一种新的DNA序列进化距离及其应用

为了研究核苷酸变异,通过DNA序列的同源率,建立了DNA序列进化的动力学方程,进而得到了一种新的物种间进化距离dy(选择进化距离).由于核苷酸替代模型有很多,选用其中的4种模型,计算出其相应的选择进化距离dy,该进化距离包含了4种模型下的p距离、替代率为常数的距离d和替代率服从Г分布的Г距离dG.进一步根据动力学方程的特点,将模型转化为一元线性回归问题,用最小二乘法求得选择模型中的动力学参数b和各核苷酸位点每年的平均替代速率r.以16个物种的线粒体基因序列为例,说明这种新的进化距离并通过构建不同进化距离下的基因进化树来对各进化距离进行比较.结果表明:选择进化距离dy是一种有效的构建进化距离的方法.     

A comparison of lymphocyte antigen specificities in Norwegian and Swiss goats

In all, 363 alloantireagents were tested in Berne, Switzerland and in Oslo, Norway against lymphocytes from 1679 goats of different breeds. The same lymphocytotoxicity test was used at both laboratories. The test data were pooled, and correlation coefficients for pairs of sera were used to group the sera in clusters. Twelve clusters were accepted as defining lymphocyte antigen specificities believed to be coded by genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The specificities defined by these clusters were designated Eu1-Eu12. Two clusters defined specificities which were not coded from loci within the MHC. These were designated GLY-1.1 and GLY-2.1, and the loci GLY-1 and GLY-2, respectively. GLY-1.1 was also located on erythrocytes.     

A comparison of lymphocyte antigen specificities in Norwegian and Swiss goats

Summary. In all, 363 alloantireagents were tested in Berne, Switzerland and in Oslo, Norway against lymphocytes from 1679 goats of different breeds. The same lymphocytotoxicity test was used at both laboratories. The test data were pooled, and correlation coefficients for pairs of sera were used to group the sera in clusters. Twelve clusters were accepted as defining lymphocyte antigen specificities believed to be coded by genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The specificities defined by these clusters were designated Eu 1-Eu12. Two clusters defined specificities which were not coded from loci within the MHC. These were designated GLY-1.1 and GLY-2.1, and the loci GLY-1 and GLY-2, respectively. GLY-1.1 was also located on erythrocytes.     

A distance measure based on binary character data and its application to phylogeny reconstruction

An essentially new method to relate a number of taxa on the basis of a predefined set of dichotomous properties (i.e. either present or not present) is described. The basic step of the analysis is the derivation of a sophisticated distance measure to describe the pairwise dissimilarities quantitatively on the basis of the individual properties. The presentation of the dissimilarity matrix by a tree-like structure is an obvious step implicated by the the distance measure and is related to the widely used method of successive joining of nearest neighbors with respect to the distances. The distance measure makes no use of stochastic or other mathematical models of evolutionary processes and can be interpreted best in terms of discrete information theory.     

Milk fat depression and plasma lipids in dairy cows and goats

This study examines the effects of diets supplemented with various lipids selected to induce divergent milk fat content responses (including a milk fat depression) between dairy cows and goats on plasma lipid composition. The objective was to better understand the mechanisms behind the regulation of milk fat secretion in these two ruminant species. Twelve Holstein cows and 12 Alpine goats were fed a basal diet not supplemented (CTL) or supplemented with corn oil plus wheat starch (COS, 5% DM intake (DMI)), marine algae powder of Schizochytrium sp. (MAP, 1.5% DMI), or hydrogenated palm oil (HPO, 3% DMI), in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design, during 28 days. On day 27, blood samples were collected for lipid analysis. Plasma lipid classes were quantified by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, with triacylglycerol (TAG) and free fatty acid (FFA) fractions analysed for FA composition by GLC. Plasma molecular species of TAG and ceramides were determined by HPLC–high-resolution MS and by liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole, respectively. Irrespective of diet, plasma total lipid content was higher in cows than goats (+61%), and TAG concentration was higher in goats than cows (+157%). In cows, conversely to goats, COS increased the trans-10 C18:1 proportion in the free FA (+248%) and the TAG (+195%) fractions. In cows and goats, MAP induced increases in cholesterol esters, cholesterol and phospholipids compared to CTL and changes in the plasma free FA and FA of TAG profiles. In both ruminant species, the concentrations of the lipid fractions were unchanged by HPO compared to CTL. Our results point to species specificities and different diet effects in plasma concentrations and compositions of lipid fractions in cows and goats. These new data highlight how diets, that induce large variations in milk fat secretions, affect the plasma lipid classes available for milk fat synthesis.     

薄层细胞涂片新方法在宫颈细胞学检查中应用的研究

目的：研究一种新的宫颈细胞薄层涂片方法,以提高传统手工涂片方法的制片质量。方法：随机选择的妇科门诊病人100例,随机分成2组,薄层细胞涂片组和手工涂片组,其中薄层细胞涂片组的刮片标本经过我们设计的双层滤网的过滤和分离液离心的步骤去除标本中的黏液、炎细胞和血细胞。这两组得到的涂片根据其细胞分布的均匀度及细胞重叠的多少,把涂片的结果分为满意、基本满意和不满意。结果：薄层细胞涂片组的涂片质量满意率（98％）高于手工涂片组的涂片质量满意程度（32％．P〈0．01）。讨论：薄层细胞涂片法在宫颈细胞学检查中的满意程度明显好于传统手工涂片（P〈0．01）,有统计学意义。效果稳定,适合在大范围内推广。薄层细胞涂片法相对于传统手工涂片有5大优点,大大提高了宫颈细胞学诊断的准确性。     

A close keeper-nonhuman animal distance does not reduce undesirable behavior in contact yard goats and sheep

This study investigated the relation between zookeeper-nonhuman animal distance and the undesirable behavior goats and sheep exhibited toward visitors of Zoo Atlanta's contact yard. It hypothesized that a close distance between keeper and animal would be associated with a lower rate of undesirable behavior than would a distant keeper-animal distance. The study recorded rate of undesirable behavior exhibited, number of visitors in the yard, and number of times visitors touched an animal under near and distant keeper-animal distances. Seven African pygmy goats (Capra hircus) and 4 Romanov sheep (Ovis aries) were the subjects. The study used linear regression methods to analyze approximately 48 hr of behavioral data collected using a focal sampling technique. Findings indicated a familiar animal keeper nearby was not associated with lower rates of undesirable behavior toward visitors. Higher rates of undesirable behavior occurred when keepers were nearby than when they were distant. The study also found that undesirable behavior increased as visitors' touching of the animals increased. Applying the study's findings may improve human-animal interactions and increase animal well-being in a contact yard through animal management techniques.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of terguride following intramuscular administration in cows and goats

The pharmacokinetics of intramuscular terguride (transdihydrolisuride) was evaluated in a single-dose study in cows (doses 100, 62 and 31 micrograms/kg b.w.) and goats (dose 100 micrograms/kg b.w.). A radioreceptor assay was used to quantitative plasma terguride concentrations. The peak plasma concentrations of terguride were attained within 0.6 h of the drug administration and then decreased monoexponentially with half-life of 1.3 h (cows) and 2 h (goats). The pharmacokinetics of terguride in cows is nearly linear. Pharmacodynamics of terguride was expressed as reduction in plasma prolactin levels. Maximal decline in prolactin was observed 3-4 h following terguride administration and the effect lasted for about 24 h.     

A Poisson model of sequence comparison and its application to coronavirus phylogeny

In this paper, we propose two metrics to compare DNA and protein sequences based on a Poisson model of word occurrences. Instead of comparing the frequencies of all fixed-length words in two sequences, we consider (1) the probability of ‘generating’ one sequence under the Poisson model estimated from the other; (2) their different expression levels of words. Phylogenetic trees of 25 viruses including SARS-CoVs are constructed to illustrate our approach.     

A comparison of food selection and foraging behavior in juvenile and adult goats

Young animals face unique constraints in foraging on rangelands. They are at an inherent disadvantage to older animals because they have higher nutritional requirements and they lack foraging experience. Comparisons were made in diet selection, foraging time and weight changes for adult (does) and juvenile (kids) goats foraging at two stocking rates (heavy vs. light) during the winter of 1979 on rangeland dominated by blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima). The previous experiences of adult and juvenile goats differed because does had browsed blackbrush during the winter of 1978, while kids were raised from birth until 6 months of age on alfalfa hay. Does and kids in the heavily stocked pasture consumed diets that were similar in percentage blackbrush (95 vs. 94), blackbrush leaf:stem ratios (0.44 vs. 0.45), crude protein (7.2 vs. 6.9%) and in vitro digestible organic matter (39.3 vs. 39.2%). Does and kids in the lightly stocked pasture consumed diets that were similar in blackbrush leaf:stem ratios (0.41 vs. 0.42) and crude protein (6.6 vs. 6.6%), but does consumed diets that were slightly higher (P = 0.039) in percentage blackbrush (94 vs. 88), but lower (P = 0.028) in in vitro digestible organic matter (36.0 vs. 39.5%). Kids spent considerably more time foraging than did does (P < 0.0000) in both the heavily (59 vs. 41%) and the lightly (65 vs. 47%) stocked pastures. Kids also lost a greater percentage of body weight (P = 0.02) than did does (22 vs. 17).     

A simplified fertility test in the dairy bull utilizing superovulated dairy cows

Dairy bull fertility level has received less attention than production transmitting ability. A simplified fertility test may be beneficial. A study was designed to test the use of tris-(1-aziridinyl)-phosphine oxide (TEPA) treated sperm, which arrests early cell division of the fertilized egg, in heterospermic insemination of superovulated cows. Semen samples were collected and pooled from University of Illinois dairy bulls. Semen samples were washed once, suspended in Illini Variable Temperature diluent (IVT) and incubated with or without TEPA (1.0 to 5.0 mg/ml) for 15 min. Samples were then washed again to remove excess TEPA. Additions of 1.0 to 5.0 mg/ml TEPA to sperm concentrations of 8 x 10(8) sperm/ml had no adverse effect on motility or morphology. The first part of the study utilized superovulated cows inseminated with treated (six cows) or untreated (six cows) sperm in different samples from the same bulls. Secondly, superovulated cows (eight cows) were artificially inseminated with treated and untreated split ejaculates from the same bulls. Lastly, superovulated cows (five cows) were heterospermically inseminated with treated (bull No. 1) and untreated (bull No. 2) spermatozoa. Out of 54 and 39 ova recovered in control and test cows, 40 blastocysts and 31 embryos arrested at the one- to five-cell stage resulted, respectively. Out of a predicted 123 ovulations, 78 fertilized ova were recovered; 40 of these were fertilized by control spermatozoa and 36 by TEPA-treated spermatozoa for parts one and two of the study respectively. These results indicated no significant difference in fertilizability of ova between control and TEPA-treated spermatozoa. Of 41 fertilized ova recovered (part 3), bull No. 1 fertilized significantly more ova (mean +/- standard deviation 5.0 +/- 2.3) than bull No. 2 (2.6 +/- 1.8). Results indicate a difference in fertility between bulls.     

A comparison of adrenal gland function in lactating dairy cows with or without ovarian follicular cysts

Two experiments were conducted to determine if adrenal secretion of steroids differed between cows that formed ovarian follicular cysts and normal cycling cows. In experiment 1, lactating Jersey and Holstein cows were diagnosed as having ovarian follicular cysts (follicle diameter >or=20 mm) by rectal palpation. Following diagnosis, ovaries were examined by transrectal ultrasonography three times weekly to detect subsequent ovulation (n=8) or new cyst formation (n=9). Venous blood samples were collected daily to quantify circulating concentrations of cortisol and progesterone. The average concentration of cortisol during the 10-day period prior to ovulation was not different from the concentration prior to the formation of a new cyst. In experiment 2, secretion of cortisol and progesterone was examined in cows with ovarian follicular cysts (n=4) and cyclic, control cows in the follicular phase of the estrous cycle (n=4). An adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge was administered to cystic cows 4-7 days after new cyst formation and to cyclic cows in the follicular phase of the cycle (36 h after induction of luteolysis). Jugular venous blood samples were collected at -60, -30, 0, +10, +20, +30, +60, +90, +120, +180, +240, +300 and +360 minutes relative to ACTH administration. A rapid increase in both cortisol and progesterone was observed immediately following administration of ACTH in each treatment group. Peak concentrations of both steroids were achieved within 60 minutes after administration of ACTH. Concentrations of cortisol and progesterone did not differ between cystic and cyclic cows. In summary, no differences in adrenal function were detected between normal cycling cows and cows with ovarian follicular cysts.     

LZ complexity distance of DNA sequences and its application in phylogenetic tree reconstruction

DNA sequences can be treated as finite-length symbol strings over a four-letter alphabet （A, C, T, G）. As a universal and computable complexity measure, LZ complexity is valid to describe the complexity of DNA sequences. In this study, a concept of conditional LZ complexity between two sequences is proposed according to the principle of LZ complexity measure. An LZ complexity distance metric between two nonnull sequences is defined by utilizing conditional LZ complexity. Based on LZ complexity distance, a phylogenetic tree of 26 species of placental mammals （Eutheria） with three outgroup species was reconstructed from their complete mitochondrial genomes. On the debate that which two of the three main groups of placental mammals, namely Primates, Ferungulates, and Rodents, are more closely related, the phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on LZ complexity distance supports the suggestion that Primates and Ferungulates are more closely related.     

施磷对稻田土壤及田面水磷浓度影响的模拟

通过施用不同剂量磷肥稻田土壤淹水培养试验,研究了施磷对稻田土壤及田面水磷浓度的影响.结果表明,土壤速效磷（Olsen-P）浓度在施磷后迅速下降,60 d后趋于稳定.随施磷量的增加,土壤速效磷和缓效磷库量均递增,Olsen-P与施磷量呈正相关关系(y=21.49+0.086x),表明该土壤有很高的固磷潜力.施磷后田面水中全磷浓度呈先迅速上升后又缓慢下降趋势,施磷120 d后,田面水中全磷浓度与施磷量呈指数相关关系(y=0.3 72e^0.0022x),施磷量在400～800 kg·hm^-2之间田面水全磷浓度加速增长,如果施磷量达到或超过800 kg·hm^-2,则磷容易进入田面水并导致流失,低于该施磷量时,则磷进入田面水中的量较少.利用分段回归模型模拟土壤Olsen-P与水面全磷关系,预测出导致田面水中磷激增的土壤Olsen-P浓度“突变点”为82.7 mg·kg^-1,即施磷量为712 kg·hm^-2.因此,土壤Olsen-P浓度可作为预测田面水中磷损失程度的指标.     

A new distance for high level RNA secondary structure comparison

We describe an algorithm for comparing two RNA secondary structures coded in the form of trees that introduces two new operations, called node fusion and edge fusion, besides the tree edit operations of deletion, insertion, and relabeling classically used in the literature. This allows us to address some serious limitations of the more traditional tree edit operations when the trees represent RNAs and what is searched for is a common structural core of two RNAs. Although the algorithm complexity has an exponential term, this term depends only on the number of successive fusions that may be applied to a same node, not on the total number of fusions. The algorithm remains therefore efficient in practice and is used for illustrative purposes on ribosomal as well as on other types of RNAs.     

A new genetic distance with application to constrained variation at microsatellite loci.

Genetic variation at microsatellite loci is supposed to be constrained within some range in allele size. In this case, the average-square distance (delta mu)2 between two diverged populations moves asymptotically around and underestimates the time since the populations had split. A distance based on the between-locus correlation in the mean repeat scores, DR, is introduced. Numerical simulations show that DR is a linear function of time if the constraints are approximated by a linear centripetal force, which might be due to mutation bias toward a definite range or be caused both by directional mutation bias toward larger allele size and by selection against the greater number of repeats.