Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

施氮水平对7S亚基缺失大豆根系形态和结瘤固氮的影响

为有效推广功能型大豆7S亚基缺失品种,以7S亚基缺失大豆品系东富2号为研究对象,设置4种施氮水平(纯N),N0(0 mg·kg~(-1))、N1(25 mg·kg~(-1))、N2(50 mg·kg~(-1))、N3(75 mg·kg~(-1)),采用桶栽法研究大豆根系形态和结瘤固氮对不同施氮水平的响应。结果表明:N1(25 mg·kg~(-1))水平下根系干重加大,根冠比增大,根瘤固氮潜力高,单株产量较高。N2(50 mg·kg~(-1))水平下根长、根表面积、根体积在生育后期增长较快,根系干重较大,根冠比低,固氮酶活性最高,单株籽粒产量最高。N3(75 mg·kg~(-1))水平下植株干重较大,无效生长较多,根瘤数少,固氮潜力和根冠比低,单株产量不高。综合籽粒产量和根系特性指标,功能型大豆7S亚基缺失品系东富2号的适宜施肥量为25~50 mg·kg~(-1)。     

青霉菌发酵液对大豆幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

采用室内生理检测及生物化学方法,研究了青霉菌发酵液对大豆幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明:用一定浓度的青霉菌发酵液对大豆浸种和茎叶处理,大豆幼苗的生长呈明显上升趋势,处理后大豆的株高、根长、株鲜重和根鲜重均明显得到了提高,且生长状态好于对照,不同浓度处理间具有明显差异,在发酵液浓度为5 g·L-1时,效果最佳。尤其是对根鲜重的影响,促进率最高可达56.21%,同时增强了幼苗根系活力,最大可以提高57.82%,浸种和茎叶处理后,分别提高了叶绿素含量41.25%和15.40%;超氧化物歧化酶活性12.20%和11.70%;过氧化物酶31.33%和29.95%;过氧化氢酶活性42.8%和20.0%,这为发酵液在大豆田推广应用、提高大豆产量提供了重要理论依据。     

Compatibility of root growth and tuber production of potato cultivars with dynamic and static water‐saving irrigation managements

The important root characteristics of root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) generally differ among irrigation managements and potato cultivars. The objective of this study was to investigate the RLD and RMD variations and their functional relationships with gross potato tuber yield for two commercial potato cultivars, Agria and Sante, under different irrigation strategies. Full irrigation and water‐saving irrigation strategies, deficit and partial root drying irrigations, were applied statically (S) and dynamically (D) based on daily crop evapotranspiration. Results showed that SPRD had significantly greater RLD (3.64 cm/cm³) and RMD (132.7 μg/cm³) than other irrigation treatments. Between the potato cultivars, Agria had significantly larger values of RLD (3.50 cm/cm³) and RMD (138.7 μg/cm³) than Sante. The functional relationship between the root growth characteristics and tuber yield showed that under water‐saving irrigations, Agria increased root mass at the expense of gross tuber yield but Sante increased root mass to maintain larger gross tuber yields. However, Agria produced more roots and gross tuber yield than Sante, and it is concluded that Agria is a more drought‐tolerant potato cultivar, which is recommended for tuber production in regions where water might be scarce. It was shown that larger root production in potatoes was associated with improved tolerance to water stress.     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

纵横刀组协同式马铃薯种薯切块装置设计与试验

针对马铃薯种薯切块机械化程度低的问题,设计了一种纵横刀组协同式马铃薯种薯切块装置,对其关键部件进行设计,通过对马铃薯种薯切割过程的力学分析、运动学分析和能量学分析,建立了切种能量的数学模型,确定了影响马铃薯切种效果的主要因素。以切种效率、切种合格率为评价指标,以圆盘刀半径、输送辊与圆盘刀垂直中心距、圆盘刀轴转速和夹持辊轴转速为试验因素,进行了四因素四水平正交试验。对正交试验结果进行方差和极差分析,结果表明:当圆盘刀半径为180 mm、输送辊与圆盘刀垂直中心距为190 mm、圆盘刀轴转速为115 r/min、夹持辊轴转速为56 r/min时,切种效率为74.5 kg/min,切种合格率为98.8%,满足马铃薯切种作业要求。     

Acoustic evaluation of the vertical distribution of dwarf ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis in Lake Biwa

SUMMARY: The vertical distribution of dwarf ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis in the pelagic waters of Lake Biwa was evaluated from June to September in 1995–97 from eight acoustic surveys using a quantitative echosounder. In each survey, echoes from a depth range of 3 m to the sea bottom were collected at a station every 2.7 s for 24 h together with measurements of vertical profiles of water temperature and chlorophyll-a. The ayu's echoes were identified using an underwater video camera. The ayu were observed near the maximum chlorophyll-a depth and above the thermocline. Their density was highest at depths of 4–11 m with 2–4 individuals/m ³ and was almost zero below 20 m. Echo signs were recorded as having a frequent duration of more than 1 h at night, whereas were of a shorter duration in the day. The fish stay in the epilimnion during the day without any clear vertical migration, but are distributed more uniformly at night. The advantages of remaining in the epilimnion are discussed in terms of food availability and predator avoidance.     

Propagation techniques on root turion sprout browse ofPopulus davidiana Dode

The root segments selected from dominant trees ofPopulus davidiana Dode were taken as reproductive material and were buried in different depths to carry out the reproduction of root turion sprout. The affecting factors of gemination rate, survival rate, and height growth for cutting wood of root sprout were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the best suitable substrate for burying root is pearlite, with a germination rate of 15.16%. 3–4-cm root segments has the highest rate of germination (12.4%). The mixture of sand and soil (2∶1) is the best cutting substrate, with a survival rate of 81.3%, while as to height growth of cutting wood, the mixture of turfy and soil (1∶1) is the best. The cutting woods selected from different positions of stem show difference in height growth. The cutting wood from top stem is higher obviously than those from middle or low stem. Biography: XING Ya-juan (1969-), female, assistant researcher in Forest Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150040, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

水分胁迫对荔枝幼树根系与梢生长的影响

以盆栽沙培1年生荔枝空中压条苗为试材,研究了水分胁迫对荔枝幼树根系和梢生长的影响以及二者的相互关系。3个处理为:沙体积含水量为7.5%(严重缺水),15.0%(一般缺水),22.5%(充分供水)。结果表明:水分胁迫严重抑制荔枝幼树地上部分和各级侧根的生长,使地上部枝梢生长严重受阻,叶片数量、平均叶面积、叶片厚度均显著变小;根总干重、侧根长度、根表面积显著减少。水分胁迫下促进须根的生长,须根的长度、根表面积比水分充足时显著增加。水分胁迫时叶片淀粉含量下降,而根系积累更多的淀粉。比较不同处理的根梢比发现,干旱对根系生长的抑制作用比枝梢更显著。     

环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响

选用6只9周龄新西兰母兔,评定环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响。试验在密闭式的小动物呼吸测热柜中进行。分别对处于环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃,采食两种不同营养浓度的试兔进行测试。饲粮营养水平实测值,分别为12.22kJ ME/g和13.49kJ ME/g;粗蛋白质(CP)分别为17.3％和21.6％;中性洗涤纤维(NDF)分别为23.7％和16.5％。结果表明:环境温度影响试兔的能量平衡,它与采食量间存在着显著的相关。20±2℃时,相关系数r=0.798;30±2℃时,相关系数r=0.875。在本试验设计范围内,饲粮营养浓度并不影响代谢能食入量(ME_I),热增耗(HP)和能量平衡(EB)。当环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃时,表观代谢能转化率(NE/ME)分别为51％和71％;每天每兔每千克代谢体重代谢能维持需要分别为396 kJ和361 kJ。试验结果认为:环境温度影响营养物质消化率(P相似文献