Utilizing a DUALEM‐421 and inversion modelling to map baseline soil salinity along toposequences in the Hunter Valley Wine district

In the oldest commercial wine district of Australia, the Hunter Valley, there is the threat of soil salinization because marine sediments underlie the area. To understand the risk requires information about the spatial distribution of soil properties. Electromagnetic (EM) induction instruments have been used to identify and map the spatial variation of average soil salinity to a certain depth. However, soils vary with depth dependent on soil forming factors. We collected data from a single‐frequency and multiple‐coil DUALEM‐421 along a toposequence. We inverted this data using EM4Soil software and evaluated the resultant 2‐dimensional model of true electrical conductivity (σ – mS/m) with depth against electrical conductivity of saturated soil pastes (EC_p – dS/m). Using a fitted linear regression (LR) model calibration approach and by varying the forward model (cumulative function‐CF and full solution‐FS), inversion algorithm (S1 and S2), damping factor (λ) and number of arrays, we determined a suitable electromagnetic conductivity image (EMCI), which was optimal (R² = 0.82) when using the full solution, S2, λ = 3.6 and all six coil arrays. We conducted an uncertainty analysis of the LR model used to estimate the electrical conductivity of the saturated soil‐paste extract (EC_e – dS/m). Our interpretation based on estimates of EC_e suggests the approach can identify differences in salinity, how these vary with parent material and how topography influences salt distribution. The results provide information leading to insights into how soil forming factors and agricultural practices influence salinity down a toposequence and how this can guide soil management practices.     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

卷边板件屈曲分析的半能量法

A semi-energy method to analyse the buckling behaviour of edge-stiffened plates under combined compression and bending is presented in this paper, One unloaded edge of the plate is restrained elastically against rotation and the other is stiffened by a st     

两端不等弯矩作用下薄壁梁柱的弯扭屈曲

本文采用Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｒｉｔｚ法求解两端不等弯矩作用下单轴对称开口薄壁截面梁柱弯扭屈曲临界荷载，分析中考虑了三种常见的边界条件以及屈曲前变形的影响，将本文弯扭屈由临界荷载理论值与试验值比较，吻合较好。     

自由放养下绵羊的营养参数

根据绵羊的营养参数和饲养标准,结合日增重水平,计算了不同日增重水平对应的体重月平均动态及其所对应的粗蛋白日需要量和代谢能日需要量。不同日增重水平,达到生长期望所需要的日数不同,日增重水平越高,达到生长期望总所需要的粗蛋白和代谢能越少,但月平均的日需要量越多。自由放养的东北细毛羊当年生羔羊的日增重水平仅相当于舍饲饲养日增重的100g水平,根据代谢能计算,年总需干草340kg,可以作为计算载畜量的基本参数。自由放养情况下,即使能量满足需要,粗蛋白也短缺。当年生羔羊日增重在150￣200g,9￣10月龄内体重达到46￣50kg是北方草地家畜生产的理想目标,通过补饲可以实现。     

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)。     

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in broiler chickens fed on corn-soybean diets affects performance in the finisher period and energy metabolites in breast muscle independent of diet nutrient density

(1) Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the single immediate endogenous precursor of creatine (Cr). It was hypothesised that dietary GAA would have different effects on performance and energy metabolites in breast muscle depending on the nutrient density (ND) of corn-soybean-based diets.

(2) A total of 540 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were allocated to 9 dietary treatments with 6 replicates (10 birds each) in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement with three levels of ND (low, 2800; medium, 2950 and high, 3100 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg; and with the other nutrients being constant relative to ME) and supplemented with three levels of GAA (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) in a 42-d feeding trial.

(3) In the starter and grower periods, increasing levels of ND improved body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), with the exception of ADFI in the starter period. GAA supplementation did not affect performance characteristics. All performance indicators responded markedly to increasing ND in the finisher period, whereas the highest GAA level reduced ADFI compared to the unsupplemented control (156 vs. 162 g/d) and concomitantly FCR (1.81 vs. 1.93). No interactive effects were noted for any performance trait. The high ND diet resulted in more breast meat yield on d42, associated with higher fat content and darker colour compared to the other ND levels. The GAA supplementation did not affect carcass and breast traits. At the end of the experiment, Cr was elevated when feeding GAA at 1.2 g/kg (5455 vs. 4338 mg/kg fresh muscle).

(4) To conclude, ND had a substantial effect on performance and carcass traits, whereas any effect of GAA was limited to FCR in the finisher period and independent of diet ND level.     

In ovo feeding of nutrients and its impact on post‐hatching water and feed deprivation up to 48 hr,energy status and jejunal morphology of chicks using response surface models

A Box–Behnken design (BBD) in a response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the response of broiler chicks to in ovo feeding (IOF) of beta‐hydroxy beta‐methylbutyrate (HMB), dextrin and the timing of the first water and feed deprivation. On day 18th of incubation, 1,500 eggs were randomly assigned to 15 experimental runs of BBD, each with 4 replicates, as 3 levels IOF of HMB (0%, 0.5% and 1%) and dextrin (0%, 20% and 40%), and 3 levels of the first water and feed deprivation (6, 27 and 48 hr). Day‐old chicks from each replicate were then used to assess the effect of IOF and time first water and feed access on chick's responses. The IOF of dextrin leads to respectively 9.7%–15.5% lower hatchability for 20% and 40% inclusion (p < .05), whereas HMB inclusion appeared with no effect on hatchability (p > .05). Administration of dextrin or HMB into the amnion of embryos elevated length, width and surface area of villus, and increased glycogen content of liver and breast (p < .05). In all parameter models, the linear terms showed highest contribution (R² = 0.81–0.97) to explain existing variation in chick's responses. The first water and feed deprivation had largest effect on BW2 and glycogen content of liver and breast. It is concluded that if possible, place chicks before 7 hr of hatch to preserve BW loss and have maximum response from IOF. If not possible, use IOF with 40% dextrin + 0.5% HMB to preserve gut integrity and energy status up to 48 hr. This should give advantage to chicks to recover fast after feeding, but that would have to be confirmed by trials growing birds to slaughter age.     

三峡水利工程对能源植物资源的影响及可持续利用对策探索

根据三峡库区特有的地理及气候特点,分析了三峡水利工程对能源植物带来的影响,初步提出了三峡库区能源植物可持续利用的对策措施,为库区发展生物能源提供决策依据。     

基于DEB理论的皱纹盘鲍个体生长模型参数的测定

为获取皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)个体生长模型所需的6个关键参数,设计了饥饿耗能、温度对耗氧的影响等相关生理实验,计算得到各项参数值。单位体积维持耗能率的值 、形成单位体积结构物质所需的能量值 、单位体积最大储存能量 和储备能量值 4个参数,通过连续测定皱纹盘鲍饥饿过程中呼吸耗氧率和软组织干重不断下降直至保持稳定时的能量值计算;温度函数中Arrhenius温度 的数值根据皱纹盘鲍在不同温度梯度下的单位干重耗氧率测定、计算;形状系数δm值通过统计测量的壳长、软组织湿重等生物学参数拟合回归得到。结果显示,皱纹盘鲍在饥饿后,呼吸耗氧率和软组织干重分别降低了26.3%和70.0%,呼吸耗氧率由2.69 mg/(ind.?h)逐渐降低并稳定在0.8 mg/(ind.?h),软组织干重由(5.21±0.89) g降低至(3.84±0.22) g;根据公式计算得 和 的值分别为20.18 J/(cm3?d)和8120 J/cm;皱纹盘鲍饥饿前后有机物含量分别为80%和58%,经过换算, 和 的值分别为2726 J/cm3和32583 J/g。不同规格的皱纹盘鲍在水温为5℃~20℃范围内,温度与单位干重耗氧率呈正比;当水温超过20℃之后,温度与单位干重耗氧率呈反比。在转折点20℃之前,单位干重耗氧率的ln值与温度(热力学温度,K)的倒数呈线性关系,线性回归方程斜率的绝对值为Arrhenius温度 值( =7196 K)。生物学统计分析鲍壳长(L)与体积(V)呈三次函数关系：V=0.0639 L3.1621(R²=0.9852),根据公式对软组织湿重的立方根与壳长进行线性回归,所得的斜率即为形状系数δm值(δm=0.43)。本研究对建立以DEB理论为指导的皱纹盘鲍个体生长模型提供了数据支撑。