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Pedogenetic features of the soils could be a proxy for revealing the landform surface processes. Our work first analyzed the particle size distributions and lithological discontinuities (LDs) of the soils in the midstream of the Zoushui River, central Taiwan. The results showed that the parental materials of the soils derive from mixed sediments of the Zoushui River and its tributaries, and the LDs of some soils suggested multi-depositional events with homogeneous lithology. Then, we proposed a soil chronosequence of Inceptisols, Ultisols, and Oxisols, over the Pleistocene timescale. There was a very well-defined semilogarithmic relationship between weighted profile development index (WPDI) values and soil age with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.9. The age of the soils did not certainly agree with the interglacials of the main marine isotope stage (MIS). However, the soils started to develop only after being aggraded by relatively warm and humid periods or by extreme rain events in cool and dry periods. Irrespective of whether the soils had started to develop, tectonic downcutting, providing clear altitudinal separation of the terrace treads, could inevitably happen later (or almost synchronologically) to ensure stabilities of the tread surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coastal Range in eastern Taiwan is characterized by rapid uplift at a rate of about 5 mm [yr-sup.1] because of active arc-continent collision since the Mio-Pliocene. The Coastal Range includes three main levels of Holocene marine terraces, labeled the first, second, and third levels descending to the coast. The soils that have developed on the terraces provide a chronosequence for pedogenic studies. Thirteen soil pedons formed from conglomerate associated with tuff were sampled along three transects in the central and southern part of the eastern coast of Taiwan near the localities of Chang-Bin, Cheng-Gong, and Du-Lan. The soils of the oldest terrace (first level) are mainly Typic Hapluderts with one Typic Hapludoll; the soils of the intermediate terrace (second level) are Vertic or Typic Hapludolls; and the soils of the youngest terrace (third level) are Typic Udipsamments. The degree of development of these soils can be determined from horizon index (HI), weighted profile development index (WPDI), weighted mean profile (WMP) clay, WMP silt, WMP sand, and WMP cation exchange capacity with correlation coefficients (r) >0.6 by linear or logarithmic functions. Comparisons of the chronofunctions based on WMP clay data in subtropical and Mediterranean climates suggest that climatic conditions not only control weathering intensity but also influence rates of soil development. The pedogenic evidence in this study supports the correlation of terraces suggested by previous geomorphic and tectonic studies. The anomalous, relatively weaker degree of soil development on the oldest terrace at Du-Lan supports the conclusion that uplift rates in the Du-Lan area are greater than at Chang-Bin and Cheng-Gong. Abbreviations: cal., calibrated; HI, horizon index; OC, organic carbon; WMP, weighted mean profile; WPDI, weighted profile development index; XRD, x-ray diffraction. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2009.0276

The hypsometric curve and hypsometric integral (HI) of drainage basins are common tectonic geomorphologic indices. Generally, the hypsometric curve is convex and the HI is high in areas of strong rock uplift. However, previous research indicates that an inverse correlation exists between the HI and rock uplift in the mountain-piedmont junction in California. It has also been proposed that the basin HI in the range front area has scale dependence, which increases the difficulty of inferring tectonic uplift. We therefore examined the effects of tectonic uplift and basin scale on basin HI in the southern Coastal Range of eastern Taiwan. The results showed that basin size could affect the HI. First-order Strahler basins are smaller and have higher HIs, whereas second- and third-order basins are larger and have lower HIs, indicating some form of scale dependence. The coefficient of logarithmic regression between mean area and mean HI of every subbasin was calculated to determine the scale dependence index (SDI). The lower the SDI, the higher the scale dependence. The SDI was utilized to distinguish basins' topographic tendencies between range interior and range front. We also applied the igneous-area ratio to define spatial tendencies of basins' lithology distributions. The lower the igneous-area ratio, the greater the spatial tendency toward range front will be. Basins in the middle of the south Coastal Range tended to approach a range interior steady state, with higher SDIs and a positive correlation between HI and rock uplift rate. Basins in the north and south of the south Coastal Range tended to be at a range front nonsteady state, with lower SDIs and a negative correlation between HI and rock uplift rate. The correlations may be applicable to estimate the rock uplift rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebrate gamma-interferon inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) is an IFN-γ-inducible protein and is involved in MHCII-restricted antigen processing and cross-presentation of MHCI-restricted antigens in adaptive immunity. Outside of the endocytic MHC pathway, GILT regulates the cellular redox state, inhibits T cell activation, neutralizes extracellular pathogens and is also a host factor of some bacterial pathogens. In this report, we isolated and characterized three divergent GILT -like genes, GILT1 , GILT2 and GILT3 , which share only 30.9–40.4% identities in a crustacean mud crab Scylla paramamosain . Whilst the crab GILT1 and GILT3 possess four and five exons, respectively, the GILT2 is intronless, suggesting that GILT2 may arise from a recent retroposition event. The invertebrate GILT -like genes have diverse gene organizations and may be evolved in a species/lineage-specific manner as suggested by phylogenetic tree analysis. The amino acid sequences equivalent to human mature GILT are well conserved, including the GILT signature and nine of the ten cysteine residues that potentially form 5 disulfide bonds in human GILT, across the animal kingdom. However, most invertebrate GILT -like molecules lack the human-type N-terminal propeptide, as well as the human-type C-terminal with a conserved cysteine residue, suggesting differences in post translational processing and mode of action. All the three GILT -like genes are highly expressed in the hepatopancreas and up-regulated by pathogenic bacterial infection suggesting a role in immune defense against bacterial diseases. This study may provide the basis for further investigation of the expanding functions of GILT -like molecules in immunity and other physiological processes in mud crabs and other animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3 and IRF7 have been identified as regulators of type I interferon (IFN) gene expression in mammals. In the present study, the two genes were cloned and characterized in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. The full-length cDNA sequence of IRF3 and IRF7 in the European eel, named as AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 consists of 2879 and 2419 bp respectively. Multiple alignments showed that the two IRFs have a highly conserved DNA binding domain (DBD) in the N terminus, with the characteristic motif containing five tryptophan residues, which is a feature present in their mammalian homologues. But, IRF7 has only four of the five residues in other species of fish. The expression of AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 both displayed an obvious dose-dependent manner following polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) challenge. In vivo expression analysis showed that the mRNA level of AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 was significantly up-regulated in response to PolyI:C stimulation in all examined tissues/organs except in muscle, with a lower level of increase observed in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge and Edwardsiella tarda infection, indicating that AaIRF3 and AaIRF7 may be more likely involved in antiviral immune response. In addition, some pattern recognition receptors genes related with the production of type I IFNs and those genes in response to type I IFNs were identified in the European eel genome database, indicating a relatively conserved system in the production of type I IFN and its signalling in the European eel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Pakua, Chushan and Touliu terraces are three groups of lateritic river terraces resulting from different fluvial systems in central Taiwan. Their geomorphic features do not enable regional correlations to be made. In this study, an alternative scheme based on the quantification of a pedogenic development is proposed for this correlation. Four soil pedons from the Chushan and Touliu terraces are classified as Ultisols (CS-1, CS-2 and TL-1) and an Inceptsol (TL-4) following the Soil Taxonomy. An additional six soil pedons, including an Oxisol (PK-1), Ultisols (PK-2, -3, -4 and -5), and an Inceptsol (PK-6), from the Pakua terraces were included from a previous study [Tsai, H., Huang, W.S., Hseu. Z.Y., Chen, Z.S., 2006. A river terrace soil chronosequence of the Pakua tableland in Taiwan. Soil Science 171, 167–179.]. The weighted mean profile development indices (WPDI) for the pedons suggest a chronological order of I (PK-1), II (PK-2), III (PK-3), IV (PK-4, CS-1 and TL-1), V (PK-5 and CS-2), VI (PK-6) and VII (TL-4). The correlation suggests the Chushan and Touliu terraces correspond to the same surface of an anticline, separated by the Chinshui River. Surface deformation reflects the growth of the underlying structure in which uplift folding occurred in the hinge zone and tilted to the east along the fold limb, as a result of the southern extension of the Pakua anticline. However, the different geometries on both the surface and subsurface from southern Pakua Anticline indicate a mechanism of fault-bend folding for Touliu Hill. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel protein was isolated from the seminal plasma of the mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskål, 1775). It exhibited an antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus leteus with IC90 of 0.125 mg/ml. The extraction procedure for the protein included techniques of acid extraction, ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose Fast Flow and reverse-phase liquid chromatography on Source 5R RPC. It showed a molecular mass of 10.8 kDa by SDS-PAGE. A partial 20 residue NH2-terminal sequence was determined by Edman degradation and MS-fingerprint of the protein was conducted. Similarity search in protein databases (BLAST) revealed that the protein exhibited no significant homology to any other reported antimicrobial peptides. We propose the name Scygonadin (from the gonad of S. serrata) for this antibacterial protein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Scygonadin is an anionic antimicrobial peptide recently identified from the seminal plasma of Scylla serrata. To gain more detailed information on its antimicrobial activity, scygonadin mature peptide was expressed in Escherichia coli in order to obtain a large quantity of biologically active product. An approximately 43kDa fusion protein CKS-scygonadin was obtained in a highly stable and soluble form. The soluble component of the fusion CKS-scygonadin was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). A single 11kDa recombinant scygonadin was cleaved from CKS-scygonadin and purified from the cleavage mixture using an affinity chromatography column with a yield of 10.6mg/L. Alternatively, a recombinant scygonadin was purified from pET28-scygonadin by one-step Ni2+ affinity chromatography and 65.9mg/L pure recombinant scygonadin was obtained which was higher than that purified from pTrc-CKS/scygonadin in bacteria culture. The recombinant scygonadin was confirmed using SDS–PAGE analysis and MS-fingerprinting. Both recombinant products of scygonadin from different expressed plasmids showed the activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but no activity against yeast and fungi tested. The kinetic studies showed that the recombinant scygonadin was strong active against Staphylococcus aureus and the killing of S. aureus appeared time and dose dependent. Considering the quantity of recombinant product and the applicability of purification, the pET28-scygonadin expression system is a better choice to produce large quantities of recombinant scygonadin for commercial use in future. This is the first report on the heterologous expression of antimicrobial peptide scygonadin in E. coli. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The southern part of the Pakua tableland in Taiwan comprises a series of wide, unpaired river terraces that have as many as six altitude levels, from PK-1 (highest) to PK-6 (lowest). The terrace surfaces are covered with lateritic soils. This study described, sampled and analyzed the soils from each terrace. Soil taxonomies are Oxisol, Ultisol and Inceptisol. Soil morphological characteristics were quantified as a profile development index (PDI) to determine the degree of soil development. The chemical analyses included cation exchange capacity (CEC) and selected extraction of Fe in soils. Based on the degree of soil development, surface deposits on terrace flights form the post-incisive soil chronosequence, supporting the hypothesis of terrace formation by fluvial processes. Soil ages were estimated based on iron crystallinity (Fed–Feo)/Fet. Analytical results indicate that river terraces in the Pakua tableland are aged 40–400 ka. The long-term uplift rate of the tableland can be estimated using terrace ages and folding geometry. The variation of uplift rates demonstrates that the landscape underwent increased shortening of frontal thrusting by the Changhua Fault running beneath the tableland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

No studies systematically examined the intestinal immune response for yellow stage of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) with Aeromonas hydrophila infection by time-resolved RNA-seq. Here, we examined transcriptional profiles of the intestines at three-time points following infection with A. hydrophila. Intraperitoneal injections caused mortalities within 48 h post-injection (hpi), with the survival rate 87.5% at 24 hpi and 83.9% at 48 hpi. The result from KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the immune related "cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway" was significantly enriched at the first and second time points (6 hpi and 18 hpi), with the up-regulated expression of irf3, il1b, tnfaip3, cxcl8a, ap1-2, c-fos, polr3d, polr3g and polr3k both at 6 hpi and 18 hpi, but not at the third time point (36 hpi). According to the KEGG annotation, 326 immune and inflammation-related DEGs were found. The co-expression network of those 326 DEGs revealed the existence of three modules, and tlr1 was found to be in the center of the biggest module which contained massive DEGs from "signal transduction" and "transport and catabolism". The c3 isoforms showed different expression pattern among the three time points, indicating a unique activation of complement systems at 18 hpi. Furthermore, two cathelicidins (aaCATH_1 and aaCATH_2) were highly up-regulated at the first two time points, and the bacterial growth inhibition assay revealed their antibacterial properties against A. hydrophila. Our data indicated the important roles of cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, as well as transcripts including tlr1, c3, polr and cathelicidins in the intestine of A. anguilla in response to A. hydrophila infection. The present study will provide leads for functional studies of host-pathogen interactions. • Massive DEGs were induced by bacterial infection at 6 hpi and 18 hpi. • "cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway" was significantly enriched at 6 hpi and 18 hpi. • The cathelicidin, polr and c3 might be involved in the antibacterial response. • The cathelicidins inhibit the proliferation of Aeromonas hydrophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Tadu tableland is located at the deformation front of the Western Foothills in central Taiwan. The surface of the tableland is covered by reddish soils and gravels, and is folded symmetrically with gently dipping strata running toward both wings. Previous geomorphic studies suggested a fluvial terrace landform developed on the surfaces of the tableland. However, other suggestions have been proposed in recent years. This study attempts to solve the argument by examining the pedogenesis of surface deposits. Five soil pedons were sampled to the depths of C horizons in the surface deposits of the tableland. Strong migration of illuvial clay was indicated by the accumulation of significant clay coatings in the sub-surface soils. These soils were classified as Paleudult and Kandiudult of Ultisols according to Soil Taxonomy. In addition, their morphological characteristics were further quantified in terms of soil development by the horizon index and weighted profile development index (WPDI). The WPDI values of 0.64–0.73 for the soils of the Tadu tableland agree with those of Ultisols developed on the Pakua tableland. Both qualification and quantification assessments indicate all soils of the Tadu tableland are equivalent in terms of degree of pedogenesis. As a result, all the geomorphic surfaces on the tableland probably developed at the same time, which rules out the interpretation of fluvial terraces developing on the tableland. The pedogenic evidence conditionally supports the recently proposed kinematic model for the development of the Tadu tableland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]