Characterisation of smallholder pig production in Kikuyu Division, central Kenya

A three-phase study was conducted in high-potential farming and peri-urban area in Kikuyu Division central Kenya to obtain farm and management data and to monitor health and productivity of pigs in smallholder farms. The first phase was a cross-sectional study in which 87 farms (that had been selected from a total of 179 farms using a simple random selection) were visited once and data on important farm and management factors were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires. The second phase was a pilot study that was conducted in the 87 study farms for a period of 3 months to pretest the data-collection tools and to evaluate the general research methodology for the longitudinal study. The third phase was a prospective 12-month observational study in which health and productivity of pigs were monitored monthly in 76 herds that were still active and had participated in the previous studies.

The initial voluntary enrolment among the eligible farms was 99%. The median farm size was 1 acre. All the farms kept crossbreed pigs of Large White or Landrace (median nine pigs per farm). The median number of sows per herd was one. Most farmers engaged in farrow-to-finish pig-production system and most (60%) did not keep a breeding boar. The pigs were stall-fed the year round. Guard rails/piglet devices were present in 22% of the herds. Few (8%) farmers disinfected pig pens (especially the farrowing area). None of the farmers reported the use of vaccination against pig diseases. Most farmers (84 and 96%) indicated that they controlled for mange and worm infestations, respectively. To control mange, 50% of the farmers used acaricides, 34% used engine oil and 12% used both. Anthelmintics were used to control worms. No farmer had a particular control programme in place for both worms and mange. Artificial heating for piglets was not used in any of the farms. High costs of feeds (which were of variable qualities) lack of credit and genetically high-quality breeding boars and diseases were ranked highly by the farmers as the main production constraints. Thirteen percent (11/87) of farmers withdrew during the pilot study; 10 farmers had sold their pigs and one had died. Thirty-three percent (25/76) of the farms withdrew during the longitudinal study for various reasons that included death of pigs (3%; 2/76) and sale of the pigs (30%; 23/76)—mainly because of financial need.     

Emerging viral zoonoses: frameworks for spatial and spatiotemporal risk assessment and resource planning

Spatial epidemiological tools are increasingly being applied to emerging viral zoonoses (EVZ), partly because of improving analytical methods and technologies for data capture and management, and partly because the demand is growing for more objective ways of allocating limited resources in the face of the emerging threat posed by these diseases. This review documents applications of geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and spatially-explicit statistical and mathematical models to epidemiological studies of EVZ.Landscape epidemiology uses statistical associations between environmental variables and diseases to study and predict their spatial distributions. Phylogeography augments epidemiological knowledge by studying the evolution of viral genetics through space and time. Cluster detection and early warning systems assist surveillance and can permit timely interventions. Advanced statistical models can accommodate spatial dependence present in epidemiological datasets and can permit assessment of uncertainties in disease data and predictions. Mathematical models are particularly useful for testing and comparing alternative control strategies, whereas spatial decision-support systems integrate a variety of spatial epidemiological tools to facilitate widespread dissemination and interpretation of disease data. Improved spatial data collection systems and greater practical application of spatial epidemiological tools should be applied in real-world scenarios.     

基于直流电机与全液压转向器直联的自动转向系统研究

针对农机装备电控液压自动转向系统生产成本高及电动方向盘自动转向系统中控制力矩小、存在自由行程的问题,设计了基于直流电机与全液压转向器直联的自动转向机构及其电控系统,该系统主要包括自动转向执行机构、自动转向控制器和液压转向机构等。自动转向执行机构与原车液压转向机构连接实现自动转向功能,考虑了底盘阿克曼角的自动转向控制器实现车轮转向的精确控制,通过在转向驱动电机输出轴安装电磁离合器和转向柱扭矩传感器实现人工驾驶模式和自动驾驶模式的自动切换。试验结果表明,车轮转角响应平均稳态误差小于0.1°,最大稳态误差为0.158°,±20°阶跃信号最快响应时间达1.2 s,超调量小于1%,可以满足对各种轮式农机的自动导航辅助驾驶转向系统性能的要求。     

高校新馆安装摄像监控系统应注意的细节问题

对高校图书馆新馆在设计安装摄像监控系统时,提出要注意的一些细节上的问题,从功能需求,摄像头选型、安装位置、录像保存时间等细节问题上提出诸多的注意事项,从而保证系统投入使用后能正常有效运行。     

细菌IV型分泌系统结构的研究进展

革兰氏阴性菌的IV型分泌系统（T4SS）是一个由ATP供能,多种蛋白质复合构成的体系,该体系能够跨过整个细胞外膜、分泌大量底物。详细阐述了T4SS组成元件的结构,如底物转运通道、核心复合物、外膜复合物、内膜复合物、菌毛等。T4SS更大组成元件、其他结构、组成元件间相互作用的机理等有待进一步研究。     

太阳能加温和沼液回用沼气工程的生态效益评价

为综合评价新型生态清洁技术应用下的规模沼气工程的综合生态效益,该文以北京市顺义区D沼气工程(同时应用沼液循环回用技术和太阳能-地源热泵增温保温技术)为研究对象,利用能量系统图和能值评价体系,从经济效益、环境效益和可持续性3个方面对该系统进行了综合性能值分析,分析了沼液循环回用和太阳能-地源热泵增温保温清洁技术的应用对规模化沼气工程生态经济效益的影响。结果表明:太阳能-地源热泵增温保温技术在规模化沼气工程中的使用,不可再生购买资源投入减少8.80%,系统可持续性提升18.75%,有效替代了化石能源的使用,生态经济效益明显。同时,沼液循环回用技术的应用,可使地下水投入减少65%,在沼气工程周边土地无法充分消纳该沼气工程产生沼液的条件下,可节省1.77E+05美元/a的农田消纳后的剩余沼液排污处理费,环境负荷率减小68.52%,能值可持续指标由0.03增为0.38,系统自我维持能力提升。因此,沼液循环回用和太阳能-地源热泵技术的应用对该沼气工程系统的经济、环境和生态效益有很大改善作用。     

Performance and welfare of Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L. post-smolts in recirculating aquaculture systems: Importance of salinity and water velocity

Producing a larger post-smolt in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) could shorten the production time in sea cages and potentially reduce mortality. Knowledge of the biological requirements of post-smolts in closed-containment systems is however lacking. In the present study, the effects of salinity and water velocity on growth, survival, health, and welfare of Atlantic salmon reared in RAS were examined. Salmon smolts were stocked in three separate RAS with salinities of 12, 22, and 32‰ and subjected to high (1.0 body lengths per s⁻¹) or low (0.3 body lengths second⁻¹) water velocity. Growth performance, survival, welfare, and physiological stress responses were monitored until the fish reached a bodyweight of around 450 g. Growth rate was higher at lower salinity and higher water velocity generally had a positive effect on growth in all salinities. Feed conversion ratio was lower at 12‰ compared to the 22 and 32‰ when the fish were between 250 and 450 g. Higher mortality, elevated plasma cortisol levels, higher incidence of cataract, and a higher expression of stress-induced genes in the skin (iNOS, Muc5ac-like) indicated a negative effect of higher salinity on fish welfare. Male maturation was low (<1%), and not affected by salinity or water velocity.     

基于系统辩识的PID参数自整定

This paper presented a metnod of self-determining PID parameters by using system idenification and gave a engineering sample.     

日光温室负压自动灌溉下番茄蒸腾规律研究

针对农业生产中蔬菜栽培灌溉费水费时的现状,采用一种自制负压自动灌溉系统,将供水压力设定在负值,利用土壤自动吸水的特性,达到自动灌溉和节水的效果.在此系统灌溉下采用茎热平衡技术测定番茄植株的茎流规律,分析了茎流变化规律与环境因子之间的关系,同时分析了番茄植株不同部位茎流差异以及剪叶对番茄植株茎流的影响.结果表明,在设定灌溉系统负压为60 hPa下,温室土壤含水量基本控制在阴天20.19%、晴天18.75%左右;茎流数据表明番茄植株蒸腾与太阳辐射值呈显著正相关,适当遮阴降温可以减少植株蒸腾.实验也进一步证明了叶片是植株蒸腾的主要器官,植株底层叶片蒸腾速率相对较微弱.