Hybridization between Crassostrea hongkongensis and Crassostrea ariakensis at Different Salinities

To evaluate the survival and growth performance of hybrid larvae and juveniles, we conducted hybridization experiments between Crassostrea hongkongensis and Crassostrea ariakensis at three salinities (15, 23, and 30 ppt). Hybrid fertilization occurred in one direction (C. hongkongensis ♀ and C. ariakensis ♂), and the fertilization rates did not differ significantly among the three trial salinities. Molecular genetics analysis revealed that hybrid progenies were true hybrids. Hybrid juveniles survived better than C. hongkongensis juveniles at a salinity of 30 ppt. Hybrid larvae and juveniles showed intermediate growth between C. hongkongensis and C. ariakensis progenies. The growth of hybrid juveniles was significantly greater than that of C. hongkongensis juveniles at a salinity of 30 ppt. Overall, C. hongkongensis has a high economic value but favorable hatchery and farm of this species is restricted to lower salinity sites. Because the hybrids were shown to have greater growth and survival characteristics at high salinity, hybrids may be a more desirable candidate to be cultured in those areas of China with higher salinities, such as the Bohai Sea of China where the salinity is usually 30 ppt.     

Ontochronic index for assessing and predicting growth of birds

An ontochronic index has been developed to evaluate biological patterns of growth in birds, which takes into account the ratio between the structural features of the body and the appearance of an individual. A high correlation and regression dependence of the index of intensity of birds’ growth during early ontogenesis has been discovered.     

加强国家农业重大科技基础设施建设刍议

国家重大科技基础设施是国家为在科学技术前沿取得重大突破、解决经济社会发展和国家安全中的战略性、基础性和前瞻性科技问题而投资建设的科学技术研究设施。加强农业领域国家重大科技基础设施建设,对提升我国农业科技创新能力,强化科技对现代农业的支撑与引领作用等具有战略意义。     

Production,Characterization and Immunomodulatory Activity of an Extracellular Polysaccharide from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa YL-1 Isolated from Sea Salt Field

A novel exopolysaccharide from marine-derived red yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain YL-1 was produced and characterized. The highest yield of polysaccharide reached 15.1 g/L after medium and culture parameter optimization. This exopolysaccharide, composed of four neural monosaccharides including glucose, mannose, galactose and fucose, had an average molecular weight of 1200 KDa. It had good immunomodulatory activity on RAW256.7 cell lines. ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and Q-PCR (quantitative real-time PCR) results showed that the cell was stimulated to express more IL-6, IL-18, IL-1β and TNFα cytokines than the control group. This is the first report of an exopolysaccharide with immunomodulatory activity from marine-derived Rhodotorula mucilaginosa.     

施肥量对泰兴香荷芋生长及产量效益的影响

通过对泰兴香荷芋施肥量研究,考查了各处理主要生育期的苗情与长势、成熟期子孙芋产量及商品芋产值效益。结果显示:基施腐熟脱水猪粪15t·hm-2,苗期追施(3.1叶)脱水猪粪15t·hm-2+13-10-18高钾复合肥675kg·hm-2的处理子孙芋产量最高为23 421.90kg·hm-2,商品芋效益为88 506.60元·hm-2;基施有机肥7 500kg·hm-2+苗期追施(3.1叶)有机肥7 500kg·hm-2+13-10-18高钾复合肥450kg·hm-2+膨大肥(8.1叶)13-10-18高钾复合肥900kg·hm-2的处理产量相对较高。     

β-carotene attenuates weaning-induced apoptosis via inhibition of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK signalling pathways in piglet jejunum

Weaning may cause oxidative injury, immune response impairment, apoptosis and other injuries in piglets. Oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can elicit inflammatory responses, and persistent oxidative and ERS also may lead to apoptotic cascades, which is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. β-carotene, a natural carotenoid, has potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the effect of β-carotene on apoptosis in weaned piglets and the detailed molecular mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we found that β-carotene decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in piglet serum. β-carotene could inhibit the mRNA levels of caspase-3 significantly, but had no significant inhibitory effect of the mRNA levels of caspase-9 and caspase-12 in the piglet jejunum. In addition, β-carotene decreased the activation of GRP78, CHOP, and JNK/p38 MAPK and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, β-carotene had a significant influence on the activation of ERS and apoptosis-related signals in TG-induced IPEC-J2. In the present study, β-carotene pre-treatment attenuated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and prevented TG-induced increases in the level of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway activation in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicate that β-carotene may protect weaning-induced apoptosis through inhibiting ERS.     

羊IL-1Ra基因全长cDNA克隆及生物信息学分析

试验旨在对羊白介素1受体颉颃因子（interleukin-1 receptor antagonist，IL-1Ra）基因进行全长cDNA克隆及生物学分析。根据布鲁氏菌感染羊白细胞层SSH cDNA文库中的IL-1Ra基因序列信息及已知核苷酸序列（GenBank登录号：KC425613.1）设计引物，利用RT-PCR结合RACE方法扩增并克隆IL-1Ra基因，对其进行序列及相关分子特性分析。结果表明，羊IL-1Ra基因全长为1 228 bp，可编码174个氨基酸，含有1个完整的IL-1保守结构域和1个IL-1Ra结构域（PHA02651结构域）。IL-1Ra分子质量为19 765.8 u，等电点（pI）为5.72，其分子式为C₈₈₅H₁₃₈₅N₂₃₅O₂₅₆S₁₁，且含有信号肽。二级结构分析显示，IL-1Ra分子存在较多的β折叠及受体结合位点，与三级结构预测结果一致，且与人/鼠IL-1Ra分子的空间结构相似度极高，达到90%以上。羊IL-1Ra有IL-1特有的三叶草结构，其酶结合结构域位于TYR⁴⁷至GLU⁶⁶之间。将羊IL-1Ra与牛、虎鲸、宽吻海豚、猪、家犬、人、鼠等14个物种进行蛋白质同源性比对，发现在各物种间存在5个高度同源的半胱氨酸位点。系统进化树分析发现，羊IL-1Ra基因全长cDNA所编码的氨基酸序列同山羊、牛单独形成一个分支。本研究结果为今后深入研究IL-1Ra基因的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

园林植物春季最佳观赏期调查研究

目前,由于缺乏准确的园林植物最佳观赏期的资料,导致优秀的规划设计方案难以落到实处,园林景点建成之后景观效果大打折扣。针对以上问题,作者采用实地调查观测的方法对园林植物春季最佳观赏期和最佳观赏顺序进行了研究。记录整理典型地点园林植物的最佳观赏期和最佳观赏顺序,为园林规划设计、植物配置和养护管理提供科学的参考依据。