Effect of Caudal Traction on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Epaxial and Pelvic Musculature on a Group of Horses With Signs of Back Pain

Direct muscular attachment from lumbar vertebrae to the caudal vertebrae of the tail suggests that caudal traction, also described as a tail pull, may affect lumbar vertebral segments and/or associated soft tissues in horses. Traction is a commonly used human manual therapy technique used for pain relief and anecdotally observed to relieve pain in horses. However, research is lacking validating the efficacy of manual caudal traction on the horse. The objective of this study was to determine if caudal traction has an effect on mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) in a group of horses with clinical signs of back pain. Pressure algometry was used to measure MNTs of five bilateral anatomical sites in the epaxial and pelvic musculature of 11 horses referred to physiotherapy because of clinical signs of back pain. Measurements were recorded both before and immediately after traction. A significant difference (P ≤ .05) was identified between mean before and after caudal traction algometry measurements in all described sites. The percentage of MNT increase was highest in the thoracic region (83%) compared with the lumbar (50%) and the pelvic (52.4%) regions. These results support an effect of caudal traction in increasing MNTs in the thoracolumbar and pelvic regions in horses. Further research to determine the clinical effect of this technique is warranted.     

番禺区主要植被类型及其改造途径

根据番禺地区的植被状况,采取样线调查方法,以小班为单位,对小班内的森林群落学因子进行实地调查记录,采集的数据包括样线上的物种名称、种群数量、平均树高、平均胸径、生长势、健康状况以及土壤、坡向、坡位、坡度等立地因子,分析现有植被类型的物种组成、林分结构等群落学特征,依据生态功能为主、兼顾景观功能的指导思想,提出了该区域典型植被亚热带常绿针叶林、亚热带次生常绿阔叶林、桉树相思类林、经济林等的改造路径和方法。     

退耕还林工程可持续发展问题研究

简要总结了我国自2002年全面启动退耕还林（草）工程以来所取得的成果．分析了还存在的工程规划不尽合理;没有建立起有效的产权制度;劣质种苗造林;未能适地适树等现象屡见不鲜;后续产业发展步履艰难等问题．为了巩固成果实现该工程的可持续发展,应采取保持政策的可持续性;政府进行宏观调控,刺激农民的参与意愿;征收生态环境补偿税;适地适树（草）提高工程质量等应对措施．     

蝴蝶泉公园生态环境修复与景观规划设计

文章介绍了第45届国际风景园林师联合会国际学生设计竞赛作品的构思创作过程及主要方案内容。利用蝴蝶数量逐渐减少这一线索,探求了云南大理蝴蝶泉地区的环境变迁。针对这个地区所发现的问题,通过水和植被等方面的规划,试图构建本地区自然环境的和谐良性循环。       

河北丰宁坝上土地沙漠化现状及其综合整治的研究

河北丰宁坝上的土地沙漠化主要表现在：①旱作农田的土壤风蚀。②缓起伏沙质草场的退化。③河滩低湿草地的退化。④丘陵山地阳坡的侵蚀沙化。综合整治的总方针是加强天然草原植被的合理管护与人工饲草饲料基地建设，建立综合防护林体系。