A cost–benefit analysis of the environmental taxation policy in China: A frontier analysis‐based environmentally extended input–output optimization method

China's high‐speed economic development and reliance on overconsumption of natural resources have led to serious environmental pollution. Environmental taxation is seen as an effective economic tool to help mitigate air pollution. In order to assess the effects of different scenarios of environmental taxation policies, we propose a frontier‐based environmentally extended input–output optimization model with explicit emission abatement sectors to reflect the inputs and benefits of abatement. Frontier analysis ensures policy scenarios are assessed under the same technical efficiency benchmark, while input–output analysis depicts the wide range of economic transactions among sectors of an economy. Four scenarios are considered in this study, which are increasing specific tax rates of SO₂, NO_x, and soot and dust separately and increasing all three tax rates simultaneously. Our estimation results show that: raising tax rates of SO₂, NO_x, and soot and dust simultaneously would have the highest emission reduction effects, with the SO₂ tax rate making the greatest contribution to emission reduction. Raising the soot and dust tax rate is the most environmentally friendly strategy due to its highest abatement to welfare through avoided health costs. The combination of frontier analysis and input–output analysis provides policy makers a comprehensive and sectoral approach to assess costs and benefits of environmental taxation.     

Peroxiredoxin 2 deficiency reduces white adipogenesis due to the excessive ROS generation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as signaling molecules to regulate various cell functions. Numerous studies have demonstrated ROS to be essential for the differentiation of adipocytes. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a ubiquitous family of antioxidant enzymes in mammalian cells. Prx2 is present in the cytoplasm and cell membranes and demonstrates ROS scavenging activity. We focused on Prx2 involvement in regulating adipogenesis and lipid accumulation and demonstrated that Prx2 expression was upregulated during adipocyte differentiation. In addition, the silencing of Prx2 (shPrx2) inhibited adipogenesis by modulating adipogenic gene expression, and cell death was enhanced via increased ROS production in shPrx2‐3T3‐L1 cells. These results demonstrate that shPrx2 triggers adipocyte cell death and weakens adipocyte function via ROS production. Taken together, our data suggest the participation of Prx2 in adipocyte function and differentiation. Our results also imply that the downregulation of Prx2 activity could help prevent obesity. Overall, findings support the development of ROS‐based therapeutic solutions for the treatment of obesity and obesity‐related metabolic disorders.     

A ROCK inhibitor promotes keratinocyte survival and paracrine secretion,enhancing establishment of primary human melanocytes and melanocyte–keratinocyte co‐cultures

Primary melanocytes isolated from skin and expanded in culture have been widely used for laboratory research and clinical applications. The conventional method to isolate primary melanocytes from skin usually requires about 3–4 weeks of culture for melanocytes to grow sufficiently to passage. Considering that melanocytes comprise only 3%–7% of epidermal cells in normal human skin, it would be extremely helpful to increase the isolation efficiency and shorten the initial culture time to quickly meet various application needs. Here, we report that adding Y‐27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor, into the initial culture medium for 2 days can dramatically increase the yield of melanocytes. We found that Y‐27632 can promote keratinocyte attachment and survival in the melanocyte culture system, resulting in not only better recovery, but also increased proliferation of melanocytes by a paracrine signaling pathway. More specifically, Y‐27632 significantly induced keratinocyte expression of stem cell factor, which played an important role in enhancing the growth of melanocytes. In summary, Y‐27632 could profoundly enhance the yield of primary melanocytes in the initial culture through paracrine effects on keratinocytes.     

Insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities of secondary metabolites from entomopathogenic fungi,Lecanicillium attenuatum

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are effective alternatives to chemical insecticides because of their specificity and low environmental toxicity. Entomopathogenic fungi are an important natural pathogen of insects and have been developed as biological control agents. They produce a wide range of secondary metabolites such as antibiotics, pesticides, growth-promoting or inhibiting compounds and insect attracting agents. In this study, to explore novel IGR substances from entomopathogenic fungi, culture extracts of 189 entomopathogenic fungi isolated from Korean soil samples were investigated for their juvenile hormone (JH)-based IGR activities. Whereas none of the culture extracts exhibited JH agonist (JHA) activity, 14 extracts showed high levels of JH antagonist (JHAN) activity. Among them, culture extract of JEF-145 strain, which was identified as Lecanicillium attenuatum, showed the highest insecticidal against Aedes albopictus and Plutella xylostella. At liquid culture condition, JHAN activity was observed in culture soup rather than mycelial cake, indicating that substances with JHAN activity are released from the JEF-145 strain during culture. Furthermore, while extract from solid cultured JEF-145 strain showed insecticidal activities against both A. albopictus and P. xylostella, that from liquid cultured fungi showed insecticidal activity only against A. albopictus, indicating that L. attenuatum JEF-145 strain produces different kinds of secondary metabolites with JHAN activity depending on culture conditions. These results suggested that JHAN substances derived from entomopathogenic fungi could be usefully exploited to develop novel eco-friendly IGR insecticides.     

圈养林麝麝香分泌时间节律及影响因素

在2016年和2017年的5—8月,我们对川西马尔康麝场圈养林麝（Moschus berezovskii）的麝香分泌进行了行为与生理监测,对麝香分泌的各阶段进行了准确判定,记录了泌香启动、泌香盛期开始、泌香盛期终止及泌香结束的时间阶段及持续时间长,分析了林麝麝香分泌的时间阶段与体重和年龄等因素的关系。结果表明,马尔康麝场的雄性林麝平均泌香启动日在6月16日[（167.06±7.75）d,n=141],于6月17日进入泌香盛期[（168.52±7.67）d,n=141],6月21日[（172.17±7.26）d, n=138]泌香活动减弱,至6月25日[（176.27±8.11）d, n=131]泌香结束;雄麝体重与其泌香启动、泌香盛期停止及泌香结束时间呈显著负相关（r_PS = -0.234,P_PS =0.028;r _VSF = -0.215,P_VSF = 0.047;r _SE = -0.229,P_SE = 0.043）,即雄麝的体重越大,其泌香越早;各年龄组间的平均泌香时长差异显著（F _{17, 113} = 3.482, P = 0.003）,其中2岁雄麝平均泌香时长最长[（13.07±2.08）d, n=20],显著高于3岁[（9.38±0.76）d, n=12, P = 0.042]和4岁[（7.80±1.60）d, n=5, P = 0.013]个体;马尔康林麝平均泌香量为（11.85g±0.96）g, （n=114）,随泌香时长延长有增加趋势,但不显著（P = 0.854）。基于上述林麝雄体的泌香时间、泌香量与年龄和体重等因素间的关联,可对圈养的林麝个体间的泌香力、泌香量等进行区分和预判,作为圈养林麝驯养生产力优化的依据,并可为圈养林麝优质品系的选育提供参考。     

柞蚕微粒子病潜在生物标志物的挖掘

【目的】挖掘柞蚕Antheraea pernyi微粒子病的潜在生物标志物,为开发该病害检测方法及研究柞蚕被微孢子虫Nosema pernyi侵染后体内代谢产物的差异及功能奠定基础。【方法】利用高效液相色谱和高分辨率质谱进行非靶向代谢组学分析,调查健康和患微粒子病柞蚕雌成虫血淋巴中代谢物差异。【结果】正离子模式下从健康和患微粒子病柞蚕雌成虫血淋巴中共获得8 870个代谢物,注释代谢物5 390个,筛选到差异表达代谢物472个(上调260个,下调212个),其中二级鉴定差异表达代谢物12个(上调8个,下调4个);负离子模式下获得6 716个代谢物,注释代谢物3 848个,筛选到差异表达代谢物301个(上调207个,下调94个),其中二级鉴定差异表达代谢物9个(上调8个,下调1个)。正离子模式下二级鉴定的差异表达代谢物包括缬氨酸(valine)、苯并噻唑(benzothiazole)、3-脱羟基肉碱(3-dehydroxycarnitine)、1 甲基鸟嘌呤(1-methylguanine)、2-乙氧基萘(2-ethoxynaphthalene)、N6-乙酰基-L-赖氨酸(N6-acetyl-L-lysine)、生物素(biotin)、桑色素(morin)、噻吗洛尔(timolol)、酰基肉碱15∶0(acylcarnitine 15∶0)、酰基肉碱18∶4(acylcarnitine 18∶4)和异槲皮苷(isoquercitrin);负离子模式下二级鉴定的差异表达代谢物包括二甲基丙二酸(dimethylmalonic acid)、戊二酸(glutaric acid)、2,5-二羟基苯甲酸(2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid)、1,3-二乙酰基丙烷(1,3-diacetylpropane)、3-(4-羟基苯基)乳酸(DL-p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid)、泛酸(pantothenate)、荧光素(fluorescein)、飞燕草素-3-O-beta-吡喃葡萄糖苷(delphinidin-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside)和溶血磷酯酰肌醇16∶1 (lysoPI 16∶1)。【结论】健康与患柞蚕微粒子病的柞蚕雌成虫血淋巴内代谢物具有显著差异,通过代谢组学挖掘出21个二级鉴定的差异表达代谢物,这些代谢物可作为潜在生物标志物用于开发柞蚕微粒子病的检测方法。     

Plant apocarotenoids: from retrograde signaling to interspecific communication

Carotenoids are isoprenoid compounds synthesized by all photosynthetic and some non-photosynthetic organisms. They are essential for photosynthesis and contribute to many other aspects of a plant's life. The oxidative breakdown of carotenoids gives rise to the formation of a diverse family of essential metabolites called apocarotenoids. This metabolic process either takes place spontaneously through reactive oxygen species or is catalyzed by enzymes generally belonging to the CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE family. Apocarotenoids include the phytohormones abscisic acid and strigolactones (SLs), signaling molecules and growth regulators. Abscisic acid and SLs are vital in regulating plant growth, development and stress response. SLs are also an essential component in plants’ rhizospheric communication with symbionts and parasites. Other apocarotenoid small molecules, such as blumenols, mycorradicins, zaxinone, anchorene, β-cyclocitral, β-cyclogeranic acid, β-ionone and loliolide, are involved in plant growth and development, and/or contribute to different processes, including arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, abiotic stress response, plant–plant and plant–herbivore interactions and plastid retrograde signaling. There are also indications for the presence of structurally unidentified linear cis-carotene-derived apocarotenoids, which are presumed to modulate plastid biogenesis and leaf morphology, among other developmental processes. Here, we provide an overview on the biology of old, recently discovered and supposed plant apocarotenoid signaling molecules, describing their biosynthesis, developmental and physiological functions, and role as a messenger in plant communication.