Phylogenetic autocorrelation and heritability of geographic range size,shape and position of fiddler crabs,genus Uca (Crustacea,Decapoda)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of phylogenetic heritability of the geographical range size, shape and position for 88 species of fiddler crabs of the world, using phylogenetic comparative methods and simulation procedures to evaluate their fit to the neutral model of Brownian motion. The geographical range maps were compiled from literature, and range size was based on the entire length of coastline occupied by each species, and the position of each range was calculated as its latitudinal and longitudinal midpoint. The range shape of each species was based in fractal dimension (box‐counting technique). The evolutionary patterns in the geographical range metrics were explored by phylogenetic correlograms using Moran’s I autocorrelation coefficients, autoregressive method (ARM) and phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR). The correlograms were compared with those obtained by simulations of Brownian motion processes across phylogenies. The distribution of geographical range size of fiddler crabs is right‐skewed and weak phylogenetic autocorrelation was observed. On the other hand, there was a strong phylogenetic pattern in the position of the range (mainly along longitudinal axis). Indeed, the ARM and PVR evidenced, respectively, that ca. 86% and 91% of the longitudinal midpoint could be explained by phylogenetic relationships among the species. The strong longitudinal phylogenetic pattern may be due to vicariant allopatric speciation and geographically structured cladogenesis in the group. The traits analysed (geographical range size and position) did not follow a Brownian motion process, thus suggesting that both adaptive ecological and evolutionary processes must be invoked to explain their dynamics, not following a simple neutral inheritance in the fiddler‐crab evolution.     

西花蓟马和花蓟马在温度逆境下的存活率比较

以外来入侵害虫西花蓟马(Frankliniella occidentalis)和本地种花蓟马(F.intonsa)为对象,研究了高温和低温逆境下两种蓟马各虫态存活率的差异.结果表明:在36℃～44℃高温下暴露2h和4h,不论是西花蓟马还是花蓟马,各虫态的存活率均随温度的升高而降低,但在相同高温处理条件下,同一虫态西花蓟马的存活率要高于花蓟马;在-2℃～-10℃低温下暴露2h和4h,西花蓟马和花蓟马各虫态的存活率均随随温度的降低而下降;在相同低温处理条件下,同一虫态西花蓟马的存活率也要高于花蓟马.由此表明,2种蓟马对高温和低温的适应能力不同,本地种花蓟马对高温和低温均比较敏感,而外来入侵害虫西花蓟马对极端温度具有较强的适应性.     

1980—2005年中国东北木本植物物候特征及其对气温的响应

基于25年物候观测数据,分析了东北地区木本植物物候的时空变化特征,阐述了近25年来东北地区气候变暖对植物物候的影响,结果表明:1980—2005年,东北地区木本植物展叶初期主要呈提前趋势,提前幅度为0.23d·a-1,枯黄初期主要表现为推后趋势,平均推后0.19d·a-1,生长季延长,平均延长幅度为0.30d·a-1;东北地区广泛分布的5种木本植物(旱柳、杏树、小叶杨、榆树和紫丁香)物候在地理空间上存在显著差异:纬度平均每增加1°,展叶初期推后3d,枯黄初期提前1.35d,生长季长度缩短4.41d;东北地区植物展叶初期与2、3、4月的气温显著负相关(P0.05),其中,4月气温对植物展叶提前的影响最大,展叶提前趋势平均为2.35d·℃-1;2月气温的影响最小,平均趋势为1.18d·℃-1。     

Distribution and species richness of woody dryland legumes in Baja California,Mexico

Abstract. We analysed the biogeographic patterns of woody legumes in the Baja California peninsula, NW Mexico. From the specimen labels of eight herbaria, we digitized 4205 records from 78 species, and projected them onto a grid of 205 cartographic cells (20’ longitude × 15’ latitude). Most species followed distribution patterns that coincide with floristic subdivisions of the peninsula. Endemism is high, reaching 60–70% in the centre of the peninsula, where the driest deserts are found and where significant floristic changes took place during Pleistocene glacial events. The number of cartographic cells (i.e. their geographic ranges) were log‐normally distributed, as has been reported for many other taxa. Floristic richness was found to be clumped around some cells where the observed richness is significantly higher than could be expected from chance variation. We tested the hypothesis that these ‘hotspots’ could be attributable to great collection efforts or to large land surfaces, but we still found 16 cells where richness is significantly high once these two factors are accounted for. Species richness and micro‐endemism increase towards the south, conforming to Rapoport's rule that predicts that species ranges become smaller towards the equator while richness increases. The floristic hotspots for woody legumes in Baja California occur in the Cape Region and along the Sierra de la Giganta in the southern Gulf Coast, where 77% of the total peninsular legume flora can be found. These hotspots are mostly unprotected, and should be considered priority areas for future conservation efforts.     

Using biological metrics to score and evaluate sites: a nearest-neighbour reference condition approach

1. Reference (i.e. least or minimally impaired) sites can provide important information about the expected range of biological metrics and can be used to establish impairment or non‐impairment of a test site. A problem with using reference data is that biological metrics are affected by natural conditions. We present an approach that uses local information to adjust for natural conditions and a method for statistically evaluating condition at a test site using biological metrics. 2. Our method consists of four steps: selection of a distance measure to find neighbours of a test site, selecting natural variables to measure the distance, selection of the number of neighbours and calculating a scored metric. 3. We use a simulated example to illustrate when the nearest‐neighbour approach improves classification of sites as reference or not reference. 4. Using a set of data from the Mid‐Atlantic Highlands, we show that the nearest‐neighbour method improved on the ability of a regression approach to correctly classify test sites known to be from a non‐reference group without affecting the ability to correctly classify test sites known to be from the reference group.     

A novel quantitative measure of image quality in fluoroscopy

Assessment of fluoroscopic image quality has not kept pace with technological developments in interventional imaging equipment. Access to ‘for presentation’ data on these systems has motivated this investigation into a novel quantitative method of measuring image quality. We have developed a statistical algorithm as an alternative to subjective assessment using threshold contrast detail detectability techniques. Using sets of uniformity exposed fluoroscopy frames, the algorithm estimates the minimum contrast necessary for conspicuity of a range of virtual target object areas A. Pixel mean value distributions in a central image region are Gaussian, with standard deviation σ Pixel binning produces background distributions with area A. For 95% confidence of conspicuity a target object must exhibit a minimum contrast of 3.29σ. A range of threshold contrasts are calculated for a range of virtual areas. Analysis on a few seconds of fluoroscopy data is performed remotely and no test object is required. In this study Threshold Index and Contrast Detail curves were calculated for different incident air kerma rates at the detector, different levels of electronic magnification and different types of image processing. A limited number of direct comparisons were made with subjective assessments using the Leeds TO.10 test object. Results obtained indicate that the statistical algorithm is not only more sensitive to changes in levels of detector dose rate and magnification, but also to levels of image processing, including edge-enhancement. Threshold Index curves thus produced could be used as an interventional system optimisation tool and to objectively compare image quality between vendor systems.     

Characterization of a robust glucose 1-dehydrogenase,SyGDH, and its application in NADPH regeneration for the asymmetric reduction of haloketone by a carbonyl reductase in organic solvent/buffer system

To realize coenzyme regeneration in the reduction of haloketones, a codon-optimized gene Sygdh encoding glucose 1-dehydrogenase (SyGDH) was synthesized based on the putative GDH gene sequence (Ta0897) in Thermoplasma acidophilum genomic DNA, and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). Recombinant SyGDH was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography with the specific activity of 86.3 U/mg protein towards D-glucose at the optimum pH and temperature of 7.5 and 40 °C. It was highly stable in a pH range of 4.5–8.0 and at 60 °C or below, and resistant to various organic solvents. The K_m and catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) of SyGDH towards NADP+ were 0.67 mM and 104.0 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, while those towards NAD+ were 157.9 mM and 0.64 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, suggesting that it preferred NADP+ as coenzyme to NAD+. Additionally, using whole cells of E. coli/Sygdh-Sys1, coexpressing SyGDH and carbonyl reductase (SyS1), as the biocatalyst, the asymmetric reduction of 60 mM m-chlorophenacyl chloride coupled with the regeneration of NADPH in situ was conducted in DMSO/phosphate buffer (2:8, v/v) system, producing (R)-2-chloro-1-(3-chlorophenyl)ethanol with over 99.9% ee_p and 99.2% yield. Similarly, the reduction of 40 mM α-bromoacetophenone in n-hexane/buffer (6:4, v/v) biphasic system produced (S)-2-bromo-1-phenylethanol with over 99.9% ee_p and 98.3% yield.     

Standardized short‐term acute heat stress assays resolve historical differences in coral thermotolerance across microhabitat reef sites

Coral bleaching is one of the main drivers of reef degradation. Most corals bleach and suffer mortality at just 1–2°C above their maximum monthly mean temperatures, but some species and genotypes resist or recover better than others. Here, we conducted a series of 18‐hr short‐term acute heat stress assays side‐by‐side with a 21‐day long‐term heat stress experiment to assess the ability of both approaches to resolve coral thermotolerance differences reflective of in situ reef temperature thresholds. Using a suite of physiological parameters (photosynthetic efficiency, coral whitening, chlorophyll a, host protein, algal symbiont counts, and algal type association), we assessed bleaching susceptibility of Stylophora pistillata colonies from the windward/exposed and leeward/protected sites of a nearshore coral reef in the central Red Sea, which had previously shown differential mortality during a natural bleaching event. Photosynthetic efficiency was most indicative of the expected higher thermal tolerance in corals from the protected reef site, denoted by an increased retention of dark‐adapted maximum quantum yields at higher temperatures. These differences were resolved using both experimental setups, as corroborated by a positive linear relationship, not observed for the other parameters. Notably, short‐term acute heat stress assays resolved per‐colony (genotype) differences that may have been masked by acclimation effects in the long‐term experiment. Using our newly developed portable experimental system termed the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), we thus highlight the potential of mobile, standardized short‐term acute heat stress assays to resolve fine‐scale differences in coral thermotolerance. Accordingly, such a system may be suitable for large‐scale determination and complement existing approaches to identify resilient genotypes/reefs for downstream experimental examination and prioritization of reef sites for conservation/restoration. Development of such a framework is consistent with the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences and the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program committees for new intervention and restoration strategies.     

基于多源异构大数据挖掘的流感病毒防控预测预警平台构建研究 *

流感传播速度快,病原变异频繁,影响范围广,对其快速反应与防范对全球来说仍然是一个严重的挑战。医疗卫生和高通量测序技术的组合产生了非常复杂可变的海量的异质异构数据集,对其实现整合挖掘分析是个重要任务。现有逐级上报方式的流感监测体系存在分析结果滞后(1~2周)的问题,与流感病毒变异和传播速度快形成尖锐矛盾。因此,实时而全面的了解其流行动态非常必要。基于以上原因,建立统一的大数据平台,整合不同来源、不同结构的监测数据和特定算法及模型,对信息加以分析利用,并对病毒的流行、发展、变异、控制和反馈进行全生命周期的监控,通过时间、地域、环境和病毒之间的关联性等综合分析,形成一个高效安全、快速稳定,且准确及时的流感地理信息图谱预测预警系统,成为提升流感中心信息管理水平的必由之路。