鸭的NPY基因克隆和适应性检验分析

根据已知的鸭近缘物种及哺乳动物的神经肽Y（Neuropeptide Y,NPY）基因序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR技术从高邮鸭生殖轴组织总RNA中克隆出NPY基因cDNA序列,采用生物信息学方法分析不同物种间序列同源性和进化关系,并利用PAML4b检测位点选择压力。序列分析结果表明,克隆获得的鸭NPY基因cDNA片段序列长度约300bp,其与近缘物种序列的相似性在92%~96%之间,与哺乳动物序列的相似性在77%~84%之间,与鱼类序列的相似性在33%~39%之间。在系统进化树的拓扑结构中,禽类、哺乳动物和鱼类分别位于独立分支,揭示的系统发育关系和物种进化相一致。序列适应性进化检验结果表明,哺乳动物NPY基因在进化过程中经历了正选择作用,而禽类和鱼类NPY基因经历了较强的净化选择作用。研究结果有助于了解NPY基因进化历程及结构与功能变异,为进一步研究其与鸭繁殖性能的关系提供了基础。     

The rough-toothed dolphin genome provides new insights into the genetic mechanism of its rough teeth

The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is characterized by having teeth covered in finely wrinkled vertical ridges, which is a general manifestation of amelogenesis imperfecta. The rough surfaces are hypothesized to be an evolutionary morphological trait of feeding adaptation to increase the dolphin's grip on prey. Here, we assembled a rough-toothed dolphin genome and performed the comparative genomic analysis to reveal the genetic basis of the special enamel. Results showed that genes related to enamel development or dental diseases have undergone diversified adaptive changes that may shape the special enamel morphology of this dolphin species, including positive selection (CLDN19, PRKCE, SSUH2, and WDR72), rapid evolution (LAMB3), or unique amino acid substitutions (AMTN, ENAM, MMP20, and KLK4). Meanwhile, the historical demography of rough-toothed dolphin indicated several distinct population fluctuations associated with climate change. The genome-wide heterozygosity of this dolphin is in the middle of all published data for cetaceans. Although the population is considerable, there may be population or subspecies differentiation, and with the global warming and the increasing disturbance of human activities, we should pay more attention to protection in the future. Together, our study brings new insights into the genetic mechanisms that may have driven the evolution of the special enamel morphology in rough-toothed dolphins and provides the first results of genetic heterozygosity and population historical dynamics of this species, which have important guiding implications for the conservation of this dolphin species.     

Oxidative stress drives divergent evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) gene family in mammals

The molecular basis for adaptations to extreme environments can now be understood by interrogating the ever-increasing number of sequenced genomes. Mammals such as cetaceans, bats, and highland species can protect themselves from oxidative stress, a disruption in the balance of reactive oxygen species, which results in oxidative injury and cell damage. Here, we consider the evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) family of antioxidant enzymes by interrogating publicly available genome data from 70 mammalian species from all major clades. We identified 8 GPX subclasses ubiquitous to all mammalian groups. Mammalian GPX gene families resolved into the GPX4/7/8 and GPX1/2/3/5/6 groups and are characterized by several instances of gene duplication and loss, indicating a dynamic process of gene birth and death in mammals. Seven of the eight GPX subfamilies (all but GPX7) were under positive selection, with the residues under selection located at or close to active sites or at the dimer interface. We also reveal evidence of a correlation between ecological niches (e.g. high oxidative stress) and the divergent selection and gene copy number of GPX subclasses. Notably, a convergent expansion of GPX1 was observed in several independent lineages of mammals under oxidative stress and may be important for avoiding oxidative damage. Collectively, this study suggests that the GPX gene family has shaped the adaption of mammals to stressful environments.     

Improving preventive locust management: insights from a multi‐agent model

BACKGROUND

Preventive management of locust plagues works in some cases but still fails frequently. The role of funding institution awareness was suggested as a potential facilitating factor for cyclic locust plagues. We designed a multi‐agent system to represent the events of locust plague development and a management system with three levels: funding institution, national control unit and field teams. A sensitivity analysis identified the limits and improvements of the management system.

RESULTS

The model generated cyclic locust plagues through a decrease in funding institution awareness. The funding institution could improve its impact by increasing its support by just a few percent. The control unit should avoid hiring too many field teams when plagues bring in money, in order to ensure that surveys can be maintained in times of recession. The more information the teams can acquire about the natural system, the more efficient they will be.

CONCLUSION

We argue that anti‐locust management should be considered as a complex adaptive system. This not only would allow managers to prove to funders the random aspect of their needs, but would also enable funders and decision‐makers to understand and integrate their own decisions into the locust dynamics that still regularly affect human populations. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Weather-Centric Rangeland Revegetation Planning

Invasive annual weeds negatively impact ecosystem services and pose a major conservation threat on semiarid rangelands throughout the western United States. Rehabilitation of these rangelands is challenging due to interannual climate and subseasonal weather variability that impacts seed germination, seedling survival and establishment, annual weed dynamics, wildfire frequency, and soil stability. Rehabilitation and restoration outcomes could be improved by adopting a weather-centric approach that uses the full spectrum of available site-specific weather information from historical observations, seasonal climate forecasts, and climate-change projections. Climate data can be used retrospectively to interpret success or failure of past seedings by describing seasonal and longer-term patterns of environmental variability subsequent to planting. A more detailed evaluation of weather impacts on site conditions may yield more flexible adaptive-management strategies for rangeland restoration and rehabilitation, as well as provide estimates of transition probabilities between desirable and undesirable vegetation states. Skillful seasonal climate forecasts could greatly improve the cost efficiency of management treatments by limiting revegetation activities to time periods where forecasts suggest higher probabilities of successful seedling establishment. Climate-change projections are key to the application of current environmental models for development of mitigation and adaptation strategies and for management practices that require a multidecadal planning horizon. Adoption of new weather technology will require collaboration between land managers and revegetation specialists and modifications to the way we currently plan and conduct rangeland rehabilitation and restoration in the Intermountain West.     

美国杏李不同栽培模式适应性评价

本文通过对不同品种不同栽培模式美国杏李生长和林地土壤含水量动态变化分析表明:栽培模式3抗旱性好,在研究地可广泛应用;栽培模式2在研究地比较适合在有一定灌溉条件的地区应用;栽培模式1抗旱性适中,可在研究地土壤水分条件尚好的地区应用;栽培模式5可在研究地土壤水分条件尚好的地区控制应用;栽培模式4在研究地不宜采用。     

实现农机技术培训的现实途径

提出了与时俱进、因事而立、以人为本的农机技术培训适应性原则，以及认真调查、制定规划、编好教材、选好基地、搞好“四结合”、静态培训与动态培训相结合、“长线”与“短线”相结合的新形势农机技术培训的现实途径。     

海南岛清澜港红树树种适应生境能力与水平分布*

红树植物的器官形态变异反映了它们对于不同潮间带生境的适应能力，灰色聚类分析结果表明杯萼海桑、海桑、正红树属于适应潮间带生境能力强的种类，木榄、海莲属于适应潮间带生境弱的种类。适应能力强者在低、中潮滩组建群落，适应能力低者在高、中潮滩组建群落。随潮间带淤积升高，适应能力强者不断向外占领裸滩，适应能力弱者不断侵入适应能力强者的迹地。     

穗茎兼收鲜食玉米收获机割台自适应仿形系统研制

为了解决穗茎兼收鲜食玉米收获机割台仿形存在的问题,基于超声测距原理,研制了一种穗茎兼收鲜食玉米收获机的割台自适应仿形系统。该系统中,超声波测距传感器安装在割台分禾器前端,用于实时检测割台分禾器与地面高度差,将高度差信号传输至玉米收获机的中心控制终端,由控制终端发出相应调整指令,控制割台调整液压系统进行割台高度调整,实现玉米收获机在作用过程中的割台自适应仿形。以190kW四行的穗茎兼收鲜食玉米收获机为样机,搭载所研制的割台自适应仿形系统,开展仿形系统验证试验,玉米机作业行走平均速度4km/h,割台转速400r/min,安装在2个超声波测距传感器,割茬高度控制在90-110mm范围内,试验结果显示,在累计作业8小时的整个过程中,割台调整平稳,割台无触地现象,试验结果验证了所研制的割台仿形系统的有效性。     

基于改进的PSO进化神经计算进行苹果颜色快速分级

为克服在苹果颜色分级中存在的速度慢、误差大等缺点,基于再现群智能的粒子群进化算法和神经计算技术,提出了一种新颖、快速的智能分级方法,即首先通过计算机视觉技术获取苹果表面颜色的色度,并提取其特征;然后采用改进的带自适应惯性权值的粒子群优化算法训练神经网络结构,最后用训练好的神经网络进行苹果颜色分级。实际应用表明该方法切实可行且效果显著,不仅分级速度快,而且分级正确率高达98%以上。