Pendulums: A Hands-on Way to Experience Resonance

In this integrated inquiry, students in an elementary teaching methods class investigate a real-world problem outside the classroom. The students use the Cognitive Research Trust (CoRT) thinking strategy to find the causes of, impact of, and possible solutions to the problem. They present their findings and then discuss implementation of this activity in elementary classrooms. The activity is followed by a whole-class discussion about the activity and its application to the elementary classroom. This is an open-ended inquiry that future teachers will be able to do with their elementary school students.     

Blühverhalten und Bestäubungsbiologie vonCarludovica palmata (Cyclanthaceae) — ein ökologisches Paradoxon

In natural habitats ofCarludovica palmata (Colombia) numerous stingless bees (Meliponinae) were observed as pollen collectors at the inflorescences and were believed to be the pollinators of the entomophilous flowers. Male flowers surround female ones on the spadix in a regular fashion. At first, the filiform, strongly scented staminodia of the female flowers unfold. After they have dropped, the anthers open, and finally the male flowers fall to ground. Only then, the stigmata of the female flowers are exposed. Previous literature references on proterogyny and the drying-up of the stigmata prior to the male phase inCarludovica are in conflict with these observations on the course of anthesis and pollination.

     

Zooplankton grazing methods using radioactive tracers: Technical problems

Some of the technical problems specific to the application of radiotracer techniques for measuring grazing of zooplankton are highlighted and, in some cases, the corrective measures suggested.The major drawbacks of measuring zooplankton grazing in the laboratory, for studying the role of zooplankton in nature, namely, changes in water temperature and light and heavy mortality of some cladocerans, are overcome by the use ofin situ grazing chambers. However, at present there are no suitable techniques available to measure short-term assimilation rates which usually suffer from the respiratory loss during the experiment of the assimilated radiotracer.In the ecosystem research in which zooplankton grazing is an integral part of the studies, the radiotracer food manufactured fromin situ lake seston is preferred to labelled monoculture of algae, bacteria or yeast. The specific activities of the different tracer components and size fractions of the seston comprising the tracer may considerably differ in short-term labelling. On the other hand, long labelling periods,i.e. exceeding a day for example, may lead to shifts in size spectra of and composition of the different phytoplankton species. Changes during the incubation in the size spectra of the tracerfood are probably of greater importance than those in species composition, especially because a size-selective feeding may often exist.Simultaneous use of different radiotracers for labelling phytoplankton and bacteria or for mixtures of algae that differ in sizes offers some promising applications. More work in this field is needed, particularly because of the overlapping energy spectra of the radiotracers, and differential loss rates of these tracers from the preserved animals before the radioactivity counting. Such losses of the tracer from the experimental animals may lead to significant errors, especially in the short-term grazing measurements. This problem can be, nevertheless, prevented to a large extent by a rapid freeze-drying of the animals immediately on concluding the experiment.Self absorption may be a problem in radioactivity counting, more so if the animals are large. Use of sample oxidizers offers a good solution if the tracer can be trapped in its oxidized, gaseous form (e.g. ¹⁴CO₂) before further processing for counting. Modern solubilizing agents, like Soluene 350, with their relatively high water-holding capacity are quite effective in dissolving the different tissues, except the exoskeletal material.dedicated to Prof. H.F. Linskens, chairman of the Managing Committee of the Limnological Institute, in honour of his 65th birthday.     

基于生态系统服务重要性和环境敏感性的喀斯特山区生态安全格局构建——以广西河池为例

生态安全格局对保障区域生态安全、推动城市空间高质量发展及提升人类福祉具有重要意义。聚焦喀斯特山区基本自然地理特征与生态环境问题，探究生态脆弱的喀斯特山区的生态安全格局构建与优化。以河池市为例，根据生态系统服务重要性识别选取生态源地，基于生态环境敏感性评估结果修正基本阻力面，并利用最小累积阻力模型（Minimum Cumulative Resistance，简称MCR模型）提取生态廊道，构建出河池市生态安全格局。结果表明：河池市生态源地总面积为5706.63 km²，占全市总面积的17.07%。生态廊道分为潜在廊道和关键廊道，分别为456.82 km和325.44 km。对所识别的源地和生态廊道进行总体规划，宏观上可以形成"四屏两区三带"的蛛网式辐射分布的生态安全格局。基于生态系统服务重要性的源地识别，以及利用生态敏感性结果修正基本阻力面的方法，综合考虑了生态安全格局构建中生态过程的重要性，研究结果为解决喀斯特山区的城市空间扩张和生态安全保障问题提供了现实路径和科学指引。     

The Structure of Compounded Trivariate Binomial Distributions

A family of trivariate binomial mixtures with respect to their exponent parameter is introduced and its structure is studied by the use of probability generating functions. Expressions for probabilities, factorial moments and factorial cumulants are given. Conditional distributions are also examined. Illustrative examples include the trivariate Poisson, binomial, negative binomial and modified logarithmic series distributions. In addition, properties of the compounded trivariate Poisson distribution are discussed. Finally biological, medical and ecological applications are indicated.     

Biology of the freshwater diatom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didymosphenia</Emphasis>: a review

Features of the colonial diatom Didymosphenia are reviewed, especially D. geminata. Although there is a long record of its occurrence in north temperate regions, mass growths have been reported much more widely in recent years. Contrary to some statements in the literature, there are also reliable older records for the southern hemisphere, though the first report of mass growth was in New Zealand in 2004. The annual cycle of morphological changes in D. geminata in northern England, and probably elsewhere, includes a winter period when motile cells are attached to the substratum followed by spring when stalks start to develop. These raise cells into the water column and provide a site for phosphatase activity. Environmental factors associated with success include absence of extreme floods, high light, pH above neutral and nutrient chemistry. D. geminata often, but not always, occurs in waters where the N:P ratio is high for much of the year, but the key factor is the ratio of organic to inorganic phosphate. D. geminata thrives where organic P is predominant and the overall P concentration is low enough for organic P to be an important P source. It is unknown whether organic N can be used. Environmental changes increasing the relative importance of organic P are likely to favour D. geminata. Likely examples are increased N:P due to atmospheric N deposition and changes in form and seasonality of P release from organic-rich soils due to climatic warming. The nutrient chemistry of deep water released from dams to rivers also needs investigation. To what extent are genetic changes occurring in response to environmental changes and are new ecotypes spreading round the world? In spite of many adverse reports about D. geminata, such as detached mats blocking water pipes, there is still doubt about the extent to which it causes problems, particularly for fish. There have been few adverse effects on migratory salmonids in Europe and North America, but at least one report of harm to a brown trout population in USA. In New Zealand, it has caused serious problems for water sports, although it remains open to question how much adverse effect it has had on fish populations. If the presence of microcystins in or associated with D. geminata, as indicated recently for two populations, proves to be widespread and at sufficiently high concentration, their possible accumulation in fish requires study. Where control is required, this could be achieved by enhancing the ratio of inorganic to organic phosphate in the water early in the growth season. Practical ways to achieve this are suggested.     

与NikonYS100普通光学显微镜有关的一些题目

通过一些与NikonYS100普通光学显微镜有关的题目,帮助医学生熟悉、掌握普通光学显微镜的使用。     

Associations of chronotype with social jetlag and behavioral problems in preschool children

The timing, duration, and intensity of sleep are determined by the interaction between a sleep-wake-dependent homeostatic process and a sleep-wake-independent, intrinsic, clock-like circadian process. Chronotype represents individual differences in diurnal preferences, which are not only genetically determined but also influenced by social and environmental factors. Thus, the discrepancy between biological and social clocks, so-called “social jetlag”, occurs. Chronotype, social jetlag, and the links between chronotype and behavioral problems are well documented in adults and adolescents. However, such studies on young children are limited. We conducted a survey of sleep and health for preschool children attending kindergarten or childcare centers in Wako, Okayama and Kurashiki cities, Japan, between May and July 2012. A total of 654 children aged 4–6 years (342 boys and 312 girls, with an average age of 4.7 years) were assessed using the Children’s ChronoType Questionnaire and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Morning (M)-type, neither (N)-type and evening (E)-type accounted for 36.2%, 54.0% and 9.8% of the participants, respectively. The weekday-to-weekend differences in midsleep time – originally proposed as the concept of social jetlag – were 11, 25 and 35?min for M-, N- and E-types, respectively. There was a negative correlation between chronotype and sleep period during weekdays (p?<?0.001) and a positive correlation on weekends (p?<?0.001). The weekday-to-weekend difference in sleep period was 0.5?h for E-types, whereas there was no difference for M-types. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the links between chronotype and behavioral problems, adjusted for participants’ sex, age, childcare programs and locations. Chronotype was significantly associated with hyperactivity/inattention: N-type (adjusted OR?=?1.74, 95% CI?=?1.03–2.95, p?<?0.05) and E-type (adjusted OR?=?2.47, 95% CI?=?1.18–5.20, p?<?0.05). E-type was significantly associated with conduct problems (adjusted OR?=?2.11, 95% CI?=?1.03–4.31, p?<?0.05) and peer problems (adjusted OR?=?2.75, 95% CI?=?1.18–6.44, p?<?0.05). The results suggest that E-type children are vulnerable to higher social jetlag and more behavioral problems. The immature adjustment function of their endogenous circadian pacemakers may not be able to correct a small but significant social jetlag to synchronize with their social clocks. Furthermore, guidance based on chronobiological evidence is required for parents, teachers and health professionals to help children achieve optimal sleep and reduce behavioral problems.