Two genetic codes, one genome: frameshifted primate mitochondrial genes code for additional proteins in presence of antisense antitermination tRNAs

Genomic amino acid usages coevolve with cloverleaf formation capacities of corresponding primate mitochondrial tRNAs, also for antisense tRNAs, suggesting translational function for sense and antisense tRNAs. Some antisense tRNAs are antitermination tRNAs (anticodons match stops (UAR: UAA, UAG; AGR: AGA, AGG)). Genomes possessing antitermination tRNAs avoid corresponding stops in frames 0 and +1, preventing translational antitermination. In frame +2, AGR stop frequencies and corresponding antisense antitermination tRNAs coevolve positively. This suggests expression of frameshifted overlapping genes, potentially shortening genomes, increasing metabolic efficiency. Blast analyses of hypothetical proteins translated from one and seven +1, respectively, +2 frameshifted human mitochondrial protein coding genes align with eleven GenBank sequences (31% of the mitochondrial coding regions). These putative overlap genes contain few UARs, AGRs align with arginine. Overlap gene numbers increase in presence of, and with time since evolution of antitermination tRNA AGR in 57 primate mitochondrial genomes. Numbers of putative proteins translated from antisense protein coding sequences and detected by blast also coevolve positively with antitermination tRNAs; expression of two of these ‘antisense’ mRNAs increases under low resource availability. Although more direct evidence is still lacking for the existence of proteins translated from overlapping mitochondrial genes and for antisense tRNAs activity, coevolutions between predicted overlap genes and the antitermination tRNAs required to translate them suggest expression of overlapping genes by an overlapping genetic code. Functions of overlapping genes remain unknown, perhaps originating from dual lifestyles of ancestral free living-parasitic mitochondria. Their amino acid composition suggests expression under anaerobic conditions.     

Aperiodic stochastic resonance in neural information processing with Gaussian colored noise

The aim of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of aperiodic stochastic resonance in neural systems with colored noise. For nonlinear dynamical systems driven by Gaussian colored noise, we prove that the stochastic sample trajectory can converge to the corresponding deterministic trajectory as noise intensity tends to zero in mean square, under global and local Lipschitz conditions, respectively. Then, following forbidden interval theorem we predict the phenomenon of aperiodic stochastic resonance in bistable and excitable neural systems. Two neuron models are further used to verify the theoretical prediction. Moreover, we disclose the phenomenon of aperiodic stochastic resonance induced by correlation time and this finding suggests that adjusting noise correlation might be a biologically more plausible mechanism in neural signal processing.     

Density, social information, and space use in the common lizard (Lacerta vivipara)

Socially acquired information is widespread in the animal kingdom.Many individuals make behavioral decisions based on such socialinformation. In particular, individuals may decide to leaveor select their habitat based on social information. Few studieshave investigated the role of density-related information, apotential social cue about habitat quality in dispersal. Here,we tested for the possibility that the phenotype of intrudercommon lizards (Lacerta vivipara) may inadvertently carry informationabout their natal population density. We found that such informationuse is likely. The behavior of focal lizard was influenced bythe natal population density of the intruder it was interactingwith. This suggests that individuals may use the behavior ofothers to acquire appropriate information about surroundingsand to base spatial decisions on this information. Density-relatedinformation may then affect individual movement decisions andthus metapopulation dynamics.     

Contemporary climate change alters the pace and drivers of extinction

Contemporary climate change is expected to affect the distributions of most species, but the nature, tempo, and mechanics of contemporary range shifts are still largely speculative. Here, we use fine‐scale distributional records developed over the past Century, combined with spatially comprehensive microclimatic data, to demonstrate a dramatic shift in the range of a climate‐sensitive mammal and to infer the increasingly important role of climate in local extinctions of this species across a 38.2 million‐ha area. Changes in the distribution of the American pika (Ochotona princeps) throughout the Great Basin ecoregion were characterized using records from 1898–2008, revealing a nearly five‐fold increase in the rate of local extinction and an 11‐fold increase in the rate of upslope range retraction during the last ten years, compared with during the 20th Century. Four of ten local pika extinctions have occurred since 1999, and across this ecoregion the low‐elevation range boundary for this species is now moving upslope at an average rate of about 145 m per decade. The rapid, ecoregional range shift of this small, talus‐dwelling species stands in remarkable contrast with the dynamics and determinants of endangerment previously observed for most terrestrial species, and to earlier extinction determinants for O. princeps in this region. Further investigation of widely distributed species will clarify rates at which biotic response to environmental change is occurring, and how factors driving that change are evolving in different portions of the earth.     

GIS-based seasonal pattern of Rhinopithecus roxellana’s habitat selection in Shennongjia Reserve, Central China

Rhinopithecus roxellana’s habitat condition is directly related to its long-term survival and reproduction. Research, with large-scale, on R. roxellana’s habitat selection of seasonal changes is conducive to the protection and construction of its habitat, and it is essential protecting the rare species. Our research is based on the results of previous studies in biological and behavioral ecological field. With the support of GIS and RS technology, we conducted a lot of field investigations. In addition, we also took R. roxellana’s selection bias of seven kinds of ecological factors into consideration. Through the above efforts, we got a selection intensity distribution layer about R. roxellana’s habitat selection of seasonal changes. Our study shows that in spring, the area of weak intensity is 1507.96 hm² while less weak area is 33868.72 hm². The strong intensity area is 266 hm² while the less strong area is 36818.84 hm².
In summer, the area of weak intensity is 4683.4 hm² while less weak area is 28392.4 hm². The strong intensity area is 4078.52 hm² while the less strong area is 35307.2 hm².
In autumn, the area of weak intensity is 1972.08 hm² while less weak area is 33254.72 hm². The strong intensity area is 1516.84 hm² while the less strong area is 35717.88 hm².
In winter, the area of weak intensity is 542.76 hm² while less weak area is 28230.84 hm². The strong intensity area is 392.44 hm² while the less strong area is 43295.48 hm².
The results show that the most forestry areas of the Shennongjia Mt. lie in strong intensity area and these areas provides optimal habitat for the Snub-nosed Monkey.
The distribution layer analyses show that eastern part of the Shennongjia area is coincidence with the current natural distribution of the Snub-nosed Monkey, whereas north-western, south-western and southern part of the area is located in the weak intensity areas and is unfit for the Snub-nosed Monkey. In the central part, the strong intensity areas are fragmented by the highways and no Snub-nosed Monkey is found in this highly disturbed area. However, it is probably a potential habitat for the Snub-nosed Monkey.
Survival and reproduction of the Snub-nosed Monkey was ensured by large and continuous habitat in the eastern part of the Shennongjia Mt. Much effort is needed to intensify the connection of the fragmented central area of the Shennongjia Mt.     

Spatiotemporal characteristics of synaptic EPSP summation on the dendritic trees of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons as revealed by laser uncaging stimulation

Synaptic strength is modified by the temporal coincidence of synaptic inputs without back-propagating action potentials (BPAPs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons. In order to clarify the interactive mechanisms of associative long-term potentiation (LTP) without BPAPs, local paired stimuli were applied to the dendrites using high-speed laser uncaging stimulation equipment. When the spatial distance between the paired stimuli was <10 micrometer, nonlinear amplification in excitatory postsynaptic potential summation was observed. In the time window from −20 to 20 ms, supralinear amplification was observed. Supralinear amplification was modulated by antagonist of voltage-gated Na⁺/Ca²⁺ channels and NMDA-type glutamate receptors. These results are closely related to the spatiotemporal-characteristics of associative LTP without BPAPs. This study proposes an essential aspect of dendritic information processing.     

利用TrnL-F序列探讨苎麻属植物的系统发育关系

目的:探讨苎麻属植物的系统发育关系。方法:对10个种和8个变种苎麻属植物的TrnL-F序列进行PCR扩增和T/A克隆产物序列测定;选取雾水葛属的植物作为参考外类群,同样也测定其TrnL-F全序列;根据TrnL-F区碱基序列的差异计算种间的遗传距离,采用UPGMA法进行系统发育分析并得到系统发育树。结果:野线麻、福州苎麻、赤麻、悬铃叶苎麻、序叶苎麻、白面苎麻、束序苎麻、密球苎麻、疏毛水苎麻、圆叶水苎麻、灰绿水苎麻和糙叶水苎麻聚成一支;帚序苎麻、黔桂苎麻、苎麻、微绿苎麻、贴毛苎麻和青叶苎麻聚为另一支;雾水葛单独聚成一类,与苎麻属的其他种在一级分支中即分开,与其他种的亲缘关系较远。结论:帚序苎麻组和苎麻组植物具有较近的亲缘关系。     

浅析医药卫生科技查新工作中存在的问题及对策

以南京军区福州总医院科技查新站为资料来源,浅析医药卫生科技查新工作中存在的相关问题:如科研人员查新意识淡薄及对查新流程不了解、查新工作特殊的阶段性问题、委托书中存在的问题、查新资源支持系统不够完善、查新人与课题委托人沟通不足、手工检索被忽略等,并结合查新实践提出解决问题对策以及提高查新质量的建议。