Floodplain connectivity, disturbance and change: a palaeoentomological investigation of floodplain ecology from south-west England

1. Floodplain environments are increasingly subject to enhancement and restoration, with the purpose of increasing their biodiversity and returning them to a more 'natural' state. Defining such a state based solely upon neoecological data is problematic and has led several authors to suggest the use of a palaeoecological approach. 2. Fossil Coleopteran assemblages recovered from multiple palaeochannel fills in south-west England were used to investigate past floodplain and channel characteristics during the mid- to late-Holocene. Ordination of coleopteran data was performed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and produced clear and discrete clustering. This clustering pattern is related to the nature of the environment in which assemblages were deposited and hence channel configuration and dynamics. 3. The DCA clustering pattern is strongly related to measures of ecological evenness, and a strong relationship between these indices and the composition of the water beetle assemblage within samples was revealed. Repeating the ordination with presence-absence data results in a similar pattern of clustering, implying that assemblage composition is crucial in determining cluster placement. 4. As assemblage composition is primarily a function of floodplain topography and hence disturbance regime, we attempt to relate these data to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH). A significant positive correlation was found between ecological diversity (Shannon's H') and Axis 1 of all ordinations in predominantly aquatic assemblages.     

Detection and Genetic Characterization of Rabies Virus from Human Patients

Saliva and blood were collected from two patients who had not received post exposure prophylaxis in the cities of Wenzhou and Xinning respectively. Both patients were confirmed as positive for rabies by detection of rabies virus specific nucleoprotein antibodies in the sera by Western Blot. However, rabies virus specific RNA was only identified in the saliva collected from the patient in Wenzhou. Furthermore, the isolate Zhejiang Wz0 (H) was obtained by inoculating one-day-old suckling mice. Both nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes from the isolate were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to classic rabies virus, and shared a higher homology with the street viruses from dogs in the main endemic areas in China and the street virus from dogs in Indonesia than with other known strains. Further comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences between the isolate and the vaccine strains used in China showed that the virus had a higher level of homology with the vaccine strain CTN than with the other vaccine strains (3aG, PV, PM and ERA). In particular, amino acid residues substitutions located in antigenic site Ⅲ in the G protein, which could react with the neutralizing antibodies, were observed. These results suggested that the virus belonged to the classic rabies virus, and both N and G genes diverged from the current vaccine strains used in China at either the nucleotide or the amino acid level.     

Molecular sequencing and analysis of soluble methane monooxygenase gene clusters from methanotroph <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylomonas</Emphasis> sp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis> GYJ3

Summary A methanotroph Methylomonas sp. GYJ3 was isolated, whose sMMO genes and 16S rDNA were sequenced and analysed, demonstrating that the bacterium might be a type I methanotroph (γ-Proteobacteria) and was closer to Methylomonas sp. KSWIII/KSPIII. This result was consistent with the result previously determined by biochemistry and morphological taxonomy. Sequence comparison among six open reading frames and the deduced amino acid sequences of the sMMO genes from six strains revealed that the strain GYJ3 had highly conserved regions in MMOX with other strains, amounting to 78–99% homology at protein level and 71–97% homology at DNA level. Highly conserved sequences lay in two iron-binding regions. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy of the strain GYJ3 showed rod shapes with a slightly bent configuration on the even surfaces and with plump bodies.     

Environmental Correlates for Species Richness among Amphibians and Reptiles in a Climate Transition Area

Correlations between environmental factors and the distribution of amphibian and reptile species richness were investigated in a climate transition area, Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), in North-Western Portugal. Using presence-data at a local-scale (1 × 1 km), Ecological-Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) identified a mixture of climatic (precipitation and number of days with fog), topographical (altitude and relief) and habitat factors (number of watercourses and water surfaces, the type of the largest water surface and tree diversity cover), as accurate predictors of species occurrence. Three factors were common for both taxonomic groups, and consistently presented a positive relation with species occurrence: precipitation, number of water surfaces, and tree diversity cover; suggesting a strong coincidence in the environmental correlates that influence amphibian and reptile species richness. Distribution patterns of observed and predicted species richness were compared using a Geographical Information System. Overall, three high species richness areas were predicted in common for both taxonomic groups and two additional areas for amphibians only. These areas matched with the observed species richness but suggested larger areas of high species richness. The location of the PNPG in a biogeographic crossroad, between Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean provinces, emphasised species richness of amphibians and reptiles and suggests a high priority conservation status for this protected area. Most of Central-Northern Portugal is located in a climatic transition area; therefore, increased species richness should be expected for other areas. Local scale studies for other protected areas should be planned as a framework for the development of multi-scale conservation planning by Portuguese authorities.     

番茄煤霉病生防融合子基因组RAPD分析鉴定

RAPD分子标记以其快速、简便等优点,克服了传统的标记手段和形态分类学的缺点,在亲本和杂交种的鉴别以及在基因克隆与分离和遗传图谱的建立等研究中都起着重要的作用。以番茄煤霉病生防菌株木霉菌T-23和链霉菌A的融合子为实验材料,比较和研究了真菌融合子基因组DNA的提取。并用20个随机引物对亲本及其融合子进行RAPD分析。结果表明,SDS-CTAB法提取的基因组DNAOD260/OD280为1.909,DNA浓度约为42.0 ng/μL,可以满足分子生物学实验的需要;融合子是双亲融合的产物,但从双亲获得的遗传信息不等,融合子在DNA水平上更接近链霉菌。     

Molecular evolution of PIII-SVMP and RGD disintegrin genes from the genus Crotalus

Several types of disintegrins have been isolated from Crotalus spp rattlesnakes, including RGD disintegrins, and PIII-SVMPs. We isolated six cDNAs from snake venom glands using RT-PCR. Three RGD disintegrins (atroxatin, mojastin, and viridistatin) and three PIII-SVMPs (catroriarin, scutiarin, and viristiarin) cDNAs were isolated from the rattlesnakes Crotalus atrox, Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus, and Crotalus viridis viridis, respectively. Atroxatin and Viridistatin shared 90% amino acid identity to each other, and 87% identity to Mojastin. Scutiarin and Viristiarin were identical. All PIII-SVMPs isolated in this study shared the highest amino acid identity with Catrocollastatin. cDNA and protein sequences for RGD disintegrins, one MVD disintegrin, and PIII-SVMPs of the genus Crotalus (present in the NCBI database), were used in phylogenetic analysis. Neighbor-joining analysis of PIII-SVMP and RGD/MVD disintegrin-coding DNA sequences showed that these groups of genes separate into separate clades. A Phi(ST) pairwise comparison and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) between PIII-SVMPs and RGD/MVD disintegrins showed significant genetic differences. Mutations observed in ten of the cDNAs analyzed did not affect Cys-coding sequences. Our K(A)/K(S) data suggest that rapid evolution occurred between the genes coding for PIII-SVMPs resulting, in the production of RGD disintegrin-coding genes. However, once these genes diverged, mutations in the PIII-SVMP-coding genes were accumulated less frequently.     

大鳄龟感染蛙病毒的PCR检测及组织病理分析

2013年3月成都市某海洋馆送检2只发病大鳄龟(Macrochelys temminckii),临床特征表现为:精神状态萎靡,爬行无力,对外界刺激反应迟钝;颈部和四肢局部红肿,腹甲溃烂,严重部位甚至穿孔,最后死亡。为明确患病大鳄龟的病因,进行了细菌学、组织病理学和PCR检查。细菌学检查阴性;病理组织学观察发现,大鳄龟多组织、器官均发生严重病变,尤其是肾、肝、肺和心的损伤最为严重,表现为明显的变性、坏死和炎症细胞浸润,并在一些病变组织细胞浆内见嗜酸性或嗜碱性包涵体。针对蛙病毒(Ranavirus)病毒的特异性PCR检测扩增出蛙病毒主要衣壳蛋白(MCP)基因500 bp目的片段,测序后的DNA序列与Gen Bank中已知核酸序列进行Blast比对,发现其与Gen Bank中的蛙病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因同源性达95%~99%。根据组织病理特点及PCR检测结果推测大鳄龟的死亡是感染蛙病毒所致。     

基于效率的医院规模经济实证分析

目的 了解医院是否存在规模经济及适宜床位规模大小。方法 利用浙江省500张床及以上综合性医院数据,用主、客观结合的方式和效率回归调整模型筛选评价指标,用数据包络分析方法和Tobit回归模型进行实证分析。结果 所有决策单元的总体效率和纯技术效率、规模效率平均得分均大于0.93;36%的单元为总体有效,65%的单元为纯技术有效,43%的单元为规模有效;43%的单元处于规模报酬不变区间,42%的单元处于报酬递增区间,15%的单元处于报酬递减区间;全要素生产率平均呈下降;效率的影响因素主要有床位、药品收入比重、设备数量、医院等级、诊次床位比、业务收支比、每床卫技数、每床固定资产、所在地区千人医生数和经济水平等。结论 多数医院存在规模经济。医院床位数在800～1 300张较为合适。提高医院经营效率可采取以下措施：合理控制床位;控制药品收入比重,注重医疗技术的提高;提高管理水平,控制固定资产过度投入;提高地区卫生资源水平和经济发展水平。     

A comparative study of DNA binding and cell cycle phase perturbation by the dinuclear complex of Cd(II) with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and malonic acid dihydrazide N',N'(2) -bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide

Organometallic Cd(II) compounds have recently attracted attention for their anticancer activity. The interaction of the dinuclear complex of Cd(II) with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and malonic acid dihydrazide, N',N'(2) -bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide (Cd(II)H(2) L), with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was monitored by blue shift in UV-vis spectra of the complex. The binding constant of Cd(II)H(2) L complex with CT-DNA was determined (K(B) = 1.8 × 10(4) M(-1) ) and was indicative of minor groove binding. Agarose gel electrophoretic changes in mobility of supercoiled and circular forms of pBR322 and pUC18 plasmids in the presence of the complex suggest that conformational changes in the plasmids occur upon binding of the Cd(II)H(2) L complex. The Cd(II)H(2) L complex induced perturbation of the cell cycle phase distribution and an increase in the percentage of cells in the sub-G1 phase of human cervical cancer HeLa cell line and murine melanoma B16 cell line. Immunoblotting analysis showed the overexpression of Bcl-2 protein with the Cd(II)H(2) L complex.