Improvement of Cognitive Deficit and Neuronal Damage in Rats with Chronic Cerebral Ischemia via Relative Long-term Inhibition of Rho-kinase

(1) The role of activation of Rho-kinase in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficit and neuronal damage caused by chronic global ischemia is not clear. In this study, hydroxyfasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, was found to improve the learning and memory performance significantly in rats with ischemia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion after permanent bilateral carotid artery ligation (BCAL). This was observed by the administration of hydroxyfasudil (1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg, once per day for 30 days) to ischemic rats and the measurements of escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant among the ischemic, sham, and ischemic plus hydroxyfasudil rats by the method of Morris water maze. (2) In electrophysiological study, hydroxyfasudil abolished the inhibition of long-term potentiation (LTP) in rats with ischemia. Morphologically, it also markedly reduced pathological changes such as neuronal cells loss and nuclei shrinkage in cortex and hippocampus of ischemic rats. Biochemical analysis showed that the inhibition of Rho-kinase by hydroxyfasudil reduced the amount of MDA and increased the activities of SOD and GPx in ischemic rats that had increased MDA and decreased SOD and GPx activities. (3) To explore mechanism (s) of the beneficial effects of hydroxyfasudil in ischemia, we performed immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analyses of NMDA NR2B subunit and for the first time found that hydroxyfasudil increased the expression of NR2B in cortex and hippocampus at both protein and mRNA levels. (4) Taken together, our data further support the notion that the inhibition of Rho-kinase provides neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia.     

Application of ecological-niche factor analysis in habitat assessment of giant pandas

Ecological-niche factor analysis (ENFA) is a multivariate approach to study geographic distribution of species on a large scale with only “presence” data. It has been widely applied in many fields including wildlife management, habitat assessment and habitat prediction. In this paper, this approach was applied in habitat suitability assessment for giant pandas in Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, China. With “presence” data of giant pandas and remote sensing data, habitat suitability of pandas in this county was evaluated based on ENFA model, and spatial distribution pattern of nature reserves and conservation gaps were then evaluated. The results show that giant pandas in this county prefer high-elevation zones (> 2128 m) dominated by coniferous forest, and mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaf forest, and avoid deciduous broadleaf forest and shrubs. Pandas avoid staying at habitats with human disturbances. Farmland is a major factor threatening panda habitat. Panda habitat is mainly distributed in north and west of Pingwu with a total area of 234033 hm², 106345hm² for suitable habitat and 127688 hm² for marginally suitable habitat). 3 nature reserves were located in Pingwu, covering over 49.2% of total suitable habitat and 45.6% of total marginally suitable habitat. Although 47.2% of panda habitat was in reserves under protection, connectivity between reserves was weak and a conservation gap existed in the north part of Pingwu. Thus, a new nature reserve in Baima and Mupi should be established to link the isolated habitats.     

生态位因子分析在大熊猫(Ailuropoda melanoleuca)生境评价中的应用

生态位因子分析是研究物种地理分布的一种多变量分析方法,其最大优点是模型计算只需物种“出现点”的数据,而不需要“非出现点”数据,在生境评价与生境预测中得到广泛应用。将该方法应用于大熊猫生境适宜性评价中,利用大熊猫活动痕迹点和遥感数据分析了平武县大熊猫生境分布现状,综合评价了该县自然保护区的分布状况和存在的保护空缺。研究结果表明,大熊猫偏好在中高海拔（>2128 m）的针叶林和针阔混交林中活动,而避免在落叶阔叶林和灌丛林中活动,避免在有人为干扰的地区活动,农田是对大熊猫活动影响强度最大的人为干扰因子。平武县大熊猫生境主要分布在该县西部和北部地区,总面积为234033 hm2,其中适宜生境为106345 hm2,次适宜生境为127688 hm2。目前该县已建的3个大熊猫自然保护区使47.2%的大熊猫生境得到保护（包括49.2%的适宜生境和45.6%的次适宜生境）,尽管如此,保护区之间连接性差,存在严重的保护空缺。该县北部的白马乡、木座乡是大熊猫的主要分布区,却没有得到保护区的有效保护,建议在该地区新建自然保护区。     

中国区域生态经济水平与区域竞争力的关联性与实证研究

通过生态意义下区域竞争力的研究,提出了经济自由空间的概念.在进行模型静态和动态的分析后,得出科技的进步对区域潜在竞争力具有决定性作用的结论.在实证研究方面,运用因子分析的方法,根据生态水平、人均国内生产总值和生态科技进步等13个指标,对全国31个省（自治区、直辖市）的生态经济水平以及区域竞争力进行了排名.结果发现,由于经济发展水平和自然生态环境等原因,在生态意义下我国各个区域的区域竞争力也成空间上的东、中、西分布格局.在上述理论和实证探讨的基础上,还分别就生态条件下区域发展的公平和效率以及生态条件下有关不发达地区的区域政策进行了探讨.认为生态条件下,如果政策制定不得当,不发达地区会处于更加不平等的地位,所以政策制定者应该重新认识传统的区域理论和区域政策.     

三江平原湿地生态系统生物多样性保护价值

生物多样性保护是三江平原湿地生态系统提供的一项重要的生态服务功能,具有重要的经济价值。应用M.Hoel和T.Sterner提出的经济模型,分析了贴现率和边际价格变化综合影响下的三江平原湿地生态系统生物多样性保护价值变化过程,研究了收入边际效用弹性和替代弹性对贴现率和边际价格变化综合效应的影响,并通过对比传统贴现方法揭示了三江平原湿地生态系统生物多样性保护所蕴含的巨大经济价值。研究结果表明,在贴现率和边际价格变化的综合影响下,三江平原湿地生态系统生物多样性保护价值曲线呈现出先增长再下降的变化趋势,总经济价值为人均19438.9元;收入边际效用弹性和替代弹性的取值对价值评估结果的影响较大,不同参数条件下的价值评估结果将最终作用于湿地生态系统保护相关决策的制定;价值评估结果同样证明了在保持经济较快速度发展的同时提高三江平原湿地生态系统生物多样性保护功能的恢复速率对于促进地区经济协调发展和提高社会福祉状况具有重要的现实意义。     

MALE STERILITY 3 encodes a plant homeodomain-finger protein for male fertility in soybean

Male-sterile plants are used in hybrid breeding to improve yield in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Developing the capability to alter fertility under different environmental conditions could broaden germplasm resources and simplify hybrid production. However, molecular mechanisms potentially underlying such a system in soybean were unclear. Here, using positional cloning, we identified a gene, MALE STERILITY 3 (MS3), which encodes a nuclear-localized protein containing a plant homeodomain (PHD)-finger domain. A spontaneous mutation in ms3 causing premature termination of MS3 translation and partial loss of the PHD-finger. Transgenetic analysis indicated that MS3 knockout resulted in nonfunctional pollen and no self-pollinated pods, and RNA-seq analysis revealed that MS3 affects the expression of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism. Strikingly, the fertility of mutant ms3 can restore under long-dconditions. The mutant could thus be used to create a new, more stable photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility line for two-line hybrid seed production, with significant impact on hybrid breeding and production.     

Dt2 Is a Gain-of-Function MADS-Domain Factor Gene That Specifies Semideterminacy in Soybean

Similar to Arabidopsis thaliana, the wild soybeans (Glycine soja) and many cultivars exhibit indeterminate stem growth specified by the shoot identity gene Dt1, the functional counterpart of Arabidopsis TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1). Mutations in TFL1 and Dt1 both result in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) switching from vegetative to reproductive state to initiate terminal flowering and thus produce determinate stems. A second soybean gene (Dt2) regulating stem growth was identified, which, in the presence of Dt1, produces semideterminate plants with terminal racemes similar to those observed in determinate plants. Here, we report positional cloning and characterization of Dt2, a dominant MADS domain factor gene classified into the APETALA1/SQUAMOSA (AP1/SQUA) subfamily that includes floral meristem (FM) identity genes AP1, FUL, and CAL in Arabidopsis. Unlike AP1, whose expression is limited to FMs in which the expression of TFL1 is repressed, Dt2 appears to repress the expression of Dt1 in the SAMs to promote early conversion of the SAMs into reproductive inflorescences. Given that Dt2 is not the gene most closely related to AP1 and that semideterminacy is rarely seen in wild soybeans, Dt2 appears to be a recent gain-of-function mutation, which has modified the genetic pathways determining the stem growth habit in soybean.     

Stable operation of microbial fuel cells at low temperatures (5–10 °C) with light exposure and its anodic microbial analysis

Performances of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were studied at 5–10 and 25–30 °C. Results showed stable operation of the MFCs at low temperatures with only slight reductions of voltage and power generation (11 versus 14 % for double-chamber MFC, while 14 versus 21 % for single-chamber MFC, 1,000 Ω) compared to those at mesophilic temperatures. MFCs operated at low temperatures showed lower COD removal rates accompanied by higher coulombic efficiencies (CEs). PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that psychrotrophic microbes (mainly Arcobacter, Pseudomonas, and Geobacter) dominated on anodes of the MFCs at low temperatures. Interestingly, light-induced red substances appeared on anode of the MFCs operated at low temperature and were proven to be the main anodic microbes (Arcobacter and Pseudomonas). Co-existence of the aforementioned microbes could assist stable low-temperature operation of the MFCs. Cyclic voltammetry analysis supported the results of the CE and DGGE. Stable performance of MFCs at low temperatures might be achieved by the control of anodic bacteria.     

Air pollution and green consumption of consumers in China’s urban areas: a norm activation perspective

Abstract

This study aims to explore how consumers’ psychological factors affect their pro-environment purchasing behavior in a smog-ridden city. Based on the Protective Action Decision Model and Heuristic–Systematic Model, this study proposed a model to investigate consumers’ decision-making process in purchasing green anti-smog products. It also provided new empirical evidence for the role of personal norms on consumers’ green consumption behavior by examining the differences between two groups of consumers (i.e., green and non-green) through a multi-group path analysis. The predictions were tested using a questionnaire survey of 1,124 participants living in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region of China. Results indicated that product knowledge, smog knowledge, risk perception, and systematic processing positively affected consumers’ purchase intention. In addition, the significant differences of consumers with various personal norms in purchase decision-making were found in the current study. In the green group, product knowledge positively affected consumers’ risk perceptions and systematic processing intentions. Information seeking increased their purchase intentions. However, these relationships were not significant in the non-green group. This study contributes to the existing literature by linking consumers’ protective behaviors with green consumption and providing a comprehensive model for predicting consumers’ purchase decisions.