Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Organic Carbon Stocks in Mediterranean Soils (1956–2007)

During the last few decades, land use changes have largely affected the global warming process through emissions of CO₂. However, C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to the decrease of atmospheric CO₂ rates. Although Mediterranean areas show a high potential for C sequestration, only a few studies have been carried out in these systems. In this study, we propose a methodology to assess the impact of land use and land cover change dynamics on soil organic C stocks at different depths. Soil C sequestration rates are provided for different land cover changes and soil types in Andalusia (southern Spain). Our research is based on the analysis of detailed soil databases containing data from 1357 soil profiles, the Soil Map of Andalusia and the Land Use and Land Cover Map of Andalusia. Land use and land cover changes between 1956 and 2007 implied soil organic C losses in all soil groups, resulting in a total loss of 16·8 Tg (approximately 0·33 Tg y⁻¹). Afforestation increased soil organic C mostly in the topsoil, and forest contributed to sequestration of 8·62 Mg ha⁻¹ of soil organic C (25·4 per cent). Deforestation processes implied important C losses, particularly in Cambisols, Luvisols and Vertisols. The information generated in this study will be a useful basis for designing management strategies for stabilizing the increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by preservation of C stocks and C sequestration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

手持式电动绿篱修剪机的研究与设计

通过对目前市场上绿篱修剪机结构和使用特点的详细分析,设计了一种用220V照明电为电源、手提砂轮机作为主机,用专门制作的切割器替换砂轮片实现快速修剪成形的手持式电动绿篱修剪机。试验表明,该修剪机有很好的实用价值和推广前景。     

台阶式溢洪道消能规律

为探讨台阶式溢洪道消能特性及水流的紊乱特性规律,将台阶式溢洪道与对应光滑溢洪道对比研究,通过试验数据计算出台阶式溢洪道消能率、阶顶断面弗劳德数,试算求出对应光滑溢洪道水力参数,用台阶式溢洪道消能率减去对应光滑溢洪道消能率得到相对消能率,光滑溢洪道断面弗劳德数减去对应台阶式溢洪道阶顶断面弗劳德数得到相对弗劳德数.两水力参数反映了台阶式溢洪道相对光滑溢洪道对消杀能量大小及水流紊乱剧烈程度.通过对26.57°,32.01°,33.69°,38.66°,51.3°这5组不同坡度,1.43~6.67 cm台阶高度的21组模型试验研究,探讨了相对消能率和相对弗劳德数之间关系,结果表明相对弗劳德数和相对消能率沿程呈线性关系,相关系数为0.993 7~0.999 5.且相同相对弗劳德数,单宽流量大对应相对消能率也大;台阶高度变化对直线关系影响很小;坡度对直线关系影响复杂,较小坡度同一单宽流量,坡度越大相对消能率越小,坡度较大时同一单宽流量,坡度大对应相对消能率大.相对消能率和相对弗劳德数的直线规律体现出台阶式溢洪道独特的水力特性,为探究其消能机理提供了重要依据.     

供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响

利用在缸内加装电热塞的ZS1115单缸柴油,实现纯甲醇(M100)燃料的扩散燃烧,利用柴油机热效率高的优点,提高甲醇燃料的能量转换效率。通过改变供油提前角,研究不同供油提前角对甲醇发动机性能及排放的影响,并与原单缸柴油机燃用0#柴油进行对比。试验结果表明:供油提前角对甲醇发动机动力性、经济性及排放均有影响。与原机燃用0#柴油相比,燃油消耗率上升,使用成本降低;HC排放量升高,CO和NOX排放量降低。供油提前角提前4°CA时CO排放最少,最低平均减少23.89%;供油提前角退后2°CA时NOX排放最少,最低平均减少94.74%。     

青核桃去皮过程的受力分析

青核桃在去皮方面不断进取的同时,存在着共同的问题是去掉的青皮被打成泥状,对核桃和环境都造成再次污染。为此,将通过模拟青核桃去皮过程的受力进行试验,分别从青核桃的尺寸、加载方向及加载速度等可能影响青核桃去皮过程的因素进行分析研究,为使青皮脱掉后不会被打成泥状,而是呈块状脱出奠定实验基础。     

Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance,intestinal morphology,non‐specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non‐specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non‐specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.     

Rearing conditions affected responses of weaned pigs to organic acids showing a positive effect on digestibility,microflora and immunity

Three experiments were conducted to assess the response of weaned pigs to organic acid SF3, which contains 34% calcium formate, 16% calcium lactate, 7% citric acid and 13% medium chain fatty acids. Dietary treatments had no effect on growth performance of piglets (21‐day weaning) fed the commercial prestart diet for 1 week before receiving the experimental diets supplemented with SF3 at 0, 3 or 5 g/kg diet (Exp. 1), whereas diarrhea frequency averaged across a week was decreased by SF3 supplementation (5 g/kg diet) in piglets fed the experimental diets immediately after weaning (Exp. 2). In Exp. 3, piglets (28‐day weaning) were fed the control (containing pure colistin sulfate and enramycin, respectively, at 20 mg/kg diet) for 1 week and then were fed the control or SF3‐supplemented (5 g/kg diet) diet for 2 weeks. The SF3‐fed piglets had greater apparent ileal digestibility of calcium and dry matter, while also demonstrating greater overall gross energy, up‐regulated jejunal expression of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐1 and transforming growth factor‐β, down‐regulated jejunal expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, higher ileal Lactobacillus, with lower total bacteria content, lower plasma TNF‐α but higher IgG levels than the control‐fed piglets. Collectively, SF3 consumption improved diarrhea resistance of weaned pigs by improving nutrient digestibility, piglet immunity and intestinal bacteria profile. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Genetic variability of two Italian indigenous chicken breeds inferred from microsatellite marker analysis

1. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic structure and variability of Bionda Piemontese and Bianca di Saluzzo (Piedmont, Northwest Italy) using an international set of microsatellite loci (AVIANDIV-FAO). Differences compared with commercial lines and other Italian breeds were verified to justify the implementation of conservation programmes.

2. Flock contribution to genetic variability was assessed following the approach implemented in the MolKin software. Comparison was performed using the fixation index and the Reynolds genetic distance. The most likely number of different populations was estimated using the clustering procedure implemented in STRUCTURE.

3. The molecular information suggests that management practices could have prevented random mating and produced inbreeding and heterogeneity across flocks. In this respect, Bionda and Bianca show substructuring and are more similar to British breeds than other continental European breeds.

4. Bionda and Bianca fit into the European breeds provided with the highest number of alleles and expected heterozygosity. There is a clear distinction between the Piedmont breeds and the other populations. The Piedmont poultry differ from both commercial lines and other Italian breeds and retain a high level of genetic variability.

5. As for other indigenous breeds, Bionda and Bianca could make an original contribution to the industry in the future. A collective planned approach to restoration is essential, because the flocks are managed with poor regulation. Enhancing connection between breeders with an efficient replacement interchange and mating plan is the right way of controlling inbreeding, preventing substructuring and increasing variability within the flocks.