Nutrient cycling and biomass flows in a low-quality forest stand improvement system in the Lesser Khingan Range of China

The material flow and bulk internal flow analyses were used to establish a material accumulation and cycling model for a low-quality forest stand improvement system and a series of processes were considered. The model was applied in a one-hectare low-quality forest plot in the Lesser Khingan Range of China. Results showed that during 1997–2007, the stands absorbed 270.19 kg of N, 74.28 kg of P, and 124.39 kg of K from soils, 51.82 kg of N and 2.38 kg of P were directly absorbed by foliage, and 16.25 kg of K was released to soils by eluviation. Until 2007, the accumulated nutrients in the stands included 236.91 kg of N, 65.28 kg of P, and 108.55 kg of K. When horizontal strip clearcutting was applied in 2007, 50% accumulated nutrients in the stands were shifted due to harvesting operations, and 212.74 kg of N, 26.97 kg of P, and 98.88 kg of K were accumulated in soils, declining by 9.47% for N, 3.68% for P, and 17.60% for K, respectively, compared with year 1997. 94.61 t per hectare of biomass was generated, of which the biomass in stands accounted for 87.36%. The felled tree biomass was 36.89 t per hectare, of which 84.90% and 10.03% of biomass were utilized in terms of logs and other means, and the rest was left on site.     

Flow alteration and thermal pollution depress modelled growth rates of an iconic riverine fish,the Murray cod Maccullochella peelii

The serial discontinuity concept (SDC) proposes that hypolimnetic‐releasing impoundments cause major disruptions to the naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological gradients of rivers but that this impact diminishes with distance downstream. Such a gradient in discharge, flow velocity and temperature regime occurs below a large hypolimnetic‐releasing impoundment, the Hume Dam, on the River Murray in south‐eastern Australia. To examine the effects of this disturbance gradient on a warm‐water large‐bodied freshwater fish, the Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii), a bioenergetics model was developed and calibrated to explore energy expended under differing water velocities and temperature regimes. Model simulations predicted negative growth of juveniles directly downstream of the impoundment, due largely to the energetic costs associated with active and, to a lesser extent, standard metabolism outweighing the achievable energetic gains through food consumption. As flow velocity and temperature regimes became more favourable downstream, so did the simulated growth of the species. It was not until +239 km downstream of the impoundment that the model predicted that flow velocity and temperature regimes were suitable for greater weight gains. The modelled growth responses of juvenile Murray cod are consistent with the predictions of the SDC, emphasising that changes in the bioenergetics of individuals are likely to be reflected in reduced growth rates under the changed flow velocity and temperature regimes imposed by disturbance gradients. This research represents a valuable step in the biological understanding of Murray cod within variable riverine environments and emphasises the urgency required to mitigate impacts associated with hypolimnetic impoundments.     

Unravelling the relationship between a seasonal environment and the dynamics of forage growth in grazed swards

It is well reported in the scientific literature that pastures can have similar net forage accumulation when managed with contrasting structures. However, we hypothesized that the dynamics of forage accumulation in grazed swards is linked to seasonal-environmental conditions. Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha [Hochst. ex A. Rich.] was used as the forage species model. The experimental treatments were four grazing heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) allocated to experimental units according to a randomized complete block design with four replicates and evaluated throughout four contrasting environmental seasons (summer, autumn, winter–early spring and late spring). Under rainy and warm periods, greater net forage accumulation was observed in pastures maintained taller; on the contrary, during the mild and dry periods, net forage accumulation rate reduced as grazing height increased. Such patterns of responses were related to compensations between tiller population density and tissues flows during summer and late spring and the reduced capacity of taller canopies to compensate lower population with greater growth rates during autumn and winter–early spring. Grazed swards changed their patterns of forage growth as they transitioned from favourable to more abiotic stressful conditions, suggesting that seasonal adjustments in grazing intensities are necessary in order to maximize forage production.     

Development of Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Immunoassay Detection Method for Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus

In this article, through the combination of nucleic acid probes and immune chromatography, a simple, sensitive and specific detection system——nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (NALFIA) for amplifing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3D RT-PCR products was established.An ultrasensitive nucleic acid biosensor (NAB) based on streptavidin-labeled gold nanoparticles dual labels and lateral flow strip biosensor (LFSB) were used in this system.The biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG was marked to the NC membrane as the alleged strip and the anti-digoxin antibody was labeled to the NC membrane to capture the digoxin probe.After assemblying gold-labeled strip and detecting RT-PCR products, the detection limit of NALFIA was 0.3×10^-3 to 3×10^-3 μg/μL.The NALFIA was compared with agar gel electrophoresis analysis, the results showed that the sensitivity of NALFIA was higher than agar gel electrophoresis.There was an excellent agreement between the two methods.NALFIA was a method with high sensitive, low cost and short time.In conclusion, this method provided a good alternative to detect FMDV.     

How to characterize ‘good’ and ‘greening’ in the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): the case of clay soils in the Netherlands

The change in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union from product to producer support, including requirements for ‘good agricultural and environmental conditions’ and ‘greening’, is excellent. However, these requirements are now defined in rather general terms. Questions can be raised about suitable indicators, and there is a recognized need for effective management recommendations to support farmers in achieving the required ‘good’ conditions. These recommendations are bound to be quite different for different soils in different countries. A study of Dutch clay soils was based on a storyline describing current problems and management options for improvement, which were quantified using a soil–water–crop simulation model. Indicators were defined for agricultural conditions and suggestions made for the use of the model in a predictive mode to help farmers improve their soil management. Environmental conditions were judged by current environmental guidelines for water and air. When modelling, implicit assumptions that soils are homogeneous were shown to be unrealistic for these clay soils, requiring development of innovative methods and procedures, presenting a challenge for soil research.     

两种血清抗性检测方法的比较分析

采用流式细胞术法对大肠杆菌的血清抗性进行检测,并与传统涂板法相比较,探讨流式细胞术在血清抗性检测方法中的应用。结果表明,两者呈正相关关系(P=0.0340.05),流式细胞术法可以代替涂板法对大肠杆菌的血清抗性进行检测。该方法可以减少由于涂板不均匀、人工计数等造成的误差,且易操作、计算少、耗时少,数据更准确。     

坎儿井衰减与地下水补排系统响应关系

为了探究坎儿井衰减与地下水补排系统响应关系,利用地下水位观测资料和坎儿井流量监测资料,结合鄯善县历次地下水资源调查评价资料和坎儿井统计数据,分析了地下水补给量、排泄量对坎儿井衰减的影响,并建立了最小二乘回归模型,在执行最严格水资源管理制度下对2020年、2030年坎儿井出水量进行了预测。结果表明,坎儿井流量动态与地下水位动态基本同步;北盆地的坎儿井出水量主要受地下水补给量的影响,南盆地主要受地下水开采量的影响。地下水开采量是影响鄯善县坎儿井衰减的关键因素,在最严格水资源管理制度下鄯善县坎儿井出水量将会在2020年恢复至0.83亿m~3,2030年恢复至0.87亿m~3。     

日粮大豆活性肽对仔猪生长和相关理化指标及抗氧化性能的影响

为了探讨大豆活性肽对仔猪生长性能、血液指标及氧化应激参数的影响,试验选取仔猪48头,随机分为2组,每组设3个重复,每重复8头。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组饲喂用大豆活性肽替代2%豆粕的日粮。结果:添加2%大豆活性肽,20 d时,显著提高了仔猪粗脂肪、粗蛋白的消化率(P<0.05);血清总蛋白(TP)、血清白蛋白(ALB)和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)水平略高于对照组;50 d时,大豆活性肽显著提高了仔猪干物质、粗灰分、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、粗纤维的消化率(P<0.05),而且总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及TP水平显著高于对照组(P<0.05);全程试验组日增重均显著的高于对照组,料重比、腹泻率显著低于对照组(P<0.05),然而对尿素氮(BUN)和甘油三脂(TG)影响不明显。     

Assessment of Uterine Vascular Perfusion During the Estrous Cycle of Mares in Connection to Circulating Leptin and Nitric Oxide Concentrations

The objective of this study was to find difference in vascular perfusion of uterine horns or uterine body throughout the estrous cycle and their relation to circulating nitric oxide and leptin concentrations. Five cyclic mares were subjected to transrectal Doppler ultrasonography and blood sampling for 18 days. Area of color and power Doppler modes was measured in pixels. Day (P = .0001) of the estrous cycle and ovulation (P = .0001) influenced uterine blood flow. Uterine body blood flow directed away from the transducer (blue, P = .0001) increased from day −5 until day 0 (day of ovulation), and its power (P = .0001) blood flow increased from day −6 until day 0; then, both decreased until days 12 and 10, respectively. Conversely to the contralateral uterine horn, ipsilateral uterine horn blood flow directed away from the transducer (blue, P = .0001) increased from day −5 until day −1, and its power (P = .0001) blood flow increased from day −6 until day 0; then, both decreased until day 10. Nitric oxide concentrations (P = .0001) attained two major peaks; the first on day −3 and the other persisted from day 2 until day 5. Leptin concentrations increased (P > .001) with a maximum value on day 0 and then decreased until a minimum value on day 9. In conclusion, during the estrous cycle, ipsilateral uterine horn and uterine body blood vessels had similar blood flow. Both leptin and nitric oxide played a role during follicle growth, ovulation, and corpus luteum development and modulated uterine blood flow before and after ovulation.