黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜分布模拟与局部环境适应性分化

黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)是重要的药食同源植物, 在干旱荒漠区发挥着防风固沙的重要生态功能, 但目前片段化分布日趋严重。该研究利用黑果枸杞在新疆的87个自然分布点和基准气候(1971-2000年)下的19个气候变量, 利用GIS空间分析和R软件Biomod2建模平台, 模拟分析黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜分布范围、空间分布特征及其关键限制因子; 并结合研究区土地利用/土地覆被现状, 评价其分布潜力; 同时对黑果枸杞的南北疆种群进行分组建模, 分析该植物的生态位分化。研究结果表明: (1)组合模型的真实技巧统计(TSS)均高于0.75、接收工作机特征曲线下的面积(AUC)均高于0.85, 模拟精度相比单个模型有明显提高; 组合模型得到的种下分组建模的模拟准确性较物种水平有显著提升, TSS均高于0.78、AUC均高于0.88; (2)根据组合模型的模拟结果, 黑果枸杞在新疆的适宜生境面积占比为36.72%, 主要分布于准噶尔盆地、天山北坡及塔里木盆地西北缘和西南缘; 其中, 高度适生区面积占比为5.19%, 集中于福海县、塔城地区东部、天山北坡博乐至阜康一线、库尔勒、柯坪县及塔里木盆地西南缘。高度与中度适生区与研究区耕地的重叠率达80.6%和50.8%; (3)南北疆黑果枸杞种群存在显著的生态位分化, 最暖季平均气温、等温性、降水季节性是驱动黑果枸杞局部环境适应性分化的主要因子。     

阔叶百里香鲜、干茎叶精油成分及其抑菌效果

采用水蒸气蒸馏法和气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析阔叶百里香(Thymus pulegioides)鲜、干茎叶精油含油率、化学组成及其相对含量的差异,并比较精油对链格孢(Alternaria alternata)、粉红单端孢(Trichothecium roseum)和意大利青霉(Penicillium italicum)的抑制效果。鲜、干茎叶含精油率分别为0.53%、0.37%,分别鉴定出35、40种化合物,其主要化学成分相同,均含有百里香酚(鲜样31.30%,干样26.82%)、麝香草酚甲醚、右旋龙脑和邻伞花烃等,只是相对含量略有差异;在抑菌实验中,百里香精油对链格孢菌的抑制作用最为明显,其次是意大利青霉和粉红单端孢。鲜、干阔叶百里香精油的组分较为接近,相对含量略有差异;阔叶百里香精油对3种真菌具有较好的抑制效果,且鲜样精油的抑菌效果好于干样精油。     

福建省被子植物新记录属种

报道福建省被子植物新记录1属--球子草属(Peliosanthes Andr.)和新记录2种,即百合科(Liliaceae)大盖球子草(Peliosanthes macrostegia Hance)和花柱草科(Stylidiaceae)花柱草(Stylidium uliginosum Swartz),凭证标本保存于福建农林大学标本馆(FJFC)。     

稻飞虱嗅觉相关基因及功能的研究进展

稻飞虱是我国及亚洲各水稻产区的重大害虫,在我国成灾危害的种类主要为白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera、褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens、灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus.稻飞虱不仅通过韧皮部吸取汁液而且传播多种水稻病毒,对我国水稻每年产量巨大损失.目前,稻飞虱对多种常用化学杀虫剂产生了较高的抗性.因此,急需寻找新的绿色防治方法.当前,"反向化学生态"是化学防治的理想替代方案之一,即通过研究昆虫重要的嗅觉基因功能,揭示嗅觉感受机制,从而找到对昆虫具有吸引作用的小分子化合物,制备诱芯进行田间诱集的绿色防控方法.已有研究证实,嗅觉感受在稻飞虱对水稻植株的定位及危害中发挥重要作用,近年有关稻飞虱嗅觉感受分子机制研究方面也取得不少进展.本文对此进行综述和展望,以期为推动基于嗅觉感受的稻飞虱绿色防控技术的研发提供参考.     

QSAR modeling and transmission electron microscopy stereology of altered mitochondrial ultrastructure of white blood cells in patients diagnosed as schizophrenic and treated with antipsychotic drugs.

Treatment of patients diagnosed as schizophrenic with antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics) is known to cause occasional unexplained depletion of white blood cells, especially neutrophil granulocytes. It has been known for many years that neuroleptics can interfere with the mitochondrial respiratory chain in vitro. Because there has been a growing interest recently in mitochondrial targeting of drugs, and since a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model that predicts mitochondrial accumulation of neuroleptics has been published, we investigated the effects of neuroleptics on white blood cell mitochondria. Venous blood samples were collected from both patients undergoing treatment with neuroleptics and healthy volunteers. The samples were processed for transmission electron microscopy. The resulting images of white blood cells were analyzed using stereology to compare quantitatively mitochondrial morphology in the patient and control groups. We found that in patients, but not in controls, there was swelling of mitochondria and fragmentation of the mitochondrial cristae. There also were fewer mitochondria in patients than in controls, although due to the swelling of the organelles, the volume density of mitochondria in the two groups was not significantly different. Such changes are typical of a toxic insult. Consequently, it seems plausible that, since schizophrenia is not a disease considered to affect white blood cells per se, these changes probably are due to the medication.     

动物眼睛的起源与进化研究进展

动物眼睛的起源与进化过程是人类在探索自然奥秘过程中遇到的一个非常有趣且引人注目的研究热点,目前这方面的研究已取得了丰硕的成果。从眼睛出现的过程、眼睛进化所需的时间、眼睛的单起源论、眼睛的类型与进化、光感受器与眼睛进化的关系、光感受器和视蛋白的类型与进化这6个方面简要概述了动物眼睛起源与进化的主要研究进展。     

Effects of Erythropoietin in Murine-Induced Pluripotent Cell-Derived Panneural Progenitor Cells

Induced cell fate changes by reprogramming of somatic cells offers an efficient strategy to generate autologous pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from any adult cell type. The potential of iPS cells to differentiate into various cell types is well established, however the efficiency to produce functional neurons from iPS cells remains modest. Here, we generated panneural progenitor cells (pNPCs) from mouse iPS cells and investigated the effect of the neurotrophic growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) on their survival, proliferation and neurodifferentiation. Under neural differentiation conditions, iPS-derived pNPCs gave rise to microtubule-associated protein-2 positive neuronlike cells (34% to 43%) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor positive oligodendrocytelike cells (21% to 25%) while less than 1% of the cells expressed the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Neuronlike cells generated action potentials and developed active presynaptic terminals. The pNPCs expressed EPO receptor (EPOR) mRNA and displayed functional EPOR signaling. In proliferating cultures, EPO (0.1–3 U/mL) slightly improved pNPC survival but reduced cell proliferation and neurosphere formation in a concentration-dependent manner. In differentiating cultures EPO facilitated neurodifferentiation as assessed by the increased number of β-III-tubulin positive neurons. Our results show that EPO inhibits iPS pNPC self-renewal and promotes neurogenesis.     

Probability packaging of T4 coliphage DNA driven by oscillatory ATP consumption

Abstract

The strategies for packaging the T4 coliphage chromosome are presented. Our probability model based on fractality of DNA “globules” (fasces-like DNA globules) is consistent with transient condensation modelling to the final maximally condensed state.     

Environmentally Enriched Male Mink Gain More Copulations than Stereotypic,Barren-Reared Competitors

Wild carnivores in zoos, conservation breeding centres, and farms commonly live in relatively small, unstimulating enclosures. Under these captive conditions, in a range of species including giant pandas, black-footed ferrets, and European mink, male reproductive abilities are often poor. Such problems have long been hypothesized to be caused by these animals'' housing conditions. We show for the first time that rearing under welfare-improving (i.e., highly valued and stress-reducing) environmental enrichments enhances male carnivores'' copulatory performance: in mate choice competitions, enriched male American mink (Neovison vison) mated more often than non-enriched males. We screened for several potential mediators of this effect. First was physiological stress and its impact on reproductive physiology; second, stress-mediated changes in morphology and variables related to immunocompetence that could influence male attractiveness; and third, behavioural changes likely to affect social competence, particularly autistic-like excessive routine and repetition (‘perseveration’) as is reflected in the stereotypies common in captive animals. Consistent with physiological stress, excreted steroid metabolites revealed that non-enriched males had higher cortisol levels and lower androgen levels than enriched conspecifics. Their os penises (bacula) also tended to be less developed. Consistent with reduced attractiveness, non-enriched males were lighter, with comparatively small spleens and a trend to greater fluctuating asymmetry. Consistent with impaired social competence, non-enriched males performed more stereotypic behaviour (e.g., pacing) in their home cages. Of all these effects, the only significant predictor of copulation number was stereotypy (a trend suggesting that low bodyweights may also be influential): highly stereotypic males gained the fewest copulations. The neurophysiological changes underlying stereotypy thus handicap males sexually. We hypothesise that such males are abnormally perseverative when interacting with females. Investigating similar problems in other taxa would be worthwhile, since many vertebrates, wild and domestic, live in conditions that cause stereotypic behaviour and/or impair neurological development.     

Determinants of Brushite Stone Formation: A Case-Control Study

Purpose

The occurrence of brushite stones has increased during recent years. However, the pathogenic factors driving the development of brushite stones remain unclear.

Methods

Twenty-eight brushite stone formers and 28 age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in this case-control study. Anthropometric, clinical, 24 h urinary parameters and dietary intake from 7-day weighed food records were assessed.

Results

Pure brushite stones were present in 46% of patients, while calcium oxalate was the major secondary stone component. Urinary pH and oxalate excretion were significantly higher, whereas urinary citrate was lower in patients as compared to healthy controls. Despite lower dietary intake, urinary calcium excretion was significantly higher in brushite stone patients. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed pH>6.50 (OR 7.296; p = 0.035), calcium>6.40 mmol/24 h (OR 25.213; p = 0.001) and citrate excretion <2.600 mmol/24 h (OR 15.352; p = 0.005) as urinary risk factors for brushite stone formation. A total of 56% of patients exhibited distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). Urinary pH, calcium and citrate excretion did not significantly differ between patients with or without dRTA.

Conclusions

Hypercalciuria, a diminished citrate excretion and an elevated pH turned out to be the major urinary determinants of brushite stone formation. Interestingly, urinary phosphate was not associated with urolithiasis. The increased urinary oxalate excretion, possibly due to decreased calcium intake, promotes the risk of mixed stone formation with calcium oxalate. Neither dietary factors nor dRTA can account as cause for hypercalciuria, higher urinary pH and diminished citrate excretion. Further research is needed to define the role of dRTA in brushite stone formation and to evaluate the hypothesis of an acquired acidification defect.