Construction of a cross-species cell landscape at single-cell level

Individual cells are basic units of life. Despite extensive efforts to characterize the cellular heterogeneity of different organisms, cross-species comparisons of landscape dynamics have not been achieved. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to map organism-level cell landscapes at multiple life stages for mice, zebrafish and Drosophila. By integrating the comprehensive dataset of > 2.6 million single cells, we constructed a cross-species cell landscape and identified signatures and common pathways that changed throughout the life span. We identified structural inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction as the most common hallmarks of organism aging, and found that pharmacological activation of mitochondrial metabolism alleviated aging phenotypes in mice. The cross-species cell landscape with other published datasets were stored in an integrated online portal—Cell Landscape. Our work provides a valuable resource for studying lineage development, maturation and aging.     

海南省粗叶木属新记录植物五种

报道发现于海南省鹦哥岭的粗叶木属(Lasianthus Jack)海南省新记录种5种,并描述了它们的主要辨认特征。其中4种(华南粗叶木Lasianthus austrosinensis H.S.Lo、长梗粗叶木L.filipes Chun ex H.S.Lo、西南粗叶木L.henryi Hutch.、台湾粗叶木L.formosensis Matsum.)在与海南邻近的广东省与广西壮族自治区均有记录,而大叶粗叶木L.rigidus Miq.则在热带亚洲具有明显的间断性分布。     

Local sensitivity of per-recruit fishing mortality reference points

We study the sensitivity of fishery management per-recruit harvest rates which may be part of a quantitative harvest strategy designed to achieve some objective for catch or population size. We use a local influence sensitivity analysis to derive equations that describe how these reference harvest rates are affected by perturbations to productivity processes. These equations give a basic theoretical understanding of sensitivity that can be used to predict what the likely impacts of future changes in productivity will be. Our results indicate that per-recruit reference harvest rates are more sensitive to perturbations when the equilibrium catch or population size per recruit, as functions of the harvest rate, have less curvature near the reference point. Overall our results suggest that per recruit reference points will, with some exceptions, usually increase if (1) growth rates increase, (2) natural mortality rates increase, or (3) fishery selectivity increases to an older age.     

Semiparametric estimation of tag loss and reporting rates for tag-recovery experiments using exact time-at-liberty data

We present a semiparametric likelihood approach to estimating reporting rates and tag-loss rates from the tags returned from capture-recapture studies. Such studies are commonly used to estimate critical population parameters. Tag loss rates are estimated using double-tagged animals, while reporting rates are estimated using information from high-reward tags. A likelihood function is constructed based on the conditional distribution of the type of tag returned (low or high reward, single or double tag), given that a tag has been returned. This involves many sparse 5 x 1 tag-return contingency tables, and choosing a good functional form for the tag loss rate is difficult with such data. We model tag-loss rates using monotone-smoothing splines, and use these nonparametric estimates to diagnose the parametric form of the tag-loss rate. The nonparametric methods can also be used directly to model tag-loss rates.     

Wingless blocks bristle formation and morphogenetic furrow progression in the eye through repression of Daughterless

In the developing eye, wingless activity represses proneural gene expression (and thus interommatidial bristle formation) and positions the morphogenetic furrow by blocking its initiation in the dorsal and ventral regions of the presumptive eye. We provide evidence that wingless mediates both effects, at least in part, through repression of the basic helix-loop-helix protein Daughterless. daughterless is required for high proneural gene expression and furrow progression. Ectopic expression of wingless blocks Daughterless expression in the proneural clusters. This repression, and that of furrow progression, can be mimicked by an activated form of armadillo and blocked by a dominant negative form of pangolin/TCF. Placing daughterless under the control of a heterologous promoter blocks the ability of ectopic wingless to inhibit bristle formation and furrow progression. hedgehog and decapentapleigic could not rescue the wingless furrow progression block, indicating that wingless acts downstream of these genes. In contrast, Atonal and Scute, which are thought to heterodimerize with Daughterless to promote furrow progression and bristle formation, respectively, can block ectopic wingless action. These results are summarized in a model where daughterless is a major, but probably not the only, target of wingless action in the eye.     

实时荧光定量PCR及其在传染性疾病检测中的应用

实时荧光定量PCR技术被广泛应用于实验研究、临床检测中。与普通的PCR相比,实时荧光定量PCR技术具有特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性好、定量准确、速度快、全封闭反应等优点。我们综述了实时荧光定量PCR技术的原理、定量方法,及其在传染性疾病检测研究中的应用。     

海南俄贤岭石灰岩山地海南大戟灌丛群落研究

根据样方调查,对海南俄贤岭自然保护区海南大戟灌丛群落的种类组成、外貌、结构特征和物种多样性进行分析。结果表明,在700m2样地中,有维管植物77种,隶属于47科70属。群落中乔木的个体数量很少,主要由灌木和草本组成,灌木层主要优势种为海南大戟等。群落外貌常绿,生活型以小高位芽为主,占22.08%;按照Raunkiaer的频度等级定律,属于B级的种类最多,频度值为43.42。整个群落的物种丰富度Magarlef指数为8.56,Shannon-Wiener指数为1.38,Simposon为0.90,均匀度指数为0.32。群落各层次的丰富度格局表现为灌木层>草本层>乔木层>藤本植物,多样性格局为灌木层>乔木层>草本层<(>)藤本植物,均匀度格局为乔木层>藤本植物>灌木层>草本层。     

Morphological studies of Asian rice and its related wild species and the recognition of a new Australian taxon

In order to clarify the taxonomy and the interrelationships among Asiatic cultivated rice, Oryza sativa , and its related wild species ( O. rufipogon, O. nivara and O . barthii ), 41 morphological characters were examined. Numerical taxonomic methods were used to analyse the data and to illustrate species relationships.
Distinctive differences among the materials studied suggest the retention of O. rufipogoon, O. nivara and O . sativa as three distinct species. The origin of O. sativa from O. nivara through domestication is discussed. An annual wild taxon from Australia, which had been classified as a form of O. nivara , is shown to be distinct from typical O. nivnra and is raised to specific rank. This species has been named O. meridionalis Ng.