An Unusual Congenital Anomaly: Ectopic Sigmoid Kidney Combined with Hermaphroditism in a Newly Born Calf

A rare case of hermaphroditism accompanied with ectopic sigmoid kidney in cross-bred calf is reported. Findings revealed fused kidneys located near urinary bladder, and presence of uterus, vagina, penis and testicles. Both urinary and genital defects seemed to occur in combination and to be interrelated.     

RNAi-independent heterochromatin nucleation by the stress-activated ATF/CREB family proteins

At the silent mating-type interval of fission yeast, the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery cooperates with cenH, a DNA element homologous to centromeric repeats, to initiate heterochromatin formation. However, in RNAi mutants, heterochromatin assembly can still occur at low efficiency. Here, we report that Atf1 and Pcr1, two ATF/CREB family proteins, act in a parallel mechanism to the RNAi pathway for heterochromatin nucleation. Deletion of atf1 or pcr1 alone has little effect on silencing at the mating-type region, but when combined with RNAi mutants, double mutants fail to nucleate heterochromatin assembly. Moreover, deletion of atf1 or pcr1 in combination with cenH deletion causes loss of silencing and heterochromatin formation. Furthermore, Atf1 and Pcr1 bind to the mating-type region and target histone H3 lysine-9 methylation and the Swi6 protein essential for heterochromatin assembly. These analyses link ATF/CREB family proteins, involved in cellular response to environmental stresses, to nucleation of constitutive heterochromatin.     

河北坝上林田湖草土壤水盐氮分布与累积特征

[目的]探索干旱半干旱区土壤水盐氮的分布规律,为防治地下水面源污染和实现水土资源可持续利用提供依据。[方法]选取河北坝上地区4种典型的土地利用类型(林、田、湖、草),分析土壤水分、盐分以及硝态氮的变化特征,阐明不同土地利用类型土壤剖面的水盐氮分布规律。[结果](1)不同土地利用方式中,安固里淖干涸湖底的土壤水盐含量最高,平均含水率达60.18%,且土壤水盐分布均表现出中等变异性,含水率变异程度更大。(2)林地、旱作农田和安固里淖干涸湖底0—220cm土壤水盐分布规律基本一致,分别呈振荡型、均匀型和底聚型,而草地的水盐分布存在差异。(3)盐分离子在4种土地利用类型间均具有显著差异(p<0.05),其构成以SO₄^2-为主,K⁺,Mg²⁺和Ca²⁺普遍缺乏。(4)安固里淖干涸湖底土壤剖面平均硝态氮含量高达134.18mg/kg,在林地和旱作农田分布呈表聚型,在安固里淖干涸湖底呈中间少、上下多的特征。草地硝态氮上层土壤累积明显。(5)林田湖草土壤硝态氮均与K⁺     

Residues of aldicarb in coconut

Determinations were made of aldicarb residues in coconut cultivated on soils containing aldicarb granules. The quantitative estimations in coconut milk and kernel were made by colorimetry and gas-liquid chromatography; samples harvested at various times were analysed. Residues in samples of kernel did not exceed 0.04 mg kg^?1 (total toxic aldicarb residues), while milk samples showed no detectable residues.     

Effect of micronutrient supplementation on the immune function of crossbred dairy cows under semi-arid tropical environment

This study assessed the effect of micronutrient supplementation around peripartum period on immune function, reproductive performance, milk yield and milk quality of crossbred cows. Thirty pregnant crossbred cows in their late gestation were selected and randomly divided into five groups for study. Six cows in each group were supplemented with vitamin E (VE) (2000 IU/cow/day), vitamin A (VA) (100,000 IU/cow/day), copper (Cu) (20 ppm/cow/day), zinc (Zn) (80 ppm/cow/day) individually from 45 days pre-calving to 45 days post-calving and one group without any supplementation served as control. Immune function was studied by in vitro phagocytic activity (PA) of blood neutrophils, lymphocyte proliferation response (LPR) and plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration. Supplementation of VA significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the in vitro PA of blood neutrophils and decreased milk somatic cell counts (SCC). Zn supplementation significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the T lymphocyte proliferation response, whereas B lymphocyte LPR was significantly (P?<?0.05) increased with both VA and Zn supplementation as compared to the control cows. Plasma IL-8 concentration was significantly (P?<?0.05) higher in all supplemented cows. Supplementation of VE, VA and Zn significantly (P?<?0.05) reduces days open, whereas VA significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced the service per conception. In this study, it is concluded that VE, VA and Zn supplementation around peripartum period can boost the immunity and improve the reproductive performance of crossbred cows in a semi-arid tropical environment.     

Mucosal immunization provides better protection than subcutaneous immunization against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pasteurella multocida</Emphasis> (B:2) in mice preimmunized with the outer membrane proteins

To investigate the effect of boosting immunity via mucosal route vis-a-vis parenteral route in the mouse model of haemorrhagic septicaemia, mice preimmunized with OMP of Pasteurella multocida (B:2) were immunized with 10² cfu of P. multocida via intranasal and subcutaneous routes. Mice were challenged through intranasal route (natural route of infection) with 10⁸ cfu 14 days after immunization. Group of mice which were immunized intranasally showed significant protection (P < 0.05) of 88% as compared to 50% protection in group of mice immunized subcutaneously. In the control group of mice, 100% mortality occurred within 48 h. of challenge. The results of present study indicated that boosting of immunity via mucosal route in mice preimmunized with OMP provided better protection against P. multocida. This study may have implications for developing better vaccination strategies for the natural host.     

基于天气预报的参照作物腾发量中短期预报模型研究

以新乡市1970—2011年逐日实测气象资料代入FAO 56 Penman-Monteith(PM)方法算得的ET0作为基准值,对HG、P-T、M-K、M-C模型进行参数修正,将新乡市2012—2014年冬小麦生育期间预见期为1、3、5、7、10d的天气预报数据代入修正后的模型进行ET01~10 d的中短期预报,并以2012—2014年冬小麦生育期间逐日实测气象资料由PM公式算得的ET0为基准值,对天气预报的精度及ET0的预报精度进行评价。结果表明:经过参数修正后HG、P-T、M-K、M-C模型的精度均有提高;最高气温、最低气温、风速、日照时数的预报精度均随预见期的增加呈逐渐下降趋势,最低气温预报的精度稍高于最高气温;不同预见期的ET0预报模型中,P-T模型预报的ET0平均准确率在众模型中较高(95.06%),其次为HG-M模型(94.66%)、PMT1模型(94.34%)、M-K模型(93.89%),且P-T、HGM两种模型计算程序较简单,因此优选P-T、HG-M模型进行ET0的中短期预报。     

Multi-polarized Radarsat-2 satellite sensor in assessing forest vigor from above ground biomass

Accurate estimates of forest biomass are increasingly important in relation to sequestration of carbon by forest trees.Satellite remote sensing is a useful tool for biomass estimation and monitoring of forest ecological processes.Microwave synthetic aperture radar(SAR) can increase the accuracy of estimations of forest biomass in comparison to optical remote sensing, due to the unique capacities of SAR, including high penetrability, volumetric scattering, interaction with surface roughness, and dielectric property.We studied the potential of multi-polarized C-band Radarsat-2, a SAR technology, with HH, HV and VV polarization for estimating biomass of moist tropical Indian forest.Backscatter values are correlated with fieldbased biomass values and are regressed to generate models for estimating biomass.HH polarization provided maximum information regarding tree biomass.A coefficient of determination of 0.49 was calculated for HH polarized C-band image with in situ measurements.An exponential model was proved to be best suited for estimating forest biomass.Correlation of 0.62 and RMSE of 24.6 t ha~(-1) were calculated for the relationship between estimated and predicted biomass values for the best fit model.The average absolute accuracy of the model was 61%, while Willmott's index of agreement was 0.87.Results suggest that most of the biomass of the area ranged within70 t ha~(-1) a probably due to the saturation of C-band around 60–70 t ha~(-1) for tropical forests.     

Use of the bulked genomic DNA-based RAPD methodology to assess the genetic diversity among abandoned Korean tea plantations

The variability of 20 abandoned Korean tea plantations was investigated using the RAPD methodology and thebulked DNA procedure. Out of 50 primers screened, 13 revealed diversity among the populations and generated26 polymorphic markers in all. Two and two populations were indistinguishable from each other and in general,the diversity detected among the populations was relatively low. The genetic distance calculated from theJaccard's variability index varied from 0 to 0.79 with an average of 0.44. The low genetic diversity found in thisstudy could be explained by the narrow genetic base of the Korean tea populations introduced from MainlandChina, by the short history and relatively homogeneous environment of the populations, by mass destruction oflocal tea plantations in the 14th century and by the reproductive mode of Camellia sinensis. Indeed, Camellia sinensis being a highly outcrossing species maintains high intrapopulationnal variability as compared to itsinterpopulation variability. In the light of the results obtained, a strategy for local tea conservation is discussed.     

Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from alpaca (Vicugna pacos) and sheep (Ovis aries)

Alpacas are important to the economy of several countries. Little is known of Toxoplasma gondii infection in alpacas worldwide. In the present study, T. gondii was isolated and genetically characterized from alpacas for the first time. Alpacas (n?=?16) and rams (n?=?12) pastured on a farm in Virginia, USA, were examined at necropsy. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined by the modified agglutination test (MAT, 1:25) and found in 6 of 16 alpacas with titers of 1:100 (2 alpaca), 1:400 (2 alpacas), 1:800 (1 alpaca), and 1:1,600 (1 alpaca), and 5 of 12 rams in titers of 1:50 in one, 1:400 in one, 1:800 in one, 1:1,600 in one, and 1:3,200 in one. Tissues of all 16 alpacas were bioassayed in mice or in cats. Muscles (heart, skeletal muscle) of nine alpacas with MAT titers of 1:25 were fed to T. gondii-free cats; the cats did not shed oocysts. Viable T. gondii was isolated from tissues of two of six seropositive alpacas by bioassay in mice. Viable T. gondii was isolated from three of three seropositive sheep by bioassay in mice. Genotyping using cell-cultured tachyzoites revealed four genotypes, including one for ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #2 (type III), one for genotype #3 (type II variant), one for genotype #170, and two for a new genotype designated as ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #230. Thus, four of the five T. gondii isolates in the present study belonged to different genotypes. These results indicate a higher genetic diversity among T. gondii isolates circulating in the USA than previously realized.