In vitro studies of Norwegian Red bovine semen immobilized and cryopreserved in alginate solid gel network

Development of new semen cryopreservation techniques improving sperm survival and ensuring availability of viable spermatozoa for a prolonged time‐period after AI is promising tools to reduce sensitivity of timing of AI and enhance overall fertility. The SpermVital^® technology utilizes immobilization of bull spermatozoa in a solid network of alginate gel prior to freezing, which will provide a gradual release of spermatozoa after AI. The objective of this study was to compare post‐thaw sperm quality and in vitro sperm survival over time of Norwegian Red bull semen processed by the SpermVital^® (SV) technology, the first commercialized production line of SpermVital^® (C) and by conventional procedure applying Biladyl^® extender (B). Post‐thaw sperm motility was not significantly different between SV, C and B semen (p > .05). However, sperm viability and acrosome intactness were higher for SV than C and B semen (p < .05). Small differences in DNA quality were observed (p < .05). Sperm viability after storage in uterus ex vivo was higher for SV than for C semen (p < .05). Furthermore, sperm survival in vitro over time at physiological temperature was significantly higher for SV semen than C semen as well as B semen during the incubation period of 48 hr (p < .05). In conclusion, the SpermVital^® technology is improved and is more efficient in conserving post‐thaw sperm quality and results in higher sperm viability over time in vitro for SV than for C and B semen.     

不同年限封育对黄土高原典型草原地上植被的影响

为了揭示自然恢复过程中植被动态变化规律,以黄土高原典型草原为研究对象,采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,分析不同年限封育(0、5、15、23和32年)对草地植被特征、物种多样性和群落演替动态变化的影响。结果表明,随着封育年限的增加,枯落物量和厚度呈递增趋势,群落盖度呈先增加后降低趋势,群落密度呈递减趋势,地上生物量和禾草地上生物量均呈先增加后降低的趋势,且均在封育23年草地达到了峰值。不同年限的封育对Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数影响不显著(P0.05)。地上植被的物种丰富度呈先增加后降低趋势,且在封育15年达到峰值。地上植被群落封育演替的一般模式为杂类草生长阶段→本氏针茅(Stipa bungeana)逐渐占优势阶段→本氏针茅稳定发展阶段。     

陕西省榆林市某鸡场家禽H7N9流感紧急流行病学调查

2017年5月21日,陕西省榆林市某养殖场的蛋鸡出现异常死亡。经国家参考实验室确诊,该起疫情为H7N9流感疫情。为找出引发疫情的可能原因,采用描述性流行病学方法,描述疫情的三间分布,分析发病的风险因素。调查结果显示:该场饲养规模较大,共有8栋鸡舍,饲养4.5万只蛋鸡;疫情暴发突然,病程仅为5 d;蛋鸡死亡2.2万只,死亡率为48.9%;疫情具有明显的场内传播规律,从靠近鸡场入口的鸡舍逐渐向内蔓延;产蛋高峰期蛋鸡的发病风险是雏鸡的37.458倍,差异显著(P0.05);所分离毒株的HA基因裂解位点有4个氨基酸插入,为变异株;该起疫情可能是通过运输淘汰蛋鸡的车辆、野鸟、饲料和饮水,以及调入雏鸡等途径引入的。疫情发生后,当地政府按照《高致病性禽流感防治技术规范》,发布了封锁令,划定了疫点、疫区和受威胁区;在疫区采取了扑杀、无害化处理、关闭疫区内所有禽类产品交易市场等控制措施。采取以上处置措施后,疫情得以快速有效控制。     

Symbiotic N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) systems

Symbiotic N₂ fixation by lucerne (Medicago sativa) has capacity to provide significant inputs of N to agro-ecosystems, and the species has also been shown to scavenge soil mineral N and thus act as a sink for excess reactive N. The balance between these two N cycle processes was investigated in an extensive irrigated lucerne growing region where nitrate contamination of groundwater has been reported. We sampled 18 permanent pure lucerne stands under irrigation for standing dry matter, total shoot N, and N₂ fixation using ¹⁵N natural abundance along with activity of the inducible enzyme nitrate reductase as indicators of use of soil NO₃⁻ by lucerne. On average 65% of lucerne N was obtained from symbiotic N₂ fixation. Converting standing dry matter estimates to annual N₂ fixation amounts we calculated average N₂ fixation of 311 kg N/ha, including N in roots and nodules. Uptake of N from soil by lucerne was calculated to be 181 kg N/ha/year. We were not able to identify the source of this soil mineral N, although nitrate reductase activity of lucerne was higher than that of non-N₂ fixing species examined.     

Performance evaluation of forest co-management: a case study of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary,Bangladesh

The objective was to evaluate the performance of the co-management of Nishorgo Support Project at Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary in Bangladesh. I adopted the Focus Groups Discussion method for opinion survey and applied the SWOTAHP technique for data analysis. Local people did not participate in the decision-making process of forest management and they perceived co-management as a threat to their livelihoods. Moreover, mistrust and misunderstanding among different stakeholders, political and ethical conflicts, lack of property rights of tribal communities, and lack of accountability and transparency were identified as the drawbacks of co-management.     

新疆多浪羊FecB突变检测及与产羔数的关系

骨形态发生蛋白受体IB基因(BMPR-IB)FecB突变是影响布鲁拉美利奴和小尾寒羊高繁殖力的主效基因.本研究采集产双羔及以上的多浪羊(Ovis aries)母羊135只及后代羔羊血样共353份,公羊血样211份,利用PCR-RFLP技术检测FecB突变,并分析不同基因型个体母羊的产羔数.结果表明:在多浪羊群体中检测到BB、B+和++基因型,基因型频率分别为0.005,0.146和0.849.B+型多浪羊产羔数均值比++型多0.51只(P<0.01),BB型多浪羊产羔数分别与B+和++型差异不显著.多浪羊群体在FecB位点上处于Hard-Weinberg平衡状态,表明在该位点上没有受到选择的影响.本研究首次在新疆多浪羊群体中发现了FecB突变BB基因型公、母羊个体(1只公羊和2只母羊),揭示多浪羊多羔产生的机理可能与布鲁拉美利奴和小尾寒羊相同,在生产过程中可以根据携带FecB突变的情况开展选种选配,组建多浪羊肉用高繁品系.