Circumscriptions and Phylogenetic Relationships of Primula Sects. Auganthus and Ranunculoides: Evidence from nrDNA ITS Sequences

The circumscriptions of sections Auganthus Pax ex Balf. f. and Ranunculoides Chen et C. M. Hu in the genus Primula L. have been controversial, due to the different treatments of P. filchnerae Knuth. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis using sequences from the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. All five species of these two sections and some representatives of other related sections were sampled. The ITS trees show that P. filchnerae could be convincingly placed in sect. Auganthus , together with P. sinensis Sabine ex Lindl. and P. rupestris Balf. f. et Farrer, whereas sect. Ranunculoides contains two species: P. cicutariifolia Pax and P. merrilliana Schltr. These two sections are distantly related and their association with other sections needs further studies. This study also demonstrated that ITS sequences would be a suitable marker for the reconstruction of Primula phylogeny.

Experimental Study on the Utilization of Shallow Groundwater for Spring Wheat

[Objective]The paper aimed to study effect of shallow groundwater at different depths on crop water requirement and crop evaporation in spring wheat field.[Method]Five treatments of shallow groundwater table at different depth were designed to do evaporation experiment for spring wheat in 2008-2009.[Result]The groundwater at different depths had great impact on crop growth and field evaporation;its supply accounted for 0-52% of actual evapotranspiration.Atmospheric evaporation and crop rooting depth were the major factors to affect the uptake of groundwater at shallow table,and the supply of deep groundwater was controlled by groundwater table.[Conclusion]The study reveled the pattern of evapotranspiration of spring wheat and evaporation of shallow groundwater at different depth,in order to supply basis for the rational and effective utilization of shallow groundwater as well as optimization of the irrigation scheduling for spring wheat.

Application Effects of Ultra-fine Powder Shaped Maize Seed Coating Agent in Spring Sowing areas in northeast China

The research explored adaptability maize seed coating agent in spring sowing and effects of ultra-fine powder shaped areas in northeast China. The results showed that germination potential and rate both improved around 5% and the num- ber of root increased by 4% in the treatments with ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent compared with the control group without seed coating. What＇s more, the treatments with ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent took advantages in terms of fresh weight of seeding, stem diameter, and dry weight. It is notable that control effects on underground insects performed the best, with per- centage over 94%, which is more excellent relative to other agents in markets. Therefore, ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent can be widely applied in spring sowing areas in northeast China, without side effects.

Influence of different sports on fat mass and lean mass in growing girls

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the effects of different sports(swimming, football, basketball, and handball) on fat mass and lean mass in prepubertal and pubertal girls.Methods: Two hundred girls(10.6 ± 1.5 years old, Tanner stages I–III) participated in the study and were divided into 5 groups: 40 swimmers, 40 football players, 40 basketball players, 40 handball players, and 40 controls. Fat and lean masses at whole body, arms, trunk, and legs were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA). Pubertal status was determined using Tanner test. Effects of different sports on fat and lean masses were assessed through analysis of covariance with height as covariates. Analyses were performed separately in 2 groups depending on the Tanner stage(prepubertal and pubertal).Results: The girls of the control group had less lean mass and more fat mass compared to the girls who play sports(p < 0.05). There were differences in body fat between sports. The swimmers and football players had less body fat(p < 0.05). On the other hand, handball players showed the highest values in lean mass(p < 0.05).Conclusion: Impact sports(football, basketball, and handball) and low-impact sports(swimming) provide an appropriate development of lean mass in growing girls. We can conclude that people practicing sports at early ages ensure a lower fat mass and higher lean mass compared to those who do not practice. These results may be useful as a preventive method of adult obesity.

THE VARIATION OF EVAPORATION OVER SOUTH CHINA AND ITS RELATIONSHIPS TO PRECIPITATION

The evaporation rate over South China is estimated based on the Climate Prediction Center Merged Analysis of Precipitation(CMAP)data and the NCEP/DOE reanalysis II data from 1979 to 2007. The temporal variation of evaporation over South China and its relationship to precipitation are discussed. Climatologically,the evaporation rate over South China is the largest in July and smallest in March.In spring and summer,the evaporation rate is approximately one half of the precipitation rate.However,the evaporation rate is approximately equal to the precipitation rate in fall and winter.The year-to-year variation of the evaporation rate over South China is quite in phase with that of the precipitation rate in the period from February to May but out of phase with that of the precipitation rate in early winter.Over South China there is a pronounced decreasing trend in the evaporation in colder seasons and a positive correlation between the evaporation variation and the rainfall variation in spring.In summer,the abnormality of rainfall over South China is closely related to the anomalous evaporation over the northeastern part of the South China Sea and its eastern vicinity.In winter,the rainfall variation in South China has a close linkage with the evaporation variation in a belt area covering the eastern Arabian Sea,the Bay of Bengal,the southeastern periphery of the Plateau,the southern part of South China Sea and the central part of Indonesia.

The Onset of Puberty in Indigenous Gilts in the North-East of Thailand Confirmed by the First Ovulation

This experiment was aimed to investigate some changes of ovarian structure in order to confirm the onset of puberty in Thai indigenous gilts. Fifty female animals collected from the North-Eastern area of Thailand were slaughtered in the different age groups as 0, 1, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6 months of age, respectively （each group = 5 pigs）, for monitoring corpus luteum （CL） occurrence on ovarian surface and some changes of reproductive structure. CL was clearly found for the first time in the 4.5 months age group （P 〈 0.05） which was defined as the first ovulation; nevertheless, group of follicles with 〉 2.0 mm in diameter appeared for the first time in the 3.5 month age group （P 〈 0.05）. For other conformations, size of uterine horns, oviducts or ovaries, including weight of ovaries or whole reproductive tracts, were significantly developed （P 〈 0.05） that was initially taken place in the 3.5 months age group onwards. Thus, it was summarized that the onset of puberty in Thai indigenous gilts, affirmed by CL appearance at the first time, should be happened between 4.0 and 4.5 months of age; however, the development of reproductive structure and follicles to prepare in approaching puberty should be started before 3.5 months of age.

Temporal and Spatial Variations of ET 0 and Sensitivity Coefficients in Spring-summer in Eastern Agricultural Areas of Qinghai,China

Reference crop evapotranspiration(ET 0) is a key parameter to calculate crop water requirements.In the paper,ET 0 during 1960-2005 was calculated with FAO-56 PM in eastern agricultural areas of Qinghai,China.Then the sensitivity coefficients of ET 0 to meteorological variables were estimated through the nondimensional partial derivative in FAO-56 PM.Results show that the mean annual ET 0 of the whole area is 904 mm,and ET 0 portrays a very significant decrease during the 46 years.In spatial,ET 0 decreases from southeast to northwest,firstly increases then decreases from southwest to northeast.Through sensitivity analysis,in spring the most sensitive variable is relative humidity,while in summer is temperature.The temperature,sunshine duration and wind speed sensitivity coefficients(S(TA),S(n),S(u)) are higher in middle areas as opposed to surrounding areas,while the relative humidity sensitivity coefficient(S(RH)) has an opposite distribution rule.

《辛巳泣蕲录》与蕲春罗州城

《辛巳泣蕲录》版本流传有序,并非伪作,该书详细讲述蕲州之役的守城经过、城池陷落后和战争后赵与褣安抚百姓的具体情况,弥补了《宋史·李诚之传》记载的不足,对研究蕲春罗州城具有重要的文献价值。然一直以抄本流行,流传范围集中在汉阳、常熟、苏州等地的藏书家手中,直到道光年间钱熙祚始刊刻成书。随着蕲春罗州城近年来考古工作的开展,《蕲春罗州城:2001年发掘报告》和《罗州城与汉墓》的相继出版,为进一步研究罗州城提供了可靠的资料。结合《辛巳泣蕲录》和《宋史》的记载,对'罗州城第一重城所有城垣之上都覆盖着宋代的加工堆积'这一特殊遗迹现象进行考证,认为是宋代李诚之知蕲州时的残留遗迹,第一重城垣的具体名称则是《辛巳泣蕲录》所载金兵破城时吏民'相率投身于子城河内而死'中的子城。罗州城第二重城垣则当为《辛巳泣蕲录》记载的李诚之所守'本州九里三十六步之城',在罗州城第二重城垣南垣中段的地面和表土层下发现有聚集一起的大量的陶质弹丸更有可能是嘉定十四年蕲州之役的遗物。

Comparison of volatile constituents in two types of mugwort leaves(produced in Qichun and Nanyang) using the headspace GC-MS

Objective： To compare the volatile constituents in mugwort leaves produced in Qichun, Hubei Province and Nanyang, Henan Province. Methods： The volatile constituents were extracted using headspace heating and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Then a qualitative analysis was made according to the standard database provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology （NIST） and the relative contents of each constituent were calculated using the peak area normalization method. Results： A total of 59 compounds were identified from the mugwort leaves from Qichun and 51 compounds were identified from the mugwort leaves from Nanyang. These mainly include monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, C^HvOz and other compounds involving the aldehyde, ketone, alkane and benzene. The mugwort leaves from Qichun and Nanyang share 32 common volatile constituents. The chromatographic peak area of identified compounds accounting for 96.38% of GC-MS total chromatographic peak areain Qichun mugwort leaves, versus 95.54% of that in Nanyang mugwort leaves. Conclusion： The headspace heating extraction combined with GC-MS technology can evidently display similarities and differences of volatile constituents in mugwort leaves produced in different areas and thus provide scientific basis for the quality and screening of mugwort leaves.