Using model scenarios to predict and evaluate forest-management impacts on soil base saturation at landscape level

Silviculture, forest conversion and technical tools of ecosystem management, such as forest liming, display their effects at the landscape level. Therefore their planning and control should take place at the same scale. The primary objective of this work was to assess soil chemical properties and their changes in relationship to ecosystem management, especially forest conversion and forest liming. We calculated scenario models, based on regression analysis, which allow such an examination in the context of understanding landscape processes which can be expected to operate in the sampling region. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to predict soil chemical attributes (base saturation, pH, C/N content and stock, exchangeable stocks of Ca and Mg) as indicators of site stability or off-site effects of forest ecosystems such as effects on clean drinking water from forested watersheds. Because of space limitations, in this paper only the modelling results of base saturation are presented. Base saturation was used as an integrative example for other soil chemical properties. The transformation of measurements to the regional scale, i.e., the regionalization, was calculated for the forested parts of two test regions in the Black Forest on the basis of measured chemical properties of 90–150 soil profiles per test region. The models have a spatial resolution of 50×50 m, which is a spatial scale relevant for forestry practice and forest management. Topographic variables (e.g., elevation, aspect, slope gradient, and slope length), the stratigraphic classification of the geologic substrate, stand characteristics from forest inventory data, and finally technical information about forest liming were the auxiliary variables (secondary site properties) that provided indirect information about base saturation and were available for the whole forested area of the test regions. Base saturation could be predicted with an accuracy of ~50–70% (in terms of the multiple R²) by using these properties as predictor variables in multiple linear regression analyses. The explained proportion of variance was unexpectedly high considering the high geomorphological heterogeneity of the two test regions. Based upon the regionalization models, it was possible to establish scenarios showing the landscape-related effects on base saturation that may be achieved by forest conversion towards a higher proportion of forests with broad-leaved mixed stands and by forest liming. These scenarios allow the interactions between several influencing factors and management strategies and the impacts on the target variable to be synoptically judged. Thus the presented regionalization models achieve the role of decision support tools for the planning of forest management at the landscape level. They allow an assessment of the environmental effects of forest management strategies in terms of site sustainability or preservation of water resources in forested catchments.     

Quantitative Accuracy of the Simplified Strong Ion Equation to Predict Serum pH in Dogs

Background

Electrochemical approach to the assessment of acid‐base states should provide a better mechanistic explanation of the metabolic component than methods that consider only pH and carbon dioxide.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Simplified strong ion equation (SSIE), using published dog‐specific values, would predict the measured serum pH of diseased dogs.

Animals

Ten dogs, hospitalized for various reasons.

Methods

Prospective study of a convenience sample of a consecutive series of dogs admitted to the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (MUVTH), from which serum biochemistry and blood gas analyses were performed at the same time. Serum pH was calculated (Hcal+) using the SSIE, and published values for the concentration and dissociation constant for the nonvolatile weak acids (A_tot and K _a), and subsequently Hcal+ was compared with the dog''s actual pH (Hmeasured+). To determine the source of discordance between Hcal+ and Hmeasured+, the calculations were repeated using a series of substituted values for A_tot and K _a.

Results

The Hcal+ did not approximate the Hmeasured+ for any dog (P = 0.499, r ² = 0.068), and was consistently more basic. Substituted values A_tot and K _a did not significantly improve the accuracy (r ² = 0.169 to <0.001). Substituting the effective SID (Atot−[HCO3−]) produced a strong association between Hcal+ and Hmeasured+ (r ² = 0.977).

Conclusions and clinical importance

Using the simplified strong ion equation and the published values for A_tot and K _a does not appear to provide a quantitative explanation for the acid‐base status of dogs. Efficacy of substituting the effective SID in the simplified strong ion equation suggests the error lies in calculating the SID.     

Central venous blood gas and acid-base status in conscious dogs and cats

To determine the reference level of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO₂) and clinical efficacy of central venous blood gas analysis, partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide, pH, oxygen saturation, base excess (B.E.) and HCO₃ concentration were compared between simultaneously obtained central venous and arterial blood samples from conscious healthy 6 dogs and 5 cats. Comparisons between arteriovenous samples were performed by a paired t-test and Bland-Altman analysis. Between arteriovenous samples, B.E. showed good agreement, but there were significant differences in other parameters in the dogs, and no good agreement was detected in cats. The ScvO₂ in dogs and cats were 82.3 ± 3.5 and 62.4 ± 13.5%, respectively. Central venous blood gas analysis is indispensable, especially in cats.     

Assessing the influence of mechanical ventilation on blood gases and blood pressure in rattlesnakes

ObjectiveTo characterize the impact of mechanical positive pressure ventilation on heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure, blood gases, lactate, glucose, sodium, potassium and calcium concentrations in rattlesnakes during anesthesia and the subsequent recovery period.Study designProspective, randomized trial.AnimalsTwenty one fasted adult South American rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus).MethodsSnakes were anesthetized with propofol (15 mg kg⁻¹) intravenously, endotracheally intubated and assigned to one of four ventilation regimens: Spontaneous ventilation, or mechanical ventilation at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ at 1 breath every 90 seconds, 5 breaths minute⁻¹, or 15 breaths minute⁻¹. Arterial blood was collected from indwelling catheters at 30, 40, and 60 minutes and 2, 6, and 24 hours following induction of anesthesia and analyzed for pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, and selected variables. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HR were recorded at 30, 40, 60 minutes and 24 hours.ResultsSpontaneous ventilation and 1 breath every 90 seconds resulted in a mild hypercapnia (PaCO₂ 22.4 ± 4.3 mmHg [3.0 ± 0.6 kPa] and 24.5 ± 1.6 mmHg [3.3 ± 0.2 kPa], respectively), 5 breaths minute⁻¹ resulted in normocapnia (14.2 ± 2.7 mmHg [1.9 ± 0.4 kPa]), while 15 breaths minute⁻¹ caused marked hypocapnia (8.2 ± 2.5 mmHg [1.1 ± 0.3 kPa]). Following recovery, blood gases of the four groups were similar from 2 hours. Anesthesia, independent of ventilation was associated with significantly elevated glucose, lactate and potassium concentrations compared to values at 24 hours (p < 0.0001). MAP increased significantly with increasing ventilation frequency (p < 0.001). HR did not vary among regimens.Conclusions and clinical relevanceMechanical ventilation had a profound impact on blood gases and blood pressure. The results support the use of mechanical ventilation with a frequency of 1–2 breaths minute⁻¹ at a tidal volume of 30 mL kg⁻¹ during anesthesia in fasted snakes.     

林龄、叶龄对亚热带杉木人工林碳氮稳定同位素组成的影响

[目的]研究5个不同林龄(3,8,14,21,46年)、不同叶龄(当年生、1年生、2年生、3年生)杉木人工林叶片的碳、氮稳定同位素组成,并根据它们对氮循环等过程的指示作用来探索不同林龄、叶龄杉木人工林氮循环过程及氮饱和程度的差异,从而为不同生长阶段杉木人工林制定施肥措施提供科学依据.[方法]以福建南平峡阳林场5块相互毗邻的不同林龄杉木人工林为研究对象,在每个林龄的林分内分别设置4个20 m ×20 m的试验小区.分别采集不同林龄杉木活叶并根据“主干法”将采集的杉叶分为不同叶龄,然后在每个小区内采集0 ～ 10 cm深度土层的土样,用同位素质谱仪测定它们的碳、氮稳定同位素组成(δ13C,δ15N),用碳氮元素分析仪测定叶片氮含量,叶片15N富集指数由叶片δ15N值减去相应的土壤δ15N得到.[结果]叶片δ15N值的变化范围为-2.52‰～2.81‰,叶片氮含量的变化范围为7.72％～13.5％,二者在不同林龄间均具有极显著差异,并均呈现出幼林和老林较高、处于速生期的林分较低的趋势,且叶片δ15N值与叶片氮含量之间存在显著的相关性,但不同叶龄叶片δ15N值间则不具有显著差异;不同林龄叶片的15N富集指数存在显著差异,呈现出幼林与老林叶片15N富集指数较接近于0的趋势;叶片δ13C的变化范围为-29.93‰～-27.88‰,不同林龄间差异不显著,但同一林龄不同叶龄叶片的δ13C则有显著差异,且有随着叶龄增大而减小的趋势.[结论]不同林龄叶片δ13C差异不显著但呈现幼年较低的趋势,可能是不同树高导致不同林龄杉木水分利用效率间的差异所致,而同一林龄不同叶龄杉木δ13C间的显著差异则可能是光合作用效率不同造成的.不同林龄在叶片δ15N、叶片氮含量、叶片15N富集指数间的显著差异均指示出处于速生期的林分氮饱和程度显著低于幼林和老林,这说明虽然我国亚热带地区氮沉降现象严重,但氮素仍是限制处于速生期杉木人工林生长的因素.     

移动通信基站的环境纠纷问题

指出了随着移动通讯的发展,移动通讯设施的不断增加,移动通信基站投诉纠纷问题逐渐凸显。根据浙江省辐射环境监测站2009～2013年期间承接的移动通信基站委托监测数据,分析了投诉纠纷的原因,并从公众、建设单位及环保部门的角度提出了应对投诉纠纷的意见及建议。     

织锦巴非蛤形态性状对体质量的影响

猪在农业和医学领域均具有重要应用价值,利用基因修饰技术能够快速提高猪的经济性状和培育 人类疾病动物模型。CRISPR/Cas9 基因编辑技术具有操作简单、高效和低成本的优势,在猪基因修饰领域具有重 要应用。但 CRISPR/Cas9 易引发基因组结构不稳、大范围染色体重排和基因脱靶等问题,因而具有潜在的生物 安全风险。近年基于 CRISPR/Cas9 开发的碱基编辑技术可以实现单个碱基定向转换,不会导致 DNA 双链断裂, 理论上不会引发插入 / 缺失（Indels）,对基因编辑更精准、更安全。随着碱基编辑工具的不断开发和改良,其 不仅能产生 C → T（A → G）突变,还能产生 C、A 两种碱基的同时突变以及 C → G 突变,增加了应用范围;改 良的碱基编辑工具在保持编辑效率的同时能够降低甚至消除旁侧突变、非 C → T（A → G）突变以及 Indels,使 得碱基编辑技术在猪遗传修饰上具有更加重要的潜在应用价值。综述了不同的碱基编辑系统原理、碱基编辑技 术在基因修饰猪模型构建和猪遗传改良中的应用,以及碱基编辑系统在猪成纤维细胞中的编辑效率和脱靶情况, 以期为开展猪碱基编辑应用实践提供参考。     

食品安全校内实习基地建设与管理探索与实践

食品安全校内实习基地是学生进行食品安全实习活动的重要场所。该文介绍食品安全校内实习基地建设的重点,提出实习基地管理的措施。     

湖北巴东烟区不同海拔高度植烟土壤理化性状特征及施肥建议

土壤养分含量同海拔高度密切相关,为探索湖北巴东县茶店子基地单元不同海拔植烟土壤的理化性状,更好地指导巴东烟叶生产实践工作,对巴东县茶店子基地单元不同海拔植烟土壤的理化性状进行了分析。结果表明：（1）海拔800m以下区域,植烟土壤理化性状特点是pH值、有机质、氮素、全磷含量处于适宜标准或以上,但速效磷和钾素含量较低;（2）800～1200m区域,土壤pH值、氮素含量较为适宜,土壤有机质含量普遍偏高,但是磷素、钾素含量较低;（3）1200m以上区域,除土壤pH值偏低以外,其他指标均处于优质烟叶生产范围内或高于标准。结合茶店子基地单元烟叶种植区划目标,建议在生产上采取“控氮、增磷、补钾”的施肥策略,施用充分腐熟的优质有机肥和适量土壤改良剂改良土壤,提高土壤养分利用率,进一步提高烟叶产量和质量。