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.     

Determination of critical nitrogen dilution curve based on leaf area index for winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

Excessive use of nitrogen(N) fertilizers in agricultural systems increases the cost of production and risk of environmental pollution. Therefore, determination of optimum N requirements for plant growth is necessary. Previous studies mostly established critical N dilution curves based on aboveground dry matter(DM) or leaf dry matter(LDM) and stem dry matter(SDM), to diagnose the N nutrition status of the whole plant. As these methods are time consuming, we investigated the more rapidly determined leaf area index(LAI) method to establish the critical nitrogen(N_c) dilution curve, and the curve was used to diagnose plant N status for winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted using four N fertilization levels(0, 105, 210 and 315 kg ha-1) applied to six wheat cultivars in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 growing seasons. LAI, DM, plant N concentration(PNC) and grain yield were determined. Data points from four cultivars were used for establishing the N_c curve and data points from the remaining two cultivars were used for validating the curve. The N_c dilution curve was validated for N-limiting and non-N-limiting growth conditions and there was good agreement between estimated and observed values. The N nutrition index(NNI) ranged from 0.41 to 1.25 and the accumulated plant N deficit(N_(and)) ranged from 60.38 to –17.92 kg ha~(-1) during the growing season. The relative grain yield was significantly affected by NNI and was adequately described with a parabolic function. The N_c curve based on LAI can be adopted as an alternative and more rapid approach to diagnose plant N status to support N fertilization decisions during the vegetative growth of winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China.     

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.     

4种植物油热氧化同步荧光光谱分析

以亚麻籽油、大豆油、菜籽油与葵花籽油为原料,在不同温度条件下氧化并测定其不同时间的同步荧光光谱,分析同步荧光光谱及荧光物质变化情况。结果表明,4种植物油不同温度下的同步荧光光谱峰变化主要集中在300~415 nm内,且随着加热时间的延长存在波动现象;在50℃和150℃加热氧化条件下,300,330,375,415 nm这4个峰都存在明显的波动现象;二维相关分析表明,这4个峰的荧光强度变化速率不同,不同油变化差异较大;同种油在不同温度下,4个峰的波动情况、相互关系、变化速率均有明显差异。这些峰的变化与油脂氧化过程中荧光物质和油脂氧化程度的变化有关,可以利用同步荧光光谱的变化特性作为监控油脂氧化的依据。     

番茄褪绿病毒在湖南省首次发生

2016年7月在湖南省蔬菜病害调查中发现,4种茄科蔬菜表现出叶脉间褪绿、叶片黄化等症状,疑似被番茄褪绿病毒(Tomato chlorosis virus,To CV)感染,同时叶片背面聚集了大量烟粉虱。采用To CV热激蛋白(heat shock protein 70,HSP70)序列的特异性引物对采集的番茄、茄子、辣椒、马铃薯样品和烟粉虱样品进行RT-PCR检测,均扩增出目标条带,且扩增序列与北京番茄To CV分离物(KC887999.1)部分序列相似度为99.0%,确认采集样品被To CV感染。4种茄科蔬菜To CV的感染率达70%~100%;发病叶片上烟粉虱的带毒率为66.7%~87.5%;鉴定出烟粉虱的生物类型为MED烟粉虱。这是湖南省首次确认该病毒,需要引起关注和加强防范。     

蔬菜幼苗叶面积快速测定方法筛选与优化

为得到一种快速且准确测定蔬菜幼苗叶面积的方法,以番茄幼苗为试材,以方格法为对照,研究扫描分析法、叶面积仪法、打孔称重法测定叶面积的准确性、精确性与测定速度,然后采用黄瓜、辣椒叶片及纸片的面积对测定结果进行验证,最后基于不同扫描分辨率对筛选出的方法进行优化。结果表明,相比叶面积仪法和打孔称重法,扫描分析法测定结果更接近真实值,且精度更高,用时更短。扫描分析法不同分辨率下测定结果无显著差异,且扫描分辨率越低所需测定时间越短。扫描分辨率50 dpi下的扫描分析法可作为一种快速准确测定蔬菜幼苗叶面积的方法。     

黑龙江省国有林区脆弱异质性家庭对停伐政策的态度及影响因素研究

基于2016年黑龙江省重点国有林区348户家庭的微观调查数据,实证分析黑龙江省国有林区脆弱异质性家庭对停伐政策的态度及影响因素。采用因子分析与综合评价法将348户职工家庭分为脆弱性家庭和非脆弱性家庭,描述性分析2组样本家庭对停伐政策的态度及认知情况,利用多元有序logit模型分析脆弱性与非脆弱性家庭对停伐政策态度的影响因素。结果表明:非脆弱性家庭对停伐政策的了解程度及执行情况的评价均高于脆弱性家庭,脆弱性家庭相对非脆弱性家庭对停伐政策的认可度较高,但是应对风险冲击的能力相对较低。脆弱性家庭和非脆弱性家庭对停伐政策的态度受户主特征、家庭特征以及政策认知特征变量的显著影响,但脆弱性家庭变量参数估计绝对值相对更大,因而停伐政策对脆弱性家庭有着更为敏感和强烈的冲击。     

NO对大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区DA神经元的调节

实验观察了微量注射 NOS抑制剂 L -NAME及微量联合注射 NO的前体 L-精氨酸( L-Arg) L-NAME于大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区( VTA)对该部位多巴胺神经元的调节。发现VTA注射 L -NAME( 1 mg/ 5μL )后 ,伏隔核( Acb)多巴胺 ( DA )代谢产物—双羟苯乙酸( DOPAC)水平升高到注射前的 1 2 2 .5% ( P <0 .0 0 1 ) ,小剂量注射 L-NAME( 0 .2 mg/ 5μL)对伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显影响 ;同样方法联合注射 L-Arg( 3 0 0 μg/ 5μL) L-NAME( 1 mg/5μL)后 ,伏隔核 DOPAC水平无明显变化。结论 :VTA微量注射 L-NAME兴奋了该部位的DA神经元 ,而 L -Arg L -NAME联合注射 ,却不能影响 DA神经元的活动 ,说明 NO可以通过L-Arg-NOS-NO途径参与 VTA多巴胺神经元的调节     

菜用加工兼用栗永荆3号选育

一般认为我国南方栗仅宜于菜用，加工极易开瓣和糊化，经过几年的筛选和加工试剂，永荆3号品种可生产B－E级标准的糖水栗子罐头。     

我国农业区域开发简史及历史经验

本文讨论了中国农区开发之始、几个主要农区的深开发、黄淮江湖的连片开发、海河流域的开发、其它农区的开发和农区开发的历史经验与教训。完好的灌溉系统、导致深开发的人工运河和农业技术是开发成功的要素。