Noninvasive ultrasound deep brain stimulation of nucleus accumbens induces behavioral avoidance

Ultrasound stimulation is an emerging noninvasive option in treating neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study investigates the behavioral alterations resulting from ultrasound stimulation on the nucleus accumbens(NAc) in freely moving mice. Our results show that an acute ultrasound stimulation on the NAc, rather than the visual cortex or auditory cortex, led to a pronounced avoidance behavior, while repeated NAc ultrasound stimulation resulted in an obvious conditioned place aversion with changes in synaptic protein(Glu A1/2 subunit) expression. Notably, NAc ultrasound stimulation suppressed the morphine-induced conditioned place preference. The results provide evidence that NAc ultrasound stimulation can be applied as a potential noninvasive therapeutic option in treating psychiatric disorders.     

Combined use of dbcAMP and IBMX minimizes the damage induced by a long‐term artificial meiotic arrest in mouse germinal vesicle oocytes

Phosphodiesterase (PDE)‐mediated reduction of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) activity can initiate germinal vesicle (GV) breakdown in mammalian oocytes. It is crucial to maintain oocytes at the GV stage for a long period to analyze meiotic resumption in vitro. Meiotic resumption can be reversibly inhibited in isolated oocytes by cAMP modulator forskolin, cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), or PDE inhibitors, milrinone (Mil), Cilostazol (CLZ), and 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX). However, these chemicals negatively affect oocyte development and maturation when used independently. Here, we used ICR mice to develop a model that could maintain GV‐stage arrest with minimal toxic effects on subsequent oocyte and embryonic development. We identified optimal concentrations of forskolin, dbcAMP, Mil, CLZ, IBMX, and their combinations for inhibiting oocyte meiotic resumption. Adverse effects were assessed according to subsequent development potential, including meiotic resumption after washout, first polar body extrusion, early apoptosis, double‐strand DNA breaks, mitochondrial distribution, adenosine triphosphate levels, and embryonic development. Incubation with a combination of 50.0 μM dbcAMP and 10.0 μM IBMX efficiently inhibited meiotic resumption in GV‐stage oocytes, with low toxicity on subsequent oocyte maturation and embryonic development. This work proposes a novel method with reduced toxicity to effectively arrest and maintain mouse oocytes at the GV stage.     

Psoralen attenuates bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice through inhibiting myofibroblast activation and collagen deposition

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and chronic inflammation with limited therapeutic options. Psoralen, a major active component extracted from Psoralea corylifolia L. seed, has several biological effects. However, the role of psoralen in IPF is still unclear. Here, we hypothesized that psoralen played an essential role in IPF in the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory response. A murine model of IPF was established by injecting bleomycin (BLM) intratracheally, and psoralen was administered for 14 days from the 7^th to 21^st day after BLM injection. Our results demonstrated that psoralen treatment reduced body weight loss and improved the survival rate of mice with IPF. Histological and immunofluorescent examination showed that psoralen alleviated BLM‐induced lung parenchymal inflammatory and fibrotic alteration. Furthermore, psoralen inhibited proliferation and collagen synthesis of mouse fibroblasts and partially reversed BLM‐induced expression of α‐smooth muscle actin at both the tissue and cell level. Moreover, psoralen decreased the expression of transforming growth factor‐β1, interleukin‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in the lungs of BLM‐stimulated mice. Our results reveale for the first time that psoralen exerts therapeutic effects against IPF in a BLM‐induced murine model.     

小叶锦鸡儿天然居群叶形态性状变异研究

为揭示小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)天然居群叶形态性状的变异规律及其生态适应性特征,该研究以10个小叶锦鸡儿天然居群为对象,通过多重比较、巢式方差分析、相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析等方法,对7个叶形态性状进行分析。结果表明：(1)小叶锦鸡儿叶形态性状在居群内和居群间均存在极显著差异(P < 0.01),平均变异系数为10.13%,不同性状的变异幅度为6.23%~12.78%;平均叶形态性状的表型分化系数为43.62%,居群内变异(30.09%)大于居群间变异(24.91%),说明居群内是其叶形态性状变异的主要来源。(2)相关性分析表明,环境因子对小叶锦鸡儿的叶形态性状变异有很大的影响,在地理空间上主要呈现出沿海拔梯度的变异模式;主成分分析的结果显示,小叶宽、叶柄宽和叶柄长对小叶锦鸡儿叶形态变异起主导作用;利用欧式距离对小叶锦鸡儿居群进行UPGMA聚类分析结果显示,基于叶形态性状和环境因子可分别将小叶锦鸡儿10个居群分为3类和2类,Mantel检验结果表明,小叶锦鸡儿的叶形态性状变异不存在地理连续性。研究结果为小叶锦鸡儿的适应性进化和开发利用提供了理论依据。     

小麦TaCO9基因的克隆及功能分析

为了明确TaCO9-1A基因在小麦生长发育中的具体调控机理,该研究以同源克隆的方法成功获得了大麦(Hordeum vulgare)光周期基因HvCO9在小麦(Triticum aestivum)中的直系同源基因TaCO9,并对其进行生物信息学分析、亚细胞定位、转录激活以及表达模式分析;利用农杆菌侵染法转化拟南芥,并对过表达株系进行表型分析。结果表明:(1)TaCO9包含2个外显子和1个内含子,CDS区全长876 bp,编码291个氨基酸,蛋白序列含有特有的CCT结构域,且在不同物种间高度保守。(2)生物信息学分析表明,TaCO9基因编码的蛋白质分子量约为30.7 kD,等电点为6.24;TaCO9的启动子区含有光响应、激素应答和胁迫应答等多种顺式作用元件。(3)亚细胞定位和转录活性分析表明,TaCO9主要定位于细胞核中,且具有转录激活活性。(4)qRT-PCR结果表明,TaCO9基因在各个组织中均有表达,叶片中的表达量最高;在光照14 h条件下TaCO9的表达量显著高于光照10 h和12 h条件下的表达量,且TaCO9在大粒小麦‘西农817’子房与籽粒中的表达量显著高于‘中国春’。(5)经潮霉素筛选成功获得3个转基因拟南芥株系;进一步功能鉴定结果表明,过表达转TaCO9基因拟南芥植株的开花期迟于野生型(对照)3~4 d,但角果和籽粒较野生型大。     

不同姿势久坐下女性腰部肌肉的sEMG信号变化

目的:观察女性受试者在不同坐姿久坐前后腰部肌肉表面肌电(sEMG)信号的变化,探讨不同姿势的久坐对竖脊肌功能状态的影响。方法:32名女性受试者随机分成4组,分别在4种不同的座椅(座椅A、B、C、D)上久坐2 h。记录受试者腰部竖脊肌在久坐前后2次最大随意收缩力量(MVC)测试中的sEMG信号,观察测试过程中的前3 s时频指标及全程频域指标的变化。结果:3 s的时频指标平均肌电振幅(AEMG)、平均功率谱频率(MPF)在不同坐姿久坐前后无显著性差异,其中AEMG在座椅B组中明显大于座椅A组;全程信号的频域指标MPF在久坐后显著减小,但在不同坐姿之间无显著性差异。结论:女性受试者在4种不同坐姿2 h久坐前后腰部竖脊肌的最大活动水平无明显改变;最大持续收缩能力在久坐后下降,但在不同坐姿间并无显著差异。     

赤霞珠葡萄果实苹果酸生物合成关键转录因子的筛选与鉴定

该研究以宁夏贺兰山东麓酿酒葡萄种植区栽培面积最大的‘赤霞珠’为材料,在前期完成从果实形成至成熟不同发育时期的转录组测序以及关键有机酸含量测定基础上,进一步通过转录因子结合位点预测、差异表达基因分析、加权基因共表达网络关联分析(WGCNA),逐步筛选出与‘赤霞珠’果实苹果酸生物合成相关功能基因特异结合的、影响苹果酸生物合成的相应转录因子,并对其进行qRT PCR验证,以揭示这些关键功能基因及其关键转录因子在葡萄不同种植区、果实不同发育时期存在的相互调控作用机制,为以后培育优质酿酒葡萄提供新的理论依据与思路。结果表明：(1)GC/MS分析发现, ‘赤霞珠’果实在4个发育时期的延胡索酸和苹果酸含量变化趋势基本一致,两种酸含量均从果实硬果期到绿果期逐步升至最高(3.63和626.53 μg/g),之后缓慢下降,经转色期到成熟期后逐渐降至最低(2.14和244.26 μg/g),而草酰乙酸的变化趋势却相反,在硬果期含量最高(315.54 μg/g),经绿果期、转色期到成熟期逐渐降至最低值(126.11 μg/g)。(2)‘赤霞珠’果实发育时期样本转录组测序共获得可能与苹果酸生物合成途径12种功能基因结合的转录因子6 411个,其中延胡索酸水化酶(FH)的3个功能基因有86个转录因子,苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)的10个功能基因有717个转录因子。(3)转录组测序数据及其与有机酸含量WGCNA关联结果的Veen分析确定了‘赤霞珠’果实成熟过程中与苹果酸生物合成相关度最高的3个FH基因(VIT_14s0060g01700、VIT_13s0019g03330、VIT_07s0005g00880)、2个MDH基因(VIT_10s0003g01000、VIT_13s0019g05250)及相应的18个关键转录因子。(4)qRT PCR验证及相关性分析表明, FH基因VIT_13s0019g03330与其转录因子VIT_01s0011g06200、VIT_08s0056g01230以及MDH基因VIT_13s0019g05250与其转录因子VIT_06s0004g04960、VIT_10s0003g02070的表达水平与苹果酸的积累存在显著正相关关系,推测这4个关键转录因子可能通过调控功能基因的转录,综合影响‘赤霞珠’果实苹果酸的生物合成。     

上海城市近自然森林的重建动态

近自然森林作为城市植被恢复的重要模式,已在我国多地开展了实践,并衍生了新的造林模式。为评估不同近自然森林建设模式的群落恢复进程,本研究以上海城市裸地上重建的近自然森林为对象,通过长期监测两处分别应用原"宫胁法"与新"异龄复层落叶—常绿混交林"种植模式的近自然森林重建过程,从物种组成、垂直结构、生活型组成和目标恢复物种4个方面解析恢复动态。结果表明:两种造林模式恢复的近自然森林,随恢复进程其物种组成逐渐趋同,在十多年内已形成了落叶—常绿垂直混交结构;"异龄复层落叶—常绿混交林"造林模式可更好地促进常绿阔叶树种的恢复,尤其是常绿建群种红楠与小叶青冈。本研究证实了近自然森林恢复技术可以缩短亚热森林群落向演替后期发展的时间,以及新造林模式的有效性,为近自然森林技术的应用与实施提供了科学依据。     

我国林火发生预测模型研究进展

通过文献回顾,总结了国内林火发生预测模型的研究现状,并从林火发生驱动因子、林火发生概率预测模型、林火发生频次预测模型和模型检验方法等方面进行归纳分析。得出以下结论: 1)气象、地形、植被、可燃物、人类活动等因素是影响林火发生及模型预测精度的主要驱动因子;2)林火发生概率模型中,地理加权逻辑斯蒂回归模型考虑了变量之间的空间相关性,Gompit回归模型适宜非对称结构的林火数据,随机森林模型不需要多重共线性检验,在避免过度拟合的同时提高了预测精度,是林火发生概率预测模型的优选方法之一;3)林火发生频次模型中,负二项回归模型更适合对过度离散数据进行模拟,零膨胀模型和栅栏模型可以处理林火数据中包含大量零值的问题;4)ROC检验、AIC检验、似然比检验和Wald检验方法是林火概率和频次模型的常用检验方法。林火发生预测模型研究仍是我国当前林火管理工作的重点,预测模型的选择需要依据不同地区林火数据特点。此外,构建林火预测模型时需要考虑更多的影响因素,以提高模型预测精度;未来,需要进一步探索其他数学模型在林火发生预测中的应用,不断提高林火发生预测模型的准确度。