Effects of Soybean Fortification on Protein Quality of Tortilla-Based Diets Produced from Regular and Quality Protein Maize

The physiological development of laboratory rats fed with a typical indigenous tortilla diet was studied for two generations. The experiment compared casein control diet and five different types of diets: (1) a diet of tortillas obtained from fresh masa (FM); (2) regular tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour containing vitamins B₁, B₂, niacin, folic acid, and the microminerals iron and zinc (REDMF); (3) tortillas produced from enriched dry masa flour fortified with 6% defatted soybean meal (FEDMF); (4) tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour (EQPM); and (5) and, tortillas produced from enriched quality protein maize flour fortified with 3% defatted soybean meal (FEQPM). The growth of rats fed FEDMF and FEQPM diets was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both generations than their counterparts fed EQPM, REDMF, or FM diet. Animals fed quality protein maize (QPM) tortilla had the highest protein digestibility, but the FEQPM and FEDMF diets had the highest biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU), and protein-digestibility-corrected EAA scores (PDCEAAS). The difference among treatments was more evident in the second-generation rats. The pregnancy rate, number of newborns/litter, litter weight, and newborn survival rate was also higher for rats fed FEDMF, EQPM, and FEQPM diets than their counterparts fed REDMF and FM.     

A comparison of diameter distribution models for Khaya ivorensis A.Chev. plantations in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to compare Beta, Gamma, Johnson's S_B and Weibull functions fitted by different methods for describing the horizontal structure of Khaya ivorensis (African mahogany) plantations in Brazil. The database comprised 128 plots from six plantations at varying ages. The function fits were compared using the Kolmogoroff–Smirnoff test, mean bias and mean absolute error for the number of trees and basal area per hectare per diameter class. Johnson's S_B outperformed the other functions, although all functions provided an adequate fit. The best methods were method of moments and maximum likelihood fitted using 25% of the minimum observed diameter as the location parameter for the Johnson's S_B function. The errors were greater in diameter classes with higher frequencies. Location and scale parameters were highly correlated with mean diameter and age for the Weibull and Johnson's S_B functions, respectively, which is convenient for diameter prediction. Gamma's scale parameter had medium correlation with age. Beta's parameters had low correlation with stand attributes assessed.     

两种病原菌联合诱导大鼠实验性乳腺炎研究

为深入研究奶牛乳腺炎提供一个更方便、经济的实验平台,试验建立了由金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌联合诱导的大鼠乳腺炎模型。分别用低浓度(金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌浓度均为1×105mL-1,L组)和高浓度(金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌浓度均为1×1012mL-1,H组)细菌混合液,经乳头管灌注到大鼠第4对乳腺内,诱导大鼠的乳腺炎试验。结果表明,低浓度组(L组)乳腺的病变主要以腺泡上皮发生轻度脂肪变性,腺泡腔的分泌物中有透明滴状物为主要特征,高浓度组(H组)的乳腺腺泡结构破坏严重,腺泡中有较多的嗜中性粒白细胞浸润。L组乳腺组织IL-6水平较对照组有所升高,H组则有显著(P<0.05)下降,试验组血清IL-6水平均极显著(P<0.01)低于对照组;L组和H组乳腺组织TNF-α水平分别显著(P<0.05)和极显著(P<0.01)高于对照组,血清TNF-α水平均极显著(P<0.01)低于对照组。试验组乳腺NAGase活性均显著(P<0.05)和极显著(P<0.01)高于对照组;试验组血清NAGase活性均低于对照组,其中H组极显著(P<0.01)下降。由上述结果可知,高低浓度的金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌联合诱导的大鼠乳腺炎模型均已成功建立。     

高效液相色谱法测定大鼠肝微粒体温孵体系中血根碱的含量

本研究建立了大鼠肝微粒体温孵体系中血根碱的高效液相色谱含量测定方法。采用Shimadzu VP-ODS (150 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)为色谱柱,以乙腈-0.1%磷酸水溶液(30∶70,V/V)为流动相,以1 mL/min流速进样量10 μL在284 nm波长下进行检测,结果显示500和1000 nmol/L血根碱对照品溶液的方法回收率分别为98.3％和98.9%;250、500、1000 nmol/L标准溶液的日内RSD分别为3.76%、2.88%和3.56%,日间RSD分别为5.19%、4.96%和3.84%;血根碱的摩尔浓度在250~10000 nmol/L内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,表明该方法简单、快速、灵敏度高、特异性好,可用于血根碱在肝微粒体温孵体系中的含量测定。     

诊断超声照射对大鼠早孕胚胎组织细胞Caspase-3表达的影响

目的 了解诊断超声照射对大鼠早孕胚胎组织细胞Caspase-3表达的影响.方法 40只孕7dSD大鼠随机分为4组,用3.5 MHz超声持续照射腹部子宫体表投影区,分别照射0、10、20、30 min,超声照射后24 h取胚胎组织,用SP免疫组织化学检测Caspase-3蛋白表达.结果 超声照射20、30 mir组,Caspase-3表达明显高于对照组（P＜0.01）.结论 经腹诊断超声持续照射大鼠早孕胚胎超过20 min可使Caspase-3蛋白表达增高,从而可能导致早孕胚胎组织细胞凋亡.     

阀用超磁致伸缩致动器弓张结构静、动态建模与优化

为满足大流量超磁致伸缩电液伺服阀的驱动需要,设计了一种结构紧凑的弓张放大式超磁致伸缩致动器;基于力学基本原理和振动理论知识建立了弓张结构的静、动态模型;分析了弓张结构尺寸参数对其静、动态性能的影响;结合弓张放大式超磁致伸缩致动器应用于电液伺服阀的要求,利用多目标优化法确定了其结构尺寸最佳参数值,并利用有限元法对其静、动态模型进行了验证;设计了弓张放大式超磁致伸缩致动器样机,搭建了实验系统,并进行了静、动态实验。实验结果表明,弓张结构的放大倍数在8.13~8.72间波动,输出端最大位移可达107.9μm,固有频率约为168 Hz,测试所得结果与其静、动态模型计算值基本吻合;通过与优化前的性能相比,弓张结构的静态放大倍数在满足要求的条件下,其动态固有频率提高了55.6%;所设计的弓张放大式超磁致伸缩致动器基本上能够满足伺服阀的驱动要求,证明了该优化设计方法的有效性。     

大鼠子宫内膜炎模型的建立及其动态病理学观察

【目的】建立大鼠子宫内膜炎模型,为子宫内膜炎的发病机理及其预防治疗研究提供合适的动物病理模型。【方法】将30只清洁级雌性大鼠随机分为感染组(22只)和对照组(8只),采用手术法给大鼠子宫腔内感染致病性大肠埃希菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、无乳链球菌(菌液体积比为2∶1∶1)的混合菌液,对照组大鼠未感染致病菌的混合菌液。分别于感染后第3,6,9,12天剖杀大鼠,检测其大体剖检病变和组织病理学变化,计算子宫指数,并对子宫内容物病原菌进行分离鉴定。【结果】感染后3~12 d,感染组大鼠子宫指数均较对照组大鼠极显著增加(P0.01),感染大鼠子宫出现急性卡他性炎症(感染后第3天和第6天)、化脓性炎症(感染后第9天)和慢性增生性炎症(感染后第12天);感染前期可见子宫内膜上皮细胞脱落,黏膜层水肿、充血、出血,炎症细胞浸润;感染后期可见肌层增厚等病变。【结论】采用手术法成功建立了大鼠子宫内膜炎模型,且感染后第3天为造模成功的最佳时间。     

Pathogenicity of halophilic Vibrio harveyi in giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii De Man)

In this study, the phenotypic and pathogenic properties in freshwater host were characterized in 14 strains of halophilic Vibrio harveyi isolated from infected marine black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. The lysogenic phenotype was assayed via prophage excision and mitomycin C induction. The bacteria were grouped into two types, corresponding to lysogenic and non‐lysogenic strains. The pathogenicity was determined via direct injection of bacterial cultures into post‐larval juvenile giant freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii De Man. All of the infected prawns showed similar symptoms and inflamed hepatopancreas. The V. harveyi isolates derived from the first‐injected infected prawns were re‐isolated and re‐injected into healthy giant freshwater prawns, in which they retained similar infectivity. Both lysogenic and non‐lysogenic Vibrio spp. showed identical virulence associated with 100% mortality within one day post‐injection. TEM micrographs showed hepatopancreatic nuclear deformation and lipid breakdown caused by lysogenic γ‐hemolytic VL19 and non‐lysogenic β‐hemolytic V33. However, the V33 strain was associated with severely disrupted mitochondria. None of the V. harveyi strains was able to produce a biofilm. Together, our findings indicate that the lysogenic and non‐lysogenic halophilic V. harveyi isolated from marine shrimps may use different virulence factors that are responsible for their pathogenicity in freshwater prawns.     

非洲猪瘟病毒免疫逃逸分子机制研究进展

非洲猪瘟(African swine fever,ASF)是由非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus,ASFV)感染猪引起的一种急性、烈性、高度接触性传染病,至今没有研发出安全有效的疫苗,一旦暴发会造成重大经济损失。ASFV在和宿主长期作用过程中,通过抑制干扰素和炎症反应,调节凋亡、自噬及细胞免疫等多种途径逃逸机体免疫反应促进自身复制,但具体的机制仍不完全清楚。ASFV复杂的免疫逃逸机制可能是阻碍有效疫苗研发的关键因素之一。借助生物信息学技术对ASFV的基因组和蛋白质组深入分析,筛选病毒的免疫调控关键基因和保护性抗原表位,将在ASFV免疫逃逸分子机制的研究与疫苗研发中发挥重要作用。本文主要对ASFV感染引起的免疫应答反应及可能的免疫逃逸机制研究进行概述,以期为ASF疫苗研制及综合防控提供思路。     

Time-course comparison of pulmonary inflammation induced by intratracheal instillation of four different nickel oxide nanoparticles in male Fischer rats

Occupational exposure to nickel oxide (NiO) is an important cause of respiratory tract cancer. Toxicity is known to be associated with the dissociated component, i.e. nickel (II) ions. To address the relationship between physicochemical properties, including solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid, of NiO and time-course changes in the pulmonary response, we conducted an intratracheal instillation study in male Fischer rats using four different well-characterized NiO products, US3352 (NiO A), NovaWireNi01 (NiO B), I small particle (NiO C), and 637130 (NiO D). The NiOs were suspended in purified water and instilled once intratracheally into male F344 rats (12 weeks old) at 0 (vehicle control), 0.67, 2, and 6 mg/kg body weight. The animals were euthanized on days 3, 28, or 91 after instillation, and blood analysis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) testing, and histopathological examination were performed. The most soluble product, NiO B, caused the most severe systemic toxicity, leading to a high mortality rate, but the response was transient and surviving animals recovered. The second-most-soluble material, NiO D, and the third, NiO A, caused evident pulmonary inflammation, and the responses persisted for at least 91 days with collagen proliferation. In contrast, NiO C induced barely detectable inflammation in the BALF examination, and no marked changes were noted on histopathology. These results indicate that the early phase toxic potential of NiO products, but not the persistence of pulmonary inflammation, is associated with their solubility.