?2\sqrt 2 Rule for Controlling the Tree Pattern in Forest Cut

A forest’s productivity can be optimized by the application of rules derived from monopolized circles. A monopolized circle is defined as a circle whose center is a tree and whose radius is half of the distance between the tree itself and its nearest neighbor. Three characteristics of monopolized circle are proved. (1) Monopolized circles do not overlay each other, the nearest relationship being tangent. (2) “Full uniform pattern” means that the grid of trees (a×b=N) covers the whole plot, so that the distance between each tree in a row is the same as the row spacing. The total monopolized circle area with a full uniform pattern is independent on the number of trees and times the plot area. (3) If a tree is removed, the area of some trees’ monopolized circle will increase without decreasing the monopolized circles of the other trees. According to the above three characteristics, “uniform index” is defined as the total area of monopolized circles in a plot divided by the total area of the monopolized circles, arranged in a uniform pattern in the same shaped plot. According to the definition of monopolized circle, the distribution of uniform index for a random pattern and the variance of L is . It is evident that E(L) is independent on N and the plot area; hence, L is a relative index. L can be used to compare the uniformity among plots with different areas and the numbers of trees. In a random pattern, where L is equivalent to the tree density of the plot in which the number of trees is 1 and the area is π, the influence of tree number and plot area to L is eliminated. When n→∞, D(L)→0 and it indicates that the greater the number of tree is in the plots, the smaller the difference between the uniform indices will be. There are three types of patterns for describing tree distribution (aggregated, random, and uniform patterns). Since the distribution of L in the random pattern is accurately derived, L can be used to test the pattern types. The research on Moarshan showed that the whole plot has an aggregated pattern; the first, third, and sixth parts have an aggregated pattern; and the second, fourth, and fifth parts have a random pattern. None of the uniform indices is more than 0.318 (1/∏), which indicates that uniform patterns are rare in natural forests. The rules of uniform index can be applied to forest thinning. If you want to increase the value of uniform index, you must increase the total area of monopolized circles, which can be done by removing select trees. “Increasing area trees” are the removed trees and can increase the value of the uniform index. A tree is an increasing area tree if the distance between the tree and its second nearest neighbor is times longer than that between the tree itself and its first nearest neighbor, which is called the rule. It was very interesting to find that when six plots were randomly separated from the original plot, the proportion of increasing area trees in each plot was always about 0.5 without exception. In random pattern, the expected proportion of increasing area trees is about 0.35–0.44, which is different from the sampling value of 0.5. The reason is very difficult to explain, and further study is needed. Two criteria can be used to identify which trees should be removed to increase the uniform index during forest thinning. Those trees should be (1) trees whose monopolized circle areas are on the small side and (2) increasing area trees, which are found via the rule. Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(1) (in Chinese)     

人体肠道菌群对二甲基亚砜的体外降解作用——

通过二甲基亚砜（DMSO）与肠道菌群相互作用机制的研究,为DMSO的降解及其在药物研究中的应用提供肠道菌群方面的理论依据。

采用分批发酵、气相色谱、气质联用和高通量测序技术研究DMSO的降解量与肠道菌群结构间的关系。

发酵液中主要检测到甲硫醚、二甲基砜、二甲基二硫醚及甲基硫代磺酸甲酯等DMSO相关代谢产物;与其他他汀相比,生理浓度氟伐他汀组菌群的DMSO降解效果最佳,可能与Proteobacteria及Solobacterium和Escherichia-Shigella等菌群的相对丰度增加有关。不同肠道菌群产二甲基硫醚（DMS）水平差异明显,DMS分解可能与硫代谢途径相关,涉及的微生物主要是Desulfovibrio。

人体肠道菌群可降解DMSO,其降解效率可能与Escherichia-Shigella的相对丰度有关,降解产物对人体肠道菌群结构无影响。

     

Nucleophilic displacement reactions in carbohydrates : Part XX. Displacements on alkyl α-l-talopyranoside 4-sulphonate derivatives

The azide displacement reaction on methyl 6-deoxy-4-O-methanesulphonyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-l-talopyranoside (6) in N,N-dimethylformamide yielded methyl 4,6-dideoxy-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-l-threo-hex-3-enopyranoside (7, ca. 50%), methyl 4,6-dideoxy-2,3-di-O-methyl-β-d-erythro-hex-4-enopyranoside (8, ca. 10%), and methyl 4-azido-4,6-dideoxy-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-l-mannopyranoside (9, ca. 40%). The corresponding azide 14 (20%) and the unsaturated sugars 12 (68%) and 13 (12%) were obtained from a comparable reaction on benzyl 6-deoxy-4-O-methanesulphonyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-l-talopyranoside (11).     

基于VOSviewer的肝硬化肠道微生态研究的可视化分析——

分析肝硬化肠道微生态的研究现状、热点及前沿趋势。

检索Web of Science（WOS）核心数据库建库至2020年12月31日的肝硬化肠道微生态研究的英文文章。通过文献计量分析软件VOSviewer分析发文国家、机构、作者和本研究领域的热点和前沿方向。

共检索到848篇文章。美国的Virginia Commonwealth University是肝硬化肠道微生态相关文章发表最多的机构。国外学者Bajaj JS在该领域发文量最高。肝硬化肠道微生态相关研究在《Hepatology》上的发表数量最多,为48篇。研究热点可概括为肝性脑病、代谢性肝病、菌群失衡与炎症感染等。

通过对肝硬化肠道微生态研究热点和新兴趋势进行可视化分析,为肝硬化肠道微生态的研究人员及研究单位提供了研究方向及潜在合作可能。

     

Use of overall dynamic body acceleration for estimating energy expenditure in cormorants: Does locomotion in different media affect relationships?

The way in which animals use and acquire energy is fundamental to their fitness. Overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) has recently been suggested as a new method for the determination of energy expenditure in wild animals. Although the relationship between ODBA and energy expenditure has been calibrated using gas-respirometry, it has only been validated for animals moving in a single medium. In this work we examined whether the relationship between ODBA and energy expenditure varies between activity types and in particular, how locomotion in different media affects the regressions using the Imperial Cormorant Phalacrocorax atriceps as a model species. Regressing mean ODBA values for resting, diving and walking periods on a single graph against mean power values, the mass-specific power (W kg⁻¹) was related to ODBA via; Power = 12.09 + 41.31 ODBA (r² = 0.93). Although values for resting, walking and swimming all fell close to a single linear fit, values for flight deviated substantially from this. The different relationships found between locomotory types are discussed in terms of the muscle groups involved in each kind of behavior.     

芹菜素改善酒精性骨质疏松症大鼠肠道菌群、调节骨钙代谢——

探究芹菜素改善酒精性骨质疏松症大鼠肠道菌群、调节骨钙代谢的作用。

60只SD健康大鼠采用随机数字表法分为模型组、正常组、常规治疗组以及芹菜素低、中、高剂量组,每组10只。模型组大鼠每天上午用白酒（10 mL/kg）灌胃+生理盐水（10 mL/kg）灌胃;正常组大鼠每天上午用生理盐水（10 mL/kg）灌胃+生理盐水（10 mL/kg）灌胃;常规治疗组大鼠每天上午用白酒（10 mL/kg）灌胃+碳酸钙、阿法D3混悬液（分别以85 mg/kg、0.05 μg/kg剂量溶于10 mL/kg生理盐水）灌胃;芹菜素低、中、高剂量组每天上午分别用白酒（10 mL/kg）灌胃+芹菜素溶液（分别以20、40、80 mg/kg剂量溶于10 mL/kg生理盐水）灌胃,每天1次,持续16周。使用双能X线骨密度检测仪测定各组大鼠右侧股骨骨密度;苏木素–伊红（HE）染色观察各组股骨组织病理学改变;16S核糖体脱氧核糖核酸（16S rDNA）测序技术检测各组肠道菌群多样性及门、属水平相对丰度;Connectify法测定各组骨钙（Ca）含量,改良Neuman-Lorgan法测定各组骨羟脯氨酸（HOP）含量,并计算二者比值。

模型组大鼠骨松质结构改变,骨小梁稀疏松散、粗细不匀,大量断裂,骨髓腔扩大明显,有大量纤维组织。常规治疗组和芹菜素3个剂量组以上病变情况均有不同程度改善,且芹菜素作用呈剂量依赖性,芹菜素中剂量组与常规治疗组差异不显著。与正常组比,模型组、常规治疗组和芹菜素3个剂量组大鼠骨密度、骨Ca、骨HOP含量及二者比值、Chao1指数、Ace指数以及肠道菌群厚壁菌门、毛螺旋菌属、粪球菌属、乳杆菌属、普氏菌属、罗氏菌属和布劳特菌属水平相对丰度降低,拟杆菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌属、肠杆菌属和别样棒菌属水平相对丰度升高,差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）;与模型组比,常规治疗组和芹菜素3个剂量组大鼠骨密度、骨Ca、骨HOP含量及二者比值、Chao1指数、Ace指数以及肠道菌群厚壁菌门、毛螺旋菌属、粪球菌属、乳杆菌属、普氏菌属、罗氏菌属和布劳特菌属水平相对丰度均升高,拟杆菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌属、肠杆菌属和别样棒菌属水平相对丰度降低,差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）,芹菜素对骨密度、骨Ca、骨HOP含量及二者比值、Chao1指数、Ace指数以及肠道菌群门、属水平相对丰度作用呈剂量依赖性,且芹菜素中剂量组与常规治疗组骨密度、骨Ca、骨HOP含量及二者比值、Chao1指数、Ace指数以及肠道菌群门、属水平相对丰度比较差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。

芹菜素能够提高酒精性骨质疏松症大鼠骨密度和骨Ca、骨HOP含量,推测是通过调节肠道菌群相对丰度,促进有益菌群生长,抑制致病菌群生长实现的。

     

Comparative studies of prostaglandins F2α and E2 in late cyclic and early pregnant sheep: In vitro synthesis by endometrium and conceptus effects of in vivo indomethacin treatment on establishment of pregnancy

Endometrial concentrations of prostaglandins F₂α (PGF₂α) and E₂ (PGE₂) were measured by specific radioimmunoassay in sheep, on day 14 of estrous cycle or pregnancy, during luteolysis (Day 16 of the cycle), and after implantation (Day 23 of pregnancy) : concentrations observed on day 14 of cycle and pregnancy were similar. During luteolysis, on day 16 of cycle, a consistent drop was noticed. If luteal regression did not occur, as a consequence of the presence of an embryo, endometrial concentrations of PGF₂α on day 23, were twice those of day 14, and PGE₂ remained unchanged. $\text{In vitro}$ 2 hour incubations of endometrial caruncular tissue from 14 days cyclic or pregnant ewes resulted in de novo synthesis of PG which could be increased by Arachidonic Acid and inhibited by Indomethacin; during the first 30 min of incubation, the PGF₂α synthesis was comparable for both endometrial tissues, whereas PGE₂ synthesis was twice as great in pregnant endometrium. Fourteen and 23 day conceptuses had high PGF₂α and PGE₂ concentrations which were not due to maternal PG sequestration : $\text{de novo}$ PG synthesis which could be inhibited by Indomethacin was observed in incubated 14 day old embryos. Treatment of pregnant ewes from day 7 to day 22 after mating, either with Indomethacin (300 mg s.c. daily) or with Acetylsalicylic Acid (1 g I.V. daily) resulted in a sharp diminution of endometrial PG concentration and release, with no apparent effect on the establishment of pregnancy. These results tend to ascribe a less important role to PG during early pregnancy in sheep as compared with rodents, in terms of embryonic growth and implantation.     

Translational control of the expression of the β subunit gene of E., coli RNA polymerase

Using the plasmid pNF1337 as template, a mRNA preparation has been obtained that directs the $\text{in}\text{,}\text{vitro}$ synthesis of fMet-Val, the N-terminal dipeptide of the β subunit of RNA polymerase. RNA polymerase holoenzyme specifically inhibits the mRNA-directed synthesis of fMet-Val showing that the autoregulation by RNA polymerase of β,β′ synthesis is at the level of translation. L factor ($\text{nusA}$ gene product) stimulates the synthesis of fMet-Val from a DNA template but not from mRNA. Rifampicin has no effect on the mRNA-directed synthesis of fMet-Val or the ability of RNA polymerase to inhibit fMet-Val synthesis.     

Sterols of the cultured euglenid Eutreptia viridis: A novel Δ23-unsaturated sterol.

The sterol mixture isolated from the marine alga $\text{Eutreptia viridis}$ consists mainly of Δ^5,7-dienes which account for 80% of the free sterols. Eighteen different sterols were detected, including a novel sterol with the rare Δ²³-unsaturation, viz. 24-ethylcholesta-5,7,23Z-trien-3β-ol.     

Transport of α-aminoisobutyric acid in rabbit detrusor muscle: I. General characteristics of the uptake in vitro

1.

1. The uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid by isolated rabbit detrusor muscle was studied.     

Govindjee, Fork, D.C.: Charles Stacy French 1907–1985 National Academy of Sciences, Washington 2006. 28 pp.

Book Reviews

Govindjee, Fork, D.C.: Charles Stacy French 1907–1985 National Academy of Sciences, Washington 2006. 28 pp.     

Expression of phospholipases A2 in primary human lung macrophages: Role of cytosolic phospholipase A2-α in arachidonic acid release and platelet activating factor synthesis

Macrophages are a major source of lipid mediators in the human lung. Expression and contribution of cytosolic (cPLA₂) and secreted phospholipases A₂ (sPLA₂) to the generation of lipid mediators in human macrophages are unclear. We investigated the expression and role of different PLA₂s in the production of lipid mediators in primary human lung macrophages. Macrophages express the alpha, but not the zeta isoform of group IV and group VIA cPLA₂ (iPLA₂). Two structurally-divergent inhibitors of group IV cPLA₂ completely block arachidonic acid release by macrophages in response to non-physiological (Ca²⁺ ionophores and phorbol esters) and physiological agonists (lipopolysaccharide and Mycobacterium protein derivative). These inhibitors also reduce by 70% the synthesis of platelet-activating factor by activated macrophages. Among the full set of human sPLA₂s, macrophages express group IIA, IID, IIE, IIF, V, X and XIIA, but not group IB and III enzymes. Me-Indoxam, a potent and cell impermeable inhibitor of several sPLA₂s, has no effect on arachidonate release or platelet-activating factor production. Agonist-induced exocytosis is not influenced by cPLA₂ inhibitors at concentrations that block arachidonic acid release. Our results indicate that human macrophages express cPLA₂-alpha, iPLA₂ and several sPLA₂s. Cytosolic PLA₂-alpha is the major enzyme responsible for lipid mediator production in human macrophages.     

Patterns of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenaseΔ5−4isomerase activity in the rhesus monkey placenta and fetal adrenal

3β-Hydroxysteroid $\text{dehydrogenase}\text{Δ}{}^{\mathrm{5?4}}\text{isomerase}$ activity (3Δ-HSDH) was examined in the rhesus monkey ($\text{Macaca mulatta}$) placenta and fetal adrenal at 135 and 155–162 days of gestation. Activity was evaluated in microsomes by the conversion of [³H]pregnenolone to [³H]progesterone. There was a 7-fold increase in enzyme activity in the whole adrenal (minus medulla) between the two stages of development. Combining data from both periods, enzyme activity was greater in the outer than in the inner region of the adrenal. No stage-dependent change in placental activity was evident. The temporal patterns in 3β-HSDH activity are consistent with corticoid and progesterone patterns in the circulation. Thus, the level of 3β-HSDH activity may be rate limiting in both the fetal adrenal and placenta.Enzyme activity was assessed in incubations which included unex-tracted, heat-treated, 100,000 g tissue supernatants. In both placental and adrenal incubations, competitive inhibition was noted. Ethyl ether extracts of 100,000 g tissue supernatants also inhibited 3β-HSDH in the respective tissues. GLC analysis of these extracts revealed the presence of putative dehydroepiandrosterone. Hormone levels and the nature of the inhibition that were observed are compatible with the conclusion that dehydroepiandrosterone can inhibit the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone $\text{in vivo}$. The physiological importance of this remains to be determined.     

Decreased smooth muscle side effects with 16, 16-dimethyl-trans-Δ2-PGE1 methyl ester in Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

The smooth muscle stimulating activity of a new PGE₁ analog, 16, 16-dimethyl-trans-Δ²-PGE₁ methyl ester (ONO-802) was evaluated by simulataneous;y recording the EMG of the uterus and intestines, along with urinary bladder pressure, and blood pressure in pregnant and non-pregnant Japanese monkeys ($\text{Macaca fuscata fuscata}$). Single intravenous injections of ONO-802 in increasing dosages (0.2–5 μg/kg) were found to be 50–100 times or more effective in inducing uterine contraction than PGF₂α and PGE₁. A mild, transient gastrointestinal muscle stimulating activity was observed, but change in urinary bladder pressure and blood pressure was not evident. ONO-802 induced uterine contractions in the pregnant animals were 10 times greater than in the non-pregnant animals. These results suggest that ONO-802 may be a suitable clinical prostaglandin for use in therapeutic abortion.     

Electronic structures of highly symmetrical compounds of f elements: XXXIX. Do more covalent europium(III) compounds exhibit an anti-nephelauxetic behavior?

By comparing the nephelauxetic ratios β of a number of molecular Pr^III compounds, and the Slater parameters F² (or Racah parameters E¹) of molecular Nd^III and selected Sm^III compounds, presumably more covalent types of Eu^III compounds could be identified. Powdered [Eu{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃] (1), “[Eu{OC(tBu)₃}₃]” (“3”) and [Eu(η⁵-C₅H₅)₃(CNC₆H₁₁)] (5) were resynthesized following usual procedures. The absorption transitions ⁷F₀ → ⁵D₀ of an oriented single crystal of 1, a glassy frozen solution of 1 dissolved in a mixture of 2-MeTHF/THF (ratio 3:1) ([Eu{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃(THF)], (2)), of “3” dissolved in 2-MeTHF ([Eu{OC(tBu)₃}₃(MeTHF)], (4)), and of 5 dissolved in a mixture of the inert solvents methylcyclohexane/toluene (ratio 1:1), were measured at room and low temperatures (90 K). The energy differences of this transition for compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 are larger than those of [Eu(H₂O)₉]³⁺ or even gaseous Eu³⁺, indicating quasi “anti-nephelauxetic” effects. Crystal field calculations, however, reveal that lower Slater parameters F² (or Racah parameters E¹) have to be used than those of [Eu(H₂O)₉]³⁺ in order to reproduce the experimental energy differences between ⁷F₀ and ⁵D₀, thus indicating the expected nephelauxetic effects of more covalent Eu^III compounds.     

Aerobiology 1992 June 9–11, 1992 Scarborough College University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Canada Symposium of the Pan-American Aerobiology Association

Aerobiology 1992 June 9–11, 1992Scarborough College University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario Canada Symposium of the Pan-American Aerobiology Association