E. O. 威尔逊与岛屿生物地理学理论

20世纪伟大的博物学家和生物地理学家爱德华·奥斯本·威尔逊(Edward Osborne Wilson,1929-2021)与杰出的理论和数学生态学家罗伯特·赫尔默·麦克阿瑟(Robert Helmer MacA rthur,1930-1972)共同开创的岛屿生物地理学理论是他们青年时代的巅峰之作。     

miR-29a attenuates cardiac hypertrophy through inhibition of PPARδ expression

Although cardiac hypertrophy is widely recognized as a risk factor that leads to cardiac dysfunction and, ultimately, heart failure, the complex mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy remain incompletely characterized. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) is involved in the regulation of cardiac lipid metabolism. Here, we describe a novel PPARδ-dependent molecular cascade involving microRNA-29a (miR-29a) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), which is reactivated in cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, we identify a novel role of miR-29a, in which it has a cardioprotective function in isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy by targeting PPARδ and downregulating ANF. Finally, we provide evidence that miR-29a reduces the isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy response, thereby underlining the potential clinical relevance of miR-29a in which it may serve as a potent therapeutic target for heart hypertrophy treatment.     

A reassessment of some Asian species of Heterophyllium (Schimp.) Kindb. (Pylaisiadelphaceae,Bryophyta)

Introduction. Heterophyllium albicans Thér., H. henryi Tixier, H. micro-alare (Broth. & Paris) Broth. and H. tonkinense (Broth. & Paris) Broth. were all either poorly known species or known only from the type collections since their inception.

Methods. Examination of the type material confirmed that the alar cell structure in these species do not conform to the generic concept of Heterophyllium (Schimp.) Kindb. The study also revealed some new features previously unreported in these species, i.e., the filamentous pseudoparaphyllia, one of the characteristic features of the genus Isopterygium Mitt.

Key Results & Conclusions. Three new combinations, Isopterygium albicans (Thér.) Y.Jia & S.He, I. micro-alare (Broth. & Paris) Y.Jia & S.He, and I. tonkinense (Broth. & Paris) Y.Jia & S.He are proposed. Heterophyllium henryi Tixier is treated as a new synonym of Brotherella henonii (Duby) M.Fleisch.     

Mechanisms of pressure-induced water infiltration process through graphene nanopores

Understanding the mechanism of water infiltration through nanopores is essential for wide applications ranging from membrane separation to gene therapy. In this paper, the molecular dynamics simulation method is used to investigate the pressure-assisted water transport process through graphene nanopores. Various factors including the hydrophobicity of nanopore surface, nanopore dimension, temperature as well as external electric field that affect water in permeation into graphene nanopores are discussed. It is found that classic Laplace-Young equation fails and the relationship between pressure and diameter (D) does not follow the 1/D dependence as the characteristic dimension of a nanopore is sufficiently small (smaller than 1?nm). The critical pressure significantly depends on both the pore length and electric field as D is smaller than 5?nm. Besides, enhancing temperature and electric field intensity are obviously beneficial for water infiltration through those nanopores with a diameter smaller than 5?nm.