A synthetic lectin analog for biomimetic disaccharide recognition

Carbohydrate recognition is biologically important but intrinsically challenging, for both nature and host-guest chemists. Saccharides are complex, subtly variable, and camouflaged by hydroxyl groups that hinder discrimination between substrate and water. We have developed a rational strategy for the biomimetic recognition of carbohydrates with all-equatorial stereochemistry (beta-glucose, analogs, and homologs) and have now applied it to disaccharides such as cellobiose. Our synthetic receptor showed good affinities, not unlike those of some lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins). Binding was demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance, induced circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and calorimetry, all methods giving self-consistent results. Selectivity for the target substrates was exceptional; minor changes to disaccharide structure (for instance, cellobiose to lactose) caused almost complete suppression of complex formation.     

Weathering of sulphide minerals and trace element speciation in tailings of various ages in the Guanajuato mining district, Mexico

We studied the behavior of the trace elements (TE) As, Cu, Pb and Zn associated with sulphide minerals in tailings of different age at the Guanajuato mining district, Mexico. The objective was to determine the dominant fractions into which the TE move as tailings age and to identify how much time is needed until the dominant metal fractions approach equilibrium. We collected 21 samples from the surface of mine waste deposits of different ages (0, 2 , 4, 16, 70, 75, and 100 years), and measured their aqua regia extractable contents of As, Cu, Pb and Zn. We also applied a sequential extraction procedure to quantify water soluble TE as well as TE associated with carbonates, iron oxides, sulphides and the residual fraction. The mineralogy was analysed by X-ray diffraction, and selected samples were studied on polished specimens through a stereoscopic microscope. The TE in samples extracted with aqua regia ranged between 10 and 168 mg kg^− 1 for As, 12 to 194 mg kg^− 1 for Cu, 31 to 308 mg kg^− 1 for Pb, and 122 to 1129 mg kg^− 1 for Zn, and varied in a wide range within each age group of tailings. Water soluble Cu, Pb and Zn contents were below detection limits in almost all samples, which was attributed to the alkaline pH (7.17 to 8.61) in the tailings. Water extractable As was detected only in tailings older than 16 years, and concentrations ranged between 0.06 and 7.58 mg kg^− 1. The proportion of TE associated with sulphides decreased in the tailings as they age, while the proportion of TE associated with iron oxides increased with time of exposure to the atmosphere, approximating equilibrium after 60 years for As, Cu and Zn, and after 40 years for Pb. Observations of polished specimens suggests that oxidation proceeds until coatings of secondary minerals cover and protect sulphide mineral grains from further weathering. First order rate equations were adjusted to the proportions of TE associated with either sulphides or iron oxides. Assuming that the TE in sulphide fractions correspond to arsenopyrite (FeAsS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS), the relative oxidation rate of sulphides followed the order: PbS > ZnS > FeAsS ≈ CuFeS₂, while the relative affinity of the elements with iron oxides followed the sequence Cu ≈ Zn > As > Pb.     

Effects of nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions on leaf volatile compounds from citrus somatic diploid hybrids

Three diploid citrus somatic hybrids (cybrids) were produced by fusions combining nucellar callus-derived protoplasts of Willow Leaf mandarin (Citrus deliciosa Ten.) and Commune clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.) with, respectively, leaf protoplasts of Eureka lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm.] and Marumi kumquat [Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) Swing.] and leaf protoplasts of Marumi kumquat. Ploidy and origins of the nuclear, chloroplastic, and mitochondrial genomes were investigated by flow cytometry and nuclear and cytoplasmic simple sequence repeat analyses. Volatile compounds were extracted from the leaves of the three cybrids by a pentane/ether (1:1) mixture, analyzed by GC-MS, and compared to those of their parents. The cybrids were found to be very close to their nucleus-giving parent, suggesting that the main information for volatile compounds biosynthesis is contained in the nucleus. However, nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions occurred: the (mandarin + lemon) cybrid, possessing nucleus and chloroplasts of lemon and mitochondria from mandarin, synthesizes more monoterpene alcohols and esters than its nucleus-giving parent; the (clementine + kumquat) cybrid, possessing nucleus from kumquat and organelles from mandarin, synthesizes more monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and sesquiterpene alcohols than its nucleus-giving parent.     

Deep infiltration through a sandy alluvial fan in semiarid Niger inferred from electrical conductivity survey,vadose zone chemistry and hydrological modelling

In semiarid southwestern Niger, most of the groundwater recharge is indirect and occurs through endoreic ponds. Elsewhere in the landscape, there is no evidence of deep infiltration, with a possible exception for gullies and alluvial fans on sandy slopes. In order to verify this hypothesis, a detailed geophysical and geochemical survey was conducted on a large, representative mid-slope fan (6 ha). At this site, distributed hydrological modelling conducted over the encompassing endoreic catchment (190 ha) showed high losses of runoff water by infiltration. Electromagnetic mapping and 2-D electrical imaging survey were used to investigate the 35 m deep vadose zone; in addition, 8 boreholes were drilled following the geophysical survey to constrain the interpretation. Variations in apparent electrical conductivity measured in boreholes appear to be mainly linked with changes in the soil solution mineralization. An extrapolation throughout the area shows that apparent electrical conductivity of the ground is systematically lower below channels; this suggests localised leaching through the unsaturated zone. A physically-based, 2-D distributed hydrologic model was used to estimate the amount of surface water loss by infiltration for the 1992–2002 period. Depending on year, infiltrated volumes range from 1000 to 24 000 m³. This represents between 5% and 16% of the runoff that reaches the final outlet of the basin, an endoreic valley bottom pond where recharge to the aquifer has been shown to occur. Because leaching of the vadose zone is observed down to a depth of 10 m below channels, episodic groundwater recharge through sandy mid-slope fans is highly probable during rainy years.     

森林土壤肥力概述

森林土壤肥力以维持和恢复自然肥力为主,人工施肥为输。概述了森林与土壤的关系,维持和提高森林土壤肥力的途径,对提高森林土壤肥力及其生态、经济效益具有重要的指导意义。     

Predicting the vertical location of branches along Atlas cedar stem (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) in relation to annual shoot length

A model for the vertical location of whorl and interwhorl branches was constructed for Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica Manetti). The vertical location of branches in the crown partly governs their further growth and mortality from which depend (i) the stem growth and form and (ii) the quality of lumber and veneer, including wood knots. The modeling method, based on an architectural approach, reveals branching patterns. Each annual shoot was considered as a sequence of successive positions, unbranched or branched with two types of branch: short or long shoot. Branching sequences were analyzed using hidden semi-Markov chains. A wide range of annual shoot lengths was sampled in order to determine the relationships between sequence length and the characteristics of every zone identified (frequency of every type of axillary production, probability of zone occurrence and probability of transition to the following zone). The model predicts branch vertical position which can be used as inputs for branch diameter and mortality models.     

基于杂交小波变换的农产品图像去噪算法

针对现有图像去噪方法去噪效果不明显、易丢失细节特征等缺陷,提出了一种基于杂交小波变换的农产品图像去噪算法。该方法综合了小波去噪能较好保留图像细节特征和Wiener滤波器可得到最优解的优势,分别以经小波变换、Wiener滤波处理后的图像作为杂交小波变换初始种群的父本和母本,并以最大类间方差作为适应度函数来评价个体的优劣,通过杂交和变异操作实现基因重组,提取出小波变换与Wiener滤波在图像去噪中的优势基因;经过有限次的杂交代数最终得到兼有父本和母本优势的子代图像。试验中用红枣和小麦图像对算法进行测试,去噪后红枣和小麦的图像峰值信噪比（PSNR）分别为178.44和183.24,好于邻域平均法（176.76和175.16）、中值滤波法（174.79和173.13）、维纳滤波（172.75和173.48）和高斯滤波（167.50和165.60）等常规去噪方法,并且在视觉效果上同时兼有噪声低和边缘清晰等优点,表明该方法用于农产品图像去噪是有效的、可行的。     

Evidence for an extracellular acid proteolytic activity secreted by living cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PlR1: impact on grape proteins

In this work, Saccharomyces cerevisiae PlR1, a strain isolated from Pinot noir grapes in the Champagne area, was shown to secrete an acid proteolytic activity against bovine serum albumin. This proteolytic activity was detectable in cell-free culture supernatants at the beginning of the exponential growth phase and increased with yeast growth. Using a zymography method, only one protease band with a molecular mass of 72 kDa was observed. This extracellular proteolytic activity was detected in the pH range from 2 to 4 with a maximal value at pH 2.5 and 38 °C and was completely inhibited by pepstatin A. The secretion of this protease did not need any protein inducer and seemed to be insensitive to nitrogen catabolic repression. S. cerevisiae PlR1 was also able to secrete this proteolytic activity during alcoholic fermentation, and it was found to be active against grape proteins, with a molecular mass around 25 kDa, at optimal conditions of 38 °C, pH 3.5.     

Growth and morphology of three forest understorey species (Calluna vulgaris, Molinia caerulea and Pteridium aquilinum) according to light availability

Calluna vulgaris, Molinia caerulea and Pteridium aquilinum are three forest understorey species that compete with tree seedlings for environmental resources. Forest managers therefore seek to control their growth, which is driven in part by the light available in the forest understorey.An experiment was set up in a nursery in which the three understorey species C. vulgaris, M. caerulea and P. aquilinum were planted at six light levels (6, 11, 22, 36, 48 and 100% of full sunlight) replicated in three blocks. The different light levels other than 100% were obtained using neutral shading nets. The response of the three species to light availability was estimated after two growing seasons by their cover and height, their morphology, assessed by the foliar tuft height-to-width ratio for C. vulgaris and M. caerulea and by the frond height-to-length ratio for P. aquilinum, and their functional acclimation, assessed by a leaf trait (leaf mass on an area basis, LMA).Vegetation cover changed with light availability following a bell-shaped curve. By contrast, vegetation height remained approximately the same, irrespective of the light treatment, except for P. aquilinum, which grew higher than the other two species at medium and high light levels. As a consequence, vegetation individuals were more spindly in a dark environment. From the lowest light treatment, P. aquilinum cover was high (75%) and intercepted a larger proportion of the light than the other two species. This species thus proved the most competitive for light.All three species showed a notable acclimation to light availability by their LMA, though in different ways. The LMA of C. vulgaris decreased in shaded conditions by an increase in leaf area, whereas decrease in LMA for P. aquilinum was due to a decrease in leaf mass. For M. caerulea, the LMA remained stable whatever the light conditions by a simultaneous increase in both leaf mass and leaf area in shaded conditions.Consequently, the in-forest development of C. vulgaris and M. caerulea could be managed through small adult canopy thinnings, as both species grew well from light levels above 20%. Conversely, it seems unrealistic to manage P. aquilinum in this way as its development was almost maximal even at very low light levels.