The influence of diel period on fish assemblage in the unstructured littoral of reservoirs

Abstract Diel changes in littoral fish assemblage were studied in four reservoirs in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). The sampling was performed by beach seining in an unstructured littoral zone. Perch, Perca fluviatilis L., roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), bream, Abramis brama (L.), carp, Cyprinus carpio L., ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernua (L.), pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.), eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.) and A. brama × R. rutilus hybrids exhibited higher densities at night. Only bleak, Alburnus alburnus (L.) exhibited higher densities during the day. The number of species was higher in night hauls, and mean body size of roach and bleak was also higher at night. Diel changes in fish densities resulted in the change in species composition between day and night. The study has implication for the sampling design to assess littoral fish assemblages using beach seine netting and recommends night sampling for a representative assessment or sampling during both diel periods for a robust assessment.     

Survey of quality defects in market beef and dairy cows and bulls sold through livestock auction markets in the Western United States: I. Incidence rates

A survey was conducted to quantify incidence of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-related defects in market beef and dairy cows and bulls selling at auction during 2 seasons in 2008. Twenty-three BQA-related traits were evaluated by 9 trained personnel during sales at 10 livestock auction markets in Idaho (n = 5; beef and dairy), California, (n = 4; dairy only), and Utah (n = 1; beef and dairy). Overall, 18,949 unique lots (8,213 beef cows, 1,036 beef bulls, 9,177 dairy cows, and 523 dairy bulls,) consisting of 23,479 animals (9,299 beef cows, 1,091 beef bulls, 12,429 dairy cows, and 660 dairy bulls) were evaluated during 125 sales (64 spring, 61 fall) for dairy and 79 sales (40 spring, 39 fall) for beef. The majority of market beef cows and bulls (60.9 and 71.3%, respectively) were predominantly black-hided, and the Holstein hide pattern was observed in 95.4 and 93.6% of market dairy cows and bulls, respectively. Market cattle weighed 548 ± 103.6 kg (beef cows), 751 ± 176.1 kg (beef bulls), 658 ± 129.7 kg (dairy cows), and 731 ± 150.8 kg (dairy bulls). Most beef cows (79.6%) weighed 455 to 726 kg, and most beef bulls (73.8%) weighed 545 to 954 kg, respectively. Among market beef cattle, 16.0% of cows and 14.5% of bulls weighed less than 455 and 545 kg, respectively, and 63.7% of dairy cows and 81.5% of dairy bulls weighed 545 to 817 kg or 545 to 954 kg, respectively. However, 19.5% of dairy cows and 13.1% of dairy bulls weighed less than 545 kg. Mean BCS for beef cattle (9-point scale) was 4.7 ± 1.2 (cows) and 5.3 ± 0.9 (bulls), and for dairy cattle (5-point scale) was 2.6 ± 0.8 (cows) and 2.9 ± 0.6 (bulls). Some 16.5% of beef cows and 4.1% of beef bulls had a BCS of 1 to 3, whereas 34.8% of dairy cows and 10.4% of dairy bulls had a BCS of 2 or less. Emaciation (beef BCS = 1, dairy BCS = 1.0) or near-emaciation (beef BCS = 2, dairy BCS = 1.5) was observed in 13.3% of dairy cows and 3.9% of beef cows. Among beef cattle, 15.1% of cows and 15.4% of bulls were considered lame. In contrast, 44.7% of dairy cows and 26.1% of dairy bulls were lame. Ocular neoplasia (cancer eye) was observed in only 0.6% of beef cows, 0.3% of beef bulls, 0.3% of dairy cows, and 0.0% of dairy bulls. However, among animals with ocular neoplasia, it was cancerous in 34.4% of beef bulls, 48.0% of dairy cows, and 73.3% of beef cows. In conclusion, numerous quality defects are present in market beef and dairy cattle selling at auction in the Western United States, which could influence their value at auction.     

有机肥防治马铃薯早疫病试验

2010-2011年通过田间小区方法进行了有机肥防治马铃薯早疫病（Alternaria solani）试验。结果表明：对于品种‘克新1号’和‘费乌瑞它’667 m^2施有机肥1 500-5 000 kg及667 m^2施有机肥1 500 kg＋复合化肥50 kg均对马铃薯早疫病有显著的防治作用,防效为38.8%-68.8%,特别是667 m^2施有机肥5 000 kg、667 m^2施有机肥1 500 kg＋复合化肥50 kg防效更加显著,增产21.2%-27.8%。667 m^2施有机肥1 500-5 000 kg及施有机肥1 500 kg＋复合化肥50 kg比施复合化肥50 kg提早出苗1-4 d不等,品种‘费乌瑞它’提早出苗更明显,但施用或增施有机肥对2个品种出苗率无影响。施用有机肥为马铃薯早疫病的防治提供一个新的途径。     

Isotype- and subclass-specific responses to infection and reinfection with parainfluenza-3 virus: comparison of the diagnostic potential of ELISAs detecting seroconversion and specific IgM and IgA.

Isotype- and subclass-specific indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were developed to detect parainfluenza-3 virus-specific IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA responses. Sera were treated with protein G-agarose prior to testing for specific IgM and IgA to eliminate the possibility of false-positive results due to IgM-rheumatoid factor and to remove interisotypic competition due to specific IgG. IgM and IgA absorbance values were expressed as a percentage of the absorbance values of positive reference sera included on each plate (S/P%), and respective positive/negative threshold values of 15.0% and 28.0% were determined. The mean interval between experimental infection of 3 calves and initial detection of specific IgG1 and IgG2 responses was 8.0 and 9.3 days respectively, rising rapidly to an initial plateau 13.7 and 11.0 days postinfection (dpi). Reinfection of these calves at 30 dpi resulted in further rapid increases, with higher plateau values reached 13.0 (IgG1) and 13.7 (IgG2) days later. The mean interval between infection and the first positive IgM and IgA responses was 6.7 and 12.3 days, respectively. IgM S/P% values peaked at 13.0 dpi, with all 3 calves showing a secondary anamnestic response to reinfection, peaking 4.7 days later. The IgA response to initial infection was weak, with only 2 calves showing an obvious peak response at 15.0 dpi. A strong anamnestic IgA response to reinfection occurred in 2 calves, with a peak response 9.5 days later. Apparent biphasic and triphasic IgM and IgA responses were evident in some calves. Acute and convalescent serum samples from 80 calves involved in 17 outbreaks of respiratory disease were tested for specific IgM and IgA. Positive IgM results were detected in 15 outbreaks, with 71 sera from 44 calves testing positive. Although IgA-positive results were detected in the same 15 outbreaks, only 42 sera from 31 calves were positive. In a previous study, seroconversion was detected in 21 of these calves from 10 outbreaks. Thus the diagnostic potential of the assays was in the order IgM > IgA > seroconversion. The correlations between IgM and IgA, IgM and seroconversion, and IgA and seroconversion results for each calf were 73.8%, 58.8% and 62.5%, respectively.     

猪流感病毒分离株的特性及致病性

为了解猪流感病毒(swine influenza virus,SIV)分离株A/Sw/SH/1/2007(H1N2)的特性,对毒株的抗原位点、受体位点、潜在糖基化位点进行比较分析,并进行雏鸡、小鼠致病性试验.结果表明,A/Sw/SH/1/2007与北美经典株A/Sw/Tennes/1455/1977(H1N1) HA抗原位点最接近,HA1蛋白4个抗原位点中只有Ca位点有2个氨基酸改变,发生抗原变异,Sa、Cb抗原位点均只有1个氨基酸发生改变,不影响其抗原性;受体位点高度保守,只有183位发生改变;A/Sw/SH 1/2007有6个潜在的糖基化位点,在276位丢失了1个潜在的糖基化位点,但同时在274位出现了1个新的糖基化位点.NA蛋白抗原位点序列与广西分离株A/Sw Guangxi/13/2006(H1N2)同源性最高,除401位氨基酸发生G→R改变外,其余抗原位点均保守.耐药性分析显示,该病毒对金刚烷胺、扎那米韦药物均敏感.致病性试验结果表明,A/Sw/SH/1/2007对雏鸡无致病性,ICPI为0;肌注小鼠2周内死亡100％,滴鼻小鼠死亡80％,存活小鼠血凝效价为27,而与经典H1N1亚型SIV毒株只有较低的交叉凝集,HI为2 3.4～3.6.     

Laboratory incubation studies of chlorophenoxyacetic acids in chernozemic soils

The relative persistence of 2,4-D, MCPA and 2,4,5-T in some Saskatchewan soils was assessed under laboratory conditions. Under moist conditions, 2,4-D and MCPA showed half-life times of between 14 and 41 days but the MCPA half-life was usually 1 or 2 days longer. 2,4,5-T exhibited a half-life period over twice the length of the other chemicals. The half-life times were directly correlated to microbial plate counts, the larger numbers of soil microorganisms being associated with shorter residence times. Half-lives depended on soil moisture content and the best moisture levels for chemical loss appeared to be just less than field capacity. The use of ¹⁴C in 2,4-D incubation studies showed that the initial cleavage of the 2,4-D molecule was associated with the ether linkage and was not a decarboxylation.     

The effect of light‐dark cycles of abnormal lengths upon egg production

An experiment is described conducted on approximately 1000 pullets from six different strains over a period of almost one year. The three treatments used were cycles of 23, 24 and 25 hr composed of 15 light:8 dark, 15 light:9 dark and 15¼ light:9¾ dark. Egg production increased significantly (P <0.01) with increasing cycle length, the mean rates of lay, expressed as eggs per 100 birds per 24 hr, being 71.6, 72.9 and 73.8 for the 23‐, 24‐ and 25‐hr cycles respectively.

The relative effects of the treatments were found to remain unaltered throughout the experiment.