Cuticular protein gene LmACP8 is involved in wing morphogenesis in the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria

Cuticular proteins(CPs) are major components of the insect cuticle-associated organs such as integument and wings, although the importance of CPs for wing development and function in hemimetabolous insects remains understudied. In the present study, a wing cuticular protein LmACP8 was identified from Locusta migratoria, which belongs to the RR-2 subfamily of cuticular protein RR consensus(CPR) chitin-binding proteins. LmACP8 was mainly expressed in the wing pads and showed high expression levels before ecdysis of third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, with its encoded protein located in the procuticle of wing pads and adult wings. Depletion of LmACP8 by RNA interference markedly reduced the amount of its protein, which consequently caused abnormal wing morphogenesis in the transition from nymph to adult of L. migratoria. We further demonstrated that the abnormal morphogenesis was caused by severe damage of the endocuticle in the wings. LmACP8 was suppressed by 20-hydroxyecdysone(20 E) in vivo, however, its expression was significantly up-regulated after knocking down the hormone receptor gene LmHR39. Thus, the LmACP8 that is negatively regulated by the LmHR39-mediated 20 E signaling pathway is involved in wing development during the nymph to adult transition.     

Replacing Soybean Meal with Alternative Protein Sources in Diets for Pond‐raised Hybrid Catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus

The present study investigated the replacement of soybean meal with combinations of two or three alternative protein sources in diets for pond‐raised hybrid catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus. Alternative protein sources evaluated included cottonseed meal, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), peanut meal, and porcine meat and bone meal (PMBM). Hybrid catfish fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 35 g/fish were stocked into 25 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at a density of 14,826 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 166 d. No significant differences were observed for total diet fed, net yield, weight gain, survival, carcass yield, fillet yield, or fillet proximate composition among dietary treatments. Results show soybean meal may be completely replaced by combinations of cottonseed meal and one or two other alternative protein sources including DDGS, peanut meal, and PMBM in the diet without markedly affecting production and processing characteristics and fillet proximate composition of pond‐raised hybrid catfish. These alternative diets may be used during foodfish production when prices are favorable.     

Sacred sites as habitats of culturally important plant species in an Indian megacity

Cultural ecosystem services related to urban green spaces contribute significantly to liveable cities. While previous studies highlight the intersection of cultural ecosystem services with societal values, spiritual or religious values associated with urban nature have received less attention. In India, as in other parts of the world, sacred sites are known for their biological richness, but analyses from urban sacred sites are largely missing. Based on a stratified random sampling approach, we analysed the cultivated and wild plant species assemblages of 69 sacred sites in the megacity of Bengaluru, India, in relation to biological and cultural features, and parameters related to the urban matrix and type of sacred sites (temple vs. katte). Unlike other urban studies, we found a dominance of native species in the cultivated and spontaneous species pools (121 species in total), with Ficus religiosa and Azadirachta indica as most frequently planted species. Culturally relevant species prevailed in the species pool (89%), with overlaps between religious (36%), medicinal (50%) and ornamental (62%) plants; only 11% of species were weeds. Urban matrix parameters (age of development, housing density) and size and type of sacred sites were related to differences in species assemblages. We identified key species for different classes of age and housing density, and for types of sacred sites. Our study demonstrates that urban sacred sites have an important potential in harbouring both native and culturally significant species that can support urban livelihoods in developing countries by a range of cultural and provisioning ecosystem services, including medicinal uses. As such sites are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs, local biodiversity can be enhanced, e.g. by adapting management practices through community participation. This would strengthen the important contribution of sacred sites within the green infrastructure of rapidly growing megacities.     

蛋白质着色动力学研究

经过蛋白质着色动力学的研究，发现蛋白质着色的行为遵循数学模型Ｙ＝ａＸ＾ｂ。在ｐＨ２－６范围内，蛋白质上染料随染溶ｐＨ的下降而上升，在１５－３０℃温度范围内，蛋白质上染率随温度上升略有提高，当温度超过３０℃时，蛋白质上染率逐渐下降。染浴中添加稀土对蛋白质有较强的促染效果，其实质是染浴中蛋白质首先对稀土高价阳离子进行结合，再通过高价阳离子对色素进吸附。     

青海血蜱不同发育阶段蛋白分析

考虑到不同发育阶段蛋白多肽及抗原特性方面的差异,本实验利用SDS-PAGE和Westernblotting对青海血蜱的卵、幼蜱、若蜱、成蜱的蛋白进行了分析。SDS-PAGE结果显示,卵出现了7条主带,幼蜱出现了16条主带,若蜱出现了14条主带,成蜱出现了12条主带。它们的蛋白多肽在数量、含量和分子量上存在差异,共同带只有4条,但相邻发育阶段之间的共同带较多。用感染羊血清和免疫羊血清作免疫印迹时,感染羊血清在分子量5.6万处有明显的反应带,免疫羊血清在分子量9.7万处有明显的反应带。     

甘肃滩羊血红蛋白(Hb)及红细胞蛋白质(Ep)多态性的研究

运用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术(PAGE)对甘肃滩羊产区皋兰、景泰及靖远3县285只滩羊的血红蛋白(Hb)基因座、红细胞蛋白质-1(Ep-1)和红细胞蛋白质-2(Ep-2)基因座多态性进行了检测,结果发现甘肃滩羊Hb基因座存在3种基因型HbAA、HbAB、HbBB,它们受HbA和HbB两个共显性等位基因控制,其中HbB和HbBB在3个群体中均占优势;本研究未在Ep-1和Ep-2基因座上检测到多态性,它们均呈现单态。     

人工培植羊体羊黄的研究

本试验以外科手术方法在北京农户所养绵羊胆囊内放人异物网核和注入致黄菌(SEBF8,50亿/ml),诱发羊黄,均获成功.其间,对术前术后血清胆红质、胆固醇、谷草转氨酶和GROS反应等项进行测定.结果表明:上述各项指标在术后8天内与术前比,均有降低,差异显著,但以后逐渐恢复正常.而体重、临床表现,以及饲养指标本出现异常.预示着,人工培植羊体羊黄可行.同时,本试验还为进一步提高人工培植羊黄的产黄量,提供了参考数据.     

系统耦合与荒漠─绿洲草地农业系统─—以祁连山一临泽剖面为例

生态系统内部自由能的积累，使系统失去平衡并趋于同其它生态系统结合，自由能驱使两个或两个以上的生态系统或亚生态系统，通过会聚，超循环和耦合而联合，从而形成具有特殊结构一功能的更高一级的新系统。系统耦合可以多途径解放生态系统中的自由能而增加农业生态系统的生产力，亦即从催化潜势，位差潜势，多稳定潜势及管理潜势中取得能输出。上述过程可作用于农业系统中的四个子系统，这四个子系统各有自己的产品：前植物生产，植物生产，动物生产，外生物生产，从而大幅度提高其生产力。在荒漠─绿洲草地农业生态系统中，本文分别计量了各个子系统的能流单位及其流程，证明它的子系统也可以成功的发生系统耦合，其中绿洲子系统应居关键地位。     

大豆叶面积变化对田间微气象条件及产量的影响

作者通过1977～1981年和1987～1989年,分别在绥化、哈尔滨和合江地区的田间试验和生产调查,发现大豆叶面积指数的大小可造成不同的田间微气象环境条件,叶面积指数6左右时,植株似倒非倒,株间采光量和CO_2分布较为合理,光合效率高,大豆单株生育良好,群体产量高;在生产上可依据当地土地条件、施肥水平、不同品种和不同种植方式用叶面积动态变化方程式计算出适宜的密度,以使大豆群体最大叶面积指数保持在6左右,创造较理想的田间微气象效应。     

景观植物信息查询系统(LPIIS)的构建

近年来，我国的景观植物产业得到了很大发展，但仍存在很多问题，为了解决这些问题，我们开发了景观植物信息查询系统(简称LPIIS)。LPIIS的构建包括后台数据库和管理系统2部分，以Microsoft Access开发后台景观植物数据库，实现各种零散的景观植物数据资料的数字化；采用面向对象的开发语言VB进行信息系统的界面设计和系统集成，实现了人性化的界面，操作更为方便。LPIIS的出现改变了过去景观植物信息管理的手工方式，具有可视化人性化的界面、提供多媒体信息、数据的维护和更新具有继承性、后台数据库可方便的移植于网络等特点。