Molecular phylogeny of metazoa (animals): Monophyletic origin

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Risler and Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. R. K Zahn     

The origin of extensive colour polymorphism in Plateumaris sericea (Chrysomelidae,Coleoptera)

Evidence is presented to demonstrate that colour polymorphism in a beetle arises from structural colours produced by a five-layered reflector in the elytron. The colour of leaf beetles, Plateumaris sericea, ranges across the visible spectrum from blackish-blue to red. The elytra have two distinct layers: epicuticle and exocuticle. Morphological observations reveal that the multilayer structure within the exocuticle differs little among the different colour morphs but the layers within the epicuticle have characteristic thicknesses corresponding to the observed colour. The reflectors, consisting of five layers within the epicuticle, are responsible for all the different colours observed in P. sericea, as shown by theoretical analyses for a multilayer stack, and by showing that removal of the elytral surface, including epicuticle, results in the disappearance of the iridescent colour.     

Diversity of Mesozoic semionotiform fishes and the origin of gars (Lepisosteidae)

Gars (Lepisosteidae) are ray-finned fishes with controversial relationships to other actinopterygian lineages. When fossil taxa are considered, gars are grouped with Mesozoic macrosemiids and ‘semionotids’ in the Semionotiformes, but the intra-relationships within this order are still elusive. Here, the evolutionary history of gars is reinvestigated using a set of well-preserved extinct semionotiform taxa in a phylogenetic analysis. Results indicate that the gar lineage roots in a clade of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous semionotiform fishes. The closest relatives to gars were plant-eating and detritivorous freshwater fishes. The occurrence of semionotiform remains in Early and early Late Cretaceous continental deposits worldwide possibly reflects an important radiation of this group, comparable to the present-day diversification of cypriniforms. Other Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous semionotiform taxa are gathered in a single clade with weakly supported internal nodes, pointing out the necessity to better understand the osteology of these fishes.     

The dinosaurian origin of feathers: perspectives from dolphin (Cetacea) collagen fibers

The early origin of birds is a hotly disputed debate and may be broadly framed as a conflict between paleontologists and ornithologists. The paleontological emphasis has shifted from Archaeopteryx and its origins to recent finds of Cretaceous birds and feathered dinosaurs from China. The identification of alleged feathers has, however, relied principally on the visual image. Some workers have interpreted these integumentary structures as collagen fibers. To test the latter hypothesis, using light microscopy, collagen from the hypodermis (blubber) and subdermal connective tissue sheath was examined from a dolphin that had been buried for a year as part of an experiment. Within the blubber, toward the central thicker parts of the material, the collagen fibers had compacted and the three-dimensional latticework of normal blubber had more or less collapsed. Chromatographic analysis of the blubber revealed pronounced oxidation of the unsaturated lipids, probably accounting for the collapse of the latticework. Fibers normally bound together in bundles became separated into individual fibers or smaller bundles by degradation of the glue-like substance binding them together. These degraded collagen fibers show, in many instances, feather-like patterns, strikingly reminiscent of many of those identified as either protofeathers or modern feathers in dromaeosaurid dinosaurs. The findings throw serious doubt on the virtually complete reliance on visual image by supporters of the feathered dinosaur thesis and emphasize the need for more rigorous methods of identification using modern feathers as a frame of reference. Since collagen is the main fiber type found in most supporting tissues, the results have wide implications regarding the degradation and fossilization of vertebrate integument, such as that of the ichthyosaurs, dinosaurs and birds.     

湿地泥沙环境动态评估方法及其应用研究——(Ⅱ)应用

以1994年和1995年对深圳湾潮间带湿地沉积物进行的基线调查结果为基础，结合1996年至1999年间每年于1、4、7、10月对该湿地9个采样点的沉积物和底栖动物的20次定期采样结果进行分析，得出了深圳湾湿地1996年以来的环境质量变化状况。评价结果表明，深圳福田一侧的环境质量状况保持良好，而香港米埔一侧的环境质量则发生了一定程度的退化。     

湿地泥沙环境动态评估方法及其应用研究——(Ⅰ)理论

通过类比相邻学科近年来发展的水体快速生物评估的思想，根据湿地泥沙自身的特点，提出了一种适用于湿地沉积物的环境质量评价方法－湿地（泥沙）沉积物环境动态评价方法。该方法主要用于湿地环境质量变化趋势的评价，其最大特色是可以对那些受人为活动影响较大的区域进行快速的动态评估。快速评估的目的在于加速环境质量评估过程，同时促进后续的管理决策进程。     

城市生活垃圾堆肥动态工艺 DANO 的研究

研究了DANO式动态堆肥工艺处理我国城市生活垃圾的主要参数。结果表明,对有机物含量为50％～60％的堆料,初步稳定化时间为3～4日,耗氧速率每分钟为0.1％～0.2％,温度高于50℃;达到完全稳定化,所需时间为14～15日,具体数值与堆料特性有关。有机物含量低于40％的堆料,则不宜以本工艺处理。     

Sex-biased investment in yolk androgens depends on female quality and laying order in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)

The Trivers–Willard hypothesis predicts sex biases in parental investment according to parental condition. In addition, parents may need to sex bias their investment if there is an asymmetry between the sexes in offspring fitness under different conditions. For studying maternal differential investment, egg resources are ideal subjects because they are self contained and allocated unequivocally by the female. Recent studies show that yolk androgens can be beneficial to offspring, so here we test for sex-biased investment with maternal investment of yolk testosterone (T) in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) eggs. From the Trivers–Willard hypothesis, we predicted females to invest more in male eggs in optimum circumstances (e.g. good-condition mother, early-laid egg), and more in female eggs under suboptimal conditions (e.g. poor-condition mother, late-laid egg). This latter prediction is also because in this species there is a female nestling disadvantage in poor conditions and we expected mothers to help compensate for this in female eggs. Indeed, we found more yolk T in female than male eggs. Moreover, in accordance with our predictions, yolk T in male eggs increased with maternal quality relative to female eggs, and decreased with laying order relative to female eggs. This supports our predictions for the different needs and value of male and female offspring in zebra finches. Our results support the idea that females may use yolk androgens as a tool to adaptively manipulate the inequalities between different nestlings.     

生物过滤塔降解挥发性有机物动力学模型

提出了挥发性有机物(VOCs)生物降解新机理——吸附传递生物降解机理,建立了模型动力学方程,选择活性炭为滤料,以甲苯为VOCs代表,求取模型参数,获得了VOCs生物降解经验方程,并验证了模型的正确性。      

概念性非点源污染动态模型(CNPDM)及其应用研究

概念性非点源污染动态模型(CNPDM)根据非点源污染的产生机理和动态过程,直接模拟了具有不同非点源产生特征与产生潜力的各类下垫面,并采用空间、时间离散化的方法使整个模拟结果具有时空差异性,从而更客观和直接地表述了区域性非点源污染的分布与程度,为非点源污染的控制及对策的研究提供了依据。CNPDM已在广东省的江门市、深圳市等地的研究中得到验证。并应用到珠江三角洲的非点源污染计算中。      

基于GM(1,1)模型群的阿什河氨氮浓度的预测研究

依据灰色系统理论,以2000年-2009年10年阿什河入江口断面枯水期氨氮浓度构造了一个由6个GM(1,1)模型组成的灰色动态模型群,并运用该模型群对其变化趋势进行了预测分析,得到令人满意的结果。研究表明,灰色动态模型群法能够充分利用近期水质资料信息预测未来水质变化趋势;以模型群统计平均值作为最终预测值,避免了单一灰色模型容易利用不稳定信息的缺陷,使得预测精度更加准确,预测结果更为可信。     

Dynamic calibration of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) analysers by annular denuder and ion-chromatographic techniques

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) at ppb-ppt levels is produced by irradiating a mixture of acetaldehyde and NO₂ dynamically generated by permeation tubes. The quantitative and selective removal of NO₂ and ozone from the reaction mixture performed by using two annular denuders allows the quantification of PAN as nitrite by ion chromatography carried out on the hydrolysed sample. The method is suitable for the field calibration of GC-based PAN-analysers.     

灰色动态模型(GM)在黑龙江省污水总量预测中的应用

本文引入灰色系统理论,利用有限的时间序列,按照GM(1,1)建模方法,建立起黑龙江省污水总量长期预测模型。预测了公元2000年黑龙江省污水总量,取得了满意的结果。      

聚合氯化铁-腐殖酸(PFC-HA)絮体的粒度和分形维数的动态变化

通过采集PFC-HA絮体的单个样品和拍摄它们的二维图像,研究了在不同混凝条件下絮体的粒度和分形维数的变化.结果表明,原水pH的下降滞后了PFC-HA絮体的出现.原水pH≥7.0时,随着投药量的增加,PFC-HA絮体的分形维数D2(lgA-lgdL)和D3(lgV1-lgdL)随之降低,表明絮体的结构越来越疏松;而原水pH=5.0时,PFC-HA絮体的分形维数存在波动.在PFC的最佳投药量时,水力条件的优化可以提高HA的去除效果,但随着原水pH的下降,HA去除效果的提高程度也随之减小.在最佳水力条件下,PFC-HA絮体的粒度为数百微米,其分形维数值较大,表明絮体的结构较为密实.此外,PFC-HA絮体的粒度分布具有(类)分形特征,最佳水力条件下正的D.值表明絮体的粒度分布趋向平稳.在整个混凝搅拌过程中,PFC-HA絮体的分形维数的变化是与混凝的溶液化学条件、搅拌时间和分形维数类型有关,其D2具有先上升后下降的趋势,这一过程中絮体结构先趋向密实,然后趋向疏松.而且慢速搅拌过程中絮体的尺度也是先增加后下降.     

Mid–trimester hyperechogenic bowel in a fetus of Japanese origin carrying a new mutation of CFTR gene (L548Q)

We present a case of a fetus with hyperechogenic bowel, in which the L548Q mutation was detected in the mother of Japanese origin and the ΔF508 mutation in the father of Caucasian origin. The fetus proved to be compound heterozygous. Research into cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations in this case was triggered by the fact that the fetus had a characteristic hyperechogenic bowel image with normal karyotype and no indications of intrauterine infections. Hyperechogenic bowel is highly indicative of a CFTR gene mutation. The incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) in fetuses with mid-trimester hyperechogenic bowel is 5%, but once the most frequent mutations have been accounted for, rarer mutations must be investigated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

池塘养殖(青虾)生态系统服务价值的系统动力学模型

生态服务价值的评估在近10 a来受到广泛关注,但大多基于静态评估框架,缺少动态分析。研究运用系统动力学的原理和方法,分析了青虾池塘养殖生态系统服务价值评估系统的内部结构,描绘了因果关系图及流图,建立了相应的系统动力学模型,初步预测不同决策方案下食物供给、固碳、释放氧气价值和富营养化环境成本在30 a内的变化趋势,结果表明:①无论采取何种决策,若系统外部环境不变,生态系统净服务价值的供给趋于稳定;②在池塘养殖生态系统中,释放氧气和固定二氧化碳等非市场价值是生态系统服务价值重要稳定的来源;③青虾养殖中投资变动在短期内往往会造成水产品市场价值的大幅波动,长期里则因投入的增加而增加,但增加率逐渐减少,最终达到稳定值;④在当前条件假设和环境参数的约束下,模型模拟结果与实测结果基本一致。     

南京地区霾天气特征分析

利用南京气象站和江浦、六合、溧水、江宁、高淳等5个南京郊区气象观测站1961～2005年地面气象观测资料,对南京地区霾天气的气候特征、气象要素特征及其成因进行了分析.结果表明,南京地区6站霾天气均呈现出冬季>春季>秋季>夏季的季节特征;南京站45年来年霾日数呈明显上升趋势.能见度与相对湿度呈负相关;霾天气受气象要素的影响,静小风、较高相对湿度有利于霾天气出现.霾天气的增加可能是由总悬浮颗粒物(TSP),尤其是细颗粒物的增加导致的.