Investigation of Cervical Patency and Uterine Appearance in Domestic Cats by Fluoroscopy and Scintigraphy

The cervical patency of six domestic female cats was monitored under sedation by infusion of contrast medium (Omnipaque) into the cranial vagina during early oestrus, mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and interoestrus or a radiopharmaceutical (^99mTc‐HSA) during mid‐ and interoestrus in a non‐ovulatory oestrous cycle. The transport of the contrast medium or the radiopharmaceutical through the cervix and within the uterine horns was observed under fluoroscopy and with the aid of scintigraphy. In three of the queens, transcervical transport of contrast medium was demonstrated in all stages of oestrus, in one queen during mid‐oestrus, late oestrus and 1 day after oestrus, and in two queens only during late oestrus. The relations between the cervical patency to the contrast medium and the oestrous behaviour, cornification of the vaginal cells and the serum oestradiol‐17β concentration were evaluated, and a relationship was found between the cervical patency and the degree of vaginal cornification. Transcervical transport of the radiopharmaceutical was observed in three queens during mid‐oestrus. When the cervix was open, hysterography under a fluoroscope and hysteroscintigraphy were performed. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic recordings revealed the patterns of the uterine contractions during oestrus in both ascending and descending directions, and the movement of the uterine contents back and forth between the uterine horns. The hysterograms were classified according to the shape of the uterine horns and the appearance of the endometrial lining. Spiral‐shaped uterine horns with a smooth inner contour were observed in two queens, and a corkscrew appearance with irregular filling defects in the uterine lumen was shown in two queens that had developed subclinical cystic endometrial hyperplasia. These findings demonstrated that fluids or particles deposited in the cranial vagina of the cat can be transported into the uterus during some stages of the oestrous cycle. The fluoroscopic and scintigraphic techniques developed in this study may be further modified to permit more detailed studies of uterine contractile patterns and sperm transport in the feline female reproductive tract. Hysterography proved useful to diagnose uterine disease. The information on cervical patency is of value also for the development of techniques for artificial insemination in this species, and should be studied also in the ovulatory cycle.     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

土壤微塑料影响植物生长的因素与机制研究进展

土壤中的微塑料可通过多种方式影响植物生长,并且其在植物体内积累会最终通过食物链进入人体,厘清微塑料对植物生长的影响及机制,有助于系统掌握其在土壤-植物体系中的环境行为。微塑料的赋存状态和理化特征均可影响其对植物的作用效果,本文从粒径、形状、浓度、种类、塑料添加剂和老化程度等方面,梳理了土壤微塑料影响植物生长的主要因素及作用机制,并对未来研究的重点内容提出展望,以期为进一步明晰微塑料对土壤生态系统的影响提供参考。     

镉胁迫下富铁有机肥对芒草生长及镉富集的影响

为了探究镉胁迫下富铁有机肥对芒草生长及镉富集的影响,通过盆栽试验,设置CK（不施肥）、ZCK（施加普通有机肥）和Z2、Z3（施加不同浓度富铁有机肥）处理。结果表明：与CK相比,所有施肥处理均促进了芒草生长,改善了土壤理化性质,抑制了芒草富集重金属,且其中Z2、Z3比ZCK对芒草生长的效果更好。相对于ZCK,Z3的芒草干质量显著增加了131.80%,Z2的芒草根长显著增加了54.22%。此外,Z2地上部的镉含量相比于ZCK显著降低了49.86%,Z3地下部的镉含量相比于CK显著降低了58.94%。研究表明,施加富铁有机肥相对于普通有机肥更能有效促进芒草生长并抑制芒草对镉的富集,该肥料具有对轻度镉污染土壤进行边修复边生产的应用潜力。     

不同氮肥形态对李氏禾铬富集能力的影响

为了优化李氏禾（Leersia hexandra Swartz）铬修复时的施氮效率,通过盆栽试验,研究了5种氮肥形态（硝酸钙、尿素、氯化铵、硝酸铵、硫酸铵）对李氏禾铬修复性能、生长指标和根系指标的影响。结果表明：与对照（不施氮肥）相比,施加的5种形态氮肥均促进了李氏禾生长,提高了根系活力,改变了根系形态特征,有利于提高李氏禾铬含量、铬累积量、富集系数和土壤铬去除率。施加硫酸铵的李氏禾生物量和根平均直径最大,分别为对照的5.54倍和1.51倍,其根系活力比对照增加108%;施加硝酸铵的李氏禾总根表面积和总根体积最大,分别为对照的2.17倍和1.99倍（P<0.05）。相关性分析结果表明,李氏禾的生物量、根平均直径、总根表面积、总根体积和根系活力均与土壤铬修复效率有关。其中,施加硫酸铵处理的富集系数和土壤铬去除率最高,分别为对照的1.45倍和5.56倍。研究表明,施加硫酸铵比其他氮肥形态更有利于提高李氏禾铬污染土壤修复效率。     

不同水稻种植模式下淹水及排干期土壤性质和微生物的变化

为揭示不同水稻种植模式、不同水分管理时期对稻田土壤性质和微生物的作用效应,利用长期定位监测试验比较分析单季稻不施肥、单季稻单施化肥、烟稻轮作 3种种植模式和淹水期、排干期 2种水分管理条件下稻田土壤理化性质和微生物群落结构的变化。结果表明：烟稻轮作模式稻田土壤有机质、全氮质量分数分别比单季稻模式提高了 32.88%~34.79%和 38.22%~44.39%。淹水期稻田土壤可溶性总氮以可溶性有机氮为主,占 56.06%~62.54%;排干期以硝态氮为主,占 62.34%~74.05%。烟稻轮作模式可显著提高淹水和排干条件下稻田土壤中可溶性有机氮和铵态氮质量分数,但对硝态氮质量分数的影响不明显。相较单季稻处理,烟稻轮作模式提高了稻田细菌Sobs、Shannon和Ace指数。好氧或兼性厌氧的酸杆菌属、黄色杆菌属均是3种水稻种植模式的优势菌属。3种种植模式淹水条件下稻田脱硫弧菌属、互营杆菌属等硫酸盐还原菌类存在显著差异,排干条件下硝化螺旋菌属也存在显著差异。淹水条件下烟稻轮作模式稻田土壤甲烷氧化菌相关的甲烷氧化单加氧酶基因α-亚基（pomA）的绝对丰度比单季稻处理降低了18.45%~18.54%。可见,水稻种植的淹水期和排干期的土壤可溶性氮组成和细菌群落结构存在显著差异;而烟稻轮作模式较单季稻模式可提高土壤肥力,改善微生物群落结构,增加硫酸盐还原菌类细菌丰度,降低产甲烷菌相关的甲基辅酶M还原酶基因丰度。     

热解温度对玉米芯生物炭碳结构、灰分与吸附四环素的影响

生物炭灰分和碳结构在抗生素吸附过程中的影响尚不明确。本文以玉米芯为原料,在300~800 ℃下热解制备生物炭（CBCs）及除灰分生物炭（CBCs_AW）,研究热解温度对生物炭灰分和碳结构的影响,探究灰分和碳形态与四环素（TC）吸附行为之间的关系。结果表明,随着热解温度升高,生物炭的碳结构由未完全碳化有机质（300 ℃）逐渐转化为石墨碳结构（800 ℃）,吸附实验结果显示CBC800_AW的吸附量最大,证实石墨碳结构是促进TC吸附量增加的重要因素。CBCs_AW对TC吸附量高于CBCs,说明灰分对TC吸附有一定抑制作用。分析TC吸附性能与生物炭理化性质的相关性,结果显示吸附量与生物炭比表面积、孔体积、芳香性和石墨化程度相关性较高,推测TC的主要吸附机理为孔隙填充作用和π-π电子供体-受体相互作用。研究结果可为生物质资源化利用和抗生素污染修复提供科学依据。     

水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌装置设计与试验

为解决南方水稻工厂化田间育秧水肥药人工管理作业中存在的灌溉均匀性差、化肥和农药浪费以及劳动强度大等问题,该研究设计了一种水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌装置,阐述了水肥药变量喷灌装置总体结构和工作原理,进行了关键部件设计与试验;以可编程逻辑控制器（programmable logic controller,PLC）为控制核心,构建了注肥量在线调控及整机变量喷灌控制系统。采用Box-Behnken试验设计方法,对装置喷灌均匀性与主要影响因素进行试验研究,应用单目标优化方法对喷灌关键参数进行优化,并通过验证试验,得到最优参数组合为：干管入口水压0.20 MPa、球阀开度90°、喷头喷角80°,此时装置的喷灌均匀性为92.69%;构建了氯化钾肥液质量浓度与电导率（electrical conductance,EC）值的线性模型,开展了装置变量灌溉施肥性能试验,3种喷灌等级下各作业区的肥液EC值分别为1.65、1.66和1.68 mS/cm,平均喷灌强度分别为900.85、1092.04和1263.67 mm/h,施肥均匀系数分别为85.21%、87.86%和91.62%。采用水肥药变量喷灌装置开展水稻育秧田间管理试验,华航51常规稻和广8优165杂交稻的秧苗长势均匀度均高于95%,成毯性良好,各项素质指标满足机插作业要求。所设计的水肥药变量喷灌装置能够满足水稻田间育秧水肥药变量喷灌作业要求,对提高水稻工厂化田间育秧机械化水平、保证秧苗质量具有实际应用价值。     

绿鳍马面鲀雌雄性腺转录组比较分析

为探明绿鳍马面鲀(Thamnaconus septentrionalis)性腺发育相关基因表达特征,优化亲本生殖调控技术,本研究对绿鳍马面鲀雌雄亲体的精巢和卵巢进行了转录组测序分析,经de novo拼装,最终获得119 219个单基因(unigene),N50长度为1 255 bp。在NR、NT、KO、SwissProt、PFAM、GO及KOG数据库分别注释到24 009、35 057、18 453、26 971、30 294、11 420和21 613个unigene。绿鳍马面鲀精巢和卵巢转录组中存在18 954个差异表达基因(DEG),相对于精巢,在卵巢中上调表达的基因有11 265个,下调表达的有7 689个。选取bmp2、sox3、figla、hsd17b1、cyp19a、cyp17、foxl2、star和amh 9个DEGs进行实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)验证,结果显示,qRT-PCR结果与RNA-Seq分析相一致。GO和KEGG富集结果分析发现,amh、cyp17和star可能在绿鳍马面鲀雄性精子发生过程中起关键作用;bmp2、foxl2、cyp19a、figla和hsd17b1在雌性卵子发生和卵巢类固醇生成过程中发挥重要作用。本研究通过比较绿鳍马面鲀精巢和卵巢的转录组表达差异,初步阐明了精巢和卵巢的基因表达特征,为进一步研究绿鳍马面鲀的性腺发育机制奠定了基础。     

长江安庆江段存在溯河洄游型和淡水定居型刀鲚实证研究

为了探究长江十年禁渔后安庆江段刀鲚的生境履历,利用X射线电子探针微区分析技术研究安庆江段不同类型长颌刀鲚(Coilia nasus)和短颌刀鲚的耳石Sr和Ca微化学特征。结果显示,根据耳石Sr/Ca值的变化值将安庆江段的短颌刀鲚分为2类,一类是其比值为一直小于3.0的低值,表明其纯淡水的生境履历;另一类是其比值不仅有小于3.0的低值区,还有大于3.0的高值区(小于7.0),表明其不仅有淡水的生境履历,还有高盐度的河口半咸水生境履历。长颌刀鲚的耳石Sr/Ca值均具有小于3.0的低值区和大于3.0 (甚至大于7.0)高值区的显著波动,表现为典型的淡水、河口半咸水及海水的溯河洄游型生境履历,Sr含量面分析图谱也可印证上述结果。本研究表明,长江安庆江段刀鲚群体组成较为复杂,同时存在溯河洄游型、淡水定居型短颌刀鲚和溯河洄游型长颌刀鲚3种生态表型个体。