Landscape change under indirect effects of human use: the Savanna of Central Chile

The Chilean Intermediate Depression to the north of Santiago has experienced a physiognomical transformation from a Prosopis chilensis woodland to an Acacia caven savanna. Today P. chilensis trees are scarce and belong mostly to the larger size classes. By contrast A. caven seems to reproduce frequently and its populations consist of individuals of all size classes. In this paper we document these changes and report the results of tests aimed at determining the causes of these physiognomical changes. We found that livestock, leporids, introduced Mediterranean forbs and agriculture account for differences in seed dispersal and survival of A. caven and P. chilensis, which can explain the documented changes in the Chilean landscape.     

动物养殖业所面临的挑战和机会(续)

内部的挑战和机遇 生产和均一性 挖掘遗传的潜力,也就是繁殖性能或生长的潜力,对于动物养殖业来说是一个连续的挑战。营养通常不是限制的因素。然而,营养学家和养殖者承担这一挑战。为了最大程度地发挥动物的生产性能的潜力,高精确度的分析技术,包括DNA排列顺序,使我们能够充分了解和分析胃肠     

Analysis of In vitro Fertilizing Capacity to Evaluate the Freezing Procedures of Boar Semen and to Predict the Subsequent Fertility

A porcine in vitro fertilization (IVF) system and seminal quality parameters of frozen–thawed boar semen were used to assess the effectiveness of two different thawing rates of frozen boar semen, and to address the question of whether differences between fertility of ejaculates could be predicted in a limited field trial. In the first experiment, two thawing procedures were analysed (37°C, 30 s; 50°C, 12 s) and no differences in sperm quality were found. However, when the procedure was 50°C, 12 s the IVF results showed a higher number of sperm per penetrated oocyte and a near 10 points higher rate of pronuclear formation. In the second experiment, the fertility results obtained in the limited field trial show to be efficient enough for application in a commercial use, especially for three of the employed boars (fertility ≥80%). In this limited study, the conventional seminal parameters are not accurate enough to discriminate good and bad boars in relation to fertility. On the contrary, parameters of in vitro penetrability are more precise to predict subsequent fertilities. As conclusion, the IVF fertilization system seems to be a good tool to evaluate the quality of frozen–thawed boar semen previous to its commercial way, to verify the bank semen storage quality and a good way to assay new sperm freezing procedures, as it is the more precise evaluating method in estimating the potential fertilizing ability.     

动物养殖业所面临的挑战和机会（续）

(上接第17期) 霉菌毒素的污染 饲料原料和垫草受到霉菌毒素污染的现象在亚太地区是广泛存在的(Leeson等,1995).亚太的大部分地区属于高温湿热的气候,这给霉菌的生长与繁殖以及产生霉菌毒素提供了有利的条件.由于全球极端的气候条件以及饲料原料的进口,通常没有霉菌毒素问题的国家,如澳大利亚,现在也不得不考虑预防霉菌毒素的问题.人们常常误解:"霉菌毒素是一个季节性的问题".     

Studies on acid oils and fatty acids for chickens. III. Effect of chemical composition on metabolisable energy of by‐products of vegetable oil refining

1. Fourteen by‐products of oil refining, selected for their variability in free fatty acid and unsaponifiable contents, were analysed chemically with the objective of relating the determined ME values of the products to chemical composition by means of multiple linear regression analysis. Refined sunflower oil was included as a reference fat.

2. Twenty‐one 2‐week‐old chicks were used to determine fat digestibilities and AMEn values of diets, using the total collection method. Fats were included in a wheat‐soyabean meal diet at 100 g/kg. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to express the ME values of fats as functions of the parameters measured (moisture, gross energy, impurities, unsaponifiables, non eluted material, free fatty acid content, unsaturated: saturated ratio, peroxide value, TBA test).

3. The ME of the fat products lay in the range 12.62 to 24.35 MJ/kg, and 29.26 MJ/kg for refined sunflower oil. Free fatty acid content of the fats was shown to be a poor predictor of their ME values, whereas non eluted material (NEM) of the fat products showed a good correlation with their ME. A regression equation could be derived (R² = 0.6548; SEE = 2–0064) with the unsaturated: saturated ratio (U:S) and NEM. An ME prediction equation based on the U:S, NEM and unsaponifiable content is also proposed (R² = 0–7168; SEE= 1.9058).     

‘Plantibodies’: a flexible approach to design resistance against pathogens

Engineering resistance against various diseases and pests is hampered by the lack of suitable genes. To overcome this problem we started a research program aimed at obtaining resistance by transfecting plants with genes encoding monoclonal antibodies against pathogen specific proteins. The idea is that monoclonal antibodies will inhibit the biological activity of molecules that are essential for the pathogenesis. Potato cyst nematodes are chosen as a model and it is thought that monoclonal antibodies are able to block the function of the saliva proteins of this parasite. These proteins are, among others, responsible for the induction of multinucleate transfer cells upon which the nematode feeds. It is well documented that the ability of antibodies to bind molecules is sufficient to inactivate the function of an antigen and in view of the potential of animals to synthesize antibodies to almost any molecular structure, this strategy should be feasible for a wide range of diseases and pests.Antibodies have several desirable features with regard to protein engineering. The antibody (IgG) is a Y-shaped molecule, in which the domains forming the tips of the arms bind to antigen and those forming the stem are responsible for triggering effector functions (Fc fragments) that eliminate the antigen from the animal. Domains carrying the antigen-binding loops (Fv and Fab fragments) can be used separately from the Fc fragments without loss of affinity. The antigen-binding domains can also be endowed with new properties by fusing them to toxins or enzymes. Antibody engineering is also facilitated by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A systematic comparison of the nucleotide sequence of more than 100 antibodies revealed that not only the 3′-ends, but also the 5′-ends of the antibody genes are relatively conserved. We were able to design a small set of primers with restriction sites for forced cloning, which allowed the amplification of genes encoding antibodies specific for the saliva proteins ofGlobodera rostochiensis. Complete heavy and light chain genes as well as single chain Fv fragments (scFv), in which the variable parts of the light (V_L) and heavy chain (V_H) are linked by a peptide, will be transferred to potato plants. A major challenge will be to establish a correct expression of the antibody genes with regard to three dimensional folding, assembly and intracellular location.