Muscle fibre type distribution of the thoracolumbar and hindlimb regions of horses: relating fibre type and functional role

Background

Although the majority of equine muscles have a mixed fibre type distribution indicative of diverse functional roles, the predominance of a fibre type can indicate the primary function of a muscle. The deep epaxial musculature has an important role in core spinal stability in humans, reflected as a predominantly muscle fibre type (MFT) I or postural fibre type. The fibre type of the deep epaxial musculature has not been determined in horses. The objective of the study was to determine the MFT distribution in selected muscles of thoracolumbar and hindlimb region of horses. This included deep epaxial and hypaxial muscles that were hypothesised to have a postural stabilising role. A second objective was to examine differences in MFT distribution between horses bred for endurance (Arabian) and sprinting (Quarter horse). Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from selected thoracolumbar and hind limb muscles of 5 Quarter horses, 4 Arabians, and 2 Thoroughbreds. The myosin heavy chain distribution was determined by gel electrophoresis. Mann–Whitney rank test was used to compare the proportional MFT and differences between breeds.

Results

Mm. sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis and diaphragm had the highest proportion of MFT-I. The remaining deep epaxial muscles and the hypaxial muscle m. psoas minor had approximately equal MFT I and II proportions. Mm. psoas major, iliocostalis, longissimus dorsi and the hind limb muscles contained mostly MFT-IIX. The fibre type distribution was similar between Arabians and Quarter horses, although Quarter horses had more MFT-IIX fibres in psoas major (P = 0.02) while Arabians had more MFT-I fibres in m. longissimus dorsi (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The fibre type distribution of the deep epaxial muscles, mm psoas minor and diaphragm varied from approximately equal MFT-I and II proportions to predominantly MFT-I suggesting a postural stabilising role possibly important in core spinal stability. In contrast the fibre type proportions of mm psoas major, iliocostalis, longissimus dorsi and the hind limb muscles were mainly MFT-II suggesting a locomotory role. Knowledge of fibre type distribution in such a clinically important area can direct diagnosis, prevention and treatment of muscular or neuromotor dysfunction.     

微米木纤维JGD型木橡胶减震器的建模理论研究

选用可再生资源---红松木材的加工剩余物和边角碎料切削而成的木纤维为原料,用数学建模方法构造JGD型木橡胶减震器的外部造型,通过MATLAB验证JGD型木橡胶减震器仿真模型的通用性和精确性。动态输入模型参数,得到不同模型所需的加工尺寸,制作与模型相对应的模具。在模具上完成微米木纤维JGD型木橡胶减震器的整个模压加工过程,既能保证木橡胶减震器外形尺寸,又降低其生产成本,可为微米木纤维JGD型木橡胶减震器的加工系统实际生产提供理论依据。     

菠萝叶纤维与其它植物纤维的吸湿性能对比测试及分析

利用扫描电镜、X射线衍射等测试方法对菠萝叶纤维、亚麻纤维、苎麻纤维和棉花纤维的微观形态结构进行了分析。分析认为:菠萝叶纤维的形态结构有区别于其它三种植物纤维,有较大的比表面积;菠萝叶纤维的结晶度与亚麻纤维和苎麻纤维接近,高于棉花纤维。在热带标准状态下,采用烘箱干燥法和回归模型分析法,对测试的四种进行了吸湿、放湿测试与分析。结果表明:在吸湿性能方面,菠萝叶纤维表现最佳,棉花纤维最差;在纤维吸湿平衡回潮率和吸湿速率方面,菠萝叶纤维与亚麻纤维和苎麻纤维相近,且高于棉花纤维;在纤维放湿平衡回潮率和放湿速率方面,菠萝叶纤维高于亚麻纤维、苎麻纤维和棉花纤维。     

Sesbania aegyptiaca as promising biomass for manufacturing of MDF

Sesbania fiber is a fast-growing wood species that has been investigated for medium-density fiberboard (MDF) production. To assess the possibility of applying the local industrial defibration parameters of sugar-cane bagasse (SCB) on defibration of sesbania, the chemical constituents of unfibrated and defibrated sesbania, as well as their thermal stability and scanning electron micrographs, were estimated. Different preparation variables of MDF, such as density, level of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin (with 0.19% free-formaldehyde [HCHO]), and pressing time were studied, in comparison with that produced by using SCB fibers. The results showed that most of the tested sesbania-based MDFs have mechanical properties that fulfill the minimum requirements of MDF ANSI standard. Additionally, applying 12% UF and pressing for 240 sec provided sesbania-based MDF with optimum reduction in thickness swelling (reached ～7%). It is important to note that the sesbania-based MDF produced under these conditions is characterized by a lower TS property, than that obtained from SCB, or that reported in standards. The preliminary feasibility study revealed that using sesbania fibers will be an added economical potential for MDF production.     

主成分回归法对亚麻纤维产量的综合评价

研究通过对亚麻12个农艺性状的相关性分析,确定亚麻纤维产量相关显著的农艺性状,利用主成分分析原理进行相关性状的降维处理,消除亚麻纤维产量综合评价中存在的性状间多重共线性影响,对亚麻纤维产量进行综合评价。结果表明,主成分回归法可以有效消除亚麻纤维产量综合评价中出现的性状间多重相关性问题,该法可对亚麻纤维产量进行综合评价,为作物产量的综合评价提供新思路。     

Sexual dimorphism of fast muscle fibre recruitment in farmed Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Commercially farmed Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) were reared at the Aga Marin's facility located on Dønna (Norway) under ambient environmental conditions in duplicate 15 × 15 × 8 m netpens (May 2004 to May 2005). Twenty fish were sampled five times over a twelve month production period during which time the average body weight increased from 1.26 to 2.08 kg (n = 100 fish). Body mass, fork length (L_F), and the number and size distributions of fast muscle fibres were determined in male and female fish. All males matured during the autumn whereas no maturation was observed in females. From the point of maturation females had superior growth performance to males and body mass and the total cross-sectional area of muscle were 1.4-fold (P < 0.05) and 1.3-fold higher (P < 0.01) respectively by May 2005. The total number of fast muscle fibres per trunk cross-section at 0.55 L_F was 24.5% higher in females (7.58 × 10⁵) than males (5.80 × 10⁵) prior to sexual maturation. In females, muscle fibre recruitment slowed with short days and low water temperatures (< 6.5 °C), but had increased to 1.01 × 10⁶ by May 2005 (P < 0.001). In contrast, there was no growth and no increase in muscle fibre number in males following the onset of maturation. The distribution of muscle fibre diameters prior to maturation in males was also significantly different between male and female fish matched for L_F. The results illustrate a sexual dimorphism of muscle fibre recruitment patterns in Atlantic halibut and highlight the adverse affects of sexual maturation in males on muscle growth.     

青海加什科羊与青海毛肉兼用半细毛羊被毛纤维物理性能比较

青海加什科羊和青海高原毛肉兼用半细毛羊(以下简称半细毛羊)毛纤维细度周岁:公羊50支分别占18.00%、31.17%,母羊分别占20.40%、26.25%;56~58支公羊分别占53.57%、68.82%,母羊分别占53.47%、36.50%,差异极显著(P0.01);成年:公羊50支分别占20.00%、42.26%,母羊分别占20.22%、43.56%;56~58支公羊分别占51.25%、57.76%,母羊分别占51.44%、56.44%,差异极显著(P0.01)。     

大棚不同地膜栽培对蔬菜生长及产量的影响

通过在大棚内进行不同地膜,研究了大棚内麻地膜覆盖对辣椒、黄瓜生长及产量的影响。试验结果表明,大棚内麻地膜覆盖栽培促进蔬菜生长,提高辣椒、黄瓜产量。麻地膜覆盖栽培辣椒、黄瓜比聚乙烯农用黑膜增产5．2％、14．5％,比CK（不覆盖）增产24．7％、23．0％,与对照相比均达到显著差异。     

超高压对草鱼肌肉超微结构与质构特性的影响

研究了等静超高压对草鱼肌肉超微结构与质构特性的影响，并与猪肌肉用对照。结果表明：１．加压处理的草鱼肌肉，其超微结构中出现较明显的变化，如肌原纤维中Ａ带和Ｉ带的细丝均被破坏，粗丝相互聚集，出现间隙，Ｚ线变粗，不连续，Ｈ带和Ｍ线消失等，但肌原纤维的外形仍保持完整。２加压处理的草鱼肌肉，其外观无显著变化，色泽稍白，略有汁液流出，但质构特性与处理前无明显差别。     

Effects of different sources of carbohydrates on intake,digestibility, chewing,and performance of Holstein dairy cows

To investigate the effects of different sources of carbohydrates on intake, digestibility, chewing, and performance, nine lactating Holstein dairy cows (day in milk= 100±21 d; body weight=645.7 ± 26.5 kg) were allotted to a 3 × 3 Latin square design at three 23-d periods. The three treatments included 34.91% (B), 18.87% (BC), and 18.86% (BB) barley that in treatment B was partially replaced with only corn or corn plus beet pulp in treatments BC and BB, respectively. The concentration of starch and neutral detergent soluble carbohydrate varied (22.2, 20.2, and 14.5; 13.6, 15.9, and 20.1% of DM in treatments B, BC, and BB, respectively). Cows in treatment BB showed a higher DMI and improved digestibility of DM, NDF, and EE compared with treatments B or BC. Ruminal pH was higher in cows fed on BB (6.83) compared with those that received B or BC treatments (6.62 and 6.73, respectively). A lower proportion of propionate accompanied the higher pH in the BB group; however, a greater proportion of acetate and acetate: propionate ratio was observed compared with cows fed either on the B or BC diet. Moreover, cows fed on the BB diet showed the lowest ruminal passage rate and longest ruminal and total retention time. Eating time did not differ among treatments, rumination time was greater among cows fed on the BB diet compared with the others, whereas total chewing activity was greater than those fed on BC, but similar to those fed on B. The treatments showed no effect on milk yield. Partially replacing barley with corn or beet pulp resulted in an increase in milk fat and a lower protein concentration. Changing dietary NFC with that of a different degradability thus altered intake, chewing activity, ruminal environment, retention time or passage rate, and lactation performance. The results of this study showed that beet pulp with a higher NDF and a detergent-soluble carbohydrate or pectin established a more consistent ruminal mat than barley and corn, thus resulting in higher mean retention time and chewing activity, whereas no changes in 3.5% FCM and milk fat were observed.