Variation in mammal species richness and relative abundance in the Karoo§

Understanding how climate change and land transformation may impact the distribution and diversity of wildlife species requires landscape-level foundational biodiversity surveys. The Karoo BioGaps Project aims to provide such data and to support the scientific assessment for shale gas development projects in the Karoo basin. In this paper we present the findings of the BioGaps mammal survey, which recorded medium and large mammals across twenty-five 1 km × 1 km sampling sites within the proposed fracking footprint using camera trapping techniques. We use sample rarefaction curves, non-parametric species richness estimators and non-metric multidimensional scaling plots to explore both species richness and community structure. We also used a generalised linear model to investigate how species diversity varies with both site-specific and landscape-level predictors. A total of 38 species were recorded at the majority of sites. Longitude (z = 4.018, p = 0.0005) emerged as the best predictor of species diversity across the study area, which we suggest is linked to the clear east–west aridity gradient. Together these results reveal the cosmopolitan distribution of the mammal taxa in the Karoo and could be used to inform decision-making linked to mining activities in the area.     

甘肃天祝牧区白牦牛乳脂肪中脂肪酸的分析

以甘肃天祝地区3个牧场所产的白牦牛乳为研究对象,采用气相色谱-质谱联用检测方法,测定3个牧场所产白牦牛乳中脂肪酸含量,比较在枯草期、枯草末期、返青期、青草期4个时期及不同胎次的白牦牛所产牦牛乳中脂肪酸的构成及含量.结果表明:3个牧场白牦牛乳中乳脂肪酸含量差异不显著(P＞0.05);1～5胎次母白牦牛乳中脂肪酸含量差异不显著(P＞0.05).枯草期、枯草末期、返青期、青草期4个时期白牦牛乳中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、不饱和脂肪酸(USFA)含量比值分别为1.86、1.75、1.62、1.32.随着气温的升高及牧草的成熟,白牦牛乳中饱和脂肪酸含量逐渐降低,而不饱和脂肪酸的含量逐渐升高.     

USE OF 3'-DEOXY-3'-[18F]FLUOROTHYMIDINE PET/CT FOR EVALUATING RESPONSE TO CYTOTOXIC CHEMOTHERAPY IN DOGS WITH NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA

Imaging and measurement of proliferation with computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide a noninvasive method for improved staging and monitoring of response to cancer treatment. We evaluated prospectively the proliferation marker 3'-deoxy-3'[¹⁸F] fluorothymidine (FLT) in the context of FLT-PET/CT for detection of early response, confirmation of posttreatment response, and prediction of relapse in dogs with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Nine dogs with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who were scheduled to receive five cycles of an investigational cytotoxic chemotherapy agent were included. All dogs received baseline FLT-PET/CT imaging immediately before chemotherapy. Intent was to repeat imaging with FLT-PET/CT at various time points: group 1 ( n =4), 5 days after initiation of chemotherapy and 3 weeks following the last chemotherapy administration; group 2 ( n =5), before the fourth cycle of chemotherapy and 3 weeks following the last administration. Two dogs in group 2 did not undergo repeat PET/CT. Body mass standardized uptake values (SUV) for FLT were calculated for each dog. Eight dogs had initially increased FLT uptake (mean SUV_max=9.8 [2.6–22.3]). Mean SUV decreased significantly for the seven dogs that underwent follow-up PET/CT following chemotherapy (mean SUV_max=3.5 [1.1–7.9], P <0.016). Increased uptake preceded clinical and cytological evidence of relapse in two dogs. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry confirmed decreased proliferation corresponding to decreased SUV in three canine lymph node samples. FLT-PET/CT functional and anatomical imaging shows promise for the evaluation of response to cytotoxic chemotherapy in dogs with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and for predicting relapse before standard clinical and clinicopathologic confirmation.     

A model to assess the use of caecal and faecal inocula to study fermentability of nutrients in rabbit

An in vitro gas production trial was conducted using 10 Hyla rabbits to evaluate the use of caecal and faecal inocula in fermentability studies. Caecal content (CI) and hard faeces (FI) were used as inocula. Six legume and six cereal concentrates were used as substrates. Gas production was recorded 19 times at 2–24 h intervals throughout fermentation (120 h). The fermentation characteristics (degraded organic matter, OMd; potential gas production, A; volatile fatty acid, VFA; ammonia, NH₃) were measured by testing the inoculum and substrate (legumes vs. cereals). The inocula were different (p < 0.01) in OMd (818.2 vs. 799.4 g/kg OM for CI and FI respectively), A (255.0 vs. 267.1 ml/g OM), total VFA (67.3 vs. 53.2 mmol/g OM) and NH₃ content (21.2 vs. 19.8 mmol/l). Moreover, the significant differences in the (acetate + propionate)/butyrate ratio (5.02 vs. 4.09 for CI and FI respectively, p < 0.01) and in the branched chain proportion (isobutyrate + isovaleriate)/total VFA (0.044 vs. 0.031, p < 0.01) indicate that the inocula differed in fermenting legumes or cereals, but the equations for estimating caecal fermentation characteristics from those of faeces showed R² values from 0.673 to 0.975 (p ≤ 0.01). Our results confirm that in vitro fermentation characteristics of faeces were highly related to those of caecal content.     

Grass Yields Under Clipping and Watering Explain Varied Efficacy of Management Intensive Grazing on Rangelands

Management intensive grazing (MIG) may not maximize plant productivity on rangelands because of morphophysiological traits of grassland vegetation. We examined defoliation and moisture effects on the biomass yield of rhizomatous and caespitose grass pairs that were either phylogenetically similar or of similar agroclimatic adaptation, including two agronomic grasses. From relatively low to high moisture regime adaptation, species pairs included western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii [Rydb.] A. Love) and needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata [Trin. & Rupr.] Barkw.), northern wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus [Scribn. & J.G. Sm.]) and western porcupine grass (H. curtiseta [Hitchc.] Barkw.), plains and foothills rough fescue (Festuca hallii [Vasey] and F. campestris Rydb.), and smooth and meadow brome (Bromus inermis Leyss. and B. riparius Rehm). Response variables were shoot yield, root-shoot ratio, and water-use efficiency. We hypothesized that caespitose grasses, regardless of their origin or adaptation to agroclimate regime, would respond more determinately in biomass accumulation. Defoliation effects on shoot biomass were more pronounced under high moisture. Low intensity ? high frequency defoliation yielded similarly to deferred controls in all grasses, and the same was true for high-intensity ? low-frequency (HILF) defoliation in 1 rhizomatous grass. Three of the 4 rhizomatous grasses and 1 caespitose grass yielded greater under HILF defoliation compared with high-intensity ? high-frequency defoliation. Caespitose grasses allocated more biomass to roots under low moisture conditions. Water-use efficiency decreased under high moisture conditions and more intense and/or frequent defoliation and peaked in agronomic grasses. Overall, our results suggested that growth patterns corresponded more with phylogenetic similarity as opposed to growth form. A conceptual model from these results showed that across all species, only the introduced bromes generated greater biomass under HILF defoliation, and this may explain why past research consistently concludes that MIG does not enhance plant productivity on rangelands.     

南极磷虾拖网的性能优化分析

针对一顶中国目前正在使用的南极磷虾(Euphausia superba)拖网进行网具优化试验,设计了调整参数为浮沉比、上下手纲(等长)和叉纲的三因子L9(34)正交实验,并在3组L/S(水平扩张比)和5级拖速下完成了135次拖曳试验。结果表明:(1)随着拖速和L/S的增加,网具阻力增加,网口高度降低;(2)流速为3 kn情况下,L/S=0.45时,对阻力(Fs)和网具功率消耗(Ps)影响的主次顺序均为沉力(A)>叉纲(C)>手纲(B),对网口高度(Hs)影响的主次顺序为A>B>C,对能耗系数(Ce)影响的主次顺序为C>A>B,水动力性能的最优组合为A3B3C1;L/S=0.5时,对Fs、Hs和Ps影响的主次顺序均为C>A>B,对Ce影响的主次顺序为B>C>A,最优组合为A2B3C3;L/S=0.55时,对Fs和Ps影响的主次顺序均为C>A>B,对Hs影响的主次顺序为B>A>C,对Ce影响的主次顺序为B>C>A,最优组合为A2B3C3;(3)当L/S极低为0.2时,网口的水平扩张约为23 m,虽然此时网口高度有一定的提高,但网具的综合性能却显著下降,能耗系数增加;(4)增加沉力,适当放长手纲和叉纲可以有效提高已定型网具的性能。为确保在低拖速下达到网具的高扩张性能,应考虑改进网板性能,建议采用低拖速高扩张性网板。     

High-resolution fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a pituitary microtumor in a dog

A 16-year-old, castrated, male English cocker spaniel dog was presented due to generalized alopecia. Routine clinical pathology, endocrine and abdominal ultrasonography results were consistent with a diagnosis of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. The adenohypophyseal lesion was clearly visualized on both 3 T and 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary gland. Although biochemical and MRI findings were consistent with a functional pituitary microtumor, a pituitary lesion was not detected using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). This report firstly describes the application of high-resolution FDG-PET to a spontaneous pituitary microtumor in a dog.     

添加三聚氰胺对高粗料日粮短期人工瘤胃发酵理化指标的影响

为研究三聚氰胺对瘤胃微生物发酵的影响,试验采集西门塔尔×鲁西黄牛瘤胃液,以高比例粗饲料为底物,采用短期人工瘤胃发酵产气装置,分析评价了不同剂量三聚氰胺(0、6、18、54、162、486 mg/kg)对氨态氮、氨基酸态氮、干物质产气量、挥发性脂肪酸、气体组分的影响。结果表明:三聚氰胺可减少高粗料日粮瘤胃发酵总挥发性脂肪酸的产生,并且有提高乙酸与丙酸比值的趋势(P>0.05)。高浓度的三聚氰胺(486 mg/kg)能显著提高氨态氮的浓度(P<0.05)。三聚氰胺的添加对干物质产气量影响不大,但可使甲烷产量提高8.0%～41.7%。综上所述,以高粗饲料日粮为发酵底物时,三聚氰胺添加对瘤胃的发酵并没有产生显著不利影响,但可提高甲烷产生量,从而降低饲料能量的转化效率。     

奶牛场温室气体排放与减排措施

奶牛养殖在产能提升的同时也排放了大量温室气体。本文梳理了奶牛养殖场温室气体排放的重点环节,主要分为奶牛养殖活动温室气体排放以及牛场日常运行耗能两个方面;结合奶牛养殖肠道发酵和粪污管理的温室气体核算方法,归类整理了主要的减排措施,包括进行提高饲料质量和转化效率、粪污高效管理、清洁能源替代等方式,助力奶牛养殖实现低碳乃至零碳排放。     

Characteristics of 18F-FDG and 18F-FDOPA PET in an 8-year-old neutered male Yorkshire Terrier dog with glioma: long-term chemotherapy using hydroxyurea plus imatinib with prednisolone and immunoreactivity for PDGFR-β and LAT1

An 8-year-old neutered male Yorkshire Terrier dog presented with head pressing, vestibular ataxia, neck tenderness, and no oculocephalic reflex. A demarcated lesion in the pons was identified on MRI. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with a glioma and was treated with hydroxyurea plus imatinib and prednisolone. After 30 days of therapeutic treatment, the patient showed a clear improvement in neurological signs, which lasted for 1117 days. On day 569 after the initiation of treatment, ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) was performed with no significant findings on visual analysis. The average and maximal standardized uptake values (SUVs) were 1.92 and 2.29, respectively. The tumor-to-normal-tissue (T/N) ratio was 0.97. The first evidence of clinical deterioration was noticed on day 1147. On day 1155, 3,4-dihydroxy-6-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-l-phenylalanine (¹⁸F-FDOPA)-PET was performed. High uptake of ¹⁸F-FDOPA was observed in the intracranial lesion. The mean and maximal SUVs of the tumor were 1.59 and 2.29, respectively. The T/N ratio was 2.22. The patient was euthanized on day 1155 and histopathologic evaluations confirmed glioma (astrocytoma). This case shows that chemotherapy with hydroxyurea plus imatinib may be considered in the treatment of canine glioma. Furthermore, this is the first case describing the application of ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-FDOPA in a dog with glioma.