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PREMISE OF THE STUDY Properties of floral nectar have been used to predict if a plant species is pollinated by birds. To see whether winter-flowering plants evolve nectar properties corresponding to bird pollinators, nectar properties of several Camellia species (including the golden-flowered tea), as well as the role of floral visitors as effective pollinators, were examined. METHODS Potential pollinators of Camellia petelotii were identified at different times of day and under various weather conditions. A bird exclusion experiment was used to compare the pollination effectiveness of birds and insects. Nectar sugar components (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) from C. petelotii growing wild and another seven Camellia species and 22 additional cultivars (all in cultivation) were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). KEY RESULTS The sunbird Aethopyga siparaja and honeybees were the most frequent floral visitors to C. petelotii. Honeybee visits were significantly reduced in cloudy/rainy weather. The fruit and seed set of flowers with birds excluded were reduced by 64%, indicating that bird pollination is significant. For the wild populations of C. petelotii, a bagged flower could secrete 157 μL nectar; this nectar has a low sugar concentration (19%) and is sucrose-dominant (87%). The eight Camellia species and 22 cultivars had an average sugar concentration of around 30% and a sucrose concentration of 80%, demonstrating sucrose-dominant nectar in Camellia species. CONCLUSIONS The nectar sugar composition of Camellia species was characterized by sucrose dominance. In addition, the large reduction in seed set when birds are excluded in the golden-flowered tea also supports the suggestion that these winter-flowering plants may have evolved with birds as significant pollinators.

Backgrounds and Aims - Floral traits that attract pollinators may also attract seed predators, which, in turn, may generate conflicting natural selection on such traits. Although such selection trade-offs are expected to vary geographically, few studies have investigated selection mediated by pollinators and seed predators across a geographic mosaic of environments and floral variation.Methods - Floral traits were investigated in 14 populations of the bumblebee-pollinated herb, Pedicularis rex, in which tubular flowers are subtended by cupular bracts holding rain water. To study potentially conflicting selection on floral traits generated by pollinators and florivores, we measured stigmatic pollen loads, initial seed set, pre-dispersal seed predation, and final viable-seed production in 12-14 populations in the field.Key Results - GLM analyses indicated that the pollen load on stigmas was positively related to the exsertion of the corolla beyond the cupular bracts and size of the lower corolla lip, but so too was the rate of seed predation, creating conflicting selection on both floral traits. A geographic mosaic of selection mediated by seed predators, but not pollinators, was indicated by significant variation in levels of seed predation and the inclusion of 2-, 3- and 4-way interaction terms between population and seed predation in the best model (lowest AICc) explaining final seed production. Conclusions - These results indicate opposing selection in operation: pollinators generated selection for greater floral exsertion beyond the bracts, but seed predators generated selection for reduced exsertion above the protective pools of water, although the strength of the latter varied across populations.

Based on the numerical simulation method and a sample slope engineer of waste dump, the failure modes of waste dump slope is analyzed. By means of analyzing working conditions such as different slope angles, single step, many steps, the failure modes of waste dump slope under different working conditions is obtained. The results show that the slope stability of multiple steps waste dump is better than the slope stability of single step waste dump, and the deformation of the slope is small.

A new slip field of slope method based on finite element mesh generated by abaqus is introduced. In this method the weight of soil mass beyond the slip surface is calculated by summing the weight of every finite element mesh beyond the slip surface, which are generated by abaqus software. Similarly, the sliding resistance force on the slip surface is calculated by summing the resistance force of every finite element mesh on the slip surface, which are generated by abaqus software. By this way, the difficult work to identify whether a soil mass is beyond or on the slip surface in traditional slip field method is changed to simple adding operation in this new method. Thus, the new slip field of slope method can be used to analyze the complex geological slope.

This article illustrates the necessity and importance of widely use Green building materials by describing the meaning of the living environment and green building materials, and the problems existing in the current environment. On this basis, it put forward how to better application in the living environment of green building materials, to ensure the proper solution of the current living environment problems.

The underground mining extends to deep, resulting in that underground mining geological environment and mining conditions become increasingly complex, thus induced by various forms of disaster. Among them, rock burst disaster is a serious consequence, and the number has an increasing trend. It has become one of the most important hidden dangers in the excavation of underground engineering. This paper mainly introduces the research status, existing problems and development trend of the monitoring and early warning technology of the rock burst.

In this paper, taking the Tiger bench mine special thick coal seam mechanized caving mining as an engineering instance, through numerical simulation research, we systematically analyzed how thick coal seam mechanized caving mining induced surface subsidence basin magnitude and scope, and researched impacted characteristics and destructive effect of the surface deformation of large fault zone.

In the research of the deformation prediction of slope, the application of grey theory solves the problem of building model in the absence of monitoring data and information, and the traditional grey model has some shortcomings, with the development of time, external interference affects the model of the prediction accuracy, according to improve the GM(1, 1) model, studies show that it has higher prediction accuracy combined with the actual slope engineering, which has certain engineering significance.

As this mining area has a shallow coal seam and a dump, therefore, the mining for the deep resources uses the method of transition from open-pit to underground without protective coal column. In this paper, the numerical simulation method is used to analysis the surface subsidence and slope stability from the two different mining schemes which are from inside to outside, and from outside to inside, in order to obtain the optimization of mining scheme. And settlement and slope stability of rock body are further analyzed from two aspects of fully exploit from the tendency and from toward, the result of an overall slip slope failure caused by underground mining is found. So that in the process of exploitation, corresponding prevention and control measures to the slope safety has been put forward, ensuring smooth production.

In this paper, xingshan iron mine as an engineering example. Based on slip field theory, numerical simulation method and limit equilibrium method for the mine slope stability research and evaluation. Meanwhile, a variety of load shedding scheme was designed and optimized design. The results showed that the final dump slope angle is 19.2, considering the most unfavorable conditions in saturated with earthquake. And ultimate load shedding scheme can guarantee the slope stability, and saves the load shedding costs is about 20 million yuan. The economic effect is remarkable.

The optimum design of final highwall is a multivariable and complex technical problem that every change in any factor will influence the stable state. Based on the history-case, this paper applied the critical sliding field to search the critical slip and evaluate the stability of slope with different geometric forms. Comprehensively compared the global and local slope stability and its economic benefits, finally achieved the optimum design of final highwall.

Given the irrationality and limitations in thick coal seam of the empirical formula of height of water flowing fractured zone , this article reveals the special thick seam fully mechanized mining damaging rules of overlying rock and determines the height of water flowing fractured zone with 3D finite element numerical simulation,according to the complex geological conditions and the special thick seam fully mechanized mining methods of Laohutai ore mining working face E5400 as an example. Results show that the destruction of repeated mining area of the overlying rock will have superposition effect and the superposition effect will increase with the development of mining; the fracture sharp of water fracture zones is in close proximity to the "arch". Simulation results and the actual detection height fitting is better, so it assesses the range of overburden water flowing fracture zones and rationality of the height.

The stress of slope is in dynamic changes from open-pit to underground of the mining excavation . In this article, based on the relationship of space corresponding through the two mining methods, and two types of mining influence dominated overprint and containing characteristics, it can find out its regularity according to the numerical simulation, and also can reveal the induced with mutual interference between two excavation system mechanism, deformation of foundation and its numerical size out of dangerous area from the mining effect of interaction and mutual superposition characteristics; On this basis, it also analyzes its influence on the stability of the slope characteristics and deformation law, and puts forward to the control methods which provide the decisions basis for the mining safety production.

Considering the features of slope rock mass failure, this paper applies residual thrust method and linear programming theory on the basis of finite element method, to assess safety of each cell of slope rock mass in dangerous zone. According to the slip field method to determine three-dimensional slope slip surface, to deduce three-dimensional stability analysis method based on symmetry breaking, a C++ based 3D-slope program is developed for purposes of three-dimensional slope stability analysis. Finally get the most dangerous landslide geometry and its safety factor, In the paper, combining with the engineering examples, the calculating results are comfortable to the practical failure.

Properties of floral nectar have been used to predict if a plant species is pollinated by birds. To see whether winter-flowering plants evolve nectar properties corresponding to bird pollinators, nectar properties of severalPotential pollinators ofThe sunbirdThe nectar sugar composition of

In view of the local conditions of Xingshan Iron Mine North Dump, an economically safe load shedding scheme was determined. Based on critical sliding field technology, the most dangerous slip surface can be searched of different waste-dump slope angles. Once the most dangerous slip surface is fixed, limit equilibrium methods can be used to analyze the stability of the slope. The corresponding slope angle of minimum allowable safety coefficient under the most unfavorable condition was defined as the optimal slope angle of this section, and the minimum optimal slope angle of all the sections of dump was determined as the final optimal slope angel of the whole dump. This method was not any practical but also extremely economical, which can ensure the absolute safety of dump and its surroundings.

Considering the characteristics of multi-factor control and ambiguity of rock integrity evaluation, single factor is only a reflection of the rock integrity from the full extent. This paper established a fuzzy matter element model for rock integrity evaluation, after a consideration of multiple evaluation factors, and the model is applied to the project in the literature [. The model is to be evaluated with rock integrity level as a matter element things whose features are the factors of rock integrity evaluation, combined with optimization principles to determine its corresponding fuzzy values, the composite fuzzy matter element is constructed, coefficient compound fuzzy matter-element is established by association transform correlation, by summing normalization method duplicate complex matter element is obtained, and association compound fuzzy matter element was established by adopting the computing model , finally by relevance sort rock stability evaluation results can be obtained. This model was validated by practical engineering and the result was reasonable and reliable. The result of this method was basically the same as literature [ and it has significant advantages in the calculation and analysis process.

In view of the gray numbers in fuzzy matter-element values, in this paper matter element analysis which can consider the incompatibility between the various factors will be combined with gray system theory. Thus a fuzzy gray element evaluation model was established for the stability of rock slope, and the stability of Bu-zhao-ba open pit west slope was evaluated by this model. In this model the composite gray matter-element was established by five slope stability grades, six factors and its corresponding gray value by correlation transformation. This model can solve the above contradictions efficiently, and the result of the comprehensive analysis in the west slope of Bu-zhao-ba open pit by this model was same as the reality basically.

The Based on the analysis method of bisection, the critical slip field technology and the residual thrust method of slope ultimate equilibrium,the functional relationship between the slope angle θ and maximum residual thrust Pmax is established. As it can determine the θ value increment size and value range according to identify the positive and negative of equation P=f(θ); then by means of the searching for calculation and discrimination of system,it ultimately can solve the numerical solution of Pmax=0 in a limited height ,security status and engineering geological conditions and find the limit slope angle θ*. Thus it can deal with the open-air high and steep slope optimization design, and simultaneously resolve the design the technology of landslide treatment and the optimization program ,At the same time it has engineering application value.

The critical slip field theory is applied to optimization design of the slope angle. An intelligent matching optimization of the slope angle design is carried out based on the strata distribution, mechanics parameters of rock mass and a given security reserve. That is the implementation of the maximum allowable slope angle of slope rock mass under the given conditions. Optimized by the final highwall of Buzhaoba Open-Pit Mine, the overall slope angle increased 3°compared to the original design. Which implement the optimum slope angle of final highwall, modified the shortcoming in the original design and ensure the maximization of mine safety and the resource exploitation.

Based on test principle of ground penetrating radar (GPR), the application feasibility for detecting the heating pipelines on complex highway is verified. In accordance with the complex highway in Wangjing region of Beijing city in China, by using ground penetrating radar of SIR-20 to monitor the geological situation of construction surface, the plain position of pipeline and the buried depth, the detection shows that: the objects of bigger relative dielectric constant absorbs the electromagnetic wave signal from periphery; the maximum intensity of reflection radar wave appears at the top of pipeline; the arc width in radar wave image produced by the bottom of pipeline is bigger than the top. Based on these studies, the design program and accident removal countermeasures for the detection of complex highway pipeline are proposed. Meanwhile, combining with actual measurement in field, contrives scheme utilizing ground penetrating radar to detect heating pipelines. It could be verified the feasibility of testing heating pipelines with ground penetrating radar, provides a basis for the subsequent security dynamic construction design, and accumulates some experience for ground penetrating radar detecting pipeline on complex highway.

Flower orientation has been considered one aspect of floral attraction. Plants growing on slopes should orientate their flowers facing down slope towards greater open space to enhance reproduction by attracting more pollinators. Flower angle and floral symmetry may affect this pattern; for example, this trend would be overshadowed in vertical/pendent flowers with radial symmetry because the flowers can attract pollinators and provide landing platforms from many directions. We investigated this hypothesis in Lilium duchartrei, a herb with pendent and actinomorphic flowers, in the Hengduan Mountains region of China by measuring flower direction for individuals growing on flat ground and on slopes. We also changed flower direction from facing down to up slope to test the effects on pollinator visitation frequency and subsequent plant reproduction. Plants growing on flat ground orientate their flowers equally towards the four geomagnetic directions, whereas the flowers on individuals growing on slopes preferentially face down slope. This pattern was more pronounced for individuals growing on steeper slopes. There was a positive correlation between slope angle and the seed set of flowers facing down slope (control), but a negative correlation between seed set and flowers facing up slope. The visitation frequency also tended to be higher for control flowers on steeper slopes and lower for those flowers changed to face up slope. Unexpectedly, floral direction was not affected by flower angle or floral symmetry. The results suggest that a down slope orientation of flowers could function to improve pollination in heterogeneous pollination environments.

Invasive plants may decrease native plant density and disrupt interactions between native plants and their pollinators. We hypothesized that invasive Solidago canadensis (Asteraceae) competes for pollination services with two confamilial species, Ixeris chinensis and Sonchus arvensis. Breeding-system studies revealed that both native species are self-incompatible. In plots with all three species we found that Solidago received the highest visitation rates. To test the hypothesis of competition for pollination in the context of reduced native density, we established 3 plots for both native species with three Solidago densities (uninvaded, 50 and 75 % invaded) and corresponding decreases in native density. We investigated the effects of varying densities of Solidago on honeybee visitation rates, number of successive visits within individual ramets, pollen-load composition on bees, and seed set. For both native species, increasing Solidago density and decreasing native density resulted in bees carrying higher ratios of Solidago pollen and in bees visiting fewer capitula prior to departing from a plant. However, for other aspects of pollination, the native species responded very differently to Solidago. With increasing Solidago and decreasing native density, Ixeris received fewer honeybee visits and produced fewer seeds, demonstrating competition for pollination, but Sonchus attracted more honeybee visits and showed a non-significant trend toward setting more seeds, suggesting facilitation. These opposing effects occurred despite similarities in the native species’ floral morphology, suggesting that the effects of invasive plants are difficult to predict. In this case the different effects may relate to Sonchus being a taller plant with larger flowers.

The long-term ground severe deformation and destruction induced by open pit and underground mining can badly affect the safety of surrounding environment. This problem is different from ground deformation and destruction induced by single mining. Based on chronological relationship between two kinds of mining and its corresponding deformation law under a practical engineering, the main reasons for long-term deformation and the deformation mechanism were revealed in this paper. Starting with the displacement mechanism, a method of horizontal movement coefficient was put forward to distinguish the movement property. Therefore, the impacts on two components of displacement vector can be distinguished, and then the basis for the proper analysis of ground deformation would be reached. At the same time, the ground deformation zone and the failure zone caused by subsequent open pit mining would be predicted, and the range of the failure zone would be gotten, providing a basis for safety decision.

The stability state of slope rock mass is relating to each other’s relative location during the transformation from open-pit to underground mining, it’s the most disadvantageous influence on the slope stability when the underground mining area is located in the toe of slope, and it’s the best influence as in the slope extracellular region. Slope stability factor changes with the geometric dimensions of underground mining increased, but not in direct proportion. Under the condition of constant geometric dimensions of mining area, the influence on slope stability is changing with the mining depth increased. Thus indicating that the influence on slope stability by underground mining has its spatial property, and to determine the specific influence value requires a combination of many factors, such as the relationship of relative spatial position, the geometric dimensions of mining area, engineering geological conditions and so on.

During turning open-pit into underground mining, the state of slope stability is related to the relative space positional relationship between open-pit mining and underground mining. The toe area of slope is the most unfavorable area to slope stability and the outer region of slope is the most favorable area, while the central area of the slope has the most complicated effect on slope stability so that the mechanism of its influence can be understood only by the means of calculation. The slope stability coefficient decreases with the augment of underground mining geometric dimension. But it remains constant when the underground mining area is fully extracted. With the increase of mining depth, its range of influence on slope stability increases, which results in the decrease of slope stability coefficient. However, the slope stability coefficient tends to unchanged when the mining depth increases to some certain value.

Introduced honeybees have had a large impact on native ecosystems by disrupting native plant–pollinator interactions. However, little is known of the effect of honeybees on reproduction of bumblebee-pollinated plants. Seasonal displacement of native bumblebees by introduced honeybees (Apis mellifera and A. cerana) was observed in Pedicularis densispica, endemic to Hengduan Mountains, China, providing an opportunity for honeybee presence/absence comparisons. Five-year field surveys were conducted in one frequently disturbed population at Yila Pasture (YP). We compared pollination effectiveness (combinations of visitation rate, efficiency in pollen transfer, and potential geitonogamy) between native and introduced managed bees. The total visitation rate of native bees and subsequent reproductive output decreased progressively, but honeybee introduction resulted in at least twofold increase in visitation and 70 % increase in seed set. In general, native bumblebees, which have larger bodies and longer proboscises and spent more time probing single flowers, were more efficient than honeybees in terms of pollen removal and pollen deposition during first visits to virgin flowers. Compared with bumblebees, honeybees visited markedly fewer flowers in sequence within individual plants, potentially reducing geitonogamous pollination. Our data highlight that introduced honeybees can provide pollination service in terms of both quantity and quality for P. densispica. We suggest honeybee introduction as an effective way to augment pollination of P. densispica at disturbed and isolated sites.

The basic principle of transient electromagnetic method (TEM) is introduced in this paper, and it was used to explore position of the goaf which existed under Fushun east open-pit mining slope systematically. Inversion based on results of the exploration determines the location of dangerous abnormal area, provides a theory support for next exploration drilling, avoids too high economic loss because of blindly exploration drilling, and provides scientific basis for mining design and safety production of open-pit.

Deformation amount is depended on area position for approximate condition on engineering geology. Deformation amount is small as radius of curvature become small, conversely large. This paper studies severe plastic deformation reason of slope body. Landsliding reason of the side slope corner area is the rain soaked softening effect for the lower part of the clay rock special slope form. Therefore, abnormal deformation is produced. Slope stability is related slope angle, sometimes related secondary softening effect of rain water. So, key measures of slope safety are ensured for controlling the rain soaked softening effect.

Under the action of surface-underground unite mining, Slope stability is related to underground mining location and mining space dimension, This paper studies the underground mining of slope outer region on slope stability influence characteristic; With the increase of mining width stability coefficient increases, when mining width reach a certain value stability coefficient tends to constant; With the increase of mining depth stability coefficient increases, when mining depth reaching a certain value stability coefficient began to decrease; this show that the underground mining has a direct effect on slope stability, its size needs a combination of their relative spatial position relation and mining geometric size to determine.

As many different size faults in the fully-mechanized sublevel caving mining area overlying rock, undermine the continuity of rock deformation, and the occurrence of different conditions, the impact properties vary widely. This paper studies the impact of faults on the water inrush with specific examples of project, obtained the discontinuous deformation on both sides of fault zone induce the fault zone secondary activate and result in it’s water transmitting ability dramatic increase; with the mining geometry increases, the water flowing-fracture zone height increase and lead to the water conductivity channel of faults connect with rock fracture zone, so as to constitute water inrush channel and likely to cause water inrush accident, so to explore the influence of fault for underground work safety has important theoretical significance and application value.

At present, technology for open pit combined underground mining is one problem about mine. It mainly involves some problems, such as how to design deep resources exploitation, how to evaluation slope stability and so on. Combining the underground mining effect with their characteristics and function attributes influenced by the slope deformation, this paper considers the both composite superimposed law, and derives the calculation method of the slope stability under comprehensive function. Accordingly, explore the influence law of slope stability, induced by underground mining area and the relative position and the space and geometry size changes of slope body. And the final purpose is to provide the scientific basis for design and safety assessment of deep resource extraction.

The experimental study on the case of bond failure happening at the grout-rock interface about mortar bolt, the concrete matrix is sudden destroyed when loading specimen which grouting length 60mm, compared to previous research, it is reduced by dilatancy effect when mortar is pressed out of the body, this paper analyzes the concrete axial radial pressure when mortar is pressed out and the dilatancy effect using the finite element method.

It’s a technical problem of underground mining safety to determine the water conductivity height in coal roof induced by mining under the condition of fully mechanized caving. With a number of mining engineering cases, we studied complex fault zone overlying rock mass damage characteristics under the compound effect of many mining area. The results show that overlying strata deformation and failure is the results of accumulation in mining of each mining area. Therefore, whether the overlying strata water inrush in mining process will happen or not, needs to take account of water in overlying strata in old mining area. Based on the change characteristics of water conductivity height induced by mining in seven mining areas, we built regression forecasting model, and achieved the prediction of water conductivity height induced by mining in lower coal seam, so as to provide a basis for decision-making for the safety of follow-up exploration.

Based on the mapping theoretical method, the deformation surface set model is established, which represents time series of slope 3D solid deformation. The phase in the series is deformation surface. Therefore, model set is dynamic deformation surface set of slope 3D solid deformation. Surface of deformation function reflects the distribution of slope rock mass deformation value in the special region, thus it can reveal the slope deformation law in different sections better. By engineering applied, the establishment of slope 3D deformed prediction model makes the behavior of slope rock mass deformation more direct, while makes it convenient for slope judgment of division and safety evaluation, so as to the decision basis for mine safety production and engineering control.

Deformation of slope for all section is almost the same while the width of slope along the strike is large enough, that is plane deformation. If the width is small, then cannot analyze according to the plane problem. According to above method, slope deformation of concave base is 3D problem if excavates a limited width concave conveyor belt alone the slope dip in open-pit mine. In this article, the relation between excavation width and deformation is analyzed by 3D numerical simulation method, on the basis of some mine actual geological occurrence conditions, meanwhile, calculative equation among deformation geometry and limit equilibrium is established to evaluate concave base slope stability. Concave base slope for conveyor belt is 32% for deformation of plane mode slope in light of numerous simulation result, and the stability coefficient can be improved by 0.5 through case studies analysis. So, the safety of belt transport system is ensured.

The evolution of long corolla tubes has been hypothesized to be driven by long-tongued pollinators. Corolla tubes in Pedicularis species can be longer than 10 cm which may function as flower stalks to increase visual attractiveness to pollinators because these species provide no nectar and are pollinated by bumblebees. The corolla tube length was manipulated (shorter or longer) in two Pedicularis species in field to examine whether longer tubes are more attractive to pollinators and produce more seeds than short tubes. Our results did not support the pollinator attraction hypothesis, leaving the evolution of long tubes in Pedicularis remains mysterious.

The discovery of new adaptations of organisms to various environments always reminds us how little we know about nature. For example, rainwater surrounding sexual organs has been noted in several flowering plant groups. Sun and Huang used a bumblebee-pollinated alpine flower, Pedicularis rex (Orobanchaceae), which has cup-like bracts holding rainwater, as an experimental model to examine whether the water-filled cupulate bracts function to deter nectar robbers and/or seed herbivores. They found that neither nectar robbers nor legitimate pollinators discriminated water-drained flowers, but seed predation significantly increased in drained flowers, suggesting that water-filled bracts help protect the flowers from seed herbivores., Floral herbivory may have deleterious effects on the reproductive success of flowering plants. However, plants may evolve floral traits that allow them to defend against herbivory in particular conditions. A bumblebee-pollinated subalpine herb, Pedicularis rex (Orobanchaceae), endemic to southwest China, has cup-like bracts that fill with rainwater, which submerges its corolla tubes. We hypothesized that these water-filled cupulate bracts function to deter nectar robbers and/or seed herbivores. To test these hypotheses, we experimentally drained bracts and measured both the response of mutualistic floral visitors and antagonistic nectar robbers and seed predators and their effects on seed production. Our observations revealed that neither nectar robbers nor legitimate pollinators discriminated between water-drained flowers and intact controls. However, seed predation significantly increased in drained flowers, suggesting that water-filled bracts help protect the flowers from seed herbivores. The water-filled bracts in P. rex may represent an adaptation to reduce floral herbivory in a high-rainfall environment.

The reproductive ecology of wind-pollinated gynomonoecious species, in which the individual plant produces both female (pistillate) and perfect flowers, has rarely been studied. We examined the floral phenology and reproductive traits in Rhoiptelea chiliantha, described as gynomonoecy, to understand the adaptive significance of this sexual system. This species is a rare tree native to south-western China and northern Vietnam. The flowers are characterized by an anemophilous pollination syndrome, but no insects were observed foraging on them. Perfect flowers have larger tepals but smaller stigmas than female flowers, indicating flower size dimorphism. Floral ratios of female to perfect flowers are stable in different individuals and populations. On individual plants, perfect flowers open first, followed by female flowers, with a 1-week interval. Perfect flowers are protogynous with a 3.7-day interval (neuter phase) between the female phase (1.5 days) and expanded male phase (8.2 days). Both female and perfect flowers exhibit pronounced synchrony in flowering at the levels of inflorescences and individuals. However, flowers on different individuals show asynchronicity in timing of initial blooming. Tracking the process from pollination to fruit maturation, we found that female flowers contributed almost exclusively to seed production, but perfect flowers were sterile (functionally males). Therefore, this plant is functionally monoecious. This finding resolved a puzzle on the occurrence of female flowers in this plant, because previous reports described female flowers as being sterile. As the sex phases were completely separate between individuals, the pattern of floral phenology may ensure that outcrossing strongly predominates. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 152, 145–151.

Two animal-pollinated hermaphrodite plants, Pedicularis siphonantha and P. longiflora, have been used to investigate factors limiting seed production in natural populations. To evaluate the potential seed abortion due to resources limitation, seed development has been observed and seed count conducted twice. Seed production per capsule has been compared when flowers have been removed and in a control group. Open pollination has been investigated and pollen supplementation undertaken to estimate the possibility of pollen limitation. Results show that seed abortion is frequent. Stigmatic pollen load is significantly higher than ovule number per ovary under open pollination for both species. Additional self and outcross pollen did not affect seed production. Flower removal significantly increases seed production per capsule, which indicates that seed production of the studied species is limited by available resources. To detect differences in seed production between flowers pollinated by self and outcross pollen, hand pollination of bagged flowers has also been conducted in natural populations of the two Pedicularis species. Compared with open pollination, hand-pollinating self-pollen decreases, while outcross pollen increases seed production per capsule. Such results suggest that inbreeding depression in the two self-compatible species may also result in partial seed abortion under open pollination if mixed pollen is deposited on the stigma. Our results also suggest that pollen interference plays an important role in low female fertility in the two Pedicularis species. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 147, 83–89.

The novel μ-oxo-diiron complex [Fe2O(BPHPA)2](ClO4)4 [BPHPA is (6-hydroxy­methyl-2-pyridyl­methyl)­bis(2-pyridyl­methyl)­amine, C19H20N4O], contains a binuclear centrosymmetric [Fe2O(BPHPA)2]4+ cation (the bridging O atom lies on an inversion centre) and four perchlorate anions. Each iron ion is coordinated by four N atoms [Fe—N = 2.117 (5)–2.196 (5) A] and one O atom [Fe—O = 2.052 (5) A] from a BPHPA ligand, and by one bridging oxo atom [Fe—O = 1.7896 (9) A], forming a distorted octahedron. There are hydrogen bonds between the hydroxy group and perchlorate O atoms [O—H⋯O = 2.654 (7) A].

Due to the dump consists of a large number of loose materials and it is located at the hillside, the dump with bad engineering geological condition is likely to constitute a composite slope mass. During the rainy season, those constitute necessary condition of landslide and debris flow. Therefore, this paper reference assessment methods of the mountain debris flow hazard degree, aiming at the characteristics of environmental engineering geological condition of one dump, establish hazard degree discrimination method of collaborative failure of hillside and dump then induce debris flow. Accordingly, we can obtain discrimination results of Yichang limestone mine dump hazard area.

The novel mu-oxo-diiron complex [Fe2O(BPHPA)2](ClO4)4 [BPHPA is (6-hydroxymethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, C19H20N4O], contains a binuclear centrosymmetric [Fe2O(BPHPA)2]4+ cation (the bridging O atom lies on an inversion centre) and four perchlorate anions. Each iron ion is coordinated by four N atoms [Fe-N = 2.117 (5)-2.196 (5) A] and one O atom [Fe-O = 2.052 (5) A] from a BPHPA ligand, and by one bridging oxo atom [Fe-O = 1.7896 (9) A], forming a distorted octahedron. There are hydrogen bonds between the hydroxy group and perchlorate O atoms [O-H...O = 2.654 (7) A].