首云铁矿废弃土壤对2种景天属植物生长的影响

为评价景天属（Sedum）植物在矿山废弃地植被恢复中的应用潜力,以2种景天：德国景天（S. hybridum ‘Immergrunchen’）和胭脂红景天（S. spurium ‘Coccineum’）的扦插苗为试验材料,通过盆栽试验研究其在北京首云铁矿废弃土壤（包括采矿区土壤、排土场土壤、尾矿砂）2个生长季内的各项生长指标,以确定其在各废弃土壤上的适应性,并运用相关分析和典范对应分析,探讨影响2种景天生长的主要土壤理化性质。结果表明：①2种景天在采矿区土壤、排土场土壤和尾矿砂上的存活率分别为40%~66%、68%~90%、33%~46%;②不同废弃土壤对2种景天的地上部分和地下根系的各项生长指标均产生了显著的抑制作用,但德国景天在采矿区土壤的适应性较好,可作为采矿区修复的推荐品种,胭脂红景天在排土场土壤的生长表现较好,可作为排土场的修复品种;③影响景天属植物生长的土壤因子为通气孔隙度和土壤含水量,其中通气孔隙度的解释率为12.4%,土壤含水量的解释率为8.6%。     

基于专利分析的生物传感器发展态势研究*

生物传感器将固定化的生物敏感材料作为识别元件,具有体积小、专一性强、响应快、准确度高等特点,市场应用前景广阔。近年来,生物传感器技术发展迅速,研究成果不断涌现。为更好地了解我国生物传感器研究现状,进一步促进生物传感器行业健康快速发展,基于IncoPat专利数据库,利用ITGinsight作为文献分析工具,对全球范围内生物传感器领域的总体研究态势、区域布局、技术构成及研究热点等方面进行专利分析,并对核心专利进行识别。结果表明,我国生物传感器领域的专利数量排在世界前列,但科研实力存在区域分布不均衡、企业研发实力不强、关键核心技术不足等问题。针对这些问题,提出我国生物传感器技术的未来发展策略。     

闽西南红壤侵蚀区黑莎草功能性状特征及其与土壤因子的关系

为了解黑莎草(Gahnia tristis)在南方红壤侵蚀区的适应状况,测定了长汀县红壤侵蚀区的黑莎草叶片、根系的功能性状及土壤理化性质,并应用数理统计方法分析了黑莎草叶片与根系功能性状之间的相关性,及其对土壤因子的响应。结果表明,黑莎草叶片表型性状在冬夏季间存在显著差异,叶长、叶宽、叶组织密度和叶绿素表现为夏季显著大于冬季,根系表型性状则更具稳定性,冬季的根系养分含量均高于夏季,养分的分配上叶片养分高于根系养分。叶组织密度与叶绿素含量呈显著正相关,与比叶面积呈显著负相关;根组织密度与比根长和比根面积均呈显著负相关,叶片和根系养分间均呈显著正相关,土壤碳、氮、磷含量是影响黑莎草功能性状主要因子。因此,黑莎草可通过调节功能性状以适应环境变化,可作为地带性植物应用于南方红壤侵蚀区的植被恢复和水土流失治理。     

环境变化对水稻osfh1突变体成蛋白家族表达的影响

水稻成蛋白基因成员OsFH1在水稻根毛的生长发育中起着关键作用,这一过程受到环境因素的调控,当前的研究对环境因素如何与OsFH1互作调控水稻根毛的机制尚未阐明。为探索水稻成蛋白成员是否在环境因素介导的osfh1突变体根毛表型恢复中发挥作用,该研究使用1/2 MS液体培养液与1/2 MS固体培养基处理osfh1突变体,通过qRT-PCR技术分析成蛋白家族成员表达量,并对成蛋白家族进行生物信息学分析。结果表明:(1)与野生型相比,在液培中osfh1突变体主根根毛缺失,地上部分较短,侧根数量增加,在固体培养中osfh1突变体根毛缺失表型得到恢复。(2)与野生型相比,当osfh1突变体从液培到固培环境时,OsFH16表达量下降,OsFH17表达量上升,并且差异显著。(3)OsFH1、OsFH16、OsFH17都是第一类成蛋白亚家族成员,都具有生长素、赤霉素以及厌氧等与环境胁迫相关顺式作用元件,并且预测到OsFH1、OsFH16和OsFH17定位于质膜行使功能。(4)OsFHs在不同组织的表达模式分析表明,OsFH1在根部表达水平较高,而OsFH16、OsFH17在根部表达量相对较低。综上认为,由于OsFH16、OsFH17、OsFH1之间亲缘关系较高,调控模式相近且三者都可能在细胞质膜上行使功能,因此OsFH16、OsFH17可能参与环境因素与osfh1共同改变根毛表型这一过程。该研究结果为解析环境与osfh1基因共同调控水稻根毛发育机制奠定了一定理论基础,为探索植物成蛋白基因功能提出了新方向。     

Calculating Turns/Amplitude peak ratio of EMG interference pattern by using logistic curve fitting

The aim of the study was to test whether logistic curve fitting (LCF) of Turns = f(Amplitude) plots of single muscle contractions can provide a reliable alternative method for peak-ratio calculation. EMG signals from 74 biceps and 62 triceps contractions were analyzed by applying LCF to Turns = f(Amplitude) plots. Peak-ratio (peak-ratio2) could then be calculated as the point of the fitted line with the highest Turn/Amplitude value. LCF yielded R² values > 0.95 in the vast majority of contractions studied (68/74 biceps and 53/62 triceps). Peak-ratio2 values had a very strong linear relationship with the corresponding values calculated by the traditional method (peak-ratio1) in both normal and neurogenic conditions. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis showed that peak-ratio1 and peak-ratio2 had similar AUC values. Based on the LCF equation, peak-ratio = T2*(p − 1)/A0*p*(p − 1)^1/p. Therefore, peak-ratio is proportional to the maximum number of turns (T2), positively correlated to the rate of turns’ increment at the midpoint of the curve (p) and negatively correlated to the mean amplitude at the midpoint of the curve (A0). A0 is the variable that best discriminates between normal and neurogenic conditions. We provide an alternative method for peak-ratio calculation and show the variables that influence this sensitive marker of neurogenic disease.     

An effective method for accurate nymphal-stage delimitation of the cicada Hyalessa fuscata

Subterranean nymphal development in cicadas presents challenges to researchers in accurately estimating the number of their developmental stages, although such information is crucial to understanding and predicting their population dynamics. While most studies have relied on head width as an attribute for life-stage determination to date, such character in cicadas can be highly variable and thus differentiation solely based on such morphology is prone to subjectivity in practice. Here, we propose a reliable method for instar estimation that is applicable to Hyalessa fuscata nymphs. We first obtained morphometrics of nymphs in all stages. Second, we computed logarithm-transformation and principal component analysis to extract a transformed variable that captures most of the variance of morphological characteristics. Third, k-means were computed to divide the dataset into distinct clusters assuming four-, five- and six life-stage scenarios for the best interferences of life stages. Finally, simple linear regression analysis was conducted to compare and select the best fit model. Our result shows that five nymphal stages best fit for H. fuscata nymphs. This method is expected to provide an easy-to-handle ecological tool for the study of life history of cicadas as well as other insects that have long life cycles and multiple developmental stages.     

Virulence‐driven trade‐offs in disease transmission: A meta‐analysis*

The virulence–transmission trade‐off hypothesis proposed more than 30 years ago is the cornerstone in the study of host–parasite co‐evolution. This hypothesis rests on the premise that virulence is an unavoidable and increasing cost because the parasite uses host resources to replicate. This cost associated with replication ultimately results in a deceleration in transmission rate because increasing within‐host replication increases host mortality. Empirical tests of predictions of the hypothesis have found mixed support, which cast doubt about its overall generalizability. To quantitatively address this issue, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 29 empirical studies, after reviewing over 6000 published papers, addressing the four core relationships between (1) virulence and recovery rate, (2) within‐host replication rate and virulence, (3) within‐host replication and transmission rate, and (4) virulence and transmission rate. We found strong support for an increasing relationship between replication and virulence, and replication and transmission. Yet, it is still uncertain if these relationships generally decelerate due to high within‐study variability. There was insufficient data to quantitatively test the other two core relationships predicted by the theory. Overall, the results suggest that the current empirical evidence provides partial support for the trade‐off hypothesis, but more work remains to be done.     

Surfing on the seascape: Adaptation in a changing environment

The environment changes constantly at various time scales and, in order to survive, species need to keep adapting. Whether these species succeed in avoiding extinction is a major evolutionary question. Using a multilocus evolutionary model of a mutation‐limited population adapting under strong selection, we investigate the effects of the frequency of environmental fluctuations on adaptation. Our results rely on an “adaptive‐walk” approximation and use mathematical methods from evolutionary computation theory to investigate the interplay between fluctuation frequency, the similarity of environments, and the number of loci contributing to adaptation. First, we assume a linear additive fitness function, but later generalize our results to include several types of epistasis. We show that frequent environmental changes prevent populations from reaching a fitness peak, but they may also prevent the large fitness loss that occurs after a single environmental change. Thus, the population can survive, although not thrive, in a wide range of conditions. Furthermore, we show that in a frequently changing environment, the similarity of threats that a population faces affects the level of adaptation that it is able to achieve. We check and supplement our analytical results with simulations.