The role of growth factors in the embryogenesis and differentiation of the eye.

The vertebrate eye is composed of a variety of tissues that, embryonically, have their derivation from surface ectoderm, neural ectoderm, neural crest, and mesodermal mesenchyme. During development, these different types of cells are subjected to complex processes of induction and suppressive interactions that bring about their final differentiation and arrangement in the fully formed eye. With the changing concept of ocular development, we present a new perspective on the control of morphogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels by growth factors that include fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factors, mesodermal growth factors, transferrin, tumor necrosis factor, neuronotrophic factors, angiogenic factors, and antiangiogenic factors. Growth factors, especially transforming growth factor-beta, have a crucial role in directing the migration and developmental patterns of the cranial neural-crest cells that contribute extensively to the structures of the eye. Some growth factors also exert an effect on the developing ocular tissues by influencing the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. The mRNAs for the growth factors that are involved in the earliest aspects of the growth and differentiation of the fertilized egg are supplied from maternal sources until embryonic tissues are able to synthesize them. Subsequently, the developing eye tissues are exposed to both endogenous and exogenous growth factors that are derived from nonocular tissues as well as from embryonic fluids and the systemic circulation. The early interaction between the surface head ectoderm and the underlying chordamesoderm confers a lens-forming bias on the ectoderm; later, the optic vesicle elicits the final phase of determination and enhances differentiation by the lens. After the blood-ocular barrier is established, the internal milieu of the eye is controlled by the interactions among the intraocular tissues; only those growth factors that selectively cross the barrier or that are synthesized by the ocular tissues can influence further development and differentiation of the cells. An understanding of the tissue interactions that are regulated by growth factors could clarify the precise mechanism of normal and abnormal ocular development.     

Potential involvement of the immune system in the development of endometriosis

This article presents an overview of immunological factors and their role in the development of endometriosis, with emphasis on inflammatory cytokines, growth and adhesion factors. Although retrograde menstruation is a common phenomenon among women of reproductive age, not all women who have retrograde menstruation develop endometriosis. The development of endometriosis is hypothesised to be a complex process, which may be facilitated by several factors, including the quantity and quality of endometrial cells in peritoneal fluid (PF), increased inflammatory activity in PF, increased endometrial-peritoneal adhesion and angiogenesis, reduced immune surveillance and clearance of endometrial cells, and increased production of autoantibodies against endometrial cells. Potential biomarkers like cytokines and autoantibodies upregulated during development of endometriosis may be useful in the development of a non-surgical diagnostic tool. Although endometriosis can be treated using hormonal suppression, there is need for non-hormonal drugs, which can inhibit the development of endometriosis and alleviate pain or infertility without inhibition of ovulation. New molecules that modulate immune function in endometriosis should be the targets for future research.     

长三角地区城市生态旅游发展水平时空演变及其影响因素

城市生态旅游作为旅游可持续发展的一种理想模式,是对城市环境问题和旅游发展方式的一种回应。基于城市生态旅游核心要义,构建城市生态旅游发展水平评价指标体系,运用熵权TOPSIS法对2010-2019年长三角地区41个城市的城市生态旅游发展水平进行测度,通过标准差椭圆和马尔科夫链分析其时空演变特征,并利用地理探测器探析城市生态旅游发展的影响因素。结果表明:(1)长三角地区城市生态旅游各维度发展水平增速各异,供给和保障是影响综合发展水平的主要因素,各维度空间格局差异显著;(2)城市生态旅游综合发展水平呈波动上升态势,增速较缓;空间分布较不均衡,已初步形成"东南高-西北低"的分布格局;(3)城市生态旅游发展水平重心呈现"西北-东南-西北"的偏移规律,向东南部集聚程度逐渐增强,水平等级转移仅发生在相邻等级之间;(4)交通发展水平和城镇化水平对城市生态旅游发展的影响较为显著,经济发展水平和居民收入水平的影响逐渐增强,产业结构水平和环保重视程度的促进效果不显著;两因子的交互作用大于单因子的作用力,表现出双因子增强或非线性增强的交互关系。研究结果可为长三角地区提高城市生态旅游发展水平与全面推进旅游可持续发展提供一定的理论依据与科学参考。     

小鼠着床前胚胎发育中调控因子的时序表达及功能

哺乳动物着床前胚胎发育最基本的问题之一是高度分化的卵母细胞如何过渡到全能性的卵裂球。这一转换过程受到了多种调控因子正或负的调控作用,这些特定调控因子在着床前胚胎发育过程中呈现出较为显著的时空表达特征,它们对早期胚胎的进一步正常发育有重要的作用。研究这些调控因子在着床前胚胎发育中的表达模式和调控机制,将有助于我们对早期胚胎发育机制的进一步了解。作者主要对近些年来有关生长因子与细胞因子（如：PAF、IL－1、IGF、MIF）以及特定转录因子（如：SP1、TBP、mTEF、eIF、myc、c-jun等）在小鼠着床前胚胎发育中的时空表达及其相应功能的研究做一简要介绍。     

The effects of the early uterine environment on the subsequent development of embryo and fetus

Synchrony between the embryo and the uterine endometrium is essential for the establishment of pregnancy and birth in people and livestock. When asynchronous conditions occur a variety of complication result that include failure of the embryo to implant, early embryonic mortality, retarded development and growth, and accelerated development and growth. These complications all appear to be induced within the first week of embryo development and not withstanding the immediate endpoint of large or small size at birth, may alter the course of development throughout the life of the animal. Progesterone appears to play a causative role in establishing the abnormal growth of the fetus by decelerating or accelerating embryonic development. This may act through increasing the transport of blood born growth factors into the uterine lumen or by stimulating the release of growth factors from the endometrium directly. It can not be ruled out that progesterone mediated abundance of, or absence of, appropriate nutrition may bring about the same lifelong outcome. In vitro culture situations that include serum and/or co-culture can also bring about these abnormalities of growth. It is hypothesized that exposure to growth factors "out of phase" may result in an irreversible induction of abnormal development. The described abnormalities that occur in sheep and cattle have not yet been described for children resulting from IVF.     

Neurotrophic regulation of the development and function of the neuromuscular synapses

Recent studies have established that one of the major functions of neurotrophic factors is to regulate synaptic development and plasticity. This owes a great deal to the studies using the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a model system. In this review, we summarize the effects of various neurotrophic factors on the development and function of the neuromuscular synapses. We describe experiments addressing the role of neurotrophins, as well as that of other factors (GFLs, TGF-βs, and Wnts). The synaptic effects of neurotrophic factors are divided into two categories: acute effects on synaptic transmission and plasticity occurring within seconds or minutes after cells are exposed to a particular factor, and long-term regulation of synaptic structure and function that takes days to accomplish. We consider the presynaptic effects on the release of the neurotransmitter ACh, as well as the postsynaptic effects on the clustering of ACh receptors. Further studies of the mechanisms underlying these regulatory effects will help us better understand how neurotrophic factors can achieve diverse and synapse-specific modulation in the brain.     

京津冀特大城市群生态安全格局时空演变特征及其影响因素

京津冀特大城市群的快速发展显著提升了地区生活水平,但也对生态环境造成了负面影响。以2000—2015年京津冀城市群面板数据为研究样本,建立"压力-状态-响应(PSR)"城市群生态安全协同会诊指标体系,采用TOPSIS和灰色关联组合方法计量其生态安全综合指数(Comprehensive Index of Ecological Security,CIES),运用因子分析法提取关键因素,并通过多元线性回归方法计算上述因素对生态安全的影响程度。结果表明:(1)京津冀城市群生态安全指数已经达到了预警状态,呈现"北高南低,西高东低"的空间格局,亟需建立三地协同联防联控的生态安全防治机制;(2)2000—2015年京津冀城市群的生态安全指数呈小幅波动状态,规划与政策对城市群生态安全指数具有显著影响效应;(3)13地市生态安全指数的演变趋势存在显著的差异,承德、廊坊仍呈下降趋势;(4)城镇化、社会发展以及技术进步对京津冀城市群生态安全具有显著的正相关性,开发水平、经济发展以及生态病理度则呈负相关性。由此,需要划定并严守城市群生态保护红线,控制空间开发强度与速度,以遏制生态恶化;完善并落实京津冀城市群协同发展的规划体系与相应的配套政策支撑体系,以保障城市群生态安全稳定提升;控制经济发展速度,提升社会发展水平,构建城市群一体化社会服务保障体系;提升生态技术研发水平,加大生态空间保护与修复,以降低生态安全风险,保障城市群生态安全格局。     

基于解释结构模型的煤电一体化开发生态环境累积效应识别

为了对煤电一体化开发的生态环境累积效应进行识别与分析,从煤电一体化开发的主要开采建设活动、土壤环境、水资源、大气环境、生物、景观、生态7方面共筛选出29个生态环境因子,综合文献调查、专家调查问卷与访谈等方法,分析了各生态环境因子之间的相互作用关系.运用解释结构模型(ISM)分析了各因子间的关联关系与层次结构,揭示了不同开发建设活动产生累积效应的途径.结合具体的评价与管理需求,提出了煤电一体化开发生态环境累积效应研究与评估整体框架.研究结果可以为煤电一体化开发的规划与管理提供一定的理论基础与技术手段.     

Conflicting processes in the evolution of body size and development time

Body size and development time of Manduca sexta are both determined by the same set of three developmental–physiological factors. These define a parameter space within which it is possible to analyse and explain how phenotypic change is associated with changes in the underlying factors. Body size and development time are determined by the identical set of underlying factors, so they are not independent, but because the mechanisms by which these factors produce each phenotype are different, the two phenotypes are only weakly correlated, and the correlation is context dependent. We use a mathematical model of this mechanism to explore the association between body size and development time and show that the correlation between these two life-history traits can be positive, zero or negative, depending entirely on where in parameter space a population is located, and on which of the underlying factors has a greater variation. The gradient within this parameter space predicts the unconstrained evolutionary trajectory under directional selection on each trait. Calculations of the gradients for body size and development time revealed that these are nearly orthogonal through much of the parameter space. Therefore, simultaneous directional selection on body size and development time can be neither synergistic nor antagonistic but leads to conflicting selection on the underlying developmental parameters.     

八角莲的濒危成因剖析

在介绍八角莲属的用途和我国八角莲的野生资源概况的基础上,从生物学特性、繁殖特性、生境状况和人为因素等几方面分析了导致八角莲处于濒危状态的原因。并提出了就地保护、迁地保护、种质资源收集和资源发展结合利用的三项有效保护性措施。     

内蒙古生态安全时空演变特征及驱动力

生态安全是平衡社会经济与自然环境协调发展的重要保障,评价生态安全时空演变及驱动因素,对区域生态安全格局构建及可持续发展意义重大。基于本土化参数的生态足迹模型对1990-2018年内蒙古地区各盟市生态足迹、生态盈亏及生态压力指数进行测算,采用熵权法构建综合指标体系,计算生态安全指数,评价区域生态安全及可持续发展状况,结合空间分析揭示其时空演化规律,并解析驱动因素。结果表明：1）研究期间内蒙古总体上呈"供不应求"的生态赤字状态,但生态承载增速大于生态足迹增速,2018年较1990年人均生态足迹和人均生态承载力分别提高了0.9-5.8倍和1.5-10.8倍,生态安全指数由大于5.0的不安全状态转变为小于4.0的安全状态,生态系统总体呈向好趋势发展。2）研究期间内蒙古地区生态足迹呈"东高西低"分布,生态承载力呈"中间高,两翼低"分布,生态安全重心向东北方向转移。3）经济水平、消费支出、产业结构是内蒙古地区生态安全及可持续发展的驱动因素,地理位置和气候因素是导致其空间差异的主导因子。     

The role of psychological variables in the development of somatic diseases--proposal of the integrational model

The author discusses three groups of the distinguishable results of investigations which confirm the relationship between psychological factors and the development of the somatic diseases such as: changing situations, personality and temperamental factors, and behaviour pattern A. The author quotes data indicating that perceptional and emotional patterns together with associated patterns of the physiological responses may play an important role among personality and temperamental variables. Integrational model includes, besides psychological variables, other (biological) risk factors. Hypotheses concerning the mechanism mediating between these variables and the development of the disease are also discussed.     

Maternal control of vertebrate development before the midblastula transition: mutants from the zebrafish I

Maternal factors control development prior to the activation of the embryonic genome. In vertebrates, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which maternal factors regulate embryonic development. To understand the processes controlled by maternal factors and identify key genes involved, we embarked on a maternal-effect mutant screen in the zebrafish. We identified 68 maternal-effect mutants. Here we describe 15 mutations in genes controlling processes prior to the midblastula transition, including egg development, blastodisc formation, embryonic polarity, initiation of cell cleavage, and cell division. These mutants exhibit phenotypes not previously observed in zygotic mutant screens. This collection of maternal-effect mutants provides the basis for a molecular genetic analysis of the maternal control of embryogenesis in vertebrates.     

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Promotes the In Vitro Differentiation of Neural Crest Cells to Neurons and Melanocytes

Proliferation of neural crest (NC) stem cells and their subsequent differentiation into different neural cell types are key early events in the development of the peripheral nervous system. Soluble growth factors present at the sites where NC cells migrate are critical to the development of NC derivatives in each part of the body. In the present study, we further investigate the effect of microenvironmental factors on quail trunk NC development. We show for the first time that EGF induces differentiation of NC to the neuronal and melanocytic phenotypes, while fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) promotes NC differentiation to Schwann cells. In the presence of both EGF and FGF2, the neuronal differentiation predominates. Our results suggest that FGF2 stimulates gliogenesis, while EGF promotes melanogenesis and neurogenesis. The combination of both growth factors stimulates neurogenesis. These findings suggest that these two growth factors may play an important role in the fate decision of NC progenitors and in the development of the peripheral nervous system.     

Development and Degeneration of Flight Muscles in Neochetina eichhorniae (Coleoptera; Curculionidae), Potential Biocontrol Agent of the Aquatic Weed, Eichorniae crassipes

The water hyacinth weevil, Neochetina eichhorniae, is an effective biological control agent of the aquatic weed Eichorniae crassipes. The adults under field conditions have degenerated indirect flight muscles that explains their inability to fly. A study on the factors initiating flight muscle development in adults was carried out. Among the various abiotic factors studied, density of weevils per plant and high temperature in presence of food initiated and accelerated flight muscle development. Absence of food did not influence muscle development. No inter-relationship between flight muscle development and degeneration could be observed.