Assessing the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis) stock in Maine, USA

The green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus drobachiensis) fishery is of great importance to Maine’s economy. The fishery took off in the late 1980s as a result of expanding export markets, but has experienced substantial decline in landings since 1992 because of large decreases in urchin stock abundance. Fishery-independent surveys have not been conducted, and no formal stock assessment has been done prior to this study. Using the data collected from the fishery and urchin life history parameters derived from scientific studies, we conducted a formal stock assessment for the urchin stock. A stochastic observation-error length-structured model is used to describe the dynamics of the sea urchin population. A robust Bayesian approach is used for estimating fishery parameters because of concerns of possible outliers in fisheries data and mis-specification of priors. This study shows that the current stock is only 10% of the virgin stock biomass and that the exploitation rate is close to 40% suggesting that a large reduction in exploitation rate is necessary.     

The Effects of Freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Extract on Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Prediabetic Patients in Taiwan

Freshwater clam extract (FCE) is a functional food that regulates the immune system and has been demonstrated in numerous studies to display desirable anti–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) responses. In addition, excess TNF-α production is positively associated with type 2 diabetes. However, few longitudinal clinical studies evaluating the efficiency and toxicity of FCE are available. This article reports that patients with prediabetes who received FCE had a desirable outcome of a reduction in serum TNF-α for a long period. This was a double-blind, randomized, parallel clinical trial conducted using FCE intervention and placebo groups, and 36 patients with prediabetes were enrolled. Two grams of FCE or placebo was consumed daily for 180 consecutive days. The serum of the participants was collected at four time points (0M: before the intervention; 3M: after 3 months of intervention; 6M: after 6 months of intervention; 12M: 6 months after cessation of intervention at 6M). A serum TNF-α concentration higher than 4.05 pg/mL was defined as a cut-off value. FCE reduced serum TNF-α in all participants at 6M and 12M. Moreover, FCE significantly suppressed serum TNF-α concentrations at 6M and 12M and inhibited TNF-α release with time series in subjects with elevated TNF-α values. FCE intervention effectively reduced serum TNF-α and persistently sustained the effects for half a year in patients with prediabetes. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS) analysis revealed that the major components of FCE were phytosterols and fatty acids, which exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-TNF-α abilities. Hence, FCE has the potential to be developed as a natural treatment for prediabetic patients in Taiwan.     

南平市延平区马铃薯生产现状与发展对策

通过4a来对延平区马铃薯产业的调查研究,脱毒马铃薯品种的引进筛选,示范推广的实践,分析马铃薯产业现状,探讨存在的问题,提出发展对策,为进一步加快延平区的马铃薯产业发展提供依据。     

功勋犬"辉杰"缉毒捷报频传

“辉杰”为1头黑色、雄性缉毒犬,2001年7月出生于昆明。2002年7月“应征入伍”到云南公安边防总队瑞丽江桥警犬复训基地服现役至今。2002年7月至2004年年底,在训犬员罗祥彬的带领下多次参加边防执勤设伏堵卡和公开查缉查获毒品近4千克,抓获犯罪嫌疑人3名,被上级授予“三级功勋犬”称号。     

基于单片机的光电式叶片面积测量系统

在农业生产中,叶片面积及其参数是衡量农作物产量的重要因素。传统叶片面积检测方法过程复杂,不能实现自动测量。为此,针对农业中田间叶片面积的实时测量需要,设计了基于单片机的光电式叶片面积测量系统;阐述了系统的整体设计思路、结构、测量原理、系统误差的计算及外部电路的设计。     

细胞凋亡在牙齿发育中的研究进展

细胞凋亡是多细胞生物调节机体发育,维护内环境稳态,由基因控制的细胞主动死亡的一种生理性过程。细胞凋亡在牙齿发育中有重要的调控作用,参与了牙上皮与间充质的相互作用。牙齿发育中的细胞凋亡是在特定时空发生的由一系列基因严格调控的程序化过程。本文主要介绍牙齿发育中的细胞凋亡及其相关凋亡因子的研究进展。     

种鸡场鸡白血病的净化研究(Ⅰ)--ALV感染情况调查

应用双抗主酶联免疫吸附试验（ＤＡＳ－ＥＬＩＳＡ）对北京地区和河北部分种鸡场及１家ＳＰＦ鸡场进行了鸡白血病病毒感染情况的调查，结果发现：不同品系的鸡对ＡＬＶ的感染率有显著差异；分别采用蛋清与肛拭作为试验样品，得到的结果是不相同的，研究认为，选择蛋清作为试验样品是鸡场净化过程中较理想的材料之一。     

Direct Factor Analysis With Discrete X-Ray Diffraction Patterns

In this paper,we put forward a method of direct factor analysis with discrete X-ray diffraction patterns, which was supported by the experimental measurement with the mixture containing 2,3,4,5 phases respectively. The detailed discussion was also given to its principles,errors and criterion.