Developmental temperature stress and parental identity shape offspring burst swimming performance in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Abstract – The persistent effects of embryonic temperature stress and individual parentage on fry swimming performance were examined in a cross‐fertilisation experiment using sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). A fixed‐velocity test of burst swimming was used to assess the endurance capacity and behavioural performance of individual fry from 10 offspring families incubated at 12, 14 or 16 °C to hatch and then reared through yolk absorption and exogenous feeding stages in a common posthatch environment (average 6.9 °C). Fry burst swim time (BST) was influenced by an interaction between incubation temperature and family identity. Average BST was longer for fry from the 12 °C prehatch treatment compared to 14 and 16 °C, although differences were largely attributable to temperature effects on average fry size. Behavioural observations revealed that fish incubated at 16 °C performed more poorly, having a larger proportion of individuals that required stimulation to swim, fatigued more frequently or were classified as ‘nonswimmers’. Within all three incubation temperature treatments, mean BST varied significantly among offspring families, independent of fry mass and length. An interesting relationship was observed within the 16 °C treatment, whereby families with higher survivorship were characterised with lower mean BSTs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that exposure to high temperatures in early sockeye salmon development can result in persistent, parentally mediated effects on fry performance. As such, these results provide important insight into how elevated temperature events during egg incubation may affect early life history selection processes and survival in stages beyond when the stressor is experienced.     

球磨-酶解法制备纳米竹纤维的结构表征

采用机械球磨对竹纤维进行预处理,再经纤维素酶水解制备纳米竹纤维。通过光学显微镜(OM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅立叶红外光谱仪(FTIR)和X射线衍射仪(XRD)对竹纤维的形貌、组成、光谱学性能以及晶体特性进行了表征。实验结果表明:球磨法和酶解法在一定程度上都可以细化竹纤维;球磨预处理有助于竹纤维的酶解过程,且球磨-酶解法制备的纳米竹纤维粒径在100 nm左右;所制备的纳米竹纤维仍然保持竹纤维的基本化学结构,但球磨处理破坏了纤维素的结晶结构,其结晶度由64.15%降低到了38.55%。     

鄂尔多斯沙区碱湖与螺旋藻资源

通过 1 995 - 2 0 0 1年长期对内蒙古鄂尔多斯高原毛乌素沙地和库布齐沙漠的八个盐碱湖进行了实地调研 ,在其中四个碱湖中发现有四种螺旋藻 ,其中两个为新种 ,另两个为中国新记录种。作者在巴彦淖尔碱湖畔建成半封闭跑道式养殖池 ,以当地的钝顶螺旋藻为藻种 ,利用湖水养殖螺旋藻获得了成功。藻粉产量达到 6 - 8g/d· m2 ,质量通过了内蒙古卫生防疫站“食准字”检验。作者在螺旋藻养殖上的成功 ,为其产业化奠定了基础。在鄂尔多斯沙区发展螺旋藻产业有着得天独厚的优势 :众多的碱湖资源 :特有的螺旋藻资源 ;丰富的光能资源 ;不占用耕地和牧场 ;不污染环境、可持续发展等。所以 ,在鄂尔多斯沙区开发螺旋藻是继化工产业化之后的又一项新兴产业     

新疆盐碱地生物改良的必要性与可行性

盐碱地资源的利用、盐渍化耕地的改良 ,在有盐碱地的地区 ,是农业生产发展的重要环节之一。新疆盐碱地总面积 2 181.4× 10 4 hm2 ,占全国盐碱土 (9913× 10 4 hm2 )面积的 2 2 .0 1% ;在 40 7.84× 10 4 hm2 耕地面积中 ,受不同程度盐化危害的面积占 30 .12 %。生物改良盐碱地 ,指利用耐盐植物直接种植 ,通过常规灌溉 ,不需要任何附加条件和设施 ,将土壤盐分控制在植物根系土层以下的土体中。新疆漫灌式种植生产有利于这种生物改良。生物改良盐碱地 ,灌溉水利用率高 ,又利于生态环境的良性循环和永久性建设。种植根系较多、较深的耐盐植物 ,土壤盐分在灌水条件 ,向下移动较深。     

Fusarium moniliforme secretes four endopolygalacturonases derived from a single gene product

Extracellular endopolygalacturonase, purified from the pathogenic fungus Fusarium moniliforme, consists of four molecular forms (38, 41·5, 45, and 48·5 kDa, respectively. Three forms (38, 41·5, and 45 kDa) were purified to homogencity by FPLC on a Mono S column followed by electroelution after SDS-PAGE. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of each of the three forms, and of a mixture containing all four forms were shown to be identical to that predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the endopolygalacturonase gene previously cloned from F. moniliforme. Enzymatic deglycosylation experiments revealed the presence of N-linked, high mannose oligosaccharide side-chains on all four forms of endo polygalacturonase. Hydrogen fluoride catalysed chemical deglycosylation of the polygalacturonase mixture yielded a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 36·2 kDa. Southern blot analysis, carried out at high stringency with an endopolygalacturonase-specific probe on genomic DNA digested with three different restriction enzymes, showed a single hybridizing restriction fragment in all three digests. A single 2·0 Mb chromosome hybridized with the endo polygalacturonase-specific probe, as shown by Southern blot analysis of F. moniliforme chromosomes separated by CHEF electrophoresis. Northern blot analysis revealed only one mRNA species 1350 nt encoding endo polygalacturonase. These data indicate that a single gene encodes the endopolygalacturonases of F. moniliforme.     

Forest fragmentation in Loudoun County,Virginia, USA evaluated with multitemporal Landsat imagery

In order to study forest fragmentation in the Virginia, USA Piedmont, a series of Landsat images from 1973, 1987, and 1999 covering a rapidly developing area (Loudoun County) was used to classify forest from non-forest. The classified images were analyzed using a geographic information system (GIS) to determine the spatial and temporal patterns of fragmentation, and to relate these patterns to infrared radiance provided by Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) band 6. The analysis was concentrated on eleven major watersheds of Loudoun County. The relationship between urbanized area per watershed and mean fragment size showed a strong negative decay form (r ²=0.757, p<0.0001). Analysis of four landscape metrics showed increasing fragmentation of forest cover, particularly from 1987 to 1999, as well as an increase in forest edge and shape complexity. Of the landscape metrics used, the perimeter-to-area (P/A) ratio showed the strongest relationship with mean radiance of forest patches. In addition, there was a negative, linear relationship between distance from major roads and band 6 radiance of forested pixels. Overall, the study shows that landscape metrics can convey meaningful information on biophysical changes associated with forest fragmentation at broad scales. These changes suggest that ambient temperature increases associated with urban sprawl may have important, long-term implications for ecophysiological processes.     

沈阳地区玉米光热水生产潜力研究

在玉米光热生产潜力的基础上，进一步讨论沈阳地区水分对玉米生产潜力发挥的限制作用，结果表明：水分的限制率为１８．５％，使玉米经济产量降低３９５．０１ｋｇ／ｍｕ。     

Relation of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas campestris</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vesicatoria</Emphasis> with worldwide strains revealed with three specific monoclonal antibodies

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Dye 1978 (Xcv), the causal agent of bacterial spot, have been classified into two groups based on their ability to hydrolyze starch. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 7AH10, 5HB3, and 4AD2, were produced immunized against the living bacteria and were specific to and could distinguish Xcv strains able or unable to hydrolyze starch (Amy⁺ or Amy^–). The MAb 7AH10, obtained against strain UPB141(Amy^–) reacted in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with all the Amy^– strains (n = 19) and 1 of 11 Amy⁺ strains. Against Xcv 2625, an Amy^– unusual phenotype strain, MAb 5HB3, recognized 97% of our worldwide collection of Xcvs (n = 30). Also against that strain, the MAb 4AD2 reacted with none of the homologous Amy^– phenotypes and with 90% (n = 11) of the heterologous Amy⁺ phenotypes. For all the MAbs, cross reactions with other pathovars or species were less than 4% (n = 67). By assaying a Japanese collection of strains against the three MAbs, the Amy⁺ strains were distinguished from the Amy^– strains, and their relation with other world strains could be demonstrated. All the MAbs reacted with the lipopolysaccharide fraction of the bacterial cell wall during immunoblotting.     

Critical Observations on BSE Control in Italy

Eleven native sheep, 1–2 years old, of both sexes were randomly divided into two groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the experimental group and 5 serving as controls. The sheep in the experimental group were fed 80% Tribulus terrestris and 20% alfalfa hay and wheat straw, while the control sheep were given a mixture of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% wheat straw. Clinical signs of hepatogenous photosensitivity were observed from day 11, including reddening and crust formation on the muzzle, nose, ears and eyelids, depression, weight loss, icterus, conjunctivitis, and yellow discoloration of the urine. Laboratory findings on weekly samples indicated significant differences (p<0.05) in white blood cell count, total plasma protein and fibrinogen, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. There were no significant differences in the packed cell volume, in the neutrophil, lymphocyte or eosinophil counts, or in the serum calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium or chloride concentrations. At necropsy of the experimental animals, there were various degrees of generalized icterus and the livers were swollen and discolored by bile pigment. Histopathological examination revealed varying amounts of crystalloid material in the bile ducts and renal tubules, hepatocellular degeneration, biliary fibrosis and proliferation, renal tubular necrosis and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle.     

Computational chemistry study of the environmentally important acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of atrazine and related 2-chloro-s-triazines

Many chlorine-containing pesticides, for example 2-chloro-s-triazines, are of great concern both environmentally and toxicologically. As a result, ascertaining or predicting the fate and transport of these compounds in soils and water is of current interest. Transformation pathways for 2-chloro-s-triazines in the environment include dealkylation, dechlorination (hydrolysis), and ring cleavage. This study explored the feasibility of using computational chemistry, specifically the hybrid density functional theory method, B3LYP, to predict hydrolysis trends of atrazine (2-chloro-N4-ethyl-N6-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and related 2-chloro-s-triazines to the corresponding 2-hydroxy-s-triazines. Gas-phase energetics are described on the basis of calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Calculated free energies of hydrolysis (delta h G298) are nearly the same for simazine (2-chloro-N4,N6-diethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), atrazine, and propazine (2-chloro-N4,N6-di-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), suggesting that hydrolysis is not significantly affected by the side-chain amine-nitrogen alkyl substituents. High-energy barriers also suggest that the reactions are not likely to be observed in the gas phase. Aqueous solvation effects were examined by means of self-consistent reaction field methods (SCRF). Molecular structures were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G* level using the Onsager model, and solvation energies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level using the isodensity surface polarizable continuum model (IPCM). Although the extent of solvent stabilization was greater for cationic species than neutral ones, the full extent of solvation is underestimated, especially for the transition state structures. As a consequence, the calculated hydrolysis barrier for protonated atrazine is exaggerated compared with the experimentally determined one. Overall, the hydrolysis reactions follow a concerted nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) pathway.