In situ radiometric mapping of soil erosion and field-moist bulk density on cultivated fields

Abstract. Recent developments in in situγ ray spectrometry offer a new approach to measuring the activity of radionuclides such as ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in soils, and thus estimating erosion or deposition rates and field moist bulk density (ρ_m). Such estimates would be rapid and involve minimal site disturbance, especially important where archaeological remains are present. This paper presents the results of a pilot investigation of an eroded field in Scotland in which a portable hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure γ ray spectra in situ. The gamma (γ) photon flux observed at the soil surface is a function of the ¹³⁷Cs inventory, its depth distribution characteristics and ρ_m. A coefficient, Q_Cs, derived from the forward scattering of ¹³⁷Cs γ ray photons within the soil profile relative to the ¹³⁷Cs full energy peak (662 keV), was used to correct the in situ calibration for changes in the ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution in the ploughed field, a function of tillage, soil accumulation and ρ_m. Based on only 8 measurements, the agreement between in situγ ray spectrometry and soil sample measurements of ¹³⁷Cs inventories improved from a non significant r²=0.05 to a significant r²=0.62 (P<0.05). Erosion and deposition rates calculated from the corrected in situ¹³⁷Cs measurements had a similarly good agreement with those calculated from soil cores. Mean soil bulk density was also calculated using a separate coefficient, Q_K, derived from the forward scattering γ photons from ⁴⁰K within the soil relative to the ⁴⁰K full energy peak (1460 keV). Again there was good agreement with soil core measurements (r²=0.64; P<0.05). The precision of the in situ¹³⁷Cs measurement was limited by the precision with which Q_Cs can be estimated, a function of the low ¹³⁷Cs deposition levels associated with the weapons testing fallout and relatively low detector efficiency (35%). In contrast, the precision of the in situ ρ_m determination was only limited by the spatial variability associated with soil sampling.     

Genetic Engineering Approaches to Pig Production*

Modern biotechnology promises a number of new applications in animal breeding and production. Although conventional pig breeding has achieved a high level of efficiency and productivity numerous problems have been encountered with animal health and the loss of meat quality. Selection based on phenotypic performance data of individual animals does not take into account the importance of specific genes and their relevance within a complex regulatory system. In most cases it is therefore difficult to trace back the genetic origins of clinically important disorders. The application of genetic engineering techniques in pig production will facilitate diagnosis, improvement of productivity, and animal health by allowing direct genetic manipulation. Attention must be focussed on the physical and genetic analysis of the procine genome. The isolation and characterisation of genes, DNA-markers, polymorphic DNA-fragments, and their chromosomal assignment will be important prerequisites and tools for the elucidation of genetic disorders. Especially the detection of heterozygous carriers of recessive disorders and their elimination from the breeding stock will increase selection accuracy and decrease the generation intervals. But also the rapid and simple detection of infectious diseases, which is sometimes difficult if not impossible at present, will improve animal health and welfare. Although the production of transgenic animals either by DNA-microinjection into zygotes or the use of embryonal stem cells manipulated in vitro is less straightforward than DNA-based diagnosis it will play an important role in the direct manipulation of the porcine genome and genes. Breeding programmes including the use of transgenic livestock have already been developed. There is no doubt that genetic engineering has reached a degree of practical feasibility, allowing it to play an important role in pig breeding in particular and animal production in general.     

家畜繁殖生物技术研究现状及趋势

牛胚胎移植技术已趋于成熟。我国新疆牧科院用一步细管法移植牛冻胚受胎率达41%;牛和羊鲜胚四分胚移植也产下1头犊牛和6只羔羊。家畜体外受精,因卵子体外成熟和受精卵体外培养尚不过关,目前仍停留在实验室阶段。胚胎性别鉴定,1990年Koopman发现单拷贝基因,该基因是Y染色体的性决定区,命名为SRY,可利用PCR技术制成雄性特异DNA探针盒,进行马、牛、羊、猪早期胚胎性别鉴定。北京农学院等单位用PCR扩增牛SRY序列进行奶牛胚胎性别鉴定准确率达100%。英、日、法等国已获得牛胚胎细胞核移植后代;我国也获得1只核移植兔。北农大和新疆牧科院合作以绵羊精子为载体导入牛生长激素基因rMTbGH DNA成功,外源基因整合率为3%。     

肉兔双列杂交遗传效应的分析

本试验采用了５品种完全双列杂交，用Ｈａｖｅｙ程序对德国花巨兔（Ｇ）、比利时兔（Ｂ）、新西兰白兔（Ｎ）、加利福尼亚兔（Ｃ）、丹麦白兔（Ｄ）的主要生产性能进行了遗传效应分析。首次采用加性——显性模型分析了优势杂交组合优势性状的基因效应值与杂种优势率的关系，对杂种优势机理作了一定探讨。结果表明：最佳杂交父本、母本分别为Ｇ（♂）或Ｎ（♂）、Ｎ（♀）；最优杂交组合为ＧＢ、ＮＧ。此外，ＧＮ、ＤＮ、ＧＣ、ＢＣ也不失为优秀组合     

家蚕第2隐性赤蚁的遗传学研究——Ⅱ.ch-2基因的连锁分析

Ch-2基因是继ch之后新发现的一种隐性赤蚁ch-2基因与pM(2)、Ze(3)、L(4)、Pe(5)、E~(EL)(6)、q(7)、st(8)、I(9)、w-2(10)、ms(12)、cf(13)、U(14)、Se(15)、cts(16)、B_m(17)、nb(19)、rb(21)、or(22)、sp(23)、Nd(25)、及Y_m等各标志基因都是独立遗传.Ch-2与mln杂交F_2代分离+ch-2+min:ch-2+min:ch-2mln:ch-2mln=523:284:231:0≈2:1:1:0;ch-2与elp杂交F_2代分离+ch-2+elf:ch-2+elp:+ch-2elp:ch-2elp=219:97:68:0≈2:1:1:0,充分说明ch-2与mln、elp是连锁遗传的,即ch-2基因位于第18连锁群.     

Association of polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM:To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).METHODS:The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor γ chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China.RESULTS:The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54.4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17.2% and 42.9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24.4%) and G allele (45.6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31.4% and 57.1%, respectively) (P＜0.05). The TT genotype and T allele at position -29 were not associated with lupus nephritis in SLE patients (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.     

Preparation of gfp-bcl-XL-contained recombinant adenovirus vector by the homologous recombination in bacteria

AIM: To prepare gfp-bcl-X_L-contained recombinant adenovirus(rAd-gfp-bcl-X_L).METHODS: Bcl-X_L gene was amplified from pEGFP-C₃-bcl-X_L, subcloned into shuttle plasmid and formed transfer plasmid of pAdTrack-CMV-bcl-X_L. Then pAdTrack-CMV-bcl-X_L was linealinzed with PmeI and co-transformed into BJ5183 bacteria with adenovirus genomic plasmid of pAdEasy-1. The identified recombinant adenovirus plasmid was digested with PacI and transfected into 293 cells to package recombinant adenovirus particles. The target gene was detected by PCR.RESULTS: There were about 35% positive recombinant bacterial clones after the co-transformation of pAdTrack-CMV-bcl-X_L and pAdEasy-1 into BJ5183. Recombinant adenovirus particle were produced and further amplified after the transfection of pAdEasy-1-gfp-bcl-X_L into 293 cells. PCR test indicated that the recombinant Ad contained bcl-X_L gene. The titer of the purified rAd-gfp-bcl-X_L was 6.5×10¹² PFU/L. CONCLUSIONS: The homologous recombination in bacteria is a convenient and high efficient method to prepare rAd-gfp-bcl-X_L. This affords a good gene transfer vector for the gene therapy in human’s diseases.     

Effects of blocking the expression of PKARⅠβ gene with antisense nucleotide on Shuang long-Jie gu Pill (SLJGP) containing serum osteoblast proliferation

AIM: To further investigate the role of PKARⅠβ in the growth-promoting effects of shuang long Jiegu pill (SLJGP), a Chinese medicine, on cultured osteoblasts. METHODS: pcDNA- antiPKARⅠβ, a recombinant expressing the antisense sequence of PKARⅠβ, was constructed and transformed HFOB1.19 by lipofectin. MTT was undertaken to assess the cell growth with the treatment of high dosage of SLJGP containing serum. RESULTS: Antisense gene blocked the growth-promoting effects of SLJGP containing serum on HFOB1.19. CONCLUSION: The function of SLJGP is closely related to cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.     

籼稻9311HR-T显性高秆基因的初步定位

从转入bar基因的籼稻半矮秆材料9311HR的BC3F2中发现了1株高秆突变体9311HR-T,其株高和秆长分别比野生型9311HR增加60.8%和71.5%,其高秆性状受1对显性基因控制.以9311HR-T与02428杂交产生的F2群体为材料,利用微卫星标记将9311HR-T高秆基因定位在水稻第1染色体长臂上的SSR标记RM472和RM1387之间,距RM472和 RM1387的遗传距离分别为8.6 cM和12.3 cM,该基因暂命名为DT1.