Dynamic expression of N‐myc in mouse embryonic development using an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene in the N‐myc locus

N‐myc belongs to the Myc oncogene family and plays an essential role in mammalian embryonic development. The expression of N‐myc is dynamically regulated during embryonic development; however, its expression pattern has not been well characterized due to the lack of a suitable animal model. In this paper, a genetically modified mouse model was generated in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequence was inserted into the N‐myc locus, so that endogenous N‐myc expression could be traced by the signal of EGFP. The EGFP signal in the transgenic mouse was confirmed to be consistent with the expression pattern of endogenous N‐myc by fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal expression of EGFP was observed in the central and peripheral nervous system, heart, lung and kidney, given the known indispensable role of N‐myc in their formation. EGFP was also strongly detected in the liver, paranephros and the epithelium of the intestine. The EGFP signal can be used to trace N‐myc expression in this transgenic mouse model. N‐myc expression was observed in specific locations and cell lineages, and dynamically changed during embryonic development. The changing N‐myc expression pattern seen in mouse embryonic development and the animal model described in this paper provide important insights and a new tool to research N‐myc function.     

Flexible feeding on cultivated underground storage organs by rainforest-dwelling chimpanzees at Bossou, West Africa

It has been proposed that exploitation of underground storage organs (USOs) played an important role in the evolution of the genus Homo, these items serving as ‘fallback foods’ during periods of low food availability. The use of USOs as food by wild chimpanzees is infrequent and seen mostly in populations inhabiting relatively arid environments, such as the savanna. Here, we specifically test the hypothesis that chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) inhabiting tropical wet forest at Bossou (Republic of Guinea, West Africa) exploit USOs as a fallback food during periods of fruit scarcity. Chimpanzees were never observed feeding on wild USOs, that is, those that were never cultivated, and rarely on other underground plant parts. However, direct observations revealed regular consumption of the USOs of cultivated cassava (Manihot esculenta), a spatially abundant and continuously available plant, although the chimpanzees did not use tools when acquiring and feeding on cassava. In agreement with the fallback foods hypothesis, our results show that chimpanzees exploited cassava USOs more frequently when both wild and cultivated fruits were scarce, and consumption patterns of cassava paralleled those of wild fallback foods. These seasonal extractive USO foraging strategies by chimpanzees can strengthen attempts to construct a clearer picture of the importance of USO feeding in hominoid evolution.     

Foreword

The morphology of abdominal and alar androconial organs of four species representing four genera of danaine butterflies is described in detail, based mainly on scanning electron microscopy. The findings are discussed with respect to functional significance and phyletic development of the organs.     

Androconial systems in Danainae (Lepidoptera): functional morphology of Amauris, Danaus, Tirumala and Euploea

The morphology of abdominal and alar androconial organs of four species representing four genera of danaine butterflies is described in detail, based mainly on scanning electron microscopy. The findings are discussed with respect to functional significance and phyletic development of the organs.     

Effects of diet quality on phenotypic flexibility of organ size and digestive function in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

In the context of evolution and ecology, there is a trade-off between the benefits of processing food through a digestive system with specific phenotypic attributes and the cost of maintaining and carrying the digestive system. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that digestive modulations at several levels can match each other to meet the energy and nutrient demands of Mongolian gerbils, a small granivorous rodent species, by acclimating them to a high-quality diet diluted with alfalfa powder. Mongolian gerbils on the diluted diet maintained metabolizable energy intake by an integrated processing response (IPR), which included increases in dry matter intake, gut capacity and rate of digesta passage after 2-weeks of acclimation. Down-regulation of hydrolytic enzyme activity in the intestinal brush-border membrane supported the adaptive modulation hypothesis. The absence of up-modulation of summed enzyme hydrolytic capacity on the diluted diet indicated that greater mass of small intestine on a high-fibre diet is not a direct indicator of digestive or absorptive capacity. Changes in mass of vital organs and carcass suggested that the amount of energy allocated to various organs and hence physiological functions was regulated in response to diet shift.     

十大医疗仪器技术

医械工业的许多革新化进展,使得对病人的医护得到许多根本性的改善和提高,要列出其中最重要的十大应用领域和技术,不是件容易的事。美刊MD＆MD根据目前情况,指出对病人医护、临床实践、产品开发以及整个医械工业具有深远影响的十大医疗仪器技术。这些技术以其新产品对人类的医疗保健作出了重大的贡献。     

月见草油用于化妆品的研究与开发

介绍月见草的利用简况,月见草油对皮肤的活性研制营养霜过程及系列产品等。     

Crocodylus niloticus (Crocodilia) is highly sensitive to water surface waves

Crocodiles show oriented responses to water surface wave stimuli but up to now behavioral thresholds are missing. This study determines the behavioral thresholds of crocodilians to water surface waves. Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) were conditioned to respond to single-frequency water surface wave stimuli (duration 1150 ms, frequency 15, 30, 40, 60 and 80 Hz), produced by blowing air onto the water surface. Our study shows that C. niloticus is highly sensitive to capillary water surface waves. Threshold values decreased with increasing frequency and ranged between 10.3 μm (15 Hz) and 0.5 μm (80 Hz) peak-to-peak wave amplitude. For the frequencies 15 Hz and 30 Hz the sensitivity of one spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) to water surface waves was also tested. Threshold values were 12.8 μm (15 Hz) down to 1.76 μm (30 Hz), i.e. close to the threshold values of C. niloticus. The surface wave sensitivity of crocodiles is similar to the surface wave sensitivity of semi-aquatic insects and fishing spiders but does not match the sensitivity of surface-feeding fishes which is higher by one to two orders of magnitude.     

缺锌和HCO_3~-处理对诸葛菜和油菜有机酸特征的影响

以诸葛菜和油菜为材料,水培环境下设置4个不同的缺锌和碳酸氢根离子胁迫处理,分别为+Zn0(含Zn且不加HCO3-的处理组),+Zn10(含Zn且加10 mmol·L-1HCO3-的处理组),-Zn0(缺Zn且不加HCO3-的处理组)和-Zn10(缺Zn且加10 mmol·L-1HCO3-的处理组),利用离子色谱法分析了4个处理的两种植物幼苗器官(根、茎、叶)及根系分泌物中的有机酸特征。结果表明:(1)高浓度碳酸氢根离子处理显著增加了两种植物器官及根系分泌的有机酸总量,尤其是在缺锌和高浓度碳酸氢根离子双重胁迫下(-Zn10处理),诸葛菜器官和根系分泌的有机酸比油菜更敏感,草酸、柠檬酸和苹果酸是诸葛菜器官和根系分泌物中的优势酸,这三种有机酸的含量分别占其有机酸总量的75%及以上;(2)叶片是两种植物有机酸产生的主要器官,有机酸的含量和分配比例从地上部分(叶和茎)到地下部分(根)减少;(3)两种植物器官和根系分泌物中的有机酸变化趋势一致,叶片中有机酸主要来源于暗呼吸过程和光呼吸过程,其他器官和根系分泌物中的有机酸主要来源于暗呼吸过程;(4)诸葛菜对缺锌和高浓度碳酸氢根离子的适应能力强于油菜,为诸葛菜的喀斯特适生性和低锌和高浓度碳酸氢根离子环境(如喀斯特环境)的生态修复提供了理论依据。     

黄龙山白桦桦木醇与桦木酸含量研究

为了阐明黄龙山白桦不同生境、不同径级、不同器官桦木醇与桦木酸含量,系统采集了陕北黄土高原黄龙山林场阳坡、阴坡、林缘、孤立木4种生境下的白桦不同径级植株的树皮、树枝和树叶样品,采用超声波辅助提取法提取样品,用高效液相色谱法测定了不同生境、不同径级白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量。结果表明：（1）不同生境下白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量均存在显著差异（P＜0.05）,白桦树皮中桦木醇与桦木酸含量、白桦树枝中桦木酸含量在4种生境下均表现为阴坡＞孤立木＞林缘＞阳坡,白桦树叶中桦木醇与桦木酸含量及树枝中桦木醇含量均表现为阴坡＞林缘＞孤立木＞阳坡,总体来看阴坡生境下白桦各器官桦木醇与桦木酸含量都是最高的。（2）在白桦各器官中,桦木醇、桦木酸含量均表现为树皮＞树枝＞树叶。（3）不同生境下白桦各器官桦木醇、桦木酸含量随着胸径的增大均先增大后减小,均在第Ⅱ径级即胸径10.1~20 cm达到最大。研究认为,阴坡生境有利于白桦各器官积累桦木醇、桦木酸;白桦各器官中桦木醇含量较高,桦木酸含量比较低,而以桦木酸为原料的生物制剂已进入临床应用阶段,因此,以桦木醇为原料制取桦木酸是解决桦木酸在天然植物中含量低、提取困难的有效途径;对白桦各器官的采收应注意把握时机,于白桦生长到胸径10.1~20 cm时为最佳采收期。