草原典型牧草的特征提取与识别研究

选择四种内蒙古乌兰察布市荒漠化草原的典型牧草,对牧草图像进行颜色、形状特征提取,以实现牧草的分类识别,为提高牧草管理信息化水平,实现多牧草种类分割识别及牧草盖度、频度等检测研究奠定基础。在自然光照情况下应用高清照相机采集尺寸、形状、大小各不相同的草原原始牧草图像,对羊草(Leymus chinensis)、鹅绒委陵菜(Potentilla anserine)、阿尔泰狗娃花(Heteropappus altaicus),冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)四种牧草图像提取9种RGB颜色一、二、三阶矩特征与6种宽长比等形状特征,统计获取相应的数据库,试验表明颜色矩、形状特征参数具有显著的差异。构建一种3层BP(Back propagation,BP)神经网络模型,应用主成分分析法(principal component analysis,PCA)优选特征明显的维数,降低计算成本、提升识别效率,四种牧草平均识别率为82.5%,上述试验证明该方法能够有效地对内蒙古草原典型牧草图像进行分类识别研究。牧草自动识别技术的发展为草业管理信息化提供数据支撑,是实现现代生态草原的重要途径。     

应用Image-Pro Plus 6.0软件分析柞蚕幼虫体色特征初探

柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)幼虫体色是新品种选育的重要标记性状,为了研究柞蚕幼虫体色的变化规律,利用Image-Pro Plus 6.0软件对2个黄蚕血统柞蚕品种、3个青黄蚕血统柞蚕品种幼虫的体色进行了分析。试验采用RGB颜色分析模式,分析了红(R)、绿(G)、蓝(B)、RGB总和、RGB平均值和明度(L)等6项数据。试验结果表明,三原色中的R、G、B均与柞蚕幼虫不同龄期间差异相关,同一血统不同品种间体色差异不显著,青黄蚕血统、黄蚕血统的柞蚕2～4龄各龄期之间体色差异显著,进入4龄期后体色趋于稳定,因此品种选育工作可在4龄期进行体色选择。     

卡拉库尔(三北羊)苏尔的发现和品系建立

<正> 卡拉库尔羊中的苏尔品系表现有一种特殊毛色,其毛色特征是一根毛纤维上有二种颜色。根据一根毛纤维上两种颜色的不同,又可以分为几种苏尔颜色。目前在我国培育出的苏尔三北羊是金色和银色两种(大部分为金色)。金色苏尔的毛纤维基部为黑色或暗咖啡色,而毛端为浅黄色(金色)。银色苏尔的毛纤维基部近于黑色,而毛端为银白色。     

鸡粪便的异常变化与疾病的关系

1正常鸡粪便的形态与颜色生长与生产正常的鸡只在粪便形态(稀稠程度)与颜色上应保持相对稳定。通常有2种形态,一种是成形的土灰色粪便上有一     

基于RGB模式的一种草地盖度定量快速测定方法研究

盖度是研究植物群落结构的一个重要数量指标,传统目视估算法精度低且受人的影响较大。本研究分析了大量荒漠草地实地照片的RGB颜色模式特征,构造了RGB颜色判别决策树区分植被与非植被像元来计算植被的覆盖度,同时在Matlab 7.0平台上将数码照片的导入、地物判别、盖度计算、划分结果显示、对照等功能模块集成,构建用户界面友好、人机交互便捷软件模块,从而能够准确、高效地计算草地盖度,方便了草原实地调查工作。与针刺法相比,该方法计算得到的植被覆盖度最大偏差绝对值不超过5%,精度在95%以上,解决了常规人工方法中估测草地盖度工作量大、不能准确定量测定的问题。     

小蚕期个体形体特征的研究

鉴别家蚕品种的真实性及检验蚕种杂交率是蚕桑生产的重要工作,但目前生产上还没有一种理想实用的方法。研究发现,采用体视显微镜(解剖镜)放大观察蚁蚕或1、2龄小蚕,不同蚕品种具有不同的蚕体颜色、斑纹、斑纹颜色和形状、体型等形体特征,这种形体特征与4、5龄大蚕的形体特征不同,据此可研究建立根据小蚕期形体特征鉴别家蚕品种及检验蚕种杂交率的方法。     

基于数码相机的草地植被盖度测量方法对比研究

草地植被盖度是表征生态系统植被生长状况及环境质量的重要参数。在草地植物群落野外调查中,可以利用数码相机拍摄草地样方照片,而后在室内利用图像处理软件进行自动或半自动的植被盖度测量。随着移动智能设备(如iPhone/iPAD或各类Android Phone/PAD)的快速发展和普及,野外实时获取草地样方照片,同步计算草地植被盖度,并与有关遥感反演参数产品作校验对比分析,将成为未来地学移动测量和研究的重要方向。本研究在总结梳理既有利用数码相机识别植被盖度方法的基础上,设计了低覆盖、中低覆盖、中等覆盖、中高覆盖、高覆盖5种不同植被盖度情景,以及从早上6:00 到下午6:00、每隔2 h一次、全天共7次不同光照环境下的照相方案。继而以Photoshop人工勾勒和测算方法为基准,选择RGB阈值法、RGB决策树法、HSV判别法3种自动测量方法开展对比研究。测量结果的对比分析表明,草地盖度变化对RGB阈值法和HSV判别法的盖度识别精度无明显规律性影响,RGB决策树的盖度识别精度随着草地盖度的增加而增加;光照强度越强,RGB阈值法和HSV判别法对同一草地样方估算的盖度值越小,RGB决策树法估算的盖度值随光照强度的变化没有固定的规律。总体上讲,RGB阈值法和HSV判别法的识别精度较高,RGB决策树法误判率较高,但后者可以识别出非绿色的植物茎、花朵。最后提出了在现有绿色植被像元识别方法的基础上,结合边缘检查算法等图形像素的统计学特征分析方法,能进一步提高草地植被盖度测量的准确率。     

猪肉颜色测定仪(肉色仪)及猪肉颜色测定

<正> 物理学认为颜色是不同波长的电磁辐射的光矢量(E)。对人眼睛刺激后在人们大脑中产生的一种反映。由于颜色不仅仅是标志着物体的外观美,而且是物体内在质量的指标之一。因此在纺织品、彩色印刷、涂料、化工、建材、电视电影等颜色是一个主要指标,在食品类上颜     

85份不同类型籽粒苋种质资源表型多样性分析

籽粒苋是一种高产优质的新型牧草，为了解课题组收集保存的籽粒苋种质资源的遗传多样性和育种潜力，本研究观测并统计分析了26份千穗谷(Amaranthus hypochondriacus)、24份绿穗苋(A.hybridus)、23份尾穗苋(A.caudatus)和12份老鸦谷(A.cruentus)材料的21个农艺性状。结果表明：四种籽粒苋存在丰富的性状变异；相关性分析表明叶面颜色与叶背颜色、茎色与叶柄颜色、茎色与主花序颜色、叶柄颜色与主花序颜色、主花序形状与主花序分枝型等质量性状相关性较高，而各数量性状间均有一定的相关性；主成分分析显示，前七个主成分累计贡献率达到73.68%,分别反映了植株的产量性状、植株颜色特征、主花序形态、叶片形状、植株整齐度以及植株分枝性。聚类分析将参试材料划分为4个类群，其中类群一、二是选育高单产优质饲料亲本的理想材料，类群四可以用于选育观赏草品种。     

可编程控制器在饲料厂控制系统中的应用

<正> 随着微电子技术的飞速发展,一种基于工业自动化控制要求而设计的全电脑控制器——工业可编程控制器(Programmable LogicalController),目前已在工业自动化控制领域中得到广泛应用。由于这种控制器集成化程度高,结构简单紧凑,控制指令丰富,抗干扰能力强,使用操作灵活方便,     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Avian brood parasitism — a growing research area in behavioral ecology (part Ⅱ)

正We are pleased to publish the second special issue on avian brood parasitism and to be responsible guest editors for the two special issues of Chinese Birds (Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012 and Vol. 4, No. 1, 2013), entitled "Avian Brood Parasitism - A Growing Research Area in Behavioral Ecology". The first issue was published in December 2012. The goal of the two special issues is to publish accumulated knowledge and some of the recent developments in