Age estimation of different tree species using a special kind of an electrically recording resistance drill

The determination of tree age is an important issue for urban green planning, forestry and dendrology; finding non-destructive and quasi-non-destructive methods for this purpose is of great theoretical and practical importance. The resistance drilling method is quasi-non-destructive because the average diameter of an opening that remains after drilling does not exceed 3 mm. Do electrically recording resistance drills allow precise assessment of tree age? The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of determining the number of tree rings based on an examination of this special kind of drilling resistance profiles for three tree species, the pine Pinus sylvestris L., the oak Quercus robur L., and the birch Betula pendula ROTH. In 2015 and 2016, 15 pine trees, 15 oak trees, and 15 birch trees were randomly selected. For each studied tree, a measurement was conducted using the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 with a flat-tipped 1.5/3 mm steel needle (research sample), and an increment core was taken (reference sample). The drill used was not a real Resistograph^®. The analysis of the E400-profiles underestimated the number of tree rings; the mean bias error (MBE) values were –6.5, –2.5, and –6.0 years for pine, oak, and birch, respectively. The proportion of investigated trees with less than five years difference between the research and reference samples varied from 38.4 (birch) to 66.7 (oak) percent. The accuracy of tree age determination was lowest for birch and highest for oak. The binomial generalised linear model (GLM) revealed that the most accurate tree age assessments were obtained from tree rings wider than 2 mm. The measurements clearly showed that the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 enables a quick, although approximate, tree age assessment. Future research should concentrate on electronically regulating and recording drills, providing a higher spatial and signal resolution, and a stronger correlation to wood density.     

Estimation of daily and total lactation milk yield of Chios ewes from single morning or evening records

Linear models were developed and evaluated for the estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield of dairy sheep from single morning (am) or evening (pm) milking records. A total of 22,908 individual test-day milk records of 5110 ewes of the Chios breed, raised in 46 flocks, were used. Depending on the model, different daily milk yield estimates were derived for each ewe, accounting for lactation number, stage of lactation, season of previous lambing and interval between successive milkings. Daily milk yield was also estimated from doubling the single am or pm record. Actual and estimated yields were compared using root mean square errors (RMSEs), mean absolute differences, an accuracy parameter defined as the ratio of the actual yield variance over the sum of the variances of actual yield and absolute difference, and the product moment correlation between estimated and actual yield. Results were validated on independent datasets. Linear models resulted in less biased and more accurate estimates of the daily milk yield than simply doubling the am or pm record. Root mean square errors decreased by 7-37% and the mean absolute difference was reduced by 1-4% of the average daily yield. Higher accuracy and correlation were obtained from linear model application than doubling. Total lactation milk yield was predicted based on actual daily yield and compared to predictions based on estimated daily yield from am or pm records, as well as directly on single milking records. Root mean square errors obtained when daily yield had been estimated with linear models were 26-35% lower compared to doubling the am or pm yield and 0-13% lower compared to estimating the total lactation yield directly from single milking records. Linear model application also resulted in lower mean absolute difference and higher accuracy and correlation than doubling the am or pm record. Recording the yield of a single milking (am or pm) instead of both can benefit milk recording by reducing its cost and increasing farmer participation. In this context, linear models developed in the present study can be used for the accurate estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield from single milking records.     

On farm observations to increase genetic gain in breeding schemes for village poultry production – A simulation study

To improve genetic gain of breeding programs for village poultry production, breeding schemes with observations obtained in village production systems using individual (VIO) and group recording (VGO) were examined under different levels of genotype-by-environment-interactions (GxE). GxE was modeled by varying the correlation between traits measured in the breeding station and village environments for bodyweight (r_{g_BW}) and egg production (r_{g_EP}). Relative and absolute genetic gains obtained from VIO and VGO were used for comparison between the schemes. Results showed that village observations significantly improved genetic gains compared to the scheme without birds tested in the village. The improvement was only slightly larger with individual observations than with group observations. Higher r_{g_BW} and r_{g_EP} led to lower relative genetic gain, but a higher absolute gain of VIO and VGO. It is recommended to apply a breeding scheme using group recording of village performance when strong GxE in breeding for village poultry is expected.     

基于田间摄像的多参数水稻土深松扰动行为与效应研究

耕作机具的土壤扰动行为密切联系土壤失效机理与耕作效应,是优化耕作系统的重要依据。本研究通过土壤耕作原位综合测试平台开展单铲深松试验,从5个方位录制深松视频,同时配合使用微地貌测试、耕作阻力测试、EDEM仿真、深松扰动剖面土壤紧实度测试和深松理论检验,探究深松铲入土角α和耕深D对水稻土深松扰动过程、土壤失效机理及深松效应的影响。结果表明,摄像法提取的纵向碎土距离R、扰动宽度W及抬土高度H与α和D显著相关,可用于水稻土深松扰动行为的定量表述。摄像法显示水稻土难以脆性断裂,铲两侧发生非对称性土壤剪切失效。土壤沿曲柄攀升,抬土高度H随α增大,随D减小,表明深松铲的设计参数和作业参数同时影响抬土能力。R随对应耕深范围内铲的纵向水平长度L线性增加,W随α线性增加。地表平整度S和扰动宽度W均在耕深20 cm时最大。深松土壤扰动行为的EDEM仿真从微观层面再现了摄像法记录的非对称性失效、侧向挤压失效和深松新月形失效现象,表明该离散元模型用于解析水稻土深松力学的科学性。EDEM仿真进一步显示出应力集中区沿铲尖与铲柄破土刃周期性上下移动,同时也对铲下方底层土造成挤压。深松扰动剖面土壤紧实度等值线图验证了仿真过程中铲尖下方形成的土壤压实带,并直观展示出耕深30 cm时,犁底层土壤因侧向挤压流变形成的沟槽状紧实壁面。本文结合田间原位摄像法的多参数测试研究可为深松铲和耕作系统的优化提供依据。     

甘蓝饲养小菜粉蝶幼虫对两种寄主植物叶片汁液的行为及电生理反应

[目的]探讨小菜粉蝶幼虫对2种寄主植物(甘蓝和旱金莲)叶片汁液的行为及电生理反应,为阐明植食性昆虫寄主植物选择机制提供一定的理论依据.[方法]小菜粉蝶幼虫孵化后饲养在甘蓝叶片上,选用进入5龄24~48 h的小菜粉蝶幼虫供试;植物叶片榨出汁液,用行为试验双选法测试幼虫对汁液的行为反应,用顶端记录法测试幼虫侧栓锥和中栓锥味觉感受器对汁液的电生理反应.[结果]行为试验结果表明,甘蓝饲养小菜粉蝶幼虫取食含有甘蓝叶片汁液的玻璃纤维滤纸圆片极显著多于取食含有旱金莲叶片汁液的圆片(P<0.001).电生理试验表明,侧栓锥味觉感受器对2种叶片汁液的电生理反应均显著强于中栓锥味觉感受器(P<0.01),且侧栓锥味觉感受器对旱金莲叶片汁液的电生理反应显著强于甘蓝叶片汁液(P<0.01),而中栓锥味觉感受器的反应对两者无显著差异(P>0.05);侧栓锥味觉感受器有3个味觉神经元对叶片汁液有反应,中栓锥味觉感受器只有2个味觉神经元对叶片汁液有反应,且侧栓锥味觉感受器中味觉神经元1和神经元2对旱金莲叶片汁液的反应频率极显著强于对甘蓝叶片汁液的反应频率(分别为P<0.01和P<0.001),味觉神经元3对两者反应无显著差异(P>0.05);中栓锥味觉感受器中味觉神经元1和神经元2对旱金莲叶片汁液和对甘蓝叶片汁液的反应频率则无显著差异(P>0.05).[结论]甘蓝饲养小菜粉蝶幼虫对旱金莲叶片汁液有拒食行为,这种拒食行为与侧栓锥味觉感受器中相关味觉神经元的激活有关.小菜粉蝶幼虫侧栓锥味觉感受器对2种寄主植物叶片的反应均显著强于中栓锥味觉感受器,说明在对寄主植物的探测上侧栓锥味觉感受器可能起到更重要的作用.     

中国沙棘子叶叶肉细胞电流全细胞记录的研究

实验得出适合膜片钳实验的耐盐木本植物中国沙棘子叶原生质体的游离条件,即取当天脱壳的子叶,放入渗透浓度为0.88 mol/L,pH为5.8,酶液的组分为10 g/LCellulase R-10、0.5 g/LPectolyase Y-23、1.5 g/LMacrozymeR-10、1 g/L Hemicellulase、1 g/L BSA、1 g/L PVP-40、2 mmol/L CaCl2、10 mmol/L Mes和5 mmol/L Vc的溶液中,在26℃、黑暗条件下,静置4 h。并且利用Multiclamp 700B放大器和Clampex 9.2软件,记录到了该原生质体质膜全细胞内向K 通道电流(-459.137 pA及-290.527 pA)和非选择性阳离子通道的外向电流(8.036 pA)。这为沙棘属木本植物细胞的电生理特性及其耐盐性机制关系的研究奠定基础。     

Recording cerebellar neuron activities in swimming goldfish

ABSTRACT:   Neuronal activities were investigated in the cerebellum of immobilized and swimming goldfish Carassius auratus . Extracellularly recorded neural activities of the cerebellum in immobilized goldfish were characterized and classified into five types. Based on the waveforms and recording depths, these five neural activity types were estimated to originate from three identified classes of cerebellar neurons: Purkinje cells, eurydendroid cells, and granule cells. Chronic recording of cerebellar neuron activities in unrestrained goldfish was performed for more than 100 h. During the chronic recordings, a submersible amplifier attached to the goldfish head, and a multielectrode array developed for the present study were used. Neuronal activities in the cerebellum of free-swimming fish could also be classified into five types as in the immobilized condition. Firing patterns of two neurons identified as Purkinje cells and eurydendroid cells were analyzed during turning movements of the goldfish. The firing patterns of these neurons changed in relation to turning movements. Although some improvements are required, the chronic recording method developed in the present study can be applied to further investigations concerning the direct relationship between brain neural activities and certain behavior.     

《基础会计学》教学内容改革探讨

针对基础会计教学中的记账方法、记账凭证及日记账的设置等内容陈旧、落后问题进行了探讨,旨在删减、统一及规范会计的记账方法、记账凭证及日记账的设置,使会计核算内容更适应现代市场经济的发展,尽快与国际接轨.     

Brucella intracellular life: from invasion to intracellular replication

Brucella organisms are pathogens that ultimate goal is to propagate in their preferred niche, the cell. Upon cell contact the bacteria is internalized via receptor molecules by activating small GTPases of the Rho subfamily and by a moderate recruitment of actin filaments. Once inside cells, Brucella localizes in early phagosomes, where it avoids fusion with late endosomes and lysosomes. These early events require the control of Rab small GTPases, and cytokines such as the G-CSF. Then, the bacterium redirects its trafficking to autophagosomes and finally reaches the endoplasmic reticulum, where it extensively replicates. Some of the bacterial molecular determinants involved in the internalization and early events after ingestion are controlled by the BvrS/BvrR two component regulatory system, whereas the intracellular trafficking beyond this early compartments are controlled by the VirB type IV secretion system. Once inside the endoplasmic reticulum, Brucella extensively replicates without restricting basic cellular functions or inducing obvious damage to cells. The integrity of Brucella LPS on the bacterial surface is one of the required factors for Brucella intracellular survival, and therefore for virulence.     

Interaction of polymorphisms of ICAM-1 gene K469E and MCP-1 gene -2518A/G in invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the interaction of polymorphisms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene K469E and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene -2518A/G in the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Based on TNM classification, 4 500 patients with confirmed gastric carcinoma from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University in China from December 2009 to November 2014 were divided into stageⅠ group, stage Ⅱgroup, stage Ⅲ group, stage Ⅳ group, and stage 0 group, with 900 cases in each group. No significant difference among the 5 groups in age, gender, ethnicity, birthplace and living habit was observed. The genetic polymorphisms of ICAM-1 gene K469E and MCP-1 gene -2518A/G were analyzed by the technique of polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in peripheral blood leukocytes of above-mentioned cases. RESULTS: Statistical tests showed signi-ficant differences in the frequencies of K469E (EE) and -2518A/G (GG) among each group (P<0.01). The risk of the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma significantly increased in subjects with K469E (EE) genotype and in those with -2518A/G (GG) genotype. Combined analysis of the polymorphisms showed that distribution frequency of K469E (EE)/-2518A/G (GG) in stage Ⅰ group, stage Ⅱ group, stage Ⅲ group, stage Ⅳ group and stage 0 group was 39.22%, 53.22%, 59.22, 65.44% and 12.11%, respectively (P<0.01). The people who carried with K469E (EE)/-2518A/G (GG) had a high risk of the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, and statistical analysis suggested a positive interaction in a super-multiplicative model between K469E (EE) and -2518A/G (GG) in increasing the risk of the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSION: ICAM-1 gene K469E (EE) and MCP-1 gene -2518A/G (GG) are the risk factors in the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, and significant interactions between genetic polymorphisms of K469E and -2518A/G added the risk of the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.