Comparison of the rebound tonometer (TonoVet) with the applanation tonometer (TonoPen XL) in normal Eurasian Eagle owls (Bubo bubo)

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility and accuracy of a handheld rebound tonometer, TonoVet, and to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) readings of the TonoVet with those of an applanation tonometer, TonoPen XL, in normal Eurasian Eagle owls. ANIMALS STUDIED: Ten clinically normal Eurasian Eagle owls (20 eyes). PROCEDURES: Complete ocular examinations, using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy, were conducted on each raptor. The IOP was measured bilaterally using a rebound tonometer followed by a topical anesthetic agent after 1 min. The TonoPen XL tonometer was applied in both eyes 30 s following topical anesthesia. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD IOP obtained by rebound tonometer was 10.45 +/- 1.64 mmHg (range 7-14 mmHg), and by applanation tonometer was 9.35 +/- 1.81 mmHg (range 6-12 mmHg). There was a significant difference (P = 0.001) in the IOP obtained from both tonometers. The linear regression equation describing the relationship between both devices was y = 0.669x + 4.194 (x = TonoPen XL and y = TonoVet). The determination coefficient (r(2)) was r(2) = 0.550. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that readings from the rebound tonometer significantly overestimated those from the applanation tonometer and that the rebound tonometer was tolerated well because of the rapid and minimal stress-inducing method of tonometry in the Eurasian Eagle owls, even without topical anesthesia. Further studies comparing TonoVet with manometric measurements may be necessary to employ rebound tonometer for routine clinical use in Eurasian Eagle owls.     

云阴影区机载高光谱影像森林树种分类

[目的]使用窄波段植被指数、纹理信息等特征对影像进行分类,探究植被指数和纹理信息对于云阴影下树种分类的潜力。[方法]使用经过大气校正后的高光谱影像进行窄波段植被指数的计算、纹理分析以及主成分分析,并对计算的结果进行波段组合。用于计算纹理信息的波段通过最佳指示因子进行选择,选取的波段数为31(0.67 nm),51(0.86 nm),55(0.89 nm) 3个波段。结合高分辨率的航空相片进行训练样本的选择,采用Support Vector Machine(SVM)方法对经过大气校正后的反射率影像和重组后的特征影像分别进行分类,使用样地实测的树种信息对分类结果进行验证,使用总体精度和Kappa系数作为分类精度的评价指标。[结果]相对于直接使用反射率影像进行分类,使用窄波段植被指数以及纹理信息可以显著地提高云阴影下地物的分类精度,其分类精度和Kappa系数分别为90.4%和0.88,比直接使用反射率影像的分类精度和Kappa系数分别提高了18%和0.2。[结论]使用重新组合后的影像进行树种分类比直接使用反射率影像进行分类,其分类精度更高,说明窄波段植被指数与纹理特征可以提高云阴影区树种分类的精度。使用波段重组后的影像对云阴影下地物分类,其对于单个地物的分类精度也有明显的提高。     

Wild Bonelli’s eagles (Aquila fasciata) as carrier of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella and Campylobacter in Eastern Spain

Wild birds have repeatedly been found to be involved in the dissemination of enteric bacterial pathogens in the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Salmonella and Campylobacter as well as the antimicrobial resistance in wild Bonelli’s eagles nestlings in Eastern Spain. In addition, we compared the efficiency of two sampling methods (fresh faecal samples from nest and cloacal swabs from nestlings) for detection of both bacteria. A total of 28 nests with 45 nestlings were analysed. In the nest, Salmonella occurrence was 61 ± 9.2%, while Campylobacter occurrence was 11 ± 5.8% (p < 0.05). In the nestlings, Salmonella occurrence was 36 ± 7.1%, while Campylobacter occurrence was 11 ± 4.7% (p < 0.05). Eight Salmonella serovars were identified, and the most frequently isolated were S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Houston, and S. Cerro. Only one Campylobacter species was identified (C. jejuni). Regarding antimicrobial resistance, the Salmonella strains isolated were found to be most frequently resistant to ampicillin and to tigecycline; however, the sole Campylobacter strain recovered was multidrug resistant. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that wild Bonelli’s eagles nestlings are greater carriers of Salmonella than of Campylobacter. Both Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates exhibited antimicrobial resistance. In addition, faecal samples from nests were most reliable for Salmonella detection, while cloacal swab from nestlings were most reliable for Campylobacter detection.     

Evaluation of pentoxifylline and Basal Medium Eagle supplemented to diluent on cryopreserved goat spermatozoa

This study investigated the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) and Basal Medium Eagle (BME) on frozen–thawed goat spermatozoa. Immediately after initial examination of ejaculated semen, samples were pooled and reexamined for quality. Then, samples were divided into eight equal aliquots and diluted with a basic tris-extender containing PTX (3, 6, 9 mM) and BME (5 mM) to reach a final concentration of 25 × 10⁹ and frozen. After 24 hr, the samples were individually thawed at 37°C for 30 s and evaluated for different characteristics. Obtained post-thaw results from Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis indicate using of 3 and 6 mM PTX led significantly to an improvement in total motility, progressive motility and velocity characteristics of spermatozoa, except the beat/cross frequency (BCF) which indicated statistically no differences (p > .05) among control and treatments. Diluents prepared with BME (5 mM) and PTX alone (3 and 6 mM) improved significantly the membrane integrity–functionality, acrosome integrity and also hyaluronidase activity. Regarding recovery rate, the results showed significantly (p < .05) higher values for diluents containing 3 and 6 mM PTX compared to other groups. Malondialdehyde concentration exhibited also a significant difference (p < .05) in diluents supplemented with 5 mM BME, 3, 6 and 9 mM PTX, and mixture of 3 mM PTX and 5 mM BME which illustrate a similarity for active mitochondria, apoptotic-like and dead spermatozoa. Finally, the ratio of sperm chromatin dispersion stained spermatozoa presented significant differences (p < .05) among treatments in which the diluents added PTX alone demonstrated significantly lower values than control and extenders containing the mixtures of BME and PTX. In conclusion, the observation in this study indicates using of 3 and 6 mM PTX and BME alone may improve significantly (p < .05) the quality of cryopreserved goat spermatozoa.     

高尔夫球场植物景观设计

随着高尔夫运动的兴起和普及,高尔夫球场的景观设计逐渐成为一个设计专题,植物是高尔夫球场景观的重要组成部分,作者通过对云南澄江老鹰地球场植物种植设计的论述和分析,探讨和总结高尔夫球场不同区域的树木选择及配置要点,即：果岭、发球区、球道及其附属区域,提出5个高尔夫球场的种植设计原则,即：因地制宜的原则、设身处地的原则、满足技术性要求的原则、创造不同特点的球道的原则、节约成本和后期维护费用的原则。通过以上研究以期完善高尔夫球场景观设计理论,为今后的高尔夫球场植物景观设计提供借鉴。     

贵州省大方县老鹰岩地区苔藓植物研究

通过对贵州省大方县老鹰岩地区采集的545份标本进行整理和鉴定,得出该地区苔藓植物有33科64属189种。其中优势科有白发藓科Leucobryaceae、真藓科Bryaceae、羽藓科Thuidiaceae等,优势属有小曲尾藓属Di-cranella、曲柄藓属Campylopus、真藓属Bryum、凤尾藓属Fissidens、青藓属Brachythecium等。而紫萼藓科Grimmi-aceae紫萼藓属Grimmia中的高山紫萼藓Grimmia montana Bruch.&Schimp.为贵州的新纪录种。在区系成分分析中,东亚成分占主导地位,总共45种,占所有种数(不包括世界广布)的33.09%。     

基于AISA Eagle II机载高光谱数据的普洱市山区森林分类

山区森林的精细分类一直是遥感研究的一个难点,而利用高光谱技术识别地物和树种具有巨大潜力。山区的AISA Eagle II机载高光谱数据需经过大气校正和地形辐射校正后才能获得准确的树种光谱信息。采用Support Vector Machine(SVM)方法对山区森林按照森林类型以及树种进行分类,分类结果与实测样地数据和CCD高分辨率影像验证表明:利用AISA Eagle II机载高光谱数据对试验区的森林类型区分具有较好的分类结果,总体精度为97.74%;在树种分类方面也同样具有不错的分类潜力,总体精度为92.11%,但在阔叶树种间存在错分、漏分的现象。     

Valorization of the whole grains of Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum vulgare L. through the investigation of their biochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anticancer and anticalpain activities

Two locally grown wheat species named Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum vulgare L. were studied for their phytochemical contents and their biological activities. T. vulgare presented the highest amounts of total phenolic compounds and ascorbic acids while T. aestivum was found to be rich in flavonoids, flavonols, proanthocynidins and ortho-diphenols. Eleven carotenoids were identified in T. vulgare where the most dominant compounds belongs to α-carotene and its derivatives while T. aestivum presented seven carotenoids. This later presented the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and exhibited a strong reducing power in FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, hydrogen peroxide and reducing power assays. T. vulgare extract was found to be effective in metal chelating power and in scavenging nitric oxide radical. No significant differences in scavenging ABTS and hydroxyl radicals were noted between the two wheat species. T. aestivum inhibited xanthine oxidase and ROS production and showed the best cytotoxic effect while T. vulgare extract exhibited anti-calpain activity.     

High pressure processing manipulated buckwheat antioxidant activity,anti-adipogenic properties and starch digestibility

Effect of high pressure processing (HPP) on buckwheat nutritional properties is investigated in this study. The results indicated that the digestion of buckwheat starches of untreated and HPP treated at room temperature (RT) showed an “internal corrosion” pattern. However, an “exocorrosion” digestion behavior was observed for the starches of HPP treated sample at 45 °C, which might be due to the formation of amylose–lipid complexes during the process as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). HPP treatment at 45 °C increased the antioxidant activity of the buckwheat as measured using 1,1′-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazylvalue (DPPH) and iron chelating capacity (ICC) compared to untreated sample (P < 0.05), which might be associated with the release of bound phenolic compounds. More importantly, this is the first study to investigate the ability of buckwheat extract for inhibiting the formation of fat droplets using a C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cell line, and found that the extract of buckwheat after HPP treatment at 45 °C demonstrated significant anti-adipogenic effects. This study suggested the HPP treatment at an increased temperature (45 °C) achieved a better nutritional value of the buckwheat than both untreated and treated at RT.