Effects of Large Saddle Panels on the Biomechanics of the Equine Back During Rising Trot: Preliminary Results

The saddle panels, directly in contact with the horse's back, are likely an important element to optimize the fitting of the saddle, the comfort of the horse, and subsequently, the pain management in dorsalgic horses. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of the saddle panels on the horse's back, by evaluating a prototype saddle (comfort panels: CP) compared to a standard saddle (STD). The horse's back movements were measured using inertial measurement units (IMUs) fixed at the levels of thoracic vertebrae T6, T12, T16 (under the saddle) and lumbar vertebrae L2 and L5. The centers of mass (COMs) of the horse and the rider and limb's protraction-retraction angles, pressure between saddle and horse's back, and force on the stirrups were measured using respectively 2D motion capture, pressure mat and force sensors in the stirrup leather. Three horses were trotted at the rising trot (sitting: left diagonal-rider seated; standing: right diagonal-rider standing) by the same rider. To compare saddles, linear mixed-effects regression models were used. The estimated means (SE) were calculated. During sitting phase, pressure in the cranial and middle areas of the saddle significantly increased for CP compared to STD (+0.9 (0.2) kPa and +1.0 (0.1) kPa, respectively) whereas caudal pressure decreased (−1.8 (0.4) kPa). Concurrently, the range of motion of angles T12-T16 and T16-L2 under the saddle significantly increased (+1.8 (0.2)° and +2.3 (0.3)°, respectively). The results showed that modifications of the panels' shape not only affect the pressure distribution but also the kinematics of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the equine back.     

论电子阅览室的知识导航与信息服务

本文立足于知识导航与信息服务，对网络环境下电子阅览室的服务内容、服务保障、目前面临的现状进行了论述，并提出了服务对策。     

地膜覆盖对棉枯萎病发生的影响

地膜覆盖显著降低了棉花枯萎病的发病率与病情指数，极显著地提高了棉花的产量。     

加入WTO对反腐败斗争的影响及对策思考

加入世贸组织总体上对我国的反腐败斗争是有利的。但由于西方国家对我国进行外部渗透和影响的机会增多;我国经济、政治等体制改革的不彻底;入世初期的接轨工作难以到位;高智化、国际化、团伙化的犯罪特点;新一轮资产重组等原因，存在着腐败滋生蔓延的必然条件，新的腐败犯罪的高发期还可能出现。为此，我们要坚持依法治国，加强法律、法规建设，加快政治体制改革，强化办案职能，严肃查处各种腐败犯罪，加大对国有资产监管的力度，依法治权，依法行政，完善党内各项运行机制，从源头上预防和治理腐败;加强思想教育，提高党员干部素质，增强拒腐防变的能力，自觉抑制腐败;密切国际间的相互协调与合作，共同打击腐败。     

大别山-桐柏山地区杀虫性植物资源调查初报

大别山、桐柏山属于亚热带向暖温带过渡地气候 ,是植物区系的交接过渡地带 ,既有亚热带典型的代表型 ,又体现着过渡性的特征。能产生具有杀虫活性的次生代谢产物的植物即杀虫性植物。通过广泛调查、采集与鉴定 ,大别山—桐柏山地区分布有杀虫性植物 72科 138种     

安徽省城市化发展的历史回顾

本文系统回顾了建国前安徽省城镇发展的历史概祝，分析了建国后安徽省城市化的发展阶段及其主要特征，并提出了安徽省城市化发展中存在的一些问题。     

二阶拟线性椭圓型Euler方程组解的Pohozaev型恒等式及其应用

本文对于二阶椭圆型Euler方程组 -∑D_αF_(q_α~i)(x,u,Du)+F_(ui)(x,u,Du)=0得到了一些积分恒等式,利用这些恒等式证明了某些方程组非平凡解的不存在性。     

梨菇的化学成分分析

对江西赣南北部林区的野生裂菇进行了化学成分分析，结果表明，它含金属元素15种、粗蛋白含量达27．52％、氨基酸含量达23．98％，是一种很优秀的野生食用菌。     

Correlation between hydrolytic enzyme activities measured in bean seedlings afterTrichoderma koningii treatment combined with pregermination and the protective effect againstPythium splendens

An experimental protocol consisting in the colonisation of pregerminated bean seeds dressed withTrichoderma sp. was used in order to study the mechanisms correlated with the protective effect againstPythium splendens. Seed dressed with TH-11 (T. koningii) for 24 h presented a higher protective effect and a higher level of seed colonisation as compared to those dressed with TH-13 (T. longibranchiatum). The levels of seed coat colonisation by TH-11 and TH-13 was shown to be correlated with the carboxymethylcellulase activity, as measured in the seed coats retreived from germinating dressed bean seeds. The seed coat colonisation was also associated with an increased activities of endo-1,3--glucanase and endochitinase measured in seed extracts, and an inhibitory effect of seed extracts onPythium sporangia germination. Pretreatment of TH-13-dressed seeds with a commercial cellulase improved all parameters mentioned above, thus suggesting a role of cellulase activity in the colonisation process and the linked protective effect. The possible role of hydrolytic enzymes in the protective effects is discussed.     

Physiological Races and Vegetative Compatibility Groups of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae Isolated from Crisphead Lettuce in Japan

One hundred and sixteen isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae obtained from 85 fields in three crisphead lettuce-producing areas in Nagano Prefecture, Japan were typed for races using differential cultivars Patriot, Banchu Red Fire and Costa Rica No. 4. They were also grouped into vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) using complementation tests with nitrate non-utilizing (nit) mutants. Two California strains reported as F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucum, a type culture of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, and 28 avirulent isolates of F. oxysporum obtained from crisphead lettuce were included for comparison. Among Nagano isolates, 66 isolates were identified as race 1, and 50 as race 2. Race 1 strains derived from Shiojiri and Komoro cities and race 2 from Kawakami village and Komoro city. All isolates of race 2 were biotin auxotrophs, and the race could be distinguished based on its requirement for biotin on minimal nitrate agar medium (MM). Pathogenic isolates were classified into two VCGs and three heterokaryon self-incompatible isolates. Strong correlations were found between race and VCG. All the race 1 strains were assigned to VCG 1 except self-incompatible isolates, and all the race 2 strains to VCG 2. The 28 avirulent isolates of F. oxysporum were incompatible with VCG 1 and VCG 2. California strains was vegetatively compatible with VCG 1, and they were assigned to race 1. Based on vegetative compatibility, these two races of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae may be genetically distinct, and F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae race 1 is identical to F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucum. Received 7 May 2002/ Accepted in revised form 6 September 2002