Antiproliferative metabolites from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. FJ-1 isolated from a mangrove Avicennia marina

Two new compounds, named as 4-(2′,3′-dihydroxy-3′-methyl-butanoxy)-phenethanol (1), and 15-hydroxy-6α,12-epoxy-7β,10αH,11βH-spiroax-4-ene-12-one (2), were isolated from the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp.FJ-1 of Avicennia marina. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Additionally, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antiproliferative activities, and compound 2 significantly inhibited the tumor growth of human xenograft osteosarcoma in nude mice.     

Variation in harbour porpoise activity in response to seismic survey noise

Animals exposed to anthropogenic disturbance make trade-offs between perceived risk and the cost of leaving disturbed areas. Impact assessments tend to focus on overt behavioural responses leading to displacement, but trade-offs may also impact individual energy budgets through reduced foraging performance. Previous studies found no evidence for broad-scale displacement of harbour porpoises exposed to impulse noise from a 10 day two-dimensional seismic survey. Here, we used an array of passive acoustic loggers coupled with calibrated noise measurements to test whether the seismic survey influenced the activity patterns of porpoises remaining in the area. We showed that the probability of recording a buzz declined by 15% in the ensonified area and was positively related to distance from the source vessel. We also estimated received levels at the hydrophones and characterized the noise response curve. Our results demonstrate how environmental impact assessments can be developed to assess more subtle effects of noise disturbance on activity patterns and foraging efficiency.     

Rewriting the history of an extinction—was a population of Steller's sea cows (Hydrodamalis gigas) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?

The Kommandorskiye Islands population of Steller''s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was extirpated ca 1768 CE. Until now, Steller''s sea cow was thought to be restricted in historic times to Bering and Copper Islands, Russia, with other records in the last millennium from the western Aleutian Islands. However, Steller''s sea cow bone has been obtained by the authors from St Lawrence Island, Alaska, which is significantly further north. Bone identity was verified using analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The nitrogen-15 (δ¹⁵N)/carbon-13 (δ¹³C) values for bone samples from St Lawrence Island were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from Bering Island samples, indicating a second population. Bone samples were dated to between 1030 and 1150 BP (approx. 800–920 CE). The samples date from close to the beginning of the mediaeval warm period, which could indicate that the population at St Lawrence Island was driven to extinction by climate change. A warming of the climate in the area may have changed the availability of kelp; alternatively or in addition, the animals may have been driven to extinction by the expansion of the Inuit from the Bering Strait region, possibly due to opening waterways, maybe following bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), or searching for iron and copper. This study provides evidence for a previously unknown population of sea cows in the North Pacific within the past 1000 years and a second Steller''s sea cow extirpation event in recent history.     

剑叶龙血树内生真菌的分离及体外抑菌活性筛选

为研究剑叶龙血树内生真菌资源多样性,初步探讨和筛选具有抑菌活性的特异性菌株以及进一步开发剑叶龙血树内生真菌的抗菌活性化合物。该文采用植物组织分离法从剑叶龙血树茎和叶中分离内生真菌,对内生真菌进行液体发酵7 d,经乙酸乙酯萃取后制得粗提物,并采用牛津杯扩散法,以10种常见病原菌和5种临床耐药菌为靶标检测其发酵粗提物的抑菌活性,对有较好抑菌活性的内生真菌进行分子鉴定。结果表明:(1)从剑叶龙血树茎、叶中共分离得到345株内生真菌,294株对一种以上指示菌有抑制活性;(2)其中84株内生真菌对5株临床耐药菌均有不同程度的抑制活性,占所分离菌株总数的24.35%,75%的内生真菌对金黄色葡萄球菌有抑制活性。这说明剑叶龙血树中存在多种有抑菌活性的内生真菌,为剑叶龙血树内生菌抗菌活性成分挖掘及新型抗菌药物筛选奠定了基础。     

钼营养对甘草生理和生长特性的影响

目的：探讨不同浓度的钼营养水平对甘草生长和生理特性的影响。方法：以一年生的甘草移栽苗为试验材料,采用盆栽蛭石的试验方法,共设置4个钼浓度水平,分别为0mg·L-1,0.52mg·L-1,5.2mg·L-1和10.4mg·L-1,其中0.52mg·L-1即正常Hoagland营养液中钼的浓度。每周向盆内浇灌营养液,以达到处理的目的。采用LI-6400光合仪测定其光合生理指标以及植物生理学常规方法进行甘草叶片色素和抗氧化酶活性的测定。采用电子天平分别测定不同处理下的甘草地上、根的鲜重和干重等。结果：结果表明,甘草的各项生理和生长指标随着钼处理浓度的增加而增加,显著增加了甘草植株的叶绿素a,总叶绿素,类胡萝卜素和净光合速率（Pn）、胞间CO2浓度（Ci）等光合指标以及显著提高超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,统计分析结果表明,各处理间差异显著（P〈0.05）。同样,钼营养显著增加了甘草株高、芦头直径、生物量等生长指标。其中,10.4mg·L-1钼处理时的甘草根鲜重和干重最大,与0 mg·L-1处理相比,分别显著增加了55.35%和38.08%。结论：钼不足会抑制甘草的各项生理功能,进而影响甘草的生长,而5.2mg·L-1和10.4mg·L-1的钼营养浓度可以促进一年生甘草各项生理和生长指标的增加,进而促进甘草干物质的积累,提高甘草药材的产量。     

不同炮制方法对玉竹提取物得率及体外抗氧化作用的影响

以多糖、总黄酮、醇溶物和水溶物的得率及体外抗氧化活性为考察指标,研究了酒蒸和蜜蒸两种炮制方法对玉竹品质的影响。结果表明：酒蒸炮制玉竹的多糖、醇溶物得率最高,蜜蒸炮制玉竹总黄酮、水溶物的得率最高,比未炮制的玉竹（生品玉竹）中相应成分的得率分别提高了43.86%、29.53%、49.46%和34.66%。将多糖、水溶性浸出物、醇溶性浸出物及总黄酮四者得率相加的和进行比较,蜜蒸最好,蜜蒸为111.069%,酒蒸为107.309%,生品玉竹为80.926%。酒蒸炮制玉竹的多糖、水溶物对DPPH自由基的清除率均高于蜜蒸玉竹和生品玉竹,其DPPH_IC50分别为0.345±0.019和0.441±0.022 mg·mL^-1;蜜蒸炮制玉竹的总黄酮、醇溶物对DPPH自由基的清除率均高于酒蒸玉竹和生品玉竹,其DPPH_IC50分别为0.047±0.011和0.199±0.036 mg·mL^-1;在浓度为1 mg·mL^-1时,蜜蒸玉竹总黄酮对DPPH自由基的清除率最大,为90.29%,超过了浓度为0.05 mg·mL^-1的芦丁和槲皮素标品对DPPH自由基的清除率。两种炮制方法均提高了多糖、水溶物、总黄酮3种提取物的还原能力,但是降低了醇溶物的还原能力。     

Mitochondrial respiratory and antioxidative enzyme activities in turkey meat

Meat quality and (anti)oxidative metabolism of m. pectoralis superficialis (MPS), m. gastrocnemius (MG) and m. iliotibilialis lateralis (MIL) from turkey toms were analysed. After slaughter, pH of MPS and MG decreased and electrical conductivity of the MPS increased. The MG had generally higher pH values. The meat lightness (L) and redness (a) increased in MG and MPS after slaughter. The MPS always had higher L and lower a values. Mitochondrial respiratory activities (MRA) were higher in the MIL than the MPS. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase, analysed in the MPS, increased and the glutathione reductase activity decreased after slaughter. Meat samples with lower pH24 h p.m. had higher drip loss and L values. The MRA were tendentially lower and the SOD activities higher in these samples. These results indicate a relation between the meat quality, the antioxidative metabolism and mitochondrial respiration.     

北京市妫水河流域人类活动的水文响应

选取1986-1987年、2005-2006年为两个研究时段,解译1987年和2005年两幅土地利用图,分析土地利用和气候变化情况.利用土壤水评价模型(Soil Water Assessment Tool,SWAT)量化近20年来人类活动对妫水河流域产生的直接与间接影响.结果显示:人类活动的间接影响使径流量增加,汛期(6-8月)增加显著,增幅达34.67％.另外,涨水与退水过程明显加快,径流分配趋于不均匀.人类活动的直接影响使径流量大幅度降低,平均径流系数下降了87％以上.涨水和退水过程基本消失,径流量分配趋于均匀.因此,在妫水河流域,人类活动的间接影响使流域涵养水源能力下降,易发生洪涝和干旱.人类活动的直接影响增加了降水的利用率,减少了洪涝和干旱.     

Seasonal changes in the local distribution of Yangtze finless porpoises related to fish presence

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is an endangered freshwater porpoise subspecies unique to the Yangtze River basin. Seasonal variations in local distribution of the animal, as well as fish presence, sand dredging, ship navigation, and bridges were examined as potential factors affecting the occurrence of the animals. Passive acoustic surveys were performed regularly from May 2007 to August 2010, near the conjunction of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake. The distribution of the porpoises was seasonally site‐specific. In May and August, the animals were detected more often at river junctions than in the lake, but vice versa from November to February. The rate of the porpoise detection was significantly higher in areas of fish presence than in areas of absence. The number of porpoises detected did not differ significantly between the sand dredging operation and the prohibition period (in 2008), although the number of vessels obviously declined in 2008. Ship traffic and bridges also did not appear to affect the presence of porpoises. These results showed the relative importance of the various environmental factors, which is important for conservation of not only Yangtze finless porpoise but also endangered isolated cetaceans.