Hydrological regulation drives regime shifts: evidence from paleolimnology and ecosystem modeling of a large shallow Chinese lake

Quantitative evidence of sudden shifts in ecological structure and function in large shallow lakes is rare, even though they provide essential benefits to society. Such ‘regime shifts’ can be driven by human activities which degrade ecological stability including water level control (WLC) and nutrient loading. Interactions between WLC and nutrient loading on the long‐term dynamics of shallow lake ecosystems are, however, often overlooked and largely underestimated, which has hampered the effectiveness of lake management. Here, we focus on a large shallow lake (Lake Chaohu) located in one of the most densely populated areas in China, the lower Yangtze River floodplain, which has undergone both WLC and increasing nutrient loading over the last several decades. We applied a novel methodology that combines consistent evidence from both paleolimnological records and ecosystem modeling to overcome the hurdle of data insufficiency and to unravel the drivers and underlying mechanisms in ecosystem dynamics. We identified the occurrence of two regime shifts: one in 1963, characterized by the abrupt disappearance of submerged vegetation, and another around 1980, with strong algal blooms being observed thereafter. Using model scenarios, we further disentangled the roles of WLC and nutrient loading, showing that the 1963 shift was predominantly triggered by WLC, whereas the shift ca. 1980 was attributed to aggravated nutrient loading. Our analysis also shows interactions between these two stressors. Compared to the dynamics driven by nutrient loading alone, WLC reduced the critical P loading and resulted in earlier disappearance of submerged vegetation and emergence of algal blooms by approximately 26 and 10 years, respectively. Overall, our study reveals the significant role of hydrological regulation in driving shallow lake ecosystem dynamics, and it highlights the urgency of using multi‐objective management criteria that includes ecological sustainability perspectives when implementing hydrological regulation for aquatic ecosystems around the globe.     

Dynamic multiphoton imaging of acellular dermal matrix scaffolds seeded with mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic wound healing

Significantly effective therapies need to be developed for chronic nonhealing diabetic wounds. In this work, the topical transplantation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) seeded on an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) scaffold is proposed as a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic cutaneous wound healing. GFP‐labeled MSCs were cocultured with an ADM scaffold that was decellularized from normal mouse skin. These cultures were subsequently transplanted as a whole into the full‐thickness cutaneous wound site in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. Wounds treated with MSC‐ADM demonstrated an increased percentage of wound closure. The treatment of MSC‐ADM also greatly increased angiogenesis and rapidly completed the reepithelialization of newly formed skin on diabetic mice. More importantly, multiphoton microscopy was used for the intravital and dynamic monitoring of collagen type I (Col‐I) fibers synthesis via second harmonic generation imaging. The synthesis of Col‐I fibers during diabetic wound healing is of great significance for revealing wound repair mechanisms. In addition, the activity of GFP‐labeled MSCs during wound healing was simultaneously traced via two‐photon excitation fluorescence imaging. Our research offers a novel advanced nonlinear optical imaging method for monitoring the diabetic wound healing process while the ADM and MSCs interact in situ. Schematic of dynamic imaging of ADM scaffolds seeded with mesenchymal stem cells in diabetic wound healing using multiphoton microscopy. PMT, photo‐multiplier tube.      

伯克霍尔德氏菌ZYB002脂肪酶lipC24基因的克隆、表达及其酶学性质

【目的】克隆伯克霍尔德菌ZYB002菌株中的新型脂肪酶lip C24基因,测定其基本酶学性质,为后续深入研究该基因在菌株中的生理功能奠定基础。【方法】根据洋葱伯克霍尔德菌JK321菌株的全基因组DNA信息,直接设计引物从伯克霍尔德菌ZYB002菌株基因组中扩增出lip C24基因,并对之进行原核表达、重组蛋白的纯化及酶学性质分析。【结果】lip C24基因全长1317 bp,编码438个氨基酸残基;多肽链中具有保守五肽-G-X1-S-X2-G-序列;重组蛋白Lip C24的分子量为45 k Da;能有效水解各种对硝基苯酯,对中链脂肪酸的对硝基苯酯表现出偏爱性;其催化水解反应的最适温度为40℃,最适p H7.5;40℃下的半衰期为15.72 min,在p H 7.0-8.0的条件下,具有较好的稳定性。【结论】lip C24的编码产物为一个45 k Da蛋白,具有明显的脂肪酶活性,为中温中性脂肪酶。     

Specific targeting of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE1 by C225-conjugated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles with magnetic resonance imaging

An accurate definition of clinical target volume (CTV) is essential for the application of radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment. A novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting contrast agent (C225-USPIO) was designed by conjugating ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles with cetuximab (C225), to non-invasively define the CTV of tumor. The immunobinding activity of C225-USPIO to NPC cell line CNE1 was confirmed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The time-dependent accumulation of C225-USPIO in CNE1 cells was evaluated using Prussian blue staining. Targeted internalization and subcellular localization of C225-USPIO was confirmed by transmission electron microscope. The results indicated that C225-USPIO specifically bound to EGFR on the surface of CNE1 cells and was taken up into the cell. The uptake of C225-USPIO by CNE1 cells increased significantly with time, when compared with human IgG-USPIO. In addition, 4.7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that C225-USPIO had a capacity to accumulate in the CNE1 cells, with a resultant marked decrease in MRI T2-weighted signal intensity over time. These findings imply that C225-USPIO has the potential as an MRI contrast agent and can be employed to non-invasively detect early-stage NPC with EGFR overexpression. This provides sufficient theoretical basis for commencing in vivo experiments with the compound.     

水牛精子蛋白质组双向电泳体系的建立和优化

建立和优化一种适合水牛精子蛋白质组学研究的双向电泳技术。以水牛精子为研究对象,比较两种不同配方的裂解液,以及不同上样量对其2-DE图谱质量的影响。结果显示,以7 mol/L尿素、2 mol/L硫脲、4%CHAPS、1%DTT、0.5%Cocktail of protease inhibitors为裂解液,24 cm胶条上样量200μg时,可获得较好的精子总蛋白质2-DE图谱。运用ImageMaster 2-Dplatinum分析软件检测出约500个蛋白质点,蛋白质大部分分布在等电点5-7之间,分子量范围约40-90 kD。     

Role of IKK/NF-κB signaling in extinction of conditioned place aversion memory in rats

The inhibitor κB protein kinase/nuclear factor κB (IKK/NF-κB) signaling pathway is critical for synaptic plasticity. However, the role of IKK/NF-κB in drug withdrawal-associated conditioned place aversion (CPA) memory is unknown. Here, we showed that inhibition of IKK/NF-κB by sulphasalazine (SSZ; 10 mM, i.c.v.) selectively blocked the extinction but not acquisition or expression of morphine-induced CPA in rats. The blockade of CPA extinction induced by SSZ was abolished by sodium butyrate, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase. Thus, the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway might play a critical role in the extinction of morphine-induced CPA in rats and might be a potential pharmacotherapy target for opiate addiction.     

Biodegradation of naphthalene in aqueous nonionic surfactant systems.

The principal objective of this study was to quantify the bioavailability of micelle-solubilized naphthalene to naphthalene-degrading microorganisms comprising a mixed population isolated from contaminated waste and soils. Two nonionic surfactants were used, an alkylethoxylate, Brij 30 (C12E4), and an alkylphenol ethoxylate, Triton X-100 (C8PE9.5). Batch experiments were used to evaluate the effects of aqueous, micellized nonionic surfactants on the microbial mineralization of naphthalene and salicylic acid, an intermediate compound formed in the pathway of microbial degradation of naphthalene. The extent of solubilization and biodegradation under aerobic conditions was monitored by radiotracer and spectrophotometric techniques. Experimental results showed that surfactant concentrations above the critical micelle concentration were not toxic to the naphthalene-degrading bacteria and that the presence of surfactant micelles did not inhibit mineralization of naphthalene. Naphthalene solubilized by micelles of Brij 30 or Triton X-100 in liquid media was bioavailable and degradable by the mixed culture of bacteria.     

The bulk of UCP3 expressed in yeast cells is incompetent for a nucleotide regulated H+ transport

The impact of uncoupling protein (UCP) 1, UCP3 and UCP3s expressed in yeast on oxidative phosphorylation, membrane potential and H⁺ transport is determined. Intracellular ATP synthesis is inhibited by UCP3, much more than by UCP1, while similar levels of UCP3 and UCP1 exist in the mitochondrial fractions. Measurements of membrane potential and H⁺ efflux in isolated mitochondria show that, different from UCP1, with UCP3 and UCP3s there is a priori a preponderant uncoupling not inhibited by GDP. The results are interpreted to show that UCP3 and UCP3s in yeast mitochondria are in a deranged state causing uncontrolled uncoupling, which does not represent their physiological function.     

雌激素对多巴胺能神经元功能调节作用的研究进展

帕金森病（Parkinson‘s disease,PD)是中枢神经系统多巴胺（Dopamine,DA) 能神经元退行性疾病,其发病率具有明显的性别差异。性腺类固醇激素,尤其是雌激素,可在垂体、下丘脑、中脑边缘系统和黑质－纹状体（nigrostriatal,NS)系统等水平影响DA能神经递质系统的功能。而且,雌激素的使用剂量和时间的不同,可影响DA能神经元的活性。本文就雌激素与DA的关系及PD发病具有性别差异方面的新近进展作简要概述。     

The Effects of Using Trehalose as a Carbon Source on the Proliferation of Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis Protocorm-Like-Bodies

In this communication, the effects of trehalose and culture system on protocorm-like body (PLB) growth were investigated. PLB derived from Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis cultivars, which were grown on solidified trehalose amended NP medium showed higher proliferation rate than on NP medium containing sucrose. For P. ‘Hwa Feng Red Jewel’ and Dtp. ‘Mount Beauty×Su’s Red Lip’, the proliferation rates on solidified trehalose media were almost two times higher than those on sucrose media after 8-week culture. However, Knudson C (KC) medium did not reveal the similar results between trehalose and sucrose. In liquid culture system, both trehalose amended NP and KC media brought about better results than sucrose containing media for PLB proliferation. For culture system test, solidified media showed higher proliferation rate than liquid media under the same medium composition. Roller bottles were more suitable than flask-shaking cultures in liquid systems for PLB proliferation.