Benzylideneoxymorphone: A new lead for development of bifunctional mu/delta opioid receptor ligands

Opioid analgesic tolerance remains a considerable drawback to chronic pain management. The finding that concomitant administration of delta opioid receptor (DOR) antagonists attenuates the development of tolerance to mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists has led to interest in producing bifunctional MOR agonist/DOR antagonist ligands. Herein, we present 7-benzylideneoxymorphone (6, UMB 246) displaying MOR partial agonist/DOR antagonist activity, representing a new lead for designing bifunctional MOR/DOR ligands.     

Molecular Characterization of the Total Bacteria and Dissimilatory Arsenate-Reducing Bacteria in Core Sediments of the Jianghan Plain,Central China

Arsenic contamination in groundwater has been reported in the Jianghan Plain of China since 2005, yet little is known about the microbial communities involved in As mobilization in this area, especially the dissimilatory arsenate-reducing bacteria (DARB) communities. Here, we conducted a cultivation-independent investigation on core sediments collected from a region with arsenic-contaminated groundwater in the Jianghan Plain to reveal the total bacteria and DARB community structures. Highly diverse As-resistant bacteria communities were found from sediment samples via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Notably, we identified 27 unique arrA gene (encoding the alpha subunit of dissimilatory arsenate reductase) phylotypes, none of which was related to any previously described arrA gene sequence. This suggests a novel and unique DARB community in the sediments of the Jianghan Plain and expands our knowledge about the distribution and diversity of this group of bacteria in natural environments. Moreover, RDA and CCA demonstrated that total bacterial communities and specific functional groups are controlled by different environmental factors. Specifically, sediment pH, NH₄⁺, total nitrogen, total Fe, total organic carbon and total phosphorus were the key factors driving total bacterial community compositions, while As significantly shaped DARB community structures. This report is the first to describe DARB communities and their correlation with environmental factors in Jianghan Plain sediments, which could give us clues about the origin of the arsenic contamination of groundwater in this region.     

模拟增温对黄河三角洲滨海湿地非生长季土壤呼吸的影响

冬季土壤呼吸能释放生长季所固存的碳, 因而在陆地碳循环中占有重要地位。随着全球气候变暖, 平均地表温度将升高0.3-4.8 ℃, 且冬季增温更加明显, 而温度的升高会促进更多CO₂的释放。另外, 滨海湿地地下水位浅, 淡咸水交互作用明显, 增温能引起土壤表层盐分升高, 从而影响土壤呼吸。该研究以黄河三角洲滨海湿地为研究对象, 采用红外辐射加热器模拟增温, 研究了该地区非生长季土壤呼吸的日动态及季节动态, 同时探讨了土壤呼吸对环境因子的响应机制。结果显示: 日动态中, 增温与对照的土壤呼吸速率变化趋势一致, 为单峰曲线; 在平均日变化中, 整个非生长季不同处理的土壤呼吸速率无显著差异, 而土壤温度和土壤盐分均为增温大于对照, 并且土壤呼吸峰值时间均比土壤温度提前。季节动态中, 整个研究期分为非盐分限制阶段(2014年11月-2015年2月中旬)和盐分限制阶段(2015年2月中旬-2015年4月)。在整个非生长季, 土壤呼吸速率无显著差异; 在非盐分限制阶段, 当10 cm土壤温度升高4.0 ℃时, 土壤呼吸速率显著提高22.9%, 而土壤呼吸温度敏感性系数(Q₁₀)与对照相比有所降低; 在盐分限制阶段, 尽管土壤温度升高3.3 ℃, 土壤呼吸速率却降低了20.7%, 这可能是由于增温引起了土壤盐分的升高, 同时由增温引起的土壤含水量的升高在一定程度上也限制了土壤呼吸, 而此阶段增温对Q₁₀无显著影响。因此, 在滨海湿地中, 增温除了直接影响土壤温度, 还可通过影响土壤水盐状况来影响土壤呼吸, 进而影响滨海湿地土壤碳库。     

不同地下水矿化度对柽柳光合特征及树干液流的影响

为揭示柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)光合能力及耗水特征对地下水矿化度的响应规律, 以黄河三角洲建群种——柽柳3年生植株为研究对象, 在1.2 m的潜水水位下, 模拟设置淡水、微咸水、咸水和盐水4种不同的地下水矿化度, 测定柽柳叶片光合-光响应、蒸腾速率和树干液流的日变化。结果表明: 地下水矿化度通过影响土壤盐分可显著影响柽柳光合特性及耗水性能。随地下水矿化度升高, 柽柳叶片净光合速率(P_n)、最大P_n、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率均先升高后降低, 而水分利用效率(WUE)持续降低。淡水、微咸水和盐水处理下, 柽柳P_n光响应平均值分别比咸水处理降低44.1%、15.1%和62.6%; 微咸水、咸水和盐水处理下, 柽柳WUE光响应平均值分别比淡水处理降低25.0%、29.2%和41.7%。随地下水矿化度升高, 柽柳叶片光饱和点先升高后降低, 而光补偿点持续升高, 光照生态幅变窄, 光能利用率变低。淡水和盐水处理下, 柽柳P_n下降分别是非气孔限制和气孔限制引起的。柽柳树干液流速率随地下水矿化度升高而先升高后降低, 咸水处理下树干液流速率日变幅最大, 日液流量最高。淡水、微咸水和盐水处理下日液流速率平均值分别比咸水处理降低61.8%、13.1%和41.9%。咸水矿化度下柽柳有较高的光合特性, 在蒸腾耗水较严重的情况下可实现高效生理用水, 适宜柽柳较好地生长。     

关于提高物种划分合理性的意见

正这是我在The Flora of Pan-Himalaya(泛喜马拉雅植物志)第二次全体国内作者会议上关于物种划分问题的发言的结尾部分。我认为物种划分是分类学(狭义)的核心内容,所以我以辐冠参属(Pseudocodon)的鸡蛋参复合群(Pseudocodon convolvulaceus complex)和芍药属(Paeonia)的滇牡丹复合群(Paeonia delavayi complex)为例,重点陈述了我处理物种划分的思路和做法。发言后,不少听众很关注我的十点看法,更有些同事希望我发表出来。我感谢同事们的好意。物种是生物多样性的基本单元,所以我把发言稍加修改后在《生物多样性》发表,表达我对物种划分的观点。我是把这十点意见作为讨论和点评的靶子发表的,希望能引起同行的关注、讨论和点评。     

长江下游发现香鱼的稚鱼

长江靖江江段位于长江最下游,接近河口段。在对这一江段沿岸的鱼类进行调查的过程中,发现在2004年5月11日的渔获物中,有1尾体长70.8mm、体重3．34g的香鱼（Plecoglossus altivelis）稚鱼。这是香鱼在长江流域的首次分布报道。     

Population genetic diversity of Prenant’s schizothoracin, Schizothorax prenanti, inferred from the mitochondrial DNA control region

Wild populations of Prenant’s schizothoracin, Schizothorax prenanti, were collected from the Qingyi, Dadu, and Muli rivers in upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Genetic variation and population structure were examined based on analysis of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Nucleotide sequence analysis defined 30 haplotypes in 41 individuals. The nucleotide and haplotype diversities were very high, and genetic distances between the Dadu and Qingyi populations were much smaller than between either of them and the Muli population. The analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that most variation occurred within samples, and the differentiation between Muli and Dadu or Qingyi was significant. Estimates of gene flow indicated reproductive isolation between Muli and the other populations, and this divergence might be related to geographical location. The results are mostly consistent with the findings from AFLP analysis and also suggested considerable genetic diversity of the populations in the Muli, Dadu, and Qingyi rivers.     

大气污染对珠江三角洲村边林植被的影响

在群落结构与组成分析的基础上,阐明了陶瓷工业污染对自然条件下生长的植被伤害状况、程度和原因,为类似地理气候区重度污染背景下退化生态系统的植被恢复提供参考。野外调查样地位于广东省佛山市南海区一村边半自然次生林内。结果表明,该森林以隆缘桉和尾叶桉占优势,其次是乡土树种鸭脚木、泥竹,重要值依次为26.75、17.08、16.27和11.50,其它伴生种的重要值不足30。根据冠层叶可见症状、失绿和脱叶对植物受害进行综合评价,分死亡(受害程度100%,全部叶死亡脱落)、重度(60%-100%)、中度(25%-60%)、轻度(10%-25%)和健康(<10%)5个级别。隆缘桉和马尾松冠层叶完全脱落属于死亡类,泥竹、南岭黄檀属重度受害种类。尽管其它伴生树种有较低的重要值,但其中多数种类显示出较强耐受能力,这些种类包括鸭脚木、珊瑚树、酒饼叶、光叶山矾、白背叶、银柴、竹节树、山黄麻、构树、粗叶榕、潺槁树等。和乔木层比较,林下灌木和草本植物受污染的伤害大大降低。桉树类树种因其速生、快速郁闭的特点被认为是华南荒山、退化丘陵地区植被恢复的重要种类,在重度污染地区已经受到严重威胁,应该引起重视。另一方面,某些乡土树种在重度污染地区环境修复中显示出潜力和前景。