Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

水钾耦合对苜蓿根颈抗氧化特性及越冬率的影响

为探究不同水钾耦合处理对科尔沁沙地生境下种植苜蓿（Medicago sativa）抗寒生理特性的影响，以‘骑士T’和‘公农1号’苜蓿品种为试验材料，采用两因素裂区随机区组设计，水分处理为主区：灌水时间间隔分别为4 d，8 d和12 d（用W₁，W₂，W₃表示）；钾肥施用量水平为副区，具体施用量分别为50 kg·hm^-2 K₂O，100 kg·hm^-2 K₂O和150 kg·hm^-2K₂O（用K₁，K₂，K₃表示），并设置不施钾肥为对照（CK），于越冬前期挖取苜蓿根颈材料测定丙二醛（Malondialdehyde，MDA）、可溶性蛋白含量和抗氧化酶活性，翌年测定越冬率。结果表明：在W₃灌水时间间隔处理下，‘骑士T’和‘公农1号’品种苜蓿根颈的过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性、越冬率以及可溶性蛋白含量均明显高于W₁和W₂处理，其中以K₂施用量处理下的数值与CK差异最显著（P<0.05），且此施肥量下的MDA含量也显著低于CK（P<0.05）。因此在科尔沁沙地生境下生产苜蓿，灌水时间间隔为12 d、钾肥施用量在100 kg·hm^-2K₂O有利于提高苜蓿抗寒性。     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) of element contents in grain with a special focus on zinc and iron in a world collection of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) were carried out to map Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with element contents in the grain using 336 spring barley. Of the elements analyzed, Fe content ranged from 21.9 to 91.0 mg kg⁻¹, Zn from 10.4 to 54.5 mg kg⁻¹, Ba from 0.2 to 8.9, Ca from 186.4 to 977.5, Cu from 1.5 to 9.8, K from 353.2 to 7721.5, Mg from 1049.8 to 2024.2, Mn from 8.1 to 22.9, Na from 55.9 to 627.9, P from 2272.9 to 5428.8, S from 880.7 to 1898.0, Si from 19.1 to 663.2, and Sr from 0.35 to 2.62 mg kg⁻¹. GWAS were carried out using 6519 SNP markers and multiple elements in MLM:PCA + K model in TASSEL software. Population analyses showed two sub-populations, primarily based on row types. GWAS for row types showed association with INTERMEDIUM-C, a modifier gene for lateral spikelet fertility in the 4H chromosome, validating current GWAS approach. GWAS also showed that 2 QTL for Ba, 2 for Ca, 4 for Cu, 11 for Fe, 2 for K, 3 for Mg, 6 for Mn, 4 for Na, 3 for S, 5 for Si, and 3 for Zn were mapped in barley chromosomes. The QTL identified in the current study are valuable for breeding nutrient dense barley cultivars in the future, especially Zn and Fe.     

Impact of grassland contract policy on soil organic carbon losses from alpine grassland on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Carbon storage in the soils on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau plays a very important role in the global carbon budget. In the 1990s, a policy of contracting collective grasslands to smaller units was implemented, resulting in a change from the traditional collective grassland management to two new management patterns: a multi‐household management pattern (MMP: grassland shared by several households without enclosures) and a single‐household management pattern (SMP: grassland enclosed and used by only one household). In 2016, 50 MMP and 54 SMP winter pastures on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau were sampled to assess the differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) between the two management patterns. Results showed that average SOC was significantly greater under MMP than under SMP, with an estimated 0.41 Mg C/ha/yr lost due to SMP following the new grassland contract. Based on the government's grassland policy, four grassland utilization scenarios were developed for both summer and winter pastures. We found that if the grassland were managed under SMP, likely C losses ranged between 0.31 × 10⁷ and 6.15 × 10⁷ Mg C/yr across the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau relative to MMP, which more closely resembles pre‐1990s grassland management. Previous estimates of C losses have only considered land use change (with cover change) and ignored the impacts driven by land management pattern changes (without cover change). The new data suggest that C losses from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau are greater than previously estimated, and therefore that the grassland contract policy should be reviewed and SMP households should be encouraged to reunite into the MMP. These findings have potential implications for land management strategies not only on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau but also other grazing regions globally where such practices may exist.     

An investigation on the effect of heat-moisture treatment on baking quality of wheat by using response surface methodology

Effect of heat-moisture treatment on quality properties of two bread wheats (cvs. Tosunbey and Bayraktar) were investigated by using response surface methodology (RSM). Temperature and moisture conditions in the experimental design were in the range of 55–95 °C and 13–19%. Heat-moisture treated grains were milled into flour and quality properties were determined. The optimum moisture-temperature combination for the highest dry gluten, Zeleny sedimentation, Alveograph W and bread volume values were estimated as 14%-63 °C for Tosunbey and 19%-55 °C for Bayraktar samples. Alveograph W seems to be a good indicator of baking quality for wheats treated at higher temperatures. In order to describe the relationship between the dependent and independent variables (moisture, temperature), the response values were fitted by second order polynomial models. Significance analysis showed that the effect of both moisture and temperature on dry gluten content, sedimentation and falling number values for Tosunbey; falling number and damaged starch values for Bayraktar were significant (p < 0.05). The effect of temperature on Farinograph water absorption, W and P/G, bread volume and firmness values were significant for both cultivars (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that improvement in baking quality can be achieved and flours with different properties can be produced by heat-moisture treatments on wheat.     

Dietary Lipid Levels Affect the Growth Performance,Lipid Deposition,and Antioxidative Capacity of Juvenile Scaleless Carp,Gymnocypris przewalskii,on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

A 56‐d growth trial was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, lipid deposition, and antioxidative capacity of juvenile scaleless carp, Gymnocypris przewalskii, on Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. One‐year‐old juveniles (initial weight: 15.99 ± 0.02 g) were fed practical diets with different lipid levels of 4, 5.5, 7, 8.5, and 10%, respectively. Results showed that the best specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion rate, and total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC) in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed the diet with 7% lipid level. Fish fed with high lipid diets (8.5 and 10%) had significantly higher condition factor and viscerosomatic index as well as lipid in muscle, intestine, mesenteric fat tissue, and whole body. Highest level of hepatopancreas lipase and lipoprotein lipases activities as well as malondialdehyde content and the lowest level of feed intake and T‐AOC content in hepatopancreas and intestine were also observed in fish fed with high lipid diets (8.5 and 10%) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, based on SGR and hepatopancreas T‐AOC content, dietary lipid requirement of juvenile G. przewalskii was estimated to be 7.35 and 7.39%, respectively.     

基于茎秆生物力学特性的油菜抗倒调控机制研究

为了应用生物力学特性指标对茎秆抗倒性进行评价，进而指导油菜抗倒栽培，以华杂62和金油杂158为试验材料，基于不同栽培因素下油菜茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度、剪切强度及抗倒性，分析了栽培因素对油菜茎秆力学特性指标的影响及其与抗倒性的相关性。结果表明：油菜抗倒性与茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度、剪切强度呈显著负相关；随着播期推迟，油菜茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度及剪切强度分别减小15.31%、29.16%和13.88%，倒伏指数增大32.18%；随着播种密度增大，油菜茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度及剪切强度均呈先增大后减小趋势，而倒伏指数先减小后增大；随着施氮量增加，油菜茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度及剪切强度均逐渐减小，而倒伏指数逐渐增大，与施氮量120 kg·hm^-2处理相比，在施氮量为360 kg·hm^-2下，油菜茎秆的弹性模量、弯曲强度及剪切强度分别减小39.43%、19.40%和16.63%，倒伏指数增大16.36%。因此，播期提前、适当增加播种密度、控制氮肥投入，有助于提高油菜茎秆的力学特性强度，从而增强油菜的抗倒伏能力。研究结果可为油菜抗倒栽培调控提供理论依据。     

肉制品发色剂研究进展

色泽是肉制品评定的一个重要因素。在肉制品中加入发色剂可使产品色泽良好,提高产品品质。传统肉制品中通常添加亚硝酸盐等作为发色剂,其严重威胁人体健康。通过综述肉制品发色剂的使用现状、新型肉制品的研发状况,展望肉制品发色剂的开发方向与前景。     

Intrinsic influence of various plasticizers on functional properties and reactivity of wheat gluten thermoplastic materials

Various compounds, differing in their chemical functions, number of functional group and degree of hydrophobicity, were tested as wheat gluten plasticizers in a thermoplastic process. A low melting point and a moderate hydrophobicity were found to be critical characteristics of a good wheat gluten plasticizer. The influence of five selected plasticizers (water, glycerol, 1,4-butanediol, lactic and octanoic acids) on functional properties of the wheat gluten network was investigated. Dried gluten was used to avoid any plasticization due to hydration water (usually around 10% for commercial gluten). The influence of plasticizer properties and content was studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, size exclusion-high performance liquid chromatography, tensile and water swelling tests. The plasticizing effect, at the same molar content, was found to be identical for water, glycerol and 1,4-butanediol. Lactic and octanoic acids were found to have higher and lower plasticizing effects, respectively. Mechanical properties were mainly related to the thermoplastic state of the materials. Water and lactic acid were found to confer smaller and larger extensibilities, respectively, to gluten materials. Thermo-mechanical reactivity also depended on plasticizer properties. Gluten aggregation, normally induced by heating, was prevented by the acidic environment produced by lactic acid. Water swelling behaviour was found to depend on the hydrophobicity of the plasticizer used, on the degree of gluten crosslinking and on the pH of the gluten-plasticizer blend.