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High Altitude Frogs (Rana kukonoris) Adopt a Diversified Bet-hedging Strategy in the Face of Environmental Unpredictability
Get PDFEnvironmental unpredictability can influence strategies of maternal investment among eggs within a clutch. Models predict that breeding females should adopt a diversified bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments, but empirical field evidence from Asia is scarce. Here we tested this hypothesis by exploring spatial patterns in egg size along an altitudinal gradient in a frog species (Rana kukunoris) inhabiting the Tibetan Plateau. Within-clutch variability in egg size increased as the environment became variable (e.g., lower mean monthly temperature and mean monthly rainfall at higher altitudes), and populations in environments with more unpredictable rainfall produced eggs that were smaller and more variable in size. We provide support for a diversified bet-hedging strategy in high-altitude environments, which experience dynamic weather patterns and therefore are of unpredictable environmental quality. This strategy may be an adaptive response to lower environmental quality and higher unpredictable environmental variance. Such a strategy should increase the likelihood of breeding success and maximize maternal lifetime fitness by producing offspring that are adapted to current environmental conditions. We speculate that in high-altitude environments prone to physical disturbance, breeding females are unable to consistently produce the optimal egg size due to physiological constraints imposed by environmental conditions (e.g., duration of the active season, food availability). Species and populations whose breeding strategies are adapted to cope with uncertain environmental conditions by adjusting offspring size and therefore quality show a remarkable degree of ability to cope with future climatic changes
Biogas desulfurization under anoxic conditions using synthetic wastewater and biogas slurry
No full textA feasibility study was conducted to determine whether aerated biogas slurry is a suitable nutrient solution for biogas desulfurization systems with a biotrickling filter. At a loading rate of 36.20 g-H2S m(-3)h(-1), the H2S and NOx--N removal efficiencies were 84.7% (average elimination capacity of 30.67 g-H2S m(-3)h(-1)) and 60.9%, respectively, when utilizing synthetic wastewater in a simultaneous biogas desulfurization and wastewater de nitrification system. However, these efficiencies were just 61.9% (average elimination capacity of 22.42 g-H2S m(-3)h(-1)) and 49.2%, respectively, when biogas slurry was used. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the Thiobacillus and Sulfurimonas genera were the main functional bacteria. Alpha- and beta-diversity analyses showed that the H2S loading rate significantly affected the microbial community structure, especially in the system utilizing aerated biogas slurry. Finally, based on the results, we describe a feasible approach to using biogas slurry for biogas desulfurization
Proposal to conserve Aspidium draconopterum (Draconopteris draconoptera) (Tectariaceae) with a conserved type
No full textA genome-wide association study of wheat yield and quality-related traits in southwest China
No full textWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most productive and important crops and its yield potential and quality characteristics are tightly linked with the global food security. In this study, genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for yield and quality-related traits. Based on the high-density wheat 90K Illumina iSelect SNP Array, 192 bread wheat lines from southwest China, including 25 synthetic hexaploid wheat lines, 80 landraces, and 87 cultivars were analyzed. Association analysis results indicated that there were 57, 27, 30, and 34 SNPs associated with plant height (PH), grain protein content (GPC), thousand kernel weight (TKW), and SDS sedimentation volume (SSV) have been detected, respectively. Then, integrating RNA-Seq with bioinformatics analysis, 246 candidate genes (102 for GPC, 52 for TKW, and 92 for SSV) were found. Further analysis indicated that one up-regulated and two down-regulated expression genes affect GPC. Additionally, two haplotypes significantly affecting PH were detected in a 2.2-Mb genome region encompassing a gene which encoded an ubiquitin-specific protease, TaUBP24. The functional markers of TaUBP24 have been developed, which could be used for marker-assisted selection to improve wheat quality and yield
Xylastriasan A, a new cytochalasan from the fungus Xylaria striata
No full textXylastriasan A (1), a new cytochalasan alkaloid with a rare 5/6/6/5/6 pentacyclic skeleton, and ergosterol (2) were isolated from the ethanol extract of fruiting bodies of the fungus Xylaria striata. Their structures were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against HEPG2, B16 and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 93.61, 85.61 and 91.58 mu M, respectively. Ergosterol (2) potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep by not only increasing the number of falling asleep and prolonging sleeping time but also reducing sleep latency at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. [GRAPHICS]
D-alanyl-D-alanine-Modified Gold Nanoparticles Form a Broad-Spectrum Sensor for Bacteria
No full textRationale: Rapid and facile detection of pathogenic bacteria is challenging due to the requirement of large-scale instruments and equipment in conventional methods. We utilize D-amino acid as molecules to selectively target bacteria because bacteria can incorporate DADA in its cell wall while mammalian cells or fungi cannot. Methods: We show a broad-spectrum bacterial detection system based on D-amino acid-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). AuNPs serve as the signal output that we can monitor without relying on any complex instruments. Results: In the presence of bacteria, the AuNPs aggregate and the color of AuNPs changes from red to blue. This convenient color change can distinguish between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This system can be applied for detection of ascites samples from patients. Conclusion: These D-amino acid-modified AuNPs serve as a promising platform for rapid visual identification of pathogens in the clinic
Comparative analysis on adsorption properties and mechanisms of nitrate and phosphate by modified corn stalks
No full textIn this study, modified corn stalks (MCS) were successfully synthesized by grafting or crosslinking triethylenetetramine (TETA) and triethylamine (TEA) in the presence of epichlorohydrin (EPI) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) for the effective removal of nitrate and phosphate. The characteristics of adsorbents were determined and the adsorption properties and mechanisms of nitrate and phosphate on MCS were studied and compared. Results from Zeta potential, elemental analysis (EA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that quaternary ammonium group was successfully grafted onto corn stalks (CS). Both adsorption properties and mechanisms indicated that the MCS had a better affinity to phosphate. For adsorption properties, under conditions of a dosage of 4 g L-1, pH 6.0 and an initial concentration of 50 mg L-1, the phosphate removal rate was 10.97% higher than that nitrate, and SO42- and Cl- had a larger inhibitive effect on nitrate. Mechanisms analysis included adsorption kinetics, isotherm and thermodynamics. Results indicated that the parameters of different models were closely related to the adsorption effect of nitrate and phosphate. In addition, pseudo-second-order and Freundlich model fitted both nitrate and phosphate adsorption well. The thermodynamics analysis indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature
The complete mitochondrial genome of the toad species Oreolalax xiangchengensis (Anura: Megophryidae) and phylogenetic analyses
No full textOreolalax xiangchengensis is an alpine toad species of Megophryidae. We determined its complete mitogenome. The mitogenome has a length of 17,110bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 23 tRNA genes, and a control region. It has a tandem duplication of tRNA-Met gene and a translocation of tRNA-Trp gene compared with typical vertebrate mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitogenome sequences of 18 Megophryidae species were conducted to access phylogenetic assignments of O. xiangchengensis
Bergenia ciliata: A comprehensive review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and safety
No full textBergenia ciliata is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of kidney stones. The presented review is the first attempt to gather utmost information about the distribution, ethno-medicines, phytochemical analysis, pharmacology and toxicology of B. ciliata. This review was designed with the aim to compile fragmented information about B. ciliata in addition to explore its therapeutic potential and future research opportunities. A total of 185 research papers were reviewed using several data sources such as; Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, Science direct and PubMed. Results of this review revealed that B. ciliata is being used to cure 104 different types of ailments. Although among reported disorders B. ciliata showed high potential in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders but it is well known for the treatment of kidney disorders particularly kidney stones. Literature review showed that traditional healers mostly utilize it in powder form. Moreover, B. ciliata was reported to possess high antifungal, antiviral, anti plasmodial and antibacterial activities. Pharmacological studies reported that it has good antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tussive, anti-ulcer and anti-neoplastic activities. Variety of secondary metabolites belonging to different classes of compounds such as phenols, alcohols, terpenoids and fatty acid were reportedly isolated from B. ciliata. In spite of having better efficiency of ethno medicines and good pharmacological potential, B. ciliata has also shown toxic effects on living system in several studies. We invite the attention of researchers to carry out detailed ethno-pharmacological and toxicological studies on this valuable plant species in order to provide reliable knowledge to the patients and discover more novel compounds for the development of new drugs with fewer side effects on the living system as compare to modern medicines
Bioreactor synergy with 3D scaffolds: New era for stem cells culture
No full textBecause of unparalleled advantages over other cells, stem cells are widely used in genetic diagnosis, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. However, because the content of stem cells in the organism is far from satisfactory, it is of great significance of stem cells to in vitro proliferation and differentiation. However, many stem cell cultures have low expansion efficiency and stem cells lose their value-adding ability and differentiation ability after many generations of culture. To solve these problems, people hope to more realistically simulate the microenvironment in which stem cells grow in vivo. Cell scaffolds gradually evolve from 2D structures to 3D structures. The addition of growth factors influences cell behavior from internal biochemical conditions and the development of smart bioreactors gradually make progress to more precise regulate the external conditions of stem cell. In this paper, the key factors for constructing the microenvironment of stem cell growth were analyzed, and we reviewed the application of bioreactors and 3D scaffolds in stem cell cultivation. Finally, this paper indicated the development directions of stem cell culture in vitro