Leukocyte deformability: finite element modeling of large viscoelastic deformation.

An axisymmetric deformation of a viscoelastic sphere bounded by a prestressed elastic thin shell in response to external pressure is studied by a finite element method. The research is motivated by the need for understanding the passive behavior of human leukocytes (white blood cells) and interpreting extensive experimental data in terms of the mechanical properties. The cell at rest is modeled as a sphere consisting of a cortical prestressed shell with incompressible Maxwell fluid interior. A large-strain deformation theory is developed based on the proposed model. General non-linear, large strain constitutive relations for the cortical shell are derived by neglecting the bending stiffness. A representation of the constitutive equations in the form of an integral of strain history for the incompressible Maxwell interior is used in the formulation of numerical scheme. A finite element program is developed, in which a sliding boundary condition is imposed on all contact surfaces. The mathematical model developed is applied to evaluate experimental data of pipette tests and observations of blood flow.     

EM复合菌对新疆色素辣椒生长及根际细菌群落的影响

【背景】Effective microorganisms （EM）复合菌在我国农业种植上的应用越来越广泛,但对色素辣椒的促生作用与根际细菌群落结构的影响未见报道。【目的】评估EM复合菌对新疆色素辣椒的促生长作用,并分析其对色素辣椒根际细菌群落组成的影响。【方法】通过随水灌溉方式将EM复合菌接种到色素辣椒根部,在收获期测定辣椒生长指标、土壤养分和酶活活性,明确EM复合菌对辣椒生长和土壤质量的影响;利用16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术测定EM复合菌对辣椒根系细菌群落组成和结构的影响。【结果】与对照组相比,EM复合菌的施用使辣椒株高、鲜重、单个果重和单株结果数分别提高23.89%、85.41%、42.31%和46.04%;土壤中碱解氮和速效磷含量分别提高5.83%和13.39%,土壤中脲酶、蔗糖酶和过氧化物酶的活性分别提高11.47%、9.42%和21.43%;施用EM复合菌显著改变辣椒根际微生物群落的α多样性和β多样性,提高有益菌群变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、芽单胞菌门（Gemmatimonadetes）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）和厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）的相对丰度,其中变形菌门黄单胞菌科（Xanthomonadaceae）的相对丰度增加119.32%;在属的水平上,施用EM复合菌显著增加了藤黄色杆菌属（Luteitalea）、藤黄单胞菌属（Luteimonas）、鞘脂单胞菌属（Sphingobacterium）和盐单胞菌属（Halomonas）的相对丰度,尤其是藤黄单胞菌属的丰度提高244.17%,同时显著降低黄杆菌属（Flavobacterium）的相对丰度。此外,与土壤理化指标呈正相关的微生物菌群相对丰度也显著升高。【结论】EM复合菌能够通过提高土壤营养成分与酶活活性,调控根系微生物群落结构,富集大量在盐碱地生存能力较强的有益菌群,进而起到促进色素辣椒生长的功效。     

基于“抗疫精神”的“基因工程”课程思政教学设计与实践

课程思政是当前高校落实“立德树人”根本任务的重要形式。在抗击新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情中,中华民族同舟共济、守望相助,共同铸就了伟大的抗疫精神,为课程思政教学提供了最生动的元素。本文对“战疫”行动中的抗疫精神进行梳理和总结,将其内涵凝练为5项内容;以新型冠状病毒的“核酸检测、疫苗研制及其变异”中蕴含的“抗疫精神”为思政载体,甄选“基因工程”课程中对应的理论内容,开展聚焦抗疫精神的“基因工程”课程思政教学设计与实践研究,利用问卷法和深度访谈法对教学实施效果进行评价,旨在引导学生在学习专业理论知识的同时,感悟课程内容中蕴含的抗疫精神,并将其内化为价值追求,潜移默化中提升学生的思想意识和道德修养,同时为生物类其他专业课程思政教学提供参考和借鉴。     

Multiplex TaqMan qPCR Assay for Detection,Identification, and Quantification of Three Sclerotinia Species

White mold (or Sclerotinia stem rot), caused by Sclerotinia species, is a major air, soil, or seed-transmitted disease affecting numerous crops and wild plants. Microscopic or culture-based methods currently available for their detection and identification are time-consuming, laborious, and often erroneous. Therefore, we developed a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the discrimination, detection, and quantification of DNA collected from each of the three economically relevant Sclerotinia species, namely, S. sclerotiorum, S. minor, and S. nivalis. TaqMan primer/probe combinations specific for each Sclerotinia species were designed based on the gene sequences encoding aspartyl protease. High specificity and sensitivity of each probe were confirmed for sclerotium and soil samples, as well as pure cultures, using simplex and multiplex qPCRs. This multiplex assay could be helpful in detecting and quantifying specific species of Sclerotinia, and therefore, may be valuable for disease diagnosis, forecasting, and management.     

20世纪90年代以来中国生态空间演化的时空格局和梯度效应

改革开放以来中国经济和城市化的快速发展促使生产和生活空间挤占大量生态空间,系统认识和评估我国生态空间演化的宏观格局和过程对于生态文明建设具有重要的理论和现实意义。为揭示全国生态空间变化的时空过程,在对生态空间内涵进行界定的基础上,结合全国尺度时序土地利用数据构建生态空间分类体系,并评估1990—2015年中国生态空间演化特征。结果表明:1990—2015年中国生态用地面积持续减少,主要向半生态用地转变,发生在重要的粮食生产区域及周边;半生态用地面积波动明显,前期主要表现为不断扩张,后期大量转换为弱生态用地,发生在主要城市群地区;弱生态用地持续扩张,与城镇化进程不断加速相关。中国生态空间演变过程表现出一定的区域差异和梯度效应,不同区域生态空间变化发生的拐点时间有所不同,呈现"自东向西、由南到北"的3级梯度特征,区域生态空间状况与经济发展战略及生态空间管控具有较强的相关性。本研究对于国家生态空间管控近远期战略方案制订具有一定启示,建议处于不同梯度的各地区应基于区域生态空间演化所处阶段和不同驱动机制,确定分区域生态空间安全红线目标和生态空间管控方案。     

IL1RN promotes osteoblastic differentiation via interacting with ITGB3 in osteoporosis

The occurrence and progress of osteoporosis(OP)are partially caused by impaired osteoblast differentiation.Interleukin-I receptor antagonist(IL1RN)is an immune ...     

A single dose of recombinant VSV-RABVG vaccine provides full protection against RABV challenge

Highlights:
1. A replication-competent recombinant VSV with RABV-G protein replacement was generated.
2. Single dose of VSV-RABVG immunization induce potent antigen-specific humoral immune response, especially the virus neutralizing antibodies.
3. Mice intranasally immunized with single dose of VSV-RABVG were 100% protected upon RABV challenge.     

Chromosomal aberrations induced by the restriction endonucleases EcoR I, Pst I, Sal I and Bam HI in CHO cells

4 widely used cohesive end-producing restriction endonucleases (REs), EcoR I, Pst I, Sal I and Bam HI were tested in CHO cells for their aberration-inducing effects. It was demonstrated that all these REs significantly increased the frequencies of aberrant cells, the aberration frequencies per cell and the aberration frequencies per chromosome. The effects of REs on chromosomal aberrations are similar to ionizing radiation, but more minutes and interchange figures are observed. Polyploid cells are more susceptible to RE treatment, an interesting finding which may be explained by the mechanisms leading to the formation of polyploid cells.