Application and Commercialization of Flow Cytometrically Sex-Sorted Semen

The current technology to sort X and Y chromosome bearing sperm population requires individual identification and selection of spermatozoa in a modified high-speed flow cytometer. For farm animal species, the technology is capable of producing sexed sperm at greater than 90% purity. However, only in the bovine, the technology has reached a developmental level that allows its commercial application. Meanwhile, the demand for female calves has grown rapidly, which encourages the demand for sex-sorted semen from high genetic value bulls. The success of the technology will depend mainly on the fertilizing capacity of the sorted spermatozoa, as this is the most affecting and economically relevant factor. To date, fertility is still variable and is quite dependant on post-sort processing. New processing techniques are under investigation and will likely be able to improve the fertility rates after AI with sex-sorted semen. It is of great importance to select the right bulls and to test the sorted samples on a routine basis. In addition to the demand for sex-sorted semen by the cattle industry, there is also a significant demand expressed by pig farmers. However, it is still unknown if the use of sex-sorted semen through commercial pig AI will be economically feasible. For the pig, the combination of in vitro fertilization with sexed semen and non-surgical embryo transfer is an alternative that merits further scientific attention. Recent developments in ovine AI and ET will make it very likely that commercial sheep industry will adopt the sexing technology in their breeding concepts.     

Climate and vegetation history of the midcontinent from 75 to 25 ka: A speleothem record from crevice cave, missouri, USA

Four Missouri stalagmites yield consistent overlapping records of oxygen and carbon isotopic changes and provide a climate and vegetation history with submillennial resolution from 75 to 25 thousand years ago (ka). The thorium-230-dated records reveal that between 75 and 55 ka, the midcontinental climate oscillated on millennial time scales between cold and warm, and vegetation alternated among forest, savanna, and prairie. Temperatures were highest and prairie vegetation peaked between 59 and 55 ka. Climate cooled and forest replaced grassland at 55 ka, when global ice sheets began to build during the early part of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3.     

Hunting behavior of a marine mammal beneath the antarctic fast Ice

The hunting behavior of a marine mammal was studied beneath the Antarctic fast ice with an animal-borne video system and data recorder. Weddell seals stalked large Antarctic cod and the smaller subice fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki, often with the under-ice surface for backlighting, which implies that vision is important for hunting. They approached to within centimeters of cod without startling the fish. Seals flushed P. borchgrevinki by blowing air into subice crevices or pursued them into the platelet ice. These observations highlight the broad range of insights that are possible with simultaneous recordings of video, audio, three-dimensional dive paths, and locomotor effort.     

半夏SSR分子标记开发与遗传多样性

对半夏转录组数据进行分析,设计开发SSR引物,利用筛选出的SSR引物分析不同居群间半夏的遗传多样性,为半夏分子标记辅助育种提供支撑。结果显示:筛选出的19对多态性较高的引物在17个半夏居群中共检测到49个多态性位点,具有较高的多态性;利用UPGMA作图共将17个半夏居群分为3个类群;通过分子方差分析(AMOVA)发现半夏居群内的变异达到88%,说明群体与群体间的差异相对较小,遗传变异主要来源于个体间;居群间平均分化系数Fst为0.124,居群间基因流Nm值为1.765,表明居群间能正常地进行基因交流,且居群间遗传分化受基因流的影响较大。本研究利用SSR技术开发的19对SSR引物在不同半夏居群间具有一定的通用性、多态性,能将17份半夏材料明确区分。     

云南景东县豆科固氮树种及根瘤菌资源调查

对云南景东县豆科固氮树种进行调查采集与鉴定,确认并记录70种与相应的根瘤菌(菌株)共生的豆科固氮树种.其中,云实亚科1属1种,含羞草亚科6属20种,蝶形花亚科23属49种.根瘤大小不一,形状各异,有球形、椭圆形、棒状、珊瑚状;表面颜色有浅黄色、棕黑色、棕色或黑色.对以活体保存的材料进行根瘤菌的分离、鉴定,获得并保存了分别与其中38种豆科树种相共生的根瘤菌菌株147株.调查表明,在景东县及云南南亚热带区域和热带区域,不仅拥有可供在多方面开发利用的豆科固氮树种,且具有丰富的可供科研和开发利用的根瘤菌资源.     

毕节地区植烟土壤肥力状况评价

2007～2008年对在毕节地区主要烟区采集的200个植烟土壤样品进行了土壤养分含量分析,结果表明:植烟土壤的有机质含量平均在27.70 g/kg,总体上处于适宜水平;pH值以偏酸性或中性为主;有效氮含量偏高;速效磷含量偏低;速效钾含量整体丰富,平均为158.42 mg/kg;土壤水溶性氯含量整体适宜。此外,针对土壤养分含量状况,提出了一些相应的改良措施。     

A simple model for chickpea development, growth and yield

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) yield is unstable and low in major producer countries. A robust crop model can assist in evaluation of possible genetic improvements and cultural management practices to improve yield. The objectives of this study were to develop and test a chickpea simulation model that could be used across a wide range of environments. This model simulates phenological development, leaf development and senescence, mass partitioning, plant nitrogen balance, yield formation and soil water balance. Responses of crop processes to environmental factors of solar radiation, photoperiod, temperature, nitrogen and water availability, and genotype differences were included in the model. The model uses a daily time step and readily available weather and soil information. The model was tested using independent data from a wide range of growth and environmental conditions. In most cases, simulated grain yield were similar to observed yield (ranging from 20 to 379 g m⁻²) with a root mean square root of 26 g m⁻² (15% of average measured yield). It was concluded that the model generality, i.e., constant parameters for genotypes across locations, and applicability to a wide range of environmental conditions factors made this model especially useful.     

芥蓝芥子油苷提取条件优化研究

采用正交试验设计,研究了提取温度、提取剂甲醇浓度(V/V)、提取时间和待测物质与提取液比例(简称“物液比”) 对芥蓝菜薹中芥子油苷(总芥子油苷含量、总脂肪族芥子油苷和总吲哚族芥子油苷)提取效果的影响。结果表明,物液比和提取温度对总芥子油苷、总脂肪族芥子油苷和总吲哚族芥子油苷提取效果影响显著(P<0.05),而甲醇浓度和提取时间对芥子油苷提取率无显著影响(P>0.05)。综合考虑提取效果和成本,芥蓝中芥子油苷最佳提取条件为75℃,物液比1∶45(g∶mL),甲醇浓度70%,提取时间5 min。在该条件下,总芥子油苷提取量为8.31 μmol/g DW,总脂肪族芥子油苷提取总量为7.58 μmol/g DW,总吲哚族脂肪族芥子油苷提取总量为0.73 μmol/g DW。     

Reducing tillage intensity affects the cumulative emergence dynamics of annual grass weeds in winter cereals

Annual grass weeds such as Apera spica‐venti and Vulpia myuros are promoted in non‐inversion tillage systems and winter cereal‐based crop rotations. Unsatisfactory weed control in these conditions is often associated with a poor understanding of the emergence pattern of these weed species. The aim of this study was to investigate, understand and model the cumulative emergence patterns of A. spica‐venti, V. myuros and Poa annua in winter cereals grown in three primary tillage regimes: (i) mouldboard ploughing, (ii) pre‐sowing tine cultivation to 8–10 cm soil depth and (iii) direct drilling. Direct drilling delayed the cumulative emergence of A. spica‐venti and V. myuros (counted together) in contrast with ploughing, while the emergence pattern of P. annua was unaffected by the type of tillage system. The total density of emerged weed seedlings varied between the tillage systems and years with a higher total emergence seen under direct drilling, followed by pre‐sowing tine cultivation and ploughing. The emergence patterns of all species were differently influenced by the tillage systems, suggesting that under direct drilling, in which these species occur simultaneously, management interventions should first and foremost consider that A. spica‐venti and V. myuros emerge over a longer period to avoid control failures.     

Induction dose and recovery quality of propofol and alfaxalone with or without midazolam coinduction followed by total intravenous anesthesia in dogs

Objectives

To compare propofol and alfaxalone, with or without midazolam, for induction of anesthesia in fentanyl-sedated dogs, and to assess recovery from total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).