Factors affecting the adoption of agroforestry practices by farmers in Cameroon

This paper presents empirical evidence on the impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices in Cameroon. The analysis uses primary farm-level data collected from June to December 1996. Three major provinces of the country were covered, namely Centre, Southwest and Northwest Several agroforestry technologies have been promoted among farmers in the zone, including alley farming, improved fallow, live fencing, cut-and-carry fodder and apiculture. The status of adoption of each agroforestry practice is described and factors that affect adoption identified. These are gender of farmer, household family size, level of education, farmer’s experience, membership within farmers’ associations, contact with research and extension, security of land tenure, agroecological zone, distance of the village from nearest town, village accessibility and income from livestock. Research findings indicate that since factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices differ across techniques, generalisation is to be avoided.     

城乡绿道的游憩功能实现及产品开发

在乡村旅游发展过程中,以生态休闲为特色的绿道应当作为乡村旅游规划的元素之一。文中简述目前绿道建设存在的误区,提出适宜城市居民游憩的绿道选择,并对城乡绿道的游憩功能实现途径进行探讨,对基于绿道建设的旅游开发进行展望。     

Calculation Method of Hydraulic Characteristics for Direct-Return Chilled Water System

In order to optimize design and operation, it is necessary to calculate accurately hydraulic characteristics large central air-conditioning systems. Simplified Model can not be applied to hydraulic calculation of large pipe network topological structure for its large calculation error. Taking into account the regulating characteristics of terminal branch temperature regulating valve, a direct-return chilled water system is studied, an accurate mathematical model of pipe network hydraulic characteristics has been established and a computer logic algorithm with virtual flow has been given. A direct-return pipe network with ten AHU branches is used as simulation calculation object, the pipe network supply-return water pressure difference is calculated, and also the temperature regulating valve opening and actual flow of each branch are calculated in the condition of different supply-return water pressure difference. The calculated results accord with the natural characteristics of high pressure difference unbalanced for direct-return pipe network. The calculation method can ensure calculation convergence.     

用Nested-PCR检测广西黄皮与九里香黄龙病病原

摘要：运用nested-PCR技术对广西黄皮和九里香进行柑桔黄龙病（Citrus Huanglongbing, HLB）检测,结果表明：从部分黄皮和九里香样品抽提的DNA中,可扩增出一条特异性的400 bp条带,说明广西种植的黄皮和九里香均可感染黄龙病;在柑桔黄龙病疫区,黄皮和九里香黄龙病感染率分别为35.0%和40.0%。     

基于机器视觉的嫁接用苗外观特征自动检测

提出了基于数学模型的幼苗外观特征自动检测方法,检测项目包括生长状态、子叶参数和胚轴参数。首先经过图像预处理提取幼苗二值图,利用行像素统计图确定特征参数基准点位置。然后以标定胚轴最小矩形倾斜度和宽度判定弯曲状态;子叶跨度通过两子叶端点距离确定,子叶展开角通过两子叶底端平展位置拟合线夹角判定;胚轴弯曲度通过胚轴中心线上曲率最大的位置为分界点分别判断两段斜度而求得,胚轴长、轴径结合斜度补偿求得。与手工测量数据对比,轴长、轴径和子叶跨度的相关系数分别为0.935 1、0.899 9和0.903 4,相对误差分别小于7%、5%和7%,绝对误差分别小于4 mm、0.2 mm和6 mm。     

Shock-induced localized amorphization in boron carbide

High-resolution electron microscope observations of shock-loaded boron carbide have revealed the formation of nanoscale intragranular amorphous bands that occur parallel to specific crystallographic planes and contiguously with apparent cleaved fracture surfaces. This damage mechanism explains the measured, but not previously understood, decrease in the ballistic performance of boron carbide at high impact rates and pressures. The formation of these amorphous bands is also an example of how shock loading can result in the synthesis of novel structures and materials with substantially altered properties.     

“家风”追踪发现命案嫌疑人尸体

2008年9月14日上午9时许,广东省高州市宝光街道朝培桐村发生一起凶杀案,茂名市茂南区村民沈某在中秋节时前往朝培桐村岳母莫某家,劝说因争吵而赌气回娘家的妻子程某回家,但遭到妻子和岳母的反对。一气之下,沈某持菜刀将77岁的岳母莫某杀死,将妻子程某及出租车司机砍致重伤,     

Low levels of haptoglobin and putative amino acid sequence in Taiwanese Lanyu miniature pigs

Porcine haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein. Its plasma level increases significantly during inflammation and infection. One of the main functions of Hp is to bind free hemoglobin (Hb) and inhibit its oxidative activity. In the present report, we studied the Hp phenotype of Taiwanese Lanyu miniature pigs (TLY minipigs; n=43) and found their Hp structure to be a homodimer (beta-alpha-alpha-beta) similar to human Hp 1-1. Interestingly, Western blot and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis showed that 25% of the TLY minipigs possessed low or no plasma Hp level (<0.05 mg/ml). The Hp cDNA of these TLY minipigs was then cloned, and the translated amino acid sequence was analyzed. No sequences were found to be deficient; they showed a 99.7% identity with domestic pigs (NP_999165). The mean overall Hp level of the TLY minipigs (0.21 +/- 0.25 mg/ml; n=43) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was markedly lower than that of domestic pigs (0.78 +/- 0.45 mg/ml; p<0.001), while 25% of the TLY minipigs had an Hp level that was extremely low (<0.05 mg/ml). In addition, the initial recovery rate (first 40 min) in the circulation of infused fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Hb was significantly higher in the TLY minipigs with extremely low Hp levels than those with high levels. This data suggests that the low concentration of Hp-Hb complex is responsible for the higher recovery rate of Hb in the circulation. TLY minipigs have been used as an experimental model for cardiovascular diseases; whether they can be used as a model for inflammatory diseases, with Hp as a marker, remains a topic of interest. However, since the Hp level varies significantly among individual TLY minipigs, it is necessary to prescreen the Hp levels of the animals to minimize variation in the experimental baseline. The present study may provide a reference value for future use of the TLY minipig as an animal model for inflammation-associated diseases.     

空气污染对蜜蜂及蜜粉源植物的影响探究

近年来,蜜蜂失踪现象多发引起全球蜂业从业者关注,其归因众说纷纭。有认为是农作物滥施农药或频繁在蜂群中使用杀螨药物导致;有解释为移动、电信基站电磁干扰蜜蜂飞行所致;也有说是气候异常引起;等等。笔者以几十年亲身观察本地蜂群的群势变化与实践证明,推测蜜蜂失踪现象另有其因。在此呈现,供同行们从另一个角度探究愈演愈烈的蜜蜂失踪之谜。