Prediction of breeding values for osseous fragments in fetlock and hock joints, deforming arthropathy in hock joints, and pathologic changes in the navicular bones of Hanoverian Warmblood horses

The results of a standardised radiological examination of 5928 Hanoverian Warmblood horses selected for sale at auction were used to predict relative breeding values (RBV) in the 23,662 horses included in the last four generations of the probands' pedigrees. The distribution of the RBV was investigated in the whole four-generation pedigree, in the probands and in those stallions that contributed at least three offspring to the probands. The RBV of the probands' sires were further compared with the officially published performance-based relative breeding values, i.e., total indices dressage (TID) and jumping (TIJ). The sires' level of dressage indices was considerably higher (mean TID=110) than of the jumping indices (mean TIJ=98). Total indices radiographic findings (TIR) were calculated for the sires with varying weighting given to the individual RBV. In each case, this resulted in a mean TIR of 99. Finally, total indices were derived from TIR and TID and/or TIJ in order to develop different selection schemes for all-purpose breeding and for breeding focused on dressage and show jumping. All breeding values under consideration increased by between 1% and 19% when radiographic findings were weighted with between 30% and 60% complementary to the corresponding performance parameters, and when only sires were selected with above average total indices. At the same time, the prevalences of the radiographic findings investigated here were lowered by up to 10% each. When only one radiographic finding was considered at a time, the maximum attainable response to selection was a 16-23% increase in the relative breeding values and a relative decrease in prevalences of radiographic findings of between 31% and 52%. The results of this study indicate that it is possible in horse breeding to consider simultaneously health and performance traits. Medical data should be included in the prediction of breeding values in order to improve the radiological status of today's riding horses.     

The Impact of Organic Biofertilizer Application in Dairy Cattle Manure on the Chemical Properties of the Soil and the Growth and Nutritional Status of Urochroa Grass

The management of nitrogen (N) fertilization in pasture has great importance for yield and maintenance of Brazilian livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil chemical attributes, shoot dry weight yield (SDWY) and roots dry weight yield (RDWY), nutritional status and nutritive value of Mulato II Urochloa grass that received organic biofertilizer rates as N source. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized blocks, were fertilized with six organic biofertilizer rates (0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 m³ ha^?1) and five replicates during four harvest cycles. There was a quadratic response in the accumulated SDWY for up to a rate of 400 m³ ha^?1 and RDWY with 330 m³ ha^?1 of organic biofertilizer. The organic biofertilizer influenced the soil chemical attributes and foliar nutrient concentration. However, only the crude protein content presented a quadratic response, and neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber levels were not affected by the influence of organic biofertilizer applied to the soil.     

基于B/S模式的实验室预约系统UML建模与研究

UML作为一种面向对象的标准建模语言,在信息管理系统的建模领域得到了广泛的应用。概述了UML中多种模型图的使用方法和适用范围,重点分析了UML系统建模的主要过程和特点,并以一个实验预约系统为例详细介绍了系统用例模型、静态模型和动态模型的设计过程。     

Effects of spent mushroom substrates and inorganic fertilizer on the characteristics of a calcareous clayey‐loam soil and lettuce production

We evaluated the effects of the addition of two types of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), SMS from an Agaricus bisporus crop (SMS1) and a mixture of SMSs from an A. bisporus crop and a Pleurotus crop (50% v/v each) (SMS2), on the characteristics of a calcareous clayey‐loam soil and the yield and nutritional status of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), relative to crops receiving mineral fertilizer (M) and a control (C) without amendment. The application of SMS, especially SMS1, improved soil fertility compared with C and M soils. Moreover, the use of these organic substrates as soil amendments did not harm the plants and gave yields similar to that obtained with mineral fertilizer. The nutritional contents of the lettuce plants were greater than or similar to those of the plants from treatment C or M, except for the plant tissue concentrations of K, Fe and Zn, which were significantly reduced by SMS application. However, this latter fact did not reduce the lettuce yield in the amended soils. Therefore, the use of SMSs as organic amendments contributes to residue utilization, in an environmentally friendly way, and to improved soil fertility and crop yield.     

间伐对仁用杏园土壤理化性质及生长结果的影响

为了探讨密闭仁用杏园衰败的原因.采用常规的方法研究了间伐对仁用杏园土壤养分、水分及树体生长等方面的影响.结果表明:间伐减小了土壤容重.略微增加了土壤孔隙度;间伐显著提高了0-40 cm土层土壤有机质、0-20 cm土层土壤全氮,略微提高了0-20cm土层土壤全磷;间伐显著提高了0-80 cm土层土壤速放氯.0-40 cm土层土壤速效磷和0-60 cm土层土壤速效钾.且间伐强度越大土壤养分越高;间伐显著提高了0-500cm土层土壤水分,在干旱的春季、夏季优为显著,且间伐强度越大,土壤水分越高;间伐显著促进了仁用杏生长,提高了坐果率和杏仁产量.白于山山区仁用杏间伐后密度应为167～222株/hm~2.     

University Outreach in the Twenty-First Century

ABSTRACT

Educational outreach, especially from land-grant universities, will have a more prominent, visible role in the twenty-first century. There is a widespread belief among university leaders that the effect of universities must reach beyond the limits of the campus to positively influence the social, cultural and economic well-being of constituents. Enhanced outreach efforts will involve all academic units and provide appropriate faculty rewards for their accomplishments. Existing extension/outreach organizations such as Cooperative Extension Services will expand their base to draw from the total university expertise and knowledge base. Funding will be a challenge as public resources become less available. Distance education through satellite communications and other advanced technology will be a growing part of education outreach.     

濒危黑颈长尾雉圈养种群的RAPD遗传多样性分析

运用RAPD技术对黑颈长尾雉圈养种群的遗传多样性进行了分析。从50条随机引物中筛选出14条引物,对24个个体的基因组DNA进行了PCR扩增,从检测出的119个位点中有98个多态位点,占总位点的82．35％,标记的分子量大小范围是0．2～3kb。24个个体问的遗传距离幅度0．1597～0．4874,平均是0．2810;用软件NTsys2．10e构建了24个个体相互关系的分支图,24个个体可分为3个类群。实验表明：黑颈长尾雉圈养种群的遗传多样性水平较高,圈养种群内遗传差异性较大。     

Urbanization as a major cause of biotic homogenization

When measured by extent and intensity, urbanization is one of the most homogenizing of all major human activities. Cities homogenize the physical environment because they are built to meet the relatively narrow needs of just one species, our own. Also, cities are maintained for centuries in a disequilibrium state from the local natural environment by the importation of vast resources of energy and materials. Consequently, as cities expand across the planet, biological homogenization increases because the same “urban-adaptable” species become increasingly widespread and locally abundant in cities across the planet. As urbanization often produces a local gradient of disturbance, one can also observe a gradient of homogenization. Synanthropic species adapted to intensely modified built habitats at the urban core are “global homogenizers”, found in cities worldwide. However, many suburban and urban fringe habitats are occupied by native species that become regionally widespread. These suburban adapters typically consist of early successional plants and “edge” animal species such as mesopredator mammals, and ground-foraging, omnivorous and frugivorous birds that can utilize gardens, forest fragments and many other habitats available in the suburbs. A basic conservation challenge is that urban biota is often quite diverse and very abundant. The intentional and unintentional importation of species adapted to urban habitats, combined with many food resources imported for human use, often produces local species diversity and abundance that is often equal to or greater than the surrounding landscape. With the important exception of low-income areas, urban human populations often inhabit richly cultivated suburban habitats with a relatively high local floral and faunal diversity and/or abundance without awareness of the global impoverishment caused by urbanization. Equally challenging is that, because so many urban species are immigrants adapting to city habitats, urbanites of all income levels become increasingly disconnected from local indigenous species and their natural ecosystems. Urban conservation should therefore focus on promoting preservation and restoration of local indigenous species.     

Function of sodium and potassium in growth of sodium-loving Amaranthaceae species

We observed that the growth of three Amaranthaceae species was promoted by sodium (Na), in the order dwarf glasswort (Salicornia bigelovii Torr.) >> Swiss chard (Beta Burgaris L. spp. cicla cv. Seiyou Shirokuki) > table beet (Beta vulgaris L. spp. vulgaris cv. Detroit Dark Red). In the present study, these Na-loving plants were grown in solutions containing 4 mol m^?3 nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) and 100 mol m^?3 sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) under six Na to potassium (K) ratios, 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 and 100:0, to elucidate the function of Na and K on specific characteristics of Na-loving plants. The growth of dwarf glasswort increased with increasing Na concentration of the shoot, and the shoot dry weight of plants grown in 100:0 Na:K was 214% that of plants grown at 0:100. In Swiss chard and table beet, growth was unchanged by the external ratio of Na to K. The water content was not changed in Swiss chard or table beet by the external Na to K ratio. These observations indicate that both Na and K have a function in osmotic regulation. However, dwarf glasswort could not maintain succulence at 0:100; therefore, Na has a specific function in dwarf glasswort for osmotic regulation to maintain a favorable water status, and the contribution of K to osmotic regulation is low. NO₃-N uptake was promoted by Na uptake in dwarf glasswort and Swiss chard. NO₃-N uptake and transport to shoots was optimal at 100:0 in dwarf glasswort and at 80:20 in Swiss chard. These functions are very important for the Na-loving mechanism, and the contribution of K was lower in dwarf glasswort than in Swiss chard.