Reconstructing mole tunnels using frequency-domain ground penetrating radar

The European mole (Talpa europaea L.) inhabits an underground tunnel system whereby the density, extent and condition of the subsurface tunnels are indicative of its activity. Currently, no survey method was able to reveal the spatial extent and condition of the mole's tunnel network. Frequency-domain ground penetrating radar (GPR) was evaluated on its potential to image these shallow tunnel systems. This technique allows for a non-invasive, high-resolution mapping of the subsurface. We examined the effectiveness of this GPR system for delineating the mole's tunnel network. The integration of different depth slices allowed a detailed overview of the tunnel system. Automatic feature recognition on these GPR images was proven valuable for the detection and representation of the mole tunnels. The GPR survey proved successful in mapping the mole's tunnel network, which facilitates the interpretation and characterization of the mole's living environment. This can be linked to the occurrence of earthworms, as the principle food source of the moles, which regulate important ecosystem processes within the soil. This offers new perspectives for the understanding of the mole's habitat.     

杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系研究

以杉木老龄林群落为研究对象,结合对数级数和对数正态分布模型,建立3 600 m2的大样地分析杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系。结果表明:样方的平均物种数和个体数分别为6.86种和35.75株,各样方的物种数及个体数存在极显著正相关关系,说明杉木老龄林群落中生境空间对物种个体的承载能力,还未限制其物种数量。个体数-种序(p>0.05)和频度-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线均符合对数级数分布;对数正态分布模型则能够较好拟合个体数-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线,但频度-种序(p<0.05)的分布曲线则不适合用该模型来解释。随着尺度的增加,物种数和个体数的变异系数、二者间的相关性及物种数的方差逐步下降,个体数的方差却呈上升的趋势。     

重组猪抑制素蛋白质中毒素残留检测及其理化稳定性

为探索纯化的重组猪抑制素蛋白质毒素残留情况以及重组猪抑制素蛋白质稳定性,本研究利用鲎试剂、气相色谱和SDS-PAGE方法对重组猪抑制素蛋白质中的细菌内毒素、β-巯基乙醇的残留量及其蛋白质在不同温度、极端p H值和反复冻融条件下的稳定性进行检测。结果显示,经过3次等电点沉淀洗涤后,重组猪抑制素蛋白质中细菌内毒素和β-巯基乙醇的残留量大幅减少。通过在不同温度下的处理发现,重组猪抑制素蛋白质在4℃环境下较稳定,可以长期保存;但在37℃时,稳定性快速下降,随着温度上升而降解加速。通过极端p H值和反复冻融试验发现,重组猪抑制素蛋白质对极端p H值和反复冻融具有较好的耐受性。     

Comparative soil distribution and dissipation of phoxim and thiamethoxam and their efficacy in controlling Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang in Chinese chive ecosystems

Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang (the chive gnat) is the major insect pest affecting Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng.) in Northern China. Only three insecticide products are registered for its control. In the present study, we compared the persistence and distribution of thiamethoxam and phoxim in soil and determined their long-acting control effects against B. odoriphaga and two other secondary pests, Thrips alliorum Priesner and the Asiatic onion leaf miner Acrolepia alliella Semenov and Kuznetsov (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae), after a single soil application using the directional spray-washing method during the early Chinese chive root-rearing period. Under the same applied dosage, the rhizosphere soil at a depth of 4.0–10.0 cm had concentrations of thiamethoxam and phoxim ranging from 2.21 to 7.44 mg/kg and 0.09–0.44 mg/kg, respectively, at the 7th day after application. The half-lives of thiamethoxam and phoxim in the soil were 27.5 and 6.7 days, respectively. Thiamethoxam persisted for 210 days, whereas phoxim only persisted for 45 days in the soil and plants. In addition, thiamethoxam applied at 6.0 kg a.i./ha maintained a low population density of B. odoriphaga, T. alliorum and A. alliella for nine months longer than phoxim. In conclusion, thiamethoxam may help farmers more effectively manage B. odoriphaga and other secondary pests on Chinese chive and reduce the costs of insecticide use while sustaining protection.     

Drought Tolerance and Water Use of Cereal Crops: A Focus on Sorghum as a Food Security Crop in Sub‐Saharan Africa

Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) faces twin challenges of water stress and food insecurity – challenges that are already pressing and are projected to grow. Sub‐Saharan Africa comprises 43 % arid and semi‐arid area, which is projected to increase due to climate change. Small‐scale, rainfed agriculture is the main livelihood source in arid and semi‐arid areas of SSA. Because rainfed agriculture constitutes more than 95 % of agricultural land use, water scarcity is a major limitation to production. Crop production, specifically staple cereal crop production, will have to adapt to water scarcity and improved water productivity (output per water input) to meet food requirements. We propose inclusion and promotion of drought‐tolerant cereal crops in arid and semi‐arid agro‐ecological zones of SSA where water scarcity is a major limitation to cereal production. Sorghum uniquely fits production in such regions, due to high and stable water‐use efficiency, drought and heat tolerance, high germplasm variability, comparative nutritional value and existing food value chain in SSA. However, sorghum is socio‐economically and geographically underutilized in parts of SSA. Sorghum inclusion and/or promotion in arid and semi‐arid areas of SSA, especially among subsistence farmers, will improve water productivity and food security.     

常利率通货膨胀下有扰动的双复合Poisson-Geometric过程的两险种风险模型

考虑常利率及通货膨胀下有扰动的双复合Poisson-Geometric过程的两险种风险模型,运用鞅方法得到破产概率满足的Lundberg不等式和一般公式,当保费和索赔服从指数分布和混合指数分布时,得到破产概率的精确表达式。     

β-carotene attenuates weaning-induced apoptosis via inhibition of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK signalling pathways in piglet jejunum

Weaning may cause oxidative injury, immune response impairment, apoptosis and other injuries in piglets. Oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can elicit inflammatory responses, and persistent oxidative and ERS also may lead to apoptotic cascades, which is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. β-carotene, a natural carotenoid, has potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the effect of β-carotene on apoptosis in weaned piglets and the detailed molecular mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we found that β-carotene decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in piglet serum. β-carotene could inhibit the mRNA levels of caspase-3 significantly, but had no significant inhibitory effect of the mRNA levels of caspase-9 and caspase-12 in the piglet jejunum. In addition, β-carotene decreased the activation of GRP78, CHOP, and JNK/p38 MAPK and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, β-carotene had a significant influence on the activation of ERS and apoptosis-related signals in TG-induced IPEC-J2. In the present study, β-carotene pre-treatment attenuated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and prevented TG-induced increases in the level of PERK-CHOP and IRE1-JNK/p38 MAPK pathway activation in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, these findings indicate that β-carotene may protect weaning-induced apoptosis through inhibiting ERS.     

湖南粮食生产区域布局优化战略

在综合分析资源禀赋、技术条件、市场区位、生产规模、产业基础及布局指向等方面因素，兼顾相对集中连片原则，结合粮食生产现状、市场前景与产业发展趋势的基础上，提出了将湖南划分为“一区一圈两带”的粮食生产区域布局优化战略。对“一区一圈两带”4个片区的粮食生产特征进行了总结，并提出了各片区的功能定位和主攻方向。     

秦岭南麓新分布小太平鸟迁徙期食性初步观察

2011-2013年冬季,作者采用分组全天跟踪的方法,调查小太平鸟迁徙期活动特征和食性。结果证明:小太平鸟冬季由北向南成群迁徙过程中,会在某个生境优良的区域停留取食9~15日、成群活动在树冠上部。小太平鸟在迁徙期停留区域取食植物果实种类有20种,有人工栽培树种果实,也有野生树种果实。今后应持续迁移路线、停歇地、种群动态监测。     

中国不同品种谷子抗性淀粉分布规律

抗性淀粉是谷子中的重要功能成分。对来自中国4个生态区10个省份216个谷子品种抗性淀粉含量进行分析。结果表明,中国谷子地方品种抗性淀粉平均值为2.43%,含量变幅为0.00%~6.74%,变异系数为50.26%,呈偏正态分布;不同生态区谷子抗性淀粉含量从高到低依次为内蒙古高原、华北平原、东北平原、黄土高原,且内蒙古高原和黄土高原之间差异显著(P0.05);不同省份抗性淀粉含量存在一定差异,其中黑龙江谷子抗性淀粉含量显著高于内蒙古和甘肃(P0.05),其他省份间差异不大;不同省份谷子(黑龙江除外)和不同生态区品种谷子抗性淀粉含量以2.00%~4.00%为主。