α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals

The fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.     

中国家猪高分辨G—带及模式图

采用氨甲喋呤或胸苷阻断法使细胞分裂同步化,并结合胰酶G-带技术,对中国7个家猪品种高分辨G-带进行了研究,发现家猪品种间带型基本一致,从而参照人类细胞遗传学命名法的国际体制,提出了中国家猪高分辨G-带标准化核型及模式图,对显带核型界标进行了少许修改,对每对染色体进行了区带划分和描述。单倍染色体组所显示的G-带数目,包括X和Y染色体,巳达444条,近于中期染色体带纹数目的两倍。     

Genomic insights into selection for heterozygous alleles and woody traits in Populus tomentosa

Heterozygous alleles are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated woody plants. The variation in heterozygosity that underlies population adaptive evolution and phenotypic variation, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we describe a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of Populus tomentosa, an economic and ecologically important native tree in northern China. By resequencing 302 natural accessions, we determined that the South subpopulation (Pop_S) encompasses the ancestral strains of P. tomentosa, while the Northwest subpopulation (Pop_NW) and Northeast subpopulation (Pop_NE) experienced different selection pressures during population evolution, resulting in significant population differentiation and a decrease in the extent of heterozygosity. Analysis of heterozygous selective sweep regions (HSSR) suggested that selection for lower heterozygosity contributed to the local adaptation of P. tomentosa by dwindling gene expression and genetic load in the Pop_NW and Pop_NE subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that 88 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 63 genes are associated with nine wood composition traits. Among them, the selection for the homozygous AA allele in PtoARF8 is associated with reductions in cellulose and hemicellulose contents by attenuating PtoARF8 expression, and the increase in lignin content is attributable to the selection for decreases in exon heterozygosity in PtoLOX3 during adaptive evolution of natural populations. This study provides novel insights into allelic variations in heterozygosity associated with adaptive evolution of P. tomentosa in response to the local environment and identifies a series of key genes for wood component traits, thereby facilitating genomic-based breeding of important traits in perennial woody plants.     

A Human Active Lower Limb Model for Chinese Pedestrian Safety Evaluation

A subsystem impactor test for pedestrian lower limb injury evaluation has been brought in China New Car Assessment Protocol(CNCAP).Concerning large anthropometr...     

筇竹构件生物量积累分配特征及其与土壤物理性质的关系

以大关县3种土层深度0-40 cm、0-80 cm和0-120 cm的天然筇竹林为研究对象,在个体水平上研究了竹子构件生物量分配特征及其与土壤物理性质的相关关系,以期为筇竹林适宜立地条件选择、适地适竹及定向培育提供的理论指导。结果表明:(1)同一土层深度,土壤含水量、最大持水量、毛管持水量、毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度均呈现出随土层增加而增加的趋势,而土壤容重和非毛管孔隙度则呈现出随土层增加而减少的趋势,且薄土层和厚土层各土壤物理因子差异显著(P＜0.05)。(2)随着土层厚度的增加,筇竹总生物量以及构件秆、枝、叶、蔸、鞭和根生物量表现出增加的趋势,且不同土层厚度差异显著(P＜0.05)。(3)随着土层厚度的增加,筇竹构件枝、叶、蔸、鞭、根生物量分配相应增加,秆生物量分配则相应减少,但各处理间差异并不显著(P＞0.05)。(4)土壤物理因子对筇竹构件生物量分配有着显著影响(P＜0.05),单一土壤物理因子对筇竹构件生物量分配特征的重要性大小排序为土壤含水量＞总孔隙度＞最大持水量＞容重＞毛管孔隙度＞毛管持水量＞非毛管孔隙度。结论:土壤物理因子沿土层厚度的变化对筇竹构件生物量分配产生了重要影响,在土壤物理性质较差的生境中,筇竹会优先将生物量分配给秆,并通过减少叶生物量来响应水分缺失的不利环境,这对筇竹林立地条件选择有指导意义,即筇竹宜选择较深厚土层经营,以促进生物量积累和种群生长。