Correlation between surface free energy and surface constitution

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkylsiloxanes on elastomeric PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) were used as model systems to study interactions between surfaces. Surface free energies (gammasv) of these chemically modified surfaces were estimated by measuring the deformations that resulted from the contact between small semispherical lenses and flat sheets of the elastomer under controlled loads. The measured surface free energies correlated with the surface chemical compositions of the SAMs and were commensurate with the values estimated from the measurements of contact angles. This study provides direct experimental evidence for the validity of estimates of the surface free energies of low-energy solids obtained from contact angles.     

通过营养和饲养管理调控蛋重

蛋鸡产蛋初期蛋重大小，随着产蛋日龄的增加蛋重将逐渐变大。但实际生产中，在某一恒定的温度下，蛋重每增加1克需要提高2％的采食量，这将增加鸡蛋的成本。因此，必须对蛋重进行调控。     

养猪生产中膨化对能量和蛋白饲料的影响

膨化是综合了水、压力、温度和机械剪切诸因素的作用而完成的，经过膨化的物料会发生一系列物理和化学变化，如促进淀粉糊化，使蛋白质变性以及霉变有毒成分和有害微生物失活等。同时，膨化还可改善饲料的适口性，增进饲料颗粒的稳定性和耐贮性等等。而且廉价饲料原料经过膨化处理后可以替代高值原料而不影响饲料的质量，     

Interpretation of serum antibody response to Anoplocephala perfoliata in relation to parasite burden and faecal egg count

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Increased knowledge is needed to assist in the interpretation of presently available diagnostic techniques for infection by the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses. HYPOTHESIS: The suggested cut-off level of an A. perfoliata specific ELISA may not adequately reflect the actual infection level. Hence, faecal egg counts may be a more useful diagnostic test for individual horses than previously reported. METHODS: Eighty-four horses admitted for slaughter at a Danish abattoir were examined for the presence of A. perfoliata. The number of tapeworms, their stage of development and gross pathological mucosal lesions were recorded and compared with serum antibody responses and faecal egg counts. Faecal egg counts were determined in samples from A. perfoliata infected horses using a semi quantitative centrifugation/flotation technique. Blood samples collected at slaughter were analysed by ELISA to determine serum antibody levels against A. perfoliata 12/13 kDa excretory/secretory antigens. RESULTS: Macroscopically visible tapeworms were detected in 24 (29%) of the horses. The overall sensitivity of the faecal egg count was found to be 0.46; however, if the detection limit was increased to above 20 tapeworms, sensitivity increased to 0.89. There was a correlation of 0.71 between worm burden and egg count. The antibody levels correlated significantly with infection intensity despite a wide variation among horses with similar levels of infection. The optimal cut-off value was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. If cut-off was chosen at optical density (OD) = 0.7, sensitivity was 0.68 and specificity 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: Both diagnostic methods were capable of revealing potentially pathogenic infections, with the faecal egg count being more applicable on the individual horse level. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: In the population of Danish horses investigated the serum ELISA test should be interpreted such that horses in need of anti-Anoplocephala treatment have an OD = 0.7 or above.     

Glutathione content of in vivo and in vitro matured canine oocytes collected from different reproductive stages

Glutathione (GSH) concentrations of oocytes are considered as an important marker of the cytoplasmic maturation. The present study was designed to compare GSH concentrations of in vivo and in vitro matured canine oocytes. In vivo matured oocytes were collected 72 hr after ovulation by flushing fallopian tubes after laparotomy. Ovaries were collected from bitches with different reproductive stages, and collected oocytes were divided into 2 groups according to the size viz. < 120 microm and > 120 microm in diameter and cultured for 72 hr in Tissue Culture Medium-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 2.2 mg/ml sodium bicarbonate, 2.0 microg/ml estrogen, 0.5 microg/ml FSH, 0.03 IU/ml hCG, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin solution in the presence or absence of 50 microM beta-mercaptoethanol. GSH concentrations were determined by the dithionitrobenzoic acid-glutathione disulfide (DTNB-GSSG) reductase recycling assay. GSH concentrations of immature canine oocytes were 2.9 and 3.8, 3.5 and 6.8, and 3.1 and 6.5 pM/oocyte for < 120 microm and > 120 microm in diameter oocyte groups at anestrous, follicular and luteal stage, respectively (P<0.05). In vivo matured oocytes had significantly higher GSH concentrations compared with in vitro matured oocytes. The GSH content was 19.2 pM/oocyte for in vivo matured oocytes, while 4.1 to 8.1 and 5.7 to 13.2 pM/oocyte for in vitro matured oocytes cultured in the absence or presence of beta-mercaptoethanol, respectively (P<0.05). Presence of beta-mercaptoethanol increased GSH synthesis in canine oocytes cultured in vitro, and oocytes collected from follicular and luteal stage was superior to anestrus oocytes.     

鹰潭市退耕还林实施中存在问题及完善对策

文章分析了鹰潭市退耕还林在实施过程中存在的地块分散、管理难度大、检查层次多、配套金费不落实等主要问题,并针对这些问题提出了相应的完善对策。     

集约化养猪公司分胎次饲养管理的必要性及可行性分析

众所周知,初胎母猪的疾病情况及生产性能相对不稳定,无论营养要求、饲养管理、疾病状况、配种、分娩难易、产仔数、仔猪疾病及存活率等各方面均与经产母猪不同。因此,有必要对母猪进行分胎次饲养管理。分胎次饲养管理在欧美一些发达国家已经相当成熟,它能为猪场提供一个更为健康的种猪群,同时也能为初胎分娩仔猪提供一个相对“无菌”的生长环境。     

Application of the rpoS gene for the detection of Vibrio anguillarum in flounder and prawn by polymerase chain reaction

Vibrio anguillarum , an opportunistic fish pathogen, is the main species responsible for vibriosis, a disease that affects feral and farmed fish and shellfish, and causes considerable economic losses in marine aquaculture. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect V. anguillarum . PCR specificity was evaluated by amplifying the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, in six strains of V. anguillarum and 36 other bacterial species. PCR amplified a species-specific fragment (689 bp) from V. anguillarum . Furthermore, the PCR assay was sensitive enough to detect rpoS expression from 3 pg of genomic DNA , or from six colony-forming units (CFU) mL⁻¹ of cultured V. anguillarum . However, the assay was less sensitive when genomic DNA from the infected flounder and prawn was used (limit of detection, 50 ng and 10 ng g⁻¹ tissue, respectively). These data demonstrate that PCR amplification of the rpoS gene is a sensitive and species-specific method to detect V. anguillarum in practical situations.     

土壤侵蚀磁性示踪剂对大白菜生理特性及产量和品质的影响

通过大田试验研究了不同浓度的土壤侵蚀磁性示踪剂对大白菜生理特性及产量、品质的影响。结果表明,在4个浓度(1%、3%、5%、10%)的示踪剂处理下,大白菜叶长、叶宽及产量均明显增大;低浓度(3%～5%)的示踪剂提高了大白菜的株高,促进了根的伸长,显著提高了叶绿素含量(p<0.05),同时对大白菜净光合速率、蒸腾速率也有促进作用。示踪剂处理使叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性显著降低(p<0.05),而根系中SOD活性则显著升高(p<0.05);示踪剂对过氧化物酶(POD)活性的影响与对SOD活性的影响恰好相反,对过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性影响较小,在低浓度条件下,叶片与根系中POD和CAT保持有较高活性;示踪剂还导致叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量显著提高(p<0.05)。同时,示踪剂降低了大白菜可溶性糖含量,但不显著。示踪剂浓度大于5%时显著降低维生素C含量(p<0.05)。低浓度(1%～3%)处理时有效改善了大白菜品质。总之,低浓度的示踪剂用量对大白菜生长有促进作用,高浓度的示踪剂对大白菜生长有抑制作用。     

Substrate utilization by Aspergillus flavus in inoculated whole corn kernels and isolated tissues

Utilization of the major corn (Zea mays) reserve materials (free saccharides, starch, triglycerides, and zein) was monitored during infection of detached kernels by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) over a 12-day period. Inoculated whole kernels were compared to noninoculated kernels. Concentrations of sucrose and raffinose in inoculated seed decreased to nearly zero at 6 days, whereas concentrations of these saccharides in noninoculated seed dropped at a considerably slower rate, and significant levels remained at the end of the incubation period. Triglyceride concentrations remained unchanged in the noninoculated seed but dropped continuously after 2 days in the inoculated seed. Starch and zein concentrations did not change during the 12-day incubation period. Aflatoxin B1 was first detected after 2 days and increased to about 20 microg/g (20,000 ppb) after 12 days. Very low aflatoxin concentrations were detected in the noninoculated seed. Significant concentrations of erythritol, arabitol, and mannitol were produced during infection, with peak concentrations occurring at 8 days. Whole seed and germ tissue appeared to support good fungal growth and aflatoxin production, whereas ground tissues and endosperm did not. A. flavus preferentially utilized saccharides as initial carbon substrates followed by triglycerides. When invading nonwounded corn kernels, the fungus selectively targets the germ tissue where these materials are localized in the highest concentrations.