国产省藤属植物的叶表皮形态学

对国产省藤属（Calamus L．）植物17种2变种的叶表皮进行光学显微镜观察,除单叶省藤（C.simplicifolius）、短叶省藤（C.egregiw）和白藤（C.tetradactylus）外,其它种均为首次报道。省藤属植物的叶表皮形态较为一致,气孔器为轮列4细胞型（tetracytic,或称四轮列型）,即有4个副卫细胞,其中2个为侧副卫细胞,2个为端副卫细胞;表皮细胞为长方形,纵向排列。表皮毛有3种类型：多细胞排成单列的单毛（人喙省藤C．macrorrhynchus）、多细胞排成2-3列的单毛（毛鳞省藤ethysanolepis等）、多细胞分枝毛（白藤等）。表皮细胞的长度和宽度特征、细胞壁的厚薄及波纹的深浅和形状、端副卫细胞的长短等细微特征在种问存在差异,可以区分种类。叶表皮结构还反映了种问的亲缘关系。因此,叶表皮特征对于省藤属种类的划分和亲缘关系的确定有较大的分类学意义。     

The use of the Mexican Hat and the Morlet wavelets for detection of ecological patterns

In this paper, we compare the relationship between scale and period in ecological pattern analysis and wavelet analysis. We also adapt a commonly used wavelet, the Morlet, to ecological pattern analysis. Using Monte Carlo assessments, we apply methods of statistical significance test to wavelet analysis for pattern analysis. In order to understand the inherent strength and weakness of the Morlet and the Mexican Hat wavelets, we also investigate and compare the properties of two frequently used wavelets by testing with field data and four artificial transects of different typical patterns which is often encountered in ecological research. It is shown that the Mexican Hat provides better detection and localization of patch and gap events over the Morlet, whereas the Morlet offers improved detection and localization of scale over the Mexican Hat. There is always a trade-off between the detection and localization of scale versus patch and gap events. Therefore, the best composite analysis is the combination of their advantages. The properties of wavelet in dealing with ecological data may be affected by characteristics intrinsic to wavelet itself. The peaks of different scales in isograms of wavelet power spectrum from the Mexican Hat may overlap with each other. Alternatively, these peaks of different scales in isograms of wavelet power spectrum may combine with each other unless the size of the analyzed scales is significantly different. These overlapping or combining lead to combining of peaks for different scales, or the masking of trough between peaks of different scales in the scalogram. Ecologists should combine all the information in scalogram and isograms of wavelet coefficient and wavelet power spectrum from different wavelets, which can provide us a broader view and precise pattern information.     

Selection of a representative set of structures from Brookhaven Protein Data Bank.

Reliable structural and statistical analyses of three dimensional protein structures should be based on unbiased data. The Protein Data Bank is highly redundant, containing several entries for identical or very similar sequences. A technique was developed for clustering the known structures based on their sequences and contents of alpha- and beta-structures. First, sequences were aligned pairwise. A representative sample of sequences was then obtained by grouping similar sequences together, and selecting a typical representative from each group. The similarity significance threshold needed in the clustering method was found by analyzing similarities of random sequences. Because three dimensional structures for proteins of same structural class are generally more conserved than their sequences, the proteins were clustered also according to their contents of secondary structural elements. The results of these clusterings indicate conservation of alpha- and beta-structures even when sequence similarity is relatively low. An unbiased sample of 103 high resolution structures, representing a wide variety of proteins, was chosen based on the suggestions made by the clustering algorithm. The proteins were divided into structural classes according to their contents and ratios of secondary structural elements. Previous classifications have suffered from subjective view of secondary structures, whereas here the classification was based on backbone geometry. The concise view lead to reclassification of some structures. The representative set of structures facilitates unbiased analyses of relationships between protein sequence, function, and structure as well as of structural characteristics.     

Sensitive protein comparisons with profiles and hidden Markov models

Sequence database searches have become an important tool for the life sciences in general and for gene discovery-driven biotechnology in particular. Both the functional assignment of newly found proteins and the mining of genome databases for functional candidates are equally important tasks typically addressed by database searches. Sensitivity and reliability of the search methods are of crucial importance.The overall performance of sequence alignments and database searches can be enhanced considerably, when profiles or hidden Markov models (HMMs) derived from protein families are used as query objects instead of single sequences.This review discusses the concept of profiles, generalised profiles and profile-HMMs, the methods how they are constructed and the scope of possible applications in gene discovery and gene functional assignment.     

Chemical constituents from Nuxia congesta and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Nuxia congesta led to the isolation and identification of fifteen compounds, including a new flavonoid, nuxiacin (5-hydroxy-3,8-dimethoxy flavone-7-O-β-D-glycopyranoside) (1). The structure of the new compound was determined using various spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy. All compounds were isolated from N. congesta for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds in the family Stilbaceae and order Lamiales are discussed herein.     

血乳酸和心肌酶变化在胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿中的临床意义

目的:探讨血乳酸和心肌酶变化在胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿中的临床意义。方法:选取2017年3月到2018年8月期间在我院出生的胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿120例,其中有55例出生后未出现窒息,将其纳入观察1组,另外65例新生儿出生后出现窒息则纳入观察2组,同时选取同期在我院出生的健康、足月新生儿60例作为对照组。比较三组新生儿的血乳酸、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)、肌酸激酶同工酶MB(CKMB)、血氧分压(PaO_2)、二氧化碳分压(PaCO_2)的水平,并分析血乳酸与心肌酶、PaO_2、PaCO_2的相关性。结果:出生时、出生后5d,观察2组的血乳酸、LDH、CK、CKMB水平均高于观察1组和对照组,且观察1组的血乳酸、LDH、CK、CKMB水平均高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。出生时,观察2组的PaO_2水平低于观察1组和对照组,PaCO_2水平高于观察1组和对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),观察1组的PaO_2水平低于对照组,PaCO_2水平高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿血乳酸水平与CK、CKMB、PaCO_2呈正相关,与PaO_2呈负相关(P0.05),与LDH无明显的相关性(P0.05);LDH、CK、CKMB与PaCO_2呈正相关,与PaO_2呈负相关(P0.05)。结论:胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿血乳酸和心肌酶水平明显升高,且出生后存在窒息的新生儿中更为明显,胎儿宫内窘迫新生儿血乳酸、心肌酶水平与缺氧程度密切相关。     

Functional significance of some particular amino acid residues in Bombyx mori pyridoxal kinase

Pyridoxal kinase (PLK; EC 2.7.1.35) is a key enzyme for vitamin B₆ metabolism in animals. It catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of pyridoxal, generating pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, an important cofactor for many enzymatic reactions. Bombyx mori PLK (BmPLK) is 10 or more residues shorter than mammalian PLKs, and some amino acid residues conserved in the PLKs from mammals are not maintained in the protein. Multiple sequence alignment suggested that amino acid residues Thr⁴⁷, Ile⁵⁴, Arg⁸⁸, Asn¹²¹ and Glu²³⁰ might play important roles in BmPLK. In this study, we used a site-directed specific mutagenesis approach to determine the functional significance of these particular amino acid residues in BmPLK. Our results demonstrated that the mutation of Asn¹²¹ to Glu did not affect the catalytic function of BmPLK. The corresponding site-directed mutants of Thr⁴⁷ to Asn, Ile⁵⁴ to Phe, and Arg⁸⁸ to Ile displayed a decreased catalytic efficiency and an elevated Km value for substrate relative to the wild-type value, and no enzyme activity could be detected in mutant of Trp²³⁰ to Glu. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that the mutation of Trp²³⁰ to Glu resulted in mis-folding of the protein. Our results provided direct evidence that residue Trp²³⁰ is crucial to maintain the structural and functional integrity of BmPLK. This study will add to the existing understanding of the characteristic of structure and function of BmPLK.     

The phytochemistry of proanthocyanidin polymers

The structures of 38 proanthocyanidin polymers (condensed tannins) from 14 widely distributed families of plants are described. The polymers have been isolated from a wide variety of tissues including fruit (ripe and unripe), leaves, bark and phloem. They are all based on a common 4-8 (or 6) linked polyflavan-3-ol structure, analogous to B-type proanthocyanidin dimers.     

Species of Gonostomum and Paragonostomum (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida, Oxytrichidae) from the Valley of Flowers, India, with descriptions of Gonostomum singhii sp nov, Paragonostomum ghangriai sp nov and Paragonostomum minuta sp nov

Soil samples taken from the Valley of Flowers, a component of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in the Himalayan regions of India showed the presence of twenty two free living species of ciliates. There is a preponderance of species which exhibit oral ciliature and ontogenesis in the Gonostomum pattern. Of the four species of the genus Gonostomum, three viz., G affine, G gonostomoida and G kuehnelti are similar to described species; Gonostomum singhii is new. The two species of genus Paragonostomum viz., P minuta and P ghangriai are new. The three new species are described in the present paper. All these species show prominent hypertrophied ciliary structures. Their paroral membranes reveal characteristic differences with respect to their position, number of constituent cilia and the distance between adjacent cilia. It is proposed that such species specific features of the paroral membrane have a bearing in exercising different food organism preferences as they co-exist at many sites. This single factor has possibly played an important role in species diversification of this group of hypotrichs in this isolated habitat.     

DIAGNOSTIC SELF‐TESTING: AUTONOMOUS CHOICES AND RELATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Diagnostic self‐testing devices are being developed for many illnesses, chronic diseases and infections. These will be used in hospitals, at point‐of‐care facilities and at home. Designed to allow earlier detection of diseases, self‐testing diagnostic devices may improve disease prevention, slow the progression of disease and facilitate better treatment outcomes. These devices have the potential to benefit both the individual and society by enabling individuals to take a more proactive role in the maintenance of their health and by helping society improve health and reduce health costs. However, the full implications of future home‐based diagnostic technology for individuals and society remain unclear due to their novelty. We argue that the development of diagnostic tools, especially for home use, will heighten a number of ethical challenges. This paper will explore some of the ethical implications of home‐based self‐testing diagnostic devices for the autonomous and relational dimensions of the person. This will be facilitated by examining the impact of diagnostic devices for individual autonomy, for the delivery of accurate diagnosis and for the personal significance of the information for the user. The latter will be examined using Charles Taylor's view of personhood and his emphasis on human agency and interpretation. While the ethical issues are not necessarily new, the development of home‐based self‐testing diagnostic devices will make issues regarding autonomy, accuracy of information and personal significance more and more demanding. This will be the case particularly when an individual's autonomous choices come into conflict with the person's relational responsibilities.