Bamboo sector reforms and the local economy of Linan County, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China

The impact of county-level bamboo sector reforms on bamboo contributions to the county economy is examined by using aggregate county data and simple analytical methods. The role of the contributions of bamboo to the different income groups is evaluated on the basis of data, for 1987 and 1997, from 46 households and by using Gini coefficients, relative and absolute inequality weights, and movements of households through different income groups. Fresh bamboo shoot (FBS) production increased from US$0.1 million in 1983 to US$29 million in 1996. Allocation of labor and capital reached near optimal by the end of the first phase of forestland reforms in 1987. Industrial reforms could affect land allocation through price incentives. Market reforms had a much higher impact through price incentives on land allocation. Bamboo contributions have benefited poor as well as rich groups, and these contributions have moved many households from the poorer to the richer classes. Bamboo sector reforms have reduced the inequality in bamboo land and bamboo income but the share of bamboo income in the total income inequality has increased. The local governments should recognize these outcomes and the basic differences in the production of different bamboo products to design future reforms.     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth and food conversion of Cyprinus carpio fry

Cyprinus carpio fry (173 ± 38 mg) were fed 6 times a day, 3 times a day, 2 times a day, once a day, once in 2 days, once in 3 days or given no food at all for a total period of 21 days. Food consumption by the group fed 3 times a day was maximum (45.6 gcal^*/meal) and the level of consumption per meal was very low in the remaining groups.

Feeding rate increased to a maximum (598.2 gcal g⁻¹ day⁻¹) in fry fed 3 times a day; a further increase in feeding frequency reduced the feeding rate. Feeding frequency influenced all bioenergetic parameters except absorption efficiency which remained constant at 97.7%. Although the growth efficiency did not change significantly in the groups fed very frequently (2 times a day or more), the growth rate was maximum in the group fed 3 times a day. With regard to both feeding and growth, a feeding schedule of 3 times a day seemed to be optimum and was suggested for practical nursery culture of Cyprinus carpio.     

An evaluation of anaesthetic induction in healthy dogs using rapid intravenous injection of propofol or alfaxalone

ObjectiveTo evaluate quality of anaesthetic induction and cardiorespiratory effects following rapid intravenous (IV) injection of propofol or alfaxalone.Study designProspective, randomised, blinded clinical study.AnimalsSixty healthy dogs (ASA I/II) anaesthetized for elective surgery or diagnostic procedures.MethodsPremedication was intramuscular acepromazine (0.03 mg kg^?1) and meperidine (pethidine) (3 mg kg^?1). For anaesthetic induction dogs received either 3 mg kg^?1 propofol (Group P) or 1.5 mg kg^?1 alfaxalone (Group A) by rapid IV injection. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f_R) and oscillometric arterial pressures were recorded prior to induction, at endotracheal intubation and at 3 and 5 minutes post-intubation. The occurrence of post-induction apnoea or hypotension was recorded. Pre-induction sedation and aspects of induction quality were scored using 4 point scales. Data were analysed using Chi-squared tests, two sample t-tests and general linear model mixed effect anova (p < 0.05).ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups with respect to sex, age, body weight, f_R, post-induction apnoea, arterial pressures, hypotension, SpO₂, sedation score or quality of induction scores. Groups behaved differently over time with respect to HR. On induction HR decreased in Group P (?2 ± 28 beats minute^?1) but increased in Group A (14 ± 33 beats minute^?1) the difference being significant (p = 0.047). However HR change following premedication also differed between groups (p = 0.006). Arterial pressures decreased significantly over time in both groups and transient hypotension occurred in eight dogs (five in Group P, three in Group A). Post-induction apnoea occurred in 31 dogs (17 in Group P, 14 in Group A). Additional drug was required to achieve endotracheal intubation in two dogs.Conclusions and Clinical relevanceRapid IV injection of propofol or alfaxalone provided suitable conditions for endotracheal intubation in healthy dogs but post-induction apnoea was observed commonly.     

Choice of the optimal method for the isolation of Salmonella from meat- and bone powder designed for industrial feed mixtures

The purpose of this paper was (1) comparison of four multi-step methods used for Salmonella isolation from meat- and bone powder; (2) elaboration of a new sensitive method of Salmonella isolation from this product; (3) evaluation of a new solid selective medium (BxLH) described by the authors for Salmonella isolation in comparison to brilliant green agar (BGE) according to Edel and Kampelmacher. The study was carried out on 173 meat- and bone powder samples naturally contaminated with Salmonella oranienburg. The samples were examined for the Salmonella presence by means of four compared methods (Methods 1 to 4). The new method of isolation proposed by the authors (Method 3) proved to be the most effective among all compared for Salmonella recovery. It seems that the superiority of Method 3 in comparison to the other applied was a result of, (1) homogenization of the investigated samples in distilled water before preincubation followed by maintenance at room temperature for 2–4 h; (2) the use of a new selective BxLH agar; (3) the use of multiple plating after selective enrichment. The BxLH medium was shown to be more suitable for Salmonella isolation than BGE agar because of more efficient inhibition of other bacterial growth with simultaneously abundant growth of the Salmonella organisms. The additional advantage offered by BxLH agar was the fact that lactose-positive salmonellas grow as typical representatives of this genus. This enables their identification, in contrast to the situation when lactose containing media are used, where the colonies of such salmonellas are similar to the colonies of, for example, Escherichia coli.     

Discourses of Elk Hunting and Grizzly Bear Incidents in Grand Teton National Park,Wyoming

Incidents of human–wildlife conflict can solidify participant perspectives and expectations, and reveal underlying social and institutional dynamics. We describe and analyze two incidents of conflict between hunters and grizzly bears in 2011 and 2012. Both incidents were associated with the controversial elk hunt in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. We gathered quotes from opinion-editorials and interviews, categorized quotes according to type, and used cluster analysis to identify discourses and associated coalitions of participants. We examined how participants defined problems, used evidence, and advocated solutions in relation to these incidents. Participant discourses addressed technical and procedural issues of regional wildlife management that extended beyond these incidents, revealing divergent expectations about wildlife management on public lands. Existing decision-making processes dominated by government agencies do not appear to be addressing these expectations. We recommend an integrative, outside appraisal of regional elk management to address conflict and support ecologically sound decision-making that serves common interests.