Evaluation of Dynamic Structural Disorders in the Upper Airways and Applied Rein Tension in Healthy Dressage Horses During Riding in Different Gaits and Head–Neck Positions

Flexion of the horse’s head and neck during dressage riding reduces the pharyngeal lumen with the risk of increased upper airway resistance and upper airway obstructions. According to the Fédération Equestre Internationale, hyperflexion is achieved through force, whereas the position low–deep–round is nonforced. The objectives of this study were to evaluate (1) applied rein tension and (2) dynamic structural disorders in the upper airways in dressage horses in different gaits and different head–neck positions (HNPs). Overground endoscopy (OGE) and rein tension were evaluated in 13 clinically healthy and high-performance Warmblood dressage horses while being ridden in a standardized program comprised of four different gaits (halt, walk, trot, and canter) and in four HNPs (unrestrained, competition frame, hyperflexion, and low–deep–round). All included horses were able to achieve the desired HNPs. The HNP low–deep–round showed significantly lower rein tension than competition frame (P < .001) and hyperflexion (P < .001). An association was found between dynamic structural disorders in the upper airway tract evaluated by OGE and head–neck flexion, but this association was not linked to the degree of flexion. The HNP hyperflexion was neither associated with greater rein tension nor severe dynamic structural disorders than the HNP competition frame. This study confirms that low–deep–round is a nonforced position, in contrast to hyperflexion. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether dynamic structural disorders are a result of flexion or if the degree of flexion has an impact.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and fungivorous nematodes on the growth and arsenic uptake of tobacco in arsenic-contaminated soils

The effects of inoculation with two AM fungi (M1, Glomus caledonium; M2, Glomus spp. and Acaulospora spp.) and a fungivorous nematode Aphelenchoides sp. on growth and arsenic (As) uptake of Nicotiana tabacum L. were investigated in soils contaminated with a range of As. The reproduction of Aphelenchoides sp. was triggered by the co-inoculation of AM fungi regardless of AM fungal isolates and As levels. Stimulative effects of Aphelenchoides sp. on the development of mycorrhiza, slightly different between two AM fungi, were found particularly at the lowest As level. Irrespective of mycorrhizal inoculi, increasing soil As level decreased plant growth, but increased plant As uptake. Co-inoculation of AM fungi and Aphelenchoides sp. led plants to achieving further growth and greater As accumulation at the lowest As level. Results showed that the interactions between AM fungi and fungivorous nematodes were important in plant As tolerance and phytoextraction at low level As-polluted soil.     

应用Excel软件分析敌敌畏农药对两广二号家蚕的安全间隔期

应用Excel软件中的曲线方程分析判断敌敌畏农药对两广二号家蚕的安全间隔期。结果表明：敌敌畏1000倍液的安全间隔期是6d多，其数学模型为幂函数曲线方：y=88．0653x-1834本方法克服以往家蚕的农药安全期无数学模型可循或使用的BASIC方法陈旧繁杂的缺点，也避免英文统计软件SPSS难以在农村普及的不足，是一种计...     

儒商与企业伦理

为了统计和分析一个国家和地区的收入分配情况，经济学界往往通过入户调查获得家庭收入与消费等数据，采用洛伦兹曲线模型来进行数据拟合.洛伦兹曲线模型拟合效果的好坏，直接影响着收入分配的描述.本文构建了一类凹凸组合的洛伦兹曲线模型，并针对19个国家的收入分配数据进行了实证分析.结果显示该模型具有较好的拟合效果，其基尼系数能较好地描述收入分配现状，对反映和监测居民之间的贫富差距具有重要意义.     

Plant–soil interactions in metal contaminated soils

The legacy of industrialization has left many soils contaminated. However, soil organisms and plant communities can thrive in spite of metal contamination and, in some cases, metabolize and help in remediation. The responses of plants and soil organisms to contamination are mutually dependent and dynamic. Plant–soil feedbacks are central to the development of any terrestrial community; they are ongoing in both contaminated and healthy soils. However, the theory that governs plant–soil feedbacks in healthy soils needs to be studied in contaminated soils. In healthy soils, negative feedbacks (i.e. pathogens) play a central role in shaping plant community structure. However to our knowledge, the nature of feedback relationships has never been addressed in contaminated soils. Here we review literature that supports a plant–soil feedback approach to understanding the ecology of metal-contaminated soil. Further, we discuss the idea that within these soils, the role of positive as opposed to negative plant–soil feedbacks may be more important. Testing this idea in a rigorous way in any ecosystem is challenging, and metal contamination imposes an additional abiotic constraint. We discuss research goals and experimental approaches to study plant–soil interactions applicable to metal-contaminated soils; these insights can be extended to other contaminated environments and restoration efforts.     

Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by wheat–cotton cropping systems

Wheat–cotton rotations largely increase crop yield and improve resources use efficiency, such as the radiation use efficiency. However, little information is available on the nitrogen (N) utilization and requirement of cotton under wheat–cotton rotations. This study was to determine the N uptake and use efficiency by evaluating the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N use and the soil N balances, which will help to improve N resource management in wheat–cotton rotations. Field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons in the Yangtze River region in China. Two cotton cultivars (Siza 3, mid-late maturity with 130 days growth duration; CCRI 50, early maturity with 110 days growth duration) were planted under four cropping systems including monoculture cotton (MC), wheat/intercropped cotton (W/IC), wheat/transplanted cotton (W/TC) and wheat/direct-seeded cotton (W/DC). The N uptake and use efficiency of cotton were quantified under different cropping systems. The results showed that wheat–cotton rotations decreased the cotton N uptake through reducing the N accumulation rate and shortening the duration of fast N accumulation phase as compared to the monoculture cotton. Compared with MC, the N uptake of IC, TC and DC were decreased by 12.0%, 20.5% and 23.4% for Siza 3, respectively, and 7.3%, 10.7% and 17.6% for CCRI 50, respectively. Wheat–cotton rotations had a lower N harvest index as a consequence of the weaker sink capacity in the cotton plant caused by the delayed fruiting and boll formation. Wheat–cotton rotations used N inefficiently relative to the monoculture cotton, showing consistently lower level of the N agronomic use efficiency (NAE), N apparent recovery efficiency (NRE), N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N partial factor productivity (NPFP), particularly for DC. Relative to the mid–late maturity cultivar of Siza 3, the early maturity cultivar of CCRI 50 had higher N use efficiency in wheat–cotton rotations. An analysis of the crop N balance suggested that the high N excess in preceding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat–cotton rotations led to significantly higher N surpluses than the monoculture cotton. The N management for the cotton in wheat–cotton rotations should be improved by means of reducing the base fertilizer input and increasing the bloom application.     

利用Wood模型拟合中国荷斯坦牛乳脂率变化的效果分析

为了解中国荷斯坦牛乳脂率变化规律,本文利用Wood模型对我国南方5个大中型奶牛场2008~2010年1~3胎中国荷斯坦牛33 194条测定日乳脂率进行曲线拟合。结果表明:中国荷斯坦牛乳脂率变化曲线为典型的倒抛物线形,第一胎拟合度最高(0.9820),第三胎最低(0.9789)。二胎牛乳脂率最先达到最低点(第16周),而三胎乳脂率最后达到(第19周)。就最低乳脂率而言,二胎牛最大(3.54%),而三胎牛最小(3.45%)。综合各方面情况得出,Wood模型适用于中国荷斯坦牛乳脂率变化的曲线拟合。     

Immobilization,cardiopulmonary and blood gas effects of ketamine–butorphanol–medetomidine versus butorphanol–midazolam–medetomidine in free-ranging serval (Leptailurus serval)

ObjectiveTo compare ketamine–butorphanol–medetomidine (KBM) with butorphanol–midazolam–medetomidine (BMM) immobilization of serval.Study designBlinded, randomized trial.AnimalsA total of 23 captures [KBM: five females, six males; 10.7 kg (mean); BMM: 10 females, two males; 9.6 kg].MethodsServal were cage trapped and immobilized using the assigned drug combination delivered via a blow dart into gluteal muscles. Prior to darting, a stress score was assigned (0: calm; to 3: markedly stressed). Drug combinations were dosed based on estimated body weights: 8.0, 0.4 and 0.08 mg kg^–1 for KBM and 0.4, 0.3 and 0.08 mg kg^–1 for BMM, respectively. Time to first handling, duration of anaesthesia and recovery times were recorded. Physiological variables including blood glucose and body temperature were recorded at 5 minute intervals. Atipamezole (5 mg mg^–1 medetomidine) and naltrexone (2 mg mg^–1 butorphanol) were administered intramuscularly prior to recovery. Data, presented as mean values, were analysed using general linear mixed model and Spearman’s correlation (stress score, glucose, temperature); significance was p < 0.05.ResultsDoses based on actual body weights were 8.7, 0.4 and 0.09 mg kg^–1 for KBM and 0.5, 0.4 and 0.09 mg kg^–1 for BMM, respectively. Time to first handling was 10.2 and 13.3 minutes for KBM and BMM, respectively (p = 0.033). Both combinations provided cardiovascular stability during anaesthesia that lasted a minimum of 35 minutes. Recovery was rapid and calm overall, but ataxia was noted in KBM. Stress score was strongly correlated to blood glucose (r² = 0.788; p = 0.001) and temperature (r² = 0.634; p = 0.015).Conclusions and clinical relevanceBoth combinations produced similar effective immobilization that was cardiovascularly stable in serval. Overall, BMM is recommended because it is fully antagonizable. A calm, quiet environment before drug administration is essential to avoid capture-induced hyperglycaemia and hyperthermia.     

Flowering phenology of a herbaceous species (Poa annua) is regulated by soil Collembola

The role of soil organisms as possible driver of flowering has never been investigated. We hypothesized that Collembola (microarthropods) will change plant allocation to reproductive modes by changing soil nutrient availability. Individual seedlings of Poa annua were planted in microcosms, in the presence or absence of Collembola. Collembola affected biotic (fungal biomass) and abiotic ($\text{N}-{{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$, P₂O₅) soil properties and some morphological (number of leaves, root biomass) and chemical (C:N, K, Mg, N) traits of P. annua. As a result, flowering of P. annua was promoted by the presence of Collembola. This provides experimental evidence that soil microarthropods can affect the reproduction strategy and phenology of a plant.     

Natural hybridization between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its wild relatives Aegilops geniculata Roth and Aegilops triuncialis L.

BACKGROUND

Cultivated bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spontaneously hybridizes with wild/weedy related Aegilops populations, but little is known about the actual rates at which this hybridization occurs under field conditions. It is very important to provide reliable empirical data on this phenomenon in order to assess the potential crop–wild introgression, especially in the context of conducting risk assessments for the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat, as gene flow from wheat to Aegilops species could transfer into the wild species genes coding for traits such as resistance to herbicides, insects, diseases or environmental stresses.

RESULTS

The spontaneous hybridization rates between wheat and A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, which are very abundant in the Mediterranean area, have been estimated for the first time in the northern part of the Meseta Central, the great central plateau which includes the largest area of wheat cultivation in Spain. Hybridization rates averaged 0.12% and 0.008% for A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, respectively. Hybrids were found in 26% of A. geniculata and 5% of A. triuncialis populations, at rates that can be ≤3.6% for A. geniculata and 0.24% for A. triuncialis.

CONCLUSION

The detection of Aegilops spp.–wheat hybrids in Aegilops populations indicates that gene flow can occur, although wheat is considered a crop with a low-to-medium risk for transgene escape. These data on field hybridization rates are essential for GM wheat risk assessment purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.