Comparative virulence of NAD-dependent and NAD-independent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains.

The virulence of a NAD-independent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 strain and NAD-dependent serotype 2, 3 and 9 strains was compared under experimental conditions. Hysterectomy-derived piglets were inoculated endobronchially with 50-500 cfu of these strains. All 23 piglets inoculated with the NAD-dependent strains developed acute disease within 12 hours post inoculation. Twenty-two of these piglets died within 24 hours after the first clinical signs. Three of nine piglets inoculated with the NAD-independent strain did not develop clinical disease. In the other six piglets, disease signs were similar as in the piglets inoculated with the NAD-dependent strains. No differences in clinical disease were observed between colostrum deprived piglets and piglets that obtained colostrum from a SPF sow.     

花序花期喷水对“西拉”葡萄果实品质的影响

"西拉"葡萄(Vitis vinifera L.)果穗紧密,果粒挤压变形严重,内部果粒着色差,果实成熟期病害严重,品质难以保证。葡萄开花期连续降雨可导致坐果降低,通过试验模拟葡萄开花期降雨,可以一定程度上降低葡萄坐果率,达到疏松果穗的目的。试验以"西拉"葡萄为试材,设置葡萄开花前期、后期和整个花期3个喷水处理,每天喷一次水,在葡萄果实膨大期调查坐果率;葡萄成熟后调查葡萄发病率,测定葡萄还原糖、总酸、总酚、总单宁、总花色苷、单体花色苷、单体酚类含量。结果表明:花期喷水能提高葡萄浆果品质,且受喷水次数与时期影响较大。整个花期每天喷一次水,"西拉"葡萄品质表现最佳,开花后期喷水比前期喷水的葡萄浆果品质更好。因此,建议在葡萄管理中,若开花期天气连续晴朗,可以通过花序喷水疏松葡萄果穗,提升葡萄品质。     

Argan Oil Element Content is a Powerful Marker of the Quality of the Fruit Used for its Preparation

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Argan oil is prepared by cold pressing argan kernels collected from fully ripe fruit. Argan oil market price is particularly elevated. Consequently, efficient...     

Growth and reproduction of the lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus in a suspended culture system at Guerrero Negro lagoon,Baja California Sur,Mexico

The lion's paw scallop, Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby) has considerable aquacultural potential due to its fast growth and large adductor muscle. Prior investigations throughout northwestern Mexico's littoral have reported highly variable growth rates; furthermore, no studies are available of the environment on growth and gametogenesis in this species under culture conditions. This investigation assesses the effect of food availability and temperature on the growth and gametogenesis of N. subnodosus in a suspended culture system at Guerrero Negro lagoon, Mexico. After 1 year of cultivation, N. subnodosus reached 69.13 mm in shell height (SH) (0.196 mm day^?1, 14 months old). Two significant growth spurts were observed: over the two first months of culture (August and September 2001, mean growth rate 0.4 mm day^?1) and in September 2002 (0.3 mm day^?1), both related to high temperatures and chlorophyll a concentrations. The onset of gametogenesis occurred in April 2002, with an increase in temperature (10‐month‐old scallops, 54.5 mm SH). The first spawning occurred in October and November (86.2 and 93 mm SH), with peak temperatures. These results, together with the analysis of previous reports, indicate that N. subnodosus has a higher preference for temperate areas; therefore, the Guerrero Negro lagoon appears to be a suitable site to culture this species.     

The pond's shape matters: differential growth,physiological condition and survival of epibenthic Farfantepenaeus aztecus postlarvae

As a function of the water quality provided by square, circular and oval experimental ponds, the growth, survival and oxygen requirements in epibenthic postlarvae of Farfantepenaeus aztecus were analysed in relation to their routine metabolism and apparent heat increment. Temperature, oxygen concentration, pH and salinity were measured daily in two experimental ponds of each shape. The postlarvae oxygen consumption during two 24‐h cycles, their growth, physiological condition and survival and the productivity in the ponds were estimated. Low values of pH, oxygen concentration and phytobenthos productivity, and reduced postlarvae relative growth and survival were observed in the square ponds. We suggest that the latter results from a deficient water circulation related to the effect of the pond's shape on dissolved oxygen levels and, consequently, on growth and survival. The postlarvae routine metabolism, including feeding, varied between 1.91 and 2.25 mg O₂ h^?1 g^?1 wet weight, whereas the minimum oxygen concentration needed in the ponds is approximately 4.25 mg O₂ L^?1. These conditions were achieved in the oval ponds concurrent with higher survival and growth values, in which individuals distributed randomly, for which we suggest that oval‐shaped ponds could be the most adequate for the culture of this and other penaeid species.     

基于地理探测器的农业文化遗产地人均纯收入差异驱动力研究——以赤峰市阿鲁科尔沁旗为例

农业文化遗产的保护与发展是当前多个学科领域的学者广泛关注的热点话题。欲实现农业文化遗产地的可持续发展,结合产业、地域环境等因素协调其所在地的经济收入是重要环节之一。本文以中国重要农业文化遗产地——赤峰市阿鲁科尔沁旗为例,基于空间分析方法——地理探测器,结合产业发展、资源配置和地形特征等可能产生人均纯收入差异的空间因子,对我国农业文化遗产地人均纯收入差异驱动力进行分析和阐释,旨在为农业文化遗产地资源调控及经济建设政策制定提供科学依据。研究结果表明,研究区第一产业类型和二三产业发展程度是造成当地人均纯收入差异的关键驱动力;交通便利程度、水资源供给能力、高程和国家级自然保护区的设立也在一定程度上拉开了当地人均纯收入差距;并且这4个因子与前2个产业因子对人均纯收入空间分布的影响存在显著差异。进而得出以畜牧业为主的农业生产方式(q=0.30)以及二三产业从业人数比例较小(q=0.37)是限制阿鲁科尔沁草原游牧系统所在地巴彦温都尔苏木收入水平的主要因素,交通不便(q=0.11)及海拔较高(q=0.15)等地域环境特征也在一定程度上拉开了巴彦温都尔苏木与周边区域的人均纯收入差距。基于此,本研究认为当地的下一步发展应重视以下3个方面:1)在保护农业文化遗产的同时适当发展传统畜牧业转型;2)将农业文化遗产打造为特色品牌进而推动特色农产品和特色旅游的发展;3)加强基础设施建设,为产业发展做足准备。     

Purification of xylitol obtained by fermentation of corncob hydrolysates

Hydrolysates obtained by autohydrolysis-posthydrolysis of corncobs were detoxified with charcoal, concentrated, supplemented with nutrients, and fermented with Debaryomyces hansenii. After biomass removal, the fermented media contained 0.1137 kg of nonvolatile components (NVC)/kg of liquor, which corresponded mainly to xylitol (0.6249 kg/kg of NVC) but also to minor amounts of inorganic components (measured as ashes), proteins, nonfermented sugars (xylose and arabinose), uronic acids, arabitol, and other nonvolatile components (ONVC). The media were subjected to further processing (sequential stages of adsorption, concentration, ethanol precipitation, concentration, and crystallization) to obtain food-grade xylitol. Adsorption experiments were carried out at various solid-to-liquor ratios. Under selected conditions (1 kg of charcoal/15 kg of liquors), the xylitol content increased to 0.6873 kg/kg of NVC, and almost total decoloration was achieved. The resulting liquor was concentrated by evaporation to increase its NVC content to 0.4032 kg/kg of liquor (corresponding to a xylitol concentration of 0.280 kg/kg of liquor), and ethanol was added to precipitate a part of the NVC (mainly proteins, but also uronic acids, ashes, and other nonvolatile compounds). Refined liquors (containing 0.7303 kg of xylitol/kg of NVC) were concentrated again, and ethanol was added (to reach 40-60% volume of the stream) to allow crystallization at -10 or -5 degrees C. Under selected conditions, 43.7% of xylitol contained in the initial fermentation broth was recovered in well-formed, homogeneous crystals, in which xylitol accounted for 98.9% of the total oven-dry weight. Material balances are presented for the whole processing scheme considered in this work.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> Conglutin Gamma Modifies the Gene Expressions of Enzymes Involved in Glucose Hepatic Production <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis>

Lupinus albus seeds contain conglutin gamma (Cγ) protein, which exerts a hypoglycemic effect and positively modifies proteins involved in glucose homeostasis. Cγ could potentially be used to manage patients with impaired glucose metabolism, but there remains a need to evaluate its effects on hepatic glucose production. The present study aimed to analyze G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions in two experimental animal models of impaired glucose metabolism. We also evaluated hepatic and renal tissue integrity following Cγ treatment. To generate an insulin resistance model, male Wistar rats were provided 30% sucrose solution ad libitum for 20 weeks. To generate a type 2 diabetes model (STZ), five-day-old rats were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). Each animal model was randomized into three subgroups that received the following oral treatments daily for one week: 0.9% w/v NaCl (vehicle; IR-Ctrl and STZ-Ctrl); metformin 300 mg/kg (IR-Met and STZ-Met); and Cγ 150 mg/kg (IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ). Biochemical parameters were assessed pre- and post-treatment using colorimetric or enzymatic methods. We also performed histological analysis of hepatic and renal tissue. G6pc, Fbp1, and Pck1 gene expressions were quantified using real-time PCR. No histological changes were observed in any group. Post-treatment G6pc gene expression was decreased in the IR-Cγ and STZ-Cγ groups. Post-treatment Fbp1 and Pck1 gene expressions were reduced in the IR-Cγ group but increased in STZ-Cγ animals. Overall, these findings suggest that Cγ is involved in reducing hepatic glucose production, mainly through G6pc inhibition in impaired glucose metabolism disorders.     

叶幕厚度对“赤霞珠”葡萄叶幕微气候、光合特性及果实品质的影响

机械修剪以其高效高质的优势逐渐受到国内外葡萄种植业青睐。为探究机械修剪对葡萄叶幕微气候、光合特性及果实品质的影响,以4年生"赤霞珠"品种为试材,叶幕厚度分别设置为70cm(不抹副梢)、85cm(抹副梢)、85cm(不抹副梢)、100cm(不抹副梢),并于生长期调查了葡萄叶面积,测定光照强度、光合指标及浆果品质,采用单因素方差分析(ANOVA)进行数据分析。结果表明:叶幕厚度对叶幕微气候无显著影响,但随叶幕增厚,果际周围温度略降、湿度略升、光照强度减弱;葡萄转色期,70cm(不抹副梢)叶幕光合速率较85cm(抹副梢)显著提高12.9%,85cm与100cm处理差异不大;70cm(不抹副梢)、85cm(抹副梢)处理能在提高产量的同时促使葡萄提前成熟,增加果实含糖量、pH及总花色素含量,100cm处理能提高总酚、单宁及总酸含量。总体来讲,山西晋中地区的"赤霞珠"葡萄叶幕厚度应选择70cm。