Comparison of dietary essential amino acid requirements determined from group‐housed versus individually‐housed juvenile bluegill,Lepomis macrochirus

Two 60‐day experiments were conducted sequentially to determine (i) lysine requirement of juvenile bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus based on the dose–response method, (ii) requirements for other essential amino acids (EAAs) using whole‐body amino acid profile and (iii) whether differences in growth rates of group‐housed versus individually‐housed bluegills lead to different lysine requirement levels because of the presence and absence, respectively, of social hierarchies. Seven, semi‐purified, experimental diets (isonitrogenous, isocaloric) were prepared to contain graded levels of digestible lysine (10–31 g kg⁻¹). Experiment‐1 involved group‐housed bluegills (approximately 27 g, n = 10 fish/chamber, 4 chambers/diet) whereas experiment‐2 involved individually‐housed bluegills (approximately 30 g, n = 1 fish/chamber, 14 chambers/diet). Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation. Bluegill growth responses in both experiments generally improved (P < 0.05, anova ) with increasing dietary lysine levels from 10 to 16 g kg⁻¹, and then levelled off with further increase in lysine level (P > 0.05). Optimal dietary lysine level (digestible basis) was estimated to be 15 g kg⁻¹ based on broken‐line regression analyses of relative growth rate and feed conversion ratio with no differences being observed between the two rearing methods. Determined dietary requirement levels for other EAAs ranged from 2.4 g kg⁻¹ (tryptophan) to 15.3 g kg⁻¹ (leucine).     

Seismic behavior of reinforced-concrete and steel reinforced concrete ultra short columns

进行了4个钢筋混凝土(RC)超短柱、4个型钢混凝土(SRC)超短柱和6个RC分体柱的滞回性能试验研究.8个超短柱的剪跨比为1;6个分体柱的剪跨比为2.4.试验结果表明,RC超短柱的变形能力不满足现行抗震规范要求.不设剪力连接件的SRC超短柱的破坏模式为黏结破坏,与RC超短柱相比,其抗剪承载力和变形能力并无明显提高;设置剪力连接件的SRC超短柱的破坏模式为斜压破坏,其抗剪承载力和变形能力显著提高,但构件的变形能力仍然难以满足现行抗震规范要求.试验结果还表明,在RC超短柱中开缝,形成剪跨比大于2的RC分体柱,可有效提高柱子的延性和变形能力.对于RC分体柱,随轴压比的提高,构件的抗弯承载力提高,但延性和变形能力下降;当设计轴压比大于0.7时,RC分体柱的变形能力不满足现行抗震规范要求.根据试验结果,提出了SRC超短柱的剪力连接件设计方法和RC分体柱的设计建议.     

Single and Interactive Effects of Temperature and Light Quality on Four Canola Cultivars

Combined effects of temperature and light quality on plants have received little attention. We investigated the single and interactive effects of temperature and light quality on growth and physiological characteristics of four canola (Brassica napus) cultivars – Clearfield 46A76 (cv₁), Clearfield 45H72 (cv₂), Roundup Ready 45H24 (cv₃) and Roundup Ready 45H21 (cv₄). Plants were grown under lower (24°/20 °C) and higher (30°/26 °C) temperature regimes at low red/far‐red (R/FR), normal R/FR and high R/FR light ratios in environment‐controlled growth chambers (16 h light/8 h dark). Higher temperature reduced stem height and diameter; leaf number and area; dry matter of all plant parts; and specific leaf weight, but increased leaf area ratio; and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence (Y). Low R/FR increased stem height; Y; and ethylene, but decreased stem diameter; F_v/F_m; Chl a; Chl b; and carotenoids. Among cultivars, plants from cv₄ were tallest with thickest stems and greatest dry matter. None of the main factors affected gas exchange. Higher temperature at high R/FR caused cv₃ to be shortest, whereas lower temperature at low R/FR caused cv₄ to be tallest. We conclude that heat and other stress factors will adversely affect sensitive crops, but tolerant genotypes should perform well under future climate.     

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.