Gill morphometrics of the thresher sharks (Genus Alopias): Correlation of gill dimensions with aerobic demand and environmental oxygen

Gill morphometrics of the three thresher shark species (genus Alopias) were determined to examine how metabolism and habitat correlate with respiratory specialization for increased gas exchange. Thresher sharks have large gill surface areas, short water–blood barrier distances, and thin lamellae. Their large gill areas are derived from long total filament lengths and large lamellae, a morphometric configuration documented for other active elasmobranchs (i.e., lamnid sharks, Lamnidae) that augments respiratory surface area while limiting increases in branchial resistance to ventilatory flow. The bigeye thresher, Alopias superciliosus, which can experience prolonged exposure to hypoxia during diel vertical migrations, has the largest gill surface area documented for any elasmobranch species studied to date. The pelagic thresher shark, A. pelagicus, a warm‐water epi‐pelagic species, has a gill surface area comparable to that of the common thresher shark, A. vulpinus, despite the latter's expected higher aerobic requirements associated with regional endothermy. In addition, A. vulpinus has a significantly longer water–blood barrier distance than A. pelagicus and A. superciliosus, which likely reflects its cold, well‐oxygenated habitat relative to the two other Alopias species. In fast‐swimming fishes (such as A. vulpinus and A. pelagicus) cranial streamlining may impose morphological constraints on gill size. However, such constraints may be relaxed in hypoxia‐dwelling species (such as A. superciliosus) that are likely less dependent on streamlining and can therefore accommodate larger branchial chambers and gills. J. Morphol. 276:589–600, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Antibody fingerprints in lyme disease deciphered with high density peptide arrays

Lyme disease is the most common tick‐borne infectious disease in Europe and North America. Previous studies discovered the immunogenic role of a surface‐exposed lipoprotein (VlsE) of Borreliella burgdorferi. We employed high density peptide arrays to investigate the antibody response to the VlsE protein in VlsE‐positive patients by mapping the protein as overlapping peptides and subsequent in‐depth epitope substitution analyses. These investigations led to the identification of antibody fingerprints represented by a number of key residues that are indispensable for the binding of the respective antibody. This approach allows us to compare the antibody specificities of different patients to the resolution of single amino acids. Our study revealed that the sera of VlsE‐positive patients recognize different epitopes on the protein. Remarkably, in those cases where the same epitope is targeted, the antibody fingerprint is almost identical. Furthermore, we could correlate two fingerprints with human autoantigens and an Epstein‐Barr virus epitope; yet, the link to autoimmune disorders seems unlikely and must be investigated in further studies. The other three fingerprints are much more specific for B. burgdorferi. Since antibody fingerprints of longer sequences have proven to be highly disease specific, our findings suggest that the fingerprints could function as diagnostic markers that can reduce false positive test results.     

Trade‐off relationship between productivity and thallus toughness in Laminariales (Phaeophyceae)

Trade‐off relationships are considered key to understanding the mechanisms supporting the coexistence of multiple species within kelp beds. Thus, information on trade‐offs is expected to contribute to conservation of kelp bed diversity. To test the existence of a trade‐off between productivity and thallus toughness, thallus traits and relationships between the traits were examined for seven species of Laminariales including 24 populations. For each population, photosynthetic capacity per unit biomass (as A _mass) and nitrogen (i.e., photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency, PNUE), nitrogen content (as N _mass), thallus mass per unit thallus area (as TMA) and force required to penetrate the thallus (as F _p, a common index of leaf toughness in land plants by punch test) were determined. A _mass increased with increasing N _mass. Blades with high N _mass showed high A _mass. These blades may invest a large proportion of nitrogen to the photosynthetic parts, and consequently exhibit high metabolic rates. Moreover, blades with high N _mass tended to be associated with low TMA, and N _mass decreased with increasing TMA. A significant negative correlation was observed between TMA and A _mass because of the linkage of high A _mass with high N _mass and high N _mass associated with low TMA, while a significant positive correlation was observed between TMA and F _p. The two correlations indicate the existence of a trade‐off between productivity and thallus toughness in Laminariales. PNUE showed a significant negative correlation with TMA, which also showed a significant positive correlation with F _p as the index of thallus toughness, and therefore a trade‐off relationship between productivity and thallus toughness.     

Quantifying CD4 receptor protein in two human CD4+ lymphocyte preparations for quantitative flow cytometry

Background

In our previous study that characterized different human CD4+ lymphocyte preparations, it was found that both commercially available cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a commercially available lyophilized PBMC (Cyto-Trol™) preparation fulfilled a set of criteria for serving as biological calibrators for quantitative flow cytometry. However, the biomarker CD4 protein expression level measured for T helper cells from Cyto-Trol was about 16% lower than those for cryopreserved PBMC and fresh whole blood using flow cytometry and mass cytometry. A primary reason was hypothesized to be due to steric interference in anti- CD4 antibody binding to the smaller sized lyophilized control cells.

Method

Targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry (MS) is used to quantify the copy number of CD4 receptor protein per CD4+ lymphocyte. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is utilized to assist searching the underlying reasons for the observed difference in CD4 receptor copy number per cell determined by MRM MS and CD4 expression measured previously by flow cytometry.

Results

The copy number of CD4 receptor proteins on the surface of the CD4+ lymphocyte in cryopreserved PBMCs and in lyophilized control cells is determined to be (1.45 ± 0.09) × 10⁵ and (0.85 ± 0.11) × 10⁵, respectively, averaged over four signature peptides using MRM MS. In comparison with cryopreserved PBMCs, there are more variations in the CD4 copy number in lyophilized control cells determined based on each signature peptide. SEM images of CD4+ lymphocytes from lyophilized control cells are very different when compared to the CD4+ T cells from whole blood and cryopreserved PBMC.

Conclusion

Because of the lyophilization process applied to Cyto-Trol control cells, a lower CD4 density value, defined as the copy number of CD4 receptors per CD4+ lymphocyte, averaged over three different production lots is most likely explained by the loss of the CD4 receptors on damaged and/or broken microvilli where CD4 receptors reside. Steric hindrance of antibody binding and the association of CD4 receptors with other biomolecules likely contribute significantly to the nearly 50% lower CD4 receptor density value for cryopreserved PBMC determined from flow cytometry compared to the value obtained from MRM MS.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1559-0275-11-43) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Where the bears roam in Majella National Park,Italy

The Brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) occupies contiguous areas in Eastern and Northern Europe. In Western Europe, the largest remnant populations occur in Cantabria, Spain and the Apennines, Italy. Under Italian law the bear and its occupied range are protected. The occupied range of the Apennine brown bear includes Majella National Park. However, information on the distribution within Majella NP is extrapolated and inconsistent, thus precluding evidence-based protected area and species management. To address this lack of information, bear presence records (1996–2010) were collated and corrected for observational bias. Multiple Species Distribution Models (SDMs) were created at 800 m resolution to predict year-round and seasonal bear distribution. A hierarchical, stepwise maxent SDM approach was applied using climatic, terrain, vegetation, and anthropogenic predictors of bear distribution. Occupied ranges were identified by point density analysis of bear presence. Our climate-only SDMs predicted bear presence in areas with relatively low snowfall and temperate temperatures. Year-round bear distribution was also accurately predicted by using temperate-montane elevations and mesic, mesotrophic vegetation substrates, irrespective of vegetation. Ski-resorts were negative predictors of year-round bear occurrence. Bears were predicted in autumn and winter by beech forest, in spring by meadows and in summer by a variety of vegetation categories. The regional and our local models predicted bear throughout the south. However, our predicted and occupied range in the north includes the Orta valley and exclude alpine heights, contrary to the regional models. Only our summer bear range is similar to a regional SDM. We demonstrated that multiple maxent SDMs using a modest number of observations and a comprehensive set of environmental variables may generate essential distributional information for protected area and species management where full wildlife and food source censuses are lacking.     

Real-time and Label-free Bio-sensing of Molecular Interactions by Surface Plasmon Resonance: A Laboratory Medicine Perspective

Radioactive, chromogenic, fluorescent and other labels have long provided the basis of detection systems for biomolecular interactions including immunoassays and receptor binding studies. However there has been unprecedented growth in a number of powerful label free biosensor technologies over the last decade. While largely at the proof-of-concept stage in terms of clinical applications, the development of more accessible platforms may see surface plasmon resonance (SPR) emerge as one of the most powerful optical detection platforms for the real-time monitoring of biomolecular interactions in a label-free environment.In this review, we provide an overview of SPR principles and current and future capabilities in a diagnostic context, including its application for monitoring a wide range of molecular markers of disease. The advantages and pitfalls of using SPR to study biomolecular interactions are discussed, with particular emphasis on its potential to differentiate subspecies of analytes and the inherent ability for quantitation through calibration-free concentration analysis (CFCA). In addition, recent advances in multiplex applications, high throughput arrays, miniaturisation, and enhancements using noble metal nanoparticles that promise unprecedented sensitivity to the level of single molecule detection, are discussed.In summary, while SPR is not a new technique, technological advances may see SPR quickly emerge as a highly powerful technology, enabling rapid and routine analysis of molecular interactions for a diverse range of targets, including those with clinical applicability. As the technology produces data quickly, in real-time and in a label-free environment, it may well have a significant presence in future developments in lab-on-a-chip technologies including point-of-care devices and personalised medicine.     

Simulation,quantification and comparison of in-channel and floodplain sediment processes in a lowland area – A case study of the Upper Stör catchment in northern Germany

Erosion and sedimentation processes within the channel and on the floodplain are indicative of catchment hydrodynamic procedures, as well as the associated nutrient and contaminant transportation. In this paper, we linked the SWAT model with the hydraulic HEC-RAS model to set up a sediment model for 10 river sections in the Upper Stör catchment and simulated the sediment processes from 2001 to 2010. Based on the HEC-RAS output, quantification and comparison of channelized and floodplain sediment processes were conducted. The results indicate that (1) with an average sedimentation depth of 2.85 cm, the deposition process dominated the Upper Stör catchment at the decadal time scale, and the land use/cover condition resulted in differences in sedimentation amounts between different sub-catchments, and (2) the mean deposition rates were 1.75 g/m²/d in the channel and 1.69 g/m²/d on the floodplain, and the floodplain deposition accounted for only 1% of the total sedimentation amount. This observation was mainly caused by the stream power distribution in the channel and on the floodplain. (3) The granularity of the channelized sedimentation was determined by the altitude of the river section, while the granularity of the floodplain sedimentation was positively correlated with the stream power of the flood. The D50s of the channelized and floodplain sediments were 0.92 mm and 0.16 mm, respectively, while the D90 of the sediment was 4.2 mm in the channel and 0.32 mm on the floodplain. Despite the higher uncertainty of the sediment simulation, the results yielded by the combination of the HEC-RAS and SWAT models are comparable to the traditional radioactive dating, sediment trapping or combined model methods used in similar and nearby catchments.     

上海市近地面CO2浓度及其与下垫面特征的定量关系

城市化所带来的土地利用变化和化石燃料燃烧对全球碳循环和气候变化产生了深远影响.明确城市区域CO₂浓度的空间变化特征,对于认识和控制温室气体排放、减少人类活动对全球气候变化的影响具有重要意义.本研究以高强度人类扰动和快速城市化背景下的上海市为研究对象,于2014年春季利用近红外气体分析仪Li 840A开展近地面CO2浓度样带监测,结合遥感数据获取的城市下垫面特征信息,在明确上海市近地面CO₂浓度空间分布格局的基础上,进一步定量分析其对城市下垫面特征的响应机制.结果表明： 上海市近地面CO₂浓度为(443.4±22.0) μmol·mol^-1,城市中心CO₂浓度比郊区平均高12.5%(52.5 μmol·mol^-1).近地面CO₂浓度空间异质性显著,呈现西北高、西南次之、东南低的趋势,总体表现为随着下垫面城市化水平的降低而降低. 城市下垫面植被覆盖率(C_Veg)是城市近地面CO₂浓度的重要指示因子,两者呈现负相关;不透水层覆盖率(C_ISA)次之,两者呈正相关.CO₂浓度（C_CO2）与C_ISA及C_Veg的相关性(R²)在缓冲距离为5 km时同时达到峰值,三者之间的定量关系可通过建立逐步回归方程表征：C_CO2=0.32C_ISA-0.89C_Veg+445.13 (R²=0.66, P<0.01).
     

可持续生计框架下连片特困区发展机理——以宁夏限制开发生态区为例

生计资本与农户收支有着密切关系,决定农户的生计策略,影响区域的发展机理与发展模式.基于参与式农村评估和数理统计方法,分民族、地形、农户类型对宁夏限制开发生态区农户生计资本与农户收支状况进行定量评估,创建农户非农性指数,揭示生计资本与农户收支和非农性指数的关系,结合研究区实际对农户可持续生计进行研究,探讨区域发展机理.结果表明: 研究区农户生计资本量整体偏低,其中,回族略高于汉族、川道农户高于山地农户、兼业户和非农业户显著高于农业户;区域发展与非农性指数和人力、物质等资本显著正相关,与自然资本显著负相关,需着力提升农户的非农性指数和人力、物质等资本量,同时引导农户对农业生产资料进行流转,促进自然资本两极分化.