Responses of the desert green algae,Chlorella sp. to drought stress

Desert algae are important components of the desert soil crust and play an essential role in desert soil ecosystem development. Owing to their special habitat, desert algae are often exposed to harsh environments, among which drought represents the most common stress. Green algae are considered to have drought tolerance potential; however, only a few studies have investigated this. In this study, we selected the green alga Chlorella sp., which was isolated from desert soil, and studied its physiological response to polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-induced drought stress. The results showed that drought stress can affect the photosynthetic efficiency of Chlorella sp., reduce its water retention ability, and destroy its ultrastructure. However, Chlorella sp. can cope with drought stress through a series of physiological regulatory strategies. Protective strategies include quick recovery of photosynthetic efficiency and increased chlorophyll content. In addition, induced synthesis of soluble proteins, lipids, and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), and accumulation of osmotic regulatory substances, such as sucrose and trehalose, also contribute to improving drought tolerance in Chlorella sp. This study provides insights into the physiological responses of Chlorella sp. to drought stress, which may be valuable for understanding the underlying drought adaptation mechanisms of desert green algae.     

Neurobiological mechanisms of the meridian and the propagation of needle feeling along the meridian pathway

The present experiments attempt to find the meridian phenomenon and how the needle feeling propagates along the given meridian channels. The neurobiological mechanisms of the meridian were studied with neuroelectrical recording from the motor neurons and CB-HRP retrograde histochemistry technique in both rats and cats. The results demonstrated that most, but not all, of alpha motor neurons supplying a muscle group of a given meridian were selectively activated by afferent inputs originating not only from homonymous or heterogeneous, but synergistic muscle, but also from the skin nerve overlying the muscle group of the homonymous meridian. However, the afferent inputs from the heterogeneous meridian have very weak or no effect. On the other hand, the labeled motor neurons supplying a given meridian muscles form a discrete longitudinal column with a definite bound in the lateral ventral horn. There are oriented dendro-dendristes projections between the labeled motor neurons.The characteristics of both sel     

RAPD分析─鉴定柑桔体细胞杂种的快速方法

本文利用改进的DNA提取方法,从Volkamer柠檬(Citrus volkameriana Ten. and Pasq.)和酸橙(C. aurantium L.)及其原生质体杂种植株的叶片中抽提总DNA,进行RAPD(Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA)分析。结果表明: 在随机选取的15种引物中,有10种可单独或与其它引物一道鉴定这一组合的体细胞杂种。与形态学性状观察、同工酶及ONA杂交分析等方法比较,RAPD分析是一种可在试管苗期即可直接、准确、快速鉴定柑桔体细胞杂种的方法。     

Electrospun Scaffold of Collagen and Polycaprolactone Containing ZnO Quantum Dots for Skin Wound Regeneration

Nanofibers(NFs)have been widely used in tissue engineering such as wound healing.In this work,the antibacterial ZnO quantum dots(ZnO QDs)have been incorporated into the biocompatible poly(ε-caprolactone)/collagen(PCL/Col)fibrous scaffolds for wound healing.The as-fabricated PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds exhibited good swelling,antibacterial activity,and biodegradation behaviors,which were beneficial for the applications as a wound dressing.Moreover,the PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds showed excellent cytocompatibility for promoting cell proliferation.The resultant PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds containing vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)also exhibited promoted wound-healing effect through promoting expression of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and the vascular factor(CD31)in tissues in the early stages of wound healing.This new electrospun fibrous scaffolds with wound-healing promotion and antibacterial property should be convenient for treating wound healing.     

动物内源褪黑素调控生物节律的研究进展

内源褪黑素对人类和其他哺乳动物的节律行为具有调控功能。生物节律是自然进化赋予生命的基本特征之一,生物体的生命活动受到生物节律的控制与影响。在哺乳动物中,节律调控中心是松果体,其主要功能是合成和分泌褪黑素。褪黑素广泛参与生物体节律行为的调节,本文从褪黑素的产生和作用机制,分别阐述褪黑素对昼夜节律行为和多种年节律行为的调控作用,同时明确褪黑素与生物钟及神经内分泌系统的直接作用和反馈互动的复杂集合,进一步揭示褪黑素调控生物节律的重要作用,以期为褪黑素的基础研究以及未来探究生物体的生物钟内源性发生机制提供参考。     

SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like pathological damages and constitutes an antiviral target

Cytokine storm and multi-organ failure are the main causes of SARS-CoV-2-related death. However, the origin of excessive damages caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains largely unknown. Here we show that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (2-E) protein alone is able to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-like damages in vitro and in vivo. 2-E proteins were found to form a type of pH-sensitive cation channels in bilayer lipid membranes. As observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, heterologous expression of 2-E channels induced rapid cell death in various susceptible cell types and robust secretion of cytokines and chemokines in macrophages. Intravenous administration of purified 2-E protein into mice caused ARDS-like pathological damages in lung and spleen. A dominant negative mutation lowering 2-E channel activity attenuated cell death and SARS-CoV-2 production. Newly identified channel inhibitors exhibited potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and excellent cell protective activity in vitro and these activities were positively correlated with inhibition of 2-E channel. Importantly, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of the channel inhibitor effectively reduced both the viral load and secretion of inflammation cytokines in lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE-2). Our study supports that 2-E is a promising drug target against SARS-CoV-2.Subject terms: Cell death, Molecular biology     

我国甜菜夜蛾间歇性暴发的非均衡性循环波动

[摘要] 为进一步了解我国甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua ( Hbner)间歇性暴发成灾的规律,作者应用时间序列分析技术研究了我国甜菜夜蛾间歇性暴发的时间序列波动规律。结果表明,在1949—2008年的60a中,我国甜菜夜蛾大尺度暴发总年频次为120次,各年度暴发次数(年频次)存在着非均衡性循环波动特征,并且在其波动过程中呈明显的上升趋势。按“年频次”强度,可将我国1949—2008年60a中甜菜夜蛾发生过程,划分成两个明显不同的阶段。第一阶段（1949—1984年）为平稳低发阶段,36a总年频次量为4次,年平均仅0.11次;第二阶段（1985—2008年）则为波浪式上升性高发阶段,24a总年频次为116次,年平均4.83次（为第一阶段的43.91倍））。按第二阶段24a（1985—2008）数据进行自相关系数和频谱图分析,结果表明,我国甜菜夜蛾大尺度暴发存在2.8a和11.2a2种不同长度的循环周期,其暴发趋势指数对滞后1a和滞后4a的影响为正相关,而对滞后5a和滞后6a的影响则为负相关。本文根据甜菜夜蛾暴发指数的非均衡周期性特征,建立了以时间序列为自变量的甜菜夜蛾暴发指数非均衡周期性预测模型,经回代结果检验,理论值与实测值之间无显著差异。     

不同颜色遮阳网遮光对丘陵茶园夏秋茶和春茶产量及主要生化成分的影响

为研究不同颜色遮阳网遮光对夏秋茶与春茶产量和品质的影响,在中国科学院桃源农业生态试验站以“碧香早”茶树为试验材料,选用不遮光和中度遮光（遮光率(50?4)%）的黑色、绿色、银灰色遮阳网开展遮光试验。结果表明：不同季节使用黑色遮阳网能显著增加氨基酸和咖啡碱含量,降低茶多酚含量和酚氨比,与对照茶园比较,夏季、秋季、春季茶叶氨基酸含量分别增加了14.22%、17.07%、6.23%,茶多酚含量分别降低了4.40%、6.43%、27.66%,咖啡碱含量分别增加了9.48%、8.10%、7.28%。夏秋季银灰色遮阳网效果最差,绿色遮阳网效果介于黑色和对照之间,春季三种颜色遮阳网效果均优于对照;茶树遮光后品质明显优于对照,夏秋茶经遮光可达到制高档茶的要求,春茶遮光可达到制名优茶的要求。     

张家界武陵源风景区自然景观价值评估

自然景观提供给人们观赏、娱乐和休闲的效用和价值,长期以来,人们对自然景观的价值忽略并低估,导致在开发利用自然资源过程中出现资源浪费和生态破坏的问题.如果赋予自然景观合适的经济价值,能为其开发利用提供决策支持.为评价张家界武陵源风景区的景观价值,构建了相应的指标体系.自然景观价值乃使用价值与非使用价值之和,并对这两种价值分别运用旅行费用法和条件价值法进行评估.结果表明:2011年武陵源风景区的自然景观价值为89.01亿元,其中使用价值为79.30亿元,非使用价值为9.71亿元.分析表明,武陵源风景区的自然景观价值要远高于以往的研究及近年的旅游收入,建议景区当局全面认识其景观价值,在旅游人次不断攀升的形势下,全力保护该地生态环境,探究武陵源风景区的可持续发展道路.     

砂培条件下施加钙、砷对蜈蚣草吸收砷、磷和钙的影响

在砂培条件下 ,研究施加钙、砷对蜈蚣草生长和砷、磷和钙的吸收及转运的影响。添加砷对蜈蚣草的生物量 (根、叶柄和羽叶的干物重 )虽未达到显著影响 (p<0 .0 5) ,但添加 0 .1 mmol/L砷时 ,表现出刺激生长效应。提高介质中钙浓度明显抑制蜈蚣草根系生长 ,钙浓度过高还会显著限制地上部生长。供应 0 .0 3mmol/L钙时 ,蜈蚣草羽片砷浓度为 42 1 8mg/kg,明显高于 2 .5和 5 mmol/L钙处理下相应的砷浓度。砷的转运系数 (羽片 /根 )随着介质中砷浓度的升高而增大 ,随着介质中钙浓度的升高而减少。这说明一定范围内提高介质中砷浓度促进砷向地上部运输 ,而钙却明显抑制砷向地上部转运。钙和砷浓度过高时 ,植株均会出现中毒症状。钙中毒表现为叶脉变褐和叶肉坏死 ;而砷中毒现象表现在叶尖和叶缘变褐。介质中砷限制蜈蚣草根部对磷的吸收 ,但对地上部磷浓度无显著影响。介质中添加砷 ,植物体内钙浓度升高 ,可能起缓解砷毒的作用。钙、砷对蜈蚣草羽片砷累积量和总累积量均有极显著的交互作用 ,钙是负交互效应 ,砷是正交互效应。添加 2 .5和 5.0 mmol/L钙时 ,相对于 0 .0 3 mmol/L钙处理分别减少地上部砷累积量 2 0 .8%和73.1 %。这表明在应用蜈蚣草进行植物修复时 ,介质中出现过高浓度的钙是不利于提高土壤修复效率