The origin of carbonates in termite mounds of the Lubumbashi area, D.R. Congo

The origin of carbonate accumulations in termite mounds is a controversial issue. This study is an attempt to elucidate the processes of carbonate precipitation in Macrotermes mounds built on Ferralsols in Upper Katanga, D.R. Congo, whereby a differentiation between pedogenic and inherited carbonates is considered. Carbonate features were investigated for a 9 m deep termite-mound profile, and for an 18 m wide cross-section through a termite mound and the adjacent soil, using field and laboratory techniques. Field evidence for a pedogenic origin includes morphological type (soft powdery materials, nodules, and coatings on ped surfaces) and distribution patterns of the carbonates. Thin-section studies reveal that the carbonates occur predominantly as impregnative orthic nodules and less commonly as coatings, both clearly pedogenic; calcareous pellets are interpreted as locally reworked pedogenic carbonates. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and stable isotope (δ¹³C) analyses show that all isolated carbonate features consist of high-Mg calcite (4.9-12.3 mol% MgCO₃) with δ¹³C signatures ranging from − 13.2‰ to − 11.5‰. Weddellite (CaC₂O₄. 2H₂O) is identified in a thin-section and by XRD analysis, and appears to be locally transformed into calcite. The stable isotope composition of carbon suggests that calcite precipitated in equilibrium with soil CO₂ generated during decomposition of soil organic matter, and locally most likely during oxidation of oxalate. This study proves that carbonates which accumulated in Macrotermes mounds are pedogenic precipitates, whose deposition is partly related to microbial decay of organic matter, subsequently redistributed to some extent by abiotic dissolution-reprecipitation and termite activity.     

Producing native seed of Stipa lagascae R. and Sch. inPresaharian Tunisia: high yields, high genetic variation orboth?

Genetic shifts are predicted to be greatest when highly diversematerial originating from an arid environment is bulk multiplied inirrigated and fertilised conditions. This is a key problem if largequantities of quality native seed are needed for restorationpurposes. In Presaharian Tunisia, we investigated two intermingledyield aspects of irrigated seed multiplication of Stipalagascae R. and Sch.: (1) nitrogen fertilisationand (2) selection for vegetative vigour. We set up twocontiguous nitrogen fertilisation trials, one withnon-selected seeds (from a nearby locality), and onewith selected seeds (48 clonal lines seeded in replicatedrows), and compared straw yields. Both selected and unselectedmaterial did not respond to more than 50 kg of nitrogenper ha. Unfertilised yields of both trials were similar,but the straw yield of fertilised selected material was more than100% higher than the straw yield of fertilised unselectedmaterial. In the trial with selected material, we collected straw andleaf yields per row, and scored each row for vigour and for phenologyduring three successive growing seasons. Genotypic differences inseed output and in mortality were large and mainly driven byvariation in potential straw for leaf ratios.The compromise between high yields and high genetic variation couldconsist of the following principles. (1) Create driergrowing conditions so that the actual straw forleaf ratio stays below the genotypic potential. (2) Useinstead fertilisation and selection to enhance seed yields.(3) Avoid bulk multiplication.     

不同营养液配方对秋冬季豆瓣菜产量和品质的影响

比较了华南农业大学叶菜配方A、B和Knop、Copper、日本园试5种生产上比较常用的叶菜类营养液配方对秋冬季豆瓣菜(Nasturtium officinale R.Br)产量、品质及功能性成分的影响。结果表明,华南农业大学叶菜配方A、B和日本园试处理的豆瓣菜叶绿素SPAD值和产量最高;华南农业大学叶菜配方A、B处理的豆瓣菜可溶性糖、黄酮、总酚以及DPPH自由基清除率最好,均明显高于其他配方,硝酸盐含量以华南农业大学叶菜配方A、B最低。     

基于CRISPR/Cas9技术建立IGF2R基因修饰PK-15细胞

作为我国特色的地方种质资源,藏猪对高海拔、低氧、强紫外线辐射等恶劣环境具有良好的适应性,前期研究发现藏猪的IGF2R（insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor,IGF2R）基因在其内含子上有1段274 bp的缺失,且该缺失为藏猪独有的变异,关于IGF2R是否参与藏猪对低氧等恶劣环境的适应性调节的相关研究尚未报道。为了建立IGF2R基因274 bp修饰的猪细胞系,研究IGF2R基因对藏猪低氧耐受特性的影响,通过CRISPR/Cas9技术建立基因修饰PK-15细胞系,并通过PCR、实时荧光定量PCR（real time quantitative PCR,RT-qPCR）、蛋白免疫印迹（Western-blot）、免疫荧光（immunofluorescence,IF）等方法鉴定其分子特征,随后分别利用CCK-8和RT-qPCR 、Western-blot对基因修饰细胞进行活力和凋亡基因检测。结果显示,已成功构建IGF2R基因274 bp修饰的猪细胞系,IGF2R基因表达量极显著下调（P < 0.01）。基因修饰细胞活力在72 h时极显著上升（P < 0.01）,并且含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶9 （cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase,Caspase9）和BCL-2关联 X （BCL2-associated X,BAX） 蛋白的水平显著下调（P < 0.05）,并且B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2,BCL2）基因的mRNA水平极显著上升（P < 0.01）。成功构建了IGF2R基因精确修饰的PK-15细胞系,并初步进行了功能研究,为研究IGF2R基因功能提供细胞模型,并为后续基因编辑猪的制备奠定基础。     

人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S),Rg5/Rk1对乙醇致小鼠记忆阻碍改善作用的影响

采用被动回避穿越法研究了人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S)和Rg5/Rk1(1∶1)对乙醇致小鼠记忆阻碍改善作用的影响。结果表明:灌服人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S)和Rg5/Rk110 mg/kg后,显著延长了小鼠避暗的潜伏期,尤其以人参皂苷Rg5/Rk1作用最为显著,Rg5/Rk1处理组的潜伏期是对照组的2.97倍,Rg3(R),Rg3(S)分别为对照组的2.35和2.53倍,差异极显著(P<0.01)。说明这些化合物具有改善乙醇致小鼠的记忆障碍的能力。     

中国对“一带一路”沿线国家农产品出口增长二元边际及其影响因素分析

为研究中国农产品在"一带一路"沿线国家出口增长特征,探究贸易成本对农产品出口增长二元边际的影响,本研究以"一带一路"沿线64个国家为样本,选取1997—2016年中国对"一带一路"沿线64个国家农产品HS-6位编码数据,运用H-K测度方法和核密度估计的估计方法进行研究,探索中国对"一带一路"沿线64个国家农产品出口增长的源泉,进一步深入分析各项贸易成本对于农产品出口增长二元边际的作用。结果表明,中国对"一带一路"沿线国家农产品出口增长扩展边际和集约边际波动较大,扩展边际对农产品出口增长起主要推动作用;经济规模、地理面积、人口密度对农产品出口增长扩展边际和出口增长集约边际均有显著正影响;关税水平、贸易距离、各国进口所需文件数、贸易国建立仓库所需时间、汇率成本和外部冲击对农产品出口增长扩展边际具有显著负影响,关税水平、各国进口所需文件数、贸易国建立仓库所需时间、汇率成本和外部冲击对农产品出口增长集约边际具有显著负影响。     

甘肃省六道木属植物的研究

整理研究了甘肃省所产六道木属植物，确认分布有ＡｂｅｌｉａｐａｒｖｉｆｏｌｉａＨｅｍ－ｓｌ．，Ａ．ｅｎｇｌｅｒｉａｎａ（Ｇｒａｅｂｎ．）Ｒｅｈｄ．，Ａ．ｄｉｅｌｓｉ（Ｇｒａｅｂｎ．）Ｒｅｈｄ．等３种，集中于甘肃东南部山地林区，采用形态地理学方法初步探讨了二花六道木亚组Ｓｕｂｓｅｃｔ．ＢｉｆｌｏｒａｅＲｅｈｄ种间关系及演化式样，认为聚伞花序的简化是这一种群组合主要的分化途径。     

农村面源污染治理的“4R”理论与工程实践——案例分析

农村面源污染问题日益突出,是当前水污染控制与水环境改善的重点和难点。“十一五”期间,在国家水专项的支持下,以农村面源污染治理的“4R”理论（源头减量-过程阻断-养分再利用-生态修复）为指导,选择江苏省无锡市的直湖港小流域龙延村为综合示范区进行了技术的集成与工程化应用,取得了良好效果。本文以此为典型案例,详细介绍了综合示范区的污染现状、“4R”技术的集成应用与衔接配套、各项技术应用的污染控制效果以及区域环境改善效果,并对“4R”理论的核心内涵以及未来的发展进行了总结和讨论。     

REDUCING NITRATE CONTENT IN LETTUCE BY PRE-HARVEST CONTINUOUS LIGHT DELIVERED BY RED AND BLUE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES

Effect of pre-harvest continuous light with different red/blue ratio on photon flux density (R/B ratio) on reducing nitrate accumulation was studied by growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under continuous illumination delivered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Results show that nitrate concentration decreased by 1648.0–2061.1 mg kg^?1 in leaf blade and 962.9–2090.3 mg kg^?1 in petiole, accompanied by a dramatic increase in soluble sugar content. Compared with monochromatic red light treatment, the decrease in nitrate concentration and increase in soluble sugar content in lettuce under mixed red and blue light were more pronounced. The lowest nitrate concentration was observed in the treatment with R/B ratio of 4. It's concluded that pre-harvest exposure to 48?h continuous LED light could effectively reduce nitrate accumulation in lettuce and this process is strongly affected by R/B ratio of light. This study may provide new perspective for pre-harvest quality management of vegetable, especially in commercial leaf vegetable production under artificial lighting.