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.     

青藏高原地区积雪变化及特征分析

利用我国高原地区1963-2002年的逐月积雪日数资料,以及1972-2011年的格点积雪月频率资料,分析、对比了两种资料在该地区的时空演变特征。结果表明：同时段的(1972-2002)站点资料与格点资料相比,空间分布其高值区与积雪日数增值区均偏西北,偏北程度大致为3~4°,偏西程度大致为2~3°,且中心更为明显。在青藏高原西侧(85°E以西),积雪日数呈整体下降趋势。两种资料的积雪日数EOF分析存在一定的偏差,这与其对应的空间分布差异及气候趋势空间分布存在的偏差相吻合。     

甘蔗热带种金属硫蛋白家族基因的克隆及响应重金属胁迫的表达分析

金属硫蛋白是一类富含巯基的低分子量蛋白,在植物的重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面起重要的作用。本研究以甘蔗热带种Badila组培苗为材料,分别测定了其在CdCl2、ZnSO4和CuCl2水溶液培养条件下地上部和地下部的重金属含量,结果显示其对上述3种重金属有较强的耐受与富集能力。继而克隆了ScMT1(登录号为KJ504373)、ScMT2-1-5(登录号为MH191346)和ScMT3(登录号为KJ5043704)3个金属硫蛋白家族基因,它们分别属于植物MT亚家族中的MT1、MT2和MT3型基因。ScMT1含有1个内含子和2个外显子,开放阅读框(Open Reading Frame,ORF)长228 bp,编码75个氨基酸;ScMT2-1-5含有2个内含子和3个外显子,ORF长246 bp,编码81个氨基酸;ScMT3含有1个内含子和2个外显子,ORF长198 bp,编码65个氨基酸。RT-qPCR显示,Cd2+胁迫下,在甘蔗地上部和地下部,ScMT2-1-5均连续显著上调表达,而ScMT1的上调应答出现延迟。ScMT3在地上部的上调应答出现延迟,在地下部呈“扬-抑”趋势,提示甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫过程中ScMT2-1-5起更积极的作用,ScMT1参与胁迫后期的分子响应,而ScMT3不起主导作用。Cu^2+胁迫下,地上部ScMT1连续显著上调表达,ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3呈总体上调的表达趋势;地下部,ScMT1和ScMT2-1-5的上调表答均出现延迟,仅在胁迫后期显著上调表达,而ScMT3仅在胁迫前期显著上调表达。该结果提示了ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在Cu2+胁迫响应过程中的协作关系,三者共同参与了地上部的胁迫响应,其中ScMT1起更积极的作用;此外三者还先后参与了地下部对Cu^2+胁迫的分子响应。Zn^2+胁迫下,ScMT1和ScMT3分别仅在地上部和地下部显著上调表达;ScMT2-1-5在地上部和地下部均呈“扬-抑”的应答趋势;提示了在甘蔗响应Cd^2+胁迫应答过程中ScMT1和ScMT3分别在地上部和地下部起主要作用,ScMT2-1-5参与了胁迫前期的分子响应。ScMT1、ScMT2-1-5和ScMT3在甘蔗不同组织中及在重金属(Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+)不同累积水平下呈现出相似或互补的应答特性,提示上述甘蔗MT家族不同成员在重金属解毒及细胞氧化还原调控等方面产生了功能分化,且三者在应对过量Cd^2+、Zn^2+或Cu^2+对甘蔗组织造成伤害的过程中存在时空上的协同作用。该研究为深入理解多倍体植物甘蔗中MT家族各成员基因在重金属耐受过程中的协同作用机制奠定了基础。     

茶树花青素形成分子机理的研究进展

花青素是由类黄酮合成途径产生的次生代谢产物,含量高时会使茶树新梢呈现红色或紫色。同时,花青素相比儿茶素等具有更明显的抗氧化、预防肿瘤等药理保健作用。文章就茶树花青素合成途径、转录及转录后调控等方面进行综述,以期更好地为高花青素茶树的育种研究提供理论依据。     

Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Mapping the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston using Google Street View panoramas

Street trees provide shade and increase human thermal comfort during hot summer. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston, Massachusetts. The sky view factor (SVF), which influences the solar radiation to the ground and affects human thermal comfort, was used to indicate the contribution of street trees on shade provision. Google Street View (GSV) panoramas were used to calculate the photographic method based SVF (SVF_P), with the consideration of all kinds of obstructions within street canyons. A building height model was used to calculate the simulation based SVF (SVFs), with consideration of obstruction of building blocks only. Considering the fact that street trees and building blocks are the two major obstructions of radiation within street canyons, therefore, the difference between the two SVF estimation results can be considered as the shade provision of street trees. The results show that street trees help to decrease the SVF by 24.61% in Boston, Massachusetts. The shading level varies spatially in the study area. Generally, the southwestern area has much higher shading level than the north and the east. We further explored the shading variation among different socioeconomic groups in the study area. Result shows that Hispanics tend to live in neighborhoods with lower shading level. This study can help to provide a reference for future urban greening projects for global climate change adaption.     

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.     

品种间大豆脂肪氧化酶活性差异及β-胡萝卜素漂白性研究

为了解东北地区大豆品种间大豆脂肪氧化酶(LOX)活性差异规律,整理适于东北地区种植的大豆种质资源307份(6份半野生品种,17份地方品种及4份国外品种,其余为栽培品种),统一种植,秋季收获后,测定各品种成熟籽粒脂肪氧化酶总活性。分析品种间脂肪氧化酶总活性分布规律、大豆脂肪氧化酶总活性与β-胡萝卜素漂白性之间关系。结果表明,307份大豆品种间脂肪氧化酶总活性差异极显著,平均值为21.68 U·mL~(-1),最小值为2.51 U·mL~(-1),最大值为42.38 U·mL~(-1)。根据脂肪氧化酶总活性差异,通过聚类分析将307份大豆品种分为3类。低活性品种占总量43.65%,脂肪氧化酶总活性平均值为15.25 U·mL~(-1);中等活性品种占总量43.97%,脂肪氧化酶活性平均值为24.64 U·mL~(-1);高活性品种占总量12.38%,脂肪氧化酶总活性平均值为33.87 U·mL~(-1)。脂肪氧化酶总活性与油分含量呈正相关,与蛋白含量呈负相关,与漂白性呈正相关。