An ecological risk assessment for spinosad use on cotton

Spinosad is a reduced-risk insecticide with a novel mode of action that provides an alternative to older classes of insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids. A comprehensive ecological risk assessment for spinosad use in US cotton crops is presented within a framework of tiered levels of refinement following the guidelines of the US EPA for ecological risk assessments. Toxicity information for a variety of species is documented and utilized, environmental concentrations estimated, and risk characterizations in the form of risk quotients are quantified. Results indicate that spinosad use in cotton does not exceed the most conservative Tier I levels of concern (LOC) values for groundwater, mammals and birds or acute risk to aquatic organisms. Use of very conservative Tier I screening methods resulted in exceeding LOC values for chronic exposure for some aquatic organisms, thus prompting further refinement. When the exposure prediction was refined using less conservative, Tier II mechanistic environmental fate transport models to predict offsite transport and environmental concentrations, chronic risk was not predicted for these species. Spinosad is acutely toxic to bees under laboratory conditions, but toxicity of residue studies and field studies indicate that under actual use conditions the impact on bees is minimal.     

Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia equi, and Ehrlichia risticii in sick dogs from North Carolina and Virginia

Ehrlichia canis, E. equi, and E. risticii seroprevalence was determined by microimmunofluorescent antibody testing (IFA) in a sequential population of 1,845 sick dogs admitted during a 1-year period to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. A seroreactor was defined by a reciprocal IFA titer of > or =80 to E. canis, E. equi, or E. risticii antigens. Of the 48 IFA seroreactors, 44 dogs were seroreactive to E. canis, 21 to E. equi, and 0 to E. risticii. Seventeen dogs reacted to both E. canis and E. equi antigens. There was concordance of E. canis IFA and western immunoblot (WI) test results for 36/44 dogs. Because of cross-reactivity of E. canis sera with E. equi antigens, WI was of less utility to confirm E. equi exposure. After elimination of E. canis seroreactors, there was concordance of 2/4 E. equi IFA and WI test results. Based upon a retrospective review of medical records, ehrlichiosis was diagnosed in 10/48 (21%) IFA seroreactive dogs, 9 of which were confirmed positive by WI. Of the remaining 38 IFA seroreactors, 29 also were confirmed by E. canis or E. equi WI. These results indicate that (1) ehrlichiosis was not diagnosed in the majority of serologically confirmed cases, (2) based upon E. canis and E. equi WI analysis, IFA testing was not specific (21% false positive), (3) E. canis sera cross-react with E. equi antigens, and (4) serologic evidence of E. risticii infection was lacking in the dog population studied.     

Evaluation of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam: Pig production management and pig performances

This study investigated the productive adaptability of pig breeds under different smallholder production conditions in Vietnam, comparing an indigenous with a Vietnamese improved breed. Fieldwork was conducted in four villages with different remoteness in North Vietnam from 2001 to 2002, in 64 households keeping the improved Mong Cai or indigenous Ban as sow breeds and progeny for fattening. Four visits per farm yielded 234 structured interviews. Reproductive performances were derived from 135 litters. Individual weights of pigs (n = 755) were obtained. Data were analysed by regression, linear and generalised linear, especially loglinear models.

Two distinct pig production systems were identified, that differed in remoteness, market access, resource availability, distribution of pig breeds and pig production intensity. Higher performances of 1.4 and 1.5 litters year^− 1, 8.4 and 8.4 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 66.6 and 93.0 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 136 and 177 g day^− 1 ADG were found in two villages near town with semi-intensive production conditions and a high rate of improved Mong Cai sows and MC and LW × MC offspring in the observed population. Lower performances of 1.1 and 1.1 litters year^− 1, 4.6 and 5.5 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 20.5 and 30.9 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 66 and 85 g day^− 1 ADG were observed in parallel to higher incidences of indigenous Ban pigs away from town under extensive conditions. Total live weight offtake per household per year was higher near town and in one village distant to town. MC and LW × MC remained even under demand-driven conditions below the performance potential reported for improved genotypes. Under resource-driven conditions with a saving-oriented production pattern, the higher-yielding but more demanding Mong Cai might not be an efficient production alternative as a further performance reduction can be assumed. A considerable live weight output was observed under resource-driven conditions and with a higher percentage of crossbred LW × Ban offspring in the population, possibly representing a promising production alternative. Factors influencing the performance expression of pigs, and the suitability of different methods for the assessment of performance parameters on-farm are discussed.     

Land-cover and structural changes in a western Norwegian cultural landscape since 1865, based on an old cadastral map and a field survey

Many studies of land-cover and structural changes in cultural landscapes have used historical maps as a source for information about past land-cover. All transformations of historical maps onto modern coordinate systems are however burdened with difficulties when it comes to accuracy. We show that a detailed land survey of the present landscape may enable transformation of an old cadastral map directly onto the present terrain with very high accuracy. The detailed resulting map enabled us to locate remnants of semi-natural grasslands and man-made structures with continuity from 1865 and to test hypotheses about relationships between landscape changes and landscape characteristics. The main land-cover change 1865–2002 was decrease of arable fields, and addition of three new land-cover classes: horticultural, orchard and abandoned areas. Of the 330 man-made structures present in 1865, only 58 remained in 2002, while 63 new structures had been built after 1865. We found that semi-natural grasslands with continuity since 1865 were situated on ground with significantly lower production capacity than mean 1865 production capacity. The man-made structures with continuity since 1865 were also associated with areas with significantly lower production capacity than the 1865 mean, situated in significantly steeper terrain but not further from the hamlet. Our study illustrates the potential of digitised and accurately transformed historical cadastral maps combined with detailed field surveys for analysis of land-cover and structural changes in the cultural landscape.     

Neutral models for testing landscape hypotheses

Neutral landscape models were originally developed to test the hypothesis that human-induced fragmentation produces patterns distinctly different from those associated with random processes. Other uses for neutral models have become apparent, including the development and testing of landscape metrics to characterize landscape pattern. Although metric development proved to be significant, the focus on metrics obscured the need for iterative hypothesis testing fundamental to the advancement of the discipline. We present here an example of an alternative neutral model and hypothesis designed to relate the process of landscape change to observed landscape patterns. The methods and program, QRULE, are described and options for statistical testing outlined. The results show that human fragmentation of landscapes results in a non-random association of land-cover types that can be describe by simple statistical methods. Options for additional landscape studies are discussed and access to QRULE described in the hope that these methods will be employed to advance our understanding of the processes that affect the structure and function in human dominated landscapes.     

小麦叶疫病检疫研究

介绍了１９９２￣１９９５年间小麦叶疫病检疫研究的主要结果。研究证实我国局部地区已有叶疫病发生,分离得到了１１个小麦链格孢菌株,并研究了其生物学特性,确定了小麦链格孢的鉴定条件和鉴别标准,发现分生孢子链长度和分枝状况是区分类似种类的主要特征。提出了病株诊断方法和种子带菌的快速检验方法,后者包括吸水纸培养检验法和ＧＬＵＺＡ鉴别性培养基培养检验法,根据研究结果和国外发病动态,提出了有关检疫对策的建议。     

褐飞虱不同为害状损失率测定研究

本研究旨在为褐飞虱为害损失的调查提供直观、准确的参考依据。研究表明,褐飞虱各种田间受害状都有产量损失,各症状的产量损失率为２５．８％～９４．０％。以百穗实粒干重为统计标准,Ｆ＝１８８．７０４＊＊,达极显著差异水平。ＳＳＲ多重比较,不同水稻被害状之间损失梯度明显。产量因素剖析表明,褐飞虱的为害主要是导致结实率和千粒重显著降低。文中举例说明了研究结果的应用方法。     

杉木耐瘠薄速生优树子代测定及早期选择

在福建省洋口国有林场,对7年生的杉木耐瘠薄速生优树半同胞子代测定林进行调查和分析测定。参试的各家系间树高、胸径和材积生长量均差异极显著,说明在家系水平上存在明显的分化;从参试的18个家系中选择出23号等5个在瘠薄立地条件下生长表现优良的家系,树高、胸径和材积平均值分别达7.67 m、10.88 cm和0.043 6 m3,与第2代种子园子代相比,其材积现实增益达21.11%,通过这种后向选择所选出的耐瘠薄速生优良家系具有明显的生长优势和耐瘠薄性,可以作为杉木第3代建园材料的补充。     

水泵试验台快速夹紧机构的研制

水泵试验时，泵与管道的联接一般用法兰及螺栓联接，费时长，劳动强度大，自动化水平低。采用无螺栓联接、液压驱动的快速夹紧机构，能节约换件时间、减轻劳动强度、提高自动化水平。用灰铁制造运动副，使机构稳定性高，耐磨损。运动副用燕尾槽形式，运动间隙可调，磨损能够得到补偿。测压管与被夹紧件处于自由状态，密封面能紧密贴合，使密封可靠。该机构噪音小，占用空间少，生产率高。     

基于形式规约的软件测试用例自动生成技术研究

在Hierons提出的一种基于Z语言软件自动测试方法的基础上进行了拓展．该方法基于软件的Z语言规约；以HierOns提出的推理规则为基础，提出了分裂树的算法，将操作模式的约束条件转换为形如ViPi∧Qi的析取范式；然后根据析取范式将Z语言描述的操作模式划分为子操作模式；依据子操作模式的前置条件和后置条件，将子操作模式作为状态转换图的转换关系，构建了被测试软件的状态转换图；依据状态转换图，提出了相应的状态覆盖准则、转换关系覆盖准则和转换关系谓词覆盖准则等测试数据选择准则．