pxn-1 and pxn-2 May Interact Negatively during Neuronal Development and Aging in C. elegans

C. elegans has two functional peroxidasins (PXN), PXN-1 and PXN-2. PXN-2 is essential to consolidate the extracellular matrix during development and is suggested to interact with PXN-1 antagonistically. pxn-1 is involved in neuronal development and possibly maintenance; therefore, we investigated the relationship between pxn-1 and pxn-2 in neuronal development and in aging. During neuronal development, defects caused by pxn-1 overexpression were suppressed by overexpression of both pxn-1 and pxn-2. In neuronal aging process, pxn-1 mutants showed less age-related neuronal defects, such as neuronal outgrowth, neuronal wavy processes, and enhanced short-term memory performance. In addition, pxn-2 overexpressing animals retained an intact neuronal morphology when compared with age-matched controls. Consistent with these results, overexpression of both pxn-1 and pxn-2 restored the severe neuronal defects present with pxn-1 overexpression. These results implied that there is a negative relationship between pxn-1 and pxn-2 via pxn-1 regulating pxn-2. Therefore, pxn-1 may function in neuronal development and age-related neuronal maintenance through pxn-2.     

Developing Clinical Research Relationship: Views from Within

The nature of the relationship between clinical investigator and research participant continues to be contested. The related discussions have largely focused on the doctor‐researcher dichotomy thought to permeate the work of a clinical investigator with research participants, whom in turn occupy two corresponding roles: patient and subject. This paper contributes to current debates on the topic by providing a voice to research participants, whose perspectives have been largely invisible. It draws on 42 in‐depth interviews conducted in Ghana and South Africa with respondents at different stages of involvement in clinical research, ranging from no experience in clinical research to enrollment in several clinical trials. The perspectives of all respondents were largely congruent and rooted in the common view that clinical research contributed to the improvement of local health. They went beyond the researcher/participant versus doctor/patient dichotomy, long established in research ethics, and preferred to view participants and investigators as partners working together to find ways to address local health needs. The conceptualization of investigator‐participant relations as a partnership reinforced expectations of care, transparency and accountability, which were viewed as necessary expressions of mutuality and respect within equal collaborations. It is important to engage with these views in order to avoid antagonizing societal expectations and to build up long‐term public trust, crucial for the continuous operation of clinical research.     

长江宜宾江段铜鱼属鱼类种间食物关系

采用碳、氮稳定同位素技术对2012年4-5月长江宜宾江段铜鱼和圆口铜鱼的食物组成进行了分析,并利用多元统计分析方法探讨了铜鱼和圆口铜鱼种间食物关系,包括饵料相似性指数、重叠系数及2种鱼的摄食器官形态差异对食物组成的影响.结果表明:1)铜鱼的δ13C和δ15N变化范围分别为-21.15‰～-20.31‰和9.67‰～ 10.21‰,为偏动物性的杂食性鱼类;圆口铜鱼的δ13C和δ15N分别为-23.30‰～-21.18‰和7.40‰～ 9.21‰,相对铜鱼为偏植物性的杂食性鱼类,铜鱼和圆口铜鱼均与传统肠含物分析的结果存在一定的差异;2)两种鱼的食物相似性指数和食物重叠系数分别为78.7％和55.6％;3)主成分分析(PCA)表明,铜鱼和圆口铜鱼摄食器官形态特征存在一定的差异.长江宜宾江段铜鱼和圆口铜鱼种间竞争不激烈,作为向家坝蓄水前最后一次对长江宜宾江段铜鱼和圆口铜鱼食性及种间食物关系的调查,研究结果可为分析向家坝蓄水对宜宾江段鱼类营养结构的影响提供数据参考.     

Fine-scale spatial patterns in bacterial community composition and function within freshwater ponds

The extent to which non-host-associated bacterial communities exhibit small-scale biogeographic patterns in their distribution remains unclear. Our investigation of biogeography in bacterial community composition and function compared samples collected across a smaller spatial scale than most previous studies conducted in freshwater. Using a grid-based sampling design, we abstracted 100+ samples located between 3.5 and 60 m apart within each of three alpine ponds. For every sample, variability in bacterial community composition was monitored using a DNA-fingerprinting methodology (automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis) whereas differences in bacterial community function (that is, carbon substrate utilisation patterns) were recorded from Biolog Ecoplates. The exact spatial position and dominant physicochemical conditions (for example, pH and temperature) were simultaneously recorded for each sample location. We assessed spatial differences in bacterial community composition and function within each pond and found that, on average, community composition or function differed significantly when comparing samples located >20 m apart within any pond. Variance partitioning revealed that purely spatial variation accounted for more of the observed variability in both bacterial community composition and function (range: 24–38% and 17–39%) than the combination of purely environmental variation and spatially structured environmental variation (range: 17–32% and 15–20%). Clear spatial patterns in bacterial community composition, but not function were observed within ponds. We therefore suggest that some of the observed variation in bacterial community composition is functionally ‘redundant''. We confirm that distinct bacterial communities are present across unexpectedly small spatial scales suggesting that populations separated by distances of >20 m may be dispersal limited, even within the highly continuous environment of lentic water.     

Recent Results in the Search for New Molecules with Ambergris Odor

The synthesis of new odorant molecules is still a challenging task for the fragrance chemist, because now as ever it is difficult to predict the odor properties of small organic molecules. Therefore, certain tools, such as, e.g., lead‐structure optimization of existing odorants, are helpful techniques. In this article, we describe the synthesis and the odor properties of a new molecule derived by the so‐called ‘seco’ lead‐structure optimization of the ambergris compound Ambroxide^®. Based on these results, more representatives with similar structures have been synthesized and evaluated for their olfactory properties.     

卵圆型软条白沙枇杷变异种质鉴定研究

本研究以卵圆型软条白沙枇杷变异种质为试材,母株软条白沙及中国、日本、新西兰3个国家的30个白肉枇杷栽培品种为对照,以形态学性状调查为基础,结合SRAP分子标记对变异种质进行鉴定研究。从96对引物中筛选出18对进行扩增,共获得135个位点,其中102个多态性位点,多态性位点百分率为75.6%。不同品种间的遗传相似系数GS在0.53~0.89之间。在GS为0.66处,可将31份枇杷种质分为4类。第Ⅰ类为来自中国浙江的8份种质。第Ⅱ类为来自日本、新西兰和中国江苏和福建的19个种质。第Ⅲ类为上海白沙和广西白蜜枇杷2个种质。第Ⅳ类为福建白梨和龙才白2个种质。而卵圆型软条白沙与对照品种遗传相似系数为0.55~0.88,与白荔枝的遗传相似度最大(GS=0.88),与乌躬白遗传相似度最小(GS=0.55),与母株软条白沙的遗传相似系数仅为0.73,二者的遗传相似度不大。生物学性状调查表明,卵圆型软条白沙变异材料与母株软条白沙在果型、种子数和可食率等性状上具有明显差异。综合研究结果显示,卵圆形软条白沙与母株软条白沙相比,综合性状发生了明显的遗传变异,应属芽变种质材料。本研究对枇杷变异材料的创新利用、新品种审定与知识产权保护具有重要的实际意义。     

Effect of maturation on muscle quality of the lower limb muscles in adolescent boys

Background

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of maturation on the muscle quality of the lower limb muscles around puberty.

Methods

Subjects were 117 Japanese boys age 12 to 15 years. The maturity status was assessed by using a self-assessment of stage of pubic hair development based on the criteria of Tanner. On the basis of the criteria, subjects were divided into the prepubescent or pubescent group. Muscle thickness of knee extensors and plantar flexors were measured by a B-mode ultrasound. Muscle volume index (MV) was calculated from muscle thickness and limb length. Maximal voluntary isometric joint toques (TQ) of knee extension and ankle plantar flexion were measured using a myometer. Muscle quality was derived from dividing TQ by MV (TQ/MV).

Results

In both muscles, TQ-MV relationships were also similar between the prepubescent and pubescent groups, and there was no significant difference in TQ/MV between the two groups when chronological age was statistically adjusted.

Conclusion

The current results indicate that, for adolescent boys, the muscle quality of the lower limb muscles is not significantly influenced by maturation.     

Synthesis and Biological Assays of 9‐(Acylamino)homocamptothecins as DNA Topoisomerase I Inhibitors

In an effort to improve the stability of homocamptothecin and reduce the toxicity, novel homocamptothecin analogs with acylamino groups at C(9) were designed and synthesized. The cytotoxic activities of all the synthetic compounds against three cancer cell lines were evaluated by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and irinotecan was used as reference compound. Compound 7c with a piperidinylacetamido group and 10a with phenylacetamido group at C(9) showed potent activities both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, they also revealed remarkable topoisomerase I inhibitions which were exhibited with well‐established bonds with amino acid residues Arg364 and Asp533 in the active pocket. On the basis of the biological activities, 7c and 10a would be potential candidates for further studies.     

Neogene diversification in the temperate lichen-forming fungal genus Parmelia (Parmeliaceae,Ascomycota)

The lichen-forming genus Parmelia Acharius occurs worldwide but its centre of distribution is in the northern hemisphere and it is widespread in boreal-temperate Eurasia and North America. Recent molecular work on Parmelia has identified phylogenetic relationships within two major groups of the genus: P. saxatilis s. lat. and P. sulcata s. lat. However, little is known about the diversification and historical biogeography of these groups. Here we have used a dataset of two genetic markers and 64 samples to estimate phylogenetic relationships within Parmelia. The dated phylogeny provides evidence for major diversification during the Neogene and Pleistocene. These diversification events are probably correlated with climatic changes during these periods. Evidence of gene flow within species between populations from North America and Europe has been found in three species: P. sulcata Taylor, P. saxatilis (L.) Acharius and P. barrenoae Divakar, M.C. Molina & A. Crespo. Cryptic species recently segregated on the basis of molecular differences (P. encryptata A. Crespo, Divakar & M.C. Molina vs. P. sulcata and P. saxatilis vs. P. mayi Divakar, A. Crespo & M.C. Molina) do not share a common ancestor. Moreover, the P. saxatilis complex is remarkably diverse. Two morphotypes of P. saxatilis s. lat. were shown to represent independent monophyletic lineages. Consequently, two species (P. sulymae Goward, Divakar, & M.C. Molina & A. Crespo and P. imbricaria Goward, Divakar, M.C. Molina & A. Crespo) are newly described here.