Selenium geochemical relationships of some northern Nevada soils

Soil samples, one from each of 10 locations in northern Nevada, were evaluated for redox potential, total and extractable selenium, phosphate, free iron oxide, total and ferrous iron. Mole fractions for extractable selenium species were calculated from redox potentials. Data were used to extrapolate general geochemical relationships for soil selenium at the sample sites. Results obtained from one sample per location allowed only the most general conclusions to be drawn. Soil phosphate levels, which affect the adsorption of selenite species on iron oxide by competing for adsorption sites, were not correlated with levels of extractable selenium in this study. This would suggest that selenium would exist in solution, having been displaced from adsorption sites by phosphorous. Ferrous iron, iron oxides, and redox potential had a combined effect on the level of extractable selenium at all sites. Soils in this study support selenite species that are not readily available to plants and therefore could not support vegetation adequate in Se.     

宇宙学与战略"大思维"

宇宙学在近当代获得了长足发展,而这一发展正是孕育于强大而极富创造性的思维母体。从一般系统理论的角度来说,公司或政府机构等大型商业或政治组织的领导人可以利用宇宙学及其思维方法,进行战略性“大思维”,从而做出正确的决策。在本文中,作者不仅对宇宙学的具体理论和原则进行了归纳总结,而且还提出具体实例,以为这些领导人运用宇宙学进行战略高度的“大思维”提供佐证,从而进一步证明,“大思维”对于在复杂的现代组织中取得成功具有重要意义。     

RIM1alpha is required for presynaptic long-term potentiation.

Two main forms of long-term potentiation (LTP)-a prominent model for the cellular mechanism of learning and memory-have been distinguished in the mammalian brain. One requires activation of postsynaptic NMDA (N-methyl d-aspartate) receptors, whereas the other, called mossy fibre LTP, has a principal presynaptic component. Mossy fibre LTP is expressed in hippocampal mossy fibre synapses, cerebellar parallel fibre synapses and corticothalamic synapses, where it apparently operates by a mechanism that requires activation of protein kinase A. Thus, presynaptic substrates of protein kinase A are probably essential in mediating this form of long-term synaptic plasticity. Studies of knockout mice have shown that the synaptic vesicle protein Rab3A is required for mossy fibre LTP, but the protein kinase A substrates rabphilin, synapsin I and synapsin II are dispensable. Here we report that mossy fibre LTP in the hippocampus and the cerebellum is abolished in mice lacking RIM1alpha, an active zone protein that binds to Rab3A and that is also a protein kinase A substrate. Our results indicate that the long-term increase in neurotransmitter release during mossy fibre LTP may be mediated by a unitary mechanism that involves the GTP-dependent interaction of Rab3A with RIM1alpha at the interface of synaptic vesicles and the active zone.     

Reproductive biology and prospects for conservation ofCaldesia parnassifolia (Alismataceae)—A threatened monocot in China

Caldesia parnassi folia (Bassi ex Linn.) Parl. in China has declined in number in recent years and is increasingly faced with the risk of extirpation arising from anthropogenic changes associated with rapid urbanization and expansion of both agriculture and infrastructure. To aid in provision of the data needed for effective conservation of the species, studies on the habitat, pollination ecology, and breeding system ofC. parnassi folia were carried out on natural populations occurring in Southeastern China. Flowering in the study populations extended for more than eighty days beginning in early summer. Floral anthesis occurred in the morning hours and proceeded rapidly, lasting about 45 min. Flowers lasted ca. 8 h.Caldesia parnassi folia is self-compatible; however autogamy resulted in lower seed set than geitonogamy and xenogamy as well as free pollination. The data on pollen/ ovule (P∶O) ratio is consistent with a partially selfing and outcrossing mating system. Interpopulational crosses yielded similar seed set to within-population crosses. Agamospermy did not occur in the study populations. Propagation is achieved through seeds as well as through turions which commonly occur in the inflorescences. Flies (Insecta; Diptera) were the most frequent visitors to the flowers ofC. parnassi folia; however bees (Insecta; Hymenoptera) composed a larger proportion of effective pollinators. The Syrphidae speciesSphaerophoria indiana (Bigot) presents evidence of oligolectic foraging behavior. Recommendations are made on the immediate steps necessary for conservation ofCaldesia species in China. Foundation item: Supported by the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (973) (G2000046805) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070055) Biography: Robert Wahiti, Gituru (1967-), male, Kenya, Ph. D., research direction: plant biosystematics.     

Metallurgy, the Father of Materials Science

The BeginningsThe English- language phrase materials science andengineering ( MSE) emerged at an unknown timeand place in the United States of America in theearly 1 95 0 s.One suggestion is that it,and theconcept it denotes,arose out of sustaineddiscussio…     

Editorial

Systemic Practice and Action Research -     

Seasonal prediction of European cereal prices: good forecasts using bad models?

Because of their natural adherence to the climate and pronounced seasonal cycles, prices of field crops constitute an interesting field for exploring seasonal time series models. We consider quarterly prices of two major cereals: barley and wheat. Using traditional in‐sample fit and moving‐window techniques, we investigate whether seasonality is deterministic or unit‐root stochastic and whether seasonal cycles have converged over time. We find that seasonal cycles in the data are mainly deterministic and that evidence on common cycles across countries differs for the two commodities. Out‐of‐sample prediction experiments, however, yield a ranking with respect to accuracy that does not match the statistical in‐sample evidence. Parametric bootstrap experiments establish that the observed mismatch is indeed an inherent and systematic feature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人工淹水逆境处理对美洲黑杨苗生理特性的影响

本文主要从下述三方面对美洲黑杨16个无性系苗在人工淹水处理后，其生理特性的变化进行了初步研究：1、人工淹水深度对无性系苗生理特性的影响；2、人工淹水持续时间长短对无性系苗生理特性的影响；3、不同无性系苗在遭受淹水胁迫后生理特性的变化，被测定的生理指标包括可变荧光Fv、叶扩散阻力re(S.cm^-2)、蒸腾强度Tr(ugH2O.cm^-2.S^-1)和叶水势Ψ（Bar)。研究结果表明，人工淹水深度与持续时间长短对16个美洲黑杨无性系苗的生理特性有明显的影响。