Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in skeletal muscle and blood of ewes from a sheep farm in New Zealand

Abstract

AIM: To determine whether viable Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) is present in skeletal muscle and blood in ewes with and without Johne's disease confirmed histologically.

METHODS: A total of 51 mixed-aged ewes in poor body condition from a farm with a history of clinical Johne's disease were culled and examined at necropsy. BACTEC radiometric culture was performed on samples of skeletal muscle from the biceps femoris, mononuclear cells in peripheral blood (hereafter referred to as blood), and ileum. Histological sections and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN)-stained impression smears of terminal ileum and mesenteric lymph nodes were examined. Ewes were defined as having confirmed Johne's disease if there was histopathological evidence typical of the disease within the ileum and adjacent lymph nodes.

RESULTS: Eighteen of 21 (86%) ewes with confirmed clinical Johne's disease were culture-positive for Map from sites peripheral to the alimentary tract, comprising 15 from skeletal muscle and 13 from blood. Five of 30 (17%) ewes that did not have Johne's disease were culture-positive, with four from skeletal muscle and one from blood. The likelihood that ewes with confirmed Johne's disease had systemic Map infection compared with ewes without was determined as OR=30 (95% CI=6.3–142.0; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Map infection of skeletal muscle and blood in ewes with confirmed Johne's disease was 71% and 62% respectively, and in unaffected ewes was 13% for muscle and 3% for blood.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Skeletal muscle and blood are potential sources of exposure of humans to Map, and the risk appears higher from sheep with Johne's disease.     

Relationships between relative crop yields,soil test phosphorus levels,and fertilizer requirements for phosphorus

Abstract

More uniformity in methods of deriving fertilizer P recommendations from crop response data should improve accuracy and precision of fertilization rates. Experimental data that relate crop yields to soil test levels and describe the effect of fertilizer P on soil test levels provide the basis for determining fertilization rates for specific crop‐soil situations. A modification of the Mitscherlich equation was used in derivation of a new equation for calculating fertilizer P requirements as a function soil test levels of P. The equation was applied to response data for 4 crops.

Response curves and fertilizer requirements as calculated for corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and clover‐grass indicated that soybeans yielded relatively more than the other three crops at low soil test levels of P. Corn and alfalfa required higher soil test levels to reach 95% maximum yield and required higher rates of fertilizer P when initial test levels were low.     

Inter-laboratory comparison of radiometric culture for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using raw milk from known infected herds and individual dairy cattle in Victoria

Objective To compare the results of radiometric culture conducted in three Australian laboratories for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Mptb) using bulk vat and individual animal milk samples. Procedure Milk samples were collected from 15 cows exhibiting clinical signs of Johne's disease, and subsequently confirmed as infected with Mptb, and from the bulk milk vats on 91 farms running herds known to be infected with Mptb. Each milk sample was divided into three equivalent samples and one of each of the replicates was forwarded to the three participating laboratories. The identity and nature of the samples was protected from the study collaborators. The laboratories processed the samples and undertook radiometric culture for Mptb using their standard method. Results of testing were provided to the principal investigator for collation and analysis. Results In total, 2 (2.2%) of 91 vat-milk samples and 8 (53.3%) of 15 individual cows' milk samples returned positive radiometric milk culture results. Only one sample, from a clinical case of Johne's disease, was identified as positive by more than one laboratory. There were differences in the absolute frequency with which Mptb was identified in the milk samples by the collaborating laboratories. Conclusions Mptb was cultured from a very small percentage of Australian raw bulk milk samples sourced from known infected herds. By contrast, Mptb was successfully cultured from half of the milk samples collected from clinically affected cows. There was no statistical difference between laboratories in the proportion of vat samples or individual animal milk samples in which Mptb was detected.     

EOBD系统的实现方法

本文介绍了EOBD系统的发展及主要功能，详细论述了EOBD系统的实现方法。     

基于DEM的玉米秸秆离散元模型参数标定

玉米秸秆外表皮和内瓤的力学特性存在较大差异,为提高玉米秸秆仿真结果的精确度,提出一种基于离散元法(DEM)的玉米秸秆精细化仿真模型建立方法,构建有茎节和无茎节秸秆仿真模型。通过Plackett Burman试验和最陡爬坡试验开展无茎节秸秆模型的单轴压缩仿真试验,确定影响颗粒抗破坏力的因素主要是玉米秸秆外表皮—内瓤滑动摩擦系数、内瓤—内瓤碰撞恢复系数和内瓤—内瓤静摩擦系数,通过正交试验确定最优参数组合为0.28、0.29和0.23。利用有茎节秸秆模型进行剪切试验验证,结果表明仿真试验与物理试验的抗剪切力分别为132.29 N和131.36 N,误差为093 N,说明最优参数组合精确度较高。研究结果可为秸秆还田装置、生物质材料成型和饲料加工装置等关键部件优化设计提供参考依据。     

基于无参数高效算法的近红外光谱模型传递研究

模型传递可解决不同近红外光谱仪间多元校正模型无法共享的问题。以食用油为研究对象,对其酸值和过氧化值模型进行传递分析。在主机上建立偏最小二乘多元校正模型,利用无参数高效模型传递(PFCE)算法中NS-PFCE无标样算法和FS-PFCE有标样算法分别实现模型传递,探讨了标准化样品数量对模型传递效果的影响。并与经典的3种有标样传递算法和2种无标样传递算法进行对比。结果表明,经NS-PFCE无标样传递后,从机酸值与过氧化值预测集均方根误差分别从0.613 mg/g和16.153 mmol/kg下降到0.275 mg/g和9.523 mmol/kg;而经FS-PFCE有标样传递后,从机酸值与过氧化值预测集均方根误差分别下降到0.274 mg/g和8.945 mmol/kg。且随着标准化样品数量的增加,经PFCE算法传递后预测集均方根误差越低。无参数高效模型传递算法联合应用单一的无标样算法和有标样算法两种传递方式,增强了传递模型的适应性和包容性,同时有效地降低主机光谱与从机光谱之间的差异,实现了不同光谱仪间校正模型的共享。     

Impact of direct drilling and conventional tillage on seasonal changes of soil water content in Chromic Haploxerert (south-west Spain)

A continuous monitoring of spatial and temporal variability of soil water content was studied under two soil management systems: direct drilling (DD) and conventional tillage (CT), during four consecutive seasons. The soil water content was read at different soil depths using multisensor capacitance probes in each soil-management treatment. During the first season (2003–2004), soil water content dynamics for both treatments were similar during the rainy season, although the DD plot was able to retain more water in the soil profile, and during the maximum evapotranspirative period faster soil water depletion took place in the CT plot. The 2004–2005 season registered a high evapotranspiration rate (1741 mm) with low rainfall (228 mm), promoting a low soil water recharge for both treatments. The 2005–2006 season registered an increase in rainfall, promoting a greater recovery of the soil water reserve in DD than CC plot. Finally, during the 2006–2007 season with an evapotranspiration rate ET₀ and rainfall of 1504 and 560 mm, respectively, DD retained more soil water content, mainly in the deeper zones, with progressive soil water depletion during the maximum evapotranspirative period in comparison to CT. Thus, DD was demonstrated to be a promising soil management technique for improving the soil water content.     

汶川地震前后茂县植被覆盖度变化研究

“5· 12”汶川地震引起的滑坡、泥石流、崩塌等次生地质灾害对灾区的植被覆盖造成严重的破坏.茂县地处于地震重灾区,查清地震对茂县植被覆盖的破坏程度可为植被修复提供参考依据,便于防控水土流失和地质灾害隐患.选取茂县地震前后Landsat 5 TM的遥感影像作为数据源,采用归一化植被指数和像元二分法为估算模型,提取地震前后茂县植被覆盖度数值.通过对数据的研究将该区植被覆盖度划分为4级:高植被覆盖区、中植被覆盖区、低植被覆盖区和无植被覆盖区,并对每种覆盖类型的变化进行统计分析.结果表明,地震对高植被覆盖区的影响最严重,中植被覆盖区的影响次之,低植被覆盖区的影响最小;植被覆盖度破坏较严重的区域主要分布在坡度大于40°的地区.     

近红外反射高含量泥沙传感器研制

水流含沙量测量是水土流失监测体系的重要内容,开展含沙量测量传感器的研究对于实时监测具有重要意义。为了实现对水流高含沙量的测量,该文根据含沙水对不同光谱的吸收和反射特性,采用1 800 nm（强水分反射波长）和1 940 nm（强水分吸收波长）近红外光源开发了泥沙测量传感器和测量装置,并对新型传感器进行了标定试验,分别建立了取自黄河、渭河和天水的泥沙与传感器输出信号之间响应关系。结果表明,当含沙量小于300 kg/m3时,测量得到的反射光强度随含沙量的增加而增加,传感器输出信号与含沙量之间具有很好的线性相关性,并建立了线性模型,决定系数均大于0.9。为了验证模型的精度,将实际含沙量与模型计算含沙量进行比较,结果表明,二者回归系数接近于1,相对误差小于10%,可以使用模型计算值代替实际含沙量。2种波长的传感器对含沙量的测量范围均为1～300 kg/m3,当含沙量大于10 kg/m3时测量精度大于90%,同时传感器精度受到泥沙种类、吸光物质和气泡等其他因素的影响。设计的传感器可以满足对高含沙量水流的测量要求,适用于土壤侵蚀严重的地区。研究结果在水土流失自动监测中具有良好的应用前景。     

高精度温压检定系统的研制与试验

目前在低温（＜0℃）状态下尚无能同时对温度、压力、湿度进行标定的现成产品,基于双温双压原理该文研制了一套温、压检定系统,以实现对传感器和仪器设备同时进行温度和压力的标定;在给出系统结构、工作原理的基础上,建立了温度系统和压力系统的数学模型,给出了bang-bang控制和改进PID（proportional-integral-differential）的复合控制方法,最后进行了现场试验,试验结果表明：在系统的绝对压力为30～130 kPa,温度为-70～80℃时,温度测量绝对误差＜0.02℃,压力测量绝对误差≤15 Pa,温度控制绝对误差＜0.03℃,压力控制绝对误差≤18 Pa,温度和压力的目标确定度分别为0.06℃和10 Pa,结果表明该检定系统具有控制精度高、稳定性强和可靠性高的特点,可用于检定、地面仪器考核、探空仪器考核。该研究为进一步研究温、湿、压综合检定系统提供技术手段和试验数据。