Radioisotope and stable isotope ratios (Δ14C, δ15N) suggest larval lamprey growth is dependent on both fresh and aged organic matter in streams

Lampreys have a complex life cycle which includes a multi‐year infaunal larval stage (ammocoete). Gut content analysis has generally identified detritus (i.e., unidentifiable organic matter) as the major dietary component to ammocoetes, though algae can also be important. However, gut content preserves only a snapshot of the animal's diet and does not reflect assimilated material. In order to better characterise the nutritional sources supporting ammocoete growth, we analysed ammocoete body tissue and potential dietary sources at two streams using natural Δ¹⁴C and δ¹⁵N to estimate time‐integrated nutritional support. Bayesian isotope mixing models revealed differences in the importance of sources supporting ammocoetes between sites. Ammocoetes from a stream in a mixed land usage area (~50% agriculture, ~40% forest and ~10% developed) were primarily supported (mean: ~50%) by fresh terrestrial organic matter but were also supported by substantial contributions (mean: ~30%) by aged organic matter (AOM) and autochthonous material (algae; mean ~20%). In a predominantly forested (~90%) headwater stream, different modelling scenarios (uninformed or informed priors) suggested that algal support of ammocoete nutrition ranged from 7% to 45%. However, the model relying on informed priors developed from gut content analysis produced the low estimates, suggesting these were more reliable. When algae were a minor component of the nutrition at the forested site, ammocoetes were highly dependent on AOM (83 ± 26%; mean ± SD). Based on these findings, ammocoete growth and development are predicted to be strongly influenced by both land use and the availability of allochthonous and autochthonous materials of varying ages within streams.     

Atypical thymoma in a horse: Diagnostic approach and application of an alternative histological classification system

Thymoma is a rare condition in horses. This case of a 24-year-old Warmblood gelding that was presented with oedema and signs of vascular congestion of the left forelimb caused by a thoracic mass is described. The diagnostic work-up included blood chemistry, cytology of pleural effusion, ultrasonography, radiography and the visualisation and collection of a tissue sample by thoracoscopy. Finally, post-mortem findings and histopathology revealed thymic epithelial neoplasia with histomorphologic features previously unreported in horses. The unique mixture of spindle-shaped and epithelioid tumour cells in combination with clear features of malignancy suggested the application of the Moran and Suster histological classification system for thymomas in humans (Moran and Suster, 2008, Curr. Treat. Options Oncol., 9, 288), which has not been reported in an equine case before and fits well to the present case.     

Do cover crops change the lability of phosphorus in a clayey subtropical soil under different phosphate fertilizers?

Plants have developed different mechanisms to absorb and solubilize phosphorus (P) in the soil, especially in environments with low P availability. This study evaluated the effects of different winter cover crops on soil P availability in a clayey subtropical (Hapludox) soil receiving soluble P fertilizer and a rock phosphate applied to the summer crop, under no‐tillage. The experiment was carried out over 3 yrs (2009–2011) with five different cover crop species: common vetch, fodder radish, ryegrass, black oat, white clover and fallow as control. The soil was sampled after the third year of cover crop cultivation and analysed for inorganic and organic P forms according to the well‐established Hedley fractionation procedure. Phosphate fertilizers promoted accumulation of both labile and nonlabile P pools in soil in the near surface layer, especially under rock phosphate. Fertilizer applications were not able to change P fractions in deeper layers, emphasizing that the Brazilian clayey soils are a sink of P from fertilizer and its mobility is almost nil. Although the cover crops recycled a great amount of P in tissue, in a short‐term evaluation (3 yrs) they only changed the content of moderately labile P in soil, indicating that long‐term studies are needed for more conclusive results.     

The effect of feeding a novel multistrain yeast fraction on European seabass (Dicentrachus labrax) intestinal health and growth performance

Fish were fed a single‐strain yeast fraction (SsYF; 2 g/kg) or a multistrain yeast fraction (MsYF; 0.8 g/kg) for 10 weeks. The results demonstrated significant (p ≤ 0.03) elevations in weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio in fish fed the yeast fraction‐supplemented diets. In the distal intestine, a significant elevation in microvilli density was observed after 5 and 10 weeks of dietary supplementation with MsYF and SsYF, respectively, compared to control fed fish (p < 0.001). A significant elevation (p = 0.02) in the perimeter ratio was observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. After 10 weeks of feeding on the experimental diets, Rt‐qPCR demonstrated a significant downregulation (p < 0.05) in the stress response genes, heat‐shock protein 70 (hsp70) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna), in fish fed diets supplemented with the yeast fractions. Significant (p < 0.05) elevations in interleukin 1‐beta (il1β) and interleukin‐10 (il10) gene expression were observed in fish fed diets supplemented with the MsYF compared to the other dietary groups. These findings suggest that feeding an MsYF specifically at a lower incorporation rate < 1 g/kg, compared to a commercial SsYF at 2 g/kg, is effective in improving the intestinal health status and growth performance of European seabass.     

Comparison of outcomes following treatment of septic calcaneal bursitis by needle or bursoscopic lavage: A retrospective study of 29 horses

Sepsis of the calcaneal bursae (CB) presents significant treatment challenges with limited clinical data available in the literature. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the clinical outcomes associated with CB lavage using either a through-and-through needle or bursoscopic technique. Clinical records of 29 horses treated for septic calcaneal bursitis using either technique between 2005 and 2019 were reviewed. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess statistical significance between first surgical technique and success at first surgery (i.e. not requiring >1 lavage), survival to discharge and return to work (RTW). Bursoscopy was performed in 13/29 (44.8%) cases, and needle lavage in 16/29 (55.2%). In the needle group, 12 (75%) horses were discharged following the first surgery. Four had repeat interventions; two (12.5%) had needle lavage and two (12.5%) had bursoscopy. Of the two horses to have repeat needle lavage, one was subjected to euthanasia and one discharged, and of the two that underwent bursoscopy, one was discharged and one received a third bursoscopy prior to discharge. In the bursoscopy group, seven (53.8%) were discharged and three (23.1%) were subjected to euthanasia following the first surgery. Three (23.1%) received a second bursoscopic lavage with one discharged, one subjected to euthanasia and one having a third bursoscopic lavage prior to discharge. Overall, 18/24 (75%) followed up cases RTW, 10 (55.5%) from the needle group, eight (44.4%) the bursoscopy group. No statistically significant differences between first surgical technique used and success at first surgery (no subsequent lavage(s) required), survival to discharge or return to work were detected. The main limitations of this study are that it is a retrospective study, has a small population with limited statistical power and potential selection bias. No statistically significant differences existed between the outcomes of the two techniques, contrary to the belief that bursoscopic lavage is superior. Larger, multicentred studies, with greater statistical power are required to further assess this relationship.     

Impact of soil water content on maize responses to the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum lipoferum CRT1

Members of the bacterial genus Azospirillum are root-associated bacteria that increase yield in cereals by promoting growth and alleviating drought stress. How plants integrate the many bacterium-derived growth-promoting stimuli with other environmental factors to generate a coordinated response remains unresolved. Using a commercial Azospirillum strain, A. lipoferum CRT1 and two host maize cultivars, it was observed that bacterization reduced the drought-induced increase in lateral root growth and enhanced the flood-induced increase in lateral root growth in the more drought- and flood-sensitive cultivar. In the other one, A. lipoferum CRT1 only elicited a moderate root growth response under low soil water potential. The photosynthetic potential and activity were increased in the earlier cultivar and decreased in the later one, irrespective of the soil water content. No impact of the bacterium was seen on the growth of the leaves of both cultivars under both stresses until the third leaf stage, therefore suggesting that it is a consequence of multiple primary adaptations to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is suggested that host–bacteria recognition leads to a stress-specific modulation of the root response and a differential stress-independent effect on photosynthesis. This is the first report of the impact of Azospirillum under flood conditions.     

体外产气法评价全株藜麦与全株玉米混合青贮饲料饲用价值

为提高全株藜麦的饲料化利用率，寻找其与全株玉米的最佳青贮比，试验共设全株藜麦与全株玉米比为100：0，90：10，80：20等11个组合进行青贮发酵，发酵60 d后测定各组青贮料的体外产气发酵指标，使用灰色关联度分析筛选出最佳青贮比例。结果表明，体外发酵至36 h时，各处理组GP趋于稳定，体外发酵减弱接近停止；全株藜麦与全株玉米比例为90：10时，该青贮饲料组合的粗蛋白（CP）和粗脂肪（EE）含量显著高于其他各组（P<0.05），乙酸（AA）、总挥发性脂肪酸（TVFA）含量以及氨态氮（NH₃-N）浓度显著高于其他各处理（P<0.05）。分析表明，全株藜麦与全株玉米比例为90：10时，混合青贮饲料的营养品质和产气发酵特性综合表现最好，可作为优质混合青贮饲料在家畜养殖中推广使用。     

槟榔间作条件下不同修剪方式对可可生长和产量的影响

以槟榔间作可可条件下的可可为研究对象,比较不同修剪方式对其生长、光合作用及产量的影响。结果表明:中度修剪提高可可株高、干周和主枝粗度,重度修剪和仅控冠幅降低可可干周和主枝粗度。中等修剪可可叶片Pn显著高于轻度修剪和仅控冠幅,可能由于修剪提高了新梢叶片叶肉细胞光合作用能力。中度修剪可可徒长枝重量分别比轻度修剪、重度修剪和仅控冠幅显著降低了69.27%、54.69%和57.03%,大大降低了养分消耗,提高产量的同时节省了修剪工作量。综上所述,在槟榔间作可可条件下,采用中度修剪有利于提高光合作用效率,形成健康平衡树形,降低徒长枝养分消耗,提高产量,为槟榔间作可可节本增效技术研究与优化提供依据。     

植物内生肠杆菌对狗牙根耐盐性的调控研究

以从海滨雀稗中分离得到的内生肠杆菌为材料，采用种子萌发与盆栽试验两种方式研究植物内生细菌对狗牙根耐盐性的影响。通过对狗牙根种子和幼苗接种单一内生细菌和混合内生细菌，并测定种子发芽率、苗长、根长、生物量等生长指标与叶绿素含量、相对含水量、相对电导率和叶片中钠离子、钾离子的含量综合评价植物内生细菌对狗牙根耐盐能力的调控。结果表明，在150 mmol·L^-1盐胁迫下处理14 d后，接种混合菌液B3014比接种单一菌液B30更能提升狗牙根种子的萌发率、对盐胁迫下胚根及胚芽长度的增长也较显著（P<0.05）。在成坪期，与空白对照相比，接种内生细菌可以提升200 mmol·L^-1盐胁迫下狗牙根的成坪质量，增加地上、地下生物量的积累、苗长与根长生长量，并提升植株叶绿素含量与叶片相对含水量，降低细胞膜破损程度。在接种内生细菌处理中，接种混合菌液B3014可以使狗牙根在盐胁迫下受到的损伤显著低于（P<0.05）接种单一菌液B30。与此同时，接种混合菌液B3014对狗牙根叶片中钠离子含量降低程度高于接种单一菌液B30，同样，接种混合菌液B3014也能更好地积累盐胁迫下狗牙根叶片内钾离子含量，增加盐胁迫下狗牙根的耐盐能力。因此，接种混合菌液B3014对盐胁迫下狗牙根种子的萌发和成坪后的耐盐能力的提升高于接种单一菌液B30。探讨植物内生细菌对狗牙根耐盐能力的调控，为提高草坪草在盐碱环境中的应用提供了新思路。     

徽州水利文化遗产保护及开发研究——以西溪南地区为例

流动的水资源是自然的恩赐，不可移动的堨塘等水利设施是徽州人顺应自然、利用自然的产物，是千百年来劳动人民智慧的结晶。自然与人工共同作用的堨在丰乐河两岸引水穿行，开凿出细密的水渠网，满足了徽州人生产生活的需求，造福于当地百姓；随着水的流动，也促进了地域社会人际网的形成和发展。西溪南堨塘等物质性的水利设施，和相应而生的水利组织、管理制度、民风民俗等非物质文化遗产构成了复合式的水利文化遗产系统。