Sacred sites as habitats of culturally important plant species in an Indian megacity

Cultural ecosystem services related to urban green spaces contribute significantly to liveable cities. While previous studies highlight the intersection of cultural ecosystem services with societal values, spiritual or religious values associated with urban nature have received less attention. In India, as in other parts of the world, sacred sites are known for their biological richness, but analyses from urban sacred sites are largely missing. Based on a stratified random sampling approach, we analysed the cultivated and wild plant species assemblages of 69 sacred sites in the megacity of Bengaluru, India, in relation to biological and cultural features, and parameters related to the urban matrix and type of sacred sites (temple vs. katte). Unlike other urban studies, we found a dominance of native species in the cultivated and spontaneous species pools (121 species in total), with Ficus religiosa and Azadirachta indica as most frequently planted species. Culturally relevant species prevailed in the species pool (89%), with overlaps between religious (36%), medicinal (50%) and ornamental (62%) plants; only 11% of species were weeds. Urban matrix parameters (age of development, housing density) and size and type of sacred sites were related to differences in species assemblages. We identified key species for different classes of age and housing density, and for types of sacred sites. Our study demonstrates that urban sacred sites have an important potential in harbouring both native and culturally significant species that can support urban livelihoods in developing countries by a range of cultural and provisioning ecosystem services, including medicinal uses. As such sites are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs, local biodiversity can be enhanced, e.g. by adapting management practices through community participation. This would strengthen the important contribution of sacred sites within the green infrastructure of rapidly growing megacities.     

不同周龄大耳白兔血液生理生化指标的测定

为了明确大耳白兔中国兽药监察所封闭群的生物学特性，对其血液生理生化指标进行了测定。选5、10及13周龄的雄兔和雌兔。空腹采血测定红细胞、白细胞等16项血液生理指标和血糖、总蛋白等16项生化指标。10周龄的红细胞数、白细胞数、红细胞压积和平均红细胞血红蛋白含量高于5周龄和13周龄，雌雄间血液生理指标无明显差异，血清丙氨酸转氨酶含量随着周龄的增加而升高，碱性磷酸则随着周龄的增加而下降。与日本大耳白兔相比，主要血液生理指标比较接近，丙氨酸转氨酸、白蛋白、尿素氮、直接胆红素等血液生化指标相近，其他指标有所不同。测定结果表明，该封闭群具有不同于日本大耳白兔（Slc:JW/CSK)的生物学特性。     

试论工科院校大学生的审美教育

工科院校在强调专业教育的同时，没能同样重视审美教育。加强对工科院校大学生的审美教育，有助于培养正确的审美观，提高审美能力;有助于完善知识结构，提升人文精神; 有助于形成独立完善的人格，提升人格境界;有助于培养个性和谐、德智体美全而发展的高素质人才。     

浅谈成人应用文写作教学的基本原则

成人应用文写作教学应结合成人特点，认真贯彻科学性与思想性相结合、理论与实际相结合、智力因素与非智力因素相结合、统一要求与因材施教相结合等基本教学原则，切实提高教学效果。     

高等农业教育在重庆全面建设小康社会中的地位与作用研究

重庆作为年轻的直辖市，城镇化程度低，是典型的农业大市。因此，没有农业的现代化也没有整个重庆的现代化；没有广大农村地区的全面小康就谈不上整个重庆的全面小康。文章针对重庆特别是农村实际，通过分析重庆农村能否实现全面小康，对整个重庆全面小康的影响，破解农村问题的基本思路；以及针对重庆教育特别是高等农业教育的发展现状、高等农业教育在全面建设农村小康社会中的地位与作用作了进一步的研究。探索出高等农业教育在重庆全面建设农村小康社会中地位特殊、作用重要，发展高等农业教育的任务紧迫。     

西北少数民族地区教育立法初探

西北少数民族地区由于经济和社会发展的滞后,教育普遍比较落后,西部大开发,需要从教育立法的高度来促进西北少数民族地区教育的发展,从而发挥教育在少数民族地区发展中的作用。     

大众化教育背景下高等教育定位的思索

本文分析了传统高等教育定位与高等教育现状的种种不适应情况，提出了在大众化教育背景下应建立高等教育的新定位。从教育主体、教育理念、发展目标、人才培养、教育模式和教育政治关系等方面探讨高等教育的新定位，明确指出新世纪高等教育的任务与责任。     

素质教育应注重人的思维创新能力的培养和提高

本文论述了培养大学生的科学思维方式和提高他们的创新能力及其在素质教育中的重大意义。     

Sensitivity,specificity, and predictive values of reagent test strip estimations of blood urea nitrogen

Azostix-reagent-tests(R) strips (Ames, Miles, Inc., Diagnostic Division, Elkhart, IN) were used to measure blood urea nitrogen values in blood samples from 125 dogs and cats at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Results of the tests were compared with standard serum urea nitrogen results. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values were high (86.4, 90.3, and 96.5%, respectively). Positive predictive value was low, 65.5% of the dogs and cats with elevated blood urea nitrogen values were correctly classified as abnormal The test performs well when the prevalence of abnormal values is near 50%.     

Prediction of breeding values for osseous fragments in fetlock and hock joints, deforming arthropathy in hock joints, and pathologic changes in the navicular bones of Hanoverian Warmblood horses

The results of a standardised radiological examination of 5928 Hanoverian Warmblood horses selected for sale at auction were used to predict relative breeding values (RBV) in the 23,662 horses included in the last four generations of the probands' pedigrees. The distribution of the RBV was investigated in the whole four-generation pedigree, in the probands and in those stallions that contributed at least three offspring to the probands. The RBV of the probands' sires were further compared with the officially published performance-based relative breeding values, i.e., total indices dressage (TID) and jumping (TIJ). The sires' level of dressage indices was considerably higher (mean TID=110) than of the jumping indices (mean TIJ=98). Total indices radiographic findings (TIR) were calculated for the sires with varying weighting given to the individual RBV. In each case, this resulted in a mean TIR of 99. Finally, total indices were derived from TIR and TID and/or TIJ in order to develop different selection schemes for all-purpose breeding and for breeding focused on dressage and show jumping. All breeding values under consideration increased by between 1% and 19% when radiographic findings were weighted with between 30% and 60% complementary to the corresponding performance parameters, and when only sires were selected with above average total indices. At the same time, the prevalences of the radiographic findings investigated here were lowered by up to 10% each. When only one radiographic finding was considered at a time, the maximum attainable response to selection was a 16-23% increase in the relative breeding values and a relative decrease in prevalences of radiographic findings of between 31% and 52%. The results of this study indicate that it is possible in horse breeding to consider simultaneously health and performance traits. Medical data should be included in the prediction of breeding values in order to improve the radiological status of today's riding horses.