中国古牡丹资源调查及衰老相关研究

牡丹（Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.）是芍药科芍药属牡丹组植物，花大、色艳、型美、香郁、药用范围广、文化内涵丰富，被尊为“国色天香”、“花中之王”。我国植牡丹、赏牡丹有1600多年的历史，培育了许多价值高的品种，遗憾的是个别黄色、鲜红色、绿色等珍贵品种不断消失，而且现有的一些文化价值与观赏价值极高的古牡丹、著名的牡丹园的老牡丹均出现了衰弱现象，有的已奄奄一息。为了探索传统牡丹品种消失及牡丹衰老的原因，本研究在充分调查、整理国内品种资源的基础上，总结了牡丹品种的传承和消失情况，掌握了古牡丹的资源状况。通过连作土壤栽培试验证明了牡丹连作障碍的存在，并选定了生长在同一区域的5、10、15、20、25、30年生6个株龄的‘洛阳红（Luo Yang Hong）’为研究对象，从形态指标的调查、生理指标的测定、根际土壤及根系浸提液的化感成分分析三个方面着手，确定了牡丹开始衰老的时期;揭示了牡丹衰老机理;总结了古牡丹保留、复壮、养护办法;为牡丹专类园的管理及可持续性发展提供了理论和技术指导。本研究主要结果如下： 1、牡丹品种和古牡丹资源 通过对中国牡丹品种资源的文献查阅和实地考察，系统整理了我国不同时代的品种状况，调查结果表明：宋、元、明、清共有品种1109种，目前仅存143种，品种资源消失十分严重。收集整理了49处古牡丹资料，并据此绘制了我国目前古牡丹分布图;实地调查了17处24株古牡丹，详细介绍了部分品种的来历传说、生长状况和衰亡原因。5个优良传统品种在中国科学院植物研究所牡丹种质资源圃内得以保存，其中潞城古牡丹，植株最大（高2.3 m，冠径5.6 m），且生长旺盛;西溪牡丹属丰花品种，40年植株可开花811朵。 2、牡丹连作障碍 利用牡丹连作根际土壤及其浸出液栽培牡丹，结果表明，播种苗及分株苗的生长均受到了抑制;连作年限越久的处理抑制作用越强;根际土壤浸出液对牡丹生长的影响较大，对前期地下部和后期地上部都有很强的抑制作用，而且还抑制了上胚轴休眠的解除;根际土壤对后期株高和展叶幅的影响较大，对播种苗前期生根影响不大。牡丹存在连作障碍现象，连作障碍是牡丹衰弱的重要原因。 3、牡丹衰老时间及机理 通过对6 个株龄‘洛阳红’的形态、生理指标及根际土壤化感成分的比较得出，牡丹在同一地方大约栽植15 年后开始衰弱，20 年以内应该采取复壮措施。利用气相色谱—质谱联用技术（Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer, GC-MS）检测到根际土壤及根系浸提液中主要存在：烷烃、烯烃、芳香烃、醇、醚、酚醌、有机酸、醛、酮、酯、苯、胺等12 类有机物。对比分析得出有12 种物质可能是根系分泌物，根际土壤中可能具毒害作用的物质有40 种，栽植牡丹使土壤中增加的物质有24 种。 4、古牡丹复壮技术及应用 栽培基质中添加活性炭、沙子、麦饭石等均能有效的促进牡丹的生长，以活性炭的效果最好。对“汉牡丹”实施了综合复壮措施，效果明显。

MPC: A paradigm shift for automatic control

Model Predictive Control (MPC) represents a major paradigm shift in the field of automatic control. This radically affects synthesis techniques (illustrated by control of an unstable system) and underlying concepts (illustrated by control of a multivariable system), as well as lifting the control engineer's focus from prescriptions to specifications ('what' not 'how', illustrated by emulation of a conventional autopilot). Part of the objective of this paper is to emphasize the significance of this paradigm shift. Another part is to consider the fact that this shift was missed for many years by the academic community, and what this tells us about teaching and research in the field.

The Sundarbans fishers coping in an overly stressed mangrove estuary

The fishing community of the Sundarbans are the human group most at home in the mud-slush-water-forest environment of this famous mangrove estuary. Their skills, knowledge, and technique have developed in response to a challenging environment. Yet, of the countless studies on the various aspects of this eco-region, there are exceedingly few that have studied the Sundarbans fisher in his/her ecological, historical and demographic context—as a key stakeholder in an environment under considerable stress. The present study seeks to reduce this lacuna a little. Its object is not merely to examine and analyse, but also to identify means, both tradition-based and innovative, which might contribute to protect the environment, improve economic conditions, and usher in people-based governance of resources.

A report on frame and catch assessment surveys on Nabugabo lakes, north west, Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda

The Nabugabo lakes are an important source of affordable protein food in the form of fish, income, water for domestic and commercial purposes (aquaculture farm and Hotels), handcraft materials (mats, hats, roof thatch) and fishing floats and rafts. Nabugabo lakes provide employment, income and export earnings to Uganda that flow from the act of harvesting the fish. In Uganda the fisheries sector directly employs 350,000 people and indirectly 1.2 million people. In 2005, it is estimated that about 370,000 mt fish export (97-98% Nile perch) earned Uganda US $ 143 Million up from US $ 103 million in 2004 .and up from US $ 45 million in 1996. , making it almost become the first non' traditional export commodity. The Nabugabo lakes are also import for cultural values and fish species from these lakes are important in evolutionary studies. The fishery sector is therefore very important in Uganda's socio-economic life. Despite the above values to the communities and global biodiversity roles, the amount of fish caught and the number fishing fleets operating on the Nabugabo lakes to guide management of the lake are lacking. The fishery that exists in these lakes is largely for subsistence and commercial purposes specific for Lake Nabugabo based on introduced species (Nile perch and Nile Tilapia). The fish is caught using mainly gill nets and long line hooks.

Superconducting properties of Gd-Ba-Cu-O single grains processed from a new, Ba-rich precursor compound

Gd-Ba-Cu-O (GdBCO) single grains have been previously melt-processed successfully in air using a generic Mg-Nd-Ba-Cu-O (Mg-NdBCO) seed crystal. Previous research has revealed that the addition of a small amount of BaO 2 to the precursor powders prior to melt processing can suppress the formation of Gd/Ba solid solution, and lead to a significant improvement in superconducting properties of the single grains. Research into the effects of a higher Ba content on single grain growth, however, has been limited by the relatively small grain size in the earlier studies. This has been addressed by developing Ba-rich precursor compounds Gd-163 and Gd-143, fabricated specifically to enable the presence of greater concentrations of Ba during the melt process. In this study, we propose a new processing route for the fabrication of high performance GdBCO single grain bulk superconductors in air by enriching the precursor powder with these new Ba rich compounds. The influence of the addition of the new compounds on the microstructures and superconducting properties of GdBCO single grains is reported. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Phylogenetic relationships among two species of golden monkey and three species of leaf monkey inferred from rDNA variation

Restriction maps of rDNA repeats of five species of Colobinae and three outgroup taxa, Hylobates leucogenys, Macaca mulatta, and Macaca irus, were constructed using 15 restriction endonucleases and cloned 18S and 28S rRNA gene probes. The site variation between Rhinopithecus roxellana and Rhinopithecus bieti is comparable to that between Presbytis francoisi and Presbytis phayrei, implying that R. bieti is a valid species rather than a subspecies of R. roxellana. Phylogenetic analysis on the 47 informative sites supports the case for Rhinopithecus being an independent genus and closely related to Presbytis. Furthermore, branch lengths of the tree seem to support the hypothesis that the leaf monkeys share some ancestral traits as well as some automorphic characters.

Heliconema savala n.sp. (Nematoda:Physalopteridae) from marine fish Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier) (Trichiuridae) and Psettodes erumei (Schneider) new host (Pisces:Pettodidae) of Physalopterid Nematode, Bulbocephalus inglisi Rasheed, 1966 in Pakistan

Helicnonema savala, n.sp. obtained from the marine fish, Lepturacanthus savala in Sindh coast is distinguished from members of the genus processing in the male 10 tessellated longtitudinal ridges and a spicule ratio 1:15. Females have vulvular flap. Heliconema savala is a morphologically most closely related to Heliconema heliconema. The marine fish, Psettodes erumei is recorded as a new host of Bulbocephalus inglisi.

The behavior of a single pile under cyclic axial loads

Many piled foundations have been destroyed under significant cyclic loads in earthquakes. Centrifuge modelling of a single pile subjected to cyclic loads has been conducted to investigate the influence of cyclic loads on the axial performance of the single pile. Different pile installation procedures were applied to compare the axial behaviour of different piles under cyclic loads. Pile head permanent settlements accumulated due to cyclic axial loads, and these increased with the increasing load amplitude. Also the pile head axial secant stiffness decreased with the increasing number of axial load cycles, and with increasing amplitude. Furthermore, the axial pile performance is influenced significantly by different installation methods. © 2010 ASCE.

Effects of Pallas' viper (Agkistrodon halys pallas) venom on blood coagulation and characterization of a prothrombin activator

The action of Pallas' viper (Agkistrodon halys pallas) venom on blood coagulation was examined in vitro and a strong anticoagulant effect was observed. This action was abolished after treatment with a specific inhibitor of phospholipase A(2) activity (p-bromophenacyl bromide), revealing a procoagulant action in low concentrations of treated venom (around 1 mu g/ml). The effect of the venom an haemostasis was further characterized by measuring its ability to activate purified blood coagulation factors. It is concluded that A. halys pallas venom contains prothrombin activation activity. A prothrombin activator (aharin) was purified from the venom by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono-Q column. It consisted of a single polypeptide chain, with a mol. wt of 63,000. Purified aharin possessed no amidolytic activity on chromogenic substrates. It did not act on other blood coagulation factors, such as factor X and plasminogen, nor did it cleave or clot purified fibrinogen. The prothrombin activation activity of aharin was readily inhibited by ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (a metal chelator), but specific serine protease inhibitors such as diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride had no effect on it. These observations suggest that, like those prothrombin activators from Echis carinatus and Bothrops atrox venoms, the prothrombin activator from A. halys pallas venom is a metalloproteinase. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fishery, population characteristics and stock assessment of cuttlefishes, Sepia aculeata and Sepia pharaonis at Kakinada along the east coast of India

Cuttlefishes were exploited exclusively by trawls along the coast. Growth, recruitment, mortality and exploitation rates of Sepia aculeata and Sepia pharaonis were studied. Fishery of the former was supported mainly by zero year and the latter by zero and one + age groups. Both attain sexual maturity during the first year itself and spawn during August-March with peak during November-December. Natural mortality of S.aculeata was 2.22, fishing mortality 2.34 and total mortality 4.56. It was 1.69, 1.97 and 3.66 respectively for S.pharaonis. Exploitation rate was 0.52 and Emax 0.72 for S.aculeata and it was 0.54 and 0.76 respectively for S.pharaonis. Their mortality and exploitation rates indicated that stock remains under-exploited and have considerable scope for improving the production. However, both stock and catch exhibited wide annual fluctuation with declining trend during the period. These necessitated immediate attention including measures to minimise juvenile exploitation for improving stock and fishery.

Apoptotic activity of frog Bombina maxima skin albumin

Albumin, the most abundant protein components of blood plasma, is synthesized and secreted by liver cells in vertebrates. Recently, it was demonstrated that frog Bombina maxima albumin is also expressed in skin. Both B. maxima albumins from skin and serum

休克时肾脏脂质过氧化损伤的实验研究

本实验用家兔20只,以夹闭肠系膜上动脉造成肠系膜上动脉夹闭性休克(SMAO)模型。经测定红细胞超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,血浆及肾组织中自由基脂质过氧化的代谢产物丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化。发现SMAO时,血浆及肾组织MDA含量明显增高,而红细胞SOD活性降低。提示:氧自由基及其介导的脂质过氧化对其病变过程起了一定的作用。

Distribution, biology and behaviour of the giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis- a candidate species for mariculture

Fishery and biology of the giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis exploited along the Tuticorin coast of Tamilnadu were monitored during 2001-2006. Fishery occurred round the year with peak landings during April-August. Spawning and recruitment occur almost round the year with peak during November-December. Young ones are abundant in shallow coastal waters and as grows, they move to deeper waters. Growth parameters, L"' and K are estimated respectively as 143.6 cm and 0.69/year and 'to' as -0.0242 year. Estimates show that they grow fast and attain 73, 108, 126 and 134 cm in total length by first, second, third and fourth year respectively. Their weight increment is also fast and attains 5.5 kg, 16.8 kg, 25.9 kg and 33.7 kg respectively during the period. Stock assessment indicated that the stock at present is over exploited and under heavy fishing pressure. Rearing trial in aquarium tank showed that they are compatible to confined rearing conditions. Based on the distribution and biology of the species, their mariculture potential is discussed.

Simulating intertwined design processes that have similar structures: A case study of a small company that creates made-to-order fashion products

The authors use simulation to analyse the resource-driven dependencies between concurrent processes used to create customised products in a company. Such processes are uncertain and unique according to the design changes required. However, they have similar structures. For simulation, a level of abstraction is chosen such that all possible processes are represented by the same activity network. Differences between processes are determined by the customisations that they implement. The approach is illustrated through application to a small business that creates customised fashion products. We suggest that similar techniques could be applied to study intertwined design processes in more complex domains. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Degradation of tropical forest in Hainan, China, 1991-2008: Conservation implications for Hainan Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus)

The Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is one of the most endangered primates in the world, confined to mature natural forest in Hainan Island, China. We assessed changes in habitat condition on the island between 1991 and 2008, using vegetation maps generated by remote-sensing images. We defined forest suitable for gibbons based on composition, tree size and canopy cover. During the 17-year period, the area of suitable gibbon forest decreased by 540 km(2) (35%) across the whole island, and by 6.3 km(2) (7%) in the locality of the sole remaining gibbon population at Bawangling National Nature Reserve. The forest patches large enough (>1 km(2)) to support a gibbon group decreased from 754 km(2) to 316 km(2) in total area, and from 92 to 64 in number. Suitable natural forest was mainly replaced by plantations below 760 m, or degraded by logging, grazing and planting of pines above 760 m. Meanwhile, forests in former confirmed gibbon areas became more fragmented: mean area of patches decreased by 53%. We mapped the patches of natural forest in good condition which could potentially support gibbons. We recommend a freeze on further expansion of plantations between core patches at Bawangling, Jiaxi-Houmiling and Yinggeling Nature Reserves in accordance with forest protection regulations; establishment of nature reserves in currently unprotected natural forest patches elsewhere in line with the local government's nature reserve expansion policy; and active natural-forest restoration between remaining fragments at Bawangling. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.