Genomic analysis of facultatively oligotrophic haloarchaea of the genera Halarchaeum,Halorubrum, and Halolamina,isolated from solar salt

Archives of Microbiology - Extremely halophilic archaea (haloarchaea) belonging to the phylum Euryarchaeota have been found in high-salinity environments. In this study, Halarchaeum sp. CBA1220,...     

Chronic social defeat stress-induced enhancement of T-type calcium channels increases burst-firing neurons in the ventral subiculum

The ventral subiculum (vSub), a representative output structure of the hippocampus, serves as a main limbic region in mediating the brain's response to stress. There are three subtypes of subicular pyramidal neurons based on their firing patterns: regular-spiking (RS), weak-bursting (WB) and strong-bursting (SB) neurons, located differently along proximal–distal axis. Here, we found that chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) in mice increased the population of SB neurons but decreased RS neurons in the proximal vSub. Specific blockers of T-type calcium channels inhibited the burst firings with a concomitant reduction of afterdepolarization, suggesting that T-type calcium channels underlie the burst-spiking activity. Consistently, CSDS increased both T-type calcium currents and expression of Cav3.1 proteins, a subtype of T-type calcium channels, in the proximal vSub. Therefore, we conclude that CSDS-induced enhancement of Cav3.1 expression increased bursting neuronal population in the vSub, which may contribute to stress-related behaviors.     

Study design and methods of the Ansan Geriatric Study (AGE study)

Background  

The overall objective of the Ansan Geriatric Study (AGE study) was to describe the prevalence, incidence, and related risk factors for geriatric diseases in elderly Koreans.     

县域生态资产核算研究——以云南省屏边县为例

生态资产(Eco-Assets)是生产与提供生态产品和服务的自然资源。以国家重点生态功能区县——屏边苗族自治县为例,研究了县域生态资产核算的指标和方法,以生态资产综合指数、负债表和损益表,开展屏边县生态资产实物量核算,以期能够切实反映出生态系统实物量的变化和生态补偿成效,结合生态补偿分析屏边县生态资产变化的原因和趋势,给生态补偿政策和离任干部审计提供技术支撑。结果表明:(1)屏边县生态资产核算可以分为森林、灌丛、草地、湿地自然生态系统和农田、城镇和荒漠人工生态系统实物量的核算。(2)2015年,屏边县生态资产指数为1.09,森林和灌丛占据主要位置,二者总和占当年生态资产的95.48%。15年来,屏边县生态资产综合指数降低了16.48%,其中森林和草地降低明显,分别减少了20.10%和6.67%,湿地指数增长了57.11%。(3)2000年以来,生态保护工程和城镇扩张是生态资产变化的主要原因,生态补偿投入持续增加为生态保护工程顺利建设实施提供了保障。本研究表明,现有的土地利用数据和生态环境监测数据基本可以支撑县域生态资产的核算,同时县域生态资产的变化能够体现出生态保护工程实行成效,并为实行领导干部自然资源资产离任审计提供重要依据,为生态补偿政策提供科学支撑。     

Effects of pine needle extracts on plasma cholesterol, fibrinolysis and gastrointestinal motility

Pine needle (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) extract has been used to improve cardiovascular disorders, detoxification of nicotine, the infirmities of age and curing diseases of unidentified symptoms in folk medicine. To determine the facts behind the traditional belief, we tried to investigate the effects of fresh and self-fermented pine needle extracts of different aging. Fibrinolytic activities of the extract indicated that activity depends on time and also with aging of the product. It was also found that the extract can lower the blood plasma cholesterol and triglyceride in cholesterol fed rat. Also, Self-Fermented Pine Needle Extracts 7 years old (SFPE 7) (200 μg/mL) reduce the frequency and amplitude of pacemaker currents in Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) of murine small intestine by modulating ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Therefore, the investigation indicated that self-fermentation improves efficacy of the pine needle extracts reducing risk of cardio-vascular related disorders and would be an important source in nutraceutics.     

Differential regulation of neuronal excitability by nicotine and substance P in subdivisions of the medial habenula

The medial habenula (MHb) plays an important role in nicotine-related behaviors, such as aversion and withdrawal. The MHb is composed of distinct subregions with unique neurotransmitter expression and neuronal connectivity. Here, we showed that nicotine and substance P (SP) differentially regulate neuronal excitability in subdivisions of the MHb (ventrolateral division, MHbVL; dorsal division; MHbD and superior division: MHbS). Nicotine remarkably increased spontaneous neuronal firing in the MHbVL and MHbD, but not in the MHbS, which was consistent with different magnitudes of whole-cell inward currents evoked by nicotine in each subdivision. Meanwhile, SP enhanced neuronal excitability in the MHbVL and MHbS. Although the MHbD is composed of SP-expressing neurons, they did not respond to SP. Neurons in the MHbVL increased their firing in response to bath-applied nicotine, which was attenuated by neurokinin receptor antagonists. Furthermore, nicotine addiction and withdrawal attenuated and augmented excitatory SP effects in the MHbVL, respectively. On the whole, we suggest that MHb-involving nicotine-related behaviors might be associated with SP signaling in MHb subdivisions.     

面向生态效益评估的生态系统生产总值GEP核算研究——以青海省为例

开展生态效益评估,对于推动生态效益纳入经济社会评价体系、推进生态文明建设具有重要意义。生态效益是指自然界的生态系统对人类的生产、生活条件和环境条件产生的有益影响和有利效果。GEP(Gross Ecosystem Product)是生态系统生产总值,指一定区域在一定时间内,生态系统为人类提供最终产品与服务的经济价值总和,是一定区域生态系统为人类福祉贡献的总货币价值,可以反映一个地区的生态效益。本研究提出面向生态效益评估的GEP核算框架,建立核算指标体系和技术方法,基于遥感数据和统计数据以青海省为例开展面向生态效益评估的GEP核算研究,并对相关利益者进行分析。研究结果表明,2015年青海省生态系统生产总值GEP为464.16亿元,对生态资产产生的生态效益进行相关利益者分析,80%以上生态效益的受益者是青海省以外的区域。以可比价计算,自2000年以来青海省GEP增加32.6%。根据现有的数据体系和方法核算的GEP是有现实意义的,可以作为生态效益评估的指标,可以作为GDP的重要补充对政策效益和生态保护成效开展评估,还可以作为市场化、多元化生态补偿机制建立和"绿水青山"向"金山银山"转化的依据和参考,为决策者提供重要的信息。     

Identification of peripheral inflammatory markers between normal control and Alzheimer's disease

Background  

Multiple pathogenic factors may contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Peripheral blood markers have been used to assess biochemical changes associated with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and involved in their pathophysiology.