THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Exergy as an ecological application used in the recovery process of benthic communities

Exergy, the thermodynamic function that represents the distance of an open system from equilibrium, is proposed as an ecological indicator for summarizing the complex dynamics occurring in a disturbed community during its recovery processes. These complex dynamics can be difficult to capture by using classical indices. In this study, we sampled macrobenthos using the BACI scheme (before versus after; control versus impact) in tidal wetlands of west Chongming Island, China, an area that has been disturbed by ecological engineering measures. Exergy storage is estimated for benthic communities. The control area is proposed as dynamic reference for estimating local exergy storage of the benthic community. Three different methods were used for estimating exergy on the basis of coefficients: (a) taken for taxa groups; (b) estimated from coding genes given for broad taxonomic groups; and (c) estimated from genome size taken as close as possible to the taxonomic level of the species, providing a basis for inferring similarities. We found a decrease of local exergy content in the disturbed area 9 days after the disturbance. Subsequently, the reference exergy of the benthic community increased (i.e. in the surrounding control area) in accordance with the proposed hypothesis regarding the dynamics of exergy storage during a system's development. Estimates of local exergy arrived at using the three methods provided comparable results. Based on this, we then discuss the feasibility of using the more readily available genome size data for estimating exergy. This result may have important implications for broader application of this indicator to biological systems. Moreover, the adjacent control samples seem to represent an appropriate dynamic reference for estimating the local exergy of disturbed communities. We found that exergy was a useful indicator that integrates the processes underlying the recovery of the benthic community after disturbance.     

Exogenous eFSH, follicle coasting, and hCG as a novel superovulation regimen in mares

The objective of this study was to evaluate various equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment protocols and the effect of “follicle coasting” on ovulation and embryo recovery rates in mares. Cycling mares (n = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four groups 7 days after ovulation: (1) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; (2) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger; (3) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily for 3.5 days followed by 12.5 mg eFSH enriched with luteinizing hormone (LH) twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; and (4) 25 mg eFSH once daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger. Mares in groups 1 and 3 were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (2500 IU intravenously) at the end of eFSH treatment, whereas mares in groups 2 and 4 were given hCG approximately 42 and 54 hours, respectively, after the last eFSH treatment (“follicle coasting”). Nonsurgical embryo collection was performed 6.5 to 7.5 days after ovulation. Each mare experienced a nontreated estrous cycle before being reassigned to a second treatment. Ovulation rates for mares in treatment groups 1 to 4 were 3.3 ± 0.4, 4.1 ± 0.4, 3.5 ± 0.4, and 2.8 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM; P < .05), respectively. One or more embryos were recovered from more than 80% of mares in each treatment group, and embryo recovery rate per flush was similar among treatment groups (1.9 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; P > .05). The overall embryo recovery rate was 2.1 ± 1.5 embryos per flush. In summary, ovulation rate was higher for mares treated with eFSH (3.4 ± 0.4) compared with non-treated controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Ovulation rate in mares in which hCG was delayed (follicle coasting) was higher (P < .05) when treatments were given twice per day versus once per day. Administration of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) in conjunction with eFSH did not have an advantage over mares treated only with eFSH.     

饲料中苏丹红染料的测定

建立用Agilent1100高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测饲料样品中苏丹红含量的方法。采用C18柱(250mm×4.6mmi.d.,5μm),以乙腈和水的混合溶液为流动相,对比采用不同处理方法后,苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ相应的平均回收率。结果表明,在0.1、0.2、0.5、1.0、2.0mg/kg5种添加浓度下,苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ相应的回收率均高于90%。说明该方法具有较好的准确性。     

退化人工草地更新效果观测

利用草地建植方法,对１７５．７ｈｍ＾２退化人工草地进行了更新改良,结果,当年平均干草产量达３５７０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２比未更新地带提高２０５８ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２;播种牧草相对重量６５．９％,未更新地带１５．１％,优势度由重建前的２７．０％上升至６１．８％,恶性杂草竞争力下降,基本形成白叶＋黑麦草＋鸭茅＋画眉草＋红三叶＋狗尾草＋白茅＋蒿类的格局。     

Influences of the Paddy Rices with Different Moistures on the Head Rice Recovery

A major component rice varietv of Xiangwanxian 9 (a late Indica variety) with 13.1%, 15.6% and 18.3% of the moisture was respectively mixed with three ad-ditive varieties in 13% of moisture at ration of 7:3 for processing assorted rices. Head rice recovery of the treatments was determined 24 hours later. Analysis indicated sig-nificant differences exist in the effects produced by the component varieties, their moistures and the component variety moisture.     

西藏“一江两河”中部流域河谷沙化草地及其恢复途径探讨

“一江两河”中部流域是西藏沙漠化最为严重的地区之一，草地的沙化对于生态环境的恶化和畜牧业生产造成很大的不利影响。通过对这一地区草地的现状分析，划分了沙化草地类型，并通过示范试验结果分析，探讨了沙化草地恢复的主要措施。     

梅花品种抗寒性的比较分析

用电导法和生长法测定了梅花38个主要代表品种的抗寒性,并对梅花的系统、类、型的抗寒性进行了比较。结果表明,杏梅系统比真梅系统抗寒,真梅系统的直脚梅类和垂枝梅类比龙游梅类抗寒。在直脚梅类的六个型中,玉蝶型和绿萼型抗寒性较强,朱砂型抗寒弱。垂枝梅类的‘骨红垂枝’同直脚梅类的朱砂型抗寒性相似。对梅花品种抗寒性的季节性变化、同型及同品种在不同栽培地区的差异及其枝条脱水等也进行了一些讨论。提出了在北京地区引种栽培梅花的几点意见。     

DNA recovery from agarose gels with a simple centrifuge-driven sephadex filtration

Conventional methods of DNA recovery from agarose gel generally require expensive equipment, extended elution times, or considerable handling of the sample after elution. We developed a simple protocol for a quick and effective recovery of DNA from agarose gels with good yield and quality. Using a Sephadex resin filled spin column, DNA fragments of 500 bp to 6 kb in an agarose gel slice were easily recovered by a 2 min centrifugation. The recovery efficiencies were over 40%-50% and the eluted DNA can be used directly for downstream application, such as polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and restriction enzyme digestion. This method could also be used to recover large DNA fragment (48 kb) without degradation. The use of Sephadex helps to remove small molecular impurities from agarose and it also reduces the chance of clogging the column filter caused by direct contact with agarose.     

Effects of detomidine or romifidine during maintenance and recovery from isoflurane anaesthesia in horses

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of detomidine or romifidine on cardiovascular function, isoflurane requirements and recovery quality in horses undergoing isoflurane anaesthesia.Study designProspective, randomized, blinded, clinical study.AnimalsA total of 63 healthy horses undergoing elective surgery during general anaesthesia.MethodsHorses were randomly allocated to three groups of 21 animals each. In group R, horses were given romifidine intravenously (IV) for premedication (80 μg kg^–1), maintenance (40 μg kg^–1 hour^–1) and before recovery (20 μg kg^–1). In group D2.5, horses were given detomidine IV for premedication (15 μg kg^–1), maintenance (5 μg kg^–1 hour^–1) and before recovery (2.5 μg kg^–1). In group D5, horses were given the same doses of detomidine IV for premedication and maintenance but 5 μg kg^–1 prior to recovery. Premedication was combined with morphine IV (0.1 mg kg^–1) in all groups. Cardiovascular and blood gas variables, expired fraction of isoflurane (Fe′Iso), dobutamine or ketamine requirements, recovery times, recovery events scores (from sternal to standing position) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared between groups using either anova followed by Tukey, Kruskal-Wallis followed by Bonferroni or chi-square tests, as appropriate (p < 0.05).ResultsNo significant differences were observed between groups for Fe′Iso, dobutamine or ketamine requirements and recovery times. Cardiovascular and blood gas measurements remained within physiological ranges for all groups. Group D5 horses had significantly worse scores for balance and coordination (p = 0.002), overall impression (p = 0.021) and final score (p = 0.008) than group R horses and significantly worse mean scores for VAS than the other groups (p = 0.002).Conclusions and clinical relevanceDetomidine or romifidine constant rate infusion provided similar conditions for maintenance of anaesthesia. Higher doses of detomidine at the end of anaesthesia might decrease the recovery quality.     

云南岩溶地区石漠化生态恢复的思路

云南岩溶面积达11.09万km2,占全省国土面积的28.14%,是西南地区岩溶集中分布区,岩溶石漠化面积已达2.15万km2.分析云南岩溶的分布,以及岩溶地区生态脆弱给当地人民带来生产、生活的生态危机,并结合云南石漠化治理的成功经验,提出岩溶地区生态恢复的思路.