基于信息熵的天山山区降水时空变化特征

降水是山区气候中最重要的气象要素之一,其大小及变化直接关系到干旱山区中、下游的生态环境与经济社会的发展,但是,由于技术和地理条件的限制,是难以精确观测的气象要素。本研究采用天山山区31个台站和1960-2008年间的实测降水资料,应用信息熵方法对天山山区年、季和月的降水变化特征进行分析。结果表明,天山山区降水在时间和空间上均存在变异性,时间变异性表现为信息熵的无序指数(DI)年际变化小于季节变化,季节变化小于月变化。DI多年变化特征呈现下降趋势;冬季DI变化最为显著,夏季最小;冬季北坡降水随高程的增加DI变化呈显著增加趋势(P0.05),春、夏和秋季南坡降水随高程的增加DI变化呈显著减少趋势(P0.05)。山区月降水4-9月逐渐增加,10月至次年3月降水逐渐减少,月降水DI的变化与降水变化呈反相特征。在空间上DI变化与降水的分布相反,表现为南强北弱,东强西弱,伊犁河谷降水DI变化最小。结果证明,DI方法能够有效地分析山区降水的时空变化特征,为合理开发山区的水资源提供科学依据。     

Fine mapping of a calving QTL on Bos taurus autosome 18 in Holstein cattle

Decreased calving performance not only directly impacts the economic efficiency of dairy cattle farming but also influences public concern for animal welfare. Previous studies have revealed a QTL on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 18 that has a large effect on calving traits in Holstein cattle. In this study, fine mapping of this QTL was performed using imputed high‐density SNP chip (HD) genotypes followed by imputed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) variants. BTA18 was scanned for seven direct calving traits in 6113 bulls with imputed HD genotypes. SNP rs136283363 (BTA18: 57 548 213) was consistently the most significantly associated SNP across all seven traits [e.g. p‐value = 2.04 × 10^?59 for birth index (BI)]. To finely map the QTL region and to explore pleiotropic effects, we studied NGS variants within the targeted region (BTA18: 57 321 450–57 625 355) for associations with direct calving traits and with three conformation traits. Significant variants were prioritized, and their biological relevance to the traits was interpreted. Considering their functional relationships with direct calving traits, SIGLEC12, CD33 and CEACAM18 were proposed as candidate genes. In addition, pleiotropic effects of this QTL region on direct calving traits and conformation traits were observed. However, the extent of linkage disequilibrium combined with the lack of complete annotation and potential errors in the Bos taurus genome assembly hampered our efforts to pinpoint the causal mutation.     

Validity of goniometric joint measurements in cats

OBJECTIVE: To compare and validate goniometric joint measurements obtained from nonsedated and sedated cats with measurements from radiographic evaluation. ANIMALS: 20 adult cats with no evidence of joint disease. PROCEDURES: Measurements of flexion and extension of the carpus, elbow, shoulder, tarsus, stifle, and hip joints and of carpal and tarsal joints during varus and valgus angulation were made by a single investigator before and after sedation of cats. Measurements were made by use of a goniometer with a masked dial. Joint angle measurements were compared between nonsedated and sedated cats and also with measurements from radiographs made while cats were sedated. Each series of measurements was repeated 4 times. To evaluate repeatability, Cronbach alpha values were calculated for repeated measure results of goniometric joint measurements of nonsedated and sedated cats. An intraclass correlation was calculated to determine reliability among the 3 measurement types (ie, measurements from nonsedated and sedated cats and on radiographic evaluation). RESULTS: Joint measurements did not differ significantly by measurement type, when comparing radiographic measurements with goniometric measurements in sedated and nonsedated cats. Cronbach alpha values were > 0.99 for goniometric joint measurements within individual nonsedated and sedated cats and also for comparison of mean measurements obtained from sedated cats versus nonsedated cats versus radiographs. An intraclass correlation of 0.999 revealed high reliability among measurement types. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that goniometric joint measurements in nonsedated and sedated cats are repeatable and valid.     

略论我国草地资源综合评价的基本内容

草地资源综合评价是以草地自然植被，生态环境条件，草地资源经济和社会因素等为特性的草地利用、管理、保护等综合鉴定，在实践中草地资源综合评价与农牧业生产紧密联系的，这对合理利用草地，保护草地环境起到了重大的作用，它推动农、牧、林业生产的持续发展。到目前为止，草地资源综合评价工作，无论在理论上和方法上还缺乏系统性的论述。本文着重从三个方面的问题略加阐述，以便将草地资源评价的研究推向一个高层次，促进草地科学更全面、更系统地向前发展，进一步丰富草地学内容     

Detection of Clinically Relevant Pain Relief in Cats with Degenerative Joint Disease Associated Pain

Background

Detection of clinically relevant pain relief in cats with degenerative joint disease (DJD) is complicated by a lack of validated outcome measures and a placebo effect.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To evaluate a novel approach for detection of pain relief in cats with DJD.

Animals

Fifty‐eight client‐owned cats.

Methods

Prospective, double‐masked, placebo‐controlled, stratified, randomized, clinical study. Enrolled cats were 6–21 years of age, with owner‐observed mobility impairment, evidence of pain in at least 2 joints during orthopedic examination, and overlapping radiographic evidence of DJD, and underwent a 2‐week baseline period, 3‐week treatment period with placebo or meloxicam, and 3‐week masked washout period. Outcome measures were evaluated at days 0, 15, 36, and 57.

Results

Both groups significantly improved after the treatment period (day 36) on client‐specific outcome measures (CSOM) and feline musculoskeletal pain index (FMPI) (P < .0001 for both); there was no difference between the groups on CSOM or FMPI score improvement. After the masked washout period, more cats that received meloxicam during the treatment period had a clinically relevant decrease in CSOM score (P = .048) and FMPI score (P = .021) than cats that received placebo.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Using both a client‐specific and a general clinical metrology instrument, owners of cats with DJD were able to detect evident recurrence of clinical signs after withdrawal of active medication than after withdrawal of placebo, and that this study design might be a novel and useful way to circumvent the placebo effect and detect the efficacy of pain‐relieving medications.     

添加尿素和糖蜜对甘蔗尾打捆青贮品质的影响

试验采用单因子设计研究不同水平的尿素、糖蜜及糖蜜与尿素混合处理对甘蔗尾打捆青贮品质的影响。试验共分5组,其中1组为对照组,甘蔗尾经揉搓后直接青贮,2~5组为试验组分别添加0.6%尿素、1.0%的尿素、5%糖蜜和0.6%尿素+5%糖蜜,每个处理3个重复,青贮期90 d。试验结果表明,添加0.6%、1%的尿素及0.6%尿素+5%糖蜜均能显著提高青贮饲料的粗蛋白质含量（P<0.05）,但3个组间差异不显著（P>0.05）;单独加尿素的两组青贮料pH较对照组和其它试验组高,外观品质有所下降;添加5%的糖蜜和0.6%尿素+5%糖蜜均能显著降低青贮料的粗纤维含量,增加可溶性糖的含量,青贮料的pH及外观品质较好;综合营养成分和外观品质, 甘蔗尾用尿素与糖蜜混合处理其青贮料的品质最好。     

Effects of replacing dietary starch with neutral detergent–soluble fibre on ruminal fermentation,microbial synthesis and populations of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC)

A rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) apparatus with eight 800 ml fermenters was used to investigate the effects of replacing dietary starch with neutral detergent–soluble fibre (NDSF) by inclusion of sugar beet pulp in diets on ruminal fermentation, microbial synthesis and populations of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria. Experimental diets contained 12.7, 16.4, 20.1 or 23.8% NDSF substituted for starch on a dry matter basis. The experiment was conducted over two independent 15‐day incubation periods with the last 8 days used for data collection. There was a tendency that 16.4% NDSF in the diet increased the apparent disappearance of organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Increasing dietary NDSF level increased carboxymethylcellulase and xylanase activity in the solid fraction and apparent disappearance of acid detergent fibre (ADF) but reduced the 16S rDNA copy numbers of Ruminococcus albus in both liquid and solid fractions and R. flavefaciens in the solid fraction. The apparent disappearance of dietary nitrogen (N) was reduced by 29.6% with increased dietary NDSF. Substituting NDSF for starch appeared to increase the ratios of acetate/propionate and methane/volatile fatty acids (VFA) (mol/mol). Replacing dietary starch with NDSF reduced the daily production of ammonia‐N and increased the growth of the solid‐associated microbial pellets (SAM). Total microbial N flow and efficiency of microbial synthesis (EMS), expressed as g microbial N/kg OM fermented, tended to increase with increased dietary NDSF, but the numerical increase did not continue as dietary NDSF exceeded 20.1% of diet DM. Results suggested that substituting NDSF for starch up to 16.4% of diet DM increased digestion of nutrients (except for N) and microbial synthesis, and further increases (from 16.4% to 23.8%) in dietary NDSF did not repress microbial synthesis but did significantly reduce digestion of dietary N.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing blockage,a novel strategy for attenuating pathogenicity of Gram-negative bacterial plant pathogens

Quorum sensing is a bacterial communication mechanism by which bacteria sense their own population size and couple specific gene expression to cell density. In Gram-negative bacteria, the most commonly used quorum sensing signals are N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). It is now apparent that many pathogenic bacteria employ quorum sensing to control premature expression of virulence factors. This control is thought to decrease the likelihood that the plant host would detect the pathogens presence and activate its defense system. Novel strategies that target bacterial quorum sensing systems in order to control plant bacterial diseases are discussed.     

致病杆菌和发光杆菌抗菌代谢产物研究进展

致病杆菌Xenorhabdus和发光杆菌Photorhabdus是昆虫病原线虫肠道共生细菌,具有对宿主昆虫致病和对寄主线虫共生的双重特性,是一类特殊的生防细菌资源,其代谢产物具有广泛的杀虫和抑菌功能。本文综述了近年来昆虫病原线虫共生细菌产生的抗菌物质、编码抗菌代谢产物的基因及抗菌机制的研究进展。     

Seasonal patterns of dispersal of ascospores of Cryphonectria parasitica (chestnut blight)

Infected barks of chestnut blight cankers, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica , were collected from a naturally infected orchard and incubated at different temperatures. Cankers started to discharge ascospores about a week after incubation at 15–25°C; most ascospores were collected at 20 and 25°C. When incubated at 5, 10 or 30°C, only a few cankers released a small number of ascospores and only during the later stages of incubation. However, the rate of formation of perithecia was not affected by the incubation temperature. The number of airborne ascospores was monitored using a volumetric spore trap in a chestnut orchard during 1996 and 1997. In both years, the number of ascospores trapped daily varied greatly, but in general it increased sharply from March onwards, reached a peak in May, and then declined steeply. There was a significant correlation between daily counts of ascospores and air temperature. Time-series transfer function (TF) analysis showed a positive association of the daily number of ascospores with increasing temperature, rain events and wet/humid conditions. In general, values predicted by the TF model agreed well with the observed pattern. However, a multiple regression equation based on TF analysis failed to provide a satisfactory prediction of the daily number of ascospores.