Oestrus ovis myiasis in Libyan sheep and goats

Summary The heads of 1,489 sheep and 320 goats were examined for larvae ofOestrus ovis at 17 abattoirs in northern Libya in July to November 1988. The prevalence ofO. ovis in sheep was 22·6% and in goats it was 18·4 per cent. Up to 14 and 11 larvae were collected from individual sheep and goats respectively. All larvae were recovered from the nasal passages and frontal sinuses, but only second and third instars were seen.

---

Miasis Causada PorOestrus Ovis En Ovejas Y Cabras Libias

Resumen Durante los meses de julio a noviembre de 1988, se examinaron las cabezas de 1489 ovejas y 320 cabras para detectar larvas deOestrus ovis, en 17 mataderos en el norte de Libia. La prevalencia deO. ovis en ovejas fue de 22·6% y en cabras de 18·4%. Se localizó hasta un máximo de 14 y 11 larvas en cabezas ovinas y caprinas respectivamente. Todas las larvas fueron recuperadas de las fosas nasales y los senos frontales; sólo se encontraron los estadíos larvarios segundo y tercero.

---

Myiase A Oestrus Ovis Chez Des Ovins Et Caprins En Libye

Résumé Les têtes de 1 489 moutons et de 320 chèvres ont été examinées dans 17 abattoirs de la Libye du nord, de juillet à novembre 1988, pour rechercher des larves d'Oestrus ovis.La prévalence d'Oestrus ovis chez les moutons était de 22,6 p. 100 et chez les chèvres de 18,4 p. 100. Le nombre maximal de larves trouvées par animal a été de 14 chez les moutons et 11 chez les chèvres. Toutes les larves ont été récoltées des conduits nasaux et des sinus frontaux, mais seuls les deuxièmes et troisièmes stades ont été observés.

     

Nutrient limitations to bacterial and fungal growth during cellulose decomposition in tropical forest soils

Nutrients constrain the soil carbon cycle in tropical forests, but we lack knowledge on how these constraints vary within the soil microbial community. Here, we used in situ fertilization in a montane tropical forest and in two lowland tropical forests on contrasting soil types to test the principal hypothesis that there are different nutrient constraints to different groups of microorganisms during the decomposition of cellulose. We also tested the hypotheses that decomposers shift from nitrogen to phosphorus constraints from montane to lowland forests, respectively, and are further constrained by potassium and sodium deficiency in the western Amazon. Cellulose and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and combined) were added to soils in situ, and microbial growth on cellulose (phospholipid fatty acids and ergosterol) and respiration were measured. Microbial growth on cellulose after single nutrient additions was highest following nitrogen addition for fungi, suggesting nitrogen as the primary limiting nutrient for cellulose decomposition. This was observed at all sites, with no clear shift in nutrient constraints to decomposition between lowland and montane sites. We also observed positive respiration and fungal growth responses to sodium and potassium addition at one of the lowland sites. However, when phosphorus was added, and especially when added in combination with other nutrients, bacterial growth was highest, suggesting that bacteria out-compete fungi for nitrogen where phosphorus is abundant. In summary, nitrogen constrains fungal growth and cellulose decomposition in both lowland and montane tropical forest soils, but additional nutrients may also be of critical importance in determining the balance between fungal and bacterial decomposition of cellulose.     

Impact of foliar nickel application on urease activity,antioxidant metabolism and control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa) in soybean plants

Nickel (Ni) is a cofactor for urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological impact of Ni on urea, antioxidant metabolism and powdery mildew severity in soybean plants. Seven levels of Ni (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 g ha^?1) alone or combined with the fungicides fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin were applied to soybean plants. The total Ni concentration ranged from 3.8 to 38.0 mg kg^?1 in leaves and 3.0 to 18.0 mg kg^?1 in seeds. A strong correlation was observed between Ni concentration in the leaves and seeds, indicating translocation of Ni from leaves to seeds. Application of Ni above 60 g ha^?1 increased lipid peroxidation in the leaf tissues, indicative of oxidative stress. Application of 40 g ha^?1 Ni combined with 300 mL ha^?1 of fungicide reduced powdery mildew severity by up to 99%. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and urease enzyme activity were greatest under these conditions. Urea concentration decreased in response to Ni application. Urease activity in soybean leaves showed a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The leaf Ni concentration showed a positive correlation with the urease and a negative correlation with powdery mildew severity. The results of this study suggest that urease is a key enzyme regulated by Ni and has a role in host defence against powdery mildew by stimulating antioxidant metabolism in soybean plants.     

Influence of larval co-feeding with live and inert diets on weaning the tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis

The tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis, an inshore fish in China, has showed great potential in aquaculture recently. However, poor survival was recorded during the period of weaning from live Artemia to artificial diets. In this paper, the influence of co‐feeding larvae with live and inert diet on weaning performance was described. The C. semilaevis larvae were reared at 21 ± 1 °C and fed four different feeding regimes from 6 days post‐hatching (dph): A, Artemia (10 individuals mL^?1); B, Artemia (5 individuals mL^?1); C, mixed diet (10 Artemia individuals mL^?1 and 12 mg L^?1 inert diet); and D, mixed diet (5 Artemia individuals mL^?1 and 12 mg L^?1 inert diet). Rotifers were also supplied in all cases during the first days of feeding. Mixed diets of commercial formulated feed and live prey (rotifers and Artemia) allowed larvae to complete metamorphosis, achieving similar specific growth rate (SGR) (18.5 ± 1.4% and 18.7 ± 1.6%) and survival (40 ± 7.6% and 48.5 ± 6.8%) compared with larvae fed on live feed alone (SGR of 18.3 ± 1.2%, 19.3 ± 1.9% and survival of 41.2 ± 11.3%, 38 ± 4.9%). However, in metamorphosed fish, when live feed was withdrawn on 31 dph, there was significant difference (P < 0.05) in survival and growth among treatments. Metamorphosed fish, previously fed mixture diets during larval stages, had similar survival (62.1 ± 7.6% and 62.8 ± 3.9% for regimes C and D, respectively) but higher than that obtained for fish that previously fed on live feed (49.3 ± 2% and 42.1 ± 3.9% for regimes A and B, respectively) after weaning (day 60). The SGR of weaned fish previously fed live feed was similar (3.1 ± 0.6% and 2.92 ± 0.6% for regimes A and B, respectively) but lower than that recorded for fish that was fed from day 6 to day 30 on the mixed diet (4.5 ± 1.1% and 4.9 ± 0.3% for regimes C and D, respectively). It is suggested that weaning of C. semilaevis from early development would appear to be feasible and larval co‐feeding improves growth and survival.     

Effects of Moringa oleifera silage on milk yield,nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indexes of lactating dairy cows

This study investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) as a partial substitute of alfalfa hay on milk yield, nutrient apparent digestibility and serum biochemical indexes of dairy cows. MO was harvested at 120 days post‐seeding. Fresh MO was cut, mixed with chopped oat hay (425:575 on a DM basis), ensiled and stored for 60 days. Sixty healthy Holstein dairy cows were allocated to one of three groups: NM (no MO or control), LM (low MO; 25% alfalfa hay and 50% maize silage were replaced by MO silage) or HM (high MO; 50% alfalfa hay and 100% maize silage were replaced by MO silage). The feeding trial lasted 35 days. The LM and HM diets did not affect dry matter (DM) intake, milk yield or milk composition (lactose, milk fat, milk protein and somatic cell count). The apparent digestibility of DM and NDF was lower for HM group than NM group. Additionally, there were no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes between the LM and NM groups. The HM group had lower serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher serum concentrations of urea than the NM group. The partial replacement of alfalfa hay (≤50%) and maize silage with MO silage had no negative effects on milk yield, in vivo nutrient apparent digestibility or serum biochemical indexes of lactating cows.     

Improving in-season nitrogen recommendations for maize using an active sensor

An active crop canopy reflectance sensor could be used to increase N-use efficiency in maize (Zea mays L.), if temporal and spatial variability in soil N availability and plant demand are adequately accounted for with an in-season N application. Our objective was to evaluate the success of using an active canopy sensor for developing maize N recommendations. This study was conducted in 21 farmers’ fields from 2007 to 2009, representing the maize production regions of east central and southeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Four blocks at each site included seven sidedress N rates (0–280 kg N ha⁻¹) and one at-planting N rate of 280 kg N ha⁻¹. Canopy reflectance in the 590 nm and 880 nm wavelengths, soil samples, chlorophyll meter (SPAD) measurements and above-ground biomass were collected at the 6th–7th-leaf growth stage (V6–V7). Relative amber normalized difference vegetative index (ANDVI_relative) and relative SPAD (SPAD_relative) were determined based on the relative measurements from the zero sidedress treatment to the 280 kg N ha⁻¹ at-planting treatment. Observations from the current study were compared to relationships between economic optimum N rate (EONR) and ANDVI_relative, presidedress NO₃ test (PSNT), or SPAD_relative that were developed from a previous study. These comparisons were based on an absolute mean difference (AMD) between observed EONR and the previously determined predicted relationships. The AMD for the relationship between EONR and ANDVI_relative in the current study was 46 kg N ha⁻¹. Neither the PSNT (AMD = 66 kg N ha⁻¹) nor the SPAD_relative (AMD = 72 kg N ha⁻¹) provided as good an indicator of EONR. When using all the observations from the two studies for the relationships between EONR and the various measurements, ANDVI_relative (R² = 0.65) provided a better estimate of EONR than PSNT (R² = 0.49) or SPAD_relative (not significant). Crop reflectance captured similar information as the PSNT and SPAD_relative, as reflected in strong relationships (R² > 0.60) among these variables. Crop canopy reflectance using an active sensor (i.e. ANDVI_relative) provided as good or better an indicator of EONR than PSNT or SPAD_relative, and provides an opportunity to easily adjust in-season N applications spatially.     

柑橘属2n花粉自然发生与沙田柚2n花粉诱导研究

果树2n配子育种较其他植物起步晚,尤其是利用2n花粉进行育种的研究在柑橘上还无先例。试验中初步观察了柑橘属部分品种的2n花粉自然发生情况,证实了柑橘属内未减数花粉的存在。同时通过秋水仙碱不同浓度与作用时间处理促进了柑橘2n花粉的发生,将长寿沙田柚2n花粉发生比例由当年的自然发生率0.87%提高到9.76%。初步观察了2n花粉离体萌发状况,其萌发率与花粉管伸长速度较为正常,但萌发启动比单倍性花粉慢。     

Giant piezoelectricity on Si for hyperactive MEMS

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) incorporating active piezoelectric layers offer integrated actuation, sensing, and transduction. The broad implementation of such active MEMS has long been constrained by the inability to integrate materials with giant piezoelectric response, such as Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)-PbTiO(3) (PMN-PT). We synthesized high-quality PMN-PT epitaxial thin films on vicinal (001) Si wafers with the use of an epitaxial (001) SrTiO(3) template layer with superior piezoelectric coefficients (e(31,f) = -27 ± 3 coulombs per square meter) and figures of merit for piezoelectric energy-harvesting systems. We have incorporated these heterostructures into microcantilevers that are actuated with extremely low drive voltage due to thin-film piezoelectric properties that rival bulk PMN-PT single crystals. These epitaxial heterostructures exhibit very large electromechanical coupling for ultrasound medical imaging, microfluidic control, mechanical sensing, and energy harvesting.     

A von Liebig response function to nitrogen and phosphorus for hay production from irrigated pastures

Permanent pasture in the Po Valley of Italy was the site of a pluriannual experiment (1975–81) to observe the effects on hay production of N and P fertilizer applications well above those normally recommended. A split-plot design with a randomized complete block arrangement of the whole-plot factor with 5 levels of N and the subplot factor with 3 levels of P was chosen for the experiment. The maximum rate of N application was 800 kg ha^?1 while the corresponding rate for P was 87.3 kg ha^?1. Principal species in the sward were orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), common velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). This field was irrigated according to customary techniques during summer months and cut five limes each year. Yields were analysed by means of a response function of the linear and plateau type which incorporates von Liebig's Law of the Minimum, it was found that this function represents the hay response very well with respect to N. In fact, beyond 390 kg ha ^?1 applied N the response is negligible up to 800 kg ha^?1, the maximum rate tested in this experiment. The optimal rate of applied N decreased consistently over the years from 390 to 260 kg ha^?1. At these unusually high levels of fertilization hay production increased about 60–80% compared with normal practices. The estimation of the von Liebig response function requires mathematical programming knowledge. The estimates obtained are maximum likelihood estimates. The practical importance of estimating and using this response function lies in its ability to achieve the maximum response with the minimum amount of fertilizers among all other admissible response functions. Hence, its adoption for making fertilizer recommendations would save farmers money and limit chemical pollution to the environment.     

玉米新品种“吉农玉308”选育报告

玉米新品种"吉农玉308"是以自选系"GS02"为母本、"GS03"为父本杂交育成的玉米单交种.2年区域试验结果:平均产量为10 505.0 kg/hm2,比对照增产8.9%;生产试验结果:平均产量为9588.9 kg/hm2,比对照"平全13"增产3.5%.该品种2008年1月通过吉林省农作物品种审定委员会审定,其主要特点是高产、抗病、抗旱、品质好,适合吉林省中晚熟地区及黑龙江省部分地区种植.