Synopsis of Leymus Hochst. (Triticeae: Poaceae)

Leymus is a genus in the Triticeae tribe, Poaceae. The taxa of this genus are allopolyploid species which possess the Ns and Xm genomes. According to cytological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses, some species of Hystrix and Elymus ought to be transferred to this genus. A world revision of the genus Leymus is needed. In this paper we summarize experimental results, provide a key to sections, species and varieties, and list all the taxa we recognize in Leymus with their synonyms. This synopsis is a new taxonomic system to be used for the revision of Leymus.     

Synopsis of Leymus Hochst. （Triticeae： Poaceae）

Leymus is a genus in the Triticeae tribe, Poaceae. The taxa of this genus are allopolyploid species which possess the Ns and Xm genomes. According to cytological, cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses, some species of Hystrix and Elymus ought to be transferred to this genus. A world revision of the genus Leymus is needed. In this paper we summarize experimental results, provide a key to sections, species and varieties, and list all the taxa we recognize in Leymus with their synonyms. This synopsis is a new taxonomic system to be used for the revision of Leymus.     

The importance of pre-thicket conifer plantations for nesting Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland

Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus are threatened across much of their range and their conservation requires appropriate habitat management. The locations of 148 Hen Harrier nests found in the Republic of Ireland during national breeding surveys in 2000 and 2005 were used to assess nest-site selection. The distribution of these nests was compared to distributions of randomly located points to investigate selection at the scale of the nest-site and landscape. The main nesting habitats selected were pre-thicket stage of first and, particularly, second rotation plantations, mostly of exotic conifers. There was no evidence that the area of post-closure plantations negatively affected Hen Harrier nest distribution. There was a positive correlation across study areas between changes in numbers of Hen Harrier nests between 2000 and 2005 and changes in the area of pre-thicket second rotation plantations over the same period. The overall effect of plantation forests on breeding Hen Harriers in Ireland therefore appears to be positive. However, this study did not consider the effects of plantation habitats on breeding success. Improved grassland was strongly avoided as a nesting habitat. Furthermore, after controlling for the influence of nesting habitat on nest location, landscapes with a high percentage cover of improved grassland were also avoided. Further agricultural intensification of grassland in areas where Hen Harriers breed is likely to have a negative impact on this species. These results are required for the development of management strategies for the conservation of this species.     

What Consumers Want to Know about Commercial Weight‐Loss Programs: A Pilot Investigation**

Objective: In 1999, the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management recommended that providers of commercial weight‐loss programs (and products) voluntarily disclose information concerning the safety, costs, and central components of their programs, as well as the credentials of program staff. These guidelines were drafted without the benefit of data from consumers concerning the specific information they desired. The present study provides such data. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 90 women with a mean age of 44.02 ± 9.17 years and body mass index of 36.11 ± 4.82 kg/m² who were participants in one of two randomized weight‐control trials. Before treatment, respondents were asked to imagine that they were “looking for a weight‐loss plan” and to rate how important each of 16 factors would be in helping them select a plan. Ratings were made using 5‐point scales, anchored by “not at all important” and “extremely important,” (scored 1 and 5, respectively). Participants also identified the five factors that they thought were the most important, as well as the single most important. Results: The mean rating for the importance of safety (4.57 ± 0.60) was significantly greater than that for each of the 15 other variables (all p values < 0.05). In addition, significantly more respondents (27.8%) selected safety as the single most important factor than any other variable (all p values < 0.05). Other factors that were consistently judged as very important included information about diet (4.38 ± 0.68), behavior modification (4.32 ± 0.76), cost (4.19 ± 0.92), and maintenance of weight loss (4.15 ± 0.91). Staff credentials (3.88 ± 0.83) were among the lowest rated items. Discussion: The results generally support the disclosure guidelines proposed by the Partnership for Health Weight Management. Consumers, however, seem to desire information about weight loss, in addition to that concerning safety, cost, and central program components.     

Potential for bowhead whale entanglement in cod and crab pot gear in the Bering Sea

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) of the western Arctic stock winter in ice‐covered continental shelf regions of the Bering Sea, where pot fisheries for crabs (Paralithodes and Chionoecetes spp.) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) pose a risk of entanglement. In the winter of 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 the spatial distribution of 21 satellite tagged bowhead whales partially overlapped areas in which pot fisheries for cod and blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus) occurred. However, these fisheries ended before whales entered the fishing areas, thus avoiding temporal overlap. A fishery for snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) typically runs from January to May and provides the greatest potential for bowhead whales to encounter active pot gear. Tagged whales did not enter the area of the snow crab fishery during this study and generally remained in areas with >90% sea ice concentration, which is too concentrated for crab boats to penetrate. Pack ice sometimes overruns active fishing areas, resulting in lost gear, which is the most likely source of entanglement. The western Arctic stock of bowhead whales was increasing as of 2004; as such, incidental mortality from commercial pot fisheries is probably negligible at this time. Regardless, entanglement may increase over time and should be monitored.     

Screening of commercial cyclic peptide as inhibitor NS5 methyltransferase of Dengue virus through Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Dengue has become a major global health threat, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The development of antiviral agent targeting viral replication is really needed at this time. NS5 methyltransferase presents as a novel antiviral target. This enzyme plays an important role in the methylation of 5''-cap mRNA. Inhibition of the NS5 methyltransferase could inhibit dengue virus replication. In this research, two sites of NS5 methyltransferase (S-Adenosyl methionine/SAM binding site and RNA-cap site) were used as targets for inhibition. As much as 300 commercial cyclic peptides were screened to these target sites by means of molecular docking. Analysis of ligand-enzyme binding free energy and pharmacological prediction revealed two best ligands, namely [Tyr123] Prepro Endothelin (110-130), amide, human and Urotensin II, human. According to molecular dynamic simulation, both ligands maintain a stable complex conformation between enzyme and ligand at temperature 310 K and 312 K. Hence, Urotensin II, human is more reactive at 312 K than at 310 K. However, both ligands can be used as potential inhibitor candidates against NS5 methyltransferase of dengue virus with Urotensin II, human exposes more promising activity at 312 K.     

中国鸭茅主栽品种DNA指纹图谱构建

利用SSR标记和SCoT标记构建了我国主栽的21个鸭茅品种的DNA指纹图谱。从180对SSR引物和80个SCoT引物中,筛选出多态性高、谱带清晰的SSR引物和SCoT引物各24个。24对SSR引物在供试材料中共检测到186个条带,其中多态性条带为175个,品种特异条带6个,平均多态性比率94.03%,多态性信息量均值0.845,Shannon指数变幅0.4479~0.6549,基因多样性指数变幅0.2946~0.4633,可鉴别的品种数2~21个;利用24个SCoT引物在供试材料中共检测到321个条带,其中多态性条带为249个,品种特异条带6个,平均多态性比率76.33%,多态性信息量均值0.907,Shannon指数变幅0.2588~0.6329,基因多样性指数变幅0.1695~0.4451,可鉴别的品种数1~21个;5对SSR引物和5个SCoT引物在10个品种上具有唯一特征谱带,最终综合各项指标筛选出5个引物(A01E14、A01K14、B03E14、D02K13和SCoT23)上的37个条带用于鸭茅品种DNA指纹图谱构建,数据库中每个品种均具有唯一DNA指纹编码,构建的DNA指纹数据可用于鸭茅品种真伪鉴定,为品种权保护提供了科学依据。     

基于表型性状和SSR分子标记的云南省水稻主要育成品种（系）的遗传相似性分析

为了揭示云南省水稻主要育成品种（系）的遗传相似性。本文利用株高等17个表型性状和48个微卫星（SSR）分子标记,对云南省18个育种部门（或课题组）60年代以来选育的40个品种（系）进行遗传相似性评价。结果显示表型遗传相似性低于DNA水平。40个品种（系）基于17个表型性状的平均遗传相似系数为0.244,籼型为0.289,粳型为0.309,籼粳亚种间为0.162;基于48个SSR分子标记的平均遗传相似系数为0.383,籼型为0.318,粳型为0.478,籼粳亚种间为0.267。48个SSR分子标记共检测到等位基因214个,每个标记2～8,平均4.458个;平均有效等位基因数为2.8336,变幅为1.1515～5.2981;多态性信息含量（PIC）平均值为0.6058,变幅为0.2118～0.8816;基因型多样性指数（H′）平均值为1.1328,变幅为0.3768～1.8087。RM84、RM249、RM152、RM222和RM528是评价云南省水稻选育品种（系）遗传相似性比较理想的SSR分子标记。聚类分析显示,云南省水稻主要选育品种（系）表现为亚种间遗传差异明显,亚种内遗传差异较小,粳型遗传相似性高于籼型。表明云南省选育的粳型品种（系）遗传多样性低,且同一育种部门（或育种人）选育的品种遗传相似度高。     

不同菜豆品种(系)对美洲斑潜蝇种群参数的影响

在温度 (2 7± 1 )℃、湿度为 70 %± 5 %的实验室条件下 ,测定了菜豆属矮生菜豆 (无架 )、西宁豆、83 -B架豆、白花架豆、新春架豆等 5个菜豆品种 (系 )对美洲斑潜蝇种群参数的影响。结果表明 ,美洲斑潜蝇的各虫态发育历期 ,成虫寿命 ,卵、幼虫和蛹的存活率 ,蛹重 ,成虫产卵量和持续产卵期在 5个品种 (系 )间均存在显著性差异 (α=0 .0 5 )。其中美洲斑潜蝇在选择性弱的品种 83 -B架豆上表现为幼虫、蛹的历期最长 ,蛹的存活率最低 ;在选择性强的白花架豆上则表现为卵 -蛹的历期最短 ,幼虫存活率最高 ,蛹重最重     

Variation of DNA fingerprints among accessions within maize inbred lines and implications for identification of essentially derived varieties.

Genetic distances (GDs) based on molecular markers are important parameters for identifying essentially derived varieties (EDVs). In this context information about the variability of molecular markers within maize inbred lines is essential. Our objectives were to (1) determine the variation in the size of simple sequence repeat (SSR) fragments among different accessions of maize inbreds and doubled haploid (DH) lines, (2) attribute the observed variation to genetic and marker system-specific sources, and (3) investigate the effect of SSR fragment size differences within maize lines on the GD between maize lines and their consequences for the identification of essentially derived varieties. Two to five accessions from nine inbred lines and five DH lines were taken from different sources or drawn as independent samples from the same seed lot. Each accession was genotyped with 100 SSR markers that evenly covered the whole maize genome. In total, 437 SSR fragments were identified, with a mean of 4.4 alleles per locus. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.58. GD estimates between two accessions of the same genotype ranged from 0.00 to 0.12 with an average of 0.029 for inbred lines and 0.001 for DH lines. An average of 11.1 SSRs was polymorphic between accessions of the same inbred line due to non-amplification (8.1 SSRs), heterogeneity (4.0 SSRs) or unknown alleles (2.6 SSRs). In contrast to lab errors, heterogeneity contributed considerably to the observed variation for GD. In order to decrease the probability to be suited for infringing an EDV threshold by chance, we recommend to increase the level of homogeneity of inbred lines before applying for plant variety protection.