The immunopathology of sepsis: pathogen recognition, systemic inflammation, the compensatory anti-inflammatory response, and regulatory T cells

Sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response to infection, represents the major cause of death in critically ill veterinary patients. Whereas important advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome have been made, much remains to be elucidated. There is general agreement on the key interaction between pathogen-associated molecular patterns and cells of the innate immune system, and the amplification of the host response generated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. More recently, the concept of immunoparalysis in sepsis has also been advanced, together with an increasing recognition of the interplay between regulatory T cells and the innate immune response. However, the heterogeneous nature of this syndrome and the difficulty of modeling it in vitro or in vivo has both frustrated the advancement of new therapies and emphasized the continuing importance of patient-based clinical research in this area of human and veterinary medicine.     

Effect of a rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid mixture on hepatic lipid metabolism in heifers

This study was performed to assess the effects of rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on hepatic lipid metabolism in heifers. In particular, it was of interest whether feeding CLA causes development of fatty liver as observed recently in mice. Thirty-six growing heifers with an initial body weight of 185 kg were allotted to three treatment groups and fed daily 250 g of different rumen-protected fats for 16 weeks: The control group received 250 g of a CLA-free control fat, the CLA100 group received 100 g of a CLA fat containing 2.4% of cis-9, trans-11 CLA and 2.1% of trans-10, cis-12 CLA and 150 g control fat and the CLA250 group received 250 g of the CLA fat. CLA supplementation had no effect on animal performance parameters, liver weight and hepatic triglyceride concentration. Moreover, mRNA expression of hepatic genes involved in lipogenesis, β-oxidation and fatty acid transport was not influenced by dietary CLA. The fatty acid composition of hepatic total lipids, with particular consideration of ratios of fatty acids indicative of Δ9-, Δ6- and Δ5-desaturation, was also less influenced by dietary CLA. In conclusion, the study shows that dietary rumen-protected CLA has less effect on hepatic lipid metabolism in young heifers and does not induce the development of a fatty liver such as in mice.     

Effect of several supplemental Chinese herbs additives on rumen fermentation, antioxidant function and nutrient digestibility in sheep

Two experiments were carried out in this study. Experiment 1 was conducted to examine the effects of several supplemental Chinese herbs on antioxidant function and slaughtered body weight in sheep. Results indicated that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi supplementation improved the blood antioxidant function [higher concentration of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase and lower concentration of malondialdehyde] and slaughtered body weight in sheep (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract (FLLE) on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility in sheep. Four levels of FLLE treatments, i.e. 0, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg dry matter (DM), were used in this part. Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and propionate proportion, decreased ammonia-N concentration in the ruminal fluid, reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after morning feeding (p < 0.05). Addition of FLLE at all dosages had no effect on ruminal pH value and acetate concentration at all sampling time points in sheep (p > 0.05). Dynamic degradation coefficient c of maize DM was significantly increased by supplementing FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on degradation coefficients a, b, c of DM and nitrogen of soybean meal; a, b of maize DM; a, b, c of maize nitrogen; and a, b, c of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) of Chinese wildrye (p > 0.05). Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased DM and organic matter digestibility of diet (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on digestibility of diet's NDF, ADF and crude protein (p > 0.05). From the aforementioned results, it is indicated that FLLE improved antioxidant status and slaughtered body weight. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition has capability to modulate rumen fermentation, increase the maize degradation rate, total volatile fatty acid concentration and propionate proportion in sheep.     

利用体外产气法研究不同瘤胃降解蛋白平衡对瘤胃代谢的影响

旨在探讨利用体外产气法研究不同瘤胃降解蛋白平衡日粮(RDPB,g·kg-1 DM)对瘤胃发酵、总产气量和甲烷产量的影响.试验选用美国Ankom产气系统,采用随机区组试验设计,配置6种不同瘤胃降解蛋白平衡日粮,分别为日粮1(-20 g· kg-1 DM),日粮2(-10 g· kg-1 DM),日粮3(0 g· kg-1 DM),日粮4(10g·kg-1DM),日粮5(20 g·kg-1 DM)和日粮6(30 g· kg-1 DM),每组2个重复,培养期为24 h.结果表明:(1)本研究中6种类型日粮发酵液的pH、乙酸/丙酸、产气量和CH4产生量表现为日粮3(P＜0.01)或日粮4(P＜0.01)值最低.(2)挥发性脂防酸乙酸、丙酸、丁酸以及氨氮的浓度随着瘤冒降解平衡值的增加而增加,表明改变日粮瘤胃降解蛋白平衡可以影响瘤胃发酵.而瘤胃降解蛋白平衡对总挥发性脂肪酸以及原虫数量无显著影响.(3)日粮瘤胃降解蛋白平衡值影响不同时间点甲烷的浓度和24 h甲烷产量.其中以日稂4(P＜0.05)甲烷总产量最低.由此可见,在体外培养条件下,改变日粮RDPB影响了瘤胃发酵液pH、氨态氮(NH3-N)及挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)浓度、总产气量、CH4产生量,综合考虑其对瘤胃发酵和甲烷产量等指标的影响,体外产气条件下适宜的RDPB水平为0～10g·kg-1 DM.     

A fine-scale model for area-based predictions of tree-size-related attributes derived from LiDAR canopy heights

Abstract

We propose a conceptual (generic) allometric (power function) relationship between tree-size-related forest inventory attributes (e.g. biomass, volume, basal area, quadratic mean diameter, Lorey's height) and canopy height (CH) as estimated from first-return airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) pulses. A data-driven estimation of the parameters in the power function is complicated, so we recommend an alternative approximation obtained via a linearisation step. Only two predictors appear in the approximation: the mean CH and the variance of CHs within the spatial domain supported by field data. The proposed model eliminates an otherwise complex search for the best predictors amongst a large number of candidate LiDAR metrics. It also facilitates model comparisons and interpretation. Fit statistics estimated for volume, basal area, quadratic mean diameter and Lorey's height – using three separate datasets from Norway – were compelling.     

做好草原文化大文章

中共中央《关于深化文化体制改革、推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣若干重大问题的决定》提出了建设社会主义文化强国的目标,为中华文明中三大主源之一的草原文化创造了战略机遇。草原是草原文化的摇篮,草原文化对中华文化做出了重要历史贡献,提升草原文化功能,向社会主义草原文化强国迈进。     

几种豆科牧草种子萌发期的耐盐性

以浓度为0.6%、0.9%、1.2%、1.5%和1.8%的复盐(71%NaCl+3%CaCl2+4%MgSO4+22%K2SO4)溶液培养种子,根据初萌时间、发芽率下降百分比、发芽指数、活力指数、平均发芽速度、相对发芽率、相对发芽势和耐盐指数8个指标,应用隶属函数法确定九种豆科牧草苗期耐盐能力为沙打旺>中苜3号紫花苜蓿>东方山羊豆>小冠花>百脉根>扁蓿豆>鹰嘴紫云英>白三叶>黄花苜蓿。     

Effects of soybean isoflavones on reproductive parameters in Chinese mini-pig boars

Background

Soybean isoflavones are structurally similar to mammalian estrogens and therefore may act as estrogen agonists or antagonists. However, it has not been determined if they have any negative effects on reproductive parameters in male livestock. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soybean isoflavones on male reproduction using Chinese mini-pig boars as a model. Fifty Xiang boars were randomly divided into five groups and fed diets containing 0, 125, 250, or 500 ppm soybean isoflavones or 0.5 ppm diethylstilbestrol for 60 days.

Results

Dietary supplementation with 250 ppm of soy isoflavones markedly increased the testis index (P < 0.05), fructose content (P < 0.05), and α-glycosidase content in testicular tissue (P < 0.01), as well as increased the number of viable germ cells (P < 0.01) and the level of Bcl-2 protein (P < 0.01). However, 500 ppm of soybean isoflavones significantly reduced both testis and epididymis indexes (P < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase levels (P < 0.01), as well as reduced serum LH and testosterone levels (P < 0.05). High levels of soybean isoflavones also increased malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05), as well as increased the numbers of early and late apoptotic germ cells (P < 0.01) and the level of Bax proteins (P < 0.05) in the testis.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that consumption of soy isoflavones at dietary levels up to 250 ppm did not adversely affect reproductive parameters in Chinese mini-pig boars whereas higher levels of soy isoflavones may adversely affect male reproduction.     

苹果功能基因组数据库的构建与使用

 苹果功能基因组数据库是在苹果全基因组分析及注解基础上,对苹果基因组进行广泛的基因家族分类及系统进化分析;数据库还包含广泛的基因信息,包括CDS及蛋白质序列、染色体定位、基因结构、GO分类、蛋白质结构域分析、Interpro分类、表达谱、microRNA及相关文献等;此外,数据库还提供用户交互平台,研究人员可提交基因信息及相关文献等参与苹果基因注释。数据库登录地址是：http：//www. applegene. org/或http：//gfdb. sdau. edu. cn/。     

植物根际促生菌对香蕉幼苗生长及抗枯萎病效应研究

 通过盆栽试验,研究从香蕉根际土壤分离筛选的植物根际促生菌（PGPR）芽孢杆菌PAB-1、PAB-2菌株制剂对香蕉幼苗生长、养分吸收利用和香蕉枯萎病防治的效应研究。结果表明：试验处理56 d后,施用植物根际促生菌菌剂的处理,株高、假茎围、地上部生物量、根长、根系生物量、总生物量、单株叶面积和叶绿素含量分别比对照增加18.5% ~ 28.9%、17.0% ~ 18.2%、16.8% ~ 33.9%、41.5% ~ 47.6%、65.5% ~ 69.5%、24.8% ~ 39.8%、24.0% ~ 38.3% 和 30.0% ~ 44.9%;施用PAB-2菌剂的处理,地上部氮、磷、钾、钙、镁养分吸收量分别比对照增加51.1%、46.1%、165.2%、7.4%和32.8%。接种香蕉枯萎病病原菌（FOC）的处理中,施用PGPR菌剂的香蕉叶片丙二醛含量显著低于只接种FOC4的,降低4.4% ~ 10.6%;56 d后香蕉枯萎病病情指数比只接种FOC4的降低12.5 ~ 31.3,防控效果达到18.8% ~ 46.9%。施用PGPR菌剂能显著促进香蕉苗期植株生长,提高植株养分吸收,有效防控香蕉枯萎病发生。