Validation of a small-area method for estimating the spatial distribution of the degree of tree damage

This article presents a validation of a method, proposed in Podlaski (2003), for estimating the degree of tree damage. This method belongs to a group of small-area methods. To estimate the degree of tree damage in individual P₃ sub-blocks of the SINUS system of information on the natural environment, a classification based on the degree of defoliation was used. Spatial distribution of the degree of tree damage was estimated through unrestricted simple random sampling. The maximum total estimation error for proportions of fir and beech with a damage degree of zero, and also with second and third degrees jointly, reached a maximum of 35.6% for fir, and 33.8% for beech. P₃ sub-blocks characterised by the highest proportion of the healthiest trees (at least 15% being undamaged trees) occurred in patches in the case of fir, and in larger, compact areas in the case of beech. Because spatial diversification in the health of fir, and to a smaller degree in the case of beech, occurs at small scales, small-area methods for estimating tree condition are necessary. An analogous scheme, combining small-area with large-area methods (utilising sub-blocks of the network of large-area systems in a small-area inventory, and establishing a common database), could be used on a wider scale; for example, by supplementing the program of estimating tree health carried out by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (Lorenz et al. 2002) with local inventories.     

东北红豆杉生长与气象因子关系的初步调查

应用灰色系统理论中的关联分析方法，分析并指出了影响东北红豆杉生长的气象因子大小顺序依次为：本地气压，相对湿度，地面最高温，日最高温，风速，降水量，水汽压，５ｃｍ地温，１５ｃｍ地温，日最低气温，气温，地面均温，蒸发量，地面最低温，４０ｃｍ地温；绘制了东北红豆杉树高，地径生长量曲线，确定出相应生长量的最佳物候期，为东北红豆杉的经营利用提供了良好的理论；利用关联分析得出的影响东北红豆杉生长的主要气象因子     

从中美关系的正常化看国家利益的作用

2 0世纪 70年代初出现了打开中美两国关系的历史性机会。毛泽东审时度势 ,在中美关系问题上作出了具有转折意义的重大战略决策 ,同美国有远见的政治家尼克松一道打开了封闭已久的中美关系大门。从国家利益出发 ,超越意识形态制定对外政策是中美关系得以正常化的关键。     

Corynebacterium equi: An interhost review with emphasis on the foal

A review of the recent and/or significant literature concerning Corynebacterium equi, including its morphologic, biochemical, immunological, and pathological characteristics in the foal, humans and other animals is presented. The similarity in the tissue responses of mammalian hosts to C. equi and Mycobacterium spp. is discussed.

The antigenic structure and virulence factors associated with C. equi. other corynebacteria and mycobacteria are compared.

The immunological aspects of resistance to C. equi are considered. The evidence suggests that the major immune response elicited in the foal by C. equi is cell-mediated. However, the immunopathogenic mechanism needs clarification. Areas of future research are suggested.     

Sexual mating preferences in vitro and in planta among Japanese isolates of Phytophthora infestans

The sexual preferences of Japanese isolates of Phytophthora infestans were determined by mating on agar, in broth, or in plants. The influence of their sexual preference was confirmed in the host tissues. Three wild-type isolates and a 0">-glucuronidase (GUS) transformant were co-cultured to identify the origin of antheridia and oogonia. Japanese A1 isolate had a unique sexual preference compared with foreign isolates. It produced self-fertile oospores with about 40% of total gametangia but tended to form antheridia on V-8 agar medium. In addition, oospores were formed in plants, but their sexual preference could not be reflected in vitro.     

IDEF0方法在智能化小区系统设计中的应用

通过应用IDEF0系统功能模型设计方法对智能化小区系统进行设计,为完全基于“Everything Over IP”思想的网络化智能小区系统的设计提供了一个较成熟的智能化系统工程的设计思路。     

Prolonged elevated atmospheric CO2 does not affect decomposition of plant material

Prolonged elevated atmospheric CO₂ might alter decomposition. In a 90-day incubation study, we determined the long-term (9 years) impact of elevated CO₂ on N mineralization of Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens plant material grown at ambient and elevated CO₂ and low- and high-¹⁵N fertilizer additions. No significant differences were observed in 0" style="vertical-align:bottom" width="61" alt="View the MathML source" title="View the MathML source" src="http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0038071705001859-si4.gif"> recovery rates between any of the treatments, except an N addition effect was observed for L. perenne (0.4 versus 0.5% 0" style="vertical-align:bottom" width="61" alt="View the MathML source" title="View the MathML source" src="http://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0038071705001859-si5.gif"> day⁻¹ in high versus low N). The results suggest that elevated CO₂ did not change plant N mineralization in any of the soils, because of a surplus of available N in the fertilized and leguminous systems, and because of insignificant plant responses to elevated CO₂ in the low soil N availability systems.     

Structural and physiological changes associated with the skin spot disorder in apple

Skin spot is an important physiological disorder of ‘Elstar’ apples (Malus 0;× 0;domestica Borkh.) that occurs after fruit have been removed from controlled atmosphere storage. Skin spots are irregular patches of small, round, brown blemishes. Cross-sections reveal a browning of protoplasts (coagulated) and of cell walls that extends into the hypodermis. Skin spots are always associated with linear, gaping and non-gaping microcracks in the cuticle. Staining of apple skin with calcofluor white usually results in white fluorescence of cell walls but, within a skin spot, the white fluorescence is weak or absent. Cell walls within, and in the immediate vicinity of skin spots stain with phloroglucin/HCl indicating the presence of lignin. The area of skin affected by skin spots was positively and linearly correlated with the area of the non-blush fruit surface infiltrated by acridine orange. In general, skin spots were limited to the non-blush fruit surface and occurred more frequently near the stem-end than the calyx region of the fruit. Skin spot areas were correlated with a 2.5-fold increase in water vapour permeability compared with unaffected areas (23.8 0;± 0;4.0 0;m 0;s⁻¹ with skin spots, 9.6 0;± 0;2.1 0;× 0;10⁻⁵ 0;m 0;s⁻¹ without skin spots). Strips of the fruit skin from regions with skin spots had an increased maximum force and modulus of elasticity. Dipping fruit in ascorbic acid (0.1 or 0.3 0;mM for 10 0;min) before storage decreased the area affected by skin spots. There was no effect of dipping in ethanol/water (70%, v/v, 15 0;min) or in solutions of captan (1.5 0;g 0;L⁻¹, 10 0;min) or trifloxystrobin (0.1 0;g 0;L⁻¹, 10 0;min). In contrast, prestorage treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (630 0;nL 0;L⁻¹ for 24 0;h) or poststorage incubation in H₂O₂ (10% for 2, 6, 10 and 16 0;h) increased skin spots. Our data are consistent with a typical cell response to an oxidative burst that seems to be focussed on particular regions of the ‘Elstar’ fruit surface by concentrations of cuticular microcracks, and that is possibly caused by reoxygenation injury upon removal from CA storage.     

Herbage intake by cattle on tarchonanthus veld in the Northern Cape as affected by stocking rate and grazing system 1

Abstract

In a trial with young Bonsmara cattle, four different stocking rates (10, 7, 6 and 4 ha/large stock unit) were applied in both a rotational and continuous grazing system. Feed intake was estimated during spring, summer, autumn and winter for four consecutive years starting in 1977.

Irrespective of the grazing system, feed intake declined with an increase in stocking rate. On average the highest intake was recorded in January and reached the lowest levels in October and July.

Livemass gain was found to be closely related to feed intake.     

近57年中国北方气候干湿变化及与太平洋年代际振荡的关系

利用中国北方424个气象站点1960—2016年逐日地面观测资料,应用联合国粮农组织(FAO)Penman-Monteith模型计算潜在蒸散(ET0),基于降水量和潜在蒸散计算的湿润指数研究了1960—2016年中国北方干湿气候时空变化特征,分析了太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)对气候干湿变化的影响。结果表明:北方总体干湿变化不显著,空间上表现为西北、青藏高原、内蒙古湿润化而华北干旱化的特征。极端干旱区面积显著缩小,干旱区、半干旱区则明显扩张,表明气候敏感区域在扩张。极端干旱区和干旱区显著变湿润,半干旱区有变湿润的趋势。1960—1990年至1991—2016年,北方经历了变湿润的过程。西北西部、青藏高原湿润化趋势明显,极端干旱—干旱区的界线呈西界东移、南北界线收缩的变化。干旱化趋势主要发生在华北和东北部分地区,华北黄河沿线一带半干旱—半湿润区界线向东南方向扩张。东北中部和西北西部由于降水增加而ET0减少,气候变湿润。华北中西部、内蒙古东部和东北部分地区降水减少、ET0增加,气候变干旱。在PDO暖位相,西北、东北北部及内蒙古东部地区地表气候偏湿润;在PDO冷位相,地表气候偏干旱。而华北则相反。