Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

浅谈人造薄木生产中单板的漂白

详细阐述了木材颜色的成因及漂白机理，重点介绍了人造薄木生产过程中单板漂白工艺。研究表明，经漂白处理的单板，颜色明显变浅，色调也比较均匀，而且还消除了板面污染，对单板的染色十分有利。     

环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响

选用6只9周龄新西兰母兔,评定环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响。试验在密闭式的小动物呼吸测热柜中进行。分别对处于环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃,采食两种不同营养浓度的试兔进行测试。饲粮营养水平实测值,分别为12.22kJ ME/g和13.49kJ ME/g;粗蛋白质(CP)分别为17.3％和21.6％;中性洗涤纤维(NDF)分别为23.7％和16.5％。结果表明:环境温度影响试兔的能量平衡,它与采食量间存在着显著的相关。20±2℃时,相关系数r=0.798;30±2℃时,相关系数r=0.875。在本试验设计范围内,饲粮营养浓度并不影响代谢能食入量(ME_I),热增耗(HP)和能量平衡(EB)。当环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃时,表观代谢能转化率(NE/ME)分别为51％和71％;每天每兔每千克代谢体重代谢能维持需要分别为396 kJ和361 kJ。试验结果认为:环境温度影响营养物质消化率(P相似文献   

23种广东常见阔叶树材的耐磨性质

本文报导23种广东常见阔叶树材的耐磨性试验结果,并对耐磨性与木材密度、硬度的关系及木材耐磨性各向异性问题作了讨论。     

Humble Opinion of Roof Gardens

1 GENERALRoof gardens can be extensively interpreted as ageneral designation, which means building variousrecreational garden on roofs, gazebos and terracesof both ancient and modern buildings, structures, andbridges (flyovers) (Jin Weiping, 1996). Cities aredensely populated and land is costly, so shortage ofland is one of the restrictive factors in green urbandevelopment. According to statistics, the green spaceis 2~3 m2 per capita in Chinese cities. As a result, todevelop roof gardens h…     

超临界CO_2流体处理工艺对木材渗透性的影响

以苯—乙醇为夹带剂,研究超临界CO2流体不同处理压力、温度、时间对福建产杉木、马尾松、檫木木材渗透性的影响。结果表明,在35 MPa内,处理压力的增大有利于3种木材渗透性的提高;杉木在处理温度为40℃时,渗透性的变化率达到最大,为493%,马尾松和檫木在处理温度为45℃时,渗透性的变化率达到最大,分别为479%和349%;较佳的处理时间为30 min。     

火炬松短周期工业材不同高度上干缩性能的研究

对湖南同一立地指数（１８）下，５株１７．５年生的火炬松（ＰｉｎａｓｔａｅｄａＬ．）短周期工业材１．３，３．６，５．６，７．６，９．６ｍ５个高度的木材干缩系数、基本密度、生长轮宽度、晚材率和微纤丝角度，按生长轮取样，进行了测量和统计分析．结果表明，弦向、径向、体积干缩系数和干缩比，在树于５个高度之间的差异，均达到了显著水平；各高度干缩系数与生长轮的年龄（离髓心的距离）以及与上述各主要构造因子之间呈显著的线性相关，且相关度度随树干高度的增加而减弱．     

不同生长年限王草的营养价值研究

本文对生长第1、2、3年的王草在100cm高度时刈割的营养成分及其体外干物质、有机物降解率进行分析研究。结果表明:不同生长年限王草第1年的粗蛋白质显著高于第2、3年(P<0.05),而中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)显著低于第3年(P<0.05)。干物质、有机物的降解率第1年最高,第3年的最低,但差异不大。     

不同月龄生长公牛日粮营养物质消化规律的研究

本试验选用3头6月龄左右断奶中国荷斯坦公牛,在试验全程喂以相对稳定的日粮,从2003年11月1日开始,到2004年6月20日结束,用以测定中国荷斯坦生长公牛在不同生长期对饲粮中各营养成分的代谢情况。试验结果表明:日粮中的DM、OM、NDF、ADF、淀粉和粗蛋白质的表观消化率随着生长犊牛的月龄的增加而增加(P<0.05);并且9月龄以后,DM、OM、NDF、ADF和粗蛋白质的表观消化率增长不明显(P>0.05),淀粉的表观消化率则在11月龄以后增长不明显(P>0.05)。氮的净吸收率随着生长犊牛的月龄的增加而下降(P<0.05),且在9月龄以后下降不明显(P>0.05)。