Late pleistocene population dynamics: An alternative view

An attempt is made to argue for a more dynamic view of huntergatherer population behavior in place of the largely static one that has been widely accepted. Following a review of how the concept of carrying capacity has been used in both huntergatherer and ecological studies, attention is drawn to the role of stochastic factors in producing fluctuations over time among populations that are small in size. Some of the implications of this alternative view are briefly discussed.Research supported in part by NIH Grant GM 20467-03.This is a revised version of a paper presented at the symposium, Systems and Their Environments, at the Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, 1973, New Orleans.     

Meeting Report: The 24th Fungal Genetics Conference at Asilomar, California, USA

<正>The 24~(th) Fungal Genetics Conference was recently held at the Asilomar Conference Center in the coastal town of Pacific Grove,Monterey County,California,USA,between March 20~(th) and 25~(th),2007.At this conference,there were 750 participants representing 33 countries,with the number of participants reaching the maximum holding capacity of the conference center.About 200 people were on the waiting list and could not attend the meeting because of space limitations.     

Initiation of morphogenic cell-suspension and protoplast cultures of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Cell-suspension cultures were initiated from embryogenic calli of various barley cultivars. Seven fast-growing suspension lines were obtained from four different cultivars (cvs. Dissa, Emir, Golden Promise and Igri). Two of these cell suspensions showed morphogenic capacity. From a cell suspension of cv. Dissa, albino plantlets were regenerated when aggregates were cultured on solid medium. Aggregates of cv. Igri usually stopped differentiation at the globular stage, but occasionally formed scutellum-like structures. Five suspension lines were used for protoplast isolation and culture. Dividing protoplasts were obtained from all lines, but with cv. Igri a few divisions only and no further development were observed. Protoplasts from the various lines differed in the time of first division (2–14 d), division frequency (0.09–70.9%) and efficiency of colony formation (0.09–7.3%). Protoplasts isolated from the morphogenic cell suspension of cv. Dissa developed compact calli which sporadically regenerated albino plantlets.Abbreviations CC, MS, N6, SH, Kao8p culture media; see Material and methods - cv chltivar - dicamba 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - picloram 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid     

大剂量~(60)Co照射后造血干细胞潜在的残留损伤

本文对受到临界全致死剂量——8.5Gy~(60)Co照射后的小鼠造血干细胞(HSC)的自我更新力进行了测试,并对照射后4个月,造血功能业已恢复的小鼠HSC的造血重建功能进行了研究。结果表明:应用骨髓连续移植实验所测得的照后3个月中骨髓CFU_s的自我更新潜能明显衰退了。用照射后造血恢复小鼠的CFU_s给全致死剂量照射的受体进行移植治疗,发现其移植效力比正常的显著减弱。在受体存活30天时,CFU_s的再生速率只有正常的1/17。通过对性染色体追踪观察的资料分析,此种小鼠的??造血细胞在受体中难以形成长期稳定的嵌合体。以上事实反映出,照射后小鼠的HSC的造血重建功能大大削弱了,揭示出残存干细胞质量上的缺陷。对于这种潜在的残留损伤的机制,从“干细胞增殖力耗竭学说”和“基因自我修整假说”的角度进行了讨论。     

Differential responses to chronic hypoxia and dietary restriction of aerobic capacity and enzyme levels in the rat myocardium

Chronic exposure of mammals to hypoxia induces a state of anorexia. We aimed to determine the role played by diet restriction in the alterations of myocardial energy metabolism occurring under chronic hypoxia in order to detect the specific effects of hypoxia per se.Adult female rats were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (Fi O2 = 0.10) for three weeks; pair-fed rats, kept under normoxic conditions, received the same amount of food as hypoxic rats. The oxidative capacity of myocardial ventricles and some skeletal muscles was evaluated using permeabilized fibers. Several metabolic enzyme activities were measured on extracts from myocardium and soleus.Diet restriction increased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in both ventricles while it augmented phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase activities only in the left ventricle and depressed the respiratory rate in the right ventricle only.Hypoxia per se induced a rise in hexokinase activity in all studied oxidative muscles and a fall of hydroxy-acyl CoA-dehydrogenase activity in both myocardial ventricles. The respiratory rate and the citrate synthase activities were unaffected by hypoxia.We conclude that chronic hypoxia per se leads to specific alterations in myocardial metabolism that could favor the use of exogenous glucose at the expense of free fatty acids without any change in the oxidative capacity.     

Predictive models for phosphorus retention in wetlands

The potential of wetlands to efficiently remove (i.e., act as a nutrient sink) or to transform nutrients like phosphorus under high nutrient loading has resulted in their consideration as a cost-effective means of treating wastewater on the landscape. Few predictive models exist which can accurately assess P retention capacity. An analysis of the north American data base (NADB) allowed us to develop a mass loading model that can be used to predict P storage and effluent concentrations from wetlands. Phosphorus storage in wetlands is proportional to P loadings but the output total phosphorus (TP) concentrations increase exponentially after a P loading threshold is reached. The threshold P assimilative capacity based on the NADB and a test site in the Everglades is approximately 1 g m^–2 yr^–1. We hypothesize that once loadings exceed 1 g m^–2 yr^–1 and short-term mechanisms are saturated, that the mechanisms controlling the uptake and storage of P in wetlands are exceeded and effluent concentrations of TP rise exponentially. We propose a One Gram Rule for freshwater wetlands and contend that this loading is near the assimilative capacity of wetlands. Our analysis further suggests that P loadings must be reduced to 1 g m^–2 yr^–1 or lower within the wetland if maintaining long-term low P output concentrations from the wetlands is the central goal. A carbon based phosphorus retention model developed for peatlands and tested in the Everglades of Florida provided further evidence of the proposed One Gram Rule for wetlands. This model is based on data from the Everglades areas impacted by agricultural runoff during the past 30 years. Preliminary estimates indicate that these wetlands store P primarily as humic organic-P, insoluble P, and Ca bound P at 0.44 g m^–2 yr^–1 on average. Areas loaded with 4.0 g m^–2 yr^–1 (at water concentrations>150 g·L^–1 TP) stored 0.8 to 0.6 g m^–2 yr^–1 P, areas loaded with 3.3 g m^–2 yr^–1 P retained 0.6 to 0.4 g m^–2 yr^–1 P, and areas receiving 0.6 g m^–2 yr^–1 P retained 0.3 to 0.2 g m^–2 yr^–1. The TP water concentrations in the wetland did not drop below 50 g·L^–1 until loadings were below 1 g m² yr^–1 P.     

Rapid field determination of photosynthetic capacity of cut spruce twigs (Picea abies) at saturating ambient CO2

Summary Routine field determination of the parameters characterizing the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus is often difficult when attached branches of tall trees have to be used for gas exchange measurement. If severed twigs could be used, determining these parameters would be greatly facilitated. Because stomatal conductance changes when twigs or leaves are detached, CO₂ assimilation is usually altered. Thus, measurements made at ambient CO₂ concentration fail to accurately assess the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus because photosynthetic rates greatly depend on the supply of carbon dioxide. However, when photosynthetic carboxylation reactions are saturated by increased CO₂ partial pressure in the mesophyll, CO₂ assimilation rates no longer depend on instantaneous stomatal conductance, as shown by gas exchange measurements of spruce (Picea abies) twigs prior to and following detachment. Because net photosynthesis following detachment at saturating CO₂ remains constant for a minimum of 15 min, photosynthetic measurements of severed twigs may be reliable. This length of time is sufficient for detaching and recutting the twig, assembling a portable minicuvette system, re-establishing steady-state conditions with the gas analyser system, and reading the data over a reasonable period of time. The method described measures the maximal photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation of spruce needles of a single age-class from detached spruce twigs under the following conditions: saturating light, saturating external CO₂-partial pressure, standardized temperature and air humidity in the field. The method is applicable as a routine procedure to characterize the status of the photosynthetic apparatus of spruce trees that may be damaged in the process of forest decline.     

Enhancing Bioinformatics and Genomics Courses: Building Capacity and Skills via Lab Meeting Activities

Reading, writing, publishing, and publicly presenting scientific works are vital for a young researcher's profile building and career development. Generally, the traditional educational curricula do not offer training possibilities to learn and practice how to prepare, write, and present scientific works. These are rather a part of lab meeting activities in research groups. The lack of such training is more critical in some developing countries because this adds to the rare opportunities to discuss and become involved in the exchanges on state of the art scientific literature. Here the authors relate their experience in introducing a weekly 1-day lab meeting in the framework of two previously organized 3-month courses on “Bioinformatics and Genome Analyses”. The main activities which are developed during these lab meetings include scientific literature follow up as well as preparing and presenting oral and written scientific reviews. These activities prove to be useful for a student's self-confidence building, for enhancing their active participation during the lectures and practical sessions, as well as for the positive impact on running the whole course program. Incorporation of such lab meeting activities in the course program significantly improves the capacity building of the participants, their analytical and critical reading of scientific literature, as well as communication skills. In this work it is shown how to proceed with the different steps involved in the implementation of lab meeting activities, and to recommend their regular institution in similar courses.     

温度对米象成虫飞行行为的影响

为探明温度对米象成虫的飞行行为的影响,应用起飞测定装置和昆虫飞行磨对不同温度条件下米象成虫的飞行参数进行了测定。结果显示23℃时,米象即可起飞;23～35℃内,60.0%～73.3%的米象个体具备飞行能力;温度对米象雌成虫的24 h累计飞行距离、24 h累计飞行时间和飞行速度均有显著影响,随温度的升高其飞行能力先增强后减弱,在32℃时上述3个飞行参数均有最大值。米象雄成虫的24 h累计飞行距离、24 h累计飞行时间和飞行速度受温度影响不显著,整体随测定温度的增加呈现先增大后减小的趋势,在29℃时有最大值。米象雌雄成虫的日常日行活动呈现一定的节律性,每日上午和傍晚以后有两个飞行活动高峰。研究结果明确了米象成虫在不同温度条件下的飞行行为特征,可为米象的扩散和害虫感染的预防提供数据支持。     

城市尺度的城乡建设用地潜力及空间格局匹配评价——以南昌市为例

随着经济快速发展和城镇化进程不断加快,土地开发强度日益增大,导致生态环境不断恶化,分析城乡建设用地承载能力及空间格局匹配情况,对解决土地利用不合理、生态破坏等问题具有重要意义。以江西省南昌市为例,首先从生态安全、自然条件、社会经济等方面构建指标体系,采用层次分析法和限制系数评价模型,进行城乡建设用地开发适宜性评价,然后测算城乡建设用地承载力、可承载城乡建设用地丰度;最后与现状城乡建设用地进行空间匹配度分析,并探讨可承载临界值、丰度与空间匹配度的相关性。结果表明:南昌市城乡建设用地最适宜区、较适宜区、较不适宜区和不适宜区面积分别为1466.19、1346.01、353.69 km²和3770.70 km²;研究区城乡建设用地可承载临界值和可承载潜力分别为41.25%和24.05%,各县(区)值差异较大,各县(区)可承载临界值和可承载潜力范围分别为19.43%—98.71%和5.65%—49.83%,可承载城乡建设用地丰度情况良好,各县(区)值介于0.19—1.50之间;研究区各县(区)空间匹配度范围为67.41%—99.25%;相关分析显示,空...