Proposal of Ensifer psoraleae sp. nov., Ensifer sesbaniae sp. nov., Ensifer morelense comb. nov. and Ensifer americanum comb. nov

In a survey of rhizobia associated with the native legumes in Yunnan Province, China, seven and nine strains isolated from the root nodules of Psoralea corylifolia, Sesbania cannabina and Medicago lupulina were respectively classified into the novel genomic species groups I and II in the genus Ensifer (former Sinorhizobium) based on the sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. Analyses of concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD, recA and glnII) further revealed that they were distinct lineages in the genus, and group I was most similar to Ensifer terangae and Ensifer garamanticus (both with 94.2% similarity), while group II was most similar to Ensifer adhaerens (94.0%). These groups could be distinguished from closely related species by DNA–DNA relatedness, MALID-TOF MS, cellular fatty acid profiles and a series of phenotypic characters. Therefore, two novel species were proposed: Ensifer psoraleae sp. nov. (seven strains, type strain CCBAU 65732^T = LMG 26835^T = HAMBI 3286^T) and Ensifer sesbaniae sp. nov. (nine strains, type strain CCBAU 65729^T = LMG 26833^T = HAMBI 3287^T). They had a DNA G + C mol% (T_m) of 58.9 and 60.4, respectively. Both of the type strains formed effective nodules on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and their hosts of origin. In addition, the previously described species Sinorhizobium morelense and Sinorhizobium americanum were renamed as Ensifer morelense comb. nov. and Ensifer americanum comb. nov. according to the accumulated data from different studies.     

Effects of 12‐Hour Rotating Shifts on Menstrual Cycles of Photoelectronic Workers in Taiwan

12 h rotating shifts are common in high‐tech industries in Taiwan. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the effect of the disruption of circadian rhythms by the shift schedule on menstrual cycle length (MCL) and regularity of female workers at an optoelectronic company in Taiwan. We recruited females who worked rotating shifts in a clean room environment as the shift‐work group and female office workers who worked normal business hours as the comparison group. Every participant recorded their MCL for each menstruation cycle up to eight consecutive months prospectively and provided demographic characteristics, reproductive history, and menstrual characteristics. We collected data on 1,135 and 117 menstruation cycles in the shift‐work (n=280) and comparison groups (n=49). Whereas the two groups had similar group means for MCL and number of menstrual bleeding days, the prevalence of menstrual cycle irregularity (cycles<25 or>35 days) was higher in the shift‐work group (p=0.04). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that rotating shift work was an independent predictor of menstrual cycle irregularity (odds ratio=1.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.88) after adjusting for shift‐work history, employment duration, coffee consumption, and pre‐employment menstrual cycle irregularity. Although further study is required to confirm our findings plus to explore prevention and control measures, our data indicate rotating shift work can increase the risk of MCL irregularity.     

Pb and Cd Bioaccumulations in the Habitat and Preys of Red-Crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) in Zhalong Wetland, Northeastern China

Pb and Cd concentrations in the habitat and preys of the red-crowned crane (i.e., reed rhizomes and three typical aquatic animal families (Perccottus glehni Dybowski, Carassius auratus Linnaeus, and Viviparidae)) were analyzed to examine the impact of these hazards on red-crowned cranes in northeastern China. Results indicated that Pb and Cd concentrations in the preys of the red-crowned cranes were elevated via food chain. Most of the detected Pb and Cd contents in the sediments were above the natural background level, ranging from 9.85 to 129.72 ppm and 1.23 to 10.63 ppm (dry weight), respectively. Cd geo-accumulation index at all sites were larger than 3, even reached 5.22, suggesting serious pollution in this region. Three common water animal families were detected to contain heavy metals, following the order of increasing concentrations: primary consumers (i.e., Viviparidae and Carassius auratus Linnaeus)?<?secondary consumers (i.e., Perccottus glehni Dybowski). Pb and Cd concentrations in the buffer zone are significantly higher than in the core area and being elevated in the food chain. The molten feathers of the red-crowned cranes showed the highest toxic metal concentrations of Pb (2.09 to 5.81 ppm) and Cd (1.42 to 3.06 ppm) compared with the feces produced by cranes and residual eggshell left by water fowls. Exceptionally high Pb and Cd concentrations in the cranes and their preys were thought to be associated with their habitat.     

Autophagy alleviates neurodegeneration caused by mild impairment of oxidative metabolism

Thiamine deficiency (TD) causes mild impairment of oxidative metabolism and region‐selective neuronal loss in the brain, which may be mediated by neuronal oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and neuroinflammation. TD‐induced brain damage is used to model neurodegenerative disorders, and the mechanism for the neuronal death is still unclear. We hypothesized that autophagy might be activated in the TD brain and play a protective role in TD‐induced neuronal death. Our results demonstrated that TD induced the accumulation of autophagosomes in thalamic neurons measured by transmission electron microscopy, and the up‐regulation of autophagic markers LC3‐II, Atg5, and Beclin1 as measured with western blotting. TD also increased the expression of autophagic markers and induced LC3 puncta in SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. TD‐induced expression of autophagic markers was reversed once thiamine was re‐administered. Both inhibition of autophagy by wortmannin and Beclin1 siRNA potentiated TD‐induced death of SH‐SY5Y cells. In contrast, activation of autophagy by rapamycin alleviated cell death induced by TD. Intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin stimulated neuronal autophagy and attenuated TD‐induced neuronal death and microglia activation in the submedial thalamus nucleus (SmTN). TD inhibited the phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase, suggesting mTOR/p70S6 kinase pathway was involved in the TD‐induced autophagy. These results suggest that autophagy is neuroprotective in response to TD‐induced neuronal death in the central nervous system. This opens a potential therapeutic avenue for neurodegenerative diseases caused by mild impairment of oxidative metabolism.

     

Establishment of in vitro culture, plant regeneration, and genetic transformation of Camelina sativa

The results of establishing an in vitro culture, plantlet regeneration, and rooting of Camelina sativa cultivar Peremozhets and cultivar Mirazh are presented. The effective concentrations of sterilizing agents and the duration of plant material treatment were estimated. The phytohormone ratio, the sucrose concentration in the nutrient medium that induced the effective formation of C. sativa shoots, and the NAA concentration for plantlet rooting have been established. A method of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Camelina by using binary vector pGH217 carrying the reporter β-glucoronidase (gus) gene driven under the 35S CaMV promoter and nos-terminator, as well as the selective marker hpt gene conferring hygromycin-resistance in transgenic plant, was elaborated.     

黑龙江省野生东北虎调查管理信息系统的构建

文章以黑龙江省野生东北虎（Panthera tigris altaica）野外调查数据为基础,利用地理信息系统技术、计算机技术与野生动物资源调查管理技术,构建了黑龙江省野生东北虎调查管理信息系统。主要运用面向对象程序设计语言C#和ArcGIS Engine嵌入式组件技术以及SQL Server数据库技术,设计并构建东北虎调查管理系统,实现了对野生东北虎调查数据的图形可视化操作管理。同时,结合研究区域内的自然因素和人文因素对调查资源进行动态的空间分析,及时准确地反映出东北虎的种群数量和空间变化规律,并制作出相应的分类专题图及野外分布信息统计图表等。该管理信息系统将有助于野生东北虎种群及栖息地调查数据与资料的科学管理,对于推动我国野生东北虎就地保护和科学管理具有重要意义。     

三角鲂和长春鳊肌肉营养成分分析与品质评价

用常规方法测定、分析了三角鲂(Megalobrama tarminalis)和长春鳊(Parabramis pekinensis肌肉中营养成分组成与含量.结果显示,三角鲂肌肉蛋白质、脂肪含量分别为18.19％和3.06％,长春鳊肌肉蛋白质、脂肪含量分别为19.38％和2.89％.三角鲂和长春鳊肌肉中均检测出18种氨基酸,其中包括了8种人体必需氨基酸.三角鲂肌肉中氨基酸总量为76.27％,其中,8种人体必需氨基酸含量为32.17％,占氨基酸总量的42.18％;长春鳊肌肉中氨基酸总量为77.60％,其中,8种人体必需氨基酸含量为31.70％,占氨基酸总量的40.85％.必需氨基酸的构成比例基本符合FAO/WHO的标准.三角鲂肌肉中限制性氨基酸主要为甲硫氨酸加胱氨酸,必需氨基酸指数为63.55,4种呈味氨基酸为氨基酸总量的32.81％;长春鳊肌肉中限制性氨基酸主要为色氨酸,必需氨基酸指数为66.81,4种呈味氨基酸为氨基酸总量的33.80％.脂肪酸中二十碳五烯酸(EPA)与二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)含量均较高,三角鲂为7.96％,长春鳊为3.11％.矿物元素比值合理.以上分析表明,三角鲂和长春鳊均为营养价值、经济价值都较高的优质鱼类,相比而言,三角鲂肌肉脂肪、脂肪酸含量和质量更优,而长春鳊肌肉在蛋白质、氨基酸组成与含量方面更优.     

Photoperiodic reaction in the beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Pyraloidea, Crambidae) from eastern and western parts of its Eurasian range

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L., is a very dangerous polyphagous insect pest whose outbreaks periodically occur in southern Russia and northern China. The aim of our work was to describe the photoperiodic response of beet webworm populations from western (Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Province) and eastern [Buryatia and China (Hebei Province)] parts of the pest range. The insects were reared under constant photoperiods of 12–18 h and constant temperatures of 19–25°C. Incidence of diapause at different photoperiods did not show any considerable geographic differences, and the critical day length at which 50% of prepupae arrested their development was about 14–15 h in all the populations studied at experimental temperatures. The results obtained agree with the hypothesis on the existence of an area (or areas) where the pest survives during adverse periods and wherefrom it spreads when an outbreak begins (Saulich et al., 1983; Goryshin et al., 1986). Presumably, the larger part of the pest native habitats (to the north of the steppe zone) is occupied by temporary populations, incapable of surviving for long periods without an inflow of migrants from more southerly steppe regions.