The Effect of Season on Spermatozoa Motility,Plasma Membrane and Acrosome Integrity in Fresh and Frozen–Thawed Semen from Xinong Saanen Bucks

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the season of ejaculate collection influences seminal quality parameters of pre‐ and post‐freeze–thawing in Xinong Saanen bucks. Ejaculates were collected from eight bucks throughout the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in a 12 months’ time period, identified in the Northern Hemisphere. Semen samples were evaluated by the combinations of conventional and Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) when fresh and after frozen–thawed, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that season of ejaculate collection influenced (p < 0.05) fresh semen quality. Highest semen quality was observed during autumn. On the contrary, undesirable indices (significantly lower, p < 0.05) were observed in winter as compared with the other remaining seasons. CASA has clearly shown the influences of seasonal variations on semen motility parameters. Furthermore, season of ejaculate collection was also found to influence sperm freezability. Semen characteristics after frozen–thawed followed a similar pattern with that of fresh ejaculate except in spring. The results revealed that sperm quality was higher (p < 0.01) in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. In conclusion, seasonal variation influences semen quality in Xinong Saanen bucks. In addition to summer and autumn, fresh ejaculates in spring can also be successfully used for AI. Sperm from ejaculates collected during summer and autumn are more suitable for cryopreservation. Hence, it is possible to increase the efficiency of goat breeding by manipulating the seasonal variations of semen quality for immediate AI and/or cryopreservation.     

Effects of strategic helminthosis control on age at first lambing and lambing interval of communally grazed Menz ewes in Ethiopia

A three-year longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate effects of strategic anthelmintic treatment regimes on age at first lambing (AFL), weight at first lambing (WFL) and lambing interval (LI) of 356 communally grazed ewes and 675 lambs owned by 10 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The ewes were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to three treatment groups as untreated control (TG1), twice-dosed per year (TG2) for both nematodes and trematodes in mid-January and mid-June and four-time-dosed per year (TG3) in June for nematodes, in August–September for nematodes and adult Fasciola, in November–December and January–February for immature flukes. The fixed effect of anthelmintic treatments, parity, season and year of lambing on AFL and LI was evaluated. Mean ± standard error (SE) of lambing interval was 292 ± 3 days. Both anthelmintic treatments (TG2 and TG3) shortened (P < 0.01) LI by about 23 days compared to non-treated ewes (TG1). Season and year of lambing had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on LI. Mean ± SE of AFL and WFL was 598 ± 10 days and 17.2 ± 1.37 kg, respectively. Anthelmintic treatments and parity of dam of the ewe lamb did not affect AFL (P > 0.05). Birth and lambing seasons of the ewe lamb had significant (P < 0.05) effect on AFL. On the other hand, lambing season of the ewe had significant (P < 0.05) effect on WFL. Ewe lambs born in the long rains lambed more than 50 days earlier than the ewe lambs born in short rainy and dry seasons. Lambing occurred year-round with two peaks in August–September and December–January, each 5 months after the two rainy seasons. Anthelmintic treatment at the beginning of the two rainy seasons should improve reproductive performance of Menz ewe lambs in similar agro-ecology in the central highlands of Ethiopia.     

Effects of a Dual‐Frequency Frequency‐Sweeping Ultrasound Treatment on the Properties and Structure of the Zein Protein

We investigated the effects of a dual‐frequency frequency‐sweeping ultrasound (DFFSU) treatment on the functional properties and structure of zein. The solubility of ultrasound‐treated zein proteins increased slightly but significantly as the treatment time increased. The results showed that the DFFSU treatment had an obvious influence on the mean particle size and the size distribution. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the size of the particles with respect to time was observed after a sonication time of more than 20 min in zein solutions. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that sonication alters the thermal behavior of zein. Circular dichroism spectra showed a small increase in the percentage of ordered structure elements within the protein molecule. After 60 min of ultrasonication, the percentage of α‐helix structures increased by 0.9%, whereas the percentage of β‐sheets and β‐turns decreased by 0.5%. Microstructural analyses by scanning electron microscopy showed that several microholes appeared in the zein following ultrasonic pretreatment. Under the conditions investigated in this study, DFFSU treatment was found to affect the studied functional properties of the zein protein. This technology could be used to obtain improved functional properties in some protein samples.     

Effectiveness of stone bunds in controlling soil erosion on cropland in the Tigray Highlands, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Use of stone bunds to enhance soil and water conservation was first introduced to Tigray, northern Ethiopia in 1981. This study was designed to examine the factors that control the effectiveness of bunds installed on cropland. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of soil loss and sediment accumulation were conducted on 202 plots at 12 representative sites in Dogu'a Tembien district. Mean annual soil loss from the foot of the bunds due to tillage erosion was estimated at 39kgm⁻¹yr⁻¹ or 20tha⁻¹yr⁻¹, a rate which decreased with increasing age of bund. The assessed mean annual soil loss rate by sheet and rill erosion in the absence of stone bunds is 57tha⁻¹yr⁻¹. The mean measured annual rate of sediment accumulation behind the stone bunds is 119kgm⁻¹yr^−1/sp or 59tha⁻¹yr⁻¹. The measurements show that the introduction of stone bunds to the region has led to a 68% reduction in annual soil loss due to water erosion. This reduction is due to the accumulation of sediment behind the stone bunds, which occurs faster in the early years after construction and decreases as the depression behind the bunds becomes filled with sediment. New stone bunds are particularly effective in trapping sediment in transport, but regular maintenance and increase in height of the bunds is necessary to maintain their effectiveness. The average USLE P factor for stone bunds in the study area is estimated to be 0.32.     

Removal of rock fragments and its effect on soil loss and crop yield, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract. When the farmers of the Highlands of Tigray (northern Ethiopia) consider rock fragment cover in their fields to be excessive, they remove some of them. In addition, large amounts of rock fragments of all sizes are removed from fields for building stone bunds. Semi-structured interviews indicate that the farmers are often reluctant to take away the smaller rock fragments (i.e. < 5 cm across) from their fields, since they believe these benefit soil moisture conservation and protect topsoil from erosion. A field experiment was carried out on a Vertic Cambisol (average slope: 0.125 m m^–1), 2 km east of Hagere Selam (subhumid climate). Rock fragments were totally, partially or not removed from the 12 runoff plots (5 m × 6 m) before the beginning of the 1999 cropping season, during which a local mixture of wheat varieties ( Triticum spp.) was sown. After harvest, erosion rates were assessed by measuring deposited sediment volume in trenches at the lower side of each subplot, and grain and straw yields were assessed. We found a significant negative relationship between rock fragment cover and soil loss by water erosion. However, the resulting positive relationship between rock fragment cover and grain and straw yield was weak. This might be explained by the fact that the plot did not suffer from drought due to soil and climatic conditions. Detailed analysis showed that cover by medium and large rock fragments (> 2 cm diameter) showed an optimum percentage cover above which crop yields decrease. A recommendation resulting from this study is to rely on the farmers' experience: smaller rock fragments should never be removed from the surface of fields during soil and water conservation works; instead rock fragment rich soil can be used to top the stone bunds.     

基于限制因子改良与耕地质量潜力耦合的耕地整治分区

科学划定耕地整治重点区对于实现区域土地资源可持续利用具有重要意义。该研究以内蒙古河套-土默川平原为研究区，从农用地可改良限制因子角度出发，采取自然等提升潜力指数模型和局部空间自相关模型划分耕地质量提升潜力区，在耦合限制因子改良程度分级的基础上，确定耕地整治分区。研究结果：1）研究区耕地质量提升主要受限于土壤有机质含量和盐渍化程度，耕地整治难度整体呈现两边高中间低的趋势。2）研究区自然等提升潜力指数呈现西高东低的分布趋势，且耕地质量提升潜力空间差异明显，潜力提升呈现"低-低"聚集特征的耕地多分布在东部，呈现"高-高"聚集特征以及无聚集特征的耕地多分布在西部。3）研究区耕地共划分为4种整治类型，其中重点整治型耕地为0.84万hm2，是实施耕地整治的重点区域；选择整治型耕地为22.22万hm2，应选择其质量提升潜力相对较高且集中连片的地块进行整治；保护整治型耕地为54.98万hm2，应当被划入到基本农田保护区内；不宜整治型耕地为26.46万hm2，应当进行有选择地退出还林还草。该研究提出的研究方法可为细化限制因子在耕地整治分区中的应用提供参考，同时研究成果对半干旱区耕地整治具有现实指导意义。     

山茱萸真空干燥模型建立与工艺优化

以山茱萸为试验原料，考察了真空干燥加热温度、干燥室压力对山茱萸干燥特性的影响，并建立了干燥时间和马钱苷质量分数与加热温度和干燥室压力之间的数学模型。利用多目标非线性优化方法，确定了山茱萸真空干燥的最优工艺参数。结果表明，回归模型具有良好的拟合性，当加热温度为68.1℃、压力为1kPa时，综合优化分值最高时所对应的干燥时间为248min，马钱苷质量分数为     

地黄真空红外辐射干燥模型

利用设计的真空红外辐射干燥箱,对中药材地黄进行了真空红外干燥研究.通过对试验值进行求对数并线性回归,确定了地黄的薄层真空红外干燥模型的形式为Modified Page方程,该模型与辐射板温度和干燥室压力有关,并得到了各参数的表达式和数值.试验值和模型预测值比较说明,该模型能很好地描述和预测地黄真空红外干燥的水分比变化规律.     

Organogenesis and foetal haemodynamics during the normal gestation of healthy black‐rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha,Wagler, 1831) bred in captivity

The objective of this study was to define the patterns of organogenesis and foetal haemodynamics during the normal gestation of healthy agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) kept in captivity. Thirty pregnant agoutis that ranged in size from small to medium and weighed between 2.5 and 3 kg underwent B‐mode and Doppler ultrasonography for the biometric evaluation of the foetal organs. The foetal aortic blood flow proved to be predominantly systolic, and the measured flow velocity was 78.89 ± 2.95 cm/s, with a maximum pressure gradient of 2.12 ± 0.27 mmHg. The liver was characterized by its large volume, occupying the entire cranial aspect of the abdominal cavity, and it was associated cranially with the diaphragm and caudally with the stomach. The flow velocity in the portal vein was estimated to equal 12.17 ± 2.37 cm/s, with a resistivity index of 0.82 ± 0.05. The gallbladder was centrally located and protruded cranially towards the diaphragm. The spleen was visualized as an elongated structure with tapered cranial and caudal extremities, and the foetal kidneys were visualized bilaterally in the retroperitoneal region, with the right kidney positioned slightly more cranially than the left. The morphological characterization and hemodynamic analysis of the foetal organs of black‐rumped agoutis via B‐mode and Doppler ultrasonography allow determination of the vascular network and of reference values for the blood flow required for perfusing the anatomical elements essential for maintaining the viability of foetuses at different gestational ages.     

催化式红外辐照改善樱桃番茄去皮效果及品质

为了探寻一种去皮效果好、产品品质破坏低和环境友好型的樱桃番茄去皮方法,该文采用催化式红外技术对樱桃番茄进行处理,研究了不同催化式红外条件对樱桃番茄去皮效果的影响,并与传统的去皮方式(热水和碱液去皮)和超声波去皮方式进行对比,比较其去皮效果、番茄红素含量、果肉色泽和质构等指标变化。结果表明:催化式红外在照射距离30cm和照射时间3min的条件下,樱桃番茄的去皮效果最佳;与传统的去皮方式相比,催化式红外的去皮效果显著提升(P0.05);并且经催化式红外去皮方法所得樱桃番茄的皮肉质量比仅为7.68%,显著降低了樱桃番茄的果肉损失(P0.05)。此外,催化式红外去皮很好地保持了去皮后番茄果肉形状的完整度,是一种去皮效果良好的环境友好型樱桃番茄去皮方式。