Late Devonian (Frasnian) phyllopod and phyllocarid crustacean shields from Belgium reinterpreted as ammonoid anaptychi

The taxonomic affinities of fossils from the Frasnian succession of Belgium previously described as phyllopod and phyllocarid crustacean shields are discussed. The rediscovery of the holotype of Ellipsocaris dewalquei, the type species of the genus Ellipsocaris Woodward in Dewalque, 1882, allows to end the discussion on the taxonomic assignation of the genus Ellipsocaris. It is removed from the phyllopod crustaceans as interpreted originally and considered here as an ammonoid anaptychus. Furthermore, it is considered to be a junior synonym of the genus Sidetes Giebel, 1847. Similarly, Van Straelen’s (1933) lower to middle Frasnian record Spathiocaris chagrinensis Ruedemann, 1916, is also an ammonoid anaptychus. Although ammonoids can be relatively frequent in some Frasnian horizons of Belgium, anaptychi remain particularly scarce and the attribution to the present material to peculiar ammonoid species is not possible.     

Cooperation between ligninolytic enzymes produced by superior mixed flora

Since the ability to degrade lignin with one kind of white-rot fungi or bacteria was very limited, superior mixed flora‘s ability to degrade lignin was investigated by an orthogonal experiment in this paper. The results showed that superior mixed flora reinforced the ability to degrade lignin, the degradation rates of both sample 9 and 10 were beyond 80% on the day 9. The cooperation between lignin peroxidase(LiP), Mn-dependent peroxidase(MnP) and laccase (Lac) for lignin degradation was also studied. By examining the activities of three enzymes produced by superior mixed flora, it was found that Lac was a key enzyme in the process of biological degradation of lignin but Lip was not; the enzyme activity ratios of Lac/MnP and Lac/LiP were significantly correlative with the degradation rate of lignin at the 0.01 level; and the ratio of MnP/LiP was an important factor affecting the degradation rate of lignin.     

Subfossil markers of climate change during the Roman Warm Period of the late Holocene

Abundant bog oak trunks occur in alluvial deposits of the Raba River in the village of Targowisko (southern Poland). Several of them contain galleries of the great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo L.). A well-preserved subfossil larva and pupa, as well as adults of this species, are concealed in some of the galleries. These galleries co-occur with boring galleries of other insects such as ship-timber beetles (Lymexylidae) and metallic wood borers (Buprestidae). A dry larva of a stag beetle (Lucanidae) and a mite (Acari) have been found in the C. cerdo galleries. Selected samples of the trunks and a sample of the C. cerdo larva were dated, using radiocarbon and dendrochronological methods, to the period from 45 bc to ad 554; one sample was dated to the period from 799 to 700 bc. Accumulation of the channel alluvia containing the bog oak trunks is synchronous with the Roman Warm Period (late antiquity/Early Mediaeval times). The most recent part of this period correlates with massive accumulations of fallen oak trunks noted from various river valleys in the Carpathian region and dated to ad 450–570. The results indicate that C. cerdo was more abundant within the study area during the Roman Warm Period than it is today.     

Transformation of erythromycin during secondary effluent soil aquifer recharging: Removal contribution and degradation path

Erythromycin (ERY), a widely used antibiotic, has recently been detected in municipal secondary effluents and poses serious threats to human health during wastewater reusing. In this study, the removal, fate, and degradation pathway of ERY in secondary effluent during soil aquifer treatment was evaluated via laboratory-scale SAT tests. Up to a 92.9% reduction of ERY in synthetic secondary effluent was observed in 1.0 m depth column system, which decreased to 64.7% when recharged with wastewater treatment plant secondary effluent. XRD-fractionation results demonstrated that the transphilic acid and hydrophobic acid fractions in secondary effluent compete for the adsorption sites of the packed soil and lead to a declined ERY removal. Moreover, aerobic biodegradation was the predominant role for ERY removal, contributing more than 60% reduction of ERY when recharged with synthetic secondary effluent. Destruction of 14-member macrocyclic lactone ring and breakdown of two cyclic sugars (l-cladinose and d-desosamine) were main removal pathways for ERY degradation, and produced six new intermediates.     

The Hirudo medicinalis species complex

Recently, Hildebrandt and Lemke (Naturwissenschaften 98:995–1008, 2011) argued that the taxonomic status of the three European medicinal leeches, Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus 1758, Hirudo verbana Carena 1820, and Hirudo orientalis Utevsky and Trontelj (Parasitol Res 98:61?66, 2005) is “questionable” since “all three species interbreed in the laboratory”. This statement is in conflict with data published by Elliott and Kutschera (Freshwater Reviews 4:21?41, 2011), indicating that these leeches, which are reciprocally copulating hermaphrodites, represent reproductively isolated biospecies. Here, I summarize evidence indicating that these three European taxa, plus the North African “dragon leech” (Hirudo troctina Johnson 1816), must be interpreted as a complex of closely related species, and that the economically most important taxon H. verbana is polymorphic.     

A new Jurassic theropod from China documents a transitional step in the macrostructure of feathers

Genuine fossils with exquisitely preserved plumage from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of northeastern China have recently revealed that bird-like theropod dinosaurs had long pennaceous feathers along their hindlimbs and may have used their four wings to glide or fly. Thus, it has been postulated that early bird flight might initially have involved four wings (Xu et al. Nature 421:335–340, 2003; Hu et al. Nature 461:640–643, 2009; Han et al. Nat Commun 5:4382, 2014). Here, we describe Serikornis sungei gen. et sp. nov., a new feathered theropod from the Tiaojishan Fm (Late Jurassic) of Liaoning Province, China. Its skeletal morphology suggests a ground-dwelling ecology with no flying adaptations. Our phylogenetic analysis places Serikornis, together with other Late Jurassic paravians from China, as a basal paravians, outside the Eumaniraptora clade. The tail of Serikornis is covered proximally by filaments and distally by slender rectrices. Thin symmetrical remiges lacking barbules are attached along its forelimbs and elongate hindlimb feathers extend up to its toes, suggesting that hindlimb remiges evolved in ground-dwelling maniraptorans before being co-opted to an arboreal lifestyle or flight.     

Biochemistry of lignification

The complete set of enzymes that catalyze the reactions from l-phenylalanine to substituted cinnamyl alcohols is now known. The latter compounds are the primary building stones of lignin. The individual reactions and the possible modes of regulation of this pathway are discussed. The polymerization of cinnamyl alcohols to lignin is mediated by peroxidase. The significance of cell-wall-bound peroxidases in this process and the origin of hydrogen peroxide are reviewed. Finally, the possible role of lignification in relation to disease resistance is discussed.     

提高平菇深层培养木质素降解酶活性和对直接湖蓝5B脱色率的探索性研究

以稻草为主要营养基质对平菇进行深层培养,研究了不同浓度(100、200、400、600、800 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B对平菇菌丝体产量的影响,以及平菇对不同浓度(100、150、200、250、300、400 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B的脱色率.此外,还研究了平菇分别与3种酵母菌(酿酒酵母、产朊假丝酵母和热带假丝酵母)混菌培养及用不同浓度(50、100、200、300、400 mg·L-1)直接湖蓝5B预适应培养的平菇菌种对木质素降解酶活性和直接湖蓝5B脱色率的影响.结果表明:100~400 mg·L-1的直接湖蓝5B均可显著提高了平菇菌丝体产量,而800 mg·L-1的染料对菌丝体的生长有显著抑制作用;染料浓度越高,平菇对其的脱色率越低,发酵时间越长,脱色效果越好.与平菇单菌发酵相比,平菇分别与酿酒酵母和产朊假丝酵母混菌培养可显著提高发酵体系漆酶的活性,平菇分别与所试3种酵母菌混菌培养时锰过氧化物酶活性均有显著增加,与产朊假丝酵母混菌培养时两种酶活性的增加量最大;用50、100、200 mg·L-1直接湖蓝5B预适应培养的菌种接种可显著提高平菇分泌的漆酶的活性,而50mg·L-1和100 mg·L-1的则显著提高锰过氧化物酶的活性.平菇分别与所试3种酵母混菌培养,以及用50 mg·L-1和100 mg·L-1直接湖蓝5B预培养的平菇菌种接种,发酵体系对直接湖蓝5B的脱色效果有显著促进作用,其中,平菇与产朊假丝酵母混菌培养时脱色率最高,达96.3%.通过比较直接湖蓝5B脱色率与漆酶、锰过氧化物酶活性之间的关系可以看出,漆酶、锰过氧化物酶活性与脱色率间基本呈正相关关系.     

Computational molecular species delimitation and taxonomic revision of the gecko genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ebenavia</Emphasis> Boettger, 1878

Cryptic species have been detected in many groups of organisms and must be assumed to make up a significant portion of global biodiversity. We study geckos of the Ebenavia inunguis complex from Madagascar and surrounding islands and use species delimitation algorithms (GMYC, BOLD, BPP), COI barcode divergence, diagnostic codon indels in the nuclear marker PRLR, diagnostic categorical morphological characters, and significant differences in continuous morphological characters for its taxonomic revision. BPP yielded ≥?10 operational taxonomic units, whereas GMYC (≥?27) and BOLD (26) suggested substantial oversplitting. In consequnce, we resurrect Ebenavia boettgeri Boulenger 1885 and describe Ebenavia tuelinae sp. nov., Ebenavia safari sp. nov., and Ebenavia robusta sp. nov., increasing the number of recognised species in Ebenavia from two to six. Further lineages of Ebenavia retrieved by BPP may warrant species or subspecies status, but further taxonomic conclusions are postponed until more data become available. Finally, we present an identification key to the genus Ebenavia, provide an updated distribution map, and discuss the diagnostic values of computational species delimitation as well as morphological and molecular diagnostic characters.     

Mathematical model for the microbial metabolism of glucose induced enhanced biological phosphorus removal in an anaerobic/aerobic sequential batch reactor

Glucose plays a significant role in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). Previous experimental studies have shown that in addition to acetate, glucose can induce and maintain a successful EBPR performance under certain operating procedures. Mathematical modeling of the EBPR metabolism is an important consideration that is necessary to produce a deeper insight into this process. In this study, four anaerobic reactions plus four aerobic reactions with fourteen kinetic constants are structured to describe the dynamic behavior of the key metabolic components in the glucose induced EBPR system. The development of the stoichiometric coefficients for the reactions is based on fundamental biochemical principles. The model describes the dynamics of the important storage compounds, which are considered separately from the active biomass. Sequential batch experiments were performed to find the optimum model parameters using sludges exhibiting stable EBPR from glucose fed system. The maximum specific substrate conversion rate in the glucose model is composed of two factors: the maximum specific rates of glucose direct conversion to PHV (q _gv ^max ) and glucose conversion to glycogen q _gl ^max , which are 14.1 and 699.7 C-mmol/C-mmol·h, respectively. The maximum specific rate of polyphosphate synthesis k _pp ^max is 0.2 P-mmol/C-mmol·h. The model with the best-fit parameters satisfactorily simulates the dynamic behavior of the key components during both anaerobic and aerobic conditions.     

Context dependency and generality of fever in insects

Fever can reduce mortality in infected animals. Yet, despite its fitness-enhancing qualities, fever often varies among animals. We used several approaches to examine this variation in insects. Texas field crickets (Gryllus texensis) exhibited a modest fever (1 °C increase in preferred body temperature, T _pref) after injection of prostaglandin, which putatively mediates fever in both vertebrates and invertebrates, but they did not exhibit fever during chronic exposure to heat-killed bacteria. Further, chronic food limitation and mating status did not affect T _pref or the expression of behavioural fever, suggesting limited context dependency of fever in G. texensis. Our meta-analysis of behavioural fever studies indicated that behavioural fever occurs in many insects, but it is not ubiquitous. Thus, both empirical and meta-analytical results suggest that the fever response in insects ‘is widespread, although certainly not inevitable’ (Moore 2002). We highlight the need for future work focusing on standardizing an experimental protocol to measure behavioural fever, understanding the specific mechanism(s) underlying fever in insects, and examining whether ecological or physiological costs often outweigh the benefits of fever and can explain the sporadic nature of fever in insects.     

Antiviral Potential of Selected Starter Cultures,Bacteriocins and d,l-Lactic Acid

The antiviral potential of selected bacteria species [lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and micrococcaceae] was examined. By this, the effect of their cell-free supernatants as well as of certain species-related metabolites (sakacin A, nisin, and lactic acid) was investigated on different viruses after exposure at 24 °C for 3 days. Viruses were incubated with supernatants and metabolites in a dilution ratio of 1:10. Data for antiviral effects towards murine norovirus S99 (MNV), influenza A virus A/WSN/33 (H1N1), Newcastle disease virus Montana (NDV) and feline herpesvirus KS 285 (FHV) were generated in vitro simulating pH and temperature conditions according to raw sausage fermentations. Investigations showed no antiviral effect of sakacin A and nisin on MNV, H1N1, FHV and NDV. Furthermore, the antiviral potential of d,l-lactic acid was determined for MNV and H1N1. At raw sausage-related pH values (5.0–6.2) it could be shown that the virus titre for MNV and H1N1 was reduced by a maximum of 3.25 log and 2.5 log units, respectively. In addition, 29 culture supernatants of different bacteria species, mainly LAB and staphylococci, were tested for their antiviral activity against MNV. Only the cell-free supernatant of a Lb. curvatus strain showed a higher virus titre reduction of MNV by 1.25 log units compared to the control. Further studies on the characterisation of this cell-free supernatant were carried out, however, the antiviral substance could not be identified so far.     

Naturally Occurring Flavonoids Against Human Norovirus Surrogates

Naturally occurring plant-derived flavonoids are reported to have antibacterial, antiviral, and pharmacological activities. The objectives of this study were to determine the antiviral effects of four flavonoids (myricetin, l-epicatechin, tangeretin, and naringenin) on the infectivity of food borne norovirus surrogates after 2 h at 37 °C. The lab-culturable surrogates, feline calicivirus (FCV-F9) at titers of ~7 log₁₀ PFU/ml (high titer) or ~5 log₁₀ PFU/ml (low titer) and murine norovirus (MNV-1) at ~5 log₁₀ PFU/ml, were mixed with equal volumes of myricetin, l-epicatechin, tangeretin, or naringenin at concentrations of 0.5 or 1 mM, and incubated for 2 h at 37 °C. Treatments of viruses were neutralized in cell culture medium containing 10 % heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, serially diluted, and plaque assayed. Each treatment was replicated thrice and assayed in duplicate. FCV-F9 (low titer) was not found to be reduced by tangeretin or naringenin, but was reduced to undetectable levels by myricetin at both concentrations. Low titer FCV-F9 was also decreased by 1.40 log₁₀ PFU/ml with l-epicatechin at 0.5 mM. FCV-F9 at high titers was decreased by 3.17 and 0.72 log₁₀ PFU/ml with myricetin and l-epicatechin at 0.5 mM, and 1.73 log₁₀ PFU/ml with myricetin at 0.25 mM, respectively. However, MNV-1 showed no significant inactivation by the four tested treatments. The antiviral effects of the tested flavonoids are dependent on the virus type, titer, and dose. Further research will focus on understanding the antiviral mechanism of myricetin and l-epicatechin.     

Biosynthesis of the defensive alkaloid cicindeloine in Stenus solutus beetles

To protect themselves from predation and microorganismic infestation, rove beetles of the genus Stenus produce and store bioactive alkaloids like stenusine, 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine, and cicindeloine in their pygidial glands. The biosynthesis of stenusine and 3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine was previously investigated in Stenus bimaculatus and Stenus similis, respectively. Both molecules follow the same biosynthetic pathway, where the N-heterocyclic ring is derived from l-lysine and the side chain from l-isoleucine. The different alkaloids are finally obtained by slight modifications of shared precursor molecules. The piperideine alkaloid cicindeloine occurs as a main compound additionally to (E)-3-(2-methyl-1-butenyl)pyridine and traces of stenusine in the pygidial gland secretion of Stenus cicindeloides and Stenus solutus. Feeding of S. solutus beetles with [D,¹⁵N]-labeled amino acids followed by GC/MS analysis techniques showed that cicindeloine is synthesized via the identical pathway and precursor molecules as the other two defensive alkaloids.     

A giant spider from the Jurassic of China reveals greater diversity of the orbicularian stem group

A large female spider, Nephila jurassica, was described from Middle Jurassic strata of north-east China and placed in the modern genus Nephila (family Nephilidae) on the basis of many morphological similarities, but, as with many ancient fossils, the single specimen lacked synapomorphies of the family (Selden et al. 2011). In order to test the placement within the nephilid phylogenetic tree, Kuntner et al. (2013) calibrated the molecular phylogeny using N. jurassica in three different scenarios based on inferred mitochondrial substitution rates. They concluded that N. jurassica fitted better as a stem orbicularian than a nephilid. Now, a giant male spider has been discovered at the same locality that yielded N. jurassica. The two sexes are considered conspecific based on their similar morphological features, size, and provenance. The male cannot be accommodated in Nephilidae because of its pedipalp morphology, so the new genus Mongolarachne and family Mongolarachnidae are erected for the species. Comparison with possibly related families show that Mongolarachnidae is most likely on the orbicularian stem, close to other cribellate orbicularians (e.g., Deinopoidea), which suggests a greater diversity of cribellate orbicularians during the Middle Jurassic.     

白腐菌对制浆黑液中硫酸盐木素的降解

研究了白腐菌对硫酸盐木素的降解作用和影响因素,结果发现,２种白腐菌对硫酸盐木素的降解能力不同,培养１０ｄ后,木云芝Ｌｕ－１１的降解率达到７４．５％,而黄孢原毛平革菌的降解率为６５．６％,分子量在１５００￣３０００ｋｄ之间的硫酸盐木素部分被降解最为明显,木云芝的降解产物只有一种主要组分,而黄孢原毛平革菌的降解产物有２种主要组分,培养条件如碳源,氮源、ｐＨ值和温度对白腐菌降解硫酸盐木素的作用有明显的影     

南海高效石油降解菌的筛选及降解特性研究

以南海10个采样点采集到的样品为研究材料,以石油降解率为筛选依据,初筛获得52株石油降解菌,从中进一步筛选出6株对石油烃有降解能力的细菌,通过16S rRNA序列分析对筛选得到的6株菌进行初步鉴定,并使用GC-MS内标法测定降解产物,对降解菌的降解特性进行进一步研究.结果表明,采用重量法筛选出来的6株细菌对石油的降解率为20%～55%.与Genbank中的16S rRNA基因序列BLAST对比结果显示,所筛选出的6株菌株中,3株菌株属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),2株菌株属于假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas),1株属于交替单胞菌属(Alteromonas).降解特性分析表明,所筛选6株菌的烷烃降解率均在40%以上,多环芳烃降解率均在70%以上,其中,菌株B08500m-3对石油中总烷烃和总芳香烃的降解效果较好,降解率分别为75%和87%.     

A lake classification concept for a more accurate global estimate of the dissolved inorganic carbon export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters

The magnitude of lateral dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters strongly influences the estimate of the global terrestrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) sink. At present, no reliable number of this export is available, and the few studies estimating the lateral DIC export assume that all lakes on Earth function similarly. However, lakes can function along a continuum from passive carbon transporters (passive open channels) to highly active carbon transformers with efficient in-lake CO₂ production and loss. We developed and applied a conceptual model to demonstrate how the assumed function of lakes in carbon cycling can affect calculations of the global lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. Using global data on in-lake CO₂ production by mineralization as well as CO₂ loss by emission, primary production, and carbonate precipitation in lakes, we estimated that the global lateral DIC export can lie within the range of \( {0.70}_{-0.31}^{+0.27} \) to \( {1.52}_{-0.90}^{+1.09} \) Pg C yr^?1 depending on the assumed function of lakes. Thus, the considered lake function has a large effect on the calculated lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. We conclude that more robust estimates of CO₂ sinks and sources will require the classification of lakes into their predominant function. This functional lake classification concept becomes particularly important for the estimation of future CO₂ sinks and sources, since in-lake carbon transformation is predicted to be altered with climate change.     

New exocrine glands in ants: the hypostomal gland and basitarsal gland in the genus Melissotarsus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Fisher and Robertson (Insect Soc 46: 78–83, 1999) discovered the production of silk-like secretions emerging from slit-shaped openings along the anterior margin of the ventral hypostoma of Melissotarsus ant workers. The current histological study describes a hitherto unknown hypostomal gland from which this silk-like substance originates. In addition, this study describes a new basitarsal gland in the three pairs of legs of Melissotarsus workers.     

太湖化学耗氧量和生化需氧量的时空分布特征

基于2009年2月(冬季)、5月(春季)、8月(夏季)、11月(秋季)全太湖32个站点的化学耗氧量(COD)、生化需氧量(BOD)、溶解性总氮(DTN)、溶解性总磷(DTP)、浮游植物色素数据,分析了太湖COD、BOD的时空分布特征,并探讨了影响COD、BOD时空分布的因素.结果表明,2009年太湖COD值为3.40～6.16mg·L-1,平均值为(4.38±0.72)mg·L-1;BOD为0.64～5.93mg·L-1,平均值为(1.91±1.63)mg·L-1.COD值在秋冬季节较高,其值显著大于春夏季(p0.001);而BOD值冬季较高,其它季节都较低.COD与BOD的空间分布格局相似,呈现出自竺山湾、太湖西北沿岸区向梅梁湾区、湖心区、东南湖湾区依次递减的趋势.分类统计结果显示,河口沿岸区COD、BOD值显著高于开敞水域区(p0.001).相关性分析结果表明,COD、BOD与DTN、DTP、浮游植物色素的相关性存在季节性差异.夏季浮游植物色素浓度与COD、BOD相关系数最高,说明夏季浮游植物降解对水体内COD和BOD的贡献要高于其它季节.COD与BOD的时空分布特征主要受降雨量、河流输入、"引江济太"及太湖浮游植物活动等的影响.