Effects of Confluent, Roscovitine Treatment and Serum Starvation on the Cell-cycle Synchronization of Bovine Foetal Fibroblasts

The present study was designed to examine the effects of cell-cycle synchronization protocols, such as confluent, roscovitine treatment and serum starvation, in bovine foetal fibroblasts on synchronization accuracy at G0/G1, viability, apoptosis, necrosis and ploidy for use as a nuclei donor. The cells in 5-10 passages were randomly allocated into three treated groups. Cells were cultured either in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) until 90% confluent (group 1, confluent), in DMEM + 10% FBS + 30 microM roscovitine for 12 h (group 2, roscovitine), or in DMEM + 0.5% FBS for 5 days (group 3, serum starvation). Most of the cells (>80%) in all groups were arrested at the G0/G1 stage. Although the rates did not differ, cells in group 1 showed an increased cell population arrested at the G0/G1 phase. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher rates of apoptosis occurred in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 (10% vs 6% and 6%, respectively). No differences in chromosomal abnormality were observed among groups. However, by increasing the number of cell culture passages up to 15, significantly (p < 0.05) higher chromosomal abnormality was observed than in 5 and 10 passages (39% vs 28% and 23%, respectively) in group 1. The results clearly indicated that bovine foetal fibroblasts could be effectively synchronized at G0/G1 stages by all the three different treatments, confluent, roscovitine and serum starvation. However, cells in confluent showed reduced apoptosis and necrosis when they underwent 5-10 passages, exhibiting increased percentage of cells with stable chromosome diversity. Hence, cells in confluent merit further studies before they could be used as nuclear donors.     

Contrasting the financial efficiency of agroforestry practices in buffer zone management of Madhupur National Park, Bangladesh

This research contrasts the financial profitability of different agroforestry practices in community-based buffer zone management of Madhupur National Park (MNP), Bangladesh. This park is the second largest in Bangladesh and subjected to enormous anthropogenic pressure and land rights-related conflicts. This paper reports the different agroforestry practices of villagers in different modules of the buffer zone of MNP, identified by a participatory research approach. It then assesses the profitability of each module on the basis of cost–benefit analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, and annualized income. Results indicate three agroforestry systems were being practised in the buffer zone by the participants: agro-silviculture, agro-silvo-horticulture, and combined woodlot and agroforestry. Among these modules, agro-silvo-horticulture was the most profitable, followed by agro-silviculture then combined woodlot and agroforestry. We recognize that not all of the participants can practise intensive agroforestry; our results suggest that the community-based buffer zone management strategy for MNP would benefit from prioritizing agroforestry practices where possible. This will lead to more successful buffer zone management for the conservation of natural forests while supporting the development of local resource-dependent communities.     

APEX model simulation of runoff and sediment losses for grazed pasture watersheds with agroforestry buffers

Buffers have been found to reduce non-point source pollution (NPSP) from watersheds. Hydrologic simulation models assist in predicting the effects of buffers on runoff and sediment losses from small watersheds. The objective of this study was to calibrate, validate and simulate runoff and sediment losses and compare buffer effects on NPSP losses relative to control watersheds (no buffer) for seven years. The experimental design consists of four watersheds under pasture management which were monitored from 2002 through 2008; two with agroforestry buffers (AgB 100 and AgB 300) and two control watersheds (CW 400 and CW 600). Pasture areas included red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and lespedeza (Kummerowia stipulacea Maxim.) planted into fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) while the agroforestry buffer area included Eastern cottonwood trees (Populus deltoids Bortr. ex Marsh.) planted into fescue. The APEX model was calibrated from 2002 to 2005 and was validated from 2006 to 2008. The r ² and NSE values for the calibration and validation periods of the runoff varied from 0.52 to 0.78 and 0.50 to 0.74, respectively. The model did not predict sediment loss very well probably due to insufficient number of measured events and low measured sediment loss. The measured runoff was 57% higher for CW watersheds compared to AgB watersheds. The measured sediment loss was 95% higher for CW watersheds compared to AgB watersheds. After calibrating and validating the model, it was run for long-term scenario analyses for 10 years from 1999 to 2008. Simulated buffer width had a significant influence on runoff. Simulated runoff decreased by 24% when the buffer width was doubled compared to losses associated with the measured buffer width. Simulated runoff from the CW watersheds was 11% higher with double stocking density (relative to measured density) compared to AgB watersheds with double stocking density. With half stocking density (relative to measured density), the AgB watershed had 18% lower runoff compared to CW. Results from this study imply that establishment of agroforestry buffers on grazed pasture watersheds reduce runoff and sediment losses compared to control watersheds without buffers.     

Timber species grouping in Bangladesh: linking wood properties

Timber species grouping (TSG) is essential for meaningful and cost-optimal use of wood. Bangladesh forests are exceedingly diverse and comprise many woody species which are potentially suitable for versatile uses including structural materials. Traditionally, widely known tree species are used for structural timber because technological properties of most of the species are poorly known. In this study, a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis based on three selected wood properties [i.e., wood density, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)] of seventy-nine timber species was done. The clustering process led to the formation of four distinct species groups [i.e., very low (TSG1), low (TSG2), medium (TSG3) and high (TSG4)]. However, the species grouping patterns also varied from trait to trait. This might be due to moderate relationship between density and MOE (r ² = 0.46) or MOR (r ² = 0.52). Species of the TSG1 group are mainly characterized by extremely low trait values, while the TSG4 group consists of species having exceedingly high trait values. The TSG2 and TSG3 groups are characterized by low and medium trait values. Hence, it is suggested to select suitable species from these groups, particularly the lesser known high-quality species in afforestation and reforestation programs to meet future timber demand in Bangladesh.     

Virome identification in wheat in the Czech Republic using small RNA deep sequencing

High-throughput deep-sequencing technology and bioinformatics analysis of the small RNA(sRNA) population isolated from plants allows universal virus detection and complete virome reconstruction for a given sample. In the present sRNA deep-sequencing analysis of virus-infected wheat samples in the Czech Republic, samples were firstly tested for barley yellow dwarf viruses(BYDVs), wheat streak mosaic virus(WSMV) and wheat dwarf virus(WDV) using ELISA, RT-PCR and PCR. Subsequent sRNA sequencing of these samples yielded more than ～60 million single-end 50-bp reads with high confidence for nine field samples of wheat. Overall, 16.5% of reads were virus-specific and 83.5% were mapped to the host. More 21-nt reads(～7.7 E+06 reads) were found than 24-nt(～6.20 E+06 reads) or 22-nt(～4.30 E+06 reads) reads. De novo assembly of the high-quality contigs revealed the presence of three earlier reported viruses in the Czech Republic: BYDVs(31.48%), WSMV(24.23%) and WDV(26.66%). We also showed the presence of cereal yellow dwarf virus(14.33%; two species CYDV-RPS and CYDV-RPV(family Luteoviridae/Polerovirus) and wheat yellow dwarf virus(WYDV, 3.30%; Luteoviridae). Phylogenetic analysis showed CYDV and WYDV grouped separately from BYDVs. Furthermore, several recombination breakpoints were found among the groups of yellow dwarf viruses(BYDVs, CYDV, and WYDV). Using RNA deep sequencing, we confirmed the presence of the three known viruses(BYDVs, WSMV, and WDV) and the first record of two species of CYDV and WYDV in wheat in the Czech Republic.     

Molecular diversity of barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV from China and the Czech Republic

Wheat yellow dwarf disease (BYD), caused by different species of barley/cereal yellow dwarf viruses (B/CYDVs), is one of the most serious cereal diseases in China and the Czech Republic. Because genetic diversity of the virus directly influences disease epidemiology, the molecular diversity and population structure of 24 Chinese isolates and 16 the Czech Republic isolates of BYDV-PAV from different regions in two countries were analyzed by sequencing their coat protein (CP) and readthrough protein (RTP) domain (RTD) genes and comparing the sequences with six CP and 16 RTP sequences of BYDV-PAV isolates from the NCBI database based on nucleotide identity position, phylogenetic analysis and nucleotide diversity. Nucleotide identities between the Chinese and the Czech Republic isolates for the CP were 76.6–99.4%, 73.9–89.1% for RTD (ORF5), respectively. The Chinese and the other country isolates showed 74.7–99.2% nucleotide identity for RTP (ORF3+ORF5). Phylogenetic analysis of CP sequences showed that 20 Chinese isolates clustered in the same clade, but the other four Chinese isolates clustered in another clade with the isolates from the Czech Republic and other counties. The population of BYDV-PAV in China had greater nucleotide variability and was more divergent than that in the Czech Republic. Geographical and ecological factors but not hosts might contribute to the population differences in the two countries.     

Thermochemistry and aqueous solubilities of hydrotalcite-like solids

Hydrotalcites are used in technology as catalysts and anion exchangers and are important sinks for environmental contaminants. Their compositional variability makes it important, but difficult, to estimate their aqueous solubility. We report calorimetric measurements of the heats of formation of cobalt-aluminum hydrotalcite phases. The heat and free energy of formation from the elements are equal to those of mechanical mixtures of binary compounds, namely hydroxides and carbonates. The interlayer anion is much more important than the cation in determining the solubility of the hydrotalcite phase and its ability to contain or release heavy metals to the environment. Because hydrotalcites do not have an unreactive polymer as a structural core, their aqueous stability will change dramatically with composition, particularly with anion content. This simple mechanical mixture model allows prediction of aqueous solubilities and trace metal retention in a variety of geochemical settings.     

用地形特征预测喜马拉雅某集水区径流

长期以来 ,科学家和工程师们都试图计算出不规则集水区的径流量。用于降雨—径流模型的最常用方法是通过线性理论来确定某盆地的单位瞬时水位曲线图 (ＩＵＨ)。最近 ,地形学技术已发展到可将径流与集水区地形特征联系起来。这些地形特征从集水区已有的拓扑关系图、空间图片等资