Olfactory responses to attractants and repellents in tsetse

The aims of this study were to investigate how antennal olfactory cells of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae) code odour quality and how they are able to discriminate between attractive and repellent odours. For Glossina pallidipes Austen, a survey is presented of the cells' responses to attractive (1-octen-3-ol, acetone, 3-methylphenol, carbon dioxide) and repellent stimuli (2-methoxyphenol, acetophenone, lactic acid, naphthalene). In addition, the responses of these cells to binary mixtures and the dose-response curves of 1-octen-3-ol, 3-methylphenol, 2-methoxyphenol and acetophenone are presented. A minority of the cells responded to one attractant or repellent only, whereas the vast majority were excited by more than one of the attractive and/or repellent stimuli. It is proposed that the peripheral olfactory cells of tsetse discriminate between different compounds via an across-fibre pattern coding, in which the cells that specifically code for attractants or repellents may play a substantial role in composing a unique excitation pattern that informs the central nervous system about the specificity of odours.     

Muscular sound and force relationship during isometric contraction in man

The contracting muscle generates a low frequency sound detectable at the belly surface, ranging from 11 to 40 Hz. To study the relationship between the muscular sound and the intensity of the contraction a sound myogram (SMG) was recorded by a contact sensor from the biceps brachii of seven young healthy males performing 4-s isometric contractions from 10% to 100% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), in 10% steps. Simultaneously, the electromyogram (EMG) was recorded as an index of muscle activity. SMG and EMG were integrated by conventional methods (iSMG and iEMG). The relationship between iSMG and iEMG vs MVC% is described by parabolic functions up to 80% and 100% MVC respectively. Beyond 80% MVC the iSMG decreases, being about half of its maximal value at 100% MVC. Our results indicate that the motor unit recruitment and firing rate affect the iSMG and iEMG in the same way up to 80% MVC. From 80% to 100% MVC the high motor units' discharge rate and the muscular stiffness together limit the pressure waves generated by the dimensional changes of the active fibres. The muscular sound seems to reflect the intramuscular visco-elastic characteristics and the motor unit activation pattern of a contracting muscle.     

长喙毛茛泽泻的种群分布格局和群落内种间关联

长喙毛茛泽泻茶陵种群呈斑块分布,格局类型为聚集分布型,每个亚种群也呈聚集分布,但聚集强度不同。长喙毛茛泽泻与其几个主要伴生种的相关性经测定结果是：与莼菜及黄花狸藻之间的相关性不显著;与柳叶箬、双穗雀稗及石龙尾之间正相关显著;与疏勿蓼之间负相关显著,长喙毛茛泽泻种子近距离传播以及无性繁殖特性是造成其聚集分布的主要原因。柳叶箬、双穗雀稗和石龙尾对长喙毛茛泽泻具有极强的竞争作用。     

气候变化对我国7种植物潜在分布的影响

利用CART(分类和回归树)模型及A2和B2气候情景,模拟分析气候变化对瘿椒树、岩高兰、延龄草、星叶草、天麻、蝟实和秃杉分布范围及空间格局影响.结果显示:气候变化下,就目前适宜分布范围,瘿椒树呈增加趋势,其它植物呈缩小趋势;就新适宜及总适宜分布范围,蔚实、延龄草和瘿椒树呈增加趋势,星叶草和岩高兰呈减小趋势,天麻和秃杉在...     

气候变暖对东北三省春玉米严重低温冷害及种植布局的影响

以我国对气候变化较为敏感的东北三省为例,利用1961～2007年78个气象站的资料,结合玉米生长季温度距平冷害指标,分析了气候变暖对东北三省春玉米严重低温冷害及种植布局的影响.结果表明:(1)气候变暖背景下,从20世纪60年代到21世纪初,东北三省各地区春玉米严重冷害受害程度总体表现为减少趋势,但由于不同地方温度波动幅度较大,区域性的严重冷害发生频率也随之加大;就平均发生频率空间分布而言,1961～2007年严重冷害的平均发生频率表现为东北部高于西南部,最大值出现在黑龙江北部(38%),最低值在辽宁南部(4%).(2)气候变暖背景下,不同熟性玉米品种可种植界线明显北移东延,早熟品种逐渐被中、晚熟品种取代,中、晚熟品种可种植面积不断扩大.(3)随着不同熟性玉米品种种植区域北移东延,严重低温冷害出现频率明显增加,种植风险也在增大.     

紫花苜蓿赤霉素受体基因的克隆及表达分析

赤霉素受体(GID)是赤霉素信号转导途径的重要成员,直接影响着赤霉素对植物体效应的发挥。该研究利用同源克隆的方法,首次从紫花苜蓿中克隆得到1个赤霉素受体基因,命名为MsGID1b。序列分析发现,MsGID1b基因开放阅读框长度为1 053bp,编码350个氨基酸,推测其蛋白质分子量为39.839kD,是一个无信号肽和跨膜结构的亲水性蛋白。序列比对结果表明,MsGID1b基因与蒺藜苜蓿MtGID1b基因的核苷酸序列相似性为98%,氨基酸序列相似性为99%,且具有HSL家族典型的HGG和GXSXG保守结构域及GA、DELLA蛋白结合位点。荧光定量PCR分析表明,MsGID1b基因在紫花苜蓿各组织中的表达丰度依次为:根盛花初花茎叶荚果;经GA3、ABA、NaCl、PEG和黑暗诱导后该基因表达上调,尤其是在GA3诱导下,MsGID1b基因的表达量一直维持在较高水平,表明MsGID1b基因可能参与紫花苜蓿的抗逆调控。     

韧性：三角洲地区规划转型的新理念

三角洲地区经过近几十年的快速发展,在城市建设方面取得举世瞩目的成就,然而长期积累的生态问题也更加突出,暴露出的空间脆弱性问题日益显著。面对自然基底脆弱、自然灾害扰动趋势增强等因素在时空上的高度叠合,迫切需要提升三角洲地区应对未来不确定性扰动的能力。首先从景观角度分析三角洲地区自然环境的特殊性,提出韧性规划是对现有三角洲地区规划转型的论点,认为鲁棒性、适应性、学习—转化能力是三角洲地区韧性规划的核心能力,系统性、协同性、底线性、预判性是三角洲地区韧性规划的主要思维特征。其次,进一步从优化整体格局、构建流动性载体、加强对韧性技术策略的研究和应用、重视跨尺度协作与管理等方面提出了构建“格局—连通—关键点”的韧性规划框架。最后,阐述韧性规划作为三角洲地区规划转型的新理念,应用于具体案例的空间布局时须以人为本,依托自然环境,以自然流动性为规划导向;须基于预判式过程,充分构想能够应对不同情景的预案;须整合生态智慧与现代技术,明晰兼顾鲁棒性与适应性的功能分区管治体系。     

中国拳参属(蓼科)植物叶脉序式样的研究

用清净标本制作法对中国产拳参属（Bistorta）（蓼科）12种1变种植物的叶脉序式样在光镜下进行了比较研究。结果表明,叶脉序式样可分为3种类型：（1）环结曲行羽状脉,边缘末级脉不完全,加粗且外卷;（2）环结曲行荆状脉,二级脉与其余各级脉近等粗,边缘末级脉具边脉,不加粗;（3）直行羽状脉,盲脉无或偶有,边缘末级脉不完全,不加粗。依据叶脉序式样,结合其植物习性及外部形态特征,将拳参属植物划分为3个组：拳参组section Bistortu,乌饭树叶蓼组section Vacciniifolia F．Z．Li,L．X．Liu ＆ Y．T．Hou,sect．nov．和匍枝蓼组section Bambuphyllum F．Z．Li,L．X．Liu ＆ Y．T．Hou,sect．nov．。     

Historical biogeography of Hexabathynella , a cosmopolitan genus of groundwater Syncarida (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae)

Hexabathynella is the only cosmopolitan genus of the order Bathynellacea (Crustacea). The known species number 18, found in Europe (9), Africa (1), South America (2), North America (3) and Australia and New Zealand (3). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the least derived species are those from South America and the most derived those from the Iberian Peninsula, North America and Australia. The five species with the most plesiomorphic characters occur in salt or brackish water, which supports a marine origin for the genus. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses suggest that the distribution of the genus can be explained by dispersion and a double vicariant biogeographical model based on plate tectonics and the evolution of the Tethys during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 78 , 457–466.     

Four receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinases regulate development and immunity in rice

Receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) represent a large family of proteins in plants. However, few RLCKs have been well characterized. Here, we report the functional characterization of four rice RLCKs – OsRLCK57, OsRLCK107, OsRLCK118 and OsRLCK176 from subfamily VII. These OsRLCKs interact with the rice brassinosteroid receptor, OsBRI1 in yeast cell, but not the XA21 immune receptor. Transgenic lines silenced for each of these genes have enlarged leaf angles and are hypersensitive to brassinolide treatment compared to wild type rice. Transgenic plants silenced for OsRLCK57 had significantly fewer tillers and reduced panicle secondary branching, and lines silenced for OsRLCK107 and OsRLCK118 produce fewer seeds. Silencing of these genes decreased Xa21 gene expression and compromised XA21‐mediated immunity to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Our study demonstrates that these OsRLCKs negatively regulate BR signalling, while positively regulating immune responses by contributing to the expression of the immune receptor XA21.