Divergence in male mating tactics between two populations of the soapberry bug: I. Guarding versus nonguarding

I compared male allocation to prolonged mate guarding versusnot guarding between two populations of the soapberry bug (Jaderahaematoloma) that differ in adult sex ratio: Oklahoma, USA (mean± SD adult sex ratio, 2.70 ± 0.95 males per female),and Florida, USA (1.09 ± 0.26 males per female). To predictthe reproductive performance of each mating tactic in each population,I collected data on search time per mating, time required forguarding to be effective, sperm competition, female rematingpropensity, and female resistance to guarding. Search time alonediffered significantly between the populations, being much greaterin Oklahoma (estimated as 26.2 h per mate) than in Florida (estimatedas 9.6 h per mate). For males in each region, these data wereused to model the costs and benefits of guarding for differentnumbers of oviposition bouts versus not guarding. The reproductiverate of nonguarders in Oklahoma is exceeded by that of guarderswho remain with a female for more than one oviposition bout,but in Florida, the reproductive rate of nonguarders is onlyexceeded by that of guarders who remain with a female for atleast three ovipositions. Consistent with the model, Oklahomamales in field arenas guarded more frequently than did Floridamales. However, nonguarding was common in both populations,and guarding durations were highly variable.     

广西生态农业:历程、成效、问题及对策

生态农业已成为世界农业发展的重要模式和方向。广西生态农业的发展具有基础好、起步早、发展快、模式多、效益佳的特点。从新中国成立至今,广西生态农业经历了4个发展阶段:第一阶段(1949—1977年):群众自发,实践摸索;第二阶段(1978—1991年):模式创新,高产高效;第三阶段(1992—2002年):政府推动,全面推广;第四阶段(2003年至今):模式优化,提质增效。60多年来,广西生态农业发展取得了显著的经济效益、生态效益和社会效益,具体表现在:增加产量、提高效益、改善品质、节约资源、保护环境、提升人员素质、扩大国内外影响等7个方面。当前,广西生态农业存在着6个方面的突出问题:(1)科技薄弱,人才不足;(2)经济落后,资金缺乏;(3)生态脆弱,条件恶劣;(4)技术组装不配套,理论研究不深入;(5)意识不强,措施不力;(6)规模化不够,产业化不强。为使广西生态农业今后又好又快地发展,必须采取如下对策和措施:一是提高认识,转变观念;二是搞好规划,完善制度;三是增加投入,改善条件;四是重视科技,培养人才;五是调整结构,优化模式;六是因地制宜,发挥优势;七是加强交流,开展合作;八是综合配套,全面发展;九是"三效"(经济效益、生态效益和社会效益)并举,良性循环;十是"四化"(规模化、产业化、集约化、科技化)同步,持续发展。     

Formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines in model systems

Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs) are mutagenic and carcinogenic substances that are formed in significant amounts during heating of meat or fish at temperatures of at least 150 degrees C. To investigate the chemistry lying behind the formation of these harmful substances model systems were established. The first aim was to identify the naturally occurring precursors, namely creatinine, amino acids and carbohydrates. Later these model systems were used to develop strategies for a reduction of the content of the heterocyclic aromatic amines and for the evaluation of the reaction mechanisms that lead to the formation of these substances. All these aspects are discussed in this review.     

How MAP kinase modules function as robust,yet adaptable,circuits

Genetic and biochemical studies have revealed that the diversity of cell types and developmental patterns evident within the animal kingdom is generated by a handful of conserved, core modules. Core biological modules must be robust, able to maintain functionality despite perturbations, and yet sufficiently adaptable for random mutations to generate phenotypic variation during evolution. Understanding how robust, adaptable modules have influenced the evolution of eukaryotes will inform both evolutionary and synthetic biology. One such system is the MAP kinase module, which consists of a 3-tiered kinase circuit configuration that has been evolutionarily conserved from yeast to man. MAP kinase signal transduction pathways are used across eukaryotic phyla to drive biological functions that are crucial for life. Here we ask the fundamental question, why do MAPK modules follow a conserved 3-tiered topology rather than some other number? Using computational simulations, we identify a fundamental 2-tiered circuit topology that can be readily reconfigured by feedback loops and scaffolds to generate diverse signal outputs. When this 2-kinase circuit is connected to proximal input kinases, a 3-tiered modular configuration is created that is both robust and adaptable, providing a biological circuit that can regulate multiple phenotypes and maintain functionality in an uncertain world. We propose that the 3-tiered signal transduction module has been conserved through positive selection, because it facilitated the generation of phenotypic variation during eukaryotic evolution.     

Exploring the concept of interaction computing through the discrete algebraic analysis of the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction

Interaction computing (IC) aims to map the properties of integrable low-dimensional non-linear dynamical systems to the discrete domain of finite-state automata in an attempt to reproduce in software the self-organizing and dynamically stable properties of sub-cellular biochemical systems. As the work reported in this paper is still at the early stages of theory development it focuses on the analysis of a particularly simple chemical oscillator, the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. After retracing the rationale for IC developed over the past several years from the physical, biological, mathematical, and computer science points of view, the paper presents an elementary discussion of the Krohn–Rhodes decomposition of finite-state automata, including the holonomy decomposition of a simple automaton, and of its interpretation as an abstract positional number system. The method is then applied to the analysis of the algebraic properties of discrete finite-state automata derived from a simplified Petri net model of the BZ reaction. In the simplest possible and symmetrical case the corresponding automaton is, not surprisingly, found to contain exclusively cyclic groups. In a second, asymmetrical case, the decomposition is much more complex and includes five different simple non-abelian groups whose potential relevance arises from their ability to encode functionally complete algebras. The possible computational relevance of these findings is discussed and possible conclusions are drawn.     

Signal transduction pathways in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and biotechnological implications under abiotic stress

Cyanobacteria have developed various response mechanisms in long evolution to sense and adapt to external or internal changes under abiotic stresses. The signal transduction system of a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 includes mainly two-component signal transduction systems of eukaryotic-type serine/threonine kinases (STKs), on which most have been investigated at present. These two-component systems play a major role in regulating cell activities in cyanobacteria. More and more co-regulation and crosstalk regulations among signal transduction systems had been discovered due to increasing experimental data, and they are of great importance in corresponding to abiotic stresses. However, mechanisms of their functions remain unknown. Nevertheless, the two signal transduction systems function as an integral network for adaption in different abiotic stresses. This review summarizes available knowledge on the signal transduction network in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and biotechnological implications under various stresses, with focuses on the co-regulation and crosstalk regulations among various stress-responding signal transduction systems.     

Occurrence and removal of parasites, enteric bacteria and faecal contamination indicators in wastewater natural reclamation systems in Tenerife-Canary Islands, Spain

Two wastewater natural reclamation systems (WWNRS) have been compared regarding their efficiencies on faecal bacteria removal and the persistence of enteric pathogens. These WWNRS are constituted of a combination of anaerobic treatment, small sub-surface flow constructed wetland refilled of volcanic ashes and a final pond as water reservoir. Faecal coliforms, enterococci, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, somatic coliphages, Salmonella sp., Campylobacter sp., Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia sp. and helminth eggs were analyzed in constructed wetlands inlet and outlet and storage pond effluent. Low numbers of protozoan positive samples (4.54% in Albergue de Bolico for both protozoa, and 19.05% in Carrizal Alto for Giardia sp.) and absence of helminth eggs were found. Both systems demonstrated efficient reduction of faecal contamination indicators in the wastewaters (removal rates values of 2 log₁₀). The natural systems for wastewater treatment used to be efficient in Salmonella abatement, this fact was confirmed in the reported systems, since enterobacteriaceae were found in only one of the effluents. Campylobacter species associated with the access of animals to storage ponds were detected in the reclaimed water.     

2001-2009年中国碳排放与碳足迹时空格局

碳排放引发的全球变暖给自然环境及人类社会都带来了显著影响,而碳足迹可以衡量自然生态系统对人类活动碳排放的响应。为研究自然-社会二元系统碳动态,基于MODIS(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer)数据和统计资料计算2001—2009年中国陆地植被净初级生产力、能源消费碳排放、碳足迹和碳赤字;在GIS(Geographic Information System)技术支持下,运用空间自相关分析方法讨论其时空格局;据此划分生态经济区。结果表明:(1)2001—2009年全国植被净初级生产力(Net Primary Production,NPP)平均值为3.32 Pg C/a(1 Pg=1015g),呈西南地区东南沿海华中、华东地区东北、华北地区西北地区的空间格局;(2)2001—2009年全国能源消费碳排放逐年增加,年均增长率16.7%,多年平均值2.53 Pg C/a,呈东部中部西部的空间格局;(3)2001—2009年全国碳足迹逐年增加,年均增长率14.7%,多年平均值6.98×106km2;具有正碳赤字(即碳源)的省份为山西、环渤海地区各省、长三角地区各省、广东;相邻省份碳赤字的相对大小由于互相影响而改变;(4)全国分为中东部、南部、北部、西部四个生态经济大区。研究结果直观揭示了中国碳排放和碳足迹的时空动态,为实现自然-社会二元系统的可持续发展提供科学依据。