Airborne microorganisms in a subterranean archaeological area of the basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina (Rome)

The basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome was built in the fifth century on the foundations of a Roman insula used for dwellings and commercial activities, where the first Christian communities had held their meetings. This archaeological area is still rather isolated since it can only be visited by groups for one/two hours once a month. Such a situation is ideal for studying both the quantity of microorganisms in the air under undisturbed conditions and/or conveyed by visitors. The biodeterioration of subterranean remains is determined by the development of bacteria, cyanobacteria, actinomycetes, algae and fungi. On the walls of this underground archaeological area the main form of alteration is the efflorescence. In order to compare the stone and airborne microflora, the microorganisms living on stone and the airborne ones have been detected. Air samples were taken both during the visits and under non-turbulent conditions utilizing three sampling methods: gravitational, intake by multi-stage impact and intake by single-stage impact. The results have made it possible to determine the microbial content of the air, as well as the sampling schedule required for rarely visited underground environments. Furthermore, a comparison of the three methods used showed that the adoption of one or the other sampling method gave different complementary information on airborne microflora. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

中亚热带森林单木地上生物量的机载激光雷达估测

以雪峰山武冈林场为研究对象,利用遥感数据和地面实测样地数据,研究机载激光雷达（LiDAR）估测中亚热带森林乔木层单木地上生物量的能力.利用条件随机场和最优化方法实现LiDAR点云的单木分割,以单木尺度为对象提取的植被点云空间结构、回波特征以及地形特征等作为遥感变量,采用回归模型估测乔木层地上生物量.结果表明: 针叶林、阔叶林和针阔混交林的单木识别率分别为93%、86%和60%;多元逐步回归模型的调整决定系数分别为0.83、0.81和0.74,均方根误差分别为28.22、29.79和32.31 t·hm^-2;以冠层体积、树高百分位值、坡度和回波强度值构成的模型精度明显高于以树高为因子的传统回归模型精度.以单木为对象从LiDAR点云中提取的遥感变量有助于提高森林生物量估测精度.
     

IL-4 is required for defense against mycobacterial infection

Although the involvement of T helper (Th1) cells is central to protection against intracellular bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the involvement of Th2 cells, characterized by potent interleukin (IL)-4 secretion in mycobacterial infection is still unclear. In order to clarify the role of IL-4 in murine tuberculosis, IL-4-deficient mutant mice, IL-4 knockout (IL-4 KO) mice, were utilized. The mice were infected with H37Rv, Kurono or BCG Pasteur via an airborne infection route by placing them in the exposure chamber of a Middlebrook airborne infection apparatus. Their capacity to control mycobacterial growth, granuloma formation, cytokine secretion, and nitric oxide (NO) production were examined. These mice developed large granulomas, but not necrotic lesions in the lungs, liver or spleen (P<0.05). This was consistent with a significant increase in lung colony-forming units (CFU). Compared with levels in wild-type mice, upon stimulation with mycobacteria, splenic IL-10 levels were low and IL-6 levels were intermediate, but interferon (IFN)-gamma and IL-12 levels were significantly higher. IL-18 levels were within the normal range. The level of NO production by alveolar macrophages of the IL-4 KO mice was similar to that of the wild-type mice. Granulomatous lesion development by IL-4 KO mice was inhibited significantly by treatment with exogenous recombinant IL-4. These findings were not specific to the IL-4 KO mice used. Our data show that IL-4 may play a protective role in defense against mycobacteria, although IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha play major roles in it. Our data do not rule out an IFN-gamma-independent function of IL-4 in controlling tuberculosis.     

青岛市不同功能区冬季空气微生物群落代谢与多样性特征

选取青岛市5个功能区(市区街道、海滨区域、饮用水源地、垃圾填埋场和人工湿地污水处理系统),采用SAS ISO100空气浮游菌采样器于2013年冬季采集空气微生物样品,应用BIOLOG方法分析空气微生物群落代谢功能多样性,阐明群落代谢与环境相关性。结果表明,不同功能区空气微生物群落碳源代谢强度存在差异,代谢稳定时,海滨区域和饮用水源地样品平均光密度值(AWCD)分别为0.302、0.210,而人工湿地、市区街道及垃圾填埋场分别为0.063、0.025和0.034,海滨区域和饮用水源地空气微生物群落碳源代谢强度明显高于其他功能区。不同功能区空气微生物群落Shannon指数和Simpson指数接近,但海滨区域和饮用水源地Mc Intosh指数明显高于其他功能区。海滨区域和饮用水源地空气微生物群落碳源代谢类型丰富,代谢水平高,人工湿地、市区街道和垃圾填埋场碳源代谢类型单一,代谢水平低。5个功能区空气微生物群落碳源代谢差异呈现区域性,分异代谢差异的主要是羧酸类碳源。风速、温度、湿度等非生物因素对空气微生物群落碳源代谢具有不同程度影响,且不同功能区主导非生物因素存在差异。BIOLOG方法可以提供大量多维数据,能够分析样品间微生物群落碳源代谢差异,客观、全面表征空气微生物群落碳源代谢多样性特征,是研究空气微生物群落功能多样性较理想的方法之一。     

基于机载LiDAR单束激光穿透指数的白桦林LAI估测

森林叶面积指数(LAI)是描述森林冠层结构和树木生长状况的一个重要指标.本研究以内蒙古依根地区为研究区,在充分考虑机载激光雷达不同回波脉冲之间差异的基础上,对LiDAR点云数据进行分束处理,同时利用传感器与目标之间的距离对LiDAR点云强度进行校正,在由点云校正强度计算传统激光穿透指数(LPI)的同时提出了一个新的激光穿透指数,即单束激光穿透指数(LPI_s),并分别采用LPI和LPI_s两种激光穿透指数在4种不同LiDAR数据采样尺度(直径分别为5、10、15和20 m)下分别应用理论模型和经验模型两种不同的建模方法对森林LAI进行估测,以期通过激光分束来提高森林LAI的估测精度.结果表明: 分束激光穿透指数均值(LPI_mean)估测LAI的效果明显好于未分束LPI的估测效果,且当LiDAR数据采样尺度为15 m时,LPI_mean的经验模型(R²=0.80,平均绝对偏差MAD为0.11)和理论模型(R²=0.77,MAD=0.16)的估测结果均达到最佳.最后综合应用最佳经验模型与理论模型各自的优点绘制了研究区的白桦林LAI分布图.     

酒鬼酒酿造环境异常球菌属菌株的生物学特征及系统发育分析

研究对分离自馥郁香型白酒酒鬼酒制曲和发酵车间空气的8株异常球菌属(Deinococcus)菌株的特征及系统发育分析进行研究。采用添加体积分数10%酒鬼酒混合浸汁的营养琼脂培养基分离,挑选并纯化与异常球菌属菌株表型相似的菌株,考察其相关生理生化特征,并进行基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析。通过表型特点筛选,得到23株异常球菌属疑似菌株。系统发育分析表明,23株菌株中有8株属于异常球菌属,归属于该属的4个种(D.radiotolerans、D.daejeonensis、D.ficus和D.yunweiensis)。形态观察和生理生化实验表明,这些异常球菌属菌株在内生孢子、革兰染色、过氧化氢酶实验、生长温度范围、生长pH范围、多聚物水解等特征方面,与它们系统发育关系最为密切的典型菌株之间存在不同程度的差异。     

三维城市景观生态研究

城市景观元素的三维分析是城市景观研究发展的重要趋势之一。城市形态的结构特征与功能的空间作用不仅体现在二维空间中,同时在三维向度上表现出城市社会经济发展态势与空间演变的相互作用,因此在城市空间格局、过程与功能的讨论中,不能局限于二维平面。首先由三维视角提出城市景观格局及功能网络特征,并结合对航空摄影测量、卫星遥测、机载激光扫描等三维信息获取方法的认识,介绍目前城市景观三维信息提取的相关方法;其次,在三维城市景观生态研究内容方面,重点介绍城市景观要素提取、格局特征及其动态变化、生态环境效应和城市景观功能等相关研究,探讨城市内部的三维建成景观以及绿地景观要素提取与应用,并在传统景观格局分析方法基础上,提出了三维城市景观格局特征测量方法、动态变化监测方法以及动态模拟等相关内容,进一步对三维城市景观在生物多样性、局部气候变化等生态环境效应方面的研究进行了归纳总结;最后借助构建三维景观功能网络的思路,以作为三维城市景观功能优化研究的切入点。     

北京主要气传致敏花粉年浓度峰值日期预测

花粉是我国北方引发过敏性鼻炎最主要过敏原,花粉症发病期与花粉浓度高峰期吻合。基于北京地区2012至2020年花粉季多站、逐日分类花粉浓度观测数据分析,得出北京地区花粉浓度在3月上旬至5月中旬(可进一步划分为3月中旬至4月上旬和4月下旬至5月上旬两个高峰期)和8月中旬至9月中旬分别存在两个高峰期,第一个高峰期内优势致敏花粉种类为柏科、杨柳科和松科,第二个高峰期内优势致敏花粉种类为桑科、菊科蒿属和藜科。根据优势致敏花粉年浓度峰值日期观测数据,使用与花粉采样站点位置相匹配的逐日气象观测数据累积值,基于作物模型概念和模糊逻辑原理建立了北京地区主要气传致敏花粉年浓度峰值日期预测模型。经检验,柏科、杨柳科、松科、桑科、菊科蒿属和藜科花粉模型预测准确率分别为87.8%、80.0%、64.4%、86.7%、78.8%和81.8%。基于北京地区主要气传致敏花粉年浓度峰值日期预测模型可为本地花粉症防治提供理论参考。     

基于二维与三维信息的南京市主城区生态网络格局对比分析

生境破碎化导致生物多样性锐减,影响生境的生态系统服务,合理而有效的生态网络建设可以恢复城市内破碎生境斑块之间的连接。现有城市生态网络的构建与模拟多基于二维数据信息,未能很好地考虑植被三维结构信息所表征的多元生态位对生境质量的影响,致使生态网络的功能有效性有待验证。选取南京市主城区为研究区,基于高分辨率遥感影像与机载激光雷达数据,对研究区三维绿地植被结构进行了量化,在二维、三维两种情景下分别进行生态源地的提取与景观阻力面的设定,基于最小费用路径识别出两种情景下的生态廊道,并依据电路理论方法识别出廊道中需要重点保护的生态关键节点,进而分析使用二维、三维生态空间信息对生态网络构建结果产生的影响。研究结果表明:1)研究区不同情景下提取的生态源地共有11处不同,与传统二维情景下仅使用绿地面积指标作为斑块属性相比,使用三维植被参数可以更准确地识别具有丰富植被结构的生态源地;2)二维与三维情景下构建的生态廊道分别有137条与129条,平均每条廊道的单位距离阻力值分别为18.2与24.0,运用传统二维信息的模拟结果会在一定程度上高估研究区的景观连通性;3)不同情境下生态关键节点的空间分布基本一致,主要...     

Occupancy of red‐naped sapsuckers in a coniferous forest: using LiDAR to understand effects of vegetation structure and disturbance

Red‐naped sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) are functionally important because they create sapwells and cavities that other species use for food and nesting. Red‐naped sapsucker ecology within aspen (Populus tremuloides) has been well studied, but relatively little is known about red‐naped sapsuckers in conifer forests. We used light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to examine occupancy patterns of red‐naped sapsuckers in a conifer‐dominated system. We surveyed for sapsuckers at 162 sites in northern Idaho, USA, during 2009 and 2010. We used occupancy models and an information‐theoretic approach to model sapsucker occupancy as a function of four LiDAR‐based metrics that characterized vegetation structure and tree harvest, and one non‐LiDAR metric that characterized distance to major roads. We evaluated model support across a range of territory sizes using Akaike's information criterion. Top model support was highest at the 4‐ha extent, which suggested that 4 ha was the most relevant scale describing sapsucker occupancy. Sapsuckers were positively associated with variation of canopy height and harvested area, and negatively associated with shrub and large tree density. These results suggest that harvest regimes and structural diversity of vegetation at moderate extents (e.g., 4 ha) largely influence occurrence of red‐naped sapsuckers in conifer forests. Given the current and projected declines of aspen populations, it will be increasingly important to assess habitat relationships, as well as demographic characteristics, of aspen‐associated species such as red‐naped sapsuckers within conifer‐dominated systems to meet future management and conservation goals.