Protein and energy concentrations of meat meal and meat and bone meal fed to pigs based on in vitro assays

The objective of this study was to develop equations for estimating ileal digestible crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents of meat meal (MM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as feed ingredients for pigs based on in vitro assays. Test ingredients were 4 sources of MM and 3 sources of MBM. Ash and CP contents of the ingredients ranged from 3.8% to 33.1% and 46.8% to 82.9% (as-is basis), respectively. In vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of CP was determined and ileal digestible CP content was calculated by multiplying CP content by IVID of CP. In vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of dry matter (DM) was determined and ME was calculated using gross energy, CP contents, and IVTTD of DM. The IVID of CP and IVTTD of DM ranged from 77.2% to 88.7% and from 82.7% to 92.4%, respectively. Calculated ileal digestible CP and ME contents ranged from 37.8% to 73.5% DM and 2,405 to 3,905 kcal/kg DM, respectively. Ash contents were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with CP (r = −0.99), in vitro ileal digestible CP (r = −0.97), gross energy (r = −1.00), in vitro digestible energy (r = −0.97), and adjusted ME (r = −0.97). The most fitting equations for ileal digestible CP and adjusted ME were: ileal digestible CP (% DM) = 11.91 − 0.90 × Ash (% DM) + 0.74 × IVID of CP (%) (R² = 0.99) and adjusted ME (kcal/kg DM) = 130.85 − 50.90 × ash (% DM) + 47.06 × IVTTD of DM (%) (R² = 0.99). To validate the accuracy of the prediction equations for ME, mean bias and linear bias were determined using a regression analysis. Calculated ME values of MM and MBM were in a good agreement with data obtained from animal experiments based on a statistically insignificant bias in the models. In conclusion, ME concentrations of MM and MBM as swine feed ingredients can be calculated using ash concentration and in vitro disappearance of dry matter.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in healthy and Mannheimia haemolytica infected calves

The pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin were investigated in healthy (n=8) and Mannheimia haemolytica naturally infected (n=8) Simmental ruminant calves following intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration of 2 mg kg(-1) body weight. The concentration of marbofloxacin in plasma was measured using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Following i.v. administration of the drug, the elimination half-life (t(1/2 beta)) and mean residence time (MRT) were significantly longer in diseased calves (8.2h; 11.13 h) than in healthy ones (4.6 h; 6.1 h), respectively. The value of total body clearance (CL(B)) was larger in healthy calves (3 ml min(-1) kg(-1)) than in diseased ones (1.3 ml min(-1) kg(-1)). After single intramuscular (i.m.) administration of the drug, the elimination half-life, mean residence time (MRT) and maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) were higher in diseased calves (8.0, 12 h, 2.32 microg ml(-1)) than in healthy ones (4.7, 7.4 h, 1.4 microg ml(-1)), respectively. The plasma concentrations and AUC following administration of the drug by both routes were significantly higher in diseased calves than in healthy ones. Protein binding of Marbofloxacin was not significantly different in healthy and diseased calves. The mean value for MIC of marbofloxacin for M. haemolytica was 0.1+/-0.06 microg ml(-1). The C(max)/MIC and AUC(24)/MIC ratios were significantly higher in diseased calves (13.0-64.4 and 125-618 h) than in healthy calves (8-38.33 and 66.34-328 h). The obtained results for surrogate markers of antimicrobial activity (C(max)/MIC, AUC/MIC and T > or = MIC) indicate the excellent pharmacodynamic characteristics of the drug in diseased calves with M. haemolytica, which can be expected to optimize the clinical efficacy and minimize the development of resistance.     

氮磷钾底肥对大豆蛋白质含量的效应

采用正交回归旋转设计方法,建立了氮、磷、钾肥对大豆蛋白质含量的综合作用模型.依据该模型探讨氮、磷、钾肥对大豆蛋白质含量影响的规律.氮、磷、钾肥对大豆蛋白质含量的单因素效应、二因素互作效应受到其它因素水平的影响.氮肥对蛋白质含量的影响均为负效应,降低速度随着氮肥编码值增高而加快.磷肥对蛋白质含量的作用有正有负.钾肥对蛋白质含量的作用为负效应,其降低幅度随钾的增加而提高.施尿素量为1.93～4.70g/盆,施重过磷酸钙量为8.13～20.59g/盆,施硫酸钾量为1.27～3.37g/盆,采用这个比例施肥有95%的可能使蛋白质含量高于43.5%.     

春季低温对小麦颖果发育的影响

为了探明春季低温（倒春寒）导致小麦减产的细胞学机理,以扬麦15为材料,在小麦幼穗处于雌雄蕊分化期至药隔期之间时,设置-3 ℃低温处理,通过树脂半薄切片对颖果不同发育时期的形态结构进行观察。结果表明：（1）在颖果发育早期,低温促进了颖果的长度生长,抑制了宽度生长;与对照相比,低温处理组小麦颖果发育进程缩短;（2）低温处理组颖果果皮发育早,中果皮降解速度快;（3）低温处理增加了胚乳淀粉体的积累量,降低了蛋白体的积累量,发育后期胚乳充实度显著低于对照组;（4）与对照相比,低温处理后颖果韧皮部面积和珠心突起传递细胞面积增大。以上结果表明,春季低温处理更有利于养分运输组织的发育,使得灌浆时间缩短,最终导致淀粉积累量增加及颖果早熟。     

Roles of protein phosphatase 4 in down-regulation of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation induced by palmitic acid in human umbilical vein endotheli?al cells

AIMTo investigate the roles of protein phosphatase 4 (PP4) in down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Ser633 phosphorylation induced by palmitic acid (PA). METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with PA at 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L and 200μmol/L for 36 h, or treated with PA at 100 μmol/L for 12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) family inhibitor fostriecin (FST, 20 nmol/L) or okadaic acid (OA, 5 nmol/L) was selected to pretreat the HUVECs for 30 min. Protein phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PP4c) siRNA or protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) siRNA was transfected into the HUVECs. The protein expression levels of of eNOS, PP4c and PP2Ac, as well as the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation, were detected by Western blot. The intracellular nitric oxide (NO) content was measured by DAF-FM DA. RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, the levels of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation were decreased in PA groups in which the HUVECs were treated with 25 μmol/L, 50 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L and 200 μmol/L PA for 36 h (P<0.05) and 100 μmol/L PA for 24 h, 36 h and 48 h (P<0.05). No significant difference in the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was observed. (2) Compared with control group, both FST and OA pretreatment reversed the reduction of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation (P<0.05) and the decrease in intracellular NO content (P<0.05) induced by PA. No significant difference in the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was observed. (3) Compared with si-Control group, the PP4c protein expression was significantly reduced (P<0.05), while the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation was significantly increased in si-PP4c group (P<0.05). Although the levels of PP2Ac protein expression declined significantly (P<0.05), the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation remained unchanged in si-PP2Ac group. No significant differencein the level of total eNOS protein expression among all the groups was found. CONCLUSION PA significantly reduces the level of eNOS Ser633 phosphorylation and the content of NO in the HUVECs, which may be due to PA inducing the activation of the PP2A family member PP4 rather than PP2A.     

壤质土叶面喷施不同养分对强筋小麦产量和蛋白质组分的影响

在壤质土条件下,不同养分叶面喷施对强筋小麦的株高、成穗数影响不显著;叶面喷洒0.1%MnSO4、0.05%(NH 4)2M oO2和0.3%KH 2PO4、2%CO(NH 2)2等能提高强筋小麦的千粒重和产量。喷洒2%CO(NH 2)2和0.1%M nSO4有利于蛋白质和蛋白组分的提高。     

不同大豆品种籽粒体积、含水量、脂肪和蛋白质积累动态分析

采用来自辽宁、吉林、黑龙江三地的成熟期不同的三个大豆品种,研究其品种间籽粒体积积累、含水量变化、脂肪和蛋白质的积累动态以及各个过程的关系并比较出各品种间的异同.结果是:在籽粒从开始鼓粒到成熟期间各品种籽粒体积都是先鼓胀到一个最高值然后迅速回落.此期间的籽粒含水量都一直在下降,从开始鼓粒到体积最大期间含水量下降缓慢,而在体积达最大值后到成熟期间含水量下降迅速,很快接近稳定值.各品种脂肪积累总体上是先稳定上升,在接近成熟时略有下降.蛋白质的积累同样是缓慢上升至接近成熟时稳中有降.各品种在这四个指标积累过程中除含水量变化曲线基本无明显差别外,另三个指标变化曲线都有一些各自的特点.四个指标总体平均数之间的相关系数各不相同.     

Seminal plasma proteins of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Protein content and properties in the seminal plasma of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) were assayed using spectrophotometric and electrophoretic methods. The protein concentration ranged from 6.4 ± 3.1 to 19.4 ± 3.4 mg ml⁻¹ and anti-proteolytic activity from 585.2 ± 104.6 to 2912.4 ± 367.4 U l^−l. A high correlation between anti-proteolytic activity and protein concentration (r = 0.95), and between sperm concentration and osmolality was found (r = 0.92). There was a significant decrease in anti-proteolytic activity from the first to the second sampling, but not in protein concentration. Anti-proteolytic activity and protein concentration were significantly affected by variations in individual males. Electrophoresis revealed four anti-proteolytic bands and individual differences in bands of proteolytic activity, which were subsequently characterized as metalloproteases and serine proteases.     

Agronomic Practices Influence Maize Grain Quality

Abstract

Maize grain yields have increased dramatically over the past fifty years, and concurrently end-uses have proliferated requiring special quality characteristics. Plant breeders have developed many specialty types of maize, all of which are influenced by the agronomic practices used to produce the crop. Grain yield increases have resulted in lower protein concentration except when the yield increase resulted from nitrogen fertilizer application. Irrigation improves the biological value of protein, while higher nitrogen application rates alter the amino acid balance thereby reducing the nutritional value. Kernel breakage susceptibility and kernel density increase with higher nitrogen fertilizer application rates, and are reduced by irrigation. Extractable starch and oil concentration are largely influenced by hybrid choice, but small production practice effects have been documented. Essential mineral nutrient levels are often influenced by soil or foliar fertilizer application. The production of aflatoxin can be reduced by irrigation or other strategies to avoid water stress during grain fill. Although genetics usually exerts the largest effect on maize grain quality, agronomic practices are also important.