Development and validation of an experimental and theoretical method for the chiral discrimination of dinotefuran

Dinotefuran is a low-cost agrochemical considered a highly toxic product. In this sense, there is a need for its constant environmental, biological, and food control, aiming to ensure its use to humans as well as to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. In the present work, we developed an experimental and theoretical method for dinotefuran chiral discrimination. According to the main results, the dinotefuran enantioselective separation was efficiently optimized by high-performance liquid chromatography evaluating the influence of different percentage compositions in the mobile phase to improve the resolution of the peaks in the chromatogram. The novelty of this work was the proposition of a reduced molecular model for the chiral selector amylose-Tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) polysaccharide that was able to adequately describe at the molecular level its interaction with the dinotefuran enantiomers. Besides, the thermodynamic and structural parameters obtained via density functional theory calculations pointed out the chiral discrimination as well as the enantiomeric elution order of the analyte studied, confirming the experimental data, thus validating our proposed method. Finally, hydrogen bonds and repulsive interactions played a key role in the discrimination between the diastereomeric complexes, and consequently, for the dinotefuran enantioselective separation.     

Genetic basis of kernel nutritional traits during maize domestication and improvement

The nutritional traits of maize kernels are important for human and animal nutrition, and these traits have undergone selection to meet the diverse nutritional needs of humans. However, our knowledge of the genetic basis of selecting for kernel nutritional traits is limited. Here, we identified both single and epistatic quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contributed to the differences of oil and carotenoid traits between maize and teosinte. Over half of teosinte alleles of single QTLs increased the values of the detected oil and carotenoid traits. Based on the pleiotropism or linkage information of the identified single QTLs, we constructed a trait–locus network to help clarify the genetic basis of correlations among oil and carotenoid traits. Furthermore, the selection features and evolutionary trajectories of the genes or loci underlying variations in oil and carotenoid traits revealed that these nutritional traits produced diverse selection events during maize domestication and improvement. To illustrate more, a mutator distance–relative transposable element (TE) in intron 1 of DXS2, which encoded a rate‐limiting enzyme in the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, was identified to increase carotenoid biosynthesis by enhancing DXS2 expression. This TE occurs in the grass teosinte, and has been found to have undergone selection during maize domestication and improvement, and is almost fixed in yellow maize. Our findings not only provide important insights into evolutionary changes in nutritional traits, but also highlight the feasibility of reintroducing back into commercial agricultural germplasm those nutritionally important genes hidden in wild relatives.     

植物乳杆菌CCFM8724抑制双菌生物膜的成分初探

[背景] 植物乳杆菌是一种重要的益生菌,本实验室前期研究表明植物乳杆菌CCFM8724发酵液可抑制变异链球菌和白色念珠菌双菌生物膜,但植物乳杆菌发酵液中起作用的具体物质尚不清楚。[目的] 评价植物乳杆菌CCFM8724发酵液抑菌成分的特性,初步探究其物质基础。[方法] 探索温度、pH等因素对抑菌物质的影响,采用气相色谱-质谱（Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,GC-MS）联用技术分析植物乳杆菌代谢物的组成,进一步通过有机溶剂萃取、超滤等方法初步分离纯化发酵液中抑制双菌生物膜的成分,并采用液相色谱-质谱（Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,LC-MS）联用技术进行鉴定。[结果] 通过多元统计分析,发现植物乳杆菌发酵液的主要差异标志物为有机酸（如苯乳酸、乙酸、羟基己酸和甘油酸等）,经过初步提取鉴定并进行功能验证,其中有效成分主要为有机酸和环肽类化合物。[结论] 植物乳杆菌CCFM8724发酵液主要通过多种有机酸和环肽类的协同作用抑制变异链球菌和白色念珠菌生物膜,该研究为植物乳杆菌发酵液进一步的分离纯化和有效成分的生产应用提供理论依据。     

哺乳动物毛色调控机制及其适应性进化研究进展

哺乳动物类群呈现出的丰富毛色是引人注目的一种生物现象,是研究和理解哺乳动物适应性进化的理想模型之一。哺乳动物的毛色多态在躲避天敌、捕食、求偶及抵御紫外线等方面都具有重要作用。哺乳动物毛发的色素化过程由体内黑色素的数量、质量和分布状况所决定。黑色素的形成过程复杂,包括黑素细胞的分化、成熟,黑素体等细胞器的形态发生及黑色素在黑素细胞中的合成代谢和转运等过程;而在细胞色素化的每个阶段/时相都伴随着一些重要功能基因的参与,并通过基因之间的相互作用形成了黑色素生物代谢的复杂调控网络,进而形成不同的毛色有助于哺乳动物适应不同生存环境。对哺乳动物不同毛色形成机制的探究一直以来都是遗传学及进化生物学的重要研究领域和聚焦热点。本文综述了哺乳动物毛色色素化过程的主要分子机制以及毛色适应性进化的遗传基础,以期为哺乳动物毛色多态及其适应性进化的分子机制研究提供参考。     

青藏高原草地产量与草畜平衡变化

深入了解青藏高原草地生产力与草畜平衡状态的变化,是青藏高原生态屏障建设和生态环境保护的基础。利用遥感植被指数和叶面积指数产品,基于VIP生态水文过程模型,模拟分析了青藏高原2000—2018年间草地生产力的时空格局,并结合同期农牧业统计资料,分析了青藏高原县域尺度草畜平衡状态的变化。结果表明:青藏高原草地多年平均净初级生产力(NPP)为158.4 g C·m^-2·a^-1;近20年来草地生产力上升趋势明显,显著上升面积的比例为44.7%。气候变暖、降水量增加、草本植物生长期延长和大气CO₂浓度升高是青藏高原草地生产力提高的主要驱动因素。基于草场产量估算的青藏高原平均理论载畜量为1.17 SU·hm^-2,年增长率为0.011 SU·hm^-2。2000年以来青藏高原草地超载情况总体趋于好转,严重超载县的面积比例已降至20%以下,其中超载程度较严重的地区,畜牧业的维持和发展主要依靠作物秸秆补饲。研究结果可为区域农牧业结构调整和生态环境保护提供科学依据。     

Optimization of the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic residues by using radial basis functions modeling and particle swarm optimization

The concentrations of glucose and total reducing sugars obtained by chemical hydrolysis of three different lignocellulosic feedstocks were maximized. Two response surface methodologies were applied to model the amount of sugars produced: (1) classical quadratic least-squares fit (QLS), and (2) artificial neural networks based on radial basis functions (RBF). The results obtained by applying RBF were more reliable and better statistical parameters were obtained. Depending on the type of biomass, different results were obtained. Improvements in fit between 35% and 55% were obtained when comparing the coefficients of determination (R²) computed for both QLS and RBF methods. Coupling the obtained RBF models with particle swarm optimization to calculate the global desirability function, allowed to perform multiple response optimization. The predicted optimal conditions were confirmed by carrying out independent experiments.     

Core concepts of spatial prioritisation in systematic conservation planning

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is a field of conservation biology concerned with delivering on‐the‐ground actions that achieve conservation goals. It describes a set of operational models that cover both design and implementation of conservation, with a strong focus on mobilising the collective action typically required to implement conservation. SCP, as it was originally described, was composed of six different stages: collection of data, identification of conservation goals, evaluation of the existing protected area network, design of expansions, implementation of conservation action, and long‐term maintenance of biodiversity in the network. Since then, the operational model has been expanded into several different variants. Conservation actions applied inside SCP include establishment and expansion of reserve networks and allocation of habitat restoration and management. Within the broader context of SCP, there is a fundamental biogeographic‐economic analysis frequently called spatial conservation prioritisation or conservation assessment, which is used for identifying where important areas for biodiversity are and how conservation goals might be achieved efficiently. Here, we review the usage and meaning of the 12 biogeographic‐economic core concepts of SCP: adequacy, complementarity, comprehensiveness, effectiveness, efficiency, flexibility, irreplaceability, replacement cost, representation, representativeness, threat, and vulnerability. Some of the concepts have clear definitions whereas others may have alternative and possibly conflicting definitions. With a comprehensive literature review literature, we elucidate the historical backgrounds of these concepts, the first definitions and usages, alternative later definitions, key applications, and prior reviews. This review reduces linguistic uncertainty in the application of SCP. Since SCP is a global activity with a multitude of different stakeholders involved, it is vital that those involved can speak the same language. Through these concepts, this review serves as a source of information about the historical development of SCP. It provides a comprehensive review for anyone wishing to understand the key concepts of spatial prioritisation within SCP.     

无融合生殖悬铃叶苎麻（Boehmeria tricuspis）多倍性发生的染色体行为研究

摘要：对无融合生殖悬铃叶苎麻（2n=42）和有性生殖悬铃叶苎麻(2n=28)花粉母细胞（PMC）减数分裂行为进行比较研究,从而推断两者之间的进化关系;探索无融合生殖悬铃叶苎麻（B.tricuspis）发生的细胞遗传学基础,为无融合生殖发生的遗传学研究提供理论依据。在无融合生殖类型经诱导所产生的PMC的减数分裂过程中,发现有丰富的三价体形成,属典型的同源三倍体减数分裂行为特征;而有性生殖类型 PMC的减数分裂行为绝大多数正常,但也存在少量异常现象。其中有些异常行为,可能与未减数配子（2n）的形成紧密相关。因而推断,在有性生殖类型的生殖过程中,可能发生了未减数配子（2n）与减数配子（n）的融合,产生了同源三倍体合子。这应该是无融合生殖悬铃叶苎麻发生的重要的细胞遗传学基础。     

Pervasive selection or is it…? why are FST outliers sometimes so frequent?

It is now common for population geneticists to estimate F_ST for a large number of loci across the genome, before testing for selected loci as being outliers to the F_ST distribution. One surprising result of such F_ST scans is the often high proportion (>1% and sometimes >10%) of outliers detected, and this is often interpreted as evidence for pervasive local adaptation. In this issue of Molecular Ecolog, Fourcade et al. ( 2013 ) observe that a particularly high rate of F_ST outliers has often been found in river organisms, such as fishes or damselflies, despite there being no obvious reason why selection should affect a larger proportion of the genomes of these organisms. Using computer simulations, Fourcade et al. ( 2013 ) show that the strong correlation in co‐ancestry produced in long one‐dimensional landscapes (such as rivers, valleys, peninsulas, oceanic ridges or coastlines) greatly increases the neutral variance in F_ST, especially when the landscape is further reticulated into fractal networks. As a consequence, outlier tests have a high rate of false positives, unless this correlation can be taken into account. Fourcade et al.'s study highlights an extreme case of the general problem, first noticed by Robertson ( 1975a , b ) and Nei & Maruyama ( 1975 ), that correlated co‐ancestry inflates the neutral variance in F_ST when compared to its expectation under an island model of population structure. Similar warnings about the validity of outlier tests have appeared regularly since then but have not been widely cited in the recent genomics literature. We further emphasize that F_ST outliers can arise in many different ways and that outlier tests are not designed for situations where the genetic architecture of local adaptation involves many loci.     

三叶斑潜蝇幼虫种群空间格局及抽样技术研究

三叶斑潜蝇Liriomyza trifolii是我国重要的园艺及蔬菜害虫,研究三叶斑潜蝇种群的空间格局和抽样技术,可为该虫的危害调查与防治提供理论依据。应用Iwao m*-m回归分析法、Taylor的幂法则及6个聚集指标,对三叶斑潜蝇幼虫在番茄和豇豆上的空间分布型和抽样技术进行了研究,并做了影响因素分析。结果表明:三叶斑潜蝇幼虫在番茄和豇豆上均呈聚集分布,分布的基本成分是以个体群形式存在,通过分布型参数,采用Kc法、Iwao法及Taylor幂法计算出了在不同精度下三叶斑潜蝇田间的理论抽样数。