Ontogenetic development of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of the mallard embryo

Summary Developmental changes of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of mallard embryos were studied by means of immunocytochemistry (PAP technique). The primary antibody was generated against synthetic TRH. Immunoreactive neurons were first detected in the hypothalamus of 14-day-old embryos. By day 20, increasing numbers of immunoreactive perikarya were observed in the paraventricular nucleus, anterior preoptic region and supraoptic region. Immunoreactive fiber projections were seen in the median eminence as early as embryonic day 20; they occurred also in some extrahypothalamic regions (lateral septum, accumbens nucleus). The number and staining intensity of the cell bodies increased up to hatching, and continued to increase during the first week after hatching.     

机场周边家鸽飞行行为的潜在鸟击风险初步研究

鸟击防控是一个世界性难题。家鸽（Columba livia domestica）是机场生物多样性调查中最常见鸟类,也是历史上鸟击高危物种之一,还是唯一由于人工大量放飞导致严重鸟击事故的物种。2020年9月至2021年1月,在我国4个机场,针对机场周边23家鸽户,共149只家鸽开展卫星追踪放飞实验研究,获得了家鸽个体在机场周边的飞行时间、飞行距离、飞行高度等个体运动参数。研究发现,1）单次放飞时长多在1 ~ 4 h,单次平均放飞时长为（2.9 ± 1.6）h。在鸽户自主放飞家鸽和家鸽自由回笼的动态过程中,下午活动在外的家鸽数量较多,尤其15:00 ~ 17:59时段是活动在外家鸽数量最多的时段。2）飞行距离多在3.0 km范围内,最远可达8.9 km;存在家鸽飞行范围覆盖机场现象的鸽户占比45%。3）飞行高度主要在200 m及以下,平均飞行高度为（29 ± 28）m。本研究结果表明,下午,尤其是15:00 ~ 17:59时段应作为家鸽防控的重点时段,机场周边10 km以及高度0 ~ 200 m的范围应作为家鸽防控的重点空间范围。根据《中华人民共和国民用航空法（2021修正）》第五十八条明确规定“不得饲养、放飞影响飞行安全的鸟类动物和其他物体”,需要建立相应的问责机制、加强有效监管,以降低家鸽鸟击风险。     

Effect of weight and storage time of broiler breeders’ eggs on morphology and biochemical features of eggs,embryogenesis, hatchability,and chick quality

The transfer of hatchability results obtained under experimental conditions to the commercial ground with a positive financial effect proves the value and usefulness of these data. On the other hand, finding results on commercial processes of broiler breeders’ egg incubation in the literature is challenging. The presented study aimed to determine the effects of egg weight and storage time on the physical, biochemical characteristics of hatching eggs, embryogenesis and hatchability in Ross 308 broiler breeders. On the laying day, the eggs were divided into four weight groups: S – small eggs (57–61 g), M – medium eggs (62–66 g), L – large eggs (67–71 g), and XL – extra-large eggs (72–76 g). The eggs were then stored for 3, 7, 14, and 21 days under controlled conditions. As the egg storage time increased, a decrease in the yolk quality (lower index) was observed. The highest Haugh units were found in eggs from the S and M groups. The cholesterol content of the M, L, and XL groups was lower on days 7, 14, and 21 as compared to that of eggs only stored for 3 days. Egg weight loss during incubation decreased with an increase in the egg weight. An extension of the egg storage time caused an increase in the loss of egg weight. On the 14th and 18th days of hatching, an increase in the eggshell temperature was noted with an increase in the weight of the egg. The eggs stored for 7 days were characterised by the highest shell temperature on each day. The highest hatchability percentage was recorded for the M group. The hatchability rate decreased with the prolongation of the storage time, while the number of crippled chicks after hatching increased. The results confirmed that the increased weight of the eggs and prolonged storage time (14 and 21 days) increased the weight and decreased the length of the newly hatched chicks, respectively. Chicks from the heaviest eggs and those stored for 14 and 21 days showed poor results on the Pasgar score® test. The observations indicate the need to adopt various (of those available) methods to assess the quality of newly hatched chicks in hatcheries in order to produce high-quality broiler chickens. The results also indicate that prolonged egg storing beyond 14 days may affect the thyroid hormone economy during the hatching of chicks, especially in the XL group.     

华东地区家鸭中N1亚型禽流感病毒NA基因的遗传进化分析

为了解华东地区家鸭内禽流感病毒的遗传进化情况,对2002~2006年分离自华东地区家鸭的3种主要N1亚型的禽流感病毒:2株H1N1、10株H3N1和14株H5N1,共26株病毒的NA基因进行了遗传进化分析。结果表明,华东地区家鸭中的N1亚型的禽流感病毒正处于不断进化状态中。14株H5N1禽流感病毒均在NA的茎部缺失20个氨基酸(49~68位),而其他N1亚型的禽流感病毒的NA都未见发生此缺失。H3N1病毒可能与H1N1病毒发生了NA基因的重排,但是目前还没有直接证据表明华东地区家鸭中H5N1禽流感参与了基因重排。     

Suppression of estrus in cats with melatonin implants

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a subcutaneous melatonin implant to suppress estrus in queens (felis catus). The hypothesis was that this implant would temporarily and reversibly suppress estrus in queens without producing any clinically detectable side effects. Fourteen adult queens were maintained in cages under artificial illumination (14 h light:10 h dark) for 45 d and then randomly assigned to one of two treatments. At interestrus, queens received a single subcutaneous melatonin implant (18 mg; Melovine [CEVA Sante Animal, Libourne, France]; MEL: n = 9), or a single subcutaneous placebo implant without melatonin (0 mg; PLA; n = 5). At the next estrus, all queens received a second MEL (n = 9) or PLA (n = 5) implant. Blood samples were taken when queens displayed estrous signs and during interestrus to measure estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄), respectively, by radioimmunoassay. There were no significant differences in duration of the interestrus interval in PLA cats, regardless of whether the implants were placed during interestrus or estrus (6.0 ± 9.7 d vs. 6.0 ± 9.7 d, respectively; least square means [LSM] ± SEM). However, when MEL implants were placed during interestrus, the duration of interestrus was approximately twice as long as that occurring when MEL implants were placed during estrus (113.3 ± 6.1 d vs. 61.1 ± 6.8 d, respectively; P < 0.01). Serum E₂ and P₄ concentrations were similar in queens with PLA and MEL implants and in queens that received implants in estrus and interestrus. In conclusion, a subcutaneous MEL implant effectively and reversibly suppressed estrus in queens for approximately 2 to 4 mo with no clinically detectable side effects.     

Nitrogen Behaviour and Nitrous Oxide Emission in the Tidal Seine River Estuary (France) as Influenced by Human Activities in the Upstream Watershed

The Seine River estuary (France) is the receptacle of a drainage basin characterised by high population density, heavy industrial activity and intensive agriculture. Whereas nitrate concentrations are high due to diffuse sources in the upstream drainage basin, ammonium mainly originates from the effluents of the Achères wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) downstream from Paris and its suburbs (6.5 million equivalent-inhabitants). Ammonium is mostly nitrified in the tidal freshwater estuary and nitrification causes a strong summer oxygen deficit. Average longitudinal summer profiles of oxygen and nitrogen concentrations for two periods, between 1993–1997 and 1998–2003 in dry hydrological conditions (excluding the wet years 2000 and 2001) clearly reflect the changes due to the improved treatment of wastewater from Paris and its suburbs. On the basis of daily water flux data and twice monthly nitrogen measurements at the boundaries of the upstream freshwater estuarine section (108 km), we calculated nitrification and denitrification fluxes, whose annual averages were 43 and 71 × 10³ kg N d⁻¹ respectively from 1993 to 2003, with summer values (July–September) representing 73 and 57% of the annual fluxes, respectively. The degree of denitrification in the upper estuary appears to be closely related to the nitrification, itself more loosely related to the amount of reduced nitrogen (Kjeldahl) brought by the treated effluents from the Achères WWTP. We estimated the total N₂O emissions to about 40 kg N d⁻¹ (25–60 kg N d⁻¹) in the same sector.     

Assessing the cryptic invasion of a domestic conspecific: American mink in their native range

Control of invasions is facilitated by their early detection, but this may be difficult when invasions are cryptic due to similarity between invaders and native species. Domesticated conspecifics offer an interesting example of cryptic invasions because they have the ability to hybridize with their native counterparts, and can thus facilitate the introgression of maladaptive genes. We assessed the cryptic invasion of escaped domestic American mink (Neovison vison) within their native range. Feral mink are a known alien invader in many parts of the world, but invasion of their native range is not well understood. We genetically profiled 233 captive domestic mink from different farms in Ontario, Canada and 299 free‐ranging mink from Ontario, and used assignments tests to ascertain genetic ancestries of free‐ranging animals. We found that 18% of free‐ranging mink were either escaped domestic animals or hybrids, and a tree regression showed that these domestic genotypes were most likely to occur south of a latitude of 43.13°N, within the distribution of mink farms in Ontario. Thus, domestic mink appear not to have established populations in Ontario in locations without fur farms. We suspect that maladaptation of domestic mink and outbreeding depression of hybrid and introgressed mink have limited their spread. Mink farm density and proximity to mink farms were not important predictors of domestic genotypes but rather, certain mink farms appeared to be important sources of escaped domestic animals. Our results show that not all mink farms are equal with respect to biosecurity, and thus that the spread of domestic genotypes can be mitigated by improved biosecurity.     

The ‘other’ looks back: racial distancing and racial alignment in migrant domestic workers' stereotypes about white and Chinese employers

While the racial and ethnic stereotyping practised by the employers of migrant domestic workers has received significant scholarly attention, these workers' racial essentializations of their employers have been largely ignored. Drawing upon interviews with Filipino migrant domestic workers in Singapore and Hong Kong, I present findings concerning the racial stereotypes these workers hold about white and Chinese employers. This stereotyping involves both racial distancing from local Chinese employers and racial alignment with expatriate white employers. This two-track racial project is a defensive tactic that allows Filipino workers to redefine themselves as occupying a higher position in the global racial order (as they see it) on cultural grounds. However, it also makes them complicit in naturalizing legacy stereotypes that valorize whites as morally and culturally superior. In addition, it encourages them to privilege the West as an idealized destination where they fantasize they will enjoy comfortable working conditions from local white employers.     

Movement of neurosecretory product through the anatomical compartments of the neural lobe of the pituitary gland

Summary Electron microscopic studies of the carotid body of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) have shown Type I and Type II cells combined with axons into compact groups. The many Type I cells in the depths of the organ had a body, containing the nucleus, and an elongated, flared process. Some of the Type I cells in the superficial regions tended to be spindle-shaped. Type I cells were characterised by membrane-bound, dense-cored vesicles about 120 nm in diameter. Type II cells invested the Type I cells and had axons embedded in them as in Schwann cells.The fine structure of the carotid body in the domestic fowl resembles that of the Lovebird (Uroloncha domestica) and of various amphibia and mammals. The possibility is discussed that the Type I cells may have a chemoreceptor or a general secretory function, or even both pathway for functions together. The main role of the Type II cells seems to be to provide a of these axons leading to or from Type I cells.The authors are grateful to Mr. R. P. Gould of the Department of Anatomy, Middlesex Hospital Medical School for permission to use some of his and Dr. Hodges' original material in the illustrations. Dr. Hodges also wishes to thank the A.R.C. and the University of London Central Research Fund for financial assistance. We are also most appreciative of the photographic assistance of J. Geary.     

家猫的胚胎工程

家猫是惟一一种没有被列为珍稀或濒危的猫科动物。通过家猫的胚胎工程研究,对保护其它濒危猫科物种有重要的借鉴意义。本文描述了家猫的一般生殖特点,着床前的胚胎在体内的发育概况;综述了近年来对家猫的超数排卵,卵母细胞的体外成熟,体外受精,胚胎的体外培养,胚胎移植,冷冻保存和胚胎克隆等方面的研究进展。