Cross-cultural differences have often been seen as an element contributing to the variations in speech acts and this has affected the differences in interpretations of meanings. Each individual contributes to this dif...Cross-cultural differences have often been seen as an element contributing to the variations in speech acts and this has affected the differences in interpretations of meanings. Each individual contributes to this difference as a result of his/her variation in upbringing. His/her values, beliefs, traditions, norms and standards are greatly influenced by his/her culture. Cultural differences are not only seen through tangible artifacts and daily practices, but also in the articulation of thoughts. This paper will present findings from the analysis of "lunch-talks" data involving four professional Malaysian women from the two dominant ethnic communities in Malaysia: Malay and Chinese. The "lunch-talks" are free flowing semi-formal discourse events with topics ranging from family to politics to work-related issues. Data were recorded with the informants' consent and are then transcribed. Our findings indicate that Malaysian women professionals are open, direct and forward in their talk as a result of the influence of cultural and religious conditioning and conditions. With higher education and wider exposure, they are also less inhibited by traditional norms. It would seem that educational exposure and the level of experience play a role in shifting Malaysian women from being demure to being more forward. Nevertheless, some remnants of traditional, cultural and religious values are interlaced within the forwardness. This study will provide some insights into the role of culture in communication. Evidence is drawn from the way the two ethnic groups perceive, interpret, and maintain respect for each other.展开更多
Chinese semi-winter rapeseed,genetically differing from winter and spring rapeseed,has been considered to possess strong potential as parent in winter and spring rapeseed hybrid breeding programs. However,no detailed ...Chinese semi-winter rapeseed,genetically differing from winter and spring rapeseed,has been considered to possess strong potential as parent in winter and spring rapeseed hybrid breeding programs. However,no detailed researches have been documented whether winter and spring rapeseed lines have potential for Chinese semiwinter rapeseed hybrid breeding. The objectives of this study are to estimate the potential of winter and spring rapeseed for semi-winter rapeseed hybrid breeding,and to investigate the association of general combining ability(GCA) with adaptation of parental lines by combining with the data in our previous studies. Four winter and four spring male sterile lines were crossed with 14 Chinese semi-winter rapeseed lines to develop 112 hybrids,which were evaluated together with their parents for seed yield under three environments in China. The exotic parental lines were not adapted to local environment as demonstrated by late flowering,low seed weight and poor seed yield per se. However,the hybrids,especially derived from winter rapeseed exhibited strong heterosis for seed yield,indicating that winter rapeseed germplasm has a great potential for rapeseed hybrid breeding in China. Our data suggested a strong association of GCA with their adaptation ability of parental lines,since high to middle correlations were found for local parental lines and low correlations for exotic parental lines under spring,winter and semi-winter eco-growth environments. The hybrid breeding program using exotic germplasm in rapeseed was discussed.展开更多
The word "interdiscipline" is exotic. Since was imported,it has caused wide attention from Chinese scholars.However,due to the influence of national,regional and individual way of thinking,the understanding and inte...The word "interdiscipline" is exotic. Since was imported,it has caused wide attention from Chinese scholars.However,due to the influence of national,regional and individual way of thinking,the understanding and interpretation of primitive meaning of "interdiscipline" is complex and questionable. Therefore. it is necessary to define "interdiscipline". It is no doubt that the interdiscipline is after disciplines. What are exactly the common and the differences between them and what are their own features are meaningful and worth to discussing.展开更多
The annual life cycle of the brown seaweed Undariapinnatifida (Harvey) Suringer comprises a macroscopic diploid sporophyte stage and a microscopic haploid gametophyte stage. In 2011, an unusual zoospore-derived mono...The annual life cycle of the brown seaweed Undariapinnatifida (Harvey) Suringer comprises a macroscopic diploid sporophyte stage and a microscopic haploid gametophyte stage. In 2011, an unusual zoospore-derived monoecious gametophyte isolate (designated as line 10-5-3) of U. pinnatifida was observed. To understand this phenomenon, a comprehensive screening of eighty-two previously identified male gametophyte cultures, isolated from three randomly selected cultivars (lines 10, 7, and 5) was performed. Thirty-six of the isolates developed both antheridia and oogonia on the same filamentous fragment in a standard gametogenesis test (SGT: 18℃, 60 umol photons/(m2.s)). Selfing of the monoecious gametophyte or crossing it with a normal male gametophyte both gave rise to morphologically normal sporophytic offspring. However, crossing resulted in a much higher fertilization rate (89.7%). The hybrid and selfed sporophytic offspring were grown to maturity in flow tanks at an ambient temperature of 10-18℃ over a period of 69 days. Active zoospores were released from both types of mature sporophylls. The majority of these developed into male gametophytes, while 15%-20% developed into the observed monoecious structures on the same filament. Using PCR amplification it was found that all the monoecious gametophyte isolates and the sporophytic offspring resulting from the selfing and crossing lacked the femalelinked microsatellite sequence (a part of the locus Up-AC-2A8, GenBank accession No. AY738602.1), indicating their male nature. U.pinnatifida is an invasive species in some regions and the implications of the above findings for this species in nature are briefly discussed.展开更多
Social media are popular among youth for sharing information. This study tries to explore the popularity of the social media sites, the level of use of the social media sites, the types of information-sharing activiti...Social media are popular among youth for sharing information. This study tries to explore the popularity of the social media sites, the level of use of the social media sites, the types of information-sharing activities involved on the social media sites, to compare youth of various background in relation to information-sharing activities, and to analyze the relationship between the level of social media use and the information-sharing activities among youth. This study employs a quantitative research design, using survey method with questionnaire as the research instrument used for data collection. In this study, youth aged between 17-40 years old nationwide were surveyed. The study was developed based on the user and gratification theory (Blumler & Katz, 1974). Findings showed that youth always (five to seven days per week) use social media to share information including personal information. Results also showed that youth used the social media more for sharing negatively-oriented information compared to the positively-oriented information. Although there were more items on the positively-oriented information-sharing activities but more youth spent their time on the negatively-oriented information-sharing activities. The results are supported by a strong relationship between frequency of use and the negatively-oriented information-sharing activities.展开更多
The physicochemical analysis was carried out to quantify the total soluble solids, acidity, pH, ascorbic acid contents and pulp colour of eight selected durian hybrid clones. The aim of this study was to select the mo...The physicochemical analysis was carried out to quantify the total soluble solids, acidity, pH, ascorbic acid contents and pulp colour of eight selected durian hybrid clones. The aim of this study was to select the most promising durian hybrids for commercialization. The durian hybrid fruits were collected in an established durian research plot. All tested characteristics with the exception for total soluble solids (TSS) showed significant differences (P 〈 0.05) amongst the eight durian hybrids with four check cultivars. F1 hybrid 15-3 had significantly higher pH (7.25) and lower titratable acidity (0.09%) than other hybrids. While for ascorbic acid content, durian hybrid 7-3 (26.13 rag/100 g) showed significantly higher than other hybrids. As for pulp colour, hybrids 1-15, 1-17 and 7-20 were yellowish orange/deep yellow. Even though there was no significant differences for TSS, three durian hybrids showed value above 39.00 °Brix and there were hybrid 14-3 (39.97 °Brix), hybrid 8-16 (39.83 °Brix) and hybrid 7-3 (39.50 °Brix). Based on the results of this study, Fl hybrids durian 1-15, 7-3, 8-16, 14-3 and 15-3 shall become successful candidates for recommendation to farmers for commercial production in Malaysia. However, further evaluations on fruit eating quality and stability of the hybrids should be completed prior to recommendation for commercialization.展开更多
The optimal foraging theory predicts that predators choose prey with more net rate of energy intake and less energy costs if there are multiple food sources available. Toxins are found in many species in nature. Those...The optimal foraging theory predicts that predators choose prey with more net rate of energy intake and less energy costs if there are multiple food sources available. Toxins are found in many species in nature. Those toxins may be produced by prey as self- protection from predatory animals, or come from other sources such as pesticide residue. Therefore, it requires a balance between energy intake and toxicity damage. In order to study the interactive effect of prey toxin and optimal foraging strategy, we construct a predator-prey model with toxin-induced functional response and optimal foraging property. Dynamical analysis shows that the optimal strategy system presents more complex dynamical behavior than the fixed preference system. We conclude that optimal foraging strategy might play a key role in stabilizing or destabilizing the coexistence states of the species in the system, depending on the level of prey toxins.展开更多
Systematic analyses were conducted including the petrographic features, major and trace elements, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, and mineral structure and compositions of whole rocks. Mid-Pacific Mountain volcanic r...Systematic analyses were conducted including the petrographic features, major and trace elements, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, and mineral structure and compositions of whole rocks. Mid-Pacific Mountain volcanic rocks are mainly phonotephrite with a porphyritic texture. Phenocrysts are mainly composed of Ca-rich plagioclase, clinopyroxene and nepheline.These volcanic rocks are significantly rich in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements, without obvious Eu anomalies(δEu=0.99–1.03), and with relatively enriched^(87) Sr/^(86) Sr(0.703829–0.704313) and^(143) Nd/^(144) Nd isotopic ratios(0.512857–0.512871), suggesting that they have similar but more enriched features than the OIB magmatic source. These volcanic rocks may originate from relatively deep magma source with the existence of spinel-garnet Iherzolites, and have undergone partial melting at a low degree of 1–3%. In addition, The residual Nb-Ta minerals(such as sphene, rutile, perovskite) may remain in the mantle source, and the magma components have undergone metasomatism by carbonate melt/fluid or alkali-rich fluid, causing high contents of incompatible elements and significant loss of Nb, Ta and Ti in these volcanic rocks. There are many similarities between the phonotephrites in the Mid-Pacific Mountain and the volcanic rocks in the Line Islands based on the tectonic settings and the geochemical characteristics. We thus speculate that Site 313 volcanic rocks in the Mid-Pacific Mountain is most likely to be a continuation of the Line Islands.展开更多
Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered speci...Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered species recovery effort for the red wolf Canis rufus is a classic system for understanding and addressing the challenges of hybridization. From 1987-1993, 63 red wolves were released from captivity in eastern North Carolina, USA, to establish a free-ranging, non-essential experimental population. By 1999, managers recognized hybridization with invasive coyotes Canis latrans was the single greatest threat to successful recovery, and an adaptive management plan was adopted with innovative approaches for managing the threat of hybri- dization. Here we review the application and results of the adaptive management efforts from 1993 to 2013 by comparing: (1) the numbers of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids captured, (2) the numbers of territorial social groups with presumed breeding capabili- ties, (3) the number of red wolf and hybrid litters documented each year and (4) the degree of coyote introgression into the wild red wolf gene pool. We documented substantial increases in the number of known red wolves and red wolf social groups from 1987-2004 followed by a plateau and slight decline by 2013.The number of red wolf litters exceeded hybrid litters each year and the proportion of hybrid litters per year averaged 21%. The genetic composition of the wild red wolf population is estimated to include 〈 4% coyote ancestry from recent introgression since reintroduction. We conclude that the adaptive management plan was effective at reducing the introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population, but population recovery of red wolves will require continuation of the current management plan, or alternative approaches, for the foreseeable future. More broadly, we discuss the lessons learned from red wolf adaptive management that could assist other endangered species recovery efforts facing the challenge of minimizing hybridization [Current Zoology 61 (1): 191-205, 2015 ].展开更多
文摘Cross-cultural differences have often been seen as an element contributing to the variations in speech acts and this has affected the differences in interpretations of meanings. Each individual contributes to this difference as a result of his/her variation in upbringing. His/her values, beliefs, traditions, norms and standards are greatly influenced by his/her culture. Cultural differences are not only seen through tangible artifacts and daily practices, but also in the articulation of thoughts. This paper will present findings from the analysis of "lunch-talks" data involving four professional Malaysian women from the two dominant ethnic communities in Malaysia: Malay and Chinese. The "lunch-talks" are free flowing semi-formal discourse events with topics ranging from family to politics to work-related issues. Data were recorded with the informants' consent and are then transcribed. Our findings indicate that Malaysian women professionals are open, direct and forward in their talk as a result of the influence of cultural and religious conditioning and conditions. With higher education and wider exposure, they are also less inhibited by traditional norms. It would seem that educational exposure and the level of experience play a role in shifting Malaysian women from being demure to being more forward. Nevertheless, some remnants of traditional, cultural and religious values are interlaced within the forwardness. This study will provide some insights into the role of culture in communication. Evidence is drawn from the way the two ethnic groups perceive, interpret, and maintain respect for each other.
基金Forschungs-und Entwicklungsfonds RapsGrants from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities to Qian wei+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31171585)Chongqing Science&Technology Commission(No.201180001)
文摘Chinese semi-winter rapeseed,genetically differing from winter and spring rapeseed,has been considered to possess strong potential as parent in winter and spring rapeseed hybrid breeding programs. However,no detailed researches have been documented whether winter and spring rapeseed lines have potential for Chinese semiwinter rapeseed hybrid breeding. The objectives of this study are to estimate the potential of winter and spring rapeseed for semi-winter rapeseed hybrid breeding,and to investigate the association of general combining ability(GCA) with adaptation of parental lines by combining with the data in our previous studies. Four winter and four spring male sterile lines were crossed with 14 Chinese semi-winter rapeseed lines to develop 112 hybrids,which were evaluated together with their parents for seed yield under three environments in China. The exotic parental lines were not adapted to local environment as demonstrated by late flowering,low seed weight and poor seed yield per se. However,the hybrids,especially derived from winter rapeseed exhibited strong heterosis for seed yield,indicating that winter rapeseed germplasm has a great potential for rapeseed hybrid breeding in China. Our data suggested a strong association of GCA with their adaptation ability of parental lines,since high to middle correlations were found for local parental lines and low correlations for exotic parental lines under spring,winter and semi-winter eco-growth environments. The hybrid breeding program using exotic germplasm in rapeseed was discussed.
文摘The word "interdiscipline" is exotic. Since was imported,it has caused wide attention from Chinese scholars.However,due to the influence of national,regional and individual way of thinking,the understanding and interpretation of primitive meaning of "interdiscipline" is complex and questionable. Therefore. it is necessary to define "interdiscipline". It is no doubt that the interdiscipline is after disciplines. What are exactly the common and the differences between them and what are their own features are meaningful and worth to discussing.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41176135,41206142)the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KSCX2-EW-B-3)the Ministry of Agriculture of China(No.200903030)
文摘The annual life cycle of the brown seaweed Undariapinnatifida (Harvey) Suringer comprises a macroscopic diploid sporophyte stage and a microscopic haploid gametophyte stage. In 2011, an unusual zoospore-derived monoecious gametophyte isolate (designated as line 10-5-3) of U. pinnatifida was observed. To understand this phenomenon, a comprehensive screening of eighty-two previously identified male gametophyte cultures, isolated from three randomly selected cultivars (lines 10, 7, and 5) was performed. Thirty-six of the isolates developed both antheridia and oogonia on the same filamentous fragment in a standard gametogenesis test (SGT: 18℃, 60 umol photons/(m2.s)). Selfing of the monoecious gametophyte or crossing it with a normal male gametophyte both gave rise to morphologically normal sporophytic offspring. However, crossing resulted in a much higher fertilization rate (89.7%). The hybrid and selfed sporophytic offspring were grown to maturity in flow tanks at an ambient temperature of 10-18℃ over a period of 69 days. Active zoospores were released from both types of mature sporophylls. The majority of these developed into male gametophytes, while 15%-20% developed into the observed monoecious structures on the same filament. Using PCR amplification it was found that all the monoecious gametophyte isolates and the sporophytic offspring resulting from the selfing and crossing lacked the femalelinked microsatellite sequence (a part of the locus Up-AC-2A8, GenBank accession No. AY738602.1), indicating their male nature. U.pinnatifida is an invasive species in some regions and the implications of the above findings for this species in nature are briefly discussed.
文摘Social media are popular among youth for sharing information. This study tries to explore the popularity of the social media sites, the level of use of the social media sites, the types of information-sharing activities involved on the social media sites, to compare youth of various background in relation to information-sharing activities, and to analyze the relationship between the level of social media use and the information-sharing activities among youth. This study employs a quantitative research design, using survey method with questionnaire as the research instrument used for data collection. In this study, youth aged between 17-40 years old nationwide were surveyed. The study was developed based on the user and gratification theory (Blumler & Katz, 1974). Findings showed that youth always (five to seven days per week) use social media to share information including personal information. Results also showed that youth used the social media more for sharing negatively-oriented information compared to the positively-oriented information. Although there were more items on the positively-oriented information-sharing activities but more youth spent their time on the negatively-oriented information-sharing activities. The results are supported by a strong relationship between frequency of use and the negatively-oriented information-sharing activities.
文摘The physicochemical analysis was carried out to quantify the total soluble solids, acidity, pH, ascorbic acid contents and pulp colour of eight selected durian hybrid clones. The aim of this study was to select the most promising durian hybrids for commercialization. The durian hybrid fruits were collected in an established durian research plot. All tested characteristics with the exception for total soluble solids (TSS) showed significant differences (P 〈 0.05) amongst the eight durian hybrids with four check cultivars. F1 hybrid 15-3 had significantly higher pH (7.25) and lower titratable acidity (0.09%) than other hybrids. While for ascorbic acid content, durian hybrid 7-3 (26.13 rag/100 g) showed significantly higher than other hybrids. As for pulp colour, hybrids 1-15, 1-17 and 7-20 were yellowish orange/deep yellow. Even though there was no significant differences for TSS, three durian hybrids showed value above 39.00 °Brix and there were hybrid 14-3 (39.97 °Brix), hybrid 8-16 (39.83 °Brix) and hybrid 7-3 (39.50 °Brix). Based on the results of this study, Fl hybrids durian 1-15, 7-3, 8-16, 14-3 and 15-3 shall become successful candidates for recommendation to farmers for commercial production in Malaysia. However, further evaluations on fruit eating quality and stability of the hybrids should be completed prior to recommendation for commercialization.
基金The author thanks the referees very much for their valuable comments and suggestions. The work is supported by the Fhndamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 74005701), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11771033).
文摘The optimal foraging theory predicts that predators choose prey with more net rate of energy intake and less energy costs if there are multiple food sources available. Toxins are found in many species in nature. Those toxins may be produced by prey as self- protection from predatory animals, or come from other sources such as pesticide residue. Therefore, it requires a balance between energy intake and toxicity damage. In order to study the interactive effect of prey toxin and optimal foraging strategy, we construct a predator-prey model with toxin-induced functional response and optimal foraging property. Dynamical analysis shows that the optimal strategy system presents more complex dynamical behavior than the fixed preference system. We conclude that optimal foraging strategy might play a key role in stabilizing or destabilizing the coexistence states of the species in the system, depending on the level of prey toxins.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41476034,41272369,40802038,41320104006&41302102)
文摘Systematic analyses were conducted including the petrographic features, major and trace elements, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, and mineral structure and compositions of whole rocks. Mid-Pacific Mountain volcanic rocks are mainly phonotephrite with a porphyritic texture. Phenocrysts are mainly composed of Ca-rich plagioclase, clinopyroxene and nepheline.These volcanic rocks are significantly rich in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements, without obvious Eu anomalies(δEu=0.99–1.03), and with relatively enriched^(87) Sr/^(86) Sr(0.703829–0.704313) and^(143) Nd/^(144) Nd isotopic ratios(0.512857–0.512871), suggesting that they have similar but more enriched features than the OIB magmatic source. These volcanic rocks may originate from relatively deep magma source with the existence of spinel-garnet Iherzolites, and have undergone partial melting at a low degree of 1–3%. In addition, The residual Nb-Ta minerals(such as sphene, rutile, perovskite) may remain in the mantle source, and the magma components have undergone metasomatism by carbonate melt/fluid or alkali-rich fluid, causing high contents of incompatible elements and significant loss of Nb, Ta and Ti in these volcanic rocks. There are many similarities between the phonotephrites in the Mid-Pacific Mountain and the volcanic rocks in the Line Islands based on the tectonic settings and the geochemical characteristics. We thus speculate that Site 313 volcanic rocks in the Mid-Pacific Mountain is most likely to be a continuation of the Line Islands.
文摘Hybridization presents a unique challenge for conservation biologists and managers. While hybridization is an important evolutionary process, hybridization is also a threat formany native species. The endangered species recovery effort for the red wolf Canis rufus is a classic system for understanding and addressing the challenges of hybridization. From 1987-1993, 63 red wolves were released from captivity in eastern North Carolina, USA, to establish a free-ranging, non-essential experimental population. By 1999, managers recognized hybridization with invasive coyotes Canis latrans was the single greatest threat to successful recovery, and an adaptive management plan was adopted with innovative approaches for managing the threat of hybri- dization. Here we review the application and results of the adaptive management efforts from 1993 to 2013 by comparing: (1) the numbers of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids captured, (2) the numbers of territorial social groups with presumed breeding capabili- ties, (3) the number of red wolf and hybrid litters documented each year and (4) the degree of coyote introgression into the wild red wolf gene pool. We documented substantial increases in the number of known red wolves and red wolf social groups from 1987-2004 followed by a plateau and slight decline by 2013.The number of red wolf litters exceeded hybrid litters each year and the proportion of hybrid litters per year averaged 21%. The genetic composition of the wild red wolf population is estimated to include 〈 4% coyote ancestry from recent introgression since reintroduction. We conclude that the adaptive management plan was effective at reducing the introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population, but population recovery of red wolves will require continuation of the current management plan, or alternative approaches, for the foreseeable future. More broadly, we discuss the lessons learned from red wolf adaptive management that could assist other endangered species recovery efforts facing the challenge of minimizing hybridization [Current Zoology 61 (1): 191-205, 2015 ].