A spatial scan statistic for survival data

Spatial scan statistics with Bernoulli and Poisson models are commonly used for geographical disease surveillance and cluster detection. These models, suitable for count data, were not designed for data with continuous outcomes. We propose a spatial scan statistic based on an exponential model to handle either uncensored or censored continuous survival data. The power and sensitivity of the developed model are investigated through intensive simulations. The method performs well for different survival distribution functions including the exponential, gamma, and log-normal distributions. We also present a method to adjust the analysis for covariates. The cluster detection method is illustrated using survival data for men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Connecticut from 1984 to 1995.     

Mapping QTLs associated with drought resistance in rice: Progress, problems and prospects

The use of molecular markers in the mapping of traits of agronomic importance holds great promise for speeding the development of improved plant varieties and increasing our understanding of the physiological or molecular mechanisms behind biological phenomena. The technique is now being applied to drought resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Drought is important because a considerable proportion of the world rice area is not irrigated and can be prone to water deficit. A large number of people, particular some of the poorest rice farmers, stand to gain if new varieties which combine high yield and drought resistance can be developed. Rice should be particularly useful for the molecular genetic analysis of drought resistance because of its growing role as a model monocot species and the diversity of drought resistance mechanisms which are found in the germplasm. We briefly review the traits which might be considered important in improving drought resistance in rice, before explaining the molecular mapping approach. We review progress at locating quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for individual mechanisms of drought resistance in controlled environment conditions. This includes a detailed comparison of reported QTLs related to root morphological characters. The search for QTLs associated with field performance under drought stress is analysed and the problems associated with understanding the genetic control of a complex physical and physiological phenomenon under conditions of substantial environmental variation are highlighted. We emphasise that the use of near isogenic lines in overcoming some of the problems offers considerable promise for the future.(seconded from CIRAD-CA, France)     

福建畲族的红细胞血型分布The

本文报道了父母双方上溯三代均为畲族的123名健康人的9个红细胞血型系统的分布。其表型分布如下：ABO血型系统：A型34人,B型26人,O型57人,AB型6人。MNSs血型系统：MNSs型5人,MMSs型5人,NNSs型1人, MMss型32人,MNss型62人,NNss型18人。未发现SS型。Rh血型系统：CCDee型44人,CcDee型9人,CCDEe型5人, CcDEe型55人,ccDEe型2人,ccDEE型8人,未发现ccDee、CCDEE型及CcDEE型。Duffy血型系统：Fy(a+b-)型115人,Fy(a+b+)型8人,未发现Fy(a-b+)及Fy(a-b-)型。 Kidd血型系统：Jk(a+b-)型49人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a-b+)型31人,未发现Jk (a-b-)型。Lutheran血型系统: Lu(a-b+) 型123人,未发现Lu(a+b-)及Lu(a+b+)型。Diego血型系统：Di(a+)型13人,Di(a-)型110人。P血型系统：P1(+)型38人,P1(-)型85人。Lewis血型系统：Le(a+b-)型16人,Le(a+b+)型9人,Le(a-b+)型91人,Le(a-b-)型7人。     

The Physiological Basis of Growth Inhibition of Halophytes by Potassium

Salt-dilution halophyte Suaeda salsa, salt-secretory halophytes Atriplex centrMasiatica and Limonium bicolor were treated with different concentrations of KC1 and isosmotic NaC1. It was found that the organic dry weight and net photosynthetic rate of these plants were inhibited by 100--500 and 100--400 mmol/L KC1 respectively, indicating the existance of a relationship between the growth inhibition by K+ and the decrease of photosynthesis in halophytes. After treatment with 100--400 mmol/L KCI, the content of K+ increased while that of Na+ decreased, but there were no change in osmotic potential and ability of osmotic adjustment. It proved that growth inhibition by K+ was related to Na+ deficiency in osmotic adjustment and the toxic effect of high K+ on cells. Further there was no direct relation between the decrease of growth and photosynthesys and the content of sugars in leaves. Moreover, the inhibition of ATPase activity by high K+ concentration was probably related to growth inhibition.     

果粮间作模式优化调控研究Ⅳ:系统养分管理及其优化对策探讨

我国农林复合经营(Ａｇｒｏｆｏｒｅｓｔｒｙ)历史悠久,有许多实践已证明的成功模式类型,果农间作就是分布面积最大的代表类型[1～3,8]。目前,已有的研究主要集中于类型划分[1,2,8]生态和经济效益定量观测和评价[1～10]、模式的建立[3,4,8]、资源的经营利用特点[1,2,5～10]等方面,基本上都是针对现状而进行,尚缺乏对进一步提高果农间作模式效益的优化调控研究。果粮间作条件下最大的矛盾是果与粮相互竞争可利用资源(光、热、水和土壤养分等)而导致粮食的减产和土壤的过渡利用[1,6,7]。如何优化调控,以进一步提高生态和经济效益,达到提高土地…     

Focus: Rare Disease: Psychosocial Functioning in Siblings of Children With Rare Disorders Compared to Controls

Siblings of children with chronic disorders are at increased risk of psychosocial problems. The risk may be exacerbated when the chronic disorder is rare and limited medical knowledge is available, due to more uncertainty and feelings of isolation. We examined mental health, parent-child communication, child-parent relationship quality, and social support among 100 children aged 8 to 16 years (M age 11.5 years, SD = 2.2; 50.0% boys, 50.0% girls). Fifty-six were siblings of children with rare disorders, and 44 were controls. The siblings of children with rare disorders (herein, siblings) were recruited from a resource centre for rare disorders and comprised siblings of children with a range of rare disorders including neuromuscular disorders and rare chromosomal disorders with intellectual disability. Controls were recruited from schools. Self-reported child mental health was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (effect size difference d = 0.75). Parent-reported child mental health was not significantly different between the groups (d = -0.06 to 0.16). Most child-parent relationships (anxiety/avoidance; mothers/fathers) were significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = 0.47 to 0.91). There was no difference between groups in anxious relation with mother. Parent-child communication was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = -0.87 to -0.75). Social support was significantly poorer for siblings compared to controls (d = 0.61). We conclude that siblings of children with rare disorders display more psychosocial problems than controls. Interventions are indicated to prevent further maladjustment for siblings.     

干旱胁迫对桢楠幼树渗透调节与活性氧代谢的影响及施氮的缓解效应

以二年生桢楠(Phoebe zhennan)幼树为研究对象, 采用盆栽控水的方法, 探讨了桢楠幼树在干旱胁迫下渗透调节和活性氧代谢的变化, 以及施氮对桢楠幼树应对干旱胁迫能力的影响。试验先将土壤含水量调整到4个梯度(田间持水量的80% (80% FC)、50% FC、30% FC和15% FC), 1周后测定受胁迫植株的相关生理指标, 之后进行3个水平的施氮处理(对照N0, 中氮MN, 高氮HN, 各施氮量分4次(即干旱梯度形成后第7、14、21和28天)分别施入)。在施氮结束后30天(即开始施肥处理后51天)再次测定各项生理指标。结果表明: 1)干旱处理7天后, 桢楠叶片中游离脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖(SS)含量均随胁迫强度增大而显著增加, 重度干旱(15% FC)下的Pro含量增加尤为明显, 可溶性蛋白(SP)含量则呈先增加后降低的趋势。施氮后, 各种土壤水分状态下的Pro含量进一步增加。水分充足和轻度干旱MN水平下, SS含量也增加, 而在中度和重度干旱下的SS含量显著降低, HN水平各干旱状态下SS含量变化均不显著。施氮结束后30天时, 80% FC和50% FC下的SP含量表现为施氮组低于对照组, 而30% FC和15% FC下则相反。2)施氮前随着干旱胁迫的增强, 桢楠幼树叶片中过氧化氢(H₂O₂)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著上升, 而过氧化物酶(POD)活性呈先上升后下降的趋势。施氮后, H₂O₂含量总体上表现为减少趋势, 且MN水平下降幅度最大, HN水平反而不利于降低H₂O₂的含量。3种酶活性的变化则因干旱程度和施氮水平的不同而呈现出不同的变化趋势。3)施氮前随着干旱胁迫的增强, 叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量呈显著上升趋势, 相对电导率(REC)先显著下降后显著上升; 施氮后, 除重度干旱胁迫外, 其他各干旱处理植株的MDA含量都表现为在MN水平下有所下降, 而在HN水平下有所回升, 但在重度干旱时, 无论是MN或HN处理, MDA含量均呈上升趋势, 表明在重度干旱胁迫下, 难以通过施氮的方式缓解干旱胁迫产生的伤害。4)双因素方差分析显示, 施氮与干旱胁迫间具有极显著的交互效应。以上结果表明: 施一定量的氮肥有利于缓解桢楠幼树受到的干旱胁迫, 以年施氮量计, 施中氮(N元素质量为1.35 g·株 ^-1)对除重度干旱外的干旱胁迫具有一定的缓解作用, 但施高氮(N元素质量为2.70 g·株 ^-1)时反而会对植株造成不利影响。     

短期盐胁迫下盐穗木的转录组分析

盐穗木（Halostachys caspica）是荒漠盐碱地广泛分布的盐生植物,具有极强的耐盐性。为揭示盐胁迫下盐穗木基因组层面的基因表达变化特性,通过对300和500mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫3h的盐穗木同化枝进行了转录组测序。有效序列组装共得到153298条平均长度为643bp的unigenes,进行GO和KEGG功能聚类,分别获得47个GO功能小类和118个KEGG通路。差异表达基因分析显示,短期低盐（300mmol·L^-1）响应基因有4432个,高盐（500mmol·L^-1）响应基因有2580个,两个胁迫的共差异基因有1245个,主要富集在细胞过程、代谢过程和响应刺激等类别中。从短期盐胁迫下盐穗木转录组筛选出渗透调节和活性氧清除的相关基因,大多为上调基因。说明盐穗木能够通过促进渗透调节和增强活性氧清除提高短期的盐胁迫适应能力。     

Local resource competition and local resource enhancement shape primate birth sex ratios

Sex ratio theory provides a powerful source of testable predictions about sex allocation strategies. Although studies of invertebrates generally support predictions derived from the sex ratio theory, evidence for adaptive sex ratio biasing in vertebrates remains contentious. This may be due to the fact that most studies of vertebrates have focused on facultative adjustment in relation to maternal condition, rather than processes that might produce uniform sex biases across individuals. Here, we examine the effects of local resource enhancement (LRE) and local resource competition (LRC) on birth sex ratios (BSRs). We also examine the effects of sex differences in the costs of rearing male and female offspring on BSRs. We present data from 102 primate species and show that BSRs are skewed in favour of the dispersing sex in species that do not breed cooperatively, as predicted by the LRC model. In accordance with the LRE model, BSRs are generally skewed in favour of the more beneficial sex in cooperatively breeding primate species. There is no evidence that BSRs reflect the extent of sexual size dimorphism, an indirect measure of the costs of rearing male and female offspring. These analyses suggest that adaptive processes may play an important role in the evolution of BSRs in vertebrates.     

Physiological responses of different olive genotypes to drought conditions

Gas exchange rates, chlorophyll fluorescence, pressure–volume relationships, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars, starch, soluble proteins and proline concentrations were investigated in five Olea europaea L. cultivars with different geographical origins (Arbequina, Blanqueta, Cobran?osa, Manzanilla and Negrinha) grown under Mediterranean field conditions. We found considerable genotypic differences among the cultivars. Comparing the diurnal gas exchange rates, we observed that Cobran?osa, Manzanilla and Negrinha had high photosynthetic rate than Arbequina and Blanqueta. The first group reveals to be better acclimated to drought conditions, and appears to employ a prodigal water-use strategy, whereas Blanqueta and Arbequina, with high water-use efficiency, appear to employ a conservative water-use strategy. The degree of midday depression in photosynthesis was genotype dependent, with a maximum in Arbequina and a minimum in Negrinha. The reductions in the photosynthetic rate were dependent from both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations. Elastic adjustment plays an important role as drought tolerance mechanism. The group of cultivars that employ a prodigal water-use strategy revealed high tissue elasticity, whereas Arbequina and Blanqueta revealed high tissue rigidity. We also identified the existence of drought tolerance mechanisms associated with soluble proteins accumulation in the foliage. The high levels of soluble proteins in Arbequina may represent an increased activity of oxidative stress defence enzymes and may also represent a reserve for post stress recovery. In all cultivars, especially in Manzanilla, free proline was accumulated in the foliage. The discussed aspects of drought stress metabolism may have an adaptative meaning, supporting the hypothesis that olive cultivars native to dry regions, such as Cobran?osa, Manzanilla and Negrinha, have more capability to acclimate to drought conditions than cultivars originated in regions with a more temperate climate, like Arbequina and Blanqueta.