Cytogenetic and electrophoretic evidence for a polyploid origin of the basic chromosome number x = 14 in the genusAsphodelus (Liliaceae)

Cytogenetic and electrophoretic analyses on 2n = 28 strains ofAsphodelus cerasiferus strongly suggest that the basic number x = 14 of the genusAsphodelus is of secondary polyploid origin from x = 7.     

Further studies on polyploid amphibians

The manner in which centromere regions of mitotic chromosomes are distributed with respect to the age of their DNA was studied. Cells of the Indian deer, Muntiacus muntjak, were grown in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for two generations and stained with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258. Chromatids containing granddaughter DNA appear dim when compared with those containing grandparental DNA. The frequencies of the various anaphase patterns of bright and dim centromere regions were binomially distributed, indicating random distribution of chromatids with respect to the age of their DNA templates.     

广竹的生物学特性及栽培技术研究

对广竹的生物学特性及栽培技术研究结果表明:广竹的出笋历期较短且非常集中,出笋高峰期集中在4月上旬,出笋数量占全期出笋总数的62.7%;幼竹高生长及枝条生长曲线均呈"S"形,遵循慢—快—慢的节律;此竹种属于混生竹,可移竹繁殖和埋鞭繁殖,前一方法的繁殖效果较好,成活率可达60%,而埋鞭繁殖效果相对较差,成活率只有38%,最佳繁殖时间宜在12月下旬至次年2月进行;根据其各生长阶段的生长规律、无性繁殖栽培技术以及生产实践,提出了主要栽培技术措施。     

基于湿度分布特征的小尺度土壤碳通量空间采样策略

由于土壤碳通量的空间异质性很强,传统的随机抽样方法无法对区域土壤碳通量进行准确估算,而多点采样需耗费大量的人力及设备成本,因此确定适当的采样点数量及分布策略对于区域土壤碳通量的测算非常重要。提出一种基于湿度空间分布特征的小尺度土壤碳通量空间采样策略:首先利用无线传感网密集测量区域的土壤湿度,根据湿度数据的空间分布特征划分监测区域,通过Hammond Mc Cullagh方程计算各子区域内的最优采样点数量,最终确定整个监测区域的空间采样点部署策略。提出的方法考虑了各子区域间土壤碳通量空间分布的差异,使得采样点的部署位置与土壤碳通量的分布具有较好的相关性。研究结果证明:土壤碳通量部署策略能够获得比均匀部署策略、随机部署策略更高的区域土壤碳通量估算准确度。     

Ultrahigh resolution drug design. II. Atomic resolution structures of human aldose reductase holoenzyme complexed with Fidarestat and Minalrestat: implications for the binding of cyclic imide inhibitors

The X-ray structures of human aldose reductase holoenzyme in complex with the inhibitors Fidarestat (SNK-860) and Minalrestat (WAY-509) were determined at atomic resolutions of 0.92 A and 1.1 A, respectively. The hydantoin and succinimide moieties of the inhibitors interacted with the conserved anion-binding site located between the nicotinamide ring of the coenzyme and active site residues Tyr48, His110, and Trp111. Minalrestat's hydrophobic isoquinoline ring was bound in an adjacent pocket lined by residues Trp20, Phe122, and Trp219, with the bromo-fluorobenzyl group inside the "specificity" pocket. The interactions between Minalrestat's bromo-fluorobenzyl group and the enzyme include the stacking against the side-chain of Trp111 as well as hydrogen bonding distances with residues Leu300 and Thr113. The carbamoyl group in Fidarestat formed a hydrogen bond with the main-chain nitrogen atom of Leu300. The atomic resolution refinement allowed the positioning of hydrogen atoms and accurate determination of bond lengths of the inhibitors, coenzyme NADP+ and active-site residue His110. The 1'-position nitrogen atom in the hydantoin and succinimide moieties of Fidarestat and Minalrestat, respectively, form a hydrogen bond with the Nepsilon2 atom of His 110. For Fidarestat, the electron density indicated two possible positions for the H-atom in this bond. Furthermore, both native and anomalous difference maps indicated the replacement of a water molecule linked to His110 by a Cl-ion. These observations suggest a mechanism in which Fidarestat is bound protonated and becomes negatively charged by donating the proton to His110, which may have important implications on drug design.     

Detecting Invasions of Marine Organisms: Kamptozoan Case Histories

Detecting marine invasions can be challenging, especially for lesser-known taxa, and requires (a) thorough field surveys of the region of interest for members of the taxon, (b) systematic analyses to identify all species found, (c) literature searches for the worldwide distribution of these species and for previous records of the taxon in this region, and (d) application of rigorous criteria to assess whether each species found is native or introduced. We carried out these steps in order to detect and document kamptozoan (entoproct) invasions on the American mid-Atlantic coast. We report on the occurrence of two colonial kamptozoans (Barentsia benedeni, Loxosomatoides laevis) in Chesapeake Bay (Maryland and Virginia, USA). On the American Atlantic coast, B. benedeni had previously only been reported from Massachusetts, although this species has a worldwide distribution in bays and harbors. The genus Loxosomatoides had not previously been reported from North America and L. laevis was known only from India. Since the genus Loxosomatoides was very poorly characterized, we briefly review all four of its species, which differ only slightly from each other. We have also synonymized L. japonicum with L. laevis. We did not find any of the kamptozoan species previously recorded in surveys of Chesapeake Bay and the American Atlantic coast. This is the first detailed consideration of anthropogenic influences on kamptozoan distributions, and we emphasize that most kamptozoan species are cryptogenic pending further investigation.     

神经导管研究与进展

随着机械化程度的提高和交通事业的发展,周围神经损伤发生率大幅度的上升。虽然通过手术的方法可以进行端对端的缝合,但是神经恢复的效果仍然不理想,特别是存在神经短距离缺损时,神经导管可为神经的修复提供一个合适的微环境,使得神经纤维能够再生并顺利到达远端。本文介绍了受损神经恢复效果的评价标准,神经导管材料的研究进展,神经生长因子对神经再生的影响因素及作用机理,和神经导管的制备方法,且在总结前人研究的基础上,给出适合于神经导管支架所需的材料和结构要求。     

木薯雌雄花分化形态结构观察及生理调控研究

本研究以木薯品种新选048为试验材料,观察和测定木薯花分化各时期的形态结构、内源激素及碳氮化合物含量,并开展木薯雌雄花分化的外源激素调控研究,揭示木薯花分化规律,初步探究木薯花分化的生理机制.试验结果表明:木薯从花芽分化开始到完成开花的全过程需要30 d,分化出的花序主要有全雄花序和雌少雄多花序两种类型,木薯性别分化前...