ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fiber on growth performance, fat deposition, serum lipids, fat metabolism, and mRNA (messenger RNA) expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in Jilin white and Carlos geese. Sixty Jilin white and sixty Carlos geese aged six-weeks and of similar health and weight (average weight 313.11g) were selected. Geese of each breed were randomly divided into two groups (n=30), and with each group containing three replicate subgroups of 10 geese. The diet was supplemented with 8% or 11% fiber (corn straw powder). The Jilin white geese are divided into A1 (8%) and A2 (11%) groups, and Carlos geese are divided into B1 (8%) and B2 (11%) groups. The experiment lasted 35 days. The results showed that high dietary fiber can significantly (p<0.05) increase average daily feed intake (ADFI), significantly (p<0.05) reduce final weight (FW) and average daily gain (ADG) of both varieties, and increase LPL mRNA expression levels in abdominal fat, liver, sebum, and urethral glands. High dietary fiber accelerates intestinal peristalsis, affects the absorption of other nutrients, reduces the available energy value of the absorbed feed, and increases fat loss. Compared with the to Carlos geese, high dietary fiber content had a more significant effect on the live, slaughter, and sebum weights and sebum percentage of the Jilin white geese, indicating that the Carlos geese have higher requirements for dietary fiber content. High fiber content will reduce the growth performance, slaughter performance, and fat deposition of geese.

Based on simulations of the transports of a typically formed Chinese intercity passenger train hauled respectively by major types of the locomotives on a certain railway line in China, this research analyzes the changes of the traction energy cost intensity and passenger transport efficiency of the train with varying its passenger capacity utilization rate and target speed. It is found that if the passenger capacity utilization rate of such a train is higher than 60.00%, the effect of its passenger capacity utilization rate and target speed on its traction energy cost intensity and passenger transport efficiency is relatively very small. In contrast, if the passenger capacity utilization rate of the train is reduced from 40.00%, the efficiencies of its traction energy cost and passenger transport both decrease obviously and such decreases are evidently affected by its target speed. Therefore, strictly preventing the passenger capacity utilization rate of a conventional intercity passenger train from decreasing from 40.00% in particular and meanwhile striving to make its passenger capacity utilization rate higher than 60.00% as new evaluation benchmarking are able to effectively improve the railway passenger transport operation management in China.

The content of active compounds in Glycyrrhiza uralensis may vary among populations in different regions, and be influenced by environmental variables. We determined the effects of soil and climate on contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin in various populations of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Fifty individuals from 5 rangeland populations in arid and semi-arid regions of North China were collected and analyzed. The contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin were determined using the HPLC method. Contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin varied significantly among populations as follows: Chifeng > Hangjinqi > Minqin > Aletai > Kashi. These contents were significantly correlated with soil nutrients (e.g. P, K, N), organic matter, and annual precipitation. However, soil P and K, and precipitation were the key factors influencing the contents of active compounds. Environmental variables can be useful to predict the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin in Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

El contenido de compuestos activos en Glycyrrhiza uralensis puede variar entre poblaciones en diferentes regiones, y estar influenciado por las variables ambientales. Se determinaron los efectos del suelo y el clima en los contenidos de ácido glycyrrhizic y liquiritin en varias poblaciones de Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Se muestrearon y analizaron 50 individuos de 5 poblaciones naturales en las regiones árida y semiárida del Norte de China. Los contenidos de ácido glycyrrhizic y liquiritin se determinaron usando el método HPLC. Dichos contenidos variaron significativamente entre poblaciones de la siguiente manera: Chifeng > Hangjinqi > Minqin > Aletai > Kashi. Estos contenidos estuvieron correlacionados significativamente con los nutrientes del suelo (ej., P, K, N), la materia orgánica, y la precipitación anual. Sin embargo, el P y K del suelo y la precipitación fueron los principales factores que influenciaron el contenido de los compuestos activos. Las variables ambientales pueden ser útiles para predecir los contenidos de ácido glycyrrhizic y liquiritin en Glycyrrhiza uralensis.