Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Experimental investigation on the transport of different fish species in a jet fish pump

A jet fish pump with a throat of ø60 mm was designed to study its performance in the transport of different fish species and the physiological changes in fish thereafter. Experiments were conducted to investigate the fish transport rate and energy required to transport each ton of fish when transporting Carassius auratus, commonly known as the Chinese goldfish, Megalobrama amblycephala, or Wuchang bream, and Ctenopharyngodon idella, the grass carp. Fish were examined for external injuries as well as for several important enzymes and hormones which are indicators of tissue injury and stress. The results showed that the transport rate for all three species of fish rose dramatically with an increase in the primary stream rate. In this experiment, the transport rates of C. auratus, M. amblycephala and C. idella reached 2357 ± 37.2 kg ∙ h⁻¹, 2888 ± 41.6 kg ∙ h⁻¹, and 2060 ± 40.2 kg ∙ h⁻¹, respectively. However, both injury rate and energy required to transport each ton of fish increased no matter whether the primary stream rate was too low or too high. Considering both transport rate and injury rate, the mean primary stream rate of 80 m³ ∙ h⁻¹ was determined to be the optimal operating condition in this experiment. Fish were stressed and most likely some of their organs were damaged. However, most physiological indexes almost fully recovered after several hours.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Comparing the behavioural thermoregulation response to heat stress by Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) in two rivers

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of extreme thermal events in rivers. The Little Southwest Miramichi River (LSWM) and the Ouelle River (OR) are two Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) rivers located in eastern Canada, where in recent years, water temperatures have exceeded known thermal limits (~23°C). Once temperature surpasses this threshold, juvenile salmon exploit thermal heterogeneity to behaviourally thermoregulate, forming aggregations in coolwater refuges. This study aimed to determine whether the behavioural thermoregulation response is universal across rivers, arising from common thermal cues. We detailed the temperature and discharge patterns of two geographically distinct rivers from 2010 to 2012 and compared these with aggregation onset temperature. PIT telemetry and snorkelling were used to confirm the presence of aggregations. Mean daily maximum temperature in 2010 was significantly greater in the OR versus the LSWM (p = 0.005), but not in other years (p = 0.090–0.353). Aggregations occurred on 14 and 9 occasions in the OR and LSWM respectively. Temperature at onset of aggregation was significantly greater in the OR (T_onset = 28.3°C) than in the LSWM (T_onset = 27.3°C; p = 0.049). Logistic regression models varied by river and were able to predict the probability of aggregation based on the preceding number of hours >23°C (R² = 0.61 & 0.65; P₅₀ = 27.4°C & 28.9°C; in the OR and LSWM respectively). These results imply the preceding local thermal regime may influence behaviour and indicate a degree of phenotypic plasticity, illustrating a need for localised management strategies.     

Engineered-airlift pumps for aquaculture applications using multiphase flow analysis

Currently, very few aquaculture operations are employing airlift pump technology for water recirculation, aeration, and waste removal. This is likely due to the poor design and lower efficiency of traditional airlift design, the limited amount of research effort that has been invested in improving performance capabilities of air lift pumps and the general lack of awareness of the industry about the inherent advantages of airlift systems. A new efficient airlift pump is hydrodynamically designed by incorporating the Volume of Fluid (VOF) multi-phase model along with the K-ε turbulence model utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The pump is designed to offer a substantial reduction in total energy usage as well as an improved quality of the culture products in order to make it attractive to aquaculture industry. In this study, both numerical and experimental investigations were carried out for airlift systems operating under two different submergence ratios of 50% and 90% in a lab setting using 2.54 cm diameter pumps. Also, the performance of a large-scale pumps of 10.16 cm diameters were also tested in an aquaculture raceway to determine its effect on the operation. The numerical results were found to be in agreement with the experiments within ±20% which is considered very reasonable for multiphase flow analysis. The present study was found to present a great tool for modelling the airlift pump performance, and potentially proposing new designs.     

热处理对低温胁迫下黄瓜活性氧代谢和膜脂组分的影响

为探讨热处理减轻黄瓜果实低温冷害的作用机理,本试验研究了47℃热水浸泡5 min处理对黄瓜果实在4℃贮藏期间活性氧代谢和膜脂组分的影响。结果表明,47℃热水5 min处理可显著抑制黄瓜果实冷害的发生,贮藏15 d后果实冷害指数较对照(CK)低20.87%。此外,热处理还可抑制黄瓜相对电导率及丙二醛(MDA)含量的上升,提高黄瓜果实超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(DOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性,抑制超氧阴离子($\mathop{{O}}_{2}^{{\mathop{}_{\ ·}^{-}}}$)及过氧化氢(H₂O₂)的产生,同时降低脂氧合酶的活性,保持较低的饱和脂肪酸含量、较高的不饱和脂肪酸含量和膜脂不饱和度。综上,热处理可维持黄瓜果实活性氧代谢的平衡,抑制膜脂的过氧化作用,从而提高黄瓜果实的抗冷性,减轻果实冷害损伤。     

中隔墩长度对斜式轴伸泵装置出水流道水力特性的影响

为研究大型低扬程泵站斜式出水流道水力特性,采用数值模拟方法对某斜20°轴伸泵装置三维湍流流场进行了数值计算,发现斜式出水流道内存在严重的偏流问题,基于4种计算方案的数值模拟结果分析了偏流的成因,在研究了中隔墩长度对斜式出水流道流态和水头损失影响的基础上提出了解决偏流的措施,并得到模型试验的验证。研究结果表明:顺水流方向看,中隔墩长度为14 m时的斜式出水流道内的主流明显偏于左侧,在流道右侧下部存在较大范围的旋涡区;导叶体出口具有较大周向速度分量的水流呈螺旋状进入"S"形弯曲的斜式出水流道,两者相互作用导致斜式出水流道产生偏流;随着中隔墩长度的增加,斜式出水流道左右孔的偏流系数逐渐减小、流道水头损失呈先减小再增大趋势,当中隔墩加长至23.35m时出水流道左右两侧的出流流量达到基本相等;采用长中隔墩斜式出水流道的泵装置模型试验最优工况点效率达到80.56%,泵装置模型试验结果与数值模拟结果一致,取得了预期的纠偏效果,得到有关工程设计院的认可,并应用于工程实际。     

The use of the hand-held infrared thermometer as an early detection tool for exertional heat illness in Thoroughbred racehorses: A study at racetracks in eastern Australia

Thoroughbred racehorses perform exercise at maximal intensities and typically display a hyperthermic exercise response, which can drive core body temperature to critical levels. Despite extremely efficient thermoregulatory mechanisms, certain weather conditions may affect the horse’s ability to cool and result in a syndrome referred to as exertional heat illness (EHI). This is characterised by central nervous system dysfunction, as well as cytotoxic effects of heat on cells, which can produce deleterious consequences. Early detection of exertional heat illness (EHI) in Thoroughbred racehorses can be difficult because signs are often vague and the measurement of rectal temperature as an indicator of hyperthermia is not practical. Best practice in the treatment of EHI in horses, as in human subjects, centres on early detection, rapid assessment and aggressive cooling. Research in human subjects has shown that EHI is manageable when recognised early and appropriate treatment provided. The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement of skin surface temperature (SST) by an infrared thermometer as an aid in the early detection of EHI. A skin surface temperature ≥39°C in the immediate postrace period is considered to be hot. It reflects the interaction of exercise-related metabolic heat production, physiological adjustments to the skin surface such as vasodilation and sweating, together with the effect of high ambient temperature. Most importantly, high SST is associated with a reduced core-to-skin temperature difference, which retards heat transfer from the deep body tissues to the skin and can hinder heat dissipation. Identification of horses with high SSTs can prioritise them for rapid cooling and curtail possible progression to EHI.     

秸秆沼气集中供气工程运行管理维护研究

文章针对凤凰村秸秆沼气集中供气工程运行管理维护中存在的问题,进行分析并提出了相应的解决办法,为今后秸秆沼气集中供气工程建设及运营提供经验和借鉴。     

Impact of urban park’s tree,grass and waterbody on microclimate in hot summer days: A case study of Olympic Park in Beijing,China

Urban heat island (UHI) often cause negative impact and has been linked to heart stroke rate, morality, human comfort, energy consumption and air pollution. Fortunately, urban green spaces have been considered as an effective element to mitigate UHI through their cooling effect. However, further empirical research is necessary in order to efficiently guide the design and planning of urban green space. We observed the impacts of urban park's tree, grass and waterbody on microclimate inside the Olympic park of Beijing during summer days. The results indicated that, on average, the park was 0.48–1.12 °C cooler during the day, as well as increased air humidity 2.39–3.74% and reduced human comfort index 1.02–2.43 to generate more comfortable thermal environment. Urban park's cluster trees with short ground vegetation generated higher cooling effect than single trees, grass and waterbodies; proper irrigation regime enhanced the cooling effect of grasses, even the irrigated grass have similar cooling effect with small waterbody on sunny, windless summer days. Therefore, we advise to increase undergrowth coverage and grass irrigation management in order to take advantage of cooling effect of urban parks.