Surveillance and identification of influenza A viruses in wild aquatic birds in the Crimea, Ukraine (2006-2008)

The ecology of avian influenza (AI) viruses in wild aquatic birds of Asia is poorly understood, especially for the H5N1 high pathogenicity AI (HPAI) viruses. From March 2006 through November 2008, 20 AI viruses were isolated in the Crimea region of Ukraine with an overall frequency of virus recovery of 3.3%. All the viruses were isolated from three species of dabbling ducks: mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), wigeon (Anas penelope), and garganey (Anas querquedula), making the frequency of virus recovery for dabbling ducks 6.3%. The viruses were predominantly isolated during the fall sampling period. All viruses were genetically and antigenically characterized. No H5N1 HPAI viruses were isolated, but other HA and NA subtypes were identified including H3N1 (2), H3N6 (3), H3N8 (4), H4N6 (6), H5N2 (3), H7N8 (1), and H10N6 (1) subtypes. All isolates were of low pathogenicity, as determined by the intravenous pathogenicity index of 0.00. For H5N2 and H7N8 isolates, the HA gene was sequenced and the phylogenetic analysis revealed possible ecologic connections of the Crimea region with AI viruses from Siberia and Europe. No influenza A isolates were recovered from other Anseriformes (diving ducks [two species of pochards] and graylag geese), Columbiformes (collared doves), Gruiformes (coot), and Galliformes (gray partridges).     

Back kinematics of healthy trotting horses during treadmill versus over ground locomotion

Reasons for performing study: Treadmill locomotion is frequently used for training of sport horses, for diagnostic purposes and for research. Identification of the possible biomechanical differences and similarities between the back movement during treadmill (T) and over ground (O) locomotion is essential for the correct interpretation of research results. Objectives: To compare the kinematics of the thoracolumbar vertebral column in treadmill and over ground locomotion in healthy horses. Methods: Six sound Dutch Warmblood horses trotted on a T and O during 10 s at their own preferred velocity (mean ± s.d. 3.6 ± 0.3 m/s T and 3.6 ± 0.1 m/s O), which was the same in both conditions. Kinematics of the vertebral column was captured by infrared cameras using reflective skin markers attached over the spinous processes of selected vertebrae and other locations. Flexion‐extension and lateral bending range of motion (ROM), angular motion pattern (AMP) and intravertebral pattern symmetry (IVPS) of 5 vertebral angles (T6‐T10‐T13, T10‐T13‐T17, T13‐T17‐L1, T17‐L1‐L3 and L1‐L3‐l5) were calculated. Neck angle, linear and temporal stride parameters and protraction‐retraction angles of the limbs were also calculated. Results: The vertical ROM (flexion‐extension) was similar in both conditions, but the horizontal ROM (lateral bending) of the lumbar angles T17‐L1‐L3 and L1‐L3‐L5 was less during T locomotion (mean ± s.d. difference of 1.8 ± 0.6 and 1.7 ± 0.9°, respectively, P>0.05). During O locomotion, the symmetry pattern of the lumbar vertebral angles was diminished from 0.9 to 0.7 (1 = 100% symmetry) indicating increased irregularity of the movement (P>0.05). No differences were found in the basic linear and temporal stride parameters and neck angle. Potential relevance: Vertebral kinematics during treadmill locomotion is not identical to over ground locomotion, but the differences are minor. During treadmill locomotion lumbar motion is less, and caution should be therefore taken when interpreting lumbar kinematics.     

Expression and Localization of HSPs in the Liver of Transported Pigs

To demonstrate the distribution and expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the liver, five kinds of HSPs, namely HSP70 , HSP72, HSP86, HSP90 and HSP27 were determined after a long distance transport using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. All five HSPs were regularly detected in the liver of both the transported and the control group. Both nuclear and cytoplasmic labeling was present in hepatic cells;however, localization of HSPs was quite different in hepatocytes. The majority of HSP70, HSP72 and HSP27appeared to predominate in cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Nuclear signals of HSP90 and HSP86 were most prominent in hepatocytes in which immunostaining in the cytoplasm was relatively weak compared with that in the nucleus. There was subjectively lower staining in the edge of hepatic labule, and lower numbers of HSPs labeled hepatic cells corresponded to light microscopic lesions. The obvious inductions of some HSPs were detected in the liver, especially the HSP90(P＜ 0.01) which belongs to the HSP90 family. However, the obvious reductions of HSP86 (P ＜ 0.05), which belong to the HSP90 family, and HSP27 ( P ＜ 0.05), which belong to small families, were detected in stressed pig liver after six hours of long distance transportation.     

A Single Sample Method for Evaluating 51Chromium-Ethylene Diaminic Tetraacetic Acid Clearance in Normal and Hyperthyroid Cats

Background: Chronic kidney failure is frequently seen in middle-aged and elderly cats. ⁵¹Chromium-ethylene diaminic tetraacetic acid (⁵¹Cr-EDTA) clearance and single blood sample (SBS) method are used in several species to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
Hypothesis: The hypothesis of this study was that ⁵¹Cr-EDTA clearance could be determined using an SBS method in normal and hyperthyroid cats.
Animals: Forty-six cats were included in this study, with an average age of 9.5 years. Of these cats, 27 had hyperthyroidism; 19 were healthy.
Methods: After IV injection of ⁵¹Cr-EDTA (average dose: 4.25 MBq), 7 blood samples were obtained between 5 and 240 minutes. Reference clearance was calculated in mL/min and mL/min/kg body weight, using a 2-compartment model. Optimal time for clearance measurement with SBS was then determined by systematically comparing each individual plasma concentration to the reference multisample clearance.
Results: The average reference plasma clearance of ⁵¹Cr-EDTA for all cats was 14.9 mL/min (3.7 mL/min/kg). The clearance in hyperthyroid cats averaged 16.4 mL/min (4.3 mL/min/kg) and in normal cats averaged 10.3 mL/min (2.4 mL/min/kg).
The optimal time for the SBS was 48 minutes after injection of tracer ⁵¹Cr-EDTA ( R ²= 0.9414), giving the following converting equation: clearance = (0.0066 × DV_{48 minutes}) – 0.9277 (in mL/min).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In this study, the single sample ⁵¹Cr-EDTA clearance method was used to estimate the global GFR in cats. The method identified differences in clearance between normal and hyperthyroid cats. The optimal time for an SBS was 48 minutes.     

北京西山人工林群落物种多样性的研究

应用丰富度、多样性、均匀度指标 ,研究了北京西山地区 10种人工林群落的物种多样性 .结果表明 :①大多数群落的Shannon Wiener指数H在 1 5～ 3 0之间 ,且与物种丰富度指数的变化趋势一致 ,使用效果比较理想 ;②不同人工林群落中 ,乔木第一亚层的物种丰富度指数和Shannon Wiener指数均低于乔木第二亚层 ,而Simpson指数则相反 ;③不同人工林群落中 ,槲树和华山松林物种丰富度和Shannon Wiener指数较高 ;④草本层的物种丰富度和Shannon Wiener指数高于灌木层和乔木层 ,而乔木层和灌木层没有明显的差异 ;⑤各多样性指数在不同群落间的变化幅度均为草本层 >灌木层 >乔木层 .     

工业碱木素热裂解特性研究

用热重分析法和热解色谱质谱联用技术(Py-GC-MS)对工业碱木素热解行为进行了初步研究,分析了工业碱木素在不同升温速率下的热分解特性。结果表明,工业碱木素的热解过程主要分为4个阶段,在200℃以下的低温区和300～500℃的中温区各有1个强烈失重峰。工业碱木素热裂解产物非常复杂,Py-GC-MS分析表明,在300℃下的热解产物中,以源于工业碱木素的聚糖热解产物为主,含有一定量的低分子木素热解构产物;在450℃下的热解产物中,以木素大分子的热解构产物为主,例如各种酚类化合物、愈创木基丙酮等酮类化合物及源于木素-碳水化合物复合体的阿魏酸等化合物。      

Abscisic Acid May Alter the Salicylic Acid‐Related Abiotic Stress Response in Maize

The effect of 0, 0.05 or 0.1 mm abscisic acid treatment on chilling tolerance and salicylic acid‐related responses was investigated in young maize seedlings (Zea mays L., hybrid Norma). Although the pre‐treatment of maize seedlings with abscisic acid slightly decreased the chlorophyll content, it also reduced the level of chilling injury caused by 6 days of cold treatment at 5 °C. Under normal growth conditions, increased levels of bound salicylic acid and of bound ortho‐hydroxycinnamic acid were observed in the leaves during abscisic acid treatment. In the roots, abscisic acid did not affect the free and bound salicylic acid levels, but increased the amount of free and bound ortho‐hydroxycinnamic acid. The activity of glutathione‐S‐transferase increased on the 3rd day of abscisic acid treatment, whereas it did not change when followed by cold stress, compared with the control leaves. In the roots, the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and ascorbate peroxidase increased during the abscisic acid treatment, and those of glutathione‐S‐transferase and ascorbate peroxidase were also stimulated when abscisic acid pre‐treatment was followed by cold stress, compared with the control roots. Our results suggest that an overlap may exist between the abscisic acid‐induced cold acclimation and the salicylic acid‐related stress response.