Elevated CpG island methylation of GCK gene predicts the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese males

Background

The GCK gene encodes hexokinase 4, which catalyzes the first step in most glucose metabolism pathways. The purpose of our study is to assess the contribution of GCK methylation to type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods and results

GCK methylation was evaluated in 48 T2D cases and 48 age- and gender-matched controls using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology. Among the four CpG sites in the methylation assay, CpG4 and the other three CpGs (CpG1-3) were not in high correlation (r < 0.5). Significantly elevated methylation levels of GCK CpG4 methylation were observed in T2D patients than in the healthy controls (P = 0.004). A breakdown analysis by gender indicated that the association between CpG4 methylation and T2D was specific to males (P = 0.002). It is intriguing that another significant male-specific association was also found between GCK CpG4 methylation and total cholesterol (TC) concentration (r = 0.304, P = 0.036).

Conclusion

Our results showed that elevated GCK CpG4 methylation might suggest a risk of T2D in Chinese males. Gender disparity in GCK CpG4 methylation might provide a clue to elaborate the pathogenesis of T2D.     

黄河三角洲芦苇湿地生态系统碳、水热通量特征

利用涡度相关法对黄河三角洲芦苇湿地生态系统进行了连续两年的通量观测,对2009—2010年生长季芦苇湿地的净生态系统碳交换量(NEE),感热通量(Hs)和潜热通量(LE)数据进行了分析。结果表明,在日尺度上,芦苇湿地NEE日变化特征表现为两个CO2吸收高峰,分别出现在11:00和16:00左右,其特点是在午间出现了碳交换通量的降低。CO2吸收的日最大值在两个生长季出现的时间有所不同,分别出现在2009年7月(-0.30 mg CO2m-2s-1)和2010年6月(-0.37 mg CO2m-2s-1)。CO2排放的日最大值两个生长季均出现在9月,分别为0.19和0.25 mg CO2m-2s-1。Hs和LE的日动态均为单峰型,极值都出现在中午前后,生长季生态系统的能量消耗主要以潜热为主,且在日尺度上,热通量和NEE有显著的负相关关系。在季节尺度上,芦苇湿地生长季具有明显的碳汇功能,2009年生长季生态系统白天固定354.63 g CO2/m2,同时期夜间释放159.24 g CO2/m2,净CO2吸收量为-195.39 g CO2/m2。2009年整个生长季生态系统总初级生产力(GPP)为-651.13 g CO2/m2,生态系统呼吸(Re)为455.74 g CO2/m2,系统表现为碳汇。路径分析表明:光合有效辐射(PAR)显著影响NEE的日动态(R2=0.46—0.84),而NEE的季节动态主要受土壤温度的影响,降水和PAR的影响次之。     

北京市绿化树种紫玉兰的蒸腾特征及其影响因素

加快的城市绿化,尤其是干旱和半干旱的温带和热带地区,对水的大量需求给未来水资源的合理利用提出了严峻挑战。了解紫玉兰蒸腾特征及环境和生物因子对蒸腾的调控有助于城市绿化树种的选择和养护。2008.5－2009.5于北京市中心教学植物园内利用热消散技术研究不同时间尺度上15年生紫玉兰（Magnolia liliflora）的耗水特征,环境因子同步监测。本研究分析了紫玉兰小时、日、月和季节尺度上的蒸腾特征。日尺度上,春夏季节紫玉兰树干液流速率呈双峰型曲线,蒸腾午休现象明显;秋季树干液流速率呈单峰型曲线,液流启动时间延后而结束时间提前;冬季树干液流速率日变化格局不明显,夜间液流速率高于白天液流速率。年内尺度上,按月份,从3月开始上升,5月达到峰值后略有下降,9月开始显著降低;按季节,春季>夏季>秋季>冬季;按物候期,从发芽到开花展叶阶段,整树耗水迅速增加,叶速生期达到最大值,休眠期整树耗水显著降低。值得注意的是：紫玉兰蒸腾午休现象明显;春季耗水型树种。一天之中总辐射和水汽压亏缺是影响紫玉兰整树耗水的主要因子;加上大气温度是日尺度和月尺度上影响紫玉兰耗水的关键因子;叶面积指数在开花展叶期是影响紫玉兰耗水的关键因子。由于城市中的适时灌溉和研究期间降水充足,土壤水分对紫玉兰的耗水几乎没有影响。     

Survival and colonization of nematodes in a composting process

Nematodes are omnipresent in composts and are active in virtually all stages of the composting process. Major shifts in species composition, life strategies, and feeding behavior occur during the composting process. Due to the heat peak, nematodes can be virtually absent, but several taxa appear immediately when the temperatures drop. These comprise both taxa present before the heat peak and new taxa. However, it is not known how nematodes populate the compost. In this study, we aimed to assess the survival and colonization capacity of nematodes in compost. Our results showed that composting processes inaccessible to insects or not in contact with soil did not significantly influence nematode succession during composting. However, differences between treatments were found for some specific taxa (i.e., for Acrostichus sp., Neodiplogasteridae sp., Nygolaimoides sp., and Rhabditidae sp. 1), illustrating the importance of insects for the dispersal of nematodes to compost. Experiments in the lab with the blue bottle fly as a possible carrier demonstrated actual transport of nematodes isolated from compost by the fly (i.e., Halicephalobus cfr. gingivalis, Diploscapter coronatus, Diplogasteritus sp., Acrostichus sp., and Mesorhabditis sp.). Juveniles and dauer stages of Aphelenchoides sp., Panagrolaimus sp., and rhabditids survived an experimentally induced temperature peak, while members of Tylenchidae did not. In conclusion, our results indicate that the rapidly changing nematode community in compost is the result of both differential survival and colonization capacities.     

Extreme temperatures,foundation species,and abrupt ecosystem change: an example from an iconic seagrass ecosystem

Extreme climatic events can trigger abrupt and often lasting change in ecosystems via the reduction or elimination of foundation (i.e., habitat‐forming) species. However, while the frequency/intensity of extreme events is predicted to increase under climate change, the impact of these events on many foundation species and the ecosystems they support remains poorly understood. Here, we use the iconic seagrass meadows of Shark Bay, Western Australia – a relatively pristine subtropical embayment whose dominant, canopy‐forming seagrass, Amphibolis antarctica, is a temperate species growing near its low‐latitude range limit – as a model system to investigate the impacts of extreme temperatures on ecosystems supported by thermally sensitive foundation species in a changing climate. Following an unprecedented marine heat wave in late summer 2010/11, A. antarctica experienced catastrophic (>90%) dieback in several regions of Shark Bay. Animal‐borne video footage taken from the perspective of resident, seagrass‐associated megafauna (sea turtles) revealed severe habitat degradation after the event compared with a decade earlier. This reduction in habitat quality corresponded with a decline in the health status of largely herbivorous green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the 2 years following the heat wave, providing evidence of long‐term, community‐level impacts of the event. Based on these findings, and similar examples from diverse ecosystems, we argue that a generalized framework for assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems to abrupt change associated with the loss of foundation species is needed to accurately predict ecosystem trajectories in a changing climate. This includes seagrass meadows, which have received relatively little attention in this context. Novel research and monitoring methods, such as the analysis of habitat and environmental data from animal‐borne video and data‐logging systems, can make an important contribution to this framework.     

间歇升温和热处理对‘紫李’果实采后生理的影响

以美国‘紫李’为试材,测定经间歇升温和热处理后果实的褐变度、抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化剂含量、膜质过氧化水平、总酚和可滴定酸含量的变化。结果表明:间歇升温和热处理可适当恢复因冷害而降低的细胞抗氧化活性,清除活性氧自由基,减少膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛的积累,抑制多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性升高,强化抗低温防御系统,阻止多酚逆境代谢发生,使冷害和褐变症状得以延缓和减轻;同时,还可抑制可滴定酸含量的减少和固酸比的上升,延缓后熟衰老。间歇升温处理,李贮藏两个月果实品质良好。初步认为,-0.5～0℃贮藏,每15 d加温至18～20℃并保持l d,是贮藏美国‘紫李’适宜的变温模式。     

海南和台湾蕨类植物多样性及其大陆性特征

海南和台湾是我国南部和东部两个最重要的大陆性岛屿,具有极为丰富的蕨类植物多样性。特有现象揭示着植物区系和植物多样性的历史,间断分布揭示着与邻近或相关植物区系的联系;特别是在岛屿地区,这种现象和意义尤其明显。海南有蕨类植物区系55科、135属、466种,其中特有种有32种,台湾蕨类植物区系57科、142属、599种,其中特有种达66种。在海南与台湾两地,有共有属104属,共有种仅有176种。台湾海峡出现始于晚白垩世,持续至第四纪;琼州海峡出现于早第四纪,因此,两地的特有现象远少于种子植物(台湾有801种,海南有501种),原因与蕨类植物具有更广的散布性相关,而且在被子植物中起重要作用的物种生物学障碍(机制)在蕨类是缺乏的;形态学的、生殖生物学特征导致蕨类植物具有较缓慢的物种演化历史和较低的灭绝率(Smith,1972)。海南和台湾蕨类植物区系的比较还表明,地理位置和海拔高度对植物区系的物种分化和物种多样性产生了极大的影响。     

Elevated atmospheric [CO2] can dramatically increase wheat yields in semi‐arid environments and buffer against heat waves

Wheat production will be impacted by increasing concentration of atmospheric CO₂ [CO₂], which is expected to rise from about 400 μmol mol^?1 in 2015 to 550 μmol mol^?1 by 2050. Changes to plant physiology and crop responses from elevated [CO₂] (e[CO₂]) are well documented for some environments, but field‐level responses in dryland Mediterranean environments with terminal drought and heat waves are scarce. The Australian Grains Free Air CO₂ Enrichment facility was established to compare wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and yield under ambient (~370 μmol^?1 in 2007) and e[CO₂] (550 μmol^?1) in semi‐arid environments. Experiments were undertaken at two dryland sites (Horsham and Walpeup) across three years with two cultivars, two sowing times and two irrigation treatments. Mean yield stimulation due to e[CO₂] was 24% at Horsham and 53% at Walpeup, with some treatment responses greater than 70%, depending on environment. Under supplemental irrigation, e[CO₂] stimulated yields at Horsham by 37% compared to 13% under rainfed conditions, showing that water limited growth and yield response to e[CO₂]. Heat wave effects were ameliorated under e[CO₂] as shown by reductions of 31% and 54% in screenings and 10% and 12% larger kernels (Horsham and Walpeup). Greatest yield stimulations occurred in the e[CO₂] late sowing and heat stressed treatments, when supplied with more water. There were no clear differences in cultivar response due to e[CO₂]. Multiple regression showed that yield response to e[CO₂] depended on temperatures and water availability before and after anthesis. Thus, timing of temperature and water and the crop's ability to translocate carbohydrates to the grain postanthesis were all important in determining the e[CO₂] response. The large responses to e[CO₂] under dryland conditions have not been previously reported and underscore the need for field level research to provide mechanistic understanding for adapting crops to a changing climate.     

Subjecting the theory of the small‐island effect to Ockham’s razor

Species–area curves from islands and other isolates often differ in shape from sample‐area curves generated from mainlands or sections of isolates (or islands), especially at finer scales. We examine two explanations for this difference: (1) the small‐island effect (SIE), which assumes the species–area curve is composed of two distinctly different curve patterns; and (2) a sigmoid or depressed isolate species–area curve with no break‐points (in arithmetic space). We argue that the application of Ockham’s razor – the principle that the simplest, most economical explanation for a hypothesis should be accepted over less parsimonious alternatives – leads to the conclusion that the latter explanation is preferable. We hold that there is no reason to assume the ecological factors or patterns that affect the shapes of isolate (or island) curves cause two distinctly different patterns. This assumption is not required for the alternative, namely that these factors cause a single (though depressed) isolate species–area curve with no break‐points. We conclude that the theory of the small‐island effect, despite its present standing as an accepted general pattern in nature, should be abandoned.     

城市带状绿地结构类型与温湿效应的关系

利用小尺度定量测定的方法,选择北京典型的城市带状绿地--西四环旁侧4种不同内部结构以及5种不同郁闭度带状绿地(绿地宽度42 m)作为研究对象,研究带状绿地结构类型与温湿效应的关系.结果表明:与对照相比,草坪的降温增湿效应不显著,灌-草、乔-草和乔-灌-草绿地的降温增湿效果显著.当郁闭度为10%～31%时,绿地具有一定的降温增湿效应,但效应不显著;当郁闭度超过44%时,绿地降温增湿效应显著;当郁闭度超过67%时,绿地降温增湿效应显著且趋于稳定.