Histopathological and ultrastructural aspects of mice lungs experimentally infected with dengue virus serotype 2

Histological and ultrastructural alterations in lung tissue of BALB/c mice infected with dengue virus serotype 2 (non-neuroadapted), by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes were analyzed. Lung tissues were processed following the standard techniques for photonic and electron transmission microscopies. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed interstitial pneumonia, characterized by the presence of mononuclear cells. In the mouse model, the dengue virus serotype 2 seems to led to a transient inflammatory process without extensive damage to the interalveolar septa, but caused focal alterations of the blood-exchange barrier. Endothelial cells of blood capillaries exhibited phyllopodia suggesting activation by presence of dengue virus. Morphometrical analysis of mast cells showed an expressive increase of the number of these cells in peribronchiolar spaces and adjacent areas to the interalveolar septa. Alveolar macrophages showed particles dengue virus-like inside rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, suggesting viral replication. The tissue alterations observed in our experimental model were similar to the observed in human cases of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Our results show that BALB/c mice are permissive host for dengue virus serotype 2 replication and therefore provides an useful model to study of morphological aspects of dengue virus infection.     

西双版纳布龙自然保护区勐宋片区附生维管植物多样性与分布特征

利用地面观测和单绳上树法初次对布龙自然保护区勐宋片区开展的附生维管植物调查表明:1)在6个样地77株宿主上(共调查96株乔木,占地约0.2ha),共有1 756株、丛个体,隶属14科47属103种;相比世界其他区域,物种丰富度处于旧世界热带水平区间,高于温带,但明显低于新世界热带水平;2)兰科植物为最丰富的类群(60％),其次为蕨类植物(24％),其他类群占16％;3)垂直分布特征研究表明,距地面10～ 15 m的中等高度带为物种最丰富的区间,约有51％的物种;0～5m高度带为个体数量最多的区间,共有约24％个体,揭示了除中等高度带以外的另一个重要附生生境;4)常见的绞杀型榕属植物未见,而半附生植物密脉鹅掌柴(Schefflera elliptica)和多蕊木(Tupidanthus calyptratus)数量较多.     

NiCo2O4 Nanofibers as Carbon‐Free Sulfur Immobilizer to Fabricate Sulfur‐Based Composite with High Volumetric Capacity for Lithium–Sulfur Battery

Both the energy density and cycle stability are still challenges for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries in future practical applications. Usually, light‐weight and nonpolar carbon materials are used as the hosts of sulfur, however they struggle on the cycle stability and undermine the volumetric energy density of Li–S batteries. Here, heavy NiCo₂O₄ nanofibers as carbon‐free sulfur immobilizers are introduced to fabricate sulfur‐based composites. NiCo₂O₄ can accelerate the catalytic conversion kinetics of soluble intermediate polysulfides by strong chemical interaction, leading to a good cycle stability of sulfur cathodes. Specifically, the S/NiCo₂O₄ composite presents a high gravimetric capacity of 1125 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C rate with the composite as active material, and a low fading rate of 0.039% per cycle over 1500 cycles at 1 C rate. In particular, the S/NiCo₂O₄ composite with the high tap density of 1.66 g cm^?3 delivers large volumetric capacity of 1867 mAh cm^?3, almost twice that of the conventional S/carbon composites.     

国际蝗虫灾害的防治策略和技术：现状与展望

简要地综述了国际上对蝗虫灾害管理策略与控制技术的发展现状,包括：监测与预警技术、化学防治、生物防治、综合管理对策以及目前的研究热点方向。比较分析了国际、国内蝗虫发生及其治理中存在问题的异同。国际上控制蝗虫灾害的理论、技术、措施、对策,对中国有重要的借鉴作用。一般来说, 控制蝗虫灾害的IPM计划中应该包括：在策略上,强调提前预防压制优于后期灭杀处理;在规律认识上,重视基础生物学和生态学的研究,并将之模型化和标准化;在测报方法上,积极发展和改善监测预警技术水平,将地理信息系统(GIS）和遥感（RS）技术集成引入到防治决策的整体系统中,使信息能够快速、准确地传递;在防治手段上,注意新型防治药剂和施药技术的研究开发和集成,增加用药效果;在天敌利用和环境保护方面,充分认识和评估自然天敌的控制作用,正确地估计防治效益和挽回的损失,重视对环境价值的评价;同时加强多个地区间的联合与协调。     

Generation of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mouse mutants with deviations in hematological parameters

Research on hematological disorders relies on suitable animal models. We retrospectively evaluated the use of the hematological parameters hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), and platelet count (PLT) in the phenotype-driven Munich N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mouse mutagenesis project as parameters for the generation of novel animal models for human diseases. The analysis was carried out on more than 16,000 G1 and G3 offspring of chemically mutagenized inbred C3H mice to detect dominant and recessive mutations leading to deviations in the levels of the chosen parameters. Identification of animals exhibiting altered values and transmission of the phenotypic deviations to the subsequent generations led to the successful establishment of mutant lines for the parameters MCV, RBC, and PLT. Analysis of the causative mutation was started in selected lines, thereby revealing a novel mutation in the transferrin receptor gene (Tfrc) in one line. Thus, novel phenotype-driven mouse models were established to analyze the genetic components of hematological disorders.     

分蘖洋葱离体培养过程中超度含水态苗的控制

探讨培养基成分和容器通气性影响脱毒苗超度含水态苗率的结果表明MS培养基组成减半(1/2MS培养基)可改善芽质体超度含水态分蘖洋葱苗的形成,MS基本培养基中添加0.4mg·L-1BA后,培养30 d的每个外植体可获得3.2个芽体,超度含水态苗率仅为9.7%,优于加激动素(Kin)的.培养基中琼脂(8 g-L-1)或蔗糖浓度(40 g-L-1)的提高和容器通透性的改善均可减少超度含水态苗的发生.     

Inhibin/activin-betaE subunit in normal and malignant human cervical tissue and cervical cancer cell lines

Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, composed of an alpha-subunit and one of two possible beta-subunits (betaA or betaB), with substantial roles in human reproduction and in endocrine-responsive tumours. Recently a novel beta subunit named betaE was described, although it is still unclear if normal or cancerous cervical epithelial cells as well as cervical cancer cell lines can synthesise the novel inhibin-betaE subunit. About 4 normal cervical tissue samples together with 10 specimens of well-differentiated squamous cervical cancer and adenocarcinoma of the cervix were immunohistochemical analyzed. Additionally, two cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa and CaSki) were analyzed by immunofluorescence and RT–PCR for the expression of this novel subunit. We demonstrated for the first time an immunolabelling of the inhibin-betaE subunit in normal and malignant cervical tissue, as well as cervical cancer cells. Although the physiological role is still quite unclear in cervical tissue, inhibin-βE might play important roles in carcinogenesis. Moreover, the synthesis of this subunit in cervical carcinoma cell lines of squamous and glandular epithelial origins also allows the use of these cell lines in elucidating its functions in cervical cancer pathogenesis. However, since the expression of the inhibin-βE is minimal in HeLa cells as assessed by immunofluorescence and RT–PCR, the CaSki cell line might be a better model for further functional experiments regarding cervical cancer pathogenesis.     

常规组织切片凋亡细胞原位末端标记方法

凋亡是有别于组织坏死的一种细胞死亡方式,多与基因调控的编程性死亡有关。准确地判断细胞凋亡对探讨程序化细胞死亡诱发机制具有重要意义。本文采用Biotin-16-dUTP对凋亡细胞内DNA断裂片段的末端进行标记,可原位检测常规组织切片上的凋亡细胞,方法具有敏感、直观、重复性好等优点。