Controlled experiments of habitat fragmentation: a simple computer simulation and a test using small mammals

Habitat fragmentation involves a reduction in the effective area available to a population and the imposition of hard patch edges. Studies seeking to measure effects of habitat fragmentation have compared populations in fragments of different size to estimate and area effect but few have examined the effect of converting open populations to closed ones (an effect of edges). To do so requires a shift in spatial scope-from comparison of individual fragments to that of fragmented versus unfragmented landscapes. Here we note that large-scale, controlled studies of habitat fragmentation have rarely been performed and are needed. In making our case we develop a simple computer simulation model based on how individual animals with home ranges are affected by the imposition of habitat edges, and use it to predict population-level responses to habitat fragmentation. We then compare predictions of the model with results from a field experiment on Peromyscus and Microtus. Our model treats the case where home ranges/territories fall entirely within or partially overlap with that of sample areas in continuous landscapes, but are restricted to areas within habitat fragments in impacted landscapes. Results of the simulations demonstrate that the imposition of hard edges can produce different population abundances for similar-sized areas in continuous and fragmented landscapes. This edge effect is disproportionately greater in small than large fragments and for species with larger than smaller home ranges. These predictions were generally supported by our field experiment. We argue that large-scale studies of habitat fragmentation are sorely needed, and that control-experiment contrasts of fragmented and unfragmented microlandscapes provide a logical starting point.     

Wave separation versus bandpass filtering: a comparative non-linear analysis of brain α-EEG signals with and without psychotropic drug treatment

Attempts to demonstrate low-dimensional attractor behaviour in the analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals meet with difficulties that in part stem from a departure from single-system dynamics. In order to address this problem, the -waves can be extracted by digital filtering or by wave separation; these two techniques are compared in order to specify the conditions in which finite impulse response (FIR) bandpass filters can be used. The comparison was made using 18 EEG records of 3 min duration under resting conditions (6 subjects, 3 records per subject: prior to apomorphine administration, then 90 min and 150 min post-treatment). No presence of low-dimensional dynamic episodes in -signals was observed without digital processing. Sixty 5 s sections showing attractor behaviour were found after filtering and twenty five 5 s sections after wave separation. The mean correlation dimension was calculated for each experimental condition and for 4 subjects, in order to observe the temporal profile of the drug. When attractors were found after wave separation, bandpass filtering then also showed attractor behaviour, with the same temporal profile. However, the reverse is not true: attractors were found after bandpass filtering that were not present after wave separation; in this case the results deserve confirmation, although the temporal profiles for all cases in which attractors were found after filtering remained comparable.     

Molecular characterization of rgp2, a gene encoding a small GTP-binding protein from rice

Summary We previously reported the isolation of rgp1, a gene from rice, which encodes a ras-related GTP-binding protein, and subsequently showed that the gene induces specific morphological changes in transgenic tobacco plants. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of an rgp1 homologue, rgp2, from rice. The deduced rgp2 protein sequence shows 53% identity with the rice rgp1 protein, but 63% identity with both the marine ray ora3 protein, which is closely associated with synaptic vesicles of neuronal tissue, and the mammalian rab11 protein. Conservation of particular amino acid sequence motifs places rgp2 in the rab/ypt subfamily, which has been implicated in vesicular transport. Northern blot analysis of rgp1 and rgp2 suggests that both genes show relatively high, but differential, levels of expression in leaves, stems and panicles, but low levels in roots. In addition, whereas rgp1 shows maximal expression at a particular stage of plantlet growth, rgp2 is constitutively expressed during the same period. Southern blot analysis suggests that, in addition to rgp1 and rgp2, several other homologues exist in rice and these may constitute a small multigene family.     

Occurrence,distribution and neurochemical features of small intestinal neurons projecting to the cranial mesenteric ganglion in the pig

The small intestine of the pig has been investigated for its topographical distribution of enteric neurons projecting to the cranial mesenteric ganglion, by using Fast Blue or Fluorogold as a retrogradely transported neuronal tracer. Contrary to the situation in small laboratory animals such as rat and guinea-pig, the intestinofugally projecting neurons in the porcine small intestine were not restricted to the myenteric plexus, but were observed in greater numbers in ganglia of the outer submucous plexus. The inner submucous plexus was devoid of labelled neurons. Retrogradely labelled neurons were mostly found, either singly or in small aggregates, in ganglia located within a narrow border on either side of the mesenteric attachment. For both nerve networks, their number increased from duodenum to ileum. All the retrogradely labelled neurons exhibited a multidendritic uniaxonal appearance. Some of them displayed type-III morphology and stained for serotonin. This study indicates that, in the pig, not only the myenteric plexus but also one submucous nerve network is involved in the afferent component of intestino-sympathico-intestinal reflex pathways. The finding that some of the morphologically defined type-III neurons participate in these reflexes is in accord with the earlier proposal that type-III neurons are supposed to fulfill an interneuronal role, whether intra- or extramurally.     

佛山市禅城区小型兽类组成及多样性的时空变化

城市化导致的野生动物生境破碎化,会使野栖小型兽类更多聚集分布于城区斑块化的农区和公园生境中,因而其多样性组成及时空变化模式可能会与其他区域不同,了解这些模式对防控城区野栖小型兽类的危害具有重要支撑作用。本研究于2020年12月至2021年10月,分4个季节在佛山市禅城区3个公园和7处农区生境中以夹捕法调查小型兽类,比较了小型兽类的种类、密度和生态学指标的时空差异。共有效置夹1843夹次,捕获小型兽类2目2科4属7种共244只。其中劳亚食虫目（Eulipotyphla）的臭鼩（Suncus murinus）占总捕获动物的48.77%;啮齿目中黑缘齿鼠（Rattus andamanensis,20.90%）和卡氏小鼠（Mus caroli,18.03%）为优势鼠种,黑缘齿鼠为佛山市新增记录,卡氏小鼠为禅城区新增记录。4次调查总捕获率达13.28%±0.93%,12月的啮齿类捕获率显著低于4月;公园的总捕获率和啮齿类捕获率都比农区略高,而臭鼩捕获率比农区略低,但差异不显著。12月的物种丰富度和优势度指数最高,均匀度指数最低;4月的多样性指数最高,优势度指数最低;而10月的均匀度指数最高,物种...     

基于N蛋白单克隆抗体的小反刍兽疫病毒抗体检测胶体金试纸条的研制

本研究旨在建立一种简便、快捷、可直观检测小反刍兽疫病毒(peste des petits ruminants virus,PPRV)抗体的检测方法。将pET-32a-N重组质粒转化至大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli) Rosetta(DE3)感受态细胞中进行诱导表达,以纯化的PPRVN蛋白免疫8周龄BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞进行融合,间接酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, ELISA)筛选及亚克隆,获得了抗PPRV N蛋白的单克隆抗体。将PPRV N蛋白分别作为金标抗原及检测线(T线)包被抗原、单克隆抗体作为质控线(C线)包被抗体,组装成检测PPRVN蛋白抗体的胶体金免疫层析试纸条。结果显示：成功获得1株能稳定分泌抗N蛋白抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,命名为1F1;间接ELISA检测1F1腹水效价为1:128000;亚类鉴定结果为IgG1,轻链为kappa链。Westernblotting结果显示,1F1能与PPRV N蛋白特异性结合;间接免疫荧光(indirect immunofluorescent ass...     

针刺对术后胃肠功能紊乱大鼠胃肠传输功能及脑肠肽的影响

摘要 目的：探讨针刺三里穴、中脘对大鼠胃大部切除术后胃肠传输功能恢复的影响及可能的作用机制。方法：将60只 SD 大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组和针刺组,每组 20 只。造模成功后第3天开始,针刺组进行针刺足三里、中脘,连续治疗14天。于末次针刺结束后,各组记录进食量、体重等;后各组禁食24 h后进行胃残留率和小肠推进率测定,腹主动脉取血测定胃泌素、胃动素、食欲素A及食欲素1型受体。结果：造模前,三组大鼠体重和进食量差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。造模后3天,模型组及针刺组体重和进食量低于空白组,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05。针刺干预后,模型组体重和进食量低于空白组和针刺组,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05。针刺干预后,针刺组大鼠胃残留率、小肠推进率、胃泌素、胃动素、食欲素A及食欲素1型受体高于模型组,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05;模型组胃残留率、小肠推进率、胃泌素、胃动素、食欲素A及食欲素1型受体低于空白组,差异有统计学意义,P<0.05;针刺组与空白组胃残留率、小肠推进率、胃泌素、胃动素、食欲素A及食欲素1型受体差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。结论：针刺胃大部切除术后大鼠足三里穴、中脘穴,改善胃排空和小肠推进功能,促进术后胃肠功能的恢复,其作用机制可能为改变脑肠肽代谢,增加食欲素A水平,激活食欲素1型受体,促进胃泌素、胃动素分泌。     

Triton X－100对紫膜蛋白的效应

本文采用同步辐射小角Ｘ射线散射方法研究了用非离子表面活性剂ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ—１００处理后的嗜盐菌紫膜及其视紫红质蛋白结构的变化。实验结果表明,用不同浓度的ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ—１００处理紫膜碎片时,紫膜及其蛋白所处的状态有着很大变化。     

The Nucleotide Sequence of Human Acylamino Acid-Releasing Enzyme

The nucleotide sequence of a cDNA coding for the human acylaminoacid-releasing enzyme (AARE, also known as acylpeptide hydrolase)[EC 3.4.19.1] subunit has been determined. The amino acid sequenceof human AARE subunit deduced from its cDNA nucleotide sequenceshowed a high degree of identity (91.5%) with both the correspondingproteins from the pig and the rat. The AARE cDNA shows 99.2%identity with a 3.3 kb cDNA transcribed from a locus (DNF15S2)on the short arm of human chromosome 3, whose deletion is associatedwith small cell lung cancer, taking into consideration thatthe sequence of the 3.3-kb cDNA previously reported was causedby misreading.