猪粪好氧堆肥对缺锌土壤种植大豆的影响研究

以Zn含量较高的猪粪为原料进行了90d好氧堆肥,以采自陕西省永寿县养马庄的典型缺锌土壤为供试土样,通过大豆盆栽试验研究了该有机肥对大豆生长的影响,并以污染指数评价法和地积累指数评价了施用该有机肥对土壤中重金属的累积环境风险。结果表明：经过90d的高温好氧堆制,获得了氮磷钾丰富的堆肥产品,且堆肥中未检测出Ni、Cd、Cr、Pb、Hg和As等有害重金属,仅含Cu256.3mg.kg-1、Zn474.4mg.kg-1。与对照相比,随着有机肥施用量的增加,大豆生物量和产量逐渐增加,并在肥土比10%时达到最高,大豆产量比对照提高了206.7%,大豆根系重量提高了94.2%,大豆茎叶（含荚壳）提高了94.0%;大豆籽粒中Zn含量则随着有机肥施用量的增加而逐渐增加,并在40%时籽粒Zn含量高达49.33mg.kg-1;施用堆肥后,土壤EC、Zn和Cu全量、Zn和Cu有效量均随着堆肥使用量的增加而增加,而土壤pH则随着堆肥比例的增加,从8.46逐渐降低到7.44。污染指数评价法和地积累指数评价法表明,当茬堆肥施用量不超过5%时,不会对该缺锌土壤造成重金属污染。研究显示,适量施用该堆肥能显著促进大豆的茎叶和根系生长,同时提高籽粒产量和籽粒中的Zn含量。对于供试缺锌土壤,施用该富锌有机肥可以明显补充土壤锌。     

Effects of in vitro hemolysis on serum biochemistry values of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

The effects of in vitro hemolysis on 23 biochemical analytes were assessed in sera from 14 clinically healthy Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Each serum sample was divided into three portions for analysis: 1) nonhemolyzed control; 2) moderate hemolysis, simulated by adding hemolyzed serum to a final concentration of approximately 150 mg/dl Hb; and 3) severe hemolysis, simulated by adding hemolyzed serum to a final concentration of approximately 500 mg/dl Hb. Moderate hemolysis resulted in statistically significant increases in the mean values of iron, lactate dehydrogenase, potassium, and uric acid and a decrease in creatinine (P < 0.001). Severe hemolysis resulted in statistically significant changes in the mean values of the above analytes in addition to the following increases: alanine aminotransferase, calcium, and serum globulins (P < 0.001) and albumin and total protein (P < 0.01). Total bilirubin and gamma glutamyl transferase levels were lower in the severely hemolyzed sample (P < 0.001). Differences in mean values for alkaline phosphatase between nonhemolyzed and hemolyzed serum were not significant but did show a downward trend in the hemolyzed sera. The presence and severity of hemolysis must be considered in the interpretation of the serum chemistry values.     

Susceptibility of grapevine tissues to Neofusicoccum luteum conidial infection

This study investigated the ability of Neofusicoccum luteum to infect wounded shoots, trunks, pruned cane ends, leaf surfaces, buds, berries and roots, and its further progression into stem tissues. All tissue types were susceptible to infection except roots, with highest incidences in trunks (100%), cane ends (100%), shoots (92%) and buds (88%), indicating that in New Zealand, N. luteum is primarily a trunk and shoot pathogen. In trunks, there were no external symptoms, although N. luteum could be reisolated from 60 to 70 cm acropetally from the inoculation site after 4 months, by which time the pathogen had progressed into side shoots which became necrotic. Wounded and non‐wounded buds became infected; most were killed, with basipetal progression of the pathogen into the supporting shoots. Berries wounded and inoculated at the pre‐bunch closure stage were susceptible to N. luteum infection, with isolation incidence increasing over the season and peaking at harvest, when infected berries became mummified and produced pycnidia with many conidia. The pathogen was also able to progress from berries into bunch stems and supporting canes. Results from this research have indicated that N. luteum infection can occur in all aerial grapevine tissues and progress to young stem tissues where it causes wood necrosis. Growers should remove mummified berries from vineyard trash to ensure that pruning and trimming times do not coincide with rainy periods when conidia are released and dispersed. Furthermore, the susceptibility of buds to N. luteum infection indicates the need for fungicide sprays before budburst in spring.     

A pilot study of 4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte,a novel nutraceutical,in the management of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in dogs

The primary goal of this pilot study was to assess, the efficacy of a new nutraceutical, 4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte, containing, as a standalone, a proprietary plant oil extract, Epiitalis, in dogs presenting with signs of osteoarthritis (OA). Fifty dogs aged 9.2 (±3.2) years with signs of naturally occurring OA were included in this report. They were free of other comorbidities and were not on any medications except for those utilised for managing their OA. In these dogs, the current treatments were continued to avoid any sudden changes in their disease management. The effects of the 4CYTE Epiitalis Forte were assessed both at the beginning and at the end of a 1 month-long treatment period. The evaluation consisted of an objective lameness assessment (TPI%[total pressure index]) using a gait analysis (GAITRite® Portable Walkway System) and a subjective quality-of-life questionnaire, the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index (HCPI). Additional exploratory objective measurements included the Symmetry Index (SI) and the fore/hind limb ratio (T/P TPI%). Of dogs, 74% (34/46) registered a numerical improvement in TPI% in their worse limb. In addition, of the 93.5% of the dogs that demonstrated improvement in their HCPI scores by at least 5% on the quality-of-life questionnaire, 79% demonstrated improvements in gait based on TPI%. Finally, there were improvements measured in both exploratory objective endpoints SI and T/P TPI%. These encouraging results will be used to develop a protocol for a follow-up placebo-controlled randomised study to confirm the efficacy of this new nutraceutical for dogs suffering from OA.     

Identification of novel Trichoderma hamatum genes expressed during mycoparasitism

Trichoderma species are currently used as biocontrol agents for crop diseases caused by a number of fungal plant pathogens. However, their biocontrol performance in the field can be unreliable and it is likely that more consistent performance could be achieved through knowledge and manipulation of the genes involved. For example, induction of the genes could be optimised for variable environmental and physiological conditions, superior strains could be selected more effectively and novel st…     

Maturation of insulin and glucose responses to normal feeding in foals

SUMMARY Postprandial insulin and glucose concentrations were measured in 3 Arabian and 3 Thoroughbred foals at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of age. Prefeeding serum Insulin concentrations were similar in foals at 1 day (25.9 ± 5.1 pmol/L), 1 week (32.4 ± 5.8 pmol/L), and 1 month (38.2 + 7.9 pmol/L), but had Increased significantly to 131.0 ± 20.2 pmol/L at 3 months of age (P < 0.05). There was significantly increased serum Insulin secretion after a feed In foals at 3 months of age (P < 0.05) when compared with that at younger ages. Prefeeding serum glucose concentrations ranged from 6.0 ± 0.7 mmol/L at 1 day, to 5.9 ± 0.9 mmol/L at 1 week, 4.9 ± 1.7 mmol/L at 1 month, and 4.4 ± 1.5 mmol/L at 3 months of age. There were lower postprandial glucose concentrations with advancing age. It appeared that there was a period of maturation in pancreatic β-cell function after birth in foals, which reached adult levels by 3 months of age.     

Blood oxygen and ecology of porpoises of three genera

Blood volumes, hemoglobin concentrations, packed-cell volumes, and heart weights were determined in three genera of propoises which differ from one another in behavior and ecology. The estimate for the total blood-oxygen content of the highly active, deep-diving, pelagic species Phocoenoides dalli was almost three times greater than that for the coastaldwelling species Tursiops truncatus, and about 70 percent greater than for the less active pelagic species, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens. Heart weights of Phocoenoides dalli were about 140 percent greater than in Tursiops truncatus and 55 percent greater than in Logenorhynchus obliquidens.