Inactivation of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents during the manufacture of dicalcium phosphate from bone

Dicalcium phosphate was prepared from industrial crushed bone artificially contaminated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agents in two experiments carried out in an accurately scaled-down laboratory model of the industrial manufacturing process. In one experiment, 10 g of mouse brain infected with the 301V strain of mouse-passaged bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent was added to the crushed bone; in the other experiment, 10 g of hamster brain infected with the 263K strain of hamster-passaged scrapie agent was added. Samples of the infectious brain and dried dicalcium phosphate were assayed for the amount of 301V or 263K infectivity present. The titre of infectivity of the 301V-infected brain was 10(7.7) intracerebral ID50/g; that of the 263K-infected brain was 10(8.0) intracerebral ID50/g. The titres of the dried samples of dicalcium phosphate were 10(2.5) ID50/g in the experiment spiked with 301V and 10(2.7) ID50/g in the experiment spiked with 263K. The calculated clearance factors were 10(3.9) for the experiment with 301V and 10(3.8) for the experiment with 263K.     

In vivo administration of acepromazine or promethazine to horse decreases the reactive oxygen species production response of subsequently isolated neutrophils to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate

The previous experiments have shown that some phenothiazines have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro . In this study the inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils was studied in two groups of horses, which received a dose of 0.1 mg/kg of either acepromazine or promethazine intravenously. Blood samples were collected before (T0) and 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 h after drug administration. The chemiluminescence (CML) response of neutrophils was measured ex vivo in the presence of luminol for a period of 10 min and the maximum CML value (peak value) recorded. There was a significant inhibition of the ROS production in the acepromazine treated group (49% inhibition) at 5 h after administration and in the promethazine group (24% inhibition) at 3 h after administration ( P  < 0.05 vs. T0). These findings are of therapeutic relevance in the use of phenothiazines in equine patients with inflammatory diseases where neutrophil activation and ROS production are implicated.     

Site and extent of starch and neutral detergent fiber digestion as affected by source of calcium and level of corn

Five steers (385 kg) fitted with permanent abomasal cannulae were used to compare Ca source (limestone or dicalcium phosphate) and corn level on site and extent of digestion. Diets contained 50, 70 or 90% corn, with corn silage and supplement to provide .70% Ca from either limestone or dicalcium phosphate. Limestone did not affect ruminal digestion, but postruminal starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion were higher (P less than .05) for limestone compared with dicalcium phosphate, which suggests that starch utilization may be increased postruminally by a compound with buffering capacity. As a percentage of total starch intake, total tract and ruminal starch digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) while postruminal starch digestion decreased (linear, P less than .01) with corn level. Neutral detergent fiber digested in the rumen decreased (linear, P less than .01) and postruminal NDF digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) when level of corn in the diet increased. Effects of corn level were not different when organic matter and starch intake were included as covariates.     

三北防护林新无性系-美青杂种系列引进与苗期选择

１９９８年春从中国林科院的实验点甘肃临夏回族自治州林科所引入北方型美洲黑杨（Ｐ．ｄｅｌｔｏｉｄｅｓ）×青杨（Ｐ．ｃａｔｈａｙａｎａ）杂种无性系　１３７个,扦插在内蒙奈曼旗兴隆沼林场二分场。１９９８年秋选出　１３个无性系,加入我地区新近确定的推广无性系──白城　４１作对照,１９９９年建无性系测试圃,２０００年春平茬,２０００年秋对这　１３个无性系生长量和抗性的调查与评价,以白城　４１为对照,初步选择出　１０个无性系,高生长较对照大　３０％以上的有　４个,２０％以上　５个;径生长大　５０％的　３个,３０％以上　２个,２０％以上　４个;所有无性系的抗锈病情况都好于对照。为丰富三北地区营造杨树农田防护林品种和改善三北地区杨树品种单一的问题有望选出新无性系。     

A survey of cattle producers in the Boophilus microplus endemic area of Queensland to determine attitudes to the control of and vaccination against tick fever

SUMMARY: A survey by mail was used to determine the views of beef producers in the Boophilus microplus endemic area of Queensland on the control of and vaccination against tick fever. Data from 448 questionnaires were analysed, representing 2.7% of beef producers in the survey area. Producers considered buffalo fly ( Haematobia irritans exigua ) infestation as the most important problem whereas tick fever ranked sixth overall. Private veterinarians were regarded as the most important source of information on vaccines for cattle followed by a weekly rural newspaper. From the survey we estimate that about 33% of producers used the tick fever vaccine produced by the Tick Fever Research Centre of Queensland Department of Primary Industries but there were significant (P < 0.05) variations between regions and herds. Large herds (≥ 400 head) in south-east Queensland were the most likely to be vaccinated against tick fever. Of the producers who did not use the vaccine, over 70% replied that there was no need to vaccinate because of the low risk of the disease in their herds. In 52% of unvaccinated herds the treatment of animals with acaricide was considered the most important means of tick fever control and 61% of these herds comprised Bos indicus x Bos taurus or Bos indicus cattle.     

马家塔露天矿生态复垦区土壤养分状况研究

本文系统研究了神东矿区马家塔露天采坑复垦区土壤养分状况,结果显示:复垦区土壤基本上为原始回填土,剖面层次不发育,成土程度很低;土壤机械组成以砾石、粗沙为主,含量高达90%。有机质、含碱解氮含量略高于未受扰动的原状土壤,但速磷、速钾含量均低于原状土壤,总体评价土壤属于养分贫乏型;成土程度低、养分含量少是农林业生产水平不高的主要原因。研究表明通过改良复垦工艺以及提高复垦区生产管理水平是提高土地生产力的主要措施。     

Circulating Metabolic Hormones During the Peripubertal Period and Their Association with Testicular Development in Bulls

The objective of the present study was to characterize changes in serum metabolic hormones concentrations from 20 weeks before to 20 weeks post-puberty in bulls and to investigate the associations of metabolic hormones concentrations with testicular development. Leptin concentrations increased from 16 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty and insulin concentrations increased from puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. Growth hormone concentrations decreased after 4 weeks post-puberty, whereas IGF-I concentrations increased from 8 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. During this period, testicular growth was accelerated and testosterone secretion increased substantially, without any significant changes in gonadotropin secretion. Monthly circulating concentrations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin accounted for 63% of the variation in scrotal circumference and 59% of the variation in paired testes volume. In conclusion, the secretion of metabolic hormones was not associated with changes in gonadotropins concentrations. Furthermore, the associations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin concentrations with testes size indicated that these hormones might be involved in a gonadotropin-independent mechanism regulating the testicular development in peripubertal bulls.