Using virtual plants to analyse the light-foraging efficiency of a low-density cotton crop

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cotton shows a marked plasticity vs. density in terms of branch development and geometry, internode elongation and leaf expansion. This paper proposes interpretations for observed plasticity in terms of light quantity and quality. METHODS: 3-D virtual plants were reconstructed from field observations and 3-D digitization and were used to simulate the light regime in cotton stands of different densities. KEY RESULTS: All densities showed the same linear relationship between LAI and the sum of light intercepted by the canopy, from seedling emergence up to flowering. Simulated R : FR ratio profiles can very likely explain (1) the longer first internodes on main stem and branches and (2) the azimuthal re-orientation of branches toward the inter-row. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation tools were used to analyse plant plasticity in terms of light quantity and quality. The methodology applied here at the stand scale will now be continued at the plant scale to further strengthen the above hypotheses.     

不同尺度下荒漠草原建群种短花针茅的空间分布对载畜率的响应

为探讨不同尺度下短花针茅种群密度空间分布对载畜率的响应特点及差异,本研究以内蒙古四子王旗短花针茅荒漠草原建群物种短花针茅为对象,分析了不同尺度(1 m×1 m小尺度和5 m×10 m中尺度)下对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧4种处理短花针茅种群的空间异质性。结果表明: 与小尺度相比,中尺度的对照与轻度放牧下短花针茅种群密度显著降低。在2种尺度下,与对照相比,放牧使得短花针茅种群密度显著增加。通过半方差函数进行模型拟合, 小尺度下,对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧及重度放牧样地短花针茅种群分布分别符合线性、指数、指数和指数模型,中尺度下分别为高斯、指数、高斯和指数模型。不同尺度和放牧强度下短花针茅种群空间结构发生改变,小尺度下,对照样地短花针茅分布格局较简单、空间结构较好;而重度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较复杂、空间结构较差;中尺度下,重度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较简单、空间结构较好,而中度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较复杂、空间结构较差。中、小尺度下,中度和重度放牧使得短花针茅种群空间异质性降低且分布更为均匀;此外,对照、中度和重度放牧下中、小尺度短花针茅种群空间分布趋势基本一致,而轻度放牧则有所不同。     

Effect of ambient light on monoclonal antibody product quality during small‐scale mammalian cell culture process in clear glass bioreactors

During a small‐scale cell culture process producing a monoclonal antibody, a larger than expected difference was observed in the charge variants profile of the harvested cell culture fluid (HCCF) between the 2 L and larger scales (e.g., 400 L and 12 kL). Small‐scale studies performed at the 2 L scale consistently showed an increase in acidic species when compared with the material made at larger scale. Since the 2 L bioreactors were made of clear transparent glass while the larger scale reactors are made of stainless steel, the effect of ambient laboratory light on cell culture process in 2 L bioreactors as well as handling the HCCF was carefully evaluated. Photoreactions in the 2 L glass bioreactors including light mediated increase in acidic variants in HCCF and formulation buffers were identified and carefully analyzed. While the acidic variants comprised of a mixture of sialylated, reduced disulfide, crosslinked (nonreducible), glycated, and deamidated forms, an increase in the nonreducible forms, deamidation and Met oxidation was predominantly observed under light stress. The monoclonal antibody produced in glass bioreactors that were protected from light behaved similar to the one produced in the larger scale. Our data clearly indicate that care should be taken when glass bioreactors are used in cell culture studies during monoclonal antibody production. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:562–570, 2014     

Emerging threat of the 21st century lightscape to global biodiversity

Over the last century the temporal and spatial distribution of light on Earth has been drastically altered by human activity. Despite mounting evidence of detrimental effects of light pollution on organisms and their trophic interactions, the extent to which light pollution threatens biodiversity on a global scale remains unclear. We assessed the spatial extent and magnitude of light encroachment by measuring change in the extent of light using satellite imagery from 1992 to 2012 relative to species richness for terrestrial and freshwater mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The encroachment of light into previously dark areas was consistently high, often doubling, in areas of high species richness for all four groups. This pattern persisted for nocturnal groups (e.g., bats, owls, and geckos) and species considered vulnerable to extinction. Areas with high species richness and large increases in light extent were clustered within newly industrialized regions where expansion of light is likely to continue unabated unless we act to conserve remaining darkness. Implementing change at a global scale requires global public, and therefore scientific, support. Here, we offer substantial evidence that light extent is increasing where biodiversity is high, representing an emerging threat to global biodiversity requiring immediate attention.     

吉林东部天然林林下光质分布特征

天然林林下光质对乔木幼苗以及灌草的组成与更新具有重要的生态学意义。但目前对于林下光质的研究仍然有限。以吉林东部地区天然林为例,通过调查乔木数据和林下光质数据,基于移动窗口法分析不同空间尺度森林冠层结构与林下光质的关系。结果表明：不同林型下红光光子通量密度(R)与蓝光光子通量密度(B)存在差异。其中沙松-千金榆-花楷槭混交林林下蓝光光子通量密度最小,而沙松-紫椴-臭冷杉混交林和长白落叶松纯林林下最大。随着尺度的增大,天然林乔木胸高断面积与R/PFD(红光/光子通量密度比值)和B/PFD(蓝光/光子通量密度比值)的比值呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。并且随着尺度的增加,相关系数总体逐渐增大,在35m处达到峰值。在此基础上在南向、东向和西向各延伸10m时呈现显著正相关(P<0.05)。在该尺度下分析优势树种对林下R/PFD和B/PFD比值的影响时发现：R/PFD与B/PFD比值随着针叶林胸高断面积的增加而增加。相对于阔叶林来说,多数林型针叶林下的冠层结构与林下R/PFD和B/PFD比值之间显著正相关(P<0.05)。在不同树种下,乔木冠层结构对R/PFD和B/PFD比值的影响...     

微地形对优势种群点格局和关联性的影响

不同的空间格局类型和关联性可以反映出不同生境下植物种群的资源环境适应策略.老鹳草与米口袋是甘南亚高寒草甸的主要物种,通过野外群落调查和室内试验,运用点格局分析法中的Ripley K函数,对不同坡向的米口袋和老鹳草种群的空间分布格局及种间关联性进行分析.结果表明:从阳坡-西坡-阴坡,土壤含水量和养分含量逐渐增加,土壤温度和光照度逐渐降低.米口袋和老鹳草在3个坡向(阴坡、西坡、阳坡)上的分布呈现出明显差异,随着坡向由阴坡向阳坡的转变,米口袋种群数量呈递增趋势,老鹳草种群数量则表现出递减趋势.在阴坡,米口袋种群在0~1.8 m尺度上呈聚集分布,在1.8~5.0 m尺度上聚集强度减弱并趋向于随机分布,老鹳草种群在0~5.0 m尺度上均以聚集分布为主;在西坡,米口袋种群在0~1.2 m尺度上呈聚集分布,在1.2~5.0 m研究尺度上趋向于随机分布,老鹳草种群在0~2.2 m尺度上呈聚集分布,在2.2~5.0 m研究尺度上趋向于随机分布;在阳坡,米口袋与老鹳草种群在0~5.0 m尺度内均表现出随机分布.阴坡上这两种物种在0~1.0 m尺度上表现为正相关,在1.0~5.0 m尺度不相关;西坡上两物种在0~2.1 m尺度上呈负关联,在2.1~5.0 m尺度上两个物种间关联度均趋向于不相关;阳坡上这两个物种在0~5.0 m尺度上表现出不相关.     

Hot Melt Extrusion: Development of an Amorphous Solid Dispersion for an Insoluble Drug from Mini-scale to Clinical Scale

The objective of the study was to develop an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) for an insoluble compound X by hot melt extrusion (HME) process. The focus was to identify material-sparing approaches to develop bioavailable and stable ASD including scale up of HME process using minimal drug. Mixtures of compound X and polymers with and without surfactants or pH modifiers were evaluated by hot stage microscopy (HSM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC), which enabled systematic selection of ASD components. Formulation blends of compound X with PVP K12 and PVP VA64 polymers were extruded through a 9-mm twin screw mini-extruder. Physical characterization of extrudates by PLM, XRPD, and mDSC indicated formation of single-phase ASD’s. Accelerated stability testing was performed that allowed rapid selection of stable ASD’s and suitable packaging configurations. Dissolution testing by a discriminating two-step non-sink dissolution method showed 70–80% drug release from prototype ASD’s, which was around twofold higher compared to crystalline tablet formulations. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study in dogs showed that bioavailability from ASD of compound X with PVP VA64 was four times higher compared to crystalline tablet formulations. The HME process was scaled up from lab scale to clinical scale using volumetric scale up approach and scale-independent-specific energy parameter. The present study demonstrated systematic development of ASD dosage form and scale up of HME process to clinical scale using minimal drug (～500 g), which allowed successful clinical batch manufacture of enabled formulation within 7 months.     

Circadian variability in the photobiology of Phaeodactylum tricornutum: pigment content

Circadian variations of pigment content in the diatom Phaeodactylumtricornutum were analyzed in different light regimes. The studywas aimed at discerning the role of putative endogenous controlsfrom the constraint imposed by the alternation of light (L)and dark (D) periods. Our experiments showed that in a typicalLD cycle of illumination, pigment synthesis follows the somaticgrowth of the cell, both arresting during D periods. In particular,the diurnal increase of chlorophyll a content was proportionalto the increase in cell size and preceding cell division, occurringat night. By contrast, diadinoxanthin and ß–carotene displayed different phases, which is likely to be relatedto their involvement in photoprotection mechanisms. The experimentsalso showed that the synthesis of both photosynthetic and photoprotectivepigments was dependent not only on light availability and thephasing of somatic growth, but also responded to other internalregulation. Over the time scale of the experiments (hours todays), the removal of LD–DL triggers impaired cell physiology,whereas the circadian patterns in pigment synthesis persisted.Our results support the hypothesis that an internal regulationof cell biosynthetic machinery can improve phytoplankton fitness,even in high variable environments such as the oceanic mixedlayers. Therefore, we suggest that phytoplankton growth dependsnot only on the availability of external resources, but alsoon internal regulatory mechanisms whose unveiling would furtherour understanding of phytoplankton diversity and dynamics.     

Glucosyldiphosphoundecaprenol, the mannose acceptor in the synthesis of the O9 antigen of Escherichia coli. Biosynthesis and characterization

We describe the biosynthesis in vitro of the mannose acceptor of the O9 mannan synthesis by Escherichia coli membranes and its analysis with chemical, enzymatic and physical means. Membranes from E. coli 1357 (O9:K29-:H-his,pmi,rfe) were incubated with 10 mM UDP-glucose and 20 mM magnesium chloride in large scale. The incubation mixtures were extracted with butan-1-ol and the extract was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The presence of the mannose acceptor was detected in the column effluent by using aliquots of the fractions in membrane-reconstitution experiments. The purified mannose acceptor was hydrolyzed for 10 min in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid at 100 degrees C and the hydrolyzate was extracted with light petroleum. Mass spectrometric analysis of the material from the organic phase showed it to be undecaprenol. The aqueous phase contained phosphate and glucose (as determined with glucose oxidase peroxidase) in the ratio of 1.9, alpha-Galactosyldiphosphoundecaprenol and beta-glucosylphosphoundecaprenol were prepared for comparison in these experiments. The results obtained showed that the mannose acceptor in the synthesis of the O9 mannan of E. coli is alpha-glucosyldiphosphoundecaprenol.     

Peptide affinity chromatography of human clotting factor VIII: Screening of the vWF-binding domain

The region of von Willebrand factor, which is involved in the complex formation with factor VIII, was used to generate a panel of octapeptides. A peptide ladder was generated from the von Willebrand factor region aa40 to aa100 and was synthesized on cellulose membranes by spot technology. Four peptides with affinity for factor VIII were identified by incubation with plasma derived factor VIII and recombinant factor VIII. The peptides denoted as 010 (LCPPGMVRHE), 011 (RCPCFHQGK), 014 (CFHQGKEYA) and 015 (RDRKWNCTDHVC) were further characterized by real-time interaction analysis and small scale affinity chromatography. Biotinylated peptides were used for blotting assays. These experiments showed that the peptides are directed against the light chain of FVIII. We consider these peptides as valuable tools for in situ labeling and also as ligands suitable for affinity chromatography.     

不同放牧强度季节调控下荒漠草原主要植物种群点格局及空间关联性

种群空间格局是种群自身特性、种间相互关系及环境条件综合作用的结果。以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,运用Programita软件,采用Ripley's K函数和Monte Carlo随机模拟方法,对短花针茅、无芒影子草和碱韭种群点格局及空间关联性进行了研究。结果表明:短花针茅在禁牧和过度放牧下集群分布的尺度在增加,禁牧和过度放牧两种草地利用方式下短花针茅种群的格局具有趋同的趋势;并且,随着放牧强度的增大或者是持续放牧的影响,使得随机分布尺度在逐渐的增大,短花针茅在更大的尺度上才可能为集群分布。春季重牧+夏季重牧+秋季轻牧和全年重度放牧利用下无芒隐子草在较大尺度上才表现为集群分布,并且尺度转化的临界点在放牧的影响下有增大的趋势;重度放牧下碱韭为了适应放牧干扰逐渐向集群分布方向发展,集群分布的尺度在减小以提高种群的稳定性从而抵御过度的干扰。在不同的放牧干扰强度下植物种群具有明显的响应策略,大致表现为物种的群居性在增强,物种集群分布的尺度在减小以提高种群的稳定性从而抵御过度的干扰。春季休牧+夏季重牧+秋季轻牧处理下种群斑块化的尺度较大,有利于群落的稳定,因此荒漠草原采用这种利用方法较为合理。     

The kinetics of algal photoadaptation in the context of vertical mixing

The responses of phytoplankton to turbulent motions in the surfacemixed layer can be measured to estimate the rate of verticalmixing. If the time scale for the response (photoadaptation)is shorter than that for vertical mixing, phytoplankton willexhibit a vertical gradient associated with adaptation to ambientlight, whereas if mixing occurs with a time scale shorter thanthat of photoadaptation, the surface mixed layer will be uniformwith respect to the photoadaptive parameter. To examine thephysiological bases for a model of vertical mixing and photoadaptation,we grew the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (clone 3H)at three photon flux densities and subjected the cultures toreciprocal light shifts, measuring physiological and chemicalchanges over the following 10 h. Several parameters, easilymeasured in nature and attributable primarily to phytoplankton,responded to fluctuating light on different time scales. Aftercultures were exposed to relatively bright light, both the initialslope of the photosynthesis-irradiance curve and in vivo fluorescencewere depressed on a time scale of less than an hour. Photosyntheticcapacity was also reduced transiently, but recovered over manyhours to a high level characteristic of an adapted state. First-orderkinetics (the current model of choice for describing photoadaptation)reasonably described the rapid responses of phytoplankton tobright light, but other parameters (i.e. cellular chemical compositionand photosynthetic capacity) changed as a result of unbalancedgrowth and required much longer to adapt from low to high lightas compared to from high to low light. A logistic model of thisadaptation is presented. The model suggests that hysteresisof adaptation during vertical mixing may have important consequences.The vertical distributions of photoadaptive properties in mixedlayers not only reveal the rate of vertical mixing, but showhow phytoplankton integrate environmental fluctuations.     

Live weight effect on the prediction of tissue composition in suckling lamb carcasses using the European Union scale

Forty-eight Manchega breed suckling lambs were slaughtered at 10, 12 and 14 kg live weight. Carcass degree of fatness was assessed by three assessors on carcass colour photographs, using the European Union scale for light lambs (EU) subdivided into 0.25-point intervals. Left half-carcasses were jointed and dissected into lean, fat and bone. Muscle percentage, bone percentage and whole fat percentage (obtained by addition of every fat depot: subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, inguinal fat and kidney knob and channel fat) were determined. Ten kilograms group showed a higher number of variates significantly correlated to assessors’ fatness scoring than 12 and 14 kg groups; no statistically significant regression was seen in 14 kg group. Results suggest that, as live weight increases, the utility of this method to predict carcass and joints tissue composition in suckling lamb carcasses decreases. EU scale associated with weight variates can really improve prediction of carcass composition. It would be interesting to extend this study in order to determine a similar effect on the prediction of heavier groups of carcasses.     

Disulfide bond bridged divalent antibody-toxin, (Fab-PE38fl)2, with the toxin PE38 fused to the light chain

B3 antibody specifically binds the LewisY-related carbohydrate antigen of many carcinomas, and it is used as a model antibody in this study. In a previous study, the Fab fragment of the antibody was fused to a 38 kDa truncated form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, PE38, to make Fab- PE38, where PE38 is fused to the Fd fragment of the Fab domain. This parent monomer molecule, Fab-PE38, had no cysteine in the hinge region, and it could not make a disulfide bond to form a disulfide bond bridged homodimer [7]. In this study, we constructed three different kinds of divalent Fab-toxin fusion homodimers where the toxin is fused to the light chain of Fab, (Fab-PE38fl)2. In addition to the PE38 toxin fused to the light chain, these three molecules have different hinge sequences h1, h2, and h3 making Fabh1-, Fabh2-, and Fabh3-PE38fl monomers, respectively. These hinges contain only one cysteine on different positions of the hinge sequence. The disulfide bond between the hinge region of two monomers forms homodimers (Fabh1-PE38fl)2, (Fabh2-PE38fl)2, and (Fabh3- PE38fl)2. The refolding yields of these dimers were 5- 16-fold higher than a previously constructed dimer where the PE38 was fused to the Fd fragment (Fabh1-PE38)2 [8]. Our data suggest that the steric repulsion between the two PE38s in (Fabh1-PE38)2 during disulfide bridge formation is relieved by fusing it at the end of the light chain. The best cytotoxicity value of these dimers showed about 2.5-fold higher on an MCF7 cell line than that of the monovalent reference molecule in ng/ml scale, which is 15-fold higher in pM scale.     

Seasonal and within‐canopy variation in shoot‐scale resource‐use efficiency trade‐offs in a Norway spruce stand

Previous leaf‐scale studies of carbon assimilation describe short‐term resource‐use efficiency (RUE) trade‐offs where high use efficiency of one resource requires low RUE of another. However, varying resource availabilities may cause long‐term RUE trade‐offs to differ from the short‐term patterns. This may have important implications for understanding canopy‐scale resource use and allocation. We used continuous gas exchange measurements collected at five levels within a Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) karst., canopy over 3 years to assess seasonal differences in the interactions between shoot‐scale resource availability (light, water and nitrogen), net photosynthesis (A_n) and the use efficiencies of light (LUE), water (WUE) and nitrogen (NUE) for carbon assimilation. The continuous data set was used to develop and evaluate multiple regression models for predicting monthly shoot‐scale A_n. These models showed that shoot‐scale A_n was strongly dependent on light availability and was generally well described with simple one‐ or two‐parameter models. WUE peaked in spring, NUE in summer and LUE in autumn. However, the relative importance of LUE for carbon assimilation increased with canopy depth at all times. Our results suggest that accounting for seasonal and within‐canopy trade‐offs may be important for RUE‐based modelling of canopy carbon uptake.