Methane Emissions from Grazing Holstein-Friesian Heifers at Different Ages Estimated Using the Sulfur Hexafluoride Tracer Technique

Although the effect of animal and diet factors on enteric methane （CH4） emissions from confined cattle has been extensively examined, less data is available regarding CH4 emissions from grazing young cattle. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the physiological state of Holstein-Friesian heifers on their enteric CH4 emissions while grazing a perennial ryegrass sward. Two experiments were conducted： Experiment 1 ran from May 2011 for 11 weeks and Experiment 2 ran from August 2011 for 10 weeks. In each experiment, Holstein-Friesian heifers were divided into three treatment groups （12 animals/group） consisting of calves, yearling heifers, and in-calf heifers （average ages： 8.5, 14.5, and 20.5 months, respectively）. Methane emissions were estimated for each animal in the final week of each experiment using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Dry matter （DM） intake was estimated using the calculated metabolizable energy （ME） requirement divided by the ME concentration in the grazed grass. As expected, live weight increased with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001）; however, there was no difference in live weight gain among the three groups in Experiment 1, although in Experiment 2, this variable decreased with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001 ）. In Experiment 1, yearling heifers had the highest CH4 emissions （g·d^-1） and in-calf heifers produced more than calves （P 〈 0.001 ）. When expressed as CH4 emissions per unit of live weight, DM intake, and gross energy （GE） intake, yearling heifers had higher emission rates than calves and in-calf heifers （P 〈 0.001）. However, the effects on CH4 emissions were different in Experiment 2, in which CH, emissions （g·d^-1） increased linearly with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001）, although the difference between yearling and in-calf heifers was not significant. The CH4/live weight ratio was lower in in-calf heifers than in the other two groups （P 〈 0.001 ）, while CH4 energy output as a proportion of GE intake was lower in calves than in yearling and in-calf heifers （P 〈 0.05）. All data were then pooled and used to develop prediction equations for CH4 emissions. All relationships are significant （P 〈 0.001）, with R2 values ranging from 0.630 to 0.682. These models indicate that CH4 emissions could be increased by 0.252 g.d-1 with an increase of I kg live weight or by 14.9 g·d^-1 with an increase of 1 kg·d^-1 of DM intake; or, the CH4 energy output could be increased by 0.046 MJ·d^-1 with an increase of 1 MJ·d^-1 of GE intake. These results provide an alternative approach for estimating CH4 emissions from grazine dairy heifers when actual CH, emission data are not available.

Evaluation of Erythrocyte Iron Incorporation in Beijing Prepubertal Children Using a Single Stable Isotope Tracer Method

Objective To analyze the rate of erythrocyte iron incorporation and provided guidance for the iron nutrition for prepubertal children.Methods Fifty-seven prepubertal children of Beijing were involved in this study and each subject was orally administered 3 mg of 57 Fe twice daily to obtain a total of 30 mg 57 Fe after a 5-d period. The stable isotope ratios in RBCs were determined in 14 th day, 28 th day, 60 th day, and 90 th day. The erythrocyte incorporation rate in children was calculated using the stable isotope ratios, blood volume and body iron mass.Results The percentage of erythrocyte 57 Fe incorporation increased starting 14 th day, reached a peak at 60 d(boys: 19.67% ± 0.56%, girls: 21.33% ± 0.59%) and then decreased. The erythrocyte incorporation rates of 57 Fe obtained for girls in 60 th day was significantly higher than those obtained for boys(P < 0.0001).Conclusions The oral administration of 57 Fe to children can be used to obtain erythrocyte iron incorporation within 90 d. Prepubertal girls should begin to increase the intake of iron and further studies should pay more attention to the iron status in prepubertal children.

Determination of the Pore Water Velocity Using a Salt Tracer Combined with Self-Potential Measurements

The tracer technique is recommended as an effective tool in surveying abnormal seepage through lakes and dams. By injecting a tracer into a known upstream location and monitoring the appearance of the tracer in the downstream leak point, it is possible to determine the direction and the average water velocity of the preferential flow through the dam. The detailed result achieved depends on the number of samples and the sampling locations to analyze tracer concentration over time in the field. This study proposes to use noninvasive self-potential measurements to determine the location and time the salt tracer moves through the seepage zone. The connection between the potential signal according to the propagation of the NaCl salt tracer and the water velocity was demonstrated through an experiment on a sandbox model. Experimental results express a good agreement between the time to reach the maximum value of the potential variation and the salt concentration variation with the time that water comes to monitoring locations. The result indicates an ability to determine the pore water velocity of the seepage zone based on the recording of potential signals produced by a salt tracer movement. The salt tracer test using NaCl combined with self-potential measurements was then applied to survey a leaking earth dam in the Dong Nai river basin (Vietnam).

Craniocerebral injury promotes the repair of peripheral nerve injury

The increase in neurotrophic factors after craniocerebral injury has been shown to promote fracture healing. Moreover, neurotrophic factors play a key role in the regeneration and repair of peripheral nerve. However, whether craniocerebral injury alters the repair of peripheral nerve injuries remains poorly understood. Rat injury models were established by transecting the left sciatic nerve and using a free-fall device to induce craniocerebral injury. Compared with sciat- ic nerve injury alone after 6-12 weeks, rats with combined sciatic and craniocerebral injuries showed decreased sciatic functional index, increased recovery of gastrocnemius muscle wet weight, recovery of sciatic nerve ganglia and corresponding spinal cord segment neuron mor- phologies, and increased numbers of horseradish peroxidase-labeled cells. These results indicate that craniocerebral injury promotes the repair of peripheral nerve injury.

Distribution and Transformation of Native and Added Ni Fractions in Purple Soils from Sichuan Province

The distribution and transformation of added and native Ni in purple soils were investigated with both sequential extraction procedure and isotopic tracer technique.The distribution of added and native Ni was greatly dependent on soil properties.Low soil PH was favorable for soluble plus exchangeable (EX) Fraction,while Fe/Mn oxides and clay for Fe/Mn oxide bound (OX) and residual (RES) fractions. The added Ni,however,has not yet reached the distribution equilibrium up to the 150th day after incubation.This was reflected in the fact that the proportion of EX fraction from added Ni was 150%-600% as much as that of native Ni, while that of RES fraction was only about 80%.Once entering soil, the applied soluble Ni was rapidly transformed into Other fractions, but the organic complexed (OM) fraction of added Ni was relatively stable during incubation.The carbonate bound(CAB) fraction showed a progressive increase and attained a peak value after 0-14 d of incubation and thereafter decreased gradually. The occurrence time of this peak advanced as initial soil PH increased, but the peak would disappear when initial soil pH was higher than 7.5(or containing free CaCO3). The transformation processes of the EX,OX and RES fractions could be described by Elovich and two-constant rate equstions,and the rates were positively correlated with soil pH,CEC and clay.These findings could explain why there are differences in ecological and environmental effects of Ni in different soils and at various intervals.

Stability on the ^(109)Cd,^(65)Zn Complex with Humus Acids

The radioactive isotope tracer and ion exchange balanced method was used to study the stability of 109Cd, 65 Zn complexes with humus acids. In the 109Cd and 65 Zn single existing system with humic acids, the stability constants of the humic-109Cd(65Zn) complex compound was higher than the fulvic-109 Cd(65Zn) complex compound. The stability constant of the humic (fulvic) -65Zn was higher than that of the humic (ful-vic)-109Cd. In the 109Cd and 65 Zn coexisting system, the stability constant and the co-ordination number of the humic (fulvic)-65Zn complex obviously increased, but the stability constant and the co-ordination number of the humic (fulvic)-109Cd complex obviously decreased as compared with its respectively single existing system . The result showed that the humus matter with higher molecular weight could more effectively reduce plant availability of heavy metals than that with lower molecular weight in polluted soil by heavy metals. The humus matter could more effectively reduce plant availability of Zn than that of Cd. Application of humus-acid increased the harm of Cd and decreased the harm of Zn to plants in Cd-Zn coexisting system.

ACTIVE CALCIUM TRANSPORT IN PLASMA MEMBRANE VESICLES FROM DEVELOPING COTYLEDONS OF COMMON BEAN

Plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from the developing cotyledons of common beau (Phaseolus vulgaris L cv Diyundou) by aqueous two-phase partitioning and characterized as to their purity by assaying marker enzymes for other membranes.The putative plasma membrane fraction was minimally contaminated by membranes Other than plasma membrane and hence was of high purity. It exhibited a Ca2+dependent ATPase activity, which was inhibited by 1μ mol/L EB and promoted by calcium ionophore A23187. Such an activity was responsible for the observed ATPdependent 45Ca2+ uptake into inside-out plasma membrane vesicles. This process was stimulated by 0.6μmol/L CaM and 20μmol/L IAA but inhibited by 2μmol/L ABA and abolished by A23187. Possible role of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in mediating phytohormones activity is discussed.

Estimating Soil Erosion in Northeast China Using ^(137)Cs and ^(210)Pbex

Evaluation of soil erosion in agricultural fields is valuable to develop conservation practices for reducing agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Soil erosion rates were quantified using the fallout radionuclide tracer technique in Mojiagou Basin located on the outskirts of Changchun in Northeast China. The calculated soft erosion rates in the study area were 1.99 and 1.85 mm year-1 using 137Cs and excess 210pb （210Pbex） measurements, respectively. Both fallout radionuclides showed a similar tendency at downslope sites. All measured sites have experienced net erosion during the past 50 to 100 years. 137Cs and 210Pbex measurements were useful to quantify soil erosion rates on field and small basin scales. At this rate of erosion, the current fertile topsoil layer would be entirely removed within 70 years.

The uptake diversity of soil nitrogen nutrients by main plant species in Kobresia humilis alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

We studied the uptake of ammonium, nitrate, and a variety of amino acids by alpine plant species in the Kobresia humil alpine meadow ecosystem in situ. We examined the extent of niche separation in uptake of N source by different plant species in alpine communities, and investigated the contribution of symbiotically fixed N to the total N in alpine meadow. The results are （1） δ15N natural abundance values of 13 plant species lie between -2.680‰ and 5.169‰, and the scope is 7.849‰. （2） Le- guminous plants, such as Trigonella ruthenica, Gueldenstaedtia diversiffolia, and Oxytyopis ochrocephala, and non-legumi- nous plant Gentiana straminea uptake low amounts of 15N labeled ammonium, nitrate, glycine or aspartate in soil. （3） As far as the plant uptake of organic N is concerned, Kobresia humilis, Poa pratensis, and Gentiuna spathutifolta can effectively uptake organic nitrogen, and about 37%-40% of the nitrogen of these species comes from soil organic nitrogen sources （such as glycine and aspartate）. Stipa aliena can effectively uptake nitrate, and 60% of its nitrogen comes from soil nitrate. Potentilla anserina, Poa pratensis, and Thalictrum alpinum can effectively absorb ammonium in comparason to other plant species in the meadow, and about 25%-27% of the nitrogen in these plants comes from soil ammonium. （4） The contribution of leguminous fixed N to total N is 7.48%-9.26% in Kobresia humilis alpine meadow. （5） These data show many plant species of alpine meadow may effectively utilize dissolved organic nitrogen such as amino acids, and these plants have diverse ways to uptake soil nitrogen in alpine meadows. Based on the results we can partly explain why there are abundant biodiversities and how plants at alpine habitat utilize the limited soil N sources.

HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS OF VERTICAL VORTEX AT HYDRAULIC INTAKES

The trace of vertical vortex flow at hydraulic intakes is of the shape of spiral lines, which was observed in the presented experiments with the tracer technique. It represents the fluid particles flow spirally from the water surface to the underwater and rotate around the vortex-axis multi-cycle. This process is similar to the movement of screw. To describe the multi-circle spiral characteristics under the axisymmetric condition, the vertical vortex would change not only in the radial direction but also in the axial direction. The improved formulae for three velocity components for the vertical vortex flow were deduced by using the method of separation of variables in this article. In the improved formulae, the velocity components are the functions of the radial and axial coordinates, so the multi-circle spiral flow of vertical vortex could be simulated. The calculated and measured results for the vertical vortex flow were compared and the causes of errors were analyzed.

Distribution and Fate of Anthropogenic Nitrogen in the Calamagrostis angustifolia Wetland Ecosystem of Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

Wetlands are important for the protection of water quality of rivers and lakes, especially those adjacent to agricultural landscapes, by intercepting and removing nutrients in runoff. In this study, the ^15N tracer technique was applied to study the distribution and fate of anthropogenic nitrogen （^15N-fertilizer） in Calamagrostis angustifolia Kom wetland plant-soil microcosms to identify the main ecological effects of it. ^15NH4^15NO3 solution （14.93 mg N/L, 20.28 at.% ^15N） was added to each microcosm of the first group, which was approximate to the current nitrogen concentration （CNC） of farm drainage, and 29.86 mg NIL ^15NH4^15NO3 solution was added to another group, which was approximate to the double nitrogen concentration （DNC） of farm drainage, while no nitrogen （NN） was added to the third group. The results suggest that the input of anthropogenic nitrogen has positive effects on the biomass and total nitrogen content of plant, and the positive effects will be elevated as the increase of its input amount. The increase of ^15N-fertilizer can also elevate its amounts and proportions in plant nitrogen. Soil nitrogen is still the main source of plant nitrogen, but its proportion will be reduced as the increase of ^15 N-fertilizer. The study of the fate of ^15N-fertilizer indicates that, in CNC treatment, only a small proportion is water-dissolved （0,13 ± 0.20%）, a considerable proportion is soil-immobilized （17.02 ± 8.62%）, or plant-assimilated （23.70 ± 0.92%）, and most is lost by gaseous forms （59.15 ± 8.35%）. While in DNC treatment, about 0.09 ± 0.15% is water-dissolved, 15.33 ± 7.46% is soil-immobilized, 23.55±2.86% is plant-assimilated, and 61.01±5.59% is lost by gaseous forms. The double input of anthropogenic nitrogen can not elevate the proportions of plant-assimilation, soil-immobilization and water-dissolution, but it can enhance the gaseous losses.