MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE OPTIC NERVE

We describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging aspects of normal canine optic nerve, the diameter of the optic nerve as measured on MR images, and optimal MR sequences for the evaluation of the optic nerve using a 0.2 T MR unit. Three millimeter contiguous slides of the normal canine orbital region were acquired in transverse and dorsal oblique planes using a variety of tissue weighting sequences. It was apparent that detailed anatomic assessment of the optic nerve can be performed with low‐field MR imaging, but none of the sequences provided unequivocal superior image quality of the optic nerve. The mean diameter of the optic nerve sheath complex was 3.7 mm and of the optic nerve 1.7 mm. The intraorbital and intracanalicular parts of the optic nerve are consistently visible and differentiation between the optic nerve and optic nerve sheath complex is possible using low‐field MR systems.     

A surgical approach to the lateral compartment of the equine guttural pouch in the standing horse: modification of the forgotten "Garm technique"

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and complications following lavage and drainage of the lateral compartment (LC) of the equine guttural pouch (GP) using a modified Garm's technique (MGT). In an ex vivo study (study 1), six cadaver heads were examined to assess the anatomical limits of the surgical approach and whether vital structures might be damaged. This was followed by an in vivo study (study 2) in which a lavage/drainage tube was placed for 3 days into each LC of four standing horses using the MGT. In both studies, the procedure offered direct access into the LC and indirect access into the medial compartments of the GP. In study 1, the MGT provided a rostroventral point of access allowing drainage of the LC, with no obvious iatrogenic damage. In study 2, the MGT permitted lavage of the entire GP in three healthy horses and one horse with mild GP empyema. The only major complication was development of emphysema of the lateral wall of one LC, with secondary collapse of the mucous membrane. The time for secondary wound healing was 12-14 days. The MGT can be performed safely in standing horses and may be of value in providing access for lavage and drainage in horses with mild GP empyema.     

牛、羊包虫病及其实验室诊断技术

包虫病(echinococcosis)是由寄生于终末宿主(犬、狼、狐狸等)小肠的棘球蚴感染中间宿主(牛、羊、猪、骆驼、人类等)而引起的一种严重的人兽共患寄生虫病。该病在临床表现上缺乏特异性,且多为隐性感染,病原体不易检出,严重危害牧区人民健康和畜牧业发展。对包虫病的病原学特点、流行病学特点、实验室检测和诊断技术作一介绍,以期为该病的预防控制和进一步研究提供参考。     

E12 technique: Conventional epoxy resin sheet plastination

Epoxy plastination techniques were developed to obtain thin transparent body slices with high anatomical detail. This is facilitated because the plastinated tissue is transparent and the topography of the anatomical structures well preserved. For this reason, thin epoxy slices are currently used for research purposes in both macroscopic and microscopic studies. The protocol for the conventional epoxy technique (E12) follows the main steps of plastination—specimen preparation, dehydration, impregnation and curing/casting. Preparation begins with selection of the specimen, followed by freezing and slicing. Either fresh or fixed (embalmed) tissue is suitable for epoxy plastination, while slice thickness is kept between 1.5 and 3 mm. Impregnation mixture is made of epoxy E12 resin plus E1 hardener (100 ppw; 28 ppw). This mixture is reactive and temperature sensitive, and for this reason, total impregnation time under vacuum at room laboratory temperature should not last for more than 20–24 hr. Casting of impregnated slices is done in either flat chambers or by the so‐called sandwich method in either fresh mixture or the one used for impregnation. Curing is completed at 40°C to allow a complete polymerization of the epoxy‐mixture. After curing, slices can be photographed, scanned or used for anatomical study under screen negatoscope, magnification glass or fluorescent microscope. Based on epoxy sheet plastination, many anatomical papers have recent observations of and/or clarification of anatomical concepts in different areas of medical expertice.     

南京市乡级农业科技推广机构的稳定和发展研究

南京市乡级农技推广机构有农业、林业、畜牧兽医、水产、蔬菜、水利、农机、农经等8个系统。乡级农技推广机构在科技兴农中发挥了引进、繁育、推广优良品种,推广先进种植、养殖技术,做好领导的参谋助手,兴办经济实体等重要作用,使科技进步在农业发展中的贡献份额由“八五”初期的35％提高到现在的40．5％。目前乡站急待解决的问题是：经费不足,体制不顺,管理不善,人员素质偏低,工作实效不高和方向不明等问题。建议：按文定编,落实编制;增加投入,解决经费;抓好机构管理和队伍建设;进一步端正办站方向。     

Validation and standardization of virus neutralizing test using indirect immunoperoxidase technique for the quantification of antibodies to rabies virus

A virus neutralizing test using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique (VNT-IIP) for rabies has been developed for the titration of dog and cat serum samples in Japan. The VNT-IIP has the advantage that results obtained can be viewed by the naked eye. The purpose of this study was to validate the VNT-IIP and compare it with one of the international standard methods, the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVNT). The VNT-IIP showed satisfactory repeatability, high analytical specificity and good accuracy. Regarding the comparison between the VNT-IIP and the FAVNT, the VNT-IIP showed good agreement (91.9%), high sensitivity (92.8%) as well as specificity (87.0%) and good correlation (r = 0.92). As described above, the validation of the VNT-IIP was satisfactory and the performances of the test proved to be equivalent to those of an international standard method.     

Prediction of Major Agricultural Fruits Production in Pakistan by Using an Econometric Analysis and Machine Learning Technique

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to use an econometric analysis to investigate the relationship between agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and variables such as apple, citrus, pears, grape and banana in Pakistan; data were explored from 1980 to 2015; we used time series data collected from secondary sources, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Year Books and the Economic Survey of Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method and Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, and results were interpreted by using the Johansen co-integration test. The machine learning technique was used to examine and predict the future agricultural productivity in Pakistan. We found that output of banana, citrus and pears had a positive and significant influence on AGDP, whereas apples and grapes had a negative but insignificant influence on AGDP.     

不同浓度镉胁迫对孔雀草DNA甲基化的影响

随着人类活动、工业化发展进程的加快,重金属污染对环境造成了严重危害。本研究通过盆栽试验,利用甲基化敏感扩增多态性(MSAP)技术,对不同浓度镉(Cd)胁迫下孔雀草(Tagetes patula)基因组DNA甲基化变化情况进行了分析研究。结果表明,经0、50、250和500mg·kg-1浓度Cd~(2+)处理后,基因组MSAP比率分别为24%、30%、35%和41%,全甲基化率分别为20%、23%、25%和27%,这表明重金属胁迫处理后,DNA总甲基化水平随Cd~(2+)浓度升高而呈上升趋势;在DNA甲基化模式变化方面,50、250和500 mg·kg-1浓度胁迫下重新甲基化率分别为10%、10%和11%,重新甲基化为主要的甲基化变化模式。本研究可以为揭示重金属胁迫对植物DNA甲基化变化规律及植物对重金属胁迫耐受性机制提供理论参考。     

Risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis in selected districts of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia

To determine the risk factors associated with Taenia solium transmission in humans and pigs in the rural areas of Eastern and Southern provinces of Zambia, a questionnaire was administered in 788 households from 155 villages. Pigs were examined from 800 households. Tongue examination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) for the detection of circulating antigens of T. solium cysticerci were used to measure infection in pigs. A snowballing technique was utilised to select households with pigs. Prevalence of households with pigs infected with T. solium on tongue examination by district ranged from 12.7% to 32.1% with Ag-ELISA having a range of 30.0-51.7%. Of the total number of households visited, 18.8% and 37.6% had at least one pig positive for porcine cysticercosis on tongue examination and Ag-ELISA, respectively. Risk factors associated with T. solium infection were lack of pork inspection at slaughter (96.7%), consumption of pork with cysts (20.1%), selling of pork infected with T. solium cysticerci (18.3%), free-range husbandry system (83.2%) and absence of latrines (58.0). Free-range husbandry system (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.36-2.07) was a significant risk factor for porcine cysticercosis in the surveyed areas. The result that pigs were mostly kept on free-range and semi-intensive husbandry systems may have permitted them to have access to eating human faeces that could be contaminated with tapeworm eggs. This study has shown that T. solium infection poses a high public health risk in the study areas and urban areas as well. We recommend that a human survey be conducted to verify the human exposure to taeniasis and/or cysticercosis in Zambia.     

飞播种草综合配套技术研究及创新

飞播种草是沙化、退化草地治理的重要技术措施之一,近10年在财政部、农业部的大力支持下,全国开展了以"飞播种草 保护利用"为核心,对牧草筛选、草种组合、种子处理、地面处理、适时播种、机型选择、播后管护、合理利用8项关键技术进行组装和研究,集成应用在北方沙化退化草地区等6个不同生态区域中.在筛选以乡土草种为主的飞播草种、最佳播种时期、青藏高海拔利用直升机播种等方面实现了自主创新.在豆科草种接种根瘤菌与混合草种拌种增产菌、应用GPS导航技术、地面处理、组织管理等方面实现了集成创新.为改善草原生态环境、饲草饲料资源开发和保护生物多样性奠定了一定的基础.