Effect of mydriasis with topical rocuronium bromide on electroretinography in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mydriasis using topical rocuronium bromide on electroretinography (ERG) in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Scotopic mixed rod and cone, photopic cone, and photopic flicker ERG were performed on nine eyes of nine healthy adult pigeons under sedation. Each pigeon underwent two sets of ERG recordings. First, without the induction of mydriasis (control) and the second time with the induction of mydriasis using topical rocuronium bromide (treatment). The results were compared using either the Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, where a P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in the a- and b-wave implicit times and amplitudes during scotopic ERG between the two groups. The a- and b-wave amplitudes in the photopic cone were significantly higher in the treatment group (63.83 ± 32.33 and 191.75 ± 94.46 µV) compared to the control group (46.15 ± 27.60 and 116.76 ± 70.65 µV; P=0.045 and P=0.032, respectively). The photopic flicker amplitude was also significantly higher in the treatment group (76.23 ± 48.56 µV) than in the control group (42.18 ± 31.18 µV; P=0.044). No statistically significant differences were observed in the photopic cone and flicker implicit times between both groups. In conclusions, mydriasis induced by rocuronium bromide in pigeon resulting in higher amplitudes during the photopic ERG but not scotopic ERG.     

Detection and measurement of canine α-macroglobulins by enzyme immuno-assay

The alpha-macroglobulins are broad-specificity protease inhibitors important in the regulation and clearance from circulation of biologically active proteases. Inappropriate protease activation may be a feature of canine acute pancreatitis and the ability of the animal to clear these proteases may be important in determining survival. An enzyme immunoassay for the detection and measurement of canine alpha-macroglobulins in plasma samples was developed. A reference range for the canine alpha-macroglobulins of 1.20-2.72 mg ml-1 was established from a panel of canine plasma samples, and the stability of the alpha-macroglobulins in plasma samples stored at 4 degrees C was investigated. Changes in the level of the alpha-macroglobulins during disease states involving increased endogenous protease activity can now be investigated using a rapid, repeatable and quantifiable assay.     

Behaviour of adult Pacific lamprey in near‐field flow and fishway design experiments

Abstract An experimental fishway was used to examine adult Pacific lamprey, Lampetra tridentata (Gairdner), behaviour in a series of attraction and passage‐performance tests. Among all experiments, lamprey oriented to the fishway floor and walls and were attracted to both ambient and concentrated flow. When confronted with high‐velocity areas (vertical‐slot and submerged‐orifice weirs), many lamprey failed to pass upstream. However, lamprey were able to find and take advantage of low‐velocity refuges when they were provided. Lamprey climbed shallow‐ and steep‐angled ramps when attraction cues were sufficient and other passage routes were restricted. The combined results demonstrated the passage challenges that fishways designed and operated for salmonids present to non‐salmonid species. They also highlight the importance of evaluating trade‐offs between fishway attraction and passage efficiency. The experiments were integrated with tagging studies and development of lamprey‐specific passage structures, a research combination that provided an effective template for fishway performance evaluations.     

小波变换与分水岭算法融合的番茄冠层叶片图像分割

在基于机器视觉的作物营养诊断研究中,通常需要采集叶片样本并在实验室条件下定量测定其营养素含量,但由于叶片间相互重叠,往往使得叶片样本不能清晰地反映在群体番茄冠层图像中。为了解决这一问题,需要利用图像分析技术有效提取作物冠层图像中的叶片,并根据处理结果采集实验室测定样本。本文从复杂背景剔除、梯度图计算、小波变换、标记选取、分水岭分割等环节出发,实现了基于小波变换与分水岭算法融合的番茄冠层多光谱图像叶片分割。首先对比了4种复杂背景剔除算法,发现当增强因子a=1.3时,基于归一化植被指数(Normalized difference vegetation index,NDVI)的阈值分割目标提取准确,适合各种光照条件,时空复杂度低。其次在梯度图计算方面,近红外(Near infrared,NIR)波段图像形态学梯度在保持目标边缘的同时,能消除大量由叶脉、光照等引起的叶片内纹理细节。然后以小波分析为基础进行标记选取,发现当选取db4小波函数、4层小波分解低频系数、阈值为18的H-maxima变换能得到最优的目标标记结果。最后对多光谱番茄冠层图像的小波变换分水岭分割和数学形态学分水岭分割结果进行叠加,发现对复杂背景及不同光照强度下的番茄冠层叶片平均误分率为21%,为基于多光谱图像分析的番茄叶片营养素含量检测提供了一定的技术支持。     

Origin of a pair of red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) found in Sarobetsu Wetland,northwestern Hokkaido,Japan: a possible crossbreeding between the island and the mainland population

Red-crowned cranes Grus japonensis, which are an endangered species, have two separate populations, a mainland population in the Eurasian continent and an island population in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Island cranes showed three haplotypes (Gj1, Gj2 and Gj13), whereas ten haplotypes (Gj3–Gj12) were confirmed in captive cranes and stray cranes. We found Gj5 haplotype in feathers of two cranes as well as four new haplotypes in seven wild crane feathers collected in South Korea. We also found feathers in the nest in Sarobetsu Wetland in northwestern Hokkaido. While the haplotype of female-derived feathers was Gj2, that of male-derived feathers was Gj5. The results suggest that there has been crossbreeding between cranes in the island population and cranes in the mainland population.