Comparing fire spread algorithms using equivalence testing and neutral landscape models

We demonstrate a method to evaluate the degree to which a meta-model approximates spatial disturbance processes represented by a more detailed model across a range of landscape conditions, using neutral landscapes and equivalence testing. We illustrate this approach by comparing burn patterns produced by a relatively simple fire spread algorithm with those generated by a more detailed fire behavior model from which the simpler algorithm was derived. Equivalence testing allows objective comparisons of the output of simple and complex models, to determine if the results are significantly similar. Neutral landscape models represent a range of landscape conditions that the model may encounter, allowing evaluation of the sensitivity and behavior of the model to different landscape compositions and configurations. We first tested the model for universal applicability, then narrowed the testing to assess the practical domain of applicability. As a whole, the calibrated simple model passed the test for significant equivalence using the 25% threshold. When applied to a range of landscape conditions different from the calibration scenarios, the model failed the tests for equivalence. Although our particular model failed the tests, the neutral landscape models were helpful in determining an appropriate domain of applicability and in assessing the model sensitivity to landscape changes. Equivalence testing provides an effective method for model comparison, and coupled with neutral landscapes, our approach provides an objective way to assess the domain of applicability of a spatial model.     

The influence of salmon surface mucus on the growth of Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare is the causative agent of columnaris disease. The presence of lesions on the gills, skin and fins of diseased fish suggests that F. columnare is able to utilize fish skin mucus as a substrate for growth and that exposure to this material would alter the expression of genes involved in the colonization of the outer surfaces of the fish. Growth, biofilm formation, extracellular protease production and changes in protein expression of F. columnare strain C#2 cultured in media supplemented with juvenile Atlantic salmon skin mucus were compared with the same media without mucus. C#2 was able to grow by using mucus as the sole nutrient source. Growth in mucus-containing media induced cells to grow as a biofilm and extracellular protease activity increased in mucus-containing cultures. SDS-PAGE protein profiles showed that expression of six extracellular proteins increased in mucus-containing media. These results demonstrate that salmon surface mucus promotes the growth of F. columnare and that exposure to mucus alters the growth characteristics of this bacterium with regard to protease production and biofilm formation. Further characterization of mucus-induced physiological changes will increase our understanding of the basis of virulence of this economically important fish pathogen.     

USP14 regulates H2O2 induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cells

AIM:To evaluate the effect of inhibiting ubiquitin-specific protease 14(USPl4) activity on oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ of H9c2 cells.METHODS:The H9c2 cells were incubated with H₂O₂ at 25 μmol/L for 2 h to establish the oxidative stress injury model.The cells were divided into control group,H₂O₂ group,IU1 group (25 μmol/L or 50 μmol/L) and IU1+H₂O₂ group.The H9c2 cells activity was measured by MTS assay.The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell survival rate were analyzed by flow cytometry assay.The changes of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family related proteins were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with control group,the cell activity and the viability rate in H₂O₂ group were decreased (P<0.05),while the intracellular ROS,the protein levels of Bax/Bcl-2,P53,p-ERK1/2,p-JNK and p-P38 were increased (P<0.05).Compared with H₂O₂ group,the cell activity and the viability rate of the H9c2 cells in IU1+H₂O₂ group were increased (P<0.05),while the intracellular ROS,the protein levels of Bax/Bcl-2,P53,p-ERK1/2,p-JNK and p-P38 were decreased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Inhibition of USPl4 activity reduces the oxidative stress injury of the H9c2 cells.The mechanism may be related to inhibition of the MAPK signaling and down-regulation of apoptosis related proteins.     

甘蓝黑腐病菌rPf基因簇对胞外蛋白酶Ⅰ基因表达的调控

甘蓝黑腐病黄单胞菌（ＸａｎｔｈｏｍｏｎａｓｃａｍｐｅｓｔｒｉｓＰｖ．ｃａｍｐｅｓｔｒｉｓ）产生的胞外蛋白酶Ⅰ在致病的早期阶段起重要作用，该酶以及其它胞外酶和胞外多糖的合成受一致病因子调控基因簇（ｒＰｆ基因簇）的正向调控。本研究利用带有β－半乳糖苷酶报道基因（ｌａｃＺ）的转座子Ｔｎ５－Ｂ２０诱变蛋白酶Ⅰ基因克隆，获得了ｌａｃＺ在蛋白酶Ⅰ基因启动子控制下表达的Ｔｎ５－Ｂ２０插入突变质粒。通过将这种突变质粒导入野生型和各ｒｐｆ基因突变体菌株后，测定ｌａｃＺ基因在细胞生长周期中的表达水平，不仅进一步证实了这些ｒｐｆ基因对蛋白酶Ⅰ基因的正向调控作用，而且明确了它们的调控水平．发现ｒｐｆＡ、ｒｐｆＣ、ｒｐｆＥ、ｒｐｆＧ或ｒｐｆＨ突变后，蛋白酶Ⅰ基因的转录会降低９０％左右，而ｒｐｆＢ突变后，蛋白酶Ⅰ基因的转录只降低４８％。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌JQD117菌株对韭蛆体内几种酶活性的影响

为明确苏云金芽胞杆菌JQD117对韭蛆幼虫蛋白酶和解毒酶活性的影响,测定比较了感染Bt后幼虫体内胰蛋白酶、胰凝乳蛋白酶、乙酰胆碱酯酶、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶和羧酸酯酶的活性。首先采用室内生物活性测定方法明确了菌株JQD117对韭蛆3龄幼虫72 h的LC₅₀为2.8070×10⁷cfu/mL,然后采用10×LC₅₀、1×LC₅₀和0.1×LC₅₀三个浓度饲喂感染韭蛆幼虫,定期取样测定韭蛆体内5种酶活性,结果表明以较高浓度（1×LC₅₀和10×LC₅₀）感染韭蛆幼虫后体内蛋白酶和解毒酶活性变化较大,而以低浓度（0.1×LC₅₀）感染韭蛆幼虫后体内蛋白酶活性变化较小。其中,以1×LC₅₀和10×LC₅₀浓度感染韭蛆幼虫后,胰蛋白酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性在24~36 h和6~60 h与对照相比均显著升高;类胰凝乳蛋白酶和羧酸酯酶活性在6~60 h与对照相比均受到显著抑制。以0.1×LC₅₀浓度感染韭蛆幼虫后,胰蛋白酶活性只在36 h时与对照相比显著升高;乙酰胆碱酯酶活性在12~48 h时与对照相比显著升高;羧酸酯酶活性只在6 h与对照相比受到显著抑制;类胰凝乳蛋白酶活性与对照相比均无显著变化。谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶活性在三种感染浓度下与对照相比均无显著变化。可见,感染JQD117对韭蛆体内蛋白酶和解毒酶活性均产生了不同程度的影响,且随感染浓度的升高而增强,扰乱了韭蛆正常的生理代谢和对外源毒素的分解,本文为Bt防治韭蛆应用和开发提供了理论指导。     

一株盐芽孢杆菌的筛选及其粗酶的酶学特性研究

从浙江舟山市双峰盐场中筛选出一株分泌蛋白酶的嗜盐菌,结合16S rDNA基因序列鉴定、菌株形貌特征确定其为特氏盐芽孢杆菌(Halobacillustrueperi)命名为HalobacillustrueperiB1。经研究,该菌株最适生长NaCl浓度为5%,表明其为中度嗜盐菌。该蛋白酶在50℃和pH 7.5条件下具有最高的蛋白酶活力。对发酵培养时间的优化实验表明发酵8 h后B1分泌的蛋白酶活力最大。对发酵培养基的优化结果表明,脱脂奶粉为最适氮源和碳源;75 g·L~(-1)为最佳发酵盐浓度,对钙镁离子的依赖不明显。确定优化后的发酵培养基:Na HCO_30.06 g,KCl_2.0g,CaCl_2·2H_2O0.48 g,Mg SO_4·7H_2O 1.0 g,FeCl_3 0.001 g,NaCl 75.0 g,脱脂奶粉10.0 g。在初始pH 7.5,温度为40℃条件下发酵8 h。     

小肽制品对凡纳滨对虾蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力的影响

采用单因子浓度梯度法,基础饲料中加入0.1%、0.5%、1.0%、1.5%、2.0%、2.5%六个不同添加梯度的小肽制品,以基础饲料为对照,饲喂凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeusvannamei),初始体重0.084g。37d后,测定凡纳滨对虾的蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力。结果表明,添加不同水平的小肽制品对凡纳滨对虾的肝胰腺类胰蛋白酶活力没有显著影响(P>0.05),但添加1.0%和1.5%小肽可极显著地提高凡纳对虾的胃和肝胰腺的胃蛋白酶活力及胃和肠的类胰蛋白酶活力(P>0.01),同时添加1.0%小肽可极显著提高凡纳滨对虾胃和肠的淀粉酶活力(P>0.01),添加1.5%小肽显著提高凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺淀粉酶活力(P>0.05)。     

枯草杆菌蛋白酶促大豆分离蛋白聚集:蛋白质和酶浓度以及热处理的影响

 研究了大豆分离蛋白的枯草杆菌蛋白酶水解产物的聚集行为。加入枯草杆菌蛋白酶后,大豆蛋白分离物被迅速降解为分子量小于6.5kDa小分子组分,这些组分相互作用形成大的聚集物。水解液的浊度变化趋势呈S型,底物浓度大于3.2％(酶浓度为750U/mL)时蛋白质的浓度对聚集过程的影响更明显,此临界浓度主要取决于酶浓度。适当的预热处理有利于酶促聚集。由于聚集物能溶于SDS和尿素,说明非共价键(主要是疏水相互作用、氢键和离子键)对聚集物的形成有特别重要的作用。最后并提出了酶促聚集的机理。