Effect of Collection Rhythms and Season on Rabbit Semen Production

The effects of collection regimen and time of year on rabbit semen production were determined in this study. A total of 14 crossbreed Hyla bucks were used in winter and summer. In each season, rabbits were assigned to two groups. In group 1, (n = 7) rabbits were subjected to an extensive collection regimen (two ejaculates per male, once daily/week) and in group 2, (n = 7) a semi‐intensive semen collection regimen was performed (two ejaculates per male, twice weekly). The traits recorded for each sample were libido, volume, pH, motility, sperm concentration, percentage of alive spermatozoa and sperm abnormalities. The results obtained in this study indicate that when increasing collection frequency, the rate of useful collections decreased (from 0.81 ± 0.017 to 0.69 ± 0.016; p < 0.01). The rate of useful collection also decreased in the transition from winter to summer (from 0.79 ± 0.018 to 0.70 ± 0.017; p < 0.01). Among the ejaculate characteristics studied, only volume/ejaculate (from 0.64 ± 0.015 to 0.53 ± 0.017; p < 0.01) and spermatozoa/ml (from 406 ± 15 to 359 ± 13 million; p < 0.01) appeared negatively affected by collection. In winter fewer volume/ejaculates were produced (0.55 ± 0.015 vs 0.60 ± 0.016 ml; p < 0.01) and fewer spermatozoa/ml (360 ± 14 vs 394 ± 16 million; p < 0.01) than in summer. The doses produced per ejaculate decreased as collection frequency increased, but the number of doses produced per week was higher in the semi‐intensive than the extensive rhythm (26.5 ± 2.1 vs 20.9 ± 1.5; p < 0.01). The results suggest that a semi‐intensive rhythm may be viewed favourably.     

江苏某地区稻虾蟹综合种养模式下养殖水和产品中农药残留与风险评价

为掌握江苏省某地区稻田综合种养基地内（“稻-蟹”及“稻-虾”）养殖水环境及水产品中的农药残留特征与生态风险及健康风险,利用三重四极杆气质联用仪（GC-MS/MS）,选择6个养殖区,根据生长周期,跟踪监测养殖水环境及同期水产品（虾、蟹）中208种农药残留情况,并根据商值法对养殖水环境进行生态风险评价,利用食用安全风险指数对水产品进行食用安全分析。结果表明：综合种养模式下,水环境中检出农药的主要类型为除草剂、杀菌剂、植物生长调节剂等,平均质量分数为0.33 μg·L^-1,同时有少量杀虫剂、杀螨剂、增效剂有检出;在整个生长周期内,稻虾、稻蟹农药残留的主要类型为除草剂、杀菌剂、杀虫剂和植物生长调节剂,平均质量分数为6.1 μg·kg^-1 （以湿质量计）。养殖水环境中农药主要来源于养殖前期环境中残留或外源性污染,随着养殖时间延长,农药含量整体趋向于减少,通过对养殖水环境生态风险进行分析,发现各抽样点位联合风险商值（RQ）均在0~1之间,属于中风险,对环境仍具有一定的压力,除草剂等类型农药应引起重视;在监测周期内,水产品中大部分农药的残留量逐渐减少直至未检出,仅有部分点位杀菌剂有少量存在,通过对同期虾、蟹的健康风险进行分析发现,平均食品安全指数远小于1,农药残留的食品安全风险可以接受。     

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Marine-Derived Alkaloids via Enzymatic Reactions

Alkaloids are a large and structurally diverse group of marine-derived natural products. Most marine-derived alkaloids are biologically active and show promising applications in modern (agro)chemical, pharmaceutical, and fine chemical industries. Different approaches have been established to access these marine-derived alkaloids. Among these employed methods, biotechnological approaches, namely, (chemo)enzymatic synthesis, have significant potential for playing a central role in alkaloid production on an industrial scale. In this review, we discuss research progress on marine-derived alkaloid synthesis via enzymatic reactions and note the advantages and disadvantages of their applications for industrial production, as well as green chemistry for marine natural product research.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activities of pyridine ring derivatives of podophyllotoxin

In an attempt to find the biorational pesticides, we synthesized 12 pyridinyl derivatives of podophyllotoxin (PPT) and 4′-demthylepipodophylltoxin (4′-DMEP) in this study. Their structures and the α/β substitution at C-4 were confirmed by ¹H NMR, IR, MS spectral analyses and elemental analysis. The insecticidal activities were tested against fifth-instar larvae of Pieris rapae and the third-instar larvae of Cullex pipiens pallens at concentrations of 250 and 10 μg ml⁻¹. Four derivatives of PPT, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.5, showed higher insecticidal activities against P. rapae than PPT, while three derivatives of PPT, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6, displayed higher mosquito larvicidal activity than PPT, with LC₅₀ values of 1.66, 3.96 and 1.54 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Interestingly, we also found that the pyridine ring derivatives of PPT showed delayed insecticidal activity, which is different from traditional neurotic insecticides. The results suggest that 4′-OCH₃ in the PPT derivatives is essential to keep the insecticidal activity and the insecticidal activities of pyridine ring derivatives of PPT are higher than that of the derivatives of 4′-DMEP, supporting PPT has the potential to be a lead structure of semi-synthetic insecticides.     

Management of feral domestic cats in the urban environment of Rome (Italy)

In Italy, which is rabies-free, the national Law No. 281 [Legge Nazionale 14 agosto 1991. No. 281: Legge Quadro in materia di animali di affezione e prevenzione del randagismo. Gazz. Uff. Rep. Ital. no 203 del 30 agosto 1991: p. 3] on the management of pets and on the control of feral cats has introduced the no-kill policy for this species. Thus, “trap-neuter-release” (TNR) programs have been carried out for >10 years. In this paper we present data on registered colonies and censused cats in Rome from 1991 to 2000; the results of the neutering campaign from 1991 to 2000; and a survey, on 103 cat colonies, on the effects of demographic control of urban feral-cat colonies in the city of Rome, carried out by the local Veterinary Public Services (VPS) in collaboration with the associations of cat care-takers. In 10 years almost 8000 were neutered and reintroduced in their original colony. The spay/neuter campaigns brought about a general decrease in cat number but the percentage of cat immigration (due to abandonment and spontaneous arrival) is around 21%. This suggests that all these efforts without an effective education of people to control the reproduction of house cats (as a prevention for abandonment) are a waste of money, time and energy.     

Using leaf tip necrosis as a phenotypic marker to predict the presence of durable rust resistance gene pair <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yr18</Emphasis> in wheat

Fifty wheat varieties along with Jupateco-73 and Morocco were studied for the expression of leaf tip necrosis (LTN), a trait linked with the durable rust resistance gene pair Lr34/Yr18. LTN was frequent (i.e., ≥6) in nine replications of a field experiment over 3 years in 17 genotypes, and the varieties were considered positive for LTN. In molecular analyses of these varieties, having relative severity values up to 78 for yellow rust and 45 for leaf rust, the 150-bp Lr34/Yr18-linked allele was consistently amplified. Expression of LTN in six of nine replications is an appropriate threshold for predicting the presence of Lr34/Yr18 gene pair, and genotypes can be selected using this trait.     

Rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">terpene synthase 18</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">OsTPS18</Emphasis>) encodes a sesquiterpene synthase that produces an antibacterial (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-nerolidol against a bacterial pathogen of rice

Plant volatile compounds, including terpenes, are known to be involved in the rice defense system. In the present analysis of a terpene synthase, OsTPS18, in rice, we found that OsTPS18 was localized in the cytoplasm and synthesized the sesquiterpenes (E)-nerolidol and (E)-β-farnesene. The amounts of (E)-nerolidol and (E)-β-farnesene increased after jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. (E)-Nerolidol had significant antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). These results suggest that (E)-nerolidol plays an important role in JA-induced resistance against Xoo and that it functions as an antibacterial compound in rice.     

Numerical analysis of injection molding for the Syringe Barrel with optimum design and processing condition

The numerical analysis was performed to predict the potential problem, often occurring during the manufacturing process of the disposable medical device of a great volume. The cavity filling analyses were performed for the new design of the 3cc Syringe Barrel using polypropylene(PP1), and a new nucleated polypropylene(PP2) material for better clarity. These analyses have been performed for different processing conditions as well as various wall thickness designs for both materials. With the nucleated material, only the original wall thickness design has been studied at two different processing conditions for comparison purpose. This study was conducted to investigate the optimum part design and processing condition for two different materials. The most desirable design was selected with Design 3 for material utilization and reduced flow stresses by comparing the field results. The new nucleated polypropylene provided slightly better product quality and processing.     

Susceptibility of eight Algerian olive cultivars to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera oleae</Emphasis> infestation – a pomological and nutritional quality perspective

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the major olive pest in the Mediterranean Basin, being responsible for high losses in olive production. The objective of this work was to study the influence of B. oleae infestation on the pomological parameters and nutritive value (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and ash) of eight olive cultivars (Abani, Aellah, Blanquette de Guelma, Chemlal, Ferkani, Limli, Rougette de Mitidja and Souidi) from Algeria. The results displayed different degrees of susceptibility of the studied cultivars to this pest. Fruit size (weight) and the Fruit weight / stone weight ratio are significantly correlated with the attack. The statistical treatment of the results (PCA and HAC) highlighted different behaviors from the cultivars, concerning the attack. There are some cultivars more susceptible, being the nutritional value also affected. The lipid and protein contents were positively correlated with the attack and the carbohydrates negatively, suggesting a careful choice by the B. oleae. Ovipositional preference of olive fruit fly females and the success of larval development in different olive cultivars are crucial to establishing new approaches in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) against this pest.     

Differences in bark beetle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pityogenes chalcographus)</Emphasis> abundance in a strict spruce reserve and the surrounding spruce forests of Serbia

Frequent windthrow in the strict reserves of spruce in the Kopaonik National Park provides much material favorable for the development of Ips typographus (L.) and Pityogenes chalcographus (L.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). Therefore it was assumed that the abundance of these bark beetles in the reserves was high and that they dispersed to the surrounding spruce forests. To verify this opinion, their population levels were monitored in the strict reserve Jankove Bare and the adjoining spruce forests over the period 2006–2008. I. typographus parasitoids were identified and the parasitism percent was determined in spruce forests around the reserves. Throughout the monitoring period, the abundance of I. typographus and P. chalcographus was found to be lower in the reserve than in the surrounding spruce forests. Five species of I. typographus parasitoids and a low parasitization percent were identified in spruce forests surrounding the reserve.