Technologies for integrating biological data

The process of building a new database relevant to some field of study in biomedicine involves transforming, integrating and cleansing multiple data sources, as well as adding new material and annotations. This paper reviews some of the requirements of a general solution to this data integration problem. Several representative technologies and approaches to data integration in biomedicine are surveyed. Then some interesting features that separate the more general data integration technologies from the more specialised ones are highlighted.     

Chemical mediation of reciprocal mother–offspring recognition in the Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus heatwolei)

Abstract Kin recognition has been demonstrated to play an important role in the social structure of a wide range of animals. Most studies to date have examined parent–offspring recognition only in species that provide offspring with direct parental care, however, there are several advantages to parent–offspring recognition even in the absence of direct parental care. In this study we investigated reciprocal mother–offspring recognition in the Australian scincid lizard Eulamprus heatwolei, a species that does not show direct parental care. We examined whether neonates could discriminate between their mothers and unrelated females, and whether females could discriminate between their offspring and unrelated neonates, via chemical cues, using retreat site selection experiments. We conducted trials when neonates were 1 and 4 weeks old to investigate whether responses are maintained as neonates age. We found that both neonates and mothers could discriminate between related and unrelated individuals when neonates were 1 week old. Mothers were more likely to take refuge under tiles treated with the odours of their own offspring, while neonates spent less time in areas treated with the odours of unrelated females. At 4 weeks of age, mothers no longer exhibited discriminatory behaviour between their offspring and unrelated neonates, while neonates were more likely to associate with the odour of any female over the odourless control. We hypothesize that reciprocal mother–offspring recognition in E. heatwolei reduces interference competition between mothers and their offspring and also may be important in habitat selection and territory establishment.     

Synchrony of Seed Dispersal, Hydrology and Local Climate in a Semi-arid River Reach in California

The temporal availability of propagules is a critical factor in sustaining pioneer riparian tree populations along snowmelt-driven rivers because seedling establishment is strongly linked to seasonal hydrology. River regulation in semi-arid regions threatens to decouple seed development and dispersal from the discharge regime to which they evolved. Using the lower Tuolumne River as a model system, we quantified and modeled propagule availability for Populus fremontii (POFR), Salix gooddingii (SAGO), and Salix exigua (SAEX), the tree and shrub species that dominate near-channel riparian stands in the San Joaquin Basin, CA. A degree-day model was fit to field data of seasonal seed density and local temperature from three sites in 2002–2004 to predict the onset of the peak dispersal period. To evaluate historical synchrony of seed dispersal and seasonal river hydrology, we compared peak spring runoff timing to modeled peak seed release periods for the last 75 years. The peak seed release period began on May 15 for POFR (range April 23–June 10), May 30 for SAGO (range May 19–June 11) and May 31 for SAEX (range May 8–June 30). Degree-day models for the onset of seed release reduced prediction error by 40–67% over day-of-year means; the models predicted best the interannual, versus site-to-site, variation in timing. The historical analysis suggests that POFR seed release coincided with peak runoff in almost all years, whereas SAGO and SAEX dispersal occurred during the spring flood recession. The degree-day modeling approach reduce uncertainty in dispersal timing and shows potential for guiding flow releases on regulated rivers to increase riparian tree recruitment at the lowest water cost.     

近40a甘肃省气候生产潜力时空变化特征

根据甘肃省69个气象站1971-2007年温度和降水资料,采用Miami模型、Thornthwaite Memorial模型计算了全省温度生产潜力、降水生产潜力和气候生产潜力,分析了影响气候生产潜力的气候驱动力,用经验正交函数(EOF)分析其时空变化特征。结果表明:温度生产潜力显著增加,降水生产潜力略有减少,平均气候生产潜力为733.86 kg · hm^-2 · a^-1,呈逐渐减少趋势。区域差异性明显,呈东南-西北递减,陇南山区＞陇东高原＞陇中高原＞甘南草原＞河西走廊,气候生产潜力以1997年为转型年。增湿和增温均有利于气候生产潜力的增加,但增湿增益更为显著,另气候的暖干化趋势是研究区气候生产潜力减少的重要原因。     

Jet Riemann-Lagrange几何分析静脉注射吸毒人员HIV/AIDS模型(英文)

介绍并应用Jet Riemann-Lagrange几何,通过解一类Kaldor流方程去分析静脉注射吸毒人员HIV/AIDS模型,我们得到几个有意义的结果.     

Plant physiology in theory and practice: An analysis of the WBE model for vascular plants

The theoretical model of West, Brown and Enquist (hereafter WBE) proposed the fractal geometry of the transport system as the origin of the allometric scaling laws observed in nature. The WBE model has either been criticized for some restrictive and biologically unrealistic constraints or its reliability debated on the evidence of empirical tests. In this work, we revised the structure of the WBE model for vascular plants, highlighting some critical assumptions and simplifications and discuss them with regard to empirical evidence from plant anatomy and physiology. We conclude that the WBE model had the distinct merit of shedding light on some important features such as conduit tapering. Nonetheless, it is over-simplistic and a revised model would be desirable with an ontogenetic perspective that takes some important phenomena into account, such as the transformation of the inner sapwood into heartwood and the effect of hydraulic constraints in limiting the growth in height.     

Safety zones for a Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-based mycoherbicide: Accounting for regional and yearly variation in climate

Variation in the width of 'safety zones' for sheep and dairy pasture treated with a Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary-based mycoherbicide was quantified using 10 years of climate data from each of five regions in New Zealand. Acceptable and risk-averse zones were defined as the maximum distances in any direction from a treated pasture where 'added:natural' ratios of air-borne S. sclerotiorum spores are 1:1 and 1:10, respectively. The 10-year mean 1:1 safety zone had zero width for sheep pasture at all locations, and was at most, 50 m wide for dairy pasture. The width of the 10-year mean 1:10 zone varied regionally from 314 to 443 m for sheep and from 175 to 280 m for dairy pasture, and the 90th percentile 1:10 zones were up to 41% wider. Linear relationships between safety zone width and mean wind speed were evident and these could be used to derive region-specific safety zones.     

广东省生态农业建设及其发展对策

介绍了广东生态农业的产生和发展的背景及生态农业建设的基本情况,并着重对目前广东省生态农业建设的9种主要模式及其经济和生态效益以及存在的问题进行了较详细的分析,在此基础上提出了广东生态农业发展的主要对策。     

Poplar genomics is getting popular: the impact of the poplar genome project on tree research

Trees, due to their long life-span, have characteristics that distinguish them from annual, herbaceous plants. It is likely that many of these properties are based on a tree-specific genetic foundation. The U.S. Department of Energy initiated a genome-sequencing project for Populus, a model perennial plant. Through international collaboration and input to the sequencing effort, the annotated whole genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa will be released to the public in early 2004. This genomic resource will, for the first time, allow comparison between a perennial and an annual plant on a whole genome basis and therefore provide clues for molecular research on tree-specific questions like dormancy, development of a secondary cambium, juvenile-mature phase change, or long-term host-pest interactions. The approximately 520 Mbp of annotated genomic sequence will complement and expand the knowledge provided so far by the 125,000 ESTs from poplar that are available in public databases. This article introduces the international poplar research programmes and points out the significance of the poplar genome project for plant research.