Development of a multiple-bile-ion-sensing membrane electrode

A multiple-bile-ion-sensing polyvinyl chloride-based membrane electrode capable of monitoring any of the three common bile ions in humans, namely, cholate, deoxycholate, and chenodeoxycholate, was developed and characterized. Compared to single-bile-ion-sensing electrodes, it showed a sub-Nernstian response. All other electrode properties were, however, similar, making this a successful replacement for three individual electrodes. With appropriate conditioning, this electrode could repeatedly change selectivity without losing membrane activity. It was reproducible, was stable for 5 months, had low response time, and could be used to measure critical micelle concentrations. The lower limit of detection was 10 nM. Selectivity coefficients for various anions with respect to bile ions more or less followed the Hoffmeister series. Plots of R ((Nernst equivalent of slope in the presence of primary ion and a fixed amount of interfering ion)/(slope in the presence of only the primary ion)) vs square root of ionic strength for an interfering ion were linear. One major application of this electrode is its use in kinetics. We have tested its ability to monitor continuously changing bile ion concentrations during their interactions with a biocompatible polymer, polyethylene glycol (6000), and determined rate constants.     

30年来秦岭大熊猫栖息地变化研究

根据1976、1987和2001年3次大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)调查资料及2006～2007年大熊猫监测数据,利用ArcView GIS软件系统地比较了1976～2007年之间秦岭大熊猫栖息地的变化。秦岭大熊猫栖息地由20世纪70年代的217 100 hm2退缩到90年代前的167 000 hm2,大熊猫栖息地缩减和片断化较为严重;90年代后有所好转,面积增加到347 499 hm2,并在格局上整体存在向北向西扩散的趋势。秦岭大熊猫栖息地变化的原因主要与森林采伐及1998年实施的天然林禁伐有关,而栖息地斑块化主要与公路建设、人为活动等有关。     

Evolution of the environmental component of the phenotypic variance: stabilizing selection in changing environments and the cost of homogeneity

Quantitative traits show abundant genetic, environmental, and phenotypic variance, yet if they are subject to stabilizing selection for an optimal phenotype, both the genetic and environmental components are expected to decline. The mechanisms that determine the level and maintenance of phenotypic variance are not yet fully understood. While there has been extensive study of mechanisms maintaining genetic variability, it has generally been assumed that environmental variance is not dependent on the genotype and therefore not subject to change. However, accumulating data suggest that the environmental variance is under some degree of genetic control. In this study, it is assumed accordingly that both the genotypic value (i.e., mean phenotypic value) and the variance of phenotypic value given genotypic value depend on the genotype. Two models are investigated as potentially able to explain the protected maintenance of environmental variance of quantitative traits under stabilizing selection. One is varying environment among generations, such that both the optimal phenotype and the strength of the stabilizing selection vary between generations. The other is the cost of homogeneity, which is based on an assumption of an engineering cost of minimizing variability in development. It is shown that a small homogeneity cost is enough to maintain the observed levels of environmental variance, whereas a large amount of temporal variation in the optimal phenotype and the strength of selection would be necessary.     

Contribution to the dynamics of mean-size statistics in a changing fishery: I. Family citharinidae in kainji lake,Nigeria

A model on The dynamics of mean-size statistics in a changing fishery proposed by Henderson (FAO) was tested using the Kainji Lake experimental gill-net data collected between 1969 and 1977. The results revealed distinct trends in mean weight and population abundance (catch/effort) for members of the family Citharinidae. Simultaneous plots of mean weight against log₁₀ of population abundance allowed the diagnosis of the causes of change. Changes were attributed to the effects of fishing mortality, intensive recruitment into the fishery and change in selectivity coupled with the effect of growth. The pattern of change depicted for Citharinus citharus Geoffroy St. Hilaire revealed a three yearly cycle of intensive recruitment. The regression of mean weight on mean length for C. citharus gave a linear relationship thus facilitating the extrapolation of the mean weight values to the mean lengths of fish caught in the different meshes of gill-nets. The conversions permitted the selection of suitable mesh nets for capturing fish at appropriate levels of mean weights in order to safe-guard the survival of sexually mature adults for an intensive spawning cycle.     

The phenotypic variance within plastic traits under migration-mutation-selection balance

How phenotypic variances of quantitative traits are influenced by the heterogeneity in environment is an important problem in evolutionary biology. In this study, both genetic and environmental variances in a plastic trait under migration-mutation-stabilizing selection are investigated. For this, a linear reaction norm is used to approximate the mapping from genotype to phenotype, and a population of clonal inheritance is assumed to live in a habitat consisting of many patches in which environmental conditions vary among patches and generations. The life cycle is assumed to be selection-reproduction-mutation-migration. Analysis shows that phenotypic plasticity is adaptive if correlations between the optimal phenotype and environment have become established in both space and/or time, and it is thus possible to maintain environmental variance (V(E)) in the plastic trait. Under the special situation of no mutation but maximum migration such that separate patches form an effective single-site habitat, the genotype that maximizes the geometric mean fitness will come to fixation and thus genetic variance (V(G)) cannot be maintained. With mutation and/or restricted migration, V(G) can be maintained and it increases with mutation rate but decreases with migration rate; whereas VE is little affected by them. Temporal variation in environmental quality increases V(G) while its spatial variance decreases V(G). Variation in environmental conditions may decrease the environmental variance in the plastic trait.     

Adaptive Quantile Estimation and its Application in Analysis of Biological Signals

Quantiles and their estimations are the basis for solving numerous problems of statistics. The paper presents adaptive recursive estimation methods for this statistical parameter. Its specifical properties are investigated and the possibilities of applications in computer assisted analysis of biological signals are demonstrated even satisfying real time requirements.