Anatomical variation of habitat‐related changes in scapular morphology

The mammalian forelimb is adapted to different functions including postural, locomotor, feeding, exploratory, grooming and defence. Comparative studies on morphology of the mammalian scapula have been performed in an attempt to establish the functional differences in the use of the forelimb. In this study, a total of 102 scapulae collected from 66 species of animals, representatives of all major taxa from rodents, sirenians, marsupials, pilosa, cetaceans, carnivores, ungulates, primates and apes, were analysed. Parameters measured included scapular length, width, position, thickness, area, angles and index. Structures included supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, scapular spine, glenoid cavity, acromium and coracoid processes. Images were taken using computed tomographic (CT) scanning technology (CT‐Aquarium, Toshiba and micro CT‐LaTheta, Hotachi, Japan), and measurement values were acquired and processed using Avizo computer software and CanvasTM 11 ACD systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2013. Results obtained showed that there were differences in morphological characteristics of scapula between mammals with arboreal locomotion and living in forest and mountainous areas and those with leaping and terrestrial locomotion living in open habitat or savannah. Differences were seen in the ratio of maximum length and maximum width, the orientation of scapular spine and the horizontal length of acromion and coracoid processes. The cause for the statistical grouping of the animals and the way the scapular shape covaries with habitat and to the type of locomotion and speed are discussed in detail.     

“土法”提取杉木屑精油化学成份GC／MS分析及探讨

“土法”提取精油因其设备简单、拆装方便、容易运输、易操作、成本低等特点，在偏远农村广泛使用，本试验对“土法”水蒸汽蒸馏方法提取精油进行化学成份的GC／MS分析．共分出71个色谱峰．采用GC峰面积归一化法进行定量，其中鉴定出47个化合物，占该精油总量的91．8％。其主要成分为α-柏木烯（22．4％）、柏木醇（20．07％）、α-松油醇（4．29％）、α-蒎烯（2．26％）等．本试验为更好的利用“土法”提取杉木屑精油提供参考，为改进“土法”提取设备提供可靠依据。     

北庭故城遗址区种子植物区系研究

通过野外调查，采集植物标本和查阅相关文献资料，对北庭故城遗址区及临近区域种子植物区系进行了分析。结果表明：北庭故城遗址区及临近区域共有种子植物122种，隶属于105属37科。科的组成中，属和种都是以单属科和单种科为主体；属的组成中，单种属和寡种属构成属的结构主体。Drude生活型中以草本植物为主，共102种，占总种数的83．60％。在水分生态类型中，以中生植物和旱生植物为主，其中中生植物共73种，占总种数的59．84％；旱生植物33种，占总种数的27．04％。种子植物区系成分在科的水平上以世界分布为主；属的分布区类型中，温带成分占绝对优势，其中北温带分布属是植物区系的核心。在区域气候环境的长期影响下，植物区系表现出典型的温带性质，没有中国特有分布科属。     

Potassium distribution in black heartwood of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) I: Localization in axial parenchyma cells

This is the first report to ascertain potassium location in black heartwood of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica). The objective of this study was to understand the distribution of potassium in sugi black heartwood in connection with anatomical morphology. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) was used to investigate the distribution of inorganic elements, especially potassium. In black heartwood, potassium was detected in all tissues (tracheids, ray parenchyma, and axial parenchyma), but its concentrations were different in each xylem tissue. Potassium was particularly accumulated in the droplets in axial parenchyma cells. In addition, calcium was also detected in all tissues. Phosphorus sometimes existed in the granules in ray parenchyma cells. From optical microscopy, the axial parenchyma cells were observed to be arranged in a tangential direction on transverse section and the droplets in these cells were distributed in areas of high ash and green moisture content. For red heartwood, potassium detected by SEM-EDXA was far lower in all tissues than in the black heartwood, while the trend for calcium was the converse. Potassium in axial parenchyma cells was more abundant in black heartwood than in typical pale red heartwood.     

Newly developed nanocomposites from cellulose acetate/layered silicate/poly(ε-caprolactone): Synthesis and morphological characterization

New biodegradable cellulose acetate/layered silicate grafted poly(ε-caprolactone) [(CA/layered silicate)-g-PCL] nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of ε-caprolactone in the presence of cellulose acetate (CA) and organically modified layered silicate (OMLS). The structures of the resulting composites were investigated. X-ray diffractometry was carried out to survey general structural features of (CA/OMLS)-g-PCL nanocomposites, and revealed that OMLSs having hydroxyl groups in the organic modifiers greatly altered the layered silicate structure by monomer intercalation and successive exfoliation through its polymerization. Two of the representative cases were characterized by wide-angle and small-angle X-ray scattering analyses with a synchrotron source. The morphology of these nanocomposites was further examined by transmission electron microscopy. When SPN, one of OMLSs having one hydroxyl group in its modifier, was used, the silicate layers could not be dispersed thoroughly, but existed as aggregates consisting of several silicate layers. Among them, the crystal growth of PCL developed by transcrystallization, where the crystal growth was restricted in the confined space. When Cloisite 30B, having two hydroxyl groups within the modifier, was used, the silicate layers forming the clay were dispersed completely in the composite and random orientation of the OMLS was observed.     

The polarity protein Par-3 directly interacts with p75NTR to regulate myelination

Cell polarity is critical in various cellular processes ranging from cell migration to asymmetric cell division and axon and dendrite specification. Similarly, myelination by Schwann cells is polarized, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we show that the polarity protein Par-3 localizes asymmetrically in Schwann cells at the axon-glial junction and that disruption of Par-3 localization, by overexpression and knockdown, inhibits myelination. Additionally, we show that Par-3 directly associates and recruits the p75 neurotrophin receptor to the axon-glial junction, forming a complex necessary for myelination. Together, these results point to a critical role in the establishment of cell polarity for myelination.     

Sound absorption capability and mechanical properties of a composite rice hull and sawdust board

Rice hull–sawdust composite boards were manufactured for sound-absorbing boards in construction. The manufacturing parameters were target density (400, 500, 600, and 700?kg/m³) and rice hull content as percent weight of rice hull/sawdust/phenol resin (10/80/10, 20/70/10, 30/60/10, and 40/50/10). Commercial gypsum board and fiberboard were also used as comparative sound-absorbing materials. The average modulus of rupture (MOR) of the board with a density of 700?kg/m³ and rice hull mixing ratio of 10% was 8.6?MPa, and that of the board with a 400?kg/m³ board density and a rice hull mixing ratio of 40% was 2.2?MPa. The MOR increased with increasing board density or decreasing rice hull mixing ratio. The sound absorption coefficients of some boards (400?kg/m³ and 10%, 500?kg/m³ and 30%, and 500?kg/m³ and 40%) were better than those of the commercial 11-mm-thick gypsum board. Thus, it is concluded that rice hull–sawdust composite boards may be implemented as sound-absorbing barriers in construction due to their high sound absorption coefficients.     

黄土高原表土有机碳和无机碳的空间分布及碳储量

选取位于干旱-半干旱区的黄土高原陕西境内表土样品为研究对象,对其有机碳(Soil organiccarbon,简称SOC)和无机碳的空间分布及陕西省碳储量进行初步研究。结果表明:黄土高原陕西境内有机碳和无机碳的平均值分别为5.41g/kg和17.04g/kg,有机碳的空间分布是自北向南呈现出增加的趋势,这也与所处环境相符,无机碳的空间分布特征沿着纬度呈现自北向南逐渐增加的趋势,特别是北纬36o以北;将每一区域内CaCO3含量的平均值与相对区域的降雨量和温度分别进行一元线性拟合,其拟合系数分别为R=0.338和0.182,碳酸盐含量与降雨量和温度的相关性并不显著。陕西省表土有机碳和无机碳储量分别为0.272Pg和0.856Pg,无机碳储量远大于有机碳储量,这与其所处干旱环境有关。     

砂质黏性紫色土粒组缺失对降低持水特性的影响

紫色土结构松散、具高生产性，但具有较弱的抗侵蚀能力，侵蚀后表现出土壤干密度减小、细颗粒流失严重等现象，影响其持水特性。为探讨紫色土降雨侵蚀后土壤持水特性的变化，该研究选取砂质黏性紫色土在降雨条件下最易变化的3组粒组（>0.250～0.500、>0.075～0.250、0～0.075 mm），开展广义吸力范围内粒组缺失的土-水特征曲线（soil-water characteristic curve，SWCC）试验，分析粒组缺失对砂质黏性紫色土持水特性的影响。结果表明： 1）粒组缺失会降低土体持水特性，在边界效应区和过渡区最为明显，残余区影响较小。缺失粒组质量分数与进气值和残余含水率呈反比；2）使用粒径参数（限制粒径、平均粒径、中值粒径、有效粒径）表征土体级配状况，建立土体级配曲线与SWCC特征值的关系，发现除有效粒径，其余参数均与进气值和残余值呈线性反比关系；3）使用Fredlund-Xing模型对不同方法所得数据进行拟合，发现使用单一试验方法所得数据结果拟合优度较高，但SWCC明显偏离其余试验数据点。提出获得准确的紫色土全吸力SWCC仅需确定吸力最大值，并引入3种评价指标进行验证，拟合结果表明，此方法可有效缩短SWCC试验周期，为SWCC在三峡库区紫色土地区的工程运用提供了可靠的思路。