准噶尔盆地东南缘梭梭种群结构与动态研究

通过样地调查和数据统计分析,对准噶尔盆地东南缘梭梭种群现状绘制径级结构图,编制生命表、分析存活曲线、死亡率曲线和寿命期望等参数,并运用时间序列模型预测种群数量动态.结果表明:种群整体结构属于增长型,但梭梭种群幼苗个体少,Ⅰ、Ⅱ龄级个体数目少于Ⅲ龄级的个体数目.存活曲线基本接近DeeveyⅢ型,种群偏离典型存活曲线的程度与幼苗缺乏有关;环境因素和人为干扰的影响,梭梭在Ⅲ～V龄级死亡率较高,种群在第Ⅳ级出现死亡高峰,且只有少量幼年个体能进入成年阶段,个体平均生存能力的期望在第Ⅳ级最大;时间序列分析表明,在未来第Ⅱ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ、Ⅷ龄级的个体会呈现老龄个体增加的趋势,种群稳定性长期维持困难.适当的人工辅助恢复和现有植株及生境的保护是保持梭梭种群自然更新和种群恢复的关键.     

濒危植物太白红杉种群年龄结构及其时间序列预测分析

为了阐明太白红杉(Larix potaninii var.chinensis)种群的年龄结构和未来发展趋势,合理保护现有资源,在太白山地区调查了 29个样地(10 m×10m),对处于不同生境的 5个种群的年龄结构、静态生命表和时间序列预测进行了分析。种群年龄结构分析表明,各种群个体数量主要集中于Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ、Ⅶ龄级(个体数量比重占68.64％),幼、老龄个体数量较少。受所处生境条件影响,不同种群年龄结构特点不同:海拔较低的种群(B)由于水热条件适宜,林内有林窗出现,幼龄级个体数相对丰富;而其他种群由于幼龄个体严重缺乏,衰退趋势明显。太白红杉不同种群生命表和存活曲线的分析表明,尽管所处的生境差异较大,但存活曲线基本属于Deevey Ⅲ型,种群偏离典型存活曲线的程度与幼苗缺乏程度有关,一般V-Ⅸ龄级死亡率较高。时间序列分析表明,在未来20、60、100和200年中,各太白红杉种群均会呈现老龄级株数先增加后减少的趋势,种群稳定性维持困难。太白红杉种群年龄结构和动态趋势与银杉(Cathaya argyrophylla)等其他濒危植物比较,导致种群衰退的原因相似:在郁闭的林下种子萌芽和幼苗生长困难。应该利用太白红杉喜光、耐旱和中老年个体产种量丰富的特性,对现有太白红杉林分实行就地保护,合理抚育管理。低海拔地区,应适当间伐非目的树种     

荒漠绿洲过渡带沙拐枣种群结构及动态特征

沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolicum)作为黑河中游荒漠绿洲过渡带的一种主要固沙植物种,它对于维护荒漠绿洲过渡带生态系统的稳定性起到了至关重要的作用。通过样地调查和数据统计,绘制了沙拐枣种群的径级结构图,在此基础上编制了种群的特定时间生命表,分析了存活曲线、死亡率曲线等重要参数,并运用时间序列模型预测种群数量动态,以揭示荒漠绿洲过渡带沙拐枣种群的结构及动态特征。结果表明:沙拐枣种群属于增长型,Vpi'=0.0233,表明该种群趋近于稳定型,但沙拐枣种群Ⅰ、Ⅱ龄级个体数目少于Ⅲ龄级的个体数目;存活曲线趋于Deevey-Ⅱ,各龄级种群有相近的死亡率;时间序列预测分析表明,在未来2、4、6、8个龄级时间后沙拐枣老龄个体逐渐增多,幼龄株数则有所降低,种群稳定性长期维持困难,因此,适当的人工辅助恢复和现有植株及生境的保护是保持沙拐枣种群自然更新和种群恢复的关键。     

濒危植物秦岭冷杉种群数量动态

为了对濒危植物秦岭冷杉种群数量动态评价和预测,通过样地调查和数据统计,研究了秦岭冷杉种群的年龄结构、静态生命表及其与环境因子关系,运用时间序列模型预测了种群数量动态.结果表明,多数秦岭冷杉种群幼龄级个体数较少,中老龄个体数量较大,呈衰退趋势.仅处于低海拔地区的秦岭冷杉-木蓝-苔草群丛中的种群(D种群)由于立地条件较好,幼龄级个体数量相对丰富,种群稳定.不同秦岭冷杉种群生命表和存活曲线的分析表明,尽管生境条件差异,但存活曲线基本接近DeeveyⅢ型;不同种群偏离典型存活曲线的程度与幼苗缺乏程度有关,一般Ⅲ～Ⅴ龄级死亡率较高.时间序列分析表明,在未来20、40和80年中,不同秦岭冷杉种群均会呈现老龄级株数先增后减的趋势,种群稳定性长期维持困难.对影响秦岭冷杉种群增长的10个环境因子通过主成分分析(PCA)发现,乔木层盖度、土壤有机质含量和空气湿度对种群发挥有利影响,而人为干扰和光照强度对秦岭冷杉种群增长发挥不利影响.应充分利用秦岭冷杉性喜荫、耐寒、种子活力较强的特点,加强现有林分就地保护,重点是具有结实能力的中老龄个体;在阴坡地带,对林下灌木比较密集的群丛,通过砍灌、清理林下活地被物等抚育措施,为幼苗发育创造良好的环境条件;就地采种育苗,扩大人工种群.     

水杉原生母树种群结构与动态

为揭示水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)原生母树种群的生存现状与数量动态,预测未来种群的发展趋势,基于野外种群调查数据,对种群结构与动态进行探讨。结果表明:(1)种群自然更新不良,DBH40 cm的个体仅占种群个体总数的4.5%,纺锤型的径级结构表明种群属衰退型。(2)种群幼龄个体存活率较低,中龄个体生存能力强,Ⅷ龄级之后存活量快速减少,存活曲线接近Deevey-Ⅲ型;种群死亡率和消失率整体上都随龄级增大而升高,均在Ⅸ龄级达到最大值。(3)生存分析表明,种群呈前期略减、中期波动、后期衰退的特征;幼龄阶段是种群生活史中的脆弱环节,Ⅷ龄级之后种群进入生理衰退期。(4)时间序列预测表明,未来8年期间种群幼龄和中龄个体不断减少,老龄个体渐增,种群整体的长期稳定性难以维持。总之,幼龄个体严重缺乏是种群趋于衰退的主要原因,保持适当的人工辅助恢复和加强现有植株及其生境保护是种群更新复壮的关键。     

新疆野核桃自然保护区不同坡向丛生野核桃年龄结构及数量动态

通过对新疆野核桃自然保护区丛生野核桃(Juglans regia)进行普查,以径级结构代替年龄结构,采用匀滑技术编制种群静态生命表,并运用时间序列模型预测种群数量动态,从而获得丛生野核桃树的龄级结构与动态。结果表明,不同坡向丛生野核桃以中龄级为主,年龄结构呈两头小中间大的纺锤型;4个坡向种群年龄结构的动态指数Vpi虽大于0,但最大仅为19.10%,且Vpi’极低,最大为1.12%,阳坡种群增长趋势最高,抗干扰能力最强,种群稳定性最好,半阳坡种群增长趋势最弱,抗干扰能力最弱,种群稳定性最差;各坡向种群均存在多个死亡高峰,阳坡最高峰在15龄级,半阳坡在15和18龄级,阴坡和半阴坡均在9龄级,存活曲线更接近Deevey-Ⅱ型;在未来2、5、10龄级后,中龄级个体数量减少,老龄个体呈增加趋势,丛生野核桃种群稳定性难以长期维持。因此对丛生野核桃幼苗的保护非常关键。     

长白山水曲柳种群动态

通过对长白山水曲柳种群的调查,以种群径级结构代替年龄结构,采用空间代替时间的方法,对水曲柳种群的年龄结构、静态生命表以及种群时间动态预测进行了分析。结果显示:长白山水曲柳种群幼龄个体偏少,中老龄个体较多。其中阔叶红松林中水曲柳种群主要依靠中老龄植株维持,幼龄个体缺乏;白桦次生林中水曲柳植株龄级较阔叶红松林幼龄,但仍然存在幼树缺乏现象。长白山水曲柳种群的存活曲线基本属于偏正态DeeveyⅢ型,总体呈现衰退趋势。种群时间动态预测显示,随着水曲柳老龄个体短暂增多后的逐渐减少,水曲柳种群逐渐衰退。因此建议在立足现有种群的维持保护上,研究水曲柳濒危机制,采取适当人工抚育措施,保证种群持续稳定发展。     

安徽皇藏峪自然保护区青檀种群数量动态

根据野外调查资料编制皇藏峪自然保护区不同生境青檀种群的静态生命表,绘制存活曲线、死亡率曲线、消失率曲线以及4个生存函数曲线,分析种群数量特征。同时,结合种群动态量化方法和时间序列预测模型,分析种群数量动态变化。结果表明:1)不同生境青檀种群径级结构大体呈金字塔型,中、幼龄阶段个体数量丰富,老龄阶段个体数量相对较少,种群在发育过程中存在一定波动性,但种群数量变化动态指数Vpi和Vpi’(考虑外部干扰时)均大于零。种群属稳定增长型。2)不同生境青檀种群在幼龄阶段死亡率较高,随着龄级的增加,死亡率逐渐降低。进入生理衰老阶段时,阳坡、阴坡种群死亡率再次上升,而坡谷种群由于老龄个体受到较好保护,死亡率略有下降。3)不同生境存活曲线存在差异,阳坡、阴坡种群趋于Deevey-Ⅱ型,坡谷种群趋于Deevey-Ⅲ型。4)生存分析表明,阳坡、阴坡种群具有前期锐减、中期稳定、后期衰退的特点;坡谷种群表现为前期锐减、中后期稳定的特点。5)在未来2年、5年中,不同生境青檀种群呈增长趋势。     

长白山濒危植物牛皮杜鹃(Rhododendron chrysanthum)种群数量特征与动态分析

牛皮杜鹃为国家Ⅲ级重点保护植物,种群数量有限,处于濒危状态。本文运用种群静态生命表、存活曲线、个体数量动态预测等方法分析了长白山高山苔原带不同海拔牛皮杜鹃种群数量特征及动态发展趋势。结果表明:1)牛皮杜鹃种群大小级结构呈纺锤形,属衰退型种群;2)随海拔升高,种群增长潜力逐渐减小,非完全随机干扰下,种群增长潜力有限,低海拔的Vpi″接近于0;3)种群存活曲线趋于DeeveyⅢ型,高海拔出现较高的死亡率和致死力,种群退化明显;4)在经历1、2、4个龄级后,Ⅳ龄级个体数量会不同程度增加,种群在生长后期个体数量得到补充;5)牛皮杜鹃种群数量主要靠自身匍匐生根形成分株来维持。整个种群向大龄级个体集中,高海拔面临较强的环境胁迫,会比中低海拔更早进入衰退期。导致其濒危的可能原因是牛皮杜鹃的生物学特性及人为干扰。     

新疆天山野果林准噶尔山楂种群结构与动态分析

为了明确准噶尔山楂(Crataegus songarica K.Koch)种群的结构特征和动态规律,该研究在新疆伊犁霍城县大西沟境内的天山野果林带东端设置5.25 hm₂大样地,对准噶尔山楂种群进行逐木调查,采用匀滑技术编制种群静态生命表,绘制存活曲线以及死亡率、消失率曲线,对4个生存函数进行生存分析,并根据种群动态量化和时间序列模型预测种群数量动态。结果显示：(1)天山野果林带东端的准噶尔山楂种群Ⅰ龄级占总体数量的65.5%,Ⅱ龄级数量出现骤减,仅占总体数量的6.5%,研究区内准噶尔山楂种群总体表现为增长型年龄结构,趋于Deevey Ⅱ型存活曲线。(2)研究区内准噶尔山楂种群的死亡率和消失率曲线变化基本一致,共有4个死亡高峰,分别在Ⅰ龄级、Ⅵ龄级、Ⅸ龄级和Ⅻ龄级,最高峰出现在Ⅰ龄级幼苗时期,死亡率高达89.9%。(3)4个生存函数曲线表现出前期锐减、中期稳定、后期衰退的特点,同时在时间序列分析中,随着时间推移,种群未来老龄个体逐渐增多,老化趋势较为明显。研究认为,准噶尔山楂种群现阶段的生长呈增长趋势,但种群的长期稳定维持存在困难,建议适当补充幼苗、幼株,减少对成年树的砍伐破坏,从而为种群的保育和恢复提供保障。     

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.