Acupuncture for general veterinary practice.

Since the International Society of Veterinary Acupuncture (IVAS) was founded in 1974, acupuncture (AP) has received greater acceptance by veterinary professionals throughout the world. This article introduces some important animal diseases that respond well to AP therapy. These include resuscitation of small animals, treatment of anoestrous gilts and sows, bovine reproductive disease, canine vertebral problems and equine backpain, etc. Conventional medicine considers these to be difficult cases to treat. Veterinarians have become more aware of the benefits of AP especially for those diseases, thanks to the efforts of experienced practitioners and scientists, and the many published reports on veterinary AP that have introduced some good indications for AP therapy in veterinary practice. Possible mechanisms behind the effectiveness of AP are discussed. This article aims to introduce veterinarians to good indications for AP to initiate their interest in the practice of AP. Although this is a rapidly expanding field, a long march must begin with one step. We wish this article to be the shoes for such a march. For more information on veterinary AP, contact IVAS , P.O. Box 1478, Longmont, CO.. 80502, USA (http://www.ivas.org), or your national veterinary acupuncture society (http://www.komvet.at/ ivadkom/vapsocs.htm).     

黄土低山丘陵及坨甸草原区风蚀规律的研究

本文通过对黄土低山丘陵及坨甸草原区248个风蚀图斑资料的分析,运用线性模型理论,对此地区的风蚀规律进行了研究。获得了下垫面各因素与风蚀量关系的数学模型。找出了影响风蚀的主导因素,并系统阐述了植被覆盖度和土地利用类型对风蚀量大小的影响,且与水蚀规律进行了比较分析。     

生物共生理论对构建和谐社会的科学指导意义

在人类居住的“地球村”里，生存着多种多样的生物，他们之间存在着千丝万缕的奇妙关系，生物共生就是这些关系之一。分析生物共生理念的产生根源，回顾生物共生理论的发展轨迹，对目前人类认识的生物共生现象进行了归类阐述，提出生物共生理论资源对构建和谐社会具有科学的指导意义。     

Effect of intermittent starvation on growth and some antioxidant indexes of Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan)

The effect of different periods of starvation (0, 2, 4 and 8 days) followed by re-feeding on growth, feed utilization, oxygen consumption and some immune indexes [reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] was evaluated over an 18-day experimental period in shrimp Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan) that had an initial body weight of 0.52 g. As a result of compensatory growth, indicated by an increase in specific growth rate (SGR), feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) after re-feeding, final body weight of shrimp starved for 2 days (0.63 g) and 4 days (0.65 g) did not differ ( P >0.05) from the control group (0.64 g), with feed withholding for 8 days presenting a significant lower value (0.63 g). Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) decreased during the starvation period in all groups, followed by a gradual increase to a similar ( P >0.05) value than found in the control group (0.47 mg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) at the end of the experiment. Although ROIs and the activity of SOD and CAT fluctuated during starvation in the feed-deprived groups, values at the termination of the experiment were comparable ( P >0.05) to those found for the control group.     

Effects of dietary protein to carbohydrate ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Siluriformes, Bagridae, Pelteobagrus)

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protein to carbohydrate ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile yellow catfish, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco . Nine diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (30%, 36% and 42%), each with three carbohydrate levels (24%, 30% and 36%). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 fish (initial mean body weight: 8.24±0.20 g) in indoor flow – through fibreglass tanks. The experiment continued for 8 weeks. Weight gain and specific growth rate were similar for the fish fed the 36% and 42% protein diets but higher than that fed the 30% protein diet. At the 36% protein level, carbohydrate contents varying from 24% to 36% ( P / E ratio of 24.0–28.2 mg protein kJ⁻¹) had no significant effects on growth performance and feed utilization ( P >0.05). Protein efficiency ratio tended to increase with dietary carbohydrate level at the same protein level. Dietary treatments significantly influenced body composition ( P <0.05), but not the condition factor, viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat ratio ( P >0.05). Based on these observations, 36% protein and 24–36% carbohydrate with the P / E ratio of 24.0–28.2 mg protein kJ⁻¹ seemed suitable for optimal growth and feed utilization, and carbohydrate could cause protein-sparing effect in diets for juvenile yellow catfish.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate level on growth and body composition of juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus×O. aureus

A growth trial was conducted to feed juvenile tilapia (initial weight, 9.1±0.1 g), Oreochromis niloticus×O. aureus, isonitrogenous diets for 8 weeks. Six diets were formulated containing 29% crude protein from casein and gelatin, 10% crude fat from soybean oil and refined soybean lecithin and varying levels of corn starch ranging from 6% to 46% at increments of 8%, with corresponding energy to protein (E/P) ratios of 35.6, 37.9, 40.2, 42.5, 44.8 and 47.1 kJ g^?1. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher in fish fed diets with starch ≥22% (or E/P ratio ≥40.2 kJ g^?1) than in fish fed diets with 6% or 14% starch (or E/P ratio of 35.6 or 37.9 kJ g^?1). No further improvement was measured when dietary starch content increased beyond 22%. Body protein retention showed the same general pattern as WG, and was highest in fish fed the 22% starch diet. Body composition was significantly affected by dietary starch level. Fish fed diets with starch ≥30% had significantly higher lipid content than fish fed diets with 6% or 14% starch. Ash content was negatively correlated with starch inclusion level, but moisture and protein contents did not show discernible trends among treatments. Results indicate that hybrid tilapia can utilize 46% dietary starch without growth retardation, while 22% starch in feed for juvenile tilapia containing 29% protein and 10% lipid, or an E/P ratio of 37.9 kJ g^?1 is optimal.     

Characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against white spot syndrome virus

Three hybridoma clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced from mouse myeloma and spleen cells immunized with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) isolated and purified from Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), collected from north-eastern Taiwan. By sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), the protein profile of this isolate contained four major proteins with sizes of approximately 35 (VP35), 28 (VP28), 24 (VP24), and 19 kDa (VP19). Western blot analysis revealed that two MAbs (1D7 and 6E1) recognized epitopes on VP28 and one MAb (3E8) recognized an epitope on VP19. The MAb 6E1 isotyped to the IgG₁ class was used in both an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and in an immunochemical staining protocol for successful identification and localization of WSSV in infected shrimp tissues. Antigenic similarity of isolates from Indonesia and Malaysia to the Taiwan isolate was illustrated by IFA with MAb 6E1. A MAb (2F6) which bound specifically to two shrimp proteins, 75 and 72 kDa, and reacted to the healthy and non-target tissues of WSSV in infected shrimp, such as hepatopancreas, is also described here and shows the necessity for specific identification of antibodies.