Microbeam analysis of Ca exchange and uptake in the fine roots of spruce: influence of pH and aluminum

Summary A novel stable isotope labelling procedure for microbeam analysis was developed to monitor exchange and uptake of nutrients, primarily Mg, K and Ca, by root tips at the cellular level. Initially root samples were analysed from 2-year-old spruce trees, originating both from a nursery and from a polluted forest site, (1) for the cortex cell wall accessibility and nutrient binding properties, (2) for the influence of low pH and elevated aluminum concentrations on Ca binding to cortex cell walls, and (3) for long-range transport into the secondary xylem, proximal to the labelled root tip. In nursery control plants, Ca is localized mainly in the apoplast of the cortex. Exchange of Mg, K, Ca in the cell wall of the cortex and the primary xylem with label in incubation solutions is almost completed to equilibration within 30 min. In the secondary xylem we could detect Mg, K, and Ca from labelling solutions in minute amounts after 30 min, and as a major fraction after 48 h. This indicates that stable isotope labelling can be used to study both ion-exchange properties of the apoplast and long-range transport. Slight acidification of the labelling incubation media to pH 4.5 reduced Ca binding to the cortex cell walls slightly, but acidification to the extreme value of pH 2.3 reduced binding 41%. A combination of pH 4.5 and increased free aluminum reduced the binding by 83%. In a preliminary attempt to analyse the nutrient binding capability of the root-tip apoplast from pollution affected trees, we exposed fine roots of 2-year-old spruce from an acidified and polluted site showing typical low levels of Ca and Mg in the cortical cell walls to Ca-enriched media. Under these conditions the Ca content of cortex cell walls doubled upon incubation at pH 4.7, reaching 40% of the total binding capacity of our nursey control plants.     

射击过程中主要生理特征的研究

八名射击运动员(手枪2人,步枪6人),在实弹射击训练中,连续同步地记录了脑电、心电、心率、阻抗呼吸波。同时记录了受试者持枪稳定的程度。 分析表明,射击环数是五项独立无关的指标综合作用的结果。本文首次对射击时生理指标和射击环数进行系统辨识建模分析,求出每个人的系统参数_i值。找出了每人射击时最佳生理参数,为指导射击练习和反馈训练,提供了客观生理依据。 本文设计的激光光点录相方法,可反映持枪稳定的程度,简单、方便,可在射击训练中采用。     

下颌骨的性别判别分析研究

对183例国人成年下颌骨的统计检验表明,13项测量数据中有12项性别差异显著。其中下颌枝高性别差异最为明显,其单项性别判别率达80％。采用Fisher判别分析法建立了11项判定国人下颌骨性别的判别函数,判别率为85.2％—87.4％。     

流行性出血热病毒R22株cDNA克隆及其特异性鉴定

用家鼠型流行性出血热病毒R22株RNA,经polyA接尾,以Oligo-dT做引物,合成cDNA。用pUC18为载体转染E.coli Mc1061,建立cDNA克隆。再经菌落杂交,选择病毒特异性的5个阳性克隆制成缺口翻译探针,与病毒RNA3个片段进行反杂交,确定RNA片段的特异性。结果表明,3个克隆为中(M)片段的cDNA,另两个分别为大(L)和小(S)片段cDNA。核苷酸序列分析证明,克隆的DNA中含病毒特异的核苷酸序列。     

Long-term vegetation change in the Juncus squarrosus grassland at Moor House,northern England

Data from the long-term experiment on sheep grazing versus zero sheep grazing (i.e. in an enclosure) on the composition of the Juncus squarrosus grassland at the Moor House NNR are presented. The data have been analysed to assess change in (1) the abundance of individual species, (2) higher plant and bryophyte communities, and (3) vegetation structure. The higher plant data suggested that both the enclosed-and grazed plots were changing in the same direction, but the enclosed plot was moving much faster. The general tendency was towards a blanket bog vegetation dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum and Calluna vulgaris. Juncus squarrosus has declined very quickly in the enclosed plot, but there has also been a slower decline in the grazed one. A significant increase in Calluna vulgaris has occurred only in the enclosed plot. In contrast, the bryophyte data showed completely different successional trajectories in the two treatment plots.The vegetation structure changed markedly after release from grazing, with a decrease in phytomass, but increase in necromass in the lowest height strata. There was no noticeable change in structure over the 18 year period in the grazed plot.Particular problems found in this study were that some species either fluctuated widely in response, or changed in a curvilinear manner.     

The effect of fluctuations in tidal inundation frequency on a salt-marsh vegetation

Over a period of 15 years recordings were made of the species cover in permanent plots on the salt marsh of one of the West Frisian Islands, Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands). Correlations between annual changes in the cover of the major species, and fluctuations in the monthly frequency of inundation by seawater were studied. First, a spectral analysis was carried out on the inundation frequency data to look for predictable patterns. Subsequently, fluctuations were defined as deviations from these predictable patterns. In a repeated multiple regression model, the effects of the season in which the fluctuations occurred, and the elevational position of the plots on the salt marsh were studied as factors influencing the correlation patterns. The behaviour of various species is discussed in relation to their seed bank characteristics and their salt tolerance.     

微量元素对虫草蝠蛾幼虫生长发育的影响

按月采样,分析测定虫草蝠蛾幼虫体微量元素的组成。应用Q模式系统聚类方法,分析了幼虫受环境影响引起的元素代谢变化。结果表明虫体所含元素与环境温度的变化及自身的生理活动密切相关。5、10月份幼虫组的元素含量相近,前者正当幼虫结束休眠后恢复活动的时期,后者是幼虫处于准备进入越冬的前期,两组幼虫此时均处于取食高峰期。3、4月份组的亦较接近,幼虫正渐恢复活动但不取食。8月份幼虫蜕皮前后,消耗较大,需摄取大量食物。计算结果表明7、9月份的元素含量接近,这与上述现象有一定联系;应用对应因子分析法得到的结果是:元素Fe、P对10、11月份幼虫组的贡献值显著;Na、Ca、Mg对8、9月份的贡献值显著;Cu、Zn、Co、Cd、Si对4、5月份的贡献值显著。     

Transition time control analysis of a glycolytic system under different glucose concentrations. Control of transition time versus control of flux

Control and Response Coefficients of transition time have been determined in a rat liver glycolytic system under different glucose concentrations. Results have been compared with the Flux Control and Flux Response Coefficients measured in the same conditions, showing that transition time and flux are different responses of the system, subject to different regulation and control. Control Coefficients of flux and transition time show a very different profile in each condition of glucose concentration assayed. Ratio of Flux Control coefficients of glucokinase over phosphofructokinase at 5 and 20 mM glucose concentration changes from 3.2 to 0.5, while the same ratio in the case of Transition Time Control Coefficients moves from 0.6 to 0.93. Moreover, the absolute values of Transition Time Control Coefficients in glycolytic conditions are one order of magnitude bigger than in gluconeogenic conditions. Values of Response Coefficients also show that the transition time has a bigger sensitivity to changes in glucose concentration than the flux in all conditions assayed, but particularly in glycolytic ones.     

Structural characterization of lipid A component of Erwinia carotovora lipopolysaccharide

The chemical structure of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide excreted into the liquid medium by the plant pathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia carotovora FERM P-7576 was characterized. It consists of a -1, 6-linked glucosamine disaccharide which carries ester-and amide-bound fatty acids and phosphate similar to the lipid A from other gram-negative bacteria. The lipid A preparation was not uniform in the number and composition of the fatty acids linked to the disaccharide. Four prominent lipids A were involved, they were composed of five to seven residues of fatty acid. Among them the major component was hexa-acyl lipid A, in which the hydroxyl group at position 3 and the amino group of the non-reducing glucosamine unit carry 3-dodecanoyl-oxytetradecanoyl residues. Positions 2 and 3 of the reducing glucosamine unit were substituted by 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid. In the hepta-acyl lipid A, an additional hexadecanoic acid was linked to the hydroxyl group of the 3-hydroxytetradecanoyl residue at position 2 of the hexa-acyl lipid A. Two penta-acyl lipids A were the homologs of the hexa-acyl lipid A with decreasing acylation. Dodecanoic acid was missing from one, and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid from another. 3-Dodecanoyloxytetradecanoyl residue at position 3 differentiates E. carotovora lipid A from that of other gram-negative bacteria.Abbreviations LPS lipopolysaccharide - GlcN glucosamine - KDO 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid - FAB-MS fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry - u atomic mass unit