Sex effect on meat quality and carcass traits of foals slaughtered at 15 months of age

The effect of sex on carcass measurement, physico-chemical properties, nutritional value and sensory characteristics of foal meat slaughtered at 15 months was investigated. Twelve foals (six females and six males) from an extensive production system in freedom regimen were used for this study. Sex had no statistical influence on carcass measurements, chemical composition, colour parameters, textural properties, amino acid content and sensory characteristics. In contrast, there was a clear effect on the fatty acid profile of longissimus dorsi. Slaughter weight was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between sexes, although higher values were observed in male group compared with female group (194 v. 184 kg). As a consequence, this trend affected carcass weight being slightly (P > 0.05) heavier in the male group than in the female group. On the other hand, cooking loss samples from males showed significantly higher values than those from females (21.50% v. 14.96%, P < 0.05). From a nutritional point of view, the n-6/n-3 ratio in both sexes was within the recommended range for the human diet and this ratio was ostensibly different between the sexes (1.83 v. 1.36, P < 0.05, for male and female, respectively) and it showed a strong correlation (r = −0.91, P < 0.01) with C18:3n-3 content.     

实验用鱼类的水环境及其标准化

由于近年实验用鱼作为新兴模式动物在国内外生命科技界发展迅速,因此实验用鱼的标准化特别是对其水环境的标准化已经成为实验用鱼类研究发展的必然趋势。本文分析和综述了实验用鱼类所需的水源及供水要求、水质和水环境的技术指标特点和对鱼类的影响,以期为斑马鱼、剑尾鱼等水生动物的实验动物化研究提供必要的资料。     

水杨酸对不同灌水下限青花菜生理特性及产量品质的影响

以青花菜为试材,采用大田试验研究了0.15mmol/L水杨酸(SA)对不同灌水下限(75%、60%和45%土壤相对含水量)青花菜生理特性及产量品质的影响。结果显示:(1)随灌水下限的降低,青花菜叶片相对含水量、水势及叶绿素含量均呈下降趋势,而其叶片电解质渗透率以及游离脯氨酸(Pro)、丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性蛋白(Pr)含量逐渐升高;青花菜的花球重及维生素C含量(Vc)随灌水下限的降低而降低,相反硝酸盐含量及可溶性固形物含量随之升高。(2)叶面喷施0.15mmol/L SA显著提高了青花菜叶片相对含水量、水势、渗透调节物质含量、产量及品质,且降低了膜脂过氧化产物MDA含量,其中以45%灌水下限处理效果最为显著,60%灌水下限处理次之,75%灌水下限处理最小。研究认为,适宜浓度外源SA通过改善青花菜叶片水分生理状况,提高叶片渗透调节物质含量,降低质膜透性来增强其对干旱胁迫的抗性,且以60%灌水下限配合叶面喷施0.15mmol/L SA处理较佳。     

资源型城市土地利用转型及其对生境质量的影响——以乌海市为例

资源型城市前期发展导致了生境丧失或退化,实现高质量转型需要深入理解城市转型与生态环境质量之间的关系,土地利用转型特征及其对生境质量的影响规律研究为此提供依据与支撑。以资源型城市--乌海市为研究区,通过地学信息图谱和InVEST模型探究2005-2018年乌海市土地利用转型特征、生境质量时空变化及土地利用转型对生境质量的影响。结果表明：（1）2005-2018年乌海市土地利用变化趋势发生改变,土地利用转型明显,土地利用变化图谱单元数量逐渐增加78.14%,分布范围逐渐广泛。主要表现为草地与建设用地、采矿用地之间的相互转化,第一阶段（2005-2015年）草地大面积减少,建设用地和采矿用地大面积增加,第二阶段（2015-2018年）趋势相反。（2）乌海市生境质量变化呈现先强退化后弱提升趋势。2005-2015年乌海市18.75%的区域生境质量退化,提升面积较小;2015-2018年生境质量提升面积略大于退化面积。（3）2005-2015年草地向采矿用地、建设用地转化是区域生境质量降低的主要原因,2015-2018年区域生境质量提升的主导因素是采矿用地和建设用地向草地转化。研究结果揭示了资源型城市土地利用转型过程中生境质量的响应规律,可为资源型城市土地利用转型决策提供参考。     

烯效唑干拌种对小麦氮素积累和运转及籽粒蛋白质品质的影响

通过田间试验,研究了不同烯效唑干拌种剂量对3个不同筋力小麦品种植株氮素积累、运转和籽粒蛋白质品质的影响,结果表明,基因型、环境及烯效唑处理对小麦品质的影响效应依次减小,且均达到了极显著水平,但三者的互作效应较小。烯效唑处理后提高了不同生态点下不同小麦品种籽粒蛋白质含量和产量,处理后的面筋含量和沉淀值增加,面团形成时间和稳定时间延长;干拌种增加了开花期各营养器官中的氮素含量和单株氮素积累量,花后氮素总转移量、总转移率及其对籽粒氮的贡献率极显著提高,且处理后旗叶中可溶性蛋白质含量在花后15 d内均显著高于对照;对籽粒中氮含量而言,烯效唑处理后提高了灌浆初期籽粒中的非蛋白氮含量,花后5—20 d内均高于对照,灌浆期间籽粒蛋白氮含量均高于对照,因而处理后的粗蛋白质含量变化动态特点为谷底高、回升快。研究认为,烯效唑处理如同基因、环境一样独立影响小麦籽粒品质,而烯效唑处理后提高了开花初期旗叶中的可溶性蛋白质含量和花前营养器官中氮素含量及花后氮素转运量,可能是其提高籽粒非蛋白氮含量、促进籽粒蛋白质含量增加和蛋白质质量提高的重要原因之一,烯效唑干拌种对小麦籽粒蛋白质品质的改善具有广适性。     

海南4个菠萝品种果实品质比较

对海南地区4个菠萝品种的果实外观品质及内在品质进行比较分析与评价。结果表明,台农16号菠萝品种的综合品质最佳,其次是台农17号,沙捞越(台湾香蜜)品质最差。     

Validation of the Macrophyte Quality Index (MaQI) set up to assess the ecological status of Italian marine transitional environments

The paper couples the results obtained by applying the expert and the rapid Macrophyte Quality Indices set up to assess the ecological status of the Italian transitional environments according to the requirements by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/CE). The indices were validated by comparing the composition of the macrophyte assemblages and the values of some bio-physico-chemical parameters of the water column of 20 stations of the Venice lagoon sampled monthly for one year between 2003 and 2005. In 5 stations out of the 20, the ones which fall within the 5 classes of ecological status suggested by the Water Framework Directive, sedimentation rates, sediment grain-size, and nutrient and pollutant (metals, Polychloro-Dibenzo-Dioxins/Furans, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenils) concentrations in surface sediments were also determined. Results showed strong relationships between the trends of these environmental parameters and the composition and structure of macrophyte associations, as well as with the Macrophyte Quality Index assessment. Chlorophyceae showed a trend opposite to Rhodophyceae whose presence was concentrated in oxygenated and transparent environments. Chlorophyceae and the species characterised by low scores prevailed in turbid areas where nutrient and pollutant concentrations were high. Results allowed the identification of the conditions of the “reference sites” (confinement areas and sites with high water renewal) and the integration of the dichotomic key used for the application of the R-MaQI. Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz     

Access to mates in a territorial ungulate is determined by the size of a male's territory, but not by its habitat quality

1. Territoriality is commonly associated with resource defence polygyny, where males are expected to gain access to females by anticipating how resources will influence female distribution and competing for resource-rich sites to establish their zone of dominance. 2. We tested this hypothesis in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) by simultaneously assessing the influence of resources on female distribution and the influence of female distribution on male distribution and breeding success using paternity analyses. 3. Females did not fully distribute themselves among male territories in relation to resources. As a result, relative female abundance in a male's territory depended on territory size, but not on its habitat quality. In turn, relative female abundance in a male's territory determined, at least partially, his breeding success. 4. Interestingly, male territory size, and hence access to females, was partly determined by male body mass (all males) and by residual antler size (subadults only). The latter result suggests that large antlers may be important to young males for establishing their first territory, which is then usually retained for all subsequent reproductive seasons. 5. To conclude, although territoriality of male roe deer has certainly evolved as a tactic for ensuring access to mates, our results suggest that it does not really conform to a conventional resource defence polygyny strategy, as males seem to gain no obvious benefit from defending a territory in an area of high habitat quality in terms of enhanced access to mates. 6. This may explain the stability of male territories between years, suggesting that male territoriality conforms to an 'always stay' and 'low risk-low gain' mating strategy in roe deer.     

Altered sperm tsRNAs in aged male contribute to anxiety‐like behavior in offspring

Parental age at first pregnancy is increasing worldwide. The offspring of aged father has been associated with higher risk of several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here we report that advanced paternal age in mice alters the profile of transfer RNA‐derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Injection of sperm tsRNAs from aged male mice into zygotes induced anxiety‐like behaviors in F1 males. RNA sequencing of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of those F1 male mice altered the gene expression of dopaminergic synapse and neurotrophin. tsRNAs from aged male mice injection also altered the neuropsychiatry‐related gene expression in two‐cell and blastocyst stage embryos. More importantly, the sperm tsRNA profile changes significantly during aging in human. The up‐regulated sperm tsRNA target genes were involved in neurogenesis and nervous system development. These results suggest that aging‐related changes of sperm tsRNA may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of behavioral traits.     

Increasing in vitro germination of Musa balbisiana seed

Seeds of Musa balbisiana were soaked in water for five days prior to excision of embryos. Embryos with their longitudinal axis laid flat and half-way embedded on agar-solidified medium produced the highest germination and the most desirable plantlet characteristics. Germination in vitro was 94% within 7 days compared to 50% after 54 days for greenhouse-sown seeds.