Association between JY-1 gene polymorphisms and reproductive traits in beef cattle

Reproductive traits have a high economic value and it is interesting to include them in the selection objectives of an animal breeding program. These traits generally show low heritability and molecular markers may therefore be used in genetic evaluations to improve the accuracy of predictions. The JY-1 gene is expressed in the oocyte and it is associated with folliculogenesis and early embryo development. It has been suggested to affect reproductive traits. In this study, exons 1 and 2 of the JY-1 gene were studied in 385 Nellore females by PCR-sequencing. Seventeen polymorphisms were identified. After analysis of linkage disequilibrium, association tests were performed between eight SNPs and the occurrence of early pregnancy, age at first calving, days to calving, and reconception of primiparous heifers. Seven SNPs were significant for three traits. The most significant was chr29:12,999 T/A (p = 0.003) which was associated with the occurrence of early pregnancy. This SNP might be involved in protein translation inhibition since it affects the initial methionine codon. The JY-1, an oocyte specific gene, influences reproductive traits; further studies investigating other regions of the gene or other genes expressed in tissues of the female reproductive system would be interesting to be performed.     

山东平邑盆地晚白垩世介形类

山东平邑盆地固城组、卞桥组共发现介形类化石21属21种4比较种13未定种,本文记述了其中的17属16种4比较种9未定种。卞桥组一段下部的介形类可称为Talicypridea reticulata-Mongolocypris longa-Frambocythere fangjiaheensis介形类动物群,含化石地层的时代被确认为晚白垩世最晚期,即马斯特里赫特期的晚期。该动物群的发现,为平邑盆地白垩系/古近系界线的确定提供了十分重要的依据。     

First human study of a chimeric anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody in healthy volunteers

This first-in-human study examined the safety and pharmacokinetics of ch-mAb7F9, an anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody, in healthy volunteers. Single, escalating doses of ch-mAb7F9 over the range of 0.2 to 20 mg/kg were administered to 42 subjects who were followed for 147 d. Safety was measured by physical examinations, adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory testing. Serum ch-mAb7F9 concentration and immunogenicity analyses were performed. There were no serious adverse reactions or discontinuations from the study due to adverse events. No trends emerged in the frequency, relatedness, or severity of adverse events with increased dose or between active and placebo treated subjects. Ch-mAb7F9 displayed expected IgG pharmacokinetic parameters, including a half-life of 17–19 d in the 3 highest dose groups and volume of distribution of 5–6 L, suggesting the antibody is confined primarily to the vascular compartment. Four (12.5%) of the 32 subjects receiving ch-mAb7F9 were confirmed to have developed a human anti-chimeric antibody response by the end of the study; however, this response did not appear to be dose related. Overall, no apparent safety or tolerability concerns were identified; a maximum tolerated dose was not reached in this Phase 1 study. Ch-mAb7F9 therefore appears safe for human administration.     

Verification of efficacy as an ergogenic aid and safety in doping of sibjeondaebo-tang

[Purpose]

Various kinds of food substances from all over the world have been proposed to use as ergogenic aids for the additional improvement of exercise performance especially in athletes. Herb medicine which usually being applied for the cure of disease is used as a performance booster in several far eastern countries including Korea. Many scientists and coaches have asked very objective verifications on the reality of herb medicines practically used but never been scientifically elucidated well enough. In addition to the possibility as an ergogenic aid, the safety in doping is the critical factor to be examined thoroughly. In this study, Sibjeondaebo-Tang, a leading popular prescribed herb medicine in Korea, was examined.

[Methods]

After the intake of Sibjeondaebo-Tang, its effects on VO₂max, recovery from fatigue, and doping safety through the official process as WADA suggested. Six volunteered male Taekwondo Pumsae players were subjected in a repeatedly examined protocol.

[Results]

First of all, every subjects showed ‘negative’ in doping test, and the treatment did not show any significant improvement on VO₂max even though there was a significant decrease in blood lactate level on a step test.

[Conclusion]

In conclusion, Sibjeondaebo-Tang may have some limited effects as a fatigue delayer and the use of it showed safe to doping test with the strict limitation as the way in this study. So we should abstain from the over-interpreted application of the results so far.     

北京猿人第一头盖骨出土于第10层还是第11层?——与林圣龙先生商榷

北京猿人第一头盖骨的出土层位历来在学者当中存在争议。由于周口店第一地点堆积环境的复杂性以及早年发掘记录方面不可避免的一些缺陷,导致这一问题至今没有得到有效的解决。本文通过对北京猿人遗址发掘历史及堆积状况的综合对比分析,提出:北京猿人第一头盖骨出土层位相当于现今西壁剖面的第10层,即综合剖面的第11层。     

A Stochastic Analysis of a Brownian Ratchet Model for Actin-Based Motility

In recent single-particle tracking (SPT) measurements on Listeria monocytogenes motility in cells [Kuo and McGrath (2000)], the actin-based stochastic dynamics of the bacterium movement has been analyzed statistically in terms of the mean-square displacement (MSD) of the trajectory. We present a stochastic analysis of a simplified polymerization Brownian ratchet (BR) model in which motions are limited by the bacterium movement. Analytical results are obtained and statistical data analyses are investigated. It is shown that the MSD of the stochastic bacterium movement is a monotonic quadratic function while the MSD for detrended trajectories is linear. Both the short-time relaxation and the long-time kinetics in terms the mean velocity and effective diffusion constant of the propelled bacterium are obtained from the MSD analysis. The MSD of the gap between actin tip and the bacterium exhibits an oscillatory behavior when there is a large resistant force from the bacterium. For comparison, a continuous diffusion formalism of the BR model with great analytical simplicity is also studied.     

C3和C4植物寄主对华北地区棉铃虫越冬代和第一代的影响

确定华北越冬代棉铃虫虫源及其对第一代棉铃虫种群的影响是制定棉铃虫防治策略的基础。以越冬代棉铃虫蛾翅的稳定同位素δ¹³C为天然标记直接判定这些成虫的幼虫期寄主类型,并将雌虫接到春小麦植株上,调查其产卵、孵化、幼虫发育至化蛹、羽化等特征。结果表明,越冬代来自C₃植物(主要为棉花)的成虫个体数量占全部越冬羽化种群的53.1%,所产生的下一代老熟幼虫也较C₄来源的多(55.1%);雌蛾受精率都比较高;卵孵化率较高(52.9%>41.6%);幼虫发育在低龄阶段较比后者快,存活率低,但在高龄幼虫阶段相对后者慢,存活率高;与C₄植物(主要玉米)的来源个体后代的幼虫发育总历期接近,总存活率也相近。显示寄主植物小麦提供的营养条件在第一代棉铃虫的幼虫发育中具有决定性意义,即小麦只在特定阶段才适合幼虫的发育;而且不论是C₃还是C₄寄主来源的越冬代棉铃虫已经适应了这一限制。有效地评价了玉米和棉花等寄主植物对华北地区越冬代和次年第一代棉铃虫的影响,对于分析越冬代棉铃虫的虫源性质和第一代棉铃虫的防治及Bt抗性的治理有重要参考价值。     

亚热带典型树种对模拟酸雨胁迫的高光谱响应

对亚热带地区6种典型树种幼苗在不同模拟酸雨梯度下的光谱响应特征进行了研究。结果表明,针叶树种和阔叶树种对酸雨敏感性具有明显差异。针叶树种马尾松、杉木和香榧对酸雨敏感性高于阔叶树种刨花楠、香樟和杨梅。针叶树种内部,马尾松和杉木叶绿素含量随酸雨浓度变化的幅度明显高于香榧;而阔叶树种内部,刨花楠、香樟和杨梅三者之间无显著差别。马尾松、香樟和香榧不能承受长时间高浓度酸雨胁迫,叶绿素含量呈先增加后减少趋势,杉木则先减少后增加,杨梅能承受长时间高浓度酸雨胁迫,pH值2.5处理下叶绿素含量高于pH值5.6处理。刨花楠4期试验中叶绿素含量变化无明显规律。各受试植物光谱反射率红边位置与其叶绿素含量变化规律基本一致。针叶树种马尾松和香榧主要表现为"蓝移",杉木则先"蓝移"后"红移",表现出对高浓度酸雨长时间的抗性;阔叶树种香樟先"红移"后"蓝移",对高浓度模拟酸雨表现出先促进后抑制现象,杨梅光谱反射率一阶导数曲线比较平缓,无明显"红移"和"蓝移"现象,刨花楠则"红移"和"蓝移"交替出现,与其叶绿素含量变化相一致,对酸雨敏感性不明显。     

模拟降雨变化对古尔班通古特沙漠土壤养分及酶活性的影响

土壤酶参与土壤系统的养分循环过程,是联系植物和土壤养分的关键纽带。土壤酶活性对降水格局变化响应敏感,这种响应对于缺水且养分贫瘠的荒漠生态系统显得尤为重要。然而,早春积雪完全融化后首次降雨时间及降雨量如何影响土壤养分及土壤酶活性还鲜见相关报道。以新疆古尔班通古特沙漠为研究区,在早春积雪完全融化后,设置3个首次降雨时间(积雪完全融化后第10天、20天和30天)和3个降雨梯度(5 mm、10 mm和15 mm),于植物生长旺季采集土壤样品,研究土壤养分含量和土壤酶活性的响应特征。结果表明：积雪完全融化后不同首次降雨时间下5mm降雨处理以及积雪完全融化后第30天下各降雨量处理对土壤养分和酶活性影响不显著。积雪完全融化后第10天,随降雨量增加,土壤全碳呈显著先下降后增加趋势,全钾呈显著增加趋势,而土壤微生物量碳呈显著降低趋势;积雪完全融化后第20天,随降雨量增加,速效氮、土壤蔗糖酶活性、土壤微生物量碳氮呈先下降后增加趋势,土壤全碳和多酚氧化酶活性显著下降,土壤全钾和碱性磷酸酶活性显著增加。模拟10 mm降雨,随首次降雨时间推迟,土壤全氮、速效氮、速效磷、土壤蔗糖酶活性和土壤微生物量碳呈增加趋势;...