Dissipative particle dynamics simulation on the meso-scale structure of diblock copolymer under cylindrical confinement

The meso-scale structure of symmetric diblock copolymer under cylindrical confinement is studied by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD). The simulation results show that coiled cylindrical geometry is favored in the presence of larger cylinder radius (R/L ₀>～1.5), and the number of rings depends on the cylinder radius. Because of the cylinder wall's selectivity, each block can form the central core, but only the preferential block forms the outmost layer. An approximately linear relationship exists between structure transition point, which is approximately in proportion to the 3/5 exponential of chain length of copolymer and number of layers. As the cylinder radius is decreased, a helical morphology is found. Lamellae parallel to the underside of the cylinder appear when the cylinder radius is made smaller (R/L ₀ < ～1.1).     

光照和生长阶段对菖蒲根系泌氧的影响

以自然湖泊沉积物为研究基质,利用微型电机控制溶氧微电极实现纵向精确微位移,在照光与遮光条件下,对典型湿地植物菖蒲幼苗、成株根系根基部起总根长1/4处(根1/4)、根系中部(根1/2)、从根基部起总根长3/4处(根3/4)及根尖(根1)处根系微界面径向溶氧浓度变化进行原位精确测定。结果表明:无论有无光照,菖蒲幼苗、成株根系不同部位均存在从根表面至沉积物氧饱和度由高到低的氧扩散层,其厚度0.18—0.68 mm;根1/2、3/4、1处氧扩散能力菖蒲成株较幼苗显著增强(P<0.01),根1/4处二者则无显著差异(P>0.05);光照对菖蒲幼苗、成株根系不同部位氧扩散能力的影响存在差异,光照对菖蒲幼苗根1/2及菖蒲成株根1/2、根3/4处影响显著(照光组显著高于遮光组,P<0.01),而对菖蒲幼苗根1/4、根3/4、根1及菖蒲成株根1/4、根1处无显著影响(P>0.05);从根系泌氧空间差异上看,照光条件下菖蒲幼苗、成株分别表现为根1/2>根3/4≈根1≈根1/4(P<0.01,P>0.05)和根1/2>根3/4>根1>根1/4(P<0.01),遮光条件下菖蒲幼苗、成株分别表现为根1/2≈根3/4≈根1≈根1/4(P>0.05)和根1/2>根3/4≈根1>根1/4(P<0.01,P>0.05)。     

长江口及邻近海域富营养化指标响应变量参照状态的确定

对长江口富营养化指标中的响应变量进行了筛选,并在长江口分区的基础上,运用参照点或观测点指标频数分布曲线法,对1992年-2010年的数据进行分析,确定了长江口外海区和舟山海区富营养化指标中响应变量的参照状态.选择叶绿素a和底层溶解氧作为响应指标的必选指标,浮游植物密度和CODMn作为辅助指标.经分析,长江口口外海区叶绿素a、浮游植物密度、CODMn和底层溶解氧的春夏秋3个季节的参照状态分别为0.87mg,/m3,17.44× 103个/L,0.42mg/L,8.36mg/L;1.88mg/m3,25.96×103个/L,0.56mg/L,4.22mg/L;0.84mg/m3,12.10×103个/L,0.46mg/L,6.95mg/L;舟山海区叶绿素a、浮游植物密度、CODMn和溶解氧的春夏秋3个季节的参照状态分别为0.73mg/m3,6.77×103个/L,0.51 mg/L,8.75mg/L;1.00mg/m3,9.72×103个/L,0.37mg/L,5.94mg/L;0.78mg/m3,4.59×103个/L,0.55mg/L,7.40mg/L.本研究确定的参照状态值能较为客观的反映该海域的富营养化参照状态,且不同分区,不同季节间的指标的参照状态亦存在着显著的差异.     

Volatile Gas Components Contribute to Cigarette Smoke-induced DNA Single Strand Breaks in Cultured Human Cells

Thermostable purine nucleoside phosphorylases, PUN PI and PUNPII, have been purified from Bacillus stearothermophilus JTS 859. The characterization of PUNPI was reported previously. [Hori et al.₉ Agric. Biol. Chem. 53, 2205 (1989)] PUNPII had a molecular weight of 113,000, consisting of 4 identical subunits (M_w 28,000). The isoelectric point was 5.3. The Michaelis constants for inosine, guanosine, and adenosine were 0.22, 0.34, and 0.075 mm, respectively. The optimal temperature of the reaction was 70°C. The enzyme was stable at 70°C. Although other reported purine nucleoside phosphorylases were SH-enzymes, PUNPII was not a SH-enzyme because the enzyme reaction was not inhibited by PCMB and iodoacetic acid, the optimal pH of the enzyme reaction was from 7.0 to 11.0, and the enzyme did not contain cysteine.

PUNPII and PUNPI were different in several points. Not PUNPI but PUNPII could catalyze the phosphorolysis of adenosine. Specific activity of PUNPI and II for inosine were 405 and 50.6 μmol/min/mg protein at 60°C, respectively. PUNPI was stable at 80°C. PUNPII was stable at 70°C, but was denatured at 80°C.     

Transient spatio-temporal dynamics of a diffusive plant–herbivore system with Neumann boundary conditions

In many existing predator–prey or plant–herbivore models, the numerical response is assumed to be proportional to the functional response. In this paper, without such an assumption, we consider a diffusive plant–herbivore system with Neumann boundary conditions. Besides stability of spatially homogeneous steady states, we also derive conditions for the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation and steady-state bifurcation and provide geometrical methods to locate the bifurcation values. We numerically explore the complex transient spatio-temporal behaviours induced by these bifurcations. A large variety of different types of transient behaviours including oscillations in one or both of space and time are observed.     

A recipe for postfledging survival in great tits Parus major: be large and be early (but not too much)

Survival of juveniles during the postfledging period can be markedly low, which may have major consequences on avian population dynamics. Knowing which factors operating during the nesting phase affect postfledging survival is crucial to understand avian breeding strategies. We aimed to obtain a robust set of predictors of postfledging local survival using the great tit (Parus major) as a model species. We used mark–recapture models to analyze the effect of hatching date, temperatures experienced during the nestling period, fledging size and body mass on first‐year postfledging survival probability of great tit juveniles. We used data from 5192 nestlings of first clutches ringed between 1993 and 2010. Mean first‐year postfledging survival probability was 15.2%, and it was lower for smaller individuals, as well as for those born in either very early or late broods. Our results stress the importance of choosing an optimum hatching period, and raising large chicks to increase first‐year local survival probability in the studied population.     

低温条件下广聚萤叶甲成虫的耐饥饿能力

【背景】广聚萤叶甲是恶性入侵杂草豚草的一种重要专一性天敌,在冬季低温且缺乏食物的条件下,广聚萤叶甲的耐饥饿能力直接关系到其越冬种群的虫源基数。【方法】在室内观察广聚萤叶甲成虫在10℃低温条件下的存活率和死亡率,研究了水分(有水、无水)、不同密度(一雌一雄、二雌二雄、五雌五雄)、加入泥土枯枝对广聚萤叶甲耐饥饿能力的影响。【结果】无水、有水条件下,广聚萤叶甲成虫的平均存活时间分别为(15.23±1.01)、(13.33±0.88)d,水分对广聚萤叶甲的耐饥力的影响不显著;随着密度的增加,广聚萤叶甲的耐饥饿能力增强,一雌一雄、二雌二雄和五雌五雄的平均存活时间依次为(11.96±0.57)、(13.78±0.60)、(14.81±0.42)d;加入泥土和豚草枯枝后,广聚萤叶甲的耐饥饿能力明显提高,其平均存活时间为(15.97±1.05)d。【结论与意义】低温条件下广聚萤叶甲的耐饥饿能力较强,可保证部分广聚萤叶甲的自然种群在野外安全越冬,研究低温条件下广聚萤叶甲的耐饥饿能力对豚草的生物防治具有重要意义。