Rainfall manipulation experiments as simulated by terrestrial biosphere models: Where do we stand?

Changes in rainfall amounts and patterns have been observed and are expected to continue in the near future with potentially significant ecological and societal consequences. Modelling vegetation responses to changes in rainfall is thus crucial to project water and carbon cycles in the future. In this study, we present the results of a new model‐data intercomparison project, where we tested the ability of 10 terrestrial biosphere models to reproduce the observed sensitivity of ecosystem productivity to rainfall changes at 10 sites across the globe, in nine of which, rainfall exclusion and/or irrigation experiments had been performed. The key results are as follows: (a) Inter‐model variation is generally large and model agreement varies with timescales. In severely water‐limited sites, models only agree on the interannual variability of evapotranspiration and to a smaller extent on gross primary productivity. In more mesic sites, model agreement for both water and carbon fluxes is typically higher on fine (daily–monthly) timescales and reduces on longer (seasonal–annual) scales. (b) Models on average overestimate the relationship between ecosystem productivity and mean rainfall amounts across sites (in space) and have a low capacity in reproducing the temporal (interannual) sensitivity of vegetation productivity to annual rainfall at a given site, even though observation uncertainty is comparable to inter‐model variability. (c) Most models reproduced the sign of the observed patterns in productivity changes in rainfall manipulation experiments but had a low capacity in reproducing the observed magnitude of productivity changes. Models better reproduced the observed productivity responses due to rainfall exclusion than addition. (d) All models attribute ecosystem productivity changes to the intensity of vegetation stress and peak leaf area, whereas the impact of the change in growing season length is negligible. The relative contribution of the peak leaf area and vegetation stress intensity was highly variable among models.     

Behavioral cues associated with oviposition by Trioza eugeniae

Trioza eugeniae oviposited significantly more eggs on Syzygium paniculatum leaves free of eggs compared to leaves with pre-existing eggs in a choice experiment, suggesting that females modify oviposition based on cues associated with the presence of eggs. In separate experiments, females avoided ovipositing on parts of leaves where eggs were present, but readily oviposited on areas of the same leaf without eggs. Epideictic pheromones are apparently not used by this species because females readily oviposited on areas of a leaf from which eggs had previously been removed. Females laid 57% of all their eggs along the margins of normal leaves, but also oviposited on artificial margins produced by cutting the leaves. The preference for natural margins over artificial margins was eliminated when the entire margin was coated with an antitranspirant compound to mask the damaged edge. These studies show that ovipositing psyllids respond both to the presence of eggs and to the suitability of the substrate.     

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia purpura in a Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)

A 10-y-old multiparous rhesus macaque presented for an annual routine physical examination. Clinically, the animal had pale mucous membranes, petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages in multiple sites, and a laceration at the tail base. Severe pancytopenia was noted on hematologic evaluation. The monkey was seronegative for SIV, simian T-lymphotropic virus, simian retrovirus type D, and Macacine herpesvirus 1. Bone marrow evaluation revealed a paucity of megakaryocytic precursors in a hypercellular marrow with marked erythroid hyperplasia. In light of these findings, the diagnosis was acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia purpura. Due to the poor prognosis of the syndrome and clinical deterioration of the monkey, euthanasia was elected. A definitive cause of the thrombocytopenia was not identified; however, the syndrome may have developed secondary to a recent spontaneous abortion. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported observation of acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia purpura in a rhesus monkey.     

Perspectives of taste reception

Summary Ion: solute cotransporters frequency are incapable of achieving equilibrium between the solute accumulation and the transmembrane difference of the electrochemical potential of the ion. The presence of uncoupled flows of ion and solutes (leaks) is often advanced as an explanation. Here an alternative is discussed. The net accumulation of solute may be so slow that equilibrium can never be attained at finite times (e.g., several hours). Cotransporters may exhibit strong product inhibition, and the net influx of solute approaches zero far from equilibrium. The inherent slowness of net transport under these conditions is termed catalytic inefficiency. The likelihood that galactoside: H⁺ cotransport inEscherichia coli, hexose: H⁺ cotransport inChlorella vulgaris, andd-glucose: Na⁺ cotransport in brush-border membranes exhibit catalytic inefficiency is examined. The existence of strong product inhibition complicates the determination of the stoichiometry of cotransport and the characterization of chemically modified or mutant cotransporters.     

Long-term cathode performance and the microbial communities that develop in microbial fuel cells fed different fermentation endproducts

To better understand how cathode performance and substrates affected communities that evolved in these reactors over long periods of time, microbial fuel cells were operated for more than 1 year with individual endproducts of lignocellulose fermentation (acetic acid, formic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, or ethanol). Large variations in reactor performance were primarily due to the specific substrates, with power densities ranging from 835 ± 21 to 62 ± 1 mW/m³. Cathodes performance degraded over time, as shown by an increase in power of up to 26% when the cathode biofilm was removed, and 118% using new cathodes. Communities that developed on the anodes included exoelectrogenic families, such as Rhodobacteraceae, Geobacteraceae, and Peptococcaceae, with the Deltaproteobacteria dominating most reactors. Pelobacter propionicus was the predominant member in reactors fed acetic acid, and it was abundant in several other MFCs. These results provide valuable insights into the effects of long-term MFC operation on reactor performance.     

The production of artemisinin precursors in tobacco

Artemisinin, in the form of artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs), is currently the most important compound in the treatment of malaria. The current commercial source of artemisinin is Artemisia annua, but this represents a relatively expensive source for supplying the developing world. In this study, the possibility of producing artemisinin in genetically modified plants is investigated, using tobacco as a model. Heterologous expression of A. annua amorphadiene synthase and CYP71AV1 in tobacco led to the accumulation of amorphadiene and artemisinic alcohol, but not artemisinic acid. Additional expression of artemisinic aldehyde Δ11(13) double‐bond reductase (DBR2) with or without aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) led to the additional accumulation dihydroartemisinic alcohol. The above‐mentioned results and in vivo metabolic experiments suggest that amorphane sesquiterpenoid aldehydes are formed, but conditions in the transgenic tobacco cells favour reduction to alcohols rather than oxidation to acids. The biochemical and biotechnological significance of these results are discussed.     

Aluminium,boron and molybdenum availability and uptake by rice in acid sulfate soils

Although Al toxicity is believed to be a problem in acid sulfate soils cropped to rice (Oryza, sativa L.), little is known about the behavior of other trace metals such as B and Mo in these soils. The objectives of this study were to measure the availability of Al, B, and Mo in these soils, to determine what governs the availability of these metals and to investigate the relationships between metal availability and uptake by rice. Metal availability and uptake by rice were evaluated in 134 flooded acid sulfate soils in the Central Plains region of Thailand and in a growth chamber study using 50 of the same soils. Soil and plant metal analyses were conducted at the panicle differentiation stage of growth in both studies and in the soil prior to transplanting in the growth chamber study. Metal activities were determined with GEOCHEM. The mineral phases believed to be governing Al³⁺ activities were jurbanite under low pH conditions and amorphous Al(OH)₃ at high pH. The Al chemistry is believed to be intimately linked to the redox-pH cycle, which is driven by the monsoonal climate. Mortality of rice associated with Al toxicity was observed under field and growth chamber conditions. Interference in P uptake and/or assimilation was believed to be the mechanism of Al toxicity. Activities of B(OH) ₄ ^– and B(OH) ₃ ⁰ were found to be highly correlated to pH and ionic strength, respectively, with the latter being the dominant B ion found in these soils. Activities of MoO ₄ ^2– were positively correlated to pH and appeared to be controlled by wulfenite. Leaf Mo contents were found to be positively correlated with MoO ₄ ^2– activity.     

Dual-probe system using pyrenylmethyl-modified amino-LNA for mismatch detection

A dual-probe containing pyrenylmethyl amino-LNA has been developed for sensitive mismatch detection. While hybridization with complementary DNA/RNA results in very strong excimer signals, exposure to singly mismatched DNA/RNA targets results in significantly decreased excimer emission.     

Comparison of library screening techniques used in the development of dsDNA ligands

The gel retardation and FID (fluorescent intercalator displacement) techniques have been compared for the selection of dsDNA binding ligands out of library mixtures. The selection procedure involves the synthesis and screening of unnatural oligopeptide libraries based on an iterative deconvolution procedure. Both methods yield comparable selection results and binding constants for the selected compounds, meaning that they can be considered as complementary in the discovery process of new antigene compounds. Furthermore, a quinazolin-2,4-dione amino acid has been identified as possessing interesting properties for interaction with dsDNA.