Serum progesterone determination as an aid for pregnancy diagnosis in goats bred out of season

Nubian does (n = 12) were bred by artificial insemination after induction of estrus with medroxyprogesterone acetate impregnated vaginal sponges and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin injections during the anestrous season. Pregnancy status was predicted from serum samples collected 21 days following the last breeding and analyzed using 1) a commercial bovine milk progesterone enzyme immunoassay test (EIA), and 2) a radioimmunoassay progesterone (RIA) test. Both tests detected nonpregnancy (EIA 100%, RIA 80%) more accurately than pregnancy (EIA 66%, RIA 75%). Commercial bovine progesterone EIA kits have potential as rapid, inexpensive screening tests for nonpregnant does bred out of season.     

黄瓜新品种‘吉农4号’

 黄瓜新品种‘吉农4号’为北方露地华南系早熟杂种一代, 生育期75 d, 抗霜霉病、白粉病, 生长势中强, 第一雌花着生于主蔓3～4节, 果实浅绿色, 长棒形, 典型瓜150～200 g, 单株结瓜6～8条, 肉质脆嫩, 品质和口感较好。     

Pharmacokinetics and endometrial tissue concentrations of enrofloxacin and the metabolite ciprofloxacin after i.v. administration of enrofloxacin to mares

Enrofloxacin was administered i.v. to five adult mares at a dose of 5 mg/kg. After administration, blood and endometrial biopsy samples were collected at regular intervals for 24 h. The plasma and tissue samples were analyzed for enrofloxacin and the metabolite ciprofloxacin by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In plasma, enrofloxacin had a terminal half-life (t(1/2)), volume of distribution (area method), and systemic clearance of 6.7 +/- 2.9 h, 1.9 +/- 0.4 L/kg, and 3.7 +/- 1.4 mL/kg/min, respectively. Ciprofloxacin had a maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 0.28 +/- 0.09 microg/mL. In endometrial tissue, the enrofloxacin Cmax was 1.7 +/- 0.5 microg/g, and the t(1/2) was 7.8 +/- 3.7 h. Ciprofloxacin Cmax in tissues was 0.15 +/- 0.04 microg/g and the t(1/2) was 5.2 +/- 2.0 h. The tissue:plasma enrofloxacin concentration ratios (w/w:w/v) were 0.175 +/- 0.08 and 0.47 +/- 0.06 for Cmax and AUC, respectively. For ciprofloxacin, these values were 0.55 +/- 0.13 and 0.58 +/- 0.31, respectively. We concluded that plasma concentrations achieved after 5 mg/kg i.v. are high enough to meet surrogate markers for antibacterial activity (Cmax:MIC ratio, and AUC:MIC ratio) considered effective for most susceptible gram-negative bacteria. Endometrial tissue concentrations taken from the mares after dosing showed that enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin both penetrate this tissue adequately after systemic administration and would attain concentrations high enough in the tissue fluids to treat infections of the endometrium caused by susceptible bacteria.     

大叶芹种子催芽技术的研究

以大叶芹（Spuriopimpinella brachyara）种子为材料,通过采用化学药剂、植物生长调节剂、层积处理及综合试验处理,寻找打破大叶芹种子休眠的方法。研究结果表明：低温层积处理和越冬层积具有破除大叶芹种子休眠的作用,低温层积(4±1)℃的条件较其他层积条件下种子发芽率高,是最佳的层积处理方法。采用不同浓度的赤霉素（GA3）、生长素（IAA）、6-苄基腺嘌呤（6-BA）预处理后结合低温层积处理,结果表明：250 mg/L GA3浸种24 h后低温层积100天可使种子发芽率达60%左右,发芽势较高,且腐烂率低,基本上解除了大叶芹种子休眠现象。     

Validity of photographs for food portion estimation in a rural West African setting

OBJECTIVE: To validate food photographs for food portion size estimation of frequently consumed dishes, to be used in a 24-hour recall food consumption study of pregnant women in a rural environment in Burkina Faso. This food intake study is part of an intervention evaluating the efficacy of prenatal micronutrient supplementation on birth outcomes. SUBJECTS: Women of childbearing age (15-45 years). DESIGN: A food photograph album containing four photographs of food portions per food item was compiled for eight selected food items. Subjects were presented two food items each in the morning and two in the afternoon. These foods were weighed to the exact weight of a food depicted in one of the photographs and were in the same receptacles. The next day another fieldworker presented the food photographs to the subjects to test their ability to choose the correct photograph. RESULTS: The correct photograph out of the four proposed was chosen in 55% of 1028 estimations. For each food, proportions of underestimating and overestimating participants were balanced, except for rice and couscous. On a group level, mean differences between served and estimated portion sizes were between -8.4% and 6.3%. Subjects who attended school were almost twice as likely to choose the correct photograph. The portion size served (small vs. largest sizes) had a significant influence on the portion estimation ability. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicate that in a West African rural setting, food photographs can be a valuable tool for the quantification of food portion size on group level.