A simple field method for spinal cord removal demonstrated in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).

Removal of the spinal cord is considered time consuming and difficult. A delay in the necropsy procedure, especially in the central nervous system, can result in significant tissue autolysis and subsequent diagnostic difficulties. In the field, where many necropsies are performed, suitable electric saws are mostly unavailable. A technically simple and rapid method for spinal cord removal, requiring only a straightforward tool, has been devised. No necropsy-induced structural damage has been noted on histopathologic examination.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and phosphorus uptake of mung bean plants fertilized with composted rock phosphate fed dung in alkaline soil environment

Abstract

Inoculation effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on phosphorus (P) transfer from composted dung of cattle with a diet supplemented with powdered rock phosphate (RP) and their successive uptake by mung bean plants was assessed in alkaline soil. The efficacy of composted RP fed dung alone or/and in combination with AMF inoculums containing six different species were compared with SSP in six replicates per treatment in pots. The results showed that the association of AMF with composted RP fed dung had a positive effect on mung bean shoot (3.04?g) and root (2.62?g) biomass, chlorophyll (a, b), carotenoid contents and N (58.38?mg plant^?1) and P (4.61?mg plant^?1) uptake. Similarly, the percent roots colonization (56%) and nodulation of mung bean plant roots and their post-harvest soil properties were also improved by the inoculation of AMF together with composted RP fed dung. It is concluded that the combined application of AMF with composted RP fed dung has almost the same effect as SSP for improving mung bean plants growth and their nutrients uptake. Moreover, AMF inoculants can be used as a suitable biofertilizer in combination with locally available organic sources of fertilizers for improving P status and growth of plants in alkaline soils.     

Management practices to control premature senescence in Bt cotton

Commercial cultivation of Bt cotton produced higher boll load which led to stiff inter-original competition for photosynthates, resulting in early cessation of growth (premature senescence) due to more availability of sink and less sources. To overcome this problem, field experiment was conducted during 2011 and 2012 using five treatments of plant growth manipulation viz. no fruiting branch removal (F₁), removal of first fruiting branch (F₂), removal of first and second fruiting branch (F₃), removal of all squares from first fruiting branch (F₄), removal of all squares from first and second fruiting branches (F₅), and three potassium (K) application rates viz. 50 kg ha^?1 (K₁), 100 kg ha^?1 (K₂), and 150 kg ha^?1 (K₃). More nodes above white flower were recorded in F₅, followed by F₃, while minimum were recorded in F₁. Among potassium levels, maximum nodes above white flower were recorded in K₃ followed by K₂ and K₁ during both years of study. Plant height recorded at physiological cutout stage or at maturity stage showed that plants gained more height with removal of all squares from first tosecond fruiting branches with higher potassium dose. Leaf K increased with increasing applied potassium and also with square/branch removal. So early removal of squares/fruiting branches along with higher potassium dose helped in delaying canopy senescence in Bt cotton.     

Fruit and seed diversity of domesticated carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Morocco

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an important economic resource for Morocco's rural populations. This species is used in reforestation actions and its cultivation in modern orchards is being undertaken to valorize marginal lands and substitute for drought sensitive species. However, little data is available on its intra-specific variability and its adaptability. Morphological characters of pods and seeds from 13 ecoregions of private-domesticated carob were used to assess phenotypic variation of this species. These stands extend from south-west to north-east and cover a wide range of Morocco's ecoregions. Pods length, width, thickness, seeds number, pulp weight, seeds yield and seeds length, width, thickness and weight were measured for 390 trees (30 trees per ecoregion). Statistically significant differences were found between ecoregions for all characters which were examined, what indicates a high phenotypic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster of all ecoregions lead to identify two major and opposite groups (the northern ecoregions; and the central and south-western ecoregions). Ecoregions of the north of Morocco exhibited the largest and the thickest pods with the highest pulp weight while other ecoregions have relatively short pods but largest proportion of seed yield. Similarly, the northern ecoregions are characterized by the heaviest seeds. A correlation matrix between morphological characters, geographic parameters and precipitation exhibits a positive and a negative correlation of pods thickness and pulp weight with the latitude and the altitude, respectively. Seed yield and weight are negatively and positively correlated to pod width, pod thickness and pulp weight, respectively. In addition, seed weight is positively correlated with the latitude. The geographic pattern of the carob tree and its variability are discussed in this paper.     

Distribution and diversity of leaf-cutting ants in Northeastern Argentina: species most associated with forest plantations

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants (LCA) are considered one of the main herbivores and one of the most destructive pest insects of the Neotropics. Northeastern Argentina harbors the greatest species richness of these ants and in turn comprises the highest surface with forest plantations. Our aim was to establish which species of leaf-cutting ants are most commonly associated with forest plantations by analyzing their geographic distribution using published and unpublished species occurrence data. Also, estimate their potential areas of distribution along a latitudinal gradient that entirely encompasses northeastern Argentina using Ecological Niche Modeling. Only seven of the 20 species recorded were strongly associated with productive systems along the gradient, but only 2–3 species in each region could be considered high-risk species for forest plantations. High-risk species composition shows a turnover between regions. Our models show the potential distribution areas where LCA could become more abundant and dominant, and possibly causing a detrimental effect on the forest plantations in the studied region. We find that ecological niche models are useful tools to assess the environmental suitability of important LCA.     

Concentration of selected heavy metals in spices,dry fruits and plant nuts

Different spices, dry fruits and plant nuts commonly consumed in Pakistan were assayed for the heavy metals cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron and manganese by the potentiometric stripping analysis and AA spectrophotometry. The results revealed wide variation in heavy metal content among different biological materials. Mixed spices generally exhibited higher value for trace metals specially lead (6.6–9.2 µg/g), cadmium (0.65–1.34 µg/g), iron (142.3–285.0 µg/g) and zinc (64.2–65.8 µg/g). Dry fruits contained relatively lesser amounts of heavy metals than plant nuts. Almonds contained higher levels of lead (1.02 µg/g) and cadmium (0.24 µg/g) than other nuts and dry fruits.     

二穗短柄草叶绿体RNA编辑位点的预测及其鉴定

RNA编辑是陆生植物叶绿体转录后基因表达调控的一种重要方式。为进一步探讨单子叶植物RNA编辑功能及其发生机制,本研究通过生物信息学方法,对二穗短柄草叶绿体的81个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点进行了预测和鉴定分析,结果发现78个基因存在编辑位点,共检测到176个编辑位点,都是C到U的转换。其中ndhB最多,为14个编辑位点。为验证预测结果,利用blast工具比对了NCBI的二穗短柄草EST数据库,最终确定存在于17个基因中的34个编辑位点是真实存在的,其中19个为沉默编辑,15个为有效编辑。与5个不同单子叶禾本科物种18个蛋白编码基因的RNA编辑位点的比较发现,在rpoB-206位点,只有二穗短柄草发生了编辑,且只有ndhD-295(293)为部分编辑位点。     

Effect of high inclusion of rendered animal by‐product ingredients on growth,digestibility and economic performances in climbing perch Anabas testudineus

A 70‐day growth trail was conducted to investigate the effects of inclusion of high levels of meat and bone meal (MBM) and protein concentrate (PC) on growth, digestibility and economic performances of climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Four isonitrogenous diets were formulated by lowering the level of dietary fishmeal protein at 0 (D₁, control), 70 (D₂), 85 (D₃) and 100% (D₄) with a mixture of MBM and PC protein (1:1). Triplicate groups of 300 fish (mean weight of 0.80 g) stocked in each 40 m² pond and fed the respective test diets. A digestibility trial was conducted after the growth trial in indoor glass aquarium. The result showed that growth parameters were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with fishmeal replacement levels. However, significant differences were not found in feed conversion ratio and survival of fish. No difference was also found in protein efficiency ratio among D1, D2 and D3. Similar to growth parameters, total fish production was highest in D1, intermediate in D2 and D3; and lowest in D4. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein and lipid were highest (P < 0.05) in D1 and lowest in D4. The economic analysis revealed that the benefit cost ratio was ranked by D₃ (1.81), D₂ (1.71), D₁ (1.66) and D₄ (1.46) respectively. Upon considering the overall performances and unavailability of finite protein sources, it can be concluded that 70–85% fishmeal could be replaced with a mixture of MBM and PC (1:1) in practical diets for climbing perch.     

Role of erythropoeitin in prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Neurotoxicity complicates the use of several commonly administered chemotherapeutic agents (platinum based alkylating agents, taxanes and vinca alkaloids), with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy being the most common manifestation. Structural damage to the peripheral nervous system results in positive symptoms, e.g., allodynia, hyperalgesia and pain with unpleasant features as burning and shooting. Patients are unable to complete full or optimal treatment schedules. The pathophysiologic basis of nerve injury in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is incompletely understood and appears to be unique for each class of the chemotherapeutic agents. Erythropoeitin (EPO), a well-established hematopoietic factor, is a very effective and widely used treatment for anemia in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It also possesses generalized neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties. Co-treatment of chemotherapy and erythropoietin has been proposed for preventing or reversing the disabling peripheral neuropathy induced by the different chemotherapeutic agents. This study first describes the pathophysiological background of the clinically relevant chemotherapeutic agents-inducing peripheral neuropathy. Secondly, the possible mechanisms that might underlie the neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Further clinical trials of EPO in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and suffering from neurological symptoms seem to be warranted in the future. This might improve the quality of life in cancer patients.     

基于SEPLS模型的GIAHS恢复力评估框架及其在保护成效评估中的应用

由联合国粮农组织认定的全球重要农业文化遗产(GIAHS)是一类典型的社会生态生产景观(SEPLS),在传统知识传承保护、粮食与食物安全保障、农业生物多样性保护、气候变化应对等诸多方面具有重要意义。为了更好、更有效地开展GIAHS保护及管理工作,本文在分析GIAHS评估重要性和恢复力概念的基础上,以联合国大学(UNU)等团队开发的社会生态生产景观恢复力评估框架(SEPLS模型)为基础,构建了GIAHS恢复力评估框架(GIAHS-RAF),明确了其评估及计算过程。并以中国第1个GIAHS项目——浙江青田稻鱼共生系统(Qingtian Rice-Fish Culture System in Zhejiang Province, RFC)为例,通过对核心保护区——龙现村在2004年(GIAHS项目授牌前)和2016年(GIAHS授牌11年)的恢复力状况进行评估,探讨模型在GIAHS保护成效评估中的适用性。研究结果显示:1)2016年龙现村恢复力整体状况相对较弱,各项资本评估得分为:物质资本(0.75)经济资本(0.63)人类资本(0.61)社会资本(0.57)自然资本(0.38);2)虽然农户收入来源多样且社会经济基础设施能较好地满足社区需求,但是遗产地内部农业物种较少,农户对于系统提供的粮食多样性尚不是非常满意; 3)相较于2004年,经过11年的保护工作,研究区恢复力有所提高,说明GIAHS项目的实施对该遗产的恢复力有积极影响,尤其是物质资本和经济资本两方面。评估结果与该区域相关研究结果及实地调查情况一致,说明所构建的GIAHS恢复力评估框架可以很好地应用于对GIAHS项目及其他相关农业文化遗产的保护成效评估工作。