FISH ASSEMBLAGE RESPONSES TO DIFFERENT SECONDARY CHANNEL DESIGNS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER,U.S.A.:A TEMPLATE FOR RIVER RESTORATION

The lower Mississippi River(LMR) has been heavily modified for multiple human purposes such as navigation, flood control, and bank stabilization. However, the LMR simultaneously supports a diverse fish fauna that includes recreational and commercial fisheries. Due to river training and diversion structures constructed during the past 80 years, the historic characteristics of the LMR have been drastically altered and have likely influenced fishes and fisheries in the system. One common restoration measure used throughout the LMR has been to "notch" wing-dike structures that close secondary(side) river channels. Dike notching allows year-round flows through secondary channels, which enhances habitat diversity and promotes biological productivity at the ecosystem scale. Although notching is presumed good for LMR fishes and other biota, few studies have examined its effects on fish assemblages. In this study, fish assemblages were sampled at seven LMR secondary channels spanning from river kilometer(rkm) 628(Louisiana-Mississippi, U.S.A.) upstream to rkm 1504(Missouri-Kentucky, U.S.A.). Four secondary channels were termed "permanent"(i.e.,with notched dikes) while three secondary channels were termed "temporary"(i.e., without notched dikes).Fishes were sampled by boat-mounted electrofishing conducted during falling and low stages from1995—1997. Fish assemblages differed between permanent and temporary secondary channels, and varied somewhat between falling and low stages. Gizzard shad(Dorosoma cepedianum), threadfin shad(D. petenense), and white bass(Morone chrysops) demonstrated consistent preferences for low-current conditions associated with temporary secondary channels. Conversely, blue catfish(Ictalurus furcatus), flathead catfish(Pylodictis olivaris), and freshwater drum(Aplodinotus grunniens) were more associated with permanent secondary channels. Future restoration strategies in the LMR should consider dike notching and resultant maintenance of permanent secondary channels in selected river reaches. However, temporary secondary channels also contain unique fish species, and also appear to be important sites of riverine primary production. Restoration strategies should consider a balance of both secondary channel types, which should support the greatest biodiversity for the LMR ecosystem.     

Applications of stem cells and bioprinting for potential treatment of diabetes

Currently, there does not exist a strategy that can reduce diabetes and scientists are working towards a cure and innovative approaches by employing stem cellbased therapies. On the other hand, bioprinting technology is a novel therapeutic approach that aims to replace the diseased or lost β-cells, insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas, which can potentially regenerate damaged organs such as the pancreas. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into various cell lines including insulinproducing cells. However, there are still barriers that hamper the successful differentiation of stem cells into β-cells. In this review, we focus on the potential applications of stem cell research and bioprinting that may be targeted towards replacing the β-cells in the pancreas and may offer approaches towards treatment of diabetes. This review emphasizes on the applicability of employing both stem cells and other cells in 3 D bioprinting to generate substitutes for diseased β-cells and recover lost pancreatic functions. The article then proceeds to discuss the overall research done in the field of stem cell-based bioprinting and provides future directions for improving the same for potential applications in diabetic research.     

Behavioral and neural auditory thresholds in a frog

Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks-what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study, we use 3 methods to assess such thresholds in tdngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responsesz and multi unit electrophysiological recordi ngs from the midbrain.We show that thresholds are lowest for multiunit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds;behavioral thresholds are based on signal salienee whereas the 2 neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All 3 estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salienee of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.     

中国省级行政区生态环境可持续性评价

从自然条件、人类胁迫、生态环境效应和社会响应4个主题出发,构建了包含28个指标的中国省级行政区生态环境可持续性评价指标体系,并通过专家调查和层次分析法为各主题层中的指标赋权.分别用各主题层中的指标和对应的权重,采用加权平均法构建自然条件(NSI)、人类胁迫(HPI)、生态环境效应(EEI)和社会响应(SRI)4个分指数,然后用这4个分指数通过灰色关联法构建综合生态环境可持续性指数(CEI),对我国各省级行政区生态环境可持续性进行评价.同时论文通过主成分分析法和相关分析法分析造成各指数地域差异的主导因素和评价中指标赋权的合理性.最后以4个分指数作为变量,采用快速样本聚类法对我国31个省级行政区进行聚类分析.评价结果表明,2003年我国各生态环境指数存在显著的地域差异.自然条件从东南到西北呈明显的由优到劣的过渡趋势,降雨量、年均气温、森林覆盖率和水网密度4个指标是导致地域差异的主导因素;人类胁迫东部发达地区明显高于西部和中部地区,同一个地区经济发展水平存在显著的正相关;生态环境效应西北地区最为显著,同各地区自然条件存在显著的负相关,在人类活动干扰下,自然条件差的地区更容易发生生态损害与退化;社会响应无明显的地域分析规律,各地区经济发展水平对其有一定影响,但并非决定性因素.区域综合生态环境可持续性由区域NSI、HPI、EEI和SRI共同决定,综合评价得到2003年我国各省级行政区生态环境可持续性排序情况,其中生态环境可持续性最强的几个地区为海南、云南、广西、江西等地,最弱的几个地区为内蒙古、宁夏、上海、西藏、新疆等地.最后,聚类分析把我国31个省级行政区聚为生态环境特点各异的六大类,可以促进我国生态环境的分类管理.     

A lubricant boundary condition for a biological body lined by a thin heterogeneous biofilm

We study the asymptotic behavior of an incompressible viscous fluid flow in a biological body lined by a thin biological film with a cellular microstructure,varying thickness,and a heterogeneous viscosity regulated by a time random process.Let ting the thickness of the film tend to zero,we derive an effective biological slip boundary condition on the boundary of the body.This law relates the tangential fluxes to the tangential velocities via a proportional coefficient corresponding to the energy of some local problem.This law describes the ability of the biological film to function as a lubricant reducing friction at the wall of the body.The tangential velocities are functions of the random trajectories of a finely concentrated biological particle.     

猛犸雪原

正我对东北的了解和向往,最早来自上世纪70年代初期读过的描写北大荒知青生活的小说《征途》。我最感兴趣的是书中描述的东北的自然风光和动物植物:"遮天蔽日的红松林,尽管被大雪覆盖,但远远望去,依然是郁郁苍苍。朔风吹过,发出万马奔腾的松涛声。那一望无际的桦树林,好像千百株银枝玉树,俊秀挺拔地屹立在冰天雪地中";"咱这疙瘩呀,是‘棒打獐子瓢舀鱼,雉鸡飞到饭锅里’。汽车在公路上撞死几个挡道的狍子,跟你们南方碾死一条蛇一样不稀     

我国近代发酵工业的先驱——金培松

金培松(又名金柏卿,英文名Pei-sung King)1906年10月30日生于浙江省东阳后岑山村.童年时他是在农村渡过,牛角挂书,放牛识字.1919年进入东阳县长山小学,1923年高小毕业,入东阳县城初级中学,3年后毕业,考入浙江省立第一中学高中部,1年后因家庭经济困难辍学,1927年9月以高中肄业学历被上海劳动大学农学院农艺化学系录取,1931年毕业.     

Species Account of Anura ns from the Western Slope of Mt. Kita nglad,Mindanao Island,Philippines

The Mt. Kitanglad Range is one of the country’s important key biodiversity sites;however, information about anuran diversity in this protected area remains depauperate. Herein we provided accounts of anuran species from high-elevation forests, in three sites of the western slope of Mt. Kitanglad range. The combined belt-transect sampling and microha bitat searches accounted for 13 species representing five families. The most represented family was Rhacophoridae with five representative species of the genus Philautus. Twelve out of the 13 species documented in the current survey are endemic. Four previously unaccounted species(Pelophr yne brevipes, Pulchrana grandocula, Sanguirana mearnsi, and Philautus surrufus) were added and brought the total anurans known from Mt. Kitanglad to 26 species. Most of the species were also recorded in forested sites, suggestive of their lesser affinity to non-forested ecosystems. The additional species detected during our survey may also imply that full understanding of anuran diversity of Mt. Kitanglad remains far from complete.     

2008年春鄱阳湖区斑背大尾莺状况

2008年1月下旬至2月上旬在中国南方广大地区发生冻雨雪灾害,给在鄱阳湖区越冬的斑背大尾莺(Locustella pryeri)带来不利影响,据3月上旬的调查,原本在江西鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区内广泛分布的斑背大尾莺已变得十分稀少.     

植物挥发物代谢工程在改良香气品质和植物防御中的应用

挥发物次生代谢在植物繁殖、植物防御和改良食物品质方面发挥着重要作用。近年来,随着参与挥发物生物合成的基因和酶类的鉴定以及代谢途径和调控机理等研究的不断发展和深入,挥发物代谢工程已经具备较高的可行性。应用代谢工程改良花、果实的香气品质以及提高植物防御能力的研究成效显著。主要介绍了这些方面的最新进展,同时也讨论了植物挥发物代谢工程应用存在的问题和挑战以及研究思路。     

Bacteria with ACC deaminase can promote plant growth and help to feed the world

To feed all of the world's people, it is necessary to sustainably increase agricultural productivity. One way to do this is through the increased use of plant growth-promoting bacteria; recently, scientists have developed a more profound understanding of the mechanisms employed by these bacteria to facilitate plant growth. Here, it is argued that the ability of plant growth-promoting bacteria that produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase to lower plant ethylene levels, often a result of various stresses, is a key component in the efficacious functioning of these bacteria. The optimal functioning of these bacteria includes the synergistic interaction between ACC deaminase and both plant and bacterial auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). These bacteria not only directly promote plant growth, they also protect plants against flooding, drought, salt, flower wilting, metals, organic contaminants, and both bacterial and fungal pathogens. While a considerable amount of both basic and applied work remains to be done before ACC deaminase-producing plant growth-promoting bacteria become a mainstay of plant agriculture, the evidence indicates that with the expected shift from chemicals to soil bacteria, the world is on the verge of a major paradigm shift in plant agriculture.     

Targeted protein accumulation promoted by autoassembly and its recovery from plant cells

The expression of a fusion protein formed between the avian infectious bronchitis virus M protein and the bacterial enzyme beta-glucuronidase (GUS) in plants promotes the formation of new organization of the endoplasmic reticulum in tobacco plants. This unusual organization of the membranes, never present in nontransformed plants, has been explained by the oligomerization of the GUS domains of the IBVM-GUS fusion proteins. These specific organized membranes could have broad implications for biotechnology since their formation could be used as a mechanism for retaining and accumulating resident proteins in specific and discrete membrane compartments. In this study, we have shown that the unusual organization of native membranes due to overexpression of the IBVM-GUS fusion gene in tobacco transgenic plants and calli is present at higher levels in plant cell suspensions than in plant tissues. In these cell suspensions, IBVM-GUS protein was continuously synthesized and accumulated throughout the cell culture. An enrichment of the chimeric IBVM-GUS protein corresponding to a five-fold increase in the microsomal fractions was achieved and the GUS enzyme did not show any modification on enzyme kinetics. However, the GUS activity could be differentially distributed in the fractions eluted at different pH suggesting differences in the surface topography of histidine residues for this recombinant GUS.     

植物次生代谢基因工程

植物次生代谢基因工程,是利用基因工程技术对植物次生代谢途径的遗传特性进行改造,进而改变植物次生代谢产物。植物次生代谢基因工程的出现是人类对次生代谢途径的深入了解和分子生物学向纵深发展的结果,同时它又促进了次生代谢分子生物学的发展。调控因子的应用和多基因的协同转化为植物次生代谢基因工程拓宽了思路。从次生代谢图谱、植物基因工程策略和植物转基因方法等方面对植物次生代谢的基因工程研究进展做一简要概述。     

Ri质粒在植物科学中应用的新进展

本文综述了发根农杆菌Ｒｉ质粒在植物学理论研究、有用植物次生代谢物生产、植物品种改良及植物栽培四个方面应用的最新进展。     

Comparative population studies of threePieris butterflies,P. rapae,P. melete andP. napi,living in the same area

The adult populations of three Pieris butterflies, P. rapae, P. melete and P. napi, were studied in an area of their coexistence throughout the flight seasons by using the mark-and-recapture method. The study area, about 3×1.5 km, was set up in a farm village surrounded by the mountainous area in Inabu, Aichi Prefecture. The habitats were qualified by the four factors, i. e., oviposition plants, adult nector plants, roosting-sites and light conditions. Between P. rapae and P. napi, there were sharp differences with regards to overall habitat preferences. P. melete had the widest preferences for all the habitat resources, which overlapped greately with requirements of P. rapae and P. napi. P. melete and P. rapae showed similar preferences for oviposition plants, but the former preferred shaded habitats while the latter preferred sunny places. P. melete and P. napi, having similar preferences for shaded situations, showed differences in the preferences for oviposition plants. Moreover, three species of Pieris were different in their preferences for adult nector plants. Thus, they were more likely to partition habitat resources rather than competing for them. The habitat structures of each species in respect of time, space and stability to weather changes were much different each other in the same area. The habitat of P. rapae was temporary, localized and unstable. While, that of P. melete was more permanent, widespread and stable than that of P. rapae. P. napi seemed to live in the intermediate habitat, i. e., permanent, localized and stable one.     

关于IUCN和WWF联合植物保护研究计划工作的成就和今后的任务

植物是人类和动物生活所必需,由于缺乏长远规划的目标,无计划的滥用已导致许多植物灭绝或陷入濒临灭绝的境地。为此,IUCN—WWF联合建立了“植物保护研究计划”,并把其列入他们各自工作的重点。主要工作内容有下列各项:1)传播信息宣传群众;2)建立必要的植物保护的工作条件:3)植物遗传资源的保护:4)野生经济植物的保护:5)加强植物园开展植物保护的工作条件:6)促进植物丰富的国家开展植物保护工作。     

Plant cell biology 150 years after Matthias Schleiden

Summary Exactly 150 years after the publication of the so-called cell theory the role of the botanist Schleiden has been reconsidered. It is emphasized that the study of plant sexual reproduction systems has contributed considerably to the development of the general cell concept. Recent examples show that 150 years later plant cell biology is flourishing, not least because of the great impact of the increasing use of plant reproductive cells and organs.     

植物实验生殖生物学与生殖细胞工程:现在与未来

植物实验生殖生物学是植物实验胚胎学发展的新阶段,其主要特征为操作技术水平的提高与多学科综合性研究的加强。花粉原生质体、生殖细胞、精子,胚囊、卵细胞的操作、雌雄配子体外融合、配子-体细胞杂交等,代表了当前的主要研究趋势。实验生殖生物学与基因工程相结合,开辟了植物生殖工程新技术领域的前景。对生殖工程的意义与内容提出了轮廓设想。     

植物蛋白oleosin及其在植物基因工程中的应用

Oleosin是一类特殊贮藏蛋白,主要在植物种子特异表达,覆盖于油体表面,在油体发生到分解消失过程中起着重要的生物学作用,在植物基因工程研究中有重要的应用价值。介绍oleosin的分类、分布、基本组成、结构与功能、oleosin基因及其表达,讨论oleosin在植物基因工程中的应用 。