Effect of circadian rhythm type on serum lipid levels in shift workers: A 5-year cohort study

We investigated how differences in circadian rhythm type affect the health of workers engaged in shift work. Employees, who were newly hired in a steel company between 2007 and 2011, received the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) survey. The target participants were 153 male shift workers who were not being treated with any antihyperlipidemic drugs and underwent periodic physical examinations including blood tests at least twice. According to the score of the MEQ at the time of joining the company, we classified the subjects into five types. Longitudinal changes in serum lipid level were estimated among the circadian rhythm types adjusted for age, BMI, and other covariates using a linear mixed model. The regression coefficient of total cholesterol level in the “definitely and moderately morning” group was ?17.83 (95% confidence interval (CI): ?33.42 to ?2.23), and in the “intermediate ‘group’ was ?16.84 [95% CI: ?30.40 to ?3.28], compared to the moderate evening type.” The total cholesterol level was higher in the moderately evening type than in any of the other groups. Between the Morningness–Eveningness (ME) type and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, compared with the “moderately evening type” group, the regression coefficient in the “intermediate type” group was ?16.08 (95% CI: ?28.79 to ?3.37), and in the “definitely and moderately morning type” group was ?17.50 [95% CI: ?32.11 to ?2.88]. The “moderately evening type” group had a higher LDL cholesterol level than any of the other groups. Evening-type circadian rhythm type shift workers are more prone to elevated serum lipid levels.     

Chromosome‐level genome assembly for the horned‐gall aphid provides insights into interactions between gall‐making insect and its host plant

The aphid Schlechtendalia chinensis is an economically important insect that can induce horned galls, which are valuable for the medicinal and chemical industries. Up to now, more than twenty aphid genomes have been reported. Most of the sequenced genomes are derived from free‐living aphids. Here, we generated a high‐quality genome assembly from a galling aphid. The final genome assembly is 271.52 Mb, representing one of the smallest sequenced genomes of aphids. The genome assembly is based on contig and scaffold N50 values of the genome sequence are 3.77 Mb and 20.41 Mb, respectively. Nine‐seven percent of the assembled sequences was anchored onto 13 chromosomes. Based on BUSCO analysis, the assembly involved 96.9% of conserved arthropod and 98.5% of the conserved Hemiptera single‐copy orthologous genes. A total of 14,089 protein‐coding genes were predicted. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. chinensis diverged from the common ancestor of Eriosoma lanigerum approximately 57 million years ago (MYA). In addition, 35 genes encoding salivary gland proteins showed differentially when S. chinensis forms a gall, suggesting they have potential roles in gall formation and plant defense suppression. Taken together, this high‐quality S. chinensis genome assembly and annotation provide a solid genetic foundation for future research to reveal the mechanism of gall formation and to explore the interaction between aphids and their host plants.     

普罗布考联合家庭心脏康复训练对冠心病患者射血分数、血脂的影响分析

目的 探讨普罗布考联合家庭康复训练对冠心病患者射血分数及血脂水平的影响.方法 选择2018年6月 ～2020年6月我院收治的冠心病患者110例,按随机数字表法分成对照组和实验组,对照组给予瑞舒伐他汀治疗,实验组在对照组的基础上联合应用普罗布考及家庭康复训练.对两组患者治疗前及治疗后3个月的心功能指标、血脂水平进行检测比...     

SHCBP1:乳腺癌治疗候选靶点和潜在预后标志物

探讨SHCBP1在乳腺癌及其不同亚型中的表达特征和预后价值。利用Oncomine, bc-GenExMiner v4.2, Kaplan-Meier plotter, GSE41994及STRING数据库分析乳腺癌病人SHCBP1的mRNA表达水平及其与乳腺癌患者生存率的相关性等。结果:(1)乳腺癌组织中SHCBP1的mRNA水平明显高于正常组织样本,但不同分子亚型的乳腺癌患者中SHCBP1的表达水平不同;(2)SHCBP1表达升高可导致Luminal A亚型更短的无转移生存期(Distant metastasis-free survival,DMFS)和无病生存期(Disease-free survival, DFS);(3)在雌激素受体阳性(ER+)、孕酮受体阳性(PR+)亚型、仅接受辅助化疗、仅接受辅助化疗的ER(+)与接受包括或排除内分泌治疗乳腺癌患者中,SHCBP1表达升高则无复发生存率(Relapse-free survival,RFS)显著缩短;(4)SHCBP1和CDC45 mRNA表达水平之间呈正相关,并可能与KIF23等10种蛋白相互作用。结论:SHCBP1是一种很有前景的乳腺癌预后指标和潜在的治疗靶点。     

Assessment of Age-Related Polyploidy in Quercus Robur L. Somatic Embryos and Regenerated Plants Using DNA Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometric analysis with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining was used to screen for chromosomal changes in Quercus robur during in vitro culture. The initiated cell lines (1992 until 1999) were maintained via secondary embryogenesis on P24 medium with 0.9 M 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in regular subculture intervals of 6 weeks. Regenerated plants established in the greenhouse and in vitro plantlets derived from encapsulated somatic embryos were screened. The embryogenic cell lines were characterized as individual clones by isoenzyme analysis. Flow cytometric relative DNA content analysis of the first screening period revealed that somaclonal variation in form of tetraploidy occurred in two out of 26 tested somatic embryo clones (Alt and Jung). These two clones lost their ability to convert into plantlets. Intraspecific relative DNA content variation including technical variation was below 3 %. In the second screening period, however, 3 out of 37 clones (Alt, E4.31H9 and P3.27H) contained tetraploid cells leading to the assumption that the frequency of tetraploidy seems to be correlated with the duration of in vitro culture. No chromosomal differences were detected in regenerated plants. However, tetraploidy occurred in 8 % of the tested clones over a culture period of 7 years.     

鳜鱼口咽腔味蕾和行为反应特性及其对捕食习性的适应

用扫描电镜观察和行为学实验研究鳜鱼口咽腔味蕾形态和分布及吞食行为反应特性，结果表明，鳜鱼口咽腔味蕾丰富，几乎都是Ｉ型和Ⅱ型味蕾，着生于表皮乳突上，主要分布于上颌骨齿周围及内侧，下颌齿周围及外侧，舌前中区，下鳃骨细齿内侧等部位，其它区域分布较少，鳜鱼口咽腔味蕾对食物味道和软硬均非常敏感，鳜鱼仅吞食同时具有一定味道和软硬度的食物，本文探讨了鳜鱼口咽腔味蕾的结构功能关系及其对捕食习性的适应意义。     

A Protocol for the Fluorometric Quantification of mGFP5-ER and sGFP(S65T) in Transgenic Plants

The Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria has begun to be used as a reporter protein in plants. It is particularly useful as GFP fluorescence can be detected in a non-destructive manner, whereas detection of enzyme-based reporters often requires destruction of the plant tissue. The use of GFP as a reporter enables transgenic plant tissues to be screened in vivo at any growth stage. Quantification of GFP in transgenic plant extracts will increase the utility of GFP as a reporter protein. We report herein the quantification of a mGFP5-ER variant in tobacco leaf extracts by UV excitation and a sGFP(S65T) variant in sugarcane leaf and callus extracts by blue light excitation using the BioRad VersaFluor^TM Fluorometer System or the Labsystems Fluoroskan Ascent FL equipped with a narrow band emission filter (510 ± 5 nm). The GFP concentration in transgenic plant extracts was determined from a GFP-standard series prepared in untransformed plant extract with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 4 g/ml of purified rGFP. Levels of sgfp(S65T) expression, driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter, in sugarcane calli and leaves ranged up to 0.525 g and 2.11 g sGFP(S65T) per mg of extractable protein respectively. In tobacco leaves the expression of mgfp5-ER, driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, ranged up to 7.05 g mGFP5-ER per mg extractable protein.     

Methane emissions from wet grasslands on peat soil in a nature preserve

The area of wet grasslands on peat soil in the Netherlands is slowly increasing at the expense of drained, agriculturally used grasslands. This study aimed (i) to assess the contribution of wet grasslands on peat soil to methane (CH₄) emissions, and (ii) to explain differences among sites and between years in order to improve our understanding of controlling factors. For these purposes, a field study was conducted in the period 1994–1996 in the nature preserve Nieuwkoopse Plassen, which is a former peat mining and agricultural area. Net CH₄ emissions were measured weekly to monthly with vented closed flux chambers at three representative sites, and at ditches near these sites. Three-years average of CH₄ emissions was 7.9 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1 for Drie Berken Zudde, 13.3 for Koole, and 20.4 for Brampjesgat. Ditches near the sites emitted 4.2–22.5 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1. The time-course of CH₄ emissions for all experimental sites and years was fit with a multiple linear regression model with ground water level and soil temperature as independent variables. Lowering or raising the ground water level by 5 cm could decrease or increase CH₄ emissions by 30–50%. Therefore, ground water level management of these grasslands should be done with care.     

Multilevel inhibition of feeding by a peptidergic pleural interneuron in the mollusc<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Lymnaea stagnalis</Emphasis>

The pleural interneuron PlB is a white neuron in the pleural ganglion of the snail Lymnaea. We test the hypothesis that it inhibits neurons at all levels of the feeding system, using a combination of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. There is just one PlB in each pleural ganglion. Its axon traverses the pedal and cerebral ganglia, running into the buccal ganglia. It has neuropilar branches in the regions of the cerebral and buccal ganglia where neurons that are active during feeding also branch. Activation of the PlB blocks fictive feeding, whether the feeding rhythm occurs spontaneously or is driven by a modulatory interneuron. The PlB inhibits all the neurons in the feeding network, including protraction and retraction motoneurons, central pattern generator interneurons, buccal modulatory interneurons (SO, OC), and cerebral modulatory interneurons (CV1, CGC). Only the CV1 interneuron shows discrete 1:1 IPSPs; all other effects are slow, smooth hyperpolarizations. All connections persist in Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-rich saline, which reduces polysynaptic effects. The inhibitory effects are mimicked by 0.5 to 100 mol l^–1 FMRFamide, which the PlB soma contains. We conclude that the PlB inhibits neurons in the feeding system at all levels, probably acting though the peptide transmitter FMRFamide.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00359-004-0503-x     

Relationship between plant cover type and soil properties on Syunkunitai coastal sand dune in eastern Hokkaido

A survey of soils and trees was conducted on Syunkunitai coastal sand dune in eastern Hokkaido to clarify the relationships between the soil properties and the plant cover type. A belt transect of 360m in length was established across the dune. Three community types, that is, a Picea glehnii forest, an Abies sachalinensis forest, and a salt marsh were recognized. Soil types at the study area were determined to be sandy immature soil and peat soil. Their horizon sequences were described as A₀–V–C or T–V–C layers (A₀, T, V, and C indicate layers of leaf litter, peat, volcanic deposit, and parent material, respectively). The Abies sachalinensis forest was characterized by a relatively high calcium concentration in the surface soil layer and a tendency for podzolization in the volcanic deposit layer. The Picea glehnii forest was characterized by peat accumulation because of the high ground water table, volcanic deposits in the soil profile, and the strong influence of sea salt on the soil chemistry. The roots in the Picea glehnii forest were distributed more shallowly than those in the Abies sachalinensis forest, thus avoiding the high water table level as well as the influence of seawater in the soil. The salt marsh showed an extremely high sodium concentration and base saturation, indicating that this area was directly affected by seawater. Recently, the periphery of the Picea glehnii forest on Syunkunitai sand dune has been declining because of seawater inundation caused by ground subsidence.