一千例甘南藏族手纹学分析

本文报道1000例甘南藏族手纹学正常值。各类指端纹型按出现频率的多少依次为:尺箕(Lu)、斗形(W)、双箕(Wd)、桡箕(Lr)、弓形(A)、帐弓(A~t)。掌褶正常型占74.45±0.97、通贯手占8.15±0.61、总指嵴数168.10±51.54、a—b嵴数34.95±8.92、atd角(度)39.18±4.36。     

Inversely density-dependent natal dispersal in brown bears Ursus arctos

There is considerable controversy in the literature about the presence of density dependence in dispersal. In this study, we exploit a data series from a long-term study (>18 years) on radio-marked brown bears (Ursus arctos L.) in two study areas in Scandinavia to investigate how individual-based densities influence the probability of natal dispersal and natal dispersal distances. Cumulatively, 32% and 46% of the females and 81% and 92% of the males dispersed before reaching 5 years of age in the northern and southern study area, respectively. Density had a negative effect on both the probability of dispersal and dispersal distances for the dispersing animals, when controlling for study area, sex and age, making this the first study to show that natal dispersal probability and distances are inversely density dependent in a large carnivore. We suggest that female–female competition for space caused females in higher density areas to settle closer to their natal area. For males, however, merging of demes, resulting in decreased relatedness and increased heterozygosity in an expanding population, might be the reason for shorter dispersal distances in males living at higher densities. This has been hypothesised for small mammals. The high proportion of dispersing female brown bears in Scandinavian compared with North American studies might be due to lower densities in Scandinavia and recent population expansion, with unoccupied areas available at the edges of the population. The longer dispersal distances in female Scandinavian brown bears suggest less social constraints on movements than for North American females. The longer dispersal distances by Scandinavian males may be due to increased searching for potential mates in peripheral areas with lower densities of females. These results, in addition to results of other brown bear studies, suggest that brown bears might be more territorial than previously thought, and that density is regulated by social interactions.     

Sexing of murine and bovine embryos by developmental arrest induced by high-titer H-Y antisera

Murine and bovine embryos at the late morula stage were cultured in medium containing high-titer rat H-Y antisera. After 12h of incubation, embryos blocked at the late morulae stage were classified as males and those at the blastocyst stage were classified as females. Sexing of murine embryos by PCR and cytogenetics revealed that 83% of the embryos classified as males and 82% of those classified as females had their sex correctly predicted (P < 0.05). Bovine embryos were transferred to recipient females. Pregnancy rates were 71.4% (10/14) for embryos classified as males and 68.8% (11/16) for embryos classified as females. The sex was correctly predicted for 80% (8/10) of the embryos classified as males and for 81.8% (9/11) of those classified as females (overall accuracy, 80.9%, P < 0.05). Therefore, the induction of developmental arrest by high-titer male-specific antisera was an efficient strategy for non-invasive embryo sexing. The procedure was straightforward and has considerable commercial potential for sexing bovine embryos.     

Density of Wild Prey Modulates Lynx Kill Rates on Free-Ranging Domestic Sheep

Understanding the factors shaping the dynamics of carnivore–livestock conflicts is vital to facilitate large carnivore conservation in multi-use landscapes. We investigated how the density of their main wild prey, roe deer Capreolus capreolus, modulates individual Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx kill rates on free-ranging domestic sheep Ovis aries across a range of sheep and roe deer densities. Lynx kill rates on free-ranging domestic sheep were collected in south-eastern Norway from 1995 to 2011 along a gradient of different livestock and wild prey densities using VHF and GPS telemetry. We used zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) models including lynx sex, sheep density and an index of roe deer density as explanatory variables to model observed kill rates on sheep, and ranked the models based on their AICc values. The model including the effects of lynx sex and sheep density in the zero-inflation model and the effect of lynx sex and roe deer density in the negative binomial part received most support. Irrespective of sheep density and sex, we found the lowest sheep kill rates in areas with high densities of roe deer. As roe deer density decreased, males killed sheep at higher rates, and this pattern held for both high and low sheep densities. Similarly, females killed sheep at higher rates in areas with high densities of sheep and low densities of roe deer. However, when sheep densities were low females rarely killed sheep irrespective of roe deer density. Our quantification of depredation rates can be the first step towards establishing fairer compensation systems based on more accurate and area specific estimation of losses. This study demonstrates how we can use ecological theory to predict where losses of sheep will be greatest, and can be used to identify areas where mitigation measures are most likely to be needed.     

Dermatoglyphics in juvenile hypertension.

Dermatoglyphics of 172 children and young adults (116 males, 56 females) with hypertension, 13-27 years old, were compared with those of 130 healthy male and 110 female controls. Several differences were observed between the two groups. Hypertensive patients had a somewhat lower frequency of fingertip ulnar loops, higher frequency whorls and a higher total finger ridge count. They also had a somewhat higher mean atd angle, significantly more frequent distal position of the axial triradius (mostly in t' position) and more missing axial triradii compared to controls. The differences between a-b ridge counts, the interdigital, thenar and hypothenar patterns were generally small and sometimes limited to one sex or one hand only. The observed differences seem to indicate a genetic influence in the etiology of essential hypertension.     

Sex and side differences and correlations between quantitative palmar characteristics in a sample Sardinian population

Differences between the sexes and between the sides and the correlations between four quantitative characteristics of palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample population of 809 individuals (418 males and 391 females) from the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, are tested. Males have a greater number of ridges than females, shown by a greater a-b ridge count and A-d ridge count, and a more transverse slope of the main lines, shown by a greater main line index and papillary number. The left palm shows a greater number of ridges than the right palm between the A line and the triradius d and between the triradii a and b, with a lower main line index and papillary number. The a-b ridge count has a negative correlation with the main line index and with the papillary number and a positive one with the A-d ridge count; these correlations are greater in the left palms, especially in the males.     

Determining the sex of bottlenose dolphins from Doubtful Sound using dorsal fin photographs

Sexing cetaceans usually requires time-consuming observation, or genetic sexing via biopsy sampling or skin swabbing. We developed a method to determine the sex of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops sp.) in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, using laser-metric dorsal fin photographs. From dorsal fin photographs of 43 bottlenose dolphins of known sex (25 females, 18 males) we analyzed the shape, proportion of fin area covered in scarring and epidermal lesions, and the number of fin nicks. Males had significantly higher rates of scarring ( P < 0.001) and dorsal fin nicks ( P < 0.01) than females, whereas the severity of epidermal lesions was higher in females ( P < 0.05). A logistic regression applied to all measured variables, and measurements of dorsal fin size, indicated that the proportion of dorsal fin scarring ( P < 0.001), number of fin nicks ( P < 0.01), and dorsal fin surface area ( P < 0.01) were significant variables and together correctly predicted the sex of 93% (40/43) of the dolphins. The classification function may not be applicable to other populations due to geographic variation in bottlenose dolphin morphology and social structure. The method is quick and noninvasive to apply, and further increases the value of dorsal fin photo-identification pictures.     

Heteroduplex molecules cause sexing errors in a standard molecular protocol for avian sexing

Molecular methods are a necessary tool for sexing monomorphic birds. These molecular approaches are usually reliable, but sexing protocols should be evaluated carefully because biochemical interactions may lead to errors. We optimized laboratory protocols for genetic sexing of a monomorphic shorebird, the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), using two independent sets of primers, P2/P8 and 2550F/2718R, to amplify regions of the sex‐linked CHD‐Z and CHD‐W genes. We discovered polymorphisms in the region of the CHD‐Z intron amplified by the primers P2/P8 which caused four males to be misidentified as females (n = 90 mated pairs). We cloned and sequenced one CHD‐W allele (370 bp) and three CHD‐Z alleles in our population: Z° (335 bp), Z′ (331 bp) and Z″ (330 bp). Normal (Z°Z°) males showed one band in agarose gel analysis and were easily differentiated from females (Z°W), which showed two bands. However, males heterozygous for CHD‐Z alleles (Z′Z″) unexpectedly showed two bands in a pattern similar to females. While the Z′ and Z″ fragments contained only short deletions, they annealed together during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process and formed heteroduplex molecules that were similar in size to the W fragment. Errors previously reported for molecular sex‐assignment have usually been due to allelic dropout, causing females to be misidentified as males. Here, we report evidence that events in PCRs can lead to the opposite error, with males misidentified as females. We recommend use of multiple primer sets and large samples of known‐sex birds for validation when designing protocols for molecular sex analysis.     

EFFECT OF DENSITY ON SECONDARY SEX CHARACTERISTICS AND SEX RATIO IN SILENE ALBA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)

A field survey of plant and flower sex ratio and secondary sex characteristics was made in Silene alba. Female-biased plant sex ratios were found, as seems typical for the species. Sex ratio distribution correlated with a gradient of soil moisture (with the more moist area having a more female-biased ratio) and with changes in the density of Silene (intermediate and higher density areas having greater female bias). The floral sex ratio was significantly female-biased only at the site that was most female-biased in terms of plant sex ratio. Otherwise the population of flowers was significantly male-biased. Male and female plants harvested from the field differed in secondary sexual characteristics. Males had more flowers and invested proportionately more biomass in leaf, but less in root, stem and reproductive tissue than did females. Although both males and females were larger in terms of total dry weight at the moist site, males produced more flowers at the driest (high density) site. Here the female bias in plant sex ratio was intermediate, but the floral sex ratio was significantly male-biased. A glasshouse experiment was performed in which plants were grown at four densities. Density significantly influenced plant survivorship and the probability of flowering, and increased female bias in the pots, but it did not affect patterns of biomass allocation in flowering plants. Patterns of male and female biomass allocation did not differ in the experiment, except in terms of reproductive allocation (greater in females) and allocation to leaf, greater in males, but only at the lowest density. This work urges caution in interpreting differences between males and females in the field as secondary sex characteristics, since we find such properties to be overlapping under experimental conditions. It supports the idea that males and females of a species may sustain different reproductive output under differing conditions.     

Sexual differences in spatio-temporal interaction among badgers

I tested the following hypotheses of territorial polygyny on badgers (Taxidea taxus: Carnivora; Mustelidae): Competition among adult females for food should result in intrasexual territoriality, while male competition for females should result in larger territories that encompass multiple female territories. The sagebrush-grassland study area (Wyoming, USA) contained a depauperate terrestrial fauna with a dense badger population preying on high densities of ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus). Implant telemetry generated locations for analysis of home range and spatio-temporal interaction. During the summer breeding season males doubled movement rates and nearly tripled home range areas to overlap those of females. Before and after the breeding season, males reduced their home ranges to sizes nearer those of stable female ranges ( =2.82 km²). Unexpectedly, home range overlap between males and females was no different than intrasexual overlap. However, analysis of spatio-temporal interaction revealed that females spatially avoided one another, while males were spatially and temporally attacted to one another, similar to that of male-female interactions. Presumably, olfactory mechanisms allow resource tracking and lagged communication. Male-male territoriality was not viable, most likely because the high density of badgers, combined with the severely male-biased sex ratio (1.75:1), effectively increased intruder pressure — as a resource, receptive females were too mobile and spatially unpredictable within their home ranges. Consequently, males monitored and searched widely for relatively scarce females during the breeding season with the effect of attracting each other. Male mobility, home range size, and possibly aggression increased with age, suggesting age-related breeding tactics, although dominance could only be surmised. This and other studies suggest how the spatial, temporal, and dominance components of carnivore resource partitioning and sociality will be understood better by unraveling the interplay of olfactory processes, attributes of disparate resources (e.g., food vs. females), seasonality, and population density and age-sex structure.     

The effectiveness of gender determination using polymerase chain reaction and radioimmunoassay methods in cattle

The aim of this study was to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by amplifying DNA from bovine (Bos taurus) fetal cells recovered through uterine puncture and subsequent amniotic fluid aspiration and to compare the effectiveness of the PCR method with amniotic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in gender determination. Amniotic DHT levels between sexes were significantly higher in males than in females in all periods except the period 91 to 120 d. The differences among the amniotic DHT levels at different gestation periods (61 to 90, 91 to 120, 121 to 150, 151 to 180, 181 to 210 d) were not significant in females but were significant in males in the period 61 to 90 d compared with three other periods. Sensitivity was equal to 97.8% (95% CI = 88.2% to 99.6%), and specificity was equal to 85.4% (95% CI = 80.0% to 97.6%). These two values correspond with a cutoff of DHT in amniotic fluid. Distributions of the two sex groups were classified according to the 192.1 pg/mL cutoff value. A total of 93 amniotic fluid samples were examined by PCR analysis. The sex determination of 91 samples by PCR and electrophoresis was in agreement with the visual sexes of the fetuses. In two amniotic fluid samples, DNA was not isolated, and thus no sex determination was made. Fetal gender was correctly identified by PCR in 44 of 45 males and in 47 of 48 females. In PCR, one band (at the length of 102 bp) and two bands (at the lengths of 102 and 226 bp) were observed respectively for female and male fetuses. It may be concluded that the levels of amniotic DHT and PCR might be used for embryo sexing in pregnant cows.     

Characterization and localization of D1 dopamine receptors in the sexually dimorphic vocal control nucleus,area X,and the basal ganglia of european starlings

D1 dopamine receptors were pharmacologically characterized and localized by quantitative autoradiography in the basal ganglia of male and female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The D1 selective antagonist SCH 23390 was used to label this receptor subtype. Starlings are songbirds and possess a neural circuit implicated in the learning and production of song. This circuit includes a sexually dimorphic nucleus, area X, that is a subregion of the parolfactory lobe of the basal ganglia and is known from work on zebra finches to receive dopaminergic input from the area ventralis of Tsai. We focused our investigation on the D1-like receptor subtype because they are abundant in the basal ganglia. Competition studies indicate that a variety of dopaminergic ligands compete with [³H] SCH 23390 for the binding site in an order of potency characteristic of a D1-like receptor. Autoradiographic studies of the basal ganglia revealed high D1 receptor densities in the avian homologues of the caudate-putamen and relatively low-receptor densities were observed in the avian homologue of the globus pallidus. In male starlings, area X could be reliably discerned on the autoradiograms by the higher density of D1 receptors compared to the surrounding parolfactory lobe (LPO). This was also true for females, though nt as reliably as in males. When we compared the mean D1 receptor density in area X for males and females we did not find a significant sex difference. However, we also analyzed the data by comparing sex differences in the degree to which area X has a higher receptor density in comparison with the surrounding LPO. When we normalized D1 receptor density in area X relative to the LPO, we did find a significant sex difference. This sex difference in relative receptor density represents another neural sex difference in the song circuit that may mediate sex differences in the learning and production of song in starlings and other songbirds. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Intrasexual mounting in the beetle Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.).

The weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus shows three kinds of same-sex mountings: males mount other unpaired males, males mount males already engaged in copulation and females mount other females. Four hypotheses were evaluated in order to explain same-sex matings by males: (i) female mimicry by inferior males, (ii) dominance of larger males which affects the behaviour of small males, (iii) sperm transfer in which smaller males gain some reproductive success by 'hitchhiking' their sperm with the sperm of larger males, and (iv) poor sex recognition. Data from mate choice and sperm competition experiments rejected the female mimicry, dominance and sperm transfer hypotheses and supported the poor sex recognition hypothesis. We tested three hypotheses in order to explain female mounting behaviour: (i) females mimic male behaviour in order to reduce sexual harassment by males, (ii) females mount other females in order to appear larger and thereby attract more and larger males for mating, and (iii) female mimicry of males. The results of our mate choice experiments suggested that the female mimicry of males hypothesis best explains the observed female mounting behaviour. This result is also consistent with the poor sex recognition hypothesis which is the most likely explanation for male and female intrasexual mating behaviour in many insect species.     

Evidence for Environmental Sex Determination in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata

Males have predominated among migrating silver eels in the Annaquatucket River, Rhode Island, for at least two decades, with no significant variation in mean total length in either sex. Because the species is panmictic (random breeding), this consistency suggests environmental sex determination (ESD). Most yellow (feeding phase) eels <300mm total length in the Annaquatucket are sexually undifferentiated, and in contrast to all other published sex ratios, males greatly outnumber females (3:1) among differentiated yellow eels. Estimates of yellow eel population densities are 4–10 times greater than published values for other habitats. We propose that this crowding results in a long period of undifferentiation and the suppression of femaleness. Published field and experimental evidence indicates that high population density results in high proportions of males in Atlantic Anguilla, and that low population density results in the predominance of females. This ESD may be adaptive, resulting in vast numbers of small males in coastal habitats, relatively close to the spawing area, and much larger and more fecund females that occupy most of the available eel habitat.     

Blurred Palmprint Recognition Based on Stable-Feature Extraction Using a Vese–Osher Decomposition Model

As palmprints are captured using non-contact devices, image blur is inevitably generated because of the defocused status. This degrades the recognition performance of the system. To solve this problem, we propose a stable-feature extraction method based on a Vese–Osher (VO) decomposition model to recognize blurred palmprints effectively. A Gaussian defocus degradation model is first established to simulate image blur. With different degrees of blurring, stable features are found to exist in the image which can be investigated by analyzing the blur theoretically. Then, a VO decomposition model is used to obtain structure and texture layers of the blurred palmprint images. The structure layer is stable for different degrees of blurring (this is a theoretical conclusion that needs to be further proved via experiment). Next, an algorithm based on weighted robustness histogram of oriented gradients (WRHOG) is designed to extract the stable features from the structure layer of the blurred palmprint image. Finally, a normalized correlation coefficient is introduced to measure the similarity in the palmprint features. We also designed and performed a series of experiments to show the benefits of the proposed method. The experimental results are used to demonstrate the theoretical conclusion that the structure layer is stable for different blurring scales. The WRHOG method also proves to be an advanced and robust method of distinguishing blurred palmprints. The recognition results obtained using the proposed method and data from two palmprint databases (PolyU and Blurred–PolyU) are stable and superior in comparison to previous high-performance methods (the equal error rate is only 0.132%). In addition, the authentication time is less than 1.3 s, which is fast enough to meet real-time demands. Therefore, the proposed method is a feasible way of implementing blurred palmprint recognition.     

Mate choice by wild and mass‐reared females of the Mediterranean fruit fly

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used to control Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), but its effectiveness is limited by low sexual competitiveness of mass‐reared males. This study investigated whether wild and mass‐reared [from a temperature sensitive lethal (tsl) genetic sexing strain] females display similar mate preferences and thus exert similar selective forces on the evolution of male courtship behaviour. Wild females preferred wild males over tsl males, whereas tsl females mated indiscriminately. The probability that mounting resulted in copulation was related to the duration of pre‐mount courtship for wild females, and wild males performed longer courtships than tsl males. Copulation occurred independently of courtship duration in tsl females. Counter to the aim of the SIT, female choice by tsl females appears to promote the evolution of male behaviour disfavoured by wild females.     

智力超常儿童的皮纹学分析

采用＜＜瑞文推理测验图册＞＞及＜＜韦氏儿童智力量表＞＞,在随机整群分层抽样测试２９０６名中,小学生的基础上,对检出的８４名智力超常儿童的皮纹学特征进行分析,结果表明：智力超常儿童Ｌ＾ｕ,Ｗ＾ｄ指纹出现率,ｂ－ｃ三叉间距,ｂ－ｃＴＲＣ,指纹白线、主线横线指数与对照组之间存在显著差异。     

Sex determination of three raptor species using morphology and molecular techniques

ABSTRACT.   Accurate identification of sex is important for many raptor studies, but may be difficult to determine in the field for some species. Because of size differences between males and females, morphological measurements have often been used to sex raptors. However, few investigators have examined the accuracy of using measurements of individuals made at one location to sex individuals of the same species at another location. Our objective was to develop more accurate region-specific methods for determining the sex of Red-tailed Hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis ), Red-shouldered Hawks ( B. lineatus ), and Cooper's Hawks ( Accipiter cooperii ) migrating through and wintering in California. We determined sex using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genetic test and grouped individuals based on sex, age, and geographic area. We did not combine groups due to differences in measurements between age classes and geographic areas. We then compared a suite of morphological measurements between males and females of each combination, and developed both a discriminant function and a flowchart to determine the sex of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawks in the field. The flowcharts were more accurate than the functions for both species. We also confirmed the accuracy of the current flowchart used to determine the sex of Cooper's Hawks migrating along the California coast. These region-specific methods for Red-tailed and Cooper's hawks were generally more accurate than published methods, possibly indicating different populations of these species and highlighting the importance of validating sexing methods when using them in different locations.     

Effects of Environmental and Social Conditions on Homosexual Pairing in the Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica Newman)

Homosexual pairing between males occurs under natural conditions in a wide variety of taxa, including many insect species, but few studies have investigated how environmental and social conditions affect same-sex pairing in insects. We investigated factors affecting homosexual pairing in male Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) in the field and in the laboratory. Specifically, we investigated how time of day, sex ratio, beetle density, and temperature affected the likelihood of homosexual pairing. In the field, male–male pairs constituted 1–6% of the pairs we collected. Homosexual pairs were more common in the afternoon than in the morning and the evening. Sex ratio, density, and temperature were all related to the likelihood of finding a homosexual pair, but the relationships were not linear. In the laboratory, higher male densities and relatively male-biased sex ratios were associated with an increase in the frequency of homosexual pairs. Homosexual pairs were more frequent at relatively low and relatively high temperatures. Males that mounted other males tended to be smaller than the males that they mounted. In addition, compared to males that were not homosexually paired, there was some indication that the mounting males were smaller, and the mounted males larger, than the unpaired males. Our data suggest that homosexual pairs are a result of males mistaking other males for females, and we hypothesize that the environmental and social factors cause changes in homosexual pairing through their effects on the frequency of pair formation and pair duration.