Plasma endotoxin concentration in horses: a methods study

Background: Accurate determination of plasma endotoxin concentration is critical for ex vivo and in vitro cellular and molecular studies of endotoxemia in horses. However, reports are conflicting with respect to anticoagulant, handling, and sample preparation.

Objective:

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood sample fraction and handling time on measurement of endotoxin concentration in horses.

Methods:

Methods: Whole blood, anticoagulated with 3.8% (0.12 M) sodium citrate (9:1), was collected from 5 healthy horses. Whole blood (WB), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were spiked with endotoxin (2 EU/mL). Endotoxin-spiked WB samples were centrifuged immediately to generate PRP for measurement. Endotoxin concentration was subsequently measured by Limulus amebocyte assay at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Assays were performed in triplicate and results were analyzed using Student's t -test, with significance set at P < .05.

Results:

Results: Mean endotoxin concentrations in 2 EU/mL-spiked WB were significantly different from those in PPP at all time points tested. Recovery of endotoxin in PRP generated from WB was significantly diminished after just 15 minutes.

Conclusion:

Conclusion: PRP generated from WB is significantly more reliable than PPP in determining endotoxin concentration ex vivo. Measurement of endotoxin in PRP generated from WB was significantly diminished after 15 min, identifying a time frame within which to process blood samples for endotoxin analysis.     

管理方式对华北驼绒藜生长及种子产量、质量的影响

研究施肥、浇水等不同管理措施对华北驼绒藜生长及种子产量、质量的影响。结果表明,适宜的田间管理可以提高华北驼绒藜的株高、枝条数、种子产量和质量。其中3次施肥+喷钾增产增质效果优于其它处理。3次施肥为最佳施肥方式。浇水及喷施钾肥对促进华北驼绒藜营养生长和提高种子产量、质量没有明显的作用。     

放牧管理模式对高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量特征的影响

为探讨不同放牧管理模式高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量特征的变化,对青藏高原东缘禁牧(NG)、全生长季休牧(RG)、传统放牧(TG)和连续放牧(CG)4种放牧管理模式高寒草甸地上植被、地表凋落物、根系和土壤有机碳、氮储量进行测定和分析。结果表明,1)NG、RG和TG较CG显著提高了土壤、根系、植被和凋落物有机碳、氮储量。2)高寒草甸生态系统中,土壤有机碳储量所占比例最大(88.859%~98.242%),其次为根系(1.563%~8.742%),再次为植被(0.172%~1.430%),最小为凋落物(0.022%~0.969%);氮储量所占比例最大的是土壤(97.331%~99.633%),其次为根系(0.316%~2.071%),再次为植被(0.047%~0.442%),凋落物最小(0.003%~0.157%)。3)不同放牧管理模式土壤有机碳、氮储量具有明显的垂直分布特征,随土壤深度的增加土壤有机碳、氮储量明显降低。为期4年不同放牧模式仅对0~40 cm土层土壤有机碳、氮储量有影响。4)土壤有机碳、氮储量主要分布在0~40 cm土层,同时,放牧有使有机碳、氮向深层转移的趋势。5)NG、RG和TG显著提高了高寒草甸生态系统总有机碳、氮储量,而CG显著降低了总有机碳、氮储量,导致有机碳、氮的流失。禁牧和季节性休牧能有效增加青藏高原东缘高寒草甸生态系统有机碳、氮储量,实现碳、氮增汇的目的,是该区和类似区域草地放牧管理的重要模式。     

PERT网络模型在家禽规模养殖项目管理中的运用

本文针对农业科技专家大院草科鸡规模养殖项目运行和管理中存在的问题,就优化农业科技项目管理与提高项目运行的效用和功能,提出采用PERT网络模型管理农业科技项目的思路,并对项目管理过程、方法及注意事项等问题提出了建议。本文指出,运用科学的管理方法制定合理的项目运行计划,是进行科技项目组织管理、科学地配置资源和促进科研项目顺利完成的重要途径。     

粗放管理条件下山西中部地区适用草坪草种评价

选择北方地区建植草坪常用的草地早熟禾Poa pratensis、多年生黑麦草Lolium perenne、高羊茅Festuca arundinacea、匍匐剪股颖Agrostis stolonifera和白三叶Trifolium repens 为供试种,采用NTEP草坪质量评价体系进行了3年的引种评比试验.结果表明:在粗放管理条件下,高羊茅和白三叶适应性很强,其草坪质量保持性好;草地早熟禾次之,虽然其草坪质量下降较快、抗性较低,但草坪质量相对较好,可以与高羊茅以适当比例混播;多年生黑麦草和匍匐剪股颖适应性差,草坪质量下降速度很快,不适宜于低养护强度下在山西中部地区单播建植草坪使用.     

The stadium effect: rodent damage patterns in rice fields explored using giving‐up densities

Rodents are globally important pre‐harvest pests of rice. In Southeast Asia, rodent damage to growing rice crops is commonly concentrated towards the center of rice fields, away from the field edge, resulting in a clear pattern known as the “stadium effect.” To further understand this behavior of rodent pests and to develop recommendations for future research and management, we examined the relation between giving‐up densities (GUDs) and damage patterns. In Tanay, Luzon, Philippines, GUD trays containing pieces of coconut in a matrix of sand were placed at 4 different distances from the field edge to quantify the perceived risk of predation in a rice field pest, Rattus tanezumi. GUDs were recorded during a dry and wet season crop at the reproductive and ripening stages of rice. In addition, assessments of active burrows, tracking tile activity and rodent damage to the rice crop, were conducted in the dry season. GUDs were significantly lower in the center of the rice fields than on the field edges, suggesting that rodent damage to rice is greater in the middle of rice fields due to a lower perceived predation risk. Furthermore, this perception of predation risk (or fear) increases towards the field edge and was greatest on the rice bund, where there was no vegetation cover. We discuss the implications for rodent management and rodent damage assessments in rice fields. This is the first documented use of GUDs in a rice agro‐ecosystem in Asia; thus we identify the challenges and lessons learned through this process.     

Practical aspects of genetic management of small populations – The Olkuska sheep example

Abstract

The study aimed to identify important factors threatening genetic diversity within small sheep populations, and to propose sustainable management strategies. Demographic evolution, genetic diversity and current genetic management practices were analyzed in a population of Polish Olkuska sheep. Unbalanced contributions of individual rams to the next generation were observed due to differences in the period of their utilization, the number of progeny and the number of daughters used in reproduction. Matings between closely related animals were common. Pedigree completeness was satisfactory and inbreeding coefficient was high, 11.71% for lambs born in 2012. Relatively high values of potential and realized coancestries within flocks showed the importance of keeping more than one ram. The genetic conservation index and average relatedness coefficient, and their comparison between regions was helpful in considering management options. The information on genetic relationships and genetic conservation parameters of rams should be provided to breeders with simple interpretations.     

财务信息对上市公司高层变动的影响分析

上市公司高层变动受多种因素的影响,经营业绩是其中一个重要因素,能有效反映公司经营绩效的财务信息,对高层变动的影响也是不容忽视的.通过对深市样本公司的高层变动与会计信息的实证分析,进一步证明了不同会计信息对高层变动的影响程度及二者的关系,从而为投资者和管理者及其他财务数据使用者提供有效的参考依据.     

出口兔肉备案养殖场追溯体系的建立

从保证动物源性食品安全的角度论述了建立养殖场追溯体系的必要性,以出口兔肉备案养殖场为例,对建立追溯体系的步骤进行了四个方面的探讨。养殖场在设施合理、制度健全的前提下,确定追溯信息的深度、广度和精确度,并作好信息衔接和代码标识,才可使追溯体系有效实施。同时对追溯体系的应用和发展趋势做了基本论述。     

Evolution of farm management, nitrogen efficiency and economic performance on Dutch dairy farms reducing external inputs

The implementation of the statutory Mineral Accounting System (MINAS) in the Netherlands in the period 1998–2003 required large reductions in nutrient inputs of dairy farms. Patterns in farm management adjustments throughout 6 years and their effectiveness in terms of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and economic performance were evaluated for 45 commercial farms participating in a regional nutrient management project.

Six groups of farms were identified that differed in initial NUE and the change therein. Three groups of farms that were able to rapidly reduce fertilizer N input and establish a consistent farm management strategy were most successful in improving NUE. These farms had a higher gross margin per 100 kg milk than farms without a consistent strategy. The three effective strategies were primarily characterized by (i) continuous, gradual adjustment of the integrated farm management combined with a slight reduction in milk production per ha (re-balancing) versus increasing productivity per animal, thereby reducing maintenance N requirements, while (ii) maintaining or (iii) increasing the production intensity per ha. It was concluded that different approaches to improve NUE can be successful, also in economic terms, although a direct relationship between NUE and gross margin was not observed. The probably implicit choice for adoption of a strategy may be governed by farm endowment and the farmer's skills and objectives.