Contextualizing macroecological laws: A big data analysis on electrofishing and allometric scalings in Ohio,USA

We investigated the influence of different electrofishing methods on allometric scaling features of fish assemblages in lotic environments. The ultimate aim was to elucidate to which extent the structure of fish assemblages is predictable by the three-quarter power law theory. Water bodies across the state of Ohio, USA, provided a suitable data set to analyze the size–biomass spectra of 2051 fish assemblages. For the first time, 41,070 allometric field observations were screened according to sampling methods (i.e., longline, tote barge, boat) adopted for sampling collection. Allometric patterns varied considerably in relation with the sampling method, in turn imposed by the local hydrology and morphology of the investigated water courses, as shown by the lowering of scalings from boatable to wadeable systems. There are several lines of evidence indicating that the chosen type of electrofishing acts as a pitfall for size spectra. Using individually weighted body-mass values as independent predictor of spectra we show that the specific sampling methodology required by the physical characteristics of different lotic habitats influence the allometric outcomes, a novel result that makes universality of community power laws not as straightforward as supposed until now.     

Schistosoma mansoni population structure and persistence after praziquantel treatment in two villages of Bahia, Brazil

Praziquantel has been used to treat schistosome infections since 1979 and currently is the only chemotherapeutic agent in production for this purpose, raising concerns about the potential for the emergence of drug resistance. In practice, 10-20% of infected patients will continue to excrete eggs after treatment. It is not understood to what degree this represents selection of a resistant population or incomplete elimination due to the presence of immature worms at the time of treatment. We used a population genetics approach to test whether or not persistent Schistosomamansoni parasites were drawn from the same population as susceptible parasites. In this study, stool samples were collected from 96% of individuals in two small Brazilian communities (populations 482 and 367) and examined for S.mansoni eggs. The combined prevalence of S.mansoni infections in the villages was 41%. Total egg DNA was extracted from each sample and was genotyped at 15 microsatellite markers. Day-to-day variation of the infrapopulation from an individual human host was low (median differentiation using Jost’s D = 0.010), so that a single stool was representative of the genotypes present in stool eggs, at least in the short term. Average pairwise analysis of D among all pre-treatment infrapopulations suggested moderate differentiation (mean D = 0.082 and 0.122 for the two villages), whereas the pre-treatment component population differentiation between the two communities was 0.047. The differentiation of the component population remaining after treatment from the fully susceptible component population was low (mean D = 0.007 and 0.020 for the two villages), suggesting that the persistent parasites were not selected by praziquantel treatment. We will continue to follow these communities for evidence of selection or changes in population structure.     

长半衰期药物无清洗期时的生物等效性研究

目的：探讨长半衰期药物（t1／2〉24h）在无清洗期时生物等效性研究中的AUC和Cmax的计算,通过无清洗期的实验数据推算出正常清洗期的数据。方法：利用SPSS软件,建立二室模型口服药物在无清洗期时的半衰期为100小时的生物等效性模型,通过优化AUC和Cmax的计算方法,降低药物残留对第二周期药物浓度的影响,进而增加AUC和Cmax的计算的精确性,最后用较精确的方法推算出正常清洗期的AUC和Cmax,利用精确的数据进行生物等效性的进一步验证。结果：在无清洗期的状态下,取样时间在大于0．8个半衰期时,平均值法计算的Auc和Cmax的结果误差小于5％,变异系数小于25％,较为精确,生物等效性研究进一步验证了这一观点。结论：在无清洗期的情况下,生物等效性研究最小的采样时间为0．8个半衰期。     

Assessment of genetic diversity in three subsets constituted from the ICRISAT sorghum collection using random vs non-random sampling procedures A. Using morpho-agronomical and passport data

A large collection, such as the sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landrace collection held at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), represents a challenge for the maintenance of both the accessions of and the information documented for the germplasm collection. The accessibility and knowledge of the landrace collection are the essential factors for an efficient utilization of the genetic resources by both breeders and farmers. Different sampling strategies, either random or non-random, were proposed to obtain subsets of reduced size (core collection). Three subsets were established; a random sampling within a stratified collection (logarithmic strategy: L); a sample based upon morpho-agronomic diversity (principal component score strategy: PCS); and a sample based upon an empirical knowledge of sorghum (taxonomic strategy: T). Comparisons of these three samples for morpho-agronomic characterization and passport information were assessed to determine their impact on phenotypic diversity. For their overall diversity, the three subsets did not differ, as shown with the two-dimensional representation of the morpho-agronomic diversity and the Shannon-Weaver diversity indices. When comparisons for morpho-agronomic and passport data were considered, the PCS subset looked similar to the entire landrace collection. The L subset showed differences for characters associated with the photoperiod reaction that was considered in the stratification of the collection. The T subset was the most distinct from the entire landrace collection as it over-represented the landraces selected by farmers for specific uses and covered the widest range of geographical adaptation and morpho-agronomic characteristics. Received: 5 October 1999 / Accepted: 3 November 1999     

Leap-dynamics: efficient sampling of conformational space of proteins and peptides in solution

A molecular simulation scheme, called Leap-dynamics, that provides efficient sampling of protein conformational space in solution is presented. The scheme is a combined approach using a fast sampling method, imposing conformational 'leaps' to force the system over energy barriers, and molecular dynamics (MD) for refinement. The presence of solvent is approximated by a potential of mean force depending on the solvent accessible surface area. The method has been successfully applied to N-acetyl-L-alanine-N-methylamide (alanine dipeptide), sampling experimentally observed conformations inaccessible to MD alone under the chosen conditions. The method predicts correctly the increased partial flexibility of the mutant Y35G compared to native bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. In particular, the improvement over MD consists of the detection of conformational flexibility that corresponds closely to slow motions identified by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.     

红地球葡萄霜霉病系统型病株的田间分布型和抽样技术研究

为搞清红地球葡萄（Red Globe Grape）霜霉病（Plasmopara vaticola）的发生流行规律,以及在生产实践中为提高田间抽样的准确度,运用聚集度指数（K、CA、I＆和M^＊／X、λ）分析研究了红地球葡萄霜霉病系统型病株的田间分布型．结果表明：红地球葡萄霜霉病病株在葡萄园中的空间分布呈聚集型,分布的基本型是嵌纹分布和核心分布,适合率分别为75％和76．67％。二项分布的适合率为8．33％．在此分布型的基础上,通过调查病叶平均数,比较平行线、“W”字型、“Z”字型抽样方式,最后肯定平行线法最好．     

Bioprospecting for hyper-lipid producing microalgal strains for sustainable biofuel production

Global petroleum reserves are shrinking at a fast pace, increasing the demand for alternate fuels. Microalgae have the ability to grow rapidly, and synthesize and accumulate large amounts (approximately 20-50% of dry weight) of neutral lipid stored in cytosolic lipid bodies. A successful and economically viable algae based biofuel industry mainly depends on the selection of appropriate algal strains. The main focus of bioprospecting for microalgae is to identify unique high lipid producing microalgae from different habitats. Indigenous species of microalgae with high lipid yields are especially valuable in the biofuel industry. Isolation, purification and identification of natural microalgal assemblages using conventional techniques is generally time consuming. However, the recent use of micromanipulation as a rapid isolating tool allows for a higher screening throughput. The appropriate media and growth conditions are also important for successful microalgal proliferation. Environmental parameters recorded at the sampling site are necessary to optimize in vitro growth. Identification of species generally requires a combination of morphological and genetic characterization. The selected microalgal strains are grown in upscale systems such as raceway ponds or photobireactors for biomass and lipid production. This paper reviews the recent methodologies adopted for site selection, sampling, strain selection and identification, optimization of cultural conditions for superior lipid yield for biofuel production. Energy generation routes of microalgal lipids and biomass are discussed in detail.     

利用分子标记分析遗传多样性时的玉米群体取样策略研究

利用分子标记技术对玉米种质资源进行遗传多样性分析对种质资源的保存和利用具有重要的指导意义。但是,在对地方品种和育种群体这些开放授粉群体进行大规模遗传多样性分析时,取样方法将会严重影响到研究结果和工作效率。本研究用2个育种群体和3个地方品种为试材,利用微卫星(SSR)标记对每个群体100个个体及其组成的不同随机混合样品进行了分子检测。结果表明,不同群体的群体内遗传变异大小存在差异;相同数目的个体随机混合的不同样品间的检测结果基本相同;不同数目的个体混合的样品间存在一定程度的差异,并且与材料本身的遗传变异大小有一定关系。考虑到结果的科学性和工作的可行性,建议在利用分子标记(如SSR)进行地方品种和育种群体的遗传多样性评估时,随机选取30个个体组成混合样(或用15个个体组成2个混合样)来代表1个地方品种或育种群体进行分子鉴定。     

用单元内混合家系相关法计算遗传力时的抽样误差估计

对应用单元内混合家系相关法计算遗传力时的抽样误差估计问题进行了探讨,推导出的抽样误差估计公式可用于遗传力的显著性检验．