Effect of miR-29b-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway on progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of microRNA-29b (miR-29b)-mediated TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and its effect on the progression of hepatic fibrosis in rats.METHODS: Hepatic liver fibrosis rat model was established, and its HSC were isolated. Normal rat HSC were also obtained and identified in vitro. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the alterations of miR-29b, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins and liver fibrosis marker proteins in the acquired cells. Finally, the direct targeting binding of miR-29b to TGF-β1 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay system.RESULTS: With the activation of HSC, the expression of miR-29b gradually decreased (P<0.01), while the expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin gradually increased (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of Smad2/3/4 was significantly increased, and the expression of Smad7 was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-29b bound directly to "UCUCUCCGU" in the 3'UTR of TGF-β1, indicating that TGF-β1 was a downstream target gene of miR-29b.CONCLUSION: miR-29b may be involved in the inhibition of HSC activation and migration, thereby inhibiting the process of liver fibrosis. The biological function of miR-29b may be through the direct targeting of TGF-β1, thus regulating and inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.     

Resistance monitoring and enzyme activity in three field populations of cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) from Egypt

The cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) is one of the most important sucking insect pests attacking certain legumes in Egypt particularly faba bean, cowpea and pea. In this study we monitored the resistance level of three field populations of A. craccivora to seven insecticides belonging to three different chemical classes (organophosphates, carbamates and neonicotinoids). The three populations were collected from three governorates in Egypt namely Dakahlia, Qalyobia and Beni Suef. Diagnostic concentrations (LC₉₀ values for susceptible strain) for each insecticide were established using a leaf dipping technique. Resistance monitoring showed that the field population from Dakahlia was highly resistant to all the tested insecticides. In a similar manner, the population from Qalyobia was also resistant to all insecticides except for fenitrothion to which only moderate resistance was observed. The field population from Beni Suef exhibited a lower level of resistance to all the seven tested insecticides.Biochemical assay showed that esterase activity in these three field populations was generally higher as the enzyme activity ratio ranged from 4.3 to 7.8 fold more than that for the susceptible strain. The activity of the other measured detoxifying enzymes (glutathione -S- transferase and mixed function oxidases) was moderate in the populations from Qalyobia and Dakahlia. Nevertheless, the enzyme activity in A. craccivora collected from Beni Suef was variable and differed slightly from the activity measured in the susceptible strain. Monitoring insecticide resistance among the three aphid populations was a proactive approach to detect any shift in insecticide efficiency. The possible occurrence of resistance in the cowpea aphid to the tested insecticides may be due to the higher activity of carboxylesterases. Further studies on the resistance mechanism to these insecticides are needed to provide insights in how to manage and delay the onset of the resistance and thus prolong the performance of insecticides against A. craccivora.     

考虑环境因素的中部省份城镇化水平评价指标体系构建

该文选取了2004—2012年数据,采用因子分析和DEA的方法对中部六省城镇化水平的指标进行筛选,采用Tobit方法探讨环境与城镇化水平之间的关系并进行回归分析。分析结果可以得出通过指标筛选以后的中部六省的城镇化水综合情况以及排名,为中部六省未来政策的制定提供依据。     

水稻粉垄耕作生长及生理特性研究

以两系超级杂交水稻(Oryza sativa L.)桂两优2号为供试品种,通过田间研究比较常规耕作和粉垄耕作条件下水稻生长及生理特性.结果表明,粉垄耕作方式有利于水稻植株分蘖中后期的分蘖生长,全生育期白根多、活力强,叶绿素相对含量(SPAD)极显著高于常规耕作,叶片净光合速率高,并且持绿时间长,利于光合同化物的生产积累;成熟期地上部干物质积累量显著高于常规耕作,有效穗较常规耕作多27.6万/hm2,因而产量增加显著,增产约20.36％.     

Development of Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Immunoassay Detection Method for Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus

In this article, through the combination of nucleic acid probes and immune chromatography, a simple, sensitive and specific detection system——nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (NALFIA) for amplifing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3D RT-PCR products was established.An ultrasensitive nucleic acid biosensor (NAB) based on streptavidin-labeled gold nanoparticles dual labels and lateral flow strip biosensor (LFSB) were used in this system.The biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG was marked to the NC membrane as the alleged strip and the anti-digoxin antibody was labeled to the NC membrane to capture the digoxin probe.After assemblying gold-labeled strip and detecting RT-PCR products, the detection limit of NALFIA was 0.3×10^-3 to 3×10^-3 μg/μL.The NALFIA was compared with agar gel electrophoresis analysis, the results showed that the sensitivity of NALFIA was higher than agar gel electrophoresis.There was an excellent agreement between the two methods.NALFIA was a method with high sensitive, low cost and short time.In conclusion, this method provided a good alternative to detect FMDV.     

小麦茎秆断裂强度相关性状QTL的连锁和关联分析

小麦茎秆断裂强度与倒伏特性关系密切,并对产量有很大影响。本研究旨在解析茎秆断裂强度的遗传机制,开发与该性状紧密连锁/关联的分子标记。利用山农01-35′藁城9411重组自交系(RIL)群体(含173个F8:9株系)和由205个品种(系)构成的自然群体,借助90 k小麦SNP基因芯片、DArT芯片及传统分子标记技术,在2个环境中对两群体的茎秆断裂强度相关性状进行连锁分析和全基因组关联分析。利用已构建的高密度连锁图谱,在4B染色体的TDURUM_CONTIG63670_287–IACX557和EX_C101685–RAC875_C27536等区段上,检测到9个控制小麦茎秆断裂强度、株高、茎秆第2节间充实度、茎秆第2节壁厚相关性状的加性QTL,可解释表型变异9.40%~36.30%。同时,利用包含24 355个SNP位点的复合遗传图谱,在自然群体中检测到37个与茎秆断裂强度相关性状(P0.0001)的标记,分别位于1A、1B、2B、2D、3A、3B、4A、4B、5A、5B、5D、6B、7A、7B和7D染色体,可解释表型变异7.76%~36.36%。在4B染色体上,以连锁分析检测到控制茎秆断裂强度的RAC875_C27536与关联分析检测到的Tdurum_contig4974_355标记,在复合遗传图谱上的距离为6.7 cM,说明该区段存在控制小麦茎秆断裂强度的重要基因。     

Effect of mulch on initial coverage of four groundcover species for low input landscaping in a Mediterranean climate

Groundcovers play a very important role in the creation of urban green spaces. They provide many agronomic and environmental benefits while simplifying the urban landscape management.In the areas with a Mediterranean-type climate, the development of low-input landscapes, with the ability to maintain their functions and aesthetical appeal, is pivotal. The aim of this study was to identify groundcover species that could be suited to the local environmental conditions and to evaluate the effect of different mulching systems on plant growth and weed suppression.Digital image analysis was used to measure the green cover percentage of four species (Hedera helix L., Hypericum calycinum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Vinca minor L.) grown on two different types of mulch (EcoCover^® and wood-chips) and on bare soil. Changes in plant coverage, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and weed biomass were recorded over a two year period.The prostrate R. officinalis established rapidly and reached more than 80% of coverage within 3 months after planting. Also, it was not affected by weed competition. Non-native H. calycinum also exhibited a quick spread, but it was unsuitable for low-input Mediterranean landscapes because it died during late summer from fungal disease. H. helix and V. minor were also adversely affected by pathogens and, due to their slow initial growth and low percent cover in the second year, they did not control weeds during the study. With the exception of R. officinalis, mulching materials did not significantly improve the establishment and cover ability of the tested species, but had significant effects on weed suppression. Digital image analysis and spectral reflectance proved to be reliable and objective techniques to assess groundcover performance.     

南京市能见度变化趋势及其影响因素

利用1980~2013年南京国家基本气象站的地面常规气象要素和能见度观测资料,剔除相对湿度和天气现象对能见度的影响,采用等级分析法、"非常好"能见度出现频率法、累积百分率法、Ridit中值分析等方法,分析了南京地区大气能见度的年际和季节变化趋势;并利用偏相关分析法分析了能见度与气温、气压、平均风速和相对湿度的相关关系。结果表明,能见度有明显日变化和季节变化,一天中,8:00最差,14:00最好;一年之中,能见度夏季最好,冬季最差。1980~1984年南京能见度呈上升趋势,1985~2004年呈波动下降趋势,2005~2013年则呈缓慢上升趋势;"较差"和"一般"能见度出现频率呈现上升趋势,"较好"能见度出现频率则明显下降。能见度水平逐年代下降但降幅减小;能见度等级分布的季节差异逐年代减小。能见度与平均风速呈正相关,与相对湿度呈负相关。由于南京地区气候条件的影响,能见度与气压和气温均存在季节性差异,能见度与气压在冬季呈较好的正相关,与气温夏季呈正相关、冬季呈负相关。     

牡丹5个管家基因的克隆及其在系统进化分析中的应用

利用RT-PCR技术从牡丹组7个野生种和1个栽培种中分别克隆得到泛素延伸蛋白基因(ubiquitin,UBI)、素环蛋白基因(cyclophilin,CYP)、肌动蛋白基因(Actin)、葡萄糖六磷酸脱氢酶基因(glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase,G6PD)和β–微管蛋白基因(beta-tubulin,TUB)等5个管家基因的编码序列(coding sequence,CDS)。序列比对分析发现,5个管家基因序列均相对保守,其在牡丹7个野生种和1个栽培种中的保守性在99.04%~99.69%。利用5个管家基因分别构建了其在牡丹组8份材料中的系统进化树。5个系统进化树均将8份材料分成两组,即革质花盘亚组和肉质花盘亚组;由于5个管家基因核苷酸序列各自的保守性不同,在区分亚组成员间略有差异。综合分析5个管家基因构建的系统进化树可知,杨山牡丹(Paeonia ostii)和栽培牡丹(P.suffruticosa‘Luoyanghong’)常聚为一支,二者亲缘关系较近,因而推测杨山牡丹可能参与了栽培牡丹的形成;紫斑牡丹(P.rockii)和四川牡丹(P.decomposita)一直聚为一支,推测二者亲缘关系较近;黄牡丹(P.lutea)和紫牡丹(P.delavayi)一直聚为一支,推测这二者亲缘关系较近。狭叶牡丹(P.potaninii)与黄牡丹和紫牡丹分化较早,结合前人研究结果建议将狭叶牡丹作为一个独立的种。