Artificial neural network models of the rumen fermentation pattern in dairy cattle

The objectives of this study were: (1) to predict the rumen fermentation pattern from milk fatty acids using a machine learning technique, i.e. artificial neural networks (ANN) combined with feature selection and (2) to compare the prediction accuracy of the resulting model to that of a statistical multi-linear regression model, based on odd and branched chain milk fatty acids. Data were collected from 10 experiments with rumen fistulated dairy cows, resulting in a dataset of 138 observations. Feature selection was based on correlation and principal component analysis, and background physiological knowledge. Different ANN architectures and training algorithms were assessed. The evaluation of the model performance, based on the test dataset, showed a root mean square prediction error, expressed relative to the observed mean, of 2.65%, 7.67% and 7.61% of the observed mean for acetate, propionate and butyrate, respectively. Compared to a multi-linear regression model, the ANN revealed not to perform significantly better. However, the results confirm that milk fatty acids have great potential to predict molar proportions of individual volatile fatty acids in the rumen.     

中草药验方对乏情母猪繁殖性能的影响

试验选择由卵巢机能失调、子宫炎、阴道炎为主要原因引起的乏情母猪,通过中草药制剂和西药促性腺激素进行催情治疗的效果比较。证实了中草药验方对乏情母猪具有较好的提高繁殖性能的作用。     

小麦TaPYL8基因的克隆与抗旱功能分析

脱落酸(ABA)信号通路在植物对干旱胁迫的响应中扮演着至关重要的角色;作为ABA受体,PYL家族蛋白在ABA信号转导中发挥核心作用。小麦TaPYL8是PYL家族的成员。为了明确TaPYL8是否参与小麦干旱胁迫响应,本研究分析了TaPYL8的表达模式,创建过表达TaPYL8拟南芥,并探讨了干旱对拟南芥生理生化及胁迫相关基因表达的影响。结果表明,TaPYL8表达量在干旱胁迫、外源ABA及PEG6000处理后上调。干旱胁迫下,过表达TaPYL8增强了拟南芥的存活率,降低了叶片失水率和MDA含量,提高了SOD、POD和CAT等抗氧化酶活性及AtSOD、AtP5CS1、AtABF3等胁迫相关基因的表达量。推测TaPYL8通过促进胁迫相关基因表达增强植物抗旱能力。     

Haemodynamic changes during sedation in ponies

The cardiovascular changes induced by several sedatives were investigated in five ponies with a subcutaneously transposed carotid artery by means of cardiac output determinations (thermodilution technique), systemic and pulmonary artery pressure measurements (direct intravascular method) and arterial blood analysis (blood gases and packed cell volume). The cardiovascular depression (decrease in systemic blood pressure and cardiac output) was long lasting (greater than 90 min) after administration of propionylpromazine (0.08 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.)) together with promethazine (0.08 mg/kg i.v.). The phenothiazine-induced sedation was not optimal. alpha 2-Agonists (xylazine (0.60 mg/kg i.v.) and detomidine (20 micrograms/kg i.v.)) induced initial but transient cardiovascular effects with an increase in systemic blood pressure and a decrease in cardiac output for about 15 min. Second degree atrioventricular blocks and bradycardia were seen during this period. The cardiovascular depression was more pronounced during detomidine sedation. Atropine (0.01 mg/kg i.v.) induced a tachycardia with a decrease in stroke volume but did not alter the cardiac output or other cardiovascular parameters. It prevented the occurrence of the bradycardia and heart blocks normally induced by xylazine or detomidine. Atropine potentiated the initial hypertension induced by the alpha 2-agonistic sedatives (especially detomidine). The decrease in cardiac output induced by xylazine, and to a lesser extent by detomidine, was partially counteracted when atropine was given in advance. The atropine-xylazine combination seemed the best premedication protocol before general anaesthesia as it only resulted in minor and transient cardiovascular changes.     

Tropical tanniniferous legumes used as an option to mitigate sheep enteric methane emission

This study presents the first results from Brazil using SF₆ tracer technique adapted from cattle to evaluate the capability of condensed tannin (CT) present in three tropical legume forages, Leucaena leucocephala (LEU), Styzolobium aterrimum (STA), and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia Benth (MIM) to reduce enteric CH₄ production in Santa Inês sheep. Twelve male lambs [27.88?±?2.85 kg body weight (BW)] were allocated in individual metabolic cages for 20-day adaptation followed by 6 days for measuring dry matter intake (DMI) and CH₄ emission. All lambs received water, mineral supplement, and Cynodon dactylon v. coast-cross hay ad libitum. The treatments consisted of soybean meal (710 g/kg) and ground corn (290 g/kg) [control (CON)]; soybean meal (150 g/kg), ground corn (30 g/kg), and Leucaena hay (820 g/kg) (LEU); soybean meal (160 g/kg), ground corn (150 g/kg), and Mucuna hay (690 g/kg) (STA); and soybean meal (280 g/kg), ground corn (190 g/kg), and Mimosa hay (530 g/kg) (MIM); all calculated to provide 40 g/kg CT (except for CON). DMI (in grams of DMI per kilogram BW per day) was lower for LEU (22.0) than CON (29.3), STA (31.2), and MIM (31.6). The LEU group showed emission of 7.8 g CH₄/day, significantly lower than CON (10.5 g CH₄/day), STA (10.4 g CH₄/day), and MIM (11.3 g CH₄/day). However, when the CH₄ emission per DMI was considered, there were no significant differences among treatments (0.37, 0.36, 0.33, and 0.35 g CH₄/g DMI/kg BW/day, respectively, for CON, LEU, STA, and MIM). The sheep receiving STA had shown a tendency (p?=?0.15) to reduce methane emission when compared to the CON group. Therefore, it is suggested that tropical tanniniferous legumes may have potential to reduce CH₄ emission in sheep, but more research is warranted to confirm these results.     

Preputial fibroma in a gelding

An 11‐year‐old gelding presented with a large mass located in the dermis of his preputium that surrounded the penis completely. This mass was first noted years ago but did not increase in size. Histological examination diagnosed a fibroma. No treatment was initiated since no signs of discomfort were noticed and the gelding was performing at a high level in competitive showjumping. Next to skin tumours, tumours of the penis and preputium are most common. Most frequently, squamous cell carcinomas and sarcomas are diagnosed. Although fibromas can develop anywhere in connective tissue, a preputial location of a fibroma in a gelding is rare. Differential diagnosis and possible treatment options are discussed.     

Protein requirements of collared peccary (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pecari tajacu</Emphasis>)

A nitrogen (N) balance digestion trial was conducted to determine the protein requirement of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). In a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four captive adult male peccaries were fed four isoenergy diets containing four different levels of N (11.7, 16.3, 22.8, and 26.7 g N/kg of dry matter—DM). After 15 days of adaptation, a total collection of feces and urine was carried out for five consecutive days. Regression analyses between N intake and N in feces and urine allowed to calculate the metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN = 2.3 g N/kg of dry matter intake—DMI) and daily endogenous urinary N (EUN = 185 mg N/kg^0.75). Likewise, by regression analyses between consumption of nitrogen and the nitrogen balance (NB = N ingested ? N excreted, mg N/kg^0.75), a daily requirement of 514 mg N/kg^0.75 was calculated. Therefore, if food intake is unrestricted, collared peccaries require a minimum in their diet of about 5.4% crude protein on DM basis. These values are almost as low as those found for browsing and frugivorous wild ruminants, which reinforce the proposition that peccaries’ digestive physiology is nearer to that of domestic and wild ruminants than domestic pigs. This relatively low protein requirement of collared peccary and its great ability to digest protein reveal the relevance of the forestomach for the species on nitrogen/protein metabolism and allow the use of diets with lower crude protein levels than the commercial ones used for the domestic pig, which reduces feed costs.     

Isolation,proliferation and characterization of endometrial canine stem cells

In the last decade, progenitor cells isolated from dissociated endometrial tissue have been the subject of many studies in several animal species. Recently, endometrial cells showing characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been demonstrated in human, pig and cow uterine tissue samples. The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization of stromal cells from the endometrium of healthy bitches, a tissue that after elective surgery is routinely discarded. Multipotent stromal cells could be isolated from all bitches enrolled in the study (n = 7). The multipotency of cells was demonstrated by their capacity to differentiate into adipocytic, osteocytic and chondrocytic lineages. Clonogenicity and cell proliferation ability were also tested. Furthermore, gene expression analysis by RT‐PCR was used to compare the expression of a set of genes (CD44, CD29, CD34, CD45, CD90, CD13, CD133, CD73, CD31 CD105, Oct4) with adipose tissue‐derived MSC. Stromal cells isolated from uterine endometrium showed similar morphology, ability of subculture and plasticity, and also expressed a panel of genes comparable with adipose tissue‐derived MSC. These data suggest that endometrial stromal cells fulfil the basic criteria proposed by the “Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy” for the identification of mesenchymal stem cells. Although endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSC) showed a lower replicative ability in comparison with adipose tissue‐derived MSC, they could be considered a cell therapeutic agent alternative to adipose tissue or bone marrow‐derived MSC in dog.     

鸡毒霉形体HS株pMGA多基因族序列分析

用限制性核酸内切酶对鸡毒霉形体(MG)HS株基因文库中经初步估测可能含有的4个鸡毒霉形体粘附蛋白(protein of Mycoplasma gallisepticum adhesin,pMGA)基因的MgW17重组质粒进行了不同组合的酶消化,根据消化片段的大小及酶切位点绘制了7.5kb外源片段的物理图谱;然后根据所得的物理图谱,选用Pst I和EcoR I将MgW17外源片段酶解成1.3、2.0、4.2 kb 3个部分,将它们分别亚克隆到SK(十)质粒上,得到了3个亚克隆子SGp100、SGp200、SGp300.使用核酸外切酶Ⅲ缺失法构建缺失子系列,经序列分析后得到MgW17外源片段的全部序列.序列全长7 434 bp,中间含有2个完整的pMGA基因和另2个不完整的pMGA基因的首部和尾部,分别将它们顺次命名为H-pMGA1.1、H-pMGA1.2、H-pMGA1.3和H pMGA1.4.2个完整的pMGA基因的阅读框长度分别为1 967 bp(1.2)和2039 bp(1.3);H-pMGA1.1首部不完整的阅读框的长度为720 bp,尾部不完整的H-pMGA1.4的长度为1 752 bp.将H-pMGA基因与已报道的MG.S6株、F株的pMGA基因进行了比较,探讨了pMGA基因在不同MG菌株中的相似性、基因启动子结构的差异、间隔区内GAA重复序列对转录调控的影响等.     

猪红细胞CD58分子协同NDⅣ疫苗免疫的佐剂效应

用从木瓜酶修饰的猪红细胞提取的 CD5 8分子 ,协同 ND 疫苗免疫 8日龄雏鸡 (分为试验 A组、对照 B组 ) ;用从正常猪红细胞提取的 CD5 8分子 ,协同 ND 疫苗免疫 18日龄雏鸡 (分为试验 C组、对照 D组 ) ,以β-微量法测定ND抗体效价 ,以 α-醋酸萘酯酶染色法检测鸡外周血 T细胞的变化 ,并分别用 NDV F4 8E9强毒株在免疫后 2 4 d攻击 A组和 B组鸡、39d攻击 C组和 D组鸡。结果表明 ,免疫前 ,8日龄雏鸡的 ND抗体效价为 2 5.8,18日龄雏鸡的 ND抗体均为阴性 ;免疫后 ,与对照 D组比较 ,试验 C组的 ND抗体提前 4 d达到 2 4 .8,并且试验 C组 ND抗体效价显著高于对照 D组 ( P<0 .0 1) ,保护期延长 ;试验 A组雏鸡体内 ND抗体变化和对照 B组相似 ,但试验 A组雏鸡外周血 T细胞数量显著高于对照 B组 ( P<0 .0 1或 P<0 .0 5 )。攻毒试验结果显示 ,试验 A组鸡死亡率为 33% ,对照 B组鸡死亡率为6 3% ;试验 C组鸡死亡率为 17% ,对照 D组鸡死亡率为 5 3%。本研究结果表明 ,猪红细胞 CD5 8分子具有较好的疫苗佐剂效应