Changes in the expression of toll-like receptor mRNAs during follicular growth and in response to lipopolysaccharide in the ovarian follicles of laying hens

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in hen ovarian follicles during follicular growth and in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). White follicles and the fifth largest to largest follicles (WF and F(5)-F(1), respectively) were collected from laying hens. To examine the effects of LPS, the laying hens were treated intravenously with LPS (1 mg/kg BW) 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h before examination. Expressions of TLRs and IL-1beta in the theca and granulosa layers were examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry was performed to identify immunoreactive TLR-4. The theca layer expressed TLR-2, TLR-4, TLR-5 and TLR-7, whereas the granulosa layer expressed only TLR-4 and TLR-5. The expression of TLR-4 and TLR-5 in the theca layer increased significantly during follicular growth. In the granulosa layer, the expression of TLR-5 increased, but that of TLR-4 was unchanged. Expression of TLR-4 increased significantly during the period of 6 to 12 h of LPS treatment in the theca layer and during the period of 12 to 24 h in the granulosa layer of F(3). Immunoreaction products for TLR-4 were observed in theca interna and granulosa layers of WF and F(5)-F(1), with the greater amount observed in the theca interna. LPS treatment significantly increased expression of IL-1beta in the theca layer after 3 h and in the granulosa layer during the period of 12 to 24 h. These results suggest that TLRs are expressed in ovarian follicles and that TLR-4 and TLR-5 expression increase with the growth of follicles. Enhanced expression of TLR-4 and IL-1beta by LPS in the theca and granulosa layers suggests possible roles of TLR in recognition of microorganisms.     

有机肥对水稻根际土壤中微生物和酶活性的影响

利用根际箱在红壤上研究了有机肥对水稻根际有效磷、根际微生物和土壤酶活性的影响。试验结果表明,有机肥明显地提高水稻根际和非根际土壤真菌、放线菌和细菌的数量及土壤有效磷的含量。根际土壤各类微生物的数量大于非根际土壤,表现出明显的根际效应。施用有机肥使根际效应增加,其效应为细菌 放线菌 真菌。有机肥还明显地促进水稻根际无机磷溶解菌和有机磷分解数量以及磷酸酶和脲酶的活性,同时对水稻根际土壤磷转化速率有明显的提高,从而加速了土壤养分的转化。     

Agro-morphological variation in “Jhinuwa” rice landraces (Oryza sativa L.) of Nepal

Jhinuwa is an aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) landrace from the Pokhara Valley of Nepal. A total of 210 accessions comprising seven types of Jhinuwa rice landraces were randomly collected from the rice fields to evaluate inter- and intra-population variability based on agro-morphological traits. The experiment was conducted in factorial randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2005. The first six principal components (PCs) accounted for 76.6 % variation for agro-morphological traits. Major traits that accounted for the variation by six PCs includes days to heading, days to maturity, total grain panicle^?1, fertile grain panicle^?1, culm length, panicle length, milling recovery, head rice recovery, aroma, 1,000 grain weight, sterile grain panicle^?1, grain sterility %, and leaf characteristics. Both principal coordinate analysis and cluster analyses revealed four phenotypic groups, two of which represent Bayarni, Jhinuwa, and Biramphul while the other two account for Tunde and Pakho Tunde. Tunde, Pakho Tunde, Kalo Bayarni, and Seto Bayarni showed higher intra- as well as inter-population variation compared to other populations. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability (h ²B) and genetic advance (GA) as a percent of the mean assessed for 210 accessions revealed high h ²B and GA estimates for leaf width, leaf length breadth ratio, ligule length, sterile grain panicle^?1, grain sterility % and 1,000 grain weight. The current study demonstrates that improvement in Jhinuwa rice landrace is possible by selecting superior accessions from existing natural populations while selection should be focussed to market traits with higher h ²B and GA estimates.     

Effects of age, egg-laying activity, and Salmonella-inoculation on the expressions of gallinacin mRNA in the vagina of the hen oviduct

Gallinacins (Gal) are antimicrobial peptides that play significant roles in innate immunity in chickens. The aim of this study was to examine whether age of birds and egg-laying activity (laying and non-laying caused by feed-regulation) affect the mRNA expression of Gal-1, -2, and -3 in the vagina of hens, and whether their expressions are changed in response to the stimulation with Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). White Leghorn hens were divided into groups of young and old laying hens, and groups of laying and non-laying hens after feed-regulation. Vaginal cells were cultured and stimulated with SE or LPS. Expressions of Gal-1, -2, and -3 mRNA in their vaginal mucosa and cultured cells were examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The expressions of Gal-1, -2, and -3 of the vaginal mucosa were significantly greater in old birds than in young birds. Expression of these Gals in the vagina were decreased in the regressed oviduct of non-laying birds compared with laying birds. The expressions of Gal-1, -2, and -3 in the cultured vaginal cells were increased by stimulation with SE or LPS within 24 h. These results suggest that the mRNA expressions of Gal-1, -2 and -3 in the vagina of laying hens increased with age, whereas they decreased in the regressed oviduct during the non-laying phase. Also, synthesis of these antimicrobial peptides in the vagina may increase in response to SE and LPS to eliminate SE bacteria.     

Probing cold dense nuclear matter

The protons and neutrons in a nucleus can form strongly correlated nucleon pairs. Scattering experiments, in which a proton is knocked out of the nucleus with high-momentum transfer and high missing momentum, show that in carbon-12 the neutron-proton pairs are nearly 20 times as prevalent as proton-proton pairs and, by inference, neutron-neutron pairs. This difference between the types of pairs is due to the nature of the strong force and has implications for understanding cold dense nuclear systems such as neutron stars.     

Applying wavelet-based functional approach in modelling tree taper

• Introduction  

The wavelet-based functional approach was evaluated for modelling tree taper of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees grown in the Canadian boreal forest region.     

An Evaluation of the Introduction of Modified Cropping Practices in Yunnan Province, China, Using Surveys of Farmers＇ Households

Problems associated with land degradation are serious in China. Sloping land in South China has experienced a decline in crop productivity by 30-60% due to soil erosion and it has been predicted that most topsoil will be lost within the next 100 years if current erosion rates continue. Considering these situations, an agro-environmental research and development project （Sustainable Highland Agriculture in South-East Asia- SHASEA） was conducted in a catchment in Yunnan Province, China, to address the objectives of increasing crop productivity in sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways. A range of cropping practices was developed and implemented in a rural upland catchment （Wang Jia）. At the end of the project, farmers were surveyed to evaluate project effectiveness. All farmers from Wang Jia Catchment, who were involved in project implementation, were surveyed. A sample of farmers working in an adjacent catchment （not associated with the project） was surveyed for comparative purposes. Farmers had different perceptions of the cropping practices employed. Contour cultivation was preferred and likely to be adopted. Others practices such as straw mulching and intercropping were seen as less appropriate and unlikely to be adopted. Polythene mulch was recognized as effective, but likely to be adopted only if financial returns were favourable. The availability of relevant information had an important impact on the extent of technology testing by farmers and their willingness to adopt the practices in the future.