Study of Characteristics of Soil Animals in Halophilous Plant Communities of \u3ci\u3eLeymus chinensis\u3c/i\u3e Grasslands of Northeast in China

We have researched soil animals in 8 types of halophilous plant communities of Leymus chinensis grasslands of Northeast China to characterise soil animal groups and explain the role and function of soil animals in grassland ecosystems (Richard & Roger, 1998) and provide a scientific basis for research to improve alkaline lands in these grasslands

Dynamic of Soil Mesofauna of Fixed Sand Dunes on the Songnen Grasslands, Northeastern China

Grasslands cover vast land areas in semi-arid and semi-humid regions. Sand dunes, most of which are fixed sand dunes, form a large portion of grasslands. Vegetation on fixed sand dunes is an important part of grassland ecosystem productivity, and topographic position is one of the important factors resulting in the differences among vegetation, soil, etc. (Sakai and Ohsawa, 1994; Nagamatsu and Miura, 1997). An important component of soil fauna ecology is to analyze the distribution of soil fauna and its influencing factors. On the small scale, the ozone factors become the dominant factor affecting the soil fauna (Frouz et al., 2011). Topographic position is an important factor affecting the distribution of soil fauna on fixed sand dunes (Xin et al., 2013). This paper takes fixed sand dunes on the Songnen Grasslands as the research objects, and aims to determine the structure and diversity of soil mesofauna on the different positions of the fixed sand dunes

Chinese water policy for sustainable water resources: Options for the future

China has no option but to press on with the implementation of the National Water Initiative as stated by its government in ‘’Document No. 1". One might observe that it can be a bit heavy in political terms. Most hydrological means are pretty meaningless in reality. Though the nation is not sure if it can handle such a project effectively yet, it will certainly approach it with a degree of commitment. The paper aims to build an integrated understanding of these issues and to illustrate appropriate policy directions and management practices. These are ambitious goals, but they are essential and relevant in the milestone of the Chinese water resources management and policy.Key words: Climate change, Chinese water vision, the national water initiative, national water resources management, integrated water resources management, policy implications

Uniaxial and Mixed Orientations of Poly(ethylene oxide) in Nanoporous Alumina Studied by X-ray Pole Figure Analysis

The orientation of polymers under confinement is a basic, yet not fully understood phenomenon. In this work, the texture of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) infiltrated in nanoporous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) templates was investigated by X-ray pole figures. The influence of geometry and crystallization conditions, such as pore diameter, aspect ratio, and cooling rates, was systematically examined. All the samples exhibited a single, volume-dependent crystallization temperature (Tc) at temperatures much lower than that exhibited by bulk PEO, indicating “clean” microdomains without detectable heterogeneous nucleation. An “orientation diagram” was established to account for the experimental observations. Under very high cooling rates (quenching), crystallization of PEO within AAO was nucleation-controlled, adopting a random distribution of crystallites. Under low cooling rates, growth kinetics played a decisive role on the crystal orientation. A relatively faster cooling rate (10 °C/min) and/or smaller pores lead to the * ║ pore axis (n⃗) mode (uniaxial orientation). When the cooling rate was lower (1 °C/min), and/or the pores were larger, a mixed orientation, with a coexistence of * ║ n⃗ and * ║ n⃗ , was observed. The results favor the kinetic model where the fastest growth direction tends to align parallel to the pore axis.This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 21873109, 51820105005, 21274156). G. L. is grateful to the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2015026). G. L., D. W., and A. J. M. also acknowledge European funding by the RISE BIODEST project (H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017-778092). The authors thank Dr. Zhongkai Yang for assistance with pole figure measurement

4-Meth­oxy-3-nitro­biphen­yl

In the title compound, C13H11NO3, the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 36.69 (2)° and the nitro and methy­oxy groups are oriented at 29.12 (14) and 2.14 (12)° with respect to the benzene ring to which they are bonded

Fgf9 signaling regulates inner ear morphogenesis through epithelial–mesenchymal interactions

AbstractThe mammalian inner ear comprises the cochleovestibular labyrinth, derived from the ectodermal otic placode, and the encasing bony labyrinth of the temporal bone. Epithelial–mesenchymal interactions are thought to control inner ear development, but the modes and the molecules involved are largely unresolved. We show here that, during the precartilage and cartilage stages, Fgf9 is expressed in specific nonsensory domains of the otic epithelium and its receptors, Fgfr1(IIIc) and Fgfr2(IIIc), widely in the surrounding mesenchyme. To address the role of Fgf9 signaling, we analyzed the inner ears of mice homozygous for Fgf9 null alleles. Fgf9 inactivation leads to a hypoplastic vestibular component of the otic capsule and to the absence of the epithelial semicircular ducts. Reduced proliferation of the prechondrogenic mesenchyme was found to underlie capsular hypoplasticity. Semicircular duct development is blocked at the initial stages, since fusion plates do not form. Our results show that the mesenchyme directs fusion plate formation and they give direct evidence for the existence of reciprocal epithelial–mesenchymal interactions in the developing inner ear. In addition to the vestibule, in the cochlea, Fgf9 mutation caused defects in the interactions between the Reissner's membrane and the mesenchymal cells, leading to a malformed scala vestibuli. Together, these data show that Fgf9 signaling is required for inner ear morphogenesis

2-(2,3-Difluoro­phen­yl)ethyl toluene-4-sulfonate

In the title compound, C15H14F2O3S, the dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 6.19 (13)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating [110] chains