Mango seed kernels as an energy source for chicks1

1. Chemical analysis of a sample of ground mango seed kernels (MSK) revealed the following percentage composition: dry matter, 91.55; ash, 1.97; protein, 6.74; ether extract, 12.53; fibre, 1.30; nitrogen‐free extract, 77.46.

2. The ME content of MSK was 1.82 kcal/g.

3. The percentage retention of the crude fat content of MSK was only 3.38%.

4. Substituting MSK for corn at 10 or 20% led to reduced growth rate and poorer food consumption and a reduced efficiency of food utilisation in the period 0 to 4 weeks.     

cDNA cloning and complete primary structures of myosin heavy chains from brushtooth lizardfish Saurida undosquamis and wanieso lizardfish S. wanieso fast skeletal muscles

ABSTRACT:   The complete cDNA sequences encoding predominant types of myosin heavy chain (MYH) in the fast skeletal muscle were determined for brushtooth lizardfish Saurida undosquamis and wanieso lizardfish S. wanieso , which are used as materials for preparing high-quality surimi-based products. The cDNA consisted of 5973 and 5987 bp, respectively, and both encompassed an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 1936 amino acid residues. Brushtooth and wanieso lizardfish MYH showed the amino acid sequence identity of 92–93% to white croaker MYH, which was higher than that of 90% to walleye pollack MYH. The putative binding sites for ATP, actin, and regulatory and essential light chains in the subfragment-1 region of brushtooth lizardfish MYH exhibited a high identity with white croaker counterparts as well as the sequences of subfragment-2 and light meromyosin. In contrast, phylogenetic tree, constructed by the neighbor-joining method based on mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, revealed that the two lizardfish species formed a cluster with walleye pollack, which was paraphyletic with white croaker. Therefore, a good reputation for lizardfish and white croaker to have a high thermal-gel forming ability seemed to be reflected by MYH rather than biological similarity as revealed by the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene.     

Chemical Composition of Urban Wet Deposition in Amman,Jordan

Precipitation events were collected during the period from October 1996 to April 1997 from two sites in the city of Amman, Jordan. The samples were analyzed for major cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH4+), major anions (F-, Cl-, NO3- and SO42-), in addition to heavy metals (Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+). High levels of Ca2+ and SO42- were observed. The results were comparable with some regional values and they indicate that about 58% of Na+ and Cl- are of marine origin, while Ca2+, K+ and a large fraction of SO42- are of soil dust origin. Heavy metals were detectable in most of the samples, zinc showed the highest concentrations. Significant correlation was obtained between zinc and lead, which may indicate automobile emission source.     

新疆阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区树附生地衣群落物种分布与环境关系的研究

为了查明阿尔泰山两河源国家级自然保护区树附生地衣物种组成成分,以及探讨影响该地区树附生地衣群落分布格局与环境因素之间的关系,以附生地衣覆盖度为指标,应用除趋势对应分析(DCA)对样点进行分组,运用典范对应分析(CCA)分析附生地衣分布与环境因素的关系,结果表明:1)阿尔泰山两河源自然保护区树附生地衣共有49种隶属于15科30属。2)根据DCA分析将该地区树附生地衣划分为3个样点组,样点组1共有地衣22种,总盖度为2.639%,物种多样性指数为1.603;样点组2共有地衣27种,地衣总盖度为3.717%,物种多样性最大为1.972;样点组3:共有地衣12种,地衣总覆盖度为1.036%,物种多样性最小量为0.871。3)CCA排序结果表明:低海拔区,人为干扰强度高,地衣多样性较低;中海拔区,森林郁闭度高,湿度适中,干扰较少,地衣多样性较高;高海拔区,森林郁闭度较低,树种较少,光强度较强,干扰较少,主要以壳状地衣为主,多样性较低。     

Quality aspect of fish sauce prepared from underutilized fatty Japanese anchovy and rabbit fish

ABSTRACT:   To explore the potential utility of underutilized fish in the fish sauce industry, fish sauces were prepared from both raw and heat-induced meat of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonica and rabbit fish Siganus fuscescens using wheat malt, and their quality aspects and sensory properties were assessed. Proximate composition of the fish meat represents protein as the major component (16.0–17.8%), other than moisture. Analyses of free amino acids, peptides including oligopeptides, and organic acids contents in fish sauces revealed suitability of both raw and heat-induced meat of the selected species in commercial fish sauce production. The variations in taste of raw meat fish sauces were species-specific, but the taste of fish sauces from heat-induced meat were similar.     

Effect of an immunomodulator on the efficacy of an attenuated vaccine against avian pneumovirus in turkeys

Since 1997, avian pneumovirus (APV) has caused estimated annual losses of $15 million to the Minnesota turkey industry. In order to develop an attenuated live vaccine against APV, we serially passaged a Minnesota isolate of APV (APV/MN/turkey/1-a/97) in vitro in cell cultures for 41 passages. Laboratory experiments with this high-passage virus (P41) indicated that the attenuated virus provided immunogenic protection to turkeys against challenge with virulent APV, although some birds showed mild to moderate dinical signs after inoculation. To reduce the residual pathogenicity of P41, while maintaining its immunogenicity, we decided to vaccinate turkeys with P41 in the presence of an immunomodulator, S-28828 (1-n-butyl-2-ethoxymethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine-hydrochloride), which is a potent cytokine inducer. The combined inoculation of S-28828 (5 mg/kg body weight) and P41 resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of virus-induced clinical signs in comparison with birds that received P41 without immunomodulator (P < 0.05). Only 17% of birds inoculated with S-28828 + APV P41 showed mild respiratory symptoms at 5 days postinoculation as compared with 46% of the vaccinated turkeys that did not receive S-28828. Vaccination with either P41 or with P41 + S-28828 protected turkeys against dinical signs and viral replication after challenge with virulent APV. These results indicate that immunomodulators, such as S-28828, may act as good vaccine adjuvants that can reduce the pathogenicity but maintain the immunogenicity of partially attenuated vaccines.     

乌鲁木齐地区三种不同景观鸟类群落结构初报

作者于１９９４年３－６月在乌鲁木齐地区,对三各不同景观的鸟类群落进行了调查,可划分为３类群落：干旱荒漠为角百灵＋沙群落（群落Ａ）;干旱草原为角百灵＋领岩鹨群落（群落Ｂ）;干旱灌丛云雀＋漠莺＋靴篱莺群落（群落Ｃ）群落的物种多样性以群落Ｃ最高（１．８８６７）,次为群落Ｂ（１．８８３７）,群落Ａ的多样性最低（１．５２１２）种的多样性与生态环境的差异有关。     

Wheat Seed Presoaking for Improved Germination

Seed presoaking improves wheat germination under marginal moisture conditions. The duration of seed presoaking was studied at The University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, using 10 wheat varieties. Seed presoaking beyond 12 h does not improve germination further, and beyond 21 h, germination rate is drastically reduced.     

绿洲区不同灌溉方式及灌溉量对苜蓿田土壤盐分运移的影响

为探讨绿洲区不同灌溉方式及灌溉量对苜蓿田土壤盐分空间分布及运移的影响,在苜蓿生长第2年设滴灌和漫灌2种灌溉方式,每种灌溉方式设3个灌溉梯度,对土壤电导率进行了测定与分析。结果表明,随生育进程的推进及灌水次数的增加,整个苜蓿生育期内土壤盐分含量呈波动式递减的变化趋势。滴灌方式下0～40 cm 土层、漫灌方式下0～30 cm 土层在灌溉后土壤处于脱盐状态;滴灌方式下在50～60 cm 土层、漫灌方式下在40～60 cm土层土壤处于积盐状态。在水平及垂直方向上,随灌水量的增加,2种灌溉方式下土壤盐分峰值位均呈下移趋势,灌溉后土壤盐分含量随土壤深度的增加而增大,土壤盐分主要集中于土壤40～60 cm 土层,且滴灌方式下的“驱盐”效果要好于漫灌。在考虑成本、产出等综合经济效益时,当灌水量达到某种定额（滴灌下3000 m3／hm2,苜蓿干草产量为1406 kg／667 m2,漫灌下5250 m3／hm2,其干草产量为1504 kg／667 m2）后即可达到最佳的“驱盐”及高产效果,在绿洲区苜蓿田过多的灌溉量只会导致水资源的更多浪费。对绿洲区盐渍化较重的农田进行灌溉时,应尽量选取合理的灌溉制度及适宜的灌水量,以达到土壤盐分淋洗和经济效益最大化的双赢。     

Assessment of molecular genetic diversity of 384 chickpea genotypes and development of core set of 192 genotypes for chickpea improvement programs

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Cicer arietinum L. (chickpea) is one of the most significant legume crops domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. This study was aimed to characterize a diverse...