Temperature Sensitivity and Basal Rate of Soil Respiration and Their Determinants in Temperate Forests of North China

The basal respiration rate at 10°C (R₁₀) and the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration (Q₁₀) are two premier parameters in predicting the instantaneous rate of soil respiration at a given temperature. However, the mechanisms underlying the spatial variations in R₁₀ and Q₁₀ are not quite clear. R₁₀ and Q₁₀ were calculated using an exponential function with measured soil respiration and soil temperature for 11 mixed conifer-broadleaved forest stands and nine broadleaved forest stands at a catchment scale. The mean values of R₁₀ were 1.83 µmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ and 2.01 µmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, the mean values of Q₁₀ were 3.40 and 3.79, respectively, for mixed and broadleaved forest types. Forest type did not influence the two model parameters, but determinants of R₁₀ and Q₁₀ varied between the two forest types. In mixed forest stands, R₁₀ decreased greatly with the ratio of coniferous to broadleaved tree species; whereas it sharply increased with the soil temperature range and the variations in soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil total nitrogen (TN). Q₁₀ was positively correlated with the spatial variances of herb-layer carbon stock and soil bulk density, and negatively with soil C/N ratio. In broadleaved forest stands, R₁₀ was markedly affected by basal area and the variations in shrub carbon stock and soil phosphorus (P) content; the value of Q₁₀ largely depended on soil pH and the variations of SOC and TN. 51% of variations in both R₁₀ and Q₁₀ can be accounted for jointly by five biophysical variables, of which the variation in soil bulk density played an overwhelming role in determining the amplitude of variations in soil basal respiration rates in temperate forests. Overall, it was concluded that soil respiration of temperate forests was largely dependent on soil physical properties when temperature kept quite low.     

Transgenic Bt Rice Does Not Challenge Host Preference of the Target Pest of Rice Leaffolder,Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Background

Transgenic Bt rice line T2A-1 expresses a synthesized cry2A gene that shows high resistance to Lepidoptera pests, including Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Plant volatile orientation cues and the physical characteristics of the leaf surface play key roles in host location or host-plant acceptance of phytophagous insects. These volatile compounds and physical traits may become altered in Bt rice and it is not known whether this influences the behavior of C. medinalis when searching for oviposition sites.

Results

The results of electronic nose analysis showed that the Radar map of Bt rice cultivars was analogous to the non- Bt rice cultivars at each growing stage. PCA analysis was able to partly discriminate between some of the Bt vs. non-Bt rice sensors, but could not to separate Bt cultivars from non-Bt cultivars. The total ion chromatogram between Bt and non-Bt rice cultivars at the seedling, booting and tillering stages were similar and 25 main compounds were identified by GC-MS. For most compounds, there was no significant difference in compound quantities between Bt and non-Bt rice cultivars at equivalent growth stages. The densities of the tubercle papicles and the trichomes on the upper and lower surfaces were statistically equal in Bt and non-Bt rice. The target pest, C. medinalis, was attracted to host rice plants, but it could not distinguish between the transgenic and the isogenic rice lines.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences between the Bt rice line, T2A-1 and the non-Bt rice for volatiles produced or in its physical characteristics and there were no negative impacts on C. medinalis oviposition behavior. These results add to the mounting evidence that Bt rice has no negative impact on the target insect oviposition behavior.     

Nitrotyrosine Level Was Associated with Mortality in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

Background

To examine the characteristics of oxidative stress in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and investigate the association between plasma nitrotyrosine levels and 90-day mortality in patients with AKI.

Methodology/Principal Findings

158 patients with hospital-acquired AKI were recruited to this prospective cohort study according to RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Lost or End Stage Kidney) criteria. Twelve critically ill patients without AKI and 15 age and gender-matched healthy subjects served as control. Plasma 3-nitrotyrosine was analyzed in relation to 90-day all cause mortality of patients with AKI. The patients with AKI were followed up for 90 days and grouped according to median plasma 3-nitrotyrosine concentrations. Highest 3-NT/Tyr was detected in patients with AKI compared with healthy subjects, and critically ill patients without AKI (ANOVA p<0.001). The 90-day survival curves of patients with high 3-NT/Tyr showed significant differences compared with the curves of individuals with low 3-NT/Tyr (p = 0.001 by log rank test). Multivariate analysis (Cox regression) revealed that 3-NT/Tyr (p = 0.025) was independently associated with mortality after adjustment for age, gender, sepsis and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score.

Conclusions/Significance

There is excess plasma protein oxidation in patients with AKI, as evidenced by increased nitrotyrosine content. 3-NT/Tyr level was associated with mortality of AKI patients independent of the severity of illness.     

Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of Silkworm (Bombyx mori) to Infection by the Microsporidian Nosema bombycis

Microsporidia have attracted much attention because they infect a variety of species ranging from protists to mammals, including immunocompromised patients with AIDS or cancer. Aside from the study on Nosema ceranae, few works have focused on elucidating the mechanism in host response to microsporidia infection. Nosema bombycis is a pathogen of silkworm pébrine that causes great economic losses to the silkworm industry. Detailed understanding of the host (Bombyx mori) response to infection by N. bombycis is helpful for prevention of this disease. A genome-wide survey of the gene expression profile at 2, 4, 6 and 8 days post-infection by N. bombycis was performed and results showed that 64, 244, 1,328, 1,887 genes were induced, respectively. Up to 124 genes, which are involved in basal metabolism pathways, were modulated. Notably, B. mori genes that play a role in juvenile hormone synthesis and metabolism pathways were induced, suggesting that the host may accumulate JH as a response to infection. Interestingly, N. bombycis can inhibit the silkworm serine protease cascade melanization pathway in hemolymph, which may be due to the secretion of serpins in the microsporidia. N. bombycis also induced up-regulation of several cellular immune factors, in which CTL11 has been suggested to be involved in both spore recognition and immune signal transduction. Microarray and real-time PCR analysis indicated the activation of silkworm Toll and JAK/STAT pathways. The notable up-regulation of antimicrobial peptides, including gloverins, lebocins and moricins, strongly indicated that antimicrobial peptide defense mechanisms were triggered to resist the invasive microsporidia. An analysis of N. bombycis-specific response factors suggested their important roles in anti-microsporidia defense. Overall, this study primarily provides insight into the potential molecular mechanisms for the host-parasite interaction between B. mori and N. bombycis and may provide a foundation for further work on host-parasite interaction between insects and microsporidia.     

Suppression of E. multilocularis Hydatid Cysts after Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Background

Heavy-ion therapy has an advantage over conventional radiotherapy due to its superb biological effectiveness and dose conformity in cancer therapy. It could be a potential alternate approach for hydatid cyst treatment. However, there is no information currently available on the cellular and molecular basis for heavy-ion irradiation induced cell death in cystic echinococcosis.

Methododology/Principal Findings

LD50 was scored by protoscolex death. Cellular and ultrastructural changes within the parasite were studied by light and electron microscopy, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and copy number were measured by QPCR, and apoptosis was determined by caspase 3 expression and caspase 3 activity. Ionizing radiation induced sparse cytoplasm, disorganized and clumped organelles, large vacuoles and devoid of villi. The initial mtDNA damage caused by ionizing radiation increased in a dose-dependent manner. The kinetic of DNA repair was slower after carbon-ion radiation than that after X-rays radiation. High dose carbon-ion radiation caused irreversible mtDNA degradation. Cysts apoptosis was pronounced after radiation. Carbon-ion radiation was more effective to suppress hydatid cysts than X-rays.

Conclusions

These studies provide a framework to the evaluation of attenuation effect of heavy-ion radiation on cystic echinococcosis in vitro. Carbon-ion radiation is more effective to suppress E. multilocularis than X-rays.     

高糖和bFGF对骨髓间充质干细胞成骨分化的影响

目的：骨组织的形成是一个复杂的过程,受多种因素的影响,糖尿病所导致的持续高血糖对于成骨分化的影响机制尚不明确,以及在此分化过程中的各种细胞因子的作用机理仍不明了,现拟通过体外成骨诱导环境,观察高糖和碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（fibroblastgrowthfactorbFGF）对人骨髓间充质干细胞（humanmesenchymalstemcellshMSCs）成骨分化的影响。方法：hMSC在5．5mmol／L和25mmol／L葡萄糖浓度下培养6天,使用cck一8法测定各组细胞增殖情况;hMSC在两种糖浓度下成骨诱导28天,通过碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性检测、茜素红染色、钙结节半定量检测,对比各组成骨分化活性;在两种糖浓度成骨诱导液中加入10ng／mlbFGF,使用RT—PCR技术检测各组细胞OCN、OPNmRNA表达差异。结果：高糖较正常糖浓度细胞增殖率下降,ALP活性降低,茜素红染色钙结节量减少,RT—PCR检测结果显示25mmol／L组OCN、OPNmRNA表达量低于5．5mmol／L组,加入bFGF后,25mmol／L组仍低于5．5mmol／L组,与未添加bFGF同葡萄糖组比较表达增加。结论：高糖使hMSC增殖能力下降,在成骨分化的过程中ALP活性降低,成骨相关基因OCN、OPN表达量下降,证明了高糖对hMSC成骨分化具有抑制作用,当加入bFGF后,改善了高糖对hMSC的抑制作用,提示糖尿病条件下高糖的存在是导致hMSC成骨分化能力下降的不利因素,同时初步证明了bFGF参与了成骨分化的过程,从而为在分子水平探讨糖尿病患者种植义齿骨结合形成相关机制奠定初步的基础．．     

原生质体诱变选育高产异抗坏血酸菌株

以灰黄青霉菌(Penicillium griseofulvum HL)为出发菌株,试验得到灰黄青霉原生质体制备的优化条件为:菌体培养48h,用0.7mol/L的NaC1溶液作为渗透压稳定剂,用0.5％的蜗牛酶+0.5％的纤维素酶,在pH为6,30℃条件下酶解3h,所得原生质体数最多,达到3.14×107/ml.原生质体再生的最佳条件为采用双层平板培养法,在用0.7mol/L的蔗糖溶液配制的改进察氏培养基上其再生率最高,达到24.93％.灰黄青霉原生质体经过紫外线诱变,DES诱变,紫外线-DES诱变复合诱变,紫外线-氯化锂复合诱变选育异抗坏血酸高产菌株,通过对再生平板上长出的诱变菌株进行初筛和摇瓶复筛,最终获得一株异抗坏血酸产量较高的菌株ZD4,其产量为5.28mg/ml,提高到出发菌株产量(1.08 mg/ml)的488.9％,且连续传代6代遗传稳定.     

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells： Current Progress and Future Perspectives

<正>Conversion of cell fate is not only an essential biological question,but also has great clinical values.In early 1950s,cellular reprogramming was frst achieved using the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT),which transferred the nuclear of somatic cells into an enucleated oocyte,thus converted the mature somatic cells into pluripotent state.Using this technique     

26个水稻新品种（系）对白叶枯病抗性的鉴定和评价

采用菲律宾10个代表菌株和我国V型菌代表菌株在植株的分蘖初期和孕穗期人工接种,鉴定和评价近年选育的26个“绿色超级稻”品种（系）对白叶枯病的抗性。结果表明多数品种在分蘖初期和孕穗期对病菌的抗感水平相同,少数品种接种在孕穗期接种部分菌株后的病斑长度小于苗期。此外,新黄占、华201S-1 和XF10450在分蘖初期和孕穗期接种10个菌株后的病斑长度均小于5cm,具有高度的广谱抗性;其它品种对不同菌株的抗性水平不同,黄华占、旱优113、新两优3411和天优145对4-5个菌株表现抗病,旱优75、旱优715和009067对测试的10-11个菌株高度感病;其它品系对所有菌株表现中度感病或感病。 关键词：水稻品种;白叶枯病;抗性