Agriculture erases climate constraints on soil nematode communities across large spatial scales

Anthropogenic conversion of natural to agricultural land reduces aboveground biodiversity. Yet, the overall consequences of land‐use changes on belowground biodiversity at large scales remain insufficiently explored. Furthermore, the effects of conversion on different organism groups are usually determined at the taxonomic level, while an integrated investigation that includes functional and phylogenetic levels is rare and absent for belowground organisms. Here, we studied the Earth's most abundant metazoa—nematodes—to examine the effects of conversion from natural to agricultural habitats on soil biodiversity across a large spatial scale. To this aim, we investigated the diversity and composition of nematode communities at the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic level in 16 assemblage pairs (32 sites in total with 16 in each habitat type) in mainland China. While the overall alpha and beta diversity did not differ between natural and agricultural systems, all three alpha diversity facets decreased with latitude in natural habitats. Both alpha and beta diversity levels were driven by climatic differences in natural habitats, while none of the diversity levels changed in agricultural systems. This indicates that land conversion affects soil biodiversity in a geographically dependent manner and that agriculture could erase climatic constraints on soil biodiversity at such a scale. Additionally, the functional composition of nematode communities was more dissimilar in agricultural than in natural habitats, while the phylogenetic composition was more similar, indicating that changes among different biodiversity facets are asynchronous. Our study deepens the understanding of land‐use effects on soil nematode diversity across large spatial scales. Moreover, the detected asynchrony of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity highlights the necessity to monitor multiple facets of soil biodiversity in ecological studies such as those investigating environmental changes.     

肠道菌群与呼吸道感染患者免疫球蛋白的关系及其肠内营养的疗效

目的分析肠道菌群紊乱对呼吸道感染患者免疫球蛋白水平的影响,探讨肠内营养对此类患者的疗效。方法选取2016年2月至2018年12月在我院接受治疗的116例呼吸道感染患者作为观察组,进一步将其分为非菌群失调组(50例)和菌群失调组(66例),选取同期60例健康体检者作为对照组,比较各组对象肠道菌群失调情况和血清免疫球蛋白水平,同时对菌群失调患者在常规治疗基础上联合应用肠内营养治疗,观察其治疗效果。结果 (1)观察组患者肠道乳杆菌、双歧杆菌数量及双歧杆菌/大肠埃希菌比值(B/E)显著低于对照组,而肠球菌、大肠埃希菌数量显著高于对照组(均P0.05);观察组患者血清IgM、IgA、IgG水平均显著低于对照组(均P0.05);菌群失调组患者血清IgM、IgA、IgG水平均显著低于非菌群失调组(均P0.05)。(2)观察组患者肠道乳杆菌、双歧杆菌数量及B/E值与血清IgM、IgA、IgG水平呈显著正相关(均P0.05),而大肠埃希菌和肠球菌数量与之呈显著负相关(均P0.05)。(3)菌群失调组患者血清ALB、PA水平随治疗时间的延长而逐渐升高,CRP、PCT水平逐渐降低,IgM、IgA、IgG水平逐渐升高,乳杆菌、双歧杆菌数量和B/E值逐渐增加,大肠埃希菌和肠球菌数量逐渐减少(均P0.05)。结论呼吸道感染患者存在明显的肠道菌群失调情况,其与患者免疫球蛋白水平的降低有关,这可能是引发呼吸道感染的主要危险因素。肠内营养支持疗法能有效改善患者肠道菌群失调,降低血清炎性因子水平,增强机体免疫力,提高患者营养状况及治疗效果。     

小檗碱通过JNK通路调控柯萨奇病毒B3感染心肌细胞凋亡的作用

小檗碱是具有细胞保护作用的生物碱,能够在柯萨奇病毒B3(CVB3)感染引起的病毒性心肌炎小鼠中发挥心肌保护作用,但具体的机制未阐明。在内皮细胞中,小檗碱通过c-Jun氨基末端激酶(JNK)通路抑制细胞凋亡,因此本研究将分析小檗碱通过JNK通路调控CVB3感染心肌细胞凋亡的作用。H9c2心肌细胞分为对照组(不含药物的DMEM处理)、模型组(含CVB3的DMEM处理)、小檗碱组(含CVB3及小檗碱的DMEM处理)、小檗碱+JNK质粒组(含CVB3、小檗碱、JNK质粒的DMEM处理),检测细胞凋亡率、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白介素-6(IL-6)、活性氧(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量、p-JNK、cleaved caspase-3、bax、bcl-2的表达量。结果显示,模型组的细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-6、ROS、MDA的含量、p-JNK、cleaved caspase-3、bax的表达量高于对照组,bcl-2的表达量低于对照组(P<0.05);小檗碱组的细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-6、ROS、MDA的含量、p-JNK、cleaved caspase-3、bax的表达量低于模型组,bcl-2的表达量高于模型组(P<0.05);小檗碱+JNK质粒组的细胞凋亡率、TNF-α、IL-6、ROS、MDA的含量、p-JNK、cleaved caspase-3、bax的表达量高于小檗碱组,bcl-2的表达量低于小檗碱组(P<0.05)。以上结果表明小檗碱对CVB3感染心肌细胞的凋亡具有抑制作用,抑制JNK通路是介导这一作用可能的分子机制。     

Spatial pattern characterization of linear polarization-sensitive backscattering Mueller matrix elements of human serum albumin sphere suspension

Human serum albumin (HSA) nanometer or micron particles represent promising drug-carrier systems. The azimuthal and radial variations of a linear polarization-sensitive backscattering Mueller matrix were experimentally studied in two cases: the scattering particle was smaller or larger in size to the probing wavelength of 780 nm. The results show that the twofold and fourfold structures are characteristic of small particle size suspension, whereas the eightfold structure is characteristic of large particle size suspension. Moreover, for both particle size suspensions, the element patterns have strong radial dependence when the suspension concentration and the incident power of laser change. In addition, for both particle size suspensions, the rotational symmetry of each element is lost in the case of oblique incidence but the multifold structure is maintained. Some suggestions for applications of Mueller matrix imaging in biomedical optics are provided.     

根域限制下水氮供应对膜下滴灌棉花叶片光合生理特性的影响

在新疆气候生态条件下,采用管栽方法,选用棉花新陆早13号和新陆早33号2个品种为供试材料,通过人工限制根系垂直生长深度和水氮供应,测定棉花叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光参数、光合物质积累等,探讨根域限制及水氮供应对棉花光合生理特性及产量形成的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,相同水氮供应条件下,根域限制处理棉花从开花期至盛絮期叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和光化学猝灭系数(qp)显著降低,尤其在盛铃后期至盛絮期表现明显,但潜在最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)未受到影响;盛花期和盛絮期根重均显著降低,但地上部总干物质、蕾铃干物质累积量及籽棉产量均显著高于对照。同一根域容积不同水氮处理棉花开花期至盛絮期的Pn、Gs和Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、qp均表现为W1N1>W0N1>W1N0>W0N0;根域限制条件下适量水氮供应处理盛花期和盛絮期地上部总干物质和蕾铃干物质累积量均显著增加,最终单株铃数、单铃重和籽棉产量均显著高于其它处理。因此,在膜下滴灌棉花根域容积受限制条件下,通过优化生育期水氮供应,能改善叶片光合性能、增加地上部干物质积累量及其向生殖器官分配比例,是挖掘膜下滴灌棉花产量潜力和提高效益的有效途径。     

Long non‐coding RNA expressed in macrophage co‐varies with the inflammatory phenotype during macrophage development and polarization

Advances in microarray, RNA‐seq and omics techniques, thousands of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with unknown functions have been discovered. LncRNAs have presented a diverse perspective on gene regulation in diverse biological processes, especially in human immune response. Macrophages participate in the whole phase of immune inflammatory response. They are able to shape their phenotype and arouse extensive functional activation after receiving physiological and pathological stimuli. Emerging studies indicated that lncRNAs participated in the gene regulatory network during complex biological processes of macrophage, including macrophage‐induced inflammatory responses. Here, we reviewed the existing knowledges of lncRNAs in the processes of macrophage development and polarization, and their roles in several different inflammatory diseases. Specifically, we focused on how lncRNAs function in macrophage, which might help to discover some potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.     

Risks of Biological Invasion on the Belt and Road

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药用美洲大蠊氨基酸和维生素含量分析

以人工饲养条件下不同发育阶段的美洲大蠊Periplaneta americana为材料,测定了其氨基酸和维生素的含量。结果表明,美洲大蠊各虫态均含有18种氨基酸,氨基酸总量为23. 27%～29. 44%,人体必需氨基酸含量占44. 04%～49. 55%,优于联合国粮农组织/世界卫生组织推荐的40%的标准,属于优质蛋白质资源。与成虫期相比,若虫期氨基酸含量较高,色氨酸、谷氨酸、丙氨酸、天门冬氨酸和甘氨酸较为丰富。所检测的5种维生素中,维生素E含量最高,刚蜕皮成虫及雌成虫含量均超过12 mg·kg^-1。美洲大蠊相关产品促睡眠、抗氧化功能可能与其富含色氨酸、谷氨酸和维生素E有关。