Aluminium tolerance in barley （Hordeum vulgare L.）： physiological mechanisms, genetics and screening methods

Aluminium （Al） toxicity is one of the major limiting factors for barley production on acid soils. It inhibits root cell division and elongation, thus reducing water and nutrient uptake, consequently resulting in poor plant growth and yield. Plants tolerate Al either through external resistance mechanisms, by which Al is excluded from plant tissues or internal tolerance mechanisms, conferring the ability of plants to tolerate Al ion in the plant symplasm where Al that has permeated the plas- malemma is sequestered or converted into an innocuous form. Barley is considered to be most sensitive to Al toxicity among cereal species. Al tolerance in barley has been assessed by several methods, such as nutrient solution culture, soil bioassay and field screening. Genetic and molecular mapping research has shown that Al tolerance in barley is controlled by a single locus which is located on chromosome 4H. Molecular markers linked with Al tolerance loci have been identified and validated in a range of diverse populations. This paper reviews the （1） screening methods for evaluating Al tolerance, （2） genetics and （3） mechanisms underlying Al tolerance in barley.     

Isolation and physiological characteristics of a premature senescence mutant in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

A rice pse(t) (premature senescence, tentatively) mutant line, was isolated from 4500 independent T-DNA inserted transgenic lines. The symptoms of premature senescence appeared more severely than those of the control plants (Zhonghua 11,japonica) at the last development stage. To characterize the mutant and provide basic information on the candidate genes by mapping to a physical region of 220-kb, experiments were carried out in two phytotrons under controlled temperature of 24 ℃ and28 ℃, respectively. The content of chlorophyll, soluble protein and MDA (malondialdehyde), net photosynthesis, the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD (superoxide dismuase) (EC 1.15.1.1) and POD (peroxidase) (EC 1.11.1.7) and the peptidase activities of leaves were measured from top to bottom according to the leaf positions at the flowering stage. Compared with the control plant,the mutant showed the following characteristics: (1) Higher net photosynthesis rate (Pn) appeared in the 1 st and 2nd leaves, contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein were also higher in the 1 st leaf; (2) The activities of SOD, POD and peptidase were higher according to the leaf position from top to bottom; (3) The symptom of premature senescence was accelerated in the mutant at 28℃treatment. The MDA content and the SOD and POD activities between the 24 ℃ and 28 ℃ treatment mutants were not significantly different. Content of chlorophyll and soluble protein of leaves mutant decreased rapidly at 28 ℃ treatment. The results show that pse(t) is sensitive to high temperature. The probable function of PSE(T) is discussed.     

Genetic analysis for brix weight per stool and its component traits in sugarcane （Saccharum officinarum）

Brix weight per stool (BW) of sugarcane is a complex trait, which is the final product of a combination of many components. Diallel cross experiments were conducted during a period of two years for BW and its five component traits, including stalk diameter (SD), stalk length (SL), stalk number (SN), stalk weight (SW), and brix scale (BS) of sugarcane. Phenotypic data of all the six traits were analyzed by mixed linear model and their phenotype variances were portioned into additive (A),dominance (D), additive×environment interaction (AE) and dominance×environment interaction (DE) effects, and the correlations of A, D, AE and DE effects between BW and its components were estimated. Conditional analysis was employed to investigate the contribution of the components traits to the variances of A, D, AE and DE effects of BW. It was observed that the heritabilities of BW were significantly attributed to A, D and DE by 23.9%, 30.9% and 28.5%, respectively. The variance of A effect for BW was significantly affected by SL, SN and BS by 25.3%, 93.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The variances of D and DE effects for BW were also significantly influenced by all the five components by 5.1%～85.5%. These determinants might be helpful in sugarcane breeding and provide valuable information for multiple-trait improvement of BW.     

Effects of two medicinal plants Psidium guajava L. （Myrtaceae） and Diospyros mespiliformis L. （Ebenaceae） leaf extracts on rat skeletal muscle cells in primary culture

Crude decoction, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of two medicinal plants （Psidiura guajava and Diospyros raespiliformis）, widely used in the central plateau of Burkina Faso to treat many diseases were evaluated for their antagonistic effects on caffeine induced calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat skeletal muscle cells. These different extracts showed a decrease of caffeine induced calcium release in a dose dependent manner. Comparison of the results showed that Psidiura guajava leaf extracts are more active than extracts of Diospyros mespiliformis and that crude decoctions show better inhibitory activity. The observed results could explaine their use as antihypertensive and antidiarrhoeal agents in traditional medicine, by inhibiting intracellular calcium release.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci and epistasis for root characteristics and root exudations in maize （Zea mays L.） under deficient phosphorus

The phosphorus uptake （PU） in above-ground parts of plant, root characteristics and root exudations as well as the quantitative trait loci （QTLs） associated with these characteristics were determined for a F2：3 population derived from the cross of two contrasting maize （Zea mays L.） genotypes, 082 and Yel07. A total of 241 F2：3 families were evaluated in replicated trials under deficient phosphorus conditions in 2007 at two sites （Kaixian County and Southwest University, Chongqing, P. R. China）. The results show pleiotropy and close linkage among QTLs. Four common regions in different environments were in bnlg100- bnlg1268b （bins 1.02） for QTL of H＋, bnlg1268a-umc1290a （bins 1.09） for QTL of AP （acid phospbatase activity）, dupssrl5- P 1MT/a （bins 6.06） for QTLs of PU （phosphorus uptake） and RW （root weight）, and P IM3/d-P1M3/g （bins9.04） for QTLs of PU and AP. These QTLs are non-environment or minor QTLs x environment. By epistatic analysis, three main QTLs and eighteen QTLs x QTLs interactions were detected for the seven measured characteristics. These QTLs may affect trait expression by epistatic interaction with the other loci, and make a substantial contribution to phosphorus utilization efficiency, which should be considered when breeding maize varieties with high P efficiency. Two regions were detected in dupssrl 5- P1MT/a （bins 6.06） for QTL of RW and P1M3/d- P 1M3/g （bins 9.04） for QTL of PU and AP. They were detected in two different environments and by two methods of QTL analysis, which were useful for marker-assisted selection.     

Evaluation of genetic potential of the polyvoltine silkworm （Bombyx mori L.） germplasm and identification of parents for breeding programme

In the present study, polyvoltine germplasm stock ofAndhra Pradesh State Sericulture Research and Development, Institute （APSSRDI） was evaluated for its performance based on quantitative and qualitative traits. Twenty-one oval and 10 peanut cocoon shaped lines were reared in different seasons of the year. Since the polyvoltines are non-diapausing, six generations were reared and evaluated for various economically important traits based on evaluation index and sub-ordinate function statistical methods. Ten top ranked lines obtained by using both the methods were identified as potential parental strains. Among oval lines, APMI4, APMI 1, APMIS, APMW9, and APMI9, and among peanut lines APMD5, APMDI, APMD3, APMD9 and APMD8 were selected as base material. The identified high yielding lines will be used in various breeding programmes as initial parents for the synthesis of superior polyvoltine breeds/hybrids.     

Rate-dependent constitutive model of poly（ethylene terephthalate） for dynamic analysis

Uniaxial tensile testing at strain rates ranging from 10-3 to 10-1 s-1 was carried out to study the rate-dependent me-chanical behavior for poly（ethylene terephthalate） （PET） used in the packaging industry. The experimental results show that a rate-dependent plastic behavior exists for PET material. The value of the yield strength was found to increase with the increasing strain rate. A new constitutive model based on the improved Cowper-Symonds rate-dependent constitutive model is proposed to describe the mechanical behavior of PET material in the strain rate ranging from 10-3 to 10-1 s-1, providing more accurate material data for the subsequent simulation analysis of drop test and dynamic buckling. The predictions obtained using the proposed model are compared with experimental results of the improved Cowper-Symonds model. The simulating results of the proposed model agree well with the experimental data. For a low strain rate, the predictions of this model are more precise than those obtained using the improved Cowper-Symonds model. This confirms that the new constitutive model is suitable for describing the me-chanical behavior of PET material at a low strain rate and modeling impact problem.     

Socialization content in schools and education for sustainable development – I. A study of teachers’ selective traditions

This article studies content issues by examining teachers’ communicated socialization content. The value-laden socialization content constitutes the educational context for the teaching of integrated subject matter and has not yet been thoroughly studied empirically in environmental education research. The implications of the results can be fruitful in discussions about how educational traditions evolve, as well as discussions about the relationships between environmental education (EE) and education for sustainable development (ESD). In this study, ten upper secondary teachers are interviewed and their expressed socialization content is examined. Various qualitative positions regarding five important educational aspects can be described in terms of three selective traditions. To strengthen the validity of the socialization content found in this study, the students of the same teachers were interviewed regarding their experiences of the socialization content of these teachers’ teaching. This is reported in a supplementary article (Sund and Wickman 2011; Sund 2008). Together these three studies (this article; Sund and Wickman 2011; Sund 2008) work to establish and test a method of discerning qualitative aspects in socialization content. Although the amount of data is limited, the ambition has been to triangulate socialization content qualitatively from three different sources: a literature study, teacher interviews, and student interviews.     

Field demonstration of reduction of lead availability in soil and cabbage （Brassica Chinensis L.） contaminated by mining tailings using phosphorus fertilizers

A field demonstration of reduction of lead availability in a soil and cabbage （Brassica Chinensis L.） contaminated by mining tailings, located in Shaoxing, China was carried out to evaluate the effects of applications of phosphorus fertilizers on Pb fractionation and Pb phytoavailability in the soil. It was found that the addition of all three P fertilizers including single super phosphate （SSP）, phosphate rock （PR）, and calcium magnesium phosphate （CMP） significantly decreased the percentage of water-soluble and exchangeable （WE） soil Pb and then reduced the uptake of Pb, Cd, and Zn by the cabbage compared to the control （CK）. The results showed that the level of 300 g P/mE soil was the most cost-effective application rate of P fertilizers for reducing Pb availability at the first stage of remediation, and that at this P level, the effect of WE fraction of Pb in the soil decreased by three phosphorus fertilizers followed the order： CMP （79%）〉SSP （41%）〉PR （23%）; Effectiveness on the reduction of Pb uptake by cabbage was in the order： CMP （53%）〉SSP （41%）〉PR （30%）. Therefore our field trial demonstrated that it was effective and feasible to reduce Pb availability in soil and cabbage contaminated by mining tailings using P fertilizers in China and PR would be a most cost-effective amendment.     

Interaction between seed size and NaCl on germination and early seedling growth of some Turkish cultivars of chickpea （Cicer arietinum L.）

Chickpea is an important food legume crop of Turkey and is largely grown for human consumption on low moisture or salt-affected soils.The objective of the study was to find the effects of NaCl stress at electrical conductivities of 4.5,8.6,12.7 and 16.3 dS/m and seed sizes (7,8 and 9 mm) on germination and early seedling growth of three popular chickpea cultivars (AKN-97,Gokce and Uzunlu-99).Mean frequency of germination,germination time,germination index,root length,shoot length and seedling fresh weight showed seed size-dependent responses of cultivars to salt stress.In general,small seeds germinated and grew more rapidly compared to medium and large seeds of the same cultivars against all levels of salt stress,with the best results in cultivar Uzunlu-99.No effect of NaCl treatments was observed on frequency of germination; however,a drastic decrease in early seedling growth was recorded at increased NaCl concentrations.Regression analysis results showed a significantly positive rela-tionship (P<0.01) between seed size and mean germination time,whereas a significantly negative relationship was recorded between seed size and germination index,root length,shoot length.Moreover,linear regression values apparently confirmed that increased seed size in each cultivar affected decreased germination index,root and shoot lengths with enhanced mean germination time.Thus,it was concluded that the use of small seeds could considerably reduce the production costs of chickpea in salt-affected soils.     

Identification of candidate genes for drought stress tolerance in rice by the integration of a genetic （QTL） map with the rice genome physical map

INTRODUCTION Drought stress is a major constraint to rice(Oryza sativa) production and yield stability in rainedecosystems (Dey and Upadhyaya, 1996). Rice mustbe made more drought tolerant, but this is a somewhatcontradictory objective considering that rice is mostcommonly grown under flooded conditions. Achiev-ing drought tolerance in rice will require a deeperunderstanding of the possible physiological mecha-nisms available for water stress tolerance and theidentification of favo…     

Determination of Diffusion Coefficient and Analysis of Diffusion Factors of Cr（Ⅵ） Ion in Clay Soil

Some laboratory diffusion tests were conducted with diffusion device to determine the diffusion coefficient of Cr(Ⅵ) ion passing through Dalian red clay samples. The concentrations of Cr(Ⅵ) at different places of the samples were then measured spectrophotometrically after a standing time of 1 000 d. A one-dimensional solute transport equation was used to simulate the transport of Cr(Ⅵ) through clay samples. Back-calculation of diffusion coefficient of Cr(Ⅵ) was made with finite difference method. Parametric analysis was conducted to simulate variations in soil dry density, temperature, pH and standing time. The results show that the method used in this paper is simple and effective. The diffusion coefficient of Cr(Ⅵ) in Dalian red clay varies from 1.50×10-7 cm2/s to 2.08×10-7 cm2/s. After 1 000 d diffusion, the concentration of the source solution drops down to 1.27 mg/L from 62.5 mg/L, and the diffusion distance is only 3.5 cm. Under the assumption that diffusion coefficient is constant, the diffusion effect becomes more obvious with lower density, lower temperature, higher pH value, and much more time.     

Moral Education and Improvement of Coexistence in Secondary Education （12-16 Years） in Spain

Coexistence and moral education are areas of great interest in Spanish compulsory education, especially in the period that comprises between 12 and 16 years of age, named ＂compulsory secondary education＂ in Spain. With the aim to improve the processes of coexistence within this level, this research team on education from the University of Salamanca has conducted an experimental study, implementing a programme to provide moral education through ICTs （information and communication technologies）. So as to verify the positive influence of the programme, a series of means have been applied with consideration for two groups--control and experimental--and certain stages of pre- and post- test assessment. The first results denote that there has been an improvement in social-personal values in the students that were involved more actively in the programme.     

Spatial distribution of Cd and Cu in soils in Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area （SZIA）, China

Heavy metal contamination of soils, derived from sewage irrigation, mining and inappropriate utilization of various agrochemicals and pesticides, and so on, has been of wide concern in the last several decades. The Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area (SZIA) in China is a representative area of heavy metal contamination of soils resulting from sewage irrigation for about 30 years. This study investigated the spatial distribution and temporal variation of soil cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) contamination in the SZIA. The soil samples were collected from the SZIA in 1990 and 2004; Cd and Cu in soils was analyzed and then the spatial distribution and temporal variation of Cd and Cu in soils were modeled using Kriging methods. The results show that long-term sewage irrigation had caused serious Cd and Cu contamination in soils. The mean and the maximum of soil Cd are markedly higher than the levels in second grade standard soil (LSGSS) in China, and the maximum of soil Cu is close to the LSGSS in China in 2004 and is more than the LSGSS in China in 1990. The contamination magnitude of soil Cd and the soil extent of Cd con- tamination had evidently increased since sewage irrigation ceased in 1992. The contamination magnitude of soil Cu and the soil extent of Cu contamination had evidently increased in topsoil, but obviously decresed in subsoil. The soil contamination of Cd and Cu was mainly related to Cd and Cu reactivation of contaminated sediments in Shenyang Xi River and the import of Cd and Cu during irrigation. The eluviation of Cd and Cu in contaminated topsoil with rainfall and irrigation water was another factor of temporal-spatial variability of Cd and Cu contamination in soils.     

Optimization of technological conditions for one-pot synthesis of （S）-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl acetate in organic media

INTRODUCTION Cyanohydrin compounds are useful syntheticintermediates in organic synthesis and are importantstarting materials for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals(Klibanov, 1990). Optically active cyanohydrin esterscan be obtained by enzymatic transesterification ofracemic cyanohydrins in organic solvent (Wang et al.,1989). (S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (CPB) alcoholis an important building block of pyrethroid insecti-cides and has received increasing interest for use inbiological agroche…     

E-learning Contribution to the Enhancement of Higher Education Opportunities for Women in Saudi Arabia （Pilot Study）

Establishing the NCEDL （National Centre for E-learning and Distance Learning）, electronic universities are some initiatives to introduce e-learning to the KSA （Kingdom of Saudi Arabia）, which have led to a fast, strong, and impressive movement toward e-learning in the Kingdom. However, e-learning in Saudi Arabia is still in the early stage of its development due to many challenges of e-learning that will still have to be faced. E-learning in Saudi higher education has been examined in a number of studies. Yet, focusing on e-learning among Saudi women through the social and religious customs of society is not sufficiently examined. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the possibilities that exist for the utilization of e-learning in the enhancement of the higher education opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia within the social customs and religious beliefs by identifying the barriers to higher education for Saudi women, the modes of e-learning that currently exist within the higher education programmes in the Saudi higher education system, how e-learning can support higher education opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia, and a successful model of e-learning to improve higher education opportunities for women in the KSA. In order to achieve the aim of this research, a pilot study was made by using a semi-structured interview as a method of data collection from Saudi females who live with their related （mahram） male in the United Kingdom and a three stage coding analysis of the grounded theory analyzing the data collected from the field to formulate a theory and a model. A primarily model was presented which described the contributions of e-learning to higher education of Saudi women. The model is presented consisting of three main categories： （1） social and religious barriers; （2） women＇s use of the Intemet; and （3） women＇s use of e-learning, as well as a number of sub-subcategories. In addition, the need to illuminate the ability of Saudi women to convert e-learning into a valuable educational achievement is demonstrated. The next stage of our research will investigate all of the issues indicated by the pilot study in order to improve the success of using e-learning for Saudi women＇s higher education and eventually to devise a research theory.