Effect of Bacillus cereus as a water or feed additive on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia

We evaluated the effects of Bacillus cereus, as an additive in water and feed, on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Experiments were performed in tanks and net cages respectively. Experiment 1: Tilapia were housed in tanks for 42 days, and B. cereus was added to the water at 1.0 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 ×10⁵ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Experiment 2: Tilapia were housed in cages for 42 days, and the feed was supplemented with B. cereus at 1.0 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 × 10⁸ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Each treatment contained three replicates, with 50 male tilapias per replicate. The fish from the probiotic treatments in both tank and cage experiments had significantly higher serum lysozyme and peroxidase activities than the control. In the cage experiment, alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase activities in tilapia were significantly higher in probiotic treatments compared with the control. The results of polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that B. cereus supplementation in the feed and water affected the autochthonous gut bacteria community of tilapia and stimulated various potentially beneficial bacteria. Therefore, B. cereus, as a water or feed additive, could enhance the immune status and affect the gut microbiota of tilapia. Bacillus cereus was more effective as a feed supplement rather than a water additive for enhancing the immune status of tilapia.     

土培条件下不同盐分梯度对水稻产量及其生理特性的影响

以南粳9108和甬优2640为材料,设置6个土壤含盐量(0%、0.07%、0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%),研究不同盐分梯度对水稻产量和生理特性的影响。结果表明:(1)盐胁迫影响水稻的生长和发育进程。株高、叶面积、干物质量等形态指标均随盐浓度的上升而下降;稻谷产量亦随盐浓度增加而下降,在0.14%、0.21%、0.28%、0.35%盐浓度处理时产量显著下降,南粳9108分别减产14.14%、43.65%、58.91%、65.68%,甬优2640分别减产20.25%、31.97%、40.41%、49.82%。(2)随着盐浓度的增加,2个参试品种抽穗期叶片抗氧化酶活性均呈先升后降趋势,在0.07%处理下达最高值。(3)抽穗期叶片中游离脯氨酸含量随盐浓度的上升而增加,盐浓度大于0.14%,游离脯氨酸含量较对照显著增加。(4)盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收Na~+并置换出K~+,除叶片中K~+变化无规律之外,随着盐浓度上升,各部位K~+含量均下降,Na~+含量均上升,K~+/Na~+均呈下降趋势。茎鞘与叶运输的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而上升,茎选择性运输K~+而抑制Na~+进入叶片;根与茎的SK、Na随盐浓度的上升而下降,茎吸收Na~+并输出K~+到根系。总体而言,低盐浓度对高产水稻品种产量和生理特性无显著影响,盐浓度大于0.07%时影响显著。     

Integrating in situ quantitative geographic information tools and size‐specific,laboratory‐based growth zones in a dynamic river‐mouth estuary

• 1. The ultimate determination of coastal habitat suitability requires the integration of both dynamic (i.e. water mass characteristics) and stationary (structural) habitats. An approach using real‐time streamed data collection, remote sensing, and GIS modelling to compare and contrast seasonal and spatial patterns in these habitat components of the eastern and western distributaries of the lower Pascagoula River estuary is described.
• 2. Structural and dynamic habitat characteristics are described using GIS and integrated with published growth data on juvenile mullet (Mugil spp.) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) to reveal zones of accelerated growth. Both mullet and spot had their greatest growth when water temperature and salinity (dynamic habitat) were physiologically optimal. The lack of spatial difference in the dynamic habitat between distributaries resulted in no growth zone differences for both species.
• 3. The integration of the growth zones with the structural habitat component showed that the west distributary, with its greater availability and reduced fragmentation of main channel marsh edge, should provide a greater area of essential fish habitat than the east distributary for juvenile spot, a marsh‐edge associate. Because juvenile mullet are less associated with structural wetland habitat, growth zones and the stationary (structural) habitat were not integrated.
• 4. The approach of integrating real‐time geo‐referenced water quality data with regional fish growth‐rate data is an important step towards a quantitative understanding of the hierarchical nature and inherent variability of dynamic coastal environments. The use of this holistic approach should lead to more effective management of estuarine systems, especially in regard to potential impacts within the estuary's watershed and to its coupling with offshore environments.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于气象-生理的夏玉米作物系数及蒸散估算

准确估算作物系数对预测作物实际蒸散量和制定精准的灌溉计划至关重要。为反映作物逐日作物系数变化,综合考虑气象和生物因子对作物生长的共同影响,采用五道沟水文实验站大型蒸渗仪夏玉米实测蒸散及气象数据,基于地温及叶面积指数建立了气象-生理双函数乘法模型,并结合梯度下降法对模型进行了精度优化。结果表明,在整个玉米生长期中,作物系数实测值和计算值平均绝对误差为0.12,均方根误差为0.15,相关性为0.91,蒸散量实测值与计算值平均绝对误差为1.0 mm/d,均方根误差为4.5 mm/d,相关性为0.75。该模型计算的全生育期蒸散量准确率(误差在2～3 mm/d以内)相比使用联合国粮农组织(FAO)推荐的作物系数计算所得准确率提高了3倍以上,可更精确用于作物系数及蒸散量计算。     

陕北黄土区退耕还林(草)地土壤质量特征及其对降水的响应

为了解陕北黄土区退耕还林（草）地土壤质量差异特征及其对降水的响应,该文沿370～470 mm的降水梯度,选取了陕西省吴起县境内的王洼子（370～395 mm）、大吉沟（440～445 mm）和白豹（460～470 mm）3个降水梯度区作为研究区,并结合土壤质量指数法,定量评价降水梯度区广泛栽植的刺槐林（Robinia pseudoacacia）、沙棘林（Hippophae rhamnoides）和草地的土壤物理结构、持水性、盐碱度、碳汇指标以及速效养分指标方面的综合得分,明确植被恢复后土壤质量随降水梯度的变化特征。结果表明：1）降水量、植被类型以及二者的交互作用对土壤指标影响显著（P<0.05）。2）在460～470 mm降水量区,刺槐林（0.829）对土壤质量改良效果最好,其次为沙棘林（0.808）,二者土壤质量均达到肥沃水平,且差异不显著,草地（0.679）土壤质量指数最低,土壤为较肥沃水平;在440～445 mm降水量区,沙棘林（0.74）对土壤改良效果最好,其次为刺槐林（0.601）,二者均达到较肥沃水平,草地（0.479）土壤质量指数最低为中等水平;在370～395 mm降水量区,3种植被类型土壤质量指数由大到小表现为沙棘林（0.744）>刺槐林（0.387）>草地（0.251）,沙棘林土壤质量等级为较肥沃、刺槐林和草地为贫瘠水平。3）在370～470 mm降水梯度内,3种植被类型土壤质量综合指数均随着降水量的减少而降低,其中沙棘林土壤质量指数变异性较低（4.1%）,刺槐林（30.1%）和草地（37.2%）土壤质量变异性较高。该研究结果可为陕北黄土区370～470 mm降水梯度下的植被恢复与重建等林业生态工程实施提供数据支撑与理论支持。     

水温对怀头鲇血液学指标的影响

本实验设定4℃、9℃、14℃、18℃、24℃和30℃6个水温梯度,测定了水温变化对二龄怀头鲇血液生理生化指标的影响。结果显示,水温4～30℃范围内,怀头鲇血红蛋白含量随着水温的升高呈波浪型变化,但变化幅度较小;而血沉与血红蛋白含量变化趋势相反,变化幅度较大;血液中的红细胞数量随水温的升高先增加再减少;血清中的总蛋白、白蛋白和球蛋白的变化趋势一致,都是随水温的升高其含量先增加再减少,而且在9～18℃区间变化较急剧;血清中的血糖,高密度脂蛋白,谷草转氨酶,三碘甲状腺氨酸,甲状腺素,促甲状腺激素,钾和镁八项指标在各水温之间不存在显著差异（P〉0．05）;血清中的尿素氮,甘油三脂,总胆固醇,低密度脂蛋白,谷丙转氨酶,碱性磷酸酶,钠,钙,氯化物和渗透压在部分水温之间存在显著差异（P〈0．05）。     

Tomato productivity and the associated composition of the hydroponic or soil solution

The concentration and balance of nutrients in both the hydroponic or soil solution has been evaluated with relevance to tomato productivity. Yields of 200 mt/ha have been produced in greenhouse, hydroponic culture in a 9 to 10 month period. Yields of more than 100 mt/ha of field grown tomatoes have been produced in Florida in a 4 to 5 month period. Within the limitations of either culture, it is possible per unit of time to provide the nutrients required to produce equivalent yields. It is most significant that field grown tomatoes in Florida can be grown with minimal management and at a fraction of the cost of those grown hydroponically. The validity of the Florida fresh market tomato industry is based on the production efficiency of the field culture. There are annually 16,000 ha of tomatoes grown in Florida, perhaps less than 40 ha grown in hydroponic cultures.     

不同海拔芭蕉根药材UPLC-ELSD的指纹图谱分析

为更好地开发、利用芭蕉根药材,对不同海拔芭蕉根药材的UPLC-ELSD指纹图谱进行分析,采用Agilent ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18(2.1 mm×100mm,1.8μm)色谱柱,0.1％乙酸水-乙腈洗脱系统,梯度洗脱,流速0.2 mL/min,蒸发光散射检测器(ELSD)检测,雾化温度为45℃,载气氮气流速1.5 L/min测定15批不同海拔的芭蕉根药材,对其进行聚类分析和相似度评价.结果表明:在不同海拔(298.52～1 357.82m)采集的芭蕉根药材的UPLC-ELSD指纹图谱有较好的相似度,芭蕉根中弱紫外吸收和缺少发色基团的化学成分的种类较统一；系统聚类分析可将芭蕉根药材归为4类,提示不同海拔的芭蕉根药材的质量存在较大差异.结论:建立的指纹图谱测定方法稳定、重复性好,可为芭蕉根药材的开发、利用及质量控制提供参考.     

Prevalence of Bovine Dermatophilosis in a Tropical Highland Region of Ethiopia

A study was made of bovine dermatophilosis on 540 animals at a high altitude (2400–2500 m above sea level) in Ethiopia. Eighty-two (15.4%) of the animals were affected by the disease which was more prevalent in local animals than was previously assumed. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the prevalence among different age groups. However, the difference in the prevalence of the disease between males and females was not significant (p>0.05). Associated risk factors included the relatively high average annual rainfall and humidity, tick infestation (76%) and management, related to the mixed crop-livestock production system. The possible impact of the disease on Ethiopian agriculture is indicated.