Effect of temperature and photoperiod on development and fecundity of an acarophagous ladybird beetle,Stethorus gilvifrons

The development, fecundity and survival ofStethorus gilvifrons Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) fed onTetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval (Acari: Tetranychidae) were recorded at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30±1°C) and 50±10% relative humidity, under two photoperiods (16:8 L:D and 8:16 L:D) produced using artificial light (4000 lux). The development rate for the egg stage (r_[Te]) increased linearly with increasing temperature (r_[Te]=0.0132*T ? 0.0955; R²=0.95). The theoretical egg-development threshold was estimated to be 7.24°C; 75.75 degree-days (DD) were required for hatching. The total development time (r_[Tt]) also decreased linearly with increasing temperature (r_[Tt]=0.0039*T ? 0.0325; R²=0.98). The development threshold was estimated to be 8.33°C and full development from egg to adult required 256.41 DD. Higher temperatures resulted in a shorter generation time (T ₀) and decreased net reproductive rate (R ₀). The length of the previposition and postoviposition period, as well as longevity, decreased significantly with increasing temperature under both photoperiods. The oviposition and postoviposition periods, longevity, and total fecundity were not significantly affected by photoperiod. The values of both the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m ) andR ₀ were highest under the long-day photoperiod at 25°C. The mortality rate was lowest at 20°C under the short-day photoperiod. Of the conditions tested, the optimum temperature for rearingS. gilvifrons was 25°C and the optimum photoperiod was 16:8 L:D.     

Serum concentration of some acute phase proteins in naturally occurring canine babesiosis: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Serum concentrations of acute phase proteins can provide valuable diagnostic information in the detection, prognosis, or monitoring of disease. Information available on the acute phase response in naturally occurring canine babesiosis is limited. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to retrospectively evaluate serum concentrations of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and ceruloplasmin in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis. METHODS: Haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and ceruloplasmin concentrations were measured in serum samples from dogs with uncomplicated (n = 6) and complicated (n = 1) babesiosis and compared with 6 healthy dogs. RESULTS: Serum C-reactive protein and ceruloplasmin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with babesiosis; however, serum haptoglobin concentration was significantly lower compared with control dogs (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that acute phase protein concentrations could be beneficial in the diagnosis and determination of the severity of babesiosis in dogs.     

Effects of oestradiol-17β or 17α-methyltestosterone administration on gonadal differentiation of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède)

Monosex populations can be a valuable management tool in culture of larger size largemouth bass (>400 g). In this study, we investigated the effective mode and duration of oestrogen and androgen administrations to produce monosex largemouth bass populations. The experiment consisted of nine treatments. In oral administration groups, we fed 40-day-old fry either 200 mg of an oestradiol-17β (E₂) kg⁻¹ diet or 60 mg of a 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) kg⁻¹ diet for 30, 45 or 60 days. In bath treatments, we immersed fry in a 1 mg MT L⁻¹ solution for 5 h a day on three or six occasions. For control treatment, we fed fry an ethanol-treated diet for 45 days. The frequency of females in the control group was 53.1%. Oral administration of E₂ at all durations resulted in slight increases in the frequency of females (59.8–70.5%). Both modes of androgen administration at all durations were ineffective in altering phenotypic sex. The experimental results of our study indicated that male differentiation passed the point of being completely and functionally influenced by exogenous oestrogens, while female differentiation had already taken place and was no longer responsive to exogenous androgens in 40-day-old (33.5 mm) largemouth bass fry.     

基于主导功能的国土空间生态修复分区的原理与方法

国土空间规划是统筹区域资源开发利用和生态保护格局、促进空间治理体系现代化、服务生态文明建设和国家现代化战略的重大举措,国土生态修复是针对区域空间格局失调、资源利用低效、生态功能受损的国土空间进行综合整治与生态修复的活动和过程,是编制和实施国土空间规划的重点内容,生态修复分区则是合理编制国土空间生态修复规划和科学高效开展生态修复的重要前提。通过分析区域国土、生态、经济等主导功能的分区定位与内涵特征,依据"生命共同体理论"、"三生协调理论"、"适宜性管理"等国土空间规划与生态文明建设的基本理论,基于"自上而下"和"自下而上"相结合,提出了基于主导功能型区划的国土空间生态修复分区的思路与方法:1)摸清自然资源本底,完成一级生态功能基础分区;2)评价区域生态功能状况,完成二级生态修复格局分区;3)明确生态修复重点区域,完成三级生态修复模式分区。通过在江西省国土空间生态修复分区进行实践应用,可将江西省生态修复区划分为5个大区,以及24个亚区、70个修复小区,研究可为江西实施生态修复工程和国土空间管治提供决策依据。该方法归纳起来有以下4点特征:一是突出主导功能;二是遵循生态规律;三是适配空间尺度;四是强化上下衔接。研究对于国土空间生态修复规划编制、实施和生态管控具有积极的意义,可为国土空间整体保护、系统修复、综合整治与推进美丽中国建设提供科技支撑。     

Dogs with Hepatozoon canis respond to the oxidative stress by increased production of glutathione and nitric oxide

Canine hepatozoonosis is a disease caused by the tick-borne protozoan Hepatozoon spp. It has been reported in the United States, southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. In Turkey, canine hepatozoonosis was reported for the first time in 1933. In the present study, serum glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and ceruloplasmin levels were analysed in 14 dogs infected with Hepatozoon canis as well as in 10 healthy dogs. Blood smears were prepared from peripheral blood and ticks were collected for identification in the laboratory. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was found only on diseased dogs. No ticks were observed on healthy dogs. The diagnosis of H. canis is made mainly by the detection of gametocytes within neutrophils and monocytes. The haematological diagnosis was confirmed using PCR analyses by amplifying a partial 18S rRNA gene sequence of Hepatozoon spp. Infection was detected in 14 animals. Compared to controls, the serum GSH, MDA and NO levels in infected animals increased significantly (p<0.05, <0.01 for MDA), whereas the concentrations of ceruloplasmin in diseased animals remained unaltered. The results of the present study suggest that in dogs infected with H. canis increased levels of GSH, MDA and NO may be related to host's defences against parasitic infection.     

Interactions Between Economic Growth and Environmental Quality in U.S. Counties

ABSTRACT Linkages among changes in employment, earnings per worker, and pollution per square mile are estimated for 3,036 U.S. counties for the period 1987 to 1995 using a three‐equation disequilibrium adjustment model. Counties with higher shares of African‐Americans experienced higher earnings growth rates over the period 1987‐1995, as did counties with proportionally more females. Counties in states with higher shares of unionized workers had higher earnings growth rates but generated fewer new jobs. Firm size had a significant and negative effect on earnings growth while higher costs of living were associated with higher earnings growth. Also, metro counties and counties in the Northeastern U.S. experienced higher earnings growth than their non‐metro counterparts and counties in other geographic regions. Statistically, faster job growth was found to accelerate the rate of earnings growth per worker. The authors conclude that counties concerned with job growth should recruit or attempt to spawn the creation of larger firms, recognizing that for some firms such a strategy may come at the cost of more rapid increases in pollution. Counties concerned with increasing the rate of growth in per worker earnings should instead focus on the creation of smaller firms.     

Effects of Suni Bug (Eurygaster spp.) Damage on Milling Properties and Semolina Quality of Durum Wheats (Triticum durum L.)

Economic losses due to suni‐bug (Eurygaster spp. and Aelia spp.) damage are important for the cereal industry in East European and Middle East countries. Samples of five durum wheat cultivars (Diyarbakir, Firat, Ege, Svevo, and Zenith) with zero, medium, and high levels of suni‐bug damage were used to determine the effects of suni‐bug damage on milling properties and semolina quality. As the damage level increased, semolina yields of all cultivars decreased significantly. The loss of semolina yield was greater than decreases in total yield of semolina plus flour, indicating that semolina yields were affected to a higher extent than were flour yields. The ash contents of the semolina samples increased significantly in all cultivars with increasing suni‐bug damage. The falling number values were not correlated with suni‐bug damage level and amylase activities of all samples were quite low. The pasting properties did not differ to a great extent depending on the suni‐bug damage level. Gluten quality of semolina samples substantially deteriorated as suni‐bug damage level increased, as determined by SDS‐sedimentation and mixograph analyses. It was concluded that suni‐bug damage would decrease profits of durum wheat millers substantially by affecting semolina yield and quality.     

A parasitological, molecular and serological survey of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs around the Aegean coast of Turkey

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoon Hepatozoon spp. The prevalence of the infection in the Aegean coast of Turkey was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using blood samples from 349 dogs collected from Central Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, Central Manisa, Bodrum and Marmaris within the Aegean coast of Turkey. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of Hepatozoon canis antibodies was also used to detect the exposure rate to H. canis. PCR amplifying a 666bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. was used in the epidemiological survey. The prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 10.6% by blood smear parasitology and 25.8% by PCR. IFAT revealed that 36.8% of serum samples were positive for antibodies reactive with Hepatozoon spp. The PCR products of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. isolated from six infected dogs, one isolate originating from each of the six different locations, were sequenced. The results of sequence analysis indicate that they are closely related to Indian and Japanese isolates of H. canis. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of H. canis infection in the dog, in Turkey.     

The Symbiotic Performance and Plant Nutrient Uptake of Certain Nationally Registered Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Cultivars of Turkey

An experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions to test the symbiotic performance and plant nutrient uptake of the twelve nationally registered chickpea cultivars (‘Çak?r’, ‘I??k-05’, ‘Can?tez-87’, ‘Hisar’, ‘Ya?a-05’, ‘Azkan’, ‘Küsmen-99’, ‘Gökçe’, ‘Damla-89’, ‘Diyar-95’, ‘Aziziye-94’, and ‘?zmir-92’) in Turkey. Inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri increased the average nodule number by 687%, nodule weight by 257%, plant height by 6%, shoot dry weight by 12%, root dry weight by 21%, chlorophyll content by 4.2%, nitogen (N)% by 7.9%, and total N by 22.7%. Averaged across chickpea cultivars, inoculation also significantly increased sulfur (S) by 14.4%, phosphorus (P) by 1.9%, magnesium (Mg) by 13.8%, potassium (K) by 6.2%, calcium (Ca) by 17.4%, copper (Cu) by 4.5%, iron (Fe) by 16.5%, manganese (Mn) by 10.9% and zinc (Zn) uptake by 9.4%. The macro- and micronutrient uptake of cultivars significantly correlated with their nitrogen content and the magnitude of response to inoculation in relation to nodulation, plant growth, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient uptake significantly varied among cultivars. Based on the amount of fixed N and plant nutrient uptake, ‘Azkan’, ‘Aziziye-94’, ‘Küsmen-99’, ‘Diyar-95’, and ‘Hisar’ were the genotypes with the most positive response to inoculation. Our data showed that nodulation, nitrogen fixation, plant dry matter production, and macro- and micronutrient uptake of the inoculated chickpea can be improved by selecting the best compatible cultivar.