Comparative height crown allometry and mechanical design in 22 tree species of Kuala Belalong rainforest, Brunei, Borneo

In rainforests, trunk size, strength, crown position, and geometry of a tree affect light interception and the likelihood of mechanical failure. Allometric relationships of tree diameter, wood density, and crown architecture vs. height are described for a diverse range of rainforest trees in Brunei, northern Borneo. The understory species follow a geometric model in their diameter-height relationship (slope, β = 1.08), while the stress-elasticity models prevail (β = 1.27-1.61) for the midcanopy and canopy/emergent species. These relationships changed with ontogeny, especially for the understory species. Within species, the tree stability safety factor (SSF) and relative crown width decreased exponentially with increasing tree height. These trends failed to emerge in across-species comparisons and were reversed at a common (low) height. Across species, the relative crown depth decreased with maximum potential height and was indistinguishable at a common (low) height. Crown architectural traits influence SSF more than structural property of wood density. These findings emphasize the importance of applying a common reference size in comparative studies and suggest that forest trees (especially the understory group) may adapt to low light by having deeper rather than wider crowns due to an efficient distribution and geometry of their foliage.     

不同生育时期水分有限亏缺对冬小麦产量及其构成因素的影响

利用温室盆栽试验研究了施Ｎ与不施Ｎ（施肥）条件下不同生育阶段水分有限亏缺对冬小麦产量及其构成因素的影响。结果表明,在小麦苗期、拔节期、灌浆期进行水分亏缺胁迫处理。对其经济学产量,生物学产量,每盆有效穗数、每穗粒数、千粒重等影响达显著或极显著水平。苗期和灌浆期为水分亏缺不敏感期,拔节期为亏缺敏感期。在施底肥条件下拔节期水分亏缺使每穗粒数、千粒重显著减少,或低于对照水平。从补偿角度看,苗期是生物学产量     

Atorvastatin suppresses LPS-induced rapid upregulation of Toll-like receptor 4 and its signaling pathway in endothelial cells

In the present study, we tested our hypothesis that atorvastatin exerts its anti-inflammation effect via suppressing LPS-induced rapid upregulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and its downstream p38, ERK, and NF-κB signaling pathways in human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). TLR4 mRNA expression and its downstream kinase activities induced by LPS alone or atorvastatin + LPS in endothelial cells were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Preincubation of LPS-stimulated endothelial cells with TLR4 siRNA was conducted to identify the target of the anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin. Atorvastatin incubation resulted in the reduction of LPS-induced TLR4 mRNA expression, ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK phosphorylation, and NF-κB binding activity. Pretreatment with MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 attenuated atorvastatin + LPS-induced NF-κB activity but had no effect on P38 MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, pretreatment with P38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 resulted in upregulation of atorvastatin + LPS-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but had no significant effects on NF-κB activity. On the other hand, blocking NF-κB with SN50 produced no effects on atorvastatin + LPS-induced ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK phosphorylation. Moreover, TLR4 gene silencing produced the same effects as the atorvastatin treatment. In conclusion, atorvastatin downregulated TLR4 mRNA expression by two distinct signaling pathways. First, atorvastatin stabilized Iκ-Bα, which directly inhibited NF-κB activation. Second, atorvastatin inactivated ERK phosphorylation, which indirectly inhibited NF-κB activation. Suppression of p38 MAPK by atorvastatin upregulates ERK but exerts no effect on NF-κB.     

Regulation of macrophage apoE secretion and sterol efflux by the LDL receptor

Factors that regulate apolipoprotein E (apoE) secretion by macrophages will have important effects on vessel wall lipid flux and atherosclerosis. Macrophages express the LDL receptor, which binds apoE with high affinity and could thereby affect the net secretion of apoE from macrophages. In these studies, we demonstrate that treatment of J774 macrophages transfected to constitutively express a human apoE3 cDNA with simvastatin, to increase LDL receptor activity, reduces the secretion of apoE. To further examine the relationship between LDL receptor expression and apoE secretion from macrophages, mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) were isolated from mice with constitutively high expression of human LDL receptor to increase overall LDL receptor expression by 2- to 3-fold. Cells with increased LDL receptor expression also showed reduced apoE secretion compared with MPMs with basal LDL receptor expression. The effect of changes in LDL receptor expression on apoE secretion was isoform-specific, with greater reduction of apoE4 compared with apoE3 secretion and no reduction of apoE2 secretion, paralleling the known affinity of each isoform for LDL receptor binding. The effect of the LDL receptor on apoE secretion for each isoform was further reflected in LDL receptor-dependent changes in apoE-mediated cholesterol efflux. These results establish a regulatory interaction between two branches of macrophage sterol homeostatic pathways that could facilitate a rapid response to changes in macrophage sterol content relative to need.     

Aquaporin-2 expression in human endometrium correlates with serum ovarian steroid hormones

The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2), a member of the water channel family aquaporins (AQPs), in human uterine endometrium and its modulation of ovarian steroid hormone at the proliferative and secretory phases. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR were employed in the present study. Western blot revealed a 29-kDa band that represented AQP2 in human endometrium. The expression of AQP2 in endometrium was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical results. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that AQP2 was prominent in luminal and glandular epithelial cells of endometrium. The levels of endometrial AQP2 expression changed during the menstrual cycle and were higher in the secretory endometrium than in the proliferative endometrium. A significantly high level of AQP2 was detected at the mid-secretory phase. There was a positive correlation between the levels of the endometrial AQP2 expression and the concentrations of the serum 17beta-estradiol (E2) or/and progesterone (P4). These data for the first time corroborate that AQP2 is expressed in human endometrium and that the expression of AQP2 in human endometrium might be regulated by E2 or/and P4. The changed expression of AQP2 at different phases of the menstrual cycle may be essential to reproductive physiology in human. The high level of endometrial AQP2 expression was observed at the mid-secretory phase, the time of embryo implantation, suggesting that AQP2 might play physiological roles in the uterine receptivity.     

Protein targeting and calcium signaling microdomains in neuronal cells

Over the last several years, a number of optical imaging, physiological, and molecular studies have clarified the mechanisms underlying differential calcium signaling in the postsynaptic neuron. These studies have revealed the existence of membrane-associated calcium microdomains, which are often specifically coupled to distinct protein signaling pathways. In this review, we discuss how these signaling microdomains are organized and regulated, emphasizing the structural and molecular features of synaptic protein complexes containing the metabotropic and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors and the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs). We conclude with a discussion of how these different signaling complexes may interact with one another, relationships which may be important in orchestrating the complex calcium signaling underlying developmental and activity-dependent changes in synaptic function.     

青藏高原高寒草地植物物种丰富度及其与环境因子和生物量的关系

在青藏高原进行了大范围的群落调查 ,研究高原的两种主要草地群落类型———高寒草甸和高寒草原的植物物种丰富度及其变化。结果表明 :(1)在 5 0个样地 2 5 0个 1m× 1m的样方中 ,共出现 2 6 7种植物 ,其中高寒草甸179种 ,高寒草原 135种。在高寒草甸 ,1m2 样方内物种数最多为 32种 ,最少的仅为 3种 ;在高寒草原 ,物种数最多为 18种 /m2 ,最少的仅为 2种 /m2 。 (2 )物种丰富度随经度和纬度的增加呈增加趋势 ;随海拔的上升呈减少趋势。对物种丰富度与环境因子之间进行逐步回归 ,发现物种丰富度与生长季降水和温暖指数呈显著正相关。 (3)物种丰富度与地上生物量呈显著正相关。     

初代和继代培养葡萄试管苗的内源IAA、ZRs和ABA含量变化及其与生根的关系

葡萄品种皇家秋天与藤稔初代试管苗在第10天(根原基发生)时内源IAA和ABA含量达最低点后上升;ZRs含量达最高值后下降.皇家秋天继代试管苗的IAA在第8天(根原基发生)时达最低点,而后上升达稳定值;ZRs含量达最高值后下降;ABA含量降至最低点后急剧上升,在第10天(生根时)达最高值,持续4 d后又下降.藤稔继代苗在第6天(根原基发生)时IAA含量最低,后上升,持续到第12天后又下降;ZRs含量达最高值后快速下降,至第12天达稳定状态;ABA含量达最低值后缓慢上升,第10天(生根)达最高点后又下降.