Effect of the Pietrain breed used as terminal boar on Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in the offspring in four PMWS-affected farms

The aim of this study was to determine the potential risk factors for PMWS at the individual pig level and assess the effect of the Pietrain paternal genetic background of the animals in a cohort study. The survey was set up in four PMWS-affected farms with 2 repetitions (batches) per farm. A representative sample of 60 pigs per batch, stratified according to the paternal genetic background (Pietrain: yes vs. no), was randomly selected after farrowing. The representative cohort was divided into 8 batches and the pigs were individually monitored from birth to slaughter. Survival analysis was used to determine the factors related to the time to PMWS. The litter-cluster effect was taken into account using the marginal Cox model (robust estimation of the covariance matrix) and the gamma shared frailty model which were compared.No protective effect of the Pietrain breed on the time to PMWS and the proportion of affected pigs in the offspring was found in this study. Piglets showing low circovirus type 2 (PCV2) titres at 7 weeks-old with no subsequent seroconversion and piglets from PCV2 negative sows were most likely to be affected by PMWS (HR=7.0 and 2.8, respectively). Active infection of the pregnant dams with parvovirus was related to an increased risk of PMWS in the offspring (HR=2.3). Neck injuries due to poorly performed injections in the dams were associated with an increased risk of PMWS with the marginal model (HR=2.1). Oxytocin injection (dams) during farrowing was protective against PMWS in the offspring (HR=0.6).     

Therapeutic effects of recombinant human growth hormone on rat sepsis

AIM:To investigate therapeutic effects of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) on rat sepsis and its possible mechanisms.METHODS:Mean arterial pressure (MAP), levels of plasma TNFα, IL-1β and endotoxin, leukocyte count and survival rate within 1 week were determined after E. coli injection among control group, sepsis group and sepsis+rhGH group.RESULTS:(1)rhGH diminished the decrease of MAP, reduced plasma endotoxin and TNFα levels and increased neutrophil ratio in total leukocytes in sepsis rat. rhGH increased survival rate within 1 week on sepsis rat. (2)No changes were found in IL-1β level among the three groups.CONCLUSION:rhGH showed desirable beneficial effects on rat sepsis, which may attribute to: improving circulatory function;maintaining intestinal mucosa barrier, attenuating bacteria/endotoxin translocation and inhibiting the production and release of TNFα.     

修剪方式对广玉兰大树移植成活率及生长的影响

为提高大树移植成活率及探索修剪方式与大树移植成活生长的关系,以20a以上生广玉兰为试材,以全冠移植为对照(CK),分别采用剪去1/3枝叶量的轻度修剪(QX)、剪去2/3枝叶量的中度修剪(ZX)和不留枝叶的截干回缩修剪(JX)3种方式修剪后移植,经过3a连续试验观察,研究不同修剪方式对广玉兰大树移植成活率和生长的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,3种修剪方式极显著提高广玉兰移植后的成活率和新生叶片数、第2年(2013年)和第3年(2014年)的侧梢数、侧梢长度和底径以及第1年(2012年)和第3年(2014年)冠幅生长;与其他2种修剪方式相比,JX显著提高广玉兰移植成活率、第2年(2013年)和第3年(2014年)的侧梢数、顶梢长度、侧梢长度及冠幅生长以及第3年(2014年)的新生叶片数;显著提高第2年(2013年)和第3年(2014年)的侧梢底径。表明截干回缩修剪更有利于广玉兰大树移植的成活和复壮生长。     

Prognostic factors in cats with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cats. HYPOTHESIS: Some baseline variables are associated with shorter survival times in cats with CKD. ANIMALS: Client-owned cats. METHODS: Cats with CKD with initial plasma creatinine concentration > or =2.0 mg/dL and urine specific gravity (USG) < or = 1.025 were recruited into a prospective clinical trial that compared benazepril with a placebo. We describe baseline variables in 190 cats and their influence on renal survival time in the placebo group (95 cats), which was followed for up to 1,097 days. Renal survival time was defined as the time from initiation of therapy to the need for parenteral fluid therapy, euthanasia, or death related to renal failure. RESULTS: Of the 95 cats treated with a placebo, 58 were censored and 37 reached the renal survival end point (died, n = 0; euthanized, n = 17; parenteral fluids, n = 12; parenteral fluids followed by euthanasia, n = 8). Increased plasma creatinine concentration, increased urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC), and increased blood leukocyte count were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were independent risk factors. Increased concentrations of plasma phosphate or urea, and lower blood hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit were significantly (P < .01) associated with a shorter renal survival time and were dependent risk factors, because they also were significantly (P < .01) correlated with plasma creatinine concentration at baseline. CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Several variables were significantly associated with a shorter renal survival time in cats with CKD.     

内蒙古河套灌区节水工程改造效果分析与评估

以内蒙古河套灌区1982—2012年长系列农业净引水量和年降水量资料为基础,运用均值分析、方差分析、相关分析、时间序列分析和生存分析等数理统计学方法,并结合内蒙古河套灌区农业种植发展进程,分析了河套灌区多年农业净引水量变化趋势与影响因素,得出年降水量(超过211.76 mm时,即丰水年)和节水工程改造分别独立地与农业净引水量呈明显负相关关系的结论。运用时间序列法预测了2013、2014和2015年河套灌区的农业净引水量分别为44.5、44.18和43.86亿m3;同时运用生存分析法预测了在灌区现有节水改造规模条件下,河套灌区农业净引水量区间为35~55亿m3,平均为45亿m3。     

Can supplemental food increase winter survival of a threatened cottontail rabbit?

Populations of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) have declined substantially in recent decades in response to habitat loss and fragmentation. Among some remnant populations, cottontails occupy small patches of thicket habitat where they experience high mortality rates as a consequence of limited food during winter. This limitation causes rabbits to forage away from cover where they are exposed to predators. Although conservation efforts are emerging to reverse the decline of New England cottontails, most are directed toward improving long-term viability by increasing the abundance of suitable habitats. Such efforts do little to improve the short-term survival of remaining cottontails. To address this immediate need, we evaluated the use of supplemental food as an approach to improve overwinter survival rates. We speculated that by positioning feeders in close proximity to escape cover, rabbits would be less vulnerable to predators. We evaluated this approach using eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) as a research surrogate because this species is readily available and has similar habitat requirements to New England cottontails. Transmitter-equipped eastern cottontails were randomly assigned to either a fed or unfed group. Remotely-triggered cameras were also used to gauge use of feeders by cottontails and visits by other species. Winter survival rates were substantially greater for fed rabbits (70%) than for unfed rabbits (32%). Cameras revealed that rabbits were the most frequent consumer and that there was only limited carnivore activity near feeders. We conclude that supplemental feeding may improve survival of remaining New England cottontails as efforts to increase habitat availability continue to develop.     

Growth rates and survival of western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) at two temperatures (ambient and 23 °C) and two feeding frequencies

Wild caught post-pueruli, year one and year two post settlement juvenile western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, were held at ambient temperatures (15.6 °C to 23.1 °C; mean 19.0 ± 0.07 °C) or at 23 °C, and fed the same ration of a formulated pellet diet either once per night, or 3 times per night, over 12 months, to determine whether elevated temperatures and multiple feeds per night would stimulate growth through increased metabolism and feed utilisation without significant negative impacts on survival. Survival of post-pueruli (mean 63%) did not differ between ambient and 23 °C. Survival of year 1 and 2 juveniles was higher at ambient temperatures (p < 0.01 ambient: year 1 juveniles, 68%; year 2 juveniles, 88%; 23 °C: 57% and 74%, respectively). Feeding frequency did not affect survival of post-pueruli and year 2 juveniles (mean 63%, 81% respectively), but survival was 9% higher for year 1 juveniles fed three times per night (58% versus 67%; p < 0.01). All lobsters grew faster at 23 °C than at ambient temperatures (p < 0.05), with the growth of post-pueruli almost doubled at 23 °C (weight gain at 23 °C versus ambient: post-pueruli, 18 438 % versus 9 915 %; year 1 juveniles 259% versus 165%; year 2 juveniles 23% versus 21%). Feed frequency did not influence the growth of year 1 and 2 juveniles. However, there was an interaction effect of temperature and feed frequency on post-pueruli where weight and carapace length were significantly higher at ambient temperatures when post-pueruli were fed three times a day, whereas at 23 °C weight and carapace length were significantly greater when fed once per day (p < 0.05). Feed intake (g pellet dry matter lobster^− 1 day^− 1) of pellet was higher at 23 °C for all lobsters (p < 0.05), but was the same between lobsters fed 3 times per night versus once per night. This study has shown that increasing temperatures to 23 °C significantly improved the growth of P. cygnus post-pueruli without any adverse effects on survival. The faster growth rates exhibited by year 1 and 2 juveniles at 23 °C may potentially offset their lower survival by significantly reducing culture period. There is no benefit of feeding P. cygnus multiple times at night in terms of growth and survival. The implications for P. cygnus culture are that temperatures should be maintained close to 23 °C during the entire growout period, with due care taken to minimise mortalities through adequate provision of food and shelter. Feeding P. cygnus once daily to excess just prior to dusk to co-incide with nocturnal feeding behaviour is recommended.     

Influence of light intensity on feeding, growth, and early survival of leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) larvae under mass-scale rearing conditions

This study investigated the effect of different light intensities on feeding, growth and survival of early stage leopard coral grouper Plectropomus leopardus larvae. Four different light intensities (0, 500, 1000 and 3000 lx) were used and larvae were kept under constant light conditions from 0 day after hatching (DAH) to 5 DAH. The larvae were fed a small S-type of Thai strain rotifers at a density of 20 individuals/mL from 2 DAH. The number of rotifers in larval digestive organ and total length of larvae were examined at 3 h intervals between 04:00 and 22:00 h on 3 DAH, and thereafter at 6 h intervals until the end of the experiment (5 DAH). Four experimental trials of the larval rearing were repeated using by 60 kL mass-scale rearing tanks. The results indicate that coral grouper larvae are visual feeders and their food intake increases with increasing light intensity. Food intake of larvae reared at 3000 lx was significantly higher than those reared at 0–1000 lx on 3 DAH despite being the first-feeding day (P < 0.01). On 4 DAH, total length of larvae reared at 3000 lx was significantly larger than those reared at the lower light intensities (0, 500 and 1000 lx), and thereafter light intensity significantly influenced larval feeding and growth until the end of the experiment. Survival on 5 DAH did not show a significant difference between light intensities, but survival rate at 3000 lx and 1000 lx had a tendency to be higher than those reared at the lower light intensities (0 and 500 lx). In contrast, larvae reared at 0 lx exhibited stagnant and/or negative growth. These results indicate that light intensity is significantly the factor affecting larval feeding, growth, and survival in coral grouper larvae under the rearing conditions.     

Rearing performance of Clarias batrachus larvae: Effect of age at stocking on growth and survival during fingerling production

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the rearing performance of different larval stages for optimum growth and survival during fingerling production of Clarias batrachus with an aim to reduce the rearing time of the catfish larvae in a hatchery system. The larvae were reared for 5, 10 and 15 days before stocking them in the nursery tanks. No significant (P < 0.05) difference could be found in length increment at the end of first week of rearing. But the total length was reduced during rest three weeks in five days old larvae compared to that of other two higher age groups. In 5 days old larvae the reduced weight (P < 0.05) was observed during the entire rearing period. However, the specific growth rate (SGR) did not vary among the groups. The survival rate as well as total biomass was decreased while stocking five days old larvae for rearing, compared to that of other two age groups.     

杂草环境下转EPSPS基因大豆NZL06-698的生态适应性研究

为研究转EPSPS基因大豆NZL06-698在杂草环境中的生态适应性,试验设置杂草处理模拟野外环境,研究转基因大豆NZL06-698(GT698)的生存竞争能力以及外源EPSPS蛋白表达情况。结果表明:在相同处理下转基因大豆GT698的株高(R8期)、百粒重显著高于亲本大豆蒙豆12(MD12),但单株产量、单株籽粒数、结实率显著低于亲本大豆,说明外源基因的存在并未增强转基因大豆的生存竞争力,且转基因大豆在野外的生存竞争能力与亲本大豆相比较弱。试验注意到,杂草环境对转EPSPS基因大豆的生长有明显的限制作用,杂草处理下转基因大豆的单株产量、单株籽粒数、百粒重、结实率等指标均显著低于对照处理。ELISA检测结果表明,转基因大豆叶片及籽粒中外源EPSPS蛋白在杂草处理及对照中均正常表达,且两种处理下的EPSPS蛋白表达量无显著差异。以上结果表明杂草环境中转基因大豆的EPSPS蛋白正常表达,正常提供抗草甘膦性状,但是外源基因的存在并没有增加转基因大豆的生存竞争能力,且转基因大豆的生长受到杂草环境的显著抑制,由此得出结论:与亲本大豆相比,转EPSPS基因大豆NZL06-698在野外环境中生态适应能力较弱。