The effects of organic amendments on the interactions between a nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne mayaguensis parasitizing tomato plants

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of amendments with leaf biomass on the development of tomato plants in a soil where root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne mayaguensis) and/or a nematophagous fungus (Arthrobotrys oligospora, strain ORS 18697) had been inoculated. Six origins of leaf biomass were chosen: Acacia mangium, Acacia holosericea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Azadirachta indica and Sorghum vulgare. These leaf biomass types inhibited the development of the aerial parts of the tomato plants. This negative effect was not observed when the fungus was inoculated. On the contrary, plant growth was stimulated. Moreover, the antagonistic activity of Arthrobotrys oligospora was strengthened in the presence of ground leaf powder, especially that from Acacia holosericea. The effects of phenolic compounds on fungal growth and predatory activity and on plant growth are discussed.     

Influence of various phosphopeptides of caseins on iron absorption

The influence of the origin and kind of caseinophosphopeptide (CPP) on iron absorption was assessed by comparing a commercially available CPP mixture (CPPs) and derived chromatographic fractions with the purified, chemically phosphopeptide of beta-casein [beta-CN(1-25)] using a perfused rat duodenal loop system; gluconate iron was used as control. Only iron complexed to beta-CN(1-25) displayed a better bioavailability than gluconate iron. The results obtained with various chromatographic fractions indicated that phosphopeptides of different origins (alpha(s)- versus beta-caseins) display specific effects. These findings contribute to the explanation of the discrepancy about the role of caseinophosphopeptides on mineral bioavailability in vivo.     

赤水河上游次生林林窗特征及森林更新

为研究林窗大小对幼苗更新的影响,以赤水河上游次生林中23个林窗为研究对象,分析林窗大小结构、光照强度和土壤化学性质等空间特征及其对森林更新的影响。结果表明：林分内形成的林窗以中小型为主,光照强度为林窗＞林缘＞林内;林窗内光照强度与林窗面积、边缘木平均胸径的相关性不显著,而与边缘木平均高之间具有极显著的指数函数关系,边缘木平均高度越低则林窗内光度值越高;土壤养分上,80－160 m2林窗较高,＜80 m2林窗较低;环境综合指数上,80－160 m2林窗和＞240 m2林窗较高,161－240 m2林窗和＜80 m2林窗较低;植物群落优势种的幼苗在林窗内出现的频度最高。综合来看,80－160 m2的林窗较有利于森林更新,＜80 m2的林窗最不利于森林更新。在森林经营时,根据需要形成合适的林窗能够保持森林的自然更新。     

黄花苜蓿野生种群遗传多样性的初步研究

对来自我国不同地区的黄花苜蓿野生种群的种子千粒重、发芽率及贮藏蛋白进行了初步研究。结果表明，黄花苜蓿野生种群内和种群间均存在着较大的变异，种子千粒重在1.098～2.012g之间，其中二倍体黄花苜蓿种子千粒重最低，仅为1.098g，是四倍体黄花苜蓿种子平均千粒重的62.01%；种子发芽率也十分不整齐，种皮不经磨擦的自然发芽率十分低，从0～40%不等，平均发芽率仅为16.9%，二倍体种子的自然发芽率为0；种子贮藏蛋白SDS凝胶电泳亦显示出其具有多态性，平均多态位点百分比为37.9%，基因多样性为0.3066，种群分化系数为0.2257。     

Microscopic studies of the skin of the Turkish Angora goat. I. Skin layers

The study describes basic structural aspects of the integumental layers (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis) of the Turkish Angora goat. The results have been obtained by light- and electronmicroscopical methods. Central topics are measurements of layer thickness as related to annual season and life period, as well as typical criteria of integumental layer construction as connected with the hair cycle. Remarkable is a trimerous organization of the dermis and cyclic changes in the thickness of the stratum adiposum of the hypodermis. The findings are discussed with regard to comparable observations from other domestic mammals.     

Partial characterization of phagocytic activity in neutrophils of the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus

Though the armadillo is important as a research model in leprosy studies, the activity of armadillo's neutrophils is an aspect of little research. The aim of this study was carried out to partially characterize the chemotaxis, endocytosis and bacteriocidal ability of the neutrophils found in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Results showed that the chemotactic activity of the neutrophils, evaluated by the movement of the neutrophils through a nitrocellulose membrane (5 microm) in response to a chemo-attractive substance, was greater towards the armadillo serum (5.16+/-1.35 migration index, p<0.05) than towards the formil methionyl leucil phenylalanine (fMLP, 1.43+/-0.18 migration index) or human serum (0.56+/-0.18 migration index). Regarding endocytic capacity of the neutrophils and the monocytes against Escherichia coli was evaluated by a flow cytometry and using opsonized and non-opsonized E. coli-FITC at the following incubation times: 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min. The largest percentage of endocytosis by the neutrophils was 92.32+/-0.12% with opsonized bacteria and 77.73+/-14.33% with non-opsonized bacteria at 10 min incubation time, while the largest percentage of endocytosis by monocytes was 89.94+/-1.40% with opsonized bacteria and 73.07+/-15.6% with non-opsonized bacteria at 20 min incubation time. Evaluation of the bacteriocidal capacity of neutrophils using the methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium salts (MTT) reduction color-measurement assay showed an 89.0+/-10% mortality rate of non-opsonized E. coli and 89.0+10% of opsonized E. coli. In conclusion, the armadillo neutrophils show a good phagocytosis and bacteriocidal activity; however, a deficiency in the migration towards the fMLP was observed. This deficiency could be a cause so that the armadillo neutrophils do not respond quickly to invading microorganism.     

Journey length and high temperatures: effects on rabbit welfare and meat quality

The transport of domestic animals by road can increase levels of stress and decrease meat quality, especially in unfavourable climates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of journey duration and vertical position on the transport truck on some physiological indicators of stress and on instrumental meat quality parameters in commercial rabbits. In the summer months (June and July, 2003), 78 rabbits were subjected to either long (7 h) (LJ) or short (1 h) (SJ) journeys (3 replicates each, n = 6) between the farm and an abattoir in northern Spain. The position (top, middle, or bottom) occupied by the rabbits on the Multi-Floor cage Rolling Stand (MFRS) of the transport truck was recorded. Blood samples were collected at sticking and meat pH was measured at 24 h post-mortem (pH24). At 48 h post-mortem, samples of the M. longissimus dorsi were used to determine water-holding capacity (WHC) and instrumental tenderness using an INSTRON machine. The levels of corticosterone, glucose, lactate, and creatine kinase were slightly higher in LJ than in SJ samples, but the difference was not statistically significant (p < or = 0.10). Independent of journey length, rabbits in the middle and bottom of the MFRS showed higher levels (p < or = 0.05) of glucose and creatine kinase (middle), and corticosterone (bottom) than the rabbits located at the top floor. The pH 24 and WHC values of the SJ and LJ rabbits did not differ significantly. Journey length had a significant effect (p < or = 0.01) on meat tenderness. The meat from rabbits subjected to LJ had higher values of maximum stress and total toughness than did the SJ rabbits (p < or = 0.05). There were similar differences (p < or = 0.05) between LJ and SJ rabbits in their stress values of compression at 20% and 40% (measures of the tenderness of raw meat). In hot weather, the position on the transport truck appeared to have a greater effect on rabbit welfare than the duration of the journey.     

Serologic survey for Leptospira spp. in captive neotropical felids in Foz do Igua?u, Paraná, Brazil

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonosis of worldwide distribution and is endemic in tropical countries, where rodents and other wild mammals are abundant and may act as reservoirs. Leptospirosis has become a concern in captive wild animals, due mostly to their exposure to contaminated urine or environment. Although domestic cats (Felis catus) have been reported refractory to leptospirosis, serology and disease in captive wild felids is still unclear. In this study 57 adult, clinically healthy felids, including 1 Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), 3 jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi), 17 margays (Leopardus wiedii), 22 little spotted cats (Leopardus tigrinus), and 14 ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) kept in captivity at the Sanctuary at the Itaipu Binacional hydroelectric power plant (Bela Vista Biological Sanctuary), Foz do Iguacu City, Paraná State, Brazil, were serologically surveyed for the presence of antibodies against 28 serovars of Leptospira spp. by microagglutination test (MAT). Two animals (3.5%) were seropositive: one male ocelot to the serovar Cynopteri (titer 100) and one female margay to Autumnalis (100) and Butembo (200). The captive-born, 5-yr-old ocelot had been solitary housed in an individual cage. The approximately 21-yr-old wild-caught margay was also kept individually. None of the tested animals showed signs ofleptospirosis. During a study conducted 4 yr previously in the same facility, this particular margay also tested positive for the same two serovars, among others. The present study indicates that the felids tested for Leptospira spp. by MAT were exposed to serovars, but did not demonstrate clinical signs of disease. Comparison with a previous study suggests that serovar titers may vary over time and that leptospirosis dynamics remains unclear in wild felids.     

工学结合、校企合作人才培养模式的发展与完善

通过分析发达国家产学合作教育的发展与共性,探讨了国内校企合作、工学结合人才培养模式的现状及其急需完善的几个问题。