郑州黄河滩地生态重建研究

通过生态重建和景观重建,使郑州黄河滩地重新发挥生态系统功能与价值。以郑州黄河滩地为研究区,以实地调查数据、卫片资料等为依据,通过合理地定位重建目标、控制景观结构、划分景观分区和采用生态经济学方法进行成效评估,制定郑州黄河滩地生态重建方案。郑州黄河滩地蕴含着巨大的生态系统服务功能与价值潜力,生态重建后可以为城市公众提供更好的服务。主要表现为生态功能:生物多样性维持功能,调节气候和涵养水源功能,保持土壤和净化环境功能,生态防灾功能;经济生产功能和社会功能:科研教育功能,旅游和遗产价值。     

东江流域森林水源涵养功能空间格局评价

东江流域森林水源涵养功能对于保障流域可持续发展具有重要作用。应用In VEST模型,结合东江流域土地覆盖分类数据、气候数据、土壤数据评估了东江流域森林水源涵养功能的空间分布。结果表明:东江流域森林生态系统水源涵养总量为47.29×10~8m~3,水源涵养功能最高为572.6 mm,平均水源涵养功能为204.15 mm。东江流域森林水源涵养功能在空间上呈现出不同的分布特征,流域内森林水源涵养功能随海拔升高呈现先上升后降低的趋势,在海拔900—1200 m范围,水源涵养功能平均值达到最大值270 mm;流域内森林水源涵养功能随坡度升高呈增加趋势,在坡度大于50°的区域,森林水源涵养功能平均值增加到327.2 mm,高于流域平均水平60%。流域水源涵养功能呈现中游下游上游的空间格局,流域上、中、下游地区的水源涵养总量占流域的比例分别为11%、72%、17%。     

Structure-function analysis of the BEACH protein LvsA

Most eukaryotes have several members of the BEACH family of proteins but the molecular function of these large proteins remains unknown. The Dictyostelium BEACH protein LvsA is essential for cytokinesis and contractile vacuole activity. The functional contribution of different portions of LvsA was tested here by deletion analysis. The C-terminal WD domain was important for protein stability and C-terminal deletions resulted in loss of LvsA function. In contrast, N-terminal deletions yielded abundant protein expression that could be assayed for function. Despite very low sequence conservation of the N-terminal portion of LvsA, this region is important for its function in vivo . Deletion of 689 N-terminal amino acids produced a protein that was functional in cytokinesis but partially functional in osmoregulation. Further deletions resulted in the complete loss of LvsA function. Using in vitro fractionation assays we found that LvsA sedimented with membranes but that this association does not require the N-terminal portion of LvsA. Interestingly, the association of LvsA with the contractile vacuole was perturbed by the loss of drainin, a protein important for vacuole function. In drainin-null cells, LvsA bound irreversibly to engorged contractile vacuoles that fail to expel water. These experiments help delineate the biochemical and physiological requirements for function of one important BEACH protein, LvsA.     

Deviations of spontaneous firing in the cochlear nucleus of the frog from the renewal point process

The analysis of statistical characteristics of spontaneous activity (distribution of interpulse intervals, hazard function, autocorrelation function, autocorrelation function for a process with shifted intervals, interdependence between adjoining intervals) for 123 units located in the cochlear nucleus of the frog has been performed. In the majority of cells, this activity was distinct from the poissonic process, and in some cases firing periodicity was noticed. Besides, deviations of the spontaneous activity from the renewal process were usually observed. A reliable positive correlation of interpulse intervals was typical for the majority of the units, though in some cases a negative correlation of short adjoining intervals was revealed. The data indicate the occurrence of effects of memory in the activity of single units of the acoustical system.     

Structure of the single-stranded polyribonucleotide polycytidylic acid.

The Fourier transformation was obtained from the experimental diffuse X-ray scattering curve of adult human oxyhaemoglobin in an aqueous solution. The correlation function of the form of the molecule was calculated from known coordinates of horse haemoglobin atoms. The distribution function of inhomogeneities was deduced from the above Fourier transformation and the correlation function. This distribution function of inhomogeneities is described by a series of maxima providing evidence for a short and long-range order extending up to 5 nm which is close to the maximum dimension of the haemoglobin molecule.     

On the parameters of the clonal expansion model

The exact hazard function of the clonal expansion model was analyzed, and it was shown that only three of its four parameters can be determined by fitting to the age dependence of spontaneous tumor incidence rates. The same holds for the survival function.     

Mechanism of action of tetracycline on the functional state of the adrenal cortex]

The mechanism of stimulation of the adrenal cortex function by tetracycline was studied on albino rats. It was shown that tetracycline administered orally in a dose of 200 mg/kg regularly induced an increase in the corticosterone levels in the peripheral blood of the animals by the 15th day of the antibiotic use. It was shown on the animals with an experimentally suppressed function of the hypophysis by prolonged administration of hydrocortisone acetate that tetracycline primarily stimulated the hypophysis function resulting in production and excretion of increased amounts of the adrenocorticotropic hormone into the blood. The hormone increased the production of corticosterone in the adrenal glands which resulted in its higher levels in the peripheral blood.     

Effect of chemotherapy on NK function in the peripheral blood of cancer patients

Summary The effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy on NK cell function and on glass adherent cell regulation of NK cell function was evaluated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 20 previously untreated solid tumor patients. Most of the patients studied had lung cancer and received one of four combination chemotherapy treatment regimens. In addition, one patient with colon carcinoma and one patient with melanoma were studied, each of whom received treatment with a single agent. The results demonstrated that chemotherapy exerted a differential influence on NK activity which correlated with the pretreatment NK level of function in the individual patient. In patients with depressed NK levels prior to treatment, chemotherapy augmented NK function; in patients with normal levels prior to treatment, chemotherapy depressed NK function. The effects observed appeared to be associated with the capacity of chemotherapy to influence glass adherent cell regulation of NK activity. There was no apparent correlation between the effects of chemotherapy on numbers of NK effector cells, Leu11+ cells, or latex-ingesting cells. Also, there was no correlation between the effects seen and the type of drug treatment that was administered; rather, this was dependent on the pretreatment NK level of function which in turn was associated with glass adherent cell regulation of NK function.Supported in part by PHS Grant No. 27598     

Islet function of the pancreas following irradiation

Function of islets of Langerhans of Wistar male rats was studied after irradiation of animals with different doses. The pancreas function was determined with regard to the incorporation of 65Zn into the gland tissues. Total-body irradiation (60Co) with the dose of 4.0 Gy somewhat increased the function of islets; at the dose of 8.0 Gy their function was transiently blocked, and at the dose of 15 Gy the function of islets of Langerhans was blocked completely.     

Evaluation of the effect of butyl p-hydroxybenzoate on the proteolytic activity and membrane function of human spermatozoa

The inhibition of the proteolytic activity of acrosin in human spermatozoa by butyl p-hydroxybenzoate was assessed by the gelatin substrate film method. Compared with a typical acrosin inhibitor, TLCK, the inhibitory activity of butyl p-hydroxybenzoate to acrosin was much more effective (20 times) than that of TLCK, proving that butyl p-hydroxybenzoate was a potent acrosin inhibitor. The effect of butyl p-hydroxybenzoate on membrane function of human spermatozoa was evaluated using a sperm-tail hypoosmotic swelling test and supravital stain method. A good correlation (r = 0.92) was observed between the % spermatozoa with normal membrane function and the % live spermatozoa after treatment of the spermatozoa with butyl p-hydroxybenzoate for 1 min, indicating that the death of spermatozoa caused by butyl p-hydroxybenzoate is probably due to impairment of sperm membrane function. Both the inhibitory effect on acrosin and the adverse effect on membrane function suggest that butyl p-hydroxybenzoate could be developed as a new vaginal contraceptive.     

Pharmacological analysis of the effect of natural double-helical nucleic acids on the detoxifying function of the liver

The effect of interferon inductors i.e. double stranded RNAs from S. cerevisiae and phage F6 on the liver detoxicating function was studied on noninbred albino mice. The liver detoxicating function was tested by duration of hexenal sleep. It was shown that intraperitoneal administration of the yeast and phage RNAs in doses of 1/5 LD50 for three times led to increasing of the narcotic sleep duration in the animals by 65 and 207 per cent, respectively. The effect was of the dose-dependent nature. The doses not inducing reliable inhibition of hexenal metabolism were equal to 1/10 LD50 for the yeast dsRNA and 1/27 LD50 for the phage dsRNA. The inhibitory effect of the dsRNAs was retained for 2-3 days after discontinuation of the drug use. When the dsRNAs were administered simultaneously with nembutal, an inductor of the liver microsomal enzymes, the dsRNAs eliminated its inducing effect. Simultaneous administration of alpha-tocopherol lowered the dsRNA effect on hexenal metabolism. The findings suggested that the dsRNA inhibitory effect on the liver detoxicating function was grounded on the mechanisms associated with inhibition of syntheses and activation of lipid peroxidation specific of the monooxygenase system under the action of the dsRNAs.     

蜜环菌饮料对机体活性的调节作用研究

为了研究蜜环菌饮料对小鼠机体功能的影响,采用环磷酰胺(CY)造模法制作小鼠免疫抑制模型,通过灌胃不同剂量蜜环菌饮料,研究对小鼠机体免疫功能的影响,同时通过测定实验小鼠肠道中细菌总数、大肠杆菌数、乳酸菌和双歧杆菌数等,分析不同剂量的蜜环菌饮料对肠道菌相的影响,最后对小鼠进行了急性毒性试验研究,以检测饮料有无毒副作用。结果表明蜜环菌饮料可明显提高小鼠脾脏和胸腺指数,促进脾脏及胸腺的发育,促进巨噬细胞的吞噬活性,明显增强小鼠的免疫功能,同时还能促进小鼠肠道有益菌的生长,改善肠道微生物区系环境,饮料没有对小鼠产生任何的毒副作用。证明蜜环菌饮料不仅增强机体免疫功能,同时还增强肠道功能,保持和促进机体健康。     

点格局研究过程中K-函数的累积效应

植物种群空间格局是生态学研究的基本问题之一, 点格局分析已成为植物种群空间格局研究的重要方法之一, 其中, Ripley's K函数是点格局常用分析方法。然而, 由于Ripley's K函数具有累积效应, 这种累积效应可能会导致特定的格局特征。为了探讨Ripley's K函数的累积效应如何影响种群格局研究结果, 以大针茅种群数据为基础, 通过R软件模拟聚集分布、随机分布和均匀分布3种格局类型, 对比使用具有累积效应的Ripley's K函数和不具有累积效应的成对相关函数进行分析。结果表明: 对于聚集分布和均匀分布, Ripley's K函数的累积效应表现在2个方面: 一方面增加了聚集分布(或均匀分布)的尺度, 另一方面能够检测到聚块或负相互作用范围在取样空间的分布差异而表现出不同的格局特征。而对于随机分布, Ripley's K函数没有累积效应。因此, 在种群格局研究过程中, 通过重复取样且Ripley's K 函数与成对相关函数相结合的方法探讨种群格局, 更能揭示空间格局的本质特征。     

Effect of ectopic excitation on the ventricular pump function in chicken

The pump function of the heart ventricles was studied in chest-open anaesthetized adult female chickens under sinus rhythm and ectopic excitation of different localization. The intraventricular pressure in the right and left heart ventricles was measured by insertion of catheters through the ventricular free walls. Maximum systolic pressure, end-diastolic pressure, contractility (dP/dtmax) and relaxation (dP/dtmin) of both heart ventricles, and duration of the asynchronous contraction time of the left ventricle were analyzed. It was revealed that reduction of the pump function of the left ventricle tends to be greater under right ventricular ectopic excitation compared with left ventricular one. In comparison with the sinus rhythm, the pump function of the right ventricle was preserved to a greater extent under stimulation of the left ventricular apex and was significantly impaired under right ventricular ectopic excitation. Relaxation of both heart ventricles was more susceptible to ventricular ectopic excitation than contractility, and was more vulnerable in the right ventricle than in the left one. The direction of changes of the pump function of the heart ventricles in chickens under ventricular ectopic excitation was similar to changes of the pump function of mammalian hearts.     

Dynamics of the poststress recovery of the contractile function and adrenoreactivity of the portal vein

Emotional painful stress is accompanied by deep depression of portal vein spontaneous contractile function and by a considerable fall of its smooth muscle adrenoreactivity . The time course of post-stress recovery of these parameters was studied. The time course of changes in adrenoreactivity was correlated to the previously studied time course of the post-stress content of noradrenaline in the portal vein wall. Portal vein contractile function was shown to return to normal completely only at the 8th day after exposure to stress. The time course of the recovery of smooth muscle adrenoreactivity was discovered to be similar to that of the recovery of noradrenaline concentration, being wave-like in nature with "fading" fluctuations. Both the processes were found to be marked by the same line of changes.     

Catecholamine concentration in the hypothalamus following alteration of pituitary adrenocorticotropic function]

Norepinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin levels were studied in male rabbit hypothalamus and midbrain under the influence of different factors potentiating the hypophysial adrenocorticotropic function. Intensification of this adrenohypophysial function was accompanied by a certain decrease in the hypothalamic and midbrain norepinephrine level and by the appearance of epinephrine normally absent here. The role of serotonin in the regulation of the investigated pituitary function was not revealed since potentiation of this function was observed both with the lowered and with the elevated concentrations of this monoamine in the hypothalamus.     

Serum Growth Hormone Levels and the Response of Diabetic Retinopathy to Pituitary Ablation

Serum growth hormone levels were measured during insulin tolerance tests in 36 patients after yttrium-90 pituitary implantation for diabetic retinopathy. The response of the new blood vessels was more clearly related to loss of growth hormone function than was the improvement of retinal haemorrhages and microaneurysms. The overall response of the retinopathy was greatest when growth hormone function was lost.Since the loss of growth hormone function was related to the loss of other aspects of anterior pituitary function, a unique role of growth hormone in the response of diabetic retinopathy to pituitary ablation could not be established.     

Toxicity of adenine nucleotides in the isolated perfused kidney: selective destruction of the S2 segment of the proximal tubule.

In an attempt to ameliorate the morphological abnormalities and decreased renal function produced by hypoxia in the isolated perfused rat kidney, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was added to the perfusate medium. No improvement was noted in the histological changes or renal function. Paradoxically, however, in oxygenated control kidneys, ATP (2.5-10 mM), caused a severe injury remarkably limited to the S2 segments of proximal tubule. This injury was more destructive than that observed with complete ischemia for the same period of time or with inhibitors of glycolysis, intermediary metabolism, or respiratory chain function. Tubular damage produced by ATP was paradoxically prevented by hypoxia and mitochondrial inhibition. The mechanism of this selective toxic injury to the proximal tubule remains unclear and may depend upon intact transport metabolism of the cell.     

Age-dependent changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis of the laying hen.

The functional integrity of the components of the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis was examined in young and old laying hens. Ovarian function was tested by measuring the amount of progesterone released in response to an injection of LH, and pituitary function was investigated by measuring the increase in the plasma LH level after an injection of LH-RH. There were no differences between young and old birds in the response of the pituitary gland or the ovary to these stimuli. Hypothalamic function was investigated by studying the positive feedback action of a standard dose of progesterone on LH release; the positive feedback response was smaller (P less than 0.05) in old hens. It is suggested that the fall in the rate of lay in hens towards the end of their laying year is caused partly by a decrease in the response of the LH-positive feedback mechanism to progesterone.     

The Role of Lipids in the Function of the Acetylcholine Receptor

Abstract

The composition of membranes containing acetylcholine receptor was altered in order to examine the possible role of lipids in receptor function. Polyethylene glycol was used to fuse AcChR-rich membranes with an excess of lipid vesicles of defined composition. By this procedure, the cholesterol composition was reduced to as little as 20% of that found in native membranes. Using a TI⁺ flux assay it was possible to measure receptor function in such altered membrane environments. The apparent K_d for carbamylcholine was found to decrease as the cholesterol content was reduced. This result was confirmed by measuring the agonist-induced fluorescence change of the covalently attached probe, 4-[N-(iodoacetoxy)-ethyl-N-methyl] amino-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole. When the phospholipid composition was manipulated by membrane fusion, ion flux was found to be optimal when the lipid composition resembled that of native receptor membranes. These results indicate that membrane lipids potentially play a role in the regulation of acetylcholine receptor function.