Woody encroachment and forest degradation in sub-Saharan Africa's woodlands and savannas 1982–2006

We review the literature and find 16 studies from across Africa''s savannas and woodlands where woody encroachment dominates. These small-scale studies are supplemented by an analysis of long-term continent-wide satellite data, specifically the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series from the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) dataset. Using dry-season data to separate the tree and grass signals, we find 4.0% of non-rainforest woody vegetation in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding West Africa) significantly increased in NDVI from 1982 to 2006, whereas 3.52% decreased. The increases in NDVI were found predominantly to the north of the Congo Basin, with decreases concentrated in the Miombo woodland belt. We hypothesize that areas of increasing dry-season NDVI are undergoing woody encroachment, but the coarse resolution of the study and uncertain relationship between NDVI and woody cover mean that the results should be interpreted with caution; certainly, these results do not contradict studies finding widespread deforestation throughout the continent. However, woody encroachment could be widespread, and warrants further investigation as it has important consequences for the global carbon cycle and land–climate interactions.     

Two sexes,one genome: the evolutionary dynamics of intralocus sexual conflict

As the evolutionary interests of males and females are frequently divergent, a trait value that is optimal for the fitness of one sex is often not optimal for the other. A shared genome also means that the same genes may underlie the same trait in both sexes. This can give rise to a form of sexual antagonism, known as intralocus sexual conflict (IASC). Here, a tug‐of‐war over allelic expression can occur, preventing the sexes from reaching optimal trait values, thereby causing sex‐specific reductions in fitness. For some traits, it appears that IASC can be resolved via sex‐specific regulation of genes that subsequently permits sexual dimorphism; however, it seems that whole‐genome resolution may be impossible, due to the genetic architecture of certain traits, and possibly due to the changing dynamics of selection. In this review, we explore the evolutionary mechanisms of, and barriers to, IASC resolution. We also address the broader consequences of this evolutionary feud, the possible interactions between intra‐ and interlocus sexual conflict (IRSC: a form of sexual antagonism involving different loci in each sex), and draw attention to issues that arise from using proxies as measurements of conflict. In particular, it is clear that the sex‐specific fitness consequences of sexual dimorphism require characterization before making assumptions concerning how this relates to IASC. Although empirical data have shown consistent evidence of the fitness effects of IASC, it is essential that we identify the alleles mediating these effects in order to show IASC in its true sense, which is a “conflict over shared genes.”     

The role of the state in the transformation of the nationalist movements of the 1960s: Comparing Wales and Quebec

This article examines the dynamics of ethnicity in Nigeria. It argues that ethnic debates and disputes are not just about the possession of power but also about the morality of power and the empowerment of civil society. Ethnicity is represented as the quest for dominance and the voice of civil society and accountability. The acute mistrusts and fears that condition ethnic conflict are analysed in the context of these rival visions of ethnicity as dominance and resistance.     

Atomic Resolution Structure of the Orotidine 5′-Monophosphate Decarboxylase Product Complex Combined with Surface Plasmon Resonance Analysis: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CATALYTIC MECHANISM*

Orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (ODCase) accelerates the decarboxylation of its substrate by 17 orders of magnitude. One argument brought forward against steric/electrostatic repulsion causing substrate distortion at the carboxylate substituent as part of the catalysis has been the weak binding affinity of the decarboxylated product (UMP). The crystal structure of the UMP complex of ODCase at atomic resolution (1.03 Å) shows steric competition between the product UMP and the side chain of a catalytic lysine residue. Surface plasmon resonance analysis indicates that UMP binds 5 orders of magnitude more tightly to a mutant in which the interfering side chain has been removed than to wild-type ODCase. These results explain the low affinity of UMP and counter a seemingly very strong argument against a contribution of substrate distortion to the catalytic reaction mechanism of ODCase.     

藓类植物DNA条码的初步研究——以蔓藓科部分属为例

选取7个叶绿体基因片段,其中3个编码区基因片段（matK,rps4 and rbcL-a）和4个非编码区基因片段（atpB-rbcL,atpF-H,psbK-Iandtrn H-psbA）,一个线粒体基因片段（nad5）和一个核基因片段（ITS2）,材料包括5个属14个种的74份样品。分析比较了6个基因片段的多样性、种内和种间的遗传距离、鉴别率等。结果显示,在使用单个片段时ITS2的鉴定效果最好,而atpB-rbcL则是叶绿体基因片段中鉴别能力最高的。使用组合片段的结果发现,两个基因片段组合的鉴别效果最好。通过NJ树的方法检验,atpB-rbcL＋trn H-psbA和rbcL-a＋＋trn H-psbA的鉴定成功率是64%,当再增加一个或两个基因片段时其鉴定效果并没有提高。本研究表明在植物中应用DNA条码需要用质体基因和核基因联合。     

Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of rac-1-phenylethanol in ionic liquids and ionic liquids/supercritical carbon dioxide systems

Continuous dynamic kinetic resolution processes in different ionic liquid/supercritical carbon dioxide biphasic systems were carried out by simultaneously using both immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) and silica modified with benzenosulfonic acid (SCX) catalysts at 40°C and 10 MPa. SCX was seen to act as an efficient heterogeneous chemical catalyst for the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol in different ionic liquid media ([emim][NTf₂], [btma][NTf₂] and [bmim][PF₆]). Coating both chemical and enzymatic catalysts with ILs greatly improved the efficiency of the process, providing a good yield (76%) of (R)-1-phenylethyl propionate product with excellent enantioselectivity (ee = 91–98%) in continuous operation.     

Synthesis and lipase-catalyzed resolution studies on novel (±)-2-(2-acetoxyethyl)-4-arylmethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates

Five novel methyl (±)-2-(2-acetoxyethyl)-4-arylmethyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates have been synthesized and their lipase-catalyzed resolution via stereoselective deacetylation of acetoxyethyl moiety present in the molecule studied. It has been observed that Novozyme^®-435 in THF efficiently catalyses the enantioselective deacetylation of these acetoxyethyl dihydrobenzoxazines leading to the formation of optically enriched methyl (+)-4-arylmethyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylates. The biocatalytic reaction was found to be chemoselective alongwith being enantioselective, because the lipase exclusively catalyses the deesterification of the ester function derived from the alcoholic hydroxy moiety in the molecule over the one derived from the aromatic carboxylic acid group.     

Effect of organic cosolvent on kinetic resolution of tert-leucine by penicillin G acylase from Kluyvera citrophila

Penicillin G acylase (PGA) from Kluyvera citrophila immobilized on Amberzyml was used for enantioselective hydrolysis of N-phenylacetylated-dl-tert-leucine (N-Phac-dl-Tle) to produce l-tert-leucine (l-Tle). The effects of various organic cosolvents on hydrolysis of N-Phac-dl-Tle have been investigated in aqueous-cosolvent medium. It was founded that the rate of PGA-catalyzed reaction was significantly affected by the presence of 2% (v/v) organic cosolvent concentration. The initial rate fell with increasing logP of the cosolvent, but for logP values less than −0.24 the rate was faster than in purely aqueous medium. Additionally, the relative rate increases with the increase of dielectric constant (ε) of organic cosolvents. The yields of l-Tle in all aqueous-cosolvent systems were above 95% with the enantiomeric excess (ee) of >99%.     

Annexin A1 interaction with the FPR2/ALX receptor: identification of distinct domains and downstream associated signaling

Understanding how proresolving agonists selectively activate FPR2/ALX is a crucial step in the clarification of proresolution molecular networks that can be harnessed for the design of novel therapeutics for inflammatory disease. FPR2/ALX, a G protein-coupled receptor belonging to the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) family, conveys the biological functions of a variety of ligands, including the proresolution mediators annexin A1 (AnxA1) and lipoxin A(4), as well as the activating and proinflammatory protein serum amyloid A. FPR2/ALX is the focus of intense screening for novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics, and the small molecule compound 43 was identified as a receptor ligand. Here, we used chimeric FPR1 and FPR2/ALX clones (stably transfected in HEK293 cells) to identify the N-terminal region and extracellular loop II as the FPR2/ALX domain required for AnxA1-mediated signaling. Genomic responses were also assessed with domain-specific effects emerging, so the N-terminal region is required for AnxA1 induction of JAG1 and JAM3, whereas it is dispensable for modulation of SGPP2. By comparison, serum amyloid A non-genomic responses were reliant on extracellular loops I and II, whereas the small molecule compound 43 activated extracellular loop I with downstream signaling dependent on transmembrane region II. In desensitization experiments, the N-terminal region was dispensable for AnxA1-induced FPR2/ALX down-regulation in both the homologous and heterologous desensitization modes.