The Effect of Lactation on Post‐Partum Uterine Involution in Holstein Dairy Cows

The objective was to examine the effect of lactation on uterine involution in post‐partum dairy cows. Holstein primiparous cows were used (n = 19, mean age: 3.9 ± 0.1 years). At calving, cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, lactating (n = 11) or non‐lactating (i.e. dried off at calving, n = 8). Examination of the reproductive tract was carried out by ultrasonography twice weekly until week 7 post‐partum. Blood samples were collected twice weekly for the analysis of progesterone to indicate the resumption of cyclicity and metabolites indicative of energy status. Uterine involution was assessed in terms of size of the uterine horns, uterine body diameter and uterine fluid volume as assessed by the amount of non‐echogenic material measured by ultrasound and position of the uterus. Vaginal mucous score was taken on day 28 post‐partum for the assessment of uterine inflammation. Resumption of cyclicity (serum progesterone > 1 ng/ml) had occurred in both groups on average by day 21 post‐partum. Concentrations of non‐esterified fatty acids and beta‐hydroxybutyrate were higher, whereas concentrations of glucose, insulin and IGF‐1 were lower (p < 0.05) in lactating compared to non‐lactating cows. Lactating cows had a smaller mean uterine body diameter (p < 0.05) than non‐lactating cows from days 28 to 42 post‐partum (day 28: 20.2 ± 1.3 vs 24.9 ± 1.5 mm, respectively) and had a lower mean uterine fluid volume up to day 49 (p < 0.05). By day 49, there was no difference in uterine diameter (15.2 ± 1.8 vs 15.2 ± 1.6 mm) or uterine fluid volume (0.11 ± 0.38 vs 0.18 ± 0.46) between lactating and non‐lactating cows, respectively. Vaginal mucous score revealed no evidence of uterine inflammation in either group. In conclusion, while lactation induced significant alterations in metabolic status, it did not have a major effect on the rate of uterine involution as defined in this study.     

Single-copy nuclear PolA1 gene sheds light on the origin of S genome with relationships to B and G genomes of polyploid wheat species

PolA1, a single-copy nuclear gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase I, comprises highly polymorphic intron 19 and nucleotide tag (Ntag) sequences. We analyzed these sequences in 42 accessions, which differed in ploidy, of Triticum–Aegilops and Hordeum species. The lengths of the intron 19 sequences were ca. 110?bp long in Triticum–Aegilops species, except in four Sitopsis species, Ae. longissima, Ae. searsii, Ae. sharonensis, Ae. speltoides, which had introns similar in length to those of Hordeum species, i.e., ca. 240?bp long. Phylogenetic analyses of the Ntag sequences showed that the four Sitopsis and remaining Triticum–Aegilops species were classified into two discrete Hordeum and Triticum clades, respectively. The A and D genome-specific Ntag sequences of polyploid wheats were highly homologous with those of T. urartu and Ae. tauschii, respectively. In Ae. bicornis, another Sitopsis species, two accessions had the short intron 19 and Triticum–type Ntag sequence, which were highly homologous with those of the B genome in polyploid wheats, whereas one accession contained the long intron 19 and Hordeum–type Ntag sequences. In contrast, partial sequence analyses revealed that the three accessions of Ae. bicornis shared highly homology to single-copy DMC1 and EF-G genes. The discrepancy between these results indicates that the Sitopsis species were probably established by hybrid speciation including ancient introgressive hybridization between progenitors of Triticum–Aegilops and Hordeum. Although many researchers have proposed Ae. speltoides as a candidate for the B genome donor, our data suggest the existence of diploid B genome species in the past that were responsible for the origin of both polyploid wheats and Sitopsis species, including Ae. speltoides.     

Understanding Tecomella undulata: an endangered pharmaceutically important timber species of hot arid regions

Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (family Bignoniaceae) is an economically and pharmaceutically important small tree of arid regions of India, Pakistan and Arabia. It is well known as ‘Desert teak’ or ‘Marwar teak’ being the main source of timber amongst the tree species of desert region of Rajasthan, India. T. undulata has occupied a reputed position of having valuable medicinal properties in both folk and classical streams of indigenous medicinal systems. Plant is well-known for its wide range of therapeutic activities like hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-termite, immunomodulatory, anticancer, cytotoxic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, etc. Rohitakarishta, an ayurvedic drug obtained from T. undulata, is the classical compound which is being prescribed in liver and spleen diseases, oedema and anaemia. This well accepted agroforestry tree of the arid regions is heading towards extinction due to its increasing demand in timber and pharmacological industries coupled with negligible conservation efforts. This species has now been designated as “threatened” in Rajasthan, India. Susceptibility to many pathogens and pests is one of the major problems and detrimental factor in successful establishment and growth of this tree. Conventionally, it is propagated through seeds; however, natural regeneration of plants is poor due to air dispersal of seeds to remote areas, extreme environmental conditions during seed dispersal, improper harvest and storage of seeds, and short seed viability. The tree is very slow growing and suitable vegetative propagation methods are not available for its rapid multiplication. Alternatively, attempts have been made to propagate this tree through in vitro approaches; however, it also has many limitations including difficulties in culture establishment, slow growth, low rooting rates as well as field establishment rates. Moreover, little information is available regarding genetic diversity in this species using morphological and molecular markers. Efforts to undertake breeding programs for improvement of T. undulata have not been initiated yet. Some literature is available regarding cytology, role in agroforestry and silviculture, association with vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza and application of biotechnological tools in T. undulata, however, an exponential increase in research publications on identification of bioactive constituents and verification of pharmacological effects has been recorded in the recent past. In this communication, we emphasize the research progress made in T. undulata on various aspects and suggest some future directions of research.     

Resonant amplification of magnetic domain-wall motion by a train of current pulses

The current-induced motion of magnetic domain walls confined to nanostructures is of interest for applications in magnetoelectronic devices in which the domain wall serves as the logic gate or memory element. The injection of spin-polarized current below a threshold value through a domain wall confined to a pinning potential results in its precessional motion within the potential well. We show that by using a short train of current pulses, whose length and spacing are tuned to this precession frequency, the domain wall's oscillations can be resonantly amplified. This makes possible the motion of domain walls with much reduced currents, more than five times smaller than in the absence of resonant amplification.     

Recent synchronous radiation of a living fossil

Modern survivors of previously more diverse lineages are regarded as living fossils, particularly when characterized by morphological stasis. Cycads are often cited as a classic example, reaching their greatest diversity during the Jurassic-Cretaceous (199.6 to 65.5 million years ago) then dwindling to their present diversity of ~300 species as flowering plants rose to dominance. Using fossil-calibrated molecular phylogenies, we show that cycads underwent a near synchronous global rediversification beginning in the late Miocene, followed by a slowdown toward the Recent. Although the cycad lineage is ancient, our timetrees indicate that living cycad species are not much older than ~12 million years. These data reject the hypothesized role of dinosaurs in generating extant diversity and the designation of today's cycad species as living fossils.     

杂交水稻Ⅱ优航1号产量构成因素分析 与高产栽培技术研究

运用二次回归旋转组合设计,对Ⅱ优航1号进行秧苗4叶期喷施多效唑浓度、移栽期、插植密度、施N量、施K量5项农艺措施进行研究。对Ⅱ优航1号的产量构成因素进行分析,明确了各因素对产量的影响和各因素相互之间的关系。结果表明,穗数对产量作用最大,每穗粒数、结实率对产量的影响程度较低。建立产量与5项农艺措施的回归模型。分析了农艺措施对产量的影响。结果表明,对产量的影响主要是多效唑浓度、移栽期、密度、施N量。并经微机模拟,其高产栽培[措施是:多效唑浓度为718.7~783.1mg/kg,移栽期为7月10—12日,每公顷插25.52~26.78万丛,施纯N166.8~176.5kg、KO122.4~134.1kg。     

A study on feeding hazelnut kernel oil meal as a protein source for broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting different levels of hazelnut kernel oil meal (HKM) for soybean meal (SBM) in diets for broiler. A total of 450 one-day-old female Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated randomly to three treatment groups of 150 birds each in a randomized design. Each treatment group consisted of five replicates each of 30 chicks. All diets (in mash form) were formulated to meet nutrient concentrations recommended for broilers. The experiment lasted for six weeks. In the experiment, an SBM control (SBM) diet was compared to two HKM diets, replacing 50 (50HKM) and 100% (HKM) of SBM protein, respectively. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broilers were adversely affected ( P  < 0.05) by the HKM diets at 42 days of age. Broilers fed 50HKM and HKM had growth performances similar ( P  > 0.05). The carcass yield and abdominal fat pads of birds fed diets with SBM were higher ( P  < 0.05) than those of chicks fed the 50HKM and HKM diets. The edible inner organ weight of chicks fed diets with HKM was the heaviest ( P  < 0.05). It is concluded that SBM cannot be replaced even up to 50% with HKM in commercial broiler diet.