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.     

光照对箭筈豌豆及其子代生长和繁殖特性的影响

光照不仅会影响植物自身的生长,也可能会对其子代的生长具有潜在作用。以箭筈豌豆品种兰箭1号和兰箭3号为材料,分析遮荫和自然光照下箭筈豌豆及其子代的生长特性。结果表明:光照对箭筈豌豆生长和繁殖特性的影响因基因型而异。与光照条件相比,遮荫显著降低兰箭1号生物量及茎叶比,但对繁殖分配的比例影响不显著。与此相反,遮荫对兰箭3号的生长与繁殖无显著影响;母本光照环境对箭筈豌豆子代生长特性具有一定程度的影响,且这种影响因子代植株生长的光照环境而异。当子代在遮荫环境下,母本环境显著影响兰箭1号分枝数、地上生物量、总生物量、地上/地下生物量以及兰箭3号的分枝数。但当子代在光照环境下生长时,除兰箭3号分枝数外,其他生长特性均不受母本环境影响。     

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.     

双孢蘑菇2796菌丝生物学特性研究

研究了双孢菇2796菌丝的生物学特性。结果表明，菌丝生长的最适碳源为麦芽糖，最适氮源为(NH4)2SO4；最适温度为20--25℃；培养基最适含水量为60--65％；最适pH为6—7；菌丝在黑暗条件下生长良好，光照抑制菌丝生长；适宜的CO2浓度可刺激菌丝的生长。     

海南椴生长特性及苗木培育的初步研究

本文论述了海南椴幼年期生长特性，年生长节律，苗期生长规律以及苗木繁育技术。用ｌｏｇｌｓｔｉｃ方程拟合，找出高和直径生长的最优回归方程。     

河北山地森林的特点、地位和发展对策

河北的山地在植被上属于落叶阔叶林地带。河北山地的森林具有立地生产力较低，人工林和天然林年龄小，多与农田、果园和牧地等交叉分布的特点。河北的山地森林在改善山区的生态环境、维持生物多样性、供应城乡居民所需的用材和烧柴及果品、为人民提供游乐活动场所等方面起着重要的作用。河北山地森林应该遵循的发展方针是：要把山区的水土保持和生态环境建设列在首位；要以林为主，协调发展农、果、林、牧的关系；在培养森林上，要采取封山育林和人工造林并重的政策；要把经济林的发展和其他林种结合起来，重视自然保护区森林公园的建设。     

江西三种危害食用菌的绿色霉菌生物学特性研究

本文报道了江西三种危害食用菌的绿色霉菌的生物学特性。它们是:绿色木霉(Trichoderma Viride pers exFn)。产黄青霉(Penicillium Chrysoenum Thom)和构巢曲霉(Aspergillus nidulcms(Eidzm)Winter)。     

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…     

有源负载恒温槽性能分析

本文阐述了有源负载恒温槽的工作原理，推导了描述其静态特性的缩减因数表达式，并对这种恒温槽的性能和应用作出了评价。