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Massive Molecular Parallel Evolution of the HSP90AA1 Gene between High-elevation Anurans
Get PDFHSP90AA1 is part of the heat shock protein 90 gene family and has important functions against heat stress. We report a case of molecular level parallel evolution of the HSP90AA1 gene in high elevation amphibians. IISP90AA1 gene sequences of four high-elevation anurans, Bufo gargarizans, Nanorana parkeri, Rana kukunoris, and Scutiger boulengeri, were compared along with five of their low-elevation relatives. A total of 16 amino-acid sites were identified as parallel evolution between N parkeri and R. kukunoris. We generated both model based (Zhang and Kumar's test) and empirical data based (parallel/divergence plotting) null distributions for non-parallel evolution, and both methods clearly determined that the observed number of parallel substitutions were significantly more than the null expectation. Furthermore, on the HSP90AA1 gene tree, N. parkeri and R. kukunoris formed a strongly supported Glade that was away from their respective relatives. This study provides a clear case of molecular parallel evolution, which may have significant implications in understanding the genetic mechanisms of high-elevation adaptation
Large-scale detection of vegetation dynamics and their potential drivers using MODIS images and BFAST: A case study in Quebec, Canada
No full textMonitoring vegetation dynamics at global scale is equally important in the context of terrestrial ecosystem carbon exchange and climate-biosphere, interactions. The Breaks For Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) method and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 16-day Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at a spatial resolution of 250 m were used to detect vegetation dynamics in Quebec during 2000-2011. The overall agreement between BFAST detected breaks and observed disturbances was about 64% with the highest agreement up to 80% for "Fire" disturbance. The results presented in this study indicated that 25.7% of the total study area experienced NDVI trend changes with one or more breaks during 2000-2011, most of which were detected in the Boreal Shield eco-zone along the coastline of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Abrupt vegetation changes barely varied under different eco-zones while considerably varied with different land cover types. The abrupt changes areas in 2002 and 2009 were the two greatest, with area percentages of 17.4% and 29.1% of the whole area, respectively. The area percentages of years with abrupt trend changes indicated that abrupt vegetation greening occurred in 2008 and 2009, especially in 2009, with 58.3% of the overall abrupt greening. Abrupt vegetation browning occurred in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007, especially in 2002, with 28.2% of the overall abrupt browning. Moreover, our results indicated that the detected vegetation trends varied temporally and spatially. Disturbances from existing field observations or remotely sensed images could only interpret < 40% of the vegetation changes. The impact of climate change on vegetation dynamic is particularly worth being investigated in the future work. To our knowledge, this study is one of the few attempting to explore large-scale detection of vegetation dynamics and their potential drivers in eastern Canada
Taxonomic identification in the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) using palynological characteristics
No full textThe palynomorphological characteristics of 31 species belonging to 8 genera (Paracaryum, Mattiastrum, Microparacaryum, Rindera, Cynoglossum, Solenanthus, Trachelanthus and Lindelofia) of the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) were studied in detail. Palynological observation of the tribe revealed that shape of pollen grains was frequently prolate, subprolate, prolate spheroidal and preprolate. The similarity in some features of the pollen shape and apertural type has been found in several genera such as Cynoglossum, Trachelanthus and Lindelofia. The main ornamentation type was psilate-punctate, psilate-perforate, microgranulate, punctate-microreticulate, scabrate, reticulate, microechinate, punctate-perforate. The species were classified into two pollen types: (i) Rindera tetraspis type and (ii) Cynoglossum officinale type on the basis of aperture characters and surface ornamentation. In present research both genera and species were delimited in the tribe Cynoglosseae. Main objective of the present research is to study different palynological characters for the identification and species delimitation in the tribe Cynoglosseae (Borginaceae). The present findings of the palynological characters are of great interest for the taxonomists for the accurate identification of genera and species in tribe Cynoglosseae. The micro-morphological characteristics of pollen show many novel features for the correct taxonomic identification and species delimitations and this study provide many valuable information to plant taxonomists for further studies
Steroidal alkaloid solanine A from Solanum nigrum Linn. exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide/interferon gamma-activated murine macrophages and animal models of inflammation
No full textSolanine A is a novel steroidal alkaloid isolated from Solarium nigrum Linn., a medicinal and edible plant which is widely used for treating various inflammatory diseases. In this study, we found that solanine A markedly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) in lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN gamma)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and attenuated xylene, carrageenan and agar-induced inflammation in mice. The mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and -1 beta (IL-1 beta), as well as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand-9 (CXCL9), were significantly decreased by solanine A. Furthermore, solanine A also suppressed LPS/IFN gamma-induced protein expression of iNOS and COX2. Mechanistically, solanine A inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) through the prevention of NF-kappa B p65 and inhibitory kappa B-alpha (I kappa B alpha) phosphorylation and I kappa B alpha degradation, and it also suppressed activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), signal transducers and activators of transcription-1 (STAT1) and serine/threonine protein kinase Akt in LPS/IFN gamma-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and agar-induced granuloma model in mice. Taken together, solanine A exhibits a potent antiinflammatory activity in LPS/IFN gamma- activated macrophages and animal models of inflammation through inhibition of NF-kappa B, ERK1/2, Akt and STAT1 signaling pathways, suggesting that solanine A may be a valuable leading compound in the treatment of inflammatory diseases
Biogas Production from Distilled Grain Waste by Thermophilic Dry Anaerobic Digestion: Pretreatment of Feedstock and Dynamics of Microbial Community
No full textDistilled grain waste (DGW) eluted from the Chinese liquor making process poses potential serious environmental problems. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of converting DGW to biogas by thermophilic dry anaerobic digestion. To improve biogas production, the effects of dilute H2SO4 and thermal pretreatment on DGW were evaluated by biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests. The results indicate that 90 A degrees C thermal pretreatment provided the highest methane production at 212.7 mL/g-VTSadd. The long-term thermophilic dry anaerobic digestion process was conducted in a 5-L separable flask for more than 3 years at a volatile total solid (VTS) loading rate of 1 g/kg-sludge/d, using synthetic waste, untreated and 90 A degrees C thermal pretreated DGW as the feedstock, respectively. A higher methane production, 451.6 mL/g-VTSadd, was obtained when synthetic waste was used; the methane production decreased to 139.4 mL/g-VTSadd when the untreated DGW was used. The 90 A degrees C thermal pretreated DGW increased the methane production to 190.5 mL/g-VTSadd, showing an increase of 36.7% in methane production compared with that using untreated DGW. The microbial community structure analysis indicates that the microbial community in the thermophilic dry anaerobic digestion system maintained a similar structure when untreated or pretreated DGW was used, whereas the structure differed significantly when synthetic waste was used as the feedstock
A New Species of the Asian Toad Genus Megophrys sensu lato (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province, China
No full textWe describe a new species of the genus Megophrys sensu lato from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent lineage in Megophrys (Panophrys) Glade. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: (1) small body size with SVL < 38.8 mm in male and SVL < 42.3 mm in female; (2) vomerine teeth absent; (3) tongue not notched behind; (4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid; (5) tympanum distinctly visible, rounded; (6) two metacarpal tubercles in hand; (7) relative finger lengths: II < I < V < III; (8) toes with rudimentary webbing at bases; (9) heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body: (10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level between tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward; (11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male; (12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers
Differential Responses of Age-related Leaf Photosynthetic Characteristics of Pinus armandii and Pinus tabuliformis to Gap-model Thinning
No full text[目的]通过对比研究华山松和油松不同叶龄针叶形态、光合速率、叶绿素和叶氮含量对林窗式疏伐的响应,探讨林窗大小、叶龄和树种对林窗式疏伐后叶光合特性响应的影响.[方法]2008年在30年生华山松和油松混交人工林中,设置对照、小林窗( 80 m~2 )和中林窗( 110 m~2 )处理, 2013年以对照样地内和林窗边缘华山松和油松为研究对象,测定其当年生、1年生和2年生叶比叶重( LMA) 、单位叶面积叶绿素a( Chl a) 、叶绿素b含量( Chl b) 、氮含量( N) 、最大净光合速率( Amax) 、光合氮利用效率( PNUE)等指标.[结果]小林窗和中林窗疏伐对叶光合特性影响一致,均对当年生叶影响不显著,但显著改变了1年生和2年生叶绿素含量、N和PNUE,提高了其Amax.华山松叶LMA、叶绿素含量、N、Amax均低于油松,两树种多年生叶对林窗式疏伐的响应也明显不同:林窗边缘华山松1年生和2年生叶LMA和N与对照差异不显著,但叶绿素含量低于对照,PNUE和Amax显著高于对照;林窗边缘油松1年生和2年生叶LMA和PNUE与对照差异不显著,但N和Amax显著高于对照.[结论]80 110 m~2林窗疏伐显著改变叶光合特性,提高其光合潜力;林窗疏伐影响1年生和2年生叶光合特性,对当年生叶影响不显著;华山松和油松对林窗式疏伐的响应特征存在差异
Influence of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on climate evolution in southwestern China: from the monsoon perspective
No full text青藏高原隆升作为新生代最重要的地质事件,对亚洲乃至全球气候演化产生了深刻的影响。我国西南地区因紧邻青藏高原、地形地貌复杂,该区青藏高原隆升的气候效应至今仍存在许多需要探讨的问题。本文通过整理总结青藏高原隆升与亚洲季风各子系统形成与发展的相关性,从季风的角度分析了高原隆升对西南地区气候的影响。主要结论如下:(1)对西南地区气候起控制性作用的东亚季风、南亚季风以及高原季风的形成与青藏高原的隆升密切相关。虽然东亚夏季偏南风在约22 Ma就因海陆差异形成,但冬季风却是在约7.2 Ma因青藏高原隆升才出现;南亚夏季风(西南季风)约在12 Ma因喜马拉雅山脉及临近山脉形成而出现,而其冬季风形成时间及原因与东亚冬季风相似,同样离不开青藏高原的隆升;高原季风形成的直接因素就是高原隆升,其约在36 Ma青藏高原主体隆升至约1500 m时才开始形成。(2)亚洲季风各子系统对西南地区的气候演变有重要影响。尽管东亚冬季风不能直接影响西南地区,但青藏高原隆升增强了海陆差异及其热源作用,在一定程度上扩大了东亚夏季风的影响范围,并给西南地区带来水汽;南亚冬季风使得西南地区变得相对寒冷干燥,而南亚夏季风因青藏高原的隆升得到进一步加强,其通过形成南北向的水汽通道成为西南地区温暖湿润气候的主导者;高原冬、夏季风随着青藏高原隆升使得西南地区季节性干冷与湿润气候的差异更加显著
Plant height, leaf traits, and biomass allocation of three species at heterogeneous slope aspects along a transect in an alpine meadow
No full text为了解坡向异质性生境对植物生长发育的影响机制,在位于青藏高原东缘的岷江源区的研究样地内,沿山脊划分出东南、西南和东北3个坡向,每个坡向上选择珠芽蓼(Polygonum viviparum)、盘花垂头菊(Cremanthodium discoideum Maxim.)和滨发草(Deschampsia littoralis)3种常见物种作为研究对象,对比其株高、叶片性状和生物量分配的变化,并测定不同坡向土壤环境因子.结果显示:不同坡向间土壤环境差异明显;珠芽蓼和滨发草的株高在不同坡向上无显著差异,而盘花垂头菊株高依次为西南坡>东南坡>东北坡,3种植物比叶面积(SLA)均有显著变化且变化趋势均不同,在东北坡上珠芽蓼(161.30 5.44 cm~2/g)和盘花垂头菊(151.26 3.36 cm~2/g)具有最小的SLA,而滨发草(212.97 11.39 cm~2/g)最大;珠芽蓼的地下生物量高于地上生物量,而盘花垂头菊和滨发草地下-地上生物量分配格局则相反,3种植物的地下生物量比例在温度最低的东北坡均达到最高;珠芽蓼的地上-地下生物量分配在不同坡向皆为等速生长,而其余两种植物在个别坡向上呈现异速生长,且均为地下生物量积累速率大于地上部分.因此,高山草地生态系统的不同坡向生境对植物的生长发育产生了显著影响,上述3种植物的株高及叶片性状对不同坡向的响应具有特异性,而在温度较低的坡向上3种植物均偏向把更多的生物量分配给地下部分
Application of Biological Iron Sulfide Composites in Protection of Rice Germination in Cadmium Contaminated Paddy Field
No full text水稻田中广泛存在的镉污染对全球水稻产量与人类健康造成了很大的威胁,现存除镉方法因其自身局限性而难以推广。该实验以水培试验模拟水稻生长,利用1株硫酸盐还原菌制备生物硫铁复合材料(生物硫铁)处理水培环境中Cd~(2+)污染,探究生物硫铁对Cd~(2+)的减毒作用,考察了Cd~(2+)浓度与生物硫铁添加量对水稻萌发的影响。结果表明,Cd~(2+)浓度越高,水稻发芽势、发芽率、根长、芽长、鲜重等参数总体表现越差,在Cd~(2+)浓度为20 mg/L时影响初步明显。生物硫铁添加量越高,水稻萌发状况越佳,水稻芽、根及底液中Cd~(2+)浓度越低,且摩尔比2为其最佳添加量。在Cd~(2+)浓度为40 mg/L、生物硫铁添加摩尔比为5.0时,表现出对水稻萌发的促进作用,表明生物硫铁在处理水稻田中镉污染有很好的应用前景