Effect of dietary vitamin C and ammonia concentration on the cellular defense response of Macrobrachium nipponense

This study examined the effects of dietary vitamin C and ammonia concentration on the cellular defense response of Macrobrachium nipponese . The response of the cellular defense was determined by monitoring changes in reactive oxygen intermediates in hemocytes, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity, glutathione reductase and glutathione transferase activity in muscle. The results showed that prawns fed the basal diet had a significant increase in reactive oxygen intermediates in response to exposure to ammonia-N. When dietary vitamin C was added to the feed, there was a significant decrease in reactive oxygen intermediates in response to exposure to ammonia-N. Total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity of prawns fed the basal diet decreased as ammonia-N increased. This decrease in activity was significantly less pronounced in prawns that were fed the dietary vitamin C supplement. In prawns that were fed the dietary vitamin C supplement there was no significant variation in catalase reductase or gluxathione reductase activity in response to variations in ammonia-N concentration. The glutathione transference activity increased at a low concentration of ammonia-N in prawns that were fed the dietary vitamin C supplement, but there was no significant variation in the prawns fed the basal diet. Overall the results indicate that dietary vitamin C supplements enhance the capacity of M. nipponese to respond to elevations in ammonia-N. This response involved several biochemical reactions known to be involved in cellular defense.     

The effects of population density and intercropping with cowpea on the water use and growth of sorghum in semi-arid conditions in Botswana

Soil moisture was measured below sorghum crops of differing density in rainfed trials in increasingly droughty conditions from 1981/2 to 1983/4. Additional measurements were made in sorghum/cowpea intercrops and cowpea monocrops during the drought seasons of 1982/3 and 1983/4.Increasing crop density, by addition of either sorghum or cowpea, resulted in increased effective root activity, which was accompanied by small increases in actual/potential evapotranspiration (E_a/E_p) early in each season. These small increases were followed by small decreases later in the season, but these effects were rarely statistically significant. Both sorghum density and intercropping had little effect on total seasonal water use.Dry matter production increased linearly with increasing seasonal water use. Water use efficiencies of dry weight production were increased by increasing sorghum density. Intercropping in dry conditions did not have significant effects on water use efficiencies. Estimates of soil evaporation suggested that the effects of density on water use efficiency could be attributed to reductions in soil evaporation.The effects of density on reproductive yields were governed by two opposing processes: increasing crop density increased water use efficiencies of dry weight production, but decreased the proportions of dry weight allocated to grain.     

Organic nitrogen mineralisation in two contrasting agro-ecosystems is unchanged by biochar addition

Biochar additions to soil have been reported to enhance soil fertility whilst simultaneously storing carbon (C). We tested whether either fresh or field-conditioned (aged) biochar amendment to two contrasting agricultural soils would alter the mineralisation of organic N compounds. The mineralisation of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids and peptides were determined over 20 days within each soil. An exponential kinetic decay model was subsequently fitted to the mineralisation data. Overall, statistical analysis revealed significant but small differences between the two biochar treatments and the unamended control treatment. We conclude that biochar has very limited impact on the mineralisation rate of low molecular weight dissolved organic N compounds in these agro-ecosystems.     

浅析我国南方冬闲田种植一年生黑麦草的应用研究

针对我国南方地区冬闲田数量多、利用率低的现象,充分利用冬闲田种草养畜,不仅可以解决牲畜季节性青绿粗饲料缺乏问题,还能促进农民增收和农业可持续发展.一年生黑麦草由于适生范围广,鲜草产量高,营养丰富且柔嫩多汁,适口性好,家畜家禽喜欢采食,深受农户青睐,成为一种极具发展前途的越年生优质牧草,近年来在畜牧业生产中得到广泛应用....     

CLIGEN气候生成器模型在紫色土地区的适应性研究

随机气候生成器CLIGEN模型可以为当前一些综合模型所需要的气象资料提供必要的数据支持,为检验CLIGEN在四川紫色土地区的适用性,以CLIGEN模型为研究平台,根据四川省遂宁水土保持实验站1987～2002年降水和气温的月平均资料及在全美范围内选择参照站点得到的其他气象因子,利用CLIGEN模型分别模拟出遂宁市的月平均降水量、月平均最高温度和月平均最低温度。结果证明用所选的3个参证站点,利用CLIEGN模拟出来的降水、气温在数值上和年内的分布上均与实测值较为符合,选择模型有效系数E和平均绝对百分比误差（MAPE）为评价指标,作为3个站点最优选择的指标,最终选择CENTERVILLE站点为最优参证站,CEN-TERVILLE站点的模拟月平均降雨量、月平均最高温度和月平均最低温度的相对平均绝对值（MAPE）分别为7.15%,7.03%和6.17%,而有效系数分别为0.996 2,0.926 6和0.995 7,从而确定了CLIGEN模型在遂宁紫色土地区的适用性。     

黄土高原植被恢复与建设的理论和技术问题

黄土高原地区植被恢复与建设是我国重大的生态工程,有巨大的战略意义。主要论述了植被恢复与建设中存在的科学理论和技术问题,以期在植被恢复与建设实践中,能用理论做科学指导,使技术得以充分持续地推广和应用,使植被恢复与建设产生明显的效果。     

Organic phosphorus mineralization characteristics in sediments from the coastal salt marshes of a Chinese delta under simulated tidal cycles

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Sediment organic phosphorus (OP) mineralization plays an important role in phosphorus cycling in coastal salt marshes. However, information on OP mineralization...     

Early calving heifers versus maiden heifers for beef production from dairy herds. II. Physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of meat

The influence of early calving (20–21 months) on meat quality was studied in 158 Friesian or Charolais × Friesian crossbred heifers receiving two different feeding levels between 5 and 14 months old and slaughtered at 2 years of age. The effects of genotype and feeding level were also examined. Meat quality was assessed through physico-chemical measurements on three or seven muscles per carcass. In addition, sensory evaluation (preference test) was conducted in three muscles from selected carcasses.In once-calved heifers, meat was juicier and water holding capacity and dry matter content were lower than in maiden heifers. In Charolais × Friesian, meat colour tended to be lighter after calving, but the effect of calving on tenderness was variable.The meat of Friesians was darker in colour than that of Charolais × Friesian, with a rather better water holding capacity. The shear values of raw meat were not dependent on genotype; after cooking, these varied with respect to muscle. In panel testing, meat of Friesian maiden heifers was always judged to be more tender than that of the Charolais × Friesian. No obvious differences in juiciness and flavour were observed in maiden heifers according to genotype.The increase in feeding level between 5 and 14 months of age resulted in darker meat, and in the Charolais × Friesian animals, in a higher dry matter content of the meat; the other physicochemical characteristics as a whole were not changed.     

青海省公路弃土场土壤侵蚀规律天然降雨试验研究

以青海省平阿高速公路弃土场作为研究对象,在雨季进行了天然降雨试验研究,分析了弃土场土壤侵蚀特征及影响因素.结果表明,该区弃土场土壤侵蚀与降雨量和降雨强度有密切的相关关系,大部分土壤侵蚀均发生在降雨较大的7-9这3个月.在40°左右的坡度条件下,坡度变化对土壤侵蚀量的影响很大,坡度稍有增加,水土流失就会大幅增加;在植被建植初期,耕作土比红弃土更易发生水土流失.     

Mechanism of therapeutic effect of QingKaiLing-ingredient combination on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

AIM:To elucidate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of QingKaiLing (QKL)-ingredient combination on cerebral ischemia. METHODS:Rat focal brain ischemia reperfusion injury was produced by occlusion in the middle cerebral artery. MRI and histological analysis were used to evaluate the brain injury induced by ischemia and the attenuations by the drugs including QKL-ingredient combination and the positive control nimodipine. In situ hybridization was used to measure the expression of BDNF mRNA in the brain. RESULTS:A significant neuroprotective effect was observed in the QKL-ingredient combination treatment group, which was superior to that in the nimodipine treatment group. The expression of BDNF mRNA in the brain was also significantly up-regulated by the QKL-ingredient combination treatment in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. CONCLUSION:The QKL ingredients show a neuro-protective effect, the mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of BDNF in the brain.