Designating a greenbelt around the city of Riga, Latvia

Latvian legislation demands that forest protection belts are established around all cities and towns. The main goal of a protection belt is to provide suitable opportunities for recreation to urban dwellers and to minimise any negative impacts caused by urban areas on the surrounding environment. Legislation states the main principles to be adopted, which include the maximum area of protection belts, their integration in territorial development plans and restrictions placed on forest management activities. The largest part of the forest area around Riga is owned by the municipality of Riga, which, as a result, has two competing interests: to satisfy the recreational needs of the inhabitants of Riga, and to maximise the income from its property. In order to compile sufficient background information to solve this problem, the Board of Forests of Riga Municipality initiated the preparation of a proposal for the designation of a new protection belt.The proposal was based on the development and application of a theoretical framework developed during the 1980s. The analysis of the recreational value of the forest (5 classes of attractiveness) was carried out based on categories of forest type, dominant tree species, dominant age, stand density, distance from urban areas and the presence of attractive objects. Information was derived from forest inventory databases, digital forest maps and topographic maps. Additional information was digitised and processed using ArcView GIS 3.2. Local foresters were asked about the recreation factors unique to different locations, such as the number of visitors and the main recreation activities. From a recreational point of view and taking into account legal restrictions and development plans for the Riga region, it was proposed to create three types of zones in the forest: a protection belt, visually sensitive areas and non-restricted areas.     

A reactive pattern of ischemia-induced nestin protein in the rat brain

AIM:To explore the expressive profile of nestin protein in the focal ischemic brain and to study the recovery mechanism of brain focal infarct.METHODS:Cellular morphology,time-course and distribution pattern of nestin positive response were immunohistochemically examined in different brain regions of 36 adult male SD rats. RESULTS:Nestin positive response of different brain regions in sham operated rats was present in small- and micro-vasculartures and the third ventricle bottom and ependyma. A large number of nestin positive cells were detected in ischemic brain, and were more remarkable in the cortical areas of parietal lobe and preoptic area as well as ischemic caudoputamen. Stellate nestin positive cells were located in the deep layer of ischemic cortex, but fibrillary cells were located in the shallow layer. Nestin positive cells in the ischemic caudoputamen showed the same changes of morphology as those cells in the deep layer of ischemic cortex. Morphological and number alterations of nestin positive cells were the most remarkable at 1 weeks post-ischemia, which showed more hypertrophy and proliferation in morphology, and a marked increase in number was present in the ischemic cerebral cortex and the ischemic caudoputamen. These alterations of nestin positive cells persisted up to 6 weeks post-ischemia, and then, the nestin positive response in the ischemic brain decreased gradually.CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia induces nestin re-expression on reactive astrocytes, which may be very important to the self-recovery of cerebral infarct.     

Changes of myocardial glycogen content and right ventricular function in hypoxia swimming rats

AIM: To investigate the changes of myocardium glycogen content and the relation ship between changes of the myocardial glycogen content and the myocardial function. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were placed in (hypoxia rats) and made to swim in (hypoxia swimming rats) a hypobaxic chamber simulating an altitude of 5 000 m above sea level. The content of myocardium glycogens was determined by colorimetry. RESULTS: The myocardium
glycogen content of rats significantly reduced along with the prolongation of hypoxic exposure and approached to control level in hypoxia swimming rats. The myocardial function of right ventricule was improved significantly compared with control group.CONCLUSION: Moderate exercise (swimming) is beneficial to hypoxic adaptation of rats under the condition of chronic hypoxia.     

仔猪日粮中添加复合酸化剂的饲喂效果

选择7日龄哺乳仔猪126头，在玉米—豆粕型日粮中，分别添加6种自行研制的复合酸化剂饲喂仔猪，酸化剂的主要成分是柠檬酸、延胡索酸、磷酸、乳酸、草酸、酒石酸。结果表明，断奶仔猪的日增重比对照组分别提高11．94％、14．03％、7．46％、7．46％、17．31％、12．24％；饲料转化率分别提高13．92％、25．26％、7．73％、11．35％、21．65％、11．86％。仔猪的腹泻率也降低了。     

富铁酵母对家兔红细胞免疫功能的影响

为探讨富铁酵母对家兔红细胞免疫功能的影响,将32只家免随机分成富铁酵母高、低剂量组,FeSO4组及空白对照组,分别灌服富铁酵母(Fe元素8 mg/kg、4 mg/kg)、FeSO4(Fe元素4 mg/kg)及空白生理盐水;连续5 d后,检测红细胞C3g受体花环率和复合物(IC)花环率.结果:富铁酵母较FeSO4及空白组能显著提高红细胞C3h受体花环和红细胞复合物(IC)花环的百分率,但高、低剂量间无显著性差异.结论:富铁酵母能显著提高红细胞免疫功能.     

三肽囊素对环磷酰胺诱导的鸡红细胞免疫功能低下的阻断作用

本文研究了三肽囊素对环磷酰胺诱导的墟岗黄鸡红细胞免疫功能的抑制模型的影响。180只一日龄墟岗黄母鸡随机分成对照组,三肽囊素组,三肽囊素 环磷酰胺组,环磷酰胺组四个组,三肽囊素组和环磷酰胺 三肽囊素组每只鸡肌注0.01mg/kg剂量的三肽囊素;环磷酰胺组和环磷酰胺 三肽囊素组每只鸡肌注40mg/kg剂量的环磷酰胺,对照组鸡注射等量的生理盐水。结果表明,14日龄和35日龄时各试验组鸡的红细胞总数没有显著差异,而在56日龄时,环磷酰胺组显著低于其它三组(P<0.05);从14日龄开始,环磷酰胺纽的RBC-C3bR花环率显著低于其它三组,而环磷酰胺组的RBC-IC花环率显著高于其它三组,并持续到实验结束。结果提示,三肽囊素可阻断由环磷酰胺诱导的鸡红细胞免疫功能低下。     

大豆黄酮对肉仔鸡生长相关激素水平与免疫机能的影响

将640只1日龄艾维茵肉鸡公母分养,分别随机分为4组,分别饲喂添加大豆黄酮0、5、10、15mg/kg的4种饲粮,于试验28、49d采血和屠宰,探讨了日粮中添加不同水平大豆黄酮对肉仔鸡生长相关激素水平及免疫机能的影响。结果显示,日粮中添加大豆黄酮28、49d,均可显著提高公鸡血清生长激素(GH)、胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)、睾酮(TESTO)的含量(P<0.05或P<0.01),显著降低公鸡血清尿素氮水平(P<0.05或P<0.01),而对母鸡血清GH、IGF-1、尿素氮水平无明显影响;添加大豆黄酮49d,显著提高公鸡T淋巴细胞ANAE阳性率(P<0.05或P<0.01),添加大豆黄酮28d,显著提高公鸡NDV抗体效价(P<0.05),而对母鸡无明显影响(P>0.05);添加大豆黄酮28、49d,对公母鸡免疫器官重量有增加的趋势,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

外源粪菌干预对受体猪肠道屏障功能的影响研究

为研究外源粪菌干预对受体猪肠道屏障功能的影响,试验选取初生重相近、胎次相同、同日出生的杜×长×大三元杂交哺乳仔猪12窝,随机分为2组,每组6窝(每窝10~12头)。试验组于1~10日龄隔天灌喂1 m L金华猪粪菌悬液进行外源粪菌干预;对照组灌喂等量无菌0.1 mol/L无菌磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)。试验期间,仔猪自由哺乳采食和饮水,分别于12日龄和27日龄进行屠宰、采样。结果表明:外源粪菌干预可明显减少腹泻,提高受体猪的平均日增重和成活率(P0.05);外源粪菌干预能显著降低27日龄受体猪肠道隐窝深度(P0.05),显著提高肠道绒毛高度/隐窝深度(P0.05);外源粪菌干预能显著增加肠道杯状细胞数和12日龄肠道分泌型免疫球蛋白A阳性(SIgA~+)细胞数(P0.05),同时显著提高肠道黏蛋白Muc2、紧密连接蛋白ZO-1和Occludin表达水平(P0.05),而27日龄试验组的肠道SIgA~+细胞数与对照组无显著差异(P0.05)。综上可知,外源粪菌干预能通过增加肠道杯状细胞和SIgA~+细胞数、提高黏蛋白和紧密连接蛋白表达的方式调节受体猪肠道屏障功能,具有维持猪肠道功能稳态和促进肠道健康的作用。     

Feeding fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with either barley straw or pasture silage to non-lactating dairy cows

AIMS: To determine the suitability of diets containing either approximately 85% fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with barley straw or 65% fodder beet with pasture silage when fed to non-lactating dairy cows, by measuring intakes, digestibility, rumen function including microbial growth, and N excretion.

METHODS: Holstein-Friesian cows fitted with permanent rumen fistulae were fed either 65% fodder beet with pasture silage (Silage; n=8) or 85% fodder beet with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (Straw; n=8) in an indoor facility over a 9-day period, for measurement of intakes, digestibility, rumen function and urine production. The cows were adapted to the diets over 2 weeks before the indoor measurements. Feed was available for about 6 hours/day, as practiced commercially for wintering non-lactating cows.

RESULTS: Five cows fed the Straw diet had to be removed from the trial because of acute acidosis; four on Day 1 of the measurement period and one on Day 7. One cow allocated to the Silage diet refused to eat fodder beet bulbs and was also removed from the trial. Two cows fed the Silage diet were also treated for acidosis. DM intakes were lower with the Straw than Silage diets (6.4 (SE 0.4) vs. 8.3 (SE 0.5) kg/day) and organic matter (OM) digestibility was lower with the Straw than Silage diets (77 (SE 1) vs. 83 (SE 1) g/100g). The N content of the two diets was 1.14 and 1.75?g/100?g DM and there was a net loss of N by cows fed the Straw diet (?22.7 (SE 7) g/day). Rumen microbial N production was much lower in cows fed the Straw than the Silage diet (6.6 (SE 1.3) vs. 15.8 (SE 0.7) g microbial N/kg digestible OM intake). Concentrations of ammonia in rumen liquid collected on Days 5–6 were below detection limits (<0.1?mmol/L) in 36/48 (75%) samples collected from cows fed the Straw diet and in 27/48 (56%) cows fed the Silage diet. Mean urinary N excretion was lower in cows fed the Straw than the Silage diet (52.0 (SE 5.8) vs. 87.7 (SE 5.9) g/day).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVENCE: An over-wintering diet for dry cows comprising about 65% fodder beet with 35% pasture silage provided adequate nutrition, although there was some risk of acidosis. In contrast, the diet containing about 85% fodder beet with barley straw resulted in lower DM intakes, poor rumen function, negative N balance so that both nutrition and welfare were compromised.