益生菌拮抗阪崎肠杆菌的初步研究

目的研究鼠李糖乳杆菌和植物乳杆菌等8种常见益生菌对阪崎肠杆菌的拮抗作用。方法采用牛津杯法测定益生菌耗尽上清对阪崎肠杆菌的抑菌圈,获得对阪崎肠杆菌具有较强抑菌能力的鼠李糖乳杆菌和植物乳杆菌;采用混合培养法对2株益生菌与阪崎肠杆菌的拮抗竞争能力进行测试。结果 8种益生菌耗尽上清均能抑制阪崎肠杆菌,其抑菌能力具有热稳定性且依赖于酸性pH环境。阪崎肠杆菌(107CFU/mL)与鼠李糖乳杆菌(108CFU/mL或109CFU/mL)共孵育至24 h,其活菌量开始逐渐下降,至120 h孵育结束下降到105CFU/mL;菌量比为1:10的阪崎肠杆菌与植物乳杆菌共孵育至24 h,其活菌量开始逐渐下降,菌量比为1:100时则提前至8 h,至120 h孵育结束活菌量均下降到102CFU/mL。结论鼠李糖乳杆菌和植物乳杆菌均能有效地竞争拮抗阪崎肠杆菌。     

Rhizomicrobiomics of Caesalpinia bonducella,a wonder plant for PCOS treatment

Plant and rhizobacterial interactions contribute partly to a plant’s medicinal properties and are well studied through metagenomics. In this study, 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ITS meta-sequencing were performed using the genomic DNA obtained from the rhizosphere of Caesalpinia bonducella—a medicinal shrub widely used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Of the 665 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) obtained from 16S rDNA sequencing, 23.9% comprised of microbes that increase the therapeutic value of plants (Bacillus, Paenibacillus), 6.4% belonged to stress and drought tolerant microbes (Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Serratia), 8% belonged to plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria—predominantly Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes and the remaining were the microbes performing various other functions. Alpha diversity indexing by GAIA-metagenomics tool revealed the presence of a highly diverse group of microbes in the rhizosphere of C. bonducella; Chao.1 index (665), Shannon Weiner index (3.53), Simpson index (0.83) and Fisher index (106.13). The highly diverse microbes lingering around the roots of C. bonducella could possibly be due to a strong symbiotic association with the plant; root exudates nourish the microbes and the microbes in turn enrich the medicinal value of the plant.     

黄土高原三趾马红土的观察(英文)

讨论了黄土高原地区红粘土中脊椎动物化石的考察历史,记录了山西和甘肃"三趾马红土"地点的观察结果。红粘土广泛分布于黄土高原地区,但常被误认为是一个描述性术语,因为其中的许多沉积物既非红色,又不以粘土级颗粒为主。不少红粘土序列中含有古土壤,也含有水成沉积物。此次考察包括榆社盆地的经典地点、灵台任家沟和雷家河,以及庆阳和秦安的一些地点。讨论了在任家沟发现的化石、在玉村新发现的小哺乳动物上新五褶兔( Plio-pentalagus) 和在胡家村观察到的上新世潜穴,后两个地点都位于灵台东北面的庆阳地区。观察结果与晚中新世遍布黄土高原、很可能来自降尘的粘土级颗粒的快速堆积吻合。但在一些区域则以河流或湖泊过程为主,红粘土颗粒部分或全部被水成的粗碎屑沉积物代替,没有找到晚中新世-早上新世干旱化的证据,反而支持高生产力的湿润环境假说。局部富集的脊椎动物化石证明三趾马动物群具有很高的陆生生物量。     

Evaluation of shelf life and rock phosphate solubilization of Burkholderia sp. in nutrient-amended clay, rice bran and rock phosphate-based granular formulation

Five phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) used in this study were isolated based on their ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) in Pikovskaya’s medium. Among the tested bacterial strains Burkholderia sp. strain CBPB-HIM showed the highest solubilization (363 μg of soluble P ml⁻¹) activity at 48 h of incubation. Further, this strain has been selected to assess its shelf life in nutrient-amended and -unamended clay, rice bran and rock phosphate (RP) pellet-based granular formulation. The results showed that the maximum viability of bacterium was observed in clay and rice bran (1:1) + 10% RP pellets than clay-RP pellets, irrespective of tested storage temperatures. Further, clay and rice bran (1:1) + 10% RP pellets amended with 1% glucose supported the higher number of cells compared to glycerol-amended and nutrient-unamended pellets. In this carrier solubilization of Morocco rock phosphate (MRP) by Burkholderia sp. strain CBPB-HIM was also investigated. The maximum of water and bicarbonate extractable P (206 and 245 μg P g⁻¹ of pellet respectively) was recorded in clay and rice bran (1:1) + 10% RP pellets amended with 1% glucose and glycerol respectively on day 5 of incubation. Therefore, this study proved the possibility of developing granular inoculant technology combining clay, rice bran and RP as substrates with phosphate-solubilizing Burkholderia.     

Conjunctive use of spectral gamma-ray logs and clay mineralogy in defining late Jurassic-early Cretaceous palaeoclimate change (Dorset, U.K.)

Detrital clay mineralogy is controlled by weathered source rock, climate, transport and deposition that in turn influence the spectral gamma-ray (SGR) response of resultant sediments. Whilst a palaeoclimate signal in clay mineralogy has been established in some ancient successions, the SGR response remains contentious, largely because the data sets have yet to be collected at the same or appropriate vertical scales to allow comparison. In addition, the influence of organic matter on SGR is not always considered. Here, we present clay mineralogical, total organic carbon (TOC) and SGR analyses from the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous of the Wessex Basin, a period of previously documented palaeoclimate change. The aim of this paper is to estimate the sensitivity of SGR as palaeoclimatic tool, SGR and clay mineral data having been collected at the same sample points, making this one of the most rigorous comparison of clay mineral and SGR to date. Overall, the correlation between high thorium/potassium or thorium/uranium and kaolinite associated with a well-established palaeoclimate change shows that elevated thorium may be used as a proxy for humid palaeoweathering, as suggested by few previous studies.     

Fast-growing trees for cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) suppression and enhanced colonization of understory plant species on a phosphate-mine clay settling area

Native plants rarely occur in cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) dominated phosphate-mine clay settling areas (CSA) in central Florida. This is primarily due to the allelopathic nature and strong competitiveness of cogongrass and frequent fires in these grasslands. This study examined the performance of fast-growing 2.5-year-old cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and 2–3.5-year-old eucalypts (Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus amplifolia) in suppressing cogongrass in an old CSA near Lakeland, Florida. Understory vegetation was studied in two-row cottonwood and one-row, two-row, and four-row E. grandis cultures in the commercial planting and a clone-configuration-fertilizer study (SRWC-90). Cogongrass was still dominant in two-row cottonwood and the first four treatments of study SRWC-90. A total of 57 herbs and 26 shrubs, mostly native, were present in the understory. More herbs and shrubs occurred in the commercial planting than in the cogongrass-dominated study SRWC-90. Stand age and proximity to natural areas positively affected species recruitment. Cogongrass importance value index (IVI) decreased with increasing stand density, cottonwood basal area in the commercial planting and with both E. grandis and E. amplifolia basal area in study SRWC-90. Fast-growing trees with good survival on intensively prepared CSAs produce early and permanent canopy closure and appear to suppress cogongrass.     

The Oxford Dodo. Part 2: from curiosity to icon and its role in displays,education and research

The Tradescant or Oxford Dodo has played an important role in exhibition and education throughout its 360-year history, and has been the subject of scientific research reflecting changing interests and techniques over this time. Due to confusion over its relationships, its placement in the classification systems continually changed, until the dissection in 1847 of the head and foot confirmed its columbid (pigeons and doves) affinities. Here, we describe the dissection of the head and foot and the Tradescant Dodo’s display history, from the late nineteenth century until the present day, and also its use in education. We discuss the importance of the Tradescant Dodo to Lewis Carroll, whose ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ made the dodo aware to a worldwide audience. We further provide an overview of recent work including electron microscopic study of feathers, mDNA analysis, cytological investigation of the skin and measuring of the brain capacity, all of which have added to our knowledge of the evolution and ecology of this most extraordinary of birds. Research is ongoing; the Tradescant Dodo is presently subject to CT scanning and functional analysis. This is the second part of a two-part paper.     

A review of the platanaceous woods from the Eocene paratropical rainforest of south-east England

Small diameter pyritized axes, commonly referred to as 'twigs', of fossil platanaceous wood are described from the Lower Eocene London Clay Formation of south-east England. These twigs are characterized by solitary vessels with scalariform perforation plates, opposite intervessel pits, and tall, multiseriate rays that dilate in the phloem region. The wood anatomy supports close relationship to members of extant Platanaceae and the material is placed in the organ genus Plataninium Unger erected for fossil woods with close anatomical similarity to Platanus L. This material supplements the fossil record of platanaceous type wood from the Eocene London Clay and documents the first record of Plataninium decipiens Brett in the twig flora.  © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 139 , 181–191.     

The effect of smectite composition on the catalysis of peptide bond formation

Clay-catalyzed glycine and diglycine oligomerizations were performed as drying/wetting cycles at 80°C. Two trioctahedral smectites (hectorite and saponite), three pure montmorillonites, a ferruginous smectite, an Fe(II)-rich smectite, and three smectites containing goethite admixture were used as catalysts. Highest peptide bond formation was found with trioctahedral smectites. About 7% of glycine was converted to diglycine and diketopiperazine on hectorite after 7 days. In the case of dioctahedral smectites, highest yields were achieved using clays with a negative-layer charge localized in the octahedral sheets (up to 2% of converted glycine after 7 days). The presence of Fe(II) in clay is reflected in a higher efficiency in catalyzing amino acid dimerization (about 3.5% of converted glycine after 7 days). The possible significance of the results for prebiotic chemistry is discussed. Received: 20 February 1996 / Accepted: 26 April 1996     

The biodegradability of nucleic acid bases adsorbed on inorganic and organic soil components

Summary The biodegradability of nucleic acid bases (guanine, adenine, cytosine, thymine and uracil) adsorbed on montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, soil, gibbsite, goethite and a fulvic acid (FA)-montmorillonite complex was investigated. Each material was mixed with sand, inoculated with a soil suspension and incubated in a Warburg vessel. Lag periods in O₂ uptake were observed at pH 4 and 6 but not at pH 8. Following the lag periods, adsorbed nucleic acid bases were degraded rapidly at linear rates until these levelled off. The cessation of O₂-uptake was shown to be due to the formation of excessive amounts of gaseous NH₃, which not only inhibited microbial respiration by raising the pH to 8 and higher, but also by killing bacteria and actinomycetes. The rate of biodegradation was found to depend on the type of clay or oxide, the dominant cation and the pH. Contribution No 1181