Larger adenylate energy charge and ATP/ADP ratios in aerenchymatous roots of Zea mays in anaerobic media as a consequence of improved internal oxygen transport

Internal transport of O₂ from the aerial tissues along the adventitious roots of intact maize plants was estimated by measuring the concentrations of adenine nucleotides in various zones along the root under an oxygen-free atmosphere. Young maize plants were grown in nutrient solution under conditions that either stimulated or prevented the formation of a lysigenous aerenchyma, and the roots (up to 210 mm long) were then exposed to an anaerobic (oxygen-free) nutrient solution. Aerenchymatous roots showed higher values than non-aerenchymatous ones for ATP content, adenylate energy charge and ATP/ADP ratios. We conclude that the lysigenous cortical gas spaces help maintain a high respiration rate in the tissues along the root, and in the apical zone, by improving internal transport of oxygen over distances of at least 210 mm. This contrasted sharply with the low energy status (poor O₂ transport) in non-aerenchymatous roots.Abbreviation AEC adenylate energy charge     

Mitochondrial import of Omi: the definitive role of the putative transmembrane region and multiple processing sites in the amino-terminal segment

The mitochondrial serine protease Omi/HtrA2 has a proapoptotic role in mammalian cells. However, neither the topology nor the processing of Omi in mitochondria is clearly understood. To determine the topology of Omi in the mitochondrial IMS, EGFP fusions were expressed with the entire N-terminal segment of full-length Omi (FL-Omi) (133-EGFP), and that without the transmembrane region (DeltaTM-EGFP) in the cells. Immunocytochemical staining and alkaline extraction experiments revealed that the TM determines the topology of Omi in the IMS and anchors the pro form into the inner membrane. As a result, the protease and the PDZ domains are exposed to the IMS. Mature Omi largely exists in the IMS as a soluble form. The processing sites of the precursor protein were examined by in vitro import experiments. The import of the processing mutants revealed importance of Arg80, Arg91, and Arg93 residues for the processing of the N-terminal segment of FL-Omi. These results suggest that the N-terminal segment of FL-Omi contains multiple processing sites processed by matrix processing proteases.     

城市公园绿地水、热与CO2通量观测与分析

水、热和CO2通量是评价城市绿地生态效益的重要指标。在北京海淀公园中部和边缘架设涡度相关系统,连续观测和定量研究城市公园绿地影响下的通量变化特征。结果表明,公园绿地所获得的净辐射在植被生长季节大部分用于植被的蒸散作用,潜热大于显热;而在植被非生长季节大部分用于显热,潜热数值非常小。晴天显热与潜热的比值在春季随着植被枝叶的生长逐渐减少,到夏季达到最小值约1/3,在秋季随着植被叶片枯黄逐渐变大,冬季达到数倍。公园绿地能量平衡率在52%～83%,普遍存在能量不平衡。公园中部的潜热观测值大于公园边缘,而显热小于公园边缘;公园中部CO2通量日均值为负,公园绿地是CO2汇。公园绿地在植被生长季节具有明显的降温增湿、吸收CO2等生态效应。     

基于分割的多尺度城市绿地景观

利用多分辨率分割生成3种尺度的城市绿地景观.以50像元和300像元的目标分割值生成小尺度和大尺度的景观影像目标层,利用最近邻法分类两个目标层.对小尺度景观分类后的结果进行分割生成中间尺度的景观影像目标层并进行分类.从3个景观尺度的分类目标层中矢量化提取出绿地信息并计算6个景观指数：多样性、优势度、均匀度和分维数、破碎度和内缘比.多样性、优势度、均匀度和分维数的最大值分别为2.2、0.681、0.948和0.326,最小分别为1.641、0.122、0.707和0.113.表明多样性、均匀度和破碎度随着景观尺度的增大而减小,优势度随着景观尺度的增大而增大.基于分割产生多尺度景观的方法可以满足城市绿地景观研究的需求.     

Effect of habitable space on substrate selection by Paragnetina media (Walker) (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

A biological measure of space available within substrates was used as an index to examine substrate selection by the stonefly nymph Paragnetina media (Walker). Physical measures, such as total surface area of substrate, have not worked well in the past in explaining distribution of aquatic invertebrates. Although analysis of habitable space within substrate did not explain selection completely, the technique provided a precise measure and might be a more rigorous means by which substrate selection could be examined.     

Effects of group size and group density on trade-offs in resource selection by a group-territorial central-place foraging woodpecker

Trade-offs in resource selection by central-place foragers are driven by the need to balance the benefits of selecting resources against the costs of travel from the central place. For group-territorial central-place foraging birds, trade-offs in resource selection are likely to be complicated by a competitive advantage for larger groups at high group density that may limit accessibility of high-quality distant resources to small groups. We used the group-territorial, central-place foraging Red-cockaded Woodpecker Leuconotopicus borealis (RCW) as a case study to test predictions that increases in group density lead to differences in foraging distances and resource selection for groups of different sizes. We used GPS tracking and LiDAR-derived habitat data to model effects of group size on foraging distances and selection for high-quality pines (≥ 35.6 cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) and lower quality pines (25.4–35.6 cm dbh) by RCW groups across low (n = 14), moderate (n = 10) and high group density (n = 10) conditions. At low and moderate group density, all RCW groups selected distant high-quality pines in addition to those near the central place because competition for resources was low. In contrast, at high group density, larger groups travelled further to select high-quality pines, whereas smaller groups selected high-quality pines only when they were close to the central place and, conversely, were more likely to select lower quality pines at greater distances from the central place. Selection for high-quality pines only when close to the cavity tree cluster at high group density is important to long-term fitness of small RCW groups because it allows them to maximize benefits from both territorial defence and selecting high-quality resources while minimizing costs of competition. These relationships suggest that intraspecific competition at high group density entails substantive costs to smaller groups of territorial central-place foragers by limiting accessibility of distant high-quality foraging resources.     

Immunocytochemical localization of lipophorins in the flight muscles of the migratory locust (Locusts migratoria) at rest and during flight

Summary Locust lipoproteins (lipophorins) were localized by indirect immunofluorescence- and immunogold labelling in cryosections of dorsolongitudinal flight muscles. Immunolabelling was performed with monoclonal antibodies against apolipoprotein epitopes that are exposed at the surfaces of the lipophorin particles. Both at rest and during flight, lipophorins were located only in the wider spaces of the extracellular matrix, in the basement membranes of the individual muscle fibers and in the extracellular spaces that surround interfibrillar tracheoles. No internalization of lipophorins by the flight muscle cells was observed. Our results indicate that the unloading of lipophorins at the flight muscles is an extracellular event. Similarities with the vertebrate system of chylomicron and very-low-density lipoprotein degradation are discussed.     

青岛市城市绿地生态系统的环境净化服务价值

在分析青岛市城市绿地空间分布及面积动态变化基础上,利用市场价值法、生产成本法、替代费用法等方法计算了1999-2009年各年度青岛市城市绿地生态系统的环境净化服务价值。结果表明,1999-2009年青岛市城市绿地的环境净化服务价值由1.587×10⁸元增至3.491×10⁸元,人均城市绿地的环境净化服务价值由68.42元增至126.73元。11a间青岛市城市绿地的环境净化服务价值增加了1.904×10⁸元,平均年增长率为10.91%。在青岛市城市绿地生态系统环境净化服务总价值构成中,其气体调节服务价值占总价值的49.81%- 51.72%,而吸收有害气体和滞尘服务价值、减弱噪声服务价值占48.28%-50.19%。城市绿地的气体调节服务具有地域空间的可转移性,可以由城市以外的自然生态系统补偿;而其吸收有害气体和滞尘服务与减弱噪声服务则不具有地域空间的可转移性。加强城市绿地建设、提高城市绿化水平是改善青岛市城市环境和提高城市居民生活质量的有效措施。     

Effects of long-term fixation on histological quality of undecalcified murine bones embedded in methylmethacrylate

While long-term fixation and storage of specimens is common and useful for many research projects, it is particularly important for space flight investigations where samples may not be returned to Earth for several months (International Space Station) or years (manned mission to Mars). We examined two critical challenges of space flight experimentation: the effect of long-term fixation on the quality of mouse bone preservation and the preservation of antigens and enzymes for both histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses, and how the animal/sample processing affects the preservation. We show that long-term fixation minimally affects standard histological staining, but that enzyme histochemistry and immunolabeling are greatly compromised. Further, we demonstrate that whole animal preservation is not as suitable as whole leg or stripped leg preservation for long-term fixation and all histological analyses. Overall, we recommend whole leg processing for long-term storage of bone specimens in fixative prior to embedding in plastic for histological examination.     

A Biomimetic Climbing Robot Based on the Gecko

1 Introduction The locomotion, sensing, navigation, and adapta- tion capabilities in animals have long inspired humans to emulate them in robots. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of climbing robots for both ter- restrial and extra-terrestrial explorations. Robots similar to their biological counterparts require extensive sys- tems for power, locomotion, and actuation, with com- putation, sensing, and autonomy. From animal research and current technologies, the possibili…