Stress in Dairy Farming and the Adoption of New Technology.

Previous studies have identified a number of different farm stressors and have reported gender and age differences in levels of stress. This study aimed to determine stress experienced by New Zealand dairy farmers, particularly in relation to adoption of new technology and its relationship to age and gender. Measures of farm stress and adoption of technology were completed by 985 dairy farmers. The highest levels of stress were reported for time pressures, machinery breakdown, weather, and government policies. Stress related to new technologies occurred rarely. Women reported more stress and higher levels of stress for understanding new technologies. There was also an increase in severity of stress with age related to new technologies. Overall, stress levels were moderate and may reflect favorable economic conditions. The findings suggest a need to tailor stress interventions to meet specific needs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aplysia sea hare assimilation of secondary metabolites from brown seaweed,Stypopodium zonale

JuvenileAplysia dactylomela were found feeding in abundance on the tropical brown algaStypopodium zonale, a seaweed previously shown to contain numerous unique terpene-quinone natural products. Lipid extracts of these herbivorous mollusks were shown by TLC and HPLC-NMR analyses to contain appreciable quantities of twoS. zonale metabolites as well as one new but closely related compound. Spectroscopic analyses of the new compound in concert with functional group modifications identified this new compound as 3-keto epitaondiol. A careful analysis of the seaweed extract failed to locate this ketone, and thus, it most likely represents anAplysia-biotransformed compound. This is the first clear reported observation of metabolite transfer between an alga of the phylum Phaeophyta and a sea hare.     

Physiological and behavioral effects of coniferyl benzoate on avian reproduction

Various plant secondary metabolites related to cinnamic acid are of interest because of their repellency to birds and their occurrence in ecologically important food items. Coniferyl benzoate (CB), a phenylpropanoid ester that occurs in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is of particular ecological interest because of its effect on ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) feeding behavior and its possible influence on the population dynamics of this bird. During detoxification processes, CB and other analogous compounds are metabolized into by-products, such as ferulic acid (FA), that can cause anti-reproductive effects. We tested whether consumption of CB produces antire-productive effects similar to FA using male and female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) as avian models for ruffed grouse. The parameters we investigated included: the production, morphology, and development of eggs; reproductive characteristics influenced by estrogen; serum prolactin levels; and male reproductive behavior. Dietary CB did not produce antireproductive effects similar to FA at intake levels that Japanese quail and ruffed grouse would freely consume. Consumption of CB by Japanese quail significantly reduced egg production and body mass but did not affect male reproductive performance. Coniferyl benzoate's effect on egg production may be explained by lower energy acquisition and retention rather than endocrine changes per se. Contrary to previous reports, it is unlikely that FA, or similar compounds act directly as estrogen mimics or antagonists. Although, CB did reduce egg production in quail, it is unlikely that it would affect egg production in wild ruffed grouse. Detoxification costs and the effects of CB on nutrient utilization may explain why ruffed grouse avoid high dietary levels of CB.     

Smallholders’ Soil Fertility Management in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia: Implications for Nutrient Stocks, Balances and Sustainability of Agroecosystems

Low agricultural productivity caused by soil degradation is a serious problem in the Ethiopian Highlands. Here, we report how differences in soil fertility management between farming systems, based either on enset (Ensete ventricosum) or on teff (Eragrostis tef) as the major crops, affect the extent of nutrient stocks, balances and ecosystem sustainability. We collected information on farmers’ resources and nutrient management practices from stratified randomly selected households in two watersheds in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. In addition, we collected soil samples from each land use and calculated nutrient stocks, partial and full nutrient balances (N, P and K) for one cropping season. Our results show that farmers in the two farming systems manage their soils differently and that nutrient inputs were positively related to farmers’ wealth status. The watershed with the enset-based system had higher soil N and K stocks than the watershed with the teff-based system, while P stocks were not different. Management related N?and K fluxes were more negative in the teff-based system (?28 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and ?34 kg K ha^?1 yr^?1) than in the enset-based system (?6 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 and ?14 kg K ha^?1 yr^?1) while P fluxes were almost neutral or slightly positive. Within the enset-based system, a strong redistribution of N, P and K took place from the meadows and cereals (negative balance) to enset (positive balances). Although in the teff-based system, N, P and K were redistributed from meadows, small cereals and pulses to maize, the latter still showed a negative nutrient balance. In contrast to nutrient balances at land use level, nutrient balances at the watershed scale masked contrasting areas within the system where nutrient oversupply and deficiencies occurred.     

甘肃中部地区农村劳动力转移的问题及对策

摘 要 甘肃中部地区在农村劳动力转移过程中出现了从未有过的“五化”（整体人口低能化、劳动者队 伍的老龄化、村庄凋敝化、公共管理弱化、男性鳏夫化）现象。通过对该现象进行深入分析,有针对性地 提出了大力提高农村人口素质,创新农地产权制度,大力发展民营企业,着力推进农村就业公共服务体系 建设,有序、较快推进农村城镇化等对策建议。     

地域美学与乡土记忆——文化地理学视阈中的河南当代诗歌

从文化地理学维度而言,河南独特的地域风貌形成了独特的文化土壤,进而成就了当代诗歌独特审美之维和美学特质:水性基因增加了诗歌的灵性和诗人的忧患意识;悠久的农耕文化传统孕育了乡土情结;季节更迭引起的物候变化则触发了生命意识。     

Research Progress in the Application of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Aquaculture: A Review

Due to increasing safety concerns regarding human consumption of fish products, an increasing number of medicinal chemicals are prohibited from use in aquaculture. As a result, Chinese herbal medicines are being increasingly used, coining the use of the term “green medicine.” Research shows that Chinese herbal medicines have many beneficial effects on fish, including growth promotion, enhancement of disease resistance, and improvement in meat quality. Many effective ingredients have been discovered in Chinese herbal medicines, which function to promote feed intake, improve meat flavor, and increase digestive enzyme activity. They also regulate and participate in processes that improve the specific and non-specific immunity of fish; however, the composition of Chinese herbal medicines is very complex and it is often difficult to identify the effective ingredients. This article reviews the latest research and application progress in Chinese herbal medicines regarding growth and feed utilization, immunity and disease resistance, and the meat quality of cultured fish. It also discusses research on the chemical constituents of classical Chinese medicinal herbs and problems with the application of Chinese herbal medicines in fish culture. This article concludes by proposing that future studies on Chinese herbal medicines should focus on how to cheaply refine and extract the effective ingredients in classical Chinese medicinal herbs, as well as how to use them efficiently in aquaculture.     

适应山地的两轮农耕机优化设计

目的对农耕机进行优化设计,减轻农民体力负担,提高农耕效率,减少安全隐患,向其它农业设备中推广。方法通过解析目前农耕机的缺陷,并以比阳产品设计公司的实际项目为例,找到目前农耕机设计中急需解决的问题,提出优化设计方案。结论通过对新机架结构中轮系与扶手的优化,使机架灵活移动;通过轻质耐磨材料的应用,减轻机身质量;通过变速技术的应用,解决农耕机速度控制的问题来提高生产安全与效率。     

农田农情参数遥感监测进展及应用展望

农情参数是指反映作物生长过程及其产出的状态指标,关键农情参数主要包括作物长势、单产、物候和旱情等,可用于指导农田的生产管理。遥感是关键农情参数获取的有效手段,然而目前农情参数的遥感监测大多停留在大尺度、宏观监测的层面上,由于缺乏高时空分辨率、高准确度、低成本的农田信息获取技术,业务化的农田尺度农情参数获取受到了诸多因素的制约与限制。导致难以为农田生产管理提供及时的信息支持,这已经影响到精准耕作的发展与应用。文章在总结目前长势、单产、物候和旱情等几个主要农情参数遥感监测研究进展的基础上,分析了这些技术在农田尺度应用的瓶颈,并从新数据源和农情参数监测新模型两个角度出发,对农田尺度农情参数的获取进行了展望。     

基于系统动力学的对虾养殖品质风险应用

针对目前南美白对虾养殖环节存在的溯源点不清晰、养殖过程监管薄弱、品质评价不健全等品质风险问题,以 HACCP 为基准,结合国内外在养殖环节关键影响要素研究现状,对养殖环节建模,利用判断树的方法初选品质风险控制的关键控制点,然后结合 Vensim 软件建立南美白对虾养殖品质风险动力学模型,从而确定关键控制点的核心影响因素。仿真结果表明：南美白对虾养殖品质风险动力学模型能动态仿真五类影响要素对于幼虾品质和成活率的变化关系,从而反映品质风险动态变化情况。由此为南美白对虾溯源管理信息系统中溯源点的选取和养殖过程的实时监控和过程品质动态评价提供理论参考。