Seed germination requirements of Trembleya laniflora (Melastomataceae), an endemic species from neotropical montane rocky savannas

Trembleya laniflora is an endemic shrub from neotropical montane rocky savannas of southeastern Brazil. It has been indicated as a potential candidate for ecological restoration of abandoned iron‐ore mines due to heavy metal accumulation. Here, we evaluated the seed germination requirements of T. laniflora. Seeds collected in 2005 and 2008 were set to germinate under a broad range of temperature and light conditions. Seed viability was estimated by dissecting seeds under a dissecting microscope for embryo presence/absence. Seeds were photoblastic and optimum temperature range was 20–25°C, coinciding with the onset of the rainy season. Seeds were viable after 42 months of storage, which together with small seeds that easily get buried and light requirement for germination suggest formation of soil seed banks. Except the large fraction of embryoless seeds, almost all tested seeds germinated when incubated under light conditions; therefore, T. laniflora should be regarded to have nondormant seeds. Easiness of burial resulting from small seed size and positive photoblastism may both contribute to incorporation into soil seed banks. Our data suggest that the long‐term storage of T. laniflora seeds provides a useful strategy for plant reintroduction.     

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.     

Characterization of biofilm formation in natural water subjected to low-frequency electromagnetic fields

Electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment has proven to be effective against mineral scaling in water systems. Therefore, it should be assessed for the treatment of other deposits such as biofilms. In this study, a commercial device producing low-frequency EMF (1–10 kHz) was applied to a reactor fed with natural water for 45 days. The treatment promoted the concentration of microorganisms in suspension and limited the amount of sessile microorganisms in the biofilm, as determined by the measurement of total DNA, qPCR and microscopy. The structure of the bacterial community was assessed by t-RFLP and pyrosequencing analysis. The results showed that EMF treatment affected both planktonic and sessile community composition. EMFs were responsible for a shift in classes of Proteobacteria during development of the biofilm. It may be speculated that the EMF treatment affected particle solubility and/or microorganism hydration. This study indicated that EMFs modulated biofilm formation in natural water.     

外源性的电磁干预对神经病理性疼痛大鼠的镇痛效果研究

目的:探讨外源性的电磁干预方法对神经病理性疼痛大鼠的镇痛效果。方法:将30只成熟的雄性SD大鼠随机等分成3组:空白对照组(Control),坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤(CCI)组以及坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤协同电磁刺激组(CCI+EMF)。CCI组和CCI+EMF组的20只大鼠建立坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤模型,CCI+EMF组大鼠行外源性的全身性电磁刺激干预(脉冲波形,频率15 Hz,强度30 Gs),每天刺激6小时。在CCI模型构建的第0、3、6、9、12及15天对大鼠测试和比较足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值、运动功能评分和神经传导速率。结果:CCI组大鼠的足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率从CCI手术后的第3天即出现显著性降低,其6、9、12、15天足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率均显著低于Control组(P0.01),而运动功能评分均显著高于Control组(P0.05)。CCI+EMF组大鼠的足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率在第9、12、15天显著高于CCI组大鼠(P0.05),而运动功能评分均显著高于CCI l组。结论:外源性的电磁刺激对于神经病理性疼痛大鼠具有良好的镇痛效果,有望成为一种临床治疗神经病理性疼痛的新的物理治疗手段。     

Effects of low-level combined static and weak low-frequency alternating magnetic fields on cytokine production and tumor development in mice

We investigated the effects of weak combined magnetic fields (MFs) produced by superimposing a constant MF (in the range 30 - 150 µT) and an alternating MF (100 or 200 nT) on cytokine production in healthy Balb/C male mice exposed 2 h daily for 14 days. The alternating magnetic field was a sum of several frequencies (ranging from 2.5 - 17.5 Hz). The frequencies of the alternating magnetic field were calculated formally based on the cyclotron resonance of ions of free amino acids (glutamic and aspartic acids, arginine, lysine, histidine, and tyrosine). The selection of different intensity and frequency combinations of constant and alternating magnetic fields was performed to find the optimal characteristics for cytokine production stimulation in immune cells. MF with a constant component of 60 μT and an alternating component of 100 nT, which was a sum of six frequencies (from 5 to 7 Hz), was found to stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, and interleukin-3 in healthy mouse cells and induce cytokine accumulation in blood plasma. Then, we studied the effect of this MF on tumor-bearing mice with solid tumors induced by Ehrlich ascite carcinoma cells by observing tumor development processes, including tumor size, mouse survival rate, and average lifespan. Tumor-bearing mice exposed to a combined constant magnetic field of 60 μT and an alternating magnetic field of 100 nT containing six frequencies showed a strong suppression of tumor growth with an increase in survival rate and enhancement of average lifespan.     

A Putative Mechanism for Magnetoreception by Electromagnetic Induction in the Pigeon Inner Ear

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Energetic implications of floodplain wetland restoration strategies for waterfowl

Modifications of the Illinois River and associated tributaries have resulted in altered hydrologic cycles and persistent river‐floodplain connections during the growing season that frequently impede the establishment of hydrophytic vegetation and have reduced value for migratory waterfowl and other waterbirds. To help guide floodplain restoration, we compared energetic carrying capacity for waterfowl in two wetland complexes along the Illinois River under different management regimes during 2012–2015. The south pool of Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) was seasonally flooded due to a partial river connection and managed for moist‐soil vegetation. Emiquon Preserve was hydrologically isolated from the Illinois River by a high‐elevation levee and managed as a semipermanently flooded emergent marsh. Semipermanent emergent marsh management at Emiquon Preserve produced 5,495 energetic use‐days (EUD)/ha for waterfowl and other waterbirds across wetland cover types and years, and seasonal moist‐soil management at CNWR produced 6,199 EUD/ha in one of 4 years. At Emiquon Preserve, the aquatic bed cover type produced 9,660 EUD/ha, followed by 5,261 EUD/ha in moist‐soil, 1,398 EUD/ha in persistent emergent, 1,185 EUD/ha in hemi‐marsh, and 12 EUD/ha in open water cover types. At CNWR, the annual grass and sedge cover type produced 7,031 EUD/ha, followed by 5,618 EUD/ha in annual broadleaf and 1,305 EUD/ha in perennial grass cover types. Restoration of floodplain wetlands in isolation from frequent flood pulses during the growing season can produce hemi‐marsh and aquatic bed vegetation communities that provide high‐quality habitat for waterfowl and which have been mostly eliminated from large river systems in the Midwest, U.S.A.     

Non-empirical study of the phosphorylation reaction catalyzed by 4-methyl-5-β-hydroxyethylthiazole kinase: relevance of the theory of intermolecular interactions

The subject of this study was an analysis of the role of active site residues in the phosphoryl transfer reaction catalyzed by 4-methyl-5-β-hydroxyethylthiazole kinase (ThiK). The ThiK-catalyzed reaction is of special interest due to the lack of a highly conserved aspartate residue serving as a catalytic base. ONIOM(B3LYP:PM3) models of stationary points along the reaction pathway consisted of reactants, two magnesium ions and several highly conserved ThiK active site residues. The results indicate that an S_N2-like mechanism of ThiK, with γ-phosphate acting as an alcohol-activating base is reasonable. Geometries of substrates, transition state and products were utilized in the non-empirical analysis of the physical nature of catalytic interactions taking place in the ThiK active site. The role of particular residues was investigated in terms of their ability to preferentially stabilize the transition state relative to substrates (differential transition state stabilization, DTSS) or products (differential product stabilization, DPS). It seems that Mg2, Glu126 and Cys198 play a major catalytic role, whereas Mg1 and the same Cys198 are responsible for product release. It is remarkable that no dominant role of an electrostatic term in the interactions involved in catalytic activity is observed for product release. Determination of catalytic fields expressing differential electrostatic potential of the transition state with respect to substrates revealed the optimal electrostatic features of an ideal catalyst for the studied reaction. The predicted catalytic environment is in agreement with experimental data showing increased catalytic activity of ThiK upon mutation of Cys198 to aspartate. Figure Catalytic fields for ThiK-catalyzed reaction juxtaposed with the positions of active site residues of a model system. Magnesium ions are considered part of the transition state/reactants. The surface of constant electronic density is colored according to differential electrostatic potential of transition state with respect to reactants. The sign of the differential potential reflects the electrostatic properties of a complementary molecular environment. Red (green) color denotes regions where a negative (positive) charge would be optimal for catalytic activity     

Pulsed electromagnetic fields regulate osteocyte apoptosis,RANKL/OPG expression,and its control of osteoclastogenesis depending on the presence of primary cilia

Growing evidence has shown that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) can modulate bone metabolism in vivo and regulate the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in vitro. Osteocytes, accounting for 95% of bone cells, act as the major mechanosensors in bone for transducing external mechanical signals and producing cytokines to regulate osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities. Targeting osteocytic signaling pathways is becoming an emerging therapeutic strategy for bone diseases. We herein systematically investigated the changes of osteocyte behaviors, functions, and its regulation on osteoclastogenesis in response to PEMF. The osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells were exposed to 15 Hz PEMF stimulation with different intensities (0, 5, and 30 Gauss [G]) for 2 hr. We found that the cell apoptosis and cytoskeleton organization of osteocytes were regulated by PEMF with an intensity-dependent manner. Moreover, PEMF exposure with 5 G significantly inhibited apoptosis-related gene expression and also suppressed the gene and protein expression of the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/OPG) ratio in MLO-Y4 cells. The formation, maturation, and osteoclastic bone-resorption capability of in vitro osteoclasts were significantly suppressed after treated with the conditioned medium from PEMF-exposed (5 G) osteocytes. Our results also revealed that the inhibition of osteoclastic formation, maturation, and bone-resorption capability induced by the conditioned medium from 5 G PEMF-exposed osteocytes was significantly attenuated after abrogating primary cilia in osteocytes using the polaris siRNA transfection. Together, our findings highlight that PEMF with 5 G can inhibit cellular apoptosis, modulate cytoskeletal distribution, and decrease RANKL/OPG expression in osteocytes, and also inhibit osteocyte-mediated osteoclastogenesis, which requires the existence of primary cilia in osteocytes. This study enriches our basic knowledge for further understanding the biological behaviors of osteocytes and is also helpful for providing a more comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the effect of electromagnetic stimulation on bone and relevant skeletal diseases (e.g., bone fracture and osteoporosis).