Changes in plant species richness and productivity in response to decreased nitrogen inputs in grassland in southern England

Biomass production and plant species diversity in grassland in southern England was monitored before and after a change from conventional to organic farming. Our 18-year study, part of the UK's Environmental Change Network long-term monitoring programme, showed that the cessation of artificial fertiliser use on grassland after conversion to organic farming resulted in a decrease in biomass production and an increase in plant species richness. Grassland productivity decreased immediately after fertiliser application ceased, and after two years the annual total biomass production had fallen by over 50%. In the subsequent decade, total annual grassland productivity did not change significantly, and yields reached 31–66% of the levels recorded pre-management change. Plant species richness that had remained stable during the first 5 years of our study under conventional farming, increased by 300% over the following 13 years under organic farm management. We suggest that the change in productivity is due to the altered composition of species within the plots. In the first few years after the change in farming practice, high yielding, nitrogen-loving plants were outcompeted by lower yielding grasses and forbs, and these species remained in the plots in the following years. This study shows that grassland can be converted from an environment lacking in plant species diversity to a relatively species-rich pasture within 10–15 years, simply by stopping or suspending nitrogen additions. We demonstrate that the trade-off for increasing species richness is a decrease in productivity. Grassland in the UK is often not only managed from a conservation perspective, but to also produce a profitable yield. By considering the species composition and encouraging specific beneficial species such as legumes, it may be possible to improve biomass productivity and reduce the trade-off.     

Portrait of the Patient as a Young Man: An Exploration of the Use of Photographs in Hospital

The display of personal photographs in hospital is a common practice that has yet to be rigorously examined. The photographs displayed are subject to interpretation by the viewer and may lead to misunderstandings or miscommunication if clarification of meaning is not sought. This paper explores a range of possible meanings that the display of photographs in hospital may hold, based on a case study of a 15 year old boy hospitalised with a life threatening illness. Further research is needed into the actual meanings attributed to the display of photographs in hospital by patients and family members.     

Structural variability of C3larvin toxin. Intrinsic dynamics of the α/β fold of the C3-like group of mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase toxins

C3larvin toxin is a new member of the C3 class of the mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin family. The C3 toxins are known to covalently modify small G-proteins, e.g. RhoA, impairing their function, and serving as virulence factors for an offending pathogen. A full-length X-ray structure of C3larvin (2.3 Å) revealed that the characteristic mixed α/β fold consists of a central β-core flanked by two helical regions. Topologically, the protein can be separated into N and C lobes, each formed by a β-sheet and an α-motif, and connected by exposed loops involved in the recognition, binding, and catalysis of the toxin/enzyme, i.e. the ADP-ribosylation turn–turn and phosphate–nicotinamide PN loops. Herein, we provide two new C3larvin X-ray structures and present a systematic study of the toxin dynamics by first analyzing the experimental variability of the X-ray data-set followed by contrasting those results with theoretical predictions based on Elastic Network Models (GNM and ANM). We identify residues that participate in the stability of the N-lobe, putative hinges at loop residues, and energy-favored deformation vectors compatible with conformational changes of the key loops and 3D-subdomains (N/C-lobes), among the X-ray structures. We analyze a larger ensemble of known C3bot1 conformations and conclude that the characteristic ‘crab-claw’ movement may be driven by the main intrinsic modes of motion. Finally, via computational simulations, we identify harmonic and anharmonic fluctuations that might define the C3larvin ‘native state.’ Implications for docking protocols are derived.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

Exploiting the complete yeast genome sequence

The completion of the genome sequence of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae marks the dawn of an exciting new era in eukaryotic biology that will bring with it a new understanding of yeast, other model organisms, and human beings. This body of sequence data benefits yeast researchers by obviating the need for piecemeal sequencing of genes, and allows researchers working with other organisms to tap into experimental advantages inherent in the yeast system and learn from functionally characterized yeast gene products which are their proteins of interest. In addition, the yeast post-genome sequence era is serving as a testing ground for powerful new technologies, and proven experimental approaches are being applied for the first time in a comprehensive fashion on a complete eukaryotic gene repertoire.     

Inhibition of parathormone-stimulated bone resorption by type I interferon

The effect of Type I interferon on bone resorption was studied by measuring its effect on parathormone-stimulated calcium release from neonatal murine calvaria in vitro. A pure human recombinant leukocyte interferon hybrid of the A and D subtypes was used, which has high antiviral activity on mouse cells. Calcium release was inhibited in a dose dependent fashion with 50% inhibition at about 10(-10) M or 600 U/ml, and the inhibition was reversible. The presence of interferon was required before or during the activation phase of the resorptive response, when the formation of osteoclasts from precursor cells would occur. When added to actively resorbing bone it had no effect. The data suggest that Type I interferon can inhibit the parathormone-regulated development of active osteoclasts, possibly by inhibiting osteoclast precursor differentiation.     

Neurotubule assembly at substoichiometric nucleotide levels using a GTP regenerating system

Tubulin derived from cold depolymerized bovine microtubules has been gel filtered to obtain a tubulin preparation with only 3% of the tubulin dimers containing exchangeable [³H]-guanine nucleotide. In the presence of acetyl-P and bacterial acetate kinase, this preparation polymerizes to form microtubules which are morphologically indistinguishable from microtubules formed in the presence of excess GTP. The extent of microtubule formation at substoichiometric nucleotide levels using the GTP regenerating system exceeds the extent of assembly obtained with excess GTP. It is concluded that the exchangeable guanine nucleotide site can be virtually unoccupied in intact neurotubules and this finding indicates that GDP can “catalyze” tubule assembly in the presence of a GTP regenerating system.     

TLR4全长及其截断体重组腺病毒的制备和功能鉴定

制备脂多糖 (LPS)Toll样受体 4 (TLR4 )全长及其胞内段缺失的TLR4截断体 (ΔTLR4 )的绿色荧光蛋白重组腺病毒并鉴定其功能 .用PCR方法扩增TLR4及ΔTLR4基因片段 ,酶切后亚克隆至腺病毒穿梭质粒中 ,形成带有目的基因的穿梭载体pAdTrack TLR4和pAdTrack ΔTLR4 .用BJ5 1 83细菌同源重组法将目的基因重组于腺病毒骨架载体中 ;将重组腺病毒质粒用PacⅠ酶切线性化后 ,用脂质体法转染HEK 2 93细胞进行腺病毒的包装扩增 .将重组腺病毒感染CHO K1细胞 ,采用荧光毒酶报告基因方法检测其对LPS诱导NF κB激活的影响 .酶切及测序表明 ,TLR4全长及其截断体ΔTLR4的重组腺病毒载体构建正确 .荧光素酶报告基因检测结果表明 ,TLR4全长及其截断体的重组腺病毒感染细胞对LPS诱导的反应具有不同的影响 ,Ad ΔTLR4明显抑制了LPS引起的NF κB激活 (P <0 0 5 ) ,Ad TLR4则使LPS引起的NF κB活性增强 (P <0 0 5 ) .LPS对细胞的激活作用依赖于TLR4的结构完整性     

探讨我国森林野生动物红外相机监测规范

野生动物多样性是生物多样性监测与保护管理评价的关键指标, 因此对野生动物进行长期监测是中国森林生物多样性监测网络(CForBio)等大尺度生物多样性监测研究计划的一个重要组成部分。2011年以来, CForBio网络陆续在多个森林动态监测样地开展以红外相机来监测野生动物多样性。随着我国野生动物红外相机监测网络的初步形成, 亟待建立和执行基于红外相机技术的统一监测规范。基于3年来在我国森林动态监测样地红外相机监测的进展情况, 以及热带生态评价与监测网络针对陆生脊椎动物(兽类和鸟类)所提出的红外相机监测规范, 本文从监测规范和监测注意事项等方面探讨了我国森林野生动物红外相机监测的现状和未来。