外来入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花繁殖生物学研究

加拿大一枝黄花(S olid ag o canad ensis)原产北美,自然条件下既能结实,同时又能以地下茎出芽的方式克隆繁殖,是目前我国东部地区危害严重的外来入侵杂草之一,对我国部分省市的农业生产和生态环境构成了严重威胁。连续3a定点观测其种群扩张规律,从生境因子、种子性状及萌发特性、残体无性克隆生长,地下部分形态特征和各器官热值能量的季节动态变化等方面对加拿大一枝黄花的繁殖生物学作了研究,同时比较了加拿大一枝黄花和其他4种菊科外来杂草的地下部分形态特征。研究结果表明:(1)自然条件下,加拿大一枝黄花种子在3~10月期间均可萌发,4~5月份气候适宜,雨水充沛,是种子萌发的高峰期。夏季的6~8月份是其营养生长和克隆增殖的旺盛期,9月份开始献蕾,花果期为10月至翌年1月份。加拿大一枝黄花的结实量高达20000粒/株,种子(瘦果)千粒重为0.045~0.050g,含水量在60%~80%之间;(2)加拿大一枝黄花自然条件下种子萌发率约为30%,在不同pH值、盐浓度和湿度环境条件下种子萌发的耐受性较强。不同环境胁迫下的种子萌发率和沪浙地区加拿大一枝黄花土壤生境因子的调查结果均表明,该种比较适应干燥、透气性良好的酸性低盐砂壤土,对Zn、Cu、Pb等重金属耐性较高;(3)加拿大一枝黄花地下茎和植株基部节处能萌生克隆分株。在机械除草等人为干扰条件下加拿大一枝黄花采用应激繁殖对策,容易产生更多的克隆分株。植株残体的无性繁殖能力为地下部分>基部茎>茎秆,20cm基部茎>30cm基部茎>45cm基部茎,从小到大的机械破坏程度使地下部分残体出芽数依次减少,但累计出芽数反而增加;(4)与其他菊科外来杂草相比,加拿大一枝黄花地下部分的长度、表面积、体积等指标最大,说明其在地下部分形态上具有广泛逸生的结构基础;(5)加拿大一枝黄花地上部分生长速率以及多数地下部分形态指标在9月份达到最大值。8月份过于高温干旱的气候使茎、叶中的部分能量转向地下部分,增加须根以吸收更多的水分。加拿大一枝黄花生长周期内地下部分形态指标和各器官热值能量的动态变化与其兼备有性繁殖和克隆生长的繁殖对策相适应。     

Characterization of Escherichia coli thioredoxin variants mimicking the active-sites of other thiol/disulfide oxidoreductases.

Thiol/disulfide oxidoreductases like thioredoxin, glutaredoxin, DsbA, or protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) share the thioredoxin fold and a catalytic disulfide bond with the sequence Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys (Xaa corresponds to any amino acid). Despite their structural similarities, the enzymes have very different redox properties, which is reflected by a 100,000-fold difference in the equilibrium constant (K(eq)) with glutathione between the most oxidizing member, DsbA, and the most reducing member, thioredoxin. Here we present a systematic study on a series of variants of thioredoxin from Escherichia coli, in which the Xaa-Xaa dipeptide was exchanged by that of glutaredoxin, PDI, and DsbA. Like the corresponding natural enzymes, all thioredoxin variants proved to be stronger oxidants than the wild-type, with the order wild-type < PDI-type < DsbA-type < glutaredoxin-type. The most oxidizing, glutaredoxin-like variant has a 420-fold decreased value of K(eq), corresponding to an increase in redox potential by 75 mV. While oxidized wild-type thioredoxin is more stable than the reduced form (delta deltaG(ox/red) = 16.9 kJ/mol), both redox forms have almost the same stability in the variants. The pH-dependence of the reactivity with the alkylating agent iodoacetamide proved to be the best method to determine the pKa value of thioredoxin's nucleophilic active-site thiol (Cys32). A pKa of 7.1 was measured for Cys32 in the reduced wild-type. All variants showed a lowered pKa of Cys32, with the lowest value of 5.9 for the glutaredoxin-like variant. A correlation of redox potential and the Cys32 pKa value could be established on a quantitative level. However, the predicted correlation between the measured delta deltaG(ox/red) values and Cys32 pKa values was only qualitative.     

The ecological distribution of reproductive mode in oribatid mites, as related to biological complexity

The high incidence of asexuality in oribatid mites presents an unusual opportunity for examining hypotheses for the maintenance of sex. There is a presumed range in age of asexual species: many oribatid species are phylogenetically clustered, occurring in speciose early-derivative families or genera without sexual species, while others are phylogenetically isolated from other asexual species, occurring in later derivative taxa with sexual congeners. We examined the distribution of oribatid mite reproductive mode in soil of corn fields, grassy and shrub fields, and forests in central New York State (three replicate plots of each type, with 25 samples per plot), to test three ecological predictions from current theory. (1) If overall biotic uncertainty, as generated by competitors and predators, mediates the ecological distribution of oribatid mites, then the proportion of asexual oribatid mites should be negatively correlated with biological diversity; we examine this prediction using literature data as well. (2) If Muller’s Ratchet (the stochastic loss of best genotypes, which is independent of environment), mediates the success of asexuality, then no ecological pattern should exist. (3) If general purpose genotypes are characteristic of asexual oribatid mites, their habitat distribution should be broader than that of sexual species. For each plot the level of asexuality was compared to indices of overall biotic diversity, as calculated from the pooled oribatid mite (competitors) and mesostigmatid mite (predator) communities. We found no negative correlation in this relationship in our own data or in the literature analysis of 290 faunal surveys from 50 literature sources, so we reject biotic uncertainty as an important determinant of reproductive mode distribution. When only data on phylogenetically clustered asexuals are considered, there is instead a positive correlation between asexuality and diversity that is not explained. Because of the latter pattern we tentatively reject Muller’s Ratchet as the primary factor maintaining reproductive mode in these mites, but cannot reject it for isolated asexual species. Niche breadth in sexual and asexual oribatid mites provides no support for widespread general purpose genotypes but broad patterns in the literature suggest that the idea needs further investigation. Possible complicating or unknown factors that are discussed include historical disturbance in the study area, the relationship between parasitism and general biotic diversity, and the level and source of genetic diversity in asexual oribatid mites.     

海洋生物保健制剂中氨基酸的测定及营养评价

本文对以海参、鱼翅、鱼鳔等为主要原料,添加一些具有食疗作用的中药而制成具有不同功效的６种保健制剂,测定了其中的游离氨基酸及１８种常见氨基酸的含量。以ＦＡＯ／ＷＨＯ的氨基酸模式及化学评分,评价了这些保健制剂的蛋白质营养价值。限制性氨基酸主要是赖氨酸和（或）亮氨酸。这些制剂的氨基酸评分大多数都很高,有４种制剂的化学评分在９０分以上。     

黔中喀斯特山区植物功能性状的变异与关联

认识植物功能性状随演替进展的变化规律和不同性状之间的关系, 有助于从功能生态学的角度来理解群落演替。该文调查了位于贵州省中部的普定县喀斯特山区26个样方的物种组成, 这些样方分别处于灌丛、落叶阔叶林、落叶常绿混交林3个演替阶段; 测量了分布于该区域的82种木本植物的3个功能性状值(叶面积、比叶面积、最大高度); 根据物种在样方中的多度加权计算得到26个样方的性状平均值, 在此基础上分析了随演替进展植物功能性状在群落水平上的变异格局和不同性状之间的相关性; 采用性状梯度分析法分析了各阶段优势物种的功能性状在群落间(β组分)和群落内(α组分)的变异格局及相关性。结果表明: 1)沿灌丛→落叶阔叶林→落叶常绿混交林这一演替顺序, 群落平均叶面积和平均高度逐渐增加, 而群落平均比叶面积则逐渐变小; 2)就群落平均性状值而言, 叶面积与最大高度呈较强的正相关关系, 最大高度与比叶面积、叶面积与比叶面积均呈较强的负相关关系; 3)物种功能性状的α组分之间没有显著的相关关系, 而β组分之间相关性显著。这说明: 随演替的进展, 群落优势物种对环境的适应策略由高速生长转向提高资源利用效率, 而同一群落内共存的物种采取不同的性状组合来适应共同的群落环境。     

我国正常人共焦激光扫描视神经乳头地形图分析

目的 运用共焦激光扫描检眼镜(LCSO)测定国人(汉族)视神经乳头(ONH)地形图参数的正常值范围,为临床上青光眼的早期诊断及随访提供依据。方法 用HRT(Heidel-berg Retina Tomograph)技术,检测我国(汉族)74只正常眼ONH地形图参数,经统计学处理,制定各参数的均数(Mean)、标准差(SD)、第5、50、95百分位数(P5、P50、P95)值。并分析ONH参数与种族、性别相关的差异;与年龄、眼别相关的差异作了探讨。结果 国人(汉族)ONH参数的正常值(Meen±SD)为视盘面积(DA)2.34±0.46;视杯面积(CA)0.48±0.28;杯盘面积比(CDR)0.2±0.1;盘沿面积(RA)0.18±0.38;视杯体积(CV)0.1±0.1;盘沿体积(RV)0.5±0.19;平均杯深(MeCD)0.18±0.08;最大杯深(MxCD)0.57±0.21;杯形测量(CSM)-0.25±0.06;曲线高度变化(HVC)0.41±0.12;平均视网膜神经纤维层厚度(mRNFLt)0.27±0.08;视网膜神经纤维层交叉段面积(RNFLcsa)1.47±0.48;标准化参考平面高度(RH)0.29±0.11。各参数P5、P50、P95值分别为DA1、59、2.35、3.05;CA0.11、0.41、0.89;CDR0.06、0.19、0.36;RA1.28、1.82、2.49;CV 0.002、0.06、0.29;RV0.25、0.45、0.84;MeCD 0.05、0.18、0.34;MxCD 0.21、0.59、0.95;CSM-0.35、-0.25、-0.14;HVC 0.23、0.4、0.62;mRNFLt0.14、0.27、0.42;RNF     

Estimates and comparisons of the effects of sampling variation using ‘national’ macroinvertebrate sampling protocols on the precision of metrics used to assess ecological status

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) of the European Union requires all member countries to provide information on the level of confidence and precision of results in their river monitoring programmes to assess the ecological status class of river sites. As part of the European Union project STAR, the overall effects of sampling variation for a wide range of commonly used metrics and sampling methods were assessed. Replicate samples were taken in each of two seasons at 2–6 sites of varying ecological status class within each of 18 stream types spread over 12 countries, using both the STAR-AQEM method and a national sampling method or, where unavailable, the RIVPACS sampling protocol. The sampling precision of a combination of sampling method and metric was estimated by expressing the replicate sampling variance as a percentage P_samp of the total variance in metric values with a stream type; low values of P_samp indicate high precision. Most metrics had percentage sampling variances less than 20% for all or most stream types and methods. Most national methods including RIVPACS had sampling precisions at least as good as those for the STAR-AQEM method as used in their country at the same sites; the main exceptions were the national methods used in Latvia and Sweden. The national methods used in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Poland and the RIVPACS method used in the UK and Austria all had percentage sampling variances of less than 10% for the majority of metrics assessed. In contrast, none of the metrics had percentage sampling variances less than 10% when based on either the Italian (IBE) method, which used bank-side sorting, or the Latvian national method which identifies only a limited set of taxa. P_samp was lowest on average for the two stream types sampled in the Czech Republic using either the PERLA national method or the STAR-AQEM method. Averaged over all stream types and methods, the three Saprobic-based metrics had the lowest average percentage sampling variances (3–6%) amongst the 26 metrics assessed. These estimates of sampling standard deviation can be used to help assess the uncertainty in single or multi-metric systems for estimating site ecological status using the general STAR Bioassessment Guidance Software (STARBUGS) developed within the STAR project.     

Correlation and process in species distribution models: bridging a dichotomy

Within the field of species distribution modelling an apparent dichotomy exists between process‐based and correlative approaches, where the processes are explicit in the former and implicit in the latter. However, these intuitive distinctions can become blurred when comparing species distribution modelling approaches in more detail. In this review article, we contrast the extremes of the correlative–process spectrum of species distribution models with respect to core assumptions, model building and selection strategies, validation, uncertainties, common errors and the questions they are most suited to answer. The extremes of such approaches differ clearly in many aspects, such as model building approaches, parameter estimation strategies and transferability. However, they also share strengths and weaknesses. We show that claims of one approach being intrinsically superior to the other are misguided and that they ignore the process–correlation continuum as well as the domains of questions that each approach is addressing. Nonetheless, the application of process‐based approaches to species distribution modelling lags far behind more correlative (process‐implicit) methods and more research is required to explore their potential benefits. Critical issues for the employment of species distribution modelling approaches are given, together with a guideline for appropriate usage. We close with challenges for future development of process‐explicit species distribution models and how they may complement current approaches to study species distributions.     

SIMSI-Transfer: Software-Assisted Reduction of Missing Values in Phosphoproteomic and Proteomic Isobaric Labeling Data Using Tandem Mass Spectrum Clustering

Isobaric stable isotope labeling techniques such as tandem mass tags (TMTs) have become popular in proteomics because they enable the relative quantification of proteins with high precision from up to 18 samples in a single experiment. While missing values in peptide quantification are rare in a single TMT experiment, they rapidly increase when combining multiple TMT experiments. As the field moves toward analyzing ever higher numbers of samples, tools that reduce missing values also become more important for analyzing TMT datasets. To this end, we developed SIMSI-Transfer (Similarity-based Isobaric Mass Spectra 2 [MS2] Identification Transfer), a software tool that extends our previously developed software MaRaCluster (© Matthew The) by clustering similar tandem MS2 from multiple TMT experiments. SIMSI-Transfer is based on the assumption that similarity-clustered MS2 spectra represent the same peptide. Therefore, peptide identifications made by database searching in one TMT batch can be transferred to another TMT batch in which the same peptide was fragmented but not identified. To assess the validity of this approach, we tested SIMSI-Transfer on masked search engine identification results and recovered >80% of the masked identifications while controlling errors in the transfer procedure to below 1% false discovery rate. Applying SIMSI-Transfer to six published full proteome and phosphoproteome datasets from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium led to an increase of 26 to 45% of identified MS2 spectra with TMT quantifications. This significantly decreased the number of missing values across batches and, in turn, increased the number of peptides and proteins identified in all TMT batches by 43 to 56% and 13 to 16%, respectively.