起测径对南盘江流域次生林中枯立木空间结构的影响

树木大小是林分的基础属性,反映个体在森林生态系统过程中扮演的角色和地位。作者于2016-2018年在中国西南地区南盘江流域松栎混交林中建立3块永久性标准固定样地(A、B、C),并用双相关函数g(r)、标记相关函数k_(mm)(r)、标记变差函数γ(r)和k-邻体距离分布函数D~k(r)分析不同大小枯立木的空间结构特征,以揭示林分水平上枯立木的大小和空间结构之间的关系。结果显示:(1)枯立木的起测径(minimum measured diameter, mmd)越小,小尺度上(r=0～5 m)的分布格局趋向聚集状态,但随着起测径的增大(mmd=5～8 cm),随机分布格局几乎占据每个尺度(r=0～20 m)。(2)当起测径等于1～2 cm时,枯立木的大小在小尺度上(r=0～1 m)接近聚集分布,除此之外它一直保持随机分布。(3)当起测径≤4 cm时,枯立木的树种分布集中;反之,它在每个尺度上越接近或成为随机状态。(4)当起测径由1 cm增大至8 cm时,r=0～10 m之内相邻木的株数减少且距离增加,其变化程度受到林分株数的影响。研究表明,枯立木的起测径与其分布格局类型、标记特征以及距离分布紧密相关,暗示同种小树易呈团块死亡,而大径的枯立木偏向随机分布;对比分析枯死木的空间结构需使用统一的起测径标准。     

Phytochemical screening and anti-oxidant activity of Sargassum wightii enhances the anti-bacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In this study, the phytochemical, phenolic, flavonoid and bioactive compounds were successfully screened from crude extract of Sargassum wightii by LC-MS analysis after NIST interpretation. Bacterial growth inhibition study result was shown with 24 mm zone inhibition at 200 µg/mL concentration against P. aeruginosa. The increased phenolic content was much closed to gallic acid and the range was observed at 250 μg/mL concentration. In addition, flavonoid contents of the algae extract was indicated more significant with rutin at 200 μg/mL. In result, both the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were more correlated with gallic acid and rutin. Further, the total anti-oxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities were shown increased activity at 200 μg/mL concentrations. Furthermore, the excellent anti-bacterial alteration result was observed at 200 μg/mL concentration by minimum inhibition concentration. Therefore, the result was revealed that the marine algae Sargassum wightii has excellent phytochemical and anti-oxidant activities, and it has improved anti-bacterial activity against P. aeruginosa.     

Optimal Design of a Series of GSTR's Performing Reversible Reactions Catalyzed by Soluble Enzymes: A Theoretical Study

The condition for the minimum overall reactor volume of a given number of CSTR's in series is theoretically determined for a reversible, single reactant-single product (Uni-Uni) enzyme catalyzed reaction. The reactor network is assumed to operate in steady-state, isothermal conditions with a single phase and a constant activity of biocatalyst. The method is based on a mathematical analysis of the discrete substrate concentration profile along the CSTR's assuming complete micromixing. The algebraic equations describing the critical loci are obtained for the general case, the mathematical proof that these equations define a minimum is presented, and an exact solution arising from an asymptotic situation is found. An approximate analytical method of optimization based on the aforementioned critical behavior is reported and its validity and usefulness discussed. The formulae introduced can be used in more general situations as tools for getting the approximate range where the optimal overall volume of the series of CSTR's lies. Hence, the reasoning developed is important for the preliminary CSTR design and relevant in the initial steps of the more involved methods of numerical optimization. Finally, the enzymatic conversion of fumarate to L-malate is examined as a model system in order to assess the usefulness and applicability of the analysis developed.     

Ranging behaviour of Uganda’s elephants

Elephant populations are in decline across the African continent, but recent aerial surveys show that populations in Uganda are increasing. However, threats such as poaching and habitat disturbance remain. Having a comprehensive knowledge of the ranging behaviour of Ugandan elephants is crucial to understanding where critical habitat for the species occurs. We investigated various aspects of ranging behaviour of 45 radio-collared elephants (Loxodonta africana) in three areas—Queen Elizabeth Protected Area (QEPA), Murchison Falls (MFPA) Protected Area and Kidepo Valley (KVCA) Conservation Area. We also set Ugandan analyses in a continental context by comparison with home ranges reported in published literature. Elephants within KVCA had larger core ranges than elephants in QEPA or MFPA. Wet season ranges in KVCA were much larger than dry season ranges. The most important core areas in all three national parks were centred around water resources. Home range size was negatively correlated with net primary productivity (NPP) at Ugandan (N = 39 individuals) and continental (N = 17 sites) scales. This study indicates that, at a local scale, factors such as water source location are important in shaping elephant ranging behaviour. At larger scales, factors such as NPP are good predictors of elephant home range size.     

A new fast algorithm for solving the minimum spanning tree problem based on DNA molecules computation

The minimum spanning tree (MST) problem is to find minimum edge connected subsets containing all the vertex of a given undirected graph. It is a vitally important NP-complete problem in graph theory and applied mathematics, having numerous real life applications. Moreover in previous studies, DNA molecular operations usually were used to solve NP-complete head-to-tail path search problems, rarely for NP-hard problems with multi-lateral path solutions result, such as the minimum spanning tree problem. In this paper, we present a new fast DNA algorithm for solving the MST problem using DNA molecular operations. For an undirected graph with n vertex and m edges, we reasonably design flexible length DNA strands representing the vertex and edges, take appropriate steps and get the solutions of the MST problem in proper length range and O(3m + n) time complexity. We extend the application of DNA molecular operations and simultaneity simplify the complexity of the computation. Results of computer simulative experiments show that the proposed method updates some of the best known values with very short time and that the proposed method provides a better performance with solution accuracy over existing algorithms.     

Is CD36 gene polymorphism in region encoding lipid-binding domain associated with early onset CAD?

CD36 is a fatty acid translocase in striated muscle cells and cardiomyocytes. Some study suggested that alterations in CD36 gene may be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. The aim of the current study was to compare the frequency of CD36 variants in region encoding lipid-binding domain in Caucasian patients with early-onset CAD, no-CAD adult controls and neonates. The study group comprised 100 patients with early onset CAD. The genetic control groups were 306 infants and 40 no-CAD adults aged over 70 years. Exons 4, 5 and 6 including fragments of flanking introns were studied using the denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography technique and direct sequencing. Changes detected in analyzed fragment of CD36: IVS3-6 T/C (rs3173798), IVS4-10 G/A (rs3211892), C311T (Thr104Ile, not described so far) in exon 5, G550A (Asp184Asn, rs138897347), C572T (Pro191Leu, rs143150225), G573A (Pro191Pro, rs5956) and A591T (Thr197Thr, rs141680676) in exon 6. No significant differences in the CD36 genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were found between the three groups. Only borderline differences (p = 0.066) were found between early onset CAD patients and newborns in the frequencies of 591T allele (2.00% vs 0.50%) and CGCGCGT haplotype (2.00% vs 0.50%) with both IVS3-6C and 591T variant alleles. In conclusion, CD36 variants: rs3173798, rs3211892, rs138897347, rs5956, rs143150225 rs141680676 and C311T do not seem to be involved in the risk of early-onset CAD in Caucasian population.     

Combined small RNA and degradome sequencing reveals microRNA regulation during immature maize embryo dedifferentiation

Genetic transformation of maize is highly dependent on the development of embryonic calli from the dedifferentiated immature embryo. To better understand the regulatory mechanism of immature embryo dedifferentiation, we generated four small RNA and degradome libraries from samples representing the major stages of dedifferentiation. More than 186 million raw reads of small RNA and degradome sequence data were generated. We detected 102 known miRNAs belonging to 23 miRNA families. In total, we identified 51, 70 and 63 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in the stage I, II, III samples, respectively, compared to the control. However, only 6 miRNAs were continually up-regulated by more than fivefold throughout the process of dedifferentiation. A total of 87 genes were identified as the targets of 21 DEM families. This group of targets was enriched in members of four significant pathways including plant hormone signal transduction, antigen processing and presentation, ECM-receptor interaction, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. The hormone signal transduction pathway appeared to be particularly significant, involving 21 of the targets. While the targets of the most significant DEMs have been proved to play essential roles in cell dedifferentiation. Our results provide important information regarding the regulatory networks that control immature embryo dedifferentiation in maize.     

Fibrillar seeds alleviate amyloid-β cytotoxicity by omitting formation of higher-molecular-weight oligomers

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can exist in distinct forms including monomers, oligomers and fibrils, consisting of increased numbers of monomeric units. Among these, Aβ oligomers are implicated as the primary toxic species as pointed by multiple lines of evidence. It has been suggested that toxicity could be rendered by the soluble higher-molecular-weight (high-n) Aβ oligomers. Yet, the most culpable form in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains elusive. Moreover, the potential interaction among the insoluble fibrils that have been excluded from the responsible aggregates in AD development, Aβ monomers and high-n oligomers is undetermined. Here, we report that insoluble Aβ fibrillar seeds can interact with Aβ monomers at the stoichiometry of 1:2 (namely, each Aβ molecule of seed can bind to two Aβ monomers at a time) facilitating the fibrillization by omitting the otherwise mandatory formation of the toxic high-n oligomers during the fibril maturation. As a result, the addition of exogenous Aβ fibrillar seeds is seen to rescue neuronal cells from Aβ cytotoxicity presumably exerted by high-n oligomers, suggesting an unexpected protective role of Aβ fibrillar seeds.     

Procyanidins can interact with Caco-2 cell membrane lipid rafts: Involvement of cholesterol

Large procyanidins (more than three subunits) are not absorbed at the gastrointestinal tract but could exert local effects through their interactions with membranes. We previously showed that hexameric procyanidins (Hex), although not entering cells, interact with membranes modulating cell signaling and fate. This paper investigated if Hex, as an example of large procyanidins, can selectively interact with lipid rafts which could in part explain its biological actions. This mechanism was studied in both synthetic membranes (liposomes) and Caco-2 cells. Hex promoted Caco-2 cell membrane rigidification and dehydration, effects that were abolished upon cholesterol depletion with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD). Hex prevented lipid raft structure disruption induced by cholesterol depletion/redistribution by MCD or sodium deoxycholate. Supporting the involvement of cholesterol–Hex bonding in Hex interaction with lipid rafts, the absence of cholesterol markedly decreased the capacity of Hex to prevent deoxycholate- and Triton X-100-mediated disruption of lipid raft-like liposomes. Stressing the functional relevance of this interaction, Hex mitigated lipid raft-associated activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2. Results support the capacity of a large procyanidin (Hex) to interact with membrane lipid rafts mainly through Hex–cholesterol bondings. Procyanidin–lipid raft interactions can in part explain the capacity of large procyanidins to modulate cell physiology.