Sperm subpopulations influence the pregnancy rates in cattle

This study aimed to study the characteristics and subpopulations of spermatozoa from bulls with low and high reproductive performance based on pregnancy rates. Based on historical records of pregnancy rate from four farms, 24 bulls were selected. Two groups were established, with low pregnancy rates (n = 12; LOW), including bulls that presented pregnancy rates <52.27% (33.33% to 51.81%); and a group with high pregnancy rates (n = 12; HIGH), with pregnancy rates >52.27% (52.27% to 69.64%), after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). The thawed sperm straws were analysed to sperm kinetics, morphology, plasma membrane integrity and sperm subpopulations. The LOW group exhibited a higher proportion of static cells (p < .05). In contrast, the HIGH group showed greater percentages for membrane integrity and total and progressive motility, and cells with fast and medium velocity (p < .05). In the cluster procedures, four sperm subpopulations were established. The low-fertility bulls presented the highest percentage of subpopulation 2 (41.46%), characterized by slow and progressive spermatozoa. The high-fertility bulls exhibited the highest percentage of subpopulation 3 (37.17%), characterized by fast and nonlinear spermatozoa. Results from this study indicated that bulls with greater percentages of fast and nonlinear spermatozoa seem to have greater fertilization capacity and the subpopulations analysis can be considered a tool to identify ejaculates with high fertility.     

长江口口门海域水体重金属时间变化趋势及预测

通过对2004—2017年长江口口门区域水体中Cu、Zn、Pb、Hg和As 5种重金属含量的调查,分析了北支、南支北港和北港北沙3个区域水体重金属含量的变化趋势及影响因素,并对未来几年重金属的含量进行了预测研究。结果显示,Cu和Pb在2011—2017年间整体呈现下降趋势,下降幅度低于2004—2008年, Zn和As在2011—2017年间一直处于稳定的下降趋势,Hg的下降趋势较小,5种重金属均在2011年和2015年前后污染物排放量增加时出现不同幅度的增长,且径流量较大的区域增长幅度较大;分析其影响因素得出,由于早期水体中重金属含量较高,治理投入成效大于污染物排放的影响,故2004—2008年Cu、Zn、Pb和As含量与环境治理投入呈显著负相关,与排污量之间相关性不显著;而在重金属含量控制到较低水平后,治理难度增加,成效减弱,污染物排放量成为了控制重金属含量的主要影响因素,故2011—2017年的重金属含量与环境治理投入相关性不显著,与排污量呈显著正相关;由于长江口3个区域在盐度和径流量等因素上存在差异,采用了ARIMA模型对不同区域的重金属分别进行预测,预测得出2020—2022年长江口口门处3个区域水体中重金属含量较低,变化趋势较为平稳,该模型具有较高的精度,误差在5.19%～11.82%之间,分区域预测可以突出不同区域重金属含量及变化特征,预测结果更具针对性,能够为未来治理方案的拟定提供一定依据。     

红蓝LED光照强度对茶树生长及生物化学成分的影响

以‘黔湄601’一年生茶树苗为试材,光量比为1∶3的LED红蓝光作为光源,探讨不同光照强度对茶树幼苗生长特性的影响、光合色素及生物化学成分的变化趋势,探索茶树苗生长发育对光强的响应机制。采用LED精准调节光质和光强,设置50μmol·m-2·s-1、100μmol·m-2·s-1、150μmol·m-2·s-1、200μmol·m-2·s-14个处理。结果表明,不同光强处理15 d后,50μmol·m-2·s-1光照强度有利于茶树叶色素含量的增加及Ca/Cb值的降低;100μmol·m-2·s-1光照强度有利于茶树叶茶多酚含量的降低及氨基酸含量的增加,酚氨比值最低;150μmol·m-2·s-1光照强度对茶树叶重增加有促进作用;200μmol·m-2·s-1光照强度有利于茶树叶茶多酚含量的增加和氨基酸、光合色素含量的减少;酚氨比值最高,光合色素含量最低。红蓝LED光照强度过低、过高都不利于茶叶品质形成,综合考虑,100μmol·m-2·s-1光照强度最有利于茶叶功能成分的积累,是茶叶LED光源设施栽培的理想光照强度。本研究结果对于设施茶树种植具有重要的参考意义。     

镉对植物光合作用及氮代谢影响研究进展

镉是毒性最强的环境污染物之一。植物中积累的镉可通过食物链进入人体,给人类健康带来潜在危害。镉能抑制植物生长,能使植物形态、生理生化及结构发生改变。镉可减少净光合速率,损伤光合器官;使叶绿素含量下降;抑制气孔开放,从而影响植物的光合作用;镉通过改变植物硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷胺酰氨合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合成酶(GOGAT)以及谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)的活性,进一步影响植物氮代谢过程。光合作用及氮代谢在植物生长发育过程中起着十分重要的作用,综述了重金属镉对植物光合作用及氮代谢的影响,并对其机理进行了探讨。     

桂林早熟花椰菜新品种比较试验

以本地品种瑞雪特大为对照,通过对7个花椰菜新品种的物候期、植物学性状、花球性状及产量等指标的鉴定及综合评价,筛选出适合桂林种植的早熟花椰菜品种。试验结果表明,新贵66号、花王60天植株健壮,长势旺盛,口感好,丰产明显,可进一步安排试验,进而示范推广。     

矮生长豇豆的生育与产量形成

对春播和秋播矮生长豇豆的生长动态,叶面积形成与效能,结荚与豆荚产量形成特性等进行研究,结果表明,春播矮生长豇豆植株和各个器官的生长动态均呈Ｓ形曲线变化。秋播矮生长豇豆虽然无抽蔓期,但其生长动态与春播基本相同,而且植株生长和叶面积都较大,单株结荚稍多,但产量无明显差异。净同化率（ＮＡＲ）在营养生长过程较高,生殖生长过程较低。本文还讨论了矮生与蔓生长豇豆生育与产量形成的差异。     

Curing and degradation processes of cement-bonded particleboard by supercritical CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> treatment

This study examined the effects of supercritical CO₂ treatment on the curing and degradation of cementbonded particleboard (CBP). Significant correlations were found between the supercritical CO₂ treatment and mechanical properties during both curing and degradation processes. Internal bond (IB) strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) values of CBP achieved their maximums by supercritical CO₂ treatment in 30 min. These conditions indicated that supercritical CO₂ treatment accelerates the curing process rapidly and enhances the mechanical properties of the CBP. However, these values decreased in treatment from 60 min to 10 days and had a negative effect on board performance, indicating that supercritical CO₂ treatment over a longer time span leads to degradation of the CBP. Furthermore, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermal gravimetry (TG-DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation clarified that the mechanisms of degradation are directly affected by the mineralogical composition of the system, in par ticular, by the calcium carbonate content as caused by carbonation.     

Nature-based tourism impacts on yellow-eyed penguins Megadyptes antipodes: does unregulated visitor access affect fledging weight and juvenile survival?

The Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand offers tourists opportunities for unregulated access to breeding sites of the yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). The presence of people on beaches delays post-foraging landing by penguins, which in turn may affect the amount of food delivered by parents to their chicks, with consequences for chick growth and fledging mass. This study explored the relationship between human disturbance and yellow-eyed penguin chick fledging weight and survival by comparing five yellow-eyed penguin breeding areas with different levels of visitor frequency. We investigated whether chick fledging weights vary between breeding areas, and whether fledging weight is a predictor of juvenile survival. In 2002, chicks at Sandfly Bay, an area with high numbers of tourists, had significantly lower fledging weights than chicks at Highcliff, an area with no tourist visitors. An analysis of sightings of 2125 yellow-eyed penguin chicks banded between 1981 and 2000 indicated probability of survival was positively associated with mass at fledging. Thus lower fledging weights may have long-term population consequences. Fledging weight is influenced by many factors, however the results suggest the possibility of an effect of tourist numbers on chick fledging weight. This is noteworthy, especially in light of the rapid rate at which wildlife tourism is increasing in coastal areas of southern New Zealand.     

桂林地区苗用型大白菜新品种引种品比试验

对引进的3个苗用型大白菜品种进行品种比较试验。试验结果表明,浙白6号综合性状最好,可作为夏季栽培的首推品种,德高快菜次之,双耐增产率虽稍低,但其植株生长健壮,叶片较厚且有光泽,耐热性好,抗病性强。引进的3个新品种均适合在桂林地区夏秋作为绿叶蔬菜栽培。     

Effects of an Enterococcus faecium‐based probiotic on growth performance and health of Pirarucu,Arapaima gigas

Intensive fish farming has resulted in an increased concern for disease outbreaks. Probiotic use is one of the strategies being developed to improve fish health and productivity. Measures of probiotic colonization, growth performance, haematological characteristics and parasite load were used to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with Enterococcus faecium on growth and health of Arapaima gigas juveniles. A completely randomized design with four treatments (diet with E. faecium at 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g and 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g, control diet and diet with the culture medium MRS) and three replicates was used. Ninety‐six Arapaima juveniles were distributed in 12 cages fed with the specified diet for 68 days. Colonization of the intestinal tract by lactic acid bacteria reduced the total number of heterotrophic bacteria in fish fed with probiotics compared to controls. Fish fed a supplemented diet containing 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g presented higher values of weight gain, survival and fish growth uniformity, and lower values of feed conversion ratio. The prevalence of Trichodina sp. could have affected the survival of fish in the control group. Reduction in parasite load and an increase in haematocrit, the number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils and monocytes were also observed in fish fed the diet containing 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g. Enterococcus faecium presented a probiotic effect in A. gigas juveniles and can be recommended for use at a concentration of 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g to modify the gut microbiota, improve growth performance and haematology and reduce parasitic load.