Immunological and pathological investigations in equine experimental uveitis

Background

The pathogenic mechanism of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is still poorly defined and many variations between experimental animal models and spontaneous disease exist.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate if Th17 cell-mediated response plays role in the pathogenesis of the used experimental model in horses and to reveal its pathological findings.

Methods

Experimental uveitis was induced in 6 healthy horses. The concentrations of retinal autoantigen CRALBP and IL-17 were measured using ELISA in aqueous humor and vitreous body of the 12 inflamed eyes as well as in 12 control non-inflamed eyes taken from 6 horses in slaughter house. After centrifugation of the two eye media, smears were prepared and cytological investigation was performed. Tissue specimens were taken from all eye globes and were submitted to histopathological investigation.

Results

CRALBP and IL-17 concentrations were significantly elevated in eye media of horses with experimental uveitis in comparison with controls. Cytological and histopathological findings corresponded to the changes characteristic of chronic immune-mediated inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltration of uvea, choroid, retina, and eye media as well as severe retinal destruction.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the involvement of the retinal autoantigen CRALBP as well as IL-17 in the pathogenesis of experimental uveitis in horses. These findings suggests that this experimental uveitis in horses may serve as a suitable animal model for investigation of IL-17- mediated immune response during spontaneous autoimmune uveitis in horses as well as in humans.

     

新城疫病毒La Sota株HN基因的克隆与序列分析

旨在从分子生物学角度进一步研究新城疫病毒La Sota株HN基因,探究NDV La Sota HN基因的遗传变异情况。研究以试验室冻存的p NDV-HN为模版,根据Gen Bank中登录的NDV La Sota株序列设计引物扩增HN基因,将其克隆到pMD18-T载体后进行鉴定,对鉴定正确的重组质粒p MD-NDV-HN进行测序分析。应用生物信息学软件对新城疫病毒Lasota株HN基因进行系统进化树分析、氨基酸序列同源性分析、糖基化位点、蛋白结构跨膜区分析及磷酸化位点预测分析。核苷酸序列测定结果表明:HN基因的序列长度为1743bp,该基因的开放阅读框(Open Reading Frame,ORF)总长为1716 bp,编码571个氨基酸。生物信息学表明:试验获得的HN基因具有6个潜在糖基化位点及12个半胱氨酸残基,第5个潜在糖基化位点(508-510 aa)发生缺失及第123位半胱氨酸残基被色氨酸残基取代。La Sota株HN基因编码的蛋白质中有29个丝氨酸、10个酪氨酸和16个苏氨酸可能成为蛋白激酶磷酸化位点。将试验获得的La Sota株HN基因序列和推导的氨基酸序列与新城疫毒株的HN基因相应序列比较后发现,它们的核苷酸序列同源性和氨基酸序列同源性最高均可达到99%,表明HN基因在种属间具有较高的保守性。研究为新城疫病毒的分子病毒学研究奠定了基础。     

Selecting Bid with Reasonably Low Price Without Bottom Price Based On Sector Estimate

For raveling out the main shortage of tendering which is the reasonable sector is unreasonable of making the bid evaluation uncertain. In order to eliminate subjective factor, this paper quantificationally analyses the price in bidding and establishes the sector selecting bid model based on the sector estimate idea, which tries to provide a new method and academic basic for determining the reasonable sector. Finally, the article gives an example to prove that the model is feasible and effective and it tries to ensure the bidding assessment public, equitable and just.     

ANALYSIS OF OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR DIAGONAL MINE FANS

We shall discuss the real opererating conditions of the mine fans . in the mine diagonal ventilation system and establish a set of mathematics model for analysing the real engineering to provide judgement for technical manage ment of mine ventilation.     

德宏水牛及其杂交品种体尺测定

试验对36～39月龄全放牧饲养的15头德宏、摩本、尼本水牛进行了体尺测定研究，此项试验根据水牛品种不同分为三个处理组。结果显示，杂交水牛尼本的鬐甲高、十字部高、坐骨节宽比德宏水牛分别提高5.5%、7.4%、9%，差异显著。杂交水牛摩本的鬐甲高、十字部高、坐骨节宽比德宏水牛提高5.9%、8.0%、11.9%，差异显著。摩本的肢长指数优于尼本，差异显著。此项试验结果表明，用尼里、摩拉与德宏水牛杂交，提高了德宏水牛的体尺与体况。     

Using midday stem water potential for scheduling deficit irrigation in mid–late maturing peach trees under Mediterranean conditions

Irrigation techniques that reduce water applications are increasingly applied in areas with scarce water resources. In this study, the effect of two regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies on peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. “Catherine”] performance was studied over three growing seasons. The experimental site was located in Murcia (SE Spain), a Mediterranean region. Two RDI strategies (restricting water applications at stage II of fruit development and postharvest) based on stem water potential (Ψ_s) thresholds (?1.5 and ?1.8 MPa during fruit growth and ?1.5 and ?2.0 MPa during postharvest) were compared to a fully irrigated control. Soil water content (θ_v), Ψ_s, gas exchange parameters, vegetative growth, crop load, yield and fruit quality were determined. RDI treatments showed significantly lower values of θ_v and Ψ_s than control trees when irrigation water was restricted, causing reductions in stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rates. Vegetative growth was reduced by RDI, as lower shoot lengths and pruning weights were observed under those treatments when compared to control. However, fruit size and yield were unaffected, and fruit quality was slightly improved by RDI. Water savings from 43 to 65 % were achieved depending on the year and the RDI strategy, and no negative carryover effect was detected during the study period. In conclusion, RDI strategies using Ψ_s thresholds for scheduling irrigation in mid–late maturing peach trees under Mediterranean conditions are viable options to save water without compromising yield and even improving fruit quality.     

Measured and estimated water use and crop coefficients of grapevines trained to overhead trellis systems in California’s San Joaquin Valley

The use of overhead trellis systems for the production of dry-on-vine (DOV) raisins and table grapes in California is expanding. Studies were conducted from 2006 to 2009 using Thompson Seedless grapevines grown in a weighing lysimeter trained to an overhead arbor trellis and farmed as DOV raisins for the first two years and for use as table grapes thereafter. Maximum canopy coverage for the two lysimeter vines across years was in excess of 80 %. Seasonal (15 March–31 October) evapotranspiration for the lysimeter vines (ET_Lys) was 952 mm in 2007 (farmed as DOV raisins) and 943 and 952 mm (when farmed as table grapes). The maximum crop coefficient (K _cLys) across all 4 years ranged from 1.3 to 1.4. These maximum values were similar to those estimated using the relationship where K _c is a function of the amount of shaded area measured beneath the canopy at solar noon (K _c = 0.017 × percent shaded area). Covering the lysimeter’s soil surface with plastic (and then removing it) numerous times during the 2009 growing season (1 June–14 September) reduced ET_Lys from an average of 6.4 to 5.6 mm day^?1 and the K _c from 1.07 to 0.93. A seasonal basal K _c (K _cb) was calculated for grapevines using an overhead trellis system with a 13 % reduction in the K _cLys across the growing season.     

北方粳稻“植生带”育秧设备定向排种装置的研制

为满足超级稻每穴(2±1)粒种子精量播种的特殊农艺要求,在纸夹定位水稻精密育秧设备研究基础上,研发出一种新型超级稻定向排种装置。初步排种试验表明,该装置可将种箱中杂乱无章的稻种分离出来后,在组合滑道上逐渐沿其长轴方向排列成连续的种子流,为超级稻植生带育秧设备的研制提供理论与实践依据。     

Crop response of drought-tolerant and conventional maize hybrids in a semiarid environment

In the High Plains, corn (Zea mays L.) is an important commodity for livestock feed. However, limited water resources and drought conditions continue to hinder corn production. Drought-tolerant (DT) corn hybrids could help maintain high yields under water-limited conditions, though consistent response of such hybrids is unverified. In this two-year study, the effects of three irrigation treatments were investigated for a DT and conventional maize hybrid, Pioneer AQUAMax P0876HR and Pioneer 33Y75, respectively. In 2013, the drier of the 2 years, irrigation amounts and crop water use (ET_c) were greater for the conventional hybrid, but grain water use efficiency (WUE) and harvest index were significantly greater for the DT hybrid. In 2014, grain yields and WUE were not significantly different between hybrids. However, irrigation amounts, ET_c and biomass yields were greater for the conventional hybrid. Results from both years indicate that the DT hybrid required less water to maximize grain yield as compared to the conventional hybrid. Producing relatively high yields with reduced amounts of water may provide a means for producers to continue corn production in a semiarid environment with declining water supplies.