末次冰期以来中国海区浮游有孔虫Pulleniatina obliquiloculata含量变化的地层学意义

西北太平洋尤其是中国海区末次冰期旋回中浮游有孔虫Pulleniatina obliquiloculata含量变化研究是近年来最重要的古海洋学内容之一.作者综合分析了中国及邻近海区具有可靠测年地层的深海沉积物柱状样中P.obliquiloculata含量变化,探讨其含量低值事件(PME)的生物地层学意义.末次冰期以来P.obliquiloculata含量变化在中国海区呈现两种变化模式:一是以东海及南海北部为代表的冰期含量低、间冰期含量高的特点;另一种则是南海南部的冰期含量高、间冰期含量低的现象.高分辨率地层记录显示,在这种冰期/间冰期总体变化趋势基础上,我国东海、南海和黑潮源区等广泛存在晚全新世～4 300-2 800 cal yr BP P.obliquiloculata含量低值,但以南海北部与东海冲绳海槽最为明显;而南海南部P.obliquiloculata含量还在冰消期(～16.5-15 cal kyr BP)有另一特征的低含量阶段.因而,末次冰期旋回中国海区P.obliquiloculata含量变化可以作为区域性地层划分和对比的标志.尽管如此,由于黑潮分支水团的影响,冲绳海槽中部和北部部分海域,在末次冰期与PME期间,P.obliquiloculata虽然含量相对较低,但仍可保持3%-5%以上,而非多数站位PME事件中的特征性零含量.研究表明PME事件主要由次表层海水的温度降低、温跃层变浅、上部水体温度梯度增加等引起,与表层海水无关,但引起这些海洋环境变化的原因尚不清楚.     

冲绳海槽北部全新世沟鞭藻孢囊组合及其古环境意义

通过B-3GC柱状样84个样品的分析,获得了冲绳海槽北部全新世高分辨率沟鞭藻孢囊记录。B-3GC柱状样中沟鞭藻孢囊化石丰富,包含14属28种孢囊。其中的Spiniferitesspp.和Operculodiniumcentrocarpum是沟鞭藻孢囊组合的优势组分,此外最常见的种类是Protoperidinium孢囊。通过与浮游有孔虫氧同位素指标对比,可以确定全新世Spiniferitesspp.和Operculodiniumcentrocarpum的含量变化主要与表层海水温度变化相关,Spiniferitesspp.是较暖水的标志,Operculodiniumcentrocarpum则指示了偏凉的海水。根据这一指标推测冲绳海槽北部早全新世的表层海水温度偏低,约6500aB.P.后由于黑潮及其分支(主要是对马暖流)的影响增强,导致海水温度升高。但在3700—2300aB.P.期间因黑潮及其分支强度有所减弱而引起该区域表层海水温度降低。孢囊组合中异养型沟鞭藻Protope-ridinium孢囊含量随时间逐渐降低,这一趋势可以作为海平面上升引起冲绳海槽北部陆源物质输入减少的有力证据。黑潮及其分支影响的加强造成约6000—3700aB.P.和约2300aB.P.以后两个时期冲绳海槽北部表层海水相对贫营养低生产力。     

南极罗斯海JOIDES海槽末次冰期以来底栖有孔虫组合及其对冰架扩张与消融的响应

罗斯冰架的进退对全球气候和世界大洋变化具有重要影响。本研究分析了在南极罗斯海陆架西北部JOIDES海槽钻取的ANT31-JB06岩芯沉积物中的底栖有孔虫化石组合,结合该钻孔已有研究,重建末次冰期以来罗斯冰架在该地区的扩张与消融历史。Q型因子分析表明,研究区底栖有孔虫可划分为四个组合:Miliammina arenacea组合指示生产力高,可能受高盐陆架水影响的环境;Globocassidulina spp.组合指示强烈冰川影响、低生产力的冷水环境;Trifarina earlandi组合指示强水动力环境;Lagena spp.组合的变化表明沉积环境快速变化,但其具体环境意义有待进一步研究。末次冰期(36.6-17.2 ka)时罗斯冰架呈波动增长并逐渐向外陆架扩张,21.8-17.2 ka时增长至最大位置,冰架接地线到达JOIDES海槽ANT31-JB06岩芯位置附近。罗斯冰架在17.2 ka左右逐渐开始融化。17.2-14 ka罗斯冰架发生大面积融化,随后冰架消融减缓(14-11.7 ka)。全新世早期(11.7-9.7 ka)罗斯冰架在JOIDES海槽崩塌并逐渐后退离开,9.7-1 ka该岩芯位置处附近逐渐转变为开阔海洋环境,1 ka以来该处沉积环境出现快速变化。     

黄土高原西部4万多年以来植被与环境变化的孢粉记录

采集甘肃静宁、定西、秦安等地晚更新世晚期以来几个黄土剖面的孢粉样品,分别以晚更新世每个样品分辨率200—300年,全新世20—200年,揭示了黄土高原西部4万多年以来古植被曾经历过草原、森林草原(或疏林草原)、针叶林以及荒漠草原或荒漠几种植被的多次快速变化。在44.2—11kaBP期间,静宁地区植被主要表现为森林和草原成分的相互消长,其中44—29kaBP期间(MIS3)气候以湿润为主,发育针叶林,温度低于现在;23kaBP之后,气候冷干,以稀疏草原为主,在末次盛冰期植被甚至演化为荒漠草原。全新世大部分时间内是以草原或森林草原(或疏林草原)植被为主。在全新世中期,约7.6—5.8kaBP有近1700年时间发育有森林植被,在这个时期当地自然植被覆盖度较高,而草原或疏林草原发育时期植被往往较稀疏,反映气候相对干冷。根据出现的不同类型植物的孢粉浓度及其生态环境特性,研究区早、中全新世,约8.8—5.8kaBP沉积环境较湿润;自3.8kaBP以后气候环境总的变化趋势是逐渐变干,植被开始向草原荒漠化演变。然而,研究区整个全新世气候环境存在多次干湿交替现象,据孢粉记录,其中可能存在11次气候干寒事件。     

四万年来南海北部周边地区植被演替序列—孢粉生物群区化方法恢复古植被的尝试

就南海北部海域17940孔的孢粉资料,利用孢粉生物群区化方法和因子分析方法,对南海北部周边地区4万年以来的植被演替序列进行研究。结果表明：对于深海沉积物,在排除远距离搬运的花粉尤其是松属（Pinus L.)花粉的噪音后,可以利用孢粉生物群区化方法恢复周边大陆古植被演替序列。因子分析表明,湿度和温度的变化是影响南海北部周边大陆植被演化的主要因子。在40500－11100aBP南海北部沿海大陆地区的古植被,主要为常绿阔叶林（WAMF）,山地针叶林（MRGF）分布于低山、丘陵、而广泛出露的大陆架上则发育了以蒿属(Artemisia L.)为主的草原（STEP）景观：末次冰期时环境变化的突出特征山地针叶林（MRGF）、常绿阔叶林（WAMF）与草原（STEP）之间的频繁交替,反映了气候冷湿和温干的千年级尺度的迅速变化,可以与Heinrich事件以及Dansggard-Oscherge事件进行对比。其中在7.0m处（12700aBP)所恢复的山地针叶林（MRGF）景观反映了一次气候变冷变湿的事件,可能与新仙女木事件相对应。全新世早期和末期较多出现热带雨林（TRFO0以及热带季雨林（TSFO）景观,而全新世中期以常绿阔叶林（WAMF）为主,缺乏热带雨林（TRFO）以及热带季雨林（TSFO）景观,可能表明在全新世中期尽管温度升高,但湿度有可能降低。     

末次盛冰期以来观光木的潜在地理分布变迁

观光木(Tsoongiodendronodorum)是木兰科的古老残遗物种,目前正面临严峻的生存威胁,属于极小种群濒危植物。通过生态位模型(ENM)能够重建观光木地理分布格局的历史变迁,探究气候变化对该物种分布的影响,并了解其地理分布与气候需求间的关系,从而为全球变暖背景下观光木的保护提供理论基础。该文基于96条现代分布记录和8个环境变量,采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型模拟观光木在末次盛冰期、全新世中期、现代和未来(2061–2080年,RCP8.5)的潜在分布区,利用SDM toolbox分析观光木的地理空间变化,并综合贡献率、置换重要值和Jackknife检验来评估气候因子的重要性。研究结果表明:(1)观光木的高度适生区在南岭地区,末次盛冰期时没有大尺度向南退缩,很可能在山区避难所原地存活;(2)在全新世中期和未来两个增温的气候情境下,观光木的分布区均表现为缩减,其中未来分布的减幅更大,表明气候变暖对观光木的生长有一定的负面影响;(3)总体上看,观光木各个时期的地理分布范围相对稳定,说明观光木对气候变化有一定的适应能力,人为活动或自身繁育问题可能是致濒的重要原因,并建议对广东和广西群体进行优先保护。     

末次盛冰期以来观光木的潜在地理分布变迁

观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)是木兰科的古老残遗物种, 目前正面临严峻的生存威胁, 属于极小种群濒危植物。通过生态位模型(ENM)能够重建观光木地理分布格局的历史变迁, 探究气候变化对该物种分布的影响, 并了解其地理分布与气候需求间的关系, 从而为全球变暖背景下观光木的保护提供理论基础。该文基于96条现代分布记录和8个环境变量, 采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型模拟观光木在末次盛冰期、全新世中期、现代和未来(2061-2080年, RCP 8.5)的潜在分布区, 利用SDM toolbox分析观光木的地理空间变化, 并综合贡献率、置换重要值和Jackknife检验来评估气候因子的重要性。研究结果表明: (1)观光木的高度适生区在南岭地区, 末次盛冰期时没有大尺度向南退缩, 很可能在山区避难所原地存活; (2)在全新世中期和未来两个增温的气候情境下, 观光木的分布区均表现为缩减, 其中未来分布的减幅更大, 表明气候变暖对观光木的生长有一定的负面影响; (3)总体上看, 观光木各个时期的地理分布范围相对稳定, 说明观光木对气候变化有一定的适应能力, 人为活动或自身繁育问题可能是致濒的重要原因, 并建议对广东和广西群体进行优先保护。     

珠江三角洲晚第四纪环境演变的微体生物记录

珠江三角洲是主要由西江、北江和东江在珠江口湾内堆积而成的复合三角洲,自晚更新世开始形成。微体生物是珠江河口三角洲晚第四纪沉积记录中的重要组分,是重建第四纪环境变化极为有效的指标。本文样品取自PD孔岩心,钻孔位于珠江三角洲中部(113°28′35″E, 22°53′41″N),孔深16．7 m。代表约25 100年以来的沉积。PD孔中见有孔虫6属10种,其中以Ammonia beccani为优势种。根据地层分布特征,可识别3个有孔虫层位。介形类共7属9种,丰度较低,以Sinocytheridea impressa和Neomonoceratina delicata为代表,在5个层位相对富集。根据微体生物分布特征,并结合有机碳、氮以及磁化率数据,PD孔晚第四纪沉积可划分为6个沉积环境阶段。A．三角洲前缘阶段(-16．7～-13．5 m;25 100～24 000 aB．P．):岩性为粗砂、砂至砂质粉砂。主要含Ammonia属的4个种(A．beccarii、A．sp．、A．tepida、A．annectens),丰度均较低,其中Ammonia beccarii为优势种。不见适应于正常浅海的Elphidium属。介形类以滨岸类型Sinocytheridea impressa为主。出现少量双壳类。代表河口附近水深10 m以内软泥底质、受河流影响大、水体动荡的半咸水环境。有机碳含量和磁化率较低,同样指示低海平面时期的沉积。B．河口湾阶段(-13．5～-10．6 m;24 000～22 400 aB．P．):岩性为粘土质粉砂至粘土。前一阶段出现的Ammonia 4个种的丰度比较高,且出现浅海底栖分子Elphidium advenum和E．hispidulum,以及浮游有孔虫分子Globigerinoides sp．。介形类出现Bicornucythere leizhouensis、B．bisanensis、Alocopocythere goujoni、Pistocythereis bradyformis等适应水深较大的分子,而滨岸浅水分子较少。有机碳含量和磁化率相对升高。代表海平面相对较高时期的沉积。C．三角洲平原阶段(-10．6～-9．2 m;22 400～21 700 aB．P．):底部为一薄层花斑状风化粘土,表明曾短期露出水面。向上变为富含有机质的深灰色粉沙质粘土。不含微体生物和双壳类,反映不稳定的环境条件。由于海平面降低,磁化率表现为持续低值。有机碳和C/N比值很高,表明有丰富的陆源有机质输入,海洋影响较小。D．陆地风化阶段(-9．2～-7．4 m;21 700～3 700 aB．P．):岩性为1．6 m厚的杂色粘土,不含任何生物化石,有机碳含量极低,是长期强烈风化作用的产物,对应于末次冰盛期。E．潮坪沉积阶段(-7．4～-2．5 m;3 700～2 600 aB．P．):互层状深灰色粉沙质粘土、灰色粉沙和细沙,含广盐性有孔虫Ammonia beccarii和Arenoparrella asiatica,以及少量介形类,如Sinocytheridea impressa。典型的半咸水双壳类Potamocorbula amurensis较为丰富,另外还见藤壶和虫管碎片,指示盐度频繁波动的潮间带环境。F．上三角洲平原阶段(2 600 aB．P．以来):未见任何有孔虫和双壳类,顶部见少量陆相介形类Cypria yanchengensis,磁化率变化频繁,C/N比值较高,表明陆相影响不断增强,且环境条件不稳定。研究区晚第四纪古环境的演化是由海平面升降变化控制的。上述沉积环境变化序列表现出两次海进一海退旋回,分别对应阶段A至阶段D和阶段E至阶段F,相应于晚更新世和全新世的两次海平面上升事件。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.