Multiple roles of the furrow deepening Ca2+ transient during cytokinesis in zebrafish embryos

The generation of a required series of localized Ca²⁺ transients during cytokinesis in zebrafish embryos suggests that Ca²⁺ plays a necessary role in regulating this process. Here, we report that cortical actin remodeling, characterized by the reorganization of the contractile band and the formation during furrow deepening of pericleavage F-actin enrichments (PAEs), requires a localized increase in intracellular Ca²⁺, which is released from IP₃-sensitive stores. We demonstrate that VAMP-2 vesicle fusion at the deepening furrow also requires Ca²⁺ released via IP₃ receptors, as well as the presence of PAEs and the action of calpains. Finally, by expressing a dominant-negative form of the kinesin-like protein, kif23, we demonstrate that its recruitment to the furrow region is required for VAMP-2 vesicle transport; and via FRAP analysis, that kif23 localization is also Ca²⁺-dependent. Collectively, our data demonstrate that a localized increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ is involved in regulating several key events during furrow deepening and subsequent apposition.     

几种脊椎动物宽频带心电图波形与心电向量环特点的比较

对小鼠、家鸽、蟾蜍、鲫鱼4种脊椎动物宽频带心电图Ⅱ导联的波形特点及QRS额面心电向量环的位置、形态特点进行了比较研究。结果发现,(1)宽频带心电图Ⅱ导联QRS波群小鼠、蟾蜍、鲫鱼QRS波群的主波均向上,而家鸽的主波向下;(2)QRS波群时程(ms)小鼠88±09,家鸽365±14,蟾蜍790±110,鲫鱼283±57;(3)QRS心电向量环的位置家鸽的位于-90°～-180°象限内,这是家鸽心电图Ⅱ导联QRS波群主波向下的根本原因;小鼠、蟾蜍、鲫鱼的均位于0°～90°象限内,与它们的QRS波群主波向上相一致;(4)QRS心电向量环的形状;小鼠的QRS向量环较其它3种动物的要大,蟾蜍的最小。鲫鱼的不规则,有的呈三角形,有的呈“8”字形,还有的呈半圆形,这是导致鲫鱼的QRS波群出现较多切迹和扭挫的原因。     

应用转向带法进行土壤铜和铅含量的条件模拟

以北京东郊污灌土壤中铜和铅为例,探讨了条件模拟中的转向带方法在研究土壤中重金属空间分布特征的应用,从统计特征,空间结构等方面考察了模拟结果,分析了误差产生的原因。结果表明,空间模拟方法可以很好地再现土壤重金属含量的空间结构特征,为揭示土壤重金属含量的空间结构特征提供了一个有力的工具,应用该方法有助于了解土壤,水体和大气环境中各种物质的来源,迁移转化路径以及最终的分布特征,从而为环境评价,规划及解决有关问题提供技术支持。     

赤链蛇染色体组型、C型和Ag—NORs的研究

以骨髓细胞为材料研究赤链蛇的染色体,结果表明该物种2n=46,由8对大型的和15对微小的染色体组成,AF＝50。性染色体的大小介于3号和4号之间,为ZW;8大型染色体均显示着丝粒C带,1－6号还显示浅染端粒C带。W染色体为整条C带阳性,该物种一对NOR位于7号染色体近着丝粒区。不同地理分布群赤链蛇核型可能经历过Z与W染色体不等交换。     

Changing water use and adaptive strategies along rainfall gradients in Mediterranean lupins

• There is growing interest in harnessing the genetic and adaptive diversity of crop wild relatives to improve drought resilience of elite cultivars. Rainfall gradients exert strong selection pressure on both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Understanding plant responses to these facilitates crop improvement.
• Wild and domesticated narrow‐leafed lupin (NLL) collected along Mediterranean terminal drought stress gradients was evaluated under contrasting reproductive phase water supply in controlled field, glasshouse and cabinet studies. Plant phenology, growth and productivity, water use and stress responses were measured over time.
• There is an integrated suite of adaptive changes along rainfall gradients in NLL. Low rainfall ecotypes flower earlier, accumulate lower seed numbers, biomass and leaf area, and have larger root:shoot ratios than high rainfall ecotypes. Water‐use is lower and stress onset slower in low compared to high rainfall ecotypes. Water‐use rates and ecotypic differences in stress response (Ψleaf decline, leaf loss) are lower in NLL than yellow lupin (YL). To mitigate the effects of profligate water use, high rainfall YL ecotypes maintain higher leaf water content over declining leaf water potential than low rainfall ecotypes. There is no evidence for such specific adaptation in NLL.
• The data suggests that appropriate phenology is the key adaptive trait to rainfall gradients in NLL because of the flow‐on effects on biomass production, fitness, transpiration and stress onset, and the lack of physiological adaptations as in YL. Accordingly, it is essential to match phenology with target environment in order to minimize risk and maximize yield potential.

     

Relationship of Aerial Broad Band Reflectance to Meloidogyne incognita Density in Cotton

Aerial images were obtained on 22 July 1999 and 4 August 2000 from five cotton sites infested with Meloidogyne incognita. Images contained three broad bands representing the green (500-600 nm), red (600-700 nm), and near-infrared (700-900 nm) spectrum. Soil samples were collected and assayed for nematodes in the fall at these sites. Sampling locations were identified from images, by locating the coordinates of a wide range of light intensity (measured as a digital number) for each single band, and combinations of bands. There was no single band or band combination in which reflectance consistently predicted M. incognita density. In all 10 site-year combinations, the minimum number of samples necessary to estimate M. incognita density within 25% of the population mean was greater when sampling by reflectance-based classes (3 to 4 per site) than sampling based on the entire site as one unit. Two sites were sampled at multiple times during the growing season. At these sites, there was no single time during the growing season optimal to take images for nematode sampling. Aerial infrared photography conducted during the growing season could not be used to accurately determine fall population densities of M. incognita.     

Husbandry protocols for the Band‐tailed pigeon,Patagioenas fasciata albilinea,at the WCS,Bronx Zoo for future conservation management programs

From 2015 to 2016 we determined the husbandry protocols involved in the captive rearing of the Band‐tailed Pigeon (BTPI), Patagioenas fascinate albilinea, for use as a tool in the future management of like extant and extinct avian taxa. Current and historical ex‐situ conservation management of BTPIs and the closely related Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius, is limited in scope and required further examination. Focus on the BTPI within zoos and private aviculture facilities is currently lacking. New pressures on the wild populations and future examination of the parameters involved in the possible restoration of the Passenger Pigeon may rely on a complete understanding of these conservation management techniques. Here we report on the establishment of a colony of BTPIs, at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and detail the progress attained. A confiscated group of BTPIs was presented to WCS and allowed us to set up the colony, document the husbandry involved, and monitor neonatal development and the factors that influence that development. The information has provided a better understanding of the BTPI and has implications for the future conservation management of this and like species.