Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 contributes to cardiac tolerance to acute exhaustive exercise

Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (UQCRC1) is an indispensable component of mitochondrial complex III. It plays a key role in cardioprotection and maintaining mitochondrion function. However, the exact role of UQCRC1 in maintaining cardiac function has not been reported by in vivo models. Also, the exact biological functions of UQCRC1 are far from fully understood. UQCRC1^+/− mice had decreased both mRNA and protein expression of UQCRC1 in the left ventricular myocardia, and these mice had reduced tolerance to acute exhaustive exercise including decreased time and distance with higher apoptosis rate, higher expression level of cleaved CASPASE 3, and higher ratio of cleaved PARP1 to full-length PARP1. Moreover, UQCRC1 knockdown led to increased LV interventricular septal thicknesses both at systole and diastole, as well as decreased LV volume both at end-systole and end-diastole. Finally, UQCRC1 gene disruption resulted in mitochondrial vacuolation, fibril disarrangement, and more severe morphological and structural changes in mitochondria after acute exhaustive exercise. In conclusion, UQCRC1 contributes to cardiac tolerance to acute exhaustive exercise in mice, and it may be an essential component of complex III, playing a crucial role in maintaining cardiac functions.     

Evolutionary Conservation Genomics Reveals Recent Speciation and Local Adaptation in Threatened Takins

Incorrect species delimitation will lead to inappropriate conservation decisions, especially for threatened species. The takin (Budorcas taxicolor) is a large artiodactyl endemic to the Himalayan–Hengduan–Qinling Mountains and is well known for its threatened status and peculiar appearance. However, the speciation, intraspecies taxonomy, evolutionary history, and adaptive evolution of this species still remain unclear, which greatly hampers its scientific conservation. Here, we de novo assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome of takin and resequenced the genomes of 75 wild takins. Phylogenomics revealed that takin was positioned at the root of Caprinae. Population genomics based on the autosome, X chromosome, and Y chromosome SNPs and mitochondrial genomes consistently revealed the existence of two phylogenetic species and recent speciation in takins: the Himalayan takin (B. taxicolor) and the Chinese takin (B. tibetana), with the support of morphological evidence. Two genetically divergent subspecies were identified in both takin species, rejecting three previously proposed taxonomical viewpoints. Furthermore, their distribution boundaries were determined, suggesting that large rivers play important roles in shaping the genetic partition. Compared with the other subspecies, the Qinling subspecies presented the lowest genomic diversity, higher linkage disequilibrium, inbreeding, and genetic load, thus is in urgent need of genetic management and protection. Moreover, coat color gene (PMEL) variation may be responsible for the adaptive coat color difference between the two species following Gloger’s rule. Our findings provide novel insights into the recent speciation, local adaptation, scientific conservation of takins, and biogeography of the Himalaya–Hengduan biodiversity hotspot.     

B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant of SARS-CoV-2: features,transmission and potential strategies

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic. With the continuous evolution of the viral genome, SARS-CoV-2 has evolved many variants. B.1.617.2, also called Delta, is one of the most concerned variants. The Delta variant was first reported in India at the end of 2020 but has spread globally, by now, to 135 countries and is not stand still. Delta shared some mutations with other variants, and owned its special mutations on spike proteins, which may be responsible for its strong transmission and increasing virulence. Under these circumstances, a systematic summary of Delta is necessary. This review will focus on the Delta variant. We will describe all the characteristics of Delta (including biological features and clinical characteristics), analyze potential reasons for its strong transmission, and provide potential protective ways for combating Delta.     

基于BP神经网络的京津冀城市群可持续发展综合评价

在综合分析了京津冀城市群各城市功能定位的基础上,构建了包含经济发展、社会发展、科技创新和生态环境4个子系统的城市可持续发展评价指标体系,运用2006—2015年的数据,采用熵值法和BP神经网络对京津冀城市群可持续发展能力进行非线性测度与分类,结果较为理想。结果表明:(1)北京和天津处于高可持续发展水平,可持续发展能力在空间上呈现出以京、津为中心随距离递减的趋势,最南端的邯郸和邢台处于低可持续发展水平;(2)北京可持续发展能力呈现下滑趋势,其他城市可持续发展能力逐年稳步上升,大城市可持续发展压力较大;(3)城市在不同子系统中存在各自的优劣势。各个子系统在可持续发展中均起到重要作用,城市宜结合各自子系统的优、劣势制定具有针对性的发展对策。     

Nutrient removal from slaughterhouse wastewater in an intermittently aerated sequencing batch reactor

The performance of a 10 L sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating slaughterhouse wastewater was examined at ambient temperature. The influent wastewater comprised 4672+/-952 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L, 356+/-46 mg total nitrogen (TN)/L and 29+/-10 mg total phosphorus (TP)/L. The duration of a complete cycle was 8 h and comprised four phases: fill (7 min), react (393 min), settle (30 min) and draw/idle (50 min). During the react phase, the reactor was intermittently aerated with an air supply of 0.8L/min four times at 50-min intervals, 50 min each time. At an influent organic loading rate of 1.2g COD/(Ld), average effluent concentrations of COD, TN and TP were 150 mg/L, 15 mg/L and 0.8 mg/L, respectively. This represented COD, TN and TP removals of 96%, 96% and 99%, respectively. Phase studies show that biological phosphorus uptake occurred in the first aeration period and nitrogen removal took place in the following reaction time by means of partial nitrification and denitrification. The nitrogen balance analysis indicates that denitrification and biomass synthesis contributed to 66% and 34% of TN removed, respectively.     

Ornamental Expression of Red Fluorescent Protein in Transgenic Founders of White Skirt Tetra (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnocorymbus ternetzi</Emphasis>)

Although the transgenic technology has been successfully used to generate fluorescent zebrafish and medaka for ornamental purposes, the practicability of the technology has not been demonstrated in other ornamental fish species. In the present study, we have tested the transgenic technology in a bona fide ornamental fish species, the white skirt tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). First, its embryonic development was briefly described. Second, we successfully introduced an rfp (red fluorescent protein) gene construct driven by a strong muscle-specific mylz2 promoter from the zebrafish into the white skirt tetra and demonstrated muscle-specific expression of the RFP reporter protein. Importantly, the vivid red fluorescent color was prominently visible in adult transgenic founders under the normal daylight, like the currently marketed red fluorescent transgenic zebrafish. Thus, our current study demonstrated the feasibility of using the well-characterized zebrafish mylz2 promoters to produce useful fluorescent ornamental fish in other fish species by the transgenic technology.     

WA型,BT型和D型水稻雄性不育系细胞质基因组翻译产物分析和研究

通过对ＷＡ型、ＢＴ型和Ｄ型水稻雄性不育系细胞质基因即线粒体基因组和叶绿体基因组翻译产物的分析,初步寻找出与雄性不育和育性恢复有关的调控基因产物。根据实验结果,讨论了水稻细胞质雄性不育及育性恢复机制,并提出了两种育性恢复假说。     

神经炎症与神经退行性疾病的关系

近十多年来的研究表明,在神经退行性疾病的发生与发展中,脑内始终存在着以胶质细胞激活为主要特征的炎症反应。神经炎症是把双刃剑,一方面,它诱发或加重神经系统的退行性病变;另一方面,它在某些特定情况下有利于神经系统损伤的修复。激活的胶质细胞通过释放致炎细胞因子和活性氧自由基等分子介导神经炎症所致的神经元退行性病变,而由调节性T细胞产生的抗炎细胞因子及由神经元释放的抗炎神经肽能保护神经元抵抗神经炎症,从而减缓或减轻神经退行性疾病的进程。     

Nonfullerene n‐Type Organic Semiconductors for Perovskite Solar Cells

Compared to inorganic semiconductors and/or fullerene derivatives, nonfullerene n‐type organic semiconductors present some advantages, such as low‐temperature processing, flexibility, and molecule structure diversity, and have been widely used in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this research news article, the recent advances in nonfullerene n‐type organic semiconductors which function as electron‐transporting, interface‐modifying, additive, and light‐harvesting materials in PSCs are summarized. The remaining challenges and promising future directions of nonfullerene‐based PSCs are also discussed.     

芦荟胡萝卜汁复合饮料的研制

以芦荟和胡萝卜为原料,通过正交实验确定了复合饮料的最佳配方,研制出一种口味独特又具有保健功能的复合饮料.