在墨尔本召开的第18届国际植物学大会做出的有关名称发表要求的变化——电子出版物对你意味着什么？

《国际植物命名法规》的修订由每六年一次的国际植物学大会（IBC）命名分会来决定。第18届国际植物学大会在澳大利亚墨尔本举行;命名分会于2011年7月18日至22日召开,其决议获得7月30日的全体会议通过。“墨尔本法规”有几个重要的变化,将影响新名称的发表。这些变化中的两个将在“墨尔本法规”出版前的几个月,即于2012年1月1日起生效。通过以移动文档格式（Portable Document Format;pdf）在线发表的具有国际标准连续出版物号（ISSN）或国际标准图书编号（ISBN）的电子出版物,将构成有效发表。新分类群名称的合格发表所必须的拉丁文描述或特征集要将更改为拉丁文或英文描述或特征集要。此外,自2013年1月1日起,被处理为真菌的生物的新名称必须在原始资料（某一名称合格发表时与之有关的所有资料）中引证一个由一家公认的存储库（例如MycoBank）签发的标识码,才构成合格发表。本文提供了有关电子出版物的新规则的草案文本,并概述了相应的最佳做法。     

The presence of a paternal grandmother lengthens interbirth interval following the birth of a granddaughter in Krummhörn (18th and 19th centuries)

Because only daughters inherit the paternal X-chromosome, an asymmetry in adaptive investment decisions has been suggested for certain patrilineal kin. Namely, paternal grandmothers (PGMs) may favor a granddaughter over a grandson, because (within the limits of paternity uncertainty) the former definitely carries one of their X-chromosomes, while the latter definitely does not. Here, we test the hypothesis that the PGMs' sex-specific favoritism influences reproductive scheduling. Using family-reconstitution data, we analyzed interbirth intervals (IBIs) in the historical population from the Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany). In order to account for potentially timevarying effects on IBIs we applied (and combined) both the additive hazards regression of Aalen and the Cox proportional hazards model. We found that the presence of the PGM but not that of the maternal grandmother (MGM), correlates with the IBI following the birth of a grandchild as a function of the grandchild's sex. Specifically, in the presence of a PGM, the IBIs following the birth of a granddaughter are longer than in her absence. However, contrary to predictions from theoretical life history framework, model estimates for a PGM's effect on a mother's IBI did not significantly vary over time This study supports the hypothesis that PGM behavior differs according to her grandchild's sex. Further research should now explore the biological mechanism underlying this phenomenon.     

Effect of climate change over the past half century on the distribution,extent and NPP of ecosystems of Inner Mongolia

The response of natural vegetation to climate change is of global concern. In this research, changes in the spatial pattern of major terrestrial ecosystems from 1956 to 2006 in Inner Mongolia of China were analyzed with the Holdridge Life Zone (HLZ) model in a GIS environment, and net primary production (NPP) of natural vegetation was evaluated with the Synthetic model, to determine the effect of climate change on the ecosystem. The results showed that climate warming and drying strongly influenced ecosystems. Decreased precipitation and the subsequent increase in temperature and potential evapotranspiration caused a severe water deficiency, and hence decreased ecosystem productivity. Climate change also influenced the spatial distribution of HLZs. In particular, new HLZs began to appear, such as Warm temperate desert scrub in 1981 and Warm temperate thorn steppe in 2001. The relative area of desert (Cool temperate desert scrub, Warm temperate thorn steppe, Warm temperate desert scrub, Cool temperate desert and Warm temperate desert) increased by 50.2% over the last half century, whereas the relative area of forest (Boreal moist forest and Cool moist forest) decreased by 36.5%. Furthermore, the area of Cool temperate steppe has continuously decreased at a rate of 5.7% per decade; if the current rate of decrease continues, this HLZ could disappear in 173 years. The HLZs had a large shift range with the mean center of the relative life zones of desert shifting northeast, resulting a decrease in the steppe and forest area and an increase in the desert area. In general, a strong effect of climate change on ecosystems was indicated. Therefore, the important role of climate change must be integrated into rehabilitation strategies of ecosystem degradation of Inner Mongolia.     

Machine Learning Approach to Detect Cardiac Arrhythmias in ECG Signals: A Survey

Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition when the heart rate is irregular either the beat is too slow or too fast. It occurs due to improper electrical impulses that coordinates the heart beats. Sudden cardiac death may occurs due to some dangerous arrhythmias conditions. Hence the main objective of the electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis is to detect the life-threatening arrhythmias accurately for appropriate treatment in order to save life. Since the last decades, several methods were reported for automatic ECG beat classifications. In this work, we present a systematic review of the current state-of-the-art methods used to detect cardiac arrhythmia using on ECG signals. It includes the signal decomposition, feature extraction and machine learning approaches used for automatic detection and decision making process. The articles covers the pre-processing, detection of QRS complex, feature extraction and classification of ECG beats. Based on the past studies, it is understood that the automated approach using computer-aided decision making process is highly required for real-time detection of cardiac arrhythmias. The advantages and limitations of different methods are discussed and also the future scopes is highlighted in the process of effective detection of cardiac arrhythmias. This study could be beneficial for researchers to analyze the existing state-of-art techniques used in detection of arrhythmia conditions.     

濒危植物香果树（Emmenopterys henryi）种群结构与动态

香果树（Emmenopterys henryi）为我国特有种,属国家Ⅱ级重点保护植物。主要分布于江西、安徽等地亚热带中山或低山区的森林中。文中对武夷山自然保护区4个群落类型的香果树种群数量动态进行了系统研究,统计其径级结构、建立生命表,应用谱分析方法分析种群数量的动态变化,并对影响该种群结构的环境因子进行了分析。结果表明：（1）武夷山自然保护区香果树种群基本属于衰退型,幼苗少,中树、大树个体丰富。不同生境的种群密度存在差异,其中香果树纯林密度较大（8.45±0.818株·100 m^-2）,幼苗数量较多,更新较好（幼苗密度1.05±0.326株·100 m^-2）,针阔混交林中香果树密度较小（6.58±0.76株·100 m^-2）,无幼苗;（2）香果树种群中树死亡率较高,其他各级死亡率较低;（3）香果树种群自然更新过程存在明显的周期。（4）对影响香果树种群结构的13个环境因子通过主成分分析（PCA）发现,较高的光强、土壤含水量、弱酸性土壤、土壤有机质、大气湿度、大气温度和适量的人为干扰对种群增长发挥有利影响,而高海拔、阴坡、陡坡度和大的乔灌层盖度对香果树种群增长则发挥不利影响。（5）充分利用香果树幼树喜荫、大树喜光的特点,加强现有林分的就地保护,特别是具有结实能力的母树,并就地采种育苗,扩大人工种群数量。     

Host exposure history and priority effects impact the development and reproduction of a dominant parasite

Within a single organism, numerous parasites often compete for space and resources. This competition, together with a parasite’s ability to locate and successfully establish in a host, can contribute to the distribution and prevalence of parasites. Coinfection with trematodes in snail intermediate hosts is rarely observed in nature, partly due to varying competitive abilities among parasite taxa. Using a freshwater snail host (Biomphalaria glabrata), we studied the ability of a competitively dominant trematode, Echinostoma caproni, to establish and reproduce in a host previously infected with a less competitive trematode species, Schistosoma mansoni. Snails were exposed to S. mansoni and co-exposed to E. caproni either simultaneously or 1 week, 4 weeks, or 6 weeks post S. mansoni exposure. Over the course of infection, we monitored the competitive success of the dominant trematode through infection prevalence, parasite development time, and parasite reproductive output. Infection prevalence of E. caproni did not differ among co-exposed groups or between co-exposed and single exposed groups. However, E. caproni infections in co-exposed hosts took longer to reach maturity when the timing between co-exposures increased. All co-exposed groups had higher E. caproni reproductive output than single exposures. We show that although timing of co-exposure affects the development time of parasite transmission stages, it is not important for successful establishment. Additionally, co-exposure, but not priority effects, increases the reproductive output of the dominant parasite.     

When sex is not enough: ecological correlates of resprouting capacity in congeneric tropical forest shrubs

In moist tropical forests resprouting may be an important component of life history, contributing to asexual reproduction through the clonal spread of individuals derived from shoot fragments. However, in contrast to other ecosystems where resprouting is common, the ecological correlates of resprouting capacity in tropical forests remain largely unexplored. In this study we characterized shade tolerance, resprouting capacity and sexual reproductive success of eight co-occurring Piper species from lowland forests of Panama. In field experiments we found that shade-tolerant Piper species had a higher capacity to regenerate from excised or pinned stem fragments than light-demanding species in both gap and understory light conditions. In contrast, shade-tolerant species had lower recruitment probabilities from seeds, as a consequence of lower initial seed viability, and lower seedling emergence rates. All Piper species needed gap conditions for successful seedling establishment. Of 8,000 seeds sown in the understory only 0.2% emerged. In gaps, seed germination of light-demanding species was between 10 and 50%, whereas for shade-tolerant species it was 0.5–9.8%. We propose that the capacity to reproduce asexually from resprouts could be adaptive for shade-tolerant species that are constantly exposed to damage from falling litter in the understory. Resprouting may allow Piper populations to persist and spread despite the high rate of pre-dispersal seed predation and low seed emergence rates. Across Piper species, we detected a trade-off between resprouting capacity and the annual viable seed production per plant but not with annual seed mass produced per plant. This suggests that species differences in sexual reproductive success may not necessarily result from differential resource allocation. Instead we suggest that low sexual reproductive success in the understory may in part reflect reduced genetic diversity in populations undergoing clonal growth, resulting in self-fertilization and in-breeding depression.     

Natural hierarchy emerges from energy dispersal

Hierarchical organization of ‘systems within systems’ is an apparent characteristic of nature. For many biotic and abiotic systems it is known how the nested structural and functional order builds up, yet the general principle why matter evolves to hierarchies has remained unfamiliar to many. We clarify that increasingly larger integrated systems result from the quest to decrease free energy according to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. The argumentation is based on the recently derived equation of motion for natural processes. Hierarchically organized energy transduction machinery emerges naturally when it provides increased rates of energy dispersal. Likewise, a hierarchical system will dismantle into its constituents when they as independent systems will provide higher rates of entropy increase. Since energy flows via interactions, decreasing strengths of interactions over increasingly larges lengths scales mark natural boundaries for nested integrated systems.     

Effects of wave exposure on population and reproductive phenology of an algal turf, Gelidium pusillum (Gelidales,Rhodophyta), Songkhla,Thailand

The effect of wave exposure on the population and reproductive phenology of the common red alga, Gelidium pusillum (Stackhouse) Le Jolis, was investigated between July 2003 and June 2004, at Suan Song Tha Le, Songkla Province, Thailand. Lengths of thalli, percentage cover, percentage of reproductive fronds and the number of reproductive structures were examined monthly in relation to different degrees of wave exposure (sheltered vs. exposed), temperature, rainfall, day length and tidal cycles. Frond length and percentage cover of G. pusillum were different among sites and seasons. Shorter fronds were found on the exposed shore which had a greater percentage cover. Fronds bleached and died off during the summer months (April and May), which resulted in shorter fronds and reduced percentage cover in June. The thalli reproduced throughout the year, with a predominance of tetrasporophytes. The highest percentage of tetrasporic fronds was 33% in February 2004 and 13% of cystocarpic fronds in April 2004, but male gametophytic fronds were never observed. Rainfall showed a strongly negative influence on reproduction since no reproductive fronds were observed during the rainy season (R² = 0.49, P = 0.01). The dominance of G. pusillum at this study site and throughout elsewhere in turf habitats might be a function of persistent vegetative growth, densely clumped, and the ability to reproduce almost throughout the entire year.     

Variations of floral traits among different life forms illustrate the evolution of pollination systems in Potamogeton species from China

Four leaf morpha groups (floating-leaved, submerged broad-leaved, submerged linear-leaved and filiform-leaved) and three inflorescences type groups (erect, facultative floating and floating) can be found in the genus Potamogeton. Life forms in the genus correlate with pollination types (anemophily, epihydrophily and hydroautogamy). Floral traits vary greatly among different life forms and pollination types. Both floating and submerged broad-leaved species produce erect inflorescences that are suited for anemophilous pollination. These flowers also have the highest pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio (25,013) and the smallest pollen grain volume (6046 μm³). On the contrary, submerged filiform-leaved species produce only floating inflorescences and their flowers produce the largest pollen grains (17,567 μm³) and have the lowest P/O ratio (6752), which is typical of the syndromes of hydroautogamy and epihydrophily. The relatively prolific seed production (about 70%) and wide dispersal in the floating and submerged broad-leaved species and the submerged filliform-leaved species indicate that these two groups are well adapted to the aquatic environment. This is in contrast with the less well-adapted complex and unstable pollination system found in linear-leaved species. We propose that the pollination systems and life forms in the Potamogeton, have undergone modification in response to the demands imposed by the aquatic environment during the evolutionary process in the genus.