Microbial Production of Hydrogen by Mixed Culture Technologies: A Review

With its high energy content and clean combustion, hydrogen is recognized as a renewable clean energy source with enormous potential. Biological hydrogen production is a promising alternative with significant advantages over conventional petroleum‐derived chemical processes. Sustainable hydrogen production from renewable resources such as cassava, wastewater, and other agricultural waste is economically feasible for industrial applications. So far, the major bottlenecks in large‐scale biological hydrogen production are the low production rate and yield. This review discusses the various factors that affect the metabolic pathways of dark hydrogen production, and highlights the state‐of‐the‐art development of mixed culture technology. The aim of this review is to provide suggestions for the future directions of mixed culture technology, as well as by‐product valorization in dark fermentation.     

Laplace approximation in measurement error models

Likelihood analysis for regression models with measurement errors in explanatory variables typically involves integrals that do not have a closed-form solution. In this case, numerical methods such as Gaussian quadrature are generally employed. However, when the dimension of the integral is large, these methods become computationally demanding or even unfeasible. This paper proposes the use of the Laplace approximation to deal with measurement error problems when the likelihood function involves high-dimensional integrals. The cases considered are generalized linear models with multiple covariates measured with error and generalized linear mixed models with measurement error in the covariates. The asymptotic order of the approximation and the asymptotic properties of the Laplace-based estimator for these models are derived. The method is illustrated using simulations and real-data analysis.     

Identifying and mapping the protective forests of southeast Mt. Olympus as a tool for sustainable ecological and silvicultural planning, in a multi-purpose forest management framework

Rural development in forested lands and high altitude ecosystems created new regimes and disturbances that set protective function of forests as the most fundamental of all forest functions. Considering protective forests as engineering structures against natural hazards and risks, such as erosion, able to replace costly manmade infrastructures, a methodology is presenting aiming at their spatial identification in a changing mountainous environment. The methodology followed is based on field observations, calibrated models, topographical, geological and climatic data as well as human presence indicators combined properly in a GIS environment. Analysis showed that some forest soils are prone to erosion hazard unable to absorb disturbances like selective logging, revealing the protective role of their forest cover. The spatial identification of the forests with a particular protective function is the necessary step required for the design of a sustainable management of high elevated ecosystems.     

Effects of solids retention time on methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion of thickened mixed sludge

When a bench-scale digester fed thickened mixed sludge was operated over an SRT range of 4-20 days, removal efficiencies for total chemical oxygen demand and volatile suspended solids declined with decreasing SRT (especially <10 days), but methanogenesis was stable for SRT as low as 5 days. Quantitative PCR analyses showed that methanogens declined steadily for SRT<10 days, with the acetate-cleaving Methanosaetaceae becoming more dominant. Clone-library analyses indicated significant shifts in bacterial population from 20 to 4 day SRT: declining Chloroflexi (28 to 4.5%) and Syntrophomonas (9 to 0%), but increasing Bacteroidetes (12.5 to 20%) and two acetogenic genera belonging to the phyla Firmicutes and Spirochaetales (6.3 to 12%). Thus, the decrease in the apparent hydrolysis constant (khyd-app) with higher SRT and the process limiting size of Methanosaetaceae with the lower SRT are proactive signs for defining rate limitation in anaerobic digestion.     

Structural basis of γH2AX recognition by human PTIP BRCT5-BRCT6 domains in the DNA damage response pathway

Human Pax2 transactivation domain-interacting protein (hPTIP), containing six BRCT domains, is an essential protein required for the IR induced DDR process with an unclear role. Here we report that the tandem BRCT5–BRCT6 domain of hPTIP recognizes the γH2AX tail, and this interaction depends on the phosphorylation of H2AX Ser139 and binding with the carboxyl ending peptide to the aminoacyl ending peptide. The 2.15 Å crystal structure of hPTIP BRCT5/6–γH2AX complex and mutation analysis provide molecular evidence for direct interactions between PTIP and γH2AX. This interaction proffers a new clue to identify the role of PTIP in DDR pathways.

Structured summary of protein interactions

PTIP and gamma H2AXbind by fluorescence polarization spectroscopy (View Interaction: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).PTIP and gamma H2AXbind by X-ray crystallography (View interaction).     

Comparative metabolic rates of common western North Atlantic Ocean sciaenid fishes

The resting metabolic rates (R(R)) of western North Atlantic Ocean sciaenids, such as Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus, spot Leiostomus xanthurus and kingfishes Menticirrhus spp., as well as the active metabolic rates (R(A)) of M. undulatus and L. xanthurus were investigated to facilitate inter and intraspecific comparisons of their energetic ecology. The R(R) of M. undulatus and L. xanthurus were typical for fishes with similar lifestyles. The R(R) of Menticirrhus spp. were elevated relative to those of M. undulatus and L. xanthurus, but below those of high-energy-demand species such as tunas Thunnus spp. and dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus. Repeated-measures non-linear mixed-effects models were applied to account for within-individual autocorrelation and corrected for non-constant variance typical of noisy R(A) data sets. Repeated-measures models incorporating autoregressive first-order [AR(1)] and autoregressive moving average (ARMA) covariances provided significantly superior fits, more precise parameter estimates (i.e. reduced s.e.) and y-intercept estimates that more closely approximated measured R(R) for M. undulatus and L. xanthurus than standard least-squares regression procedures.     

Fijian sea krait behavior relates to fine‐scale environmental heterogeneity in old‐growth coastal forest: The importance of integrated land–sea management for protecting amphibious animals

The importance of terrestrial coastal ecosystems for maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems remains understudied. Sea kraits are amphibious snakes that require healthy coral reefs for foraging, but little is known about their requirements of terrestrial habitats, where they slough their skin, digest prey, and breed. Using concurrent microclimate measurements and behavior surveys, we show that a small, topographically flat atoll in Fiji with coastal forest provides many microhabitats that relate to the behaviors of Yellow Lipped Sea Kraits, Laticauda colubrina. Microclimates were significantly related to canopy cover, leaf litter depth, and distance from the high‐water mark (HWM). Sea kraits were almost exclusively observed in coastal forest within 30 m of the HWM. Sloughing of skins only occurred within crevices of mature or dying trees. Resting L. colubrina were significantly more likely to occur at locations with higher mean diurnal temperatures, lower leaf litter depths, and shorter distances from the HWM. On Leleuvia, behavior of L. colubrina therefore relates to environmental heterogeneity created by old‐growth coastal forests, particularly canopy cover and crevices in mature and dead tree trunks. The importance of healthy coastal habitats, both terrestrial and marine, for L. colubrina suggests it could be a good flagship species for advocating integrated land‐sea management. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of coastal forests and topographically flat atolls for biodiversity conservation. Effective conservation management of amphibious species that utilize land‐ and seascapes is therefore likely to require a holistic approach that incorporates connectivity among ecosystems and environmental heterogeneity at all relevant scales.     

阔叶红松林森林资源可持续利用方案

天保工程实施后,为了促进次生林向原始阔叶红松林恢复,不采红松只采伐阔叶树种的经营方式在长白山地区被广泛应用,部分林区陷入可采伐资源匮乏的困境。为了探究阔叶红松林森林资源可持续利用方案,针对红松(蓄积)比例不同的阔叶红松林次生林,利用林木材积生长方程与保留系数模型,模拟了预设经营方案下林分总蓄积量与可采蓄积量动态变化。研究结果表明,在禁止采伐红松的经营方式下,红松(蓄积)比例较高的次生林将无法达到森林资源可持续利用的目标,次生林的经营方案需要根据林分中红松(蓄积)比例不同而区别制定:对于红松蓄积低于40%的次生林,推荐不采伐红松、20%采伐强度、40a周期的经营方案;对于红松蓄积高于40%的次生林,推荐可以采伐红松、20%采伐强度、30a周期的经营方案。另外,可采蓄积量的恢复期比总蓄积量的恢复期更长,以可采蓄积恢复期作为评价指标,确定采伐周期,更有利于森林资源的可持续利用。     

不同采伐强度对阔叶红松林主要树种空间分布格局和物种空间关联性的影响

分析采伐后森林群落中物种的空间格局有助于认识该格局形成的生态学过程、种群的生物学特性及其与环境因子之间的相互关系,并对制定可持续的森林经营方案具有重要意义。以长白山地区经历不同采伐方式形成的阔叶红松林次生林为研究对象,利用空间点格局分析的研究方法,探讨了采伐对阔叶红松林主要树种空间分布格局、种间关联性以及更新的影响。研究结果显示:较低强度的择伐对阔叶红松林主要树种的空间分布格局、种间关联性的改变较小,群落可以在较短时间内恢复。中等强度的择伐减少了成年树种对幼树的抑制作用,可以促进森林的天然更新。皆伐后,森林的群落结构,物种的空间分布格局、种间关联性都发生显著变化,尽管更新状况良好,但要恢复到伐前水平仍需要较长时间。择伐不仅通过改变主要树种的密度对阔叶红松林群落结构产生影响,还通过改变物种空间关联性改变群落的结构动态。因此,在制定森林生态系统经营管理方案时,不仅要选择适合的采伐强度,还要综合考虑采伐时物种的选择以及种间关系。     

Patterns of ferns community assemblages in some Malaysian and Nigerian tropical forests

Research on fern ecology has gained attention in the last decade, yet there is a paucity of information on the comparison of ferns communities across continents. This study focused on comparing the ferns community assemblages in some tropical forests of Malaysia and Nigeria, thereby assessing the patterns of species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) in relation to the bioclimatic drivers across the continents. The diversity and taxonomic compositions of ferns were assessed using 180 plots of 10 m × 10 m in each country. The species richness and other diversity indices were determined using the combined forests data for each country and for the individual forests. Also, the phylogenetic diversity of the ferns was assessed using the genus‐based molecular sequences downloaded from the GeneBank. The patterns of the ferns SR and PD in the two countries as driven by some bioclimatic factors were evaluated using the regression analysis. The observed and rarefied–extrapolated fern species richness is significantly higher in Malaysian forests than in Nigerian forests. Also, the other diversity indices are significantly higher in Malaysian forests except for the Shannon index which showed no significant difference between the two biogeographic regions. There is a very low similarity (7.41%) in the taxonomic composition of ferns between the two biogeographic areas, although the similarity in composition increased with increasing taxonomic levels (species: 7.41%, genus: 12.77%, family: 70.96%). Terrestrial and epiphytic ferns are more dominant than the other life forms in the two countries. The precipitation variables drive the phylogenetic structure of ferns in Nigeria, whereas both precipitation and temperature variables drive the phylogenetic structure of ferns in Malaysia. This indicates that ferns assemblages in Nigeria and Malaysia are driven by both climatic variables. Besides, we also hypothesize that these observed differences could be due to other historical and evolutionary processes.