Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

吉林省S村"第一书记"在精准扶贫攻坚战中的作用与经验

"第一书记"是脱贫攻坚过程中的一次重要改革和有效手段之一,推进了精准扶贫工作的良性运转,促进了乡村治理进程的稳定发展。为进一步提高和巩固精准扶贫的效率和成果,通过对吉林省提前脱贫村S村进行实地调查,座谈走访、深入到户等方式,结合深度访谈,对"第一书记"推动S村精准扶贫精准脱贫工作有效进行的实践经验进行了总结。梳理其在脱贫攻坚中遇到的问题和不足,为继续发挥其在扶贫阶段的治理逻辑和工作机制与乡村振兴战略的衔接提出两点期望。     

净化液处理对豇豆采后多环芳烃(PAHs)的净化效果研究

为降低蔬菜采后体内多环芳烃(PAHs)对人体的危害风险,以豇豆为材料,利用不同浓度洗洁精、食盐、米酒、米醋、植物油及清水分别对豇豆豆荚进行浸洗,通过高效液相色谱-质谱联用法检测豇豆采后体内PAHs的含量,并筛选出豇豆体内PAHs的最佳净化方法。结果表明,米酒和米醋处理对豇豆体内PAHs的去除效果基本一致,其中米酒处理组的∑PAHs（美国环保局公布的优先监测的16种多环芳烃的含量总和）降低68.92%,米醋处理组的∑PAHs降低73.88%,且对萘、二苯并(a,h)蒽和茚并(1,2,3-c,d)芘等均有明显的去除效果;清水浸洗可有效降低豇豆体内的茚并(1,2,3-c,d)芘含量,但会使菲的含量增加;食盐处理使∑PAHs增加了77.15%,主要表现在增加了2、3环PAHs在豇豆体内的积累;植物油处理可降低个别PAHs单体含量,但会引入其他PAHs单体,同时增加∑PAHs含量。毒性当量计算结果表明,米酒能有效降低豇豆体内的PAHs毒性,同时食盐处理也使豇豆体内的PAHs毒性当量降低。米酒和米醋能有效降低豇豆体内∑PAHs和二苯并(a,h)蒽的含量及其毒性当量。     

The advantages of the use of vitamin E and selenium for the prevention and therapy of porcine stress syndrome

In a feeding trial lasting for months Halothane-positive fattening pigs were put on a diet containing different concentrations of vitamin E and selenium. After a Myostress application vitamin E and selenium were additionally injected in order to examine stress resistance (CK-test) and regenerative capacity (histological examination of Musculus longissimus dorsi) of skeletal muscle. The study revealed that neither high dietary levels of vitamin E/selenium nor a vitamin E/selenium treatment applied after stress are capable of preventing stress related myopathy nor can they influence its healing up favourably.     

Epidermal growth factor-like activity in mares' milk.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like activity was measured in mares' colostrum and milk by radioreceptor assay. Milk samples were collected from 22 mares 1 or more times during early lactation. Samples of colostrum were taken after parturition and before the foal first suckled (presuckle), within 6 hours after the foal first suckled (postsuckle), and on days 1, 2, 4, and 8 of lactation. In the 5 mares from which milk samples were obtained at each sampling time, presuckle colostral mean EGF-like activity (17.8 ng/ml) was greatest (P less than 0.05). The mean values for EGF-like activity at all other sampling times were not significantly different from each other (postsuckle colostrum, 9.7 ng/ml; day 1, 9.6 ng/ml; day 2, 8.5 ng/ml; day 4, 8.0 ng/ml; day 8, 7.8 ng/ml).     

Clinical response of nasal adenocarcinoma to cisplatin chemotherapy in 11 dogs.

In 11 dogs with nasal adenocarcinoma, IV treatment with 2 to 8 cycles of cisplatin at a dosage of 60 mg/m2 of body surface, given at 3-week intervals, resulted in a survival time of 8 to 128 weeks (mean, 32.7 weeks; median, 20 weeks). Radiography revealed complete remission in 2 dogs and partial remission in 1 dog, for an overall response rate of 27%. Clinical problems such as nasal discharge (n = 11), sneezing (n = 6), and epistaxis (n = 4) resolved in 1 to 2 weeks in all dogs after beginning chemotherapy.     

Immunodeficiency associated with lymphosarcoma in a horse.

Immune system dysfunction and immunoglobulin deficiency was diagnosed in a 2-year-old horse with disseminated lymphosarcoma. Prolonged (35 days) parenteral nutrition was delivered to support the horse during a period in which immune function studies could be performed. Correction of nutritional compromise by use of parenteral nutrition did not correct the immunoglobulin deficiency, and results of lymphocyte phenotype testing did not indicate abnormal proportions of leukocytes. Lymphoblast transformation studies were suggestive of a circulating immunosuppressive factor in the horse's serum. Normal cell function was detected when the cells were stimulated in precolostral equine serum.     

Evaluation of the Hennessy grading probe to predict yields of lamb carcasses fabricated to multiple end points.

Lamb carcasses (n = 278) were selected immediately after slaughter and fat thickness was measured with the SP2 Hennessy grading probe (HP) at the interface of the 12th and 13th ribs, 3.8 cm from the backbone. After a 24-h chilling period, carcasses were graded by a USDA grader and probed with the HP to obtain a fat thickness measure on the chilled carcass. One hundred sixty-five carcasses were fabricated into wholesale cuts (.64 cm of external fat trim), and 113 carcasses were fabricated into tray-ready retail cuts (.25 cm of external fat trim). Carcass weight, fat thickness (metal probe), adjusted fat thickness, hot and chilled carcass HP fat measures, as well as kidney and pelvic fat percentage and USDA yield grade, were highly correlated to cutting yield for both fabrication methods. Regression models developed to predict wholesale cut yields using HP or grader-collected measures were similar with respect to predictive accuracy. Fat thickness explained most of the variation in wholesale and tray-ready cut yields among the variables collected by the grader. Kidney and pelvic fat accounted for more of the variation in yield of wholesale cuts during stepwise regression to determine HP equations, but for predicting tray-ready yields, fat thickness taken with the HP accounted for the largest amount of variation. Equations developed to predict tray-ready retail cut yields using the HP or USDA grader-collected carcass measures were similar in the amount of variation explained. Kidney and pelvic fat percentage must be included in equations to maximize predictive accuracy when this depot site is left in carcasses.