Pocono mesic till barrens in retreat: topography,fire and forest contagion effects

The Pocono mesic till barrens (PMTB) are a unique assemblage of fire-maintained shrub communities that support numerous rare species. Historically these barrens covered a large area in the vicinity of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, USA. However, due largely to regional fire suppression instituted in the early 1960s, over 70% of the area covered by barrens succeeded to fire-intolerant forest that does not support the rare species. We investigated the influence of forest proximity on barrens succession across three geomorphic types during periods of high fire frequency and fire suppression, testing the hypothesis that forest processes such as seed rain, shading, and detrital enrichment of soils enhances barrens succession through a contagion effect. Evidence of a forest contagion effect should be shown by increased rates of barrens succession with increasing proximity to the nearest forest edge. In order to detect a forest contagion effect, barrens persistence and barrens succession were modeled in proximity zones of 0-50 m, 50-100 m, 100-200 m, and greater than 200 m from the nearest forest edge. We used existing GIS data layers for fire, geomorphology, and vegetation distribution in 1938, 1963, and 1992. The layers were modified and overlain using ArcView software to determine persistence and succession rates for each unique combination of layers in each proximity zone from 1938 to 1963 (pre-fire suppression) and 1963 to 1992 (post-fire suppression). ANCOVA results indicate that proximity to the nearest forest edge significantly affected barrens persistence rates in both time periods, but succession rates were significantly affected in 1938 to 1963 only. Twenty-eight percent of the 1938 barrens succeeded to forest by 1963; 56% of the 1963 barrens became forest by 1992. Results support previous findings that barrens persistence is enhanced by increased fire frequency, and that barrens persist longer where they overlie flat glacial till than on other geomorphology types.     

Upregulation of neurokinin A levels by nerve growth factor in the experimental asthmatic guinea pig

AIM: To explore the regulatory mechanism of nerve growth factor (NGF) on neurokinin A in the experimental asthmatic guinea pig. METHODS: Radioimmunoassay was used to determine the alteration of neurokinin A levels in the lower respiratory tract and visceral sensory afferent sites while NGF was absent (inhalation of NGF antibody through nasal cavity) in the asthmatic guinea pig. RESULTS: The contents of neurokinin A in the trachea, bronchus, lung, C₇-T₅ spinal ganglia and the correspondent spinal dorsal horn, nodose ganglia and solitary nucleus area in the experimental asthmatic guinea pig with the absent of NGF in the respiratory tract were much lower than those in the asthmatic and control groups (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: NGF upregulated the contents of neurokinin A in the lower respiratory tract and visceral sensory sites of the experimental asthmatic guinea pig, and both might be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.     

Human interleukin-1β induces A375-S2 human melanoma apoptosis through caspase pathway

AIM: To study the molecular biological mechanism and signal transduction pathway of interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced apoptosis in A375-S2 melanoma cells. METHODS: Photomicrocropy showed typical apoptotic changes. The cytotoxic effect of IL-1β in vitro and influences of caspases in this effect were measured by MTT assay. The cytotoxicity of cells was assessed by LDH-based assay. Degradation of DNA was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of IL-1β on A375-S2 cell growth was in a dose and time-dependent manner, and cell death rate reached more than 90% at 72 h after treatment with 10^-9mol/L IL-1β. The inhibitors of caspase-family, -1, -3, -8, -9, and -10, partially blocked cell death at early stage. LDH assay showed that major IL-1β-induced cell death was apoptosis, and in a dose and time-dependent manner. Typical apoptotic DNA ladder was observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: IL-1β induced apoptosis in melanoma A375-S2 cells by activating caspase pathway.     

体外培养条件对延边黄牛受精卵体外发育的影响

从延边黄牛卵巢中采集未成熟的卵母细胞进行体外成熟培养、体外受精及受精卵体外培养。结果表明 :1将卵子用 2种不同的培养液进行体外成熟培养和受精卵体外培养 ,TCM199组的卵裂率 (5 6 .3% )极显著高于 D- PBS组(33.6 % ) (P<0 .0 1) ;TCM199组的囊胚发育率和孵化率 (15 .1%、13.7% )虽高于 D- PBS组 (10 .5 %、8.7% ) ,但 2个组之间无显著差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。2以 TCM199作为基础培养液 ,分别用含激素培养液和不含激素培养液进行成熟培养和受精卵体外培养 ,添加激素组的卵裂率、囊胚发育率及囊胚孵化率 (81.2 %、17.5 %、15 .3% )高于没有添加激素的对照组 (75 .8%、12 .1%、10 .5 % ) ,但 2个组之间无显著差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。 3体外受精卵与单层颗粒细胞共培养组的卵裂率、囊胚发育率及囊胚孵化率 (78.0 %、11.5 %、9.9% )显著高于非共培养组 (6 8.1%、5 .4 %、3.6 % ) (P<0 .0 5 )。     

昆虫抗菌肽生物学活性及其应用前景

昆虫抗菌肽是昆虫免疫后存在于血淋巴中的一类活性肽 ,具有广谱的抗菌、抗病毒、抑制肿瘤的生物活性 ,具有很高的应用潜力。本文主要介绍昆虫抗菌肽的类型、生理活性、基因的克隆与表达及在动物科学中的应用前景     

天然食品防腐剂作用机理研究进展

食品防腐一直是食品和畜产品加工业所面临的难题 ,在化学防腐剂和传统的物理除菌方法受到种种限制的同时 ,天然食品防腐剂的研究和应用进入了一个新领域 ,也逐渐显示其优势。本文从天然食品防腐剂的作用模式及其微生物对这些防腐剂的抗性机制出发 ,讨论既能满足消费者需求又能有效防腐的新的食品保护剂领域的趋向以及需要解决的问题     

围产期奶牛能量代谢障碍性疾病的防治进展

奶牛代谢性疾病给奶牛饲养业造成重大经济损失。因此 ,如何搞好奶牛的饲养管理 ,减少代谢病的发生 ,充分发挥其生产潜力 ,是当前奶牛代谢病防治工作中亟待解决的问题。本文主要阐述了围产期奶牛能量代谢障碍病的危害、病因及防治措施     

Molecular Identification of a New Member of the Clover Proliferation Phytoplasma Group (16SrVI) Associated with Centaurea Solstitialis Virescence in Italy

In the United States, yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an annual invasive weed with Mediterranean origins. Malformed plants displaying witches' broom, fasciations, abortion of buds and flower virescence symptoms were observed in central Italy. Attempts to transmit the causal agent from the natural yellow starthistle host to periwinkle by grafting, resulted in typical symptoms of a phytoplasma, i.e. yellowing and shortening of internodes. The detection of phytoplasmas was obtained from both symptomatic yellow starthistle and periwinkle by the specific amplification of their 16S-23S rRNA genes. PCR amplification of extracted DNA from symptomatic plant samples gave a product of expected size. Asymptomatic plants did not give positive results. An amplicon obtained by direct PCR with universal primers P1/P7 was cloned and sequenced. The homology search using CLUSTALW program showed more than 99% similarity with Illinois elm yellows (ILEY) phytoplasma from Illinois (United States) and 97% with Brinjal little leaf (BLL) phytoplasma from India. Digestion of the nested-PCR products with restriction enzymes led to restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns referable to those described for phytoplasmas belonging to the clover proliferation (16S-VI) group. Since this is a previously undescribed disease, the name Centaurea solstitialis virescence has been tentatively assigned to it. This is a new phytoplasma with closest relationships to ILEY and BLL, but distinguishable from them on the basis of 16S rDNA homology, the different associated plant hosts and their geographical origin.     

Wind-mediated spread of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) in irrigated rice crops

A study was carried out to demonstrate that Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), a virus known to be transmitted by beetles, can spread between rice plants by direct leaf contact caused by wind. Almost all healthy plants surrounding an infected plant became infected when exposed to a fan blowing for 15 min at a distance of 50 cm. Spread of RYMV by plant contact, mediated by wind, was also demonstrated in field experiments, the extent of spread depending on plant density. Infection was almost 10 times higher in plots with a density of 33 plants m⁻² than in plots with 16 plants m⁻². Less spread was observed in plots protected by 1·5 m high windscreens. It is suggested that wind-mediated spread of RYMV may result from abrasive contact between leaves of plants.