Affecting Lipid Metabolism Salivary MicroRNAs Expressions in Arabian Racehorses Before and After the Race

The active roles of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in gene regulation have made miRNAs a key point for the scientific world in the study of physiological processes. Although saliva includes the largest number of miRNAs, there is no miRNA study in saliva on horses has been found. Our study is the first study on miRNAs isolation from saliva in horses. In the present study, saliva was studied in Arabian racehorses to better understand the molecular mechanisms of expression levels that are effective in lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes during the race. Identification of lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes is an opportunity to provide information about biomarkers in Arabian racehorses on energy supply for race performance. Arabian racehorses have low glycogen content and high triglyceride storage capability, thanks to the high amount of oxidative type I fiber in their muscle tissue. Therefore, Arabian racehorses can provide higher levels of energy using more fat. The aim of this study is to determine the prerace and postrace expression levels of eight miRNAs in saliva that are known to affect lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses. The expression level of eca-miR-33a was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). Target genes of eca-miR-33a have been copredicted as ABCA1, CROT, ABHD2, and SATB2, with three validated databases and other analysis tools. In conclusion, these findings revealed that both eca-miR-33a and its target genes could be potential core genes that play important roles in lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses to provide energy during the race.     

高含固率木质纤维素厌氧发酵物总DNA的4种提取方法比较

不同的样本特性和提取方法对获得微生物总DNA的质量有重要影响。文章基于高含固率木质纤维素厌氧发酵物腐殖酸、酚类物质含量高、质地均一性差、微生物浓度低的特点,研究了4种方法提取不同高含固率粪秸厌氧发酵物中微生物总DNA的效果。结果表明,常规的十二烷基磺酸钠法(sodium dodecyl sulfate,SDS)、十二烷基磺酸钠和溴化十六烷基三甲铵结合法(sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide,SDS-CTAB)和商业的粪便试剂盒法提取的DNA质量均较差,SDS法和试剂盒法未能获得聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)扩增目的条带,SDS-CTAB法得到的条带较模糊;改进SDS-CTAB法获得的DNA杂质少、纯度高,具有较好的稳定性,A260/A280和A260/A230值分别为1.74~1.86和1.65~1.86,每克样品的DNA浓度在50 ng·μL^-1以上,电泳条带单一齐整、清晰明亮,PCR扩增的目的条带清晰度高,适宜后续分子生物学技术的分析。林格氏液洗脱、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮-40(Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone-40,PVP-40)洗涤液除杂以及裂解液和多种酶联合破壁是改进SDS-CTAB法获得该类专一性样本高质量微生物总DNA的关键步骤。     

富硒区茶树鲜叶中硒累积与土壤因子的相关性分析

茶树是富硒植物,饮用富硒茶是一种安全、有效的补硒途径之一。茶叶的硒含量受多种环境因素影响,但有关富硒茶区茶树硒积累特性及主要影响因子的研究还鲜有报道。以高硒茶区湖北恩施、陕西安康不同地点生产茶园成龄茶树和根际土壤为研究对象,结合土壤及植物样品全硒含量等多种指标,明确了根际土壤硒含量对茶树硒分布特性的影响,分析了富硒区土壤pH、硒含量等9个重要土壤特性相关因子的数值分布规律。通过对186组具有代表性的土壤样品和附生茶树新梢组织检测数据进行分组和整体相关性分析,证实了富硒区茶叶全硒含量与土壤硒含量之间存在极显著相关（相关系数r=0.59,P<0.01）,揭示了茶叶全硒含量与土壤有机质含量、水解性氮、锌含量以及茶叶中硫、锌含量的显著相关,同时对安康和恩施地区的土壤和茶叶硒含量相关因素进行了深入分析。提出了茶叶硒含量对土壤有机质含量、硫含量、硒含量和锌含量的数学模型,模型拟合优度为0.512 6,达极显著水平（P<0.01）。     

不同因素影响下层状土壤水分入渗特征及水力学参数估计

层状土壤是自然界常见的土体结构,其水分运移规律不同于均质土;大气降水、灌溉水等水分的入渗是土壤水文过程的一个重要环节,同时它也与地下水补给、污染物运移等过程紧密相关。土壤初始含水量、土体构型及供水强度等因素均会影响水分的入渗过程。为探究积水深度、土体构型、初始含水量三种因素对层状土壤水分运移的影响,通过室内积水入渗试验对湿润锋、累积入渗量、土壤剖面压力水头进行观测,并利用Hydrus-1D模型反演水力参数并对相应条件下的水分运移规律进行模拟和分析。结果表明,层状土壤中湿润锋随时间的推进方式由非线性过渡至线性,入渗率逐渐减小。三种因素作用下,层状土壤水分运移特征有明显差异:积水深度、土壤初始含水量增加时,湿润锋运移速率和入渗率均增大,且各观测点压力水头升高加快,土壤不饱和程度降低;上砂壤下粉砂壤构型较上粉砂壤下砂壤构型而言,整体湿润锋推进速率和入渗率较大,出流快,且入渗后期界面处的压力水头高于其他观测点。且结果表明,反演的水力学参数较拟合实测的参数更适用于层状土壤入渗的模拟和预测。该研究旨在揭示和掌握层状土壤水分运移规律和影响因素的作用机制,并进一步为农田灌溉措施的合理制定提供科学依据。     

有机肥施用对红地球葡萄产量、品质及土壤环境的影响

【目的】明确有机肥施用对河北葡萄主产区高产优质红地球葡萄产量、品质及土壤环境的影响,为葡萄种植合理施用有机肥提供理论依据。【方法】以河北张家口市怀来县葡萄试验示范基地13年生红地球葡萄为试验材料,进行为期4年的田间试验。设置6个处理,分别为农民传统施肥(CK)、单施化肥(NPK)、单施有机肥9 t/hm^2 (M)、有机肥7.5 t/hm^2+化肥(M1NPK)、有机肥15 t/hm^2+化肥(M2NPK)、有机肥45 t/hm^2+化肥(M3NPK),采用常规方法测定葡萄产量、品质、重金属含量及果园土壤中硝态氮、微生物量碳和氮、重金属含量,并对葡萄园土壤重金属累积达到限量所需年限进行推算。【结果】施用有机肥处理葡萄产量均显著高于单施化肥(NPK),其中以中量有机肥+化肥处理(M2NPK)的产量最高,4年(2010-2013)平均产量为21503kg/hm^2,较农民传统施肥(CK)提高了14%;施用有机肥处理葡萄Vc含量比对照显著增加。各处理间葡萄百粒重、pH、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸和固酸比差异不显著。收获后M2NPK处理0-20 cm和20-40 cm土壤硝态氮累积量下降,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量显著高于CK。连续4年施用有机肥后,葡萄果实及果园土壤的重金属含量(Cr、Cd、As、Pb、Hg、Cu、Zn)均未超标,但随着有机肥施用量的增加,葡萄及土壤中的重金属分别呈现线性和二次函数累积趋势。M3NPK处理土壤重金属含量较其他施用有机肥处理提前累积到限量水平。【结论】中量有机肥+化肥(M2NPK)处理葡萄的产量最高,品质最佳,而且降低了土壤硝态氮在各土层的累积,增加了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量,且葡萄果实和果园土壤重金属含量未超标。高量有机肥处理不会进一步提高红地球葡萄的产量和品质,但快速增加果园土壤重金属累积。     

含岩屑紫色土水分扩散规律

紫色土中存在的岩屑显著影响土壤水分扩散。以往研究主要集中在> 2 mm岩屑上而忽视了<2 mm岩屑的作用。因此,探讨>2 mm岩屑对紫色土水分扩散的影响基础上,明确<2 mm岩屑的作用对完善含岩屑紫色土水分扩散规律的研究具有重要的意义,从而为土壤水动力学模型的构建提供理论依据。以四川盆地紫色页岩发育的暗棕紫泥土和泥岩发育的红棕紫泥土为研究对象,设置3种岩屑粒径(0.25~2,2~5,5~10 mm)和4种岩屑含量(0,30%,50%,70%),利用水平土柱吸渗法测定含岩屑土壤湿润锋变化特征、水分扩散率D(θ)和土壤含水率θ,并拟合D(θ)、Boltzmann参数λ与θ之间的关系。结果表明:对于暗棕紫泥土,岩屑粒径为2~5 mm时,土壤湿润锋前进速率和D(θ)随岩屑含量增加呈先增加后降低再增加的趋势;岩屑粒径为0.25~2,5~10 mm时,土壤湿润锋前进速率和D(θ)随岩屑含量增加逐渐增加。对于红棕紫泥土,岩屑粒径为2~5,5~10 mm,随岩屑含量增加,70%岩屑含量的土壤D(θ)明显大于其余3个岩屑含量的土壤,而30%岩屑含量和50%岩屑含量土壤之间的D(θ)无显著差异,且土壤湿润锋前进速率均呈先增加后降低再增加的趋势;岩屑粒径为0.25~2 mm时,土壤湿润锋前进速率和D(θ)随岩屑含量增加逐渐增加。因此,随岩屑含量提高,土壤水分扩散速率整体呈现增加趋势;且泥岩发育的土壤水分扩散速率高于页岩发育的土壤。     

河套盐碱地不同利用方式土壤盐碱化特征差异分析

为研究河套平原盐碱地在不同利用方式对土壤盐碱化特征分布的影响,通过野外调查取样和室内分析相结合的方法,对5种土地利用方式下(林地、农用地、牧草地、改良地、盐荒地)不同深度土壤剖面形态特征、可溶盐含量、盐分离子组成、总碱度、pH、碱化度等指标的变化规律进行了系统研究。结果表明:不同利用方式土壤剖面土体结构、颜色、根系分布、石灰性反应及碱化层分布均有明显差异;土壤剖面的可溶性盐、阴阳离子分布因土地利用方式不同而存在差异,牧草地和林地土壤剖面可溶性盐呈"橄榄"型、盐荒地和改良地呈"表聚"型、农用地呈"底聚"型;土壤pH、碱化度和总碱度在剖面中的分布特征基本一致,呈"S"型;经不同利用方式土壤的盐化程度和碱化程度均有所下降,与盐荒地相比,农用地盐碱化指标下降的最为显著(P0.05),其中0—20 cm土壤全盐量降至0.88 g/kg,pH降至7.83,总碱度、ESP降至0.17 cmol/kg和12.54%,表明苏打盐碱地经农用后更有利于土壤脱盐化过程和脱碱化过程;土壤全盐量、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、SO_4~(2-)、总碱度、pH可作为控制区域盐碱化的主要因子。研究结果为阐明河套平原盐碱地的盐碱化过程及盐碱化土壤利用模式提供技术参考。     

膜下滴灌条件下高产甜菜灌溉的生理指标

甜菜是我国重要的糖料作物,其生物产量高,需水量大,合理灌溉是节约用水、提高产量的有效措施之一。本试验连续两年研究了内蒙古半干旱地区膜下滴灌条件下,不同灌水量甜菜块根产量与叶面积指数、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶水势、土壤含水量和耗水量之间的关系,以及不同灌水量对甜菜产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,高产甜菜的叶面积指数在叶丛快速生长期大于7.37,在块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期分别为6.08~6.51和4.19~5.57,在叶丛快速生长期、块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期叶水势分别为–0.09~–0.22、–0.18~–0.39和–0.26~–0.48 MPa,净光合速率分别为21.28~28.23、21.90~28.75和22.06~26.58μmol m–2 s–1,蒸腾速率在叶丛快速生长期和块根糖分增长期分别为9.36~10.21 mmol m–2 s–1和6.37~7.73 mmol m–2 s–1,在糖分积累期大于4.69 mmol m–2 s–1,耗水量分别为140.15~312.78、44.93~200.45和56.32~113.06 mm。甜菜产量、产糖量、水分利用效率均高的合理灌溉量,在丰雨年份(生育期降雨量500 mm)为1350 m3 hm–2,在少雨年份(生育期降雨量300 mm)为1800 m3 hm–2,为甜菜节水灌溉提供了理论依据和生理指标。     

Does sand content in spawning substrate result in early larval emergence? Evidence from a lithophilic cyprinid fish

The spawning success of lithophilic salmonids is strongly influenced by the fine sediment content (“fines”) of spawning substrates, yet knowledge on the impacts of fines on the spawning of non‐salmonid lithophiles remains limited, despite their ecological and socio‐economic importance in European rivers. Consequently, the aim here was to use an ex‐situ experiment to investigate the impact of sand content on egg survival and timing of larval emergence of the surface‐spawning cyprinid European barbel Barbus barbus. Thirty incubator boxes within a recirculating system were filled with one of five experimental sediment mixtures (0%–40% sand by mass) that each contained 300 fertilised eggs at a depth of 50 mm. Emerged, free‐swimming larvae were captured and counted daily to assess grain‐size effects on larval survival and emergence. Specifically, total proportion of emerged larvae, cumulative daily proportion of emerged larvae and time required to reach 50% emergence were measured during the study. Whilst the proportion of sand in the sediments did not have a significant impact on egg‐to‐emergence survival (mean survival per treatment 75%–79%), it significantly affected the timing of larval emergence to the water column; early emergence was detected in treatments with elevated sand content (on average, 50% emergence after 12–13 days versus 19 days in the control). Similar to findings from salmonid studies, these results suggest high sand content in spawning gravels can influence timing of larval emergence and potentially cyprinid lithophilic fish survival.     

Reduction in cadmium accumulation in japonica rice grains by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of OsNRAMP5

Cadmium (Cd) intake is harmful to human health and Cd contamination in rice grains represents a severe threat to those consuming rice as a staple food. Knockout of Cd transporters is a promising strategy to reduce Cd accumulation in rice grains. OsNRAMP5 is the major transporter for Cd and manganese (Mn) uptake in rice. Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether knockout of OsNRAMP5 is applicable to produce low Cd rice without affecting plant growth and grain yield. In this study, we adopted CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing technology to knock out OsNRAMP5 in two japonica varieties. We generated three independent transgene-free osnramp5 mutants and investigated the effect of osnramp5 mutations on Cd accumulation and plant growth. Hydroponic experiments showed that plant growth and chlorophyll content were significantly reduced in osnramp5 mutants at low Mn conditions, and this defective growth in the mutants could be fully rescued by supply of high levels of Mn. Cd and Mn accumulation in both roots and shoots was markedly reduced in the mutants compared to that in wild-type plants. In paddy field experiments, although Cd in flag leaves and grains was greatly reduced in osnramp5 mutants, some agronomic traits including plant height, seed setting rate, and grain number per panicle were affected in the mutants, which ultimately caused a mild reduction in grain yield. The reduced plant growth in the mutants can be attributed to a marked decrease in Mn accumulation. Our results reveal that the manipulation of OsNRAMP5 should be treated with caution: When assessing the applicability of osnramp5 mutants, soil pH and soil water content in paddy fields need to be taken into consideration, since they might affect the levels of available Mn in the soil and consequently determine the effect of the mutation on grain yield.