Three research priorities for just and sustainable urban systems: Now is the time to refocus

Now is the time to refocus efforts in urban research and design. A changing climate and extreme weather events are presenting unique challenges to urban systems around the world. These challenges illuminate the social barriers that accompany disruptive events such as resource inequities and injustices. In this perspective, we provide three research priorities for just and sustainable urban systems that help to address these matters. The three research priorities are: (1) social equity and justice, (2) circularity, and (3) digital twins. Conceptual context and future research directions are provided for each. For social equity and justice, the future directions are mandatory equity analysis and inclusionary practices, understanding and reconciling historical injustices, and intentional integration with diverse community stakeholders. For circularity applications, they are better metrics for integration, more robust evaluation frameworks, and dynamic modeling at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Future directions for digital twins include developing principles to reduce complexity, integrating model and system components, and reducing barriers to data access. These research priorities are core to meeting several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (i.e., 1—No Poverty, 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10—Reduced Inequalities, and 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities). Useful social and technical matters are discussed throughout, where we highlight the importance of prioritizing localized research efforts, provide guidance for community-engaged research and co-development practices, and explain how these priorities interact to align with the evolving field of industrial ecology.     

Circular RNA SLTM as a miR-421-competing endogenous RNA to mediate HMGB2 expression stimulates apoptosis and inflammation in arthritic chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disease characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive articular cartilage destruction, and subchondral sclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in OA, but the function of circSLTM in OA remains greatly unknown. Therefore, this study focused on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated primary human chondrocytes as well as a rat model to investigate the expression pattern and functional role of circSLTM in OA in vitro and in vivo. CircSLTM and high mobility group protein B2 (HMGB2) were upregulated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, whereas miR-421 was downregulated. Knockdown of circSLTM or overexpression of miR-421 ameliorated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammation. The regulatory relationship between circSLTM and miR-421, as well as that between miR-421 and HMGB2, was predicted by bioinformatics and then verified by the RNA immunoprecipitation experiment and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Furthermore, silencing of circSLTM increased cartilage destruction and decreased cartilage tissue apoptosis rate and inflammation in a rat model of OA. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the fundamental role of circSLTM in OA progression and provide a potential molecular target for OA therapy.     

汉族ABO血型的皮纹特征分析

作者对芜湖地区３８２例（男２２０人;女１６２人）汉族ＡＢＯ血型的皮纹特征进行了分析,其中Ｏ型１３０人,Ａ型１１３人,Ｂ型１０１人,ＡＢ型３８人。分析比较了指纹类型、指纹组合格局、指嵴纹计数、掌嵴纹计数、ａｔｄ角,掌部真实花纹,掌褶纹和拇趾球纹等项参数,结果表明,ＡＢＯ各血型的皮纹参数间有若干统计学差异。     

栽培稻杂种不育性的遗传研究——Ⅲ.不同类型品种F_1花粉不育性的等位基因分化

以台中65等基因F_1不育系为遗传测验种,测定了栽培稻(O.sativa)45个品种在3个F_1不育基因座的基因型和等位基因的分化度。在S-E3基因座上,除Dular带有S_i/S_i基因型外,其余被测品种均带有S_i/S_i基因型。在S-E2和S-E5基因座上,籼型品种带有高频率的S_i基因,而粳型品种带有高频率的S_i基因。S_i和S_i均具有不同的分化度。籼型品种携带的S_i基因和粳型品种携带的S_i基因具有较高的分化度。中间型品种和广亲和品种的等位基因分化在S-E2基因座上与粳型品种相似,而在S-E5基因座上与籼型品种相似。此外,分析了各类型品种相互杂交F_1杂种在S-E2和S-E5基因座的杂合率、杂合度和杂合性。与籼/粳杂种相比,中间型品种(包括广亲和品种)与籼型和粳型品种杂交,F_1杂种均具有较低的平均杂合性,从而表现出较高的亲和性。因此,无论是杂种不育性还是杂种亲和性均由花粉不育基因控制。花粉不育基因也称为特异亲和基因。     

ent-Pimarane Diterpenes from the Aerial Parts of Siegesbeckia pubescens

Five new ent-pimarane diterpenes ( 1 – 5 ) and five known analogs ( 6 – 10 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia pubescens. Their structures, including absolute configurations, were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods especially 1D and 2D NMR and quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism calculations. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human BT549, A549 and H157 cancer cell lines. Among them, compounds 1 and 2 showed mild cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell lines H157 with IC₅₀ values of 16.35±2.59 and 18.86±4.83 μM, respectively.     

EVALUATION OF EXTRACTS FROM BAMBOO FOR BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AGAINST CULEX PIPIENS PALLENS

Abstract The extracts from 7 species of bamboo were tested for larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens pallens . At the tested concentration, the extracts of selected bamboo had different degree of toxic effects on the fourth instar larvae of Culex pipiens pallens . Among them, the extracts of Pleioblastus juxianensis, Brachystachyum albostriatum, Phyllostachys platyglossa and Pleioblastus amarus were found to be effective with LC₅₀values at 24 h of 30.65 mg/L, 53.94 mg/L, 41.21 mg/L and 54.49 mg/L respectively, against Culex pipiens pallens larvae. The extract of Pleioblastus juxianensis by Soxhlet method showed stronger activity than the extract obtained by interval-shaking, the LC₅₀ of which were 30.65 mg/L and 48.34 mg/L, respectively. The diethyl ether extract of Pleioblastus juxianensis exhibited better larvicidal activity than the methanol extract and the petroleum ether extract. The results would help to provide the basis for the study of environment acceptable pesticide for mosquito control, and also help to comprehensively utilize the source of bamboo.     

蝮蛇毒碱性磷脂酶A_2基因的克隆

从蝮蛇毒腺中抽提总ＲＮＡ．利用人工合成寡核苷酸引物作逆转录,以ｃＤＮＡ为模板进行体外扩增,获得磷脂酶Ａ２（简称ＰＬＡ２）基因,克隆至ｐＢＳ－ｋｓ载体中。通过对３个碱性ＰＬＡ２（简称ＢＰＬＡ２）基因单独克隆分别作ＤＮＡ全序列分析,推导ｐｒｏ－ＢＰＬＡ２由１３８个氨基酸残基构成,与已测定的部分氨基酸序列比较,基本相符。该基因成功的克隆,不仅推导出ＢＰＬＡ２的蛋白质全序列,也为进一步开展蛇毒功能肽蛋白质工程的研究工作打下了良好的基础。     

西双版纳石灰岩森林的植物区系地理研究

西双版纳石灰岩森林植物区系经调查有维管束植物１５３科,６４０属,１３９４种及变种,其中,种子植物占１２９科５５８属１２６９种及变种。种子植物的分布区类型组成是热带和主产热带的科占总科数的７１．３％;热带分布属占总属数的９０．１％;热带分布种超过总种数的９０％。热带分布属中又以热带亚洲分布属最多,占总数的３５．３％;热带分布种中则以热带亚洲分布及其变型的种类占总种数的６４．５％为特点。这表明该石灰岩森林植物区系是热带性质的植物区系,属于热带亚洲区系的一部分。由于特殊的地理位置,西双版纳地区是许多典型热带植物的分布北界,同时又是几种地理成分的交汇地带,这又使该石灰岩区系带有明显热带边缘性质和多种地理成分交汇的特点。