Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.     

Differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells by basic fibroblast growth factor

We investigated the in vitro differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells. BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of healthy beagle dogs. Canine BMSCs were incubated with the basal medium for neurons containing recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; 100 ng/ml). The viability of the bFGF-treated cells was assessed by a trypan blue exclusion assay, and the morphology was monitored. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of neuronal, neural stem cell and glial markers. Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis for the neuronal markers were performed to evaluate the protein expression and localization. The Ca²⁺ mobilization of the cells was evaluated using the Ca²⁺ indicator Fluo3 to monitor Ca²⁺ influx. To investigate the mechanism of bFGF-induced neuronal differentiation, the fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor or the Akt inhibitor was tested. The bFGF treatment resulted in the maintenance of the viability of canine BMSCs for 10 days, in the expression of neuronal marker mRNAs and proteins and in the manifestation of neuron-like morphology. Furthermore, in the bFGF-treated BMSCs, a high concentration of KCl and L-glutamate induced an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Each inhibitor significantly attenuated the bFGF-induced increase in neuronal marker mRNA expression. These results suggest that bFGF contributes to the differentiation of canine BMSCs into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells and may lead to the development of new cell-based treatments for neuronal diseases.     

朝阳地区山杏花期及结实率影响因子的初步研究

山杏是辽宁朝阳地区主要的经济林树种,但结实率低。为解决这一问题,选取不同坡向、坡位(东北坡、东坡下腹、北坡、东坡上腹和南坡)的山杏林分,调查开花物候期和坐果率,研究不同气象因子对山杏坐果率的影响。结果表明:阳坡开花期最早,半阴坡略延迟,阴坡最晚。受温度、光照、相对湿度及风速影响,不同坡向的坐果率差异较大,即东北坡东坡下腹北坡东坡上腹南坡,同一坡向(东坡)的下腹要高于上腹。     

我国湿地公园建设发展限制因素与对策

湿地公园建设既是湿地生态恢复的新型模式,也是湿地保护与合理利用的最有效方式。阐述了我国湿地公园建设现状,分析了湿地公园建设和管理存在的问题,针对主要限制因素提出了对策建议。     

土壤水分动态对林地地表径流的影响概况

指出了土壤水分是影响地表径流产生重要因素之一 ,研究土壤水分在土壤中的分布、土壤水分动态变化规律以及影响土壤水分变化的因子 ,对林地的生态环境保护具有重要意义.土壤水分的分布受空间和时间的影响 ,不仅如此 ,土壤水分动态变化和分布规律还受到诸如气象因子、地形因子、地形利用因子、人为活动等因子的影响.这些影响因素都导致了土壤水分动态变化在空间和时间上的差异 ,从而导致了林地降雨-产流的差异.因此 ,深入研究影响土壤水分变化的各种因素 ,以及研究各种因素对土壤水分动态变化的作用规律 ,一方面能够为降雨-地表径流的发生规律提供参考 ,另一方面为保护林地植被生长提供了重要的条件.     

河北省2018年第三季度马铃薯价格走势分析

依据对马铃薯价格的实时监控，以2018年河北省第三季度马铃薯价格为主要研究对象，阐明了2018年河北省马铃薯价格横向水平及纵向变化趋势，并对影响价格的因素进行了数据分析。结果显示：在河北、山东、甘肃3大产区及全国，2018年第三季度河北省马铃薯价格处于最低水平，明显低于全国平均水平，但年同比增幅最大。分析表明：马铃薯库存、气候的变化以及马铃薯收获期是影响第三季度河北省马铃薯价格的主要因素。最后，根据分析结果，提出调整种植结构、适时出售的建议。     

气候变化适应及其影响因素研究——山东胶州湾地区居民的实证分析

为探索气候变化感知在适应决策过程中的作用机理，本研究以深度访谈数据为基础，基于“感知－适应”分析框架，采用二元Probit模型和泊松回归模型，分析胶州湾地区居民气候变化适应决策和适应选择的影响因素。研究表明，胶州湾地区绝大多数居民已经感知到气候变化，半数以上居民采取了一定的适应措施，大多数居民对适应措施效果的感到满意。居民采取适应措施介于0-4项，平均为1.07项，适应措施的普及率和多样化仍有提升空间。影响胶州湾地区居民气候变化适应决策与适应选择的主要因素存在一定差异性，但“居民对气候变化的感知”不论是对适应决策还是对适应选择的影响都较大，其中又以“对降水变化的感知”和“对气象灾害损失的感知”最为显著。     

Identification and expression analysis of 11 MADS-box genes in peach (Prunus persica var. nectarina ‘Luxing’)

MADS-box genes play a central role in the development of flowers in plants. In this study, 11 PpMADSs were isolated from ‘Luxing’ peach, and the expression levels were detected in different tissues and fruit development. Eleven PpMADSs, designated as PpMADS13, 14, 18, 23, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 39 were isolated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PpMADS13, 14, and 18 belonged to SVP, AGL15, and MIKC* group respectively; PpMADS23, 24, 25, and 39 were in the Mα group; PpMADS32, 33, 34, and 35 belonged to the Mγ group. Predictions from subcellular localization showed that 10 PpMADS were located in the nucleus. RT-PCR revealed that PpMADS13 was expressed in stems, leaves, and during fruit development (70d); PpMADS14 was expressed in sepals, stamens, petals, and during flower development; PpMADS18 was expressed in roots, stems, leaves, sepals, ovaries, stamens, petals, and during flower and fruit development; all MADS-box genes (expect for PpMADS33) in the Mα and Mγ group were expressed in roots, stems, leaves, sepals, ovaries, stamens, petals, and during flower development; few genes were expressed during fruit development. These results indicated that PpMADS may play a crucial regulatory role in vegetative growth and development processes of flowers and fruits in peaches.     

Mapping the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston using Google Street View panoramas

Street trees provide shade and increase human thermal comfort during hot summer. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of shade provision of street trees in Boston, Massachusetts. The sky view factor (SVF), which influences the solar radiation to the ground and affects human thermal comfort, was used to indicate the contribution of street trees on shade provision. Google Street View (GSV) panoramas were used to calculate the photographic method based SVF (SVF_P), with the consideration of all kinds of obstructions within street canyons. A building height model was used to calculate the simulation based SVF (SVFs), with consideration of obstruction of building blocks only. Considering the fact that street trees and building blocks are the two major obstructions of radiation within street canyons, therefore, the difference between the two SVF estimation results can be considered as the shade provision of street trees. The results show that street trees help to decrease the SVF by 24.61% in Boston, Massachusetts. The shading level varies spatially in the study area. Generally, the southwestern area has much higher shading level than the north and the east. We further explored the shading variation among different socioeconomic groups in the study area. Result shows that Hispanics tend to live in neighborhoods with lower shading level. This study can help to provide a reference for future urban greening projects for global climate change adaption.