Palynological analysis of Brazilian geopropolis sediments

The sediments of 10 samples of geopropolis collected from 3 species of Meliponinae in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, Brazil, and obtained after chemical treatment, were analysed. Pollen grains, hyphae and spores of fungi, organic material and burned plant fragments were observed in the majority of samples. Sandy or earth materials was present in all geopropolis sediments. Pollen analysis identified the dominant, accessory and isolated plant taxa occurring in the areas of geopropolis sample recovery. The most important pollen types found were Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) in samples from the state of São Paulo only, Schinus (Anacardiaceae) mainly in samples from the state of Minas Gerais and Myrcia (Myrtaceae) in every state. Two samples were devoid of pollen grains. Only one sample contained plant trichomes and was considered a propolis sample of Apis bees. Compared to propolis samples examined previously, the geopropolis pollen spectra reflect the characteristic regional vegetation and also a higher variability of plant species visited by the Meliponinae. It is established that geopropolis samples can be distinguished from propolis samples by light microscope analysis of sediments. Mineral and soil constituents, as well as the lack of trichomes, are characteristic only of geopropolis.     

Morphological and molecular data confirm species assignment and dispersal of the genus Ligia (Crustacea: Isopoda: Ligiidae) along northeastern coastal China and East Asia

The morphological traits and mitochondrial genes of sympatric sea slaters from the genus Ligia were analysed from samples collected along northeastern coastal China and adjacent coastal East Asia to assign the species and to obtain interpretations of their distributions. Using 338 sequences and 199 diagnoses of 16S polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) from 331 specimens sampled from 26 localities, and homological sequences from counterparts from South Korea and the west coast of the USA, we assigned these taxa into two distinct species, Ligia exotica and Ligia cinerascens. Both species are recovered as two monophyletic clades in the robust phylogenetic hypothesis presented here. The northern boundaries of these species in China and the Korean peninsula are more southern than those of counterparts in Japan. Ligia exotica in northeastern coastal China is further split into two geographical subclades (B1 and B2), coexisting near 35°N. The distribution range of L. cinerascens covers the whole range of L. exotica subclade B1. Counterparts in Japan show a similar pattern. Oceanic rafting, shipping, damming and planting of seaweed are proposed as the media for the contemporary connectivity among populations of Ligia species inhabiting coastal China. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Genetic structure of house mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus 1758) populations in the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores: colonization and dispersal

We analyzed the genetic structure and relationships of house mouse (Mus musculus) populations in the remote Atlantic archipelago of the Azores using nuclear sequences and microsatellites. We typed Btk and Zfy2 to confirm that the subspecies Mus musculus domesticus was the predominant genome in the archipelago. Nineteen microsatellite loci (one per autosome) were typed in a total of 380 individuals from all nine Azorean islands, the neighbouring Madeiran archipelago (Madeira and Porto Santo islands), and mainland Portugal. Levels of heterozygosity were high on the islands, arguing against population bottlenecking. The Azorean house mouse populations were differentiated from the Portuguese and Madeiran populations and no evidence of recent migration between the three was obtained. Within the Azores, the Eastern, Western, and Central island groups tended to act as separate genetic units for house mice, with some exceptions. In particular, there was evidence of recent migration events among islands of the Central island group, whose populations were relatively undifferentiated. Santa Maria had genetically distinctive mice, which may relate to its colonization history. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Plant and soil responses of an alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau to multi-level nitrogen addition

Background

Although plant growth in alpine steppes on the Tibetan Plateau has been suggested to be sensitive to nitrogen (N) addition, the N limitation conditions of alpine steppes remain uncertain.

Methods

After 2 years of fertilization with NH₄NO₃ at six rates (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1), the responses of plant and soil parameters as well as N₂O fluxes were measured.

Results

At the vegetation level, N addition resulted in an increase in the aboveground N pool from 0.5?±?0.1 g m^?2 in the control plots to 1.9?±?0.2 g m^?2 in the plots at the highest N input rate. The aboveground C pool, biomass N concentration, foliar δ¹⁵N, soil NO₃ ^?-N and N₂O flux were also increased by N addition. However, as the N fertilization rate increased from 10 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 to 160 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1, the N-use efficiency decreased from 12.3?±?4.6 kg C kg N^?1 to 1.6?±?0.2 kg C kg N^?1, and the N-uptake efficiency decreased from 43.2?±?9.7 % to 9.1?±?1.1 %. Biomass N:P ratios increased from 14.4?±?2.6 in the control plots to 20.5?±?0.8 in the plots with the highest N input rate. Biomass N:P ratios, N-uptake efficiency and N-use efficiency flattened out at 40 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. Above this level, soil NO₃ ^?-N began to accumulate. The seasonal average N₂O flux of growing season nonlinearly increased with increased N fertilization rate and linearly increased with the weighted average foliar δ¹⁵N. At the species level, N uptake responses to relative N availability were species-specific. Biomass N concentration of seven out of the eight non-legume species increased significantly with N fertilization rates, while Kobresia macrantha and the one legume species (Oxytropics glacialis) remained stable. Both the non-legume and the legume species showed significant ¹⁵N enrichment with increasing N fertilization rate. All non-legume species showed significant increased N:P ratios with increased N fertilization rate, but not the legume species.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the Tibetan alpine steppes might be N-saturated above a critical N load of 40 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1. For the entire Tibetan Plateau (ca. 2.57 million km²), a low N deposition rate (10 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) could enhance plant growth, and stimulate aboveground N and C storage by at least 1.1?±?0.3 Tg N yr^?1 and 31.5?±?11.8 Tg C yr^?1, respectively. The non-legume species was N-limited, but the legume species was not limited by N.     

Distribution of mangrove vegetation along inundation, phosphorus, and salinity gradients on the Bragança Peninsula in Northern Brazil

Background and aims

The Bragança Peninsula, in northern Brazil is characterized by macrotides (4 m) and specific edaphic conditions, which determine the local mangrove forest’s development. This study, conducted during the dry season evaluated the spatial patterns of Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia germinans species across an inundation gradient.

Methods

Along a transect of 700 m, measurements of structure forest, soil moisture, porewater salinity, extractable phosphorus (extr.-P) in sediments, and phosphorus in the leaves (leaf-P) were conducted.

Result

The A. germinans (100 %) occurred in high intertidal (HI) zone. A. germinans (59 %) and R. mangle (41 %) co-occurred in mid intertidal (MI) zone, while R. mangle (58 %) predominated in low intertidal (LI) zone, followed by A. germinans (37 %) and Laguncularia racemosa (5 %). Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) indicated that salinity and soil moisture means are significantly different between the mangrove forests, but do not correlate with inundation frequency (IF). The means of extr.-P were significantly different in mangrove forests and correlated with IF and leaf-P.

Conclusion

The inundation frequency, the availability of P in the sediments, phosphorus in the leaves and interstitial salinity are all important factors contributing to the distribution of the mangrove tree species A. germinans and R. mangle on the Bragança Peninsula.     

A new species of Pelomus Reiss, 1989 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae) from the Neotropical Region,with emendation of the generic diagnosis

A new species of Pelomus Reiss, 1989 Reiss, F. 1989. ‘Pelomus gen. nov., ein weiterer potamobionter Vertreter des Harnischia-Komplexes aus dem Amazonasbecken (Diptera, Chironomidae)’. Acta Biologica Debrecina Oecologia Hungarica, 2: 305–314.  [Google Scholar] (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae), P. sophiae sp. n., is described and figured as male, pupa and larva. Diagnoses for male and pupa of the genus are emended. The larvae, reared in the laboratory to obtain all life stages, were collected on bottom sand of reservoir and ponds, in southeast Brazil.     

TAK1 ubiquitination regulates doxorubicin-induced NF-κB activation

Chemotherapeutic agents- and radiation therapy-induced NF-κB activation in cancer cells contributes to aggressive tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy and ionizing radiation during cancer treatment. TAK1 has been shown to be required for genotoxic stress-induced NF-κB activation. However, whether TAK1 ubiquitination is involved in genotoxic stress-induced NF-κB activation remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that TAK1 ubiquitination plays an important role in the positive and negative regulation of doxorubicin (Dox)-induced NF-κB activation. We found that TAK1 was required for Dox-induced NF-κB activation. At the early stage of Dox treatment, Dox induced Lys63-linked TAK1 polyubiquitination at lysine 158 residue. USP4 inhibited Dox-induced TAK1 Lys63-linked polyubiquitination and knockdown of USP4 enhanced Dox-induced NF-κB activation. At the late stage of Dox treatment, Dox induced Lys48-linked TAK1 polyubiquitination to promote TAK1 degradation. ITCH inhibited Dox-induced NF-κB activation by promoting Lys48-linked TAK1 polyubiquitination and its subsequent degradation. Our study indicates that TAK1 ubiquitination plays critical roles in the regulation of Dox-induced NF-κB activation. Thus, intervention of TAK1 kinase activity or TAK1 Lys63-linked polyubiquitination pathways might greatly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Dox.     

人嗅觉黏膜间充质干细胞来源的外泌体促进内皮细胞的血管生成

外泌体作为是细胞旁分泌的重要介质,在促血管形成方面有重要作用。在我们前期研究中,已经成功从嗅黏膜间充质干细胞（olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells,OM-MSCs）分离、鉴定了其外泌体,然而,OM-MSCs源外泌体对血管生成的影响尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨OM-MSCs来源外泌体对内皮细胞血管生成能力的影响。采用PKH67 荧光标记OM-MSCs源外泌体,与人脑微血管内皮细胞（human brain microvessel endothelial cells, HBMECs) 共培养,观察 OM-MSCs外泌体能否进入 HBMECs。采用CCK-8法、Transwell 迁移实验和小管实验,观察 OM-MSCs外泌体对 HBMECs增殖、迁移及管状结构形成的影响。采用基质胶塞实验及CD31免疫荧光,观察OM-MSCs外泌体在体内对血管生成的影响。上述研究均以等量 PBS 作为对照。结果提示,OM-MSCs外泌体可被HBMECs 摄取。CCK-8 法检测显示,在处理1、2、3、4、5 d各时间点,实验组细胞增殖均优于对照组（1.32±0.14 vs. 0.98±0.04, 1.36±0.14 vs.1.04±0.06, 1.75±0.18 vs.1.33±0.11, 2.16±0.11 vs.1.50±0.19, 2.71±0.11 vs. 1.81±0.20, P<0.01）。Transwell 实验结果显示,实验组跨膜迁移细胞吸光度值较对照组显著增多（1.12±0.05 vs.0.02±0.02, P<0.05）。在体外小管实验中,从节点、交叉点、网眼数、血管分支数和总长度5个方面,实验组均高于空白对照组（374.33±127.74 vs. 193.33±44.79, 104.56±33.07 vs. 54.33±11.65, 20.11±11.20 vs. 7.56±3.64, 81.67±19.07 vs. 57.00±13.02, 11466.22±2781.03 vs. 8544.00±1848.61, P<0.05）;在体内实验中,实验组成血管及CD31阳性率（%）亦显著高于对照组（85.00±5.57 vs.8.00±2.08, P<0.05）。本研究表明：OM-MSCs外泌体可促进 HBMECs 增殖、迁移及管样结构形成,提示OM-MSCs外泌体可促进血管新生。     

扬州宝应湖底栖大型无脊椎动物的生物多样性及其变化

底栖大型无脊椎动物作为水环境监测的重要指示生物, 其群落结构和多样性能够有效地反映水环境的健康状况。为了更好地了解扬州宝应湖大型底栖动物的群落多样性, 本文于2015-2019年对扬州宝应湖底栖大型无脊椎动物进行野外调查和采样, 联合经典形态学和高通量测定DNA条形码方法进行物种鉴定, 进一步分析了这些大型无脊椎动物群落结构和多样性的年度变化, 并应用Shannon-Wiener指数(H′)和污染生物指数(biotic index, BI)对水质状况进行生物评价。结果显示: 共记录大型底栖动物3门5纲57种, 其中软体动物门23种, 隶属2纲9科(腹足纲7科15种, 双壳纲2科8种); 环节动物门寡毛纲12种, 隶属2科; 节肢动物门22种, 隶属2纲6科(软甲纲4科5种, 昆虫纲2科17种)。腹足纲是优势类群, 5年间的密度占比均在65%以上。优势种是赤豆螺(Bithynia fuchsiana)、槲豆螺(B. misella)和长角涵螺(Alocinma longicornis)。Margalef丰富度指数(2.27 ± 0.28)、Simpson优势度指数(0.82 ± 0.02)和Pielou均匀度指数(0.78 ± 0.08)在5年间呈现明显的波动变化。对水质状况的生物评价结果表明, 湖区水体环境在5年间均呈现不同程度的污染状态, 这与过度围湖水产养殖等经济活动引起水体富营养化有一定关系。     

The testis‐specific gene 1700102P08Rik is essential for male fertility

Male infertility is a rising problem around the world. Often the cause of male infertility is unclear, and this hampers diagnosis and treatment. Spermatogenesis is a complex process under sophisticated regulation by many testis‐specific genes. Here, we report the testis‐specific gene 1700102P08Rik is conserved in both the human and mouse and highly expressed in spermatocytes. To investigate the role of 1700102P08Rik in male fertility, knockout mice were generated by CRISPR‐Cas9. 1700102P08Rik knockout male mice were infertile with smaller testis and epididymis, but female knockout mice retained normal fertility. Spermatogenesis in the 1700102P08Rik knockout male mouse was arrested at the spermatocyte stage, and no sperm were found in the epididymis. The deletion of 1700102P08Rik causes apoptosis in the testis but did not affect the serum concentration of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle‐stimulating hormone or the synapsis and recombination of homologous chromosomes. We also found that 1700102P08Rik is downregulated in spermatocyte arrest in men. Together, these results indicate that the 1700102P08Rik gene is essential for spermatogenesis and its dysfunction leads to male infertility.