Diabetes mellitus in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Objective To describe a case of diabetes mellitus in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).
Design A case report with controls.
Procedures We describe clinical and laboratory findings in a 6-year-old, free-living, female koala presented with traumatic injury and subsequently found to have polydipsia, hyperglycaemia and glucosuria. Over a 5 week period, serum biochemical analyses, haematological examinations, urinal-yses, measurement of serum insulin and fructosamine concentrations, necropsy, histopathological examination of a range of tissues and immunohistochemical examination of the pancreas for insulin-containing cells were done. For reference purposes, serum insulin and fructosamine concentrations were determined in four and two healthy koalas, respectively, and three healthy koalas pancreases were examined histo-logically and immunohistochemically.
Results The koala had persistent hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and glucosuria. Serum insulin concentration of the diabetic koala was only marginally smaller than that of healthy koalas, but all concentrations were smaller than reference concentrations in dogs and people. Fructosamine concentration did not allow the diabetic koala to be distinguished from healthy koalas and concentrations of all koala analytes were greater than expected for healthy dogs and people. Histopathological examination revealed extensive degeneration of pancreatic islet cells and fatty infiltration of hepatocytes. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed decreased or absent insulin in the b cells of the affected koala.
Conclusion Clinical signs, clinicopathological results and histopathological changes were consistent with diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of the condition could not be determined but may have been related to the administration of a parenteral corticosteroid preparation, the stress of capture or tissue damage and inflammation.     

Plasma cortisol responses to three cortico-trophic preparations in normal dogs

Objective To compare cortisol responses to three corticotrophic preparations in normal dogs.
Animals Eight clinically normal dogs (four intact males, four intact females) of medium size.
Procedures Each dog received four treatments on four separate occasions in a duplicated Latin square pattern. Treatments were two adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) preparations given intramuscularly at 2.2 U/kg, one of the ACTH preparations given intramuscularly at 1 U/kg and a synthetic polypeptide with ACTH-like activity (tetracosactrin, cosyntropin) given intravenously at 5 μg/kg. Plasma samples were taken for cortisol assay before and at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h after treatment.
Results Plasma cortisol concentrations were similar with the two ACTH preparations and at both dose rates. Tetracosactrin produced smaller mean peak cortisol concentrations, which tended to occur earlier than with ACTH, and smaller values for the area under the curve of plasma cortisol concentration from zero time to 4 h.
Conclusion The findings suggest that canine adrenal function can be tested adequately by giving ACTH intramuscularly at 1 U/kg and measuring plasma cortisol in samples taken at 0 and 2 h, or by giving tetracosactrin intravenously at 5 μg/kg and determining cortisol concentration at 0 and 1 h.     

土壤低温对嫁接黄瓜生理生化特性的影响

黄瓜嫁接及自根植株在结果初期经１１～１３℃土壤低温处理１周后,根系中酶的活性降低,根系生长受到抑制,伤流速率降低,伤流液中矿质元素含量明显减少,地上部生长也受到抑制,叶绿素含量减少,叶片水势降低,气孔阻力和细胞间隙ＣＯ２浓度增大,光合速率和蒸腾速率降低。嫁接植株各项测定指标均优于自根植株。由此得出,土壤低温通过根系对整个植株产生了不良影响;嫁接能够增强根系抗土壤低温的能力。     

干旱区盐渍化沙地梨的定植技术初探

该研究，探讨了干旱区盐渍化沙地上，苗木类型，定植方式，生存环境地梨树定植成活率的影响。杜梨苗经耐盐性锻炼后再定植于土壤含量盐量≥０．５５％的沙地上，其成活率可达８８．３％－９３．０％，定植的平均有效成本降低１６．４０元／６６６．７ｍ＾２。杜梨苗直接定植比植梨砧木成品苗的成活率高１７．０％，沟植的树行内土壤全盐量比穴植的低０．６２％，二者苗木成活率差异明显。梨园行间种植甜菜的苹果梨年生长量为行间土地     

杂交狼尾草作为能源植物的研究进展

杂交狼尾草(Pennisetum americahum×P.Purpureum)系美洲狼尾草(P.americahum)与象草(P.Purpureum)的种间杂交种,是多年生高大C4草本植物,已作为造纸、饲料原料等被广泛应用,是中国有前景的非粮能源植物之一。笔者以非粮生物质原料生产和生物质转化利用为中心,针对杂交狼尾草的生物学特征、遗传特性与良种选育、产量、品质特征和生物质转化利用、生态适应能力和生态效益、栽培及管理技术等方面的研究进展和存在的问题进行了详细阐述,并展望杂交狼尾草作为能源植物的研发前景。认为虽然杂交狼尾草存在对土壤条件要求高、在北方地区不能越冬等缺点,但较其他能源植物具有显著的产量优势,在条件较好的边际土地和污染农田上具有广阔的利用前景。     

The application of biochar on soil acidity and other physico‐chemical properties of soils in southern Ethiopia

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of biochar amendment on soil acidity and other physico‐chemical properties of soil in Southern Ethiopia using a field experiment of three treatments: (1) biochar made of corn cobs, (2) biochar made of chopped Lantana camara stem, and (3) biochar made of Eucalyptus globulus feedstock and a control, in which neither of the biochar was used. Each treatment had three levels of 6, 12 and 18 t ha⁻¹. The experiment was setup with RCBD in a factorial arrangement with three replications. In this regard, a total of 36 plots (each 2 × 2 m size) were applied with three replications to the depth of 0–15cm. From these 36 plots, composite soil samples were collected to the depth of 0–30 cm and analyzed for bulk density, total porosity, pH, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, and exchangeable acidity using standard procedures before and after biochar application. Two‐way ANOVA was also used to analyze the impact of the biochars on soil acidity and other properties. For the treatments that had significant effects, a mean separation was made using Least Significance Difference (LSD) test. The results showed the application of biochar significantly reduced, soil bulk density and exchangeable acidity when compared with a control (p < 0.05). Moreover, the total soil porosity, soil pH, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and potassium were significantly increased in the soil. From among applied biochar treatments, Lantana camara applied at the level of 18 t ha⁻¹ had a higher impact in changing soil physico‐chemical properties. In general, the study suggests that the soil acidity can be reduced by applying biochar as it can amend other soil physico‐chemical properties.     

干热河谷冲沟侵蚀劣地坡积区土体性质与裂缝形态发育特征

采用实地调查和室内分析等方法,并结合数字图像处理技术,研究了干热河谷冲沟侵蚀劣地坡脚堆积区(PJ)、坡底沉积区(PD)和平地漫流区(PM)土体性质和裂缝形态发育特征,并探讨了土体性质对裂缝形态特征的影响。结果表明,(1)侵蚀劣地坡积区不同部位土体性质差异显著,其中土壤体积质量及黏粒质量分数均表现为PDPJPM,毛管孔隙度为PMPDPJ,有机质为PMPJPD;不同部位土体性质极值比:黏粒质量分数最大(1.94),有机质(0.65)次之,再次是毛管孔隙度(0.27),土壤体积质量(0.09)最小;PJ、PD土体性质变化主要受物源特性和沉积方式的影响,而PM土体性质主要与植被分布以及漫流有关。(2)干热河谷侵蚀劣地不同部位土体裂缝形态特征差异也十分显著,其中裂缝长度密度(Lc)及连通性指数(K)均表现为PDPJ≤PM,面积率(Rc)、面积周长比(APc)及加权平均分形维数(AWMFRAC)则整体上表现为PD≥PJPM(Ⅲ号坡积区的Rc除外);表明裂缝发育强度(Rc)及复杂程度(APc、AWMFRAC)PD最高,其次为PJ,再次是PM。(3)相关分析表明,长度密度与土壤体积质量(p=-0.782)、黏粒质量分数(p=-0.626)均呈显著负相关,连通性指数与黏粒质量分数呈显著负相关(p=-0.618),这表明土壤体积质量及黏粒质量分数对裂缝发育产生了重要影响。     

山区道路生态环境评价指标体系研究

针对山区道路的生态环境特性，遵循评价指标选取的原则，采用层次分析法对目标层山区道路生态环境评价指标进行了筛选、优化，最终形成了2大类准则层（自然环境指标、社会环境指标）和17个指标层的山区道路生态环境评价指标体系。     

杉木耐瘠薄速生优树子代测定及早期选择

在福建省洋口国有林场,对7年生的杉木耐瘠薄速生优树半同胞子代测定林进行调查和分析测定。参试的各家系间树高、胸径和材积生长量均差异极显著,说明在家系水平上存在明显的分化;从参试的18个家系中选择出23号等5个在瘠薄立地条件下生长表现优良的家系,树高、胸径和材积平均值分别达7.67 m、10.88 cm和0.043 6 m3,与第2代种子园子代相比,其材积现实增益达21.11%,通过这种后向选择所选出的耐瘠薄速生优良家系具有明显的生长优势和耐瘠薄性,可以作为杉木第3代建园材料的补充。     

“龙江清酒”的加工与营销策略

为研制并开发地产新饮品，以黑龙江地产稻米为原料，采取制酒的工艺流程，研制香气独特的龙江清酒。提出了龙江清酒的加工工艺及技术要点，并策划了该产品的营销策略。加工工艺关键是筛选优良的酒曲霉菌和特定酵母菌、优化制曲工艺和发酵工艺条件等；营销关键是打品牌、强宣传、重营销。