Protection of Mammal Diversity in Central America

Abstract:  Central America is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, but varies widely in the attention its countries devote to conservation. Protected areas, widely considered the cornerstone of conservation, were not always created with the intent of conserving that biodiversity. We assessed how well the protected-area system of Central America includes the region's mammal diversity. This first required a refinement of existing range maps to reduce their extensive errors of commission (i.e., predicted presences in places where species do not occur). For this refinement, we used the ecological limits of each species to identify and remove unsuitable areas from the range. We then compared these maps with the locations of protected areas to measure the habitat protected for each of the region's 250 endemic mammals. The species most vulnerable to extinction—those with small ranges—were largely outside protected areas. Nevertheless, the most strictly protected areas tended toward areas with many small-ranged species. To improve the protection coverage of mammal diversity in the region, we identified a set of priority sites that would best complement the existing protected areas. Protecting these new sites would require a relatively small increase in the total area protected, but could greatly enhance mammal conservation.     

Aseptically collected calf serum as an effective alternative to fetal calf serum in the culture of amniotic fluid cells

The growth-promoting activities of three different bovine sera have been compared in primary and secondary amniotic fluid cell cultures. In secondary amniotic fluid cell micro- cultures, aseptically collected calf serum (CS) was slightly, though not significantly more effective than fetal calf serum (FCS) in promoting DNA synthesis, while newborn calf serum (NCS) was significantly less effective than either CS or FCS. All three sera were optimally effective at concentrations of 10 per cent (v/v). Significant variation in quality occurred within four batches of each of CS and FCS, but not within four batches of NCS. A selected batch of CS was significantly more effective in promoting the growth of primary amniotic fluid cell cultures than were a number of batches of FCS then in routine laboratory use. It is suggested that CS may serve as an effective and economical alternative to FCS in the culture of amniotic fluid cells, thereby expanding the scope of serum batch testing. A possible explanation for the varying growth-promoting activities of different sera is discussed.     

Unexpected structural chromosome rearrangements in prenatal diagnosis

Among 5315 prenatal diagnoses performed for various indications (maternal age, neural tube defect, metabolic diseases, X-linked diseases, pathologic pregnancies) 29 unexpected structural chromosome rearrangements were found in fetal cells. Fourteen were de novo chromosome rearrangements, six unbalanced, and eight balanced. Fifteen were inherited and balanced rearrangements. This high frequency of structural anomalies is discussed.     

Rare cell isolation using antibodies covalently linked to slides: application to fetal cells in maternal blood

We describe here a new type of method for isolation of rare cell populations in biological fluids. The method is based on the anthraquinone technology for covalent binding of molecules to a polymer surface. An anthraquinone molecule conjugated via a linker to an electrophilic group (AQ Immobilizer™ reagent, Exiqon A/S) is covalently bound to a polymer surface by UV irradiation. The electrophilic group of this AQ reagent can covalently bind a specific antibody directed against a specific cell marker. Applying a cell sample to the functional surface, the cells having the specific cell marker on the cell surface will bind to the antibody on the functional surface. Using this technique, even extremely small cell populations may be isolated. We succeeded in isolating fetal cells from maternal blood samples in the first trimester for chromosome defects genetic diagnosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Promotion of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide to the damage of Alexandrium sp. LC3 by cupric glutamate

The effect of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide （HDTMAB） on the removal of A lexandrium sp. LC3 under cupric glutamate stress was investigated. Toxic effect of cupric glutamate on A lexandrium sp. LC3 was significantly promoted in the presence of HDTMAB, especially at 3.0 cmc of HDTMAB. It was found that the sulfhydryl group content of the cell decreased, while the malonaldehyde content and membrane permeability increased when A lexandrium sp. LC3 was treated with HDTMAB and cupric glutamate complex, compared with cupric glutamate alone. The data suggest that HDTMAB might stimulate the damage of A lexandrium sp. LC3 by enhancing the membrane permeability.     

电极构型对空气阴极生物燃料电池发电性能的影响

在空气阴极生物燃料电池(ACMFC)中,从阴极扩散进入阳极的氧气能够被兼性微生物作为电子受体还原,进而导致电子损失严重.本研究利用葡萄糖作底物,对2种不同电极构型的空气阴极生物燃料电池ACMFC1和ACMFC2的功率输出和电子回收进行了比较研究.结果表明,ACMFC1的内阻为302.14Ω,阳极电位为-323mV,最大功率密度为3 070 mW/m³;ACMFC2的内阻为107.79Ω,阳极电位为-442mV,最大功率密度达到9 800 mW/m³.在间歇条件下,ACMFC2可以连续运行220h,电子回收率为30.1%;而ACMFC1只能运行不到50h,电子回收率为9.78%.因此,合理的设计空气阴极生物燃料电池电极构型可以减小内阻,增大电池电动势进而增大功率输出,提高电子回收率.     

聚氨酯泡沫固定化产碱杆菌细胞生物转化氰化物

利用1株产碱杆菌DN25作为降氰菌株,以聚氨酯泡沫为载体进行固定化,研究其转化特性.结果表明,采用吸附生长法能有效实现菌株DN25的固定,固定细胞量可达到每g泡沫载体生物量干重0.35g.固定化细胞的最适转化温度和pH为35℃、8.0.对于低浓度氰化物,固定化细胞和游离细胞的转化速率相当;对于高浓度氰化物,固定化细胞具有明显优势,不仅可耐受更高浓度的氰化物转化,其转化速率也高于游离细胞,最大转化速率为507mg/(L·h),是游离细胞的2.8倍.通过初步的摇瓶模拟序列批式反应,固定化细胞活性可保持20d.     

镉引起蚕豆(Vicia faba)叶片DNA损伤和细胞凋亡研究

以蚕豆为研究对象,采用碱性、半碱性和中性彗星实验方法研究Cd对植物DNA的损伤,同时还采用DAPI染色法从细胞形态学入手研究Cd诱导的蚕豆叶片的细胞凋亡.用3种彗星实验研究Cd处理蚕豆叶片DNA损伤,结果表明Cd能够引起蚕豆叶片DNA损伤,但是不同Cd浓度引起DNA损伤的种类不同:5mg·L^-1Cd处理主要引起单链DNA损伤和碱性不稳定位点的形成;10mg·L^-1Cd处理时开始检测到DNA双链断裂;20mg·L^-1Cd处理下,各种类型的DNA损伤均明显增加,且DNA双链断裂尤其明显.DAPI染色法通过细胞形态学变化来检测蚕豆叶片细胞凋亡的结果表明,蚕豆叶片细胞在Cd处理下发生凋亡的过程与DNA损伤过程有很大的相关性.结果表明,Cd是一种基因毒性物质,同时证明Cd引起的DNA损伤是引起细胞发生凋亡的机制之一.     

恶臭假单胞菌Pseudomonas putida 5-x细胞壁膜系统的Cu2+吸附性能

对1株从电镀废水中分离出的革兰氏阴性菌恶臭假单胞菌P.putida 5-x的细胞表面组分对Cu²⁺的吸附性能进行了分析研究.结果表明,分离的P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附容量是完整细胞的5倍之多.细胞表面组分如肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和细胞内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附过程中都发挥了作用.肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜中的含量依次为细胞内膜>外膜>肽聚糖层,而它们的Cu²⁺吸附容量的大小依次为肽聚糖层>外膜>内膜.在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜对Cu²⁺的吸附过程中,肽聚糖层贡献了不到15%的吸附容量,而细胞外膜和内膜分别贡献了30%～35%和25%～30%.P.putida 5-x细胞外膜中的磷脂含量明显比其它报道的革兰氏阴性细菌的细胞外膜高,这可能是P.putida 5-x细胞外膜具有较高Cu²⁺吸附容量的主要原因,并由此导致P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的高Cu2+吸附容量.