Transformations of nitrogen fertilizers in soil

The effects of ¹⁵N-labelled urea, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃ on immobilization, mineralization, nitrification and ammonium fixation were examined under aerobic conditions in an acid tropical soil (pH 4.0) and in a neutral temperate soil (pH 6.8). Urea, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃ slightly increased net mineralization of soil organic nitrogen in both soils. There was also an apparent Added Nitrogen Interaction (ANI) i.e. added labelled NH₄-N stood proxy for unlabelled NH₄-N that would otherwise have been immobilized. So far as immobilization and nitrification were concerned, urea and (NH₄)₂SO₄ behaved very similarly in each soil. Immobilization of NO₃-N was negligible in both soils. Some of the added labelled NH₄-N was rapidly fixed, more by the temperate soil than by the tropical soil. This labelled fixed NH₄-N decreased during incubation, in contrast to labelled organic N, which did not decline.     

Effect of Aeration Rate on Nutrient Removal from Slaughterhouse Wastewater in Intermittently Aerated Sequencing Batch Reactors

In order to implement best environmental management practices in agricultural watershed, it is necessary to evaluate non point source pollution loads and identify critical watershed pollution sources, which are regional management priority missions. Nutrient related non point source pollutant inputs can increase primary production and intensify water eutrophication. Not all watershed areas are critical and responsible for high amount nutrient pollution losses. Implementation of watershed environmental prevention is required to assess pollution yields. Further more, identification of these critical areas is essential for the effective and efficient implementation of watershed best environmental management. In this study, a geographic information system based Soil and Water Assessment Tool was applied in Bahe River watershed, a part of the Yangtze River basin. Land use, soil series texture and daily rainfall data for a 10-year period (1996–2005) was used in this study. The calibrated model system was verified to estimate average annual Organic Nitrogen and Organic Phosphorus yields in these 10 years. The estimated results were also tested and optimized by statistical software. Based on 10-year average yearly Organic Nitrogen yield and Organic Phosphorus losses, critical sub-watersheds were identified. The five sub-watersheds in the north part of watershed were under more intensive pollution yield, west group sub-watersheds contributed to moderate losses, whereas other sub-watersheds fell under slight loading classes. The research outputs developed a basis for an effective watershed environmental management plan. The study revealed that the Soil and Water Assessment Tool could be applied successfully for identifying critical sub-watersheds for watershed best environmental management purposes.     

Comparative utility of egg blastomere morphology and lipid biochemistry for prediction of hatching success in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L.

Six blastomere morphology parameters indicative of cell development abnormalities, egg diameter, dry weight, total lipid, lipid classes and fatty acids were determined for egg batches collected daily from three Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) broodstock groups over the course of one spawning season. Egg batches were incubated to hatch and each morphological and biochemical parameter was tested as a predictor of hatching success. Five of the six blastomere morphology parameters were significantly positively correlated with each other. Correlation coefficients among several fatty acid parameters were also significant but correlation coefficients among the various lipid classes were mostly not significant. No significant correlations were found between blastomere morphology and lipid class or fatty acid parameters. Egg dry weight was negatively correlated with cell clarity, %docosahexanoic acid (DHA), DHA:eicosapentaenoic acid, and Σ polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fertilization success was not significantly correlated with any of the morphology or biochemistry parameters. Within‐population variability in several morphological and fatty acid parameters was related to elapsed time since onset of first spawning. However, the occurrence of such relationships with elapsed time was highly variable and inconsistent among the three broodstocks, typically being significant for only one or two broodstocks but not all three. Mean hatching success rates were high (>75%) in all three broodstocks but hatching success was not significantly related to any of the morphological or biochemical parameters nor to elapsed time from onset of first spawning. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the utility of the various morphology and biochemistry parameters as measures of egg quality in marine finfish hatcheries.     

Genetic structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrenophora teres</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">teres</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. teres</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">maculata</Emphasis> populations from western Canada

Infection by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) or P. teres f. maculata (Ptm), the causal agents of the net and spot forms of net blotch of barley, respectively, can result in significant yield losses. The genetic structure of a collection of 128 Ptt and 92 Ptm isolates from the western Canadian provinces of Alberta (55 Ptt, 27 Ptm), Saskatchewan (58 Ptt, 46 Ptm) and Manitoba (15 Ptt, 19 Ptm) were analyzed by simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis. Thirteen SSR loci were examined and found to be polymorphic within both Ptt and Ptm populations. In total, 110 distinct alleles were identified, with 19 of these shared between Ptt and Ptm, 75 specific to Ptt, and 16 specific to Ptm. Genotypic diversity was relatively high, with a clonal fraction of approximately 10 % within Ptt and Ptm populations. Significant genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.230, P = 0.001) was found among all populations; 77 % of genetic variation occurred within populations and 23 % between populations. Lower, but still significant genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.038, P = 0.001) was detected in Ptt, with 96 % of genetic variation occurring within populations. No significant genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.010, P = 0.177) was observed among Ptm populations. Isolates clustered in two distinct groups conforming to Ptt or Ptm, with no intermediate cluster. The high number of haplotypes observed, combined with an equal mating type ratio for both forms of the fungus, suggests that P. teres goes through regular cycles of sexual recombination in western Canada.     

Effects of changing body position on oxygenation and arterial blood pressures in foals anesthetized with guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of a change in body position on blood gases and arterial blood pressures in foals anesthetized with guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine.Study designProspective, randomized experimental study.AnimalsTwelve Quarter Horse foals, age of 5.4 ±0.9 months and weighing 222 ± 48 kg.MethodsFoals were anesthetized with guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine for 40 minutes in lateral recumbency and then assigned to a change in lateral recumbency after hoisting (Group 1, n = 6), or no change (Group 2, n = 6). Oxygen 15 L minute^?1 was insufflated into the endotracheal tube throughout anesthesia. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate (f_R), inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO₂), and end-tidal carbon dioxide (Pe’CO₂) were measured every 5 minutes. Arterial pH and blood gases [arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂)] were measured at 10, 30, and 40 minutes after induction, and 5 minutes after hoisting. Alveolar dead space ventilation and PaO₂/FiO₂ were calculated. Two repeated measures models were used. All hypothesis tests were two-sided and significance level was α = 0.05. All values are presented as least square means ± SE.ResultsValues at time-matched points from the two groups were not significantly different so they were combined. Arterial partial pressure of oxygen decreased significantly from 149 ± 14.4 mmHg before hoisting to 92 ± 11.6 mmHg after hoisting (p=0.0013). The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio decreased from 275 ± 30 to 175 ± 24 (p=0.0055). End-tidal carbon dioxide decreased significantly from 48.7 ± 1.6 to 44.5 ± 1.2 mmHg (p=0.021). Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, blood pressures and heart rates measured 5 minutes after hoisting were not different from measurements obtained before hoisting.Conclusion and clinical relevanceHoisting decreased PaO₂ in anesthetized healthy foals. Administration of supplemental oxygen is recommended to counter the decrease in oxygenation and PaO₂ measurement is necessary to detect early changes.     

A serologic survey of Oklahoma cats for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus, coronavirus, and Toxoplasma gondii and for antigen to feline leukemia virus

A serologic survey was done on 618 cat sera submitted to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1988. The samples were collected from clinically normal and sick cats. The sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus by a commercial immunoassay, to a coronavirus by an indirect fluorescent antibody test, and to Toxoplasma gondii by a commercial latex agglutination test and for the presence of feline leukemia virus antigen with one of 3 different commercial assay kits. Ten percent of the sera had antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus, 35% had antibodies to a coronavirus, and 22% had antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Feline leukemia virus antigen was detected in 15% of the sera. Thirty-two percent of the sera had evidence of exposure to 2 or more of the agents.     

Associations between sperm abnormalities, breed, age, and scrotal circumference in beef bulls

The objectives of this study were to determine the associations of breed, age, and scrotal circumference (SC), and their interaction, on the prevalence of sperm abnormalities in beef bulls in Alberta, Canada, and the percentage of satisfactory potential breeders identified during breeding soundness examination solely due to normal sperm morphology. Eosin-nigrosin stained semen smears and evaluation reports of 1642 bull breeding soundness evaluations were procured from 6 veterinary clinics in Alberta. Sperm morphology was determined for at least 100 sperm per bull. The most common defects were detached head [4.86% ± 5.71%; mean ± standard deviation (s)], distal midpiece reflex (6.19% ± 9.13%), and bent tail (1.01% ± 1.54%). Although breed, age, and SC did not significantly affect the prevalence of head or midpiece defects, morphologically normal or abnormal sperm, tail defects were more prevalent in Angus and Hereford bulls compared with other breeds. Overall, solely on the basis of sperm morphology, 1363 (83.0%) bulls were classified as satisfactory potential breeders and the remainder 279 (17.0%) as unsatisfactory (> 30% abnormal sperm, > 20% defective heads, or both). Although not significantly different, the breed with the highest percentage of satisfactory potential breeders was Limousin (90.6%) and the lowest was Hereford (78.8%). That 17% of bulls subjected to breeding soundness evaluation were designated as unsatisfactory solely on the basis of sperm morphology highlights its importance.     

双分子荧光互补试验研究水稻NH1家族蛋白之间相互作用

NPR1(Non-expresser of pathogenesis related genes 1)是水杨酸(Salicilic acid,SA)介导的系统获得抗性(Systemic aquired resistance,SAR)的关键调控因子,在水稻中过量表达拟南芥NPR1和水稻NH1/OsNPR1(NPR1 ho...     

Poor recruitment is changing the structure and species composition of an old-growth hemlock-hardwood forest

Anthropogenic factors such as elevated deer populations, invasive earthworms or climate change may alter old-growth forests of the Upper Midwest region of the United States. We examined demographic trends of woody species across all size classes over 35 years in a late-successional forest dominated by hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula using two sets of permanent plots. For the duration of the study period, species that were less-preferred white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forage, especially sugar maple, comprised a much higher fraction of all seedlings and saplings compared to overstory trees. The density of small sugar maple declined across the study period, but no other species became more abundant, creating a more open forest understory. By the most recent census, preferred species for deer browse had been nearly eliminated from the understory, and declines in unpreferred species such as sugar maple were also apparent. We found small changes in temperature (<0.5-1 °C rise in minimum and maximum temperatures depending on season) and precipitation (±28 mm depending on season) and little evidence of invasive earthworms impacts. Our results suggest that the sustained elevated deer density is shifting the structure and composition of this old-growth forest. A demographic model showed that if current recruitment, growth and mortality rates were to continue for 500 years the forest would eventually reach a new equilibrium with virtually no hemlock or yellow birch remaining.