The end of the cretaceous: sharp boundary or gradual transition?

Evidence indicates that the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is very sharp, and, within the limits of resolution, it is apparently synchronous at the various boundary localities. Arguments to the contrary, particularly those of Officer and Darke, are shown to invalid.     

Relationship between the Genetic Polymorphism of PPARγ-2 and the Susceptibility of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Guangxi Bama

[目的]探讨PPARγ-2基因多态性与广西巴马小型猪2型糖尿病易感性的关系.[方法]利用高糖高脂日粮饲喂24头广西巴马小型猪,利用PCR方法扩增PPARγ-2基因外显子2部分序列,测定其空腹血糖和胰岛素(INS)含量并进行糖耐量试验.[结果]克隆的PPARγ-2基因外显子2部分序列存在1处SNP位点(19813A/G),有AG(7头)和AA(17头)2种基因型.AG型广西巴马小型猪的空腹胰岛素含量和糖耐量试验中60 min血糖值显著高于AA型(P＜0.05),而AG型广西巴马小型猪2型糖尿病发生率(71.4％)明显高于AA型(5.9％).[结论]广西巴马小型猪PPARγ-2基因外显子2的19813A/G多态性与2型糖尿病易感性有关.     

Genetic regulation of conidiation in Trichoderma hamatum

Achieving a balance between vegetative growth and spore production is essential for successful biocontrol by fungi. Low sporulation rates in the field can result in poor establishment and survival, whereas failure of conidia to recognise hosts can lead to persistence without efficacy. Commercial biocontrol products involve bulk preparations of conidia, however considerable variability in conidiation rates exists between biocontrol agents, which can restrict choice of strain for production. The…     

Particle dark matter in the universe: at the brink of discovery?

The nature of dark matter is one of the central problems of cosmology, particle physics, and gravity. It may be made of still unknown particles produced in the early universe. Much progress has been made in attempts to detect these particles and in the development of the required experimental techniques. Results from direct searches, the Large Hadron Collider, and the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope offer promising opportunities within the next decade to find the missing dark matter.     

Genetic regulation of conidiation in Trichoderma hamatun

Achieving a balance between vegetative growth and spore production is essential for successful biocontrol by fungi. Low sporulation rates in the field can result in poor establishment and survival,whereas failure of conidia to recognise hosts can lead to persistence without efficacy. Commercial biocontrol products involve bulk preparations of conidia, however considerable variability in conidiation rates exists between biocontrol agents, which can restrict choice of strain for production. The majority of studies on Trichoderma conidiation have focused on the species T. viride and T. atroviride.These species form conidia in response to blue and near-UV light and/or nutrient deprivation and conidiation proceeds in a highly co-ordinated fashion, however relatively little is known on the genetic basis of Trichoderrma conidiation. In addition, whilst photoconidiation appears to be a general response detailed studies in other Trichoderma species are absent. In this study, conidiation in the lesser known biocontrol species T. hamatum is being investigated using a combined morphological and molecular approach. In contrast to T. atroviride, conidiation in response to blue-light was weaker and variable and suggested that additional triggers may be required for the T. hamatum photoresponse. A series of comparative photoconidiation assays are currently being undertaken investigating the effect of inoculum type and abiotic factors on timing and intensity of the response.Results will be discussed in relation to the current knowledge on conidial morphogenesis in Trichoderma. In addition to these morphological assays, a selection of genes implicated in sporulation and the blue-light responses are currently being isolated and characterised from T. hamatum. Two genes, phr1 and cmp1 , which were isolated previously from T. atroviride will be used as early and late markers of gene expression during the photoresponse in T. hamatum in order to define time points for harvesting comparable stage-specific RNA from T. hamatum and T. atroviride. Using degenerate PCR putative sporulation gene orthologues have also been identified in T. hamatum.Work is currently underway to isolate genomic clones of these genes from T. hamatum and T.atroviride. Sequence and expression analysis of orthologues, including expression in response to abiotic factors will be presented and discussed in relation to the current knowledge of the molecular basis of conidiation in Trichoderma and other filamentous fungi.……     

The emancipatory question: the next step in the sociology of agrifood systems?

I provide an historical overview of the development of the Sociology of Agriculture as a critical response to perceived inadequacies of conservative theories of social change regarding rural society in general, and agriculture in particular. I do this by focusing on the three questions that have dominated the discourse on agrifood studies: “The Agrarian Question,” “The Environment Question,” and “The Food Question.” I analyze the success and constraints of selected alternative agrifood initiatives in relation to the three questions and introduce a fourth, the Emancipatory Question. I conclude that agrifood social scientists need to embrace a praxis orientation to agrifood studies and participate in social movements designed to create a more socially just alternative agrifood system.

Effect of Genetic Connectedness on the Selection Results of Breeding Pigs

Two pig populations were simulated with Monte Carlo method; each consisted of 5 boars and 50 sows per generation. Genetic connectedness between herds was established by randomly selecting 1 or 2 boars from one population to mate sows of the other population. Breeding pigs were selected within populations according to animal model BLUP. The benefits of genetic connectedness between herds were examined. The results showed that, the average coefficients of inbreeding decreased, while the cumulative selection responses of populations increased, and the higher response occurred randomly in the two populations at generation 5 with the increase of the genetic connectedness between herds. Selection response was affected by genetic connectedness and trait heritability, the lower heritability and higher connectedness, the better selection results. When the number of exchanged litters between populations per generation was 6 litters, the selection results reached a reflection point; if the number of exchanged litters between populations increased further from this point, neither the increase of the cumulative selection responses nor the decrease of coefficients of inbreeding was significant.     

Genomic characteristics of Dickeya fangzhongdai isolates from pear and the function of type Ⅳ pili in the chromosome

Dickeya fangzhongdai, the causal agent of bleeding canker of pear, is a new member of the Dickeya genus and the only one that infects woody plants. Recent studies have reclassified several Dickeya isolates as D. fangzhongdai, which were isolated from various environments, including water, Phalaenopsis sp. and Aglaonema sp. To provide genomic characterization of D. fangzhongdai isolates from pear, the genomes of D. fangzhongdai strain JS5(=China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center, CGMCC 1.15464 ~T=DSM 101947 ~T), along with two other isolates, LN1 and QZH3, were sequenced and compared to those of other Dickeya spp. Homology greater than 99% was observed among three D. fangzhongdai strains. Plasmid, type IV secretion system(T4 SS) and type IV pili(TFPs) were found in genomes of D. fangzhongdai isolates. Comparative analysis of the type Ⅲ secretion systems(T3 SS), type Ⅲ secretion effectors(T3 SE), plant cell wall degradation enzymes(PCWDE) and membrane transport proteins of Dickeya spp. showed some differences which might reflect the variations of virulence, phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of Dickeya spp. In addition, deletion mutant of TFP in D. fangzhongdai JS5 showed no twitching motility and reduced virulence and biofilm formation. The fingdings of the distinctive plasmid, T4 SS and TFPs, as well as the differences of T3 SE, PCWDE and membrane transport proteins make D. fangzhongdai isolates unique. These results also suggested that acquisition of virulence genes by horizontal gene transfer might play some role in the genetic variation of D. fangzhongdai.     

Is the fragility of a liquid embedded in the properties of its glass?

When a liquid is cooled below its melting temperature, it usually crystallizes. However, if the quenching rate is fast enough, the system may remain in a disordered state, progressively losing its fluidity upon further cooling. When the time needed for the rearrangement of the local atomic structure reaches approximately 100 seconds, the system becomes "solid" for any practical purpose, and this defines the glass transition temperature Tg. Approaching this transition from the liquid side, different systems show qualitatively different temperature dependencies of the viscosity, and accordingly they have been classified by introducing the concept of "fragility." We report experimental observations that relate the microscopic properties of the glassy phase to the fragility. We find that the vibrational properties of the glass well below Tg are correlated with the fragility value. Consequently, we extend the fragility concept to the glassy state and indicate how to determine the fragility uniquely from glass properties well below Tg.     

Piaeodicton: the traces of infaunal xenophyophores?

A xenophyophore found just below the surface of a box core of modern deep-sea sediment from the Japan Trench has a threadlike plasma body that extends through horizontal, anastomosing networks of organically bound sediment tubes (the organism's test). The tubes resemble somne of the polygonal networks of the trace fossil Paleodictyon. Such xenophyophores may be the makers of Paleodictyon, and the complex, regular geometry of Paleodictyon may be determined by the xenophyophore's anastomosing body shape.     

Forecast of the Heterosis of Imported Meat Sheep by Genetic Polymorphism of Microsatellite DNA

Forecast of the heterosis of Small Tail Han sheep crossed with imported meat sheep by genetic polymorphism of microsatellite DNA was done in different sheep breeds. The gene frequency, the polymorphism information contents, the number of effective alleles, the heterozygosity, and the genetic distances were studied in four imported meat sheep and Small Tail Han sheep using five microsatellite loci. The crossing effects on the Small Tail Han sheep with four imported meat sheep were tested. The results indicate that there are genetic polymorphisms at five microsatellite loci in five sheep breeds. Five microsatellite loci can be used for genetic diversity evaluation in sheep breeds. The genetic variability of Dorset is the highest, and that of the Small Tail Han sheep is the lowest in the five sheep breeds. The order of heterosis from large to small in four imported meat sheep by the analysis of genetic relationship is White-Suffolk, Black-Suffolk, Dorset, and Texel. This accords with the testing results of actual heterosis. It is feasible to forecast the heterosis of Small Tail Han sheep crossed with imported meat sheep by genetic polymorphism of microsatellite DNA, which will have an important value for sheep breeding in the future.