Feeding ragworm (Nereis virens Sars) to common sole (Solea solea L.) alleviates nutritional anaemia and stimulates growth

Common sole fed with commercial pellets develop anaemia and are restricted in their growth performance. The anaemia can be the result of a difference in feed intake, a nutritional deficiency, an inflammatory response to infection or combinations of these aspects. In this study, it was investigated whether feeding ragworm would alleviate the anaemia and stimulate growth. Sole were fed one of three diets: a commercial feed, a commercial feed treated with ragworm extract or chopped ragworm. By comparing groups, three hypotheses were tested: (1) feeding ragworm alleviates the anaemia and positively affectS the sole's metabolic performance reflected in feed intake, feed efficiency and growth; (2) anaemia is alleviated by a higher feed intake when feeding ragworm and (3) anaemia is caused by an inflammatory response to infection. The sole fed with a commercial diet suffered from anaemia. Feeding sole with ragworm alleviated the anaemia as the average haematocrit level nearly doubled in these fish as compared to fish fed pellets. Investigation of the expression of genes in the liver indicated that the anaemia in sole fed pellets is a nutritional anaemia and not an anaemia due to an inflammatory response. Sole fed ragworm showed improved growth which may be a consequence of the higher haematocrit levels in these fish increasing their oxygen carrying capacity. Addition of ragworm extract to the pellets levelled the feed intake between pellets and ragworm, but did not improve the anaemic state of sole and had only a limited effect on growth.     

Hyperadrenocorticism associated with excessive sex hormone production by an adrenocortical tumor in two dogs.

An 11-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever and a 9-year-old castrated male miniature Poodle were evaluated because of clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Cortisol testing did not support a diagnosis of hypercortisolemia in either dog; however, imaging studies revealed unilateral adrenal tumors in both dogs. Serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, and estradiol were high in both dogs, and androstenedione concentrations were also high in 1 dog. It is suspected that sex hormone secretion by the adrenal tumors in these dogs resulted in clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Clinical signs and hormonal abnormalities resolved in the male dog after surgical resection of the tumor. There was no improvement in clinical signs after treatment with mitotane in the female dog, which died 2 months after diagnosis. Histologic evaluation confirmed the presence of adrenocortical carcinoma in both dogs.     

工厂化水产养殖水质监测系统

工厂化水产养殖的密度高、风险大,养殖对象对pH、溶解氧、温度、氨氮、亚硝酸盐等水质参数的变化敏感,受影响严重,监测水质参数极为重要。本文针对工厂化水产养殖水质监测特点和需求,研发了工厂化水产养殖水质监测系统。分析研究pH、溶解氧、温度、亚硝酸盐等水质参数的阈值,设计水质监测数据无线采集节点和基于Zigbee的无线监测网络,建立水质监测系统软件平台。结果表明,该系统能够实现工厂化水产养殖水质实时监测,保证生产安全,提高水产养殖生产效率。     

Effect of Diaporthe RNA virus 1 (DRV1) on growth and pathogenicity of different <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaporthe</Emphasis> species

A 4.1 kbp positive-strand RNA virus known as Diaporthe RNA virus 1 (DRV1) occurs in hypovirulent, non-sporulating isolates of the fungal pathogen Diaporthe perjuncta. A full-length cDNA clone of DRV1 was developed and RNA transcribed from the cDNA clone used to transfect different Diaporthe spp. The transfected species included three D. ambigua isolates and an unidentified Phomopsis asexual state of a Diaporthe sp. Successful transfections were confirmed using RT-PCR. Although the in vitro-transcribed positive sense single-stranded RNA used for transfection included vector sequences at both ends, the genomes of progeny virus from DRV1-transfected isolates were free of the vector sequences. Transfection resulted in morphological changes in these fungal pathogens. However, the presence of DRV1 did not reduce growth rate in two of the three D. ambigua or the Phomopsis sp. significantly. Pathogenicity studies showed that the transfected isolates have reduced aggresiveness.     

Solar-powered Bamboo Culm Prefabricated Housing

The solar-powered hybrid energy system has been put into practice in Hunan bamboo culm prefabricated housing and was enrolled in this study.In this paper,the experimental data which was taken from a demonstration house highlighted that this system has a high potential for integrated solar energy utilization.The average thermal efficiency of the collector was 58.68%,and the thermal conductivity coefficient of bamboo culm prefabricated composite wall was 1.075 W/(m2 K).Based on these results,bamboo culms could be used as the main structural material and heat storage slow-release flooring in the prefabricated housing.The housing was lower in energy consuming.     

Fertilizer and planting strategies to increase biomass and improve root morphology in the natural rubber producer Taraxacum brevicorniculatum

Taraxacum brevicorniculatum produces high-quality natural rubber in its roots and could be developed as an alternative commercial source of this valuable raw material. However, current wild type accessions have a low biomass and branched roots that make them difficult to harvest. We set out to determine the optimum fertilizer and spacing requirements for T. brevicorniculatum plants in greenhouse and field trials, aiming to increase root biomass and reduce branching thus maximizing rubber yield and reducing losses during harvesting. Our preliminary data from greenhouse trials show that fertilizers containing calcium and magnesium in addition to NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) increase root biomass by 25% compared to standard NPK fertilizer plus boron, and by 15% compared to NPK plus calcium. Fertilizers with a low N:P ratio increased the root biomass in greenhouse and field trials. Dense sowing (5-10 cm between plants) inhibits root branching and leads to the formation of single taproots that can be harvested easily. We therefore provisionally recommend the application of low N:P ratio NPK fertilizer supplemented with calcium and magnesium to closely-spaced plants in order to achieve the greatest increase in plant biomass per hectare.     

Quantitative disease resistance assessment by real-time PCR using the Stagonospora nodorum-wheat pathosystem as a model

Measuring disease resistance accurately and reproducibly is a key requirement for the introgression of partial resistance genes into breeding lines. Here, a qPCR protocol is used to measure fungal biomass, using the wheat- Stagonospora nodorum pathosystem as a model. Seven cultivars of differing reported resistance levels were used. Fungal biomass taken at 220°C thermal days after inoculation accurately predicts the final grain weight loss. It is concluded that a test based on qPCR methods is specific, quantitative, rapid and objective. Such tests could provide useful and economic tools in the development of robustly resistant crop cultivars.