Inbreeding Depression and Other Genetic Effects in Populations of Maize Containing Highland Tropical Germplasm

A variety cross diallel of five populations of maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated in a cool, temperate environment. Two of the parental populations were Corn Belt Dent synthetics (AS3 and BS22), one was developed from selected lines from a CIMMYT population developed for highland regions of the tropics and four Corn Belt Dent inbred lines (NZS3), and the other two had the pedigrees ‘Criollo de Toluca’× AS3² (NZS1) and ‘San Gerónimo’× BS222 (NZS2). ‘Criollo de Toluca’ is from the highlands of Mexico and ‘San Gerönimo’ is from the highlands of Peru. The objective was to study the influence of introgressing highland tropical germplasm into elite Corn Belt Dent synthetics on genetic effects, especially inbreeding depression, and to develop recommendations for the utilization of the introgressed populations. Inbreeding depression explained the greatest proportion of the variation among entries for grain yield, days to silking and plant height, but not for grain moisture at harvest and root lodging. For grain yield, NZS1, NZS2, and NZS3 had high levels of inbreeding depression and the difference between NZS1 and AS3 was statistically significant. High levels of root lodging were associated with NZS1 and high grain moisture at harvest with NZS2. These results indicate that a recurrent selection method, such as S₁ selection, which effectively reduces inbreeding depression, should be used in early cycles of selection with introgressed populations containing highland tropical germplasm.     

Variable effectivity of three vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal endophytes in Hedysarum coronarium and Medicago sativa

Summary Plants of Hedysarum coronarium L. and Medicago sativa L., inoculated with Glomus caledonium, were grown for 6 weeks in soils with increasing amounts of available phosphorus (P). H. coronarium showed no or very low levels of infection even at very low soil P content (4 ppm), while in M. sativa the highest soil P level (20 ppm) was associated with the lowest percentage of infection. Medicago sativa and H. coronarium grown for 16 weeks in a sandy soil showed clear effects of Glomus inoculation on shoot growth and P uptake. In M. sativa inoculation increased shoot growth and P uptake in all treatments considerably, while the P concentration in the shoot was depressed by G. caledonium. In H. coronarium inoculation with G. mosseae and G. occultum had only a modest impact on shoot growth; G. caledonium even depressed shoot growth significantly. Glomus inoculation had a positive impact on the P concentrations in the shoots of H. coronarium. The growth-depressing effect of G. caledonium on H. coronarium is discussed.     

Workplace stress, mental health, and burnout of veterinarians in Australia

Objective To determine the frequency of the states of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout using internationally validated methods and to relate these to the demographic characteristics of veterinarians in Australia. Methods A postal survey of registered veterinarians with at least one year's experience and whose address was available; 1947 returned the questionnaire providing data for analysis. Results Overall, veterinarians describe higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress and burnout than the general population. The severity of these states was determined by gender, background, type of practice and years after graduation. Conclusions Modifying the curricula of veterinary schools to include the teaching of personal cognitive and coping skills to undergraduate veterinary students, the provision of the opportunity to enhance these skills throughout their veterinary career and changes in the veterinary workplace could result in improved mental health, increased job engagement and work satisfaction.     

兔出血症病毒形态学的研究

用氯仿抽提、PEG沉淀、Scpharosc 4B柱层析、超离及蔗糖密度梯度离心等方法纯化了兔出血症病毒。电镜下观察到兔出血症病毒粒子为无囊膜,大小为32～34nm。外观呈现独特的结构。正二十面体对称,髓蕊直径15～17nm,衣壳厚8～9nm。由内、外衣壳组成。外衣壳上按T=3排列着32个壳粒,壳粒呈中空的管状,长5～6nm,直径约4～5nm。中心孔径约2nm。有一环状呈不连续的内衣壳,厚2～3nm,内环上不连续每段约4nm,与壳粒相连。在5、3和2次轴对称时,病毒表面有大的、3个以上特征性的表面凹陷(Surfacc dcpression),这种表面凹陷呈一定的分布。呈五次轴对称时,病毒表周有10个向外管状突起。病毒表周不规则,表面含丰富的突起和大、小的凹陷(dcpression and small indentation)是兔出血症病毒形态学特点之一,其大小和形态,在动物病毒中比较类似于嵌杯样病毒。     

大豆光合日变化的不同类型及其影响因素

用同一品种在不同生育期,不同季节、不同天气以及不同生长条件下研究了大豆的光合日变化。大豆的光合日变化随气候条件,生长环境以及大豆的生育期不同而变化,不遵循一种固定不变的模式,概括起来有单峰型、双峰型、波动型和平缓型四种不同类型。大豆在春、夏、秋三季均能产生午休,土壤水分亏缺使午休加重,在结荚期以前条件适宜的情况下,大豆不易产生午休,此后随着生育期的进展,大豆午休加重,鼓粒期大豆的午休最为严重。     

Flood effect on CH4 emission from the alas in Central Yakutia,East Siberia

During four years (2006–2009), methane (CH₄) emission was measured at different biomes (dry, wet grasslands, lake and lake vegetation) of mature thermokarst depression located at the most typical thermokarst terrain on the east bank of the Lena River, Central Yakutia, Russia (62°08′N, 130°30′E). To estimate total CH₄ emission from the whole thermokarst depression ecosystem, CH₄ emissions via plant bodies and ebullition were measured in addition to diffusive CH₄ flux measurement. The lake area increased twice from 20.4 ha in 2006 to 43.3 ha in 2007 and then did not change significantly in 2008 and 2009 (46.5 and 44.4 ha, respectively). Ebullition was considered to be a minor source for CH₄ emission from the lake in the studied thermokarst depression. CH₄ emissions from the lake water surface and via the plant body of lake vegetation (hygrophyte and hydrophyte vegetation) were the main sources of CH₄ and these increased by flooding both CH₄ emission rate and area. Using spatial changes of these biomes, the annual emission of CH₄ was calculated taking into account different sources of CH₄. Total CH₄ emission from the studied alas (63.7 ha) was 5.7, 5.2, 20.1 and 50.1 Mg carbon (C) in 2006–2009, respectively, and its difference during this period reached about 10 times. An extreme increase in CH₄ emission from the lake occurred in the second year of continuous flooding (2008), which might have been caused by the decomposition of flooded organic C. So, the lake water ecosystem is the main source of CH₄ in thermokarst depression controlled by the duration of flooding. Under future global climate change, thermokarst depressions in Central Yakutia have potential for lake expansion, causing significant increase in CH₄ emission in the studied region.     

Diversity of the Icelandic goat breed assessed using population data

Abstract

The Icelandic goat breed is a closed population consisting of around 700 animals kept in 45 herds. Several population bottlenecks are known to have occurred and the population has at least twice declined below 100 animals. Here the genetic diversity of the breed was estimated using pedigree information, D-loop sequencing and microsatellite markers. The annual rate of inbreeding was estimated as 3% and the effective population size as 5.1 animals. The effective population size based on molecular markers was estimated in the range of 4.1–8.8 individuals and mtDNA D-loop sequencing identified only three haplotypes. The results presented here show the population to be highly inbred, fragmented and the level of genetic variation among the lowest found in livestock. The results will be an important input into conservation planning for the Icelandic goat.     

喀斯特峰丛洼地次生林土壤有机碳的剖面分布特征

采用样方法研究了喀斯特峰丛洼地八角枫(Alangium chinensis)、盐肤木(Rhus chinensis)、黄荆(Vitex negundo) 3种典型次生林群落土壤有机碳（SOC）含量、密度的剖面分布特征。结果表明,土壤有机碳含量与土壤根系生物量呈极显著正相关;不同次生林群落060 cm土壤有机碳平均含量和密度不同,依次为黄荆八角枫盐肤木,盐肤木的碳含量显著低于黄荆和八角枫群落,碳密度显著低于黄荆;3种次生林群落土壤碳含量和密度都与土壤深度有较好的线性关系,随土壤深度的增加而降低,2060 cm各层次的差异不显著,但均显著低于010 cm土层;不同次生林群落土壤各层次碳含量和密度均表现为为黄荆八角枫盐肤木,其中盐肤木群落1040 cm 3个层次的碳含量及2030 cm的碳密度显著低于另外2个群落。由此可见,喀斯特峰丛洼地退化生态系统合理的植被恢复方式是促进该区域生态重建和碳贮存的关键。     

从气机升降出入论癫痫

癫痫是一种发作性神经功能异常的慢性脑部疾病。本文从气机升降出入角度论癫痫,认为癫痫患者大多数具有“脏气不平”的先天因素或病理体质,其气机升降出入异常（气郁）是导致癫痫发病的关键。临床应重视肝脾同调、升降相宜,从郁、风、痰论治每获良效。本文还以“玄病”、“络病”理论为补充,论治癫痫持续状态及难治性癫痫,其实质是气机升降出入理论在人体超微结构的延伸与拓展,但相关研究仍需进一步完善发展。     

西南喀斯特峰丛洼地生态环境效应及其危害

采用岩土样分析法、编制TM遥感数据影像图法和野外调查等方法,研究了西南喀斯特典型峰丛洼地的生态效应。结果表明：与其他喀斯特地貌相比,峰丛洼地具有独特的生态环境特征,主要表现为：峰丛洼地石灰性土壤Ca、Mg的淋溶系数大,酸不溶物含量多,土壤缺乏C层,水土流失严重,植被生长受辐射逆温、日照少、温湿度时空分布不均的限制。在前期工作的基础上,编制了西南喀斯特地区碳酸盐岩分布图、石漠化分布图和峰丛洼地分布图,对这3个图的空间叠加分析发现,石漠化和峰丛洼地分布区是纯灰岩集中出露的地区,峰丛洼地分布区又是石漠化最严重的地区,石漠化是西南喀斯特峰丛洼地生态恶化的典型表现。石漠化已经成为西南喀斯特地区的灾害之源和贫困之源。