荒漠草原区4种植物群落土壤种子库特征及其土壤理化性质

土壤种子库作为地上植被更新的潜在种源,在植被自然恢复和演替过程以及生态系统建设中起着重要作用。以宁夏盐池县荒漠草原区4种植物群落为研究对象,通过对封育16年后植物群落土壤理化性质的变化与其土壤种子库的特征之间的关系的探讨,揭示荒漠草原植物群落的土壤种子库分布特征和演替趋势,以及土壤质量的改变如何影响土壤种子库特征。研究结果表明：（1）不同植物群落土壤种子库物种组成及种子密度不同,同一物种在不同植物群落土壤种子库中出现时种子密度也存在差异;禾本科、菊科、藜科植物种在4种植物群落土壤种子库中出现比例均较高,分别占到26.19%、21.43%和19.05%,占总物种数的66.7%;灰绿藜、冰草、碱蓬在4种植物群落土壤种子库中均有出现。（2）4种植物群落土壤种子库中多年生植物和一年生植物种子居多,灌木、半灌木植物种较少。（3）4种植物群落土壤种子库中物种数和种子密度均表现为：芨芨草群落 > 苦豆子群落 > 油蒿群落 > 盐爪爪群落;且随着土层的加深,4种植物群落土壤种子库中物种数和种子密度均呈递减趋势。（4）4种植物群落土壤种子库中Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpsin指数、Pielou指数和Patrick指数均表现为芨芨草群落 > 苦豆子群落 > 油蒿群落 > 盐爪爪群落。此外,芨芨草群落土壤种子库与油蒿群落土壤种子库相似性最高,油蒿群落与盐爪爪群落的最低。（5）土壤种子库物种多样性特征指数与土壤pH、含水量、碱解氮呈正相关,与土壤电导率呈负相关,其中土壤pH和电导率对种子库物种多样性的影响较大。荒漠草原封育以后,土壤种子库中植物种数、种子密度和物种多样性均呈增加趋势,且以多年生植物和一年生植物种子居多;禾本科和豆科植物的物种数和种子密度大于菊科和藜科,这表明围封后牧草品质改善,植物群落正向演替。     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel 5-substituted benzylidene amino-2-butyl benzofuran-3-yl-4-methoxyphenyl methanones as antileishmanial and antioxidant agents

A series of 5-substitutedbenzylideneamino-2-butylbenzofuran-3-yl-4-methoxyphenyl methanones is synthesized and evaluated for antileishmanial and antioxidant activities. Compounds 4f (IC₅₀?=?52.0?±?0.09?µg/ml), 4h (IC₅₀?=?56.0?±?0.71?µg/ml) and 4l (IC₅₀?=?59.3?±?0.55?µg/ml) were shown significant antileishmanial when compared with standard sodium stibogluconate (IC₅₀?=?490.0?±?1.5?µg/ml). Antioxidant study revealed that compounds 4i (IC₅₀?=?2.44?±?0.47?µg/ml) and 4l (IC₅₀?=?3.69?±?0.44?µg/ml) have shown potent comparable activity when compared with standard ascorbic acid (IC₅₀?=?3.31?±?0.34?µg/ml). Molecular docking study was carried out which replicating results of biological activity in case of initial hits 4f and 4h suggesting that these compounds have a potential to become lead molecules in drug discovery process. In silico ADME study was performed for predicting pharmacokinetic profile of the synthesised antileishmanial agents and expressed good oral drug like behaviour.     

Chromosome Preparation From Cultured Cells

Chromosome (cytogenetic) analysis is widely used for the detection of chromosome instability. When followed by G-banding and molecular techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), this assay has the powerful ability to analyze individual cells for aberrations that involve gains or losses of portions of the genome and rearrangements involving one or more chromosomes. In humans, chromosome abnormalities occur in approximately 1 per 160 live births^1,2, 60-80% of all miscarriages^3,4, 10% of stillbirths^2,5, 13% of individuals with congenital heart disease⁶, 3-6% of infertility cases², and in many patients with developmental delay and birth defects⁷. Cytogenetic analysis of malignancy is routinely used by researchers and clinicians, as observations of clonal chromosomal abnormalities have been shown to have both diagnostic and prognostic significance^8,9.  Chromosome isolation is invaluable for gene therapy and stem cell research of organisms including nonhuman primates and rodents^10-13.Chromosomes can be isolated from cells of live tissues, including blood lymphocytes, skin fibroblasts, amniocytes, placenta, bone marrow, and tumor specimens. Chromosomes are analyzed at the metaphase stage of mitosis, when they are most condensed and therefore more clearly visible. The first step of the chromosome isolation technique involves the disruption of the spindle fibers by incubation with Colcemid, to prevent the cells from proceeding to the subsequent anaphase stage. The cells are then treated with a hypotonic solution and preserved in their swollen state with Carnoy''s fixative. The cells are then dropped on to slides and can then be utilized for a variety of procedures. G-banding involves trypsin treatment followed by staining with Giemsa to create characteristic light and dark bands. The same procedure to isolate chromosomes can be used for the preparation of cells for procedures such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and spectral karyotyping (SKY)^14,15.     

Analysis of cell-to-bubble attachment in sparged bioreactors in the presence of cell-protecting additives

To investigate the mechanisms of cell protection provided by medium additives against animal cell injury in sparged bioreactors, we have analyzed the effect of various additives on the cell-to-bubble attachment process using CHO cells in suspension. Cell-to-bubble attachment was examined using three experimental techniques: (1) cell-bubble induction time analysis (cell-to-bubble attachment times); (2) forming thin liquid films and observing the movement and location of cells in the thin films; and (3) foam flotation experiments. The induction times we measured for the various additives are as follows: no additive (50 to 500 ms), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP: 20 to 500 ms), polyethylene glycol (PEG: 200 to 1000 ms), 3% serum (500 to 1000 ms), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA: 2 to 10 s), Pluronic F68 (5 to 20 s), and Methocel (20 to 60 s). In the thin film formation experiments, cells in medium with either F68, PVA, or Methocel quickly flowed out of draining thin liquid films and entered the plateau border. When using media with no additive or with serum, the flow of cells out of the thin liquid film and film drainage were slower than for media containing Pluronic F68. PVA, or Methocel. With PVP and PEG, the thin film drainage was much slower and cells remained trapped in the film. For the foam flotation experiments, a separation factor (ratio of cell concentration in the foam catch to that in the bubble column) was determined for the various additives. In the order of increasing separation factors (i.e., increasing cell attachment to bubbles), the additives are as follows: Methocel, PVA, Pluronic F68, 3% serum, serum-free medium with no additives, PEG, and PVP. Based on the results of these three different cell-to-bubble attachment experiments, we have classified the cell-protecting additives into three groups: (1) Pluronic F68, PVA, and Methocel (reduced cell-to-bubble attachment); (2) PEG and PVP (high or increased cell-to-bubble attachment); and (3) FBS (reduced cell attachment butslower drainage films compared with F68, PVA, and Methocel with some cell entrapment in those films). These phenomena are discussed in relation to the interfacial properties of the media reported in a companion Study (this issue). (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons Inc.     

The combination of basic fibroblast growth factor and kit ligand promotes the proliferation,activity and steroidogenesis of granulosa cells during human ovarian cortical culture

Different factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and kit ligand (KL), are used in ovarian cortical culture to promote activation of primordial follicles. In the present study, the effects of bFGF and KL, alone and in combination, were evaluated on human follicular activation and growth during in-situ cortical culture. Slow frozen-thawed human ovarian cortical tissues (n = 6) were cultured in 4 different groups: 1) control (base medium), 2) KL (base medium; BM + 100 ng/ml KL), 3) bFGF (BM + 100 ng/ml bFGF) and 4) bFGF + KL (BM + 100 ng/ml KL + 100 ng/ml bFGF) for a week. The proportion of morphologically normal and degenerated follicles at different developmental stages, secreted hormonal levels and specific gene expressions were compared. Although the proportion of growing follicles was higher than primordial counterpart in all cultured groups, no significant differences were observed among the cultured groups. In all cultured groups, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), progesterone and estradiol hormones levels increased after 7 days of culture; however, this increase was only significant for estradiol in the bFGF + KL group. The expression of Ki67 gene indicated an increase in ovarian cell proliferation in the three experimental groups compared to the control group, however this increment was only significant for the bFGF + KL group. It can be concluded that KL and bFGF factors individually have no beneficial effects on in-situ follicular growth, but their combination positively influences steroidogenesis of granulosa cells without significantly increasing the number of growing follicles.     

EVOLUTION OF VARIATION AND VARIABILITY UNDER FLUCTUATING,STABILIZING, AND DISRUPTIVE SELECTION

How variation and variability (the capacity to vary) may respond to selection remain open questions. Indeed, effects of different selection regimes on variational properties, such as canalization and developmental stability are under debate. We analyzed the patterns of among‐ and within‐individual variation in two wing‐shape characters in populations of Drosophila melanogaster maintained under fluctuating, disruptive, and stabilizing selection for more than 20 generations. Patterns of variation in wing size, which was not a direct target of selection, were also analyzed. Disruptive selection dramatically increased phenotypic variation in the two shape characters, but left phenotypic variation in wing size unaltered. Fluctuating and stabilizing selection consistently decreased phenotypic variation in all traits. In contrast, within‐individual variation, measured by the level of fluctuating asymmetry, increased for all traits under all selection regimes. These results suggest that canalization and developmental stability are evolvable and presumably controlled by different underlying genetic mechanisms, but the evolutionary responses are not consistent with an adaptive response to selection on variation. Selection also affected patterns of directional asymmetry, although inconsistently across traits and treatments.     

膜上相互作用对平板双分子层脂膜电性质的影响

以平板双分子层脂膜作为生物膜的简单模型,建立用平板双分子层脂膜电性质研究药物－生物膜相互作用的方法。研究以具有典型特征的物质－表面活性剂、自由基、金属手性配合物与平板膜的相互作用引起膜电性质的规律性改变;重组人Ｂ型血红细胞膜与溶液中抗Ｂ单克隆抗体发生特异相互作用时,膜电阻快速下降,下降的速率与加入的抗体量成正相关。在研究发生在平板膜上的典型反应的基础上,通过对膜电性质的监测和分析,从而确认平板双分     

Experimental evidence of dynamic self-organization in the electron transfer system (example of reaction centers of purple bacteria)

The results of an experimental study of nonlinear dynamic processes in the electron transfer system, the reaction centers (RCs) of purple bacteria are presented. A difference was observed in the absorption spectra of RCs exposed to a rising intensity of acting light compared to a descending intensity of acting light. We observed the hysteresis of the RC optical transmission coefficient at =865 nm, with a quasistationary increase and subsequent decrease of the optical excitation level. The kinetics of charge recombination in an RC containing two quinone acceptors revealed a dependence on the prehistory of the RC illumination. The results were interpreted in terms of the existence of a light-induced memory effect in the electron-conformational system and the appearance of bifurcation in the system at critical values of the photoinduced electron flux through the macromolecule.     

家兔外膝体背核中继细胞的被动电缆特性

在离体脑片上测定了２４个家兔外膝体中继细胞的被动膜特性。它们的静息电位为－６２．７±４．１ｍＶ（ＳＤ）;膜输入阻抗为３０．４±１１．２ＭΩ。运用Ｒａｌｌ的线性电缆模型,计算出这些神经元树突的电紧张长度（Ｌ）为０．７９±０．１３;电压衰减因数（Ｈ）为回．３３±０．１１。说明家兔外膝体中继细胞是电学紧密的,树突远端的电位可扩散到胞体,幅度仅衰减２５％左右。