越南南定省交水县交善乡对海平面上升的家庭和社区应对经验和对策

【目的】通过收集社会经济学数据,评估居民和社区对海平面上升的适应能力,评估海平面上升的负面影响及其对策,确定应对海平面上升备用对策。【方法】在越南南定省交水县交善乡选择99户居民,分成3组,采用半问卷调查、面谈、家庭群组讨论、重要人物访谈以及当地居民非正式会谈等方法进行调查。【结果】海平面上升已对当地社区造成了极大的负面影响,如作物产量降低、土地流失、盐碱地面积增加、基础设施损坏等。当地社区和居民已经意识到海平面上升的负面影响,并采取了各种应对方法。改变经济结构、选择适宜的作物品种、把水产养殖地转给家庭、鼓励渔民成立渔业合作社并建立早期预警系统是应对海平面上升的主要对策。【结论】应根据潮汐节律和台风、暴风雨发生等所确定的水面上升规律,采取不同的应对策略和方法,以减少海平面上升造成的破坏和损失。     

Status and distribution of soil sulphur fractions,total nitrogen and organic carbon in camp and non-camp soils of grazed pastures supplied with long-term superphosphate

Summary Topsoils (0–75 mm) from four different soil types were collected from stock camp and non-camp (main grazing area) areas of grazed pastures in New Zealand, which had been fertilised annually with superphosphate for more than 15 years, in order to assess the effects of grazing animals on the status and distribution of soil S fractions and organic matter. These soils were analysed for organic C, total N, total S, C-bonded S, hydriodic acid-reducible S, 0.01 M CaCl₂, and 0.04 M Ca(H₂PO₄)₂-extractable S fractions, and soil pH. Soil inorganic and organic S fractions extracted by NaHCO₃ and NaOH extractants were also determined. The results obtained showed that camp soils contain higher soil pH, organic C, total N, total S, organic (C-bonded S and hydriodic acid-reducible S) and inorganic S fractions, NaHCO₃-and NaOH-extractable soil S fractions but a lower anion retention capacity than non-camp soils, attributed to a higher return of plant litter and animal excreta to camp soils. In both soils, total S, organic S, C-bonded S, and hydriodic acid-reducible S were significantly correlated with organic C (r0.90***, ***P0.001) and total N (r0.95***), suggesting that C, N, and S are integral components of soil organic matter. However, C: N : S ratios tended to be lower in camp (60: 5.6: 1–103: 7.2: 1) than in non-camp soils (60:6.1:1–117:8.3:1). Most (>95%) of the total soil S in camp and non-camp soils is present as organic S, while the remainder is readily soluble and adsorbed S (i.e. Ca(H₂PO₄)₂-extractable S). C-bonded S and hydriodic acid-reducible S constituted 55%–74% and 26%–45% of total S, respectively, reflecting a regular return of plant litter and animal excreta to the grazed pastures. NaHCO₃, and especially NaOH, extracted significantly higher amounts of total soil S (13%–22% and 49%–75%, respectively) than Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ or CaCl₂ (<5%). In addition, NaHCO₃ and NaOH-extractable soil S fractions were significantly rorrelated with soil organic S (r0.94***), C-bonded S (r0.90***) and hydriodic acid-reducible soil S (r0.93***). Differences between soils in either camp or non-camp areas were related to their sulphate retention capacities, as soils with high sulphate retention capacities (>45%) contain higher levels of C-bonded and hydriodic acid-reducible S fractions than those of low sulphate retention soils (<10%). Long-term annual superphosphate applications significantly increased the accumulation of soil organic and inorganic S fractions, and organic C and total N in the topsoil, although this accumulation did not occur when the superphosphate application rates were increased from 188 to 376 kg ha^-1 year^-1.     

Purification and Characterization of a Novel Alginate Lyase from a Marine Streptomyces Species Isolated from Seaweed

Alginate, a natural polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, is finding multiple applications in biomedicine via its transformation through chemical, physical, and, increasingly, enzymatic processes. In this study a novel alginate lyase, AlyDS44, was purified and characterized from a marine actinobacterium, Streptomyces luridiscabiei, which was isolated from decomposing seaweed. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 108.6 U/mg, with a molecular weight of 28.6 kDa, and was composed of 260 amino acid residues. AlyDS44 is a bifunctional alginate lyase, active on both polyguluronate and polymannuronate, though it preferentially degrades polyguluronate. The optimal pH of this enzyme is 8.5 and the optimal temperature is 45 °C. It is a salt-tolerant alginate lyase with an optimal activity at 0.6 M NaCl. Metal ions Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Fe²⁺ increased the alginate degrading activity, but it was inhibited in the presence of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺. The highly conserved regions of its amino acid sequences indicated that AlyDS44 belongs to the polysaccharide lyase family 7. The main breakdown products of the enzyme on alginate were disaccharides, trisaccharides, and tetrasaccharides, which demonstrated that this enzyme acted as an endo-type alginate lyase. AlyDS44 is a novel enzyme, with the potential for efficient production of alginate oligosaccharides with low degrees of polymerization.     

Assessment of the water quality of two rivers in Hanoi City and its suitability for irrigation water

The To Lich and Kim Nguu Rivers in Hanoi City are the main sources of irrigation water for suburban agricultural land and fish farm. Wastewater from the industrial plants located along these rivers has been discharged, and has degraded the water quality of the rivers. This study describes the chemical properties of water from the rivers, focusing on heavy metal pollution and the suitability of water quality for irrigation water. Water from the rivers was heavily polluted with organic matter and heavy metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd and Ni. Dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen deman, and total suspended solids, and the concentrations of all heavy metals exceeded the Vietnamese standard for surface water quality in all investigated sites. The concentrations of some heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Cr and Ni were above the internationally recommended WHO maximum level for irrigation water. A wide variation in the heavy metal concentration of water due to metal types is the result of wastewater discharged from different industrial sources.     

Differences in Ion Accumulation and Salt Tolerance among Glycine Accessions

Salinity reduces crop yield by limiting water uptake and causing ion‐specific stress. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is sensitive to soil salinity. However, there is variability among soybean genotypes and wild relatives for salt tolerance, suggesting that genetic improvement may be possible. The objective of this study was to identify differences in salt tolerance based on ion accumulation in leaves, stems and roots among accessions of four Glycine species. Four NaCl treatments, 0, 50, 75 and 100 mm , were imposed on G. max, G. soja, G. tomentella and G. argyrea accessions with different levels of salinity tolerance. Tolerant genotypes had less leaf scorch and a greater capacity to prevent Na⁺ and Cl^? transport from soil solution to stems and leaves than sensitive genotypes. Magnitude of leaf injury per unit increase in leaf Na⁺ or Cl^? concentrations was lower in tolerant than in susceptible accessions. Also, plant injury was associated more with Na⁺ rather than with Cl^? concentration in leaves. Salt‐tolerant accessions had greater leaf chlorophyll‐meter readings than sensitive genotypes at all NaCl concentrations. Glycine argyrea and G. tomentella accessions possessed higher salt tolerance than G. soja and G. max genotypes.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the CrDAT gene and selection of transgenic periwinkle lines with a high vincristine accumulation

Catharanthus roseus contains vincristine and vinblastine, which are outstanding drugs for cancer. In the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in C. roseus, deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) is a key enzyme that catalyses the last reaction of vindoline biosynthesis to form vinblastine and vincristine. In this study, the CrDAT transgene was transferred into the periwinkle by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and generated transgenic periwinkle lines with an increase in vincristine accumulation. The C. roseus DAT gene was introduced into C. roseus plants and it was confirmed that CrDAT was successfully transferred into the genome of periwinkle plants and efficiently translated to synthesise recombinant DAT protein. Four transgenic periwinkle lines in T1 generation, T1-1, T1-3, T1-6, and T1-7, expressed recombinant DAT protein with the total protein content in the range of 2.86 μg.mg^?1 to 5.12 μg.mg^?1. Moreover, the vincristine contents of four transgenic lines increased by 1.63?2.48-fold compared to non-transgenic plants, ranging from 6.91 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight) to 10.53 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight). The T1-1 line had the highest vincristine content. Hence, the overexpression of the recombinant DAT protein can improve the vincristine accumulation of transgenic C. roseus plants.

Abbreviation: CrDAT - Catharanthus roseus Deacetylvindoline-4-O-Acetyl Transferase; D4H - Deacetoxyvindoline 4-hydroxylase; ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Monoterpene indole alkaloid; T0, T1 - Generations of transgenic plants; TIAs - Terpenoid indole alkaloids; WT- The wild-type tobacco plants (non transgenic plant); 35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter     

吡喹酮对鲤鱼感染台湾棘带吸虫后期囊幼虫的防治效果

[目的]探讨3种不同药物处理方式对台湾棘带吸虫引起的鲤鱼幼鱼急性鱼鳃传染病(开放性鳃病)的防治效果.[方法]在试验初期,将1620条鲤鱼幼鱼(70日龄)鱼鳃自然感染台湾棘带吸虫,随后分成4组,分别采用CuSO4、福尔马林和吡喹酮不同方式处理6周,与对照(自然喂食、不使用任何化学药剂)比较防治鲤鱼幼鱼急性鳃传染病的效果.[结果]感染台湾棘带吸虫的幼鱼生长缓慢,其身长和体重增长均较慢.施药后,幼鱼台湾棘带吸虫后期囊幼虫感染强度减少.在每千克饲料中分别添加50和75 mg吡喹酮喂食幼鱼5d,可以杀死鱼鳃中所有的台湾棘带吸虫后期囊幼虫,且鱼鳃恢复正常;面使用25 mg吡喹酮,仅有35%的后期囊幼虫死亡.所有不同浓度CuSO4处理(0.3、0.4和0.5mg/kg冲洗浸泡24 h及以3.0、4.0和5.0 mg/kg冲洗浸泡10m)和福尔马林处理(20、25和30 mg/kg冲洗浸泡及200、250和300 mg/kg短时间冲洗浸泡)均不能杀死台湾棘带吸虫后期囊幼虫.[结论]经普通化学药剂CuSO4或福尔马林冲洗浸泡,不能防治由台湾棘带吸虫后期囊幼虫引起的鲤鱼开放性鳃病,但50~75 mg吡喹酮/kg饲料可以在5d内治疗该病.     

Crystallographic structure of the octameric histone core of the nucleosome at a resolution of 3.3 A

The structure of the (H2A-H2B-H3-H4)2 histone octamer has been determined by means of x-ray crystallographic techniques at a resolution of 3.3 angstroms. The octamer is a prolate ellipsoid 110 angstroms long and 65 to 70 angstroms in diameter, and its general shape is that of a rugby ball. The size and shape are radically different from those determined in earlier studies. The most striking feature of the histone octamer is its tripartite organization, that is, a central (H3-H4)2 tetramer flanked by two H2A-H2B dimers. The DNA helix, placed around the octamer in a path suggested by the features on the surface of the protein, appears like a spring holding the H2A-H2B dimers at either end of the (H3-H4)2 tetramer.     

Molecular determinants of scouting behavior in honey bees

Little is known about the molecular basis of differences in behavior among individuals. Here we report consistent novelty-seeking behavior, across different contexts, among honey bees in their tendency to scout for food sources and nest sites, and we reveal some of the molecular underpinnings of this behavior relative to foragers that do not scout. Food scouts showed extensive differences in brain gene expression relative to other foragers, including differences related to catecholamine, glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid signaling. Octopamine and glutamate treatments increased the likelihood of scouting, whereas dopamine antagonist treatment decreased it. These findings demonstrate intriguing similarities in human and insect novelty seeking and suggest that this trait, which presumably evolved independently in these two lineages, may be subserved by conserved molecular components.