Estimation of actual evapotranspiration for a drip-irrigated Merlot vineyard using a three-source model

A study was performed in order to evaluate the three-source model (Clumped model) for direct estimation of actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) and latent heat flux (LE) over a drip-irrigated Merlot vineyard trained on a vertical shoot positioned system (VSP) under semi-arid conditions. The vineyard, with an average fractional cover of 30%, is located in the Talca Valley, Region del Maule, Chile. The performance of the Clumped model was evaluated using an eddy covariance system during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 growing seasons. Results indicate that the Clumped model was able to predict ET_a with a root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and model efficiency (EF) of 0.33, −0.15 mm day⁻¹ and 74%, respectively. Also, the Clumped model simulated the daytime variation of LE with a RMSE of 36 W m⁻², MBE of −8 W m⁻², and EF of 83%. Major disagreement (underestimated values) between observed and estimated values of ET_a was found for clear days after rainfall or foggy days, but underestimated values were less than 10% of the data analysis. The results obtained in this study indicate that the Clumped model could be used to directly estimate vine water requirements for a drip-irrigated vineyard trained on a VSP. However, application of the Clumped model requires a good characterization of the drip-irrigated vineyard architecture.     

Effects of water table management on soil salinity and alfalfa yield in a semi-arid climate

A lysimeter experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of water table management (WTM) on distribution of soil salinity and annual alfalfa (Medicago scutellata) yield. Subirrigations with three levels of water table namely, 0.5 (WT0.5), 0.7 (WT0.7), and 1.0 m (WT1.0) and a free drainage (FD) conventional irrigation treatment were selected for this study. All treatments were arranged in a complete randomized block design with three replicates. The results of this study indicated that the average soil electrical conductivity of the saturated extract (ECe) in the root zone gradually increased and exceeded the designated crop threshold value (4 dS/m) after the first forage harvest in subirrigated lysimeters. A higher salt accumulation was observed at the WT0.5 treatment. The average dry matter yield of annual alfalfa in WT0.5 and WT0.7 treatments was found to be 52 and 73% higher compared with the control treatment, respectively.     

Variability in energy partitioning and resistance parameters for a vineyard in northwest China

Grapevines are extensively grown in the semiarid and arid regions, but little information is available on the variability of energy partitioning and resistance parameters for the vineyard. To address this question, an eddy covariance system was applied to measure energy balance over a vineyard in northwest China during 2005-2006. Result indicated that 2-year average Bowen ratio (β) of vineyard was 1.0, canopy resistance (r_c) 289.3 s m⁻¹, aerodynamic resistance (r_a) 9.7 s m⁻¹ and climatological resistance (r_i) 117 s m⁻¹. This implied that the annual energy was split almost equally between sensible heat and latent heat. Compared to the corresponding values in other ecosystems reported by Wilson et al. [Wilson, K.B., Baldocchi, D.D., Aubinet, M., Berbigier, P., Bernhofer, C., Dolman, H., Falge, E., Field, C., Goldstein, A., Granier, A., Grelle, A., Halldor, T., Hollinger, D., Katul, G., Law, B.E., Lindroth, A., Meyers, T., Moncrieff, J., Monson, R., Oechel, W., Tenhunen, J., Valentini, R., Verma, S., Vesala, T., Wofsy, S., 2002. Energy partitioning between latent and sensible heat flux during the warm season at FLUXNET sites. Water Resource Research 38, 1294-1305.], the vineyard had a higher β, r_c and r_i than deciduous forests, corn and soybean, and grassland. Such difference was mainly attributed to (1) serious water stress in 2005, which resulted in a greater r_c up to 364.4 s m⁻¹; (2) sparse canopy with row spacing of 2.9 m and plant spacing of 1.8 m; (3) warm-dry climate and high attitude (1581 m) along with higher r_i and lower psychrometer (54 Pa K⁻¹) in the arid region of northwest China. These characters of vineyard revealed varying process of energy partitioning and surface resistance, and provided a scientific basis in understanding and modeling water and energy balance for the vineyard in the semiarid and arid regions.     

金属板材数控渐进成形螺旋线轨迹生成

在分析金属板材数控渐进成形特点的基础上,指出现行等高线运动成形方式存在的问题,提出了一种基于螺旋运动的数控渐进成形方式和基于STL数据模型的螺旋线成形加工轨迹的生成算法。利用顶点偏置方法生成STL模型的等距模型,采用一系列水平面和与Z轴平行的平面分别切割该等距模型,求出其交线的交点,并将其连接成螺旋线成形加工轨迹。算法应用实例表明,该算法能够生成无干涉的螺旋线成形加工轨迹。     

提辊式拔棉秆阻力分析

机械化拔棉秆对提高农业生产效率有重要意义.以提辊式拔棉秆机械的工作部件为研究对象,并对提辊建立数学模型,分析其受力和各项功耗,得出各项阻力在总阻力中所占的比例关系;根据各参数与总阻力之间的数学关系建立函数图像,分析得出影响牵引阻力的主要参数与阻力之间的关系;结合试验,进一步得到提辊参数间的优化组合,为提辊式拔棉秆机械的进一步优化设计提供参考.     

直线共轭内啮合齿轮泵齿轮接触强度的有限元分析

针对采用传统经验公式分析计算齿轮泵齿轮接触强度存在计算过程相当复杂、繁琐,误差较大的问题.在分析齿轮受力情况基础上,采用有限元法对直线共轭内啮合齿轮泵齿轮接触强度进行计算,并与经验公式计算的接触强度进行比较分析.结果表明,两种方法计算结果基本吻合,证实了采用有限元法分析计算的可行性与优越性,为直线共轭内啮合齿轮泵齿轮的设计、选材提供了一种新的方法,具有一定的工程应用价值.     

Anti-allergic effects of the brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia arborea</Emphasis> on Brown Norway rats

To investigate the anti-allergic effects of the brown alga Eisenia arborea. A strain of Brown Norway rats know to strongly respond to immunoglobulin E (IgE) were used as an allergy model animal. The rats were immunized with ovalbumin by oral administration. The levels of serum IgE and histamine were suppressed in the rats fed a diet supplemented with dried E. arborea powder. As for the cytokine pattern, the interferon-γ production in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) was enhanced, and the interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in the spleens and/or IL-10 production in the spleens and MLN were suppressed. These results, together with the change in the Th1/Th2 balance, indicate that the rats fed with E. arborea became more anti-allergic, suggesting that E. arborea might possess anti-allergic effects.     

Thermal stability of carp G-actin monitored by loss of polymerization activity using an extrinsic fluorescent probe

ABSTRACT:   The thermal stability of carp G-actin was investigated by monitoring loss of actin polymerization ability. To determine the amount of native actin remaining after heat treatment, actin was labeled with a fluorescence reagent, N-(1-pyrene)iodoacetamide. The loss of polymerization ability of carp actin during heat treatment, at between 45 and 55°C, occurred faster than that of chicken actin. The inactivation rate was influenced by concentrations of ATP and Ca²⁺ in solution. With the increase of Ca²⁺ concentration, the inactivation of carp actin was markedly suppressed. Furthermore, the activation energy of the inactivation of carp actin obtained from an Arrhenius plot was similar to that of chicken actin. These results indicated that the thermal instability of carp G-actin was due to the low affinites of ATP and Ca²⁺ for carp actin described in a previous report.     

Use of vitamin C as an immunostimulant. Effect on growth,nutritional quality,and immune response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis> (Ham.)

Teleost fish lack the enzyme for endogenous synthesis of ascorbic acid (AA), an essential micronutrient for fish. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of higher levels of dietary vitamin C on growth, nutritional quality, and immunomodulation in the Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita). Four groups of L. rohita were fed experimental diets containing either no vitamin C (control) or supplemented with vitamin C at 500 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-1), 1000 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-2), or 1500 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-3) for 60 days. Growth parameters (NWG, ADG, and SGR), serological parameters (TSP, TSA, TSG, and A:G), haematological parameters (TLC, TEC, Hct, MCV, and MCH), and different non-specific immunological parameters (PR, PI, respiratory burst activity, and bactericidal activity) were evaluated during the experimental trial. Fish fed a vitamin C-supplemented diet showed higher specific growth rate (SGR) up to 1000 mg kg⁻¹ compared with control fish. Different haematological and serological parameters along with non-specific immune parameters were influenced by vitamin C supplementation. Among the non-specific immune parameters phagocytic activity (PR and PI) and respiratory burst activity (NBT cells) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced by increasing doses of vitamin C supplementation. Higher levels of dietary vitamin C significantly (P ≤ 0.05) enhanced protection against Aeromonas hydrophila (AH1) infection compared with controls. Results from this study help to establish the beneficial effect of vitamin C on growth and immunmodulation in rohu (L. rohita).     

Effects of triploidy on the Caspian salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta caspius</Emphasis> haematology

The aim of this study was a comparison of key haematological features of diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius). Morphometric indices of erythrocytes were determined on blood smears by light microscopy. Triploidy significantly (P < 0.001) increased all morphometric indices measured in the erythrocytes including cell size, cell surface area, and cell volume. The increase in cell size was larger for the major (27%) axis than for the minor (22%) axis, thus making erythrocytes of 3n Caspian salmon more ellipsoidal. The estimated increase in erythrocyte nuclear volume (87%) was bigger than the theoretical expected 50% increase. Haematological indices were measured manually by hemocytometry. Triploids had lower numbers of red blood cells (RBC: 1,120,000 cells/mL in 2n vs. 700,000 cells/mL in 3n; P < 0.001) but they were larger in size (mean erythrocytic volume [MEV]: 363.1 nm³ in 2n vs. 483.3 nm³ in 3n; P < 0.001). The decrease in RBC number was not compensated by the increase in MEV and, thus, triploidy affected the haematocrit (Hct: 38.8% in 2n vs. 33.06% in 3n; P < 0.05). Total blood hemoglobin concentration was lower in triploid fish (Hb: 9.9 g/dL in 2n vs. 8.9 g/dL in 3n; P < 0.05). In contrast, mean erythrocytic hemoglobin (MEH: 95 μg in 2n vs. 133.2 μg in 3n; P < 0.001) was higher for 3n Caspian salmon as a result of their larger erythrocytes, although MEH concentration (MEHC: 0.26 g/dL in 2n vs. 0.27 g/dL in 3n) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). White blood cell (WBC) counts (lymphocytes and neutrophiles) were measured and WBC/RBC ratios were calculated. There were no significant differences in WBC (15,710 cells/mL in 2n vs. 12,683 cells/mL in 3n; P > 0.05), lymphocytes, and neutrophils as %WBC as well as WBC/RBC ratios between two ploidy levels (P > 0.05). Triploid Caspian salmon showed higher erythrocyte abnormalities such as ‘twisted’, ‘tailed’, and ‘anucleated’ cells as well as high portions of immature RBC in blood smears in comparison with diploids (P < 0.001).