Worldwide status of burbot and conservation measures

Although burbot ( Lota lota Gadidae) are widespread and abundant throughout much of their natural range, there are many populations that have been extirpated, endangered or are in serious decline. Due in part to the species' lack of popularity as a game and commercial fish, few regions consider burbot in management plans. We review the worldwide population status of burbot and synthesize reasons why some burbot populations are endangered or declining, some burbot populations have recovered and some burbot populations do not recover despite management measures. Burbot have been extirpated in much of Western Europe and the United Kingdom and are threatened or endangered in much of North America and Eurasia. Pollution and habitat change, particularly the effects of dams, appear to be the main causes for declines in riverine burbot populations. Pollution and the adverse effects of invasive species appear to be the main reasons for declines in lacustrine populations. Warmer water temperatures, due either to discharge from dams or climate change, have been noted in declining burbot populations at the southern extent of their range. Currently, fishing pressure does not appear to be limiting burbot populations world-wide. We suggest mitigation measures for burbot population recovery, particularly those impacted by dams and invasive species.     

Edible neotropical blueberries: antioxidant and compositional fingerprint analysis

Edible blueberry species are well recognized for their potential health benefits. Ericaceae fruits including the North American highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and five less common edible blueberry relatives from the New World tropics, Anthopterus wardii Ball, Cavendishia grandifolia Hoerold, Macleania coccoloboides A. C. Smith, Sphyrospermum buxifolium Poeppig & Endlicher, and Sphyrospermum cordifolium Benth, were investigated for their antioxidant properties and phenolic profiles. The neotropical berries C. grandifolia and A. wardii exhibited significantly higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(?)) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS(??+)) free radical scavenging and iron chelation activities than V. corymbosum. Total phenolic content and high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA) compositional fingerprint analyses were also carried out. Significant correlations were observed among total phenolic contents, DPPH(?) and ABTS(??+) scavenging, and iron chelation activities. By use of HPLC-PDA, the phenolic constituents in the berries were identified as chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, hyperoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isoorientin, isovitexin, orientin and vitexin. Principal component analysis reduced the dimensions of antioxidant and total phenolic data to two components, which accounted for 95% of total variation among the six fruits. Each fruit species formed its own cluster, and therefore the antioxidant profile of each species was shown to be distinct.     

果胶细菌诱导油菜结瘤与固氮研究

果胶细菌处理油菜幼根（2天苗龄、根长3cm），同时接种紫云英根瘤菌突变菌株（Rhizobiumhuakuii），诱发类根瘤的结瘤率为96.80％。从这些类根瘤中分离的菌株能回接到原寄主。类根瘤的电镜观察可以明显地见到细胞内充满了细菌。乙炔还原法测定的固氨酶活性（C2H4）为76.80nmol／（planth）。     

Magnetic resonance imaging features of feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective analysis of 46 cats

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of feline brain tumors and to determine whether these characteristics can be used to accurately predict the histologic diagnosis. MRI scans of 46 cats with histologically confirmed brain tumors were reviewed, including 33 meningiomas, 6 lymphomas, 4 gliomas, 2 olfactory neuroblastomas, and 1 pituitary tumor. MRI features including axial origin, shape, location, signal intensity, contrast enhancement, peritumoral edema, and mass effect were reviewed and characterized for each tumor type. Tumor shape, axial origin, contrast enhancement, and degree of peritumoral edema aided in the identification of tumor type. Meningiomas were always extra-axial and were most often ovoid with marked contrast enhancement and mild peritumoral edema. Gliomas were always intra-axial with ring enhancement and generally caused more peritumoral edema than other tumors. The brain tumor was detected on MRI in 45 (98%) cats. Two blinded independent reviewers correctly identified 82% of all of the tumor types on the basis of MRI appearance alone. Thus, MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool for the detection of brain tumors in cats, and it provides important information to aid in the diagnosis of tumor type.     

Essential role of Fkbp6 in male fertility and homologous chromosome pairing in meiosis

Meiosis is a critical stage of gametogenesis in which alignment and synapsis of chromosomal pairs occur, allowing for the recombination of maternal and paternal genomes. Here we show that FK506 binding protein (Fkbp6) localizes to meiotic chromosome cores and regions of homologous chromosome synapsis. Targeted inactivation of Fkbp6 in mice results in aspermic males and the absence of normal pachytene spermatocytes. Moreover, we identified the deletion of Fkbp6 exon 8 as the causative mutation in spontaneously male sterile as/as mutant rats. Loss of Fkbp6 results in abnormal pairing and misalignments between homologous chromosomes, nonhomologous partner switches, and autosynapsis of X chromosome cores in meiotic spermatocytes. Fertility and meiosis are normal in Fkbp6 mutant females. Thus, Fkbp6 is a component of the synaptonemal complex essential for sex-specific fertility and for the fidelity of homologous chromosome pairing in meiosis.     

Plant uptake assay to determine bioavailability of inorganic contaminants

A laboratory technique has been developed to rapidly assess the potential uptake of contaminants by plants growing into waste burial sites. A soil-less planting media was used to provide rapid plant growth and reproducible growing conditions. The uptake of contaminants by several plant species grown on uranium mill tailings materials has been examined. The bioavailability of Mo, Se, Cl, and other trace metals in tailings was greater than in a surface soil from a uranium mining area. Significant differences in nutrient and contaminant contents in aboveground biomass were found between species.