Pharmacokinetics of xylazine after 2-, 4-, and 6-hr durations of continuous rate infusions in horses

Intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration of xylazine (XYL) (0.5 mg/kg) immediately followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of 1 mg kg⁻¹ hr⁻¹ for 2, 4, and 6 hr produced immediate sedation, which lasted throughout the duration of the CRI. Heart rate decreased and blood pressure increased significantly (p > .05) in all horses during the first 15 min of infusion, both returned to and then remained at baseline during the duration of the infusion. Compartmental models were used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of XYL administration. Plasma concentration–time curves following bolus and CRI were best described by a one-compartment model. No differences were found between pharmacokinetic estimates of the CRIs for the fractional elimination rate constant (K_e), half-life (t_1/2e), volume of distribution (V_d), and clearance (Cl). Median and range were 0.42 (0.15–0.97)/hr, 1.68 (0.87–4.52) hr, 5.85 (2.10–19.34) L/kg, and 28.7 (19.6–39.5) ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹, respectively. Significant differences were seen for area under the curve ( ) (p < .0002) and maximum concentration (C_max) (p < .04). This indicates that with increasing duration of infusion, XYL may not accumulate in a clinically relevant way and hence no adjustments are required in a longer XYL CRI to maintain a constant level of sedation and a rapid recovery.     

An investigation of links between metabolic rate and feed efficiency in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

Feed efficiency (FE) is the amount of body weight gain for a given feed intake. Improving FE through selective breeding is key for sustainable finfish aquaculture but its evaluation at individual level is technically challenging. We therefore investigated whether individual routine metabolic rate (RMR) was a predictor of individual FE in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, a major species in European mariculture. The European sea bass has three genetically distinct populations across its geographical range, namely Atlantic (AT), West Mediterranean (WM), and East Mediterranean (EM). We compared FE and RMR of fish from these three populations at 18 or 24 °C. We held 200 fish (62 AT, 66 WM, and 72 EM) in individual aquaria and fed them from ad libitum down to fasting. FI was assessed for an ad libitum feeding rate and for a fixed restricted ration (1% of metabolic body weight·day⁻¹, with metabolic body weight = body weight^0.8). After being refed 12 wk in a common tank, individual RMR was measured over 36 h by intermittent flow respirometry. There was a significant effect of temperature whereby fish at 18 °C had greater mean FE (P < 0.05) and lower RMR (P < 0.001). There was also a significant effect of population, where AT fish had lower FE (P < 0.05) and greater RMR (P < 0.001) than WM and EM, at both temperatures. Despite these differences in temperature and population means, individual FE and RMR were not significantly correlated (P > 0.05). Therefore, although the results provide evidence of an association between metabolic rate and FE, RMR was not a predictor of individual FE, for reasons that require further investigation.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism in avian uncoupling protein gene is associated with thermoregulation in chicks

Avian uncoupling protein (av-UCP) is a key protein for thermoregulation in poultry. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the av-UCP gene has been reported in chickens. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the association between this av-UCP gene mutation and thermoregulation in chickens. Wild and mutant type chicks for the av-UCP gene SNP (g. 1270 of the av-UCP gene exon 3 with C to T substitution and amino acid substitution) were exposed to high ambient temperature. Rectal temperature, radiation temperature on the body surface, and the expression of heat dissipation behavior (wing drooping and panting) during heat exposure were measured. In addition, oxygen consumption rate in the thermoneutral zone in wild and mutant type chicks was measured. Changes in wing temperature during heat exposure in wild-type chicks were lower than those in mutants. The latency of continuous wing drooping during heat exposure in wild-type chicks was shorter than in mutant chicks. It was also found that the SNP in the av-UCP gene caused reduced oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the av-UCP gene mutation affects thermoregulation, especially heat production, in chickens.     

地熊蜂为重庆地区设施番茄授粉的效果研究

为评价地熊蜂在重庆地区设施番茄的授粉效果,在重庆市荣昌区龙舌嘴村开展授粉效果比较试验,分析地熊蜂授粉对设施番茄产量、果实品质及畸形果率的影响。试验结果显示,经地熊蜂授粉的设施番茄平均产量为2 206.44 kg/667 m2,与未授粉组相比显著提高了104.95%,授粉组的单果质量、果纵径、果最大横径、可溶性固形物含量、VC含量及总糖含量显著高于未授粉组。由此,认为地熊蜂适宜为重庆地区设施番茄授粉,且能够显著提高重庆地区设施番茄的产量与品质。     

抗旱保水剂应用特性的实验研究

应用抗旱保水剂是近年来发展较快的一种非工程节水灌溉措施，在实际应用中，土、肥、水等多种因素对保水剂持水能力有很大影响。通过大量试验，对保水剂在各种应用条件下的持水特性进行了定性研究，提出了应用保水剂应注意的问题及若干建议。     

农业技术经济动态方法的适用性

农业技术经济学研究的根本目的是为了实现农业生产资源的优化配置,提高农业生产效率,发展农业生产,提高农民生活水平,保障社会对农产品的需求。净现值法和内部收益率法是农业技术经济分析中常用的两种动态方法,它们各有其优缺点和适用范围,为此对两方案进行应用上的比较,正确理解方法特点和经济含义,具有重要的实际意义。     

脉宽调制型变量喷雾系统雾量沉积分布

通过实验和理论分析建立了雾量分布模型,研究了雾量分布规律。研究表明:喷杆方向沉积变异系数在两喷头之间出现最低,而在两喷头正下方出现极高值;行驶方向的沉积变异系数沿着一定规律周期性变化,其周期与占空比相关;在相同压力的情况下,同一喷头的行驶方向及喷杆方向沉积变异系数的峰值均随着车速的提高而上升,随占空比的上升而下降;在研究范围内(40~60cm),变异系数的峰值随喷头高度的升高而降低;若车速和占空比均相同,110°扇形喷头的雾量分布较80°扇形喷头在时空方向上都更加均匀。     

典型旱作农田土壤氧化亚氮排放的氨氧化微生物相对贡献

氨氧化过程对氧化亚氮（N2O）排放具有重要贡献。在不同土壤类型和农田管理下,氨氧化微生物类群对N2O排放的相对贡献组成规律还缺乏系统的研究。本研究选取典型农田耕层土壤（潮土、黑土、砖红壤）,以及有机肥改良的砖红壤剖面土壤,采用选择性抑制法（乙炔和辛炔）研究氨氧化细菌（AOB）、氨氧化古菌和全程硝化菌（AOA+comammox）以及异养硝化菌对土壤硝化潜势、净硝化速率及N2O排放的相对贡献。结果表明,在耕层土壤中,潮土、黑土和砖红壤的pH分别是8.0、6.7和5.7,硝化潜势分别是N 32.5、6.6和4.8 mg?kg-1?d-1,净硝化速率分别是N 7.1、3.0和0.5 mg?kg-1?d-1,7天N2O累积排放量分别是N 38.0、35.4和8.7 μg?kg-1。AOB主导耕层土壤的硝化潜势,对硝化潜势的贡献分别是82%、58%和100%。对于净硝化速率,在潮土和砖红壤中,AOB和AOA+comammox贡献相当（均在30%~40%）,而黑土中由AOB主导（72%）。AOB主导耕层土壤的N2O排放,对N2O排放的贡献分别是72%、92%和58%。在改良的砖红壤剖面土壤中,在0~20 cm、20~40 cm和40~60 cm,pH分别是7.0、5.5和4.9,硝化潜势分别是N 6.6、2.0和1.1 mg?kg-1?d-1,净硝化速率分别是N 4.1、0.9和0.2 mg?kg-1?d-1,N2O排放分别是N 16.3、6.5和2.8 mg?kg-1?d-1。随土壤由深层至表层,硝化潜势、净硝化速率及N2O排放显著提高。AOA+comammox主导表层硝化潜势及净硝化速率的提高（分别贡献63%和54%）,AOB主导N2O排放的增加（贡献54%）。本研究为制定与土壤氨氧化特性及土壤性质相匹配的N2O减排措施提供了新的科学依据。     

紫色土光谱特征及其碱解氮的预测研究

文章分析探索了应用可见近红外光谱技术快速、高效、便捷测定土壤营养参数的可能性。采集蓬莱镇组紫色土样本,比对分析了不同肥力水平、土壤厚度和土壤粒径条件下采集土壤光谱对可见近红外光谱特征的影响,筛选出不同厚度、粒径土壤条件下的碱解氮含量预测模型。研究结果表明,土壤样本厚度为30mm时具有最大的光谱反射率,建立的氮含量预测模型效果最佳,校正集和验证集的相关系数分别为0.84和0.83,均方根误差分别为1.79和1.87。土样粒径在0.25-0.85mm时氮含量的预测效果最佳,校正集和验证集的相关系数均超过0.8,且均方根误差较小;但当土样粒径<0.25mm时,氮含量预测模型效果明显下降。采用20目（<0.85mm）过筛、30mm厚度土壤样本采集可见近红外光谱和偏最小二乘法（PLS）模型预测,可以实现对蓬莱镇组紫色土碱解氮含量的较好光谱预测。