BMP9经Smad信号通路调控iSCAP成骨/成牙本质分化

目的：研究BMP9是否能够激活 iSCAP细胞中的Smad信号通路,以及Smad信号通路在BMP9诱导iSCAP细胞成骨/成牙本质向分化过程中的作用。方法：首先,采用Western印迹实验检测Ad-BMP9转染iSCAP后Smad1/5/8蛋白的磷酸化水平。随后,利用dnALK1重组腺病毒和BMP9条件培养基作用于iSCAP,Western印迹实验检测Smad1/5/8蛋白磷酸化水平;采用碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性检测和染色方法分析早期成骨/成牙本质指标变化,茜素红染色法检测钙盐沉积程度;RT-PCR成骨/成牙本质相关基因Runx2、OCN、OPN和DMP1表达的影响。结果：BMP9可上调iSCAP中Smad1/5/8的磷酸化水平;dnALK1抑制BMP9条件培养基作用后,可抑制Smad1/5/8的磷酸化,iSCAP细胞中早期成骨/成牙本质标志物ALP活性和晚期成骨/成牙本质标志钙盐结节减少,重要成骨转录因子Runx2基因表达减少,成骨/成牙本质相关基因OCN、OPN、DMP1的表达也受到了抑制。结论：Smad信号通路在BMP9诱导iSCAP成骨/成牙本质过程中存在并起着重要作用。     

普氏蹄蝠下丘谐波主频神经元的时程选择性

为探讨下丘(Inferior colliculus,IC)回声定位信号主频范围内的神经元的时程选择性,在自由声场刺激条件下,我们在4 只普氏蹄蝠的IC 采用不同时程的声刺激,研究了神经元的时程选择性。通过在体细胞外记录,共获得56 个声敏感下丘神经元,其记录深度、最佳频率和最小阈值的范围分别为1547 - 3967 (2878. 9 ±629.1)μm,20 -68 (49.0 ± 11. 1)kHz 和36.5 -95. 5 (59. 8 ±13. 0)dB SPL。根据所记录到的下丘神经元对不同时程的声刺激的反应,即对不同时程的选择性(Duration selectivity),将其分为6 种类型:短通型(Short-pass,SP,n = 11/56)、带通型(Band-pass,BP,n = 1/56)、长通型(Long-pass,LP,n = 5 /56)、反带通型(Band-reject,BR,n = 3 /56)、多峰型(Multi-peak,MP,n =6 /56)和全通型(All-pass,AP,n =30 /56)或非时程选择型(Nonduration-selective,NDS)。通过比较普氏蹄蝠下丘谐波主频内和主频外神经元的时程选择性,我们发现处于回声定位信号主频范围内神经元(n =32)比主频外神经元(n = 24)具有更短的最佳时程和更高的时程选择性。结果提示,在普氏蹄蝠回声定位过程中谐波主频内神经元较谐波主频外神经元发挥了更为重要的作用。     

The Dilemma of Dominance

The concept of dominance poses several dilemmas. First, while entrenched in genetics education, the metaphor of dominance promotes several misconceptions and misleading cultural perspectives. Second, the metaphors of power, prevalence and competition extend into science, shaping assumptions and default concepts. Third, because genetic causality is complex, the simplified concepts of dominance found in practice are highly contingent or inconsistent. The conceptual problems are illustrated in the history of studies on the evolution of dominance. Conceptual clarity may be fostered, I claim, by viewing diploid organisms as diphenic and by framing genetic causality modestly through individual alleles and their corresponding haplophenotypes.     

粤北天然林优势种群生态位研究

基于粤北始兴县罗坝保护区内2个2500m^2样地的群落分层频度调查数据,以不同林层作为一维资源位状态,以个体多度为生态位计测的资源状态指标,对天然常绿林群落中的12个优势树种（栲树、马尾松、茶木、枫香、罗浮柿、杨梅、鹿角栲、黄瑞木、甜锥、山杜英、牛耳枫及鸭公树）进行了生态位的计测和分析。结果表明,大部分的耐荫树种具有较大的生态位宽度值;而阳性树种（如马尾松等）同表现为较小的生态位宽度值。其中马尾松和枫香的生态位宽度值为0,与这两个种在群落演替中的衰退地位相一致,各优势树种,无论是耐荫种类抑或是阳性种类,均表现出一定程度的对现有环境适应的相似性。群落1中相似性比例在0.5以上的占54.5%;也表现出一定程度的生态位重叠,群落1中重叠值大于0.2的占51.5%。结合经典的森林群落分层频度分析,则可以更准确地判定种群在群落中的地位和更新发展潜力;另一方面,把群落分层作为资源位,考虑不同的个体多度的分层中的分布情况,这些分析结果也从一个侧面反映树种对生境的要求情况,不同的群落由于其中树种组成结构不同,使树种生态位宽度值产生变化,从而影响树种之间的生态位相似比例和生态位重叠值。     

古代DNA研究中污染的控制和识别

现代分子生物学中PCR技术的发展使得直接分析古代动植物和人类材料中的DNA成为可能,这为考古学、人类学和古生物学提供了一种新的研究手段。但由于PCR技术的高度敏感性和古代DNA含量的极其微量性,古代DNA研究也极易受现代DNA污染。如何甄别所获得的DNA是真实的古代DNA而不是污染的现代DNA是所有古代DNA研究工作者都要面临的挑战,污染的控制和识别也因此成为古代DNA研究中一个至关重要的问题。本文将着重讨论在古代DNA研究的各个步骤中应如何进行有效的污染控制和识别。     

Mice with Disrupted TGFβ Signaling Have Normal Cerebella Development,but Exhibit Facial Dysmorphogenesis and Strain-Dependent Deficits in Their Body Wall

The transforming growth factor betas (TGFβs) are context-dependent regulators of neurons in vitro, but their physiological functions in the brain are unclear. Haploinsufficiency of either Tgfβ1 or Tgfβ2 leads to age-related deterioration of neurons, but the development of the brain is normal in the full absence of either of these genes. However, some individuals with mis-sense mutations of TGFβ receptors are mentally retarded, suggesting that the TGFβ isoforms can compensate for each other during brain development. This possibility was tested by generating mice (NSE × PTR) with neuron-specific expression of a dominant-negative inhibitor of TGFβ signaling. The NSE × PTR mice with a FVBxC57Bl/6 genetic background were viable and developed normally despite strong neuronal expression of the inhibitor of TGFβ signaling. Their cerebella were of normal size and contained normal numbers of neurons. When the genetic background of the mice was changed to C57BL/6, the phenotype of the mice became neonatal lethal, with the neonates exhibiting various malformations. The malformations correlated with sites of non-neuronal expression of the transgenes and included facial dysmorphogenesis, incomplete closure of the ventral body wall and absence of intestinal motility. The C57BL/6 Tgfbm1–3 alleles, which modulate the phenotype of Tgfβ1^−/− mice, were not major determinants of the NSE × PTR phenotype. The data suggest that the development of the cerebellum is insensitive to the level of TGFβ signaling, although this may be dependent on the genetic background.     

Species extinction and permanence of an impulsively controlled two-prey one-predator system with seasonal effects

Recently, the population dynamic systems with impulsive controls have been researched by many authors. However, most of them are reluctant to study the seasonal effects on prey. Thus, in this paper, an impulsively controlled two-prey one-predator system with the Beddington–DeAngelis type functional response and seasonal effects is investigated. By using the Floquet theory, the sufficient conditions for the existence of a globally asymptotically stable two-prey-free periodic solution are established. Further, it is proven that this system is permanent under some conditions via a comparison method involving multiple Lyapunov functions and meanwhile the conditions for extinction of one of the two prey and permanence of the remaining two species are given.     

Screening and degradation performances of dominant strains in high-salinity landfill leachate

In order to enhance the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the high-salinity landfill leachate, the dominant strains were isolated from high-salinity landfill leachate. The dominant strains and bacteria consortium were screened for COD treatment potential using an aerobic COD concentration decrease test. Ten strains, TJ01–TJ10, were isolated, of which six strains TJ02, TJ03, TJ05, TJ06, TJ07, and TJ09 were found to have higher COD removal when the single bacteria were added, all more than 20%. The most effective combination was TJ06 + TJ09; the COD removal efficiency reached 45.57%. 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis revealed that TJ06 and TJ09 belonged to the genus Bacillus. The effects of the dominant bacteria consortium on the high-salinity landfill leachate varied with pH value and the volume fraction of leachate. The COD removal efficiencies maintained higher when the pH value was 6–8 and the volume fractions of leachate were less than 80%. The result also suggested that there is little effect on the growth of TJ06 and TJ09 when the range of Cl⁻ concentration is 0–30,000 mg/L.     

Patterns and controls of the variability of radiation use efficiency and primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems

Aim The controls of gross radiation use efficiency (RUE), the ratio between gross primary productivity (GPP) and the radiation intercepted by terrestrial vegetation, and its spatial and temporal variation are not yet fully understood. Our objectives were to analyse and synthesize the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types. Location A global range of sites from tundra to rain forest. Methods We analysed a global dataset on photosynthetic uptake and climatic variables from 35 eddy covariance (EC) flux sites spanning between 100 and 2200 mm mean annual rainfall and between ?13 and 26°C mean annual temperature. RUE was calculated from the data provided by EC flux sites and remote sensing (MODIS). Results Rainfall and actual evapotranspiration (AET) positively influenced the spatial variation of annual GPP, whereas temperature only influenced the GPP of forests. Annual and maximum RUE were also positively controlled primarily by annual rainfall. The main control parameters of the growth season variation of gross RUE varied for each ecosystem type. Overall, the ratio between actual and potential evapotranspiration and a surrogate for the energy balance explained a greater proportion of the seasonal variation of RUE than the vapour pressure deficit (VPD), AET and precipitation. Temperature was important for determining the intra‐annual variability of the RUE at the coldest energy‐limited sites. Main conclusions Our analysis supports the idea that the annual functioning of vegetation that is adapted to its local environment is more constrained by water availability than by temperature. The spatial variability of annual and maximum RUE can be largely explained by annual precipitation, more than by vegetation type. The intra‐annual variation of RUE was mainly linked to the energy balance and water availability along the climatic gradient. Furthermore, we showed that intra‐annual variation of gross RUE is only weakly influenced by VPD and temperature, contrary to what is frequently assumed. Our results provide a better understanding of the spatial and temporal controls of the RUE and thus could lead to a better estimation of ecosystem carbon fixation and better modelling.