The use of molecular techniques based on ribosomal RNA and DNA for rumen microbial ecosystem studies: a review

This paper analyses the research progress in the use of molecular techniques based on ribosomal RNA and DNA (rRNA/rDNA) for rumen microbial ecosystem since first literature by Stahl et al. (1988). Because rumen microbial populations could be under-estimated by adopting the traditional techniques such as roll-tube technique or most-probable-number estimates, modern molecular techniques based on 16S/18S rRNA/rDNA can be used to more accurately provide molecular characterization, microbe populations and classification scheme than traditional methods. Phylogenetic-group-specific probes can be used to hybridize samples for detecting and quantifying of rumen microbes. But, competitive-PCR and real-time PCR can more sensitively quantify rumen microbes than hybridization. Molecular fingerprinting techniques including both denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) can used to explore diversity of bacteria, protozoa and fungi in the rumen ecosystem. By constructing clone libraries of 16S/18S rRNA/rDNA of rumen microbes, more new microbes can be discovered and identified. For fungi, internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of fungi are better than 18S rRNA/rDNA for discriminating operational taxonomic units. In conclusion, 16S/18S rRNA/rDNA procedures have been used with success in rumen microbes and are quickly gaining acceptance for studying rumen microbial ecosystem, and will become useful methods for rumen ecology research. However, molecular techniques based on 16S/18S rRNA/rDNA don't preclude classical and traditional microbiological techniques. It should used together to acquire accurate and satisfactory results.     

Insect distribution in response to climate change based on a model: Review of function and use of CLIMEX

The significant dependence of agricultural productivity on pest control requires pest distribution predictions at an early stage of pest invasion. Because pest cycles are critically affected by climate, climate is one of the most important factors for predicting an invasive pest. CLIMEX is a highly effective tool that can predict potential geographical species distributions, and test the regional suitability for a target species' habitat based on data including climate change scenarios. CLIMEX has been recently used in Europe, North America, China and Australia, among others. However, for modeling species distributions in Korea, the use of the model has been limited to date. This study aimed to first introduce the function and application of CLIMEX by reviewing important studies using this model. Second, we investigated previous studies using the model simulation to demonstrate the practical applicability of CLIMEX for the agricultural sector, and its use in forecasting.     

基于土地利用变化的黄土丘陵区生境质量时空演变特征——以榆中县为例

生境质量是生态系统服务水平的重要表征,是区域生态安全保障和人类福祉提升的关键环节,评估土地利用变化引起的生境质量时空演变可为区域生态保护和土地管理提供科学依据。以典型黄土丘陵区县域——榆中县为例,基于Arc GIS平台和InVEST模型探讨了该县1995、2005和2015年生境质量空间格局及其演变特征。结论如下:(1)研究区土地类型和景观格局变化明显,主要土地利用变化是耕地转向建设用地和林地,以及草地和耕地之间的相互转变,这些变化导致景观异质性增强和破碎度上升。(2)生境质量空间格局一直表现为"南部高、中部居中、北部低"的态势。生境质量上升区域主要在北部,原因是"退耕还林"及"生态北山"工程的实施使得林地面积增加,下降区域主要在中部,主要是由建设用地扩张占用耕地造成的。(3)生境质量热点以及"H-H"型聚集区主要位于南部山区,而冷点和"L-L"聚集区主要位于北部黄土丘陵区,2015年生境质量空间集聚程度较1995年有所增强,"H-H"聚集区增加0.68%,"L-L"聚集区增加0.67%。对该类型区域生境质量优化提出了相应的政策建议。     

基于区域城市化LUCC的人类生态过程定量研究——以上海市区典型城市化样带为例

借鉴流域研究的范例,根据上海市1987年、1995年和2003年3期Landsat5 TM遥感影像记录的土地利用／覆被数据和有关的社会经济统计数据,运用Rs和GIS技术在上海市中心西南城市边缘建立典型城市化样带。采用生态足迹法分析该样带内人类的生态供给与需求;提出一城市化区域人类生态过程的新研究方法,得出城市化过程中区域的人类生态质量指数与波动指数,并根据模型计算出的指数值,对样带区域总体及其中城乡区域在城市化中的人类生态状况进行了动态分析,以尝试对区域城市化中人类生态过程进行定量化研究。     

Developments in cell biology for quantitative immunoelectron microscopy based on thin sections: a review

Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy uses ultrathin sections and gold particle labelling to determine distributions of molecules across cell compartments. Here, we review a portfolio of new methods for comparing labelling distributions between different compartments in one study group (method 1) and between the same compartments in two or more groups (method 2). Specimen samples are selected unbiasedly and then observed and expected distributions of gold particles are estimated and compared by appropriate statistical procedures. The methods can be used to analyse gold label distributed between volume-occupying (organelle) and surface-occupying (membrane) compartments, but in method 1, membranes must be treated as organelles. With method 1, gold counts are combined with stereological estimators of compartment size to determine labelling density (LD). For volume-occupiers, LD can be expressed simply as golds per test point and, for surface-occupiers, as golds per test line intersection. Expected distributions are generated by randomly assigning gold particles to compartments and expressing observed/expected counts as a relative labelling index (RLI). Preferentially-labelled compartments are identified from their RLI values and by Chi-squared analysis of observed and expected distributions. For method 2, the raw gold particle counts distributed between compartments are simply compared across groups by contingency table and Chi-squared analysis. This identifies the main compartments responsible for the differences between group distributions. Finally, we discuss labelling efficiency (the number of gold particles per target molecule) and describe how it can be estimated for volume- or surface-occupiers by combining stereological data with biochemical determinations.     

A review of the positive and negative effects of cardiovascular drugs on sexual function: a proposed table for use in clinical practice

Several antihypertensive drugs, such as diuretics and β-blockers, can negatively affect sexual function, leading to diminished quality of life and often to noncompliance with the therapy. Other drug classes, however, such as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are able to improve patients’ sexual function. Sufficient knowledge about the effects of these widely used antihypertensive drugs will make it possible for cardiologists and general practitioners to spare and even improve patients’ sexual health by switching to different classes of cardiac medication. Nevertheless, previous data (part I) indicate that most cardiologists lack knowledge about the effects cardiovascular agents can have on sexual function and will thus not be able to provide the necessary holistic patient care with regard to prescribing these drugs. To be able to improve healthcare on this point, we aimed to provide a practical overview, for use by cardiologists as well as other healthcare professionals, dealing with sexual dysfunction in their clinical practices. Therefore, a systematic review of the literature was performed. The eight most widely used classes of antihypertensive drugs have been categorised in a clear table, marking whether they have a positive, negative or no effect on sexual function.     

The use of flax (Linum usitatissimum) as a model system for studies on organogenesis in vitro: the effect of different carbohydrates

Three carbohydrate sources, maltose, sucrose and cellobiose, were compared for the respective effects on regeneration from internodal sections of flax. It was found that different patterns of morphogenesis were attributable to the type of carbohydrate and its concentration. Mean shoot regeneration was highest on a medium containing 87 mM maltose with a rate of 2.4 shoots per explant and root formation was stimulated to the greatest degree on a medium with 87 mM sucrose. This medium also resulted in the highest tissue dry weight.     

基于分布式水文模型的水源涵养不同功能评估方法——以渭河涵养区为例

为了实现水源涵养量计算和不同功能的综合评估,基于分布式水文模型(WEP-L)提出了一种新方法,即利用WEP-L模型计算次降水过程中降水量和地表产流、冠层截留量的差值作为水源涵养量,并分别评估削洪(地表径流量)、补枯(地下径流量)、维持植被生态系统用水(植被蒸腾量)等不同水源涵养功能的评估方法。为了验证该方法的合理性,以渭河流域咸阳站以上区域为例,对比了该方法和InVEST模型方法的计算结果,由于两种方法在评估内容和使用模型上都存在差异,为了保证计算结果的可比性,先对比了基于相同评价内容的WEP-L模型法I和InVEST模型方法,再对比了基于不同评价内容的WEP-L模型法I和WEP-L模型法II,结论如下:基于相同评价内容的WEP模型法I和InVEST模型法计算结果数值接近,研究区2000-2018年水源涵养量年均值分别为12.43 mm(5.76亿m³)和12.08 mm(5.6亿m³),两种方法所得结果空间分布特征相似,稍有差异之处与InVEST模型的参数没有经过本地化处理有关;基于不同评价内容的WEP-L模型法Ⅰ和WEP-L模型法II计算结果数值相差较大,研究区2000-2018年水源涵养量均值分别为12.43 mm和432.57 mm,空间分布特征上有差异的地方分布于研究区的北部、东部及东北部,主要与两种方法评价时是否考虑蒸散发有关。WEP-L模型法II评估结果中削洪、补枯、维持植被生态系统用水等功能多年变化趋势分别为:2006-2010年期间增加、2012年以后下降以及增加。2012年后补枯功能和维持植被生态系统用水功能之间可能存在权衡关系。通过不同方法计算结果差异原因分析,证明了基于WEP-L模型的不同涵养功能评估方法的合理性,其结果也可为渭河涵养区水资源和生态保护策略的制定提供更多依据。     

基于生态安全格局的山水林田湖草生态保护修复优先区识别——以四川省华蓥山区为例

优先区识别,是科学有序推进山水林田湖草生态保护修复工作的重要基础。以山水林田湖草生态保护修复工程之一的四川华蓥山区为例,基于生态系统服务重要性提取生态源地共1392.63 km²,占华蓥山区总面积的35.60%;结合土地覆被类型与地质灾害敏感性构建生态阻力面,并利用最小累积阻力模型与电路模型提取生态廊道共84条,夹点区域0.1 km²,含夹点廊道10条;生态保护优先区主要分布在景观破碎化较为严重的广安区境内,以及华蓥山西南端的夹点廊道。以生态修复模拟方法识别障碍点,确定生态修复优先区93.86 km²,大致分两片。其中,广安区境内受到人类活动干扰的破碎化生态空间,主要生态修复策略为植被恢复与退耕还林;华蓥山、铜锣山、明月山等滑坡、泥石流地质灾害频发区,主要生态修复策略是矿山地质修复与植被恢复。本研究提出生态安全格局构建与生态修复模拟的思路,为山水林田湖草生态保护修复工作提供了可行的定量方法。     

基于景观生态风险格局的盐碱地分区规划防治研究——以黑龙江省林甸县为例

盐碱地分区规划防治是提高区域盐碱综合治理效果,降低治理成本的有效途径,对实现区域生态恢复、土地可持续利用和保障粮食安全具有重要实践价值。当前,在区域景观生态风险分析基础上,进行盐碱地规划防治研究的研究尚显不足。以大庆市林甸县为研究区,以景观生态学理论为视角,基于RS和GIS技术平台,综合运用最小累积阻力模型和空间分析方法,分析了生态流和生态阻力面,构建了区域景观生态风险格局;结合关键景观与盐碱地的生态廊道分析等方法,确定盐碱地防治分区;并进一步确定了防治分区中的核心防治区域。结果表明:林甸县盐碱地面积为263 km~2,其景观生态风险格局呈现西部和南部的景观生态风险等级较高,东北部、中部和西南部较低的特征,其中,高危区、重度危险区占地区总面积41.24%,集中分布在地区下游的沼泽湿地周围,说明保护沼泽湿地迫在眉睫。林甸县的两条土地盐碱化防治景观生态廊道是以最低防治成本实现土地盐碱化预防和治理的最佳区域,其主要分布在15个村(镇)上,未来应将此地区作为规划防治的核心。基于景观生态风险格局的盐碱地分区规划防治研究,为大尺度土地盐碱化综合防治提供了新的思路和方法,研究结果对林甸县未来开展土地盐碱化预防和治理提供了科学依据。