最大似然法和贝叶斯推论与似然比检验探讨泽泻目系统发育关系

应用最大似然法(ML)、贝叶斯推论(BI)、邻接法(NJ)和似然比检验(hLRTs)进行泽泻目分子系统学研究。所用的rbcL基因序列代表了泽泻目14科46属以及作为外类群的6相关属。研究结果表明,*等级制似然比检验表明泽泻目rbcL序列最适合的DNA进化模型为GTR+I+G,最大似然法、贝叶斯法和邻接法构建的系统发育树拓扑结构相似,没有显著的差异,但贝叶斯树支持率较高;泽泻目为一单系类群,由两个主要谱系分支构成,深层分布格局由5个主要分支构成。基于分子系统发育树,文中对泽泻目科间、水鳖科+茨藻科、泽泻科+花蔺科+黄花蔺科、和"Cymodoeaceae complex"的系统发育关系进行了讨论。研究结果还表明,泽泻目系统发育关系可能还需要更多的证据进一步的澄清。     

不同立地条件罗汉果组培苗的光合特性

比较了三种不同立地条件罗汉果组培苗的光合光响应特性以及主要环境因子和光合生理参数的日变化,从光合作用的角度探讨影响罗汉果组培苗生长的关健生态因子。结果显示:罗汉果组培苗的光饱和点和补偿点均随海拔的增高而增大;丘陵的最大净光合速率最高,山地最低。丘陵和山地罗汉果组培苗的净光合速率(Pn)日变化曲线呈"双峰"型,在12:30～13:30时出现轻微的非气孔限制,平地受云层遮挡,无第二峰出现;9:00～15:30时之间的罗汉果组培苗Pn与气孔导度(Gs)正相关,而Pn和Gs均与光量子通量密度(PFD)、叶温(TL)和叶片内外水汽压差(VPD)负相关,并随TL和VPD的增大下降幅度更大。丘陵环境条件最适合罗汉果组培苗的生长,中午前后Pn的下降与此时的强光、高温和低湿度有关,是气孔限制和非气孔限制同时作用的结果。     

基质及水位对入侵种互花米草生长的影响

为了揭示基质和水位对互花米草种群扩张过程的影响,通过室内模拟试验分析了不同基质和地下水位对互花米草幼苗存活率、高生长和生物量及分配等表型参数的影响。结果表明:基质、水位及其交互作用对互花米草幼苗生长影响显著;基质类型和地下水位的交互作用显著影响幼苗的存活率;同种基质中地下水位的降低显著促进了幼苗根长的增加;由于不同基质持水力和营养的差异,沙中生长的幼苗随地下水位的降低地上部分表现出显著的生长抑制,而沙土和壤土中的幼苗在中等水位生长最好;沙中幼苗根状茎的长度显著低于沙土和壤土,而随水位的降低,沙土和壤土根茎长度显著下降。由此可以推论,互花米草种群扩张强度因生境而异,在沙土和壤土基质中互花米草可能表现出更强的入侵性和扩散能力。     

The influence of the bolus-surface distance on the dose distribution in the build-up region

Aim

The aim of the paper is to examine the relation between the increase of the photon dose in water in the region of electronic disequilibrium – so-called build-up region – and the distance of the bolus from the water surface for the applied parameters of X-ray beams.

Materials and methods

PDD measurements were carried out using the plane-parallel ionization chamber Markus in the automatic water phantom IBA BluePhantom with OmniPro-Accept V7 (IBA Dosimetry GmbH, Schwarzenbruck, Germany). All measurements were performed for different field sizes and for 6 MV and 15 MV X-ray beams, respectively. A water-equivalent RW3 slab (Goettingen White Water) produced by PTW was used as a bolus.

Results

Placing a bolus in an irradiated field changes the shape of the PDD curve in the build-up region in comparison with the one obtained for an open field. All results has been inserted in tables and figures.

Conclusion

The closer the bolus is to the water surface, the smaller the depth of the maximum dose in the phantom for all investigated fields and energies. The changes in the build-up region are important, even if the bolus does not touch the surface of the water phantom. The influence of the bolus can be ignored when the bolus-surface distance equals 25 cm for 6MV X-ray beams and 39 cm for 15 MV X-ray beams.     

Cooperation strategies, signals and symbiosis

The authors of models concerning cooperation found an interesting application point in mutualism and symbiosis. Phenomena which are to be found in symbiosis are integrated by the various models in relation to the 'Prisoner's Dilemma': 'cost-benefit' ratio components, signals, neighbourhood interaction or reciprocity. Reciprocal altruism is found in symbiosis, but others strategies seem more to reflect human societies, where choice is unrestricted. It is very difficult to give a value to cost and benefit equilibriums. The biological environment interferes and a model based on a dominant strategy is often limited or insufficient to report on the living system's evolution.     

Neurogenesis in the adult central nervous system

Contrary to the long-held dogma, neurogenesis occurs throughout adulthood, and neural stem cells reside in the adult central nervous system (CNS) in mammals. The developmental process of the brain may thus never end, and the brain may be amenable to repair. Neurogenesis is modulated in a wide variety of physiological and pathological conditions, and is involved in processes such as learning and memory and depression. However, the relative contribution of newly generated neuronal cells to these processes, as well as to CNS plasticity, remains to be determined. Thus, not only neurogenesis contributes to reshaping the adult brain, it will ultimately lead us to redefine our knowledge and understanding of the nervous system.     

ml‐relate: a computer program for maximum likelihood estimation of relatedness and relationship

Genetic data are useful for estimating the genealogical relationship or relatedness between individuals of unknown ancestry. We present a computer program, ml ‐relate that calculates maximum likelihood estimates of relatedness and relationship. ml ‐relate is designed for microsatellite data and can accommodate null alleles. It uses simulation to determine which relationships are consistent with genotype data and to compare putative relationships with alternatives. ml ‐relate runs on the Microsoft Windows operating system and is available from http://www.montana.edu/kalinowski .     

石蜡油对离子注入动物细胞真空环境的保护效应初探

利用石蜡油的高效护水功能进行动物细胞(HeLa细胞)的真空及注入保护,研究了不同的预处理时间对细胞活性的影响,并将石蜡油浸泡细胞2 m in~6 m in选为最佳保护时间。当细胞经过2 m in~6 m in的预处理后再进行真空、注入,结果显示成活率大幅度提高。     

Photochemical treatment with endosomally localized photosensitizers enhances the number of adenoviruses in the nucleus

BACKGROUND: In the present study the physical targeting technique photochemical internalization (PCI) has been used in combination with adenovirus. We have previously shown that PCI enhances transgene expression from AdhCMV-lacZ, and the aim of the present study was to further increase the understanding of photochemically mediated adenoviral transduction. METHODS: Two colorectal carcinoma cell lines, WiDr and HCT116, were pre-incubated with the photosensitizer TPPS(2a) or methylene blue derivates (MBD) followed by infection with adenovirus and light exposure. Transgene expression was measured by flow cytometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to quantify the level of viral DNA in the nuclei. Real-time PCR was also used to measure the level of beta-galactosidase mRNA in samples infected with AdhCMV-lacZ. RESULTS: Exposing TPPS(2a)-treated cells to light enhanced the quantity of viral DNA in the nucleus, the mRNA level of the transgene and the transgene expression compared to non-illuminated cells. The increased transgene expression was independent of the promoter used, but dependent on the time of light exposure and the cellular localization of the photosensitizer. CONCLUSIONS: The enhanced transgene expression observed after photochemical treatment is most likely not a result of one event, but more an interplay between various mechanisms. An increased level of adenoviral DNA in the nucleus and a dependency of endosomal localization of the photosensitizer to obtain enhanced transgene expression suggested that endosomal rupture facilitated the transport of adenoviruses to the nucleus.     

Spatial aspects of trait homogenization within the German flora

Aim Biotic homogenization, the replacement of local biota by non‐indigenous and locally expanding species, is among the major effects of species invasions. Almost all studies related to this topic are focused on the species level, on taxonomic homogenization. Homogenization effects on trait diversity (functional homogenization) may be very important for ecosystem functioning, but they are rarely analysed, especially not at different spatial scales within a single study. This paper aims to examine how the presence of alien species (species introduced since 1500 ad ) affects the distribution of ploidy levels in the German flora at different spatial scales. Location Germany. Methods We used a resampling method and the Morisita–Horn dissimilarity index to calculate dissimilarities of ploidy level within and between alien and indigenous plants at three different spatial scales in Germany: (1) the entire country as one location, (2) between grid cells, and (3) within grid cells of a lattice covering Germany. Results We found a significant differentiation effect within grid cells of c. 130 km², with alien plants increasing the variability of ploidy levels. The differentiation effect varies according to the scale used. At the coarsest scale (entire Germany), ploidy levels of alien plants tend to be more homogeneous in composition compared with those of native plants. At the intermediate scale (between grid cells), and even more pronounced at a small scale (within grid cells), ploidy levels are more heterogeneously distributed across Germany than those of native plant species. Main conclusions Homogenization of ploidy levels at a large scale (entire Germany) and differentiation at a small scale (within grid cells) is comparable with the patterns found in taxonomic homogenization analyses. This analysis is a first step towards understanding the impacts of plant invasions on a trait level. Differentiation and homogenization of ploidy levels might mirror the distribution of related ecological traits and therefore might have an impact on ecosystem functioning.