(NH4)2SO4对瓜尔豆幼苗在不同光照下耐冷性的影响

通过温室穴盘育苗试验,研究叶面喷施(NH4)2SO4对低温胁迫12 h后不同光通量密度(PFD)条件下,瓜尔豆幼苗在常温培养过程中幼苗生存及叶片SOD活性、POD活性和MDA含量的影响。结果表明:低温处理一夜后,在温室自然光照(强光)下进行常温恢复时,瓜尔豆叶片中SOD和POD活性始终显著低于对照,MDA含量显著高于对照,幼苗死亡率显著高于对照;在90μmol.m-2.s-1弱光下恢复2~4 d后,叶片中保护酶活性显著高于对照,MDA含量保持较低水平,幼苗均正常生长。叶面喷施(NH4)2SO4能显著提高低温处理后的植株叶片抗氧化酶类活性,减少叶片中MDA的产生,降低幼苗死亡率,0.2%(NH4)2SO4处理效果最好,其次为0.4%(NH4)2SO4。短期低温后,使植物处在弱光环境下能减少活性氧的发生,为植物抗氧化系统达到新的平衡提供有利条件,从而减轻甚至消除低温伤害。     

高产早籼稻的透光率及始穗后对低光强的适应性

用两系法杂交稻组合培矮 64s/E32、培矮 64s/9311、粤杂122和常规水稻品种粤香占、特三矮 2号为材料,1998年早季在广州研究了它们的透光率和对低光强适应性的差异后认为:1.生育期不同其直射光透光率的变化是分蘖期>始穗期<收割期,即透光率由大→小→大变化,它与叶片开张角随生育期变化的情况相对应,但与叶面积指数由小→大→小的变化相反。2.不同类型早籼稻在始穗后遮光处理降低透光率,生育期短的粤杂122、粤香占对低光强的适应性比其余组合或品种好,其单穗重降幅小。     

Development and Application of a Predictive Model of Freshwater Fish Assemblage Composition to Evaluate River Health in Eastern Australia

Multivariate predictive models are widely used tools for assessment of aquatic ecosystem health and models have been successfully developed for the prediction and assessment of aquatic macroinvertebrates, diatoms, local stream habitat features and fish. We evaluated the ability of a modelling method based on the River InVertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS) to accurately predict freshwater fish assemblage composition and assess aquatic ecosystem health in rivers and streams of south-eastern Queensland, Australia. The predictive model was developed, validated and tested in a region of comparatively high environmental variability due to the unpredictable nature of rainfall and river discharge. The model was concluded to provide sufficiently accurate and precise predictions of species composition and was sensitive enough to distinguish test sites impacted by several common types of human disturbance (particularly impacts associated with catchment land use and associated local riparian, in-stream habitat and water quality degradation). The total number of fish species available for prediction was low in comparison to similar applications of multivariate predictive models based on other indicator groups, yet the accuracy and precision of our model was comparable to outcomes from such studies. In addition, our model developed for sites sampled on one occasion and in one season only (winter), was able to accurately predict fish assemblage composition at sites sampled during other seasons and years, provided that they were not subject to unusually extreme environmental conditions (e.g. extended periods of low flow that restricted fish movement or resulted in habitat desiccation and local fish extinctions).     

Overexpression of miR-26b-5p regulates the cell cycle by targeting CCND2 in GC-2 cells under exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

The increasing prevalence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) exposure has raised considerable public concern regarding the potential hazardous effects of ELF-EMFs on male reproductive function. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs are necessary for spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, the regulation of miRNA expression and the roles of miRNAs in response to ELF-EMFs remain unclear. In our study, mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells were intermittently exposed to a 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 72 h (5 min on/10 min off) at magnetic field intensities of 1 mT, 2 mT and 3 mT. MiR-26b-5p was differentially expressed in response to different magnetic field intensities of ELF-EMFs. The host gene CTDSP1 showed an unmethylation status in GC-2 cells at different magnetic field intensities of ELF-EMF exposure. MiR-26b-5p had no significant, obvious influence on the cell viability, apoptosis or cell cycle of GC-2 cells. However, the overexpression of miR-26b-5p significantly decreased the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells and slightly increased the percentage of S phase cells compared to the sham group that was exposed to a 50 Hz ELF-EMF. Computational algorithms identified Cyclin D2 (CCND2) as a direct target of miR-26b-5p. MiR-26b-5p and a 50 Hz ELF-EMF altered the expression of CCND2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Overexpressed miR-26b-5p in GC-2 cells can change the mRNA expression of CCND2 following 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 3 mT. These findings demonstrate that miR-26b-5p could serve as a potential biomarker following 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure, and miR-26b-5p-CCND2-mediated cell cycle regulation might play a pivotal role in the biological effects of ELF-EMFs.     

A Critical Review of the Traditional Methodology of Cost-Benefit Analysis and a Proposed Alternative

“Risk management” is essential to the decision-making process that prescribes regulations for protecting human health. As a comprehensive decision-making approach, risk management encompasses risk assessment, risk perception, economic factors, and their respective uncertainties. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) has long been the preferred methodology for evaluating the economic factors associated with such regulations. Within this context, CBA confirms whether or not the “benefit” of a given regulatory option is greater than its “cost.” This article proposes an alternative CBA methodology whose guiding concept is the “optimization” of outcomes for the stakeholders in regulations that aim to protect human health. This article further proposes evaluation criteria for CBA and critiques the traditional and alternative variants against this standard, ultimately to demonstrate the superiority of the latter.     

Mechanical demands on the lower back in patients with non-chronic low back pain during a symmetric lowering and lifting task

There is limited information in the literature related to the lower back loading in patients with LBP, particularly those with non-chronic LBP. Toward addressing such a research gap, a case-control study was conducted to explore the differences in lower back mechanical loads between a group of females (n = 19) with non-chronic, non-specific LBP and a group of asymptomatic females (n = 19). The differences in lower back mechanical loads were determined when participants completed one symmetric lowering and lifting of a 4.5 kg load at their preferred cadence. The axial, shearing, and moment components of task demand at the time of peak moment component as well as measures of peak trunk kinematics were analyzed. Patient vs. asymptomatic group performed the task with smaller peak thoracic rotation and peak lumbar flexion. While no differences in the moment component of task demand on the lower back between the patients and controls were found, the shearing (40–50 age group) and axial components of task demand were, respectively, larger and smaller in patients vs. controls. Whether alterations in lower back loads in patients with non-chronic LBP are in response to pain or preceded the pain, the long-term exposure to abnormal lower back mechanics may adversely affect spinal structure and increase the likelihood of further injury or pain. Therefore, the underlying reason(s) as well as the potential consequence(s) of such altered lower back mechanics in patients with non-chronic LBP should to be further investigated.     

生态交错带与生态流

生态交错带与生态流王庆锁（中国农业科学院畜牧研究所,北京１０００９４）冯宗炜罗菊春（中国科学院生态环境中心,１０００８０）（北京林业大学,１０００８３）ＥｃｏｔｏｎｅｓａｎｄＥｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＦｌｏｗｓ．ＷａｎｇＱｉｎｇｓｕｏ（ＡｎｉｍａｌＨｕｓ...     

Tropomyosin isoform 3 promotes the formation of filopodia by regulating the recruitment of actin-binding proteins to actin filaments

Tropomyosins are believed to function in part by stabilizing actin filaments. However, accumulating evidence suggests that fundamental differences in function exist between tropomyosin isoforms, which contributes to the formation of functionally distinct filament populations. We investigated the functions of the high-molecular-weight isoform Tm3 and examined the molecular properties of Tm3-containing actin filament populations. Overexpression of the Tm3 isoform specifically induced the formation of filopodia and changes in actin solubility. We observed alterations in actin-binding protein recruitment to filaments, co-incident with changes in expression levels, which can account for this functional outcome. Tm3-associated filaments recruit active actin depolymerizing factor and are bundled into filopodia by fascin, which is both up-regulated and preferentially associated with Tm3-containing filaments in the Tm3 overexpressing cells. This study provides further insight into the isoform-specific roles of different tropomyosin isoforms. We conclude that variation in the tropomyosin isoform composition of microfilaments provides a mechanism to generate functionally distinct filament populations.