Diet, food availability, and climatic factors drive ranging behavior in white-headed langurs in the limestone forests of Guangxi, southwest China.

Changes in abiotic and biotic factors can affect the efficiency of biological systems in animals, forcing them to adjust their behaviors in response to daily and seasonal variations. From September 2016 to August 2017, we collected ranging behavior data on four groups of white-headed langurs ( ) in the Guangxi Chongzuo White-Headed Langur National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, southwest China. We simultaneously analyzed how multiple ecological factors affect langur ranging behavior, which should facilitate our understanding of the potential mechanisms underlying their adaptation to limestone habitats.

Lactoferrin modified graphene oxide iron oxide nanocomposite for glioma-targeted drug delivery.

Targeting delivery of drugs in a specific manner represents a potential powerful technology in gliomas. Herein, we prepared a multifunctional targeted delivery system based on graphene oxide (GO) that contains a molecular bio-targeting ligand and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on the surface of GO for magnetic targeting. Superparamagnetic FeO nanoparticles was loaded on the surface of GO via chemical precipitation method to form GO@FeO nanocomposites.

Dynamics of Strong Coupling between CdSe Quantum Dots and Surface Plasmon Polaritons in Subwavelength Hole Array.

We have investigated the strong coupling interaction between excitons of CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) of gold nanohole array by steady-state spectroscopic method and transient absorption measurements. Numerical and experimental steady-state measurements demonstrate that the SPP-QD system can indeed undergo strong coupling, characterized by a Rabi splitting up to 220 meV. In particular, it is found that in the transient absorption spectra, under resonant excitation, the 1S transition bleaching band from uncoupled CdSe QDs is completely separated into two distinctive bleaching bands, remarkably fingerprinting the hybrid SPP-QD state.

Mitochondrial genome of (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

are commonly found in the eastern Himalayas and south China. In our study, we reported the complete mitogenome and obtain basic genetic information of for the first time. The complete mitochondrial genomes of (16 885bp in length) had 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes (12 and 16) and 2 control regions.

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationship analysis of Garrulax affinis (Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

Garrulax affinis was a medium-sized bird of Timaliidae, and we got its complete mitochondrial genome by the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR). The genome (17 856 in length), it contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA (12S and 16S) genes, 2 tRNA genes, 2 control regions (D-loop). All protein-coding, rRNA, and tRNA genes were similar to other Passeriformes in gene arrangement and composition.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Garrulax poecilorhynchus (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

The entire mitochondrial genome of Garrulax poecilorhynchus consists of 17 814 bp and containe 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and two control regions. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome of G. poecilorhynchus is A = 5342 (29.

Intensity-dependent study of strong-field Coulomb explosion of H2.

We demonstrate experimentally that in pump-probe experiment of H2 fragmentation by intense laser fields, the Coulomb explosion (CE) paths induced by the second ionization of dissociating H2+ show varied dependencies on the laser intensity. While the charge resonance enhanced ionization (CREI) channel is intensity dependent, the probe induced CE (PICE) channel is intensity independent at certain delay time. By using a classical model, we calculated the dissociation trajectories which agree well with the experimental data.

Characteristic of complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationship of Garrulax sannio (Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

Garrulax sannio (Passeriformes, Timaliidae) was the medium-sized bird, whose plumage color was similar for both sexes. The complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA genome from G. sannio used the polymerase chain reaction method.

Moisture-responsive graphene paper prepared by self-controlled photoreduction.

A facile and cost-effective preparation of moisture-responsive graphene bilayer paper by focused sunlight irradiation is reported. The smart graphene paper shows moisture-responsive properties due to selective adsorption of water molecules, leading to controllable actuation under humid conditions. In this way, graphene-based moisture-responsive actuators including a smart claw, an orientable transporter, and a crawler paper robot are successfully developed.

Genetic diversity and differentiation of the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) population in western Sichuan, China, based on the second exon of the major histocompatibility complex class II DQB (MhcMamu-DQB1) alleles.

Background: Rhesus macaques living in western Sichuan, China, have been separated into several isolated populations due to habitat fragmentation. Previous studies based on the neutral or nearly neutral markers (mitochondrial DNA or microsatellites) showed high levels of genetic diversity and moderate genetic differentiation in the Sichuan rhesus macaques. Variation at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci is widely accepted as being maintained by balancing selection, even with a low level of neutral variability in some species.

Evidence of adaptive evolution of alpine pheasants to high-altitude environment from mitogenomic perspective.

Adaptive evolutions to high-altitude adaptation have been intensively studied in mammals. However, considering the additional vertebrate groups, new perception regarding selection challenged by high-altitude stress on mitochondrial genome can be gained. To test this hypothesis, we compiled and analyzed the mitochondrial genomes of 5 alpine pheasants and 12 low-altitude species in Phasianidae.

Common origin of green luminescence in carbon nanodots and graphene quantum dots.

Carbon nanodots (C-dots) synthesized by electrochemical ablation and small molecule carbonization, as well as graphene quantum dots (GQDs) fabricated by solvothermally cutting graphene oxide, are three kinds of typical green fluorescence carbon nanomaterials. Insight into the photoluminescence origin in these fluorescent carbon nanomaterials is one of the important matters of current debates. Here, a common origin of green luminescence in these C-dots and GQDs is unraveled by ultrafast spectroscopy.

Effect of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene on chicken reproductive traits.

Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) gene, potentially related to reproductive traits in chickens, was genotyped by using the Pooled DNA Sequencing, PCR-SSCP and Directing Sequencing techniques. 306 Erlang Mountain chickens form one line (SD03, a line that has been selected for egg quality from a local chicken breed in Sichuan province, China) were genotyped in this study. The associations between LHCGR polymorphisms and six reproductive traits [body weight at first egg (BWAFE), weight of first egg, age at first egg (AFE), number of eggs at 300 days of age (EN), body weight at 300 days of age and egg weight at 300 days of age (EWTA)] were estimated using the one-way analysis of variance method.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship between three serow species of the genus Capricornis based on the complete mitochondrial DNA control region sequences.

The molecular evidence of phylogenetic status regarding the Formosan serow (Capricornis swinhoei) is not robust and little is known about the genetic diversity of the Sumatran serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), which partly is due to the hardness in sample collection. Here we determined the sequences of the complete mitochondrial DNA control region (1,014 bp) of 19 Sumatran-serow individuals. Nine new haplotypes were defined based on 78 variable sites.

Direct observation of quantum-confined graphene-like states and novel hybrid states in graphene oxide by transient spectroscopy.

Quantum-confined graphene-like electronic states are directly observed in graphene oxide and photothermally reduced graphene oxide via transient spectroscopy. An unexpected novel hybrid state arising from amorphous carbon-like peripheral structure with high sp(3) /sp(2) carbon ratio in close vicinity of confined graphene-like states is found commonly existent in various carbon nanomaterials, including graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, and carbon dots.

Melatonin receptor genes in vertebrates.

Melatonin receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Three genes for melatonin receptors have been cloned. The MT1 (or Mel1a or MTNR1A) and MT2 (or Mel1b or MTNR1B) receptor subtypes are present in humans and other mammals, while an additional melatonin receptor subtype, Mel1c (or MTNR1C), has been identified in fish, amphibians and birds.

Sensing combustion intermediates by femtosecond filament excitation.

Simultaneous monitoring of multiple combustion intermediates using femtosecond filament-induced nonlinear spectroscopy is demonstrated. Clean fluorescence emissions from free radicals CH, CN, NH, OH, and C(2), as well as atomic C and H, are observed when a femtosecond filament is formed in the laminar ethanol/air flame on an alcohol burner. The fluorescence signals of these species are found to vary as functions of the position of interaction of the filament with the flame along the vertical axis of the central combusting flow, opening up a possibility for remote combustion diagnostic in engines by the excitation of femtosecond laser filament.

Genetic diversity and population structure in wild Sichuan rhesus macaques.

Because wild rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) populations have suffered major declines, there is a growing need to characterize their genetic and population structure in order to protect the genetic integrity of this species. In this study, we genotyped a sample comprising 120 wild rhesus macaques from six sites in Sichuan Province for 30 nuclear microsatellite (STR) loci using an ABI 3130xl genetic analyzer. Bayesian analyses and PCA clearly differentiated monkeys from Heishui from those at other sites.

[Polymorphic analysis of Mhc-DPB1 gene exon 2 in Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana)].

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules play an important role in the susceptibility and/or resistance to many diseases. To gain an insight into the MHC background of the Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana), and thereby facilitate their protection and application in biomedical research, the second exon of the Mhc-DPB1 genes from 70 Tibetan macaques in Sichuan Province were characterized by PCR, cloning, sequencing, and statistical analysis. A total of 18 Mhc-DPB1 alleles were identified from Tibetan macaques, of which one (Math-DPB1*01:06N) was a pseudogene.

Resonant gain suppression and superluminal group velocity in a multilevel system.

We investigate the interaction of an open (N + 1)-level extended V-type atomic system (i.e. a closed (N + 2)-level atomic system) with N coherent laser fields and one incoherent pumping field through both analytical and numerical calculations.

Femtosecond laser filamentation for atmospheric sensing.

Powerful femtosecond laser pulses propagating in transparent materials result in the formation of self-guided structures called filaments. Such filamentation in air can be controlled to occur at a distance as far as a few kilometers, making it ideally suited for remote sensing of pollutants in the atmosphere. On the one hand, the high intensity inside the filaments can induce the fragmentation of all matters in the path of filaments, resulting in the emission of characteristic fluorescence spectra (fingerprints) from the excited fragments, which can be used for the identification of various substances including chemical and biological species.

Phylogenetic analysis of chinese rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) based on mitochondrial control region sequences.

Between one and six subspecies of Chinese rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) have been proposed based on morphological differences and/or their geographic distribution. In this study, a 489 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region was amplified from 230 DNA samples collected from rhesus macaques in the Sichuan province in Western China. The fragment was then sequenced and aligned with 208 sequences from wild rhesus macaques, sampled throughout the species' geographic range in China downloaded from GenBank.

[Polymorphism of MHC-DPB1 gene exon 2 in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)].

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) has long been used as an experimental model animal for biomedical research and was under the key state protection (class II) from Chinese government. In order to facilitate the use of Chinese rhesus macaques in biomedical research and their protection based on better understanding of the major mistocompability complex (MHC) genes in these macaques, the exon 2 of Mamu-DPB1 genes were determined in 106 wild rhesus macaques using DGGE, cloning and sequencing. A total of 21 Mamu-DPB1 alleles were obtained, of which 15 alleles were novel sequences that had not been documented previously.