A Wearable Sandwich Heterostructure Multimode Fiber Optic Microbend Sensor for Vital Signal Monitoring.

This work proposes a highly sensitive sandwich heterostructure multimode optical fiber microbend sensor for heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and ballistocardiography (BCG) monitoring, which is fabricated by combining a sandwich heterostructure multimode fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (SHMF-MZI) with a microbend deformer. The parameters of the SHMF-MZI sensor and the microbend deformer were analyzed and optimized in detail, and then the new encapsulated method of the wearable device was put forward. The proposed wearable sensor could greatly enhance the response to the HR signal. The performances for HR, RR, and BCG monitoring were as good as those of the medically approved commercial monitors. The sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity, easy fabrication, and good stability, providing the potential for application in the field of daily supervision and health monitoring.

Streptomyces argyrophyllae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Cathaya argyrophylla.

Strain Jing01T, a novel actinomycete from rhizosphere soil of Cathaya argyrophylla, was identified using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain Jing01T revealed that it was a member of the genus Streptomyces and shared 99.03%, 99.03%, 98.96%, 98.89%, 98.83%, 98.82%, 98.76%, 98.74%, 98.73%, 98.69% and 98.68% similarities to Streptomyces rochei NRRL B-2410T, Streptomyces naganishii NBRC 12892T, Streptomyces rubradiris JCM 4955T, Streptomyces anandii NRRL B-3590T, Streptomyces aurantiogriseus NBRC 12842T, Streptomyces mutabilis NBRC 12800T, Streptomyces rameus LMG 20326T, Streptomyces djakartensis NBRC 15409T, Streptomyces bangladeshensis JCM 14924T, Streptomyces andamanensis KCTC 29502T and Streptomyces tuirus NBRC 15617T, respectively. In phylogenetic trees constructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain Jing01T generated a separate branch at the middle of the clade, suggesting it could be a potential novel species. In phylogenomic tree, strain Jing01T was related to S. rubradiris JCM 4955T. In phylogenetic trees based on the gene sequences of atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB and trpB, strain Jing01T was related to S. bangladeshensis JCM 14924T and S. rubradiris JCM 4955T. Whereas, the multilocus sequence analysis distance, average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridization values between them were much less than the species-level thresholds. This conclusion was further supported by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analysis. Consequently, strain Jing01T represents a new Streptomyces species, for which the proposed name is Streptomyces argyrophyllae sp. nov. The type strain is Jing01T (= MCCC 1K05707T = JCM 35923T).

Nocardiopsis changdeensis sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from the roots of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.

Strain Mg02T was isolated from roots of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. collected from Changde City, Hunan Province, China. Strain Mg02T, which exhibited distinct chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Nocardiopsis: cell-wall chemotype III/C, i.e., meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic amino acid in whole-cell hydrolysates and menaquinone MK-10 with variable degrees of saturation in the side chain as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, was investigated by a polyphasic approach to determine their taxonomic position. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain Mg02T is affiliated to the genus Nocardiopsis, having highest sequence similarity to Nocardiopsis flavescens CGMCC 4.5723T (99.1%) and <98.7% to other species of the genus Nocardiopsis with validly published names. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene indicated strain Mg02T formed a separate evolutionary clade, suggesting that it could be a novel Nocardiopsis species. Phylogenomic analysis showed that strain Mg02T was closely related to N. flavescens CGMCC 4.5723T and distinct from the latter according to the clustering patterns. The Average Nucleotide Identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain Mg02T and N. flavescens CGMCC 4.5723T were far below the species-level thresholds. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we think that strain Mg02T should represent a novel Nocardiopsis species, for which the name Nocardiopsis changdeensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Mg02T (=MCCC 1K06174T = JCM 34709T).

Nocardiopsis akebiae sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinomycete isolated from fruits of Akebia trifoliata.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain HDS12T, was isolated from fruits collected from Changde city located in the northwest of Hunan Province, China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain HDS12T belonged to the genus Nocardiopsis, and had highest similarities to N. dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei CGMCC 4.1231T (99.79%), N. deserti H13T (99.73%), N. alborubida NBRC 13392T (99.66%), N. dassonvillei subsp. crassaminis D1T (99.64%), N. synnemataformans DSM 44143T (99.45%), N. lucentensis DSM 44048T (99.04%), N. aegyptia DSM 44442T (98.90%), N. flavescens CGMCC 4.5723T (98.76%), N. alba DSM 43377T (98.69%) and N. halotolerans DSM 44410T (98.63%), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain HDS12T formed an independent subclade, suggesting that strain HDS12T could belong to a potential novel species. Phylogenomic analysis demonstrated that strain HDS12T was closely related to N. dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei CGMCC 4.1231T and N. dassonvillei subsp. crassaminis D1T. However, the average nucleotide identity value and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization value between them were well below 95-96% and 70% cut-off point recommended for delineating species. Based on its phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain HDS12T (= MCCC 1K06173T = JCM 34708T) represents the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Nocardiopsis akebiae sp. nov. is proposed.

Streptomyces akebiae sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from rhizosphere soil of Akebia trifoliate.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated as MG28T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Akebia trifoliate. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. BLAST search of the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MG28T indicated it represented a member of the genus Streptomyces, and displayed 99.03%, 98.90%, 98.90%, 98.89%, 98.83% and less than 98.70% sequence similarities with S. phaeolivaceus GY16T, S. deccanensis KCTC 19241T, S. europaeiscabiei KACC 20186T, S. fructofermentans CGMCC 4.1593T, S. scabiei NRRL B-16523T and other species of the genus Streptomyces with validly published names, respectively. Phylogenomic analysis indicated that strain MG28T was closely related to Streptomyces deccanensis KCTC 19241T. However, the average nucleotide identity values and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between them indicated that strain MG28T represented a distinct species. Furthermore, strain MG28T was also distinctly differentiated from strain KCTC 19241T by morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. Therefore, strain MG28T (= MCCC 1K06895T = JCM 34922T) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces akebiae sp. nov. is proposed.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Gomesa flexuosa.

Gomesa flexuosa (Lodd) M.W.Chase & N.H.Williams is a new species of orchid revised in 2009. In this study, the chloroplast genome of G. flexuosa was sequenced to determine its genomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationship with other related species. G. flexuosa has a chloroplast genome size of 147,764 bp, comprising 25,757 bp of two inverted repeat (IR) regions, 83,579 bp of large single-copy (LSC) region, and 12,671 bp of small single-copy (SSC) region. Moreover, the whole genome contains 73 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that G. flexuosa is closely related to Oncidium sphacelatum.

Enrofloxacin perturbs nitrogen transformation and assimilation in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.).

The extensive use of antibiotics worldwide has led to phytotoxicity and high risks to humans. Although research on the physiological toxicity of antibiotics is extensive, its influence on plant nitrogen uptake and assimilation remains unclear. The effect of enrofloxacin on nitrogen transformation and assimilation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings was investigated in this study. Enrofloxacin had no significant effect on rice growth, nitrogen assimilation and metabolism at low concentration, while significant changes were observed in high concentration. The growth of rice seedlings was inhibited, nitrate uptake was enhanced and nitrogen content increased significantly in both shoots and roots in enrofloxacin (800 µg L-1) treatment. Furthermore, enrofloxacin promoted the activity of enzymes related to nitrogen assimilation, including nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, and glutamate dehydrogenase. High enzyme activity resulted in an increase in intermediate products and protein content, suggesting that rice seedlings may detoxify enrofloxacin stress through amino acid binding and nitro-oxidative stress might be one of the reasons of phenotype change. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results revealed that different types of metabolites in both shoots and roots increased with enrofloxacin stress. Specifically, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; butanoate metabolism; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism in shoot; and tyrosine metabolism and citrate cycle in root were affected. Moreover, a significant correlation between nitrogen content, nitrogen assimilation enzyme activity, and metabolite content was observed. Collectively, these findings reveal the potential risks of using reclaimed wastewater irrigation and/or antibiotic-containing animal fertilizers on crops.

Diurnal variations of aerosol chemical compositions and related gaseous pollutants in Beijing and Guangzhou.

A new apparatus, Steam Jet Aerosol Collector (SJAC) combined with on-line Mobile Ion Chromatograph provides a reliable way to measure both aerosol components and related gas species simultaneously. The SJAC was applied in the field campaigns in Beijing and Guangzhou to investigate aerosol chemical compositions and related gaseous pollutants. The concentration levels and diurnal variations are discussed, which implies differences in atmospheric chemistry of gas-to-particle conversions in Beijing and Guangzhou.

[Concentrations of aerosol and related gases in Beijing].

The measurement was made in 3 periods from May to September of 2000 in Beijing. The measurement species included SO4(2-), NO3-, NO2-, Cl- of aerosol and related gases. The hourly variation of the concentration was presented. It showed that NO3-, NO2-, Cl- of aerosol and HCl, HNO2, HNO3 of gas varied with regularity. The variation of gas SO2 and aerosol SO4(2-) depended on the emission of SO2. The peak time of SO4(2-) was about 2 hours later than SO2.