Transformation Strategy for Managing Coupled Socio-Ecological Systems: Case Studies from Bangladesh and the Philippines

This study demonstrates the potential of transformation strategy (an approach that emphasizes strengthening interdependence among social and ecological systems) to rehabilitate degraded land by examining two cases in Bangladesh and one in the Philippines. The study considers the benefits obtained from forests and forest-related activities in the form of income and energy sources as key parameters to link the social system (local people) with the ecological system (forest). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data on land use and socio-economic changes indicates that the transformation strategy improved both the wellbeing of local people and forest cover. In the case of the Philippines, social and ecological linkages were found to be strong, with local people rehabilitating the degraded land while also obtaining a high proportion of their total income from the activity. For the two Bangladesh cases, however, the level of dependency on the forest for livelihood declined as local people used their income from the forest and forest-related activities for diversification to non-forest activities.     

近50年来新疆莎车县气候变化特征及其成因

利用莎车县气象站1956-2005年气温和降水观测资料,以回归分析、趋势线分析、5年滑动平均等方法,探讨莎车县气温和降水的年际变化、季节变化及变化特征。结果显示:①近50年来,莎车县年平均气温总体呈增加趋势,线性倾向率为0.19℃/10 a。从20世纪50年代中期至60年代末期,气温在平均值附近波动降低,自70年代以来波动较大,并明显升高,气温波动基本上与我国西北地区气温变化趋势一致。年内气温变化存在季节差异,秋、冬、春三个季节气温均呈上升趋势,夏季的气温呈下降趋势,其中,秋和冬两季对全年平均气温增加贡献较大。②近50年来,莎车县年降水量总体呈增长趋势,年均降水量线性倾向率约为7.44 mm/10 a。20世纪50年代中期至70年代末期年降水量在多年平均值附近波动,没有明显增减。自80年代以来年际降水波动较大,而且变湿趋势较明显。年内降水量变化有明显的季节差异,除了冬季外,夏、春、秋三个季节降水量均呈增长趋势,增长幅度从大到小依次是夏季、春季和秋季,其中,夏、春两季对全年降水量增长贡献较大,秋季降水贡献较小。     

新疆淡水藻类研究——新月藻属初报

首次报道了新疆新月藻属（ＣｌｏｓｔｅｒｉｕｍＮｉｔｚｓｃｈ）７种,其中４种为新疆维吾尔自治区新记录。这些结果是对１９９１年６～７月所采集的２０号标本鉴定后获得的。     

Brassinolides have a small effect on vegetative growth,and increase reproductive growth of pistachio trees Cv. Owhadi

The effects of different applications of 24-epi-brassinolideon the physiology and yield of ‘Owhadi’ pistachio trees was investigated in Iran over an off and on year. Plants were treated by 24-epi-brassinolide at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1mgl^?1at green tip and tight cluster of bud stage. Brassinolide decreased the incidence nut physiological disorders and increased yield. The sprays decreased the incidence of inflorescence bud abscission, fruit abscission, misshapen nuts, blank, early splitting and indehisced shell compared with the controls. In both on and off years, the effect of brassinolide was dependent on the time of application and concentration used. Application of this compound, especially at tight cluster stage of buds, increased indehisced shell and yield in both on and off years. Brassinolides appear to play a key role in the growth and development of pistachio.     

Effect of dietary saponin rich soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on growth performance,immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP), a cheap source of saponins, on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens. The experimental design was 4×2, employing four saponin levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet), each provided for two time durations (0–42 day and 21–42 day) resulting into eight dietary treatments. Results revealed no significant effect of dietary saponins on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds. The abdominal fat percentage, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, faecal total plate count, coliform count and E. coli count decreased (p < .05) progressively with increasing saponin levels and lower values were observed at 150 mg and 200 mg saponin levels. Significant improvement of cell‐mediated and humoral immune response was observed in birds fed 150 mg and 200 mg saponin compared to control. The serum glucose concentration was significantly (p < .05) higher in control group compared to other groups. No significant effects of dietary saponin were observed on carcass characteristics, faecal Lactobacillus count, intestinal histomorphometry and cost economics of broiler chicken production. Thus, dietary saponins at 150 mg/kg diet as SSP for three weeks (21–42 days) was optimum for better immunity and welfare of birds without adverse effects on the growth performance.     

基于帕默尔指数石河子地区干湿变化特征

为探究石河子地区气候变化特征,指导石河子地区农业生产,以及预测北疆地区气候变化趋势。依据石河子地区石河子、乌拉乌苏、莫索湾、炮台4个气象观测站1961—2009年逐日气温和降水数据等资料,研究了石河子地区的干湿发生频次变化特征。结果表明：石河子地区年干旱发生频次呈下降趋势,1960s和1970s中后期全年干旱严重,1982年后旱情有所缓解;干旱发生频次突变时间为1985年。年际湿润发生频次呈上升趋势,突变时间为1967年。四季干湿发生频次与年际干湿发生频次一致,夏秋季节干旱发生频次下降趋势明显,其湿润频次上升变化同样较为明显。石河子地区年内干湿发生频次中,干旱平均发生频次为26.25次,湿润平均发生频次为7.9次,干旱发生频次远高于湿润发生频次。气候变化下,石河子地区呈明显的湿润化趋势。     

Accumulation of Reserve Compounds in Common Bean Seeds under Drought Stress

To investigate the seed protein and major mineral nutrient (Fe, Zn, P, and N) contents and their accumulation procedure in the seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a biennial experiment was conducted under two contrasting moisture regimes (normal irrigation and water deficit). Seed reserves of eight genotypes (WA4502-1, WA4531-17, Akhtar, D81083, AND1007, KS21486, MCD4011, and COS16) were investigated at four stages of seed filling period (SFP). Split-plot experiments were performed as randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed significant differences in the evaluated characteristics in both factors, the genotypes and the moisture regimes. Fe content of the seeds was affected the most by drought stress and reduced in all stages, while seed nitrogen and protein contents were affected the least under stress condition. The percentages of reductions due to water deficit were higher in stage 1 for Fe, stage 2 for Zn, and stage 4 for P and N. In the stage 3, minerals had the least changes. Nitrogen content of the seeds at mid-stages of SFP increased slightly under drought stress. Drought stress also caused 39–69% reductions in the grain yield of the genotypes. Under drought stress condition, the concentrations of Fe and N in the white bean seeds were less than that of the red and the Chitti genotypes. However, the seed P contents of the white bean seeds were higher than that of the other genotypes.     

Adsorption of Petroleum Monoaromatics from Aqueous Solutions Using Granulated Surface Modified Natural Nanozeolites: Systematic Study of Equilibrium Isotherms

Petroleum monoaromatics including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) are among the notorious volatile organic compounds that contaminate water and soil. In this study, a surfactant- modified natural zeolite and its relevant granulated nanozeolites were evaluated as potential adsorbents for removal of petroleum monoaromatics from aqueous solutions. All experiments performed in batch mode at constant temperature of 20°C and pH of 6.8 for 48 h. The results revealed that the amount of BTEX uptake on granulated zeolites nanoparticles were remarkably higher than the parent micron size natural zeolite (in the order of four times). The isotherms data were analyzed using five models namely, Langmuir, Fruendlich, Elovich, Temkin, and Dubinin?CRadushkevich models. It was concluded that the Langmuir model fits the experimental data. The measured adsorption capacities were 3.89 and 4.08 mg of monoaromatics per gram of hexadecyltrimethylammonium-chloride and n-cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB)-modified granulated nanozeolite, respectively. Considering the type of surfactant, adsorbents modified with CPB showed greater tendency for the adsorption of the adsorbates.     

Amount and Size Distribution of Monomeric and Polymeric Proteins in the Grain of Organically Produced Wheat

In the present study, we evaluated 444 organically grown wheat genotypes for the amount and size distribution of polymeric proteins by size‐exclusion HPLC. The investigated genotypes were divided into six genotype groups—selection, spelt, old cultivar, primitive, landrace, and cultivar—and these were grown in four different locations, namely, Alnarp, Bohuslän, Gotland, and Uppsala in Sweden. The results showed that the percentage of unextractable polymeric proteins in total polymeric proteins (%UPP) and percentage of large unextractable polymeric proteins in total polymeric proteins were higher in the cultivar group as compared with the rest of the investigated genotype groups. The amounts of total extractable polymeric proteins (TOTE) and total unextractable polymeric proteins were low in cultivars and selections, respectively. Spring wheat grain was found to have a significantly higher amount of all protein fractions as compared with winter wheat. The genotype Kenya was found to belong to both groups of the 20 genotypes with the highest TOTE and %UPP. Thus, the genotype Kenya might be of relevance for consumption and future breeding to improve the breadmaking quality of organically produced wheat.