Effects of short-chain fatty acids and lactic acids on survival of Oesophagostomum dentatum in pigs

The direct influence of intracaecal infusion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acids (LA) on already established Oesophagostomum dentatum infection in cannulated pigs was investigated. We tested the hypothesis that the previously discovered anti-parasitic effect of inulin is mediated through its metabolic products SCFA and LA by infusing into cannulated pigs these compounds in amounts approximating to those produced in the pigs large intestine and caecum during the metabolism of inulin. The experiment comprised of 18 pigs--2 groups of 9 pigs in each. The normal diet used in the experiment was based on barley flour with insoluble fibre from oat husk with added soybean meal, vitamins and minerals. After 2 weeks of adaptation to the diet all the pigs were inoculated with 6,000 infective larvae of O. dentatum. Six weeks later, surgery on all pigs was performed to install cannulas into caeci. At 7 weeks post-infection (p.i.) the SCFA and LA infusion was initiated in Group 1 (experimental) pigs; at the same time pigs in Group 2 (controls) were infused with saline. At week 10 p.i., all pigs were killed and their worm burdens determined. SCFA and LA infused pigs exhibited markedly reduced fecal egg counts and worm recoveries (98 and 92% reduction, respectively, compared to saline controls). The results from this study demonstrate that SCFA and LA have a significant negative influence on established O. dentatum infection in growing pigs. The results also show that the type of dietary carbohydrates fed and its intestinal degradation can yield metabolic by products that profoundly influence helminth survival.     

Aragonit-Konkretionen in Dolomit-Rendzinen

The subsoil of dolomitic rendzinas of the Swiss National Park (Grisons) often consists of loose dolomite detritus. Where the lower surface of dolomite fragments is adjacent to a packing void it has often been found to be covered with irregular, mostly vertical, concretions of 1–10 mm length and 1–3 mm diameter. X-ray and infrared analyses have shown the concretions to be composed of microcristalline aragonite and calcite in varying proportions.     

Experimental use of prostaglandin F2 alpha to synchronize estrus in cattle]

Experiments were conducted for the use of prostaglandin to synchronise oestrus in dairy cows. One single dose of 5 mg F2-Alpha prostaglandin was administered via the intrauterine route. The reference values of the control groups were matched by first insemination following induced oestrus among the best of the test animals which were inseminated twice. These values reached 72 and 96 hours following application accounted for 46.7 and 50.0 per cent. The yellow body phase, a prerequisite for oestrus production by prostaglandins, had been induced in the test animals by cycle blocking, using gestagen. Possible use of the method in a bio-engineering context for large-scale oestrus synchronisation in cows is discussed.     

Performance, behavior, and welfare of Friesian heifers housed in pens with two, four, and eight individuals per concentrate feeding place

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of increasing the number of heifers per concentrate feeding place on performance, behavior, welfare indicators, and ruminal fermentation of feedlot heifers. Seventy-two Friesian heifers were used in a factorial arrangement, with 3 treatments and 3 blocks of similar BW. Treatments consisted of 2 (T2), 4 (T4), or 8 (T8) heifers per each place in the concentrate feeder (8 heifers/pen). Concentrate and straw were fed at 0830 h in individual feeders that allowed ad libitum consumption. During 6 periods of 28 d each, DMI and ADG were measured, and blood and rumen samples were taken. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and behavior were measured at periods 1, 3, and 6. Final BW, ADG, and G:F were not affected by treatments. Variability in final BW among heifers sharing the same pen tended to increase (P = 0.06) and concentrate intake decreased linearly as competition increased. The proportion of abscessed livers responded quadratically, being 8, 4, and 20% for T2, T4, and T8, respectively. Concentrate eating time decreased (P = 0.001) and eating rate increased (P = 0.05) linearly, whereas the variability between pen mates in concentrate eating time was greatest in T4 and T8. Increasing competition resulted in a quadratic response (P = 0.02) in daily lying time (greatest in T2), whereas standing time increased linearly (P = 0.02). The number of displacements among pen mates from the concentrate feeders, as well as the total sum of displacements, increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing competition. The pen average of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites was not affected by treatments (P >/= 0.16) but the pen's maximum concentration responded quadratically (P < 0.001), being greatest in T8, with dominant heifers being the most affected. Serum haptoglobin concentration increased linearly (P = 0.05) with competition, particularly within the most subordinate heifers. Increased competition reduced (P < 0.05) ruminal pH only in periods 1 and 2 and increased ruminal lactate (P = 0.02). Increasing competition at the concentrate feeders increased the variability in final BW but performance was not affected. Detrimental effects on animal welfare might be deduced from the altered feeding behavior, reduced resting time, and increased aggression. Ruminal lactate and blood haptoglobin indicate that the risk of rumen acidosis might increase with competition, whereas liver abscesses increased at 8 heifers per feeder.     

Effect of the number of concentrate feeding places per pen on performance, behavior, and welfare indicators of Friesian calves during the first month after arrival at the feedlot

Seventy-two Friesian calves (BW = 102.0 +/- 1.8 kg) were bought from a commercial calf farm and distributed to a factorial arrangement of treatments in a complete block design with 3 treatments and 3 blocks of similar fasted BW to study the effect of increasing the number of feeding places per pen on performance, behavior, and welfare indicators during the 4 wk after arrival. Treatments consisted of 1 (T1), 2 (T2), or 4 (T4) concentrate feeding places/pen (8 calves/pen). Concentrate and straw were fed at 0830 in individual feeders, and animals were allowed to consume on an ad libitum basis. Dry matter intake and ADG were recorded weekly, and blood samples were taken on d 0 (before transport), 7, 14, 21, and 28. Time spent in maintenance activities, number of displacements between calves, and the angular dominance value (ADV) were registered at wk 1 and 3 after arrival. Increasing the number of feeding places per pen resulted in a quadratic response of concentrate and total DMI, ADG, and BW during the 28-d period, with T1 showing the lowest values. Straw intake and the within-pen SD of ADG tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.10) as the number of feeding places per pen increased. During the 4-wk receiving period, and particularly on d 7 after arrival, serum NEFA responded quadratically, with T1 and T2 calves showing the greatest values. With increasing number of concentrate feeders, the average time spent lying increased (P = 0.001), standing time decreased linearly (P = 0.001), and the diurnal feeding pattern changed (concentrate eating time increased but straw eating time decreased during peak feeding times, P < 0.05). The number of displacements from the concentrate feeders responded quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing number of feeding places per pen, with T4 calves showing the lowest levels of aggression. In T1 calves, increasing ADV resulted in a linear decrease (P = 0.03) of ADG at wk 1 with a quadratic effect at wk 3 (P < 0.01). In T2 calves, increasing ADV resulted in a linear decrease (P = 0.04) of ADG at wk 1 but a linear increase (P = 0.02) at wk 3. No effect of social rank on ADG was observed in T4 calves (P > 0.20). Increasing social pressure at the concentrate feeders beyond the threshold of 4 heifers per feeder had a negative effect on performance. Within-pen variability in performance increased linearly as a consequence of greater effects of social dominance. Physiological indicators of welfare were not consistently affected by treatments.     

Hypoxemia: a quick reference.

The article describes the calculation of the alveolar-arterial gas gradient and its clinical application in determining the cause of hypoxemia. It also outlines the analysis of arterial blood gases and the clinical approach toward diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease.     

农杆菌培养方式和预培养基激素配比对甘蓝型油菜下胚轴转化效应分析

利用根癌农杆菌共培养法转化甘蓝型油菜“华双4号”下胚轴,通过组织化学染色法检测报告基因gus的表达情况,研究了农杆菌培养方式和预培养基激素配比对转化效果的影响.结果表明,用LB培养基活化后的农杆菌再用添加AS的MS培养液继续培养6～30h对转化有明显的促进作用;不同的农杆菌培养方式对转化的影响有明显的差异,在试验的6种农杆菌培养方式中s2-5的转化效果最好,即收集活化后的农杆菌用MS＋AS＋抗生素重悬培养24h,再用MS＋AS培养6h;2,4-D与6BA之间的相互作用对转化有重要影响,在试验的预培养基激素组合中,2,4-D2.00mg/L6BA0.25mg/L的组合转化效率最高;抗性愈伤率与转化效率之间不一定具有相关关系.     

纳米TiO2改性薄竹的工艺试验

研究了纳米TiO2改性薄竹机理与工艺,分析薄竹切面、薄竹厚度、浸渍压力与浸渍时间等工艺因素对薄竹附载TiO2效果的影响,并运用X射线光电子能谱与环境扫描电镜技术手段,分析了薄竹改性处理前后的表面元素组成、元素变化、TiO2分布效果。试验结果表明:浸渍时间90 min、浸渍压力0.10 MPa、薄竹厚度0.3 mm、径切面纹理的薄竹、纳米TiO2溶液浓度0.5 g/L、浴比1∶10～20、常温浸渍纳米TiO2溶液改性薄竹工艺是可行的,TiO2附载率约为1.3%。     

60Coγ辐射诱导马铃薯（Solanum tuberosum）基因组变异的SRAP标记分析（英文）

[目的]探讨60Coγ射线对马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)染色体的诱变效应。[方法]采用不同辐照剂量的γ射线对费乌瑞它微型薯进行辐射处理,利用SRAP分子标记,对不同处理的VM1代及VM2代基因组变异进行分析。[结果]VM1代分析结果表明,88对引物有30对表现多态性,引物多态性比率为34.1%,共获得225条扩增条带,其中64条为多态性条带,条带多态性比率为28.4%。多态性表现形式有条带增加和缺失。选择25对有多态性的引物对VM2代进行扫描,5对显带不良,20对中有9对表现多态性,获得多态性条带9条,其中仅4条在VM1中检测到,其余5条是新增的缺失条带。VM1代的多态性条带在VM2代中的检出率仅为9.8%。选择表现稳定、清晰的9条多态性条带进行回收、克隆、测序,获得6个片段的DNA序列。经比对分析,5个片段序列与马铃薯染色体组部分片段的相似性为77%~89%,其中3个序列位于抗性基因簇中;另1个片段序列与番茄第5染色体的部分序列相似性为93%。[结论]γ辐照可以导致马铃薯基因组DNA发生变异,多态性条带数与辐照剂量之间没有明显的相关性,变异的多态性条带缺失数高于条带增加数。