Effects of Large Saddle Panels on the Biomechanics of the Equine Back During Rising Trot: Preliminary Results

The saddle panels, directly in contact with the horse's back, are likely an important element to optimize the fitting of the saddle, the comfort of the horse, and subsequently, the pain management in dorsalgic horses. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of the saddle panels on the horse's back, by evaluating a prototype saddle (comfort panels: CP) compared to a standard saddle (STD). The horse's back movements were measured using inertial measurement units (IMUs) fixed at the levels of thoracic vertebrae T6, T12, T16 (under the saddle) and lumbar vertebrae L2 and L5. The centers of mass (COMs) of the horse and the rider and limb's protraction-retraction angles, pressure between saddle and horse's back, and force on the stirrups were measured using respectively 2D motion capture, pressure mat and force sensors in the stirrup leather. Three horses were trotted at the rising trot (sitting: left diagonal-rider seated; standing: right diagonal-rider standing) by the same rider. To compare saddles, linear mixed-effects regression models were used. The estimated means (SE) were calculated. During sitting phase, pressure in the cranial and middle areas of the saddle significantly increased for CP compared to STD (+0.9 (0.2) kPa and +1.0 (0.1) kPa, respectively) whereas caudal pressure decreased (−1.8 (0.4) kPa). Concurrently, the range of motion of angles T12-T16 and T16-L2 under the saddle significantly increased (+1.8 (0.2)° and +2.3 (0.3)°, respectively). The results showed that modifications of the panels' shape not only affect the pressure distribution but also the kinematics of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the equine back.     

Characterizing historical and modern fire regimes in Michigan (USA): A landscape ecosystem approach

We studied the relationships of landscape ecosystems to historical and contemporary fire regimes across 4.3 million hectares in northern lower Michigan (USA). Changes in fire regimes were documented by comparing historical fire rotations in different landscape ecosystems to those occurring between 1985 and 2000. Previously published data and a synthesis of the literature were used to identify six forest-replacement fire regime categories with fire rotations ranging from very short (<100 years) to very long (>1,000 years). We derived spatially-explicit estimates of the susceptibility of landscape ecosystems to fire disturbance using Landtype Association maps as initial units of investigation. Each Landtype Association polygon was assigned to a fire regime category based on associations of ecological factors known to influence fire regimes. Spatial statistics were used to interpolate fire points recorded by the General Land Office. Historical fire rotations were determined by calculating the area burned for each category of fire regime and dividing this area by fifteen (years) to estimate area burned per annum. Modern fire rotations were estimated using data on fire location and size obtained from federal and state agencies. Landtype Associations networked into fire regime categories exhibited differences in both historical and modern fire rotations. Historical rotations varied by 23-fold across all fire rotation categories, and modern forest fire rotations by 13-fold. Modern fire rotations were an order of magnitude longer than historical rotations. The magnitude of these changes has important implications for forest health and understanding of ecological processes in most of the fire rotation categories that we identified.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

浅议通过标签内容查找农药隐性成分

本文针对农药隐性成分危害大和监管难等问题,剖析了企业主要动机,以农药标签为对象,研究建立了一种查找"问题"农药、锁定农药隐性成分的方法。该方法具有成本低、易于普及、克服检测仪器谱库不足、发挥基层各方力量进行监管等优点。与检测技术结合使用,可以弥补各方不足,更好地发挥监管作用。     

Study on Computer 3D-Reconstruction Algorithm of the Contour Points Matching Interpolation for Serial Cross Images

A computer 3D-reconstruction algorithm was proposed for serial cross images,which is called contour points matching interpolation algorithm. The intermediate contours betweentwo neighbouring contours are preduced by contour points matching interpolation to form 3D-shapeof the reconstructed object. This algorithm is simple and can be easily implemented. Its advantagesare fast speed and strong adaptability for medical serial cross images 3D-reconstruction. Experi-ments show that the results are satisfactory.     

农业科研单位创新文化建设途径探析

科技进步离不开科技创新,科技创新又需要创新文化的支持,文章分析了农业科研单位创新文化的现状及存在的问题,提出从更新观念树立以人为本的思想、倡导追求科学真理宽容失败的科学精神、加强管理体制和机制的创新、加强精神文明建设等方面构建创新文化。     

A possible mechanism of mineral responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 in rice grains

Increasing attentions have been paid to mineral concentration decrease in milled rice grains caused by CO2 enrichment, but the mechanisms still remain unclear. Therefore, mineral(Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn) translocation in plant-soil system with a FACE(Free-air CO2 enrichment) experiment were investigated in Eastern China after 4-yr operation. Results mainly showed that:(1) elevated CO2 significantly increased the biomass of stem and panicle by 21.9 and 24.0%, respectively, but did not affect the leaf biomass.(2) Elevated CO2 significantly increased the contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn in panicle by 61.2, 28.9, 87.0, 36.7, and 66.0%, respectively, and in stem by 13.2, 21.3, 47.2, 91.8, and 25.2%, respectively, but did not affect them in leaf.(3) Elevated CO2 had positive effects on the weight ratio of mineral/biomass in stem and panicle. Our results suggest that elevated CO2 can favor the translocation of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn from soil to stem and panicle. The CO2-led mineral decline in milled rice grains may mainly attribute to the CO2-led unbalanced stimulations on the translocations of minerals and carbohydrates from vegetative parts(e.g., leaf, stem, branch and husk) to the grains.     

Bush cover and range condition assessments in relation to landscape and grazing in southern Ethiopia

Progressive growth of bush cover in dry savannahs is responsible for declines in range conditions. In southern Ethiopia, the Booran pastoralists assisted our understanding of spatial patterns of bush cover and range conditions in 54 landscape patch types grouped into six landscape units within an area of 30000 km². The size of landscape patches sampled was 625 m². We assessed the relationships between bush cover, grass cover and bare soil and grazing pressure and soil erosion and changes in range condition. Externally, political conflicts and internally, break down of land use, and official bans on the use of fire promoted bush cover and the decline in range conditions. Bush cover was negatively correlated with grass cover, and positively correlated with bare soil. Grass cover was negatively correlated with bare soil and grazing pressure in most landscape patch types. Grazing pressure was not significantly correlated with bush cover or bare soil, while soil erosion was directly related to bare soil. Soil erosion was absent in 64% of the landscape patch types, and seemingly not a threat to the rangelands. The relationship between bush cover, grass cover, bare soil and soil erosion is complex and related to climate, landscape geology, and patterns of land use. Main threats to range conditions are bush climax, loss of grass cover and unpalatable forbs. Currently, >70% of the landscape patch types are in poor to fair range conditions. Decline in range conditions, unless reversed, will jeopardise the pastoral production system in southern Ethiopia.     

强化基层林业站职能作用 促进林业跨越式发展

基层林业站是国家设在基层的林业管理机构 ,在林业生产和建设中发挥着重要的职能作用。强化林业站的职能作用 ,必将对推动我国六大林业重点工程建设 ,实现林业跨越式发展起到巨大作用。     

农产品质量安全科研检测单位的劳务派遣用工管理

受人员编制限制,人力资源相对不足制约了农产品质量安全科研检测单位的发展。劳务派遣作为一种新型用工形式,一定程度上解决了农产品质量安全科研检测单位的人力资源配置问题。文章对农产品质量安全科研检测单位劳务派遣用工管理进行解析,分析存在的问题,并提出一些对策,以期对农产品质量安全科研检测单位的劳务派遣运用有所启示。