Comparison of External and Internal Pelvic Measurements of Belgian Blue Cattle from Sample Herds in Belgium and the United Kingdom

Measurements describing pelvic conformation of pedigree Belgian Blue cows were obtained from a sample of nine herds in Flanders, Belgium, comprising 111 adult breeding cows, and from 11 herds in the United Kingdom comprising 108 similar cows. All herds in the Belgian sample (111 cows) managed parturition by elective caesarian section as did seven herds (56 cows) in the UK sample; the remainder of UK herds (52 cows) allowed cows the opportunity to calve naturally per vagina before resorting to caesarian section. The data described the external and internal measurements, and pelvic area characteristic of this breed, irrespective of the different selection pressures applied over a number of years to this breed through variation in farm management and market forces present in either country. From these data, generalized linear models were constructed to predict pelvic area; they correctly identified cows with either small or large pelvic areas. There were no significant differences in pelvic conformation between cattle bred either in Belgium or the UK, although those cows bred in herds where natural calving was allowed to take place had significantly larger internal pelvic height (p < 0.05) and area (p < 0.05) than other Belgian Blue cows. The correlation coefficients between internal pelvic height and width and external pelvic measurements were significant (p < 0.001). These results might facilitate the selection of breeding cows with larger pelvic area so that a higher proportion of cows can calve naturally than currently occurs. However, selection for other traits such as relatively low birth weight combined with higher weaning weight should be carried out at the same time.     

Genetic screening of FecB,FecXG and FecXI mutations and their linkage with litter size in Barki and Rahmani sheep breeds

Characterization of fecundity genes offers the opportunity to improve production efficiency, and the consequent increase in litter size in livestock industry, through utilizing them in breeding programs. The main objective of this study was to detect the BMPR‐IB, BMP15 and GDF9 gene mutations and to investigate whether these mutations are associated with litter size in Egyptian sheep breeds. To achieve this goal, 73 adult ewes representing Barki (n = 33) and Rahmani (n = 40) breeds were used. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) screening approach was used to detect the presence of FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I mutations in the two selected breeds. Results of this study showed that the three different candidate gene mutations, namely FecB, FecX^G and FecX^I are not present among these selected populations of the Egyptian breeds. Further studies regarding other mutations and/or other genes, which may influence ovulation rate, should be carried out to determine the type and mode of inheritance of such genes in Egyptian sheep breeds.     

阿拉善荒漠草地8种牧草营养物质季节动态及营养均衡价评价

探讨了阿拉善荒漠草地珍珠柴(Salsola passerina)、霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylon)、红砂(Reaumuria soon-gorica)、绵刺(Potaninia mongolica)、梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)、盐爪爪(Kalidium foliatum)、沙鞭(Psammochloavillosa)和牛心朴子(Cynanchum komarovii)8种牧草营养物质含量的季节动态,并以粗蛋白质对其营养均衡价进行了比较。结果表明:8种牧草的粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、无氮浸出物、钙含量和钙磷比随着牧草的生长期呈先增加后降低的趋势,粗蛋白质含量6月最高,为7.86%~19.18%,1月最低,为5.25%~9.24%;粗脂肪、无氮浸出物、钙含量及钙磷比分别为0.81%~9.63%,26.19%~52.58%,0.12%~1.93%和0.86%~16.00%。粗纤维含量随植物生长呈降低趋势,且8种牧草的含量差异性较大,范围为9.56%~43.01%;粗灰分含量随生长期没有明显的季节动态规律;磷含量随牧草的生长而降低,范围0.04%~0.20%。牧草营养均衡价的评价表明:8种牧草营养均衡价(NB)依次为:梭梭绵刺珍珠柴霸王红砂盐爪爪牛心朴子沙鞭。     

乳酸菌添加剂对禾本科混合牧草青贮发酵特性的影响

选用分离于青贮原料牧草天然附着的植物乳杆菌（Lactobacillus plantarum）和蒙氏肠球菌（Enterococcusmundtii）作为添加剂,进行披碱草和老芒麦混合牧草青贮发酵特性的研究。试验分4个处理：球菌组（Em）、杆菌组（Lp）、球菌＋杆菌组（EL）、对照组（Con,不添加）。实验室常温发酵。试验期60 d。结果表明：（1）与Con组相比,Em、Lp以及EL组均明显降低青贮pH（P〈0.05）。（2）Em与Lp以及EL组都明显增加乳酸含量（P〈0.05）,以及乳酸与乙酸的比值,其中EL组增加效果最显著（P〈0.05）;此外3个添加组丙酸及丁酸的含量明显下降（P〈0.05）。（3）EL组显著降低青贮中NH3-N含量（P〈0.05）,Em、Lp组也有降低的趋势,但未达显著水平（P〉0.05）。（4）添加乳酸菌可以降低青贮DM的损失量,与对照组相比Em、Lp以及EL组DM的损失量分别降低了38.4%、43.4%、23.4%。综上所述添加乳酸菌可以改善试验牧草青贮发酵品质,球菌＋杆菌组（EL组）对试验牧草青贮品质改善效果最优。     

Immunophenotypical characterization of monocytes in canine distemper virus infection

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infection induces multifocal demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). It is thought that the resident macrophages of the CNS, the microglia, as well as invading monocytes associated with the inflammatory reaction may play a central role in the demyelinating process. To evaluate changes in peripheral monocytes in CDV infection their immunophenotype was characterized by flow cytometry during the course of an experimental CDV infection in dogs. The highest number of CDV-infected monocytes was found in dogs developing demyelinating lesions. In CD18, CD45, CD44, and CD14 neither up- nor down-regulation was observed. Marked up-regulation occurred in a number of surface molecules including CD1c, B7-1 and B7-2, MHC I, and CD11b. Peak expression was found at 4-5 weeks post-infection (PI), regardless of clinical outcome. All these molecules play an important role in the host's immune response, notably antigen presentation and cell adhesion. These results demonstrate that CDV infection in vivo may enhance several macrophage functions. This could lead to more effective clearance of the virus but may also increase demyelination through a bystander effect in animals that accumulated significant amounts of CDV in the CNS.     

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区土壤水资源平衡利用与生态植被可持续发展

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区林草植被建设对控制水土流失和农业可持续发展具有双重意义。但是,大量资 料表明,黄土高原丘陵沟壑区林地和草地土壤水分严重亏缺,林草植被对土壤水资源的过度利用必将产生严 重后果,笔者强调生态植被建设须坚持土壤水资源平衡利用原则。在对土壤水量收入和支出诸因素分析的基 础上,指出采取拦蓄降水、降水高效叠加利用、覆盖保墒和减少植被蒸腾等途径及措施,以实现土壤水资源平 衡利用。提出林地降水高效叠加利用技术的思路及研究解决办法;研究建立植物蒸腾耗水量评价指标体系, 为筛选节水植物种类或种提供科学依据;植被蒸腾量的调控,根据叶面积指数与土壤耗水量的关系,在土壤水 资源平衡利用的原则下,确定其盖度和种植密度,后期通过控制树冠、适度疏枝、合理平茬(刈割)等进一步加 以调节。     

Nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) in polar stratospheric clouds

A comprehensive investigation of polar stratospheric clouds was performed on 25 January 2000 with instruments onboard a balloon gondola flown from Kiruna, Sweden. Cloud layers were repeatedly encountered at altitudes between 20 and 24 kilometers over a wide range of atmospheric temperatures (185 to 197 kelvin). Particle composition analysis showed that a large fraction of the cloud layers was composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles, containing water and nitric acid at a molar ratio of 3:1; this confirmed that these long-sought solid crystals exist well above ice formation temperatures. The presence of NAT particles enhances the potential for chlorine activation with subsequent ozone destruction in polar regions, particularly in early and late winter.     

基于质量分级的马铃薯贮藏温度特性的试验与研究

贮藏室内适宜的贮藏温度是进行科学贮藏和决定贮藏质量的重要条件.为研究相同贮藏条件下不同质量马铃薯堆内部温度的差异,以内蒙古半地下式马铃薯贮藏室为试验场地,将食用型"冀张226"马铃薯按单薯质量进行分级,以筐装方式进行堆码,同时用传感器采集贮藏过程中的温度数据,然后对数据进行分析、对比.结果表明:整个贮藏过程中,分级后的所有马铃薯堆的内部温度整体变化规律基本一致,均为先降低后升高,但单薯质量小的马铃薯堆内部温度的稳定性要优于单薯质量大的马铃薯堆.温度下降阶段,马铃薯堆的内部温度与马铃薯单薯质量大小呈负相关;温度上升阶段,马铃薯堆内部温度上升率与马铃薯单薯质量呈正相关;不同马铃薯堆在贮藏过程中的最低温度与马铃薯单薯质量呈负相关;分级后的马铃薯堆内部温度的稳定性要优于未分级的马铃薯堆.     

辅酶Q10污泥施用对作物和土壤效应的研究

为了探索辅酶Q10污泥施用对土壤和作物的影响,以玉米为供试作物,进行了不同用量污泥施用及与单施化肥对比的田间试验。结果表明,污泥施用增加了玉米的株高,400kg/667m2施肥量比空白区平均增加14cm,比单施化肥区平均增加6.5cm;400kg/667m2施肥量比空白区增产10%~15%,达到差异显著水平,与单施化肥区无显著差异;施用污泥与空白区相比,玉米籽粒蛋白质、脂肪和淀粉含量均有所提高,与单施化肥相比,污泥对提高籽粒蛋白质含量的作用更明显;污泥施用后对提高土壤中磷的作用最大,其次为氮,对有机质和钾的影响微乎其微,对土壤的p H值没有影响。辅酶Q10污泥施用对玉米生长、产量形成和品质均具有良好的效应,同时能够起到培肥土壤的作用。