Tiankengomelania guangxiense,gen. et sp. nov., a dark septate endophytic fungus,promotes the growth of the medicinal orchid Dendrobium officinale

Dendrobium officinale (Orchidaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Its growth is slow, however many dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) are considered useful to plant growth and as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. The goals of this study were to identify a new DSE and evaluate its plant-growth promotion characteristics. Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence, a DSE fungal strain TK815 isolated from Dashiwei Tiankengs in Leye county Guangxi Province, China, was classified as a novel genus in the order Cheatothyriales, namely Tiankengomelania gen. nov. typified with T. guangxiense sp. nov. Tiankengomelania guangxiense TK815 can significantly promote the growth of D. officinale in stem length (11.25%), seedling height (16.97%), root length (10.34%), and dry weight (41.05%). This study discovered, described, and illustrated a new DSE fungus, and evaluated its biological function in contributing to the growth and production of the Chinese medicinal plant D. officinale.     

基于分组重量编码的蛋白质功能预测

从蛋白质序列出发,采用分组重量编码(Encoding Based on Grouped Weight,简记EBGW),并结合最近邻居算法对蛋白质功能进行预测。对酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)蛋白质的1826条序列进行预测,整体预测准确率与其他基于序列信息的蛋白质功能预测方法相当。实验结果表明基于EBGW编码方案的新方法可有效地应用于蛋白质功能预测。     

Pitfalls to avoid in nonlinear perturbation analysis of structured population models

Despite the ubiquity of nonlinear functional relationships in nature we tend to characterize mechanisms in science using more tractable linear functions. In demographic modeling, transfer function analysis is used to calculate the nonlinear response of population growth rate to a theoretical perturbation of one or more matrix elements. This elegant approach is not yet popular in ecology. Inconveniently, using transfer function without care can produce erroneous results without warning. We used a large matrix projection model database to explore the potential pitfalls to be avoided in using transfer function analysis. We asked a fundamental population control question, what matrix element perturbation would be needed to reach a minimum goal of replacement population growth? We then tracked instances in which transfer function yields erroneous output and explored these cases in detail to measure how frequently it occurs. We developed a phylogenetically-corrected mixed effects logistic regression model in a Bayesian framework to test the effect of species traits and the identity of matrix elements on the probability that transfer function yields errors. We found in 16% of cases the transfer function yielded erroneous outcomes. These errors were more likely when perturbing demographic stasis and also for shrubs more than any other life form. Errors in transfer function analysis were often due to perturbing matrix elements beyond their biological limits, even when this is still mathematically correct. To use transfer function analysis properly in demographic modeling and avoid erroneous results, input must be carefully selected to include only a biologically admissible set of perturbations.     

西北印度洋海域鸢乌贼耳石微结构及生长特性

耳石是研究头足类年龄与生长、种群结构和生活史的重要硬组织之一。为研究西北印度洋鸢乌贼耳石微结构及生长特性,根据2019年2—5月我国灯光罩网渔船在西北印度洋调查生产期间采集的1009尾鸢乌贼样本,以耳石总长(TSL)、侧区长(LDL)、翼区长(WL)和最大宽度(MW)作为耳石的外形生长指标,结合日龄数据,对西北印度洋鸢乌贼耳石微结构及其生长特性进行了研究。结果表明: 根据生长纹间宽度,可将耳石微结构分为后核心区、暗区和外围区。协方差分析表明,TSL、LDL、WL和MW与日龄的关系均不存在显著的性别间差异,TSL、WL和MW与日龄的关系最适合用幂函数表示,而LDL与日龄的关系最适合用线性函数表示。总体而言,随着鸢乌贼日龄的增加,TSL、WL、LDL与MW的瞬时相对生长率与绝对生长率基本呈现下降的趋势, 140~180 d可能是西北印度洋鸢乌贼性成熟的日龄段。     

Identification of a 4-miRNA signature as a potential prognostic biomarker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma

An microRNA (miRNA) signature to predict the clinical outcome of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is still lacking. In the current study, we aimed at identifying and evaluating a prognostic miRNA signature for patients with PAAD. The miRNA expression profile and the clinical information regarding patients with PAAD were recruited from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between normal and tumor samples. By means of survival analysis, a 4-miRNA signature for predicting patients' with PAAD overall survival (OS) was constructed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to determine the efficiency of survival prediction. Furthermore, the biological function of the predicted miRNAs was evaluated using a bioinformatics approach. Four (hsa-mir-126, hsa-mir-3613, hsa-mir-424, and hsa-mir-4772) out of 17 differentially expressed miRNAs were associated to the OS of patients with PAAD. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) of the constructed 4-miRNA signature associated to patients' with PAAD 2-year survival was 0.789. The multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression model suggested that this 4-miRNA signature was an independent prognostic factor of other clinical parameters in patients with PAAD. Further pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the miRNAs in the 4-miRNA signature might regulate genes that affect focal adhesion, Wnt signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Thus, these findings indicated that the 4-miRNA signature might be an effective independent prognostic biomarker in the prediction of PAAD patients' survival.     

Prognostic molecular markers in pediatric liver disease – Are there any?

Pediatric liver disease (PLD) is a major cause of severe morbidity and prolonged hospitalizations in children. Stratifying patients in terms of prognosis remains challenging. The limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms causing and accompanying PLD remains the main obstacle in a search for reliable prognostic biomarkers. A systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed and Embase via OVID was conducted on studies published between August 2007 and August 2017. Molecular markers with a prognostic potential in terms of survival, need for liver transplantation or disease progression/regression were selected. In general, identified studies were single center smaller case-control studies or case series with a low level of evidence and a high risk of bias. Only 23 studies comprising 898 patients could be included, mostly focusing on biliary atresia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and LT; and markers related to morphogenesis and fibrosis. Furthermore, molecular markers in metabolic pathways and inflammation shown to be relevant, however requiring further validation. Hence, further biological and clinical studies are needed to gain greater molecular insight into PLD.     

生命机体危险因子信息特征分析

旨在生命机体与危险因子间建立生命物质信息对话平台,以物质化的信息,或信息化的物质的思维进行理解和推论,建立物质承载信息,信息通过物质的形式传递的思维模式,对生命信息中危险因子的属性、分类以及生命机体对危险因子的识别方式进行分析,从以上两个方面不同角度阐述危险因子与生命机体机制信息的相关互动关系。在分析与解读的过程中,主张建立合乎自然生成逻辑的科学概念,而摒弃一些主观是非逻辑所推导建立起来的概念,还原生命物质和生命过程的本来生物学位置及性质;主张一元化的思考方式和整体性理解生命信息安全控制机制的核心部分。分析结果:就生命信息中危险因子的属性和分类进行了分析,指出危险因子具有生命信息属性和生命安全属性两个属性,依据危险因子物质来源的不同,分外源性和内源性两类,绘出危险因子来源分类汇总图;从机体方面对危险因子识别方式不同,分为PRR识别方式和抗原(样)受体识别方式两类,并绘出危险因子识别方式分类汇总图。综合危险因子的属性、分类和生命机体对危险因子的识别方式,绘制出危险因子与生命机体机制信息的相关互动图,从保守性结构信息、生理产物信息、对机体损伤信息、代谢通路信息、对机体变应信息、精细纯外观构象信息及内在性核心信息7个方面对两者的相互关系进行了引证和分析,进一步阐释了生命信息安全控制机制。     

粤西茂名地区毒蛇咬伤的流行病学特征研究

目的 探讨茂名地区毒蛇咬伤的流行病学特征.方法 收集2014～2019年我院收治的毒蛇咬伤患者1625例的临床资料,对毒蛇种类、性别、年龄、咬伤部位、咬伤地点、伤后就诊时间、住院时间进行统计分析.结果 茂名地区主要致伤毒蛇为竹叶青蛇和眼镜蛇;受伤患者以41～70岁男性多见;被咬伤部位主要为腕关节、踝关节以下;咬伤地点多...     

不同砧木嫁接番茄光合特性的研究

采用LI-6400便携式光合作用系统对田间条件下嫁接番茄(珍红/砧木1号,珍红/桂砧1号)以及接穗(珍红)的光合作用特性进行了系统研究。结果表明:自根苗的光饱和点显著高于嫁接苗;自根苗和嫁接苗的光补偿点差异不显著,以珍红/桂砧1号最高(31.8μmolphotons·m-2·s-1),珍红/砧木1号最低(17.6μmolphotons·m-2·s-1);嫁接苗的CO2补偿点显著低于自根苗,且珍红/桂砧1号与自根苗的差异达极显著水平;表观量子效率变化范围为0.062~0.073;CO2饱和点在844~971μmolCO2·mol-1左右,CO2羧化效率变化范围为0.055~0.086molCO2·m-2·S-1;光合作用CO2补偿点珍红、珍红/砧木1号和珍红/桂砧1号分别为74.0、60.8和50μmolCO2·mol-1。嫁接苗的日平均光合速率和蒸腾速率高于自根苗,但两者的日进程曲线均为“单峰型”,其光合作用不存在“午休现象”。     

长白山源头溪流河床凋落物的分布特征及季节动态

在北方寒冷区,凋落物于秋季大量输入溪流,是水生生物越冬生存的关键.河床凋落物的堆积和组成会直接影响凋落叶分解等关键生态过程,但目前国内关于北方地区溪流河床凋落物分布特征的研究匮乏.在长白山地区一条源头溪流,采用原位取样的方法,探究了溪流河床凋落物的分布特征及季节动态.结果表明:深潭型凋落物斑块的堆积面积和水深显著大于浅...