Use of Non‐invasive Methods for Evaluating the Testicular Biometry in Collared Peccaries (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758)

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of two methods used to estimate testicular volume in the collared peccary. Calliper and ultrasonographic measurements of testicular dimensions (length, width and height) of both testes were taken on five adult collared peccaries. The testicular volume was calculated by Lambert's empiric formula: length (L) × width (W) × height (H) × 0.71, the formula of an ellipsoid L × W × H × 0.52, and Hansen's formula: L × W² × 0.52. The calculated volumes were then compared with the actual ones, which were estimated by water displacement. The mean of true testicular volume was 22.65 ± 1.52 ml. Lambert's formula estimated testicular volume more accurately when ultrasound measurements were taken. However, when the calliper was the methodology used, the results were closest to the true volume, especially when Ellipsoid formula and Hansen's formula were applied, and underestimated the true volumes by 1.53 ± 1.75 ml and 1.53 ± 1.65 ml, respectively. This specific application of technologies in wild animals has the potential to revolutionize the selection process for the collared peccary entering artificial insemination or natural breeding programmes.     

Estimation of the standardized ileal digestible lysine requirement for primiparous pregnant sows

This experiment was conducted to determine the optimal standardized ileal digestible lysine (SID Lys) level in diets fed to primiparous sows during gestation. A total of 150 (Landrace × Large White) crossbred gilts (weighing 149.9 ± 3.1 kg) were fed gestation diets (12.55 MJ of ME/kg) containing SID Lys levels of 0.43, 0.52, 0.60, 0.70 or 0.80% respectively. Gilts were fed 2.0 kg/day from day 1 to 80 and 3.0 kg/day from day 80 to 110 of gestation respectively. Gilts were allocated to treatments based on their body weight on the day of breeding. Weight gain from day 80 to 110 increased with increasing dietary SID Lys levels (p = 0.044). Fitted broken‐line (p = 0.031) and quadratic plot (p = 0.047) analysis of body weight gain indicated that the optimal SID Lys level for primiparous sows was 0.70 and 0.69% respectively. During gestation, neither backfat thickness nor loin eye area was affected by dietary SID Lys level. Increasing dietary Lys had no effect on the litter size at birth or pigs born alive per litter. Litter weight at birth was not affected by dietary SID Lys level. The litter weight variation at birth quadratically decreased with increasing dietary SID Lys (p = 0.021) and was minimized at 0.70% dietary SID Lys. Gilts fed the 0.70% SID Lys diet had the highest dry matter (p = 0.031) and protein (p = 0.044) content in colostrum. On day 110 of gestation, gilts fed the 0.70% SID Lys diet tended to have the highest serum prolactin (p = 0.085) and serum insulin (p = 0.074) levels. The data demonstrate that the optimal dietary SID Lys was 0.70% for pregnant gilts, which is similar to the recommendation of 0.69% that was estimated by the NRC (2012).     

Inhibition of porcine circovirus type 1 and type 2 production in PK-15 cells by small interfering RNAs targeting the Rep gene

Porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and type 2 (PCV2) are two genotypes of porcine circovirus. Both of them are presumed to be widespread in the swine population. Currently, there is no specific treatment for their infections. RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific RNA degradation mechanism mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), which represents a possible therapeutic application for the treatment of viral infections. In this study, three siRNA expression plasmids (pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC) were generated to target three different coding regions of the Rep protein (Rep) of PCV. These siRNAs were used to inhibit PCV production in a porcine kidney cell line, PK-15 cells. Our results revealed that Rep gene expression was inhibited by pS-RepA, pS-RepB and pS-RepC to different degrees. Moreover, our study also showed that the production of PCV1 and PCV2 was reduced by these siRNAs. pS-RepC, which targets the middle region of Rep gene, proved to be the most efficient siRNA for inhibition of Rep expression and viral production. Taken together, our data suggest that RNAi could be investigated as a potential treatment for PCV infection.     

PREDICTIVE INTELLIGENT CONTROL OF THE COLD STORAGE

The predictive intelligent control scheme is proposed, which is based on approximation theory and numerical method of Chcbyshev orthogonal polynomial. It has the practical value to the cold storge using widely electromagnetic valve and can be also applied similar systems in orther area.     

简单屋顶绿化的滞蓄特性

设计了模拟降雨与数据采集系统,研究了短时强降雨下简单屋顶绿化基质(配比：陶粒57.0%、草炭41.5%、保水剂1.5%)的降雨产流过程,基于37次模拟降雨实验,归纳了降雨产流的一般过程、规律和特性,分析了降雨强度、基质厚度和基质初始含水率对简单屋顶绿化滞流蓄水特性的影响。结果表明：基质厚度和基质初始含水率对简单屋顶绿化的蓄水特性有显著影响,基质初始含水率越低、基质厚度越厚时蓄水特性越佳。建立了产流时间数学模型,简单屋顶绿化降雨产流时间与降雨强度呈负相关,同时也受初始含水量和基质厚度影响。随着干湿循环次数增加,基质的厚度总体呈现下降趋势,储水性能逐渐下降,延迟产流时间逐渐缩短。     

谷物循环干燥机控制系统硬件设计

针对循环式缓苏干燥机的工作特性，采用单片机模糊控制方法进行控制系统硬件设计，为解决单片机与计算机的双向通讯，实现干燥过程专家智能控制提供硬件基础。     

低比转数离心泵叶轮出口紊流流动结构分析

在叶轮内三维紊流流动数值计算的基础上，从介质能量的观点，分析了不同工况下低比转数离心泵叶轮出口处的紊流流动结构。数值计算采用SIMPLEC算法，在贴体坐标系下求解Navier—Stokes方程，紊流模型采用标准的κ—ε模型。计算结果表明，在叶轮的出口附近靠近吸力面一侧存在一个低能区，而压力面一侧能量相对较高。这与有关文献中所指出的离心风机的“射流—尾流”结构相对应。当偏离设计工况时，该低能区的范围和强度略有增加，相对应的叶轮效率也降低。计算结果与水泵在这些工况下的效率实验结果相一致，说明低能区的存在是影响低比转数离心泵效率的重要因素。     

高齿准双曲面齿轮的设计方法与试验研究

通过增加工作齿高和对根切条件的深入研究，提出了高齿准双曲面齿轮的优化设计方法。这种方法可以有效地增大端面重合度，并保证所设计的齿轮不根切、齿顶不变尖，可在现有机床上使用标准系列刀具加工。台架试验表明，这种高齿准双曲面齿轮的噪声和振动量比普通准双曲面齿轮明显降低。     

泵站微机数据采集系统接地问题的探讨

由于泵站内干扰源众多、设备复杂、干扰频率范围宽．为使泵站微机数据采集系统可靠运行，必须采取防干扰或抑制措施。系统地描述了泵站微机数据采集系统的接地要求．提出增强系统抗干扰能力和电磁兼容性的实施方案．归纳出具体施工过程中切实可行的接地措施。