Cave selection and use by swarming bat species

Caves are an important resource to a large proportion of temperate bat species, primarily as mating and hibernation sites. However, information on bat use exists for only a small fraction of caves in many parts of the temperate world, in part because current survey methods are inappropriate for many species. We surveyed the UK’s largest karst landscape, the Yorkshire Dales, by monitoring autumn swarming (mating) activity at 53 caves using automated echolocation call loggers, followed by trapping. Over 60% of caves surveyed were used by bats, but there was considerable variation in activity. Swarming activity was positively correlated with chamber development and negatively correlated with the amount of water the cave carried: together these two predictors explained 45% of the variance. Entrance orientation and shelter explained a further 10%. Activity was not correlated with entrance size, altitude or connectivity to the nearest summer habitat. All five resident swarming species were caught at most sites: Myotis brandtii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus auritus. Behaviour, species composition and sex and age ratios were typical of swarming reported in other studies. Bat populations and catchment sizes were large and despite the proximity of other suitable caves, bats showed high fidelity to single sites. Our results show that the national importance of these caves has been overlooked. We suggest that survey for swarming activity is a quick and effective method of identifying underground bat sites and is likely to uncover many previously unknown and important sites throughout the temperate world.     

白僵菌及其微胶囊剂孢子活力及对沙棘木蠹蛾幼虫的侵染

白僵菌是昆虫的重要病原真菌之一,用于防治多种农林害虫,但环境湿度是影响防治效果的重要因素.因此研究白僵菌的新剂型,提高白僵菌孢子萌发率具有重要意义.本论文在室内设立不同相对湿度,比较白僵菌分生孢子及其微胶囊剂活性.结果表明,随着相对湿度的增加孢子萌发率也增大.水悬液分生孢子萌发率最高达55%,最低为8%;氯化钙悬液孢子萌发率不足10%;微胶囊剂孢子萌发率可高达91%,最低为33%.室内模拟野外条件测定相同分生孢子浓度下的白僵菌水悬液和及其微胶囊剂对沙棘木蠢蛾幼虫的侵染,沙棘木蠢蛾幼虫的死亡率分别为45.54%和84.54%,说明白僵菌微胶囊剂对沙棘木蠢蛾幼虫的侵染明显高于其分生孢子水悬液.     

苜蓿蓟马抗性与生理活性相关性研究(英文)

[Objective] The experiment explored of resistance of different Medicago sativa through synthetic variations of all physiological indexes and the correlation analysis between physiological activity and damage degree after thrips damage. [Method] According to studying physiological activity (POD activity, SOD activity, PPO activity, PAL activity, MDA content and free proline content) of alfalfa in alfalfa resistance to different number of thrips, the correlation between physiological activity and resistance was investigated. [Result] It was shown that there were negative correlations among POD, SOD, PPO, PAL, MDA, free praline and the number of thrips, and there were negative correlations among POD, SOD, PPO, PAL, MDA, free praline and CAT. The content changes of POD,SOD,PPO,CAT,MDA and free proline in high resistant alfalfa were slow and PAL was quick and the activities of PPO,PAL,CAT were high, and the activities of POD、SOD were low. [Conclusion] The research provided theoretical basis and materials for identifying resistance varieties of alfalfa to thrip.     

Generation of femtosecond pulses of synchrotron radiation

Femtosecond synchrotron pulses were generated directly from an electron storage ring. An ultrashort laser pulse was used to modulate the energy of electrons within a 100-femtosecond slice of the stored 30-picosecond electron bunch. The energy-modulated electrons were spatially separated from the long bunch and used to generate approximately 300-femtosecond synchrotron pulses at a bend-magnet beamline, with a spectral range from infrared to x-ray wavelengths. The same technique can be used to generate approximately 100-femtosecond x-ray pulses of substantially higher flux and brightness with an undulator. Such synchrotron-based femtosecond x-ray sources offer the possibility of applying x-ray techniques on an ultrafast time scale to investigate structural dynamics in condensed matter.     

Suppression of testicular function using two dose rates of a reversible water soluble gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine in colts

Objective: To investigate the effect of two dose rates (200 and 400 ng) of a gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine on testicular function. Design: A vaccination dose rate experiment. Procedure: Two injections were administered 4 weeks apart to six colts in each treatment group. To maintain immunosuppression until the end of the breeding season, a third injection was given if antibody titres fell below 1000. Results: Effective antibody titres were present for 12 to 27 weeks. Testosterone concentrations decreased from 2.22 to 0.31 nmol/L 6 weeks after primary vaccination. Androstenedione concentrations decreased from 1.78 to 0.28 nmol/L 5 weeks after vaccination. Testosterone and androstenedione concentrations above 0.69 and 0.87 nmol/L were attained 31 to 43 weeks after vaccination. Mean scrotal widths and lengths decreased over 29 weeks from 9.2 cm and 9.7 cm to 6.7 cm and 7.6 cm. At surgical castration these dimensions were 10.1 cm and 11.0 cm. Mean semen characteristics before vaccination and after recovery were: gel-free volume 16.5 and 13.5 mL, sperm concentration 295.5 times 10⁶ 315.6 times 10⁶/mL, total sperm per ejaculate 4041 times 10⁶ 4657 times 10⁶ live normal spermatozoa 32% and 60%. Histologically, the testes showed active spermatogenesis. The mean testicular parenchyma weights for the 200 and 400 mg groups were 129.0 g and 109.8 g. Daily sperm production per testis and per gram of testis for the 200 and 400 mg groups were 3.7 times 10⁸ 2.8 times 10⁶ 2.3 times 10⁸ 2.0 times 10⁶. Conclusions: Both dose rates suppressed testicular function. Data showed that the vaccine effects were reversible. Individual immune response was less varied in the 200 mg group. Further work is necessary to achieve a less variable response in the immunosuppression of testicular function.     

A comparison of noninvasive cardiac output measurement by partial carbon dioxide rebreathing with the lithium dilution technique in anesthetized foals

Newer techniques for cardiac output (Q) determinations that are minimally invasive remain to be validated in neonatal foals against other accepted techniques such as the lithium technique (LiDCO). This study compares Q determinations using the partial CO₂ rebreathing technique (NICO) with LiDCO in anesthetized neonatal foals. Ten foals were instrumented for NICO and LiDCO determinations. For each foal low, intermediate and high levels of cardiac output were achieved in that order using an end‐tidal isoflurane (ETI) concentration of 1.3 – 2.1% for the lowest rate; an ETI of 0.85–1.4% and a constant‐rate infusion of dobutamine (1–3 ?g/kg/min) for the intermediate rate; and an ETI of 0.83–1% and dobutamine (2–6 ?g/kg/min) for the highest rate. Four foals also received IV intermittent doses (total cumulative dose of 1.1–1.7 mg) of phenylephrine at the highest rate of Q. The measurements were obtained in duplicate or triplicate for each Q technique after achieving a stable hemodynamic plane for at least 15 minutes at each rate of Q. For the lithium technique, all foals received 1.1–1.9 mL (0.16–0.28 mmol) of lithium. A Bland‐Altman analysis was used to compare the bias and precision of the two techniques. Eighty seven comparisons were determined between the two techniques. Eight were excluded due to more than 20% variation between the LiDCO determinations or technical errors at the time of determination. The correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.67 for all Q determinations. Mean LiDCO and NICO values from 79 measurements were 130 ± 40 mL^–1 kg minute^–1 (range, 68– 237) and 152 ± 31 mL^–1 kg minute^–1 (89 – 209), respectively. The mean ( mL^–1 kg minute^–1) of the differences of LiDCO – NICO was = –0.7248 + 0.8602 NICO. The precision (1.96 SD) of the differences between LiDCO and NICO was 58.9 mL^–1 kg minute^–1 (–80.9–+36.9) with a mean difference of –22 mL^–1 kg minute^–1 (bias; 95% CI – 15.2 to ‐28.7). In conclusion, given the small bias compared to the limits of agreement, the NICO technique for determining Q deserves further consideration for adoption into clinical practice in neonatal foals.