ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF ADRENAL GLAND SIZE COMPARED TO BODY WEIGHT IN NORMAL DOGS

The accepted cut‐off value for adrenal gland maximum diameter of 0.74 cm to distinguish adrenal gland enlargement in dogs regardless of body weight may not be appropriate for small to medium breed dogs. The purpose of the current retrospective study was to examine adrenal gland dimensions as a function of body weight in healthy dogs in three weight categories (< 10 kg, 10–30 kg, and > 30 kg) representing small, medium, and large breeds, respectively, to establish greater confidence in determining if adrenal gland size is abnormal. The measurements of length (sagittal plane), cranial and caudal pole thickness (sagittal and transverse planes), and caudal pole width (transverse plane) of both adrenal glands were obtained ultrasonographically in clinically healthy dogs (n = 45) with 15 dogs in each weight group. Findings support our hypothesis that adrenal gland size correlates with body weight in normal dogs, and more precise reference intervals should be created for adrenal gland size by categorizing dogs as small, medium, or large breed. The caudal pole thickness of either adrenal gland in a sagittal plane was the best dimension for evaluating adrenal gland size based on low variability, ease, and reliability in measurement.     

Effects of sex and age on behavior and weight gain in beef calves after abrupt weaning

The effects of weaning on beef calves of different ages were investigated. Forty male and 40 female calves were either weaned at 6 (W6, n = 40) or 8 (W8, n = 40) months of age. The vocalization activity and behaviors (feeding, lying and standing/walking) were observed during the first 3 days following weaning. Body weight was recorded at 6 and 8 months and 2 weeks following weaning. W6 animals vocalized more often than W8 calves and females more than males on day 1 (P < 0.05). The vocalization activity decreased at a higher rate in W8 than in W6 from days 1 to 3. On day 2, W6 calves spent less time lying and more standing/walking than W8 calves (P < 0.05). The behaviors did not differ between males and females. The average daily gain after weaning did not differ between weaning ages (P > 0.05), but W8 calves gained more from 6 to 8 months of age. In conclusion, weaning distress was more pronounced in W6 than in W8 calves. W8 calves also had a superior growth performance during 6 to 8 months of age. The effect of the calves' sex was less pronounced. Therefore, it is recommended to wean beef calves later than 6 months of age.     

Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.     

植物生长调节剂GGR8在寒富苹果栽培上的应用

通过对绿色植物生长调节剂GGR8号在寒富苹果栽培上的应用进行的试验研究,结果表明:GGR8能够提高寒富苹果的品质,20、40、60 mg·kg-1等3种施用浓度在新梢生长量、含糖量、硬度方面均比对照有所提高,尤以60 mg·kg-1的施用浓度应用效果最好,其新梢生长量达到了36.7 cm,比对照增加9.3 cm;单果质量达到了240 g,比对照增加了95 g;含糖量达到了15%,比对照提高3个百分点;硬度达到了9.5 kg·cm-2,比对照增加了1.1 kg·cm-2。     

Effects of agriculture,climate, and policy on NDVI change in a semi-arid river basin of the Chinese Loess Plateau

In 1999, the Grain for Green Project was implemented by the Chinese government. Since then, the vegetation of Zuli River Basin, a semi-arid river basin of the Chinese Loess Plateau, has been greatly changed. Clearly understanding the impact of natural and artificial factors on vegetation change is important for policy making and ecosystem management. In this study, spatio-temporal variations in vegetation cover in Chinese Zuli River Basin during 1999–2016 were investigated using Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. Analyses of several indicators, including changes in NDVI in different slopes and land use changes and the relationships between climatic factors and NDVI change, were presented to quantitatively evaluate the effects of agriculture, climate, and policy on NDVI change. The NDVI in the Zuli River Basin increased during the study period, and the main contributors to this change were forest in 1999–2011, cropland, abandoned farmland, and grassland in 2009–2016, and land with slopes ≤ 15°. Land with slope > 15°, where the “Project” was implemented, slightly contributed to the increase in regional NDVI. In 1999–2011, the project (?98.16%) combined with climate change (?68.18%) showed negative effects on the increase in NDVI in the Zuli River Basin, but agriculture (22.28%) played a positive role in increasing this index. In 2009–2016 and 1999–2016, the project (38.45% and 35.25%, respectively), the project combined with climate change (49.83% and 46.30%, respectively), agriculture (18.61% and 23.30%, respectively), promoted increases in NDVI in the basin.     

Dietary protein requirement for juvenile mandarin fish,Siniperca scherzeri

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the dietary protein requirement of juvenile mandarin fish, Siniperca scherzeri, a demersal freshwater piscivore with high commercial value in East Asia. Five isolipidic (100 g/kg) and isoenergetic (20 MJ/kg) practical diets were formulated to contain graded levels of 450, 500, 550, 600, and 650 g/kg crude protein, using mackerel fishmeal as the sole source of protein. Each of the five test diets was fed to visual satiety to triplicate groups of fish (initial mean body weight ± SE; 20.1 ± 0.2 g) reared in a recirculating freshwater system over the experimental period. Fish growth performance in terms of weight gain tended to improve with increasing dietary protein level, and the highest values were observed in those fish fed the 600–650 g/kg diets. Feed intake significantly declined as the protein content of the diet increased. Feed efficiency and protein retention tended to increase with increasing dietary protein levels, from 450 to 600 g/kg, and then declined when dietary protein content further increased to 650 g/kg. A similar trend was also found for the protein efficiency ratio, although the observed changes did not reach statistical significance. Whole‐body composition and plasma biochemical parameters were not significantly affected by the dietary protein content. Based on these findings and a broken‐line model of growth, 614.4 g/kg seems to be the proper amount of protein in a practical diet for >20 g mandarin fish.     

穗期高温对玉米子粒灌浆生理及产量的影响

为揭示玉米穗期高温胁迫对子粒灌浆生理及产量的影响,以耐热型玉米品种郑单958和热敏感型玉米品种先玉335为试验材料,研究了第9片叶完全展开至抽雄期高温对玉米子粒灌浆特性、淀粉合成酶活性、激素含量和产量的影响。结果表明,穗期高温处理,郑单958和先玉335的产量分别比对照降低了11.14%和25.40%;2个品种的粒重和灌浆前期的灌浆速率降低,到达最大灌浆速率的时间延迟,灌浆速率最大时的生长量减小,活跃灌浆期延长;灌浆前期子粒淀粉合成酶活性降低;高温对先玉335的影响明显高于对郑单958。高温处理后,2个品种子粒中的生长素、玉米素核苷和赤霉素含量变化趋势一致,均表现为灌浆初期降低,灌浆后期升高,脱落酸含量表现则相反。     

不同生育期水稻干物质量与产量的关系研究

为明确不同生育期的干物重对粤晶丝苗2号、粤农丝苗、合美占3个水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种的产量及产量构成因素的影响,设置了早造和晚造两次不同氮肥梯度随机区组栽培试验。结果表明,叶片干物质的分配比例在拔节孕穗期时最高,且其随着生育进程逐渐降低,在乳熟期达到最低值;茎干物质的分配比例在乳熟期降至最低;齐穗期的穗干物质分配比例不到20%,而乳熟期的穗干物质量将近占总干物质量的43%;早造和晚造水稻的结实率差异极显著,总干重差异显著,而穗数、每穗粒数、千粒重、产量差异不显著;齐穗期以后,结实率和千粒重均与干物重呈负相关,而叶干重与穗数呈显著正相关,且相关性较大,茎干重与各产量性状密切相关,总干重与产量呈正相关。水稻干物重是决定高产的重要因素。     

稻麦两熟制条件下钵苗机插方式对不同类型水稻品种米质的影响

为探明钵苗机插方式在稻麦两熟地区对水稻米质性状的影响及其品种类型间差异,本文以常规粳稻、杂交籼稻和籼粳交水稻为材料,比较了钵苗机插、毯苗机插和机械直播3种种植方式在稻麦两熟制高产栽培条件下的稻米加工品质、外观品质、营养品质、蒸煮食味品质特性变化及其品种类型间差异。结果表明,钵苗机插的整精米率比毯苗机插和机械直播分别提高1.6%和4.9%(P0.05),整精米产量分别提高7.8%和25.9%(P0.05),改善了稻米加工品质;与毯苗机插和机械直播相比,钵苗机插的稻米垩白米率、垩白面积和垩白度显著增加,对稻米外观品质有不利影响,但钵苗机插精米蛋白质含量较高,有利于稻米营养品质的改良,其精米蛋白质产量分别比毯苗机插和机械直播提高8.7%和28.0%;3种种植方式相比,钵苗机插稻米蒸煮食味品质表现出一定程度的变优趋势,其中,稻米直链淀粉含量、消减值和糊化温度呈钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播的趋势,胶稠度、峰值黏度、热浆黏度、最终黏度和崩解值呈钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播的趋势;食味值于种植方式间无显著差异,呈籼粳交水稻和常规粳稻钵苗机插毯苗机插机械直播,杂交籼稻毯苗机插钵苗机插机械直播的趋势。由此得出,钵苗机插不仅能增加稻谷产量,还能改善部分稻米品质特征,是稻麦两熟地区实现高产高效优质协调水稻生产的潜力型机械化种植方式。