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Baoguo Li

Publications and source records attributed to Baoguo Li.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Copulation behavior within one-male groups of wild Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains of China.

This study was conducted using focal animal sampling on the west ridge group of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) located in the Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve on the north slope of the Qinling Mountains, from 8 July 2003 to 24 May 2004. The difference in the average frequency of copulations for each focal male for each month was significant (F=3.068, P=0.016, one-way ANOVA test) with the majority of copulations occurring between September and November. Duration of intromission ranged from 2 to 39 s, with a mean of 16.0+/-0.4 s. Females initiated 627 courtship attempts (96.2%), while males only initiated 3.8%. Both adult females (72.8%) and sub-adult females (27.2%) were involved in sexual interference acts. Females who gave birth in 2004 performed more sexual interference acts than would be expected by chance in the reproductive period of 2003 (X2=13.73>X2(0.005,2), df=2, P<0.005). Male response to female interference was equally divided into "solicitor mounting" and "interrupter mounting". The resident males of one-male units were not observed to mount both the solicitor and the interrupter or mount neither following female solicitation interruptions. Three post-conception copulations were also observed in this study. These results suggest a skewed sexual competition, with multiple females competing for a single male, which was shown by courtship attempts and female interference.

Altitude↗
PubMed2006

Parameter stability of the functional-structural plant model GREENLAB as affected by variation within populations, among seasons and among growth stages.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is increasingly accepted that crop models, if they are to simulate genotype-specific behaviour accurately, should simulate the morphogenetic process generating plant architecture. A functional-structural plant model, GREENLAB, was previously presented and validated for maize. The model is based on a recursive mathematical process, with parameters whose values cannot be measured directly and need to be optimized statistically. This study aims at evaluating the stability of GREENLAB parameters in response to three types of phenotype variability: (1) among individuals from a common population; (2) among populations subjected to different environments (seasons); and (3) among different development stages of the same plants. METHODS: Five field experiments were conducted in the course of 4 years on irrigated fields near Beijing, China. Detailed observations were conducted throughout the seasons on the dimensions and fresh biomass of all above-ground plant organs for each metamer. Growth stage-specific target files were assembled from the data for GREENLAB parameter optimization. Optimization was conducted for specific developmental stages or the entire growth cycle, for individual plants (replicates), and for different seasons. Parameter stability was evaluated by comparing their CV with that of phenotype observation for the different sources of variability. A reduced data set was developed for easier model parameterization using one season, and validated for the four other seasons. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of parameter stability among plants sharing the same environment and among populations grown in different environments indicated that the model explains some of the inter-seasonal variability of phenotype (parameters varied less than the phenotype itself), but not inter-plant variability (parameter and phenotype variability were similar). Parameter variability among developmental stages was small, indicating that parameter values were largely development-stage independent. The authors suggest that the high level of parameter stability observed in GREENLAB can be used to conduct comparisons among genotypes and, ultimately, genetic analyses.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

Evaluating a three dimensional model of diffuse photosynthetically active radiation in maize canopies.

Diffuse photosynthetically active radiation (DPAR) is important during overcast days and for plant parts shaded from the direct beam radiation. Simulation of DPAR interception by individual plant parts of a canopy, separately from direct beam photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), may give important insights into plant ecology. This paper presents a model to simulate the interception of DPAR in plant canopies. A sub-model of a virtual maize canopy was reconstructed. Plant surfaces were represented as small triangular facets positioned according to three-dimensionally (3D) digitized data collected in the field. Then a second sub-model to simulate the 3D DPAR distribution in the canopy was developed by dividing the sky hemisphere into a grid of fine cells that allowed for the anisotropic distribution of DPAR over the sky hemisphere. This model, DSHP (Dividing Sky Hemisphere with Projecting), simulates which DSH (Divided Sky Hemisphere) cells are directly visible from a facet in the virtual canopy, i.e. not obscured by other facets. The DPAR reaching the center of a facet was calculated by summing the amounts of DPAR present in every DSH cell. The distribution of DPAR in a canopy was obtained from the calculated DPARs intercepted by all facets in the canopy. This DSHP model was validated against DPAR measurements made in an actual maize (Zea mays L.) canopy over selected days during the early filling stage. The simulated and measured DPAR at different canopy depths showed a good agreement with a R (2) equaling 0.78 (n=120).

Light↗
PubMed2006

Social organization of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains, Central China.

Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys were observed for 197 days from 2000 to 2003 in the Qinling Mountains, Central China. The study group was provisioned in 2001 allowing detailed observations of social organization based on individual identification. The group was composed of 45-82 monkeys, all of which belonged to one of 6-8 one-male units (OMU) that foraged to form one big group. The average unit size was 9.0+/-2.3, 8+/-1.5 in the winter and 11.1+/-2.0 in the spring. Immigration or emigration of one-male units to or from the foraging group was observed, as was migration of individuals in and out of OMU, especially for by subadult females and juveniles. Group size therefore tended to fluctuate with the number of OMU and the number of young monkeys present in the group. The OMU in the study area were smaller than those in Shennongjia area. The factors influencing the size of these OMU and the entire group are discussed.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2006

Parameter optimization and field validation of the functional-structural model GREENLAB for maize.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are three reasons for the increasing demand for crop models that build the plant on the basis of architectural principles and organogenetic processes: (1) realistic concepts for developing new crops need to be guided by such models; (2) there is an increasing interest in crop phenotypic plasticity, based on variable architecture and morphology; and (3) engineering of mechanized cropping systems requires information on crop architecture. The functional-structural model GREENLAB was recently presented that simulates resource-dependent plasticity of plant architecture. This study introduces a new methodology for crop parameter optimization against measured data called multi-fitting, validates the calibrated model for maize with independent field data, and describes a technique for 3D visualization of outputs. METHODS: Maize was grown near Beijing during the 2000, 2001 and 2003 (two sowing dates) summer seasons in a block design with four to five replications. Detailed morphological and topological observations were made on the plant architecture throughout the development of the four crops. Data obtained in 2000 was used to establish target files for parameter optimization using the generalized least square method, and parameter accuracy was evaluated by coefficient of variance. In situ plant digitization was used to establish 3D symbol files for organs that were then used to translate model outputs directly into 3D representations for each time step of model execution. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Multi-fitting against several target files obtained at different growth stages gave better parameter accuracy than single fitting at maturity only, and permitted extracting generic organ expansion kinetics from the static observations. The 2000 model gave excellent predictions of plant architecture and vegetative growth for the other three seasons having different temperature regimes, but predictions of inter-seasonal variability of biomass partitioning during grain filling were less accurate. This was probably due to insufficient consideration of processes governing cob sink size and terminal leaf senescence. Further perspectives for model improvement are discussed.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Modeling desertification change in Minqin County, China.

Monitoring environmental processes is becoming increasingly important wherever there is increasing population and economic development pressure placed on fragile environments. Remote sensing, digital image processing, and spatial analysis have proven to be useful technologies in both assessing and monitoring environmental change. In this study, they were used to assess desertification processes and change in Minqin County, China from 1988 to 1997. The results suggest that wind erosion was the dominant cause of desertification in more than half of the study area. Coupled with this were increases in salinization processes, affecting 33.62% of the land area in 1997. Overall, moderate desertification was found to be the dominant desertification grade (43.64% of total area), followed by extreme/severe desertification (26.15% of total area) in 1997. In addition, examination of landscape pattern changes indicated that desertification processes at the landscape level were becoming evident at increasing levels of fragmentation, complexity in shape, and isolation of patches. Major fluctuations in desertification type and grade were found at the fringes of oases, where an ongoing shift was taking place between cultivation, abandonment, and reclamation.

China↗
PubMed2005

Spatial variability of shallow groundwater level, electrical conductivity and nitrate concentration, and risk assessment of nitrate contamination in North China Plain.

In recent years, nitrate (NO3) contamination of groundwater has become a growing concern for people in rural areas in North China Plain (NCP) where groundwater is used as drinking water. The objective of this study was to evaluate groundwater resource level, to determine groundwater quality and to assess the risk of NO3 pollution in groundwater in Quzhou County in the NCP. Ordinary Kriging (OK) method was used to analyze the spatial variability of shallow groundwater level, groundwater electrical conductivity (EC) and NO3-N concentrations, and Indictor Kriging (IK) method was used to analyze the data with NO3-N concentrations equal or greater than the groundwater NO3 pollution threshold (20 mg L(-1)). The results indicated that groundwater level averaged 9.81 m, a level 6 m lower than in 1990. The spatial correlation distances for groundwater level, EC and NO3-N concentration were 21.93, 2.19 and 3.55 km, respectively. The contour map showed that shallow groundwater level areas extended from north to south across the County. Groundwater EC was above 3 dS m(-1) in the most part of the northern county. Groundwater NO3 pollution (NO3-N> or =20 mg L(-1)) mainly occurred in the County Seat areas due to wastewater irrigation and excessive fertilizer leaching from agricultural fields. At Henantuang town, besides suburban of the County Seat, groundwater was also contaminated by NO3 shown by the map generated using the IK method, which was not reflected in the map generated using the OK method. The map generated using the OK method could not reflect correctly the groundwater NO3 pollution status. The IK method is useful to assess the risk of NO3 pollution by giving the conditional probability of NO3 concentration exceeding the threshold value. It is suggested that risk assessment of NO3 pollution is useful for better managing groundwater resource, preventing soil salinization and minimizing NO3 pollution in groundwater.

China↗
PubMed2004

[Application of artificial neural network based on the genetic algorithm in predicting the root distribution of winter wheat].

In this study, a controlled experiment of winter wheat under water stress at the seedling stage was conducted in soil columns in greenhouse. Based on the data gotten from the experiment, a model to estimate root length density distribution was developed through optimizing the weights of neural network by genetic algorithm. The neural network model was constructed by using forward neural network framework, by applying the strategy of the roulette wheel selection and reserving the most optimizing series of weights, which were composed by real codes. This model was applied to predict the root length density distribution of winter wheat, and the predicted root length density had good agreement with experiment data. The way could save a lot of manpower and material resources for determining the root length density distribution of winter wheat.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

[A review on modelling bacterial transport in soils].

Most studies on bacterial transport in soils were carried out in columns under controlled conditions, and the results were various, reflecting the need of standardizing the method. Other methods were also used in conjunction with microscopy to examine the transport at pore scale. Mathematical models based on convection-dispersion equation were developed to simulate bacterial transport. Within specific limits, these models could simulate the major behaviors of bacterial transport. However, they neglected some parameters such as the growth and death of bacteria. The theoretical development, experimental size, scale exchange and modeling for predicting bacterial transport at field scale should be further studied.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

[Effect of straw pretreatment on soil microbial biomass and respiration activity].

Winter wheat straw particles (0.5 ~ 2.0mm) were soaked with 8.0 g.L-1 H202(pH11.0), 12.5 g.L-1 Na0H or H2S04 solution for 8 h and dried at 80 degreeC. Soils amended with the pretreated straw and inorganic N were incubated aerobically at 25 degreeC for 60 days. The C02 emission rate and soil microbial biomass C and N were measured at different time. The results showed that during the earlier stage of incubation, the pretreatments of straw increased soil microbial biomass C by 1.0 ~ 1.4 folds, but decreased soil microbial respiration activity. During the later stage of incubation, the Na0H and H2S04 pretreated straw decreased soil microbial biomass carbon by 28% and 42%, respectively, while increased the soil microbial respiration activity. The straw pretreated by H202 increased soil microbial biomass nitrogen by 90% after the 15th day of incubation. The pretreatments of straw increased the fungi/bacteria ratio at different special time. It could be concluded that soil microbial biomass and respiration activity could be changed after the pretreated straw was added into the soil.

Biomass↗
PubMed2002

[The solubilization of four insoluble phosphates by some microorganisms].

Four insoluble phosphates of ferric phosphate (Fe-P), aluminum phosphate (Al-P), fluorapatite (FAP) and rock phosphate (RP) were used as a sole phosphorus resource for some phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. It was found that there was significant difference in solubilizing these phosphates by the tested isolates. The fungi normally were more powerful than the bacteria in dissolving the phsophates. The microorganisms generally solubilized more phosphate when supplied with NO3- than with NH4+. However, the isolates of 2TCiF2 and 4TCiF6 had much higher capacity to solubilize FAP and Al-P respectively in NH4+ medium. Most of the isolates solubilized readily FAP and RP, and then Al-P. Ferric phosphate was the least soluble to these isolates. Only isolate 2TCiF2 showed strong ability to solubilize Fe-P. In particular, two Aspergillus sp. had much higher capacity of dissolving Fe-P when suppled with NO3-. The isolates of Evwinia sp. 4TCRi22 and Enterobacter sp. 1TCRi15 had higher capacity of solubilizing FAP. But two Arthrobacter sp. showed the highest activity in RP medium. It is supposed that complexion of organic acids with metals may be the main reason for these isolates to solubilize the phosphates. However, other chelant substances may be much more important for Enterobacter sp. and Erwinia sp. to release phosphorus from the phsphates.

Aluminum Compounds↗
PubMed2002

[Study on the relativity between cultivated varieties and quality of Radix Glehniae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between different cultivated varieties and quality of Radix Glehniae. METHODS: Polysaccharide, imperatorin and extractives in different varieties were detected according to document and Chinese Pharmacopeia. RESULTS: Each content of soluble carbohydrate, rough polysaccharide, total carbohydrate, water extractives and alcohol extractives in Baitiao is significantly higher than that in other two varieties (P < 0. 05). The content of imperatorin is highest in Dahongpao P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is more effective for Baitiao to restrain humor immunity,cell immunity and the overgrowth of T and B cells. Dahongpao is dominani as sedative, spasmolytic and abti-asthmatic.

Apiaceae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies of human physique and sexual attractiveness: sexual preferences of men and women in China.

Men and women at Northwest University (n = 631), Xi'an, China, were asked to rate the attractiveness of male or female figures manipulated to vary somatotype, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), secondary sexual traits, and other features. In study 1, women rated the average masculine somatotype as most attractive, followed by the mesomorphic (muscular), ectomorphic (slim), and endomorphic (heavily built) somatotypes, in descending order of preference. In study 2, the amount and distribution of masculine trunk (chest and abdominal) hair were altered progressively in a series of front-posed figures. Women rated figures with no or little trunk hair as most attractive. Study 3 assessed the attractiveness of front-posed male figures which varied only in length of their nonerect penis. Numerical ratings for this trait were low, but moderate lengthening of the penis (22% or 33% above average) resulted in a significant increase in scores for attractiveness. In study 4, Chinese men rated the attractiveness of back-posed female images varying in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR from 0.5-1.0). The 0.6 WHR figure was most preferred, followed by 0.7, while figures with higher ratios (0.9 or 1.0) were significantly less attractive. Study 5 rated the attractiveness of female skin color: men expressed a marked preference for images which were lighter in color, as compared to images of average or darker skin colors. These results, the first of their kind reported for a Chinese population, support the view that sexual selection has influenced the evolution of human physique and sexual attractiveness in men and women.

Asian People↗