Theoretical Maximum Limits on Power-Handling Capacity of HVDC Cables

In the case of an ac cable, power transmission is limited by the length of the cable due to the capacitive reactive current component. It is well known that high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables do not have such limitations. However, insulation-related thermal problems pose a limitation on the power capability of HVDC cables. The author presents a viable theoretical development, a logical extension to Whitehead's theory on thermal limitations of the insulation. The computation of the maximum power-carrying capability of HVDC cables subject to limits on the maximum operable temperature of the insulation is presented. The limitation on the power-carrying capability is closely associated with the electrothermal insulation failure. The effect of environmental interaction by way of external thermal resistance, an important aspect, is also considered in the formulations. The Lagrange multiplier method has been used to handle the ensuing optimization problem. The theory is based on an accepted theory of thermal breakdown in insulation and is an important and a coherent extension of great significance.

Temporal associations in fig-wasp-ant interactions: diel and phenological patterns

In a complex multitrophic plant-animal interaction system in which there are direct and indirect interactions between species, comprehending the dynamics of these multiple partners is very important for an understanding of how the system is structured. We investigated the plant Ficus racemosa L. (Moraceae) and its community of obligatory mutualistic and parasitic fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) that develop within the fig inflorescence or syconium, as well as their interaction with opportunistic ants. We focused on temporal resource partitioning among members of the fig wasp community over the development cycle of the fig syconia during which wasp oviposition and development occur and we studied the activity rhythm of the ants associated with this community. We found that the seven members of the wasp community partitioned their oviposition across fig syconium development phenology and showed interspecific variation in activity across the day-night cycle. The wasps presented a distinct sequence in their arrival at fig syconia for oviposition, with the parasitoid wasps following the galling wasps. Although fig wasps are known to be largely diurnal, we documented night oviposition in several fig wasp species for the first time. Ant activity on the fig syconia was correlated with wasp activity and was dependent on whether the ants were predatory or trophobiont-tending species; only numbers of predatory ants increased during peak arrivals of the wasps.

独花兰和扇脉杓兰的传粉生态学

兰科植物精巧的花部结构及其独特的传粉机制为自然选择理论和异花受粉优势学说提供了强有力的证据。开展兰科植物的传粉生态学研究对进一步探讨植物进化中的一些关键问题（如生殖隔离、物种形成、适应和繁育系统进化等）具有重要意义。本文通过对独花兰 (Changnienia amoena) 和扇脉杓兰 (Cypripedium japonicum) 两种兰科植物进行植物与传粉者之间关系、种内形态变异、花粉散布等方面的研究，探讨其适应进化方式、传粉系统的进化趋势，同时为开发适用的分子标记，在独花兰中初步摸索和探讨了微卫星标记的分离。主要研究结果如下： 1. 濒危植物独花兰的传粉生态学 在神农架2个地点进行了连续2年的野外观测和实验。结果表明，独花兰是一种自交亲和、需要昆虫传粉的欺骗性植物。在2个地点独花兰的传粉者种类不同，在龙门河三条熊蜂 (Bombus (Diversobombus) trifasciatus) 是主要传粉者，在关门山仿熊蜂 (B. (Tricornibombus) imitator) 是唯一的传粉者。尽管它们出现的丰度和觅食行为不同，但其传粉行为和携粉部位非常相同，因此，可以看作是一个功能群（functional group）。从种群水平上看，开花个体的分布式样不是显著的偏斜曲线图，传粉者的有效访问主要集中在开花的前、中期。由于没有花蜜，传粉者在花内停留的时间很短，花粉块输出和传粉发生在熊蜂劳而无获的访问、退出花时。自然条件下，独花兰的结实率很低，只有6%-12%，并呈现明显的年份和地点变化。传粉者限制是结实率低的主要原因。与同亚族近缘种布袋兰相比，分布于中国中部的独花兰受冰期的影响很小，其传粉环境相对稳定，在进化历史中，形成了一种稳定的传粉系统。本研究结果纠正了前人对独花兰繁殖方式的错误认识，并为其保护策略的制订提供了重要资料。 2. 独花兰种群大小、传粉者访问和花粉流 为了检验独花兰种群大小、空间格局与传粉者访问之间的关系，连续2年对10个独花兰种群的花粉块输出和输入进行了统计分析，同时对花粉块进行标记研究其散布式样。结果显示，花粉块输出比例与种群大小之间关系在2003年呈显著负相关，但在2004年这种负相关关系不显著。尽管独花兰的空间分布格局在不同种群不同，但传粉者的访问除了在有蜂巢的种群为聚集式访问外，其余种群内均为随机访问式样。花粉块的散布式样呈尖峰态分布，多数花粉块散布很短的距离，少数散布较远。花粉块的平均散布距离在龙门河为7.3 m，在关门山为10.6 m。由于各种群之间相隔很远，种群之间花粉块交流受到限制，很少有种群外的花粉块输入。花粉块传递只在种群内近缘个体中进行，有可能导致种内遗传或形态分化。 3. 独花兰种内形态变异及其适应意义 对庐山、新宁和神农架3个地点15个独花兰自然种群的形态变异进行了研究，探讨了形态多样性水平和地理变异式样及其可能的适应机制。结果表明，在物种水平上独花兰形态性状存在丰富的变异。单因素方差分析显示3个地区间多个形态性状存在极显著差异（P<0.01），UPGMA聚类分析也表明这3个地区分别形成明显不同的分支，说明3个地区种群植物形态已经出现分化。在神农架地区，龙门河和关门山两个地点间出现明显的形态分化，而这两个地点的传粉者在形体大小表现出显著差异。适合度与形态性状之间的相关性分析显示，独花兰种内形态分化是以传粉者为媒介的自然选择作用的结果。移栽实验显示，本地传粉者对本地和移栽种群花的访问表现出一定的选择性。 4. 扇脉杓兰的传粉生态学研究 与独花兰同域分布、花期不遇的扇脉杓兰是杓兰属的一个特殊类群，具有典型“Japonicum”型唇瓣类型。对神农架6个种群连续两年野外观测和实验结果表明，扇脉杓兰是一种自交亲和、需要昆虫传粉的欺骗性植物。在种群水平上开花个体的分布式样呈显著的偏斜曲线图，在短时间内迅速到达盛花期。扇脉杓兰的传粉者是三种熊蜂，其访问频次很低，访问时间很短，有效访问主要集中在开花的前、中期。自然结实率只有4.3％－8.5％，人工授粉实验证明，传粉者限制是结实率低的主要原因，且传粉者限制程度在花期不同阶段和不同地点存在差异。对欺骗性植物聚集生长、开花有利于吸引传粉者这一假说进行检验，结果显示，克隆群丛大小与传粉者有效访问（花粉块输出比例）呈弱负相关关系。聚集生长的结实率与分散生长的没有显著差异，说明繁殖成功与开花个体的密度无关。扇脉杓兰的花粉集结为未蜡质化的花粉块，是杓兰属中粘质花粉和蜡质花粉块的中间进化类型。传粉生态学和形态学证据显示C. acaule和扇脉杓兰是东亚-北美间断分布的姐妹种对。 5. 独花兰微卫星位点的分离 为了深入研究独花兰种群的基因流和交配系统，用Dynabeads和选择性杂交法分离微卫星位点、筛选引物。首先将基因组DNA用合适的内切酶消化为400-1000 bp大小的片段，然后用生物素标记的简单重复寡核苷酸序列做探针与其杂交，杂交复合物用抗生链霉素蛋白包裹的磁珠吸附，经过一系列洗脱、沉淀，得到富含重复片段的DNA，然后在进行克隆、测序，利用SSR两侧翼区设计引物，经过多态性分析可得到微卫星标记。结果显示，35个克隆序列中18个（51.4％）含有重复片段（SSRs），说明用Dynabeads富集效率明显高于传统方法。到目前为止所得引物共4对。这一实验方法的探索为以后分离杓兰属等兰科植物微卫星位点、进而进行群体遗传学研究奠定了一定的基础。

四川黄龙沟兰科植物多样性及影响繁殖成功的生态因子

植物生态学特性诸如植物的分布特征、与生境的关系、生物学特性、繁殖成功特点及其影响因素等方面的详细资料是研究珍稀植物种群结构和动态以及开展保育生物学研究的基础。 黄龙沟草本植物群落具有较为丰富的植物种类。在所调查样方中(N=662)共有维管植物124种，分属于37科91属，有54个中国特有种。其中兰科植物多达21属33种，中国特有种有12个，新种一个。如此众多的地生兰科植物聚集在面积不到1平方千米的沟内，而且部分兰科植物种类在沟内形成优势草本群落，这在中国地生兰的分布区域中是不多见的。大多数物种，包括兰科植物在内，出现的频率都较小，并且分布不均匀。种间关联分析和相关分析表明黄龙沟优势兰科植物可以分为两组。一组包括无苞杓兰、黄花杓兰、二叶根茎兰、广布小碟兰、少花鹤顶兰和西藏杓兰，主要分布在光线充足但又具有一定遮阴条件的环境中;另一组包括筒距兰、沼兰、珊瑚兰、小斑叶兰、布袋兰、小花舌唇兰和小叶对叶兰，它们主要分布于荫蔽的环境中。这些兰科植物在组内大多呈现显著的正相关关系，组间大多呈现显著的负相关关系，说明黄龙沟兰科植物在资源利用方式上可能产生了分化。 黄龙沟兰科植物主要分布在两种生境中，即钙化滩流地和一小片森林中。在这两种生境中微环境条件以及兰科植物的种类组成、数量特征和分布格局的差异都很大。钙化滩流地的兰科植物种类数目和每个样方中包含的兰科植物种类数目都比森林生境中的高。钙化滩流地中发现有30种兰科植物，六种最为常见的是无苞杓兰、黄花杓兰、西藏杓兰、广布小碟兰、二叶根茎兰和少花鹤顶兰，它们的密度与树木盖度呈负相关关系。森林生境中有21种兰科植物分布，其中筒距兰和斑叶兰出现最多，其密度与树木盖度呈正相关关系。光照强度可能对兰科植物的分布起到重要的决定作用。兰科植物彼此之间对繁殖成功以及植株间建立的相互促进作用以及土壤中高的钙含量很可能是形成黄龙沟兰科植物多样性的重要原因，而钙化滩流地中的溪流对建立和维持兰科植物生存所必须的稳定环境条件起到至关重要的作用，如果随意改变水流的方向或减少水流的流量，将给某些兰科植物带来灾难性的后果。 黄龙沟钙化滩流地中斑块的大小对物种数（含兰科植物）具有强烈的影响，即斑块越大，所包含的物种数量越多。物种-面积关系符合幂函数方程S=cAZ的规律。中等尺度的斑块(1-10 m2)包含的物种数（含兰科植物）的增长速度最快，而在斑块面积大于10 m2时，物种数增长速度最小。 少花鹤顶兰是多年生、多次结实的具有克隆能力的地生兰科植物，是中国特有种。黄龙沟少花鹤顶兰每个花序的平均花朵数为3(1-7)朵。叶和花的形态指标在年季间无显著变异。2005-2007年3年间的开花物候没有明显的差异，花期始于6月中旬，于7月底至8月初结束，持续约6-7周，80-90%的花在7月初的开花高峰期开放，属花集中开放模式。花寿命与是否授粉密切相关，成功授粉的花寿命比没有授粉的花寿命短。少花鹤顶兰是自交亲和的，但其结实完全依赖于两种熊蜂的传粉，不存在自动自花授粉和无融合生殖现象。柱头可授性和花粉活力可维持15天左右。繁殖成功率年季间的变化很大，并表现出逐年下降的趋势，花粉移走率为18-51%，自然结实率为10-36%。繁殖成功与开花物候之间的关系不显著，但与某一特定时刻的开花数量（密度）有关。生境对少花鹤顶兰的形态和繁殖成功率有显著的影响。在荫蔽生境中的个体比开阔地中的个体大，但繁殖成功率却低于开阔地的。花序密度（丛的大小）对少花鹤顶兰繁殖成功的影响比较复杂，不同大小的丛，对花粉移走率的影响格局和方式不同，而对结实率几乎没有影响。花序大小对繁殖成功率没有显著的影响。花位置对繁殖成功的影响在不同大小的丛中具有不同的格局，在最小的丛中，花位置对雄性和雌性繁殖成功的影响都很显著，但在最大丛中都不显著。边缘效应对少花鹤顶兰和广布小碟兰的繁殖成功有显著的影响，花粉移走率和结实率均随离栈道的距离增加而增加。在离栈道10米以内的植株受到的影响最为严重。这种影响可能是由边缘效应和在栈道上的游客共同作用下，对传粉者产生了干扰，导致传粉者的行为改变所引起的。如果这种边缘效应是一个普遍现象的话，那么在进行自然保护区设计时，应该对这种效应加以重视。

内蒙古锡林河流域空间生态学研究

本文从物种和景观两个组织水平上研究了气候、土壤、地形等自然环境因子和人类活动因子对生物空间分布格局的影响。基于锡林河流域地理信息系统各环境因子的专题数据，利用空间异质性分析方法研究了锡林河流域环境因子的空间分布格局;基于锡林河流域野外调查数据，运用空间异质性分析方法研究了重要物种的空间分布格局，并采用典范对应分析(Canomc Correspondence Analvsis，CCA)方法分析了物种分布与环境因子的关系：基于锡林河流域地理信息系统各环境因子的专题数据，研究了锡林河流域植被斑块的空间格局特征及其与环境因子的关系，并采用典范对应分析方法分析了植被类型组成与环境因子的关系：基于内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站放牧样地的样方调查数据．采用空间异质性分析方法，研究了放牧压力对物种空间分布格局的影响：基于多年的卫星遥感数据，采用建模和对比等方法，研究了定居放牧方式下植被状况空间变化规律及植被状况时空变化与人类活动、社会经济发展的关系。通过上述分析，得到的主要结论如下： 1、锡林河流域各个环境因子都具有自己的空间特征尺度，共同形成多尺度等级体系，按特征尺度的大小可以分为如下3个组： ·小尺度组(15km左右)：有机暖、全N的较小的特征尺度 ·中尺度组(30～50km)：T1，碳酸钙含量．PER、全N和海拔高度的较小的特征尺度 ·大尺度组(100km左右)：ANNR，PER、全N和海拔高度的较大的特征尺度多尺度等级的生态学意义是它反映生态变量异质斑块的镶嵌和包含特征，环境因子多尺度等级体系反映共性，具有普遍性：反映生态关系，具有生态学意义。 2、对物种空间异质性的Mantel检验和半方差分析得到了一致的结果产即羊草、糙隐子草和星毛萎菱菜在锡林河流域的空间分布呈现随机特征，而大针茅和冷蒿则表现为十分显著的格局特征。按分布格局的显著程度从大到小排列为冷蒿>大针茅>星毛萎菱菜>糙隐子草>羊草。理论半方差图显示大针茅和冷蒿的空间自相关域分别为30．447公里和30公里。物种空间分布格局是受自然条件、人类活动以及它们自身的生理生态特征综合决定的，物种自身的生理生态特征决定了它们对外界环境变化的适应性反应机制，而自然与人类活动这两种因素在空间的交错配置决定了物种适应性反应的方向和程度，从而综合导致物种空间分布格局的形成。 3、对锡林河流域物种分布与环境因子关系的CCA分析和交叉半方差方法分析显示：1)气候因子(11个指标)、土壤性状因子(3个指标)和地形因子(3个指标)对物种分布的贡献率分别为11．2％、9．5％和11％，三者总和为31．7％。2)各个环境因子对物种分布空间作用方向具有一致性，物种分布与环境因子几乎都在135。和157．5。两个方向上具有相对明显的相关性，从锡林河流域来看，这两个方向反映了气候、土壤以及地形从东南往西北的变化梯度方向。 4、对锡林河流域14个植被景观指数进行的PCA分析表明，锡林河流域植被斑块空间分布的物理特征主要表现在斑块的数目和大小方面，其次是在斑块的多样性方面，并可将它们分为4个组，分别反映锡林河流域植被斑块的不同特征： ·第一组：NP、PRD、LPI、MPS、PSSD和TE，主要反映景观斑块在数量和大小方面的特征; ·第二组：SHDI、SIDI、SHEI和SIEI，主要反映景观斑块的多样性特征; ·第三组：PSCV和[J]．主要反映景观斑块之间的相互邻接程度; ·第四组：MSI和AWMSI，主要反映景观斑块的形状特征。 MPS和PSSD两个指数与环境因子无论是在相关系数的性质还是显著程度上都保持了很好的一致性，它们与纬度(LAT)及可能蒸散率(PER)呈极显著的正相关关系，而与经度(LNG)、海拔高度(ALT)、年平均降水量(ANNR)及土壤有机质含量(0RG)呈极显著的负相关关系：平均形状指数(MSI)只与LAT呈显著的正相关关系;多样性指数和扩散毗连指数与任何一个环境因子都没有表现出显著的相关性。 5、锡林河流域植被分布与环境因子的关系CCA排序方法分析表明，气候因子(11个指标)、土壤性状因子(3个指标)和地形因子(3个指标)对植被分布的贡献率分别为19.8%、11.1%和14.5%，三者总和为45.4％。环境因子在植被和物种两个水平上的贡献率表现了相似的特点，自然环境因子不能完全解释植被的空间分布，人类活动的影响应该受到重视。 6、放牧压力对物种空间分布格局的研究表明： ·牧压对温带典型草原物种的空间分布格局有明显的影响。随着牧云的增大，属于原生群落物种的羊草与大针茅空间分布的随机性减小，空间自相关尺度逐渐增大;而对于退化过程中的入侵物种冷蒿和星毛萎菱菜，其空间分布的随机性逐渐增大．空间自相关尺度也呈增大趋势。在牧压胁迫超过一定水平时，冷蒿空间分布的自相关尺度开始下降，而星毛萎菱菜的空间分布格局则表现出强烈的随机性。 ·物种空间格局的变化是反映群落演替过程较为稳定的特征，适用于不同放牧条件下 群落之间的比较。 7、利用遥感数据对人类活动对植被影响的研究表明： ·定居放牧方式下，NDVI随定居点距离的变化格局经历了3个阶段。第一阶段，草场处于原生阶段，NDVI不随距离变化;第二阶段，定居点附近开始局部退化，NDVI随距离增加而增大：第三阶段，退化区域扩大，NDVI不随距离变化。 ·在草场局部退化阶段，NDVI随距离的变化呈对数函数规律，定居点的放牧区具有放牧半径、原生NDVI值、NDVI变化率等特征。根据这些特征、NDVI对数规律以及NDVI与地上生物量的关系可以推测定居点的总载畜量。 ·锡林河流域从87年到85年NDVI值降低最大的区域为流域的中部和南部，这与这一区域人类活动强度以及社会经济发展具有密切关系。

Productivity and persistence of perennial grass mixtures under competition from annual weeds in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

In the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau four indigenous perennial grass species Bromus inermis (BI), Elymus sibiricus (ES), Elymus nutans (EN) and Agropyron cristatum (AC) were cultivated as three mixtures with different compositions and seeding rates, BI + EN, BI + ES + AC and BI + ES + EN + AC. From 1998 to 2001 there were three different weeding treatments: never weeded (CK); weeded on three occasions in the first year (1-y) and weeded on three occasions in both the first and second year (2-y) and their effect of grass combination and interactions on sward productivity and persistence was measured. Intense competitive interference by weedy annuals reduced dry matter (DM) yield of the swards. Grass combination significantly affected sward DM yields, leaf area index (LAI) and foliar canopy cover and also species composition DM and LAI, and species plant cover. Interaction between weeding treatments and grass combination was significant for sward DM yield, LAI and canopy cover, but not on species composition for DM, LAI or species plant cover. Grass mixture BI + ES + EN + AC gave the highest sward DM yield and LAI for both weeding and non-weeding treatments. Species ES and EN were competitively superior to the others. Annual weedy forbs must be controlled to obtain productive and stable mixtures of perennial grasses, and germination/emergence is the most important time for removal. Weeding three times (late May, late June and mid-July) in the establishment year is enough to maintain the production and persistence of perennial grass mixtures in the following growing seasons. Extra weeding three times in the second growing year makes only a slight improvement in productivity.

The relationship between specific cognitive impairment and behaviour in Prader-Willi syndrome

Background

Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have been shown to demonstrate a particular cognitive deficit in attention switching and high levels of preference for routine and temper outbursts. This study assesses whether a specific pathway between a cognitive deficit and behaviour via environmental interaction can exist in individuals with PWS.

Methods

Four individuals with PWS participated in a series of three single-case experiments including laboratory-based and natural environment designs. Cognitive (computer-based) challenges placed varying demands on attention switching or controlled for the cognitive demands of the tasks while placing no demands on switching. Unexpected changes to routines or expectations were presented in controlled games, or imposed on participants' natural environments and compared with control conditions during which no unexpected changes occurred. Behaviour was observed and heart rate was measured.

Results

Participants showed significantly increased temper outburst related behaviours during cognitive challenges that placed demands on attention switching, relative to the control cognitive challenges. Participants showed significantly increased temper outburst related behaviours when unexpected changes occurred in an experimental or the natural environment compared with when no changes occurred.

Conclusions

Difficult behaviours that could be triggered reliably in an individual by a specific cognitive demand could also be triggered via manipulation of the environment. Results suggest that a directional relationship between a specific cognitive deficit and behaviour, via environmental interaction, can exist in individuals with PWS.

Micromorphology of the labellum and structure of the osmophore in a group of closely related species of the sexually deceptive Orchid genus Ophrys (orchidaceae)

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Biologia Celular), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2016

Biofilmbildung bei Pflanzen-assoziierten Bakterien der Gattung Methylobacterium und molekulargenetisch-physiologische Charakterisierung eines neuen Marchantia-Isolats (Mtb. sp. JT1)

Bakterien existieren bevorzugt in Biofilmen. Das Zusammenleben in diesen Gemeinschaften bietet den einzelnen Mikroben einen wirksamen Schutz und ermöglicht die Ausbildung langfristiger, synergistischer Wechselwirkungen, die mit multizellulären Systemen verglichen werden können. Biofilme bestehen aus Mikrooganismen-Populationen, die sich an Grenzflächen ansammeln und typischerweise von einer Matrix aus extrazellulären polymeren Substanzen umgeben sind. Auch auf Pflanzen-Oberflächen bilden viele Bakterien Biofilme, um ihre Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit zu erhöhen. In dieser Arbeit wurde die Biofilmbildung bei Pflanzen-assoziierten Bakterien der Gattung Methylobacterium (Mtb.) untersucht, wobei molekular- und mikrobiologische sowie mikroskopische Techniken eingesetzt wurden. Es zeigte sich, dass alle untersuchten Vertreter der Gattung Methylobacterium in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß Biofilme bilden. Die Ausprägung ist dabei Taxon (bzw. Isolat)-spezifisch und vor allem von der Stickstoff-Verfügbarkeit abhängig. Jedoch spielen auch andere Umweltfaktoren, wie die Versorgung der Zellen mit Phosphat und die Zelldichte, bei der Ausbildung der überzellulären Einheiten eine wichtige Rolle. Die Matrix der Biofilme wird meist durch ein fibrilläres Netzwerk gebildet. Dabei handelt es sich um Heteropolysaccharide, die von den Bakterien synthetisiert und sezerniert werden. Einige Isolate bilden zusätzlich zahlreiche Fimbrien (Auswüchse), durch die sie an andere Zellen oder Oberflächen binden können. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit wurden mehrere neue Methylobacterium-Isolate physiologisch und molekulargenetisch charakterisiert (Nährstoffverwertung, DNA-Sequenzen verschiedener Gene, phylogenetische Analysen usw.). Im Vordergrund stand hierbei der von einer urtümlichen Landpflanze, dem Lebermoos (Marchantia polymorpha), isolierte Stamm Mtb. sp. JT1. Dabei zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede in der Morphologie und Physiologie des Bakterienstamms JT1 und dem nahe verwandten Stamm 5b.2.20 zu den bereits beschriebenen Taxa der Gattung, so dass eine Spezies-Neubeschreibung erforderlich war. Als Artname wurde aufgrund der außergewöhnlichen Oberflächenstrukturen Mtb. fimbriae sp. nov. eingeführt. Auch andere Methylobakterien (unter anderem Isolat Mtb. sp. F3.2, isoliert vom Laubmoos Funaria hygrometrica) stellen wahrscheinlich Vertreter einer neue Spezies dar (Artname Mtb. funariae sp. nov.). Jedoch zeigen Mtb. fimbriae und Mtb. funariae nur geringe physiologische und morphologische Unterschiede und konnten auf Grundlage umfassender DNA-DNA-Hybridisierungs-Studien nicht eindeutig voneinander abgegrenzt werden.

Nitrogen and carbon dynamics in grassland soils and plants after application of digestate

A better understanding of effects after digestate application on plant community, soil microbial community as well as nutrient and carbon dynamics is crucial for a sustainable grassland management and the prevention of species and functional diversity loss. The specific research objectives of the thesis were: (i) to investigate effects after digestate application on grass species and soil microbial community, especially focussing on nitrogen dynamic in the plant-soil system and to examine the suitability of the digestate from the “integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass” (IFBB) system as fertilizer (Chapter 3). (ii) to investigate the relationship between plant community and functionality of soil microbial community of extensively managed meadows, taking into account temporal variations during the vegetation period and abiotic soil conditions (Chapter 4). (iii) to investigate the suitability of IFBB-concept implementation as grassland conservation measure for meadows and possible associated effects of IFBB digestate application on plant and soil microbial community as well as soil microbial substrate utilization and catabolic evenness (Chapter 5). Taken together the results indicate that the digestate generated during the IFBB process stands out from digestates of conventional whole crop digestion on the basis of higher nitrogen use efficiency and that it is useful for increasing harvestable biomass and the nitrogen content of the biomass, especially of L. perenne, which is a common species of intensively used grasslands. Further, a medium application rate of IFBB digestate (50% of nitrogen removed with harvested biomass, corresponding to 30 50 kg N ha-1 a-1) may be a possibility for conservation management of different meadows without changing the functional above- and belowground characteristic of the grasslands, thereby offering an ecologically worthwhile alternative to mulching. Overall, the soil microbial biomass and catabolic performance under planted soil was marginally affected by digestate application but rather by soil properties and partly by grassland species and legume occurrence. The investigated extensively managed meadows revealed a high soil catabolic evenness, which was resilient to medium IFBB application rate after a three-year period of application.

Towards a developmental memory-based and embodied cognitive architecture

A novel memory-based embodied cognitive architecture is introduced – the MBC architecture. It is founded upon neuropsychological theory, and may be applied to investigating the interplay of embodiment, autonomy, and environmental interaction as related to the development of cognition.

Proteomic analysis reveals suppression of bark chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in citrus plants affected by the citrus sudden death disease

Citrus sudden death (CSD) is a disease of unknown etiology that greatly affects sweet oranges grafted on Rangpur lime rootstock, the most important rootstock in Brazilian citriculture. We performed a proteomic analysis to generate information related to this plant pathogen interaction. Protein profiles from healthy, CSD-affected and CSD-tolerant stem barks, were generated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein spots were well distributed over a pI range of 3.26 to 9.97 and a molecular weight (MW) range from 7.1 to 120 kDa. The patterns of expressed proteins on 2-DE gels made it possible to distinguish healthy barks from CSD-affected barks. Protein spots with MW around 30 kDa and pI values ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 were down-regulated in the CSD-affected rootstock bark. This set of protein spots was identified as chitinases. Another set of proteins, ranging in pI from 6.1 to 9.6 with an MW of about 20 kDa, were also suppressed in CSD-affected rootstock bark; these were identified as miraculin-like proteins, potential trypsin inhibitors. Downregulation of chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in CSD-affected plants is relevant since chitinases are well-known pathogenesis-related protein, and their activity against plant pathogens is largely accepted.

alpha-Hydroxynitrile lyase protein from Xylella fastidiosa: Cloning, expression, and characterization

Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-restricted plant pathogen that causes a range of diseases in several and important crops. Through comparative genomic sequence analysis many genes were identified and, among them, several potentially involved in plant-pathogen interaction. The experimental determination of the primary sequence of some markedly expressed proteins for X fastidiosa and the comparison with the nucleic acids sequence of genome identified one of them as being SCJ21.16 (XFa0032) gene product. The comparative analysis of this protein against SWISSPROT database, in special, resulted in similarity with a-hydroxynitrile lyase enzyme (HNL) from Arabidopsis thaliana, causing interest for being one of the most abundant proteins both in the whole cell extract as well as in the extracellular protein fraction. It is known that HNL enzyme are involved in a process termed ""cyanogenesis"", which catalyzes the dissociation of alpha-hydroxinitrile into carbonyle and HCN when plant tissue is damaged. Although the complete genome sequences of X.fastidiosa are available and the cyanogenesis process is well known, the biological role of this protein in this organism is not yet functionally characterized. In this study we presented the cloning, expression, characterization of recombinant HNL from X fastidiosa, and its probable function in the cellular metabolism. The successful cloning and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli resulted in a satisfactory amount of the recombinant HNL expressed in a soluble, and active form giving convenient access to pure enzyme for biochemical and structural studies. Finally, our results confirmed that the product of the gene XFa0032 can be positively assigned as FAD-independent HNLs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Postharvest harpin or Bacillus thuringiensis treatments suppress citrus black spot in 'Valencia' oranges

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)