Reproductive strategy,spawning induction,spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki

Macrhybopsis reproduction and propagule traits were studied in the laboratory using two temperature regimes and three hormone treatments to determine which methods produced the most spawns. Only sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki spawned successfully although sturgeon chub Macrhybopsis gelida released unfertilized eggs. All temperature and hormone treatments produced M. meeki spawns, but two treatments had similar success rates at 44 and 43%, consisting of a constant daily temperature with no hormone added, or daily temperature fluctuations with hormone added to the water. Spawns consisted of multiple successful demersal circular swimming spawning embraces interspersed with circular swims without embraces. The most spawns observed for one female was four and on average, 327 eggs were collected after each spawn. The water‐hardened eggs were semi‐buoyant and non‐adhesive, the first confirmation of this type of reproductive guild in the Missouri River Macrhybopsis sp. From spawn, larvae swam vertically until 123 accumulated degree days (° D) and 167° D for consumption of first food. Using average water speed and laboratory development time, the predicted drift distance for eggs and larvae could be 468–592 km in the lower Missouri River. Results from this study determined the reproductive biology and early life history of Macrhybopsis spp. and provided insight into their population dynamics in the Missouri River.     

Lessons learned from the virus indexing of Musa germplasm: insights from a multiyear collaboration

The Bioversity International Transit Center (ITC) for banana hosts more than 1500 accessions largely covering the genetic diversity of the genus Musa. Its objective is to conserve this genetic diversity and to supply plant materials to users worldwide. All the Musa accessions must be tested for virus presence and, if infected, virus elimination must be attempted, to enable the supply of virus‐free plant material. An international collaborative effort launched under the auspices of Bioversity International (2007–2013) finally led to the implementation of a two‐step process to test the accessions. The first step, called pre‐indexing, involved only molecular tests and was designed as a pre‐screen of new germplasm lines or existing accessions to reduce the need for post‐entry virus therapy and repeated virus indexing. The second step, called full indexing, was performed on either older existing accessions or newer accessions which tested negative during pre‐indexing, and involved molecular tests, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and symptom observation. In total, 270 germplasm lines (434 samples) were pre‐indexed; while full indexing was carried out on 243 accessions (68 of which had been pre‐indexed). A significant proportion of the samples tested during pre‐indexing was infected with at least one virus (68%), showing the utility of this early pre‐screening step. Banana streak OL virus and Banana mild mosaic virus were the most commonly detected viruses during both pre‐ and full indexing. For 22 accessions, viral particles were observed by TEM in full indexing while the molecular tests were negative, underlining the importance of combining various detection techniques. After full indexing, viruses were not detected in 166 accessions, which were then released for international distribution from the ITC. This publication exemplifies how the practical application of diagnostic protocols can raise fundamental questions related to their appropriate use in routine practice and the need for their continuous monitoring and improvement after their first publication.     

一种载样简单的多重可视化PCR微芯片

在核酸检测领域急需一种能够经济、快速、操作简便且同时检测多个靶标的新技术。常规多重PCR能够同时扩增多个靶标,但由于在一个试管中引物间的相互作用和竞争,重数往往受到限制。本研究设计了一种操作简单的多重PCR芯片,可以同时进行54个靶标的扩增。芯片结构简单,一条微通道将正下方平行排列的多个微孔连接在一起,微通道只留加样口和出样口。同时整个微通道呈疏水状态,微孔呈亲水状态。将不同的引物对和低溶点琼脂糖提前固定于不同的微孔中,通过一次加入PCR mix,并加入矿物油推动PCR mix进入到每个微腔室中,同时微孔也被矿物油相互隔离避免交叉反应。加样后将芯片放置于平板PCR仪上进行扩增,在整个反应过程中低溶点琼脂糖呈液态,反应结束后凝固成固体,便可引入核酸染料进行染色,最后利用自制小型的紫外照射仪上进行可视化检测和拍照记录。利用此平台成功实现了对7种非常重要和常用的转基因作物靶标的并行检测,结果显示此平台具有较高的灵活性和特异性。此技术经过进一步优化可应用于包括转基因检测在内的多重核酸检测领域。     

Cytogenetic tests for animal production: state of the art and perspectives

Cytogenetic tests are effective tools for monitoring the health status of livestock and improving their genetic value. Cytogenetic screening allows for the detection of animals carrying chromosomal aberrations and to avoid using them as breeders. Progress in karyotype monitoring, with new molecular probes and automation, has greatly increased the productivity of this procedure. Several genotoxicity tests are available to detect the possible presence and effects of pollutants or drugs. Among these, the micronucleus test and the Comet assay are the most convenient in terms of costs and benefits. Finally, analysis of telomeres, the end of chromosomes and markers of genomic instability, may be developed into a new marker of stress and genetic value.     

Cerium Oxide Decorated Polymer Nanofibers as Effective Membrane Reinforcement for Durable,High‐Performance Fuel Cells

High‐power, durable composite fuel cell membranes are fabricated here by direct membrane deposition (DMD). Poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co ‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) nanofibers, decorated with CeO₂ nanoparticles are directly electrospun onto gas diffusion electrodes. The nanofiber mesh is impregnated by inkjet‐printed Nafion ionomer dispersion. This results in 12 µm thin multicomponent composite membranes. The nanofibers provide membrane reinforcement, whereas the attached CeO₂ nanoparticles promote improved chemical membrane durability due to their radical scavenging properties. In a 100 h accelerated stress test under hot and dry conditions, the reinforced DMD fuel cell shows a more than three times lower voltage decay rate (0.39 mV h^?1) compared to a comparably thin Gore membrane (1.36 mV h^?1). The maximum power density of the DMD fuel cell drops by 9%, compared to 54% measured for the reference. Impedance spectroscopy reveals that ionic and mass transport resistance of the DMD fuel cell are unaffected by the accelerated stress test. This is in contrast to the reference, where a 90% increase of the mass transport resistance is measured. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy reveals that no significant migration of cerium into the catalyst layers occurs during degradation. This proves that the PVDF‐HFP backbone provides strong anchoring of CeO₂ in the membrane.     

Evaluation of rapid post-mortem test kits for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) screening in Japan: Their analytical sensitivity to atypical BSE prions

A classical type of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE), recognized in 1987, had a large impact on public health due to its zoonotic link to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by the human consumption of dietary products contaminated with the C-BSE prion. Thus, a number of countries implemented BSE surveillance using rapid post-mortem test kits that were approved for detection of the C-BSE prion in the cattle brain. However, as atypical BSE (L- and H-BSE) cases emerged in subsequent years, the efficacy of the kits for the detection of atypical BSE prions became a matter of concern. In response to this, laboratories in the European Union and Canada evaluated the kits used in their countries. Here, we carried out an evaluation study of NippiBL®, a kit currently used for BSE screening in Japan. By applying the kit to cattle brains of field cases of C-BSE and L-BSE, and an experimental case of H-BSE, we showed its comparable sensitivities to C, L-, and H-BSE prions, and satisfactory performance required by the European Food Safety Authority. In addition to NippiBL®, two kits (TeSeE® and FRELISA®) formerly used in Japan were effective for detection of the L-BSE prion, although the two kits were unable to be tested for the H-BSE prion due to the discontinuation of domestic sales during this study. These results indicate that BSE screening in Japan is as effective as those in other countries, and it is unlikely that cases of atypical BSE have been overlooked.