Contrasting patterns in elevational diversity between microorganisms and macroorganisms

Aim Data and analyses of elevational gradients in diversity have been central to the development and evaluation of a range of general theories of biodiversity. Elevational diversity patterns have, however, been severely understudied for microbes, which often represent decomposer subsystems. Consequently, generalities in the patterns of elevational diversity across different trophic levels remain poorly understood. Our aim was to examine elevational gradients in the diversity of macroinvertebrates, diatoms and bacteria along a stony stream that covered a large elevational gradient. Location Laojun Mountain, Yunnan province, China. Methods The sampling scheme included 26 sites spaced at elevational intervals of 89 m from 1820 to 4050 m elevation along a stony stream. Macroinvertebrate and diatom richness were determined based on the morphology of the specimens. Taxonomic richness for bacteria was quantified using a molecular fingerprinting method. Over 50 environmental variables were measured at each site to quantify environmental variables that could correlate with the patterns of diversity. We used eigenvector‐based spatial filters with multiple regressions to account for spatial autocorrelation. Results The bacterial richness followed an unexpected monotonic increase with elevation. Diatoms decreased monotonically, and macroinvertebrate richness showed a clear unimodal pattern with elevation. The unimodal richness pattern for macroinvertebrates was best explained by the mid‐domain effect (r² = 0.72). The diatom richness was best explained by the variation in nutrient supply, and the increase in bacterial richness with elevation may be related to an increased carbon supply. Main conclusions We found contrasting patterns in elevational diversity among the three studied multi‐trophic groups comprising unicellular and multicellular aquatic taxa. We also found that there may be fundamental differences in the mechanisms underlying these species diversity patterns.     

中国小竹鼠生态的初步研究

小竹鼠在我国仅分布于云南西部热带亚热带地区。主要生活于山坡稀树灌丛、阔叶林、橡胶园及居民点附近。在盈江县分布于海拔300-950米地带。取食、休息、繁殖主要在洞道内。洞系由洞口、取食道、趋避道、窝及“厕所”组成。食物主要有棕叶芦、芦竹及三叶橡胶等18种,尤喜食橡胶树主根,因而对橡胶树危害很大。13号标本中雌7雄6。在盈江每胎2-3只,以2只为多。成年小竹鼠过独居生活,雌雄各有自己的洞系。     

In vitro anticryptosporidial activity of dinitroaniline herbicides

Abstract Despite the evaluation of over 100 antimicrobial drugs, the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis has remained refractory to treatment. We report the evaluation of five dinitroaniline herbicides including trifluralin, profluralin, nitralin, pendimethalin, and fluchloralin for anticryptosporidial activity in an in vitro cultivation model of Cryptosporidium parvum . All five compounds exhibited significant anticryptosporidial activities with no corresponding evidence of toxicity. The most active compound was pendimethalin with an IC₅₀ of 0.19 μM while nitralin was the least active with an IC₅₀ of 4.5 μM. These compounds should be evaluated further in an animal model of cryptosporidiosis.     

多胚水稻品系APⅣ的多卵遗传行为分析

通过多胚水稻品系APⅣ与单胚水稻品种IR36、明恢77和龙特浦B正反杂交, 研究APⅣ的多卵遗传行为,表明APⅣ的多卵性状可能不是由孢子体基因型决定的,而是由雄配子体基因型决定,属配子体遗传的范畴。 Abstract:The inheritance of poly-eggs was investigated by crossing and reciprocally crossing APIV with monoembryonic rice variety IR36,Minghui No.77 and Longtepu B,respectively.It was suggested that the production of poly-eggs is probably controlled by gametophytic genotypes,rather than sporophytic ones.     

卡拉胶固定粘质赛氏菌产碱性蛋白酶的研究

将粘质赛氏菌(Seratia marcescens)包埋于卡拉胶中,发现2．5％的卡拉胶适于固定该菌产碱性蛋白酶。固定化细胞在其较适宜产酶培养基中发酵,酶活力一般可达400u/ml,在卡拉胶中添加3％玉米粉和1%豆饼粉或2％砂子制备固定化细胞,其产酶能力分别提高了25%和23．9％;固定化细胞颗粒越小,其产酶能力越高。采用摇瓶半连续发酵。其产酶半衰期为14次(24小时为一个周期);而用环流器进行半连续发酵,其产酶半衰期为52次(12小时为一个周期),产酶效率分别比游离细胞摇瓶发酵的产酶效率高11．8％和45．07％,而环流器半连续发酵的产酶效率比摇瓶半连续发酵高29．7％。     

一类Holling功能性反应模型极限环的唯一性

考虑功能性反应的捕食-食饵模型这里y表示捕食者种群的密度,当a-（22）≠0时它具有线性密度制约,x表示食饵种群密度,当φ（x）≡ax/（1＋ωx）时称（1）为第二类功能性反应模型．文〔1〕研究了捕食者没有密度制约（对应于a_（22）=0）、食饵具有线性密度制约(对应于g（x）=b_1-a_(11)x）的Ⅱ类功能性反应模型（1）,得到了极限环存在性及唯一性的完整结论．最近文〔2〕在a_(22)≠O的条件下讨论了系统(1),得到了极限环的存在性与不存在性等福建省自然科学基金和国家自然科学基金资助项目（19371069号）．本文第一作者现为浙江大学访问学…     

Double-gating mechanism and diversity of an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K~ channel in neurons acutely dissociated from rat neocortex

Classically, ion channels are classified into 2 groups: chemical-sensitive (ligand-gated) and voltage-sensitive channels. Single ATP-sensitive K (K-ATP) channel currents were recorded in acutely dissociated rat neo-cortical neurons using patch clamp technique. A type of K-ATP channel has been found to be gated not only by intra-cellular ATP, but also by membrane potential ( Vm) , and proved to be a novel mechanism underlying the gating of ion channels, namely bi-gating mechanism. The results also show that the K-ATP channels possess heterogeneity and di-versity. These types of K-ATP channels have been identified in 40.12% of all patches, which are different in activa-tion-threshold and voltage-sensitivity. The present experiment studied the type-3 K-ATP channel with a unitary con-ductance of about 80 pS in detail ( n = 15). Taking account of all the available data, a variety of K-ATP channels are suggested to exist in body, and one type of them is bi-gated by both chemical substances and membrane poten     

Comparative Genome Analysis of Scutellaria baicalensis and Scutellaria barbata Reveals the Evolution of Active Flavonoid Biosynthesis

Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) and Scutellaria barbata (S. barbata) are common medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. Both produce specific flavonoid compounds, including baicalein, scutellarein, norwogonin, and wogonin, as well as their glycosides, which exhibit antioxidant and antitumor activities. Here, we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of S. baicalensis and S. barbata with quantitative chromosomal variation (2n = 18 and 2n = 26, respectively). The divergence of S. baicalensis and S. barbata occurred far earlier than previously reported, and a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was identified. The insertion of long terminal repeat elements after speciation might be responsible for the observed chromosomal expansion and rearrangement. Comparative genome analysis of the congeneric species revealed the species-specific evolution of chrysin and apigenin biosynthetic genes, such as the S. baicalensis-specific tandem duplication of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase and chalcone synthase, and the S. barbata-specific duplication of genes encoding 4-CoA ligase. In addition, the paralogous duplication, colinearity, and expression diversity of CYP82D subfamily members revealed the functional divergence of genes encoding flavone hydroxylase between S. baicalensis and S. barbata. Analyzing these Scutellaria genomes reveals the common and species-specific evolution of flavone biosynthetic genes. Thus, these findings would facilitate the development of molecular breeding and studies of biosynthesis and regulation of bioactive compounds.     

Activity Characteristics and Tyrosinase Inhibition Mechanism of a Silk Fibroin Oligopeptide and Cordyceps Polysaccharide Composite

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Silk fibroin is an excellent raw material for medical products as it shows remarkable biocompatibility, water-based processing, and...