县域城镇空间形态与居住建筑能耗关联性的连续尺度研究——以浙江长兴、福建连江为例

居住建筑能耗受建筑周边空间形态的直接影响，确定空间形态低碳效应及其最佳尺度将有助于实现县域城镇低碳转型。以浙江省长兴县、福建省连江县为例，共计选取49个具有代表性的居住建筑样本，采用GIS分析与数理统计相结合的方式，在居住建筑1800m半径范围内，以200m为间隔建立缓冲区，开展全年、最冷月份能耗期及最热月份能耗期建筑能耗与周边空间形态关联性的连续尺度研究。结果表明：(1)道路密度、开发密度、容积率均与建筑能耗呈正相关，但各指标对应的能耗时期、尺度范围有较大差异。(2)水面率、土地利用混合度是与建筑能耗相关的共性指标，但在不同地区的正负效应及尺度范围不同；(3)影响浙闽地区县域城镇最热月份能耗期能耗的关键形态因子为1000m-道路密度、800m-水面率、1600m-开放空间率；影响连江最冷月份能耗期能耗的关键形态因子为800m-水面率。(4)就控碳单元设置而言，长兴县可重点关注1000—1200m半径范围，连江县可重点关注800—1000m、1400m半径范围。(5)浙闽地区县域城镇特性指标为开放空间率，与最热月份能耗期建筑能呈负相关；长兴县特性指标为容积率、水岸密度，分别与全年、最冷...     

北京城郊地区二氧化碳通量特征

利用位于北京市顺义气象局45 m气象塔上36 m高度的湍流观测资料,对该区域2008年11月1日至2009年10月31日共365d的二氧化碳通量(CO2)的时间变化和各方位的分布特征进行了分析研究,并计算了CO2年排放量。结果表明,CO2受交通因素和居民日常生活排放的影响较小,冬季耗能取暖会显著增加CO2的排放量;受供暖排放和植物生长季节光合作用的影响,冬季的CO2通量值在全天绝大多数时刻均高于其他季节,其日平均值为15.6μmol m-2s-1,显著高于春、夏、秋季的日平均值5.6、5.7和8.8μmol m-2s-1(t-test,P0.001)。各方向CO2通量值的大小与其源区内土地利用/覆盖方式以及建筑物的使用功能和使用性质密切相关,住宅楼、饭店、工厂、旅馆等人工建筑面积占比例越大,CO2排放量越大;而植被覆盖比例较高的方向CO2值较小。观测点周边区域是CO2的排放源,且年平均排放量达到13.6 kg m-2a-1,但低于同一时期北京市内高密度住宅区域的CO2年排放量。     

黄淮海平原河北省范围内农田土壤二氧化碳和氧化亚氮排放量的估算

以黄淮海平原河北省范围内的农田土壤为研究对象,通过与田间实际观测数据进行比较发现,DNDC模型能够较好地反映农田土壤温室气体CO2和N2O的排放通量,可以用来模拟估算农田土壤CO2和N2O的排放通量.根据模型估算,2003年河北省111个县市农业土壤CO2排放量约3.758×106tC,各县市总的N2O排放量40.345×106kgN.全省释放的CO2和N2O中有40%左右来自冬小麦/夏玉米地.因此,减少该地区农业土壤CO2和N2O排放量的措施,应集中用于排放量高的县市和这些地区的冬小麦/夏玉米地,进行大范围的普遍减排可能收效甚微,并且没有必要.     

生态系统服务供给量的确定——最小数据法在黑河流域中游的应用

确定生态系统服务供给量与付费标准是进行生态系统服务付费研究的关键问题。最小数据方法是一个推导生态系统服务供给曲线的数学模型,该模型通过分析土地利用收益的空间分布,计算出生态系统服务机会成本的空间分布,从而推导出生态系统服务供给曲线。介绍了最小数据方法,然后以黑河流域张掖市甘州区为例,以植被蒸散发量的减少表征生态系统服务,通过调查获得机会成本的空间分布,利用最小数据方法推导了水资源服务供给曲线。结果表明:随着补偿价格的提高,农业部门提供的水资源服务逐渐增加。当补偿价格从0.067元m-3(农业用水价格)提高到3元m-3(建筑用水水价),农业部门提供的水资源服务由2.08×106m3a-1增加到2.7×108m3a-1。这表明,采用生态系统服务付费政策可以有效减少农业用水量,同时这也为补偿标准的制定提供一种新的思路。     

水泥生态足迹计算方法

用生态足迹的成分分析方法首次计算了中国水泥生产的生态足迹,推导出水泥制造业CO2的单位排放量(排放强度)经验公式,水泥制造业CO2的单位排放量与水泥制造业的单位综合能耗呈线性关系,降低单位综合能耗就可降低CO2的单位排放量,进而减小水泥的生态足迹.中国水泥制造业的生态足迹由2000年的1.57×108hm2,增加到2006年的2.61×108hm2,年均增长8.81%,但低于水泥产量的年均增长速度(12.91%),特别是2004年以来,水泥制造业总的生态足迹增长率明显低于水泥总产量的增长率.单位水泥产量的生态足迹呈下降趋势,由2000年的0.2632hm2/t,减少到2006年的0.2109hm2/t.这说明,中国在水泥行业大力开展的节能减排的效果已经显现.从足迹的构成看,排放CO2和氮氧化物的生态足迹占绝对比重(超过90%),这主要是因为水泥制造业是高能耗行业,要减小水泥的生态足迹,必须降低水泥制造业的能耗水平.     

鼎湖山苗圃和主要森林土壤CO2排放和CH4吸收对模拟N沉降的短期响应

研究了鼎湖山生物圈保护区苗圃(幼苗)、马尾松、混交林和季风常绿阔叶林(季风林)土壤CO2排放和CH4吸收的一些特征及其对模拟N沉降增加的响应.结果表明,土壤CO2日(白天)平均排放量的大小顺序为(平均值±标准误)苗圃(258±62mg·m-2·h-1)＞季风林(177±42 mg·m-2·h-1)＞马尾松林(162±39 mg·m-2·h-1)＞混交林(126±30 mg·m-2·h-1).土壤CH4日(白天)平均吸收量的大小顺序为马尾松林(-0.15±0.02 mg·m-2·h-1)＞季风林(-0.08±0.01 mg·m-2·h-1)＞混交林(-0.07±0.01 mg·m-2·h-1)＞苗圃(-0.05±0.01 mg·m-2·h-1).低N(50 kg N·hm-2·a-1)和中N(100kg N·hm-2·a-1)处理对苗圃、马尾松林和混交林样地土壤CO2日平均排放量的影响均不明显,高N(150 kg N·hm-2·a-1)处理对苗圃土壤CO2的日平均排放量也无显著影响,但倍高N(300kg N·hm-2·a-1)处理显著促进苗圃样地土壤CO2的排放.然而,所有N(低N、中N和高N)处理均显著促进季风林土壤CO2日平均排放量,且这种促进作用随N处理水平的升高而增加.N处理显著促进季风林和马尾松林土壤对CH4吸收速率,但对混交林土壤CH4吸收则无明显的影响.在苗圃样地,除倍高N外,N处理对土壤CH4吸收速率也无显著作用,但倍高N处理使苗圃土壤发生功能转变,即从CH4汇转变为CH4源.     

不同藻密度下Zn2+ 浓度对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群增长参数的影响

为了比较不同食物密度下污染物浓度对受试生物的慢性毒性,筛选出以轮虫为受试生物对水环境中Zn2+污染进行监测的敏感指标,在不同斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)密度(1.0×106、2.0×106和4.0×106个/m L)下不同浓度(0、0.1、0.3、0.5、0.7、0.9 mg/L)的Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)实验种群增长参数的影响。结果表明,25℃以及1.0×106、2.0×106和4.0×106个/m L藻密度下Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫的24 h LC50值分别是6.647、8.102和5.873 mg/L。与各食物密度下的对照组相比,当食物密度为1.0×106个/m L时,各浓度的Zn2+对萼花臂尾轮虫的各种群增长参数均无显著性影响(P0.05)。当食物密度为2.0×106个/m L时,各浓度的Zn2+均显著延长了轮虫的生命期望、世代时间和平均寿命,提高了轮虫的净生殖率;除0.3 mg/L外,其他浓度的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的种群内禀增长率。当食物密度为4.0×106个/m L时,0.1、0.3和0.7mg/L的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的种群内禀增长率,0.7和0.9 mg/L的Zn2+显著提高了轮虫的后代混交率。藻密度对轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率、种群内禀增长率、平均寿命和后代混交率均有极显著性影响(P0.01),Zn2+浓度对轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率、种群内禀增长率和后代混交率均有极显著性影响(P0.01),藻密度和Zn2+浓度之间的交互作用对轮虫的生命期望、种群内禀增长率和后代混交率均有显著性影响(P0.05)。2.0×106个/m L食物密度下,Zn2+浓度与轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率和平均寿命之间具有显著的剂量-效应关系;4.0×106个/m L食物密度下,Zn2+浓度与轮虫的后代混交率间也具有显著的剂量-效应关系。     

小鼠循环肝癌细胞模型的建立与评价

目的采用小鼠肝癌Hepa 1-6细胞建立小鼠肝癌循环肿瘤细胞(CTCs)模型。方法采用雄性C57BL/6小鼠108只,按照体重分为3组,每组36只。3个组分别每只尾静脉接种0.2 m L的浓度为1×106、5×106和1×107个/m L的小鼠肝癌Hepa 1-6细胞单细胞悬液。各组分别于接种后第1、5、9、13、17、21天检测采血,采用流式细胞术检测,计算2万个有核细胞中CTCs数目及比例、相对CTCs抑制率,记录动物死亡率。(2)采用雄性C57BL/6小鼠80只,按体重分为2组,分别为模型对照组、甲苯磺酸索拉菲尼组,每组40只。每只尾静脉接种0.2m L的浓度为5×106个/m L的Hepa 1-6细胞单细胞悬液,接种后第2天开始灌胃给予甲苯磺酸索拉菲尼(50 mg/kg),连续21 d,并于给药第3、8、15、21天采血进行CTC检测。结果 (1)接种浓度为1×106个/m L的细胞悬液后,第1、5、9、13、17、21天的动物CTCs比例为:25.1%、18.1%、8.9%、4.4%、2.9%、0.3%,未出现动物死亡;接种浓度为5×106个/m L的细胞悬液后,第1、5、9、13、17、21天的动物CTCs比例为:40.4%、35.4%、15.4%、9.0%、6.6%、4.1%,未出现动物死亡;接种浓度为1×107个/m L的细胞悬液后,第1、5天的动物CTCs比例为:39.1%、33.5%,在接种完毕之后立即出现动物死亡,且所有动物在接种后第7天全部死亡。(2)甲苯磺酸索拉菲尼给药期间D3、D8、D15、D21相对循环肿瘤细胞清除率分别为:-7.5%、4.6%、55.3%、-94.5%,与模型对照组比较差异有显著性(P0.05或P0.01)。结论采用浓度为5×106个/m L小鼠肝癌细胞Hepa 1-6悬液尾静脉注射可建立小鼠肝癌CTC模型,可用于抑制循环肿瘤细胞药物的筛选与评价。     

利用1:5万土壤数据库估算浙江省土壤有机碳密度及储量

土壤有机碳库作为陆地生态系统中重要的碳库之一,对于温室效应和全球变化研究具有重要意义.利用浙江省1:5万土壤数据库,对浙江省277个土种0～100cm土层的有机碳密度进行估算,分析了全省土壤有机碳密度和储量,以及各主要土壤类型有机碳密度和分布.结果表明:浙江省土壤有机碳密度值主要集中在5～10kg·m-2;山香灰土有机碳密度最高,为52.80kg·m-2,清水砂最低,为1.82kg·m-2;红壤和水稻土土类土壤有机碳储量最大,两者之和占浙江省土壤有机碳总储量的63.8%;浙江省土壤总面积为100784.19km2,土壤有机碳储量为875.42×106t,土壤有机碳平均密度为8.69kg·m-2.通过叠加数字高程模型分析,发现土壤有机碳密度随高程、坡度和坡向的变化均呈现明显的变化趋势.     

施肥方式对紫色土土壤异养呼吸的影响

采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法于2010年12月至2011年10月对不同施肥方式下的紫色土土壤呼吸进行了研究,以揭示施肥方式对紫色土异养呼吸的影响。结果表明:施肥可对土壤异养呼吸产生激发效应。施肥后第5天出现峰值,猪厩肥处理的异养呼吸峰值为2356.8 mg CO2m-2h-1,显著高于秸秆配施氮磷钾(970.1 mgCO2m-2h-1)和常规氮磷钾处理(406.8 mgCO2m-2h-1)(P0.01);小麦季常规氮磷钾、猪厩肥和秸秆配施氮磷钾处理的平均土壤异养呼吸速率为212.9、285.8和305.8mgCO2m-2h-1,CO2排放量为255.1、342.3和369.5 gC/m2,玉米季为408.2、642.8和446.4 mgCO2m-2h-1,CO2排放量为344.7、542.8和376.9 gC/m2,玉米季土壤异养呼吸平均速率及CO2排放量均高于小麦季。全年平均土壤异养呼吸速率分别为310.6、446.3和377.4 mg CO2m-2h-1,CO2排放总量分别为599.8、885.1和746.4 gC/m2。猪厩肥对土壤异养呼吸速率和CO2排放量的影响最大,秸秆配施氮磷钾肥次之,氮磷钾肥最小,说明有机物料的投入是紫色土土壤异养呼吸速率的主要调控措施,低碳氮比的有机物料能促进土壤异养呼吸和CO2的排放。猪厩肥和秸秆配施氮磷钾肥处理相应地表和地下5 cm温度的Q10值分别为2.64、1.88和2.77、1.99,表明低碳氮比的有机物料还能增加土壤异养呼吸Q10值,使土壤异养呼吸速率对温度的敏感性加强。     

Relationships between Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Nocturnal Acid Accumulation, and CO(2) Uptake for a Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Plant, Opuntia ficus-indica

The influences of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and water status on nocturnal Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) were quantitatively examined for a widely cultivated cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. When the total daily PAR was maintained at 10 moles photons per square meter per day but the instantaneous PAR level varied, the rate of nocturnal H⁺ accumulation (tissue acidification) became 90% saturated near 700 micromoles per square meter per second, a PAR level typical for similar light saturation of C₃ photosynthesis. The total nocturnal H⁺ accumulation and CO₂ uptake reached 90% of maximum for a total daily PAR of about 22 moles per square meter per day. Light compensation occurred near 0 moles per square meter per day for nocturnal H⁺ accumulation and 4 moles per square meter per day for CO₂ uptake. Above a total daily PAR of 36 moles per square meter per day or for an instantaneous PAR of 1150 micromoles per square meter per second for more than 6 hours, the nocturnal H⁺ accumulation actually decreased. This inhibition, which occurred at PAR levels just above those occurring in the field, was accompanied by a substantial decrease in chlorophyll content over a 1-week period.

A minimum ratio of H⁺ accumulated to CO₂ taken up of 2.5 averaged over the night occurred for a total daily PAR of 31 moles per square meter per day under wet conditions. About 2 to 6 hours into the night under such conditions, a minimum H⁺-to-CO₂ ratio of 2.0 was observed. Under progressively drier conditions, both nocturnal H⁺ accumulation and CO₂ uptake decreased, but the H⁺-to-CO₂ ratio increased. A ratio of two H⁺ per CO₂ is consistent with the H⁺ production accompanying the conversion of starch to malic acid, and it apparently occurs for O. ficus-indica when CAM CO₂ uptake is strongly favored over respiratory activity.

     

Carbon Flux of an Urban System in México

We estimated vertical and lateral fluxes of carbon for the isolated coastal city of Ensenada (Baja California, México). In 2005, the city had a resident population of about 261,000, with tourism adding about 1.5%; it occupied an area of roughly 68 square kilometers (km²). Carbon (C) export was estimated at 400 gigagrams of carbon per year (Gg C/yr); notable sources to the atmosphere were combustion engines (42%), cement production (38%), water heating and cooking (7%), and human respiration (6%). Solid waste (6%) was exported for burial, but efflux to the bay was minor (about 0.1 Gg C/yr). Local deposition was limited to sewage sludge (about 2 Gg C/yr), asphalt, and extremely low primary production. Remote fluxes driven by local demand could be estimated only for electricity (61 Gg C/yr), but local flux from cement and other industrial production might be attributed largely to external demand. The urban system output to the atmosphere was about 6.4 kilograms of carbon per square meter per year (kg C/m²/yr), or roughly 23.6 kg/m²/yr in CO₂ equivalence. By comparison, net ecosystem productivity in the surrounding watershed has been estimated at 0.04 kg C/m²/yr, so the city's atmospheric output of C might be balanced by productivity over about 11,000 km² of the surrounding ecosystems. Between 2000 and 2005, C output increased faster than population growth, particularly from engine fuels.     

Purification and properties of several transfer RNA methyltransferases fromS. typhimurium

Summary A fast method for a single-step fractionation of a number of tRNA methyltransferases fromSalmonella typhimurium is described. The method basically consists of ion-exchange chromatography on a phosphocellulose column and permits the separation of the enzymes forming mt⁶A, m¹G, m⁵U, m⁷G. The enzyme fractions appear sufficiently purified to allow the estimation of some molecular and kinetic properties. The apparent K_M for adenosylmethionine range between 1.5 to 3.2×10⁻⁵ M, whereas K_M for undermethylated tRNA range between 3.1×10⁻⁵ M to 3.1×10⁻⁴ M. Glycerol gradient determination indicates the following M_r for the native proteins: 25×10³, 40×10³, 50×10³ and 65×10³ for m⁷G-, mt⁶A-, m¹G- and m⁵U-forming enzymes, respectively. A complete analysis of methylated nucleosides formedin vivo inS. typhimurium has been obtained: it also allowed us to infer the pattern of the various tRNA methyltransferases for this prokaryote. The tRNA methyltransferase forming mt⁶A has been isolated for the first time from any type of cell.     

Hydraulic architecture and water use of selected species from a lower montane forest in Panama

 Plant water relations of nine woody species were studied in a lower montane rain forest in Panama. These data provide a partial test of the hypothesis that hydraulic architecture of lower montane species might limit transpiration and thus leaf size or nutrient transport (as suggested by J. Cavelier and E. G. Leigh, respectively). Diurnal variation in leaf transpiration was closely correlated with changes in net radiation. Peak transpiration rates (7 × 10^–5 kg s^–1 m^–2) were as high as peak transpiration rates from tropical lowland forests but mean daily water use [0.39 ± 0.08 (SEM) kg m^–2 day^–1] were mostly lower than comparable data from tropical lowland forests. Thus transpiration rates are sufficiently high for sufficiently long periods to make it unlikely that nutrient transport is limited by transpiration. Another objective of this study was a comparison of two different methods to measure hydraulic conductance (K_h = flow rate per unit pressure gradient) and leaf specific conductance of stem segments (K_L = K_h/leaf area distal to the segment). The results obtained with the traditional conductivity apparatus and the high pressure flow meter method, yielded similar results in six out of seven cases. Received: 20 March / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

Occurrence and food consumption of the common eider,Somateria mollissima,in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein

The number of eider in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein was counted by aerial surveys during 1986 and 1987. The highest number occurred during migration in October 1987 with 151 000 ducks, the lowest number during the breeding time in May 1987 with 6000 ducks. About 100 000–120 000 eiders moult in July/August in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, but only 30 000–40 000 stay over winter. The average number was 62 000 ducks. Eider have increased in number since the seventies, when the average population size was estimated to be only 23 000. The increase referred mainly to moulting and migrating eider, whereas numbers in winter remained constant. There are substantial changes in the spatial distribution over the year. In most areas sites used during moult, migration and winter can be clearly separated, although so far no obvious differences in the morphology of these areas could be found. The annual food consumption was calculated to be 3.1×10⁶ kg AFDW or 1.3 g AFDW×m⁻²×year⁻¹, which is about 5% of the average biomass of macrozoobenthos. The increase in the number of eider has led to a significant increase in total food consumption of carnivorous birds, which was estimated at 7.1×10⁶ kg AFDW × year⁻¹ in the seventies and now reaches 9.0×10⁶ kg AFDW×year⁻¹, of which the eider takes 34%. The reasons for and consequences of the increase of the eider are discussed in context with the eutrophication of the North Sea and possible competition with shellfishery. Presented at the VI International Wadden Sea Symposium (Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Wattenmeerstation Sylt, D-2282 List, FRG, 1–4 November 1988)     

Ecosystem Metabolism in Piedmont Streams: Reach Geomorphology Modulates the Influence of Riparian Vegetation

We measured the impact of riparian zone vegetation on ecosystem metabolism in paired forested and meadow reaches on 13 streams in southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland, USA. Metabolism estimates were based on open-system measurements of dissolved oxygen changes, with reaeration determined from propane evasion. Daily gross primary productivity (GPP) in meadow and forested reaches averaged 2.85 and 0.86 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, at water temperatures of 12°C or greater when the forest canopy was developed and 1.74 and 1.09 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, at temperatures below 12°C when the canopy was bare. Community respiration (CR₂₄) also was greater in meadow reaches than in forested reaches, averaging 5.58 and 3.57 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, in the warm season and 4.87 and 2.88 g O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, during the cold season. Thus, both meadow and forested reaches were heterotrophic. Forested reaches were always wider and nearly always shallower than companion meadow reaches. When ecosystem function was assessed per unit of stream length, the difference in average GPP between meadow and forested reaches was reduced from three-fold to 1.9-fold in the warm season, and mean GPP was greater in the forested reaches during the cold season. Mean CR₂₄ per meter stream length was greater in forested reaches during both seasons. Even though riparian shading reduced primary productivity per unit area of streambed, the greater stream width of the forested reaches counteracted that reduction in part. Thus, when rates of ecosystem function were expressed per length of stream, differences between reaches were always smaller than when expressed per area, and activity per unit stream length was sometimes greater in forested reaches than in meadow reaches.     

Putrescine-oxidase activity in adult bovine serum and fetal bovine serum

Summary Putrescine-oxidase activity was found in fetal bovine serum (FBS) with a pH optimum of 8.0 and in adult bovine serum (ABS) with a pH optimum of 9.8. The crude FBS enzyme had a K_M for putrescine of 2.58×10⁻⁶ m and a V_max of 0.53 nmol per hr per 50 μl serum. Aminoguanidine competitively inhibited the enzyme with a K_I of 1.8×10⁻⁸ m. Spermidine and spermine proved competitive inhibitors of putrescine for both the FBS and the crude ABS putrescine oxidases. The V_max for the ABS putrescine oxidase was 2.10 nmol per hr per 50 μl serum, and the K_M for putrescine, 50.3×10⁻⁶ m. The K₁ of the ABS putrescine oxidase for aminoguanidine was 41×10⁻⁶ m. On the basis of both the K_M and K_I values, the adult serum enzyme, at its optimal pH of 9.8, bound spermidine and spermine more avidly than the smaller putrescine and aminoguanidine; whereas the FBS enzyme, at pH 8.0, bound aminoguanidine and putrescine more tightly than the larger polyamines. Each of the enzymes retained over 80% of its activity after heating at 56°C for 30 min. Applications of these data to the study of polyamines in tissue culture and to the purification of diamine oxidases are discussed. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.     

Energy and protein requirements of Holstein × Gyr crossbred heifers

Nutrient requirements in cattle are dependent on physiological stage, breed and environmental conditions. In Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers, the lack of data remains a limiting factor for estimating energy and protein requirements. Thus, we aimed to estimate the energy and protein requirements of Holstein × Gyr crossbred heifers raised under tropical conditions. Twenty-two crossbred (½ Holstein × ½ Gyr) heifers with an average initial BW of 102.2 ± 3.4 kg and 3 to 4 months of age were used. To estimate requirements, the comparative slaughter technique was used: four animals were assigned to the reference group, slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to estimate the initial empty BW (EBW) and composition of the animals that remained in the experiment. The remaining animals were randomized into three treatments based on targeted rates of BW gain: high (1.0 kg/day), low (0.5 kg/day) and close to maintenance (0.1 kg/day). At the end of the experiment, all animals were slaughtered to determine EBW, empty body gain (EBG) and body energy and protein contents. The linear regression parameters were estimated using PROC MIXED of SAS (version 9.4). Estimates of the parameters of non-linear regressions were adjusted through PROC NLIN of SAS using the Gauss–Newton method for parameter fit. The net requirements of energy for maintenance (NE_m) and metabolizable energy for maintenance (ME_m) were 0.303 and 0.469 MJ/EBW^0.75 per day, respectively. The efficiency of use of ME_m was 64.5%. The estimated equation to predict the net energy requirement for gain (NE_g) was: NE_g (MJ/day) = 0.299 × EBW^0.75 × EBG^0.601. The efficiency of use of ME for gain (k_g) was 30.7%. The requirement of metabolizable protein for maintenance was 3.52 g/EBW^0.75 per day. The equation to predict net protein requirement for gain (NP_g) was: NP_g (g/day) = 243.65 × EBW^−0.091 × EBG. The efficiency of use of metabolizable protein for gain (k) was 50.8%. We observed noteworthy differences when comparing to ME and protein requirements of Holstein × Gyr crossbred heifers with other systems. In addition, we also observed differences in estimates for NE_m, NE_g, NP_g, k_g and k. Therefore, we propose that the equations generated in the present study should be used to estimate energy and protein requirements for Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers raised in tropical conditions in the post-weaning phase up to 185 kg of BW.     

Effects of Lens Major Intrinsic Protein on Glycerol Permeability and Metabolism

Lens Major Intrinsic Protein (MIP) is a member of a family of membrane transport proteins including the Aquaporins and bacterial glycerol transporters. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, MIP increased both glycerol permeability and the activity of glycerol kinase. Glycerol permeability (p _Gly ) was 2.3 ± 0.23 × 10⁻⁶ cm sec⁻¹ with MIP vs. 0.92 ± 0.086 × 10⁻⁶ cm sec⁻¹ in control oocytes. The p _Gly of MIP was independent of concentration from 5 × 10⁻⁵ to 5 × 10⁻² m, had a low temperature dependence, and was inhibited approximately 90%, 80% and 50% by 1.0 mm Hg⁺⁺, 0.2 mm DIDS (diisothiocyanodisulfonic stilbene), and 0.1 mm Cu⁺⁺, respectively. MIP-enhanced glycerol phosphorylation, resulting in increased incorporation of glycerol into lipids. This could arise from an increase in the total activity of glycerol kinase, or from an increase in its affinity for glycerol. Based on methods we present to distinguish these mechanisms, MIP increased the maximum rate of phosphorylation by glycerol kinase (0.12 ± 0.03 vs. 0.06 ± 0.01 pmol min⁻¹ cell⁻¹) without changing the binding of glycerol to the kinase (K _M ∼ 10 μm). Received: 23 May 1997/Revised: 4 August 1997