收集足够有效数据后,绘制当前条件下的质量控制图。通过模拟日常实验条件下孵育温度、时间等容易产生偏离的条件,记录不同实验条件下标准阳性血清试管凝集实验后上清液的OD值,绘制控制用控制图。运用绘制的质量控制图对不同实验条件进行监控,发现孵育温度和孵育时间均对实验结果产生较大影响,从而导致失控。采用质量控制图对布鲁氏菌试管凝集实验进行监控,可提高质量监控的有效性、科学性。严格控制实验条件是保证实验结果的重要前提。     

Distinctive diet‐tissue isotopic discrimination factors derived from the exclusive bamboo‐eating giant panda

Stable isotope analysis is very useful in animal ecology, especially in diet reconstruction and trophic studies. Differences in isotope ratios between consumers and their diet, termed discrimination factors, are essential for studies of stable isotope ecology and are species‐specific and tissue‐specific. Given the specialized bamboo diet and clear foraging behavior, here, we calculated discrimination factors for carbon and nitrogen isotopes from diet to tissues (tooth enamel, hair keratin and bone collagen) for the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a species derived from meat‐eating ancestors. Our results showed that carbon discrimination factor obtained from giant panda tooth enamel (ε ¹³C_{diet‐enamel} = 10.0‰) and nitrogen discrimination factors from hair keratin (Δ¹⁵N_diet‐hair = 2.2‰) and bone collagen (Δ¹⁵N_{diet‐collagen} = 2.3‰) were lower, and carbon discrimination factors from hair keratin (Δ¹³C_diet‐hair = 5.0‰) and bone collagen (Δ¹³C_{diet‐collagen} = 6.1‰) were higher than those of other mammalian carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. Such distinctive values are likely the result of a low‐nutrient and specialized bamboo diet, carnivore‐like digestive system and exceptionally low metabolism in giant pandas.     

摩天岭北坡东南部不同海拔梯度草本植物群落特征

海拔因子是影响植被生长的主导因子,对生态系统格局与过程有着深远的影响。本研究运用相关分析、逐步回归分析和Pearson相关系数检验对摩天岭北坡南段海拔600-1 500m草本植物多样性以及群落初级生产力进行分析。结果表明,1)物种多度与海拔梯度呈显著正相关关系(R2=0.278 4)(P0.05),植物盖度与海拔梯度呈显著负相关关系(R2=0.43),草本层高度、密度与海拔梯度相关性不显著(P0.05);2)植被地上生物量随海拔梯度的上升表现出先增后减的变化趋势,地下生物量随海拔变化差异较大,表现出先增后减再增的趋势;3)从功能群的角度分析,草本层植物功能群地上生物量和地下生物量随海拔梯度的变化趋势基本一致。摩天岭北坡东南部草本植物群落特征随海拔梯度变化显著,各功能群的地上、地下生物量差异显著。生物量与草本层植被盖度呈极显著正相关(P0.01),生物量与植物高度和密度的相关性不显著,以及植物盖度、高度和密度之间相关程度不高。     

温湿度对亚洲小车蝗飞行能力及主要能源物质利用的影响

本研究采用昆虫飞行数据微机采集系统(飞行磨)吊飞方法,测定了温、湿度对10日龄亚洲小车蝗(Oedaleus asiaticus)雌雄成虫的飞行能力及主要能源物质利用的影响。结果表明,在环境温度为28℃、相对湿度(RH)为60%时,10日龄亚洲小车蝗成虫表现出最优的飞行能力,单个个体的最大飞行时间、最大飞行距离和最大飞行速度分别可达1.62h、9.87 km和2.03 km·h~(-1)。在温度16℃以下或28℃以上,其飞行能力明显降低。在40%~80%RH时,成虫均能进行正常的飞行活动。环境温、湿度会显著影响亚洲小车蝗成虫飞行能源物质的消耗情况(P0.05)。在最适的温、湿度条件下,小车蝗飞行所需的能源物质(甘油三酯)最少,其飞行单位距离消耗的甘油三酯也最低,能源利用效率最高。较高或较低的温、湿度条件,能源物质的消耗都显著高于最适条件。飞行能源物质利用效率的不同是导致其在不同温、湿度下飞行能力产生差异的主要原因之一。     

Diversity–disturbance relationship in forest landscapes

Context

Despite decades of research, there is an intense debate about the consistency of the hump-shaped pattern describing the relationship between diversity and disturbance as predicted by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH). Previous meta-analyses have not explicitly considered interactive effects of disturbance frequency and intensity of disturbance on plant species diversity in terrestrial landscapes.

Objective

We conducted meta-analyses to test the applicability of IDH by simultaneously examining the relationship between species richness, disturbance frequency (quantified as time since last disturbance as originally proposed) and intensity of disturbance in forest landscapes.

Methods

The effects of disturbance frequency, intensity, and their interaction on species richness was evaluated using a mixed-effects model.

Results

We found that species richness peaks at intermediate frequency after both high and intermediate disturbance intensities, but the richness-frequency relationship differed between intensity classes.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the need to measure multiple disturbance components that could help reconcile conflicting empirical results on the effect of disturbance on plant species diversity.

     

丁酸钠及其配伍在断奶仔猪中的应用效果

为研究丁酸钠及其配伍对断奶仔猪生长性能的影响,本试验选用(21±1)日龄断奶、(7.28±0.15)kg健康"杜×长×大"杂交仔猪150头,随机分为5个处理组,每个处理组3个重复(栏),每个重复10头仔猪,公母各半。试验日粮是在基础日粮基础上分别添加10%硫酸抗敌素预混剂600mg/kg(对照组)、0.1%丁酸钠(试验Ⅰ组)、0.2%丁酸钠(试验Ⅱ组)、0.1%丁酸钠+10%硫酸抗敌素预混剂200mg/kg(试验Ⅲ组)和0.1%丁酸钠+10%硫酸抗敌素预混剂400mg/kg(试验Ⅳ组)。试验期为14d。试验结果表明,在断奶仔猪日粮中添加丁酸钠及其与硫酸抗敌素配伍均显著降低断奶仔猪腹泻发生率(P<0.05),并有提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重和采食量、降低料重比的趋势(P<0.05)。且0.1%丁酸钠与10%硫酸抗敌素预混剂400mg/kg配伍使用对仔猪抗腹泻、促生长的效果最好。     

刀切法在森林双重回归抽样调查中的应用初探

为进一步 改进抽样 效果, 将 刀切法 结 合顺 序统 计 量应 用于 双 重回 归抽 样 中, 以 材 积为目的因 子, 胸径 为辅助因 子。结果 表明, 在 减少 二重 样本 ５０ ％ 的情 况下 , 与 普通 双重 回 归抽样相比 , 精度仍 达９８２ ％ 。因 此认为, 在林 相整 齐, 生长 正常 的 林分 中进 行 双重 回归 抽 样调查时, 利 用刀切法 , 可 在减 少 二重 样 本, 减少 外 业工 作 量 的情 况 下, 仍能 保 持 较 高 的精 度。另外, 对二重样 本单元和 单元数 的确定以 及刀切 法的局限 性进行了 讨论。