Stability of α-chymotrypsin conjugated with poly (ethylene glycols) and proxanols at high temperature and in watercosolvent mixtures

Summary -Chymotrypsin has been modified with poly(ethylene glycols) and proxanols, block-copolymers of poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide). These conjugates were several-fold more thermostable and showed high catalytic activity at elevated concentrations of water-miscible organic cosolvents (alcohols and dimethyl sulfoxide) which caused inactivation of free (non-modified) -chymotrypsin.     

中国皿蛛科——新纪录属及天山前延首蛛的重描述（蜘蛛目：皿蛛科）

本文记述我国皿蛛科一新纪录属:前延首蛛届Archaraeoncus Tanasevitch 1987,并对天山前延首蛛A.tianshanicus(Hu et Wu,1989)n.comb.重新作了描述,本种的雌蛛系首次发现。本文还对Araeoncus tianschanica Hu et Wu 1989原学名命名的原始拚缀作了改正。文中测量数据均以mm为单位。     

白腐真菌血红密孔菌漆酶复合酶预处理烟梗丝的响应面法优化

烟梗是烟草工业的重要副产物,也是宝贵的自然资源。本研究首先利用白腐菌漆酶对烟梗丝进行预处理,提升了添加烟梗丝的卷烟品质;然后分别以木质素、纤维素、半纤维素和果胶的降解率为响应值,采用Box-Behnken设计建立方程模型,对漆酶、纤维素酶、半纤维素酶和果胶酶组成的复合酶预处理烟梗丝条件进行了优化。结果表明：每100g烟梗丝加入30U漆酶,在料液比为35%、温度为30℃、酶解pH为5处理48h的条件下预处理的烟梗丝对提升卷烟品吸效果最佳,烟梗丝中木质素、纤维素、半纤维素和果胶的降解率分别为20.16%、15.10%、7.20%和12.40%;为获得与之相同的各组分降解率,响应面法优化漆酶复合酶最佳处理条件为：每100g烟梗丝加入漆酶14.72U、纤维素酶1.00U、半纤维素酶1.00U、果胶酶8.45U。验证发现烟梗丝各组分降解率实测值与理论值无显著性差异,且显微结构观察显示复合酶处理后的烟梗丝表面致密结构被破坏,孔洞数量明显增加。本研究获得的白腐菌漆酶预处理后的烟梗丝在卷烟中的添加能有效改善卷烟品质,且漆酶复合酶的使用大幅减少了漆酶的用量,降低了漆酶预处理烟梗丝的成本,为废弃烟梗生物质的资源化利用提供了重要依据。     

A new species and molecular phylogeny of Brazilian succulent Euphorbia sect. Brasilienses

A new species of Euphorbia sect. Brasilienses V.W. Steinm. & Dorsey is described. Euphorbia tetrangularis Hurbath & Cordeiro is endemic to the Serra de Montevidéu, a part of the Espinhaço Range located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It differs from other species within the section based on the following characters: 4-ribbed branches, green cyathia, and green cyathial glands with erect appendages. This new species would qualify as critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria. An inferred phylogeny based on a combined dataset of nuclear (ITS1) and plastid regions (psbA-trnH, trnC-ycf6, matK, atpI-atpH, psbJ-petA, trnQ-rps16?×?1) confirms the monophyly of Euphorbia sect. Brasilienses and supports the recognition of E. tetrangularis. The phylogeny also suggests that this group probably underwent a recent radiation.     

Identification and certification of common wheat cultivars using RAPD and SSRP methods of analysis

Based on RAPD and SSRP analysis of wheats of different ecological-geographical origin, the procedures for composing genetic formulas of cultivars and their certification have been elaborated. The application of RAPD and SSRP analysis to the identification of wheat cultivars is discussed.     

Cross adaptation of potato plants to low temperatures and potato cyst nematode infestation

Effect of short-term (2 h a day) and long-term (6 days) exposure to low temperature (5°C) on cold tolerance was investigated in two cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): resistant (Sudarynya) and susceptible (Nevskii) to potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis Woll.). The extent of their infestation and changes in the expression of the genes of resistance to nematode (H1 and Gro1-4) were also analyzed. In both cultivars, exposure to low temperature enhanced cold resistance of potato plants. Enhancing cold resistance of cv. Sudarynya induced by a short-term exposure to chilling did not affect the extent of nematode infestation, whereas in susceptible cv. Nevskii, the extent of infestation decreased by almost three times. The level of expression of H1 gene in the leaves of the susceptible cultivar rose almost twofold both after short-term and long exposure to chilling, while in the resistant cultivar, gene expression increased only after a short-term effect of cold. The level of Gro1-4 gene expression increased after both temperature treatments only in the resistant cv. Sudarynya. Thus, the expression of genes for potato resistance to nematode infestation became more active in the susceptible cultivar as regards the gene H1 and in the resistant cultivar, regarding the gene Gro1-4. In the nematode-susceptible cv. Nevskii, the level of infestation decreased and cold resistance increased, apparently indicating cross adaptation to two factors of different nature.     

Comparative analysis of genetic structure in natural populations of two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> species with different degree of panmixia

Comparative analysis of genetic structure of northern natural populations of two Arabidopsis species with different degrees of panmixia was performed. The variability of 121 RAPD loci in seven populations of model plant A. thaliana possessing high degree of self fertility was studied together with 93 RAPD loci in population of cross-pollinating species A. lyrata ssp. petraea. The population of A. l. petraea demonstrated higher level of genetic variability (P _99% = 62.50%; H _exp = 0.169) than the populations of A. thaliana, which is obviously connected with biological features of reproduction of the species. A significant level of genetic variability (P _99% = 42.27%; H _exp = 0.126) was revealed in populations of A. thaliana, which is not typical for self-pollinating plant species. The high population polymorphism of A. thaliana in the northern part of its range may be connected with adverse environmental conditions. The genetic distances between populations of the species studied (average D _N = 0.494) confirm close relatedness between A. thaliana and A. l. petraea.     

Landscape and weather determinants of prey availability: implications for the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni

Spatial and temporal variation in prey abundance have been shown to impact the time of breeding and breeding success of birds. Understanding the ecological requirements of preferred prey can help develop management measures to improve food supply for target species. For the colonial Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, mole crickets Gryllotalpa spp. are one of the most important prey items during the mate‐feeding period. Lesser Kestrel colonies with higher mole cricket consumption had earlier egg‐laying dates, suggesting that differences between individuals in the time of breeding could be caused by differences in the diet. Moreover, the mean number of mole crickets in pellets was significantly correlated with clutch size (in one of the studied years) and egg volume. Thus, the impact of environmental variables and land use on mole crickets is likely to be relevant to Lesser Kestrel conservation. Weekly consumption of mole crickets was higher following an increase in either precipitation or minimum temperature values. Furthermore, mole cricket consumption was higher in colonies surrounded by higher quality soils and in wetter areas and years. Predicted probability of mole cricket occurrence in surveyed watercourse margins suggested a positive relationship between soil penetrability and mole cricket occurrence. Among variables that might be the target of management, the presence of riparian vegetation positively influenced the occurrence of mole crickets, whilst tillage and sowing of streambeds were revealed as the most important threats. We suggest that the maintenance of native vegetation in the margins of watercourses could improve soil resilience to erosion, increase water retention, soil penetrability and fertility, and provide a food supply and shelter for mole crickets. Overall, the implementation of such recommendations is likely to benefit other farmland species known to consume mole crickets, including several endangered species.     

Early intervention in psychosis: concepts,evidence and future directions

The rise of the early intervention paradigm in psychotic disorders represents a maturing of the therapeutic approach in psychiatry, as it embraces practical preventive strategies which are firmly established in mainstream health care. Early intervention means better access and systematic early delivery of existing and incremental improvements in knowledge rather than necessarily requiring dramatic and elusive breakthroughs. A clinical staging model has proven useful and may have wider utility in psychiatry. The earliest clinical stages of psychotic disorder are non-specific and multidimensional and overlap phenotypically with the initial stages of other disorders. This implies that treatment should proceed in a stepwise fashion depending upon safety, response and progression. Withholding treatment until severe and less reversible symptomatic and functional impairment have become entrenched represents a failure of care. While early intervention in psychosis has developed strongly in recent years, many countries have made no progress at all, and others have achieved only sparse coverage. The reform process has been substantially evidence-based, arguably more so than other system reforms in mental health. However, while evidence is necessary, it is insufficient. It is also a by-product as well as a catalyst of reform. In early psychosis, we have also seen the evidence-based paradigm misused to frustrate overdue reform. Mental disorders are the chronic diseases of the young, with their onset and maximum impact in late adolescence and early adult life. A broader focus for early intervention would solve many of the second order issues raised by the early psychosis reform process, such as diagnostic uncertainty despite a clear-cut need for care, stigma and engagement, and should be more effective in mobilizing community support. Early intervention represents a vital and challenging project for early adopters in global psychiatry to consider.