Non‐continuous reproductive phenology of animal‐dispersed species in young forest restoration plantings

Tree species that produce resources for fauna are recommended for forest restoration plantings to attract pollinators and seed dispersers; however, information regarding the flowering and fruiting of these species during early growth stages is scarce. We evaluated the reproductive phenology of animal‐dispersed tree species widely used in Atlantic Forest restoration. We marked 16 animal‐dispersed tree species in 3‐ to 8‐year‐old forest restoration plantings in Itu‐São Paulo, southeast Brazil. We noted the age of the first reproductive event, flowering and fruiting seasonality, percentage of trees that reached reproductive stages, and intensity of bud, flower, and fruit production for each species. Flowering and fruiting are seasonal for most species; only two, Cecropia pachystachya and Ficus guaranitica, exhibited continuous flowering and fruiting throughout the year; we also identified Schinus terebinthifolia and Dendropanax cuneatus fruiting in the dry season during resource scarcity. Therefore, we recommend all as framework species, that is, species that are animal‐dispersed with early flowering and fruiting potential, for forest restoration. Further, we recommend identifying and planting similar animal‐dispersed tree species that produce fruits constantly or in the dry season to maximize fauna resource availability throughout the year in tropical forest restoration plantings. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material     

具有自噬抑制作用的卟啉金属有机框架的制备及其光动力癌症治疗的研究*

光动力疗法(PDT)具有微创、可控、低毒、可重复治疗等优点,已成为临床医学中不可缺少的治疗手段。但由于肿瘤细胞的自我保护机制,大大降低了PDT疗效。使用PDT治疗方法的同时实施药理自噬抑制策略,切断因光动力治疗下严重氧化损伤下的保护性自噬。通过油浴加热法合成卟啉金属有机框架PCN-224,并在PCN-224上负载自噬抑制剂硫酸羟氯喹(HCQ),通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、粒径测试(DLS)、紫外可见光谱测试等方法检测,结果表明成功地合成了该材料,增强了卟啉光敏剂的水溶性,并且光照后对4T1小鼠乳腺癌细胞毒性明显增强,且装载了HCQ后进一步提高了肿瘤杀伤能力。     

构建我国生物多样性评价的指标体系

生物多样性指标体系的建设过程长期而复杂,需要结合科学研究、监测以及决策制定,并基于合理的结构进行指标设计.构建适宜的生物多样性评价指标体系、监测评估生物多样性状况及变化趋势,已被纳入我国国家生物多样性战略及其行动计划.本文结合国内外经验,从指标的逻辑框架、空间尺度、时间尺度、指标类型、评价方法等5个方面探讨了指标体系构...     

Counterpolitics of Liberation in Contemporary China: Corruption,Law, and Popular Religion

This article explores the hidden transfers between law and religion by focussing on the conditions of existence of ‘liberated’ peasant subjects in contemporary China. The post-Maoist era sought to create new citizens from the collectivised Maoist masses who are subject to market reforms and a new politics of ‘governing through law’ (fazhi). At the same time, new religiousities have blossomed in the Chinese countryside. Representing ‘feudal superstition’, their collective practices remain illegal until today. I argue that, beyond the issue of belief, contemporary ‘feudal superstition’ does not represent a form of anti-secular resistance, but rather confirms the central tenets of Chinese secularism from the perspective of ‘failed’ peasant subjects. Where the realities of market liberalisation and governing through law are experienced as corruption, feudal superstition recreates the conditions to realise liberated peasant subjects: a participatory local public sphere, political visibility, investments in the public good, and a new collective property.     

The Global Sequence Signature algorithm unveils a structural network surrounding heavy chain CDR3 loop in Camelidae variable domains

Background

A large fraction of camelid (camels and llamas) antibodies is composed of heavy chain-only homodimers, able to recognise antigens with their variable domain. Events in somatic assembly and maturation of antibodies such as hypermutations and rearrangement of variable loops (CDRs — complementary determining regions) and selection among a wide range of framework variants are generally considered to be random processes.

Methods

An original algorithmic approach (Global Sequence Signature—GSS) was developed, able to take into account multiple functional and/or local sequence properties to detect scattered evolutionary constraints into sequences.

Results

Using the GSS approach, we show that the length of the main hypervariable loop (CDR3) is linked to the nature of 19 surrounding residues on the scaffold. Surprisingly, the relation between CDR3 size and scaffold residues strongly depends on the considered species, illustrating either significant differences in selection mechanisms or functional constraints during antibody maturation.

Conclusions

Combined with the statistical coupling analysis (SCA) approach at the level of scaffold residues, this study has unravelled a robust interaction network on antibody structure surrounding the CDR3 loop.

General significance

In addition to the general applicability of the GSS algorithm, which can bring together functional and sequence data to locate hot spots of constrained evolution, the relationship between CDR3 and scaffold discussed here should be taken into account in protein engineering when designing antibody libraries.     

纳米卟啉金属有机骨架对斑马鱼神经系统发育的作用*

目的:研究纳米卟啉金属有机骨架(NPMOF)对斑马鱼幼鱼神经系统发育的作用。方法:斑马鱼胚胎在发育6 h(hpf)后随机分为两组:对照组(n=500)和暴露组(n=500),对照组斑马鱼孵化于E3溶液中,暴露组于100 mg/L的NPMOF-E3溶液中,持续暴露至28、48、72、96或120 hpf。以20条斑马鱼为一批,在28、48、72、96和120 hpf分别提取3批实验组和对照组的总RNA用于RT-PCR;在120 hpf,实验组和对照组分别取20条PTU处理过的斑马鱼用于整体胚胎原位杂交,同样是在120 hpf,每组取150条用于免疫荧光染色,30条用于行为学测试。NPMOF的形状和尺寸用透射电镜测定,其光学特性由紫外分光光度计和荧光光谱仪测定;通过免疫荧光、整体胚胎原位杂交和RT-PCR方法检测各类神经细胞的发育;行为学测试用来监测斑马鱼运动状态的改变。结果:与正常组比较,NPMOF暴露组中神经发育相关基因的表达明显升高(P＜0.05),müller细胞和星形胶质细胞的数量明显增加(P＜0.05),神经元和少突胶质细胞的分布与形态未显示出差异;行为学测试中,斑马鱼的总运动距离、快速运动时间和运动速度的值显著增加(P＜0.05),总静止时间明显降低(P＜0.05)。结论:100 mg/L NPMOF溶液的持续暴露对斑马鱼神经系统发育,特别是视网膜中müller细胞和脑中星形胶质细胞的发育有促进作用。     

Evaluating success of various restorative interventions through drone‐ and field‐collected data,using six putative framework species in Argentinian Patagonia

Field data and unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, were used to analyze a long‐term experiment in a severely degraded area of the “Monte,” one of the most arid and degraded biomes in Argentina. Field methods and drone orthoimages obtained from flights of a quadcopter at 20 and 40 m were used to compare plantation plots versus natural recovery on scarified sites, and the field performance of six putative framework species under four different treatments was evaluated. After 5 years of recovery in soils with almost no organic matter and mean annual rainfall averaging 145 mm, plantation plots had high survival rates (>65%) for all species as determined through both field survey and drone imagery. Three species were planted with a greater number of seedlings due to their availability in nurseries. For these species experimental treatments were studied statistically. Independently of treatment applied (control; 1/2 L hydrogel; 1 L hydrogel; 1 L of hydrogel + 1/2 kg of organic compost), highest survival rates were found for P. flexuosa var. depressa (88% ± 14.8) and A. lampa (84% ± 14.8). Drone images and field data both showed that these two putative framework species had the highest plant cover. In sharp contrast, mechanical scarification without planting or other treatments induced very low recovery (<2%). We demonstrate that drone imagery provides a new and very valuable tool for evaluating and monitoring restorative interventions in drylands.     

Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Thin,Flexible, Nonflammable Garnet‐Based Composite Solid Electrolyte for All‐Solid‐State Lithium Batteries

Thin solid‐state electrolytes with nonflammability, high ionic conductivity, low interfacial resistance, and good processability are urgently required for next‐generation safe, high energy density lithium metal batteries. Here, a 3D Li_6.75La₃Zr_1.75Ta_0.25O₁₂ (LLZTO) self‐supporting framework interconnected by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder is prepared through a simple grinding method without any solvent. Subsequently, a garnet‐based composite electrolyte is achieved through filling the flexible 3D LLZTO framework with a succinonitrile solid electrolyte. Due to the high content of garnet ceramic (80.4 wt%) and high heat‐resistance of the PTFE binder, such a composite electrolyte film with nonflammability and high processability exhibits a wide electrochemical window of 4.8 V versus Li/Li⁺ and high ionic transference number of 0.53. The continuous Li⁺ transfer channels between interconnected LLZTO particles and succinonitrile, and the soft electrolyte/electrode interface jointly contribute to a high ambient‐temperature ionic conductivity of 1.2 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 and excellent long‐term stability of the Li symmetric battery (stable at a current density of 0.1 mA cm^?2 for over 500 h). Furthermore, as‐prepared LiFePO₄|Li and LiNi_0.5Mn_0.3Co_0.2O₂|Li batteries based on the thin composite electrolyte exhibit high discharge specific capacities of 153 and 158 mAh g^?1 respectively, and desirable cyclic stabilities at room temperature.