Permeability of the endothelium and partitioning of the pulmonary blood flow resistance in isolated perfused pig lungs: Effects of breed and age

The right and left lungs of 5 healthy Minipigs and of 13 healthy Landrace piglets were isolated, perfused at constant pressure and maintained in an isogravimetric state under zone III conditions (pulmonary venous pressure>alveolar pressure). By applying the double, arterial and venous, occlusion technique, the total blood flow resistance (R _t) was partitioned into four components: arterial (R _a), pre-(R _a) and post-capillary (R _v) and venous (R _v). The capillary filtration coefficient (K _f,c) was evaluated by measuring the weight gained by the lungs when the arterial and venous pressures were suddenly increased. In the youngest Landrace piglets (5 weeks old), there was an uncontrolled vasoconstriction which sometimes prevented perfusion of the lungs and induced a large increase inR _t. These high values ofR _t were decreased by tolazoline administration. The values ofR _t recorded in older pigs (12–13 weeks old) were lower in Minipigs (33.66±3.77 cmH₂O min L^–1 per 100 g of lungs;n=5) than in Landrace piglets (55.20±6.18 cmH₂O min L^–1 per 100 g;n=5). This breed difference was due to the differences inR _a andR _v. The mean values ofK _f,c were 0.193±0.015 and 0.202±0.029 ml min (cmH₂O)^–1 per 100 g of the lungs in Minipigs and Landrace piglets respectively. All these parameters were stable for the 3 hours following the equilibrium period. It was concluded that: (1) There is an age-related maturation of the control of the vasomotor tone in porcine lungs. (2) Pulmonary microvascular haemodynamics are influenced by the breed of the pigs. (3) There was no difference in theK _f,c values between both the breeds. (4) A comparison of the values reported for dogs and rabbits with our data shows that the pre- and post-capillary resistances and, to a lesser extent, the arterial and venous resistances are relatively high in pigs.     

Gene Flow Analysis of Phytophthora porri Reveals a New Species: Phytophthora brassicae Sp. Nov.

Isozyme analysis and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS-1 and ITS-2) and the 5.8S subunit of the ribosomal DNA gene repeat were used to examine whether isolates of Phytophthora porri from Allium and Brassica represent a single homogeneous species. Twenty-six strains of P. porri, 16 strains isolated from the genus Allium, and 10 strains isolated from the genus Brassica, were analyzed using malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), represented altogether by four putative loci (Mdh-2, Idh-1, Idh-2, and Ldh-2). Isozyme analysis revealed that strains isolated from Allium contained five private alleles at three isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸³, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁸, Idh-1 ¹¹², and Idh-2 ⁹⁸), whereas six different alleles were observed at four isozyme loci (Ldh-2 ⁸⁵, Ldh-2 ¹⁰⁰, Ldh-2 ¹¹⁴, Idh-1 ¹⁰⁰, Idh-2 ¹⁰⁰, and Mdh-2 ¹¹¹) in strains obtained from Brassica. The heterozygosity at the Ldh-2 locus, differing in allele composition, however, between strains from Allium and Brassica, was present in all strains, indicating that it is probably fixed. Sequence analysis of the ITS regions and the 5.8S subunit showed consistent differences between isolates from Allium and isolates from Brassica. Based on isozyme data, ITS sequence analysis and formerly published differences in restriction enzyme patterns of mitochondrial DNA, morphology and pathogenicity, it was concluded that the isolates of P. porri Foister did not represent a homogeneous species. Isolates from Brassica constitute a distinct species which is described here as P. brassicae sp. nov. It was inferred from isozyme patterns, which were in no case intermediate between the two species, that P. porri and P. brassicae do not hybridize and are reproductively isolated by barriers to gene flow.     

多花黑麦草品种比较试验

通过对现行生产中常用的4个多花黑麦草品种在昆明地区的物候期、株高、草产量、生长率、净同化率等指标的规定表明,在生长初期,特高的生产性能比其余3个品种都好,但生长一段时间后,邦德的生产性能明显超过特高(P<0.05),抗锈王略高于特高(P>0.05),旺饲的生产性能最差(P<0.05)。因此,邦德是一个在生产中值得推广应用的品种。     

鹰嘴豆生物学特性及应用价值

鹰嘴豆是一种具有较高价值的经济植物.本文论述鹰嘴豆的生物学特性、营养成分、经济价值及开发应用前景.     

Using traffic flow theory to model traffic mortality in mammals

Traffic has a considerable effect on population and community dynamics through the disruption and fragmentation of habitat and traffic mortality. This paper deals with a systematic way to acquire knowledge about the probabilities of successful road crossing by mammals and what characteristics affect this traversability. We derive a model from traffic flow theory to estimate traffic mortality in mammals related to relevant road, traffic and species characteristics. The probability of successful road crossing is determined by the pavement width of the road, traffic volume, traversing speed of the mammals and their body length. We include the traversability model in a simple two-patch population model to explore the effects of these road, traffic and species characteristics on population dynamics. Analysis of the models show that, for our parameter ranges, traffic volume and traversing speed have the largest effect on traffic mortality. The population size is especially negatively affected when roads have to be crossed during the daily movements. These predictions could be useful to determine the expected effectiveness of mitigating measures relative to the current situation. Mitigating measures might alter the road and traffic characteristics. The effects of these changes on traffic mortality and population dynamics could be analysed by calculating the number of traffic victims before and after the mitigating measures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

北京春季沙尘天气特征和预报

根据北京地区资料分析了沙尘的年代变化、月变化,春季是沙尘天气的高发期并以浮尘和扬沙为主。造成沙尘天气的冷空气主要有三条路径,它与蒙古气旋、冷锋、高空急流等大尺度天气系统紧密相连。     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

Evaluating the nutritive profile of three insect meals and their effects to replace soya bean in broiler diet

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effect of maggot meal, silkworm meal and mealworm as dietary protein source on the production performance and some aspects of meat quality in broilers. In this regard, maggot meal was reared on chicken offal and poultry waste. Silkworm meal was obtained from silk industry, while mealworm was developed through beetles rearing. A total of 120‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups where soya bean meal (M0) was replaced with maggot meal (M1), silkworm meal (M2) and mealworm (M3) respectively. Each group was further divided into three replicates. The study was carried out for a period of 5 weeks. Diets containing mealworm significantly reduced overall feed consumption and resulted into higher weight gain (p < .05). Lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded for birds fed with mealworm diet (p < .05). Tenderness and juiciness of meat were higher (p < .05) in M3 compared to the control and other treatments. Mortality did not vary between the control and the treated groups. Therefore, it is concluded that insect meal is rich in essential nutrients and could be successfully used in broiler ration without compromising acceptability. In the light of this study, mealworm is the best choice in broiler ration, in comparison with maggot and silkworm.     

Effect of process conditions and amylose/amylopectin ratio on the pasting behavior of maize starch: A modeling approach

The effects of different process conditions on the pasting behavior of the 14%, w/w suspensions of high amylose, waxy and normal maize starches at mixing speeds of 50, 160 and 250 rpm with the heating rates of 2.5, 5 and 10 °C/min were investigated. In addition, the impact of the starch mixture with an amylose-amylopectin ratio of 0–70% at 160 rpm and a heating rate of 5 °C/min on the pasting parameters was studied. According to the results, when stirring speed decreased from 250 rpm to 50 rpm, the peak viscosity dramatically increased. Furthermore, both heating and stirring rates significantly affected the pasting properties (p < 0.05). The amylose content of maize starch had a negative correlation with peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown viscosity, final viscosity, and setback viscosity. Besides, syneresis values decreased as amylose content decreased from 70% to 0%. According to the kinetic modelling of pasting curves, starch coefficients were found to be higher than 1 for all starches, indicating that the penetration of water into starch granules increased granule swelling rate. The findings of the present study confirmed that both process conditions and amylose/amylopectin ratio can be optimized without necessity of starch modification to obtain the products with the desired quality.     

Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in NERICAs Compared with Japanese Standard Rice Varieties at the Reproductive Stage

New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a general name for interspecific rice varieties derived from a cross between the high‐yielding Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) between locally adapted African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Eight NERICAs were evaluated for cold tolerance (CT) at the reproductive stage and compared with their O. sativa parents and three Japanese standard rice varieties over 3 years. Cold tolerance was evaluated based on the filled grain ratio (FGR) after cold water irrigation. The FGR was greatly reduced by cold water irrigation. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 had higher FGR (51.9–57.9 %), while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 had lower FGR (6.2–14.5 %). NERICA 1, 2 and 7 were less affected by cold stress, with a 31 % mean reduction in FGR, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 were greatly affected, with their FGRs being reduced by more than 80 %. NERICA 3 and 4 were moderately affected by cold stress, with about 45 % reduction rate in FGR. FGR significantly influenced the grain weights of the varieties with strong positive correlations (r = 0.83–0.91; P < 0.001), and thus, similar trends in grain weights were observed. Grain weights were reduced by 61.7–96.4 % under cold stress. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 showed significantly better performance than NERICA 3 and 4, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 performed poorly under cold water irrigation. The Japanese varieties Koshihikari (very tolerant) and Ozora (moderately tolerant) were more affected by cold water irrigation than NERICA 1, 2 and 7. On the basis of the mean reduction rate (%) in FGR under cold stress, the varieties were classified as follows: NERICA 1, 2 and 7 as tolerant; NERICA 3 and 4 as moderately tolerant; and NERICA 6, 15 and 16 as susceptible to cold stress. However, NERICA 7 grain yields were lower under cold stress due to both greatly reduced number of panicles per plant and number of spikelets per panicle. Therefore, NERICA 1 and 2 are suitable candidates for production in the highland regions of East Africa and should be promoted for production.