Population genetic structure of Carchesium polypinum (Ciliophora : Peritrichia) in four chinese lakes inferred from ISSR fingerprinting: High diversity but low differentiation

Although the peritrichous ciliate Carchesium polypinum is common in freshwater, its population genetic structure is largely unknown. We used inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprinting to analyze the genetic structure of 48 different isolates of the species from four lakes in Wuhan, central China. Using eight polymorphic primers, 81 discernible DNA fragments were detected, among which 76 (93.83%) were polymorphic, indicating high genetic diversity at the isolate level. Further, Nei's gene diversity (h) and Shannon's Information index (I) between the different isolates both revealed a remarkable genetic diversity, higher than previously indicated by their morphology. At the same time, substantial gene flow was found. So the main factors responsible for the high level of diversity within populations are probably due to conjugation (sexual reproduction) and wide distribution of swarmers. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that there was low genetic differentiation among the four populations probably due to common ancestry and flooding events. The cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that genotypes isolated from the same lake displayed a higher genetic similarity than those from different lakes. Both analyses separated C. polypinum isolates into subgroups according to the geographical locations. However, there is only a weak positive correlation between the genetic distance and geographical distance, suggesting a minor effect of geographical distance on the distribution of genetic diversity between populations of C. polypinum at the local level. In conclusion, our studies clearly demonstrated that a single morphospecies may harbor high levels of genetic diversity, and that the degree of resolution offered by morphology as a marker for measuring distribution patterns of genetically distinct entities is too low.

First description of the male and redescription of the female of Philometra clavaeceps Dogiel and Akhmerov, 1959 (Nematoda : Philometridae), a parasite of east Asian cyprinid fish

The first description of the male and a redescription of the female of the nematode Philometra clavaeceps Dogiel and Akhmerov, 1959, a parasite of east Asian cyprinids, are presented on the basis of specimens collected from Culter erythropterus Basilewsky and Culler dabryi Bleeker from Liangzi Lake (the Yangtze River basin), Hubei Province, central China. Gravid females from the fish abdominal cavity, penetrating often into ovaries, occurred in May-June, whereas conspecific males and young mature females on the swimbladder were recorded in January. Philometra clavaeceps seems to have a pronounced annual maturation cycle in the locality. The finding of P. clavaeceps in C. dabryi represents a new host record.

Predominant occurrence of apical cell divisions in Oedogoniam pakistanense and its phylogenetic significance

A rare terrestrial species, Oedogonium pakistanense, was first recorded from Hubei Province, south-central China. Morphological characters. including the predominant occurrence of apical cell division and unique lateral apical caps, are described. The growth of the filaments in O. pakistanense from China is usually the result of the repeated divisions of the apical cells and intercalary divisions are rare. It is suggested that this species may represent an evolutionary transition between Oedogonium and Oedocladium, the latter being a terrestrial genus with branched filaments and cell division more often terminal than intercalary.

Differing estrogen activities in the organic phase of air particulate matter collected during sunny and foggy weather in a Chinese city detected by a recombinant yeast bioassay

Total air suspended particles (PM 100) collected from an urban location near a traffic line in Wuhan, China, were examined for estrogen using a recombinant yeast bioassay. Wuhan, located at the central part of China, is the fourth biggest city in China with 7 million populations. Today, Wuhan has developed into the biggest city and the largest traveling center of central China, becoming one of the important bases of industry, education and research. Wuhan is right at the confluent point of Yangzi River, the third longest river in the world, and its largest distributary Hanjiang, with mountains and more than 100 takes in downtown area. Therefore, by its unique landscape, Wuhan has formed clear four seasons with relatively long winter and summer and short spring and autumn. Foggy weather usually happen in early spring. The yeast line used in this assay stably expresses human estrogen receptor-alpha. Weak but clear estrogenic activities were detected in the organic phase of crude extracts of air particle materials (APM) in both sunny and foggy weather by 0.19-0.79 mug E2/gPM(100) which were statistically significantly elevated relative to the blank control responding from 20% to 50% of the maximum E2 response, and the estrogenic activity was much higher in foggy weather than in sunny weather. The estrogenic activities in the sub-fractions from chromatographic separation of APM sampled in foggy days were also determined. The results indicated that the responses of the fractions were obviously higher than the crude extracts. Since there is no other large pollution source nearby, the estrogenic material was most likely from vehicle emissions, house heating sources and oil fumes of house cooking. The GC/MS analysis of the PM100 collected under foggy weather showed that there were many phenol derivatives, oxy-PAHs and resin acids which have been reported as environmental estrogens. These results of the analysis of estrogenic potency in sunny and foggy weather in a subtropical city of China indicate that further studies are required to investigate the actual risks for the associated health and atmospheric system. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Patterns and levels of PCDD/F in a Chinese graphite electrode sludge

The graphite electrode sludge was sampled from a huge chloralkali plant in central China. The total level of PCDD/F was found as high as 378.85 mu g/kg sludge (dry weight). The patterns of PCDD/F in each homologue indicated the predominance of tetra- to octa-chlorinated PCDFs, Furthermore, the toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDFs constituted over 80% of the total PCDFs in the sludge and the corresponding PCDDs were only at 15 mu g/kg level. The calculated value of the international toxic equivalence (I-TEQ) in sludge was 21.65 mu g/kg sludge (dry weight). This typical "dioxin chloralkali pattern" was apparently identified in the sediments near the effluent outlet of the chloralkali plant.

STUDIES ON THE PURIFICATION AND RECLAMATION OF WASTE-WATER FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY BY AN INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL POND SYSTEM

The feasibility of an inexpensive wastewater treatment system is evaluated in this study. An integrated biological pond system was operated for more than 3 years to purify the wastewater from a medium-sized city, Central China. The experiment was conducted in 3 phases with different treatment combinations for testing their purification efficiencies. The pond system was divided into 3 functional regions: influent purification, effluent upgrading and multi-utilization. These regions were further divided into several zones and subzones. Various kinds of aquatic organisms, including macrophytes, algae, microorganisms and zooplankton, were effectively cooperating in the wastewater treatment in this system. The system attained high reductions of BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, TP and other pollutants. The purification efficiencies of this system were higher than those of most traditional oxidation ponds or ordinary macrophyte ponds. The mutagenic effect and numbers of bacteria and viruses declined significantly during the process of purification. After the wastewater flowed through the upgrading zone, the concentrations of pollutants and algae evidently decreased. Plant harvesting did not yield dramatic effects on reductions of the main pollutants, though it did significantly affect the biomass productivity of the macrophytes. The effluent from this system could be utilized in irrigation and aquaculture. Some aquatic products were harvested from this system and some biomass was utilized for food, fertilizer, fodder and some other uses. The wastewater was reclaimed for various purposes.

华中地区多孔菌物种多样性和资源研究

多孔菌是指具有孔状子实层的木材腐朽菌，该类群隶属于担子菌门(Basidiomycota)，担子菌纲 (Basidiomycetes)，是一类数量较多、组成较为复杂的真菌。 多孔菌具有重要的生态功能和经济价值。该类群真菌能够降解木质素和纤维素，在森林生态系统中起着关键的降解还原作用。同时，多孔菌还是重要的生物资源。部分种类能够造成林木病害是林木病原菌；部分多孔菌具有药用、食用价值；有些种类的多孔菌还具有重要的工业应用价值。 华中地区是我国生物多样性最丰富的地区之一，该地区多孔菌资源丰富。然而华中地区的多孔菌研究非常薄弱，该地区的多孔菌资源的种类和分布仍不明确。本文对华中地区不同森林生态类型中的多孔菌进行了广泛调查和标本采集。通过形态学、分子生物学和遗传交配实验，对华中地区的多孔菌多样性与资源进行了系统的研究，并初步分析了华中地区多孔菌的区系特点。 通过本论文的研究，明确了华中地区多孔菌的种类与多孔菌资源的分布，丰富了我国木生真菌的种类，为控制林木病原菌、开发利用有益真菌资源提供了基础数据和科学依据。本论文的主要研究结论如下： 1.华中地区采集的近2000号标本，按照现代分类系统共鉴定出257种多孔 菌，包括5个新种：庄氏地花孔菌Albatrellus zhuangii Y.C. Dai & Juan Li，宽孢全缘孔菌Haploporus latisporus Juan Li & Y.C. Dai，河南纤孔菌Inonotus henanensis Juan Li & Y.C. Dai，覆瓦拟硬孔菌Rigidoporopsis tegularis Juan Li & Y.C. Dai，菌索干皮孔菌Skeletocutis fimbriata Juan Li & Y.C. Dai；4个中国新记录种：假斑点嗜蓝孢孔菌Fomitiporia pseudopunctata (A. David, Dequatre & Fiasson) Fiasson，仲氏针层孔菌Phellinus johnsonianus (Murrill) Ryvarden，合生坛担菌Sistotrema confluens Pers.，姬氏芮氏孔菌Wrightoporia gillesii A. David & Rajchenb.。 2.利用分子系统学方法，确定了两种通过形态学研究难鉴定的种类的分类学地位，并探讨了针层孔菌属和地花孔菌属的系统发育关系。 3.华中地区的异担子菌有岛生异担子菌和小孔异担子菌两种，不存在多年异担子菌这一严重的森林病原菌。该地区的岛生异担子菌为该复合种中的T生物种，为腐生菌，不对针叶树造成严重病害。 4.华中地区的257种多孔菌隶属于担子菌门、担子菌纲，共有8目、17科、75属。优势科依次为多孔菌科，锈革孔菌科和拟层孔菌科。这三科的种类构成了华中地区多孔菌区系的主体。针层孔菌属为华中地区多孔菌的优势属，其他依次为多孔菌属，波氏孔菌属，多年卧孔菌属，干皮孔菌属，栓孔菌属和薄孔菌属。 5.华中地区多孔菌的75个属共划分为6种地理成分：世界广布属，北温带分布属，热带–亚热带分布属，东亚–北美分布属，大洋洲–北美洲分布属和东亚分布属。除世界广布属外，北温带分布属和热带–亚热带分布属是华中地区多孔菌的主体。 6.华中地区的257种多孔菌划分为8种地理成分：世界广布成分，北温带分布成分，泛热带分布成分，亚–欧共有成分，东亚–北美共有成分，东亚–澳大利亚共有成分，东亚成分，中国特有种。除世界广布成分外，以北温带分布成分和泛热带成分为主。华中地区多孔菌区系基本上属温带性质，同时具有一定比例的泛热带成分，说明华中地区多孔菌区系具有明显的从温带到热带的过渡性质。 7.华中地区的多孔菌资源丰富，野生的食、药用多孔菌48种；工业用多孔菌有21种；林木病原菌有37种，其中新报道病原菌1种。 8.华中地区稀有多孔菌有22种，濒危多孔菌10种。

环境变迁在中国文明形成中的作用

The formation of civilization, one of great marks in the history of human's society development, has been remained one of the hottest topics in the world. Many theories have been put ford to explain its causes and mechanisms. Although more attentions have been paid to its development, the role of environmental change should not be ignored. In this paper, the level of ancient farming productivity was analyzed, the mechanisms and the process of Chinese ancient civilization formation was explored, and some causes why Chinese ancient civilization shows many different features from other 5 ancient civilizations of the world was analyzed. The main results and conclusions are presented as followed. 1. Compared with the productivity level of other five ancient civilizations, the productivity of ancient China characterized by a feature of extensive not intensive cultivation was lower than that of other five ancient civilizations whose agriculture were based on irrigation. 2. The 5 5000 a B.P. cold event may have facilitated the formation of Egypt and Mesopotamian ancient civilizations and also have had an influence on the development of Neolithic culture in China. 3. The 4 000 a B.P. cold event, which may be the coldest period since the Younger Dryas cold event and signifies the changes from the early Holocene Climate Optimum to late Holocene in many regions of the world, resulted in the great migration of the Indo-European peoples from north Europe to other part of the World and the collapses of ancient civilizations in Egypt, Indus and the Mesopotamian and the collapse of five Neolithic cultures around central China. More important than that is the emergence of Chinese civilization during the same period. Many theories have been put ford to explain why it was in Zhongyuan area not other places whose Neolithic cultures seem more advanced that gave rise to civilization. For now no theory could explain it satisfiedly. Archaeological evidence clearly demonstrate that war was prevailed the whole China especially during the late Longshan culture period, so it seemed war has played a very important role in the emergence of China ancient civilization. Carneiro sees two conditions as essential to the formation of complex societies in concert with warfare, i.e. population growth and environmental circumscription. It was generally through that China couldn't evolved into the environmental circumscription and population pressure because China has extensive areas to live, but that depends on situations. The environmental circumscription area was formed due to the 4000a B.P. cold event and companied flooding disasters, while the population pressure is formed due to three factors; 1) population grow rapidly because of the suitable environment provided by the Holocene Optimum and thus laid its foundations for the ancient human population; 2) population pressure is also related to the primitive agricultural level characterized by extensive not intensive cultivation; 3) population pressure was mainly related to the great migrations of people to the same areas; 4) population pressure was also related to productivity decrease due to the 4 000a B.P. cold event. 4. When population pressure is formed, war is the most possible way to solve the intensions between population and the limited cultivated land and then resulted in the formation of civilization. In this way the climate change during the 4 000a B.P. cold event may have facilitated the emergence of Chinese ancient civilization. Their detailed relations could also be further understood in this way: The first birth places of China ancient civilization could be in Changjiang areas or (and) Daihai area, Shandong province rather than in central China and the emergence time of ancient civilization formed in central China should be delayed if the 4 000a B.P. cold event and companied flooding disasters didn't occurred.

内蒙古岱海DH99a岩芯沉积物碳含量变化与湖区全新世气候变迁

Daihai Lake, a graben-type closed lake, lies ca. 10 km east of Liangcheng County, Inner Mongolia, north-central China. For its location at the transition of semi-humid and semi-arid areas, and in the north edge of the East Asian monsoon, the lake is sensitive to changes in climate and environment. Based on analyses of total inorganic carbon (TIC), total organic carbon (TOC) and the ratio of total organic carbon to total nitrogen (C/N ratio) of DH99a core sediments recovered in the central part of Daihai Lake, the data suggest Holocene climatic history of the lake region is reconstructed. In this paper, the TIC and TOC contents of the lake sediments are closely related to climate changes. 1) Changes in TIC content of the lake sediments is closely related to climate, which directly reflect changes of temperature in the lake region, i.e., higher TIC content is linked with warmer temperature and stronger evaporation; 2) Changes in TOC and C/N ratio reflect the regional precipitation, i.e., relatively higher TOC content and C/N ratio indicate higher rainfall which results in stronger river flow and more organic matter entering into the lake. Data of the TIC content, TOC content and C/N ratio of DH99a core sediments suggest that climatic history of the Daihai Lake region is characterized by 4 stages. During the interval of ca. 11200-7500 a BP, higher TIC content, relatively lower TOC content and C/N ratio value indicate a warmer and slight dry condition over the lake area. From ca. 7500 to 4500 a BP, high values of TIC content, with an increase in TOC content and C/N ratio suggest the climate was warm and humid. Changes of TIC content, TOC content show that both temperature and precipitation displayed obvious fluctuations during the period, i.e., slightly cool and humid ca. 7500-6700 a BP, warm and moist ca. 6700-5300a BP, mild and comparatively humid ca. 5300-4500a BP. Between ca. 4500 and 2900 a BP, TIC content and TOC content decreased gradually while fluctuating, C/N ratio displayed a decreasing trend. These data imply that the climate generally became cooler and drier than the preceding period. The lowest values of TIC content, TOC content and C/N ratio during the interval of ca. 2900-0 a BP, demonstrate that the climate was severe, and became cool and dry. However the relative higher values of TIC content, TOC content and C/N ratio between ca. 1700 and 1300 a BP may denote an increase both in temperature and in precipitation. Data of TIC content, TOC content and C/N ratio in Daihai DH99a core sediments indicate that the warm period was asynchronous with the humid time, the warm interval began in ca. 11200 a BP, and ended in ca. 2900 a BP. The humid period was ca. 7500-2900 a BP. During ca. 7500^500 a BP, the climate was warm and humid, which was the climatic optimum of the Holocene Epoch in the Daihai Lake region. Data of TIC content, TOC content and C/N ratio in Daihai DH99a core sediments imply that the Holocene climate was unstable, the fluctuating events happened occasionally. Such as the cold and dry climate in ca. 4400-4200a BP, the warm and humid climatic condition in the period between ca.1700 and 1300a BP.

岱海岩芯沉积的粒度组成与湖区全新世降水变化历史

Sediment cores DH99a and DH99b recovered in the central part of Daihai Lake in north-central China were analysed at 2- to 4-crn intervals for grain-size distribution. Grain-size distributions of the lake sediments are inferred to be a proxy for past changes in East Asian monsoon precipitation, such that greater silt-size percentage and higher median grain size reflect increased monsoonal precipitation rates. The grain-size record of Daihai Lake sediments spanning the last ca 11,000 yr indicates that the monsoonal precipitation in the lake region can be divided into three stages: the Early, Middle and Late Holocene. During the Early Holocene before ca 7900 cal yr BP, the median grain size (Md) and the silt-fraction content were relatively low and constant, suggesting relatively low precipitation over the lake region. The Middle Holocene between ca 7900 and 3100 cal yr BP was marked by intensified and highly variable monsoonal precipitation, as indicated by high and variable Md values and silt contents of the lake sediments. During this period, average precipitation rate gradually increased from ca 7900 to 6900 cal yr BP, displayed intense oscillations between ca 6900 and 4400 cal yr BP, and exhibited a decreasing trend while fluctuating from ca 4400 to 3100 cal yr BP Although generally high during the Middle Holocene, both the Md and the silt content assumed distinctly low values at the short intervals of ca 6500-6400, 6000-5900, 5700-5600, 4400-4200 cal yr BP, implying that monsoonal precipitation might have been significantly reduced during these intervals. During the Late Holocene since ca 3100 cal yr BP, grain-size values suggest that precipitation decreased. However, during the Late Holocene, relatively higher Md values and silt contents occurring between ca 1700 to 1000 cal yr BP may denote an intensification of hydrological cycles in the lake area. Changes in the East Asian monsoonal precipitation were not only directly linked with the changing seasonality of solar insolation resulting from progressive changes in the Earth's orbital parameters, but also may have been closely related to variations in the temperature and size of the Western Pacific Warm Pool, in the intensity of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, and in the path and strength of the North Equatorial Current in the western Pacific.

Impact de la nouvelle loi sur le contrat du travail (dite «loi de 2008») sur les stratégies de gestion des multinationales étrangères en chine

En Chine la croissance économique observée durant ces trois dernières décennies, s’est accompagnée d’importants changements sociaux. Jusqu’en 2008, le droit du travail hérité de l’ère socialiste et inadapté à l’économie de marché, servait les intérêts de la croissance au détriment de ceux des travailleurs. La nouvelle loi sur le contrat de travail de 2008 a pour ambition de corriger cette situation en rééquilibrant les relations du travail dans un contexte de redistribution plus juste des nouvelles richesses. L’objectif de ce mémoire est de comprendre comment les entreprises étrangères présentes en Chine appréhendent ce changement institutionnel. Cela impacte-t-il leur gestion et leur stratégie de localisation ? Cette question est traitée, à travers l’étude du cas d’une entreprise étrangère implantée à Shanghai depuis 10 ans. Le premier effet observé est une professionnalisation du secteur des ressources humaines. L’augmentation des coûts de fonctionnement à laquelle la nouvelle loi participe a également pour effet une relocalisation des activités de production dans des régions à moindres coûts dans le centre de la Chine. L’expertise spécifiquement acquise localement est une des raisons majeures interdisant une délocalisation dans un pays tierce.

Eolian records from sediment core RC27-61 in the Arabian Sea

The modern Indian Ocean summer monsoon is driven by differential heating between the Asian continent and the Indian Ocean to the south. This differential heating produces a strong pressure gradient which drives southwest monsoon winds during June, July, and August. Satellite and meteorological observations, aerosol measurements, sediment trap studies, and mineralogical studies indicate an atmospheric mode of transport for modern lithogenic sediments in the northwest Arabian Sea. Analyses of lithogenic grain size and mass accumulation rate (MAR) records from the Owen Ridge indicate that eolian transport has been the primary mode of transport for the past 370 kyr. Visual inspection shows that the MAR record is positively correlated with global ice volume as indicated by the marine delta18O record. In contrast, the grain-size record varies at a much higher frequency, showing little correlation to either the MAR or the delta18O records. Spectral analyses confirm these relationships, indicating that the lithogenic grain-size and MAR records are coherent only over the precession band whereby the grain size leads the MAR by 124° (~8 kyr). We conclude that an eolian transport mechanism is the only mechanism that allows for this phase difference and at the same time is supported by comparison of the grain size and MAR with independent eolian records. We use lithogenic grain size as a paleoclimatic indicator of summer monsoon wind strength and lithogenic MAR as a paleoclimatic indicator of source-area aridity. These interpretations are supported by comparison of the lithogenic records to independent indicators of wind strength (Globigerina bulloides upwelling record) and aridity (a loess record from central China). Such comparisons indicate high coherence and zero phase relationships. Our work supports the findings of previous studies which have documented the link between monsoon strength and the Earth's axial precession cycles. Both the lithogenic MAR and the grain-size records have high coherency with precessional insolation. Maximum lithogenic MAR (source-area aridity) is in phase with delta18O (global ice volume) and leads maximum precessional insolation by 88° (~6 kyr). We attribute this lead to the influence of glacial conditions on the aridity, and therefore the deflation potential, of the source areas. Maximum lithogenic grain size (summer monsoon wind strength) lags maximum precession by 148° (~9 kyr). We attribute this lag both to the influence of global and/or local ice volume and to the availability of latent heat from the southern hemisphere Indian Ocean, the two of which combine to determine the strength of the Indian Ocean monsoon.

CCTV Headquarters Building

En la capital de China se erige un rascacielos icónico de la arquitectura contemporánea, la Sede de la Televisión Central China. En nuestro esfuerzo por reflexionar en torno a la verdad, hagamos un ejercicio de análisis sobre las cualidades simbólicas del edificio, la relación entre su función y forma, y las implicaciones del contexto político-social en el que se inserta