Structural determinants of increased susceptibility to dehydration‐induced cavitation in post‐fire resprouting chaparral shrubs

It is well established that transpiration and photosynthetic rates generally increase in resprouting shoots after fire in chaparral shrublands. By contrast, little is known about how plant hydraulic function varies during this same recovery period. We hypothesized that vascular traits, both functional and structural, would also shift in order to support this heightened level of gas exchange and growth. We examined stem xylem‐specific hydraulic conductivity (K_s) and resistance to cavitation (P₅₀) for eight chaparral shrub species as well as several potential xylem structural determinants of hydraulic function and compared established unburned plants and co‐occurring post‐fire resprouting plants. Unburned plants were generally more resistant to cavitation than resprouting plants, but the two groups did not differ in K_s. Resprouting plants had altered vessel structure compared with unburned plants, with resprouting plants having both wider diameter vessels and higher inter‐vessel pit density. For biomechanics, unburned plants had both stronger and denser stem xylem tissue than resprouting plants. Shifts in hydraulic structure and function resulted in resprouting plants being more vulnerable to dehydration. The interaction between time since disturbance (i.e. resprouting versus established stands) and drought may complicate attempts to predict mortality risk of resprouting plants.     

IFA筛选经EMS诱导的沙眼衣原体突变株

目的:用甲基磺酸乙酯(Ethylmethylsulfone,EMS)诱导D型沙眼衣原体突变,利用间接免疫荧光法筛选出突变菌株,为研究不同衣原体基因的功能提供实验依据。方法:将D型沙眼衣原体标准株接种Mc Coy细胞,加入EMS诱导突变,收集存活菌株,利用空斑实验进行衣原体的分离和纯化,并用不同衣原体蛋白单克隆抗体做间接免疫荧光实验筛选突变株。结果:用间接免疫荧光筛选经EMS作用的沙眼衣原体,筛选出三株包涵体形态偏小的菌株(56#、58#、95#),一株圆形包涵体的突变株(61#)和一株D413N表达阴性的突变菌株(83#)。结论:用EMS作为诱导剂诱导D型沙眼衣原体突变,并成功筛选出三种突变株。为寻找衣原体功能基因与衣原体表型之间的联系奠定了实验基础。     

Tellurium Blocks Cholesterol Synthesis by Inhibiting Squalene Metabolism: Preferential Vulnerability to This Metabolic Block Leads to Peripheral Nervous System Demyelination

Inclusion of 1.1% elemental tellurium in the diet of postweanling rats produces a peripheral neuropathy due to a highly synchronous primary demyelination of sciatic nerve; this demyelination is followed closely by remyelination. Sciatic nerves from animals fed tellurium for various times were removed and incubated ex vivo for 1 h with [14C]acetate, and radioactivity incorporated into individual lipid classes was determined. In nerves from rats exposed to tellurium, there was a profound and selective block in the conversion of radioactive acetate to cholesterol. Another radioactive precursor, [3H]water, gave similar results. We suggest that tellurium feeding inhibits squalene epoxidase activity and that the consequent lack of cholesterol destabilizes myelin, thereby causing destruction of the larger internodes. Ex vivo incubation experiments were also carried out with liver slices. As with nerve, tellurium feeding caused accumulation in squalene of label from radioactive acetate, whereas labeling of cholesterol was greatly inhibited. Unexpectedly, however, incorporation of label from [3H]water into both squalene and cholesterol was increased. Relevant is the demonstration that liver was the primary site of bulk accumulation of squalene, which accounted for 10% of liver dry weight at 5 days. Thus, accumulation of squalene (and other mechanisms, possibly including up-regulation of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways) drives squalene epoxidase activity at normal levels in liver even in the presence of inhibitors of this enzyme. This is reflected by continuing incorporation of [3H]water into cholesterol; incorporation of this precursor takes place at many of the postsqualene biosynthetic steps for sterol formation. [14C]Acetate entering the sterol pathway before squalene in liver is greatly diluted in specific activity when it reaches the large squalene pool, and thus increased squalene epoxidase activity does not transfer significant 14C label to sterols. In contrast to the situation with liver, synthesis of sterols is markedly depressed in sciatic nerve, and squalene does not accumulate to high levels.     

噬菌蛭弧菌对嗜水气单胞菌裂解作用的研究

本文报道了8株噬菌蛭弧菌对河水中分离的9株嗜水气单胞菌的裂解作用。结果发现,噬菌蛭弧菌Bd32的裂解率为77.78％;Bd83、Bd98的裂解率为88.89％,其余5株噬菌蛭弧菌对9株嗜水气单胞菌全部裂解。     

Culture of Risk in Vulnerable Communities: The Case of Barranquilla,Colombia, in the Context of Globalized (In)Security

This article addresses both the culture of risk as an analytical and intervention category in vulnerable communities. The main objective is to show that risk analysis and intervention is only viable when the cultural values of the communities that face a particular kind of vulnerability are taken into account. We present the results from a study of a representative sample of vulnerable communities in Barranquilla, Colombia, in which various techniques of data collection were applied to identify the perception of risk and its relationship with the cultural typologies developed by Cultural Theory. We explain the causes and effects of perception and response when faced with risk in different contexts.     

基于海岛生态脆弱性模拟的朱家尖岛空间管控对策

近10年来,桥隧连陆型海岛数量快速增长,这类工程的建设改善了海岛的交通可达性,使得海岛旅游人口快速增长,实现了海岛经济的快速发展.而旅游人口的快速增加和海岛土地利用结构的变化,使得海岛生态脆弱性增加.为实现海岛生态系统的科学管理,科学评价和预测海岛生态系统脆弱性变化趋势及敏感区域,制定不同区域的生态系统管理方式显得尤为迫切.本研究构建了海岛生态脆弱性评价模型,评估了朱家尖岛生态脆弱性现状,以2015年作为基期模拟未来20年旅游人口和土地利用变化,以及未来20年的海岛生态脆弱性变化,在此基础上分析脆弱性变化的敏感区域,并提出相应的管理措施.结果表明:朱家尖岛目前的生态系统处于良好状态,中度和重度脆弱性面积相对较小.随着朱家尖岛旅游人口增加和岛陆开发强度的增强,海岛生态系统趋于脆弱,其中,高脆弱性面积增加,低脆弱性面积减少.针对脆弱性评估的结果结合敏感性分析,将朱家尖岛划分为禁止开发区、限制开发区和有条件开发区,以实现精细化管理.     

Optimization of 1,3-disubstituted urea-based inhibitors of Zika virus infection

Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a public health concern worldwide due to its association with congenital abnormalities and neurological diseases. To date, no effective vaccines or antiviral drugs have been approved for the treatment of ZIKV infection, and new inexpensive therapeutic options are urgently needed. In this study, we have used an in vitro plaque assay to assess an antiviral activity of the second generation of anti-ZIKV compounds, based on 1,3-disubstituted (thio)urea scaffold. Several compounds in the library were found to possess excellent activity against Zika virus with IC₅₀ values <200 pM. The most active analog, A5 exhibited an exceptional IC₅₀ = 85.1 ± 1.7 pM. Further analysis delineated structural requirements necessary for potent antiviral effects of this class of compounds. Collectively, our findings suggest that 1,3-disubstituted (thio)urea derivatives are excellent preclinical candidates for the development of anti-ZIKV therapeutics.     

Assessing household livelihood vulnerability to climate change: The case of Northwest Vietnam

This study applied livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and livelihood effect index (LEI) to assess vulnerability from climate variability and change of three agricultural and natural resources dependent commune in northwest Vietnam, a country that is expected to bear some of the most severe impacts of climate change. Based on a survey of 335 farm household data, complemented with secondary data on climate factors, a composite index was calculated and differential vulnerabilities were compared. The results of the analysis suggest that one of the communities, “Pa Vay Su,” was more vulnerable than the others, particularly in relation to housing, knowledge and skills, socio-demographics, health and water security, social networks, and livelihood strategy. “Hien Luong” commune, on the other hand, was more vulnerable in relation to other LVI indicators with the exception of food security, climate variability, and natural disasters. “Moc Chau” community was more vulnerable in relation to water security, social demographic than Hien Luong commune. Overall, the article shows that three different vulnerability assessment indices can be broadly applied in comparable setting in other areas of country and they could usefully establish the basis for a nationally applicable index to identify and prioritize adaptation and mitigation needs.