湖北安陆新的恐龙蛋类型的发现及其意义

本文记述的恐龙蛋化石标本,采自湖北省江汉盆地公安寨组下部.蛋化石保存完好.在普通光学显微镜和扫描电镜下观察,蛋壳的显微结构完整,清晰可见.根据钙质蛋壳基本结构单位的形态及排列特征,笔者建立了—新属,新种——Dendroolithus wangdianensis gen. et sp. nov.,代表恐龙蛋类一个新科——Dendroolithidae fam. nov.此外,残存的卵壳膜纤维化石的发现,将为进一步研究恐龙蛋卵壳膜的结构和氨基酸组成提供宝贵材料.     

The stability of L-ATC hydrolase participating in L-cysteine production

Summary In the production of L-cysteine from D,L-ATC stability of the relevant enzymes produced byPseudomonas sp. was tested, and strategies to improve the stability of L-ATC hydrolase were investigated in view of water activity and ionic strength. Among the three enzymes which participate in L-cysteine production, i.e., ATC racemase, L-ATC hydrolase, and S-carbamyl-L-cysteine hydrolase, L-ATC hydrolase is the least stable. Various mixtures of salts and sorbitol were added to adjust the water activities of the tested solutions. As water activity decreased from 0.93 to 0.80, the stability of L-ATC hydrolase was sharply enhanced. In the absence of sorbitol the stability of L-ATC hydrolase increased in proportion to ionic strength. Even though enzyme stability was not good at a low ionic strength, it was enhanced by lowering water activity with addition of sorbitol. The half life of L-ATC hydrolase in sorbitol-salt mixtures increased by tenfold to twentyfold compared to that of a control.     

Artesunate dose escalation for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in a region of reported artemisinin resistance: a randomized clinical trial

Background

The emergence of artemisinin resistance has raised concerns that the most potent antimalarial drug may be under threat. The currently recommended daily dose of artesunate (AS) is 4 mg/kg, and is administered for 3 days together with a partner antimalarial drug. This study investigated the impact of different AS doses on clinical and parasitological responses in malaria patients from an area of known artemisinin resistance in western Cambodia.

Methods

Adult patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomized into one of three 7-day AS monotherapy regimens: 2, 4 or 6 mg/kg/day (total dose 14, 28 and 42 mg/kg). Clinical, parasitological, pharmacokinetic and in vitro drug sensitivity data was collected over a 7-day inpatient period and during weekly follow-up to 42 days.

Results

143 patients were enrolled (n = 75, 40 and 28 to receive AS 2, 4 and 6 mg/kg/day respectively). Cure rates were high in all treatment groups at 42 days despite almost half the patients remaining parasitemic on Day 3. There was no impact of increasing AS dose on median parasite clearance times, median parasite clearance rates or on the proportion of patients remaining parasitemic on Day 3. However at the lowest dose used (2 mg/kg/d) patients with parasitemia >10,000/µL had longer median (IQR) parasite clearance times than those with parasitemia <10,000/µL (63 (48–75) vs. 84 (66–96) hours, p<0.0001). 19% of patients in the high-dose arm developed neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1.0×10⁹/L) by Day 14 and resulted in the arm being halted early.

Conclusion

There is no pharmacodynamic benefit of increasing the daily dose of AS (4mg/kg) currently recommended for short-course combination treatment of uncomplicated malaria, even in regions with emerging artemisinin resistance, as long as the partner drug retains high efficacy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00722150","term_id":"NCT00722150"}}NCT00722150.     

The Positional Specificity of EXXK Motifs within an Amphipathic α-Helix Dictates Preferential Lysine Modification by Acrolein: Implications for the Design of High-Density Lipoprotein Mimetic Peptides

Despite the ability of acrolein to damage proteins, factors governing its reactivity with the ε-amino group of lysine are poorly understood. We used a small 26-mer α-helical peptide (ATI-5261) to evaluate the influence of acidic glutamate (E) residues on site-specific lysine modification by acrolein and if this targeting played a major role in inhibiting the cholesterol efflux activity of the peptide. Exposure of ATI-5261 to acrolein resulted in N-(3-formyl-3,4-dehydropiperidino) (FDP)-lysine adducts at positions 5 and 25 and led to a concentration-dependent reduction in cholesterol efflux activity (55 ± 7 and 83 ± 3% decrease with 5:1 and 20:1 acrolein:peptide molar ratios, respectively). Amino acid substitution (K → R) experiments and mass spectrometry revealed neither K5 nor K25 was preferentially modified by acrolein, despite the location of K5 within a putative EXXK motif. Moreover, both lysine residues remained equally reactive when the lipidated peptide was exposed to acrolein. In contrast, placement of EXXK in the center of ATI-5261 resulted in site-specific modification of lysine. The latter was dependent on glutamate, thus establishing that acidic residues facilitate lysine modification and form the molecular basis of the EXXK motif. Preferential targeting of lysine, however, failed to augment the inhibitory effect of the aldehyde. Overall, the inhibitory effects of acrolein on cholesterol efflux activity were largely dependent on the number of lysine residue modifications and cross-linking of α-helical strands that restricted dissociation of the peptide to active forms.     

半滑舌鳎早期形态及发育特征

半滑舌鳎卵子为分离的球形浮性卵 ,卵径 1 18-1 3 1mm。卵膜薄、光滑、透明 ,具弹性。多油球 ,一般为 97-12 5个 ,多数在 10 0个左右 ,油球径 0 0 4-0 11mm。在培养水温为 2 0 5-2 2 8℃的条件下 ,卵子授精后 3 7h仔鱼孵出 ,3 0min后仔鱼全部孵出。初孵仔鱼全长 2 56-2 68mm。 1日龄仔鱼 ,出现胸鳍芽。 1 5日龄仔鱼 ,巡游模式基本建立。 2日龄仔鱼 ,逐渐建立外源性摄食关系。 3日龄仔鱼 ,出现鳔泡 ,个体发育进入后期仔鱼期。 18日龄 ,个体发育进入稚鱼期。 2 5日龄稚鱼 ,右眼开始向上移动。 2 7日龄稚鱼 ,右眼已转到头顶。 2 9日龄稚鱼 ,右眼完全转到左侧 ,胸鳍退化 ,各鳍鳍条发育完全。 57日龄 ,个体发育进入幼鱼期。 79日龄幼鱼 ,鳔退化、鳞片发育完全 ,侧线 3条。研究结果表明 :前期仔鱼培育期间 ,除了严格控制适宜的培养水温外 ,仔鱼开口后就应及时投喂一定密度的适口饵料 ,这是苗种培育中不可忽视的重要环节和技术措施之一 ;稚鱼变态期间加强鲜活饵料的投喂是提高稚鱼变态成活率的关键所在。仔鱼孵化后出现的管状感觉器官以及背、臀鳍膜上的泡状结构在早期发育阶段的生态和生理作用尚不清楚。半滑舌鳎成鱼无鳔和无胸鳍 ,而在早期发育期间具有鳔泡和胸鳍 ,这是生物个体发育史中祖先特征的重演     

Do fires in savannas consume woody biomass? A comment on approaches to modeling savanna dynamics

Savanna ecosystems have long been fertile ground for mathematical modeling of vegetation structure and the role of resources and disturbance in tree-grass coexistence. In recent years, several authors have presented models that explore how savanna fires suppress the woody community, alter ecosystem dynamics, and promote grass persistence. We argue, however, that the assumption that fires influence savanna dynamics by consuming woody biomass may be wrong because, in reality, fires kill seedlings and saplings that constitute little biomass relative to adult trees. We present a simple alternative that separates the woody community into a subadult (fire-sensitive) class and an adult (fire-resistant) class and explore how this ecologically more realistic, but still simplified, model may provide better simulations of demographic processes and response to fires in savannas.     

中国对虾（Penaeus chinensis）4个种群的同工酶遗传变异

采用水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术分析了中国对虾（Penaeuschinensis）黄渤海沿岸种群（YP）、朝鲜半岛西海岸种群（KP）和2个养殖种群（CP1和CP2）的同工酶遗传变异水平。每个种群随机选取50尾中国对虾进行同工酶检测。在所分析的12种同工酶编码的20个基因位点中,有4个是多态位点。4个种群的多态位点比例（P0.99）分别为15%、20%、10%和20%。种群平均杂合度（观测值）（Ho）分别为0.014±0.007、0.020±0.010、0.010±0.007和0.033±0.017。4个种群的位点有效等位基因数（Ne）分别为1.015±0.008、1.023±0.011、1.011±0.007和1.042±0.022。杂合子平衡偏离指数（D）分别为+0.037、-0.030、-0.098和-0.030。2个地理种群（YP和KP）的遗传相似性系数（I）和遗传距离（D     

Taking the bait: Developing a bait delivery system to target free‐ranging crocodiles and varanid lizards with a novel conservation strategy

In tropical Australia, conditioned taste aversion (CTA) can buffer vulnerable native predators from the invasion of a toxic prey species (cane toads, Rhinella marina). Thus, we need to develop methods to deploy aversion‐inducing baits in the field, in ways that maximize uptake by vulnerable species (but not other taxa). We constructed and field‐tested baiting devices, in situ with wild animals. Apparatus were set next to waterbodies and baited concurrently at multiple locations (over water, water''s edge, and on the bank). Baits were checked and replaced twice daily during the trial; remote cameras recorded visitation by native predators. Bait longevity was compared at sun‐exposed and shaded locations over 12 h. The strength required to remove baits from apparatus was measured in varanids and crocodiles. The device promoted high rates of bait uptake by freshwater crocodiles (47% baits consumed), varanid lizards (19% baits consumed), and non‐target taxa (34% baits consumed). Targeting specific predators can be achieved by manipulating bait location and time of deployment, as well as the force required to dislodge the bait. Crocodiles were best targeted with over‐water baits, whereas varanid lizards preferred baits located at the edges of waterbodies. When testing bait longevity in ambient conditions, during the daytime baits desiccated fully within 12 h, and faster in the sun than in the shade. Based on studies using captive animals, the “pulling force” strength of reptilian predators scaled with body size and was greater in crocodiles than in varanid lizards. We present the first conservation baiting protocol designed specifically for reptiles. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of widespread and taxon‐specific deployment of aversion‐inducing baits to buffer the impacts of invasive cane toads, and our methods are applicable (with modification) to other research and management programs globally.     

徐闻西岸造礁石珊瑚的组成及空间分布

2008年5-6月在徐闻西岸设置了25个站点,运用截线样带法调查了造礁石珊瑚的种类多样性和空间分布.本次研究共发现造礁石珊瑚57种,每个站位的种类数均不超过30种.Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均值分别为1.79和0.42.二异角孔珊瑚(Goniopora duofasciata)、盾形...     

Putting indigenous conservation policy into practice delivers biodiversity and cultural benefits

In the midst of global species loss, Indigenous languages and culture are experiencing similar declines. Current international policies and programs advocate the involvement of local and Indigenous people in sustaining biodiversity and culture, but the anticipated benefits are not always realized or assessed. This paper draws on three objectives of current international and Australian policy to explore the biological and cultural benefits of a collaborative cross-cultural biodiversity project of Indigenous rangers and university ecologists in remote northern Australia. Policies promoting blends of biological and cultural conservation from International to national scale share the following objectives: (1) involve Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation; (2) maintain and develop Indigenous knowledge and culture; and (3) recognize and promote Indigenous natural and cultural resource management and traditional knowledge. This paper reflects on the project benefits in the context of these objectives, with the aim of informing future policy and program development. Biodiversity benefits of the cross-cultural project included new public records for a relatively poorly known but species rich area that are being used to inform local Indigenous land management, as well as specimens and tissue samples with which to explore the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the region. Cultural benefits included compiling a local field guide that contains ten different languages and engaging young people to facilitate intergenerational transfer of threatened traditional knowledge. Promotion of the work at local to national fora addressed the third objective and enhanced Indigenous involvement. We demonstrate that top-down policy directives can be implemented to deliver on-ground mutual benefits for science and Indigenous communities.