Disseminated Aspergillus flavus infection in broiler breeder pullets

Increased morbidity and mortality occurred in a 5-wk-old broiler breeder replacement pullet flock. The affected broiler pullet flock was housed on the first floor of a two-story confinement building. Mortality increased to 0.1%/day compared to the flock on the second floor, which had mortality levels of less than 0.01%/day. Clinical signs in the affected chickens included inactivity, decreased response to stimuli, and anorexia. No respiratory or neurologic signs were observed. On necropsy, affected pullets were dehydrated and emaciated and had disseminated variably sized single or multiple heterophilic granulomas that contained intralesional septate and branching fungal hyphae. Lesions were extensive around the base of the heart in the thoracic inlet and in the kidneys. Other affected organs included eyelid, muscle, proventriculus, ventriculus, intestine, liver, spleen, lung, and heart. Aspergillus flavus was cultured from the visceral granulomas. The source of flock exposure to the organism was not determined.     

Transfection of non-susceptible cells with Ovis aries recombinant lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 renders susceptibility to Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxin

Mannheimia haemolytica is an important etiological agent of pneumonia in domestic sheep (DS, Ovis aries). Leukotoxin (Lkt) produced by this organism is the principal virulence factor responsible for the acute inflammation and lung injury characteristic of M. haemolytica caused disease. Previously, we have shown that the leukocyte-specific integrins, beta(2) integrins, serve as the receptor for Lkt. Although it is certain that CD18, the beta subunit of beta(2) integrins, mediates Lkt-induced cytolysis of leukocytes, it is not clear whether CD18 of all three beta(2) integrins, LFA-1, Mac-1 and CR4, mediates Lkt-induced cytolysis of DS leukocytes. Since polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which express all three beta(2) integrins, are the leukocyte subset that is most susceptible to Lkt, we hypothesized that all three beta(2) integrins serve as the receptor for Lkt. The objective of this study was to determine whether DS LFA-1 serves as a receptor for M. haemolytica Lkt. We cloned the cDNA for DS CD11a, the alpha subunit of LFA-1, and co-transfected it along with the previously cloned cDNA for DS CD18, into a Lkt-non-suceptible cell line. Transfectants stably expressing DS LFA-1 were bound by Lkt. More importantly, Lkt lysed the DS LFA-1 transfectants in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-incubation of Lkt with a Lkt-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb), or pre-incubation of transfectants with MAbs specific for DS CD11a or CD18, inhibited Lkt-induced cytolysis of the transfectants. Exposure of LFA-1 transfectants to low concentrations of Lkt resulted in elevation of intracellular [Ca(2+)](i). Taken together, these results indicate that DS LFA-1 serves as a receptor for M. haemolytica Lkt.     

Perceptions of veterinarians and clients to expressions of clinical uncertainty

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes of veterinarians and clients towards expressions of clinical uncertainty. METHODS: Questionnaires that assessed the respondent's attitudes towards expressions of clinical uncertainty were completed by clients at six small animal practices. In addition, questionnaires that evaluated what veterinarians thought their client's attitudes would be towards expressions of clinical uncertainty were completed by veterinarians. The responses from clients and veterinarians were statistically compared. RESULTS: Veterinarians significantly underestimated the desire of clients to be told about uncertainties in treatment and significantly overestimated how the expression of uncertainty would generally reduce client confidence. Veterinarians significantly overestimated the loss of client confidence resulting from saying "I am not sure about this" and from asking a nurse for advice. Both clients and veterinarians considered that verbal expressions of uncertainty would lead to a greater reduction in client confidence than behavioural expressions of uncertainty. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study suggests that most clients want to be told about their veterinarian's clinical uncertainties, and how this uncertainty is expressed can markedly influence client confidence.     

光源、性别及光处理时间对草地贪夜蛾趋光行为的影响

为研发高效、精准的监测防控设备,利用八臂行为选择装置系统测定不同光源、性别和光处理时间下草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的趋光行为。结果显示,在紫外光（波长365 nm）、紫光（波长420～430 nm）、蓝光（波长465～475 nm）、绿光（波长525～535 nm）、黄光（波长585～595 nm）和红光（波长655～665 nm）6种波长光源下,草地贪夜蛾混合种群（雌雄成虫比为1∶1）对紫外光光源的趋光选择率最高,为25.61%,显著高于其他处理,其次为紫光和蓝光光源,趋光选择率分别为16.30%和8.82%,对红光的趋光选择率最低,为4.76%。在紫外光刺激下,草地贪夜蛾雌成虫的趋光选择率显著高于混合种群（雌雄成虫比为1∶1）,在红光刺激下,雄成虫的趋光选择率显著高于雌成虫。另外,在紫外光刺激下,光处理时间60 min草地贪夜蛾雌成虫的趋光选择率显著高于其他处理。表明光源与性别因素均影响草地贪夜蛾的趋光行为,光处理时间对草地贪夜蛾的趋光行为影响较小,且与光源及性别因素有关。     

5种药剂对辣椒疫病的田间防治效果

为有效防控辣椒疫病,本文测定了几种生产中常见或文献中报道有用的化学药剂与生物农药对辣椒疫病的田间防治效果。结果表明,供试的5种药剂对辣椒疫病均有良好的防治效果,其中防效最高的为氟菌·霜霉威SC,对辣椒疫病平均防效达88.39%;其次为烯酰·吡唑醚菌酯WG和双炔酰菌胺SC,平均防效分别为84.29%及81.25%;寡雄腐霉菌WP与枯草芽孢杆菌WP两种生物农药对辣椒疫病的防效相对较低,但平均防效也达到了70%以上,可以考虑与化学农药轮换使用用于辣椒疫病的防治实践中。     

提高两优培九制种质量的综合措施

1　选用高纯度亲本亲本种子纯度的高低不仅直接影响制种质量和产量 ,还将影响农民生产种子的去杂情绪。因此 ,两优培九制种必须选用鉴定合格的高纯度亲本种子 ,即亲本种子纯度必须达原种标准。2　选好基地 ,严格隔离两优培九制种基地的具体要求是 :(1)土壤肥力高 ,灌溉条件好 ,集中连片 ,便于管理 ;(2 )具有适合两优制种的气候条件 ,既要有安全抽穗扬花的气候条件来保障制种产量 ,又要有安全可靠的温度条件来保障不育系育性敏感期的安全 ;(3)具有严格的隔离条件 ,即制种田周围 5 0 0 m以内无同花期的籼稻或粳稻品种 ,屏障隔离可以是村庄、河…     

杂交中籼稻Ⅱ优559高产制种特性与技术

介绍了Ⅱ优559父母本的主要特征,其高产制种技术是合理安排播差期,确保花期安全相遇;培育壮秧,合理密植;加强肚水管理。培育高产群体;采取辅助措施,提高异交结实率;注重病虫杂防治,确保种子质量。     

高等院校农业科技推广人员激励模式初探

农业科技推广是实现科技成果转化的重要桥梁,是联系科研、教育、生产的重要纽带,是促进农业技术进步、实现农业现代化的重要手段。以大学为依托的农业推广体系,是对以政府为主体的推广体系的有效补充。通过对高等农业院校推广队伍存在的主要问题进行分析,提出了建立推广人员物质激励与精神激励两种模式,并进行了具体分析。     

特优559产量构成因素及丰产稳定性分析

应用数理统计方法对特优５５９产量构成因素及丰产稳产性进行了分析，结果表明：特优５５９丰产性，稳产性，适应性强。产量构成因素中以穗数产量的关系最为密切，对产量的作用最大，其次是每穗总粒数，再次是结实率，千粒重对产量的作用不大。揭示其高产途径和主攻目标是“攻足穗，争大穗，提高结实率、稳定粒重”，使穗、粒、重协调发展，夺取高产。     

基于灰色预测和 随机森林组合算法的电量预测

为解决地区电量预测精度低、预测模型通用性差等问题,文章通过对区域用电量和经济因素的历史数据研究分析,提出了一种基于灰色预测和随机森林的组合电量预测方法。首先利用灰色预测方法通过历史电量数据进行电量初步预测;其次再利用经济指标数据,通过随机森林算法对初步预测的用电量进行修正,以达到最佳的用电量预测效果。最后将本模型运用于地区月用电量预测,结果表明:该预测方法平均绝对百分误差为(MAPE)2.06%,为地区电量预测工作提供一种新思路。