Do borderline nuclear changes in gynaecological cytlogy constitute a reliable reporting category?

Fourteen laboratories participated in a national slide exchange study to investigate whether borderline nuclear changes (BNC) constitute a reliable reporting category. Slides were submitted by participating laboratories, having achieved a 100% intralaboratory consensus at the primary screener, checker, and medical levels. Sets of seven slides were examined in laboratories for 1 week, and exchanges were undertaken over a 6-month period. Each laboratory was requested to submit three consensus opinions on each slide at the primary screener, checker, and medical levels.
Response patterns for submitted slides achieving a reporting category consensus at the 50 and 80% consensus levels indicated that negative, BNC, and mild dyskaryosis are distinct and comparable categories. Similarly, the two subcategories of BNC with or without human papillomavirus (HPV) are nearly as distinct as the overall BNC category.
The percentage of submitted slides achieving consensus at consensus levels between 50 and 80% produced variable findings with regard to the practical success of the main reporting categories. The negative category was reasonably successful, whereas mild dyskaryosis was consistently poor. Borderline nuclear changes were successful at the 50% consensus level but showed a rapid decline by the 65% consensus level. The reason(s) for this remains speculative but indicates a possible potential of BNC to work successfully with additional training and education.
Reporting practices were not consistent among the laboratories and differences were identified between medical and nonmedical staff. A high use of the BNC category was noted in slides that failed to achieve consensus. A national study assessing all grades of abnormalities would appear essential.     

Training in zoo biology,captive breeding,and conservation

Different types of training in zoo biology, captive breeding, and conservation are discussed and the availability of a variety of programs documented. Emphasis is given to the need for more training in general, and especially for less-developed countries where zoos have much potential yet to be realized. The aims, structure, content, and impact of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust's International Training Program are examined.     

斑马鱼急性无机砷暴露后肝脏差异表达基因的生物信息学分析

砷是一种致癌物,是心血管、外周血管疾病、神经疾病、糖尿病和各种癌症的致病因素。目的:利用GO数据库和KEGG数据库等生物信息学方法对GEO数据库数据中的差异表达基因进行评价。利用生物信息学分析软件对差异基因进行功能富集、功能注释分析和生存分析。利用Cytoscape上的蛋白-蛋白相互作用网络(Protein-protein interaction network, PPI)软件对179个差异基因进行筛选和分析。结果发现126个基因作用于蛋白靶点,其中有10个基因为关键基因分别为:PSMB3、HSP701、HSPE1、STIP1、HSPD1、HSP70、DNAJB1B、HSP90AA1.1、HSPA9H和TCP1。核心基因主要作用于内质网中的蛋白质加工通路。这可能会为砷对肝脏损伤的潜在生物标志物和生物学机制提供新的思路。     

弱精子症精子中miRNAs特异表达及潜在致病靶点的分析

摘要 目的：弱精子症可见于40%的不育男性,其特征是精子活力低下。微小RNA（MicroRNAs,miRNAs）在精子发生中发挥重要作用,但关于精子中miRNAs在弱精子症中的作用知之甚少。本研究试图初探miRNAs在弱精子症的分子机制。方法：收集了重度弱精子症患者和健康男性的精子样本,采用高通量序列技术来识别差异表达的miRNAs,并对差异显著的miRNAs进行生物信息学分析。通过qRT-PCR 证实了2个特异性改变的 miRNA及其靶基因表达情况。结果：重度弱精子症患者与正常男性相比,共有146 个miRNAs（P＜0.05; |log2 Fold Change|＞1）发生改变,其中表达上调的52个,下调的94个;预测上下调幅度最显著的前10个miRNAs 的靶基因,同时在miRDB和TargetScan 数据库存在的靶基因共有1407个。富集分析结果显示,miRNAs的靶基因富集于精子细胞的生物过程,还参与精子细胞的氧化代谢、刺激反应、增殖和分化以及凋亡等生物过程。通路分析显示,靶基因可能参与细胞自噬、细胞衰老、PI3K-Akt信号通路、MAPK信号通路、HIF-1信号通路、mTOR信号通路等。其中,在弱精子症精子中特异性上调的hsa-miR-371a-5p和hsa-miR-2355-5p,预测靶基因分别为自噬效应蛋白Beclin1和线粒体内膜蛋白抑素2（prohibitin2,PHB2）,二者直接参与线粒体自噬过程。qRT-PCR结果显示随着精子活力的降低,精子中hsa-miR-371a-5p和hsa-miR-2355-5p的表达量升高。结论：本研究发现弱精子症患者精子中特异性失调的miRNAs及其靶基因,为后续深入研究低活力精子中miRNAs参与调控线粒体自噬功能的机制提供新思路和理论依据。     

Selective constraints, molecular recombination structure and phylogenetic reconstruction of isometric plant RNA viruses of the families Luteoviridae and Tymoviridae

In an effort to enhance the knowledge on molecular evolution of currently the known members of the families Luteoviridae and Tymoviridae, in-depth molecular investigations in the entire genome of 147 accessions retrieved from the international databases, were carried out. Two algorithms (RECCO and RDP version 3.31β) adapted to the mosaic structure of viruses were utilized. The recombination frequency along the sequences was dissected and demonstrated that the three virus genera of the family Luteoviridae comprise numerous members subjected to recombination. It has pointed out that the major viruses swapped a few but long genomic segments. In addition, in Barley yellow dwarf virus, heredity material might be exchanged between two different serotypes. Even more, putative recombination events occurred between two different genera. Based on Fisher’s Exact Test of Neutrality, positive selection acting on protein expression was detected only in the poleroviruses Cereal yellow dwarf virus, Potato leafroll virus and Wheat yellow dwarf virus. In contrast, several components of the family Tymoviridae were highly recombinant. Genomic portion exchange arose in many positions consisting of short fragments. Furthermore, no positive selection was detected. The evolutionary history showed, in the Luteoviridae, that all screened isolates split into three clusters corresponding to the three virus genera forming this family. Moreover, in the serotype PAV of Barley yellow dwarf virus, two major clades corresponding to PAV-USA and PAV-China, were delineated. Similarly, in the Tymoviridae, all analyzed isolates fell into four groups corresponding to the three virus genera composing this family along with the unclassified Tymoviridae. Inferred phylogenies reshuffled the existing classification and showed that Wheat yellow dwarf virus-RPV was genetically closely related to Cereal yellow dwarf virus and the unclassified Tymoviridae Grapevine syrah virus-1 constituted an integral part of the genus Marafivirus.     

BDCGrid:基于Globus的生物信息高性能计算网格系统

随着分子生物信息数据量高速增长,生物信息学面临着大规模、高通量、密集型计算的巨大挑战。为有效利用计算机资源,缩短高通量生物信息计算程序执行时间,我们基于Globus Toolkit网格中间件,实现了一个支持高通量生物数据计算的网格系统(Biological Data Computing Grid,简称BDCGrid)。BDCGrid计算网格系统模型可以有效整合中小型生物信息学实验室计算机资源,大大缩短高通量生物信息计算程序执行时间,为相关研究人员利用现有计算机资源处理大规模、高通量生物信息计算任务提供一种新的途径。     

The differentiation of bacterial isolates encountered in fieldwork

A numerical value for each isolate is obtained by adding the appropriate value for each positive test given by each organism.

The advantages and disadvantages of the method compared with more conventional methods of bacterial identification are discussed and some modifications or improvements are suggested. This simplified approach is presented as being suitable for obtaining information about the diversity of bacterial types on student fieldwork.     

A-Level ‘Questions’ in Biology—The Nature of the Influence

The purpose of keeping animals in schools and the main problems encountered in their maintenance are summarised. Many teachers prefer animals which are kept typically in research laboratories over animals which can be collected from the student's environment. However, small animals of economic importance can combine some of the advantages of both of these groups of animals. Chickens, bees, plant pests and their natural enemies have been tried out in the Agriculture as Environmental Science Curriculum Project and can be used for observation and measurement as well as to stress the aspect of relevance to real life problems. In their maintenance, standard equipment and methods can often be used and help the teacher to solve some of the main problems of keeping animals.

Two curriculum units, on a fruit fly and on honey bees, are described. Reasons for a widespread negative image of rural studies are discussed, and positive, effective outcomes, reported in the evaluation of an environmental science course, are used to substantiate the advantages of keeping animals of economic importance in schools.     

Leveraging remote learning during the Covid‐19 pandemic to enhance student understanding of biodiversity

We evaluated whether individual nature‐based ecological (NBE) study used in tandem with group collaboration enhanced undergraduate student understanding of ecological concepts and pro‐environmental perceptions. In response to the Covid‐19 pandemic, we developed a multiweek unit on the latitude diversity gradient (LDG) for fully online instruction that leveraged the unique situation of students learning in disparate geographic locations. Student understanding of the LDG and pro‐environmental perceptions were assessed with surveys administered both pre‐ and post‐activity in an introductory‐level biology laboratory course. Student understanding of the geographic location where biodiversity is the highest was high prior to the start of the laboratory unit and exhibited only a small improvement after the unit. In contrast, students’ higher order thinking around the LDG was enhanced by the lab activity. Student environmental perceptions shifted toward ecocentric views and away from anthropocentric views after the laboratory unit. The greatest gains in ecological understanding and shifts toward ecocentric viewpoints occurred in the group of students who visited their field sites most often. Our results provide further evidence as to the value of NBE for the introductory biology laboratory, even in an online learning setting. The lab unit described in this study provides a potential approach to teaching ecology in an online format that could easily be adapted to fit the needs of a particular curriculum.