Decision support system for economic analysis of grasshopper treatment operations in the African Sahel

A decision support system for benefit/cost analysis of chemical treatment of the Senegalese grasshopper, Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss) (OSE), was created to assist in the training, analysis, and management of grasshopper treatment programmes. The system, known as GHLSIM, has linked simulation models, databases, and a user interface. Millet and sorghum phenology and yields are estimated by an FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations) soil water deficit model. Outputs from the PRIFAS (Programme de Recherches Interdisciplinaire Français sur les Acridiens du Sahel) OSE biomodel, including daily grasshopper life stages and favourability for development, are converted to density estimates using survey data, oviposition rates, and natural and insecticide-caused mortality. Crop loss is estimated through crop injury units — a function of grasshopper stage densities, consumption rates, crop preference, crop stage susceptibility, and non-crop vegetation greenness. Second-year benefits of treatment are estimated from end-of-season egg-pod densities. The model was calibrated using published economic thresholds for four crop stages. Yield increases from a late-season grasshopper aerial treatment campaign, 22 September — 19 October 1987, at 13 sites in eastern Chad were estimated at 33%±20% (s.e.). Benefit/cost ratios were 2.6±0.5 for the first season, and 3.8±0.7 with second-year effects added. The analysis indicated that optimal timing was 5–10 days earlier than the actual treatments. Crop yield reports from treated and non-treated areas, a crop loss assessment conducted in Batha, Chad in October 1987 and a break-even analysis provide further evidence that the campaign was successful and cost-effective at most sites, as indicated by model results.     

Effect of testicular tissue lysate on developmental competence of porcine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of testicular tissue lysate (TTL) on developmental competence of germinal vesicle (GV) stage porcine oocytes. Two types of TTL were prepared through repeated freeze–thaw in liquid nitrogen, one from whole testicular tissue (wTTL) and other from either of four different sections of testes, namely just beneath the tunica albuginea (TA), from the transitional area between the seminiferous cord/tubules and the mediastinum testis (TR) and from the intermediate area (parenchymal tissue origin) and CE (cauda epididymis origin). The whole or section‐wise TTL treatments were given for 44 hr during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocyte maturation was done in either of the two media, namely defined (high‐performance basic medium for porcine oocyte maturation, commercially available) and serum containing (TCM199). After maturation, oocytes were co‐incubated with fresh spermatozoa for 6 hr and then transferred to embryo culture media. Treatment of GV stage oocytes with wTTL (1 mg/ml) increased the cleavage and morula percentage rate (69.23 ± 6.23 and 48.15 ± 6.77, respectively) than that of their control (58.33 ± 8.08 and 32.54 ± 5.53, respectively) in defined media, and in serum‐containing media, cleavage and morula percentage rate were almost equal in both treatment (54.56 ± 7.79 and 34.70 ± 6.78, respectively) and control (59.52 ± 8.21 and 38.52 ± 6.54, respectively). However, effect of wTTL was not significant. In case of section‐wise TTL supplements, TR section significantly (p < .01) improved cleavage and morula rate (58.43 ± 7.98 and 36.14 ± 6.89, respectively) followed by TA. In conclusion, present study indicates that IVM, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture of embryo are improved in the presence of TTL, particularly its TR section. Further study is expected to reveal the principal components of TTL which may prove useful for IVM.     

Epidemiological and clinical investigations into big liver and spleen disease of broiler breeder hens

SUMMARY The epidemiological and clinical features of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) in flocks on two broiler breeder farms were investigated by serology and gross pathology. The most common necropsy findings on farm 1 were splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, with kidney enlargement in some birds. In one flock (farm 1), a decline in egg production began at 40 weeks of age and lasted for 9 weeks. Seroconversion to BLS antigen was first detected at 45 weeks (3.1% of birds) and increased to 72% at 50 weeks, which coincided with clinical recovery in the flock. Antigen was detected before antibody at 44 weeks and persisted at low incidence (<15%). Farm egg production statistics and serology indicated that the disease affected all flocks on the farm. In three of eight flocks, seroconversion was detected in birds before peak production. The birds in the remaining sheds did not seroconvert or become sick until after peak production. On the second farm, sampling began within a flock already experiencing BLS. Clinical signs and pathology were similar to those seen in flocks on farm 1. However, the lesions that were seen in the pancreas in 15% of birds have not been reported previously. BLS antibody was detected in 78%, and circulating antigen in 14%, of sick birds.     

Resistance to insecticides in winter- and summer-forms of pear psylla,Psylla pyricola

Summer-form pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, from sprayed pear were resistant to endosulfan (2·4-fold), methiocarb (2·5-fold), ethylan (5·8-fold), azinphos-methyl (7·7-fold), and fenvalerate (40·1-fold). Esterase (3·8-fold), glutathione transferase (1·8-fold), and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (1·6-fold) detoxification enzyme activity was higher in resistant than in susceptible summer forms. Synergism by piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF) was added evidence for cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases and esterases as resistance mechanisms. Reduced penetration may also have contributed to resistance, as indicated by a 1·6-fold slower penetration of azinphos-methyl in resistant than susceptible summer-forms. Similar differences in insecticide toxicity and esterase and glutathione transferase activities were observed between winter-forms of resistant and susceptible pear psylla. Winter-forms of P. pyricola were up to three times more tolerant to insecticides than summer-forms. Higher cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activity (1·7-fold) and slower azinphosmethyl penetration (2·1-fold) in winter-forms may have contributed to their greater insecticide tolerance; however, sequestration may also have been involved.     

Signalling Events and Associated Pathways Related to the Mammalian Sperm Capacitation

Capacitation is a biological phenomenon occurring prior to fertilization and is a multiple event process. Many physiological and biochemical changes takes place during the process; these changes are related to lipid composition of membrane, intracellular modulation of ion concentration, protein phosphorylation, sperm movement and membrane permeability. These events occur when the sperm is exposed to the new environment of ion concentration in the female reproductive tract. Ions such as bicarbonate and calcium facilitate capacitation by activating adenylyl cyclase, thus initiating protein kinase A (PKA) signalling cascade. Extracellular‐regulated kinase pathway is activated by ligand binding to the membrane receptors and intracellular activation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Activation of these pathways leads to the phosphorylation of different proteins, which is associated with events such as capacitation, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction that are essential for successful fertilization. Extensive studies were carried out on protein phosphorylation in relation to capacitation, but its role still remains ambiguous.     

不同来源大豆品种籽粒品质的比较研究

以辽宁20年代、辽宁当代以及与辽宁近纬度的美国俄亥俄州当代育成的亚有限结荚习性大豆品种各4个为试材,研究了不同来源大豆品种籽粒品质的差异,以及不同磷酸二铵施肥水平对大豆籽粒品质的影响.结果表明:就试验采用的品种而言,俄亥俄州立大学更注重籽粒脂肪含量的改良,而且遗传获得较大,而辽宁省育成的新品种其脂肪含量也比老品种稍高一些,蛋白质含量则有所下降.就品种来说,老品种Mukden的品质最好,蛋脂总含量高达64.7%,辽宁新品种中辽豆12号最好,俄亥俄新品种中OhioFG1最好.蛋白质含量以Mukden含量最高,达44.85%,脂肪含量以Darby含量最高,为21.39%.与不施肥相比,150 kg/hm2、300 kg/hm2磷酸二铵施肥处理会使各品种的蛋白质含量得到提高,脂肪含量有所降低,从不同来源品种组平均值来看,施用磷酸二铵300 kg/hm2的处理,大豆籽粒的蛋白质含量高于150 kg/hm2处理,脂肪含量则与之相反.     

Molecular analysis of Lathyrus sativus L. (grasspea) and related Lathyrus species

Eight Lathyrus sativus L. accessions from a variety of geographic origins were used to study intraspecific genetic diversity using RAPD analysis. Fourteen decamer primers produced 64 amplification products, 50% of which were polymorphic between the samples. Jaccard's coefficient of genetic similarity was calculated between samples and a dendrogram was constructed by an unweighted pair-group method with arithmetical averages (UPGMA). The dendrogram showed that most of the L. sativus plants clustered into accessions or common geographical areas. The average genetic similarity coefficient within accessions was 0.12 and between accessions was 0.20, indicating a low level of intraspecific genetic variation. Interspecific genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of eight Lathyrus species, including L. sativus and Pisum sativum L. (field pea) were examined using 14 decamer primers which produced 283 amplification products. All amplification products were polymorphic across the nine species. In the dendrogram the Lathyrus species clustered into three distinct groups which correlated with the Sections Lathyrus, Clymenum and Linearicarpus. This supports traditional taxonomic classifications of the genus Lathyrus which are based on morphological traits. Of the species from Section Lathyrus, L. gorgoni and L. cicera were the most similar to L. sativus. The results suggest that a strategy of breeding for producing lines of L. sativus with increased genetic variation would be effectively achieved through hybrid production between accessions from wide geographic areas particularly the Mediterranean area and the Indian subcontinent. However, the most effective method would be introgression of germplasm from other species in Section Lathyrus. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phosphorus uptake and use efficiency in different varieties of bread wheat (Triticum Aestivum L)

Thirty spring wheat varieties were evaluated and classified into eight different groups on the basis of their grain yield performance and phosphorus (P) uptake using Metroglyph analysis. Significant variability was observed for grain and biomass yield, plant height, P content in grain and straw, total P uptake and phosphorus harvest index and P use efficiency traits. Varieties WH 711 and PBW 343 exhibited high grain yield as well as high P uptake (HGY-HP). WH 283 and UP 2425 with high index score of 19 and 16 respectively, constituted the high grain yield-medium P uptake (HGYMP) group. Both these varieties, though had similar grain yield of 5348 kg/ha, but WH 283 (12.64 kg/ha) utilized much lower P as compared to UP 2425 (16.94 kg/ha). Moreover, WH 283 (81.64) also showed higher values for phosphorus harvest index (PHI) than UP 2425 (67.88%). P uptake of WH 283 was comparable with that of Raj 3765 (10.78 kg/ha) and grouped into high grain yield and low P uptake (HGY-LP) group. The grain yield performance of these two varieties with a relatively low P uptake is reflected in their high index score for P use efficiency thus, earmarking them for low P regimes. Variety HW 2006, despite low grain yields of 4665 kg/ha had high index score of 16 due to its higher value for Phosphorus Biological (PBER) and Economic Yield (PEER) Efficiency Ratio as it has effected least (7.18 kg/ha) P mobilization. In addition high P translocation in the grain was also observed for this variety. Inter-mating of genotypes like HW 2006, UP 2338 and HW 2016 with those belonging to HGY-HP (PBW 343 and WH 711) and HGY-LP (Raj 3765 and WH 283) would be an ideal strategy to develop the cultivars for efficient phosphorus use.     

Radio science investigations of the saturn system with voyager 1: preliminary results

Voyager 1 radio occultation measurements of Titan's equatorial atmosphere successfully probed to the surface, which is provisionally placed at a radius of 2570 kilometers. Derived scale heights plus other experimental and theoretical results indicate that molecular nitrogen is the predominant atmospheric constituent. The surface pressure and temperature appear to be about 1.6 bars and 93 K, respectively. The main clouds are probably methane ice, although some condensation of nitrogen cannot be ruled out. Solar abundance arguments suggest and the measurements allow large quantities of surface methane near its triple-point temperature, so that the three phases of methane could play roles in the atmosphere and on the surface of Titan similar to those of water on Earth. Radio occultation measurements of Saturn's atmosphere near 75 degrees south latitude reached a maximum pressure of 1.4 bars, where the temperature is about 156 K. The minimum temperature is about 91 K near the 60-millibar pressure level. The measured part of the polar ionosphere of Saturn has a peak electron concentration of 2.3 x 10(4) per cubic centimeter at an altitude of 2500 kilometers above the 1-bar level in the atmosphere, and a plasma scale height at the top of the ionosphere of 560 kilometers. Attenuation of monochromatic radiation at a wavelength of 3.6 centimeters propagating obliquely through Saturn's rings is consistent with traditional values for the normal optical depth of the rings, but the near-forward scattering of this radiation by the rings indicates effective scattering particles with larger than expected diameters of 10, 8, and 2 meters in the A ring, the outer Cassini division, and the C ring, respectively. Preliminary analysis of the radio tracking data yields new values for the masses of Rhea and Titan of 4.4 +/- 0.3 x 10(-6) and 236.64 +/- 0.08 x 10(-6) times the mass of Saturn. Corresponding values for the mean densities of these objects are 1.33 +/- 0.10 and about 1.89 grams per cubic centimeter. The density of Rhea is consistent with a solar-composition mix of anhydrous rock and volatiles, while Titan is apparently enriched in silicates relative to the solar composition.