宁夏贺兰山斑子麻黄种群的性比及雌雄空间格局

性比、空间分布格局及关联性对雌雄异株种群的繁殖、进化与发展具有重要影响。斑子麻黄是雌雄异株且狭域分布的国家二级保护植物,在维持贺兰山荒漠生态系统稳定性和多样性发挥着重要作用,但有关斑子麻黄种群性比的研究未见报道。研究分析了宁夏贺兰山4个不同海拔(S₁、S₂、S₃、S₄)斑子麻黄天然种群性比、空间分布格局及关联性。结果表明：(1)斑子麻黄性比与生长环境条件密切相关。4个种群都偏雄,生长环境严酷的S₃、S₄种群性别显著偏雄(P<0.05);不同龄级分析显示由于环境的异质性,斑子麻黄种群偏雄发生在不同阶段,生境条件好的S₁、S₂种群在幼龄和成年阶段显著偏雌或有偏雌趋势,偏雄发生在老年阶段;而生长环境严酷的S₃、S₄种群偏雄发生在幼龄阶段,成年和老年阶段有偏雄的趋势。(2)雌雄种群的空间关联性会决定种群的发展。S₁、S₃、S     

Phase-synchronization of daily motor activities can reveal differential circadian patterns

The aim of the study was to determine any alteration of the 24 h motor activity pattern of a bipolar patient in different mood states. Actigraphic records were collected on an outpatient basis for a total of 387 days. The daily actograms were synchronized in phase to the time of morning awakening before averaging, which significantly enhanced the structure of the averaged traces. The actograms were divided into three groups based on total daily count. The daily motor activity patterns of the low- and high-activity days have a different circadian pattern. We propose it may have a relevance to the different mood states. The phase-synchronization of the 24 h actograms to the patient's sleep-wake cycle, specifically to the time of awaking from the nighttime sleep, may help reveal differences in the daily temporal patterns of motor activity.     

Differential expression of the pr1A gene in Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium acridum across different culture conditions and during pathogenesis

The entomopathogenic fungi of the genus Metarhizium have several subtilisin-like proteases that are involved in pathogenesis and these have been used to investigate genes that are differentially expressed in response to different growth conditions. The identification and characterization of these proteases can provide insight into how the fungus is capable of infecting a wide variety of insects and adapt to different substrates. In addition, the pr1A gene has been used for the genetic improvement of strains used in pest control. In this study we used quantitative RT-PCR to assess the relative expression levels of the pr1A gene in M. anisopliae and M. acridum during growth in different culture conditions and during infection of the sugar cane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius. We also carried out a pathogenicity test to assess the virulence of both species against D. saccharalis and correlated the results with the pattern of pr1A gene expression. This analysis revealed that, in both species, the pr1A gene was differentially expressed under the growth conditions studied and during the pathogenic process. M. anisopliae showed higher expression of pr1A in all conditions examined, when compared to M. acridum. Furthermore, M. anisopliae showed a greater potential to control D. saccharalis. Taken together, our results suggest that these species have developed different strategies to adapt to different growing conditions.     

Mathematical modeling links Wnt signaling to emergent patterns of metabolism in colon cancer

Cell‐intrinsic metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer that provides anabolic support to cell proliferation. How reprogramming influences tumor heterogeneity or drug sensitivities is not well understood. Here, we report a self‐organizing spatial pattern of glycolysis in xenograft colon tumors where pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK1), a negative regulator of oxidative phosphorylation, is highly active in clusters of cells arranged in a spotted array. To understand this pattern, we developed a reaction–diffusion model that incorporates Wnt signaling, a pathway known to upregulate PDK1 and Warburg metabolism. Partial interference with Wnt alters the size and intensity of the spotted pattern in tumors and in the model. The model predicts that Wnt inhibition should trigger an increase in proteins that enhance the range of Wnt ligand diffusion. Not only was this prediction validated in xenograft tumors but similar patterns also emerge in radiochemotherapy‐treated colorectal cancer. The model also predicts that inhibitors that target glycolysis or Wnt signaling in combination should synergize and be more effective than each treatment individually. We validated this prediction in 3D colon tumor spheroids.     

鲁北沿海蝗区蝗虫天敌蜘蛛类群发生规律初探

笔者于1992～2003 a对鲁北沿海蝗区的蝗虫天敌-蜘蛛类群,进行了大田调查与定点系统调查.鲁北沿海蝗区蜘蛛隶属6科9属14种.明确了蜘蛛类群的消长动态,并对优势种星豹蛛Pardosa astrigera 进行了系统观察,明确了其生活史和习性.并提出了保护利用措施.     

Dystroglycan is required for proper retinal layering

Dystroglycan (DG) is a transmembrane receptor linking the extracellular matrix to the internal cytoskeleton. Its structural function has been mainly characterized in muscle fibers, but DG plays signaling and developmental roles also in different tissues and cell types. We have investigated the effects of dystroglycan depletion during eye development of Xenopus laevis. We have injected a specific morpholino (Mo) antisense oligonucleotide in the animal pole of one dorsal blastomere of embryos at four cells stage. Mo-mediated loss of DG function caused disruption of the basal lamina layers, increased apoptosis and reduction of the expression domains of specific retinal markers, at early stages. Later in development, morphants displayed unilateral ocular malformations, such as microphtalmia and retinal delayering with photoreceptors and ganglion cells scattered throughout the retina or aggregated in rosette-like structures. These results recall the phenotypes observed in specific human diseases and suggest that DG presence is crucial at early stages for the organization of retinal architecture.