The use of immunochemically purified anti-brucella antibody in a direct fluorescent antibody test for Brucella abortus

Antibodies specific for Brucella abortus were purified from the serum of hyperimmunized sheep using immunochemical procedures. They were conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and used in a fluorescent antibody (FA) test for B. abortus. The conjugate did not stain any heterologous bacterial or fungal species tested and background fluorescence associated with its use on smears and sections of abortion materials was particularly low. Of 239 cases of abortion examined fluorescent microscopy demonstrated B. abortus in all 12 cases in which the organism was isolated. A few areas of fluorescence typical of B. abortus were also seen in 3 cases from which the organism was not cultured. B. abortus was demonstrated in lymph nodes from 6 of 36 Brucella reactor cows by culture and 7 by the FA test. However, only very low numbers of B. abortus were isolated or seen and sampling errors would have been significant. Use of the FA test allows diagnosis of Brucellosis to be made in 2 hours, compared to 6 days by the usual cultural procedures.     

The performance of cross‐bred hens given free choice feeding of whole grains and a concentrate mixture and the influence of source of xanthophylls on yolk colour

1. Cross‐bred hens were offered, from 25 to 73 weeks of age, diets based on either wheat or barley in the form of either a mash or as whole grains plus a concentrate mixture; four sources of xanthophylls were also compared.

2. Wheat reduced food intake by 8%, increased efficiency of food conversion and live‐weight gain while barley increased litter moisture content, and, during the first half of the laying year decreased egg production by 3.3% and yolk colour by 4%.

3. Hens offered whole grains ate 11% less food, converted food into eggs more efficiently, were heavier and laid larger eggs than those given the mash diets.

4. With whole grains yolk colour was less than with mash diets during the first 24 weeks of lay but this was reversed during the last 24 weeks of lay.

5. Either canthaxanthin or citranaxanthin or β‐apo‐8'‐carotenoic acid ethyl ester plus canthaxanthin in diets containing lucerne meal produced eggs with acceptable yolk colours.     

深色有隔内生真菌（DSE）功能和重金属耐性机制研究进展

重金属污染具有滞留时间久、难恢复和难治理等特点,重金属污染土壤修复备受关注。深色有隔内生真菌（Dark septateendophytes,DSE）可与多种植物建立良好的共生关系,其在促进植物生长、与植物联合共生增强植物对重金属的耐性机制及修复重金属污染土壤方面发挥着重要作用。为系统阐述DSE功能及其对重金属耐性机制,本文综述了DSE的结构特征及定植规律,其促进宿主植物生长的作用机制,重点分析了重金属胁迫下DSE的应答机制（吸附螯合、调控基因表达、抗氧化应激和“区室化”作用等）,总结了DSE-植物共生体系在修复重金属污染土壤中的应用现状和前景,以期为DSE在重金属污染环境中的应用提供理论参考。     

Effects of human pancreatic and rat hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factors on growth hormone secretion in steers

Potencies of human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor [hpGRF(1–40)-OH] and of a peptide corresponding to the N-terminal 29 residues of rat hypothalamic GRF, [rGRF(1–29)-NH₂] were compared in two experiments. Eight Angus steers averaging 297 days of age and 290 kg in February 1984 were used in Exp. 1. Five months later six of the steers, weighing 391 kg, were used in Exp. 2.In Exp. 1, hpGRF(1–40)-OH and rGRF(1–29)-NH₂ were infused for 5 min at rates of 0, 1.3, 2.6, 5.2, 7.8 and 13.3 pmol/min/kg. Two steers were infused simultaneously, one received hpGRF(1–40)-OH and the other the equivalent dose of rGRF(1–29)-NH₂. Four pairs of steers received each dose. Both peptides elicited rapid GH release. Plasma GH concentrations peaked 15 to 20 min following onset of GRF administration, and returned to baseline levels 60 to 90 min later. Minimum effective doses, the lowest dose tested that resulted in a statistically significant GH reponse, were 5.2 pmol/min/kg hpGRF(1–40)-OH and 13.3 pmol/min/kg rGRF(1–29)-NH₂. Magnitudes of GH responses to 5.2, 7.8 and 13.3 pmol/min/kg hpGRF(1–40)-OH and 13.3 pmol/min/kg rGRF(1–29)-NH₂ were similar; corresponding to respective peak concentrations of 79, 66, 57 and 56 ng/ml. Growth hormone levels before GRF administration averaged 16 ng/ml.Experiment two was designed like the first except steers were infused for 6 hr with hpGRF(1–40)-OH and rGRF(1–29)-NH₂ at rates of 0, .5 and 1 pmol/min/kg. Both peptides at both rates raised (P<.05) GH concentrations during the 6 hr infusion period. Mean GH levels were 7 ng/ml during saline infusion, 30 and 23 ng/ml during infusion of .5 pmol/min/kg hpGRF(1–40)-OH and rGRF(1–29)-NH₂, and 41 and 27 ng/ml during infusion of 1 pmol/min/kg of the respective peptides. The initial GH response was biphasic, after which GH levels decreased temporarily and then one or two more GH surges occurred during the latter portion of the infusion period. Results demonstrate that hpGRF(1–40)-OH and rGRF(1–29)-NH₂ are potent GH secretagogues in steers. Potency of rGRF(1–29)-NH₂ is about 40% of hpGRF(1–40)-OH. Intrinsic activities, their ability to stimulate maximum GH secretion, appear to be similar. Both peptides are effective in raising GH levels over a 6 hr constant infusion period.     

Changing a post-harvest system: Impact of diffused light potato stores in Sri Lanka

This paper presents a case study describing the initial transfer and impact of a new post-harvest technology in Sri Lanka. Conditions in the main potato producing regions in 1980 were conducive to rapid acceptance of low cost, diffused light seed storage. Due to rising costs of foreign seed, unavailability of seed at optimal planting times, heavy losses in handling and storage, government concern with foreign exchange and extension involvement, farmers became receptive to new methods for improving existing storage practices. This study of adoption and impact illustrates how improved post-harvest technology can have important consequences, not only in cutting storage losses, but in increasing yields, changing cropping patterns, reducing dependency on foreign seed imports and bringing prestige to agricultural research and extension programs.     

Successional trends in bauxite minesites rehabilitated using three topsoil return techniques

Alcoa of Australia Limited has a programme of reafforestation of mined areas in the southwest of Western Australia. One of the aims of this programme is to re-establish forest plant communities which are compatible with long term forest land uses.In this study, successional trends of understory vegetation in 6–7-year-old bauxite minesites, revegetated using three topsoil return techniques, were examined. These techniques were double stripping (where the top 50 mm topsoil was replaced fresh), direct whole return (top 50 mm and underlying overburden both replaced fresh, but mixed) and stockpilling (both top 50 mm and overburden stockpilled together).At ages 4 years and 7 years the double stripping technique produced a vegetation community most similar in species composition to an unmined forest control. For all three topsoil return techniques there were no consistent trends in species richness (number of species) or diversity (Shannon—Weiner diversity index) from year 4 to year 7. This was interpreted as indicating conflicting trends during this period.An increase in the number of species occurred due to recruitment from surrounding forest, while a decreasing trend was probably due to tree canopy closure or increased interspecific competition.At year 7 the double stripped plot was the most similar to the native forest control in terms of physical height structure and cover occupied by individual understory species. By the age of 6–7 years there was no marked tendency for any species which initially colonised the pits to decrease in abundance.The results indicated that both fresh topsoil return and seedling are important techniques for introducing species which do not readily colonise minesites.