Molecular characterization of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated from poultry in Vietnam from 2004 to 2005

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A viruses have been spreading among domestic poultry, wild aquatic birds, and humans in many Asian countries since 2003. The largest number of patients, to date, infected with the H5N1 viruses are in Vietnam, where these viruses continue to cause outbreaks in domestic poultry. Here, we molecularly characterized the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of nine H5N1 viruses isolated between January 2004 and August 2005 from domestic poultry in Vietnam. We found that several groups of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses are circulating among these birds, which suggests that H5N1 viruses of different lineages have been introduced into Vietnam multiple times.     

Atrazine residues in estuarine water and the aerial deposition of atrazine into Rhode River,Maryland

Water samples from the Rhode River, an estuary situated on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, were analyzed for atrazine residues twice a week for 2 yr. Precipitation samples; which included dryfall, rainfall, and snowfall were collected with wide-mouth stainless steel collection pans situated about 20 m above ground in an open space. A total of 68 precipitation samples was collected from December 1976 to February 1979. Atrazine residues were detectable in estuarine water and in rainwater year-round. Atrazine residues in estuarine water were generally 6 to 190 ng 1^?1 atrazine residues in rainwater (bulk precipitation) were 3 to 2190 ng 1^?1. Atrazine residues in rainwater samples collected during the winter season (January to April 1977) were unexpectedly high (e.g., 3 to 970 ng 1^?1). The highest atrazine concentration of 2190 ng 1^?1 was detected from a 0.76 cm rainfall event collected on May 19, 1977. Intermittent spraying operations of atrazine within the cornfields were generally done during May of each year. Rain samples collected during May of 1978 also showed higher atrazine residues than the rest of the 1978 growing season, but at levels much less than those detected in 1977 rainwater. Although high atrazine concentrations were detected in winter rainfall, these did not result in similarly higher atrazine concentrations in estuarine receiving waters. Our data showed a decline of atrazine concentrations in estuarine water in October and November which continued until a rainfall following Spring herbicide applications. Atrazine is enriched at the microsurface layer of estuarine water, but direct atmospheric input of atrazine did not seem to contribute significantly to the enrichment mechanism. Atrazine is believed to be transported long distances in polluted air masses. The estuarine microsurface layer could be a source of atmospheric atrazine, but the importance of the source is yet to be determined. Atrazine was quantitatively determined by GC using a nitrogen specific electrolytic detector and was confirmed by GC/Mass.     

Pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated in Vietnam between late 2003 and 2005

Since late 2003, highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A viruses have spread among poultry and wild aquatic birds in Asian countries. Transmission of these viruses to humans can be lethal. Most human cases of infection with H5N1 viruses have occurred in Vietnam. Therefore, to understand the pathogenicity in mammals of these H5N1 viruses, we took viruses isolated from poultry (5 strains) and humans (2 strains) in Vietnam and tested their virulence in mice. The results showed that the H5N1 viruses from humans were pathogenic in mice and that one avian isolate was also pathogenic. These findings suggested that the H5N1 viruses circulating in poultry adapted during replication in humans or that strains pathogenic in mice were transmitted directly to humans.     

Evaluation of Soil Organic Matter Content under Topographic Influences in Agroforestry Ecosystems: a Study in Central Vietnam

Eurasian Soil Science - We investigate the key predictors that influence the soil organic matter (SOM) content in higher altitude plantations. This is to study the potential of carbon sequestration...     

Observation and Measurement of Residual Bran on Milled Rice Using Hyperspectral Imaging

Residual bran on milled rice is directly related to its quality. This study proposes a method to measure the residual bran patterns on a single rice grain by using hyperspectral imaging (HSI). HSI is a sensing technique that combines both spatial and spectral information and may be used for chemical compound identification and quantification. In this study, HSI was applied to assess rice bran residue nondestructively. In the experiment, rice samples were milled and scanned with an HSI system. Afterward, the rice samples were dyed to enable the residual bran to be identified with optical microscopy and image processing algorithms. Classifiers were then developed to predict the rice bran residue by using the HSI measurements as inputs. The predicted images were compared with the micrograph images for classifier performance evaluation. The proposed approach can estimate the residual bran distribution on milled rice surface with an accuracy of 93.5%.     

枣树桃小食心虫(Carposina niponensis Walsingham)发生规律及防治研究

据1962—1963年两年的研究,桃小食心虫在乐陵棗区一年发生1—2代。第二代发生数量多少与当年整个发生期的早晚有密切的关系。桃小食心虫以老熟幼虫結“越冬茧”在土內越冬,其垂直分布深度限于离土表4寸范围內,平面分布愈近树干密度愈大。越冬幼虫自6月中旬开始出土,一直延續到8月上、中旬結束,盛期在7月中旬左右。越冬幼虫出土与降雨有密切关系。在室內越冬幼虫出土及第一代老熟幼虫脫果后至成虫羽化历期,分别平均为10.4天及10.8天。成虫白天不活动,夜間11—1时之間交尾。产卵前期平均为2.5—2.7天,产卵期間平均为1.3—2.1天。雌虫平均产卵量为27.9粒(越冬代)和40.5粒(第一代),最多可产154粒。在田間,卵绝大多数产在叶片背面基部(72.6％),产在果实梗洼(27.4％)和胴部较少,其它部位尚未发现。田間卵自7月中、下旬开始发生,至8月下旬或9月初結束。第一、二代卵期分別平均为6.8和8.4天,孵化率分別为92.3％和89.5％。幼虫扎果从7月末 (或8月初) 起至9月中、下旬棗采收,前后达50天左右。幼虫脫果从8月中旬起,至9月中、下旬棗采收后尚未結束。果內幼虫期最短9天,最长28天,平均16.8天左右。地面药剂处理应該在6月中、下旬越冬幼虫出土前,这是第一个防治关鍵时期;在第一、二代卵盛期(7月下旬及8月中旬左右),噴药两次是防治桃小食心虫的第二个关鍵时期。地面药剂处理,3％666粉剂与3％666颗粒剂效果差不多。树上喷药可用25％DDT乳剂250倍液加用0.01％“拉开粉”或0.1％水胶,可以提高防治效果。