Outline and computational approaches of protein misfolding.

Protein misfolding is a general causation of classical conformational diseases and many pathogenic changes that are the result of structural conversion. Here I review recent progress in clinical and computational approaches for each stage of the misfolding process, aiming to present readers an outline for swift comprehension of this field.

Plasma biochemical responses of the planktivorous filter-feeding silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) to prolonged toxic cyanobacterial blooms in natural waters

The planktivorous filter-feeding silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) are the attractive candidates for bio-control of plankton communities to eliminate odorous populations of cyanobacteria. However, few studies focused on the health of such fishes in natural water body with vigorous toxic blooms. Blood parameters are useful and sensitive for diagnosis of diseases and monitoring of the physiological status of fish exposed to toxicants. To evaluate the impact of toxic cyanobacterial blooms on the planktivorous fish, 12 serum chemistry variables were investigated in silver carp and bighead carp for 9 months, in a large net cage in Meiliang Bay, a hypereutrophic region of Lake Taihu. The results confirmed adverse effects of cyanobacterial blooms on two phytoplanktivorous fish, which mainly characterized with potential toxicogenomic effects and metabolism disorders in liver, and kidney dysfunction. In addition, cholestasis was intensively implied by distinct elevation of all four related biomarkers (ALP, GGT, DBIL, TBIL) in bighead carp. The combination of LDH, AST activities and DBIL, URIC contents for silver carp, and the combination of ALT. ALP activities and TBIL, DBIL. URIC concentrations for bighead carps were found to most strongly indicate toxic effects from cyanobacterial blooms in such fishes by a multivariate discriminant analysis. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

沈阳城市森林生态系统健康与管理研究

本文系统研究了沈阳城市森林的布局与结构、城市森林功能、城市森林病虫害发生与树木健康状况和城市自然资源与社会经济状况等指标对沈阳城市森林生态系统健康与管理的影响。同时一，采用2种生态系统健康评价方法对沈阳城市森林生态系统健康状况进行了评价，并提出了沈阳城市森林生态系统健康管理的对策。研究结果如下：1、截至2004年末，沈阳城市森林植被覆盖率已经达到35％，城市森林林地分布基本合理，但需要进一步加强道路林地、居住区林地和城郊大面积生态林建设。2、沈阳城市森林以乔木为主，乔灌株数比为1.7：1，乔灌的覆盖度比约为7:1。3、沈阳城市森林不同类型林地中植物组成不同。公园林地中有74个属，137个种（变种）；庭院林地中有53个属，104个种（变种）；居住区林地中有45个属，81个种（变种）；道路林地中有43个属，94个种（变种）；运河风景林地中有75个属，142个种（变种）；棋盘山风景林地中有48个属，118个种（变种）。4、公园林地、庭院林地、居住区林地、道路林地和运河风景林地的Shannon一Wiener多样性指数分别为2.78、3.05、3.15、3.18和3.18，均匀度指数分别为0.56、0.66、0.72、0.70和0.64。除了棋盘山风景林地外，沈阳城市森林中栽植总量超过乔木总量5％的乔木树种有7个属，分别为李、柳树、杨树、桧柏、榆树、槐树和银杏，7种树木总量达到了全部乔木总量的82.09％；栽植总量超过灌木总量5％的灌木树种也有7个属，分别为水腊、丁香、李属，小聚、玫瑰、忍冬和连翘，7个属灌木总量达到了全部灌木总量的87.92％。5、公园林地、庭院林地、道路林地和防护林地中OBH＜20cm、20cm＜DBH＜60cm和DBH＞60cm树木的比例分别为：57.9％、40.0％、2.1％，49.2％、47.8％、3.0％，65.3％、33.1％、1.6％和64.6％、34.9％、0.5％，表明沈阳城市森林树木的规格总体上偏小。6、经样方调查和CITYgreen模型计算，沈阳城市森林的生态效益约2.0亿USD／yr.。公园林地、庭院林地和风景林地的景观指标相对较高；道路林地和居住区林地的景观效果一般；防护林地的景观效果较差。7、目前已经发现的沈阳城市森林病害约600余种，虫害约700余种，其中杨树主要病虫害39种，柳树的主要病虫害有33种，榆树和槐树的主要病虫害均为，1种。杨柳树腐烂病、光肩星天牛、天幕毛虫、桃红颈天牛和美国白蛾等是近10年来沈阳城市森林中普遍发生和造成严重危害的主要病虫害。沈阳城市森林主要树木的平均健康指数为2.68，处于一般健康状态。8、沈阳城市森林的土壤和水资源状况均不利于树木的健康生长，沈阳的社会经济发展也有待于进一步提高。9、经过生物指示物法（光肩星天牛为生物指示物）、专家权重法、公众问卷调查和对比研究，沈阳城市森林生态系统总体上处于亚健康状态。10、通过对沈阳城市森林资源、管理状况的调查研究和健康状况的评价，本文提出了沈阳城市森林生态系统健康管理的对策，包括合理规划沈阳城市森林林地布局，增加道路林地、居住区林地和城郊林地的面积和植被覆盖率；调整树木种类组成，避免单一或少数树种的大量栽植，提高生物多样性水平；保护大树和古树；增加城市森林管理资金的投入；应用先进技术，采取科学的病虫害防治和植物养护方法，促进树木的健康生长等。This project systematically studied the urban forest ecosystem health and management in Shenyang. The study explored factors, such as urban forest structure, distribution, pests, aesthetic value, ecological benefit, natural resources and socieo-economic status, that affecting the urban forest ecosystem health and management. Two methods were used to evaluate the ecosystem health. This project also proposed Shenyang's urban forest ecosystem health management strategies. The research results can be summarized as follows: 1. As of the end of 2004, urban forest coverage in Shenyang is about 35%, and is in relatively even patch distribution pattern. However, the street trees and roadside forest patches, residential block forest patches should be enhanced. 2. Trees are the major component of the Shenyang s urban forest, followed by shrubs. The quantity ratio of tree to shrub is about 1.7:1, and the coverage ratio of trees to shrub is about 7:1. 3. Species composition varies by location. There are 74 genera, 137 species (including varieties) in the public parks; 53 genera, 104 species (and var.) in the green spaces of the institution (including school), factory, and company; 45 genera, 81 species (var.) in residential blocks; 43 genera, 94 species (var.) in streets and roadside forest patches; 75 genera, 142 species (var.) in the Canal landscape forest patches; 48 genera, 118 species (var.) in the Qipan Mountain recreation forest. 4. The Shannon-Woener indices varies in parks, in institution, factory, and company yards, in streets and roadside forest patches, in residential blocks.there are 2.78, 3.05, 3.18, 3.15, 3.18, respectively; and the evenness indices are 0.56, 0.66, 0.70, 0.72, 0.64, respectively. Besides the Qipan Mountain forest patches, trees of 7 genera, Prunus spp., Salix spp., Populus spp., Sabina spp., Ulmus spp., Robinia spp. and Ginkgo biloba are of more than 5% the total urban trees, respectively. In fact, trees from these 7 genera are about 82% of all trees in Shenyang's urban forests. In terms of shrubs, species of 7 genera, Ligustrum spp., Syringa spp., Prunus spp., Berberis spp., Rosa spp., Lonicera spp., and Forsythia spp. are more than 5% the total urban shrubs, respectively. 88% of all the shrubs in Shenyang s urban forest are from these 7 genera. 5. The diameter class of DBH<20cm, 20cmand DBH>60cm of trees in parks, in institution, factory, and company yards, in in streets and roadside forests, and in protective forests are 57.9%, 40.0%, 2.1%; 49.2%, 47.8%, 3.0%; 65.3%, 33.1%, 1.6%; and 64.6%, 34.9%, 0.5%, respectively. The result indicated that the DBH is relatively small in Shenyang s urban forests. 6. Using random plots sampling and CITYgreen model calculation, the ecological benefit of Shenyang's urban is about 0.2 billion US dollars per year. The aesthetic value of parks, institution and company yards, and scenary forest patches is relative high; however, the aesthetic value of protective forest patches is low. 7. There are more than 600 types of diseases and more than 700 kinds of insects in Shenyang's urban forest. Among them, Populus spp., Salix spp., Ulmus spp. and Robinia spp., are attached mainly by 39, 33, 11, and 11, difference types of pests respectively. The rot disease of the Populus spp. and Salix spp., and the insects such as, Anoplophora glabripennis, Malacosoma neustria, Aromia bungii, and Hyphantria cunea are major pests in Shenyang s urban forest for the past 10 years. The trees health condition is relatively poor by having the average health index of 2.68 for major species. 8. The urban soil and water resource are not favorable to tree's growth in Shenyang, and so is the socieo-economic status. 9. Through using bio-indicator, professional and public evaluation, and comparision with other urban forests, it can be concluded that the status of Shenyang s urban forest is not very healthy in general. 10. To improve the urban forest ecosystem health in Shenyang, a better urban forest design need to be implemented to enhance the area and vegetation coverage of the street and roadside forests, the residential block forests, and the surburb forest Species biodiversity need to be enhanced by adjust the species composition of urban forest trees to reduce the single or several tree species populations and to plant more varieties. A better fundings for urban forest health management need to be budgeted. Advanced technologies in tree care and scientific measures to control pests need to be adopted to prove better care for plants and to keep trees grow healthfully.