Summer distribution of the purplegray sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnocanthus detrisus</Emphasis> (Cottidae) in Waters of Primorsky Krai,Sea of Japan

Results of trawl catches show that in the summer period, in the waters of Primorsky Krai, Russia, Sea of Japan, the purplegray sculpin Gymnocanthus detrisus occurs at depths of 20 to 411 m, preferring the range 80–250 m. The temperature of the species’ habitat varies from 0.8 to 8.6 ° C, and the optimal one is 1.2–2.2 °C. G. detrisus occurs at the preferred depths more frequently in the southern area—the Peter the Great Bay, which is more favorable for foraging; in the area of North Primorsky Krai it was found both at greater and lesser depths. The latter is probably determined by the more limited spreading of waters with unsuitable temperatures for the species there. The body size of the purplegray sculpin grows with depth. Juveniles avoid depths over 200 m, where inflow of low-temperature waters is recorded. G. detrisus, which inhabits waters of Primorsky Krai, is represented mainly by females; the proportion of males exceeds that of females only in the 21–27 cm size group. This may be related to the lower growth rate in males after maturation as compared to females.     

Association mapping of cold‐induced sweetening in potato using historical phenotypic data

In this study, historical phenotypic data from a potato breeding programme were used with an association mapping approach to identify alleles of candidate genes associated with cold‐induced sweetening of potato. Molecular marker analysis was used to determine allelic variation of candidate genes potentially involved in cold‐induced sweetening. Variations in the UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase, EC 2.7.7.9) and apoplastic invertase genes (EC 3.2.1.26) were significantly associated with cold‐induced sweetening, and a possible interaction of apoplastic invertase and apoplastic invertase inhibitor was identified. This demonstrates that breeding programme phenotypic data collected over multiple years and environments can be used successfully with pedigree information for association mapping. It also confirms that the UGPase and apoplastic invertase markers are transferable across breeding programmes with distinct germplasm.     

施入不同土层的秸秆腐殖化特征及对玉米产量的影响

耕作和秸秆还田是打破犁底层、改善黑土肥力的重要措施.本研究利用田间试验,分析了耕作和秸秆还田对秸秆腐殖化系数、总有机质含量(SOC)和玉米产量的影响.结果表明:深耕+秸秆施入20～35 cm(ST+S)能够打破犁底层,与浅耕(TT)、深耕(ST)和浅耕+秸秆还田(TT+S)相比,试验6年间土壤容重平均降低了5.7%、3.3%和5.7%,其中ST和ST+S试验第一年效果最好;试验6年后秸秆腐解率表现为0～20 cm土层(72.0%)>20～35 cm土层(59.2%);0～20和20～35 cm土层秸秆腐殖化系数在试验的第一年达到了最大值,分别为15.9%和12.7%;与初始土壤相比,TT、ST和ST+S处理0～20 cm土层SOC和轻组有机碳(LFOC)含量呈下降趋势,而TT+S处理分别增加了2.9%和12.4%,ST+S处理20～35 cm土层分别增加了9.2%和9.9%;对玉米产量的影响表现为ST+S>TT+S>ST>TT,耕作和秸秆还田的时间效应明显,其中ST处理玉米产量的影响可以持续3年,而ST+S处理可以持续6年.因此,通过耕作的方式将秸秆施入20～35 cm土层是一种有效的、可持续改善黑土质量的农业措施.     

血清Irisin、SOST、H2S与膝骨关节炎合并骨质疏松症患者骨密度、骨代谢标志物的相关性及其预测价值

摘要 目的：探讨血清鸢尾素（Irisin）、骨硬化蛋白（SOST）、硫化氢（H₂S）与膝骨关节炎（KOA）合并骨质疏松症（OP）患者骨密度、骨代谢标志物的相关性,分析Irisin、SOST、H₂S预测KOA合并OP的价值。方法：选取2020年4月至2023年4月我院收治的179例KOA患者,根据是否合并OP将其分为OP组（68例）和非OP组（111例）。检测血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S和骨代谢标志物骨钙素（OC）、骨碱性磷酸酶（BALP）、Ⅰ型原胶原N-端前肽（PINP）、抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶异体（TRACP5b）水平,股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度。Pearson分析血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度和血清骨代谢标志物的相关性,受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清Irisin、SOST、H₂S对KOA合并OP的预测价值。结果：OP组血清Irisin、H₂S、OC、BALP、PINP水平,股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度低于非OP组（P＜0.05）,TRACP、SOST水平高于非OP组（P＜0.05）。OP组血清Irisin、H₂S水平与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度,血清OC、BALP、PINP水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与血清TRACP水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）;SOST水平与股骨颈、腰椎L1～4骨密度,血清OC、BALP、PINP水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与血清TRACP水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）。Irisin、SOST、H₂S预测KOA合并OP的曲线下面积为0.784、0.773、0.755,联合预测KOA合并OP的曲线下面积为0.908,高于单独预测。结论：KOA合并OP患者血清Irisin、H₂S水平降低、SOST水平增高,低水平Irisin、H₂S和高水平SOST与骨密度降低、骨代谢异常有关,可用于预测KOA合并OP患者骨代谢异常状态和骨质流失风险。     

2型糖尿病合并骨质疏松症患者外周血炎性因子表达与骨代谢、骨密度丢失的关系

摘要 目的：探讨2型糖尿病合并骨质疏松症患者外周血中炎性因子NLR、IL-1β、TNF-α与骨代谢指标骨密度、活性维生素D、PTH、ALP及生化指标FPG、2hPG、HbA1c、空腹C肽、BMI、血脂、血尿酸之间的关系,为该类患者的诊断和治疗提供参考。方法：选取2020年9月至2021年9月在本院内分泌科就诊的2型糖尿病合并骨质疏松症患者80例作为观察组,同时选取同期健康体检者80例作为对照组。比较两组患者的一般资料,采用ELISA法检测两组患者外周血中NLR、IL-1β、TNF-α的水平,采用双能X线吸收法（DEXA）检测两组患者的骨密度,采用放射免疫法检测两组患者外周血中活性维生素D、PTH的水平,采用生化分析仪检测两组患者外周血中ALP、FPG、2hPG、HbA1c、空腹C肽、BMI、血脂、血尿酸的水平。结果：观察组患者外周血中NLR、IL-1β、TNF-α的水平均高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者骨密度低于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者外周血中活性维生素D水平低于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者外周血中PTH水平高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者外周血中ALP水平高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者外周血中FPG、2hPG、HbA1c水平高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者空腹C肽水平低于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者BMI高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者血脂异常率高于对照组（P<0.05）,观察组患者血尿酸水平高于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组患者外周血中NLR、IL-1β、TNF-α与骨密度呈负相关（P<0.05）,与活性维生素D呈负相关（P<0.05）,与PTH、ALP呈正相关（P<0.05）,与FPG、2hPG、HbA1c、空腹C肽、BMI、血脂、血尿酸无显著相关性（P>0.05）。结论：2型糖尿病合并骨质疏松症患者外周血中炎性因子NLR、IL-1β、TNF-α水平升高,可能与骨代谢紊乱和骨密度丢失有关,提示该类患者存在慢性低度炎症状态,应加强对其骨代谢和骨密度的监测和干预,以降低骨折风险和改善生活质量。     

Population dynamics of three songbird species in a nestbox population in Central Europe show effects of density,climate and competitive interactions

Unravelling the contributions of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors in determining species population dynamics is a challenge, especially if the two factors interact. One approach is to apply stochastic population models to long‐term data, yet few studies have included interactions between density‐dependent and density‐independent factors, or explored more than one type of stochastic population model. However, both are important because model choice critically affects inference on population dynamics and stability. Here, we used a multiple models approach and applied log‐linear and non‐linear stochastic population models to time series (spanning 29 years) on the population growth rates of Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus, Great Tits Parus major and Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca breeding in two nestbox populations in southern Germany. We focused on the roles of climate conditions and intra‐ and interspecific competition in determining population growth rates. Density dependence was evident in all populations. For Blue Tits in one population and for Great Tits in both populations, addition of a density‐independent factor improved model fit. At one location, Blue Tit population growth rate increased following warmer winters, whereas Great Tit population growth rates decreased following warmer springs. Importantly, Great Tit population growth rate also decreased following years of high Blue Tit abundance, but not vice versa. This finding is consistent with asymmetric interspecific competition and implies that competition could carry over to influence population dynamics. At the other location, Great Tit population growth rate decreased following years of high Pied Flycatcher abundance but only when Great Tit population numbers were low, illustrating that the roles of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The dynamics of this Great Tit population, in contrast to the other populations, were unstable and chaotic, raising the question of whether interactions between density‐dependent and density‐independent factors play a role in determining the (in) stability of the dynamics of species populations.     

Effect of stocking density on the behavior of newly transformed juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study characterized the behavioral activity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in the early stages of development, under different stocking densities (25 and 40 animals/m²), and during the light and dark phases of a 24-h cycle. Observations of individuals were made in 8 aquariums. Behavioral recording lasted 15 min/aquarium, 4 times/day and 4 days/week, 4 weeks in total. Food was offered twice daily. Observational methods included a combination of behavioral sampling and scan sampling. During the light phase, inactivity, cleaning and remaining in a shelter were the most frequent behaviors. During the dark phase the subjects displayed a higher frequency of feeding, exploration, swimming, and digging. At low density, the animals gained more weight and exhibited greater growth overall. These results indicate a behavioral pattern that is more favorable to animals in the lower density cultivation environment that can also create better living conditions for these shrimp, favor survival rates and therefore improve management success.     

Molecular discrimination of structurally equivalent Lys 63‐linked and linear polyubiquitin chains

At least eight types of ubiquitin chain exist, and individual linkages affect distinct cellular processes. The only distinguishing feature of differently linked ubiquitin chains is their structure, as polymers of the same unit are chemically identical. Here, we have crystallized Lys 63‐linked and linear ubiquitin dimers, revealing that both adopt equivalent open conformations, forming no contacts between ubiquitin molecules and thereby differing significantly from Lys 48‐linked ubiquitin chains. We also examined the specificity of various deubiquitinases (DUBs) and ubiquitin‐binding domains (UBDs). All analysed DUBs, except CYLD, cleave linear chains less efficiently compared with other chain types, or not at all. Likewise, UBDs can show chain specificity, and are able to select distinct linkages from a ubiquitin chain mixture. We found that the UBAN (ubiquitin binding in ABIN and NEMO) motif of NEMO (NF‐κB essential modifier) binds to linear chains exclusively, whereas the NZF (Npl4 zinc finger) domain of TAB2 (TAK1 binding protein 2) is Lys 63 specific. Our results highlight remarkable specificity determinants within the ubiquitin system.