Complete Genome Sequence of an H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Egret in Lake Dongting Wetland

We isolated a recombinant H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) from fresh egret feces in the Ardeidae protection region of the Dongting Lake wetland area in China, and it was designated A/Egret/Hunan/1/2012(H9N2). This is the first report of isolating H9N2 AIV from wild birds in the Dongting Lake wetland. Its eight gene segments are generated by reassortment of gene segments of different AIV subtypes. These results are helpful for understanding the epidemiology and evolution of AIV in wild birds during migration.     

High Altitude Frogs (Rana kukonoris) Adopt a Diversified Bethedging Strategy in the Face of Environmental Unpredictability

Environmental unpredictability can influence strategies of maternal investment among eggs within a clutch. Models predict that breeding females should adopt a diversified bet-hedging strategy in unpredictable environments, but empirical field evidence from Asia is scarce. Here we tested this hypothesis by exploring spatial patterns in egg size along an altitudinal gradient in a frog species(Rana kukunoris) inhabiting the Tibetan Plateau. Within-clutch variability in egg size increased as the environment became variable(e.g., lower mean monthly temperature and mean monthly rainfall at higher altitudes), and populations in environments with more unpredictable rainfall produced eggs that were smaller and more variable in size. We provide support for a diversified bet-hedging strategy in high-altitude environments, which experience dynamic weather patterns and therefore are of unpredictable environmental quality. This strategy may be an adaptive response to lower environmental quality and higher unpredictable environmental variance. Such a strategy should increase the likelihood of breeding success and maximize maternal lifetime fitness by producing offspring that are adapted to current environmental conditions. We speculate that in high-altitude environments prone to physical disturbance, breeding females are unable to consistently produce the optimal egg size due to physiological constraints imposed by environmental conditions(e.g., duration of the active season, food availability). Species and populations whose breeding strategies are adapted to cope with uncertain environmental conditions by adjusting offspring size and therefore quality show a remarkable degree of ability to cope with future climatic changes.     

Ordering of lipids and lipid-protein complexes in molluscan mucus and human bile

Optic-morphological characteristics and crystallization of mucus of land snails Achatina fulica (Bowditch) are compared with cervical secret and also with the human bile. Typical defective structures of mesophases: spheroliths, regions of confocal and fan textures containing various classes of line defects are shown. Crystallization of protein and lipid fractions is shown to proceed separately, while the dendrite mechanism is typical for the former and for the latter the dislocational growth of crystals from the mesophase is possible.     

1991-2017年叶尔羌河流域冰川景观格局时空演变

冰川景观变化是全球环境和气候变化的共同"指示器"。随着全球气候变化加剧，干旱和半干旱地区的冰川景观将进一步变化。科学评估冰川景观格局时空演变特征，为应对冰川景观变化及其影响提供科学参考。基于1991-2017年Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI遥感影像，采用监督分类方法获取叶尔羌河流域冰川景观时空格局及变化数据，利用景观格局指数、质心迁移模型、分形维数等方法分析近26年叶尔羌河流域冰川景观格局时空演变特征。结果表明：（1）1991-2017年叶尔羌河流域冰川斑块面积呈消减趋势，但有所减缓，共减少799.50 km²（-13.09%）。冰川斑块面积消减主要集中在海拔5400-5800 m之间，相较之下，海拔4400 m以下的区域冰川斑块面积消减率最高，达63.68%；不同坡度冰川景观消减率存在差异，陡坡冰川斑块面积消减率最高（15.98%），急陡坡消减率最低（2.87%）；阴阳两坡冰川景观均呈消减趋势，阳坡冰川斑块面积消减速率显著高于阴坡。（2）近26年来，叶尔羌河流域冰川斑块数量、最大斑块指数均减小，而平均形状指数、平均周长面积比、分裂指数均增加，表明冰川景观不断消减，破碎化程度增加。（3）研究期间，叶尔羌河流域冰川景观质心发生迁移，整体呈现东北偏移趋势。（4）通过分形理论对叶尔羌河流域冰川景观空间结构特征进行分析表明，该流域冰川景观消减率略微降低，但仍然处于持续消融状态。     

人工髋关节置换术中股骨假体周围骨折的影响因素回归分析及其相关性

目的:研究人工髋关节置换术中股骨假体周围骨折的影响因素及其相关性,为人工髋关节置换术中股骨假体周围骨折的预防和诊治提供科学依据。方法:选取本院2012年11月至2013年9月施行髋关节置换手术的患者780例,搜集各研究对象的一般资料(年龄、性别等)以及随访观察其髋关节置换手术后股骨假体周围骨折的发生情况,把股骨假体周围骨折的发生情况与性别、年龄、固定类型等因素进行Logistic回归分析。结果:780例施行髋关节置换手术的患者中,有52例患者术后出现股骨假体周围骨折,总发生率为6.7%;其中A型31例,B型18例(B1型6例,B2型7例,B3型5例),C型3例。女性的发生率(8.5%)高于男性(4.7%),老年患者中股骨假体周围骨折的发生率最高(10.1%),生物型假体固定者的发生率(8.7%)高于骨水泥型假体固定者(3.8%),人工髋关节翻修术中股骨假体周围骨折的发生率最高(11.4%),股骨假体周围骨折发生的危险因素为女性、高龄、使用生物型假体固定,OR值分别为5.301、3.675和2.336。结论:人工髋关节置换术中的危险因素为女性、高龄、使用生物型假体固定,临床医生应在术前对行人工髋关节置换术手术者进行充分的评估,制定合理的手术方案及选择合适的固定方式。     

Electrical Stimulation Promotes Wound Healing by Enhancing Dermal Fibroblast Activity and Promoting Myofibroblast Transdifferentiation

Electrical stimulation (ES) has long been used as an alternative clinical treatment and an effective approach to modulate cellular behaviours. In this work we investigated the effects of ES on human skin fibroblast activity, myofibroblast transdifferentiation and the consequence on wound healing. Normal human fibroblasts were seeded on heparin-bioactivated PPy/PLLA conductive membranes, cultured for 24 h, and then exposed to ES of 50 or 200 mV/mm for 2, 4, or 6 h. Following ES, the cells were either subjected to various analyses or re-seeded to investigate their healing capacity. Our findings show that ES had no cytotoxic effect on the fibroblasts, as demonstrated by the similar LDH activity levels in the ES-exposed and non-exposed cultures, and by the comparable cell viability under both conditions. Furthermore, the number of viable fibroblasts was higher following exposure to 6 h of ES than in the non-exposed culture. This enhanced cell growth was likely due to the ES up-regulated secretion of FGF-1 and FGF-2. In an in vitro scratch-wound assay where cell monolayer was used as a healing model, the electrically stimulated dermal fibroblasts migrated faster following exposure to ES and recorded a high contractile behaviour toward the collagen gel matrix. This enhanced contraction was supported by the high level of α-smooth muscle actin expressed by the fibroblasts following exposure to ES, indicating the characteristics of myofibroblasts. Remarkably, the modulation of fibroblast growth continued long after ES. In conclusion, this work demonstrates for the first time that exposure to ES promoted skin fibroblast growth and migration, increased growth factor secretion, and promoted fibroblast to myofibroblast transdifferentiation, thus promoting wound healing.