Evaluation of functional muscle anatomy scalability in the canine hind limb

In contrast to other mammals, the large variation in dog sizes is not accompanied by any significant genetic re-organization. In order to study the relationship between body mass, limb length and the functional anatomical muscle parameters of the canine hind limb, a large dataset comprising of muscle masses, optimal muscle fibre lengths and physiological cross-sectional area's (PCSA) were acquired for twenty-five muscles in ten dogs of sizes varying between 20 kg and 52 kg. The potential of body mass and limb length for reliably scaling individual muscle masses, optimal muscle fibre lengths and PCSA's were examined. For the majority of the muscles of the canine hind limb, neither body mass nor limb length were reliable scaling parameter for either muscle masses, PCSA's and optimal fibre length. These results indicate the need of a breed-specific approach to musculoskeletal modelling in future canine musculoskeletal research.     

How to assess the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity in ever-changing landscapes: a literature review

Landscape Ecology - Landscape connectivity plays a key role in determining the persistence of species inhabiting fragmented habitat patches. In dynamic landscapes, most studies measure connectivity...     

Using landscape graphs to delineate ecologically functional areas

Context

Landscape graphs are widely used to model connectivity and to support decision-making in conservation planning. Compartmentalization methods applied to such graphs aim to define clusters of highly interconnected patches. Recent studies show that compartmentalization based on modularity is suitable, but it applies to non-weighted graphs whereas most landscape graphs involve weighted nodes and links.

Objectives

We propose to adapt modularity computation to weighted landscape graphs and to validate the relevance of the resulting compartments using demographic or genetic data about the patches.

Methods

A weighted adjacency matrix was designed to express potential fluxes, associating patch capacities and inter-patch distances. Eight weighting scenarios were compared. The statistical evaluation of each compartmentalization was based on Wilks’ Lambda. These methods were performed on a grassland network where patches are documented by annual densities of water voles in the Jura massif (France).

Results

The scenarios in which patch capacity is assigned a small weight led to the more relevant results, giving high modularity values and low Wilks’ Lambda values. When considering a fixed number of compartments, we found a significant negative correlation between these two criteria. Comparison showed that compartments are ecologically more valid than graph components.

Conclusions

The method proposed is suitable for designing ecologically functional areas from weighted landscape graphs. Maximum modularity values can serve as a guide for setting the parameters of the adjacency matrix.

     

Correction to: Coupling landscape graph modeling and biological data: a review

Landscape Ecology - In the original publication of the article, the sixth author name has been misspelt. The correct name is given in this Correction. The original article has been corrected.     

Cu2+和Pb2+对石蚕蛾幼虫的急毒性研究

[目的]研究Cu~(2+)和Pb~(2+)对石蚕蛾幼虫的急毒性效应和安全浓度。[方法]从广西十万大山保护区采集石蚕蛾(Stenopsyche marmorata)幼虫,采用静水生物毒性试验法进行重金属离子Cu~(2+)和Pb~(2+)对其的急毒性试验。采用概率单位法分别计算Cu~(2+)和Pb~(2+)对石蚕蛾幼虫的半致死浓度和安全浓度。[结果]Cu~(2+)对石蚕蛾幼虫的24、48、72、96 h的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为123.651、112.975、84.536和70.509 mg/L,Pb~(2+)对石蚕蛾幼虫的24、48、72、96 h的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为49.138、41.878、30.735和29.245 mg/L。Cu~(2+)和Pb~(2+)对石蚕蛾幼虫的安全浓度分别为7.051和2.925 mg/L。[结论]研究结果可为将石蚕蛾幼虫用作水体重金属污染指示生物提供科学依据。     

酸化剂对杜长大商品猪生产性能的影响

为探索酸化剂对杜长大系列商品猪生产性能的影响,将40头4周龄体重相近的杜长大(或杜大长)断奶仔猪随机分为4组(即对照组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX001组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX002组、添加酸化剂BGIFEX003组),每组10头(母猪和阉公猪各半),测定4周龄至90kg体重时的生长性能,并测定达90kg屠宰体重时的胴体性能及肉质性能。结果显示,BGIFEX001和BGIFEX002组有改善日增重和料重比的趋势,4～10周龄阶段料重比分别比对照组降低9.88%和8.70%,全期料重比分别降低5.19%和4.81%;各处理组未对屠宰和胴体性能产生显著影响;肉质测定结果显示酸化剂有显著改善肉的红度(a)和拿破率的效应(P<0.05),各处理间肉质常规参数和风味前体物质(脂肪酸和氨基酸)含量无显著差异。总体数据提示酸化剂BGIFEX001和BGIFEX002可在一定程度上改善杜长大商品猪的生长性能和肉品质量。     

Local and remote physical processes driving variability of the planktonic system in the Juan Fernández Archipelago: A multidisciplinary framework providing conservation insights

1. The Juan Fernandez Ridge, a vulnerable marine ecosystem located far off the coast of central Chile and formed by several seamounts, guyots and three islands (Robinson Crusoe, Santa Clara and Alejandro Selkirk), has recently been declared a Coastal Marine Protected Area of Multiple Uses with several National Parks embedded in it.
2. Recent studies have highlighted the influence of remote and local oceanographic structures on the hydrographic dynamics of this ridge. However, there is still a gap in understanding how they affect the structure and dynamics of the surrounding insular planktonic communities.
3. A hydroacoustic and oceanographic survey was conducted during the austral spring (October 2016), including hydrographic and zooplankton sampling around Robinson Crusoe Island. Oceanographic features were identified and tracked using satellite data (chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature) and modelling results.
4. Two events of Chl-a increase relative to a threshold (>0.45 mg m⁻³) were forced by different physical processes, both affecting the western side of Robinson Crusoe Island. In event A during the cruise period, Chl-a subsurface maxima were associated with the arrival of a coastal meander originating on the continental shelf off Chile (remote process); the zooplankton was dominated by copepods and salps, with an evident coastal–oceanic gradient. In event B, Chl-a maxima were linked to a local upwelling forced by the intensification of a localized SSW wind. No influence of remote eddies or local Von Kármán vortices on Chl-a distribution was observed.
5. These findings highlight the influence of remote and local physical processes on the structure of planktonic communities around Robinson Crusoe Island. Understanding the variability of these mechanisms and their effects at the base of the pelagic food web is critical in adopting an ecosystem-level approach.

     

Nitrogen isotopic composition of leached nitrate and soil organic matter as an indicator of denitrification in a sloping drained agricultural plot and adjacent uncultivated riparian buffer strips

In the small, agricultural, artificially drained Orgeval watershed δ¹⁵N values of leached nitrates and soil organic nitrogen were found to be significantly higher than the primary nitrogen (N) sources from which they are derived, namely, synthetic fertilizers, atmospheric deposition, and symbiotic or nonsymbiotic N₂ fixation (all with δ¹⁵N close to zero). In vertical soil profiles, the δ¹⁵N of organic N increased with depth, reaching higher values (up to 8‰) particularly at stations that were frequently waterlogged as judged from ochre iron traces, such as downhill field sites or in riparian buffer strips. Nitrification, volatilization, and denitrification are the main fractionating processes able to modify the isotopic composition of soil N. Using a newly designed algorithm for calculating the equilibrium isotopic composition of all soil N species, resulting from the average annual balance of their transformations, we show that the observed trends can be explained by the action of denitrification. We suggest that the isotopic composition of soil organic N can be used as a semiquantitative indicator of the intensity of denitrification integrated over century-long periods.     

Ammonium oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron under anaerobic conditions in wetland soils

In exploring the dynamics of iron and nitrogen cycling in sediments from riparian forests we have observed a redox reaction that has not been previously described. During incubations of soil slurries under strictly anaerobic conditions, we repeatedly measured an unexpected production of both nitrite () and ferrous iron [Fe(II)]. Using this indirect evidence we hypothesize that, under anaerobic conditions, there is a biological process that uses ferric iron [Fe(III)] as an electron acceptor while oxidizing ammonium () to for energy production. This oxidation under iron reducing anaerobic conditions is thermodynamically feasible and is potentially a critical component of the N cycle in saturated sediments.     

Sirtuin 2 inhibitors rescue alpha-synuclein-mediated toxicity in models of Parkinson's disease

The sirtuins are members of the histone deacetylase family of proteins that participate in a variety of cellular functions and play a role in aging. We identified a potent inhibitor of sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) and found that inhibition of SIRT2 rescued alpha-synuclein toxicity and modified inclusion morphology in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease. Genetic inhibition of SIRT2 via small interfering RNA similarly rescued alpha-synuclein toxicity. Furthermore, the inhibitors protected against dopaminergic cell death both in vitro and in a Drosophila model of Parkinson's disease. The results suggest a link between neurodegeneration and aging.