稀有鮈鲫对不同生境的选择性偏好

对不同生境的识别和选择性偏好是保障鱼类生存和繁衍的重要能力之一。以稀有鮈鲫（Gobiocypris rarus）为研究对象,使用沙、水草和石块在观测水缸中进行多种排列组合以构建不同的生境类型,基于在各区域的停留时长和中线跨越次数两项参数,测试稀有鮈鲫对不同生境类型的偏好以及营养状态、生境组成物数量、环境照度对该行为影响。结果表明,稀有鮈鲫对不同的生境类型具有明显的选择性偏好,对仅水草生境偏好程度最高,对仅石块生境的偏好程度最低。该偏好行为在24 h的禁食后变化不显著（P > 0.05）,但生境组成物数量和环境照度对该行为具有显著影响（P < 0.05）,其偏好程度随水草数量和照度的增加而增加,在包含8棵水草及1 000 lx的照度下最高。     

A declarative constraint-based method for analyzing discrete genetic regulatory networks

Dynamical modeling has proven useful for understanding how complex biological processes emerge from the many components and interactions composing genetic regulatory networks (GRNs). However, the development of models is hampered by large uncertainties in both the network structure and parameter values. To remedy this problem, the models are usually developed through an iterative process based on numerous simulations, confronting model predictions with experimental data and refining the model structure and/or parameter values to repair the inconsistencies. In this paper, we propose an alternative to this generate-and-test approach. We present a four-step method for the systematic construction and analysis of discrete models of GRNs by means of a declarative approach. Instead of instantiating the models as in classical modeling approaches, the biological knowledge on the network structure and its dynamics is formulated in the form of constraints. The compatibility of the network structure with the constraints is queried and in case of inconsistencies, some constraints are relaxed. Common properties of the consistent models are then analyzed by means of dedicated languages. Two such languages are introduced in the paper. Removing questionable constraints or adding interesting ones allows to further analyze the models. This approach allows to identify the best experiments to be carried out, in order to discriminate sets of consistent models and refine our knowledge on the system functioning. We test the feasibility of our approach, by applying it to the re-examination of a model describing the nutritional stress response in the bacterium Escherichia coli.     

Enhanced production and partial characterization of an extracellular polysaccharide from newly isolated Azotobacter sp. SSB81

A strain was selected by its highest extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production ability compare to other isolates from the same rhizospheric soil. The selected strain was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and designated as SSB81. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene sequence showed its close relatedness with Azotobacter vinelandii and Azotobacter salinestris. Maximum EPS (2.52 g l⁻¹) was recovered when the basal medium was supplemented with glucose (2.0%), riboflavin (1 mg l⁻¹) and casamino acid (0.2%). The EPS showed a stable viscosity level at acidic pH (3.0–6.5) and the pyrolysis temperature was found to be at 116.73 °C with an enthalpy (ΔH) of 1330.72 Jg⁻¹. MALDI TOF mass spectrometric result suggests that polymer contained Hex₅Pent₃ as oligomeric building subunit. SEM studies revealed that the polymer had a porous structure with small pore size distribution indicating the compactness of the polymer. This novel EPS may find possible application as a polymer for environmental bioremediation and biotechnological processes.     

Assessing individual metabolic responsiveness to a lipid challenge using a targeted metabolomic approach

The development of assessment techniques with immediate clinical applicability is a priority for resolving the growing epidemic in metabolic disease. Many imbalances in diet-dependent metabolism are not detectable in the fasted state. Resolving the high inter-individual variability in response to diet requires the development of techniques that can detect metabolic dysfunction at the level of the individual. The intra- and inter-individual variation in lipid metabolism in response to a standardized test meal was determined. Following an overnight fast on three different days, three healthy subjects consumed a test meal containing 40% of their daily calories. Plasma samples were collected at fasting, and 1, 3, 6, and 8 h after the test meal. Plasma fatty acid (FA) concentrations within separated lipid classes and lipoprotein fractions were measured at each time point. The intra-individual variation within each subject across three days was lower than the inter-individual differences among the three subjects for over 50% of metabolites in the triacylglycerol (TG), FA, and phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid classes at 6 h, and for 25–50% of metabolites across lipid classes at 0, 1, 3, and 8 h. The consistency of response within individuals was visualized by principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmed by ANOVA. Three representative metabolites that discriminated among the three individuals in the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) fraction, TG16:1n7, TG18:2n6, and PC18:3n3, are discussed in detail. The postprandial responses of individuals were unique within metabolites that were individual discriminators (ID) of metabolic phenotype. This study shows that the targeted metabolomic measurement of individual metabolic phenotype in response to a specially formulated lipid challenge is possible even without lead-in periods, dietary and lifestyle control, or intervention over a 3-month period in healthy free-living individuals.     

有蹄类动物营养状况的测定方法及其评价

营养状况对于动物的生存和繁殖至关重要,是有蹄类动物种群管理的前提条件之一。文章综述了有蹄类动物营养状况的几种主要测定方法,简要介绍了这些方法的理论前提、基本模型、适用范围,并评价了它们的优缺点及如何提高其准确性的方法和途径。     

营养干预对IGT 人群糖脂代谢及胰岛素抵抗的临床研究

目的：通过营养干预的手段观察其对糖耐量减低（IGT）人群糖脂代谢厦胰岛素水平的影响。方法：通过流调,以服糖耐量试验（OGTT）筛查IGT患者,随机分为对照组和干预组,干预组通过营养师进行善食调查,营养教育,饮食评价糯导总计1．5年。对照组不进行任何指导教育。两组于试验前后检查空腹血糖（FPG）,餐后2小时血糖（2hpG）,胰岛素（Ins）水平及胰岛素抵抗指教（HOMA-IR）等。结果：饮食干预组体质指数（BMI）,FPG、Ins及HomA—IR等较对照组明显下降（P〈0．01）仅2人转为糖尿病（DM）,对照组试验前后各项指标无显著变化,有6人转为DM,两组经t检验,DM的患病率有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：营养干预对改善IGT患者的糖脂代谢,胰岛素抵抗有重要作用。     

Parental food conditions affect sex-specific embryo mortality in the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)

Different mortality of males and females during early post-hatching development in sexually size-dimorphic bird species is usually attributed to different nutritional requirements of the sexes, because mortality is mostly biassed toward the larger sex. We investigated whether sex-specific embryo mortality in the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), a size-dimorphic seabird, depends on parental condition. To test this, we experimentally modified parental nutritional conditions by supplementary feeding of yellow-legged gulls during egg formation, to evaluate sex-biassed environmental sensitivity of gull embryos. We found that eggs were larger in supplemented clutches, but egg size did not affect embryo survival. Survival of male gull embryos was more related to parental food conditions than was survival of female embryos. Survival of male embryos in supplemented clutches was greater than in unsupplemented clutches whereas survival of female embryos was similar in both groups. Because size at hatching was similar in both sexes our results suggest that male phenotype disadvantage is not exclusively linked to the energy demands of size-dimorphic development at the embryo stage.     

Lysine maintenance requirement and efficiency of its utilisation in young pigs as estimated by comparative slaughter technique

An experiment was carried out on weaner pigs (initial BW 10.8 kg) to estimate the maintenance requirement for lysine (Lys) and its marginal efficiency of utilisation using a comparative slaughter technique. Three groups of six pigs each were fed purified diets for 21 days supplying Lys at 19.5, 78 or 195 mg/kg W^0.75, which corresponded to 50, 200 or 500% of the assumed maintenance requirement. All other essential amino acids were given at 50% excess. At the end of the experiment, pigs were killed for whole-body nitrogen (N) and amino acid analysis. A representative group of six pigs was analysed at the beginning of the experiment. Based on regression equations, relating Lys or N retention to Lys intake, Lys requirement for zero Lys retention was estimated to be 121 mg/kg W^0.75, while Lys requirement corresponding to zero N retention was 41.7 mg/kg W^0.75. At N equilibrium, the pigs lost 65 mg of Lys per kg W^0.75 daily while at zero Lys retention, the daily N retention was 156 mg/kg W^0.75. The marginal efficiency of lysine utilisation was 0.91. It is concluded that zero lysine retention is a better criterion of lysine maintenance requirement than zero N retention.     

Nutritional condition, starvation status and growth of early juvenile Japanese sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) related to prey distribution and feeding in the nursery ground

The nutritional condition and protein growth rates of Japanese temperate bass larvae and juveniles were studied in relation to prey distribution and feeding habits in the nursery grounds in Chikugo estuary, Ariake Sea, Japan. Samples were collected from a wide spatial area covering the nursery grounds of the fish in March and April 2003. Food habits of the fish were analyzed by examining the gut contents. Fish condition was evaluated by using RNA/DNA ratio and other nucleic acid-based indices and protein growth rates. The nucleic acid contents in individually frozen larvae and juveniles were quantified by fluorometric method. Two distinguished feeding patterns, determined by the distribution of prey copepods, were identified along the nursery ground. The first pattern showed the dependency of the fish on the calanoid copepod Sinocalanus sinensis, which was the single dominant prey in low saline upper river areas and the second pattern involved a multi-species dietary habit mainly dominated by Acartia omorii, Oithona davisae and Paracalanus parvus. Values of RNA, DNA, total protein, growth rates and for all the nucleic acid-based indices were higher in upstream areas than in the downstream areas. The proportion of the starving fish was higher in the downstream areas than in the upstream areas. Condition of juvenile sea bass was not equal throughout the nursery grounds; fish in the upper river were in better condition than those in the lower estuary. We speculated that utilization of S. sinensis, which appears a suitable prey item and provide a better foraging environment in the upstream nursery ground, is one of the key factors for early survival and growth of Japanese temperate bass larvae and juveniles in the Chikugo estuary.