Non-random coextinctions in phylogenetically structured mutualistic networks

The interactions between plants and their animal pollinators and seed dispersers have moulded much of Earth's biodiversity. Recently, it has been shown that these mutually beneficial interactions form complex networks with a well-defined architecture that may contribute to biodiversity persistence. Little is known, however, about which ecological and evolutionary processes generate these network patterns. Here we use phylogenetic methods to show that the phylogenetic relationships of species predict the number of interactions they exhibit in more than one-third of the networks, and the identity of the species with which they interact in about half of the networks. As a consequence of the phylogenetic effects on interaction patterns, simulated extinction events tend to trigger coextinction cascades of related species. This results in a non-random pruning of the evolutionary tree and a more pronounced loss of taxonomic diversity than expected in the absence of a phylogenetic signal. Our results emphasize how the simultaneous consideration of phylogenetic information and network architecture can contribute to our understanding of the structure and fate of species-rich communities.     

Non-random segregation of sister chromosomes in Escherichia coli

It has long been known that the 5' to 3' polarity of DNA synthesis results in both a leading and lagging strand at all replication forks. Until now, however, there has been no evidence that leading or lagging strands are spatially organized in any way within a cell. Here we show that chromosome segregation in Escherichia coli is not random but is driven in a manner that results in the leading and lagging strands being addressed to particular cellular destinations. These destinations are consistent with the known patterns of chromosome segregation. Our work demonstrates a new level of organization relating to the replication and segregation of the E. coli chromosome.     

同义密码子非随机使用的理论模型

利用ｋ＝２时分子序列进行模型研究了同义密码子的非随机使用，讨论了密码子使用频率以及信息参数Ｄ１，Ｄ２和Ｘ与选择力参数的依赖关系，另外，考虑到氨基酸相似因子，建立了密码使用频率的一个相似突变模型，研究了同义密码子的非随机使用。     

Prion disease: horizontal prion transmission in mule deer

Epidemics of contagious prion diseases can be perpetuated by horizontal (animal to animal) and maternal (dam to offspring, before or after birth) transmission, but the relative importance of each mechanism is unclear. Here we compare the incidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) that is attributable to horizontal or maternal transmission. We find that horizontal transmission is remarkably efficient, producing a high incidence of disease (89%) in a cohort of deer in which maternal transmission was improbable. Our results indicate that horizontal transmission is likely to be important in sustaining CWD epidemics.     

基于非随机初始种群遗传算法的分类规则挖掘

数据挖掘中分类问题一直是数据挖掘领域中研究的热点问题,先后提出了各种分类算法;其中遗传算法被认为是一种高效的分类算法.但是,传统的GA存在着易于陷入局部最优,致使得到的分类规则概括性不强的问题.提出了一种基于非随机初始种群的遗传算法分类规则挖掘算法.算法利用均匀种群方法生成非随机的初始种群,并通过均匀算子确保连续迭代过程中种群的多样性,从而达到防止GA早熟的目的.采用两个标准的公共领域的数据集验证了算法的有效性.实验结果表明,该算法能消除遗传算法在分类挖掘任务中收敛于局部最优的局限性,且能快速挖掘出易于理解的分类规则,提高对知识的理解力.     

“挥刀”的女人——浅析90后女性小说中的以极端方式反抗男权的女性形象

1983年台湾女作家李昂发表中篇小说《杀夫》,以女性视角重新审视女性的杀夫行为,对“杀夫”现象做出了一个全新的解释——被迫杀夫。20世纪90年代以后,女性小说中不断出现与《杀夫》女主人公林市类似的以极端方式反抗男权的女性形象,构成不可忽视的“‘挥刀’的女人”的群像,对这些女性形象可从三个方面进行分析。