A new brain endocast of Homo erectus from Hulu Cave, Nanjing, China

A new brain endocast of Homo erectus from Hulu Cave, Tangshan, Nanjing is described and compared with a broad sample of endocasts of H. erectus, Neanderthals, and recent modern humans. The Nanjing 1 endocast is reconstructed based on two portions of endocranial casts taken from the original fossil fragments. The fossil was discovered in 1993, near Nanjing, South China and is dated to ～ 0.58-0.62 Ma. The cranial capacity is ～ 876 cc, as determined by endocast water displacement. There are some common features of Nanjing 1 and other H. erectus endocasts that differentiate them from the Neanderthals and modern humans in our sample. These include small cranial capacity, low height dimensions, simple middle meningeal vessel patterns, a high degree of cerebral-over-cerebellar lobe overhang, elongated and quite separated cerebellar lobes, and a narrow, low, short and flat frontal region. Some features are found to vary among H. erectus, Neanderthals and modern humans, such as the lateral Sylvian fissure position and the venous sinus and petalial patterns. The Nanjing 1 endocast has unique, large, superior frontal convolutions, and strongly protruding Broca's caps. In contrast to other Chinese H. erectus from Hexian and Zhoukoudian, Nanjing 1 lacks strong posterior projection of the occipital lobes. Bivariate and principal component analyses indicate that the small volume and shape of Nanjing 1 is most similar to KNM-WT 15000, KNM-ER 3883, Sangiran 2 and Hexian, illustrating the combination of narrow, low, and short frontal lobes with wide posterior lobes.     

南京近郊自然湿地维管植物群落特征

选择南京近郊2处自然湿地为研究对象,采用GPS定位、野外标本采集、Braun-Blanquet多盖度等级法和Shannon-Wiener物种多样性、Simpson生态优势度和群落均匀度指数研究南京湿地植物群落的种类组成、群落类型及其数量特征。结果表明南京湿地有维管植物104种,隶属于93属45科,其中有国家Ⅱ级保护植物4种,包括水蕨、野大豆、野菱和莲;属和种的地理成分分析表明,该区维管植物区系以温带成分为主,同时热带成分也占一定的比例;该区湿地植被分为3个植被型,3个植被亚型,16个群系;湿地植物群落的物种多样性指数偏低,其中七里河湿地的物种多样性高于滁河入江口。根据南京湿地维管植物群落的特征,并结合当前存在的问题,提出南京近郊自然湿地的保护对策。     

南京市老城区行道树的组成及结构分析

对南京市老城区125条主要路段行道树的种类组成及结构特征进行了分析。结果表明,研究区内的行道树共有乔木27种、灌木24种,其中悬铃木〔Platanus acerifolia(Ait.)Willd.〕、香樟〔Cinnamomum camphora(L.)Presl〕、国槐(Sophora japonica L.)、水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng)、女贞(Ligustrum lucidum Ait.)、雪松〔Cedrus deodara(Roxb.)G.Don〕和枫杨(Pterocarya stenoptera C.DC.)是南京市老城区行道树群落的优势种,决定了道路绿化景观的外貌;在7种优势树种中,悬铃木的年龄结构属稳定型,香樟、国槐和女贞处于增长阶段,水杉、雪松和枫杨则趋于老龄化。在行道树配植的4种垂直结构类型中,乔木单层结构最多,占52.8%;乔灌两层和乔灌草三层结构所占比例相近(21.6%和22.4%);乔草两层结构最少(3.2%)。本研究结果对南京市行道树的合理配置具有重要的参考价值。     

南京中山植物园鸟类对香樟 果实（种子）的取食

香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)是亚热带地区广泛分布的常绿阔叶树种,其果实数量多、果期长,可为鸟类提供大量食物资源。2018年11月至2019年2月,借助Safari 10×26变焦双筒望远镜,采用焦点扫描法对南京中山植物园内访问香樟果实(种子)的鸟类行为进行观察,详细记录鸟类的种类、取食基质、取食次数、取食时间、取食数量和取食方式等信息。研究期间有效记录达48d,累计记录到27种鸟类1021次取食香樟果实(种子)行为,存在2种取食基质(地面和树上)和3种取食方式(整吞果实、啄食果肉和取食种子)。T检验显示,不同鸟类对香樟果实(种子)的取食次数存在显著差异(t=3.096,df=26,P 0.01);不同月份间鸟类对香樟香樟果实(种子)的平均访问只数、平均取食次数、平均取食时间和取食数量均存在极显著差异(P0.001)。白头鹎(Pycnonotussinensis)、乌鸫(Turdusmendarinus)和灰喜鹊(Cyanopicacyanus)是访问次数及取食量最多的3种鸟类。单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA)表明,上述这3种鸟类的取食数量存在极显著差异(F3, 598=25.219,P 0.001)。按照时间统计,11月份访问的鸟类种类和数量最多,1月份鸟类的取食次数、时间和数量最多。鸟类的形态特征(体重、体长和嘴峰长)与取食数量呈显著正相关,其中,体重和体长对取食数量的影响比嘴峰长的影响更显著,但嘴峰长影响鸟类对果实的取食方式。在鸟类常活动和停歇的树木下方地面往往散落着较多表面洁净、无果肉包裹的香樟种子,且园内人工林和自然更新林地可见许多香樟幼苗,表明鸟类对香樟具有潜在传播作用。     

Knockdown of dorsal/relish increases larvae susceptibility to microbes in Spodoptera litura

The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura has developed high levels of resistance to frequently-used insecticides, and failures of chemical control has frequently been reported in China. Moreover, the control efficiency of biological control agents was not satisfactory by farmers, and thus the development of novel or combined techniques for such pest control becomes an imperative requirement. In this study the potential application of innate immune-related genes in insect control was investigated. Sldorsal and Slrelish were identified from S. litura. Sldorsals were mainly expressed in epidermal and fatbody of larvae, and Slrelish highly expressed in fatbody and haemolymph of larvae. Their expression characteristic suggests potential roles in defense against fungi or bacteria. The expression of Sldorsal was up-regulated by the challenge of entomogenous fungi Isaria javanica and Beauveria bassiana, however, the expression of Slrelish could only be induced by Escherichia coli challenge. Injection of Sldorsal or Slrelish dsRNA down-regulated the expression level of the corresponding gene and broke specific signaling transduction pathway of innate immunity in S. litura. Knockdown of Sldorsal by RNAi significantly increased the mortality of S. litura larvae caused by I. javanica and B. bassiana, and Slrelish RNAi highly increased the mortality caused by E. coli. Sldorsal and Slrelish are essential genes for innate immunity, their knockdown by RNAi increases S. litura susceptibility to insect pathogens, therefore enhances the mortalities caused by I. javanica, B. bassiana and E. coli respectively.     

南京1号与东非Bodo人类头骨化石:对"中心和边缘"假说的检测

"中心和边缘"假说认为非洲是人类演化的中心地区,东亚等地区是边缘地区。在边缘地区,人群的地区性形态特征出现较早,可上溯到直立人生活时期;在中心地区,人群的地区性形态特征出现较晚。Bodo人类头骨化石和南京1号人类头骨化石分别出自中心地区和边缘地区,二者年代都是距今60万年左右,二者都保留有面颅。因此,Bodo人类头骨化石和南京1号人类头骨化石是检测"中心和边缘"假说的最合适的材料。本文是对南京1号和Bodo头骨的面颅测量性特征作比较研究。研究结果表明:1.二者面颅测量性特征上的差别远大于这两个相应地区现代人群之间的差别,提示了人类的地区性体质形态差别早在60万年前就很明显;2.东亚的南京1号人类头骨和东非的Bodo人类头骨尽管同样古老,但各自与当地区的现代人群的面颅上的差异情况并不一致。Bodo头骨与东非现代人群显得差异较大,南京1号头骨与东亚现代人群显得较相近。这种相近,提示了在东亚这个"边缘地区",现代人群的面颅测量性特征可追溯到以南京1号头骨为代表的远古人类那里,而在"中心地区",现代人群的面颅测量性特征还很难与以Bodo为代表的远古人群相联系。本项研究结果与"中心和边缘"假说的推测相符合。     

南京城市扩展过程中聚落斑块的行为特征

城市化过程具体表现为聚落斑块在景观上的消涨过程.基于南京地区1988、1998和2003年的Landsat TM影像,将聚落斑块按演变形式分成新生、消亡、延展、收缩、融合、分裂和混合7种变化模式,分析了各类斑块沿城乡梯度带的分布格局.结果表明:1998-2003年研究区聚落斑块的总面积迅速增加,斑块数量、平均斑块面积和最大斑块指数等均保持同步增长趋势,新生型与混合型构成斑块演变的主体,但收缩和消亡斑块的负贡献率也持续上升;各演变类型斑块沿城乡梯度带的空间分布格局在2个时段上不尽相同;1988-1998年,混合型斑块在主城区表现为高密度扩张;1998-2003年则表现为低密度蔓延,主城区外各梯度带则没有明显的阶段性差异,新生斑块的城乡梯度格局在2个时段基本一致,其密度、面积比例在主城区较小,城市边缘区较高,向外则随离主城区距离的增加而递减;延展斑块前一时段在主城区与远郊存在2个高发区,但后一时段远郊的密度与面积比例均显著降低;收缩斑块和消亡斑块的高发区位于主城区及其边缘和远郊;比较各类斑块的城乡梯度格局发现,城市化程度高、速度快的区域,同时也存在相对快速的斑块收缩与消亡过程,主城区与城外各梯度带在扩展模式上存在阶段性差异.     

Downregulation of SIRT2 Inhibits Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting Energy Metabolism

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common neoplasms, and metastasis is the most important feature for HCC-related deaths. Mounting evidence implies the dynamic regulatory role of SIRT2, a histone deacetylase, in cancer cells. Unfortunately, the role of SIRT2 and the antitumor activity of its inhibition are not known in HCC. The present study aims to evaluate the biological function of SIRT2 in HCC and identify the target of SIRT2 as well as evaluate its therapeutic efficacy. We found that SIRT2 was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and this was correlated with reduced patient survival. Although CCK8 and colony-formation assays showed that SIRT2 inhibiton marginally promotes proliferation in HCC cell lines, SIRT2 knockdown decreased the invasion of HCC cells. We demonstrated that downregulation of SIRT2 could inhibit its downstream target phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 and glutaminase, which is related to mitochondrial metabolism and the E-Cadherin pathway. These results demonstrate, for the first time that downregulation of SIRT2 decreases migration as well as invasion in human HCC cells, indicating that inhibiting SIRT2 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating HCC.     

MDH2 Stimulated by Estrogen-GPR30 Pathway Down-Regulated PTEN Expression Promoting the Proliferation and Invasion of Cells in Endometrial Cancer

PURPOSE: The relationship between endometrial carcinoma and cellular metabolism is unknown. In endometrial cancer, mutation rate of PTEN has been reported very high. Malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2) is one of the isoforms of malate dehydrogenase, which is involved in citric acid cycle in mitochondria. Our study aimed to investigate the role MDH2 played in PTEN-regulated endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: To reveal the expression of MDH2 and the co-localization of PTEN and MDH2, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining were used. Western blot, Real-time PCR, RNA interference and overexpression plasmid DNA transfection were performed to investigate the relationship between PTEN and MDH2 as well as the impact of E2 on the expression of PTEN and MDH2, while CCK8, transwell and flow cytometric analysis were carried out to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion and apoptosis of endometrial carcinoma cell lines. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that as a metabolism related enzyme, MDH2 was overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma tissues and related to the grade of the cancer (P = .038). Western blot, Real-time PCR and immunofluorescent staining revealed MDH2 inhibited the expression of PTEN and was co-localized with PTEN in the cytoplasm of endometrial carcinoma. Proliferation, transwell and apoptosis assay suggested that MDH2 enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion but inhibited the apoptosis of endometrial cancer cell line through suppressing PTEN. Furthermore, E2 inhibited the expression level of PTEN but enhanced MDH2 via GPR30. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that MDH2, stimulated by estrogen, was involved in the development of PTEN-regulated endometrial carcinoma through GPR30-related pathway.     

南京市城乡交错带景观格局研究

依据景观生态学理论,选取典型样区,在遥感和地理信息系统的支持下。分析了南京市城乡交错带的景观生态特征．结果表明。东部样区以景观多样性、优势度和破碎度较低为基本特征。林地等自然嵌块体的面积和平均周长较大,而平均分维数、平均伸长指数和分离度较低,菜地和水田嵌块体的平均面积也高于南部样区;南部样区景观多样性及优势度高,嵌块体数目多,景观破碎化较严重。居民点及工矿用地和水域的密度高、总面积及周长大。居民点及工矿用地和道路的平均面积也较高．探讨了两个样区嵌块体面积与分维数、嵌块体数目之间的关系,指出城乡交错带不同类型嵌块体景观特征及生态意义．