矾根主要品种的叶色表型性状分析

通过目测进行分类的方式很难准确界定矾根品种叶色。为建立一套更为科学的基于叶色表型的矾根品种分类体系,笔者利用色差仪对72个矾根品种共计432个样品的叶色进行测定,对获得的L、a、b 3个色度值进行聚类分析,将72个矾根品种分为褐色系、深绿色系、黄色系、灰绿色系、浅绿色系5类色系。对矾根品种各色系的L、a、b值进行相关性分析,发现叶片正面的L值与a值、a值与b值呈负相关,L值与b值呈正相关,但相关性不明显;叶片背面的L值与a值、a值与b值呈负相关,L值与b值呈显著正相关。从多重比较的结果中可以看出,矾根品种各色系之间的L、a、b色度值差异显著,尤其是各色系间叶正面的颜色差异较大,在矾根品种选育工作中,叶片正面的颜色将作为主要参考。     

Notch1 promotes renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in renal tissues of diabetic mice by inhibiting autophagy through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

AIM: To observe the changes of Notch1 expression and autophagy in the renal tissues of diabetic mice, and to explore the regulatory effect of Notch1 on tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy in diabetic nephro-pathy. METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into normal control group (db/m mice) and diabetes group (db/db mice), with 8 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of feeding, the mice were sacrificed and the corresponding biochemical indexes were measured. The protein expression of Notch1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of Notch1, PTEN, p-Akt (Thr308), Akt, p-mTOR (Ser2448), mTOR, LC3, P62, collagen type Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the db/m mice, the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol were increased in the db/db mice (P<0.01). Renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolar degeneration, renal tubular expansion and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration in db/db mouse renal tissues with HE staining were observed. The images of Masson staining showed collagenous fiber-like substance deposition in the glomerular capillaries and renal interstitium, and disarrangement of tubular structure in the renal tissues of db/db mice. The protein expression levels of PTEN and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while the protein levels of Notch1, P62, p-mTOR (Ser2448), p-Akt (Thr308), Col-I and Col-III were increased in the db/db mice as compared with the db/m mice (P<0.01). However, no significant change of total mTOR and Akt proteins between the 2 groups was found. CONCLUSION: Notch1 protein expression was increased, PTEN expression was significantly reduced, Akt/mTOR pathway was activated, autophagy was inhibited, and fibrosis was aggravated in the renal tissues of the diabetic mice.     

生物炭对Bt Cry1Ac蛋白抗紫外能力影响

为了研究生物炭对紫外线的防护作用，以豆壳烧制的生物炭作为载体，研究生物炭对Bt Cry1Ac蛋白的吸附行为以及生物炭对Cry1Ac蛋白的紫外保护作用。使用扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜、X-射线粉末衍射以及傅立叶红外光谱等手段对生物炭的形貌和结构进行表征。结果表明，生物炭是典型的多孔结构材料，表面具有丰富的官能团。Cry1Ac蛋白与生物炭吸附平衡时间为50 min，最合适的吸附浓度比（生物炭：蛋白）为1：100，二者吸附符合准二级动力学模型和Langmuir模型。在UVB紫外照射4 h后，生物炭与Cry1Ac蛋白复合物对棉铃虫的生物活性是单纯蛋白的4.93倍，显示生物炭具有较好的紫外抵抗效果。研究结果初步表明，制备得到的生物炭能够显著提高Cry1Ac蛋白的抗紫外能力，为后续研发耐受紫外线的农药剂型提供新材料。     

MicroRNA-145 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human renal cancer A-498 cells by ADAM28

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of microRNA-145 (miR-145) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal cancer A-498 cells. METHODS: The A-498 cells were transfected with miR-145 mimics (M145) and mimic negative control(MNC), which served as M145 group and MNC group, respectively. Mock control (MC) group was set up using untreated A-498 cells. The expression level of miR-145 in each group was detected by RT-qPCR. Transwell assay was used to detect the invasion ability of the cells. The protein expression of vimentin, E-cadherin and ADAM28 was determined by Western blot. Bioinformatic method was used to predict the target genes of miR-145. Antagonistic effect of ADAM28 over-expression on the inhibition of EMT by miR-145 was detected by Western blot. The relationship between miR-145 and ADAM28 was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-145 in M145 group was significantly up-regulated than that in MC group (P<0.05). The number of invasive cells in M145 group was 12.78±3.37, which was significantly lower than that in MC group (P<0.05). ADAM28 may be the target gene of miR-145. Compared with MC group, the protein expression of vimentin and ADAM28 in M145 group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased (P<0.05).After ADAM28 over-expression, the protein expression of vimentin in the A-498 cells of M145 group was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results of dual-lucife-irasei reporter assay showed that ADAM28 was a downstream target gene of miR-145. CONCLUSION: miR-145 may inhibit the expression of EMT-related proteins through the downstream target gene ADAM28 and inhibit the EMT process of renal cancer A-498 cells.     

心尖锚的力学分析

设计了一种六齿镍钛合金锚钩用于封堵器等二尖瓣、三尖瓣返流修复系统的心尖固定,并对其力学特性进行研究.通过分析心脏结构及解剖数据,确定锚钩形状和可控尺寸设计变量,利用Solidworks建立锚钩3D模型,运用Abaqus软件对23个不同尺寸锚钩模型的入鞘过程进行有限元计算,分析锚钩入鞘过程中的最大入鞘力、最大冯米塞斯应变和入鞘轨迹的影响因素.制作了一种规格锚钩实物,与计算结果进行对比分析.结果表明:鞘部长度、鞘部角度及齿宽对应力、应变的影响最大,可以通过减小鞘部长度、鞘部角度及齿宽,有效降低最大应力、应变值;厚度、曲率半径及齿宽对入鞘力起到决定性作用,而根长和角度对入鞘力的影响很小;轴向刺入深度主要通过控制鞘部长度及鞘部角度来定义,径向刺入深度则由曲率半径的大小所决定.研究可为需心尖固定的心脏介入产品设计提供一定的借鉴意义.     

利用酵母双杂交系统筛选与草莓镶脉病毒移动蛋白P1互作的寄主因子

 构建感染草莓镶脉病毒(SVBV)森林草莓的酵母cDNA文库,利用酵母双杂交系统,筛选出与SVBV P1蛋白互作的15种寄主因子。生物信息学分析发现,这15种寄主因子参与茉莉酸途径、泛素化、光合作用、抗病抗逆、蛋白修饰、蛋白运输和氧化还原等多种生物过程。另外,这些寄主因子还具有其他分子功能,包括氧化还原酶活性、蛋白二硫化物异构酶活性和金属离子结合活性等。本研究初步探讨了P1与寄主因子的互作机理,为揭示SVBV侵染森林草莓以及SVBV在寄主中扩展的分子机制提供理论依据。     

Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

The economic benefits and costs of trees in urban forest stewardship: A systematic review

Understanding the benefits provided by urban trees is important to justify investment and improve stewardship. Many studies have attempted to quantify the benefits of trees in monetary terms, though fewer have quantified the associated costs of planting and maintaining them. This systematic review examines the methods used to jointly analyse the costs and benefits of trees in the urban landscape, assesses the relative balance of benefits and costs, and attempts to understand the wide variation in economic values assigned in different studies. The benefits most frequently studied are those related to environmental regulation and property values, and the available data show that these usually outweigh the costs. Aesthetic, amenity, and shading benefits have also been shown to provide significant economic benefits, while benefits in terms of water regulation, carbon reduction and air quality are usually more modest. Variation in benefits and costs among studies is attributed largely to differences in the species composition and age structure of urban tree populations, though methodological differences also play a role. Comparison between studies is made difficult owing to differences in spatiotemporal scope, and in the way urban forest composition and demographic structure were reported. The overwhelming majority of studies concern deciduous trees in Northern America, and much less is known about urban forests in other regions, especially in the tropics. Future work should thus seek to fill these knowledge gaps, and standardise research protocols across cities. In light of ambitious goals in many cities to increase tree cover, ongoing advances in valuation methods need to provide a more comprehensive accounting of benefits and costs, and to better integrate economic assessment into the decision-making process.     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

miR-204 inhibits proliferation of Hodgkin lymphoma cells by targeting Sirt1/p53 signaling pathway

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-204 (miR-204) on the proliferation of Hodgkin lymphoma cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expression of miR-204 and Sirt1 mRNA in Hodgkin lymphoma tissues was detected by RT-qPCR. After transfection with miR-204 mimic, Sirt1 siRNA and miR-204 mimic+pcDNA3.1-Sirt1 into the L428 cells, the cell viability and BrdU incorporation were measured by CCK-8 assay and BrdU assay, respectively. The protein levels of Sirt1 and acetylated p53 (ac-p53) were determined by Western blot.The targeting relationship between miR-204 and Sirt1 was verified by double luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The low expression of miR-204 and the high mRNA expression of Sirt1 were found in the Hodgkin lymphoma tissues. Compared with control group, the cell viability, BrdU incorporation and the protein levels of Sirt1 and ac-p53 were significantly decreased after L428 cells were transfected with miR-204 mimic or Sirt1 siRNA (P<0.05). Compared with miR-204 mimic alone group, the cell viability, BrdU incorporation and the protein levels of Sirt1 and ac-p53 were increased after L428 cells were co-transfected with miR-204 mimic and pcDNA3.1-Sirt1 (P<0.05). The results of double luciferase reporter assay confiermed that Sirt1 was the target gene of miR-204. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of miR-204 on the proliferation of L428 cells may be achieved by inhibiting the expression of Sirt1 and promoting the up-regulation of ac-p53.