低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型的构建

目的：构建低钾型周期性麻痹相关的Cchl1a3基因R528H敲入小鼠模型。方法将 Cchl1a3-knock-in打靶载体电转染ES细胞,经过G418和Ganciclovoir筛选阳性ES细胞克隆并用PCR和DNA测序法鉴定。将阳性ES克隆注射到小鼠囊胚,获得嵌合体小鼠。通过杂交获得的杂合子小鼠与FLP小鼠交配繁育获得去neo杂合子小鼠,并用PCR和DNA测序进行鉴定。将去neo杂合子小鼠交配得到纯合子后代,进行生长发育等方面的观察。结果打靶载体成功转染ES细胞,PCR和DNA测序法证实9个ES细胞克隆发生正确的同源重组。通过显微注射获得7只嵌合体小鼠。将嵌合体小鼠交配繁育的杂合子小鼠和FLP小鼠交配获得9只去neo杂合子小鼠,最终得到15只去neo纯合子小鼠。该小鼠在发育至性成熟阶段,精神、饮食及活动状态良好,但是在4个月龄时逐渐出现脱毛,皮肤破溃甚至死亡。结论成功构建Cchl1a3基因 R528H 突变的纯合子小鼠,为研究人类CACNA1S基因功能和阐明低钾型周期性麻痹发生的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Positive Periodic Solution for a Neutral Delay Model in Population

IIntroductionIn1993,KuangY［11gavetheopenp毗fern9．2：恤tainsufficientCOnditionsfortheeds－tenceofpO8ltlvependIc劝utionsinN”（t）＝N（t）［a（t）一B（t）N（）一b（t）N（t—r（t））－c（t）N”（t一巾》】（1）wherea（t）,尸（t）,b（t）,c（t）,,（t）are。＂negativecontinuouspo。odlcfunctionswithpenodT．Inthispaper,weconsideraspecialcasewheng（t）。0,b（t）＞0,c（t）。c,r（t）。,,i．e．O鹏idertheexlstenceOfp用tlvependicdutionsOftkforirlBynsf叩ofsomenewtechnicsandtoPOloglcaldeg…     

从编辑角度分析如何提高科技论文的质量

科技论文是科研成果交流和延续的载体,其质量是衡量个人、科研单位乃至国家学术水平的重要指标。文章根据科技论文的特点,结合多年从事科技期刊编辑工作的经验,从如何确保论文学术水平、选题方向和写作思路、杜绝学术不端、保护知识产权等方面进行了阐述,并就科技论文撰写过程中应该注意的几个问题：科技论文的层次结构、语言表达和写作水平、确保数据真实有效和可重复性、表格插图的规范使用、规范参考文献的著录格式,从编辑角度分析了如何提高科技论文的质量,以期为科技论文的撰写提供参考。     

不同耕作方式对旱地全膜双垄沟播玉米产量和水分利用的影响

为明确新型耕作技术--立式深旋耕作对西北黄土高原半干旱区土壤水分含量、玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响,采用随机区组设计,于2016和2017年设置立式深旋耕作40 cm （VRT）、深松40 cm （SS）、旋耕15 cm （TT）和免耕（ZT）4种耕作方式,测定0-300 cm土层土壤含水量、地上生物量、叶面积指数（LAI）和SPAD、产量等指标,计算阶段耗水量、水分利用效率（WUE）等。结果表明,VRT在2017年播前0-40 cm土层的土壤贮水量分别较SS、TT、ZT增加了7.7、8.6、6.6 mm,在0-100 cm土层增加了18.2、22.8、20.2 mm,均达到显著差异。VRT显著促进干旱年的花前耗水和平水年的花后耗水,提高玉米地上生物量、LAI和SPAD,其中地上生物量较SS、TT、ZT分别增加了14.7%-18.3%、12.7%-18.8%和22.8%-29.1%。基于较为优势的植株生长,VRT籽粒产量较SS、TT和ZT分别增加了12.0%-13.0%、13.7%-33.6%、24.0%-47.4%。因此,虽然VRT提高了玉米耗水,并与ZT达到显著差异水平,导致收获后土壤贮水量低于其他三种耕作方式,但2017年播前0-100 cm土层土壤贮水量显著高于其他3种耕作处理;尽管0-300 cm土层土壤贮水量较SS、TT和ZT下降了11.4、14.8、20.5 mm,但它们之间无显著差异。以上结果表明,VRT能够同时促进玉米耗水和降水入渗,维持土壤水分平衡,是一种有效的抗旱增墒耕作方法,可在半干旱区玉米生产中推广应用。     

Linkage of hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis in Quarter horses to the horse adult skeletal muscle sodium channel gene

A genetic disease observed in certain Quarter horses is hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis (HYPP). This disease causes attacks of paralysis which can be induced by ingestion of potassium. Recent studies have shown that HYPP in humans is due to single base changes within the adult skeletal muscle sodium channel gene. A large Quarter horse pedigree segregating dominant HYPP was studied to determine if mutations of the sodium channel gene are similarly responsible for HYPP in horses. We used cross-species, PCR-mediated, cDNA cloning and sequencing of the horse adult skeletal muscle sodium channel alpha-subunit gene to identify a polymorphism, and then used this polymorphism to see if the horse sodium channel gene was genetically linked to HYPP in horses. The sodium channel gene was indeed found to be tightly linked to HYPP (LOD = 2.7, theta = 0). Our results suggest that HYPP in horses involves the same gene as the clinically similar human disease, and indicates that these are homologous disorders. The future identification of the specific sodium channel mutation causing HYPP in Quarter horses will permit the development of accurate molecular diagnostics of this condition, as has been recently shown for humans.     

Species coexistence in resource-limited patterned ecosystems is facilitated by the interplay of spatial self-organisation and intraspecific competition

The exploration of mechanisms that enable species coexistence under competition for a sole limiting resource is widespread across ecology. Two examples of such facilitative processes are intraspecific competition and spatial self-organisation. These processes determine the outcome of competitive dynamics in many resource-limited patterned ecosystems, classical examples of which include dryland vegetation patterns, intertidal mussel beds and subalpine ribbon forests. Previous theoretical investigations have explained coexistence within patterned ecosystems by making strong assumptions on the differences between species (e.g. contrasting dispersal behaviours or different functional responses to resource availability). In this paper, I show that the interplay between the detrimental effects of intraspecific competition and the facilitative nature of self-organisation forms a coexistence mechanism that does not rely on species-specific assumptions and captures coexistence across a wide range of the environmental stress gradient. I use a theoretical model that captures the interactions of two generic consumer species with an explicitly modelled resource to show that coexistence relies on a balance between species' colonisation abilities and their local competitiveness, provided intraspecific competition is sufficiently strong. Crucially, the requirements on species' self-limitation for coexistence to occur differ on opposite ends of the resource input spectrum. For low resource levels, coexistence is facilitated by strong intraspecific dynamics of the species superior in its colonisation abilities, but for larger volumes of resource input, strong intraspecific competition of the locally superior species enables coexistence. Results presented in this paper also highlight the importance of hysteresis in understanding tipping points, in particular extinction events. Finally, the theoretical framework provides insights into spatial species distributions within single patches, supporting verbal hypotheses on coexistence of herbaceous and woody species in dryland vegetation patterns and suggesting potential empirical tests in the context of other patterned ecosystems.     

A Method for Making Aceto-Carmin Smears Permanent

Anthers are collected and placed in a solution of 1 part acetic acid to 3 parts of absolute alcohol. The contents of the anther are squeezed out on a slide in a drop of Belling's iron-aceto-carmin solution and a cover glass placed over the drop. Care should be taken to remove all anther walls and flower parts. Heat the slide over an alcohol flame for a second, repeating 4 or 5 times. Place the slide in a petri dish filled with a 10% solution of acetic acid. When the cover glass has risen away from the slide gently remove the cover glass and place in a Coplin jar containing equal parts of alcohol and acetic acid. Likewise, place the slide in this solution. Run both cover and slide thru the following solutions: 1 part acetic acid to 3 parts absolute alcohol, 1 part acetic acid to 9 parts absolute alcohol, absolute alcohol and finally equal parts of absolute alcohol and xylol. Recombine the cover and slide in xylol-balsam directly from this solution.     

Domain III S4 in closed-state fast inactivation: Insights from a periodic paralysis mutation

Heterologous expression of sodium channel mutations in hypokalemic periodic paralysis reveals 2 variants on channel dysfunction. Charge-reducing mutations of voltage sensing S4 arginine residues alter channel gating as typically studied with expression in mammalian cells. These mutations also produce leak currents through the voltage sensor module, as typically studied with expression in Xenopus oocytes. DIIIS4 mutations at R3 in the skeletal muscle sodium channel produce gating defects and omega current consistent with the phenotype of reduced excitability. Here, we confirm DIIIS4 R3C gating defects in the oocyte expression system for fast inactivation and its recovery. We provide novel data for the effects of the cysteine mutation on voltage sensor movement, to further our understanding of sodium channel defects in hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Gating charge movement and its remobilization are selectively altered by the mutation at hyperpolarized membrane potential, as expected with reduced serum potassium.     

Dynamical behaviour of a two-predator model with prey refuge

A three-component model consisting on one-prey and two-predator populations is considered with a Holling type II response function incorporating a constant proportion of prey refuge. We also consider the competition among predators for their food (prey) and shelter. The essential mathematical features of the model have been analyzed thoroughly in terms of stability and bifurcations arising in some selected situations. Threshold values for some parameters indicating the feasibility and stability conditions of some equilibria are determined. The range of significant parameters under which the system admits different types of bifurcations is investigated. Numerical illustrations are performed in order to validate the applicability of the model under consideration.     

Connectivity in a pond system influences migration and genetic structure in threespine stickleback

Neutral genetic structure of natural populations is primarily influenced by migration (the movement of individuals and, subsequently, their genes) and drift (the statistical chance of losing genetic diversity over time). Migration between populations is influenced by several factors, including individual behavior, physical barriers, and environmental heterogeneity among populations. However, drift is expected to be stronger in populations with low immigration rate and small effective population size. With the technological advancement in geological information systems and spatial analysis tools, landscape genetics now allows the development of realistic migration models and increased insight to important processes influencing diversity of natural populations. In this study, we investigated the relationship between landscape connectivity and genetic distance of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) inhabiting a pond complex in Belgjarskógur, Northeast Iceland. We used two landscape genetic approaches (i.e., least-cost-path and isolation-by-resistance) and asked whether gene flow, as measured by genetic distance, was more strongly associated with Euclidean distance (isolation-by-distance) or with landscape connectivity provided by areas prone to flooding (as indicated by Carex sp. cover)? We found substantial genetic structure across the study area, with pairwise genetic distances among populations (D_PS) ranging from 0.118 to 0.488. Genetic distances among populations were more strongly correlated with least-cost-path and isolation-by-resistance than with Euclidean distance, whereas the relative contribution of isolation-by-resistance and Euclidian distance could not be disentangled. These results indicate that migration among stickleback populations occurs via periodically flooded areas. Overall, this study highlights the importance of transient landscape elements influencing migration and genetic structure of populations at small spatial scales.