Characterization of the monoclonal antibody specific to the ORF72 protein of koi herpesvirus and cellular distribution analysis of the viral protein

Koi herpesvirus (KHV) is an emerging pathogen of koi and common carp that causes a severe disease and mass mortality of infected fish. The KHV ORF72 protein is an important capsid protein that has been suggested to be a candidate for the development of diagnostic reagents and KHV vaccines. The purpose of this study was to clone and express the KHV ORF72 gene for further preparation of a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and to analyse cellular distribution of the viral protein. The mAb 3E1 could specifically recognize the expressed ORF72 protein of transfected cells by indirect immunofluorescence, and the antigenic site recognized by the mAb 3E1 was mapped to the region of N-terminal 124 residues of KHV ORF72. This mAb was further demonstrated to specifically detect the KHV-infected fish tissue by immunohistochemistry, thereby suggesting its high diagnostic potential. In addition, the cellular distribution analysis of the KHV ORF72 protein revealed that the region of amino acid residues 125–247 was related to mitochondrial localization and proliferation. Furthermore, a putative nuclear export signal (NES) of ORF72 at the residues 201–212 was confirmed on the basis of its function associated with NES activity.     

The impacts of fiscal decentralization on environmental innovation in China

Environmental innovation is the fundamental support for sustainable development. Exploiting Chinese provincial panel data from 2007 to 2017, this study investigates the impacts of fiscal decentralization on environmental innovation. In particular, we discuss the regulating role of government’s environmental protection expenditures relying on the mediator effect model. The empirical analyses show that fiscal decentralization cannot only directly promote environmental innovation, but also indirectly weaken environmental innovation through the environmental protection expenditure of the local government. The overall performance is that fiscal decentralization promotes environmental innovation. It is noteworthy that there is regional heterogeneity in the impact of fiscal decentralization on environmental innovation. The impact in the east is significantly higher than in the central and western regions in China.     

Assessment of pentachlorophenol toxicity in newborn calves: clinicopathology and tissue residues

Newborn Holstein bull calves were fed either analytical pentachlorophenol (aPCP) or technical pentachlorophenol (tPCP) for 6 wk to establish and compare the clinical and pathologic manifestations of toxicity. Four groups of three calves/group were each fed either 1 or 10 mg X (kg body weight)-1 X d-1 of either aPCP or tPCP. A fifth group served as control. Dosages of both PCP preparations were normalized to contain equal concentrations of PCP. Toxic effects were observed only at the 10 mg/kg dose in the tPCP-treated calves. These effects included decreased body weight gain, anorexia, decreased serum protein concentration, elevated serum gamma glutamyl transferase, and decreased triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations. Histologic lesions included cortical atrophy in the thymus and squamous metaplasia and hyperkeratous changes in the Meibomian gland of the eyelid. Thyroid function, which was assessed in vivo by measuring the rate of T3 and T4 production over 4 h after thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-challenge, was not impaired suggesting an extrathyroidal site of toxic action. Although serum chemistry indicators were suggestive of hepatic injury there were no discernable lesions. Organ weight analyses were inconclusive but there was a tendency toward enlargement of liver, kidneys and thyroid and decreased weight of lungs, spleen and thymus. A toxic effect clearly related to PCP and not its contaminants was depressed active transport of p-aminohippurate measured in kidney slices in vitro. Steady state concentrations of PCP in serum were about 40 and 90 ppm for the 1 and 10 mg/kg groups, respectively. Concentrations of PCP among the major organs were comparable.     

色氨酸水平对12～17周龄金定蛋鸭抗氧化性能影响的研究

试验旨在通过研究不同水平色氨酸对12~17周龄金定蛋鸭抗氧化指标的影响,最终确定最佳的色氨酸水平。试验采用单因素完全随机分组法,将12周龄健康的金定蛋鸭300只随机分成5组,每组设6个重复,每个重复10只。Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组饲喂的色氨酸水平依次为0.199%、0.220%、0.240%、0.260%、0.300%。采用二次曲线方程确定12~17周龄金定蛋鸭色氨酸的最佳水平。结果表明:0.250%~0.267%水平的色氨酸能显著提高试鸭血清和肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.05),显著提高试鸭肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性(P<0.05),但是对试鸭血清SOD活性影响不显著(P>0.05),显著降低试鸭血清和肝脏丙二醛(MDA)浓度(P<0.05)。综上,0.250%~0.267%水平的色氨酸对12~17周龄金定蛋鸭抗氧化功能具有最好的调节作用。     

Foraging dispersion of Ryukyu flying-foxes and relationships with fig abundance in East-Asian subtropical island forests

Background

Figs are widely distributed key resources to many tropical-subtropical animals, and flying-foxes are major consumers and seed dispersers of figs. Bat-fig interrelationships, however, may vary among species differing in fruiting traits, i.e., bat- versus bird-dispersed figs. We examined Ryukyu flying-fox foraging dispersion and the relationships with tree species composition and fig abundance in forests of Iriomote Island.

Results

Bat foraging dispersion showed no spatial patterns with respect to different areas of the island, and was not explained by heterogeneity, density, or basal area (BA) of total trees, nor by relative density or BA of fruiting trees or total fruiting figs among sites. Instead, bat densities were positively dependent on the relative density of total figs, and particularly the relative BA of bat-dispersed figs Ficus septica and F. variegata. Both species were dominant figs in forests, fruiting asynchronously with long crop seasons, and were used as predominant foods. Bats foraged mostly solitarily and the mean density was in a hump-shaped relationship with crop sizes of the dominant bat-figs. These two species and Ficus benguetensis are larger-sized bat-figs, all contained more seeds, higher dry-pulp mass and water mass, but not necessarily water content. By approximate estimation, higher proportions of seeds of these bat-figs would have been removed from fruits through the bat consumption, than that of small-sized bird-figs like F. virgata, F. superba, and F. microcarpa.

Conclusions

The foraging dispersion of Ryukyu flying-foxes in forests depends on the availability of the most abundant bat-figs that serve as predominant foods. Intermediate levels of crop sizes of theses figs appear most fit with their solitary foraging. Our results suggest that as density and BA coverage of these dominant bat-figs are below a certain level, their effectiveness to attract bats may dwindle and so would their chance of dispersal by bats.

     

Ginger and its bioactive component inhibit enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea in mice

Ginger is one of the most commonly used fresh herbs and spices. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT)-induced diarrhea is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries. In this study, we demonstrated that ginger significantly blocked the binding of LT to cell-surface receptor G M1, resulting in the inhibition of fluid accumulation in the closed ileal loops of mice. Biological-activity-guided searching for active components showed that zingerone (vanillylacetone) was the likely active constituent responsible for the antidiarrheal efficacy of ginger. Further analysis of chemically synthesized zingerone derivatives revealed that compound 31 (2-[(4-methoxybenzyl)oxy]benzoic acid) significantly suppressed LT-induced diarrhea in mice via an excellent surface complementarity with the B subunits of LT. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that ginger and its derivatives may be effective herbal supplements for the clinical treatment of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea.     

Structure of human urokinase plasminogen activator in complex with its receptor

The urokinase plasminogen activator binds to its cellular receptor with high affinity and initiates signaling cascades that are implicated in pathological processes including tumor growth, metastasis, and inflammation. We report the crystal structure at 1.9 angstroms of the urokinase receptor complexed with the urokinase amino-terminal fragment and an antibody against the receptor. The three domains of urokinase receptor form a concave shape with a central cone-shaped cavity where the urokinase fragment inserts. The structure provides insight into the flexibility of the urokinase receptor that enables its interaction with a wide variety of ligands and a basis for the design of urokinase-urokinase receptor antagonists.     

Divergent nematic susceptibility in an iron arsenide superconductor

Within the Landau paradigm of continuous phase transitions, ordered states of matter are characterized by a broken symmetry. Although the broken symmetry is usually evident, determining the driving force behind the phase transition can be complicated by coupling between distinct order parameters. We show how measurement of the divergent nematic susceptibility of the iron pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))(2)As(2) distinguishes an electronic nematic phase transition from a simple ferroelastic distortion. These measurements also indicate an electronic nematic quantum phase transition near the composition with optimal superconducting transition temperature.     

日本海神蛤人工繁殖及早期生长发育

为探究日本海神蛤规模化人工苗种繁育的可行性,在国内首次开展了日本海神蛤人工繁殖及早期生长发育研究,结果显示,日本海神蛤繁殖盛期为5月和10月,单次产卵量为300~500万粒/枚,卵径为75~85μm。春季人工将水温升至18.6~19℃, 15~18日龄幼虫生长缓慢,壳长生长率仅为1~3μm/d。其他各日龄幼虫壳长生长率为9~15μm/d。日本海神蛤变态后,再经过30~40 d培育,平均壳长可达（4.94±0.93）mm,稚贝壳长生长率为50~167 μm/d,平均苗种产量为2 695粒/m3。秋季水温17.4~13.2℃条件下,日本海神蛤幼虫相对春季生长发育较慢,经过148 d的培育,稚贝平均壳长可达（2.88±0.47）mm,平均苗种产量为6 666粒/m3,再经室外池塘中间育成后,可培育平均壳长（13.22±2.39）mm幼贝。比较发现在我国北方秋季可培育出适于底播养殖的大规格苗种,且培育成本较低。本研究为我国日本海神蛤苗种繁育、高效养殖及资源修复提供了科学依据。     

Effect of Biosolids and Cd/Pb Interaction on the Growth and Cd Accumulation of Brassica rapa Grown in Cd-Contaminated Soils

Mixed metals in the cropped lands in central Taiwan contaminated about 230 ha. According to the Soil and Groundwater Protection Remediation Act (SGWR Act) of Taiwan, these lands were restored. However, some grains of paddy rice grown in these remediated soils still contained more than 0.5 mg Cd kg^?1, which the Department of Health of Taiwan notified as the maximum allowable Cd content in rice. The suitability of planting edible crops in these soils is now in doubt. Brassica rapa is the crop most often sold in Taiwan's market and is planted in the interval between the first and second stages of planting of paddy rice, especially in central Taiwan where this experiment was conducted. A pot experiment was conducted using soils contaminated artificially with Cd or both Cd and Pb. The soil was then amended with 5% of biosolid and followed by planting of B. rapa. The objectives were to study the effect of biosolid amendment on the soil and the interaction between Cd and Pb on the growth of and Cd accumulation in B. rapa. Experimental result showed that the biomass and the accumulation of Cd by B. rapa were significantly increased in the biosolid-amended soils compared with the control. Lead has a synergistic effect on enhancing the accumulation of Cd by B. rapa grown in artificially Cd-contaminated soils.