Comparative analysis of hair melanins by chemical and electron spin resonance methods.

Eighteen hair samples from Karakul newborn lambs with various colors were estimated for eumelanin and pheomelanin contents (Ce and Cp, respectively) by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Correlation coefficients between the values estimated by the ESR and HPLC methods were 0.96, 0.93, and 0.99 for Ce, Cp, and Ce/Cp, respectively. The high correlation coefficients show that both methods fit well for estimation of relative values of these parameters. The absolute values of Ce and Ce/Cp coincide rather well when Ce is high, but considerable discrepancies appear when Ce is low. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. The HPLC method appears to be more sensitive for detection of low concentrations of pheomelanin, while the ESR method fits well for mass selection purposes.     

Global remote sensing of water–chlorophyll ratio in terrestrial plant leaves

I evaluated the use of global remote sensing techniques for estimating plant leaf chlorophyll a + b (C_ab; μg cm⁻²) and water (C_w; mg cm⁻²) concentrations as well as the ratio of C_w/C_ab with the PROSAIL model under possible distributions for leaf and soil spectra, leaf area index (LAI), canopy geometric structure, and leaf size. First, I estimated LAI from the normalized difference vegetation index. I found that, at LAI values <2, C_ab, C_w, and C_w/C_ab could not be reliably estimated. At LAI values >2, C_ab and C_w could be estimated for only restricted ranges of the canopy structure; however, the ratio of C_w/C_ab could be reliably estimated for a variety of possible canopy structures with coefficients of determination (R²) ranging from 0.56 to 0.90. The remote estimation of the C_w/C_ab ratio from satellites offers information on plant condition at a global scale.     

Estimation of census and effective population sizes: the increasing usefulness of DNA-based approaches

Population census size (N _C) and effective population sizes (N _e) are two crucial parameters that influence population viability, wildlife management decisions, and conservation planning. Genetic estimators of both N _C and N _e are increasingly widely used because molecular markers are increasingly available, statistical methods are improving rapidly, and genetic estimators complement or improve upon traditional demographic estimators. We review the kinds and applications of estimators of both N _C and N _e, and the often undervalued and misunderstood ratio of effective-to-census size (N _e /N _C). We focus on recently improved and well evaluated methods that are most likely to facilitate conservation. Finally, we outline areas of future research to improve N _e and N _C estimation in wild populations.     

Estimating stable carbon isotope values of microphytobenthos in the Arctic for application to food web studies

Most studies on Arctic food webs have neglected microphytobenthos as a potential food source because we currently lack robust measurements of δ¹³C values for microphytobenthos from this environment. As a result, the role of microphytobenthos in high latitude marine food webs is not well understood. We combined field measurements of the concentration of aqueous carbon dioxide and the stable carbon isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³C_DIC) from bottom water in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas with a set of stable carbon isotopic fractionation factors reflecting differences in algal taxonomy and physiology to estimate the stable carbon isotope composition of microphytobenthos-derived total organic carbon (δ¹³C_p). The δ¹³C_p for Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a pennate diatom likely to be a dominant microphytobenthos taxon, was estimated to be ?23.9 ± 0.4 ‰ as compared to a centric diatom (Porosira glacialis, δ¹³C_p = ?20.0 ± 1.6 ‰) and a marine haptophyte (Emiliana huxleyi, δ¹³C_p = ?22.7 ± 0.5 ‰) at a growth rate (µ) of 0.1 divisions per day (d^?1). δ¹³C_p values increased by ~2.5 ‰ when µ increased from 0.1 to a maximum growth rate of 1.4 d^?1. We compared our estimates of δ¹³C_p values for microphytobenthos with published measurements for other carbon sources in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. We found that microphytobenthos values overlapped with pelagic sources, yet differed from riverine and ice-derived carbon sources. These model results provide valuable insight into the range of possible isotopic values for microphytobenthos from this region, but we remain cautious in regard to the conclusiveness of these findings given the paucity of field measurements currently available for model validation.     

Contemporary effective population size and predicted maintenance of genetic diversity in the endangered kea (Nestor notabilis)

Population size and the potential for maintenance of genetic diversity are critical information for the monitoring of species of conservation concern. However, direct estimates of population size are not always feasible, making indirect genetic approaches a valuable alternative. We estimated contemporary effective population size (N_e) in the endangered kea (Nestor notabilis) using three different methods. We then inferred the census size (N_C) using published N_e/N_C ratios and modelled the future maintenance of genetic diversity assuming a number of demographic parameters. Short-term N_e was small with a range-wide N_e?N_C was within the range of the current estimate (c. 1000–5000). Forward simulations showed low probability of retaining 90% of rare alleles without immigration. However, the probability of maintaining genetic diversity was high with immigration, juvenile survival of?≥?30%, and an initial sex ratio of c. 0.5–0.6. Despite the low N_e in kea, predator control and/or artificial immigration might be sufficient to maintain the present genetic diversity.     

Effects of stimulus timing on transmitter release and postsynaptic membrane potential at crayfish neuromuscular junctions

Summary Different synaptic terminals of the single excitor axon to the opener muscle of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) often release transmitter in a very different manner when stimulated with the same equal-interval, doublet, or triplet patterns. Compared to synapses that show little facilitation (low F_e synapses), highly facilitating (high F_e) synapses show greater percentage increases in several measures of synaptic efficacy when stimulated with any of these patterns. Low F_e synapses usually show the greater absolute changes in these measures of synaptic efficacy. Changes in the span and pattern of doublets and triplets can independently affect both pre- and postsynaptic measures of synaptic efficacy at either low F_e or high F_e synapses.Abbreviations EJP excitatory junctional potential - MJP spontaneous miniature EJP - F _e ratio of EJP at 1 Hz to EJP amplitude at 10 Hz - F ₁ zero-time facilitation - A ₂,B ₂,C ₂ doubly corrected EJP amplitude of a particular pulse - average amplitude of doubly corrected EJPs in a train of equal-interval, doublets, and triplets, respectively - A_m, B_m, C_m maximum depolarization reached by a particular EJP - time constant of decay     

Chromatographic separation of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides labeled with an ultravioletabsorbing compound,p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester

We have expanded on the suitability ofp-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester as an ultraviolet-absorbing reagent [Wanget al., (1984) Anal Biochem 141:366–81] for the analysis of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins. The oligosaccharides released from glycoproteins by hydrazinolysis/N-reacetylation were derivatized withp-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester and the derivatives were purified and separated into neutral and acidic oligosaccharides on a PRE-SEP C₁₈ cartridge. The acidic oligosaccharides could be further separated into a few species by high-voltage paper electrophoresis. p-Aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester derivatives of neutral oligosaccharides were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel P-4 and HPLC on a silica-based amide column. The elution profile and the proportion of the oligosaccharides were in agreement with literature values. The overall yield of oligosaccharides from glycoproteins was approximately 70%. Fifty pmol of oligosaccharide were detectable on Bio-Gel P-4 and 4–5 pmol on HPLC.Abbreviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - NABEE p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester - FAB-MS fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry - (GlcNAc)₂, (GlcNAc)₃, (GlcNAc)₄, (GlcNAc)₅ and (GlcNAc)₆ chito-oligosaccharides containing 2,3,4,5 and 6 residues ofN-acetylglucosamine     

Heat and mass exchange processes between the surface of the human body and ambient air at various altitudes

 The rates of convection and evaporation at the interface between the human body and the surrounding air are expressed by the parameters convective heat transfer coefficient h _c, in W m^–2°C^–1 and evaporative heat transfer coefficient h _e, W m^–2 hPa^–1. These parameters are determined by heat transfer equations, which also depend on the velocity of the airstream around the body, that is still air (free convection) and moving air (forced convection). The altitude dependence of the parameters is represented as an exponential function of the atmospheric pressure p: h _c∼p ⁿ and h _e∼p ^1–n, where n is the exponent in the heat transfer equation. The numerical values of n are related to airspeed: n=0.5 for free convection, n=0.618 when airspeed is below 2.0 ms^–1 and n=0.805 when airspeed is above 2.0 ms^–1. This study considers the coefficients h _c and h _e with respect to the similarity of the two processes, convection and evaporation. A framework to explain the basis of established relationships is proposed. It is shown that the thickness of the boundary layer over the body surface increases with altitude. As a medium of the transfer processes, the boundary layer is assumed to be a layer of still air with fixed insulation which causes a reduction in the intensity of heat and mass flux propagating from the human body surface to its surroundings. The degree of reduction is more significant at a higher altitude because of the greater thickness of the boundary layer there. The rate of convective and evaporative heat losses from the human body surface at various altitudes in otherwise identical conditions depends on the following factors: (1) during convection – the thickness of the boundary layer, plus the decrease in air density, (2) during evaporation (mass transfer) – the thickness of the boundary layer, plus the increase with altitude in the diffusion coefficient of water vapour in the air. The warming rate of the air volume due to convection and evaporation is also considered. Expressions for the calculation of altitude dependences h _c (p) and h _e (p) are suggested. Received: 23 June 1998 / Accepted: 10 February 1999     

Oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of middle Cretaceous vertebrates from North Africa and Brazil: Ecological and environmental significance

In order to investigate mid-Cretaceous terrestrial climates of low paleolatitudes, Moroccan, Tunisian and Brazilian vertebrate apatites have been analyzed for their oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of phosphates (δ¹⁸O_p) and carbonates (δ¹⁸O_c, δ¹³C_c). At each site, coexisting theropod dinosaurs, titanosaurid sauropods, pterosaurs, crocodilians, turtles and fish have distinct δ¹⁸O_p and δ¹³C_c values reflecting their ecologies, diets and foraging environments. Oxygen isotope compositions of surface waters (δ¹⁸O_w) estimated from turtle and crocodile δ¹⁸O_p values range from − 5.0 ± 1.0‰ to − 2.4 ± 1.0‰, which do not differ from mean annual rainwater values occurring today under inter-tropical sub-arid to arid climates. High water temperatures ranging from 21 ± 6 °C to 34 ± 2 °C deduced from fish δ¹⁸O_p values are in agreement with those published for mid-Cretaceous low latitudes. Temporary or seasonal droughts are inferred from high δ¹⁸O_p values of lungfish teeth, even though lower reptile δ¹⁸O_p values suggest the use of distinct and most likely larger or regularly renewed bodies of water. Environmental conditions of the studied low latitude regions during the Aptian-Cenomanian interval were somewhat similar to those experienced today under semi-arid to arid tropical or equatorial climates, but with higher mean surface temperatures than present-day ones.     

Diurnal changes in chlorophylla fluorescence and carotenoid composition inOpuntia ficus-indica,a CAM plant,and in three C3 species in Portugal during summer

Summary Diurnal changes in chlorophylla fluorescence were determined in four species, differing in life form, in Portugal during the summer of 1989. These includedOpuntia ficus-indica, a CAM plant, andHelianthus annuus, Ficus carica andArbutus unedo, three C₃ species. Steady state fluorescence yield,F _S, and maximum fluorescence yield,F _M′, were determined at different times of the day. Using the model of Genty et al. (1989), the photon use efficiency of photosystem II electron transport,φ _e, was calculated from (F _M′−F _S)/F _M′. Diurnal changes in relative rate of non-cyclic electron transport through photosystem II,J _e, were derived by multiplyingφ _e by the incident photon flux density (PFD). WhenJ _e, determined for each species for various points in time throughout the day, was plotted against corresponding values of PFD, the light response curves obtained showed thatJ _e was linearly dependent on PFD in low light and approached saturation in high light. The highest values ofJ _e were observed inHelianthus annuus, followed byOpuntia ficus-indica, Ficus carica andArbutus unedo. The proportion of the xanthophyll zeaxanthin to total carotenoids, determined around noon, was inversely related to maximum rates ofJ _e.     

An easy‐to‐run method for routine analysis of eumelanin and pheomelanin in pigmented tissues

A procedure for analysis of melanin‐pigmented tissues based on alkaline hydrogen peroxide degradation coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) ultraviolet determination of pyrrole‐2,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid (PTCA) for eumelanin and 6‐(2‐amino‐2‐carboxyethyl)‐2‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzothiazole (BTCA) and 1,3‐thiazole‐2,4,5‐tricarboxylic acid for pheomelanin was recently developed. Despite advantages related to the degradation conditions and sample handling, a decrease of the reproducibility and resolution was observed after several chromatographic runs. We report herein an improved chromatographic methodology for simultaneous determination of PTCA and BTCA as representative markers of eumelanin and pheomelanin, respectively, based on the use of an octadecylsilane column with polar end‐capping with 1% formic acid (pH 2.8)/methanol as the eluant. The method requires conventional HPLC equipments and gives very good peak shapes and resolution, without need of ion pair reagents or high salt concentrations in the mobile phase. The intra‐assay precision of the analytical runs was satisfactory with CV values ≤4.0% (n = 5) for the two markers which did not exceed 8% after 50 consecutive injections on the column over 1 week. The peak area ratios at 254 and 280 nm (A₂₈₀/A₂₅₄: PTCA = 1.1, BTCA = 0.6) proved a valuable parameter for reliable identification of the structural markers even in the most complex degradation mixtures. The method can be applied to various eumelanin and pheomelanin pigmented tissues, including mammalian hair, skin and irides, and is amenable to be employed in population screening studies.     

云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物量 C、N、P空间分布

土壤微生物是地球生物演化进程中的先锋种类,具有重要的生态修复功能,但空间分布格局是否存在的争议很大。以云贵高原典型喀斯特坡耕地为对象,基于网格法取样,用经典统计学和地统计学综合分析了土壤微生物生物量的空间变异特征。结果表明,云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物生物量碳(C_mic)、磷(P_mic)以及碳氮比(C_mic/N_mic)适宜,氮(N_mic)的含量较低,变异均很大,空间自相关性明显,最佳拟合模型均为指数模型。块金值C₀较小(0.0016-0.0087),C₀/(C₀+C)均<25%(2.6%-10.2%),变程a较短(22.2-51.0 m),其强烈的空间变异主要由结构性变异引起。Kriging等值线图表明,C_mic、N_mic和C_mic/N_mic的高值区分布在坡的中上部,P_mic的高值区则在坡的中下部和坡脚。云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物不仅存在着小尺度的空间分布格局,而且不同土壤微生物属性的空间分布不同。     

The functional response of copepodid stages to adult of Parabroteas sarsi (copepoda,calanoida)

P. sarsi is a carnivorous calanoid commonly found in South Andes lakes. Feeding experiments were carried out in order to analyze the functional response of P. sarsi (copepodid IV to adult) on different cladoceran prey. Predation rates increased with increasing prey density up to maximum (type II) in almost cases. The highest attack coefficients were obtained when P. sarsi adults were fed with the smaller prey (C. dubia juvenile and B. longirostris). The ingestion rates of copepodid IV and CV were smaller than for the adults. The ingested biomass as a proportion of predator biomass (B_e/B_p) showed an inversal relationship with the predator length. The maximum B_e/B_p ratio, in both sex of P. sarsi, was achieved with C. dubia adult, the intermediate-sized prey.     

Reducing dimensionality for prediction of genome-wide breeding values

Partial least square regression (PLSR) and principal component regression (PCR) are methods designed for situations where the number of predictors is larger than the number of records. The aim was to compare the accuracy of genome-wide breeding values (EBV) produced using PLSR and PCR with a Bayesian method, ''BayesB''. Marker densities of 1, 2, 4 and 8 N_e markers/Morgan were evaluated when the effective population size (N_e) was 100. The correlation between true breeding value and estimated breeding value increased with density from 0.611 to 0.681 and 0.604 to 0.658 using PLSR and PCR respectively, with an overall advantage to PLSR of 0.016 (s.e = 0.008). Both methods gave a lower accuracy compared to the ''BayesB'', for which accuracy increased from 0.690 to 0.860. PLSR and PCR appeared less responsive to increased marker density with the advantage of ''BayesB'' increasing by 17% from a marker density of 1 to 8N_e/M. PCR and PLSR showed greater bias than ''BayesB'' in predicting breeding values at all densities. Although, the PLSR and PCR were computationally faster and simpler, these advantages do not outweigh the reduction in accuracy, and there is a benefit in obtaining relevant prior information from the distribution of gene effects.     

Essai d'interprétation des cinétiques d'échange isotopique entre C18O2 et eau d'une feuille: Expériences à l'obscurité

Summary The interpretation of photosynthesis experiments using ¹⁸O as a tracer becomes very difficult on account of the exchange rate between oxygen atoms of carbon dioxide and water. The mathematical analysis of the kinetics of isotope exchange between CO₂ highly enriched with ¹⁸O and the water of an aerial leaf kept in darkness allows the determination of two velocity coefficients, k _e and k. k _e, related to the gaseous CO₂ diffusion, makes it possible to evaluate the CO₂ flow between the gaseous phase and the leaf, as well as the diffusion resistance of the boundary layer and the leaf stomata. k, related to the CO₂ hydration, gives the in situ enzymic activity of carbonic anhydrase. Measurements carried out on a great number of leaves show that k _e and k vary in the same direction.In addition, a simple relation exists between the isotopic composition of the gaseous phase and the corresponding values of the C¹⁸O₂ inside the leaf. Thus it is possible to determine the conditions for a leaf that may be favourable for light experiments designed to ascertain the origin of photosynthetic oxygen by use of ¹⁸O.     

Relationship between tolerance and accumulation characteristics of cadmium in higher plants

Ten plant species belonging to 5 families,i.e., Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Gramineae, Leguminosae, and Solanaceae, were grown in a sand soil at two pH levels. The soil was subjected to an application of CdCl₂ at rates of 0 to 700 mgCd·kg⁻¹ soil. The relationship between Cd concentration in the shoots (tc) and soil (sc; NH₄NO₃ extractable) was expressed by the equation: log (tc)=α+βlog (sc). The coefficients α and β were estimated for each species at each level of soil pH. Plottings of the scores on α and β axes showed that the Cd accumulation characteristics in the plants appeared to depend on the families irrespective of soil pH. Based on theupper critical concentration of Cd in the tops (C_t), the Cruciferae and Leguminosae species were found to be the most and the least tolerant to Cd, respectively. The C_t values correlated exceedingly well with the values of α.     

Elevated CO2 did not affect the hydrological balance of a mature native Eucalyptus woodland

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (eC_a) might reduce forest water‐use, due to decreased transpiration, following partial stomatal closure, thus enhancing water‐use efficiency and productivity at low water availability. If evapotranspiration (E_t) is reduced, it may subsequently increase soil water storage (ΔS) or surface runoff (R) and drainage (D_g), although these could be offset or even reversed by changes in vegetation structure, mainly increased leaf area index (L). To understand the effect of eC_a in a water‐limited ecosystem, we tested whether 2 years of eC_a (~40% increase) affected the hydrological partitioning in a mature water‐limited Eucalyptus woodland exposed to Free‐Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE). This timeframe allowed us to evaluate whether physiological effects of eC_a reduced stand water‐use irrespective of L, which was unaffected by eC_a in this timeframe. We hypothesized that eC_a would reduce tree‐canopy transpiration (E_tree), but excess water from reduced E_tree would be lost via increased soil evaporation and understory transpiration (E_floor) with no increase in ΔS, R or D_g. We computed E_t, ΔS, R and D_g from measurements of sapflow velocity, L, soil water content (θ), understory micrometeorology, throughfall and stemflow. We found that eC_a did not affect E_tree, E_floor, ΔS or θ at any depth (to 4.5 m) over the experimental period. We closed the water balance for dry seasons with no differences in the partitioning to R and D_g between C_a levels. Soil temperature and θ were the main drivers of E_floor while vapour pressure deficit‐controlled E_tree, though eC_a did not significantly affect any of these relationships. Our results suggest that in the short‐term, eC_a does not significantly affect ecosystem water‐use at this site. We conclude that water‐savings under eC_a mediated by either direct effects on plant transpiration or by indirect effects via changes in L or soil moisture availability are unlikely in water‐limited mature eucalypt woodlands.     

Determination of a new oral cephalosporin,S-1090, in human plasma and urine by direct injection high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and column switching

Direct injection high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods with column switching and UV detection were developed for the rapid and accurate determination of S-1090 in human plasma and urine. An internal-surface reversed-phase pre-column and a C₁₈ analytical column were used for the plasma assay. Two pre-columns packed with cyano and phenyl materials and a C₁₈ analytical column were used for the urine assay. The calibration curves for plasma and urine assays were linear in the ranges 0.09–9 μg/ml and 0.5–100 μg/ml of S-1090, respectively. The relative standard deviations for plasma and urine assays were less than 6% with low relative errors. The established HPLC methods were demonstrated to be useful for clinical pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration of S-1090.