Clustering shrub and tree legumes grown in acid and non-acid soil conditions using rank performance data

Clustering of ten woody and shrub legumes (Acacia auriculiformis, Albizia lebbeck, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena diversifolia, L. leucocephala var. K28 and var. K636, Lonchocarpus sericeus, Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea and Tephrosia candida) was performed using the partitioning around medoid and the Fuzzy clustering methods to assess the appropriateness of their earlier performance rank scores for evaluating their dissimilarity within an Alfisol and an Ultisol. Differences among formed clusters were observed for the acid and non-acid soil conditions. Some species such as Albizia lebbeck and Leucaena leucocephala var. K636 isolated each in a single-species cluster, while others, depending on the soil type belonged to different closest hard clusters most likely in relation to their closeness in architecture and growth habit as well as to their genetic affinity which appear to be strong determinants of their performance similarity. Clustering analysis of species performance compared reliably well with the simple ranking in the Alfisol than it did in the Ultisol. In both soils, however, clustering analysis overcame the rigidity of the simple ranking procedure and thus led to more realistic ranking classes of species performance to the extent that, where possible, it should be recommended for discriminating species more efficiently.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interception of moving organisms: influences of patch shape,size, and orientation on community structure

Island biogeographers have predicted that in oceanic systems, oblong islands oriented perpendicular to the dispersal paths of organisms should intercept more species and individuals than (1) circular islands of the same size, and (2) oblong islands of equal area oriented parallel to the direction of travel. Landscape ecologists expect similar relations with habitat patches in a terrestrial matrix. Yet in neither situation is there adequate empirical information to permit conclusions about the prevalence of such effects. To test the hypothesis that intercept-related patch variables influence community structure on the landscape scale, we studied relations between the richness and abundance of cavity-nesting birds and patch shape, size, and orientation relative to a northerly migration path. The influences of other patch features on nest abundances were removed analytically. Multiple regression indicated that the mean and total number of nesting species, and nest abundances for migrants were significantly associated with patch orientation or a patch area x orientation interaction, but not patch shape. Nest abundances for permanent residents were not associated with patch shape or orientation, although area effects, possibly reflecting dispersal interception, were evident. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that stochastic interception of migrating or dispersing organisms influences patch community structure. In addition to richness and abundance effects apparent in this analysis, the sex ratio, age structure, growth rate, social structure, and genetic features of patch populations may also be influenced. The interception of moving organisms by patches may thus be a key factor influencing population and community persistence in reserves. If so, landscape structure could be manipulated to maximize the interception of dispersing or migrating organisms, or minimize it if the effects are undesirable.     

Changes of plant cover and land use types (1950's to 1980's) in three mire reserves and their neighbourhood in Estonia

The dynamics of plant cover and land use types in three study areas - Keava (1192.05 ha), Meenikonna (1513.35 ha) and Nätsi-Võlla (888.61 ha) mire landscapes, each divided into natural (N) and anthropogenous (A) subareas, was investigated by repeated aerial photo (black-and-white panchromatic, 1:10,000) interpretation. Nineteen plant cover and land use (PC&LU) types were differentiated and three contour maps were drawn for each study area (corresponding to 1950's, 1960's and 1980's).The dynamics of mire landscapes were modelled by transition matrices P = [P_ij], which contain the transition probabilities between i-th and j-th PC&LU types during the time interval between the aerial photographs. A total of 12 transition matrices were constructed.In A-subareas peat milling was started in the middle of the 60's whereas N-subareas acquired mire reserve status in 1981, which is manifested in a different development. 93% of N-subarea and 69% of the A-subarea remained unchanged from the 50's to the 80's. The increase of anthropogenous land use types in A-subareas of Keava, Meenikonna and Nätsi-Võlla were respectively 0.84%, 0.32% and 1.17% per year.Two different matrices (I and II period) were used to predict the future state of the study areas. The applicability of the transition matrix model has been discussed by comparing matrices of different base periods. Errors arising from photointerpretation, contour input, (transition) area measurement, matrix reduction etc. are evaluated.     

Preventive effects of anti-IGFBPrP1 antibody on hepatic fibrosis in mice

AIM: To investigate the preventive effect and mechanism of anti-insulin-like growth factor binding protein related protein 1(IGFBPrP1) antibody on hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in mice.METHODS: Twenty-four male C57BL/6 wild-type mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n= 8 in each group): normal control group, TAA group (4 weeks) and TAA+anti-IGFBPrP1 antibody group (4 weeks). The morphological changes of liver tissues were observed. The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β₁), Smad3, phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3), fibronectin (FN), collagen I, collagen Ⅲ and IGFBPrP1 were detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.RESULTS: In TAA group (4 weeks), obvious injury of liver was observed, and the expression levels of α-SMA, TGF-β₁, Smad3, p-Smad2/3, FN, collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and IGFBPrP1 were significantly increased as compared with normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with TAA group (4 weeks), the injury of the liver was alleviated and the expression levels of the proteins above were decreased in TAA+anti-IGFBPrP1 antibody group (4 weeks, P<0.01). IGFBPrP1 was positively correlated with TGF-β₁, Smad3, p-Smad2/3, FN and collagen I (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Anti-IGFBPrP1 antibody prevents TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells, reducing the expression of p-Smad2/3 and inhibiting the TGF-β₁/ Smad3 signal transduction, thereby depressing the deposition of extracellular matrix in liver tissues.     

全营养基质育苗肥在甜瓜上的应用效果

以京域优选莎白甜瓜为试材,研究了喷施北京市农林科学院植物营养与资源研究所自制的全营养基质育苗肥对甜瓜幼苗生长状况的影响。结果表明:施用全营养基质育苗肥的幼苗地上部鲜重、干重、株高、茎粗、根鲜重、根干重、根体积、壮苗指数和植物氮、磷、钾含量都好于或高于不施育苗肥的幼苗,其中地上部干重、茎粗、根体积、壮苗指数和植物氮含量达到了显著差异水平(p<0.05)。说明全营养基质育苗肥对幼苗的快速生长与健壮及解决基质育苗中后期幼苗缺肥和脱肥的现象有较好的促进作用。     

红皮糙果茶扦插试验简

采用3种不同外源激素（NAA、IBA和NAA＋IBA）、设定3个浓度梯度（500 mg/L、1000 mg/L、1500 mg/L）、基质比例（蛭石∶珍珠岩为1∶1、2∶1、4∶1）、激素处理时间（15 s、30 s、60 s）,并利用3因素3水平的正交试验方法对红皮糙果茶进行扦插生根试验。结果表明,红皮糙果茶属于综合生根类型;蛭石和珍珠岩为1∶1比例的基质扦插的各种处理插穗在愈伤组织生成期、不定根出现期均明显要早于其他比例;总体来看,IBA生根剂处理效果较其他两种要好,利用综合评分法优化出红皮糙果油茶扦插的最佳方案是IBA浓度为1500 mg/L、处理30 s、选取蛭石和珍珠岩基质配比为1∶1。     

双孢蘑菇菌糠配制辣椒育苗基质的研究

以双孢蘑菇菌糠为试材,探索应用蘑菇菌糠制备辣椒育苗基质的效果。育苗基质配方处理按粉碎消毒的双孢蘑菇菌糠、细红土、细干猪粪、珍珠岩所占的体积分数4因素3水平正交试验设计（L9（34）。结果表明,双孢蘑菇菌糠40％、红土30％、干猪粪20％、珍珠岩20％,为辣椒幼苗成苗率、株高、地上部和地下部鲜重最佳育苗基质配方。     

不同基质对聊红槐扦插生根的影响

以细河沙、草炭、珍珠岩:草炭=1∶1为扦插基质,用400 mg/L的IBA和NAA处理聊红槐插穗,进行春季硬枝扦插,测定其生根指标,筛选出适合生根的扦插基质.结果表明:以河沙为基质,经过IBA处理过的插穗的生根率较NAA处理的好;以草炭为基质,经过NAA处理过的插穗较IBA处理的好;以珍珠岩:草炭=1∶1为基质,经过IBA处理过的插穗较NAA处理的好;同一激素处理的根系效果,浸泡时间3h的优于1h处理的.     

贵州金丝桃扦插繁殖技术研究

以野生资源植物贵州金丝桃为试材,探讨插穗材料选取、插穗处理、外源激素、扦插基质及环境条件等因素对其扦插繁殖的影响,研究贵州金丝桃扦插育苗的生产实用技术优化方案.结果表明:半木质化枝条是贵州金丝桃扦插繁殖最好的插穗材料.插穗经1％ NaOH溶液处理10 min,插穗生根率显著提高.IAA、ABT-2生根粉均对贵州金丝桃的扦插生根有显著促进作用,同时可提高出圃的壮苗率;IAA使用效果略强于ABT-2.IBA对贵州金丝桃的扦插没有明显促进作用;NAA易对贵州金丝桃产生毒害.珍珠岩+腐殖土(1:2)配比的基质是贵州金丝桃扦插比较理想的基质,使用该种基质的扦插生根率比较高且壮苗率最高.秋、冬季扦插时,环境温度是决定扦插生根率的关键因子,尽量提高环境温度和湿度,促进插穗提早生根,以提高壮苗率.     

Optimum Analysis of Damper Braces Based on Genetic Algorithm

The aims at optimization of structure with damper braces is studied in this paper. The sum of damping coefficient of all damper braces is considered as a goal function, and the storey displacements are considered as constraint conditions. The program,which introduces the non-proportional damp matrix, based on genetic algorithm and time history is used to analyze the optimization of a damper braced frame. The results are reasonable and show that the genetic algorithm is an efficient method to optimize the damper braced structure.