Evaluation of two commercial PRRSV antibody ELISA kits with samples of known status and singleton reactors

Two commercial PRRSV ELISA kits (IDEXX and Bionote) were evaluated for their sensitivity and specificity using 476 PRRS-positive serum samples collected from 7 animal challenge experiments and 1,000 PRRS-negative sera. Both ELISA kits exhibited 100% sensitivity with sera collected 14 to 42 days post-infection, and the results from the kits were highly correlated (R²=0.9207). The specificity of IDEXX or Bionote kit was 99.9% or 99.7%, respectively. In addition, the Bionote ELISA kit was used to examine 100 sera that were determined to be falsely positive either by IDEXX 2XR or 3XR ELISA, and only 7 of these samples were found to be positive. These results indicate that both ELISA kits exhibited similar levels of sensitivity and specificity and would complement one another for the verification of false-positive samples.     

放牧条件下乳用伊犁马采食量的初步研究

2013年8-10月,采用模拟采食法、群牧差额法、内外指示剂结合法在昭苏马场草甸草地上进行了放牧条件下乳用伊犁马采食量的测定。结果表明,1)同种测定方法不同月份之间测定的乳用伊犁马干物质采食量差异不显著(P0.05)。2)模拟采食法测得的干物质采食量为12.79 kg·15 h-1·匹-1,群牧差额法测得为16.39kg·d-1·匹-1,内外指示剂结合法测得为13.28 kg·d-1·匹-1。3)群牧差额法与内外指示剂结合法测定的乳用伊犁马干物质采食量之间差异不显著(P0.05),初步确定乳用伊犁马平均干物质采食量为14.83 kg·d-1·匹-1。     

Influence of paricalcitol on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the effect of paricalcitol (P) on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms in diabetic nephropathy (DN).METHODS: DN rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after fasting. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups:the DN rats in paricalcitol-intervened group (group P) were injected intraperitoneally with paricalcitol dissolved in propylene glycol after the day when the model was induced successfully at a dose of 0.4 μg/kg (3 times a week); the DN rats in DN group (group D) were given isopyknic propylene glycol. Normal control group (group C) was also set up. The samples of blood, urine and renal tissue were collected after intervention of paricalcitol for 12 weeks. The biochemical indexes were measured. The renal tissues were used for pathologic observation and determining the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Wnt-4, β-catenin and Klotho by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, the correlation among the above indexes was analyzed.RESULTS: (1) Scr, BUN and 24 h urine protein increased significantly in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (2) The area of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis increased in group D compared with group C, while decreased in group P compared with group D (P<0.05). (3) The expression of Klotho decreased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin increased in group D compared with group C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the expression of Klotho increased, while the expression of TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin decreased in group P (P<0.05). (4) The expression of Klotho was negatively correlated with the fibrosis area, TGF-β1, Wnt-4 and β-catenin (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Paricalcitol inhibits renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by promoting the expression of renal Klotho, and inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation and TGF-β1 synthesis.     

谷子秸秆剪切力与其饲料营养特性变化规律及相互关系

为探究谷子秸秆力学性质与其饲料特性的变化规律及相互关系，选用谷物完熟期的谷子秸秆，将其分为5段（近根部、中下部、中部、中上部、上部）并每隔7 d进行秸秆节间、茎节力学性质（剪切、压缩）和饲料特性（形态指标、营养成分）测定。试验结果表明：谷物完熟后，随着时间的推进，秸秆节间、茎节剪切力、抗压强度、干物质含量、纤维素含量、半纤维素含量和木质素含量总体上呈增大趋势，而秸秆含水率、当量直径、横截面积、线性密度和粗蛋白含量总体上呈减小趋势。谷子秸秆单位直径剪切力与含水率和线性密度呈负相关关系（R2≥0.903），与其干物质、纤维素、半纤维素和木质素含量呈正相关关系（R2≥0.845），与其粗蛋白含量无显著相关关系（P>0.05）。采收期内，谷子秸秆基部起秸秆剪切力至顶部逐渐增大，且剪切力与当量直径、横截面积呈正相关关系（R2≥0.916）。试验表明谷子秸秆饲料特性指标验证试验值与预测值相对误差不大于6.48%，预测模型合理。测量秸秆剪切力可用于预测其形态指标参数和营养成分含量，进而一定程度地反映秸秆饲用价值和反刍动物择食趋向。采收期内，谷子中部及以上秸秆单位直径剪切力显著小于其近根部（P<0.05），更适合饲用；且谷物完熟后，及时采收可避免秸秆饲用价值降低。该研究可为高效利用谷子秸秆资源提供参考。     

Bioinformatics Analysis of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) of Sheep

The assay was aimed to explore the biological characteristics of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) of sheep,NCBI,DNAMAN DNAStar,TMHMM Server v.2.0,PsortⅡ,SignalP various bioinformatical softwares were used to speculate the physical and chemical properties,hydrophobic property,phosphorylation site,conservative structure domain,protein secondary structure of BMP4 protein.Also,the three-dimensional structure was forecasted with the SWISS-MODEL Workspace software.The results indicated that the BMP4 of sheep had high homologies with the BMP4 of various species.The encoded protein was a hydrophilic protein which was unstable.There was no transmembrane regions and it was likely to be located in the nucleus.What was more,there was signal peptide and eighteen phosphorylation sites.Through the forecast of functional domains,the protein had two functional domains,including the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and TGF-beta propeptide superfamily.The result was consistent with the function of BMP4 gene family,it also demonstrated that BMP4 was a growth factor and it had the function of signal transduction.The amino acid homology between the predicted 3D structure of protein and template 3bmp.1.A was 88.29%.The bioinformatics analysis of BMP4 gene could provide reference for the further study in practice.     

Can additional N fertiliser ameliorate the elevated CO2‐induced depression in grain and tissue N concentrations of wheat on a high soil N background?

Elevated CO₂ stimulates crop yields but leads to lower tissue and grain nitrogen concentrations [N], raising concerns about grain quality in cereals. To test whether N fertiliser application above optimum growth requirements can alleviate the decline in tissue [N], wheat was grown in a Free Air CO₂ Enrichment facility in a low‐rainfall cropping system on high soil N. Crops were grown with and without addition of 50–60 kg N/ha in 12 growing environments created by supplemental irrigation and two sowing dates over 3 years. Elevated CO₂ increased yield and biomass (on average by 25%) and decreased biomass [N] (3%–9%) and grain [N] (5%). Nitrogen uptake was greater (20%) in crops grown under elevated CO₂. Additional N supply had no effect on yield and biomass, confirming high soil N. Small increases in [N] with N addition were insufficient to offset declines in grain [N] under elevated CO₂. Instead, N application increased the [N] in straw and decreased N harvest index. The results suggest that conventional addition of N does not mitigate grain [N] depression under elevated CO₂, and lend support to hypotheses that link decreases in crop [N] with biochemical limitations rather than N supply.     

中国饲料粮消费问题探析

为了准确分析中国当前饲料粮供需情况及影响因素,首先通过供给法计算出1984—2013年的狭义饲料粮可供给数据,其次通过需求法计算中国饲料粮消费数据。推算得出饲料粮供需数据虽有差距但都呈增长趋势。中国粮食政策加剧了饲料粮供需失衡状况。因此提出相应政策建议:一是适当增加肉类产品进口并严厉打击走私;二是粮食政策在确保主粮(大米和小麦)基本自给基础上,适度进口饲料粮(主要是玉米),并在海关政策制订上将精饲料原料通盘考虑,制订考虑替代品如大麦、高粱、DDGS等在内的一揽子关税与配额政策。     

苦瓜对白粉病的抗性与相关生理生化指标的关系

为探讨苦瓜抗白粉病的生理生化机制,以对白粉病不同抗性的4个苦瓜品系为材料,研究苗期感染白粉病菌后,苦瓜叶片生理生化指标的变化。结果表明:接种后,叶绿素和可溶性蛋白质量分数均呈先上升后降低的趋势;可溶性糖质量分数呈下降-上升-下降-上升的趋势;抗病品系的可溶性糖、叶绿素质量分数和过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均高于或显著高于感病品系和高感品系;抗病品系的抗坏血酸(AsA)质量分数的上升和下降的幅度均小于感病品系和高感品系;接种后10~20d,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性表现为抗病品系感病品系高感品系。叶绿素、可溶性糖质量分数和POD、PPO活性与病情指数呈显著或极显著负相关。综上说明,白粉病菌侵染苦瓜后,抗病品系可通过保持较高的叶绿素质量分数,增加可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、AsA质量分数及增强POD、PPO、APX活性来提高抗病性。叶绿素、可溶性糖质量分数和POD、PPO活性均可作为苦瓜对白粉病抗性早期鉴定的指标。