The domestication process of the Modern Rose: genetic structure and allelic composition of the rose complex

Genetic variability among 100 old cultivated rose varieties from 13 horticultural groups was estimated by arbitrary primed (AP) PCR. Using five long (20-mer) PCR primers, 58 polymorphic DNA fragments were produced, of which 55 were highly discriminant, allowing differentiation of the quasi-totality of the 100 cultivars. A dendrogram was constructed displaying the relative genetic similarities between cultivars estimated from the presence/absence of PCR fragments. It shows the relationships between the Chinese and European founder roses, hybrid groups of the first (Bourbons, Noisettes, Portlands) and second (Hybrid Perpetuals and Teas) generations, and the most modern Hybrid Teas, produced during the history of domestication. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the same data demonstrates the occurrence of a continuous gradient of the European/Chinese allele ratio, and a considerable reduction of genetic variability superimposed with the progress of domestication. The two complementary analyses are in good agreement with the horticultural literature. They also give access to DNA fragments potentially linked to genes involved in the control of the main morphogenetic characters of various groups. Received: 10 January 2000 / Accepted: 30 April 2000     

Investigations of line scanning proton therapy with dynamic multi-leaf collimator

PurposeScanning proton therapy has dosimetric advantage over passive treatment, but has a large penumbra in low-energy region. This study investigates the penumbra reduction when multi-leaf collimators (MLCs) are used for line scanning proton beams and secondary neutron production from MLCs.MethodsScanning beam plans with and without MLC shaping were devised. Line scanning proton plan of 36 energy layers between 71.2 and 155.2 MeV was generated. The MLCs were shaped according to the cross-sectional target shape for each energy layer. The two-dimensional doses were measured through an ion-chamber array, depending on the presence of MLC field, and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed. The plan, measurement, and MC data, with and without MLC, were compared at each depth. The secondary neutron dose was simulated with MC. Ambient neutron dose equivalents were computed for the line scanning with 10 × 10 × 5 cm³ volume and maximum proton energy of 150 MeV, with and without MLCs, at lateral distances of 25–200 cm from the isocenter. The neutron dose for a wobbling plan with 10 × 10 × 5 cm³ volume was also evaluated.ResultsThe lateral penumbra width using MLC was reduced by 23.2% on average, up to a maximum of 32.2%, over the four depths evaluated. The ambient neutron dose equivalent was 18.52% of that of the wobbling beam but was 353.1% larger than the scanning open field.ConclusionsMLC field shaping with line scanning reduced the lateral penumbra and should be effective in sparing normal tissue. However, it is important to investigate the increase in neutron dose.     

Taking another look with fluorescence microscopy: Image processing techniques in Langmuir monolayers for the twenty-first century

Fluorescence microscopy has become a powerful and standard complementary technique in the study of amphiphilic films at the air-water interface. For nearly three decades the coupling of traditional thermodynamic measurements with direct visualization has provided a better understanding of self-assembled Langmuir monolayers and their application in the study of the physical properties of membranes and interfaces. As an introduction we provide a brief overview of this established technique and demonstrate its continued utility in the recent observation of novel phase behavior in monolayers of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC). We then focus our review on new analysis techniques which take advantage of the ability to store, process, and analyze large sets of images. We pay particular attention to efforts measuring the line tension between coexisting two dimensional fluid phases in the Langmuir monolayer. Using non-perturbative methods, we can measure fundamental mechanical properties of these two dimensional systems. Finally, we highlight the use of Model Convolution Microscopy as a new tool to provide insight on the experimental limits in these studies.     

High apex predator biomass on remote Pacific islands

On coral reefs in Palmyra—a central Pacific atoll with limited fishing pressure—total fish biomass was 428 and 299% greater than on reefs in nearby Christmas and Fanning Islands. Large apex predators, groupers, sharks, snappers, and jacks larger than 50 cm in length, accounted for 56% of total fish biomass in Palmyra on average, but only 7 and 3% on Christmas and Fanning. These biomass proportions are remarkably similar to those previously reported for the remote and uninhabited Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and densely populated Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), although Palmyra’s reefs are dominated in biomass by sharks (44% of the total), whereas the NWHI by jacks (39%). Herbivorous fish biomass was also greater on Palmyra than on Christmas and Fanning (343 and 207%, respectively). These results and previous findings indicate that remote, uninhabited islands support high levels of consumers, and highlight the importance of healthy coral reef ecosystems as reference points for assessment of human impacts and establishment of restoration goals.     

油酸体外诱导细胞脂肪变性对脂质代谢及炎症的影响

目的:利用不同浓度油酸处理人肝肿瘤细胞株HepG2,选取最佳浓度油酸后,观察最佳浓度的油酸对细胞脂质合成及代谢、肝细胞功能相关基因表达的影响及NF-κB、IL-6通路的变化,建立稳定高效的肝细胞脂肪变性体外研究模型。方法:将HepG2细胞用不同浓度油酸(0、0.5、0.75、1.25、1.5 m M)处理,油红O染色选取最佳浓度后,利用Realtime RT-PCR检测细胞内脂质合成、代谢及肝细胞功能相关基因表达情况,Western blot检测细胞内TLR4-TNFα-NF-κB及IL-6通路活性。结果:利用0.5 m M浓度油酸处理HepG2后,细胞未见明显死亡现象,细胞内脂质合成指标表达增多、代谢指标表达也明显增加,肝细胞功能相关基因表达下调,TLR4-TNFα-NF-κB、IL-6通路激活。结论:0.5 m M浓度油酸处理细胞可诱导HepG2脂肪变性,利用最佳浓度油酸处理细胞可作为NAFLD体外研究的细胞模型。     

西藏羌塘自然保护区与人类活动有关的藏羚、藏野驴和藏原羚密度

1999年,2000年和2002年,在西藏西北部的西藏羌塘自然保护区分别沿三条横跨该自然保护区的长度为750-860km的东西向样线估计了藏羚(Pantholopshodgsoni)、藏野驴(Equuskiang)和藏原羚(Procaprapicticaudata)密度(每平方公里个体数)和遇见率(每平方公里遇见个体数)。在低海拔(4500-4700m)地区,藏羚、藏野驴和藏原羚数量很少,在那些人类活动强度高或中等的地区,藏羚、藏野驴和藏原羚的数量也极少,以致无法估计密度或遇见率。在高海拔(4700-5200m)地区,藏羚和藏野驴数量在那些人类和家畜活动强度低的地区,数量总比那些中等人类活动强度的地区高,尽管藏羚的数量差别比藏野驴小。藏原羚的情形不一样,在人类活动强度低或中等的地区的遇见率相仿。在某种程度上,这种差别可能与这些动物的生境偏好有关。看起来,藏原羚、其次是藏野驴比藏羚更能耐受人类和家畜的活动。注意到这三种动物在人类和家畜活动低的地区的结果方差都大,表明三种动物在有人类和家畜活动低的地区与在那些中等人类和家畜活动地区的分布相反的成群分布。三年中有蹄类动物遇见率的模式都相似,在调查期间有蹄类动物种群没有波动的趋势     

新疆哈密山区天山马鹿种群数量和冬季生境选择

2010年12月至2011年2月,在新疆哈密山区,采用截线抽样法和遥感技术,对野生天山马鹿（Cervus elaphus songaricus）种群现状和冬季生境选择进行了研究。在不同区域和不同类型栖息地共布设了28条样线,样线总长度达60.1 km。其中,16条样线上发现马鹿共233头,调查区域平均种群密度（2.83±1.01）头/km²,种群数量（1 684.56±379.71）头,与1993年的调查结果相比有所上升。雌雄性比为2.24：1,幼体和亚成体总数多于成体和老体总数,种群数量呈增长趋势。根据野外考察GPS数据并解译天山马鹿分布生境2006秋季的LANDSAT TM/ETM+遥感影像,将生境要素分为山地针叶林、草甸、灌木丛、农田和戈壁5种类型,其中,草甸与山地针叶林为天山马鹿冬季适宜生境。     

Molecular analysis of introgressive breeding in coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Nineteen arabica coffee introgression lines (BC₁F₄) and two accessions derived from a spontaneous interspecific cross (i.e. Timor Hybrid) between Coffea arabica (2n=4x=44) and C. canephora (2n=2x=22) were analysed for the introgression of C. canephora genetic material. The Timor Hybrid-derived genotypes were evaluated by AFLP, using 42 different primer combinations, and compared to 23 accessions of C. arabica and 8 accessions of C. canephora. A total of 1062 polymorphic fragments were scored among the 52 accessions analysed. One hundred and seventy-eight markers consisting of 109 additional bands (i.e. introgressed markers) and 69 missing bands distinguished the group composed of the Timor Hybrid-derived genotypes from the accessions of C. arabica. AFLP therefore seemed to be an extremely efficient technique for DNA marker generation in coffee as well as for the detection of introgression in C. arabica. The genetic diversity observed in the Timor Hybrid-derived genotypes appeared to be approximately double that in C. arabica. Although representing only a small proportion of the genetic diversity available in C. canephora, the Timor Hybrid obviously constitutes a considerable source of genetic diversity for arabica breeding. Analysis of genetic relationships among the Timor Hybrid-derived genotypes suggested that introgression was not restricted to chromosome substitution but also involved chromosome recombinations. Furthermore, the Timor Hybrid-derived genotypes varied considerably in the number of AFLP markers attributable to introgression. In this way, the introgressed markers identified in the analysed arabica coffee introgressed genotypes were estimated to represent from 9% to 29% of the C. canephora genome. Nevertheless, the amount of alien genetic material in the introgression arabica lines remains substantial and should justify the development of adapted breeding strategies. Received: 2 February 1999 / Accepted: 12 May 1999