Serum α-globulin fraction in horses is related to changes in the acute phase proteins

Serum electrophoresis is a useful technique to diagnose some diseases characterized by quantitative and qualitative changes in the serum proteins, such as the acute phase proteins. An increased synthesis of acute phase proteins has been associated with acute infection and inflammation. We wanted to study whether gastrointestinal diseases and disorders of the locomotor system in horses produce enough inflammatory reaction so the acute phase proteins can be detected by electrophoresis in serum. Serum total proteins were calculated, and the serum electrophoresis from 63 horses was performed. The horses were classified in 3 groups: Group I (19 healthy horses), Group II (20 horses suffering from inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract), and Group III (24 horses with inflammatory disorders of the locomotor system). Results indicated an increase of the acute phase proteins only in patent inflammatory disorders that showed a rapid progression. A global increase in those proteins was observed only for α₁-globulins from Group II.     

Sap flow in papaya plants: Laboratory calibrations and relationships with gas exchanges under field conditions

In papaya plants a study to quantify the water flow through the trunk is important for to promote a good water management in commercial orchard. The objective was to study the relationship between water flow through the trunk and temperature measurements determined by probes inserted in the papaya plant stem in laboratory. In addition, was possible to study the relationship between sap flow and instantaneous gas exchange in field conditions. We constructed an instrument that maintained a stable water flux through a 0.30 m stem section with a constant pressure, simulating the xylem sap flow through the stem. Water flux was adjusted by varying pressure of water in the stem section. The mathematical model used to fit the relation between <em>Kem> (Granier heat coefficient) values and sap flow density was the exponential model: <em>uem> = 0.5511 &times; <em>Kem>^1.9104. Field studies was conducted in a commercial orchard located in North of the State of Rio de Janeiro, with 12 plants in October 2002, and eight plants in January 2003. We verified that instantaneous transpiration, measured by a portable system of gas exchange (porometry), presented a good (<em>Rem>² = 0.75) positive relationship with xylem sap flow. Estimates of papaya sap flow can be obtained by scaling portable photosynthesis system measurements with exposed leaves, however the relationship is non-linear in higher instantaneous transpiration rates. The causes of the non-linear relationship in higher transpiration are discussed. In addition, was possible to obtain a good (<em>Rem>² = 0.76) relationship between net photosynthesis rate and xylem sap flow in papaya field-grown.     

Uncoupling and inhibition properties of 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid isolated from Maytenus imbricata

3,4-Seco-friedelan-3-oic acid was isolated from <em>Maytenus imbricataem> (Celastraceae). At low concentrations it inhibited non-cyclic electron transport and ATP synthesis in spinach chloroplasts, i.e., it behaved as a Hill reaction inhibitor, and at high concentrations it acts as an uncoupler by enhancing uncoupled electron transport and Mg²⁺-ATPase activity. 3,4-Seco-friedelan-3-oic acid did not inhibit PSII electron transport from DPC to DCPIP_ox and photosystem I activity, but it enhanced from TMQH₂ to MV, corroborating its action as uncoupler. It inhibits electron flow through PSII from water to sodium silicomolybdate. The whole results indicate that the 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid target is at the OEC complex enzyme, the donor side of PSII. The fluorescence decay data shows the formation of the K-band, which match this result, acting as inhibitor at the donor side of PSII and it as an uncoupler.     

Pharmacokinetics and cardiopulmonary effects of guaifenesin in donkeys

Five donkeys and three horses were given guaifenesin, intravenously, by gravity administration, until recumbency was produced. The time and dose required to produce recumbency, recovery time to sternal and standing were recorded. Blood samples were collected for guaifenesin assay at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 min, and 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after guaifenesin administration. Serum was analysed for guaifenesin using HPLC and pharmacokinetic values were calculated using a computer software package (RSTRIP). In donkeys, heart and respiratory rates and blood pressures were recorded before and at 5-min intervals during recumbency. Arterial blood samples were collected before and at 5 and 15 min intervals during recumbency for analysis of pH, CO₂, and O₂. anova was used to evaluate dynamic data, while t -tests were used for kinetic values.
Respiratory rate was decreased significantly during recumbency, but no other significant changes from baseline occurred. The mean (±SD) recumbency dose of guaifenesin was 131 mg/kg (27) for donkeys and 211 mg/kg (8) for horses. Recovery time to sternal (min) was 15 (SD, 11) for donkeys and 34 (SD, 1.4) for horses. Time to standing was 32 min for donkeys and 36 min for horses. Calculation of AUC (area under the concentration–time curve) (μg.h/mL) (dose-dependent variable) was 231 (SD, 33) for donkeys and 688 (SD, 110) for horses. The clearance ( CL ) (mL/h.kg) was 546 (SD, 73) for donkeys, which was significantly different from 313 (SD, 62) for horses. Mean residence time ( MRT ) (h) was 1.2 (SD, 0.1) for donkeys and 2.6 (SD, 0.5) for horses. Volume of distribution V _d(area) (mL/kg) was 678 (SD, 92) for donkeys and 794 (SD, 25) for horses. At the rate of administration used in this study, donkeys required less guaifenesin than horses to produce recumbency, but cleared it more rapidly.     

淹水程度对滩地枫杨木材化学性质的影响

通过研究淹水程度对滩地枫杨木材化学性质的影响 ,以期全面了解滩地主要造林树种的化学性质 ,提出合理的定向培育技术及进一步综合利用措施 .研究结果表明 :滩地枫杨木材的 p H值均小于 6.5 ,属于酸性木材 ,第一、二组木材的 p H值分别为 5 .41和 5 .0 0 ,在 0 .0 5水平上差异显著 .除碱性缓冲容量外 ,第二组木材的酸性缓冲容量、总缓冲容量以及每降低 1p H值消耗的 HC1量均比第一组高 .淹水程度对滩地枫杨木材纤素含量几乎无影响 ,其值均为 45 .2 %左右 ;但第一、二组的半纤维素分别为 14 .0 4%和19.5 0 % ,增加了 3 8.9% ;第一、二组的木质素含量分别为 19.9%和 2 0 .6% ,增加了 3 .5 % .     

Feeding activity and life history characteristics of the generalist predator,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Chrysoperla carnea</Emphasis> (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) at different prey densities

Larvae of the common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera :Chrysopidae) were fed with different densities of Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Petri dishes under laboratory conditions. Functional response, developmental time, mortality rate and fecundity of the predator were measured. Treatments were carried out at 25±1&deg;C, 65±5% RH and a 16L:8D photoperiod in a controlled temperature cabinet. Prey was given at densities of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 250 aphids per larva per day and the number of consumed prey, developmental time and mortality rate of the predator were recorded daily. Larvae of C. carnea responded to increasing prey densities with increasing food consumption and older larval stages displayed a higher rate of predation than younger ones. The behaviour of each of the three larval stages matched Hollingent/l9b117j90vn0jkm0/xxlarge8217.gif" alt="rsquo" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">s type II functional response. Larvae were able to complete their development in each of the seven prey densities, although increased prey densities reduced developmental time and mortality rate. Increased prey consumption in immature stages resulted in a higher net reproduction rate (R ₀) and the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m) of adult females.     

多效抗旱驱鼠剂室内促长效果研究

室内用多效抗旱驱鼠剂对小麦、黄豆、油松、侧柏种子进行浸种、拌种处理。结果表明，300x的林用型和200x的农用型RPA对侧柏种子浸种效果最好，30x的林用型和80x的农用型RPA拌种效果最好，经检验分析，差异显著；500x的林用型和600x的农用型RPA对油松促长效更为明显，发芽率比对照提高25．2％－27．0％，平均高生长增加2．1－2．8cm，拌种型的两种药剂6个浓度对油松的发芽及生长影响比较明显，30x的林用型和40x的农用型可以使油松发芽率提高27．7％－29．8％，苗高增长0．6－1．3cm；对黄豆的发芽率提高12．0％－17．0％、13．8％－23．2％；侧根数量增加0．2－2．6、0．3－1．6条，平均苗高及生物量也有不同程度的提高；浸种型的RPA使小麦发芽率提高13．3％－23．3％，苗高增长5．1－7．5cm，根长增加0．6－1．8cm；拌种型RPA发芽率提高9．3％－22．6％，苗高增长4．7－6．6cm，根长增加0．4－1．6cm。     

江西短周期工业原料林造林区划与树种筛选

从植物地理学的视角针对江西各地不同区位、不同水热和地理条件分别提出短周期工业原料林的发展前景和布局.在科学区划的基础上,本着适地适树的原则,着重总结经多年试验筛选出的适宜作短周期工业原料林的造林树种10余个,就选用条件、生物学特性、经济价值及其栽培技术分别进行论述.     

Improving the design of long-term monitoring experiments in forests: a new method for the assessment of local soil variability by combining infrared spectroscopy and dendrometric data

<em>Key messageem>

Near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy allows for the detection of local patterns of forest soil properties. In combination with dendrometric data, it may be used as a prospective tool for determining soil heterogeneity before setting up long-term forest monitoring experiments.

<em>Contextem>

Forest soils and stands generally exhibit higher spatial heterogeneity than other terrestrial ecosystems. This variability needs be taken into account before setting up long-term forest monitoring experiments to avoid multiple interactions between local heterogeneity and the factors tested in the experiment.

<em>Aimsem>

We hypothesized that raw near- and mid-infrared spectra can be used as an integrated proxy of a large set of soil properties. The use of this method, in combination with dendrometric data, should provide a quick and cost-effective tool for optimizing the design of experimental forest sites.

<em>Methodsem>

We assessed the local soil heterogeneity at 11 experimental sites in oak and beech stands, which belong to a new forest long-term ecological research (LTER) network. We used near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy in soil and litter samples. The spectra were subjected to principal components analyses (PCA) to determine the intra-site variability of the soil and litter layers.

<em>Resultsem>

Based on mapped PCA coordinates and basic dendrometric data, it was possible to design the experiment and minimize the interactions between the treatment layout and the tested variables. The method was validated with chemical analyses of the soil. No interaction was detected at the set-up of the experiment between the treatment layout and chemical soil properties (C, N, C/N ratio, pH, CEC, Al, Mg, P₂O₅, Fe, Mn, Na, and K).

<em>Conclusionem>

Near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for characterizing the overall heterogeneity of soil chemical properties. It can be used without any preliminary calibration. In combination with dendrometric data, it provides a reliable method for optimizing LTER plots in different types of ecosystems.

     

Hydraulic redistribution of soil water during summer drought in two contrasting Pacific Northwest coniferous forests

The magnitude of hydraulic redistribution of soil water by roots and its impact on soil water balance were estimated by monitoring time courses of soil water status at multiple depths and root sap flow under drought conditions in a dry ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) ecosystem and in a moist Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) ecosystem. The fate of deuterated water applied to small plots to create a strong horizontal soil water potential gradient was also monitored to assess the potential for horizontal redistribution of water and utilization of redistributed water by co-occurring shallow-rooted plants. In a 20-year-old Douglas-fir stand, approximately 28% of the water removed daily from the upper 2 m of soil was replaced by nocturnal hydraulic redistribution during late August. In an old-growth ponderosa pine stand, approximately 35% of the total daily water utilization from the upper 2 m of soil appeared to be replaced by hydraulic redistribution during July and August. By late September, hydraulic redistribution in the ponderosa pine stand was no longer apparent, even though total water use from the upper 2 m of soil was nearly identical to that observed earlier. Based on these results, hydraulic redistribution would allow 21 and 16 additional days of stored water to remain in the upper soil horizons in the ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stands, respectively, after a 60-day drought. At both sites, localized applications of deuterated water induced strong reversal of root sap flow and caused soil water content to cease declining or even temporarily increase at locations too distant from the site of water application to have been influenced by movement of water through the soil without facilitation by roots. Xylem water deuterium values of ponderosa pine seedlings suggested utilization of redistributed water. Therefore, hydraulic redistribution may enhance seedling survival and maintain overstory transpiration during summer drought. These first approximations of the extent of hydraulic redistribution in these ecosystems suggest that it is likely to be an important process in both wet and dry forests of the Pacific Northwest.