Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

MYB转录因子参与植物非生物胁迫响应与植物激素应答的研究进展

基因的时空表达受转录因子的精确调控。植物在面对不利环境因素比如高温、低温、干旱、盐碱等胁迫时其细胞生理生化会迅速地从“舒适”状态转变进入“胁迫响应”状态。这种快速响应的状态转变依赖于植物对胁迫信号的感知及传递、激素通路(脱落酸、茉莉酸等)的激发、转录因子的活化等复杂的过程;最终植物通过胁迫相关基因的表达、次生代谢转变、抗氧化物质的积累等实现胁迫条件下细胞内环境的再平衡从而获得生存。植物MYB(v-MYB avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog)转录因子就是上述转变中的重要参与者。本文介绍了植物MYB转录因子的结构特征、分类,综述了近些年来MYB转录因子与非生物胁迫,以及植物激素应答过程相关的研究进展。     

中药对肉仔鸡脂质代谢及肉品质的影响

将120只1周龄肉仔鸡随机分成4组,每组30只,前3组(试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组)分别喂以含1%的3种不同中药组方的饲粮,第Ⅳ组为对照组,只喂基础日粮.试验期6周.结果(1)与对照组相比,Ⅰ组血清TC、LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01);Ⅱ组血清TC、LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01),TG也下降(P＜0.05),HDL-C显著升高(P＜0.01);Ⅲ组血清LDL-C极显著下降(P＜0.01),HDL-C则显著升高(P＜0.01);试验Ⅰ～Ⅲ组血清总脂都极显著下降(P＜0.01);与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅰ组血清LDL-C、Ⅲ组TC存在显著差异(P＜0.01).(2)与对照组相比,胸肌组织中,各试验组TG极显著下降(P＜0.01),Ⅱ组TC显著下降(P＜0.05);腿肌中,各组TC显著下降(P＜0.05),TG下降极显著(P＜0.01);肝脏中各组TC、TG均极显著下降(P＜0.01);与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅰ组肝TG差异极显著(P＜0.01);Ⅲ组胸肌TG、肝TG有显著差异性(P＜0.05).(3)7周龄末鸡体重与对照组相比,Ⅱ组差异极显著(P＜0.01),Ⅲ组差异显著(P＜0.05);Ⅱ组料肉比比对照组极显著下降(P＜0.01).(4)肌肉中的营养成分,Ⅰ、Ⅱ组腿肌中粗脂肪比对照组极显著下降(P＜0.01),Ⅱ组腿肌中粗蛋白含量显著升高(P＜0.01).结论中药组方能不同程度地调整鸡脂质代谢,提高生产性能和改善鸡肉品质.在3个不同中药组方中,综合效果Ⅱ方最优.     

Cryptococcal osteomyelitis in a dog

Osteomyelitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans was diagnosed in a three-year-old male Irish wolfhound. The case details and radiological findings of radiolucency and periosteal reaction of the left third metatarsal bone had lead to an initial diagnosis of a malignant bone tumour. Biopsy revealed a fungal granuloma and culture identified the causal organism. A four month course of ketaconazole was instigated and the lameness resolved. Twelve months after the end of treatment there was no recurrence of the problem.     

Genotypic Variability in Biomass Protein and Nucleic Acids in Four Linum Species to Sodicity Stress

Differences in gas exchange parameters i.e. carbon exchange rate (CER), transpiration (Tr), water vapor conductance (g) were investigated, under a controlled environment, in a semi-dwarf (SD) Triticum aestivum line, its tall (TL) near isoline and the Payne (PA) variety characterized by small leaves. The plants were maintained in: (a) optimal substrate moisture condition (CTR); (b) salinized by watering with a 0.12 m NaCl solution (SLT); (c) water stressed by withholding waterings during a period of six days (STR); (d) stressed and salinized during the same period and with the same saline solution (S + S). CER and Tr were negatively affected by the stresses; SLT and S + S treatments had a higher WUE compared to their respective controls CTR and STR.
SD line had a better performance in terms of CER and WUE, particularly when water and salt stresses interacted. Leaf anatomy and assimilation/internal CO₂ concentration curves contributed to explaining the SD performance.     

Staining pattern of the brush border and detection of cytoplasmic granules in the uriniferous tubules of female DBA/2Cr mouse kidney: comparison among various fixations and stains.

The proximal straight tubules of the female mouse kidney exhibit heavy periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining in their brush borders and numerous cytoplasmic granules. In the present study, the female DBA/2Cr mouse kidney was examined, using various fixatives (formalin, PFA, PLP, Zamboni's, Bouin, or Carnoy solution) and various staining methods (HE, PAS, alcian blue, periodic acid methenamine-silver (PAM), toluidine blue, azan, or Congo red). Under azan and PAM, the staining pattern of the brush border was similar to that of PAS, and few effects of the fixative were observed. Cytoplasmic granules were clearly detected with PAM as well as PAS. However, these granules were not detected with Carnoy solution. Furthermore, distribution of granules differed between PAS and PAM.