The influence of meteorology and phenology on net ecosystem exchange in an eastern Siberian boreal larch forest

Aims Boreal forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Compared with the boreal forests in North America and Europe, relatively few research studies have been conducted in Siberian boreal forests. Knowledge related to the role of Siberian forests in the global carbon balance is thus essential for a full understanding of global carbon cycle.Methods This study investigated the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during growing season (May–September) in an eastern Siberian boreal larch forest for a 3-year period in 2004–2006 with contrasting meteorological conditions.Important findings The study found that the forest served as a carbon sink during all of the 3 studied years; in addition, the meteorological conditions essentially influenced the specific annual value of the strength of the carbon sinks in each year. Although 2005 was the warmest year and much wetter than 2004, 2005 also featured the greatest amount of ecosystem respiration, which resulted in a minimum value of NEE. The study also found that the phenological changes observed during the three study years had a relatively small effect on annual NEE. Leaf expansion was 26 days earlier in 2005 than in the other 2 years, which resulted in a longer growing season in 2005. However, the NEE in 2005 was counterbalanced by the large rate of ecosystem respiration that was caused by the higher temperatures in the year. This study showed that meteorological variables had larger influences on the interannual variations in NEE for a Siberian boreal larch forest, as compared with phenological changes. The overall results of this study will improve our understanding of the carbon balance of Siberian boreal larch forests and thus can help to forecast the response of these forests to future climate change.     

Chromotoxic effects of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>) in barley seeds exposed to salt stress

The effect of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on mitotic activity and chromosomal aberrations in root tip meristems of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Tokak 157/37) germinated under salinity was analyzed. The inhibitory effect of salinity on mitotic index and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations increased with increasing salt concentration (0.00 control, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 M, molal NaCl). The frequency of chromosomal aberrations of seeds germinated in medium with 0.40 M NaCl after pretreatment with H₂O₂ (30 μM, micromolal) was significantly higher than the control group. The highest concentration of NaCl (0.45 M) together with H₂O₂ caused total inhibition of germination. In this study, the intention was to determine the performance of H₂O₂ in alleviating detrimental effect of salt stress on mitotic activity and chromosomal aberrations. However, H₂O₂ did not reduce the detrimental effect of NaCl on these parameters. Also, it caused higher chromotoxic effect compared to those of control groups.     

The optimization of regeneration tissue culture system of three chilli peppers cultivars based on the uniform design and the mathematical model equation

Using uniform random design optimization and the mathematical model equation we optimized the regeneration tissue culture system of the chilli pepper. An efficient and detailed plant reproducible protocol in vitro has been established using different explants and induction media for three chilli pepper cultivars. The result displayed that the seedlings at the curved hypocotyl stage were the best choice to prepare for explants, the genotype of explants affected shoot buds induction frequency and number of shoot buds per explant, and the cotyledon explant was more responsive than hypocotyl explant. The optimal media for maximum shoot initiation and regeneration and the optimal elongation medium were obtained. For Capsicum annuum var. annuum (cv. Xinsu), Capsicum annuum var. annuum (cv. Neimengchifeng) and Capsicum frutescens (cv. Xingfu), the induction rates were 99.17%, 97.50 and 96.11%, respectively; the elongation rates of shoot buds were 86.67%, 85.19% and 82.96%, respectively. The MS medium with 0.57 μM IAA and 0.69 μM NAA is the best choice for root induction. The frequency of their root emergence was 95.00-98.33%. Regenerated chilli peppers were successfully acclimatized and cultivated with 100% survival. This work will help to improve multiplication process and the genotype of chilli pepper, and may have commercial impact.     

福州地区对虾白斑病病毒的超微结构

在福州地区分离到一种高致病性的白斑病病毒 ,该病毒仅存在于细胞质中 ,完整的病毒粒子有囊膜 ,一端略圆 ,一端稍尖 ,直径约为 80～ 10 0nm ,囊膜与核衣壳之间的间隙约为 2 0～ 2 5nm。该病毒在细胞内不形成包含体 ,但有些可形成封入体。负染观察到的病毒核衣壳呈直杆状 ,但长度和直径相差较大 ,最长的病毒超过 6 0 0nm。这些特征与其它已报道的白斑病病毒有所不同 ,因此暂将它称为“对虾白斑病病毒福州分离株”。     

High‐Capacity All‐Solid‐State Sodium Metal Battery with Hybrid Polymer Electrolytes

All‐solid‐state sodium metal batteries (SSMBs) are of great interest for their high theoretical capacity, nonflammability, and relatively low cost owing partially to the abundance of sodium recourses. However, it is challenging to fabricate SSMBs because compared with their counterparts, which contain lithium metal, sodium metal is mechanically softer and more reactive toward the electrolyte. Herein, the synthesis and electrochemical properties of newly designed sodium‐containing hybrid network solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and their application in SSMBs are reported. The hybrid network is synthesized by controlled crosslinking of octakis(3‐glycidyloxypropyldimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane and amine‐terminated polyethylene glycol in existence with sodium perchlorate (NaClO₄). Plating and stripping experiments using symmetric cells show prolonged cycle life of the SPEs, >5150 and 3550 h at current density of 0.1 and 0.5 mA cm^?2, respectively. The results for the first time show that the SPE|sodium metal interface migrates into the SPE phase upon cycling. SSMBs fabricated with the hybrid SPE sandwiched between sodium metal anode and bilayered δ‐Na_xV₂O₅ cathode exhibit record‐high specific capacity for solid sodium‐ion batteries of 305 mAh g^?1 and excellent Coulombic efficiency. This work demonstrates that the hybrid network SPEs are promising for SSMB applications.     

肝泰对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中神经递质受体作用的研究

目的研究肝泰对CCl4诱导的肝纤维化大鼠肝组织中神经递质受体的作用,探讨其抗肝纤维化的作用机制。方法将40只Wistar大鼠分为4组：正常对照组（N）10只、肝复乐胶囊对照组（G）10只、肝泰组（Z）10只及模型组（M）10只。采用光镜及电镜观察肝组织病理学改变;应用免疫组织化学法、逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和West-ern-blot方法检测各组肝组织α1肾上腺素能受体（α1A-AR）、β2肾上腺素能受体（β2-AR）的表达。结果肝泰组、肝复乐胶囊对照组病理改变较模型组明显改善;免疫组织化学、RT-PCR、Western blot三种不同层次水平的研究结果均表明：肝泰组和肝复乐胶囊对照组α1A-AR及β2-AR的表达较模型组显著降低（P〈0.05）。结论肝泰能通过抑制肝组织中α1A-AR及β2-AR的表达,从而调节神经递质在肝纤维化中的作用。     

利用基因芯片对一高保守基因进行肿瘤相关分析

本对大规模人类cDNA测序过程中获得的一条高保守基因进行了初步功能研究,生物信息学研究发现该基因在人类、小鼠、果蝇、拟南芥和裂殖酶母中都有很高的保守性,其他分析预测该基因可能具有肿瘤相关性。RT－PCR分析表明,该基因在成人和胎儿组织中广泛谱表达。利用基因芯片分析该基因在7例肝癌、5例胰腺癌、2例喉癌和2例肺癌中表达情况,结果证实了该基因的肿瘤相关性,并且提示该基因在不同类型中可能处于不同的地位。     

SLiCE: a novel bacterial cell extract-based DNA cloning method

We describe a novel cloning method termed SLiCE (Seamless Ligation Cloning Extract) that utilizes easy to generate bacterial cell extracts to assemble multiple DNA fragments into recombinant DNA molecules in a single in vitro recombination reaction. SLiCE overcomes the sequence limitations of traditional cloning methods, facilitates seamless cloning by recombining short end homologies (≥15 bp) with or without flanking heterologous sequences and provides an effective strategy for directional subcloning of DNA fragments from Bacteria Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) or other sources. SLiCE is highly cost effective as a number of standard laboratory bacterial strains can serve as sources for SLiCE extract. In addition, the cloning efficiencies and capabilities of these strains can be greatly improved by simple genetic modifications. As an example, we modified the DH10B Escherichia coli strain to express an optimized λ prophage Red recombination system. This strain, termed PPY, facilitates SLiCE with very high efficiencies and demonstrates the versatility of the method.     

MicroRNA-294 promotes cellular proliferation and motility through the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways by upregulation of NRAS in bladder cancer

In our study we examined the role of microRNA-294 (miR-294) in bladder cancer and related mechanisms. Realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression level of miR-294. Western blot was used to determine the expression of NRAS, mainly factors in the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways. Cell counting kit8 assay, clonogenic assay, wound-healing assay, transwell and flow cytometry were used to explore, respectively, cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of bladder cancer cell line T24. The expressions of miR-294 in bladder cancer cells including J82, HT1376, T24, and SW780 were significantly increased compared to those in human bladder epithelium cells (both HCV29 and SV-HUC-1). The proliferation rate, surviving fraction, migration, and invasion of T24 cells in miR-294 mimetic transfected group were significantly increased, while they were significantly decreased by miR294 inhibitor transfection. Moreover, miR-294 suppression could increase the apoptotic rate of T24 cells. In addition, drug resistance of T24 cells to cisplatin was increased in miR-294 mimetic-treated group, while it was decreased by miR-294 inhibitor compared to empty control. Overexpression of miR-294 could upregulate NRAS expression in T24 cells and activate PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways. We found that miR-294 expression was positively related with proliferation and motility of T24 cells. Moreover, miR-294 suppression could promote the sensitivity of T24 cells to cisplatin. We also found miR-294 could upregulate NRAS and activate the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways in T24 cells.