The complex dynamics of a diffusive prey–predator model with an Allee effect in prey

This paper investigates complex dynamics of a predator–prey interaction model that incorporates: (a) an Allee effect in prey; (b) the Michaelis–Menten type functional response between prey and predator; and (c) diffusion in both prey and predator. We provide rigorous mathematical results of the proposed model including: (1) the stability of non-negative constant steady states; (2) sufficient conditions that lead to Hopf/Turing bifurcations; (3) a prior estimates of positive steady states; (4) the non-existence and existence of non-constant positive steady states when the model is under zero-flux boundary condition. We also perform completed analysis of the corresponding ODE model to obtain a better understanding on effects of diffusion on the stability. Our analytical results show that the small values of the ratio of the prey's diffusion rate to the predator's diffusion rate are more likely to destabilize the system, thus generate Hopf-bifurcation and Turing instability that can lead to different spatial patterns. Through numerical simulations, we observe that our model, with or without Allee effect, can exhibit extremely rich pattern formations that include but not limit to strips, spotted patterns, symmetric patterns. In addition, the strength of Allee effects also plays an important role in generating distinct spatial patterns.     

Natural climate solutions versus bioenergy: Can carbon benefits of natural succession compete with bioenergy from short rotation coppice?

Short rotation plantations are often considered as holding vast potentials for future global bioenergy supply. In contrast to raising biomass harvests in forests, purpose‐grown biomass does not interfere with forest carbon (C) stocks. Provided that agricultural land can be diverted from food and feed production without impairing food security, energy plantations on current agricultural land appear as a beneficial option in terms of renewable, climate‐friendly energy supply. However, instead of supporting energy plantations, land could also be devoted to natural succession. It then acts as a long‐term C sink which also results in C benefits. We here compare the sink strength of natural succession on arable land with the C saving effects of bioenergy from plantations. Using geographically explicit data on global cropland distribution among climate and ecological zones, regionally specific C accumulation rates are calculated with IPCC default methods and values. C savings from bioenergy are given for a range of displacement factors (DFs), acknowledging the varying efficiency of bioenergy routes and technologies in fossil fuel displacement. A uniform spatial pattern is assumed for succession and bioenergy plantations, and the considered timeframes range from 20 to 100 years. For many parameter settings—in particular, longer timeframes and high DFs—bioenergy yields higher cumulative C savings than natural succession. Still, if woody biomass displaces liquid transport fuels or natural gas‐based electricity generation, natural succession is competitive or even superior for timeframes of 20–50 years. This finding has strong implications with climate and environmental policies: Freeing land for natural succession is a worthwhile low‐cost natural climate solution that has many co‐benefits for biodiversity and other ecosystem services. A considerable risk, however, is C stock losses (i.e., emissions) due to disturbances or land conversion at a later time.     

Affinity precipitation an option for early capture in bioprocessing

Affinity precipitation is a bioseparation technique where the affinity ligand is coupled to a stimuliresponsive polymer. Stimuli-responsive polymers show abrupt, yet reversible, phase transition (precipitation) in response to a small change in an environmental parameter. The corresponding ligand conjugates can be used to co-precipitate and thereby capture and isolate target molecules from complex solutions such as culture supernatants and cell lysates. The approach is compatible with a 'discardibles only' type of downstream process and can be scaled over several orders of magnitude. This report discusses the set-up and development of affinity precipitation procedures, the related instrumentation and scale up, as well as applications for the isolation of proteins and polynucleotides.     

3种荒漠盐生植物根系及根毛形态特征的比较研究

在水培条件下,针对梭梭、囊果碱蓬和钠猪毛菜3种荒漠盐生植物,研究它们苗期在不同盐浓度条件下根系和根毛形态的差异。结果表明：一定浓度的盐分可以促进3种盐生植物生长,但较高浓度的盐抑制其生长,特别是对根系生长的抑制作用更大。在同样盐浓度下,钠猪毛菜的生长最快,生物量也最大。在盐分浓度较低时,3种盐生植物的主根长和总根长都有所增加,与对照相比,囊果碱蓬增加的幅度较大,但高浓度的盐会抑制根系总长度的增加,其中囊果碱蓬较梭梭和钠猪毛菜抑制的程度轻。盐分对3种植物的根系平均直径没有显著的影响,但有减小的趋势。在水培条件下,梭梭和囊果碱蓬的根系上、中、下部分布的较均匀,而钠猪毛菜的根系中部比上部和下部有显著的增加,盐分对每种植物的根系的分布没有显著的影响。3种植物的根毛与根系生长环境中的盐浓度没有明显相关性;3种植物之间,根毛的长度和密度有显著差异。从根系和根毛的形态特征可以推断：囊果碱蓬比梭梭和钠猪毛菜具有较强的抗旱性和耐极薄能力;梭梭的耐盐能力较其它2种植物差,囊果碱蓬的耐盐性最强。     

Evidences against vesicle-dependent trafficking and involvement of extracellular proteasomes into cell-to-cell communications

The ubiquitin proteasome system is involved in the regulation of most basic intracellular processes, and deregulation of this system can results in certain kinds of human diseases. Proteolytic core this system, the 20S proteasome, has been found in physiological fluids of both healthy humans and patients suffering from a variety of inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic diseases. The concentration of these extracellular proteasomes has been found to correlate with the diseased state, being of a prognostic significance. The transport mechanisms and functions of these proteasomes, however, are largely unclear. Previous studies revealed that the transport of extracellular proteasomes may occur via microvesicles and exosomes, which led to the hypothesis that extracellular proteasomes are implicated in cell-to-cell communication process. Here we show that microvesicles and exosomes, two major known types of intercellular vehicles, contain no detectable proteasomes. Moreover, neither affinity purified nor naturally released into conditioned medium by donor cells 20S proteasomes could penetrate recipient HeLa cells. Taken together, these results suggest that extracellular proteasomes are unlikely to be involved in the cell-to-cell communication and that their release by cells serve other biological purposes.     

The effects of buffer condition on the fouling behavior of MVM virus filtration of an Fc-fusion protein

A combined pore blockage and cake filtration model was applied to the virus filtration of an Fc-fusion protein using the three commercially available filters, F-1, F-2, and F-3 in a range of buffer conditions including sodium-phosphate and tris-acetate buffers with and without 200 mM NaCl at pH 7.5. The fouling behaviors of the three filters for the feed solutions spiked with minute virus of mice were described well by this combined model for all the solution conditions. This suggests that fouling of the virus filters is dominated by the pore blockage mechanism during the initial stage of the filtration and transformed to the cake filtration mechanism during the later stage of the filtration. Both flux and transmembrane resistance can be described well by this model. The pore blockage rate and the rate of increase of protein layer resistance over blocked pores are found to be affected by membrane properties as well as the solution conditions resulting from the modulation of interactions between virus, protein, and membrane by the solution conditions.     

Adhesive thermosensitive gels for local delivery of viral vectors

Local delivery of viral vectors can enhance the efficacy of therapies by selectively affecting necessary tissues and reducing the required vector dose. Pluronic F127 is a thermosensitive polymer that undergoes a solution–gelation (sol–gel) transition as temperature increases and can deliver vectors without damaging them. While pluronics can be spread over large areas, such as the surface of an organ, before gelation, they lack sufficient adhesivity to remain attached to some tissues, such as the surface of the heart or mucosal surfaces. Here, we utilized blends of pluronic F127 and polycarbophil (PCB), a mucoadhesive agent, to provide the necessary adhesivity for local delivery of viral vectors to the cardiac muscle. The effects of PCB concentration on adhesive properties, sol–gel temperature transition and cytocompatibility were evaluated. Rheological studies showed that PCB decreased the sol–gel transition temperature at concentrations >1% and increased the adhesive properties of the gel. Furthermore, these gels were able to deliver viral vectors and transduce cells in vitro and in vivo in a neonatal mouse apical resection model. These gels could be a useful platform for delivering viral vectors over the surface of organs where increased adhesivity is required.     

小地老虎食诱剂糖醋酒液配方筛选及发酵增效作用

【目的】为筛选和规范诱集小地老虎Agrotis ipsilon成虫的最佳糖醋酒液配方及最佳发酵时间,确定发酵液中的挥发物成分。【方法】优选以单一纯物质糖、醋、酒和水进行混配的配方A, B, C和D, 其配比分别为蔗糖(g)∶乙酸(mL)∶无水乙醇(mL)∶纯水(mL)(m/v/v/v)=3∶1∶3∶80, 3∶1∶3∶160, 3∶1∶6∶80和1∶1∶3∶80及常见配方E［白糖(g)∶白醋(mL)∶白酒(mL)∶自来水(mL)= 6∶3∶1∶10(m/v/v/v)］,分别并采用Y型嗅觉仪及GC-MS测试和分析小地老虎成虫对发酵1~15 d后的糖醋酒液的趋性及发酵液中的挥发物成分。【结果】趋性试验结果表明,糖醋酒液B配方对小地老虎诱集效果显著优于A, C, D和E配方,C配方次之。小地老虎成虫对B和C这两种配方发酵8 d发酵液的选择反应率均显著高于对未发酵及发酵5 d和7 d外的其他发酵时间发酵液的选择反应率。挥发物成分组成分析结果显示,糖醋酒液B配方发酵8 d发酵液的挥发物共有41种化合物,主要包括17种烃类化合物、8种醛类化合物、2种酮类化合物、4种醇类化合物、5种酯类化合物和5种醚类化合物。而且发酵8 d的糖醋酒液B配方与其未发酵以及发酵4 d和发酵12 d的糖醋酒液B配方之间的挥发物成分差异较大。【结论】优选并明确单一物质糖、醋、酒和水进行混配的小地老虎食诱剂配方(3∶1∶3∶160, m/v/v/v),其糖醋酒液通过发酵可以产生增效作用,最佳发酵时间为8 d。