Demographic history of the Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsoni (chiru)

Abstract The Tibetan antelope (chiru, Pantholops hodgsoni), a heavily poached species and symbol of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), is noted worldwide for its special calving migration. This species originated in the early Quaternary and it is interesting to know how the following climatic oscillations affected its demographic dynamics in the climate‐sensitive QTP. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial D‐loop region from 312 individuals sampled in all of the six major populations. We found high rates of gene flow and little genetic differentiation between populations, suggesting that the calving migration may have homogenized the genetic pool of this species. Both mismatch distribution analyses and coalescent simulations suggested that this species experienced a demographic expansion approximately 600–200 Kyr following the retreat of the large glaciers developed in the QTP at 800–600 Kyr, rather than at the end of the last glacial age, as previously suggested, based on a limited sample size. In addition, we found evidence of a chiru population decrease probably related to the human settings at the QTP during the middle Holocene.     

Placental improvement and reduced distal limb defects by maternal interferon-gamma injection in methylnitrosourea-exposed mice

BACKGROUND: Methylnitrosourea (MNU), an alkylating agent derived from creatinine metabolism, is cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. Mid-gestational exposure to MNU leads to distal limb defects in mice. Previous studies have shown that nonspecific maternal immune stimulation protects against MNU-induced teratogenesis. A role for immune-mediated placental improvement in this effect remains uncertain. METHODS: The immune system of timed-pregnant C57BL/6N and CD-1 mice was stimulated by GD 7 intraperitoneal (IP) injection with the cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). A teratogenic dose of MNU was then administered by IP injection on the morning of GD 9 to disrupt distal limb formation. Fetal limb length, body length, digital deformities, and placental integrity were evaluated on GD 14. RESULTS: The incidence of syndactyly, polydactyly, and interdigital webbing in MNU-exposed mice was decreased by maternal IFN-gamma treatment. In C57BL/6N mice, these defects were reduced by 47, 100, and 63%, respectively, as compared to previous reports on CD-1 mice, by 39, 71, and 20%, respectively. Administration of IFN-gamma significantly diminished MNU-induced endothelial and trophoblast placental damage in both strains of mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a possible link between maternal immunity, placental integrity, and fetal distal limb development. Further, these results suggest that IFN-gamma might act through placental improvement to indirectly protect against MNU-induced fetal limb malformations.     

The MRP2/cMOAT transporter and arsenic-glutathione complex formation are required for biliary excretion of arsenic

Worldwide, millions of people are exposed to arsenic in drinking water that exceeds the World Health Organization standard of 10 microg/liter by as much as 50-300-fold, yet little is known about the molecular basis for arsenic excretion. Here we show that transport of arsenic into bile depends on the MRP2/cMOAT transporter and that glutathione is obligatory for such transport. Using reversed phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, we demonstrate that two arsenic-glutathione complexes not previously identified in vivo, arsenic triglutathione and methylarsenic diglutathione, account for most of the arsenic in the bile. The structure of the compounds was also confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our findings may help explain the increased susceptibility of malnourished human populations to arsenic.     

Breeding Population of the Ringed Plover in Britain

A census of Ringed Plovers in Britain in 1973–74 revealed a total of over 5,700 pairs, with the best concentrations in eastern England (particularly in Norfolk and Essex), the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Some interesting recent changes in habitat are chronicled.     

Roles of microRNAs in pressure overload- and ischemia-related myocardial remodeling

Cardiac remodeling, a term that spans maladaptation at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels, is the key pathophysiological process that leads to heart failure (HF). In clinic, pressure overload and ischemia are the two most common reasons to induce cardiac remodeling and HF, which includes but is not limited to cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, single-stranded, short non-coding RNAs. By imperfectly binding to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), miRNAs are able to suppress target gene expression by promoting degradation or by inhibiting translation of the target mRNAs, thus playing an important role in a wide range of biologic processes. Growing evidence has indicated that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the cardiovascular system under experimental and clinical conditions with cardiac remodeling and HF. Clinically there is increasing evidence that miRNAs can act as diagnostic biomarker and even represent a novel therapeutic target in several cardiovascular disorders. This review provides an overview of several miRNAs' impacts in pressure-overload and ischemia-induced cardiac remodeling and HF.     

人体通气状态对动脉血气波浪式幅度的影响*

目的: 本研究旨在发现不同通气模式下动脉血气的变化特点。方法: 选择心功能正常,需要连续监测动脉血流动力学变化的患者6 例,4男2女,年龄（59.00±16.64）岁,体质量（71.67±10.37）kg,左心射血分数（LVEF）（61.33±2.16）%。患者签署知情同意书后,分别于正常呼吸、憋气20 s以及高潮气量过度通气状态下连续15~16次心跳桡动脉、颈静脉逐搏取血,测定PO₂,用于分析三种呼吸状态下动、静脉血气的变化特点。分别比较患者相邻最高和最低值,以验证三种呼吸状态下动、静脉血气是否都存在周期性波浪式信号变化;此外,将患者动、静脉血气周期性波浪式信号的变化幅度进行统计学t检验分析,比较有无差异。结果: 共6例ICU 住院监护患者, 抽取动、静脉血液充满肝素化细长塑化管需要15~16次心跳,即取血需要15~16次心跳,全部覆盖超过2个呼吸周期。患者正常呼吸、憋气20 s以及高潮气量通气状态下动脉血气中PaO₂呈现波浪式变化,幅度分别是（9.96±5.18）mmHg,（5.33±1.55）mmHg和（13.13±7.55）mmHg,分别是各自均值的（8.09±2.43）%,（5.29±2.19）%,（10.40±2.68）%,高通气量呼吸模式波浪式变化幅度大于正常呼吸模式（P<0.05）,正常呼吸模式波浪式变化幅度大于憋气状态（P<0.05）。正常呼吸、憋气20 s以及高潮气量通气状态下静脉血气中PO₂未呈现波浪式变化,幅度分别是（1.63±0.41）mmHg,（1.13±0.41）mmHg和（1.31±0.67）mmHg,分别是各自均值的（3.91±1.22）%,（2.92±1.12）%,（3.33±1.81）%,都显著低于同状态下动脉血气,但组间差异不明显。结论: 分别于三种通气状态下采用连续逐搏动脉取血血气分析法证实,患者高通气状态呼吸时动脉血气的周期性波浪式变化信号增强,憋气时波浪式呼吸变化信号变弱,而静脉血氧分压波浪式变化幅度于三种呼吸状态下都不明显。说明肺通气导致肺换气是影响动脉血液波浪式信号幅度的直接决定性因素。     

西藏墨脱县发现长尾阔嘴鸟

正2015年10月21日,在西藏自治区墨脱县德兴乡(29°20′9.97″N,95°19′13.20″E,海拔780 m)观察到阔嘴鸟2只,该鸟体长约25 cm,顶冠及颈背黑色,头顶具蓝色小点斑,喙呈黄绿色,脸及喉部呈黄色,眼后有一黄色点斑,体呈绿色且两翼有蓝斑,尾呈楔形(图1),经鉴定为长尾阔嘴鸟(Psarisomus dalhousiae)。MacK innon等(2000)认为该鸟种分布于西藏东南部,而Bruce(2003)在《世界鸟类手册》中引用了前者的描述。然而,因缺乏实际观察记录,之后我国鸟类学者的著作中均未将长尾阔嘴鸟列为在西藏有分布的鸟类(郑光美2011)。虽     

不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育及其对干旱胁迫的响应

为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征,探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制,在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验,研究抗旱型品种“花育22号”、“唐科8号”和干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”3个不同抗旱性花生品种根系形态发育特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明:抗旱型品种根系较发达,具有较大的根系生物量、总根长、总根系表面积.干旱胁迫使抗旱型品种根系总表面积和体积增加,而干旱敏感型品种则相反.干旱胁迫显著增加抗旱型品种“花育22号”20 cm以下土层内根长密度分布比例及根系表面积和体积,但“唐科8号”相应根系性状仅在20-40 cm土层内增加;干旱胁迫使干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”40 cm以下土层内各根系性状升高,但未达显著水平且其深层土壤内各根系性状增加幅度小于“花育22号”.花生根系总长、总表面积及0-20 cm土层内根系性状与产量间呈显著或极显著正相关.土壤水分亏缺条件下,花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性,优化空间分布构型,以调节植株对水分的利用.     

半干旱沙地封育草场的植被变化及其与土壤因子间的关系

封育措施是一种主要的草场恢复和重建的措施。通过对半干旱沙地完全封育、季节封育和未封育地的比较分析,量化了不同封育措施下植被变化及其与土壤因子的关系。对3种封育措施群落组成和生物多样性的多响应置换过程(M RPP)分析结果表明,封育改变了群落的组成成分并增加了生物多样性,群落的指示种分析及样方相似性指数计算结果则显示,完全封育(>10a)的群落逐渐向旱生化发展,各植物种分布的空间异质性显著提高,放牧价值开始降低,而季节性封育则明显处于一种非平衡的稳定状态。对不同措施下植物种与土壤因子间关系除趋势对应分析(DCA)和除趋势典范对应分析(DCCA)排序结果表明,土壤水分状况是限制3种措施中植物种组成的决定性因子,生物结皮盖度、土壤有机质和土壤容重等因子均在一定的程度上对水分产生影响,其中最为突出的因子是生物结皮盖度,由于长期缺少牲畜的践踏,完全封育区内结皮发育较好,这也是导致群落向旱生化发展的原因之一,同时一些重要因子诸如降水的时空变化或由此而引发的土壤水分的时空变化在本研究中可能被忽略。相关分析表明3种措施的生物多样性除了受土壤水分状况(土壤含水量和结皮盖度)的影响外,还与土壤速效氮呈正相关,与速效磷呈负相关。     

马铃薯X病毒分子生物学研究进展及其作为表达载体的应用

马铃薯X病毒(Potato virus X,PVX)又称马铃薯潜隐病毒(Potato latent virus)或马铃薯轻花叶病毒(Potato mild mosaic virus),是马铃薯X病毒属(Potexvirus)的模式成员,遍布于全世界马铃薯种植区.受侵染叶片呈花叶症状,田间常与其他病毒混合感染导致马铃薯的毁灭性减产.