Maximum likelihood estimation of the kinetics of receptor-mediated adhesion

Adhesion flow assays are commonly employed to characterize the kinetics and force-dependence of receptor-ligand interactions. As transient cellular adhesion events are often mediated by a small number of receptor-ligand complexes (tether bonds) their durations are highly variable, which in turn presents obstacles to standard methods of analysis. In this paper, we employ the stochastic approach to chemical kinetics to construct the pause time distribution. Using this distribution, we develop a robust maximum likelihood (ML) approach to the robust estimation of rate constants associated with receptor-mediated transient adhesion and their confidence intervals. We then formulate robust estimators of the parameters of models for the force-dependence of the off-rate. Lastly, we develop a robust method of elucidation of the force-dependence of the off-rate using Akaike's information criterion (AIC). Our findings conclusively demonstrate that ML estimators of adhesion kinetics are substantial improvements over more conventional approaches, and when combined with Fisher information, they may be used to objectively and reproducibly distinguish the kinetics of different receptor-ligand complexes. Software for the implementation of these methods with experimental data is publicly available as for download at http://www.laurenzi.net.     

Diverging phenological responses of Arctic seabirds to an earlier spring

The timing of annual events such as reproduction is a critical component of how free‐living organisms respond to ongoing climate change. This may be especially true in the Arctic, which is disproportionally impacted by climate warming. Here, we show that Arctic seabirds responded to climate change by moving the start of their reproduction earlier, coincident with an advancing onset of spring and that their response is phylogenetically and spatially structured. The phylogenetic signal is likely driven by seabird foraging behavior. Surface‐feeding species advanced their reproduction in the last 35 years while diving species showed remarkably stable breeding timing. The earlier reproduction for Arctic surface‐feeding birds was significant in the Pacific only, where spring advancement was most pronounced. In both the Atlantic and Pacific, seabirds with a long breeding season showed a greater response to the advancement of spring than seabirds with a short breeding season. Our results emphasize that spatial variation, phylogeny, and life history are important considerations in seabird phenological response to climate change and highlight the key role played by the species’ foraging behavior.     

Dynamic changes in sweat rates and evaporation rates through clothing during hot exposure

Dynamic changes in local sweat rates (S_w) and local evaporation rates from clothing (E_cl) have been observed during hot exposure. Four young male subjects wearing a cotton T-shirt and half shorts were exposed to 40 °C/50% for 1 h following exposure to 28 °C/50% for 30 min. Amount of water absorbed in clothing (M_sw), clothing surface temperatures (T_cl), local heat flow rates, skin temperatures, body weight, rectal temperature, S_w and E_cl were continuously measured. Upon exposure to the heat, decrease in heat gain to the skin was observed as opposed to increase in S_w, E_cl, M_sw and heat gain to the clothing surface.     

春小麦水分胁迫响应中的ACC、MACC合成及乙烯的释放

水分胁迫使两个抗旱性不同的春小麦 (Triticum aestivum L.) 品种"8139"(抗旱性较弱)和"504"(抗旱性较强)叶片 ACC 和 MACC 含量于胁迫初期下降后期升高,ACC 合酶活性持续升高,乙烯释放量在 8139 中下降而在 504 中先大幅升高而后下降.两种作用效果相反的抑制剂 MGBG (抑制SAMDC 活性)和 AOA (抑制 ACC 合酶活性) 均明显影响了两品种春小麦叶片以上各指标的变化.结果表明,水分胁迫下作物乙烯的释放量并不与其合成直接前体 ACC 的量成正相关;胁迫乙烯在抗性品种中于胁迫初期的升高可能是植物胁迫信号传导的响应之一,是一种干旱适应现象,可能与作物的干旱忍耐形成有关,而 MACC 具有调节胁迫乙烯释放的特殊生理作用.     

花卉柱式无土栽培

于玻璃温室内的 1 60m2 面积上 ,以干湿交替型盆钵组装起高 2 0 0cm ,直径 1 5cm的立柱 77根 ,然后组成立柱“树林”并种花 ,2 5个科的共 53种草花用同一营养系统管理 ,生长都良好 ,立柱“树林”象是花的“森林” ,显示了良好的生态关系。在此基础上挑选不同种盆花组成不同情趣的家庭阳台花柱。阳台花柱具若干优点 :新型盆钵具良好的水、气、肥协调关系 ,适合多种花卉生长 ;柱高任选 ,便手提携带 ;柱体能环绕中轴旋转使植物受光均匀 ;花柱底部是具中岛结构式底盆 ,起蓄水和稳定作用 ,还便于多根立柱串联扩大栽培量 ;有人工和自动浇灌两种系统 ,省工省时且干净卫生。     

咸水灌溉条件下土壤水盐分布特征

通过设置3种灌水量水平（100%ET_c、80%ET_c、60%ET_c）和3种灌水水质水平（0.7、3和6 g·L^-1）,研究了咸水灌溉条件下春小麦120 cm土层内水分动态和盐分累积特征.结果表明：水分在农田土壤中的分布主要受灌水量和土壤质地的影响,充分灌溉使水分存贮在较深土层中,而非充分灌溉则使水分存贮在表层;在相同灌水量的条件下,土体内的盐分积累程度随着灌溉水矿化度的增大而加剧;在相同矿化度条件下,土体内的盐分含量及积盐深度随着灌水量的增加而增大.在作物整个生育期内,连续使用咸水灌溉将导致土壤积盐,且非充分灌溉较充分灌溉更易使土壤表层积盐.     

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Modern microbialites are often located within groundwater discharge zones, yet the role of groundwater in microbialite accretion has yet to be resolved. To understand relationships between groundwater, microbialites, and associated microbial communities, we quantified and characterized groundwater flow and chemistry in active thrombolitic microbialites in Lake Clifton, Western Australia, and compared these observations to inactive thrombolites and lakebed sediments. Groundwater flows upward through an interconnected network of pores within the microstructure of active thrombolites, discharging directly from thrombolite heads into the lake. This upwelling groundwater is fresher than lake water and is hypothesized to support microbial mat growth by reducing salinity and providing limiting nutrients in an osmotically stressful and oligotrophic habitat. This is in contrast to inactive thrombolites that show no evidence of microbial mat colonization and are infiltrated by hypersaline lake water. Groundwater discharge through active thrombolites contrasts with the surrounding lakebed, where hypersaline lake water flows downward through sandy sediments at very low rates. Based on an appreciation for the role of microorganisms in thrombolite accretion, our findings suggest conditions favorable to thrombolite formation still exist in certain locations of Lake Clifton despite increasing lake water salinity. This study is the first to characterize groundwater flow rates, paths, and chemistry within a microbialite‐forming environment and provides new insight into how groundwater can support microbial mats believed to contribute to microbialite formation in modern and ancient environments.     

Bacterial community composition in thermophilic microbial mats from five hot springs in central Tibet

Despite detailed study of selected thermophilic taxa, overall community diversity of bacteria in thermophilic mats remains relatively poorly understood. A sequence-based survey of bacterial communities from several hot spring locations in central Tibet was undertaken. Diversity and frequency of occurrence for 140 unique 16S rRNA gene phylotypes were identified in clone libraries constructed from environmental samples. A lineage-per-time plot revealed that individual locations have evolved to support relatively large numbers of phylogenetically closely related phylotypes. Application of the F _ST statistic and P test to community data was used to demonstrate that phylogenetic divergence between locations was significant, thus emphasizing the status of hot springs as isolated habitats. Among phylotypes, only the Chlorobi were ubiquitous to all mats, other phototrophs (Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi) occurred in most but not all samples and generally accounted for a large number of recovered phylotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of phototrophic phylotypes revealed support for location-specific lineages. The alpha, beta and gamma proteobacteria were also frequently recovered phyla, suggesting they may be abundant phylotypes in mats, a hitherto unappreciated aspect of thermophilic mat biodiversity. Samples from one location indicated that where phototrophic bacteria were rare or absent due to niche disturbance, the relative frequency of proteobacterial phylotypes increased. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.