IL-18通过MyD88依赖信号途径调控CSF-1表达

IL-18是IL-1家族的一个成员,最初发现被命名为IFN-γ诱导因子.现在研究表明,IL-18是炎症反应的重要标志,参与许多慢性炎症和自身免疫性疾病炎性反应.证明了IL-18在JurkatT淋巴细胞的炎症反应中能够调节CSF-1的表达,其信号机制是IL-18通过MyD88-NF-κB-CSF-1信号途径上调CSF-1的基因转录.     

放牧后羊草和芦苇叶组织转化的比较

运用组织转化理论与分析方法,对羊草与芦苇在放牧后的叶组织转化进行了比较研究。结果表明,整个生长季内,除5月份外,芦苇的绿叶数大于羊草,羊草的绿叶长大于芦苇;2种禾草的叶片发生率和伸长率均在生长初期最大,以后逐渐降低,萎蔫率正好相反;芦苇叶片寿命短,叶组织转化快、叶组织物质积累呈抛物线型增长,如果不及时利用,会造成资源的浪费,羊草叶片寿命较长,叶组织转化慢。可以通过不同的利用方式和时间来改善羊草草地的质量。     

基于稳定同位素分析不同退化程度小叶杨水分来源

水分是干旱地区植物生长的关键限制因子。小叶杨是河北省张北县典型的防护林树种,发挥了重要的生态屏障作用。为了揭示近年来该地区小叶杨出现大面积衰退的原因和机制,本研究利用稳定同位素技术,结合图解法和多元线性混合模型,分析了张北县4种不同退化程度(未退化、轻度退化、中度退化和重度退化)小叶杨在不同时期的水分来源和水分利用策略。结果表明: 生长前期(5—6月),不同退化程度小叶杨水分来源均比较单一,主要利用0～40 cm层的土壤水,未退化、轻度退化、中度退化和重度退化的利用率分别为34.2%、50.1%、41.6%和55.7%。生长中期(7—8月),未退化小叶杨吸收利用200～280 cm和280～400 cm层的土壤水,利用率分别为20.2%和30.9%;轻度退化小叶杨利用200～280和280～400 cm层的土壤水,利用率分别为33.2%和27.9%;中度退化小叶杨吸收利用0～40和40～120 cm层的土壤水,利用率分别为30%和26.9%;重度退化小叶杨对0～40 cm层土壤水的利用率达到55.4%。生长后期(9—10月),未退化小叶杨水分来源向中上层土壤水转移,主要利用0～40、40～80和80～120 cm层的土壤水,利用率分别为23.3%、17.2%和16.5%;轻度退化小叶杨利用0～40 cm层的土壤水,利用率为35.7%,对中层80～200 cm层土壤水的利用率也较高,为20.6%;中度和重度退化小叶杨主要利用0～40 cm层的土壤水,利用率分别为43.7%和51.8%。随着退化程度加重,小叶杨的主要水分来源从深层土壤水逐渐向表层土壤水转移。     

Convergent evolution of forelimb-propelled swimming in seals

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Characterising the Profile of Everyday Executive Functioning and Relation to IQ in Adults with Williams Syndrome: Is the BRIEF Adult Version a Valid Rating Scale?

Although there is evidence of a distinct profile of executive dysfunction in Williams syndrome (WS), a rare genetically based neurodevelopmental disorder, the utility of informant reports of everyday executive function (EF) impairments and their relation to intelligence is not yet clear. Here we aimed to evaluate the functional impact of executive dysfunction in adults with WS and to establish the validity of child and adult versions of the most commonly used rating scale for EF assessment, the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). We were also interested in whether distinct components of everyday EF relate to intelligence in WS. Parent report child (BRIEF-C) and adult (BRIEF-A) ratings were collected on 20 adults with WS (aged 18.5 to 53 years), with a mean IQ of 60.95 (SD = 17.67). Neuropsychological measures of EF included: The Shape School Test (Espy, 2007); select subdomains of EF from the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, Australian Adaptation (WJ III COG); and select subdomains from the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, Second Edition—Parent Survey (Vineland-II). Results showed that the BRIEF-A, but not the BRIEF-C, was the most highly correlated with neuropsychological measures of EF, suggesting that it was a valid measure of the profile of EF impairments in adults with WS. The profile of everyday EF dysfunction revealed relative impairments in monitoring, working memory, planning and organisation in WS. In addition, both neuropsychological and rating scale measures showed an association between the shifting component of EF and intelligence. These findings indicate that the BRIEF-A is a valid measure of the multidimensional nature of real-world impairments in EF, and highlight its utility as a less labor intensive and low-cost screening tool for measuring specific EF impairments that could become the focus of targeted intervention in adults with WS.     

鞑靼滨藜挥发性化学成分分析

对鞑靼滨藜全草的挥发性化学成分进行分析。采用水蒸气蒸馏法及索氏提取法提取鞑靼滨藜全草中的挥发性化学成分,用GC-MS联用技术分析其化学组成,计算其相对百分含量,并对两种提取方法进行比较研究。结果表明:水蒸气蒸馏法提取物的成分比索氏提取法较多。从水蒸气蒸馏法分离出的53个色谱峰中鉴定了51种成分,含量最高的是茴香脑(45.84%),其次为正二十七烷(9.28%),羟基吲哚(6.81%),α-羟基-2-甲基丙基苯乙酸酯(4.03%)。从索氏提取法分离出的26个色谱峰中鉴定了22种成分,含量最高的是正二十九烷(22.63%),其次为硬酯酸(16.69%),十六醛(6.89%),棕榈酸(5.43%)。     

Functional interaction between sequestosome-1/p62 and autophagy-linked FYVE-containing protein WDFY3 in human osteoclasts

Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) is a late-onset disorder characterised by focal areas of increased bone resorption, with osteoclasts that are increased in size, multinuclearity, number and activity. PDB-causing missense and nonsense variants in the gene encoding Sequestosome-1/p62 (SQSTM1) have been identified, all of which cluster in and around the ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain of the protein. SQSTM1 is ubiquitously expressed and there is, as yet, no clear reason why these mutations only appear to cause an osteoclast-related phenotype.Using co-immunoprecipitation and tandem mass spectrometry, we identified a novel interaction in human osteoclast-like cells between SQSTM1 and Autophagy-Linked FYVE domain-containing protein (ALFY/WDFY3). Endogenous ALFY and SQSTM1 both localised within the nuclei of osteoclasts and their mononuclear precursors. When osteoclasts were starved to induce autophagy, SQSTM1 and ALFY relocated to the cytoplasm where they formed large aggregates, with cytoplasmic relocalisation appearing more rapid in mature osteoclasts than in precursors in the same culture. Overexpression of wild-type SQSTM1 in HEK293 cells also resulted in the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates containing SQSTM1 and endogenous ALFY, as did overexpression of a PDB-causing missense mutant form of SQSTM1, indicating that this mutation does not impair the formation of SQSTM1- and ALFY-containing aggregates.Expression of ALFY in bone cells has not previously been reported, and the process of autophagy has not been studied with respect to osteoclast activity. We have identified a functional interaction between SQSTM1 and ALFY in osteoclasts under conditions of cell stress. The difference in response to starvation between mature osteoclasts and their precursors may begin to explain the cell-specific functional effects of SQSTM1 mutations in PDB.     

Uptake of salmon-derived nitrogen by mosses and liverworts in coastal British Columbia

Throughout forested watersheds bordering the North Pacific, anadromous salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp . ) are transferred into coastal forests by numerous predators and scavengers with remnants providing an important nutrient subsidy to riparian zones. The contribution of these nutrients to mosses and liverworts, which are the dominant ground cover of coastal forests, has not been investigated. We examine here δ¹⁵N isotope signatures and foliar percent N of eight moss and liverwort species, as well as moss and liverwort community structure, in multiple habitat blocks that vary in access to salmon nutrients from two watersheds on the central coast of British Columbia. For the most common moss Rhytidiadelphus loreus , we also examine δ¹⁵N values and foliar percent N among salmon carcass micro-sites and along wildlife trails. Overall, δ¹⁵N signatures ranged from 2‰ to 7‰ higher below the falls near the salmon stream than above the small falls that are impassable to salmon, or at the adjacent control watershed that had no salmon. Among micro-sites, δ¹⁵N and %N values were highest near bony carcass remnants from transfer during previous years and high adjacent to wildlife trails indicating spatial heterogeneity in the salmon nutrient pools of these forests. Species richness and prevalence of nitrogen-rich soil indicators were also highest in forests adjacent to the salmon stream. These data suggest an important contribution of salmon-derived nutrients to the non-vascular plants of the riparian zone of old-growth forests throughout the Pacific Rim.     

Cluster-root production and organic anion exudation in a group of old-world lupins and a new-world lupin

We examined the capacity of several Old-World lupin species (Lupinus luteus L., L. hispanicus Boiss. et Reuter and L. angustifolius L.) and one species of a New-World lupin (L. mutabilis Sweet) to form cluster roots under a range of conditions in solution culture. The effect of the synthetic auxin, IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), on cluster-root development in L. luteus and L. albus L. provided with an adequate phosphorus (P) supply was also investigated. In addition, the effect of a high nitrate-N (NO₃-N) supply on the efflux of citrate and malate from roots of L. angustifolius was examined to determine if specific regions of the root system exuded these organic anions. When P-deficient, L. hispanicus, L. luteus and L. mutabilis formed cluster roots that secreted organic anions. Citrate was generally the dominant organic anion exuded, although succinate was also exuded in large quantities from L. luteus. Citrate efflux by L. hispanicus and L. luteus was at least comparable to that reported for P-deficient L. albus[up to 1.092 nmol g^–1 fresh weight (FW) s^–1], but was over an order of magnitude lower in L. mutabilis (0.036 nmol g^–1 FW s^–1). Citrate and malate were not detected in significant amounts from either the lateral roots or the root tips of any species grown under P-sufficient or -deficient conditions. Citrate efflux from cluster roots of L. luteus showed a diurnal pattern, similar to that reported for L. albus, with maximum efflux during the day, and declining to a minimum before dawn. IBA added to the nutrient solution induced cluster-root formation on both L. albus and L. luteus at concentrations of P that would normally suppress the production of these roots. However, the IBA-induced cluster roots did not exude significant amounts of citrate. Although L. angustifolius did not produce cluster roots when P-deficient, it produced cluster-like root structures that exuded citrate (0.053 nmol g^–1 FW s^–1) when grown at a high nitrate-N (NO₃-N) supply. L. angustifolius did not exude significant citrate or malate from lateral roots or root tips when grown at either high or low NO₃-N supply. Our findings for L. hispanicus and L. luteus are the first reports of cluster-root formation in response to P deficiency for these Old-World species, and for L. mutabilis, it is the first report of cluster roots for a New-World lupin species. These reports indicate that evolutionary and biogeographical aspects of cluster-root formation in the genus Lupinus need to be revised. Furthermore, investigation is warranted to determine the capacity of species of the large group of New-World lupins to form cluster roots in soils of their native habitats.