Ecological thresholds and regime shifts: approaches to identification

There is an apparent gap between the prominence of present theoretical frameworks involving ecological thresholds and regime shifts, and the paucity of efforts to conduct simple tests and quantitative inferences on the actual appearance of such phenomena in ecological data. A wide range of statistical methods and analytical techniques are now available that render these questions tractable, some of them even dating back half a century. Yet, their application has been sparse and confined within a narrow subset of cases of ecological regime shifts. Our objective is to raise awareness on the range of techniques available, and to their principles and limitations, to promote a more operational approach to the identification of ecological thresholds and regime shifts.     

Effects of dietary protein and amino acid levels on the expression of selected cationic amino acid transporters and serum amino acid concentration in growing pigs

The absorption of lysine is facilitated by leucine, but there is no information regarding the effect of crude protein, lysine and leucine levels on the expression of cationic amino acid transporters in pigs. Therefore, an experiment was conducted with 20 pigs (14.9 +/- 0.62 kg initial body weight) to evaluate the effect of two protein levels, and the content of lysine, threonine, methionine and leucine in low crude protein diets on the expression of b(0,+) and CAT-1 mRNA in jejunum, Longissimus dorsi and Semitendinosus muscles and serum concentration of amino acids. Treatments were as follows: (i) wheat-soybean meal diet, 20% crude protein (Control); (ii) wheat diet deficient in lysine, threonine and methionine (Basal diet); (iii) Basal diet plus 0.70% L-lysine, 0.27% L-threonine, 0.10% DL-methionine (Diet LTM); (iv) Diet LTM plus 0.80% L-leucine (Diet LTM + Leu). Despite the Basal diet, all diets were formulated to meet the requirements of lysine, threonine and methionine; Diet LTM + Leu supplied 60% excess of leucine. The addition of lysine, threonine and methionine in Diet LTM increased the expression of b(0,+) in jejunum and CAT-1 in the Semitendinosus and Longissiums muscles and decreased CAT-1 in jejunum; the serum concentration of lysine was also increased (p < 0.01). Further addition of L-leucine (Diet LTM + Leu) decreased the b(0,+) expression in jejunum and CAT-1 in the Longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05), increased the serum concentration ofleucine and arginine and decreased the concentration of isoleucine (p < 0.05). Pigs fed the Control diet expressed less b(0,+) in jejunum, and CAT-1 in the Semitendinosus and Longissiums muscles expressed more CAT-1 in jejunum (p < 0.05) and had lower serum concentration ofisoleucine, leucine and valine (p < 0.05), but higher lysine concentrations (p < 0.01) than those fed Diet LTM. These results indicated that both, the level and the source of dietary amino acids, affect the expression of cationic amino acid transporters in pigs fed wheat-based diets.     

The persistent microbicidal effect in water exposed to the corona discharge

This article describes and particularly explains a new phenomenon of persistent microbicidal effect of water previously exposed to the low-temperature plasma, which cannot be attributed to the acidification only. The direct microbicidal action of plasma is well documented, being mediated by number of reactive particles with a short lifetime. However, we observed the microbicidal effect also in exposed water stored for a month, where it must be mediated by stable particles. In water and in phosphate-buffered saline, the formation of NO_x and corresponding acids, H₂O₂ and O₃ was confirmed after exposition to the low-temperature plasma generated in air by DC negative glow corona and positive streamer discharge. The time course of acidification, H₂O₂ and O₃ formation were deremined. Except uncertain traces of HCN, SIFT-MS analysis of exposed liquids reveals no additional reactive compounds. The microbicidal effect persists almost unchanged during 4 weeks of storage, although O₃ completely and H₂O₂ almost disappears. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli were inactivated within 10 min of incubation in exposed liquids, Candida albicans needs at least 1 h. The solutions prepared by artificial mixing of reactive compounds mimic the action of exposed water, but in lesser extent. The acid milieu is the main cause of the microbicidal effect, but the possibility of still unidentified additional compound remains open.     

扎伊尔埃博拉病毒糖蛋白基因的克隆和表达

埃博拉病毒属丝状病毒科,能引发动物和人出血热症状,人感染后病死率高达90%以上,目前还没有有效预防和治疗的药物和疫苗。近年来,这种烈性传染病病毒传入我国的可能性不断加大,给我国公共卫生应急体系带来新的挑战。本研究针对埃博拉病毒的最主要结构蛋白——糖蛋白(GP),构建了重组原核表达载体pET28a(+)-GP1(33~313aa)、pET28a(+)-GP1(190~313aa)、pET28a(+)-GP2(502~632aa)、pET28a(+)-sGP,以及重组真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)-edited GP、pcDNA3.1(+)-GP1、pcDNA3.1(+)-GP。结果表明,GP1(33~313aa)、GP1(190~313aa)和sGP能在大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中以包涵体的形式表达,GP、GP1和GP2能在HEK293T细胞中表达,但均不能在BHK21细胞中表达。本研究为进一步探索埃博拉病毒GP的结构和功能及GP抗体制备奠定了基础。     

Serum Concentrations of 15 Elements Among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter Pylori</Emphasis>-Infected Residents from Lujiang County with High Gastric Cancer Risk in Eastern China

Data on the effects of magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with PCOS. Sixty PCOS women were randomized into two groups and treated with 100 mg magnesium, 4 mg zinc, 400 mg calcium plus 200 IU vitamin D supplements (n = 30), or placebo (n = 30) twice a day for 12 weeks. Hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed at baseline and at end-of-treatment. After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation resulted in significant reductions in hirsutism (?2.4 ± 1.2 vs. ?0.1 ± 0.4, P < 0.001), serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (?0.7 ± 0.8 vs. +0.2 ± 1.8 mg/L, P < 0.001), and plasma malondialdehyde (?0.4 ± 0.3 vs. +0.2 ± 1.0 μmol/L, P = 0.01), and a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity concentrations (+46.6 ± 66.5 vs. ?7.7 ± 130.1 mmol/L, P = 0.04). We failed to find any significant effect of magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation on free androgen index, and other biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Overall, magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation for 12 weeks among PCOS women had beneficial effects on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress.     

Substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons and striatal interneurons are engaged in three parallel but interdependent postnatal neurotrophic circuits

The striatum integrates motor behavior using a well‐defined microcircuit whose individual components are independently affected in several neurological diseases. The glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), synthesized by striatal interneurons, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh), produced by the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (DA SNpc), are both involved in the nigrostriatal maintenance but the reciprocal neurotrophic relationships among these neurons are only partially understood. To define the postnatal neurotrophic connections among fast‐spiking GABAergic interneurons (FS), cholinergic interneurons (ACh), and DA SNpc, we used a genetically induced mouse model of postnatal DA SNpc neurodegeneration and separately eliminated Smoothened (Smo), the obligatory transducer of Shh signaling, in striatal interneurons. We show that FS postnatal survival relies on DA SNpc and is independent of Shh signaling. On the contrary, Shh signaling but not dopaminergic striatal innervation is required to maintain ACh in the postnatal striatum. ACh are required for DA SNpc survival in a GDNF‐independent manner. These data demonstrate the existence of three parallel but interdependent neurotrophic relationships between SN and striatal interneurons, partially defined by Shh and GDNF. The definition of these new neurotrophic interactions opens the search for new molecules involved in the striatal modulatory circuit maintenance with potential therapeutic value.     

Replicating rather than nonreplicating adenovirus-human immunodeficiency virus recombinant vaccines are better at eliciting potent cellular immunity and priming high-titer antibodies

A major challenge in combating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is the development of vaccines capable of inducing potent, persistent cellular immunity and broadly reactive neutralizing antibody responses to HIV type 1 (HIV-1). We report here the results of a preclinical trial using the chimpanzee model to investigate a combination vaccine strategy involving sequential priming immunizations with different serotypes of adenovirus (Ad)/HIV-1(MN)env/rev recombinants and boosting with an HIV envelope subunit protein, oligomeric HIV(SF162) gp140deltaV2. The immunogenicities of replicating and nonreplicating Ad/HIV-1(MN)env/rev recombinants were compared. Replicating Ad/HIV recombinants were better at eliciting HIV-specific cellular immune responses and better at priming humoral immunity against HIV than nonreplicating Ad-HIV recombinants carrying the same gene insert. Enhanced cellular immunity was manifested by a greater frequency of HIV envelope-specific gamma interferon-secreting peripheral blood lymphocytes and better priming of T-cell proliferative responses. Enhanced humoral immunity was seen in higher anti-envelope binding and neutralizing antibody titers and better induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. More animals primed with replicating Ad recombinants mounted neutralizing antibodies against heterologous R5 viruses after one or two booster immunizations with the mismatched oligomeric HIV-1(SF162) gp140deltaV2 protein. These results support continued development of the replicating Ad-HIV recombinant vaccine approach and suggest that the use of replicating vectors for other vaccines may prove fruitful.