Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.     

解读广州市住区环境规划与建设

在大力发展住区建设的同时,广州结合当地独特的地理气候特征和人文历史积淀,创造了一批高质量的安康住区。通过对新建居住小区环境建设的分析,指出当前居住小区环境建设中的问题,提出住区环境规划建设与生态结合的发展方向。     

食品安全与食品低温流通中的温度监控

食品的温度监控是一种有效的保证食品安全及保持冷藏链完整的手段,对冷冻冷藏食品在低温流通过程中实行温度监控是非常有必要的。目前,我国冷藏运输中的温度管理情况并不乐观,消费者获得的货物通常不能达到预计的要求。要解决这一问题,必须要借助于时间-温度指示器等来对其整个运输过程进行温度监控。本文对温度立法的必然性和前景,温度监控的重要性、原理以及在冷藏运输中的应用作了较详尽的介绍,并列举了几种国外时间-温度指示器的工作原理。     

Insulin-like growth factor I in growing thoroughbreds

The objective of this longitudinal study was to characterize growth and plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations in pasture-raised thoroughbreds fed two sources of dietary energy. Mares and foals were randomly assigned to either a sugar and starch (SS) or fat and fibre (FF)-rich feed, and plasma IGF-I and growth were measured once a month from 1 to 16 months of age. These dependent variables were also compared with day length and ambient temperature. There was an association between plasma IGF-I concentration and average daily gain (ADG) (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). There were also clear seasonal patterns in both ADG and plasma IGF-I, with high values in June and May, and a low value in March. Plasma IGF-I and ADG were positively associated with day length and temperature. Plasma IGF-I was never higher (p > 0.10) in the FF group when compared with the SS group, and was higher in the SS group during a rapid growth phase in the spring of year 2 (p < 0.10). The results establish an association between ADG and IGF-I in the horse and indicate that environment and age may influence this relationship. In addition, plasma IGF-I is influenced by dietary energy source at particular times of year. This link has important implications in designing feeding management strategies that are aimed at addressing skeletal development.     

青藏铁路沿线植物生态资源调查初步报告

通过对格尔木至拉萨段铁路沿线目前生态环境和青藏铁路建设过程中产生的生态环境影响为期21 d的调查,初步总结沿线主要植物种382个,主要呈现出5个生态分区,并提出青藏铁路后期建设的建议.