西藏南部岗巴地区白垩纪中期钙质超微化石带和Cenomanian-Turonian界线

我国西藏南部海相白垩系含有较丰富的钙质超微化石。文中着重研究岗巴地区两个剖面 (即剖面A ,B)Albian Santonian钙质超微化石的分布。根据标志种的存在 ,识别出 5个初现面事件 ,相应地建立 6个钙质超微化石带 ,自下至上是Prediscosphaeracretacea带 ,Eiffellithusturriseiffeli带 ,Lithraphiditesacutum带 ,Gartneragoobliquum带 ,Quadrumgartneri带 ,Lucianorhabduscayeuxii带。同时 ,通过洲际对比 ,建议以G .obliquum初现面作为划分本区Cenomanian和Turonian界线的标志。此外 ,Q .gartneri带和I .cayeuxii带之间缺失多个化石带 ,据此推测Turonian至Santonian期间本区可能存在沉积间断。     

Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk and Tumor Burden

Alterations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been associated with the risk of a number of human cancers; however, the relationship between mtDNA copy number in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) has not been investigated. In a case-control study of 196 PCa patients and 196 age-paired healthy controls in a Chinese Han population, the association between mtDNA copy number in PBLs and PCa risk was evaluated. The relative mtDNA copy number was measured using quantitative real-time PCR; samples from three cases and two controls could not be assayed, leaving 193 cases and 194 controls for analysis. PCa patients had significantly higher mtDNA copy numbers than controls (medians 0.91 and 0.82, respectively; P<0.001). Dichotomized at the median value of mtDNA copy number in the controls, high mtDNA copy number was significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa (adjusted odds ratio  = 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.21–2.83). A significant dose-response relationship was observed between mtDNA copy number and risk of PCa in quartile analysis (P_trend = 0.011). Clinicopathological analysis showed that high mtDNA copy numbers in PCa patients were significantly associated with high Gleason score and advanced tumor stage, but not serum prostate-specific antigen level (P = 0.002, 0.012 and 0.544, respectively). These findings of the present study indicate that increased mtDNA copy number in PBLs is significantly associated with an increased risk of PCa and may be a reflection of tumor burden.     

朱砂叶螨对三种杀螨剂的抗性选育与抗性风险评估

为评价朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus对3种杀螨剂的抗性风险,在实验室抗性品系选育基础上,应用数量遗传学中的域性状分析法,研究了朱砂叶螨北碚种群对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素和哒螨灵3种杀螨剂的抗性现实遗传力,并对3种药剂在不同杀死率下抗性发展的速率进行了预测。结果表明：分别单一连续汰选16代后,朱砂叶螨对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素的抗性倍数分别达26.54和4.51倍,对哒螨灵表现为敏感性降低（抗性倍数为1.16倍）;朱砂叶螨对甲氰菊酯、阿维菌素和哒螨灵的抗性现实遗传力分别为0.2472,0.1519和0.0160。在室内选择条件下,杀死率为50%～90%时,要获得10倍抗性,甲氰菊酯仅需要13～6代,阿维菌素需要约21～10代;哒螨灵需要约197～89代;在田间选择,三种药剂都将需要更长的时间。抗性筛选16代结果表明,抗性风险较高的是菊酯类的甲氰菊酯,其次是生物源农药阿维菌素,杂环类的哒螨灵抗性风险较小。试验结果可为朱砂叶螨抗性治理提供参考。     

Paracrine effect of CXCR4‐overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells on ischemic heart injury

It has been reported that CXCR4‐overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells (MSC^CX4) can repair heart tissue post myocardial infarction. This study aims to investigate the MSCCX4‐derived paracrine cardio‐protective signaling in the presence of myocardial infarction. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were divided into 3 groups: MSC only, MSC^CX4, and CXCR4 gene‐specific siRNA‐transduced MSC. Mesenchymal stem cells were exposed to hypoxia, and then MSCs‐conditioned culture medium was incubated with neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes, respectively. Cell proliferation–regulating genes were assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). In vitro: The number of cardiomyocytes undergoing DNA synthesis, cytokinesis, and mitosis was increased to a greater extent in MSC^CX4 medium‐treated group than control group, while this proproliferative effect was reduced in CXCR4 gene‐specific siRNA‐transduced MSC–treated cells. Accordingly, the maximal enhancement of vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclin 2, and transforming growth factor‐β2 was observed in hypoxia‐exposed MSC^CX4. In vivo: MSCs were labeled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and engrafted into injured myocardium in rats. The number of EGFP and CD31 positive cells in the MSC^CX4 group was significantly increased than other 2 groups, associated with the reduced left ventricular (LV) fibrosis, the increased LV free wall thickness, the enhanced angiogenesis, and the improved contractile function. CXCR4 overexpression can mobilize MSCs into ischemic area, whereby these cells can promoted angiogenesis and alleviate LV remodeling via paracrine signaling mechanism.     

阿维链霉菌中aveD基因缺失对阿维菌素合成的影响

利用aveD基因的缺失载体pCZ8(pKC1139∷△aveD)对阿维菌素(Avermectin)产生菌阿维链霉菌(Streptomyces avermitilis)76\|9的aveD基因进行缺失获得aveD缺失突变株。经摇瓶发酵和HPLC检测,发现该突变株只产生阿维菌素B组分。说明将阿维链霉菌的aveD基因缺失,并不影响下游aveF的表达。缺失突变株的阿维菌素的总产量与出发菌株的总产量基本相同,突变株中B1的产量略有提高,阿维菌素B2的含量显著提高。     

鸡脚参中一个新木脂素

从鸡脚参[Orthosiphon wulfenioides (Diels)Hand.-Marzz.]根中提取分离了一个新的木脂素,命名为鸡脚参木脂素。其结构由NMR、MS等波谱分析确定。初步活性实验显示该化合物不具备抗真菌和抗肿瘤活性。     

An integrated fluid–structure interaction and thrombosis model for type B aortic dissection

False lumen thrombosis (FLT) in type B aortic dissection has been associated with the progression of dissection and treatment outcome. Existing computational models mostly assume rigid wall behavior which ignores the effect of flap motion on flow and thrombus formation within the FL. In this study, we have combined a fully coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) approach with a shear-driven thrombosis model described by a series of convection–diffusion reaction equations. The integrated FSI-thrombosis model has been applied to an idealized dissection geometry to investigate the interaction between vessel wall motion and growing thrombus. Our simulation results show that wall compliance and flap motion can influence the progression of FLT. The main difference between the rigid and FSI models is the continuous development of vortices near the tears caused by drastic flap motion up to 4.45 mm. Flap-induced high shear stress and shear rates around tears help to transport activated platelets further to the neighboring region, thus speeding up thrombus formation during the accelerated phase in the FSI models. Reducing flap mobility by increasing the Young’s modulus of the flap slows down the thrombus growth. Compared to the rigid model, the predicted thrombus volume is 25% larger using the FSI-thrombosis model with a relatively mobile flap. Furthermore, our FSI-thrombosis model can capture the gradual effect of thrombus growth on the flow field, leading to flow obstruction in the FL, increased blood viscosity and reduced flap motion. This model is a step closer toward simulating realistic thrombus growth in aortic dissection, by taking into account the effect of intimal flap and vessel wall motion.

     

Inspection and feeding of larvae by worker honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Effect of starvation and food quantity

Honey bee larvae are frequently inspected and, sometimes, provided with food by adult workers, but the stimuli that elicit the important task of food provisioning have never been investigated. Larvae with their food experimentally deprived received more frequent inspection and feeding visits from nurse bees than normally fed larvae, suggesting that there could be a hunger signal. Food-deprived larvae with artificially supplied larval food received the same rate of feeding visits from nurse bees as did normally fed larvae but still received more inspection visits. These results suggest that stimuli eliciting feeding are different from those for inspection. They also support the hypothesis that worker bees deposit food in a larval cell only when the quantity of food is below a certain minimum threshold that is perceived during larval inspections. A model is presented regarding the stimuli from larvae that result in worker feeding behavior.     

Factors restraining parasitism of the invasive vine Mikania micrantha by the holoparasitic plant Cuscuta campestris

Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae) is one of the 10 most invasive weeds in the world and has caused tremendous economic and environmental losses in southern China. The dodder Cuscuta campestris (Convolvulaceae) is a native holoparasite that can parasitize and suppress M. micrantha, and thus is recommended as an effective control agent. However, the natural growth of dodder lags behind that of M. micrantha and fails to exert direct year-round suppression. To verify the effective parasitic distance, we placed a dodder seedling at a designated distance from the stem of M. micrantha and monitored coiling, haustorium formation, and survival. To verify suitable host stems for the parasite, we grew M. micrantha for more than 6 months to form stems of different sizes, taped dodder seedlings to the stems, and monitored. We used various temperatures to determine the effect on dodder seed germination and M. micrantha sprouting. The results showed that a dodder–host distance of 4 cm decreased the probability of successful parasitism to 0; dodder seedlings cannot parasitize M. micrantha stem diameters ≥0.3 cm; and the temperatures for the highest dodder seed germination and M. micrantha sprouting are 26 and 30 °C, respectively. We conclude that the lack of suitable M. micrantha parts within the dodder’s effective parasitism distance is the major cause of restricted dodder parasitism and that the lower temperature for the highest dodder germination compared to that for the highest M. micrantha sprouting may decrease the possibility of parasitism. To acquire aggressive parasitism, dodder should be manually assisted by dispersing its vegetative form.