Influence of alternated drying and wetting on the characteristics of soil preferential flow formation in Honghe Arid Valley.

To clarify the effects of alternation of drying and wetting on the formation of soil preferential flow in arid valley, taking the wasteland in the arid valley of Honghe River as the research object, we analyzed the soil preferential flow characteristics before and after the simulation of drying and wetting alternation based on dyeing tracer method, water breakthrough curve, and image processing technology. The results showed that, under the simulated alternation of drying and wetting, the matrix flow occurred in the 0-10 cm soil layer, the dyeing depth reached 35 cm, the horizontal width of the preferred path was only 3-10 cm, and the dyeing area curve fluctuated little. Simulated alternation of drying and wetting led to significant increases in the steady effluent, macropores number, and macroporosity. In the 0-20 cm soil layer, the steady effluent after alternation of drying and wetting was about 0.27 cm3·s-1 higher than that non-alternation of drying and wetting, macropores number in dyeing area was about 1.4 times higher, and the macroporosity was 13.4% higher. The macropores number was positively correlated with stable flow rate. After simulated alternation of drying and wetting, the number of macropores from large to small was 0.6-0.8 mm＞0.8-1.0 mm＞1.0-1.5 mm＞1.5-2.0 mm＞2.0-3.7 mm, while under non-alternation of drying and wetting, it was 0.8-1.0 mm＞0.6-0.8 mm＞1.0-1.5 mm＞2.0-3.7 mm＞1.5-2.0 mm. The macropores number in each pore size range was significantly correlated with the dyeing area ratio. After simulated alternation of drying and wetting, the correlation increased, and the dominant factor affecting the occurrence of preferential flow changed from the macropores number in the pore size range of 1.5-2.0 mm to that of 0.8-1.0 mm. Therefore, the alternation of drying and wetting would affect the characteristics of macropores, which caused the soil to be more prone to preferential flow and with higher magnitude.

Voltine Ecotypes of the Asian Corn Borer and Their Response to Climate Warming.

In the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), diapause is governed by a multigenetic constitution that responds to daylength and temperature with seasonality. The ACB displays uni- or multivoltinism, depending on its geographic specificity. Hence, warmer temperatures may result in alternation of voltinism in the ACB, which will help in understanding the ecological consequences of climate warming on insects. In the present study, we investigated the voltinism in two natural populations from Harbin (H) and Gongzhuling (G) as well as a laboratory (L) population (established from the H population in 2017) of the ACB, at ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 (aCO2 390 µL/L and eCO2 750 µL/L) and temperature (aT and Et = At + 2 °C). From the diapause response, both the uni- and multivoltine ecotypes were coexisting in the H population. The neonate occurrence date of 50% individuals that induced diapause was ca. 10 days later in the G population than in the H population, but it was about 10 days earlier than in the L population. Comparing to the dates of onset and the peak of diapause induction, the G and L populations were less variable than the H population in response to a short and/or shortening daylength in the field. The univoltine individuals could not be eliminated completely after 19 generations of selection. Diapause incidence decreased with a climate-warming scenario, which was temporally specific and could be overridden by significantly low daily average temperatures. The eCO2 did not directly impact the voltinism. On the basis of voltinism, the H population was sympatric for uni- and multivoltine ecotypes, with multivoltinism being dominant. The univoltinism trait was recessive. Climate warming could significantly override the effect of photoperiod, which was yearly dependent. Warmer temperatures and a decreased latitude (shortened daylength), and their interaction, would drive ACB evolution toward diapause homogeneity for multivoltinism.

[Response of nutrient release and ecological stoichiometry of litter to simulated nitrogen deposition in evergreen broad-leaved forest in central Yunnan, China]. / æ»‡ä¸­å¸¸ç»¿é˜”å¶æž—å‡‹è½ç‰©å »åˆ†é‡Šæ”¾åŠç”Ÿæ€åŒ–å­¦è®¡é‡ç‰¹å¾å¯¹æ¨¡æ‹ŸN沉降的响应.

We examined nutrient release and ecological stoichiometric characteristics of litters under N deposition in an evergreen broadleaved forest in Mopan Mountain in central Yunnan. Nylon net bag method was used for in situ decomposition of leaf litter and twig litter. There were four treatments, including control (CK, 0 g N·m-2·a-1), low nitrogen (LN, 5 g N·m-2·a-1), medium nitrogen (MN, 15 g N·m-2·a-1), and high nitrogen (HN, 30 g N·m-2·a-1). The results showed that after one year of N addition, the contents of C and N in leaf litter, twig litter and soil increased gradually with the increases of N addition rates, with increases of 0.3%-8.2% and 4.9%-69.0%, respectively. C/N gradually decreased with increasing N addition rates, with a decrease of 0.8%-37.8%. There was no significant difference in P content, C/P and N/P of twig litter under different treatments. Treatment duration and N application rate significantly affected the N and P contents and stoichiometric ratios of leaf litter, twig litter and soil. During the 1-year decomposition process, the residual rates of C, N and P in litters were successively in the modes of release, leaching-enriched-released and leaching-enriched. Exogenous N addition significantly inhibited the release process of C, N and P in litter. The contents of C and P in soil were significantly positively correlated with the contents of N and P in litter, while the contents of N in soil were significantly positively correlated with the contents of C and N in litter. There was a significant correlation of stoichiometric characteristics between litter and soils of evergreen broadleaved forest under N deposition. Our results were helpful to understand the response mechanism of litter decomposition process of forest ecosystem to N deposition.

Phylogenetic relationships and biological features reveal that male Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Northeast China can be categorized into postmedial line-based clades.

Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), often called the Asian corn borer, is a complicated pest because of its complex biological features, such as its adult dynamics, host choice, and life span. This complexity has been causing difficulties in both pest forecasting and control for more than 60 years. One likely explanation for this complexity is that O. furnacalis has several varieties that vary based on some specific features. During 2015-2017, postmedial line-based varieties of male O. furnacalis were identified as distinct clades (I, II, and III), which were then compared based on COI gene sequences, male sacculus construction, life span, male dynamics, and host preference. The results showed that: (1) clades II and III were more closely related to each other than Clade I, because they both completed two generations per year, more were captured in 2016 or fewer were captured in 2015, and they were more closely related according to phylogenetic inference; (2) all three clades shared some features, such as life spans under various rearing conditions, similar dynamic trends, and three teeth on the male sacculus; and (3) all three clades were significantly different from O. nubilalis based on genetic sequences, postmedial line pattern of the forewing, and sacculus construction. Overall, if O. furnacalis is categorized into clades, the species' features are likely to be a combination or mixture of the features of each individual clade. Our findings help explain the biological complexity of O. furnacalis. Future investigations on each individual clade are essential for improving forecasting and control of this pest.

[Effects of plant roots on soil preferential flow in typical forest and grassland in the dry-hot valley of Jinsha River, China]. / é‡‘æ²™æ±Ÿå¹²çƒ­æ²³è°·å ¸åž‹æž—è‰åœ°æ¤ç‰©æ ¹ç³»å¯¹åœŸå£¤ä¼˜å ˆæµçš„å½±å“.

To clarify the morphological characteristics of soil preferential flow and the effect of plant roots on its formation, plants from the typical vegetation types of an artificial woodland (Leucaena acacia) and a dry watershed grassland (Heteropogon contortus) of Yuanmou County, Jinsha River were selected as the experimental objects. Based on the staining and tracing method combined with Photoshop CS5 and the Image-Pro Plus 6.0 image processing technology, we analyzed the morphological and distribution characteristics of soil preferential flow under the two planting types and examined the effects of plant roots. We found significant difference in soil preferential flow dyeing area between the woodland and grassland species, and the overall variation trend of the forestland dyeing area ratio decreased with increasing soil depth. The dyeing area of the grassland decreased monotonously with the increases of soil depth. The occurrence degree of soil preferential flow in forest was higher than that of grassland. Root systemaffected the formation of soil preferential flow. At the root diameter ranges of 0≤d≤5 mm and d>10 mm, root length density of the woodland showed a monotonous decreasing trend with increasing soil depth, while in the root diameter range of 5 mm5 mm. The overall change trend of soil preferential flow dyeing area of two vegetation types in the study area decreased with increasing soil depth. Plant root system was closely related to the formation of soil preferential flow. Fine roots could promote while coarse roots may retard the formation of preferential flows.

[Responses of litter decomposition in two subalpine plantations to simulated nitrogen deposition in central Yunnan, China]. / 滇中亚高山人工林凋落物分解对模拟氮沉降的响应.

From February 2018 to January 2019, a field experiment of simulated nitrogen (N) depo-sition was conducted in Pinus armandii and Pinus yunnanensis plantations in the subalpine region of central Yunnan, China. The litterbag method was used for in situ litter (leaf and twig) decomposition experiment in both plantations. Four levels of N addition were applied, i.e., control (CK, 0 g N·m-2·a-1), low nitrogen (LN, 5 g N·m-2·a-1), medium nitrogen (MN, 15 g N·m-2·a-1), and high nitrogen (HN, 30 g N·m-2·a-1). The results showed that the annual decomposition rates of leaf and twig in P. armandii were 34.8% and 18.0%, which were higher than the 32.2% (leaf) and 16.1% (twig) in P. yunnanensis. Under N deposition, the LN treatment reduced the time of 95% mass loss of leaf and twig litter in P. armandii by 0.202 and 1.624 years, the MN treatment reduced by 0.045 and 1.437 years, and the HN treatment increased by 0.840 and 2.112 years, respectively. In the P. yunnanensis plantation, the LN treatment reduced the time of 95% mass loss of leaf and twig litter by 0.766 and 4.053 years, while the MN treatment increased by 0.366 and 0.455 years, and the HN treatment increased by 0.826 and 0.906 years, respectively. Litter (leaf and twig) decomposition of both P. armandii and P. yunnanensis were promoted by low N treatment and inhibited by high N treatment. The effects of N deposition on litter decomposition of two plantations were significantly correlated with the contents of cellulose and lignin in litter. In conclusion, the responses of litter decomposition to N deposition mainly depended on the litter substrate, especially cellulose and lignin contents.

[Responses of tree growth to artificial intervention on micro-topography in degraded woodland on hillslope]. / 山坡退化林地林木生长对微地形人工干预的响应.

We explored the effects of microtopography changes from artificial intervention of soil and water conservation (contour reverse-slope terrace, CRT) on tree growth in a degraded woodland on hillslope in water resource area of Songhua dam in Kunming City. The differences of the diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, new branch increment, and leaf area index (LAI) of dominant tree species in different plots were compared through dynamic monitoring. Then, the causes of differences were analyzed by combining the soil water availability. The results showed that the maximum and mean values of DBH and height of Pinus yunnanensis (dominant species) in contour reverse-slope terrace plot were larger than those in control plot (CK), and the proportion of small-sized and low-dwarf trees in degraded forest community was higher, which indicated that the growth potential of new and seriously degraded forest was stimulated. The annual variation rate of the ave-rage new branch length and diameter of P. yunnanensis in different plots reached 72.4% and 39.1%, respectively. The changes of new branch growth of P. yunnanensis, LAI of plots, and the new branch growth rate were greater in CRT than those in CK. Soil water content was significantly correlated with both the new branch growth and LAI. The ratio of available water in plot (64.2%) was higher than that in CK (54.7%). During the rainy season (from May to September), the available water in CRT existed longer, which was conducive to tree growth and the improvement of plant community structure in degraded woodland.

Expression of platelet-derived growth factor in the vascular walls of patients with lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.

The aim of the present study was to quantitatively analyze the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B in the vascular walls of patients with lower extremity arterial occlusive disease (LEAOD). The expression levels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B in the lower extremity arteries of 19 LEAOD patients (case group) and three healthy subjects (control group) was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Intergroup comparisons revealed that the relative mRNA expression levels were higher in the case group, as compared with the control group, for PDGF-A (34.38±5.80 vs. 21.94±1.05; P<0.05) and PDGF-B (33.95±5.92 vs. 24.15±3.12; P<0.05). In addition, the expression of PDGF-A revealed a positive linear correlation with the expression of PDGF-B (P<0.05). Therefore, the expression levels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B were found to be higher in the vascular walls of LEAOD patients, while the expression of PDGF-A was found to correlate with the expression of PDGF-B. A significant increase in the expression levlels of PDGF-A and PDGF-B were observed in the vascular walls of patients with LEAOD, and the expression of PDGF-A was associated with the expression of PDGF-B.

[Regulation effects of reverse-slope level terrace on the runoff and sediment yield in sloping farmland].

A dynamic monitoring on the rainfall-runoff process and the surface runoff and sediment yield in a sloping farmland was conducted at a natural rainfall runoff plot in the watershed of Jianshan River, the first tributary of Fuxian Lake, Chengjiang, aimed to study the regulation effects of reverse-slope level terrace on the runoff and sediment yield in red soil sloping farmlands of Yunnan. The regulation rates of runoff and sediment yield by the reverse-slope level terrace were 49.5%-87.7% and 56.7%-96.1%, averagely 65.3% and 80.7%, respectively, showing that the regulation effects of reverse-slope level terrace on the runoff and sediment yield, especially the latter in sloping farmland were prominent. The variation coefficients of the test parameters for undisturbed sloping farmland and reverse-slope level terrace were in the order of sediment yield > runoff > rainfall. Comparing with undisturbed sloping farmland, reverse-slope level terrace had smaller surface runoff and smaller relative deviation degree of sediment yield, demonstrating its remarkable effect in controlling runoff and sediment yield in sloping farmland.

Long-term results of endovascular therapy for proximal subclavian arterial obstructive lesions.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy is a treatment option for localized occlusion of the subclavian artery. In this report the long-term experience with 59 patients is presented. METHODS: Between June 1998 and September 2008, we used endovascular therapy to treat 61 subclavian arterial obstructive lesions in 59 patients (46 males and 13 females, 34 - 82 years of age with a mean age (61.9 + or - 11.0) years). Twenty patients (34%) had clinical symptoms due to vertebrobasilar insufficiency, 26 (44%) had disabling arm ischemia, and 13 (22%) had both symptoms. We performed all procedures under local anesthesia. The approaches were from the femoral artery (n = 47), brachial artery (n = 1, involving bilateral subclavian disease) or both (n = 11). Sixty stents were implanted. All patients were followed-up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-procedure, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: We achieved technical success in 58 (95.1%) arteries, all of which were stented. There were three technical failures; two were due to the inability to cross over an occlusion, necessitating the switch to an axillo-axillary bypass, and the third was due to shock after digital subtraction angiography and prior to stenting. Arterial stenosis pre- and post-stenting was (83.6 + or - 10.8)% and (2.5 + or - 12.5)% (P < 0.01). Clinical success was achieved in 55 of the 59 patients (93.4%). Of the four clinical failures, three were technical and the remaining patient had a stent thrombosis. Systolic blood pressure difference between the two brachial arteries was (44.7 + or - 18.5) vs. (2.2 + or - 3.9) mmHg (P < 0.01). Primary patency was 98% at 12 months, 93% at 24 months, and 82% at 5 years. Five patients were lost to follow-up by 12 months post-stenting. Significant recurrent obstruction developed in five patients with resumption of clinical symptoms. The overall survival rate was 98.2% at 12 months, 89.5% at 24 months, and 84.5% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular therapy for proximal subclavian arterial obstructive lesions is effective and successful. This minimally invasive treatment may be the first choice of treatment for proximal subclavical arterial obstructive lesions.

[Surgical treatment of 154 patients with non-traumatic acute lower limb ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the surgical treatment and prognosis of non-traumatic acute lower limb ischemia, and compare the morbidity and prognosis of acute arterial embolism and acute arterial thrombosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 154 acute lower limb ischemia patients surgically treated from July 1999 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Fogarty catheter embolectomy was used in all patients; in which, 128 cases underwent Fogarty catheter embolectomy only, 8 cases Fogarty catheter embolectomy combined with endarterectomy, 13 cases Fogarty catheter embolectomy combined with vascular reconstruction with prosthetic graft or great saphenous vein, 5 cases Fogarty catheter embolectomy combined with amputation. The patients were divided into two groups according to pathogenesis: acute arterial embolism group (99 cases) and acute arterial thrombosis group (55 cases). The morbidity, amputation, perioperative mortality rates and high risk factors of amputation in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Female experienced acute arterial embolism more often than man (60.6% vs 39.4%, P < 0.05), and more acute arterial thrombosis occurred in man (72.7% vs 27.3%, P < 0.05). The amputation rate of all cases was 9.7%, and perioperative mortality rate was 11.7%. The amputation rate in acute arterial embolism group was lower than acute arterial thrombosis group (5.1% vs 18.2%, P < 0.05). The perioperative mortality rates in the two groups were equal (11.1% vs 12.7%, P > 0.05). The statistically high risk factor of amputation for two groups was ischemic time, and smoking and diabetes were high risk factors for acute arterial thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Men experiences acute arterial thrombosis more often, and women experiences acute arterial embolism more often. The amputation rate of acute arterial embolism is lower than acute arterial thrombosis, and acute arterial thrombosis has more high risk factors of amputation.

[Endovascular therapy and arterial bypass for subclavian artery occlusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of endovascular therapy and artery bypass for subclavian artery occlusion disease and to explore a suitable therapeutic procedure. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with subclavian artery occlusive disease received endovascular therapy or arterial bypass from June 1997 to May 2004. Twenty-seven endovascular stenting were performed on 26 patients through the femoral artery (n = 14) or combined brachial artery (n = 12). Retrograde endovascular balloon angioplasty and stent placement were performed on 12 patients. Eight subclavian arteries were punctured with ultrasound localization. On account of unsuccessful stenting, 13 cases received arterial bypass. In addition, endovascular stenting were performed on 9 cases with carotid or vertebrarterial stenoses. RESULTS: The blood pressure difference was less than 10 mm Hg between the treated and the healthy arms in all 39 patients. The ratio of healthy/diseased side of the mean blood pressure index increased from 0.62 +/- 0.11 preoperatively to 0.98 +/- 0.04 postoperatively (P < 0.01). The mean patency time for endovascular therapy and arterial bypass was (57.6 +/- 3.7) and (60.2 +/- 7.2) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both endovascular therapy and arterial bypass have good curative effect for subclavian artery occlusion. Endovascular therapy is the preferred treatment for subclavian artery occlusion with mini-trauma and safety.

[Clinical analysis on treatment for superficial varicosities of low limbs with minimally invasive rotary varicotomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of minimally invasive rotary varicotomy (TriVex) for superficial varicosities of low limbs and summarize our therapeutic experiences. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two cases (totally 216 lower limbs) were applied minimally invasive rotary varicotomy (TriVex) and relative clinical data was analyzed. RESULTS: The average operation time for each limb was 48 min. Discomfort and pain of lower limbs disappeared in all of patients after operation. There was no residual of superficial varicosities. There was no severe complication and recurrence of varicosities. The postoperative complication rate was 21.3%. CONCLUSIONS: For treatment of superficial varicosities of low limbs, minimally invasive rotary varicotomy (TriVex) have many advantages including minimal invasion, quick recovery, safety and cosmetic effect. In addition, it has extensive indications and satisfactory therapeutic efficacy. It would be beneficial to master the operative techniques of key procedures. It could decrease complications and get better curative effects.

[Follow-up study in endovascular therapy for the renal artery stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy for renal artery stenosis. METHODS: Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty with stent (PTRAS) was performed on 33 consecutive patients with severe renal artery stenosis who suffered from poorly controlled hypertension or renal dysfunction. They were subsequently underwent 7 to 49 months clinical follow up for the effect of the procedure on renal function, blood pressure control, mortality. RESULTS: Angiographic success was obtained in 32 (97.0%) of the 33 patients. The mortality was 18.2%. After PTRAS, two (6.1%) died of myocardial infarction within 4 months. Four (12.1%) patients with preoperative serum creatinine (Scr) > or = 177 micromol/L died of uraemia within 17 approximately 28 months. Twelve and twenty-four months after the procedure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 26 (78.8%) cases with preoperative Scr < 177 micromol/L significantly decreased (P < 0.05), with less antihypertensive medications taken and satisfactory renal function. CONCLUSION: For patients without serious cardiorenal disease, PTRAS has a beneficial effect on blood pressure and renal function. For patients with serious cardiorenal disease or preoperative Scr > or = 177 micromol/L, the mortality is higher. PTRAS should be performed prudently. The preservation of renal function may be enhance by using renal protection device.

The cDNA Sequence and Its Tissue Expression of Tree Shrew Apolipoprotein CI.

The mRNA was isolated and purified from tree shrew (TS) liver tissue. A cDNA library of the liver tissue was then constructed by using the mRNA as the template by reverse transcription. Two apolipoprotein CI (apoCI) cDNA clones were identified in the library with an anti-serum to TS apoCI. Sequencing and analysizing of the clones showed that both were the apoCI cDNA sequences in which the larger one was determined as 380 nucleotides. It contains 21 bp and 95 bp in 5' and 3' untranslated regions respectively, and 264 bp in an open reading frame, encoding an 88 aa apoCI precursor (a 26 aa signal peptide, and a 62 aa mature protein whose length is the same as those of rat, mouse and dog, but longer than those of human and baboon by 5 aa residues). The function domains in the protein sequence deduced from the cDNA were predicted by comparison of conservative regions in apoCIs from different species. The results of Northern blot indicated in TS the presence of apoCI mRNA not just mainly in the liver but also found in the intestine, suggesting the mRNA distribution different from those in other mammals and primates.

Studies on the Separation, Purification of Beijing Duck Apo A-I CNBr Cleavaged Fragments and the Localization of Their Function Domain.

Apo A-I of Beijing duck was first cleavaged by CNBr into 11 peptide fragments which were further separated and purified by preparative SDS-PAGE and HPLC, then their molecular weights and N-terminal amino acid sequences were also determined. According to the molecular weights and N-terminal amino acid sequences of each fragment the positions of peptide fragments 3-10 in apo A-I molecule were localized at the sites of amino acid sequences 64-240, 74-240, 64-206, 1-163, 1-36, 171-206, 207-240 and 137-170 respectively. The studied results of their main functions are as following: (1) All the fragments could combine with lipids to form lipsomes of various sizes. The fragment Longer, the size will be larger. (2) The ability of the fragments 3-10 to activate LCAT equals to 65%, 52%, 60%, 39%, 8%, 7%, 0% and 2% of that of the whole apo A-I molecule respectively, showing that the activating sequence is localized in amino acid residues 64-136. (3) Only the liposomes formed with fragments 3, 4 and 9 could combine with the HDL receptor of liver cell membrane of Beijing duck; the rest of the liposomes demonstrated essentially no binding ability. As peptide fragments 3 and 4 also contained fragment 9, the result indicated that amino acids 207-240 maybe the fragment that combined with HDL receptor.