Utilization of free and protein-bound lysine in the Japanese quail

The utilization of dietary lysine for protein synthesis is affected by the digestibility of protein-bound lysine, by its intestinal resorption and by its oxidative catabolism. The approach chosen in this paper enables a comparison of the cumulative effect of these processes on the utilization of free and protein-bound lysine, respectively. The principle of the approach is based on a quantification of the expiration of 14C-labelled carbon dioxide after an oral administration of a diet, which contains L-(U-14C)-lysine either as a free amino acid or bound to yeast proteins. During an adaptation phase cockerels of the Japanese quail received a diet based mainly on ground wheat and wheat gluten. This diet was supplemented either with yeast proteins or with a mixture of L-amino acids which simulates the composition of the yeast proteins. In the main experiment the expiration of labelled carbon dioxide was measured during 240 minutes after the administration of the corresponding labelled diets. Just before treatment the animals were either in the postprandial phase or in a state of slight hunger. The maximum of expiration of labelled carbon dioxide occurred around the 60th minute after administration of the corresponding labelled diets. The cumulative expiration of labelled carbon dioxide, expressed in per cent of the radioactive dose used, amounts to 15.5% and 14.3% for free and protein-bound lysine, respectively. The utilization of both forms of lysine in the Japanese quail is lower than in broilers.     

Modelling the microbial breakdown of pesticides in soil using a parameter estimation technique

Results of field measurements and laboratory experiments were used to simulate the behaviour of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) in a loamy sand soil. Microbial activity was described using pre-set conditions to compute transformation rates as dependent on compound concentrations and temperature. These kinetics could only be analysed using non-linear transformation rates. To link the development of microbial populations and the consumption of the compound over time, an iterative technique was used to estimate the necessary parameters.     

细胞分裂素:杨树气孔运动的调节剂

通过在三种杨树无性系，Ｉ－２１４（Ｐｏｐｕｌｕｓ×ｅｕｒａｎｅｒｉｃａｎａｃｖ．Ｉ－２１４）（ｌｔａｌｉｃａ）、中东杨（Ｐ．ｂｅｒｏｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）（Ｂｅｒｏｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）和群众杨（Ｐ．ｐｏｐｕｌａｒｉｓ３５－４４）（Ｐｏｐｕｌａｒｉｓ）一年生盆栽插条苗的木质部导入ＡＢＡ和细胞分裂素，研究了这两类激素在气孔调控中的作用。尽管不同无性系的气孔在对ＡＢＡ的敏感性上存在显著差异，但ＡＢＡ仍可导致气孔的关闭，然而在蒸腾流中的细胞分裂素（与ＡＢＡ共导入或分别导入）可以明显地抑制ＡＢＡ的作用。并且玉米素还能推迟土壤干旱所诱导的气孔关闭，在水分胁迫条件下，内源细胞分裂素浓度下降而同时ＡＢＡ上升．据此提出了复合胁迫信号的概念，即在根冠通讯中，是ＡＢＡ和细胞分裂素共同调控气孔的运动。另外还研究了玉米素、激动素、６－ＢＡ等不同细胞分裂素与ＡＢＡ的相互作用，结果发现６－ＢＡ与玉米素和激动素的作用相反，它不能抑制ＡＢＡ的作用，反而促进其对气孔的关闭     

Sexual selection can resolve sex-linked sexual antagonism

Sexual selection is a potent evolutionary force. However, very few models have considered the evolution of female preferences for traits expressed in both sexes. Here we explore how female preferences coevolve with sexually antagonistic traits, which involve alleles that are beneficial to one sex but harmful to the other. We show that with a sexually antagonistic trait on the X chromosome (males XY, females XX), females evolve to prefer mates carrying alleles beneficial to daughters. In contrast, with a Z-linked trait (males ZZ, females ZW), females more often evolve mating preferences for mates carrying alleles beneficial to sons (that is, flashy displays).     

A comparison of the cytologic and histologic features of meningiomas in four dogs

Abstract: The cytologic and histologic features of 2 intracranial and 2 spinal (extramedullary cervical) canine meningiomas were compared. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in 2 cases revealed mild, mixed cell pleocytosis, primarily composed of small lymphocytes and monocytoid cells, with a moderate increase in total protein concentration. Cytologic features suggestive of meningioma included cells with both epithelial and mes-enchymal characteristics and a tendency towards cell clustering. Tumor location also was useful in making a diagnosis. The 4 meningiomas differed histologically from one another, and included angioblastic, psam-momatous, meningotheliomatous, and microcystic anaplastic types, which conformed to a classification scheme for human meningiomas. The classification scheme could not be applied to cytologic specimens.     

Clinical trials in spontaneous disease in dogs: a new paradigm for investigations of sepsis

Objective: To provide evidence that naturally occurring sepsis in dogs provides a unique opportunity to test new therapies in clinically relevant settings. Data sources: Human and veterinary literature. Human data synthesis: Sepsis is a devastating condition responsible for most intensive care unit deaths. Most clinical trials targeting inflammatory mediators of sepsis have failed to improve outcome in clinical patients despite promising results in laboratory animal models. Animal models of sepsis fail to reproduce the clinical syndrome and therefore lead to conclusions that may not be relevant to clinical care. Veterinary data synthesis: Sepsis is recognized but not well‐characterized in companion animal species. Despite some species variability, the cardiopulmonary response to sepsis in dogs is similar to humans. Additionally, inflammatory and coagulation changes that accompany canine sepsis are consistent with those documented in humans. Sepsis secondary to canine parvoviral infection offers the advantages of relative population homogeneity, predictable course, and easy early diagnosis. The disadvantages of canine parvovirus are that it affects a predominantly young and healthy population and results in low mortality with aggressive supportive care. Septic peritonitis and pneumonia have high mortality but can be challenging to diagnose, have a variable course, and affect a heterogeneous population, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Conclusions: Similar to trials currently being performed in canine cancer patients, veterinary clinical trials of new sepsis therapeutics may provide a unique opportunity to advance the treatment of sepsis in dogs, humans, and other species. Spontaneous sepsis from canine parvovirus, peritonitis, and pneumonia are common clinical conditions in which therapeutics can be tested.