Influence of Temperament Score and Handling Facility on Stress,Reproductive Hormone Concentrations,and Fixed Time AI Pregnancy Rates in Beef Heifers

The objectives were (i) to evaluate the effect of temperament, determined by modified 2‐point chute exit and gait score, on artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rates in beef heifers following fixed time AI and (ii) to determine the effect of temperament on cortisol, substance‐P, prolactin and progesterone at initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Angus beef heifers (n = 967) at eight locations were included in this study. At the initiation of synchronization (Day 0 = initiation of synchronization), all heifers received a body condition score (BCS), and temperament score (0 = calm; slow exit and walk or 1 = excitable; fast exit or jump or trot or run). Blood samples were collected from a sub‐population of heifers (n = 86) at both synchronization initiation and the time of AI to determine the differences in serum progesterone, cortisol, prolactin and substance‐P concentrations between temperament groups. Heifers were synchronized with 5‐day CO‐Synch+ controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol and were inseminated at 56 h after CIDR removal. Heifers were examined for pregnancy by ultrasound 70 days after AI to determine AI pregnancy. Controlling for synchronization treatment (p = 0.03), facility design (p = 0.05), and cattle handling facility design by temperament score interaction (p = 0.02), the AI pregnancy differed between heifers with excitable and calm temperament (51.9% vs 60.3%; p = 0.01). The alley‐way with acute bends and turns, and long straight alley‐way had lower AI pregnancy rate than did the semicircular alley‐way (53.5%, 56.3% and 67.0% respectively; p = 0.05). The serum hormone concentrations differed significantly between different types of cattle handling facility (p < 0.05). The cattle handling facility design by temperament group interactions significantly influenced progesterone (p = 0.01), cortisol (p = 0.01), prolactin (p = 0.02) and substance‐P (p = 0.04) both at the initiation of synchronization and at the time of AI. Inter‐ and intra‐rater agreement for temperament scoring were moderate and good (Kappa = 0.596 ± 0.07 and 0.797 ± 0.11) respectively. The predictive value for calm and pregnant to AI was 0.87, and excited and non‐pregnant to AI was 0.76. In conclusion, the modified 2‐point temperament scoring method can be used to identify heifers with excitable temperament. Heifers with excitable temperament had lower AI pregnancy. Further, cattle handling facility design influenced the temperament and AI pregnancy.     

Effects of in vitro exposure to ozone and/or hyperoxia on superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and lipid peroxidation in red blood cells and plasma of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

In aquaculture, ozone is used as a disinfectant. In its production, extensive amounts of oxygen are formed resulting in hyperoxic conditions in culture units. Both ozone and hyperoxia have the potential to be toxic via pro‐oxidant mechanisms and to activate antioxidant defence systems in cultured species. To eliminate systemic effects, blood of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), was exposed in vitro for 5 min to ozone/hyperoxia or hyperoxia, and changes in antioxidant defences and lipid peroxidation were measured after exposure. Ozone exposure caused severe damage in red blood cells (rbc) detected as increased lipid peroxidation and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in both plasma and rbc. Oxygen exposure alone increased intracellular lipid peroxidation and GSSG levels 10 min after exposure and was not evident in the plasma at any time. Ozone, but not oxygen exposure, decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in plasma, and the changes were negatively correlated with increased lipid peroxidation in rbc, indicating that extracellular GSH has a dynamic role in the protection of rbc from direct oxidation by ozone. Both ozone and hyperoxic conditions increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rbc 3 and 6 h after exposure. In contrast, catalase activity was only increased 10 min after oxygen exposure, suggesting other catalase activation mechanisms rather than enzyme induction. The recovery of lipid peroxidation and GSSG levels in rbc after hyperoxia, but not ozone exposure, indicated a capacity to defend against hyperoxia‐produced oxidative damage, but an overwhelming of antioxidant defences by ozone in rainbow trout rbc in vitro.     

Comparative performance of juvenile rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, fed to satiation with simulated 'standard' and 'high energy' diet formulations

Abstract. Four experimental diets were formulated to resemble practical rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, grower feeds based on medium and moderate lipid inclusions of 10 and 14% (standard energy levels) to relatively 'high energy' diets containing 18 and 22% lipid respectively. Each of these diets was isonitrogenous with a defined protein content of 42%. During a 10-week growth trial period, juvenile rainbow trout of initial mean weight of 10g were fed each ration to satiation. At the end of the study, there was a significant gain (P> 0.05) in the mean live weights of fish receiving the higher energy diets associated with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and net protein utilization (NPU). Although there was a declining trend in voluntary food intake relative to body weight with increasing dietary lipid content, this was insufficient to prevent greater deposition of body fat.
The results are discussed in relation to practical trout feeds in order to achieve a desired growth performance and acceptable body composition with intensive feeding regimes.     

Joint Acaricidal Action of Diafenthiuron and Fenbutatin-oxide Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus （Boisduval） （Acari： Tetranychidae）

[Objective]This study was conducted to obtain a new high-efficiency acaricide mixture.[Method]The synergism acaricidal of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide against carmine spider mite was investigated,and the optimal ratio of both acaricides were determined by means of co-toxicity factors and co-toxicity coefficients（CTC）.[Result]At 24 h post-treatment,the LC50values of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide against T.cinnabarinus female adults were 154.67 and 93.26 mg/L,respectively,and the synergistic mass ratios of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide ranged from 1：0.06 to 1：0.87,and the optimal diafenthiuron-to-fenbutatin-oxide ratio was 1：0.39 with the LC50and CTC of 67.87 mg/L and 188.93（CTC significantly above 100 strongly indicated synergism）,respectively,and the toxicity relative to diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide was 2.28 and 1.37 times,respectively.[Conclusion]The joint acaricidal action of diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide strongly indicates synergism.These findings proved scientific theoretical basis for mixing diafenthiuron and fenbutatin-oxide to control spider mites and developing a new synergisic acaricide.     

牛GDF-9基因的克隆与组织表达的分析

为了检测牛GDF-9基因mRNA在怀孕期牛生殖系统的表达情况,为GDF-9基因在雌性动物繁殖上的研究提供一定的理论依据。本试验根据GenBank中报道的牛GDF-9基因序列设计引物,从牛卵巢、输卵管、子宫、肾脏中提取RNA,采用RT-PCR技术进行cDNA扩增,扩增产物与载体pGM-T连接,转化大肠杆菌DH5α,筛选阳性克隆,测序。结果表明,已成功克隆的阳性重组子经测序鉴定其片段大小与预期大小完全一致,为264 bp。序列同源性分析比较表明,该cDNA及其推导的氨基酸序列与绵羊GDF-9cDNA和氨基酸序列同源性分别为97%和94%。以-βactin为内参照物,采用RT-PCR技术进行半定量分析,通过检测比较牛GDF-9基因在卵巢、输卵管、子宫、肾脏组织中mRNA的表达情况。结果表明,牛GDF-9基因在卵巢中表达量最高,在输卵管、子宫、肾脏中均有表达,但表达量不高。     

上海乡土树种及其在城市绿化建设中的应用

随着生态城市被列为上海市的建设发展目标,城市绿化建设被赋予了新的目标和内涵,生态林将逐渐成为城市绿化的主体,作为生态林建设基础的乡土树种也将得到更为广泛的应用.通过实地调查和资料调查,统计分析了上海市的乡土树种,共42科89属128种(含变种),可以分为常绿阔叶乔木、常绿阔叶灌木、半常绿阔叶灌木、落叶阔叶乔木、落叶阔叶小乔木和落叶阔叶灌木等6个类型.分析了乡土树种在上海绿化建设中的意义和应用现状,并对其应用进行了展望.表1参21     

披针叶黄华生物碱成分研究

采用 GC- MS联用分析技术从披针叶黄华总生物碱中分离鉴定出 12个喹喏里西啶生物碱 ,即无叶豆碱 ,N-甲基金雀花碱 ,金雀花碱 ,白羽扇豆碱 ,黄华碱 ,臭豆碱 ,N-甲醛基金雀花碱 ,Dodecahydro- 7,14 -methanodipyrido[1,2 - a:1′,2′- E][1.5 ]diazocine,Pyridine1- acetyl- 1,2 ,3,4 - tetrahydro- 5 - (2 - piperdinyl) ,7,14 -Methano- 2 H,6 H- dipyrido[1,2 - a:1′,2′- e][1,5 ]diaz,1,1- Dim ethyl- 3- (2 - nitrophenyl) ,7,14 - Methano- 4 H,6 H-dipyrido[1,2 - a:1′,2′- e][1,5 ]diaz。后 5种化合物为首次从该植物中鉴定     

Method for estimation of ocean current velocity from satellite images

Barotropic instability waves on a shear interface propagate at the average speed of the water on the two sides. Assuming the instability to be excited by tidal oscillations, the phase speed is the wavelength divided by the tidal period. If the water is at rest on one side of the shear layer the current speed on the other side can be calculated. This method, applied to the Gulf Stream beyond Cape Hatteras as seen in satellite images, gives estimates of current speed in general agreement with in situ observations.     

Eighth millennium pottery from a prehistoric shell midden in the brazilian Amazon

The earliest pottery yet found in the Western Hemisphere has been excavated from a prehistoric shell midden near Santarém in the lower Amazon, Brazil. Calibrated accelerator radiocarbon dates on charcoal, shell, and pottery and a thermoluminescence date on pottery from the site fall from about 8000 to 7000 years before the present. The early fishing village is part of a long prehistoric trajectory that contradicts theories that resource poverty limited cultural evolution in the tropics.