Dependence of 'macroscopic fluctuations" on geographic coordinates (from materials of Arctic (2000) and Antarctic (2001) expeditions

The detailed structure of histograms constructed from the results of synchronous measurements of the alpha-activity of 239Pu microsamples, conducted in Pushchino (Moscow Region, Russia) and on board the ship "Academician Fedorov" during the Arctic and Antarctic expeditions (2000 and 2001) was analyzed. It was shown that, if the histograms were constructed over a total period of 15 min and more, the "local zone effect" and the circadian periodicity in the similarity of histogram structure, observed during measurements in Pushchino, are not found in measurements on board the ship near the North Pole (latitude 82 degrees). If the histograms were constructed over a total time of 1 min, a strict periodicity ("stellar day" 23 h 56 min) in the appearance of similar histograms in Pushchino and the Arctic and a strict synchronicity of the appearance of similar histograms of measurements in Pushchino and on board the ship at the same local geographical time were observed. During the Antarctic expedition, the effect of synchronicity of the appearance of similar histograms in Pushchino and on board the ship decreased as the ship moved towards the South Pole and the difference in latitude between the points of measurements increased.     

民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带梭梭东、西方位树干液流特征及相关性分析

采用Grainer热扩散式探针法( TDP )连续测定了6月份至11月份民勤绿洲荒漠过渡带梭梭﹝Haloxylon ammodendron ( C. A. Mey.) Bunge﹞东、西方位的树干液流速率,并同步测定了相关环境因子;在此基础上,对晴天、阴天和雨天东、西方位树干液流速率的日变化以及实验期间东、西方位树干液流速率和各环境因子的变化进行了分析,并对不同天气和时间尺度东、西方位树干液流速率间的相关性及其与部分环境因子的相关性进行了分析。结果表明：在生长旺盛期(6月份至8月份),晴天时梭梭东、西方位树干液流速率的日变化均表现为明显的“宽峰型”曲线;在整个观测期内,不同天气的树干液流速率存在一定差异,东、西方位的树干液流速率也存在一定差异,并且其差异在夜间较白天更明显;总体来看,东方位的树干液流速率高于西方位。相关性分析结果表明：不同天气和时间尺度东、西方位的树干液流速率间存在极显著正相关性,其相关系数均在0.90以上并略有差异。总体来看,晴天梭梭东、西方位树干液流速率间的相关性高于阴天和雨天,并且,日尺度东、西方位树干液流速率间的相关性最强。晴天东、西方位树干液流速率与各环境因子的相关性高于阴天和雨天,并且,小时尺度东、西方位树干液流速率与环境因子间的相关性高于日尺度。西方位树干液流速率与环境因子的相关性略高于东方位,说明西方位的树干液流速率对环境因子变化的反应更敏感。晴天和阴天东、西方位树干液流速率与参考作物蒸散量( ET0)的相关性极显著,其相关系数均在0.70以上,说明根据梭梭东、西方位树干液流速率计算其耗水量具有一定的可行性。研究结果显示：梭梭树干液流速率与天气、环境因子、时间尺度和树干方位等均有一定关系。     

黄土山地苹果树树体不同方位液流速率分析

精准确定果园蒸腾耗水规律是进行果园水肥管理的基础.论文采用热扩散式边材液流茎流探针和微型自动气象站组成的测定系统,对陕北黄土山地苹果树树干液流及相关指标进行了连续观测,分析了不同方位探针树干液流速率的测定结果.结果表明:果树不同生长阶段,液流速率变化较大,白天蒸腾速率较大,蒸腾量占全天蒸腾量均在86.29％以上;不同方位探针测定结果差异明显,东、西向探针测定结果较为接近,南、北向测定结果差异较大;不同方位探针测定边材液流量与参考作物蒸散量的线性模型表明,东、西向探针测定液流量与参考作物蒸散量关系密切,决定系数分别达0.74和0.83,方差分析均方比分别为78.21和137.85,其相关性明显优于南、北方向;比较以水量平衡计算得出的苹果树耗水量,东、西向探针测定的苹果树蒸腾量与水量平衡计算结果较为接近,均方比分别达到14.11和14.57,显著性水平分别达到0.020和0.019,明显高于南北方向探针测定结果.测定苹果树液流量时,选择东面或西面安装液流计探针,可有效减小试验误差.     

Regular changes in histogram forms in physical measurements and mathematical modeling

A study of macroscopic fluctuations for objects separated by large distances confirmed the conclusion drawn earlier that, if the objects being measured are in different time zones, the increase in the probability of occurrence of histograms of similar form corresponds to the difference in the local time at the points of measurement. It was also found that, upon realization of pseudo-random sequences of numbers in mathematical generators, sequences of histograms very similar to those in real physical series can be realized. This suggests the presence of previously unknown regularities, both physical and mathematical, in sequences traditionally considered as absolutely random.     

The "near zone" effect in dynamic chaos

The dynamics of the system with a determined chaotic behavior (Lorentz system) was studied by comparing the histograms. It was shown that the dynamics of the system exhibits phenomena similar to those observed in studies of fluctuations in physical systems. In particular, upon comparison of histograms constructed from different time intervals, the "near zone" effect makes itself evident. It was shown that a very slight modulation of only one parameter of the system leads to a change in behavior.     

Absence of a dose-rate effect in the transformation of C3H 10T1/2 cells by alpha-particles

The findings of Hill et al. (1984) on the greatly enhanced transformation frequencies at very low dose rates of fission neutrons induced us to perform an analogous study with alpha-particles at comparable dose rates. Transformation frequencies were determined with gamma-rays at high dose rate (0.5 Gy/min), and with alpha-particles at high (0.2 Gy/min) and at low dose rates (0.83-2.5 mGy/min) in the C3H 10T1/2 cell system. alpha-particles were substantially more effective than gamma-rays, both for cell inactivation and for neoplastic transformation at high and low dose rates. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for cell inactivation and for neoplastic transformation was of similar magnitude, and ranged from about 3 at an alpha-particle dose of 2 Gy to values of the order of 10 at 0.25 Gy. In contrast to the experiments of Hill et al. (1984) with fission neutrons, no increased transformation frequencies were observed when the alpha-particle dose was protracted over several hours.     

拟平鳅头背部斑纹和下唇结构变异及其分类学意义

针对拟平鳅(Liniparhomaloptera disparis)的两个亚种(L.disparis disparis和L.disparis qiongzhongensis)现有形态分类特征的含糊,通过观察标本室保存的15条水系441尾标本,首次提出利用下唇结构类型作为拟平鳅亚种的补充形态鉴别依据,结合头背部斑纹特征,能有效地鉴别拟平鳅各地理种群和亚种,为拟平鳅的分类和鉴定提供参考依据。依据头背部斑纹差异归纳出4种类型,分别为小斑块型(云开山脉以东的7条水系及海南岛万泉河),虫蚀纹型(云开山脉以西的5条水系),混合斑纹型(海南岛的万泉河、南渡江、昌化江共3条水系),大斑块型(海南岛的昌化江)。依据下唇结构变化情况总结出3种下唇类型,分别是半圆型(云开山脉以西的5条水系),几字型(云开山脉以东的7条水系),马蹄型(海南岛的3条水系)。依据头背部斑纹特征结合下唇结构特征,对照模式标本的描述,重新定义了拟平鳅原有的两个亚种,将分布于云开山脉以东水系的种群鉴定为指名亚种,拟平鳅L.disparis disparis,其鉴别特征为:头背部斑纹为小斑块型并且下唇类型为几字型;将海南岛种群鉴定为琼中拟平鳅L.disparis qiongzhongensis,它们都具有独特的马蹄型下唇类结构,且头背部斑纹以混合斑纹型为主。重要的发现是,分布于云开山脉以西的种群与已命名的2个亚种在形态上有明显的差异,其头背部斑纹为独特的虫蚀纹型且下唇类型为半圆型。这可能是一个新亚种。分子生物学方法也许能证明云开山脉以西的种群在遗传上的独特性以及形成新亚种的可能性。云开山脉东、西两侧以及海南岛不同水系的拟平鳅的种群分化问题值得进一步探究。     

主体功能区视角下的生态补偿研究——以湖北省为例

合理界定区域生态补偿主客体,确定生态补偿优先级是构建区域生态补偿机制的核心内容。从主体功能区视角出发,在测算湖北省生态系统服务价值的基础上,界定生态受偿与补偿支付主体,确定生态受偿与补偿支付等级与次序。结果表明：（1）湖北省生态系统服务总价值、市场价值和非市场价值在空间分布上具有相似性,总体呈现出"西部高,东中低"的格局,高值区多集中于重点生态功能区和农产品主产区,低值区多集中于重点开发区;（2）30个重点生态功能区的生态受偿等级总体分为五级,呈现出"西高东低"的空间分布格局,房县为第一生态受偿区;（3）29个农产品主产区生态受偿优先级总体分为五级,随县为生态受偿一级区域;（4）30个重点开发区的补偿支付等级总体分为五级,呈现出"东先西后"的空间分布格局,在生态补偿支付实践中,国家层面重点开发区应先于省级层面重点开发区。     

2000-2019年长江流域植被覆盖时空演化及其驱动因素

长江流域作为中国重要的生态屏障,科学认识长江流域植被覆盖时空变化及其驱动因素,对有效开展长江流域生态工程建设具有重要的指导意义与应用价值。基于2000—2019年间MODIS-NDVI与相关气象等数据,采用Theil-Sen median趋势分析、Mann-Kendall检验、变异系数、偏相关分析、残差分析等方法,研究了近20年来长江流域植被覆盖的时空分布与变化特征,并探究了研究区植被覆盖的驱动因素。结果表明：(1)时间变化上,长江流域生长季NDVI呈现波动增长趋势,显著改善面积大于退化面积;(2)空间分布上,流域植被覆盖空间分布格局大致呈现为“中部高,东西低”,生长季NDVI多年均值为0.6164,呈较高植被覆盖状态;(3)变化趋势上,植被增长区域大于减少区域,具体表现为“中部强于东部、东部强于西部”;(4)变化稳定性上,流域植被变异系数介于0.0104—1.3199之间,呈现出“中间低,东西高,东西部局部区域高低波动并存,地域性差异明显”的空间变化稳定性特征;(5)影响因素上,流域植被覆盖变化受气温和降水的共同影响,大部分区域生长季NDVI变化以气候驱动为主,局部区域表现自然因素叠...     

川西丘陵区景观空间格局分析

采用分形维数、平均斑块面积、形状指数和伸张度分析了川西不同丘陵地貌区灌溉水田、一般旱地、果园、有林地和农村居民点斑块的空间格局特征,并用分形维数、平均斑块面积和Shannon-Weiner指数3种方法研究了浅丘、中丘和高丘的综合景观特征。结果表明,不同景观斑块在同一丘陵区内的格局特征不同,同一景观斑块在3种丘陵区的格局也有差异。浅丘、中丘和高丘的综合景观格局特点是随着地势起伏的增加、人类活动和土地利用强度的减弱,分形维数增加,从1.1865到1.3123;斑块平均面积则依次变小,从2.2204hm^2减少到1.2403hm^2。3种丘陵区的景观多样性指数分别为1.7199、1.9802和2.0898。     

防护林网内玉米田生物量和生产力格局的研究

 本文报道了松嫩平原防护林网内玉米(Zea mays)田的生物量和生物生产力的时空格局及其与生态、生理因子的关系。研究结果表明：林网东西两条主林带间不同位置玉米的生物量和生产力在生长季各时期均有显著差异。生物量在距西侧主林带5—10倍树高(H)处最高,距离为1树高处最低,25倍树高处亦较高。在大部分时间里生产力的水平格局为“N”形。两个峰分别为10H和25H。南北两条副林带间的生物量和生产力无明显差异。林网内生物量和生产力的分布格局受林网内温、湿因子分布的制约,不同时期的限制因子不同。叶面积和同化速率对生产力格局也有重要影响。林网内玉米穗生物量明显高于无林地。本研究指出,应适当缩短主林带间距,并可在林带附近种植浅根、矮秆和耐荫性作物,以提高整个林网的生产力和经济效益。     

SUCCESSFUL USE OF A TRANSLOCATION PROGRAM TO INVESTIGATE DIVING BEHAVIOR IN A MALE AUSTRALIAN FUR SEAL, ARCTOCEPHALUS PUSILLUS DORIFERUS

This study reports some of the first foraging behavior data collected for male fur seals. A nonbreeding male Australian fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus , captured at a commercial salmon farm in southern Tasmania, Australia, was relocated 450 km from the site of capture. The animal was equipped with a geolocating time-depth recorder that recorded diving behavior and approximate location for the 14.4 d that it took the seal to travel down the east coast of Tasmania and be recaptured at the salmon farm. During its time at sea, the seal spent most of its time over the relatively shallow shelf waters. It spent 30% of its time ashore on a number of different haul-out sites. The deepest dive was 102 m and the maximum duration was 6.8 min. "Foraging" type dives made up 31.2% of the time at sea and had a median duration of 2.5 min and a median depth of 14 m. The seal performed these dives more commonly during the latter part of its time at sea, while it was on the east coast. Unlike other fur seal species studied to date, there was no evidence of a diurnal foraging pattern; it made dives at all times of the day and night.     

The role of diet and temperature in shaping cranial diversification of South American human populations: an approach based on spatial regression and divergence rate tests

Aim Understanding the importance of ecological factors in the origin and maintenance of patterns of phenotypic variation among populations, in an explicit geographical context, is one of the main goals of human biology, ecology and evolutionary biology. Here we study the ecological factors responsible for craniofacial variation among human populations from South America. Location South America. Methods We studied a dataset of 718 males from 40 South American populations, coming from groups that inhabited different geographical and ecological regions. Cranial size and shape variation were studied using 30 cranial measurements. We first used spatial correlograms and interpolated maps to address spatial patterns. We then regressed the shape (principal component scores) and size variables against ecology (mean annual temperature and diet) using multiple and multivariate spatial regression. Finally, the expected magnitudes of shape and size divergence under the influence of genetic drift and mutations alone were evaluated using neutral expectation for the divergence rate. Results The spatial correlograms showed a cline affecting the entire South American distribution. Interpolated maps showed that size and allometric shape vary from south‐east to north‐west. Multiple and multivariate regression analyses suggested that diet has the largest and most significant effect on this pattern of size and allometric shape variation. Finally, the results of the divergence rate test suggested that random processes alone cannot account for the morphological divergence exhibited by cranial size and allometric shape scores among southernmost populations. Main conclusions Correlograms, spatial regression and divergence rate analyses showed that although local factors (neutral processes or local environmental conditions) are important to explain spatial interpopulation differentiation in cranial characteristics among these populations, there is significant correlation of cranial size and allometric shape variation with diet. Gene flow among human populations, or local environmental conditions, could explain spatial variation mainly at smaller spatial scales, whereas the large‐scale pattern of the South American dataset is mainly related to the high proportion of carbohydrates and low proportion of proteins consumed.     

"White-opaque transition": a second high-frequency switching system in Candida albicans

A second high-frequency switching system was identified in selected pathogenic strains in the dimorphic yeast Candida albicans. In the characterized strain WO-1, cells switched heritably, reversibly, and at a high frequency (approximately 10(-2] between two phenotypes readily distinguishable by the size, shape, and color of colonies formed on agar at 25 degrees C. In this system, referred to as the "white-opaque transition," cells formed either "white" hemispherical colonies, which were similar to the ones formed by standard laboratory strains of C. albicans, or "opaque" colonies, which were larger, flatter, and grey. At least three other heritable colony phenotypes were generated by WO-1 and included one irregular-wrinkle and two fuzzy colony phenotypes. The basis of the white-opaque transition appears to be a fundamental difference in cellular morphology. White cells were similar in shape, size, and budding pattern to cells of common laboratory strains. In dramatic contrast, opaque cells were bean shaped and exhibited three times the volume and twice the mass of white cells, even though these alternative phenotypes contained the same amount of DNA and a single nucleus in the log phase. In addition to differences in morphology, white and opaque cells differed in their generation time, in their sensitivity to low and high temperatures, and in their capacity to form hypae. The possible molecular mechanisms involved in high-frequency switching in the white-opaque transition are considered.     

Diaphragmatic activity and lung liquid flow in the unanesthetized fetal sheep.

For some time it has been suggested that breathing movements are made "in utero" and recently measurements of tracheal pressure and lung liquid flow in chronic fetal preparations have led to the hypothesis that rapid changes in these parameters are the result of respiratory muscle activity. To test this hypothesis diaphragmatic electrical activity was measured in seven chronic unanesthetized fetal sheep preparations and correlated with lung liquid flow and tracheal pressure. Diaphragmatic activity led to a fall of tracheal pressure and movement of a small volume of lung liquid into the lung. After the activity ceased, tracheal pressure returned to normal and flow diminished to zero or was directed out of the lung. The breathing pattern was unassociated with the net movement of lung liquid out of the lung. A histogram of the interval between breaths revealed a changing pattern of activity throughout gestation. The pattern was significantly altered after premature delivery of one animal with a respiratory problem. These observations provide evidence that respiratory muscles are active "in utero" and that the pattern of activity changes throughout gestation.     

Spontaneous unit activity of the monkey caudate nucleus under chronic experimental conditions

Spontaneous unit activity and changes in its statistical parameters during electrical stimulation of the palms at 25 or 50/min were studied in four monkeys under chronic experimental conditions. Altogether 337 recordings of the activity of 64 neurons for durations of 2 and 3 min were studied. The mean firing rate was relatively low (5.7 spikes/sec). As a rule the unit activity remained stable for several tens of minutes. It could change spontaneously to new patterns and again remain stationary. These transitions took place during recording of spontaneous activity and also during stimulation of the animal, but they were independent of it. Interspike interval histograms were varied and most were polymodal. Their pattern changed with changes in the firing rate of the neurons. The position of the modes along the time axis and the type of distribution were the most conservative characteristics of the histograms. The probability of appearance of intervals was highest at 30, 60, 90, and 210–240 msec. The presence of stable intervals with increased probability of appearance may be the result of the existence of chains of neurons in the caudate nucleus with fixed temporal parameters.     

Periodicity in the fine structure of histograms during nuclear decay

A theoretical explanation is offered for the appearance of periodicity in the fine structure of histograms describing the processes of nuclear decay. This effect is observed in a sample containing nonpolarized radioactive nuclei, with largely isotropic spin distribution over directions. However, because of fluctuations occurring in any real sample, the number of nuclei having spin directed along some isolated axis would differ somewhat from the number of nuclei with spin directed along another axis. The same is immobile relating to the Earth but rotates in space together with it. At the same time, the nuclear spins, owing to quite weak interaction with the environment, keep their directions in space. Therefore, the spin ensemble rotates both relative to the sample itself and relative to the detector of α-particles directed onto the sample. Since fluctuations in the number of nuclei with spins directed at a certain angle relative to the detector direction affect the fine structure of histograms, the latter proves to depend, among other things, of the rotation of the Earth. Consequently, when the Earth makes a full revolution and the distribution of fluctuations in the number of nuclei with given spin direction returns to the initial one, the shape of the fine structure of histograms will be repeated, and repeated over the same definite time intervals.     

The vegetation of roadside verges with respect to environmental gradients in southern New Zealand

Abstract. A survey of the vegetation of roadside verges was made across the southern part of the South Island of New Zealand. Samples were taken at 10-km intervals along selected roads providing a climatic range from the suboceanic conditions of the east coast into semi-arid Central Otago, and from Central Otago through the Southern Alps to the hyper-oceanic areas of high rainfall on the west Coast. The variation in the floristic composition is associated mainly with variation in rainfall, continentality, altitude, soil acidity, soil organic matter, and presence of forest. Sites in the arable and pastoral regions on the eastern side of the Southern Alps support a herbaceous vegetation consisting mostly of exotic species of European origin, with a few native grasses scattered through the drier and less fertile sites. A greater proportion of native species is found at higher altitudes. Roadside vegetation in the area of high rainfall to the west is characterized by indigenous ferns and woody species, although vegetation adjacent to cleared areas is more similar to that on roadsides adjacent to farmland on the east coast. The pattern of distribution of both native and exotic species is strongly related to altitudinal and climatic gradients, and the environmental responses of the exotic species are similar to those recorded in Europe. This suggests a colonization of all available sites by the exotic species, despite the relatively short time since their introduction to New Zealand, rather than an incomplete invasion.     

A model for the dynamic properties of integrating fibers: Target localization in a three-dimensional space—II. Computer simulation

• 1.1. The stimulation sequence provoked by a luminous point moving in front of a column of ommatidia was simulated for the eye of Squilla mantis.
• 2.2. The output from the ommatidia is transferred to one tangential, integrating fiber as graded potentials. These potentials follow a gaussian-shaped angular sensitivity function for each ommatidium.
• 3.3. The tangential fiber sums the inputs as they arrive and generates a spike if the sum is above threshold at one instant of time and at one point of the fiber.
• 4.4. The histograms of instantaneous frequencies of spike discharge resemble the input-pattern histograms.
• 5.5. The discharge pattern changes with distance and speed of the moving spot as well for the simulations as in electrophysiological recordings, and is adapted to the size of the animal.
• 6.6. The shape of the histograms (i.e. the pattern of spike discharge) is assumed to transmit the information on the position, speed and size of a moving target.

     

Growth, maturity and fecundity of wolffish Anarhichas lupus L. in Icelandic waters

Fecundity, maturity and the relationship between growth and maturity of common wolffish Anarhichas lupus were studied in Icelandic waters. A total of 788 female common wolffish were sampled in two areas: one in the relatively warm sea west of Iceland and the other in the colder sea east of Iceland. No difference was detected in fecundity of common wolffish between areas. The time from the onset of the cortical alveolus stage until spawning, was on average, 10 years in the east and 8 years in the west area. Common wolffish in the east area reached cortical alveolus stage, on average, at a greater age but similar size compared to common wolffish in the west area. Similarly, common wolffish started spawning, on average, at greater age and larger size in the east than in the west area. Common wolffish grew faster in the west than in the east area. Spawning common wolffish grew faster than common wolffish at the cortical alveolus stage in both areas. The relationship between growth and maturity for common wolffish in Icelandic waters appeared to be related to temperature, characterized by fast growth and early maturation in the west and slower growth and delayed maturation in the east.