Bronchoalveolar lavage in horses: effect of exercise and repeated sampling on cytology

SUMMARY Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at weekly intervals in 10 Thoroughbred horses in race training (group 1) and in 4 rested horses (group 2) for 10 weeks. Lavages were continued on a weekly basis in 4 group 1 horses for an additional 9 weeks (group 3). Cytological analysis of samples included leukocyte counts, erythrocyte counts, differential leukocyte counts, and haemosiderophage score. The mean leukocyte concentration was significantly lower in group 1(92.1 ± 4.6 cells/μL) when compared with group 2 (133.5 ± 8.2 cells/μL), P = 0.037. The differential leukocyte data were not significantly different between groups. There was a large amount of variability in the percent-age of macrophages and lymphocytes in the differential counts over time with no obvious trends. The proportion of neutrophils demonstrated a tendency to decrease over time for both groups 1 and 2. Erythrocyte counts and haemosiderin scores were significantly higher in the exercising group than the rested horses. Neither exercise nor the technique itself evoked an inflammatory response in the BAL fluid.     

Relative Flow-Time Relationships in Single Breaths Recorded After Treadmill Exercise in Thoroughbred Horses

Analysis of individual breaths after exercise has potential for pulmonary function testing. The aims of this study were to investigate the dependence of measurements of pulmonary function in single breaths on time postexercise and tidal volume (V_T) after treadmill exercise. Five Thoroughbred horses without evidence of airway disease were used. Horses had been previously acclimated to treadmill exercise and to wearing a face mask. A Quadflow spirometer recorded airflow rates continuously during 90 seconds after intense treadmill exercise to fatigue. Indices of function were based on ratios of times within each breath and analyses of the shape of relative flow–time curves within inspiration and expiration. Restricted maximum likelihood, general linear regression, repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and two sample t-tests were used, with statistical significance at P < .05. Time postexercise had no effect on several ratios based on time for inspiration (T_I) and expiration (T_E), and times to peak flows (T_I/T_T, T_E/T_T, T_E/T_I, Tpef [peak expiratory flow]/T_E, and Tpif [peak inspiratory flow]/T_I). Many variables were significantly dependent on V_T. Occasional big respiratory cycles with V_T more than 10% greater than in the previous breath had significantly different means for relative flow (Rf)/(T_E/T_I), epz_50% (50% of the time from Tpef to end of expiration), epz_75% (75% of the time from Tpef to end of expiration), and ipz_75% (75% of the time from Tpif to end of inspiration). Predicted means for these variables differed by 10–20%. This study establishes guidelines for the selection of breaths after exercise, and describes a new approach to measurement of relative flow and time relationships. It was concluded that several time-based ratios have potential for measuring pulmonary function. However, care is needed when selecting breaths for calculation of most of the new relative flow–time variables.     

评估调质时间和温度对猪颗粒饲料淀粉糊化度和维生素沉积的影响

本论文研究了饲料加工的两个关键参数(调质温度和时间)对育肥猪颗粒饲料淀粉糊化度和维生素沉积的影响。日粮配方为含30%干酒糟及其可溶物的玉米-豆粕型基础日粮。整个试验中配方保持不变。本试验采用2×3双因子设计,调质温度分别为77℃和88℃,调质时间分别15秒、30秒和60秒。此外,本试验还设置一个对照组,对照组饲料不采用调质制粒工艺,而是采用粉料饲喂。因此,本试验共有7个处理组。采集调质后制粒前(热干粉)、制粒后冷却前(热制粒)、以及制粒冷却后(冷制粒)的样品,并分析这三种样品的总淀粉率、淀粉糊化     

Changes in the fish species composition of all Austrian lakes >50 ha during the last 150 years

Abstract  The fish communities of all Austrian natural lakes ( n  = 43) larger than 50 ha in surface area were assessed and the historical fish communities in c . 1850 were reconstructed. During the last 150 years, the fish communities of Austrian lakes have altered: in 49% of lakes at least one indigenous fish species, usually sensitive or small-bodied taxa, is now missing. Conversely, in all but one of the 43 lakes the number of fish species has increased. In particular, certain fish species of interest to angling and commercial fisheries now occur in more lakes. Generalised linear models were used to identify variables that would explain the loss of fish species using categories of lake use (ranking score). The category human population density around the lakes seemed to be one of the main causes for the loss of fish species.     

工业型城乡交错区土壤重金属含量及其空间分异的特征-以无锡典型城乡交错区为例

Phosphorus （P） is necessary for growth and nitrogen fixation, and thus its deficiency is a major factor limiting legume production in most agricultural soils. The effect of phosphorus supply on nodule development and its role in soybeans （Glycine max L.） was studied in a nutrient solution. Plants were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and grown for 35 days in a glasshouse at a day and night temperature of 25℃ and 15℃, respectively. Although increasing P supply increased the concentrations of P and N in the shoots and roots, the external P supply did not significantly affect the P concentration in the nodules, and the N fixed per unit nodule biomass decreased with increasing P supply. The nitrogen content in the shoots correlated well with the P content （r=0.92＊＊）. At an inoculation level of 10^2 cells mL^-1, the P supply did not affect the number of nodules; however, at inoculation levels of 10^3.5 and 10^5 cells mL^-1, increasing P supply increased both the number and size of nodules. Irrespective of the inoculation level, increasing P supply increased the nodule biomass relative to the biomass of the host plant. It is suggested that the P deficiency specifically inhibited the nodule development and thereby the total N2 fixation.     

Suppression of nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae in a eutrophic lake with trace additions of copper

Nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae in highly eutrophic Clear Lake, California, was severely inhibited by trace amounts of copper. The chelation capacity of the lake is probably saturated by indigenous copper. Additions were only 1/200 of those normally used in algal control. Since nitrogen fixation provides half of the lake's annual nitrogen budget, economical eutrophication control appears possible.