Correlation between earthworms and plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico

Earthworms are recognized to play an important role in the decomposition of organic materials. To test the use of earthworms as an indicator of plant litter decomposition, we examined the abundance and biomass of earthworms in relation to plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico. We collected earthworms at 0–0.1 m and 0.1–0.25 m soil depths from upland and riparian sites that represent the natural variation in soils and decomposition rates within the forest. Earthworms were hand-sorted and weighed for both fresh and dry biomass. Earthworms were dominated by the exotic endogeic species Pontoscolex corethrurus Müller; they were more abundant, and had higher biomasses in the upland than in riparian sites of the forest. Plant leaf litter decomposed faster in the upland than riparian sites. We found that earthworm abundance in the upper 0.1 m of the soil profile positively correlated with decomposition rate of plant leaf litter. Ground litter removal had no effect on the abundance or biomass of endogeic earthworms. Our data suggest that earthworms can be used to predict decomposition rates of plant litter in the tropical wet forest, and that the decomposition of aboveground plant litter has little influence on the abundance and biomass of endogeic earthworms.     

春小麦不同播期对籽粒蛋白质与湿面筋含量影响的试验研究

以北疆主要春小麦品种:新春6号(中筋型)、新春8号(强筋型)、新春9号(强筋型)、Y20(强筋型)作为供试材料.2002～2003年在石河子大学农学院试验站分期播种试验,研究在新疆大陆性气候条件下不同播期对春小麦蛋白质和湿面筋含量的变化.试验表明:随着播期的推迟,春小麦蛋白质和湿面筋含量呈增加趋势,晚播的小麦蛋白质和湿面筋含量比正常播期的要高;在任一播期中,高蛋白品种的蛋白质含量始终高于低蛋白品种.但在灌浆期温度条件相差不大的情况下,灌浆期以前的温度状况对小麦蛋白质和湿面筋的形成也起着一定的作用.     

非洲鸵鸟冠状动脉的解剖观察

采用血管铸型和组织透明方法对6羽非洲鸵鸟心脏冠状动脉的分支分布情况进行了研究,试验结果表明,非洲鸵鸟心脏左、右冠状动脉均开口于同侧主动脉窦内;左冠状动脉分为浅支(旋支)和深支(前降支),浅支先分出左心房支布于左心房,主干分支分布左心室的左缘壁和隔壁及右心室隔壁的部分;深支又依次分出动脉圆锥支、左缘支和前室间隔支,动脉圆锥支分布动脉圆锥及肺动脉干,左缘支分支分布于左室侧壁,前室间隔支分布于室间隔前1／3部,前降支主干分支分布于左心室前壁,右冠状动脉也分为浅支(旋支)和深支,浅支分出窦房结支和右心房支,主干延续为右室后支,窦房结支分布于窦房结和升主动脉,右心房支分布于右心房,右室后支分布于右心室的隔壁;深支分出后室间隔支,主干延续为右室前支,后室间隔支分布于室间隔后2／3部,右室前支分布于右心室前壁及心右缘壁。     

竹材化学成分分析和表面性能表征

系统地研究了不同竹龄、部位毛竹(Phgllochysheterocyclavar.pubscense)化学成分的差异;应用化学光电子能谱仪(ESCA)和红外光谱(FTIR)对竹材的表面性能进行了分析表征。结果表明:不同竹龄竹材抽提物差异较大;竹材从根部到梢部,pH值逐渐增加;从竹青到竹黄,pH值逐渐降低;竹青表面的氧原子大于竹黄表面氧原子的比例;竹材的表面主要以木质素和各种抽提物为主,而纤维素和半纤维素含量明显低于木质素和抽提物;靠近竹青处的竹材表面的半纤维素含量低于竹黄,竹青的表面的羟基震动强于竹黄,且竹青表面的活性自由羟基的数量高于竹黄表面。     

木材科学与技术研究新进展

木材作为世界四大基础材料中(钢铁、水泥、塑料、木材)唯一的可再生资源,广泛应用于家具、建筑、能源、新材料等领域,与人们的生活息息相关,已成为国民经济重要支柱产业.从木材微观分子生物学到宏观木结构,再到新型木质纳米材料进行全面阐释,对于木材科学与技术领域的基础理论研究和重大核心技术突破具有重要指导意义.木材科学与技术已发...     

复合硅改性热处理杨木的制备及性能

[目的]针对木材树脂改性剂释放甲醛不环保,无机改性材吸湿性高等问题,将廉价易得的硅石粉溶液化,再有机杂化,制得高渗透、环保、防火的水溶性木材复合硅改性剂,通过真空加压浸渍处理和热处理联合改性,可以有效提高木材的物理力学和阻燃等性能.[方法]分别制备硅油复合硅改性剂(SC2)和偶联剂杂化硅改性剂(HS2),对人工林杨木进...     

咖啡湿法发酵中使用果胶酶对脱胶时间与杯品质量的影响

以云南阿拉比卡咖啡为原料,在咖啡湿法发酵环节中加入Pectinex Ultra SP-L果胶酶进行脱胶,并对加工出的咖啡豆进行理化及感官分析。结果表明：与自然发酵脱胶相比,果胶酶脱胶能缩短脱胶时间,有效快速脱除咖啡果胶。其脱胶时间与果胶酶的浓度、脱胶温度、鲜果成熟度呈正相关。与自然发酵脱胶相比,果胶酶脱胶所得咖啡豆的内含物质无显著差异,杯品质量干净稳定。就咖啡豆的杯品质量而言,0.01%果胶酶添加量脱胶处理要高于自然发酵脱胶,而添加量为1.00%、0.10%果胶酶脱胶处理略低于自然发酵脱胶。综上所述,果胶酶脱胶能保证咖啡品质的稳定性及提高咖啡加工效率,具有应用前景。     

Effects of cardiac contractility modulation on ventricular electrical remodeling in rabbits with chronic heart failure

AIM: To investigate the effects of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) on ventricular electrical remodeling in a rabbit model of chronic heart failure. METHODS: The rabbits were divided into sham group, heart failure(HF) group and HF+ CCM group. The rabbit model of chronic heart failure was established by ligating the ascending aortic root. Then electrical stimulations during the absolute refractory period were delivered lasting 6 h everyday for 4 weeks in rabbits of HF+ CCM group. The QTc and ventricular effective refrective period (VERP) were recorded. The protein and mRNA levels of Kv1.4, Kv4.3 and connexin 43 (Cx43) were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, QTc were significantly prolonged in HF rabbits at week 12 (P<0.05). CCM therapy shortened QTc of rabbits with heart failure at week 16 (P<0.05). Compared with sham group, VERP significantly increased in HF group and HF+ CCM group, while CCM therapy shortened VERP of rabbits with heart failure at week 16 (P<0.05). Compared with sham group, the mRNA and protein levels of Kv1.4, Kv4.3 and Cx43 were decreased in HF group and HF+ CCM group (P<0.05). However, CCM therapy restored the mRNA and protein levels of Kv1.4, Kv4.3 and Cx43 of rabbits with heart failure (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CCM suppresses ventricular electrical remodeling in heart failure and the underlying mechanism may be associated with increasing Kv1.4, Kv4.3 and Cx43 expression.     

Role of basidiomycete fungi in the grapevine trunk disease esca

Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and wood-rotting basidiomycete fungi, namely Fomitiporia spp., are known esca pathogens. However, the effect of their mixed infections and the sequence of infection on disease development is unclear. To determine the effects of single and co-inoculations on symptoms, potted Vitis vinifera ‘Crimson Seedless’ was inoculated with P. chlamydospora either alone or in combination with one of four basidiomycetes: Coprinellus radians, Fomitiporia langloisii, F. polymorpha and the novel species Tropicoporus texanus. Basidiomycetes were isolated from vines with foliar symptoms of esca in California and Texas. In sequential co-inoculations, the effects of different sequences of infection (P. chlamydospora first, basidiomycete 6 months later; and vice versa) were tested, compared to simultaneous co-inoculations. Plants inoculated with P. chlamydospora either alone or in combination with a basidiomycete (in any sequence) did not differ significantly in the length of black-streaking lesions. In plants inoculated only with a basidiomycete, the appearance of large brown lesions, coupled with the absence of this wood symptom from control plants, suggests that C. radians, F. langloisii and T. texanus are pathogenic. Foliar symptoms resembling those of esca in the field (marginal and/or interveinal scorching, combined with red and/or yellow discoloration) were statistically more frequent among plants inoculated with F. polymorpha or T. texanus, either simultaneously or following P. chlamydospora, compared to single inoculations. Sequential co-inoculations of a basidiomycete before or after P. chlamydospora were associated with similar lesion lengths, suggesting that basidiomycetes may not require infection by P. chlamydospora in order to extensively colonize the wood.