Mass balanced based LCA of a common carp-lettuce aquaponics system

An aquaponics system (AS) is an integrated system that combines a recirculating aquaculture system and a hydroponics system (HS). It is designed to recover nutrients released from fish and transfer them to plants to provide a system more environmentally-friendly than the two systems working separately. As a result, several AS are under development, but little information is available about their overall performances. The aim of this study was to assess nutrient-use efficiency and environmental impacts of an AS, specifically a common carp-lettuce AS located in a greenhouse. Nutrient budgets of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were calculated and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed for the AS and for a lettuce Individual Hydroponics System (IHS), similar to the HS of the AS, operating in the greenhouse at the same time. The experiment was performed over a 52-day cycle, which corresponds to the growing time required to harvest marketable lettuce. The nutrient budgets were well balanced, with 24.6% of the N unaccounted-for, most likely due to N2 gas emission, and 6.6% of the P unaccounted-for, most likely due to having underestimated the quantity of sediment. At the beginning of the experiment, N represented 55.9%, 37.1% and 0.1% of the total N input in the formulated feed, stocked fish and lettuce seedlings, respectively. At the end of the experiment, N represented 47.6% and 0.4% of the total N input in the harvested fish and lettuce, respectively. At the beginning of the experiment, P represented 56.94%, 40.20% and 0.03% of the total P input in the formulated feed, stocked fish and lettuce seedlings, respectively. At the end of the experiment, P represented 51.52% and 0.42% of the total P input in the harvested fish and lettuce, respectively. LCA clearly indicated two environmental impact hotspots: the origin of nutrients and energy use. One kg of lettuce growth in the AS clearly had lower environmental impacts than that in the IHS for climate change, acidification, eutrophication, land competition and cumulative energy demand; however, a decrease in water dependence was not observed. The indicator for net primary production use highlighted the dependence of the AS on natural resources, especially fish meal and fish oil. Compared to the use of chemical nutrients in the IHS, the use of nutrients from formulated feed in the AS decreased climate change impact but increased the use of natural resources.     

肉牛源细极链格孢菌的分离鉴定

为鉴定肉牛皮肤病病原及其致病性并筛选其敏感药物,本研究取患皮肤病肉牛病变部位皮屑、毛发和痂皮进行病原菌的分离,并对分离菌株进行了形态学鉴定、ITS序列分析、小鼠致病性试验和药敏试验。结果显示分离到1株形态特征与细极链格孢菌极其相似的菌株(PY2-1-2);经PCR扩增、测序和BLAST序列比对,结果显示分离株(PY2-1-2)的ITS基因序列与细极链格孢菌(MG975630.1)的ITS基因序列的相似性为99%,分离株PY2-1-2的ITS基因序列长度为543 bp,该片段包括ITS1、5.8S rDNA和ITS2的全部基因序列以及18S rDNA和28S rDNA的部分基因序列,提交GenBank(MH656780.1)。根据形态学结合ITS基因序列分析结果确定该分离株为细极链格孢菌。小鼠致病性试验结果显示该菌对小鼠有致病性。药敏试验结果显示:该菌对灰黄霉素、氟康唑、伊曲康唑、酮康唑的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)值分别为0.5μg/mL、4μg/mL、1μg/mL、1μg/mL。本研究为今后进一步探究细极链格孢菌引起的皮肤病诊治提供科学有效的参考。     

5个竹种林下土壤营养元素含量比较

[目的]比较不同竹种林下土壤的营养元素含量。[方法]在福建农林大学百竹园内选取大明竹、牡竹、角竹、花巨竹和大木竹5个竹种,分别于春、夏、秋、冬4个季节对其林下土壤进行"S"型多点采样,对其氮、磷、钾含量进行测定。[结果]大明竹、牡竹、角竹、花巨竹和大木竹5个竹种林下土壤的营养元素含量皆较高,但各竹种之间的营养元素含量有显著差异,且各竹种在不同季节的营养元素含量也有明显差异。其中大明竹林下土壤的营养元素含量最高,且最为稳定,牡竹相对较差。[结论]在福建地区,大明竹对营养元素的产生及维系稳定具有良好的能力,可成为该地区城市观赏用竹及发展林下经济的优良竹种。     

Predicting the degree of phosphorus saturation using the ammonium acetate–EDTA soil test

As a result of the important role played by phosphorus (P) in surface water eutrophication, the susceptibility of soils to release P requires evaluation. The degree of phosphorus saturation, assessed by oxalate extraction (DPS_ox), has been used as an indicator. However, most laboratories do not include DPS_ox in routine soil tests because of cost and time. This study evaluates the suitability of the ammonium acetate extraction in the presence of EDTA (AAEDTA), the standard soil test P (STP) in Wallonia (Southern Belgium), to predict DPS_ox; we also compared it with the Mehlich 3 extraction. Ninety‐three topsoil samples were collected in agricultural soils throughout Wallonia. Good correlations were found between the AAEDTA and the Mehlich 3 methods for P, Fe and Al (r = 0.85, 0.77 and 0.86, respectively). An exponential relationship was found between P_AAEDTA and DPS_ox. Results of principal component analysis and regression demonstrated that STP can be used to predict DPS_ox (r = 0.93) after logarithmic transformation. Soil test Al was also a good indicator of the P sorption capacity (PSC_ox) of soils (r = 0.86). Including the clay fraction in regression equations only slightly improved the prediction of PSC_ox (r = 0.90), while other readily available data (such as pH or organic carbon) did not significantly improve either DPS_ox or PSC_ox predictions.     

Single layer centrifugation of stallion spermatozoa consistently selects the most robust spermatozoa from the rest of the ejaculate in a large sample size

Reasons for performing study: An improvement in sperm quality after single layer centrifugation (SLC) has been seen in previous studies using small sample sizes (for example, n = 10 stallions). There is a need to investigate whether this improvement is repeatable over several breeding seasons with a larger number of stallions (n ≥ 30 stallions). Objective: To make a retrospective analysis of the results of SLC performed on more than 250 sperm samples (176 ejaculates) from 31 stallions in 3 consecutive breeding seasons. Methods: Sperm quality (motility, proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa and the proportion of spermatozoa with undamaged chromatin) was assessed before and after SLC. Results: All parameters of sperm quality examined were significantly better in sperm samples after SLC than in their unselected counterparts (P<0.001 for each parameter). The yield of spermatozoa obtained after SLC was influenced by the type of extender used and also by the concentration of spermatozoa in the original ejaculate, with fewer spermatozoa being recovered when the loading dose contained a high concentration of spermatozoa. The optimal concentration was approximately 100 × 10⁶/ml. Sperm concentration in the samples loaded on to the colloid influenced the sperm yield while the type of semen extender affected sperm quality and survival. Furthermore, the scaled‐up SLC method was found to be suitable for use with a range of ejaculates, with similar sperm kinematics being observed for standard and scaled‐up preparations. Conclusions: SLC consistently improved the quality of stallion sperm samples from a large number of ejaculates. The method could be scaled‐up, allowing larger volumes of ejaculate to be processed easily from a wide range of stallions.     

Assessment of age-related morphological changes in the testes of post-hatch light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken

The age-related morphological changes of the testes in light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken were evaluated in this study using gross anatomical, histological and histomorphometric techniques. The results showed that the testes of 3- to 9-month-old birds were light pink while testes of sexually mature chicken were creamy white in colour. The left and right testicular weight, length, diameter, circumference and the organosomatic indices increased significantly (p < .05) with increasing age across the groups. Although the mean tubular diameter and epithelial height of the left and right seminiferous tubules increased significantly (p < .05) with age, the tubular diameter, epithelial height and luminal diameter did not vary significantly (p > .05) between the left and right testes of all the groups. The one-cell layer thick germinal epithelium of the left testes at 3 to 6 months old showed islands of cell proliferation that contained spermatogonia and spermatocytes. At 6 to 9 months, the left testes exhibited numerous early spermatids with occasional occurrence of late stage spermatids while the right testes showed scanty early stage spermatids. At 12 to 18 months, the germinal epithelia of both left and right testes were characterized by the presence of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, numerous early and late stage spermatids as well as spermatozoa. In conclusion, the morphological features highlighted in the present study show that at pre-pubertal periods, the left testes may develop faster than the right testes. However, both left and right testes may participate actively in the production of spermatozoa during the post-pubertal life.     

花椰菜尾菜发酵饲料对保育猪生长性能、血清生化指标、小肠组织形态及经济效益的影响

为研究花椰菜尾菜发酵饲料对保育猪生长性能、血清生化指标、小肠组织形态及经济效益的影响。选取42头体重相近（11.40±1.36） kg、体况良好的40日龄保育猪,随机分为两组,每组3个重复,每个重复7头。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,试验组饲喂由80%基础饲粮和20%花椰菜尾菜发酵饲料组成的试验饲粮。试验共30 d,其中预试期8 d,正试期22 d。结果表明：与对照组相比,1）试验组保育猪的平均日采食量和平均日增重分别显著提高了16.50%和18.68%（P<0.05）,腹泻率显著降低了74.35%（P<0.05）。2）试验组保育猪十二指肠、空肠、盲肠、结肠和直肠食糜pH值分别显著降低了19.16%、11.59%、14.09%、15.95%和11.23%（P<0.05）。3）试验组血清尿素氮、白蛋白、免疫球蛋白M的含量显著升高了69.84%、5.22%、100%（P<0.05）,血清总胆固醇、谷丙转氨酶的含量分别显著降低了29.43%、60.51%（P<0.05）。4）试验组保育猪的空肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度和回肠绒毛高度分别显著升高了13.64%和11.49%（P<0.05）,空肠隐窝深度显著降低了9.56%（P<0.05）。5）试验组每头猪的增重收益、毛利润分别显著提高了30.84%和44.48%（P<0.05）,饲料成本显著降低了21.58%（P<0.05）。综上所述,饲喂花椰菜尾菜发酵饲料能够降低保育猪的腹泻率,提高保育猪的生长性能,增强其免疫性能,促进肠道发育,提高经济效益。     

Growth and morphologic response of rumen methanogenic archaea and bacteria to cashew nut shell liquid and its alkylphenol components

The growth and morphology of rumen methanogenic archaea (15 strains of 10 species in 5 genera, including 7 strains newly isolated in the present study) and bacteria (14 species in 12 genera) were investigated using unsupplemented in vitro pure cultures and cultures supplemented with cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) and its phenolic compound components, anti-methanogenic agents for ruminant animals. Growth of most of the methanogens tested was inhibited by CNSL and alkylphenols at different concentrations ranging from 1.56 to 12.5 μg/ml. Of the alkylphenols tested, anacardic acid exhibited the most potent growth inhibition. Three gram-negative bacterial species involved in propionate production were resistant to CNSL and alkylphenols (>50 μg/ml). All the methanogens and bacteria that were sensitive to CNSL and alkylphenols exhibited altered morphology; disruption of the cell surface was notable, possibly due to surfactant activity of the tested materials. Cells division was inhibited in some organisms, with cell elongation and unclear septum formation observed. These results indicate that CNSL and alkylphenols, particularly anacardic acid, inhibit both rumen bacteria and methanogens in a selective manner, which could help mitigate rumen methane generation.     

不同来源纤维饲粮对福建黄兔表观消化率、十二指肠组织形态及盲肠纤维消化酶活性的影响

本试验旨在研究不同来源纤维饲粮对福建黄兔表观消化率、十二指肠组织形态及盲肠纤维消化酶活性的影响。试验选用200只健康、体重接近的断奶福建黄兔,随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复10只。4组分别饲喂由添加比例为25%的苜蓿草粉、甜菜渣、燕麦草、大麦糠为纤维饲料原料配制而成的饲粮。试验期为60 d,于试验第54天以全收粪法进行消化试验,屠宰后测定十二指肠绒毛高度、隐窝深度及二者比值,盲肠纤维素酶、半纤维素酶和果胶酶活性。结果表明：①苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组的中性洗涤纤维（NDF）、酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）、不溶性纤维（IDF）、可溶性纤维（SDF）的消化率均极显著高于大麦糠与燕麦草组（P<0.01）。其中,甜菜渣组不溶性纤维、可溶性纤维的消化率最高,与苜蓿草粉组差异显著（P<0.05）。②苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组的绒毛高度极显著高于大麦糠组（P<0.01）,但显著低于燕麦草组（P<0.05）,隐窝深度显著低于大麦糠和燕麦草组（P<0.05）,其中甜菜渣组隐窝深度最低。甜菜渣组的绒毛高度/隐窝深度（V/C）最高,极显著高于其他组（P<0.01）。③苜蓿草粉与甜菜渣组盲肠3种纤维消化酶活性均极显著高于大麦糠和燕麦草组（P<0.01）,其中甜菜渣组的3种酶活均极显著高于苜蓿草粉组（P<0.01）。综上所述,对比4种纤维饲粮,在饲粮配方中添加25%的甜菜渣能提高肉兔的表观消化率与盲肠纤维消化酶活性,并能改善十二指肠组织形态。