Effects of Large Saddle Panels on the Biomechanics of the Equine Back During Rising Trot: Preliminary Results

The saddle panels, directly in contact with the horse's back, are likely an important element to optimize the fitting of the saddle, the comfort of the horse, and subsequently, the pain management in dorsalgic horses. The aim of this study was to better understand the effect of the saddle panels on the horse's back, by evaluating a prototype saddle (comfort panels: CP) compared to a standard saddle (STD). The horse's back movements were measured using inertial measurement units (IMUs) fixed at the levels of thoracic vertebrae T6, T12, T16 (under the saddle) and lumbar vertebrae L2 and L5. The centers of mass (COMs) of the horse and the rider and limb's protraction-retraction angles, pressure between saddle and horse's back, and force on the stirrups were measured using respectively 2D motion capture, pressure mat and force sensors in the stirrup leather. Three horses were trotted at the rising trot (sitting: left diagonal-rider seated; standing: right diagonal-rider standing) by the same rider. To compare saddles, linear mixed-effects regression models were used. The estimated means (SE) were calculated. During sitting phase, pressure in the cranial and middle areas of the saddle significantly increased for CP compared to STD (+0.9 (0.2) kPa and +1.0 (0.1) kPa, respectively) whereas caudal pressure decreased (−1.8 (0.4) kPa). Concurrently, the range of motion of angles T12-T16 and T16-L2 under the saddle significantly increased (+1.8 (0.2)° and +2.3 (0.3)°, respectively). The results showed that modifications of the panels' shape not only affect the pressure distribution but also the kinematics of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the equine back.     

Characterizing historical and modern fire regimes in Michigan (USA): A landscape ecosystem approach

We studied the relationships of landscape ecosystems to historical and contemporary fire regimes across 4.3 million hectares in northern lower Michigan (USA). Changes in fire regimes were documented by comparing historical fire rotations in different landscape ecosystems to those occurring between 1985 and 2000. Previously published data and a synthesis of the literature were used to identify six forest-replacement fire regime categories with fire rotations ranging from very short (<100 years) to very long (>1,000 years). We derived spatially-explicit estimates of the susceptibility of landscape ecosystems to fire disturbance using Landtype Association maps as initial units of investigation. Each Landtype Association polygon was assigned to a fire regime category based on associations of ecological factors known to influence fire regimes. Spatial statistics were used to interpolate fire points recorded by the General Land Office. Historical fire rotations were determined by calculating the area burned for each category of fire regime and dividing this area by fifteen (years) to estimate area burned per annum. Modern fire rotations were estimated using data on fire location and size obtained from federal and state agencies. Landtype Associations networked into fire regime categories exhibited differences in both historical and modern fire rotations. Historical rotations varied by 23-fold across all fire rotation categories, and modern forest fire rotations by 13-fold. Modern fire rotations were an order of magnitude longer than historical rotations. The magnitude of these changes has important implications for forest health and understanding of ecological processes in most of the fire rotation categories that we identified.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

寒潮天气表冷器-风机集放热系统对连栋大棚热湿环境的影响

连栋塑料大棚棚内环境易受寒潮侵扰,为调节棚内热湿环境,将表冷器-风机集放系统应用于连栋塑料大棚中,在白天适宜条件下运行系统,将棚内空气盈余的热量收集并储存在蓄热水箱中,夜间气温较低时,再将储存的热量释放出来用以加温。对表冷器-风机集放热系统的运行效果进行试验,通过集热量、放热量和性能系数等评价集放热性能,并且将水气温差作为主要影响因素对系统运行阶段分别进行热流量分析和分析。结果表明,在寒潮下系统可以保证棚内气温比棚外高5.2～7.8 ℃。集热量达到了390.6～693 MJ,放热量为361.2～609 MJ,系统性能系数达到了4.4～7.2,节能效果较为显著。系统在运行过程中水气温差每增长1 ℃,集热流量增加0.82 kW,放热流量增加0.58 kW,单位时间内换热量较大;此外系统在集热阶段析湿系数约为1.70,表冷器-风机进出口空气含湿量差最高可达1.3×10-3 kg/kg,说明在集热阶段系统具有冷凝除湿的效果;同时在冷凝除湿过程中系统效率随着水气温差的增加而增加,最高可达到82.8%,能量利用率较高。该研究对保证连栋塑料大棚安全越冬生产具有重要意义。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区地表过程响应单元划分及其地形特征提取

地表过程解析与调控是保障人与自然和谐相处的重要途径,高效、合理地划分地表过程响应单元则是开展地表过程研究的重要前提.针对黄土丘陵沟壑区土壤侵蚀的地形地貌分异特征,提出在小流域内以沟谷线、山脊线、分水线和沟缘线相互交叠,构成具有相对均一坡向、坡度与坡位的地表过程响应单元,在ArcGIS9.2中,以Hc-DEM为基础数据,通过确定沟谷线、山脊线、分水线和沟缘线的提取方法,以及响应单元平均坡度、整体坡向、面积与周长等地形特征的测算技术,实现地表过程响应单元的快速划分及其地形特征的高效提取.研究结果对促进黄土丘陵沟壑区以土壤侵蚀为代表的地表过程研究具有重要的基础意义.     

Combined mutations in five wheat STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME II genes improve resistant starch but affect grain yield and bread-making quality

Increases in the proportion of amylose in the starch of wheat grains result in higher levels of resistant starch, a fermentable dietary fiber associated with human health benefits. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of combined mutations in five STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME II (SBEII) genes on starch composition, grain yield and bread-making quality in two hexaploid wheat varieties. Significantly higher amylose (∼60%) and resistant starch content (10-fold) was detected in the SBEII mutants than in the wild-type controls. Mutant lines showed a significant decrease in total starch (6%), kernel weight (3%) and total grain yield (6%). Effects of the mutations in bread-making quality included increases in grain hardness, starch damage, water absorption and flour protein content; and reductions in flour extraction, farinograph development and stability times, starch viscosity, and loaf volume. Several traits showed significant interactions between genotypes, varieties, and environments, suggesting that some of the negative impacts of the combined SBEII mutations can be ameliorated by adequate selection of genetic background and growing location. The deployment of wheat varieties with increased resistant starch will likely require economic incentives to compensate growers and millers for the significant reductions detected in grain and flour yields.     

水电机组振动故障的粗糙集-神经网络诊断方法

针对当前水电机组故障原因复杂,实际监测数据量大,采用神经网络方法进行机组故障诊断存在网络结构复杂、训练时间长、诊断困难的问题,文章将粗糙集理论引入到水电机组故障诊断中,提出了基于粗糙集理论与RBF神经网络相结合的水电机组故障诊断方法。在保持分类能力不变的前提下,用粗糙集理论对故障信息进行约简处理,然后用RBF神经网络对预处理后的故障信息进行诊断,使神经网络的输入神经元数目明显减少,其结构得以简化。通过对某电站实测机组数据进行离线故障诊断,证明该诊断方法有效提高了机组故障诊断的效率和准确性。     

农业科研单位创新文化建设途径探析

科技进步离不开科技创新,科技创新又需要创新文化的支持,文章分析了农业科研单位创新文化的现状及存在的问题,提出从更新观念树立以人为本的思想、倡导追求科学真理宽容失败的科学精神、加强管理体制和机制的创新、加强精神文明建设等方面构建创新文化。     

Assessing spatial variability and erosion susceptibility of soils in hilly agricultural areas in Southern Italy

Soil erosion is one of the main environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. This problem is becoming even more important especially in Italy, in the Apennines, where severe erosive processes occur due to the action of concentrated running water. The erodibility (K-Factor) of a soil, estimated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), is a measure of its susceptibility to erosion and depends on several soil properties such as organic matter, texture and permeability and structure.To assess the spatial variability of soil properties and soil erodibility in hilly agricultural areas and to investigate the relationships between soil features and landscape morphodynamics, a detailed study in Molise region (southern Italy), in a small drainange basin located along its hilly Adriatic flank, was carried out. In this catchment, 63 topsoil samples (A horizons) were collected and 10 soil profiles, forming a catena crossing 3 land units, were sampled. The calculated K-Factors ranges between 0.012 and 0.048 t ha h ha⁻¹ MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹ indicating a complex spatial distribution, due to the several local pedological and geomorphological factors affecting soil erodibility. The results give clear evidence about the relationships among soil characteristics, soil erodibility and landscape morpho-dynamics (land units).Comparing the soil loss rates estimated for the study area with those reported in literature, a good correspondence can be observed only for the more stable land unit, not characterized by intense erosive processes. The proposed methodology is suitable to highlight areas characterized by similar morphodynamics features, and comparable soil erodibility, for a more effective spatialization of K factor.     

Bush cover and range condition assessments in relation to landscape and grazing in southern Ethiopia

Progressive growth of bush cover in dry savannahs is responsible for declines in range conditions. In southern Ethiopia, the Booran pastoralists assisted our understanding of spatial patterns of bush cover and range conditions in 54 landscape patch types grouped into six landscape units within an area of 30000 km². The size of landscape patches sampled was 625 m². We assessed the relationships between bush cover, grass cover and bare soil and grazing pressure and soil erosion and changes in range condition. Externally, political conflicts and internally, break down of land use, and official bans on the use of fire promoted bush cover and the decline in range conditions. Bush cover was negatively correlated with grass cover, and positively correlated with bare soil. Grass cover was negatively correlated with bare soil and grazing pressure in most landscape patch types. Grazing pressure was not significantly correlated with bush cover or bare soil, while soil erosion was directly related to bare soil. Soil erosion was absent in 64% of the landscape patch types, and seemingly not a threat to the rangelands. The relationship between bush cover, grass cover, bare soil and soil erosion is complex and related to climate, landscape geology, and patterns of land use. Main threats to range conditions are bush climax, loss of grass cover and unpalatable forbs. Currently, >70% of the landscape patch types are in poor to fair range conditions. Decline in range conditions, unless reversed, will jeopardise the pastoral production system in southern Ethiopia.