An experimental study of charcoal degradation in a boreal forest

Degradation rates of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) under natural environmental conditions are largely unknown. Here we present results from a field experiment monitoring the change in mass, C- and N concentrations of a variety of charcoal types in a Norwegian boreal forest over a period of 20 months. The charcoal types represent different feedstock tree species, production temperature regimes, and placements in the forest, i.e. above ground, in the humus layer or in contact with the mineral subsoil. The types of charcoal had different initial C concentrations mainly depending on their production temperature. Nevertheless, all types of charcoal at all placements in the forest showed an initial drop in their C concentrations, which subsequently rose back to reach near initial values in part of the charcoal types. In part of the charcoal types, N concentrations decreased throughout the experiment, exhibiting considerable variation among feedstock species, production temperature regime, and placements in the forest. C/N ratios rose especially in charcoal made from wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and charcoal that had been stored in contact with the mineral subsoil showed the most rapid mass gain. Our results confirm the important influence of production temperature and feedstock type on the degradation of charcoal, but they also show that microbial activity and environmental conditions play significant roles in charcoal degradation and thus for the fate of pyrogenic carbon under natural conditions.     

杜洛克与二花脸杂交猪群体SNP偏分离分析

偏分离（TRD）是生物中普遍存在的现象,本研究拟在高密度基因芯片判断基因型的大规模群体中挖掘猪基因组标记位点的偏分离位点并探究其潜在的遗传机制。本研究用60K Illumina Porcine SNP芯片对1 020头F2资源家系（杜洛克与二花脸杂交F0-F2群体）进行基因型分型,用偏分离分析软件TRDscan （BF>100）和TDT （P<0.01）方法在单个位点上检测偏分离信号,并对二者共有的显著信号位点附近100 kb窗口的基因进行功能分析。此外,本研究还利用单倍型分型的软件包PHASEBOOK采用多位点连锁分析的策略分析了父源和母源配子中的偏分离区域,并在该区域内搜寻潜在的QTLs。结果表明：1）在单位点的偏分离分析中共鉴定到44个显著的偏分离位点,筛选到23个相关基因;对父本和母本特异性偏分离效应进行分析时,分别鉴定到27和35个显著偏分离位点,其中,分别有11和25个位点的100 kb附近有已注释的功能基因。2）基于单倍型多位点连锁的偏分离结果显示,父本显著偏分离位点位于5和13号染色体上,在该偏分离区域内搜寻功能相关的QTL,共搜寻到3个与繁殖性状（木乃伊数、产活仔数、黄体数）有关的QTLs;分析母本偏分离位点时,在4、6和12号染色体上定位到显著偏分离区域,结合已知的猪QTL数据库,共找到了5个与繁殖性状相关的QTLs。本研究利用大规模猪家系数据系统地鉴别了猪基因组的偏分离位点,为解析猪中的偏分离现象和进一步探究其生物学机制提供了一定的参考作用。     

New technique of sex preselection for increasing female ratio in boar sperm model

In this study, we tried to optimize the porcine semen extender conditions to maximize the differences between live X chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and to Y chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without a decline in the fertility rate at different pH conditions during storage. We observed the viability of X and Y boar spermatozoa in acidic (pH 6.2), original (pH 7.2), and alkaline condition (pH 8.2) for 5 days to investigate the effect of storage conditions on the X to Y spermatozoa ratio. The functional parameters of spermatozoa were also examined to evaluate sperm quality. Sperm motility was preserved at pH 7.2 and pH 6.2 for 3 days, while sperm motility at pH 8.2 decreased significantly after 2 days. Non-capacitated spermatozoa increased while capacitated spermatozoa decreased during storage. Sperm viability decreased significantly duration-dependent under all pH conditions, but there was no significant difference during storage at pH 6.2 and 7.2. The X: Y ratio of live spermatozoa in acidic condition was maximized (1.2:1) without affecting the sperm function and fertility-related protein expression after 2 days compared to original conditions. Moreover, insemination of sows using acidic extender increased the number of female pups on days 1 and 2 of preservation. These results indicate that the production of female offspring may increase when acidic BTS is used for 2 days without affecting the success rate of AI. Above all, this method is simple and economical compared to other methods.     

补播羊草和黄花苜蓿对退化草甸植物群落特征的影响

呼伦贝尔草原区是我国北方重要的生态屏障,近年来不合理的利用方式导致该地区退化草地面积不断扩大,为了探究牧草补播时间及补播比例对呼伦贝尔退化草甸草原植物群落特征的影响,为该地区退化草地修复提供依据。本研究以羊草（Leymus chinensis（Trin.） Tzvel.）和黄花苜蓿（Medicago falcata L.）为试验材料,采用双因素随机区组试验设计,通过测定幼苗数、高度、生物量等群落指标,并综合评价补播效果,结果表明：夏播羊草和黄花苜蓿幼苗数量显著高于春播和秋播（P<0.05）,夏播和秋播植物群落总生物量呈增加趋势,春播则呈减少趋势;补播措施提高了退化草地植物群落Shannon-Weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数,豆科和禾本科植物重要值呈增加趋势,其他科植物呈下降趋势。呼伦贝尔地区夏季补播羊草和黄花苜蓿以1∶3补播效果较好,而春播由于恢复时间短,需进一步观察。     

Effects of different dl‐selenomethionine and sodium selenite levels on growth performance,immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers

This trial was conducted in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different dl ‐selenomethionine (dl ‐Se‐Met) and sodium selenite (SS) levels on growth performance, immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers. A total of 840 Ross 308 broilers (7 days old) were allocated by body weight to seven treatments (three replicates of 40 birds each treatment) including (1) basal diet (containing 0.04 mg of selenium (Se)/kg; control) without supplementary Se; (2, 3 and 4) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as SS; (5, 6 and 7) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as dl ‐Se‐Met. The experiment lasted 42 days. The results revealed that dietary Se supplementation improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations and decreased (p < 0.01) thyroxine (T₄)/T₃ ratio in serum compared with the control. Broilers receiving the dl ‐Se‐Met‐supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed efficiency, thymus index, the amounts of IgA, IgG, IgM and T₃ as well as lower (p < 0.05) serum T₄ concentrations and T₄/T₃ ratio than those consuming the SS‐supplemented diets. Serum IgA and IgM levels of broilers fed 0.15 mg Se/kg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of broilers fed 0.05 or 0.25 mg Se/kg. In summary, we concluded that dl ‐Se‐Met is more effective than SS in increasing immunity and promoting conversion of T₄ to T₃, thus providing an effective way to improve the growth performance of broilers. Besides, based on a consideration of all experiment indices, 0.15 mg Se/kg was suggested to be the optimal level of Se supplementation under the conditions of this study.     

Effect of dietary probiotic,prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation on performance,immune responses,intestinal morphology and bacterial populations in broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic (Primalac), prebiotic (TechnoMos) and synbiotic (Primalac + TechnoMos) supplementation on performance, immune responses, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum in broilers. A total of 240 one‐day‐old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups which included 60 birds. Control group did not receive any treatment. The chicks in the second, third and fourth groups were fed probiotic (0.9 g/kg), prebiotic (0.9 g/kg) and probiotic (0.9 g/kg) plus probiotic (0.9 g/kg; synbiotic), respectively, at entire period. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were evaluated. The birds were immunized by sheep red blood cell (SRBC) on days 12 and 29 of age and serum antibody titres were measured on days 28, 35 and 42. Newcastle vaccines administered on days 9, 18 and 27 to chicks and blood samples were collected on day 42. Intestinal morphometric assessment and enumeration of intestinal bacterial populations were performed on day 42. The results indicated that consumption of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic had no significant effect on daily feed intake, daily body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, intestinal morphology and bacterial populations of ileum (p > 0.05). Consumption of prebiotic increased total and IgM anti‐SRBC titres on days 28 and 42 and antibody titre against Newcastle virus disease on day 42 (p < 0.05). Synbiotic increased only total anti‐SRBC on day 28 (p < 0.05). It is concluded that consumption of prebiotic increased humoral immunity in broilers. Therefore, supplementation of diet with prebiotic for improvement of humoral immune responses is superior to synbiotic supplementation.     

丹参药渣栽培糙皮侧耳和毛头鬼伞

采用不同比例丹参(Salviae miltiorrhiza)药渣替代玉米芯对糙皮侧耳(Pleurotus ostreatus)、毛头鬼伞(Coprinus comatus)供试菌株进行栽培实验.经栽培收获两茬子实体,分别对不同配方两个菌种的菌丝长速、单位料重产量、生物学效率等指标进行统计分析.结果表明:在单位料重产量及生物学效率表现上,随培养料中所含丹参药渣比例增加而增加;在菌丝长速表现上则相反.经丹参药渣、玉米芯的碳氮比分析(28.5∶1;88.1∶1)得知,栽培料中随药渣含量的增加氮素含量相应提高(碳氮比55.27∶1～27.44∶1,氮含量为0.76％～2.43％),成为两个菌种产量增加的主要原因.     

白三叶对黑麦草、弯叶画眉草的化感作用初探

针对白三叶Trifolium repens与黑麦草Lotium perenne、弯叶画眉草Eragrostis curvula混播时导致后2种植物数量减少甚至消失的现象,通过白三叶的根部、地上部和植株水提液对黑麦草和弯叶画眉草种子进行发芽实验,以及白三叶与黑麦草、白三叶与弯叶画眉草种子混播进行实验,研究表明:白三叶(幼苗、2年生植株根及茎叶)的水提取液在原液以及稀释20倍时对受体植物的胚根和胚芽的生长均产生明显的抑制作用,而在100倍稀释液时表现出一定的促进作用;白三叶与黑麦草及白三叶与弯叶画眉草种子混播实验,表明5∶1的比例为最佳混播比例.     

中华卵索线虫人工室内培养技术

为室内大量繁殖中华卵索线虫Ovomermis sinensis,采用个体由大到小的斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura、棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera和黏虫Mythimna separata作为宿主,测定被中华卵索线虫寄生后3种宿主的体长和体重,研究宿主种类对中华卵索线虫有效率、雌雄比和体长的影响以及寄生强度对线虫雌雄比的影响。结果显示,被中华卵索线虫寄生后,斜纹夜蛾、棉铃虫和黏虫生长减缓。在相同感染比例下（除宿主与线虫比为1∶15外）,3种宿主的线虫有效率之间差异不显著。当寄生强度为5时,3种宿主体内脱出的中华卵索线虫均为雌线虫;当寄生强度从10增到40时,斜纹夜蛾、棉铃虫和黏虫所脱出的雌性比分别由100.0%、90.0%、83.9%降为0;相同寄生强度下,从斜纹夜蛾体内脱出的雌性比显著高于从棉铃虫与黏虫体内脱出的雌性比。斜纹夜蛾、棉铃虫和黏虫体内脱出雌线虫和雄线虫平均体长分别为14.8、13.8、12.8 cm和8.0、7.5和7.5 cm。当中华卵索线虫与宿主按照比例20∶1～25∶1侵染斜纹夜蛾、按照15∶1侵染棉铃虫和黏虫时,能获得线虫最适雌雄比（1∶1...