不同干扰背景下农业景观异质性——以巩义市为例

景观异质性包括景观组成和构型的异质性,而人为干扰是形成异质性景观的主要影响因素。以河南省巩义市为例,在以建成区、农田、丘陵和山地为主体的景观中各选取一个4km×4km的样区,采用移动窗口算法,以100、250、500、1000、1250m和1500m为移动窗口半径,借用蔓延度(CONT)和均匀度(SHEI)指数,分析了不同干扰背景下景观异质性的空间变化特征。结果表明:随着移动窗口半径的增大,各景观类型的蔓延度和均匀度指数的最大值逐渐递减,最小值逐渐递增(建成区除外);建成区和农田景观蔓延度指数的平均值均大于丘陵和山地景观,均匀度指数的平均值则相反;4种类型景观的均匀度指数和蔓延度指数都呈显著相关关系,除建成区1000m及以上移动窗口半径外,R2都大于0.9;拟合曲线的β值基本呈递增趋势。文中对于人为干扰强度的差异性和景观异质性的尺度依赖性分析,为构建合理的景观格局提供了理论依据。     

耦合叶肉导度的陆面过程模型最大叶肉导度参数的敏感性分析

陆面过程模型添加叶肉导度能有效改善模型模拟的CO₂施肥效应精度,但叶肉导度模拟受最大叶肉导度参数取值的影响,优化模型中最大叶肉导度参数是改进陆面过程模型叶肉导度和CO₂施肥效应模拟的重要途径。以EALCO（Ecological Assimilation of Land and Climate Observations）模型为例添加叶肉导度,通过人为改变最大叶肉导度值的取值,分析模型输出结果对最大叶肉导度的响应,揭示最大叶肉导度参数在模型中的敏感性,并与已有研究结果或观测数据比较,探讨耦合叶肉导度的陆面过程模型最大叶肉导度参数优化的途径。模拟试验以美国哈佛森林典型温带落叶阔叶林生态监测站（US-Ha1 site,Harvard Forest Environmental Monitoring site）数据为驱动。结果显示：（1）随最大叶肉导度增加,总初级生产力（GPP, Gross Primary Production）模拟精度增加,但最大叶肉导度取值大于1.0 mol m^-2 s^-1后模拟精度改善有限,最大叶肉导度小于1.0 mol m^-2 s^-1时GPP模拟精度对最大叶肉导度变化响应敏感;（2）证实了叶肉导度与气孔导度之间存在明显线性关系,最大叶肉导度取值的变化能明显影响这种线性关系的斜率。当最大叶肉导度取值从0.5 mol m^-2 s^-1增加到1.2 mol m^-2 s^-1时,气孔导度与叶肉导度的比值从0.75左右降至0.36,这个结果表明,通过明确某一植被功能型叶肉导度与气孔导度比值,可以间接确定模型最大叶肉导度的合理取值范围;（3）证实了陆面过程模型添加叶肉导度能改进CO₂施肥效应模拟精度,最大叶肉导度值能影响施肥效应模拟结果,当最大叶肉导度高于0.57 mol m^-2 s^-1后,随最大叶肉导度增加,模拟GPP随大气CO₂浓度增加的增长率呈下降趋势;（4）在月尺度上叶肉导度模拟对最大叶肉导度值的敏感性随不同生长季而不同,在生长盛期的7、8月份最大叶肉导度对叶肉导度模拟结果影响最大,其次是5、6、9月份等生长次盛期,其他月份的影响较小。     

Association of heat-induced conformational change with activity loss of Rubisco.

Circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the thermal conformational change associated with the activity loss of spinach Rubisco. CD and intrinsic fluorescence demonstrated a three stage thermal unfolding of Rubisco. At 25-45 degrees C, the secondary structure did not change but the tertiary and/or quaternary structure changed obviously with increased temperature. In 45-60 degrees C, the secondary structure showed much change with increased temperature and the tertiary and/or quaternary structure changed much faster. Over 60 degrees C, whole conformation changed abruptly with increased temperature and finally unfolded completely. DSC, CD and activity assays after annealing showed that the conformational change and the activity loss of Rubisco were completely reversible if the heating temperature was below 45 degrees C, partly reversible between 45 and 60 degrees C, and irreversible beyond 60 degrees C.     

New Developed Cylindrical TM010 Mode EPR Cavity for X-Band In Vivo Tooth Dosimetry

EPR tooth in vivo dosimetry is an attractive approach for initial triage after unexpected nuclear events. An X-band cylindrical TM010 mode resonant cavity was developed for in vivo tooth dosimetry and used in EPR applications for the first time. The cavity had a trapezoidal measuring aperture at the exact position of the cavity’s cylindrical wall where strong microwave magnetic field H1 concentrated and weak microwave electric field E1 distributed. Theoretical calculations and simulations were used to design and optimize the cavity parameters. The cavity features were evaluated by measuring DPPH sample, intact incisor samples embed in a gum model and the rhesus monkey teeth. The results showed that the cavity worked at designed frequency and had the ability to make EPR spectroscopy in relative high sensitivity. Sufficient modulation amplitude and microwave power could be applied into the aperture. Radiation induced EPR signal could be observed remarkably from 1 Gy irradiated intact incisor within only 30 seconds, which was among the best in scan time and detection limit. The in vivo spectroscopy was also realized by acquiring the radiation induced EPR signal from teeth of rhesus monkey whose teeth was irradiated by dose of 2 Gy. The results suggested that the cavity was sensitive to meet the demand to assess doses of significant level in short time. This cavity provided a very potential option for the development of X-band in vivo dosimetry.     

Leucine-rich Repeat 11 of Toll-like Receptor 9 Can Tightly Bind to CpG-containing Oligodeoxynucleotides, and the Positively Charged Residues Are Critical for the High Affinity

TLR9 is a receptor for sensing bacterial DNA/CpG-containing oligonucleotides (CpG ODN). The extracellular domain (ECD) of human TLR9 (hTLR9) is composed of 25 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) contributing to the binding of CpG ODN. Herein, we showed that among LRR2, -5, -8, and -11, LRR11 of hTLR9 had the highest affinity for CpG ODN followed by LRR2 and -5, whereas LRR8 had almost no affinity. In vitro, preincubation with LRR11 more significantly decreased CpG ODN internalization, subsequent NF-κB activation, and cytokine release than with LRR2 and -5 in mouse peritoneal macrophages treated with CpG ODN. The LRR11 deletion mutant of hTLR9 conferred decreased cellular responses to CpG ODN. Single- or multiple-site mutants at five positively charged residues of LRR11 (LRR11m1-9), especially Arg-337 and Lys-367, were shown to contribute to hTLR9 binding of CpG ODN. LRR11m1-9 showed reduced inhibition of CpG ODN internalization and CpG ODN/TLR9 signaling, supporting the above findings. Prediction of whole hTLR9 ECD-CpG ODN interactions revealed that Arg-337 and Lys-338 directly contact CpG ODN through hydrogen bonding, whereas Lys-347, Arg-348, and His-353 contribute to stabilizing the shape of the ligand binding region. These findings suggested that although all five positively charged residues within LRR11 contributed to its high affinity, only Arg-337 and Lys-338 directly interacted with CpG ODN. In conclusion, the results suggested that LRR11 could strongly bind to CpG ODN, whereas mutations at the five positively charge residues reduced this high affinity. LRR11 may be further investigated as an antagonist of hTLR9.     

Growth, mechanical, thermal and spectral properties of Cr3+:MgMoO4 crystal

This paper reports the growth, mechanical, thermal and spectral properties of Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystals. The Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystals with dimensions up to 30 mm×18 mm×14 mm were obtained by TSSG method. The absorption cross-sections of (4)A(2)→(4)T(1) and (4)A(2)→(4)T(2) transitions are 12.94×10(-20) cm(2) at 493 nm and 7.89×10(-20) cm(2) at 705 nm for E//N(g), respectively. The Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystal shows broad band emission extending from 750 nm to 1300 nm with peak at about 705 nm. The emission cross-section with FWHM of 188 nm is 119.88×10(-20) cm(2) at 963 nm for E//N(g). The investigated results showed that the Cr(3+):MgMoO(4) crystal may be regarded as a potential tunable laser gain medium.     

Hyaluronic Acid-Modified Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for MR Imaging of Surgically Induced Endometriosis Model in Rats

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine, which may affect nearly 60% of women in reproductive age. Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) defined as an endometriotic lesion penetrating into the retroperitoneal space or the wall of the pelvic organs to a depth of at least 5 mm represents the most diagnostic challenge. Herein, we reported the use of hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (HA-Fe₃O₄ NPs) for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of endometriotic lesions in the rodent model. Sixteen endometriotic lesions were surgically induced in eight rats by autologous transplantation. Four weeks after lesion induction, three rats were scanned via MR imaging after tail vein injection of the HA-Fe₃O₄ NPs. Accordingly, the remaining five mice were sacrificed in the corresponding time points. The ectopic uterine tissues (EUTs) were confirmed by histological analysis. Quantification of Fe in the EUT was also performed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Our results showed that by using the HA-Fe₃O₄ NPs, the EUTs were able to be visualized via T₂-weighted MR imaging at 2 hours post injection, corroborating the Prussian blue staining results. The developed HA-Fe3O4 NPs could be used as negative contrast agents for sensitively detecting endometriosis in a mouse model and may be applied for future hyperthermia treatment of endometriosis.     

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of some 16E-arylidene androstane derivatives as potential anticancer agents

A series of new 16E-arylidene androstane derivatives were synthesized and characterized. The new compounds were screened for their anticancer activities against the human cancer cell lines SW480, A549, HepG2 and HeLa in vitro using the MTT assay. The results of the in vitro study showed that a number of compounds have shown IC₅₀ values lower than 20 μM against the four cancer cell lines.     

Soil Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment Near the Largest Landfill of China

To assess the extent and potential hazards of heavy metal pollution at Shanghai Laogang Landfill, the largest landfill in China, surface soil samples were collected near the landfill and concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr were determined. The results revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals, except Pb, were higher in the surface soil near the landfill than in the background soil. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis suggested that the enrichment of Cu in soil was probably related to agricultural activities and Cd and Pb to landfill leachates, whereas Zn and Cr concentrations were probably controlled by soil matrix characteristics. The pollution indices (PIs) of the metals were: Cd > Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb. Among the five measured metals, Cd showed the largest toxic response and might cause higher ecological hazards than other metals. The integrated potential eco-risk index (RI) of the five metals ranged from 26.0 to 104.9, suggesting a low-level eco-risk potential. This study indicated the accumulations of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cr did not reach high pollution levels, and therefore posed a low eco-risk potential in surface soil near the landfill.