Female reproductive success decreases with display size in monkshood, Aconitum kusnezoffii (Ranunculaceae)

Background and Aims

Reduction in female fitness in large clones can occur as a result of increased geitonogamous self-fertilization and its influence through inbreeding depression. This possibility was investigated in the self-compatible, bee-pollinated perennial herb Aconitum kusnezoffii which varies in clone size.

Methods

Field investigations were conducted on pollinator behaviour, flowering phenology and variation in seed set. The effects of self-pollination following controlled self- and cross-pollination were also examined. Selfing rates of differently sized clones were assessed using allozyme markers.

Key Results

High rates of geitonogamous pollination were associated with large display size. Female fitness at the ramet level decreased with clone size. Fruit and seed set under cross-pollination were significantly higher than those under self-pollination. The pre-dispersal inbreeding depression was estimated as 0·502 based on the difference in seed set per flower between self- and cross-pollinated flowers. Selfing rates of differently sized clones did not differ.

Conclusions

It is concluded that in A. kusnezoffii the negative effects of self-pollination causing reduced female fertility with clone size arise primarily from a strong early-acting inbreeding depression leading to the abortion of selfed embryos prior to seed maturation.Key words: Early-acting inbreeding depression, Aconitum kusnezoffii, clone size, female reproductive success, geitonogamy     

猪眼角膜的生物力学特性

对猪眼角膜进行了有系统的单轴拉伸实验,通过实验来确定其极限强度,断裂能、显著非线性的应力-应变关系和滞后环.在不同的应变水平下进行了应为松弛实验并确定了连续松弛谱的各参数.从极限强度、断裂能和应力松弛来看,角膜的纵向和横向之间无重大的差异,据此,各向同性假定可用于初步的角膜力学模型.     

多巴胺D1和D2受体激动剂和拮抗剂对脑缺血/再灌注损伤的影响

实验应用开阔法、组织病理学方法、原位末端标记(in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-metliated de-oxy-UTP mick end labeling,TUNEL)法及免疫组织化学等方法,探讨多巴胺D1、D2受体激动剂和拮抗剂对沙土鼠前脑缺血／再灌注损伤海马CA1区神经元凋亡及凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax表达的影响。结果显示：前脑缺血5min可引起沙土鼠探索活动增加;再灌注3d,海马CA1区约95％的锥体细胞凋亡;再灌注7d,海马CA1区仅残存约2％—7％的存活锥体细胞;前脑缺血5min可抑制bcl-2的表达并诱导bax表达增高;预先应用D2受体激动剂培高利特可减轻缺血后沙土鼠行为学异常、抑制海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡、提高锥体细胞存活数、显著诱导bcl-2的表达并抑制bax的表达。预先应用SKF38393、SCH23390及螺哌隆对以上结果无明显影响。实验结果提示,培高利特具有确切的脑保护作用,诱导bcl-2并抑制bax的表达可能是其脑保护作用机制之一。     

Steel slag amendment reduces methane emission and increases rice productivity in subtropical paddy fields in China

Paddy field, being a man-made wetland, is recognized as one of the major sources of global methane (CH₄) emission. Since China has the second-largest area of rice cultivation in the world, it is important to develop valid and reliable strategies to reduce CH₄ emission and sustain rice productivity in Chinese paddy fields. In this study, we applied steel slag fertilizer, a by-product of steel industry with a high concentration of active iron (Fe), at rates of 0, 2, 4, and 8 Mg ha^?1 in subtropical rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy fields in China to assess the effect of steel slag amendment on CH₄ emissions as well as rice growth and yield characteristics. Results showed that the Fe concentrations in paddy soils significantly increased with the application levels of steel slag fertilizer. Steel slag amendment in paddy fields largely reduced the CH₄ production rate, resulting in a decrease in the overall CH₄ emission rate. In response to the applications of steel slag at a rate of 2, 4 and 8 Mg ha^?1, total CH₄ emission during rice cultivation decreased by 26.6, 43.3 and 49.3 %, respectively. Furthermore, steel slag amendment had a significant, positive effect on the rice grain yield and the percentage of ripened grain, most probably due to the increased availability of inorganic nutrients such as silicate and manganese. Our results suggest that steel slag can be an effective soil amendment for reducing CH₄ emissions as well as increasing rice productivity in subtropical paddy fields in China.     

大气CO2浓度升高对香蕉光合作用及光合碳循环过程中叶氮分配的影响

生长在高CC2浓度(700±56μl     

成团泛菌低分子脂多糖的急性毒性、刺激性、致敏性及遗传毒性评估

本研究对成团泛菌低分子脂多糖(Pantoea agglomerans lipopolysaccharide,LPSp)的安全性进行初步评估.本研究采用一次限量法,用昆明种小鼠进行LPSp急性经口毒性试验,了解LPSp的急性毒性;采用新西兰兔分别进行LPSp急性和多次皮肤刺激性试验以及急性眼刺激性试验,了解LPSp的皮肤和粘膜刺激性;采用豚鼠进行LPSp皮肤变态反应试验,了解LPSp的致敏性;应用平板掺入法进行鼠伤寒沙门氏菌/回复突变试验和小鼠骨髓细胞微核试验考察LPSp的遗传危害.急性毒性试验结果显示,LPSp对小鼠经口一次灌胃的LD50大于5 000 mg/kg体重,属实际无毒级别;LPSp急性和多次皮肤刺激性试验以及急性眼刺激性试验结果显示,皮肤刺激和眼刺激积分均为0分,LPSp对皮肤无刺激性、对眼睛无急性刺激性;在皮肤变态反应试验中,LPSp在各观察时间点的皮肤变态反应积分均为0分,其致敏率均为0%,说明LPSp对豚鼠无致敏性; LPSp的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌/回复突变试验结果呈阴性(P>0.05);LPSp的小鼠骨髓细胞微核试验结果亦呈阴性,LPSp 各剂量组的微核发生率与阴性对照组未见统计学差异(P>0.05),而与阳性对照组有明显差异(P<0.01).本研究结果表明,在本实验剂量范围内,LPSp对小鼠经口毒性极低,属实际无毒级别,对家兔皮肤和眼睛无明显刺激性,对豚鼠无致敏性,对所试菌株和小鼠体细胞无诱变性和致突变性.     

现代系统生物技术与图式遗传学

基因组程序化表达调控与生物体形态结构发生的相互对应是图式遗传学和系统生物技术研究复杂生物系统的核心。基因-蛋白质表达与神经-内分泌信号,构成生物系统发生演变的双向调控过程是生物信息控制系统的结构、功能和演变的基础。细胞信号传导与基因差异表达调控是从基因、细胞到器官的细胞动力学转换系统,是基因、蛋白质、脂类等生物高分子相互作用与细胞再生、分化、迁移、凋亡的程序化调控节律,也就是基因定位图谱-细胞定位图谱的基因组-蛋白质组与生物体的细胞节律-形态的发生转换过程。