Optimizing the use of breed types in developing country livestock production systems: a neglected research area

Developing country livestock production systems are diverse and dynamic, and include those where existing indigenous breeds are currently optimal and likely to remain so, those where non‐indigenous breed types are already in common use, and systems that are changing, such as by intensification, where the introduction of new breed types represents significant opportunities. These include opportunities to improve the livelihood of the world's poor, increase food and nutrition security and enhance environmental sustainability. At present, very little research has focused on this issue, such that significant knowledge gaps in relation to breed‐change interventions remain. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness of this issue and suggests strategic research areas to begin filling these knowledge gaps. Such strategic research would include (i) assessing the impact of differing breed types in developing country livestock productions systems, from a range of viewpoints including intrahousehold livelihood benefit, food and nutrition security at different scales, and environmental sustainability; (ii) identification of specific livestock production systems within developing countries, and the type of livestock keepers within these system, that are most likely to benefit from new breed types; and (iii) identification of new breed types as candidates for in‐situ testing within these systems, such as through the use of spatial analysis to identify similar production environments combined with community acceptance studies. Results of these studies would primarily assist stakeholders in agriculture, including both policy makers and livestock keepers, to make informed decisions on the potential use of new breed types.     

SR100垂直摇臂式喷头摇臂有限元分析

针对垂直摇臂式喷头导流器几何结构及运动特性,研究了摇臂在运动过程中的受力及约束情况,并结合动力学理论计算公式,计算和分析了喷头在运动过程中载荷大小和约束情况.采用ANSYS Workbench软件,建立摇臂三维模型,对摇臂进行有限元模态分析、静力学分析及疲劳可靠性分析.通过有限元模态分析,得出各阶模态下摇臂的固有频率和振型,该摇臂的各阶振型主要表现为弯曲、扭曲及局部变形;当摇臂的工作频率小于41.785 Hz时,其振动以一阶振型为主.通过静力分析得出摇臂的应力分布情况,发现在摇臂安装导流器处存在较大的应力分布;通过对摇臂的疲劳分析,发现摇臂各部位安全系数差别很大,其最小值位于摇臂前端,为1.229 1,长期工作此处易发生裂纹或断裂.为提高摇臂的工作稳定性与可靠性,可以通过加强薄弱部位设计,或改进局部结构、提高材料的力学性能来实现.     

Short‐term effects of cattle‐to‐sheep ratio and stocking rate on patch grazing in sour grassveld

Abstract

The short‐term effects of stocking rate (AUE ha^?1) and cattle‐to‐sheep ratio on the extent and severity of patch grazing and on patch size were evaluated. The extent of patch grazing was proportional to stocking rate, and livestock species had a small but significant effect. Patch size was also a function of stocking rate. Cattle and sheep had similar effects on patch size distribution when stocked at the same number of AUE ha^?1. The severity of grazing within a patch was influenced by both stocking rate and cattle‐to‐sheep ratio. Recommendations that cattle should be grazed together with sheep and that cattle should be in greater proportion (in terms of AUE ha^?1) than sheep, which are aimed at limiting the severity of grazing by sheep, are supported. However, severe grazing within patches is an inevitable consequence of sheep grazing irrespective of the stocking rate or cattle‐to‐sheep ratio applied.     

The role of wildlife tourism in conservation of endangered species: Implications of safari tourism for conservation of the Arctic fox in Sweden

There are both positive and negative impacts on wildlife associated with wildlife tourism. In Sweden, the endangered Arctic fox is subject to a growing tourist interest. In the Helags mountain region there are guided Arctic fox safari tours that provide visitors with information about the Arctic fox. A survey of five separate groups of visitors in the region revealed that knowledge about the status of Arctic foxes and awareness of the behavioral guidelines for Arctic fox encounters improved after participation in a safari tour and with increasing Arctic fox interaction. We propose a schematic model summarizing the diverse ways in which wildlife tourism affects wildlife and their relative importance for conservation. The Arctic fox population in Sweden is small and sensitive to disturbance, but the positive impacts of Arctic fox tourism seem to compensate for the negative and contribute to their conservation under the current level of tourism pressure.     

Transplantation of human amnion epithelial cells improves learning and memory function in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology rat model

AIM: To observe the treatment effect and its immune regulation of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology rat model. METHODS: The hAECs were isolated from amnion with trypsin digestion, and the phenotype of hAECs was analyzed by flow cytometry. SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham control group, model group, medium group and hAECs group. AD-like pathology rat model was induced by bilateral intraventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). hAECs (5×10⁵) were injected into the hippocampus of the AD-like pathology rats. At 2 weeks after transplantation, the animals were tested by Morris water maze to observe the function of learning and memory. The pathological change of the brain was observed by HE staining. The expression of amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42) and Tau protein and the level of acetylcholine (ACh) in the injury brain were determined by immunohistochemistry. The survival and differentiation of hAECs in the hippocampus were measured by immunofluorescent technique. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The contents of serum cytokines were detected by cytometric bead array. RESULTS: Compared with model group and medium group, hAECs group showed shortened escape latency (P<0.01), increased frequency of going through the platform (P<0.05), reduced loss of hippocampal neurons, decreased expression of Tau protein and Aβ42 in the hippocampus (P<0.05), increased ACh level in the hippocampus (P<0.05), decreased percentages of Th1 and Th17 subsets, increased percentages of Th2 and Treg cells (P<0.05), decreased concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-2 in the serum, and increased concentration of IL-4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: hAECs improve the cognitive learning and memory function and alleviate pathologic damage of hippocampus through immune regulation in AD-like pathology rats.     

风景园林研究的跨界融合与量化革新——以香港大学城市环境与人类健康实验室为例

以香港大学城市环境与人类健康实验室这一新兴学术共同体作为研究切入点,使用文献综述与案例研究的方法深入探讨学术共同体在推动风景园林学科的发展和进步中扮演的关键角色。研究结果发现：该实验室在以往的风景园林学科内容、框架和知识体系基础上,运用新兴技术并结合定量的统计学方法,将城市环境与居民健康紧密相连,为快速城市化地区的环境和人类健康问题提供高效、精准、人文关怀且切实可行的解决方案,并极大地拓展了风景园林学科的研究领域;实验室的核心关注点在于城市感知：探究城市环境特征如何以及在何种程度上通过心理、生理等途径影响人类健康;在健康城市领域,这支先锋团队担任着理论研究、技术探索以及教育者的角色。     

基于居民感知视角下的农业旅游社区经济影响研究——以长沙黄兴镇为例

社区居民的收入与就业等经济特征感知强度存在差异,农业旅游的开发对社区居民的收入水平、方式、用途和效应以及就业形势、观念等经济特征产生了重要影响。因子分析表明:农业旅游的社区经济影响主要集中在"收入水平与用途"、"生活成本与经营意识"、"就业观念与劳动特征"和"收入方式与就业形势"等4个因子上。     

2001-2006年《河北农业大学学报》主要文献评价指标分析

运用文献计量学的方法,对2001—2006年《河北农业大学学报》的引文量、总被引频次、基金论文比、影响因子、被引半衰期、Web即年下载率等主要文献评价指标进行统计分析。结果表明：《河北农业大学学报》被使用、重视程度不断提高,学术影响力越来越大。     

Yield Structure of Winter Faba Beans Grown in Northern Germany in Dependence of Different Environments, Seed Rates, Sowing Rates and Genotypes

Two series of field trials were performed at three sites in Schleswig-Holstein between 1981 and 1988 to inquire into the yield structure of European winter types of Vicia faba L. and to compare their yield potential with that of spring types. Due to low winter survival, 6 winter types could be evaluated only in 4 environments in dependence of 1–3 sowing times (series α: seed rate 30/m²) and 1 winter type in 5 environments in dependence of 3 sowing times and 3 seed rates (series β: seed rate 15, 30, 45/m²). Seed yield of winter type averaged 410 g/m² (D.M.) surpassing spring types by about 14 %. Environments caused a considerable variation in yield (275–620 g/m²) and in each yield component of winter types, while sowing dates and seed rates hardly affected the components seeds/pod and seed weight, which displayed stable genotypic rank orders. Compensative forces among the components plants/m², tillers/plant and pods/tiller, were established. Plant densities of less than 10/m² in spring, generally led to seed yield below 350 g/m². Variation between 15–30 plants/m² due to environments, sowing times or seed rates were frequently not fully compensated by tillering of plants, but often variation of the thus formed yield potential was reduced by pod set of tillers resulting in 210–270 pods/m². The direction of correlations of pods/tillers with tillers/plant and plants/m² differed due to experimental conditions whereas negative correlations between pods/tiller and tillers/ m² were generally evident. Tillering was significantly influenced by the sowing time, though the increase because of early sowing was often covered by compensative effects of different plant densities. A genotypic capability to produce reproductive tillers was demonstrated using an approach which considered different plant densities and compensative forces. Neither a genotypic capability of tillers to set pods nor direct effects of environments or sowing time on pod set were established.