Uterine diseases in cattle after parturition

Bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen is common in cattle after parturition, often leading to infection and uterine disease. Clinical disease can be diagnosed and scored by examination of the vaginal mucus, which reflects the presence of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Arcanobacterium pyogenes. Viruses may also cause uterine disease and bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is tropic for endometrial cells, causing a rapid cytopathic effect. The elimination of pathogens by the innate immune system is dependent on pattern recognition receptors binding pathogen-associated molecules. Uterine epithelial and stromal cells express receptors such as Toll-like Receptor 4 that binds E. coli lipopolysaccharide. The infertility associated with uterine disease is caused by damage to the endometrium and disruption of ovarian cyclic activity. Bacteria modulate endometrial prostaglandin secretion, and perturb ovarian follicle growth and function. Understanding the molecular basis of uterine disease will lead to novel approaches to treating infertility.     

A multi-scale analysis of landscape statistics

It is now feasible to monitor some aspects of landscapeecological condition nationwide using remotely-sensed imagery andindicators of land cover pattern. Previous research showedredundancies among many reported pattern indicators andidentified six unique dimensions of land cover pattern. Thisstudy tested the stability of those dimensions and representativepattern indicators across different types of land cover maps. Themaps were derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper images of theTennessee River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds, and they differedin resolution, number of attributes, and method of delineatinglandscape unit boundaries. A multivariate analysis of patternmetrics was conducted separately for each map, and the resultswere then compared among types of maps. Measures of land coverdiversity, texture, and fractal dimension were more consistentthan measures of average patch shape or compaction among the landcover maps.     

非晶态木质纳米纤维素机械特性的建模

为提高对以木纤维为填充材料的复合材料的理解和性能分析,对木质纳米纤维素中的非晶态结构进行分子建模与拉伸变形仿真研究.通过对纳米纤维素非晶态结构进行周期性边界条件建模,在能量最小化和热平衡后,基于ReaxFF力场用开源代码程序LAMMPS对模型进行拉伸变形仿真,模拟原子间的相互作用,对其数据结果采用MATLAB进行后处理分析,并采用可视化开源软件Atomeye对变形过程进行监控.通过所建模型仿真研究数据,可以计算得到木质纳米纤维素纳观尺度的机械特性,求得纳观结构中应力一应变曲线,将其同实验数据相比较,用于预测材料宏观尺度各特性以及本构关系.该研究为今后分析高分子聚合物和纤维素的纳米微观界面相容性打下基础,能更好地理解高分子纤维聚合材料的力学性能.     

Increase in Oviposition interval due to the sex‐linked dwarf gene in white leghorns and Australorps

1. Oviposition patterns in dwarf and normal pullets were compared after the dw gene had been introduced into a White Leghorn and an Australorp strain, which had been selected for reduced oviposition interval.

2. The dw gene increased oviposition interval by about 2 h and reduced clutch length by two‐thirds in both strains. It also decreased the occurrence of intervals shorter than 21 h and of membranous and soft‐shelled eggs in the White Leghorn strain, but had little effect on these traits in the Australorp. About two‐thirds of the 17% difference in rate of lay between dwarf and normal pullets could be attributed to the difference in oviposition interval.

3. It is suggested that the dw gene may be useful in overcoming certain physiological barriers when selecting for shorter oviposition interval.     

21世纪世界家禽科学研究与发展方向

家禽界在２１世纪的目标与挑战是满足全世界人们对动物蛋白的需求。解决这一问题的关键是需要生产更多的饲料粮－谷类、油子、荚豆类，给日益增长的家禽提供额外的饲料。在过去５０年里，已发生了很多改变；（１）２０世纪世界上５０％的人从家禽技术革命 中获益。（２）近年在遗传学、营养学、动物保健、舍饲及管理技术方面的提高，期待在生产中得到广泛应用。（３）目前在分子生物学、营养学、保健及繁殖方面的研究将在未来更广泛