Population density of aphids at the time of settling and ovariole maturation inCoccinella septempunctata [Col.: Coccinellidae]

In 1978 and 1979 in Central Bohemia the census of aphid populations on bean, sugar beet, cereals, maize, and alfalfa were taken at the time when overwinteredCoccinella septempunctata L. (1) settled and (2) the ovarioles of females ripened. Settling occurred immediately after aphid immigration. Minimum aphid density required for settling was estimated to about 10 aphids per 1 m² of field area. The aphid density at the time of ovariole ripening equaled 1 aphid per 200–400 cm² of leaf area.     

On preprocessing and antisymmetry in de novo peptide sequencing: improving efficiency and accuracy

Peptide sequencing plays a fundamental role in proteomics. Tandem mass spectrometry, being sensitive and efficient, is one of the most commonly used techniques in peptide sequencing. Many computational models and algorithms have been developed for peptide sequencing using tandem mass spectrometry. In this paper, we investigate general issues in de novo sequencing, and present results that can be used to improve current de novo sequencing algorithms. We propose a general preprocessing scheme that performs binning, pseudo-peak introduction, and noise removal, and present theoretical and experimental analyses on each of the components. Then, we study the antisymmetry problem and current assumptions related to it, and propose a more realistic way to handle the antisymmetry problem based on analysis of some datasets. We integrate our findings on preprocessing and the antisymmetry problem with some current models for peptide sequencing. Experimental results show that our findings help to improve accuracies for de novo sequencing.     

Characterization of humoral responses in mice immunized with plasmid DNAs encoding SARS-CoV spike gene fragments

The immunological characteristics of SARS-CoV spike protein were investigated by administering mice with plasmids encoding various S gene fragments. We showed that the secreting forms of S1, S2 subunits and the N-terminus of S1 subunit (residues 18-495) were capable of eliciting SARS-CoV specific antibodies and the region immediate to N-terminus of matured S1 protein contained an important immunogenic determinant for elicitation of SARS-CoV specific antibodies. In addition, mice immunized with plasmids encoding S1 fragment developed a Th1-mediated antibody isotype switching. Another interesting finding was that mouse antibodies elicited separately by plasmids encoding S1 and S2 subunits cooperatively neutralized SARS-CoV but neither the S1 nor S2 specific antibodies did, suggesting the possible role of both S1 and S2 subunits in host cell docking and entry. These results provide insights into understanding the immunological characteristics of spike protein and the development of subunit vaccines against SARS-CoV.     

Extraction and Isolation of Antifreeze Proteins from Winter Rye (Secale cereale L.) Leaves

Apoplastic extracts of cold-acclimated winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Musketeer) leaves were previously shown to exhibit antifreeze activity. The objectives of the present study were to identify and characterize individual antifreeze proteins present in the apoplastic extracts. The highest protein concentrations and antifreeze activity were obtained when the leaf apoplast was extracted with ascorbic acid and either CaCl2 or MgSO4. Seven major polypeptides were purified from these extracts by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. The five larger polypeptides, of 19, 26, 32, 34, and 36 kD, exhibited significant levels of antifreeze activity, whereas the 11- and 13-kD polypeptides showed only weak activity. Five of these polypeptides migrated with higher apparent molecular masses on SDS gels after treatment with 0.1 M dithiothreitol, which indicated the presence of intramolecular disulfide bonds. The apparent reduction of the disulfide bonds did not eliminate antifreeze activity in four of the polypeptides that contained intramolecular disulfide bonds and exhibited significant levels of antifreeze activity. The amino acid compositions of these polypeptides were similar in that they were all relatively enriched in the residues Asp/Asn, Glu/Gln, Ser, Thr, Gly, and Ala; they all lacked His, except for the 26-kD polypeptide, and they contained up to 5% Cys residues. These polypeptides were examined with antisera to other cystine-containing antifreeze proteins from fish and insects, and no common epitopes were detected. We conclude that cold-acclimated winter rye leaves produce multiple polypeptides with antifreeze activity that appear to be distinct from antifreezes produced by fish and insects.     

Melatonin against acute ischaemic stroke dependently via suppressing both inflammatory and oxidative stress downstream signallings

This study tested the hypothesis that melatonin (Mel) therapy preserved the brain architectural and functional integrity against ischaemic stroke (IS) dependently through suppressing the inflammatory/oxidative stress downstream signalling pathways. Adult male B6 (n = 6 per each B6 group) and TLR4 knockout (ie TLR4^?/?) (n = 6 per each TLR4^?/? group) mice were categorized into sham control (SC^B6), SC^TLR4?/?, IS^B6, IS^TLR4?/?, IS^B6 + Mel (i.p. daily administration) and IS^TLR4?/? + Mel (i.p. daily administration). By day 28 after IS, the protein expressions of inflammatory (HMBG1/TLR2/TLR4/MAL/MyD88/RAM TRIF/TRAF6/IKK‐α/p‐NF‐κB/nuclear‐NF‐κB/nuclear‐IRF‐3&7/IL‐1β/IL‐6/TNF‐α/IFN‐γ) and oxidative stress (NOX‐1/NOX‐2/ASK1/p‐MKK4&7/p‐JNK/p‐c‐JUN) downstream pathways as well as mitochondrial‐damaged markers (cytosolic cytochrome C/cyclophilin D/SRP1/autophagy) were highest in group IS^B6, lowest in groups SC^B6 and SC^TLR4?/?, lower in group IS^TLR4?/? + Mel than in groups IS^TLR4?/? and IS^B6 + Mel and lower in group IS^B6 + Mel than in group IS^TLR4?/? (all P < .0001). The brain infarct volume, brain infarct area and the number of inflammatory cells in brain (CD14/F4‐88) and in circulation (MPO+//Ly6C+/CD11b+//Ly6G+/CD11b+) exhibited an identical pattern, whereas the neurological function displayed an opposite pattern of inflammatory protein expression among the six groups (all P < .0001). In conclusion, TLR inflammatory and oxidative stress signallings played crucial roles for brain damage and impaired neurological function after IS that were significantly reversed by Mel therapy.     

不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果观察

目的：观察不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果。方法：将90例ASAI．II级、年龄18~60岁拟行腹腔镜妇科手术的患者随机分成3组,每组30例,A组给予地佐辛0．1mg／kg开皮前15rain静脉注射;B组给予地佐辛0．15mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射;C组给予地佐辛0．2mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射,采用VAS评分评估术后镇痛效果并观察术后辅助镇痛药物的使用和不良反应的发生情况。结果：B、c组术后2、4、6、8h的VAS评分明显低于A组（P〈0．05）;C组术后2、4h的Ramsay评分明显高于A、B组（P〈0.05）;A组术后辅助镇痛药的使用率明显高于B组和C组（P／0．05）;3组不良反应的发生率比较均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论：开皮前15rain静注地佐辛0．15mg／kg用于腹腔镜妇科手术镇痛效果好,且不增加不良反应的发生率。     

Sequential Polygyny During Egg Attendance is Rare in a Tree Frog and Does not Increase Male Fitness

Sequential polygyny is a reproductive strategy that allows males to continue to mate and compensates for the loss of future breeding opportunities incurred by parental care (i.e. egg attendance). Using the frog Kurixalus eiffengeri, we tested predictions that (1) attending males fathered two, overlapping clutches; and (2) that double clutching leads to improved offspring numbers. Using five microsatellite DNA markers, we genotyped 15 pairs of overlapping clutches, which differed slightly in developmental stage at a single egg‐laying site. Parentage analyses showed at least 12 of 15 pairs of overlapping egg clutches were sired by the attending male mated with different females, providing the first genetic evidence to support an earlier prediction that attending males sired both egg clutches. Field surveys found a low incidence of overlapping clutches (4.9% of 263 egg‐occupied stumps), suggesting sequential polygyny is uncommon. Stumps with multiple clutches contained significantly more eggs than stumps with single clutches but hatched similar number of tadpoles. Results suggest that continuous calling that attracts females during egg attendance is a reproductive tactic that maximizes mating opportunities. However, adoption of the sequential polygyny tactic may only result in marginal fitness gains for males that are traded off against average higher egg mortality in larger egg clutches.     

Fill Factor Losses in Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 Solar Cells: Insights from Physical and Electrical Characterization of Devices and Exfoliated Films

Besides the open circuit voltage (V_OC) deficit, fill factor (FF) is the second most significant parameter deficit for earth‐abundant kesterite solar cell technology. Here, various pathways for FF loss are discussed, with focus on the series resistance issue and its various contributing factors. Electrical and physical characterizations of the full range of bandgap (E_g = 1.0–1.5 eV) Cu₂ZnSn(S_xSe_1?x)₄ (CZTSSe) devices, as well as bare and exfoliated films with various S/(S + Se) ratios, are performed. High intensity Suns‐V_OC measurement indicates a nonohmic junction developing in high bandgap CZTSSe. Grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction, Raman mapping, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate the formation of Sn(S,Se)₂, Mo(S,Se)₂, and Zn(S,Se) at the high bandgap CZTSSe/Mo interface, contributing to the increased series resistance (R_S) and nonohmic back contact characteristics. This study offers some clues as to why the record‐CZTSSe solar cells occur within a bandgap range centered around 1.15 eV and offers some direction for further optimization.     

Genetic resources offer efficient tools for rice functional genomics research

Rice is an important crop and major model plant for monocot functional genomics studies. With the establishment of various genetic resources for rice genomics, the next challenge is to systematically assign functions to predicted genes in the rice genome. Compared with the robustness of genome sequencing and bioinformatics techniques, progress in understanding the function of rice genes has lagged, hampering the utilization of rice genes for cereal crop improvement. The use of transfer DNA (T‐DNA) insertional mutagenesis offers the advantage of uniform distribution throughout the rice genome, but preferentially in gene‐rich regions, resulting in direct gene knockout or activation of genes within 20–30 kb up‐ and downstream of the T‐DNA insertion site and high gene tagging efficiency. Here, we summarize the recent progress in functional genomics using the T‐DNA‐tagged rice mutant population. We also discuss important features of T‐DNA activation‐ and knockout‐tagging and promoter‐trapping of the rice genome in relation to mutant and candidate gene characterizations and how to more efficiently utilize rice mutant populations and datasets for high‐throughput functional genomics and phenomics studies by forward and reverse genetics approaches. These studies may facilitate the translation of rice functional genomics research to improvements of rice and other cereal crops.     

Differential recovery of membrane proteins after extraction by aqueous methanol and trifluoroethanol

Cell membrane proteome analysis is limited by inherent membrane hydrophobicity. Conventional membrane protein extraction techniques use detergents, chaotropes and organic acids that require sample clean-up or pH adjustment, and are associated with significant sample loss. We extracted membrane proteins from red blood cells (RBCs) using methanol (MeOH), trifluoroethanol (TFE) and urea, and identified membrane proteins using 2-D LC coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. We show that organic solvents MeOH- and TFE-based methods have membrane protein analysis efficiencies comparable to urea, and are complementary for the recovery of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic peptides. The mean grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) value of identified peptides from the TFE-based method (-0.107) was significantly higher than that of the MeOH-based method (-0.465) (p<0.001). Sequential and adjunctive use of the organic solvents MeOH and TFE increases the number of proteins identified, and the confidence of their identification. We show that this strategy is effective for shotgun membrane proteome analysis.