Cuticular protein gene LmACP8 is involved in wing morphogenesis in the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria

Cuticular proteins(CPs) are major components of the insect cuticle-associated organs such as integument and wings, although the importance of CPs for wing development and function in hemimetabolous insects remains understudied. In the present study, a wing cuticular protein LmACP8 was identified from Locusta migratoria, which belongs to the RR-2 subfamily of cuticular protein RR consensus(CPR) chitin-binding proteins. LmACP8 was mainly expressed in the wing pads and showed high expression levels before ecdysis of third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, with its encoded protein located in the procuticle of wing pads and adult wings. Depletion of LmACP8 by RNA interference markedly reduced the amount of its protein, which consequently caused abnormal wing morphogenesis in the transition from nymph to adult of L. migratoria. We further demonstrated that the abnormal morphogenesis was caused by severe damage of the endocuticle in the wings. LmACP8 was suppressed by 20-hydroxyecdysone(20 E) in vivo, however, its expression was significantly up-regulated after knocking down the hormone receptor gene LmHR39. Thus, the LmACP8 that is negatively regulated by the LmHR39-mediated 20 E signaling pathway is involved in wing development during the nymph to adult transition.     

油茶皂苷的制备及提纯工艺研究

为研究油茶皂苷的制备及提纯工艺,为中试化生产提供科学的技术支撑,通过正交试验得到最佳工艺为乙醇体积分数75%,料液比1∶2,提取时间120 min,提取温度60℃,得到纯度为55.65%的油茶皂苷粗品,得率16.12%。油茶皂苷粗品配置成质量分数3%水溶液,加入10%体积的1%壳聚糖絮凝剂絮,经凝沉、淀除去杂质,澄清液经AB-8型大孔树脂吸附90 min,用质量分数2%氢氧化钠溶液洗脱杂质,再用体积分数70%乙醇溶液洗脱油茶皂苷,将洗脱液旋转蒸发,除去乙醇并烘干,即得到纯度85.36%的油茶皂苷。     

基于距离相关系数和KNN回归模型的森林蓄积量估测研究

【目的】探究Landsat8 OLI数据和KNN算法在森林蓄积量估测中的潜力。【方法】以湖南省湘潭县为研究区,采用Landsat8 OLI数据和同时期的二类调查数据,通过距离相关系数筛选特征,分别采用线性回归模型(MLR)、K-近邻模型(KNN)、距离加权KNN模型(DW-KNN)和优化欧式KNN模型(FW-KNN)对森林蓄积量进行估测。使用十折交叉方法进行精度检验,对检验结果进行对比分析。【结果】3种KNN模型的估测结果均高于传统的线性模型,并且在3种KNN模型中,FW-KNN算法效果最好,决定系数达到0.69,为3种模型中最高;3种KNN模型中,本研究优化欧氏距离KNN模型的估测精度最高,其均方根误差为30.3%,相比于传统KNN模型的均方根误差降低了5.1%,相比于DW-KNN模型降低了3.3%。【结论】采用DW-KNN蓄积量估测结果明显优于其他两种模型,说明通过特征与蓄积量的相关性优化样本间的距离是一种可行的KNN优化方法。     

Association of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 promoter polymorphisms in pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their household contacts of younger age group

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes have been found to be involved in the clinical outcome of Tuberculosis. The present study was aimed to identify the high risk genotypes in Tuberculosis patients and their household contacts. A total of 490 subjects were studied which includes 150 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB), 190 household contacts (HHC) and 150 healthy controls (HC). The SNPs of TNF-α (-308A/G), IL-10(-1082G/A) and IL-6(-174G/C) were performed by ARMs PCR. The IL-10 GA genotype showed significant association in APTB and HHC and was 2.3 times higher risk in APTB and 3.7 times in HHC compared to HCs. The A allele was found to be significantly associated with the risk of disease. The CC genotype of IL-6 was found to be significantly associated in APTB and an insignificant positive association in HHCs. The multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis indicated that the genotypes of IL-6 were showing high risk with GA genotype of IL-10. In conclusion the gene interaction may be useful for identification of genotypes as biomarkers to distinguish high risk individuals.     

基于Landsat和MODIS数据融合的农牧区NPP模拟

天山北坡是中国重要的农牧业发展基地,利用遥感数据准确获取植被净初级生产力(Net primary productivity,NPP)的时空信息,对于合理分配农牧业草地资源具有重要意义。由于受到天气影响及卫星传感器受到时间分辨率和空间分辨率的限制,获取既具有中空间分辨率、又具有高时间分辨率的遥感数据比较困难。本文基于中空间分辨率Landsat 8 OLI数据与高时间分辨率MODIS数据,采用遥感数据时空融合STARFM算法,获取中空间分辨率和高时间分辨率序列的遥感数据,以天山北坡中段区域为实验区,结合CASA模型,对区域内植被NPP进行模拟。结果表明,2016年内8个时期,融合后的NDVI数据与对应时刻的Landsat 8 OLI NDVI数据的相关系数不小于0.759,偏差在0.006 2～0.009 4之间,均方根误差在0.074～0.135之间;利用融合数据与CASA模型协同模拟的NPP具有良好的空间细节信息,NPP模拟值与野外实测值决定系数R~2为0.860 1,表明两者具有较好的相关性。本研究为多源遥感影像融合技术与光能利用率模型协同模拟NPP提供了新的思路。     

用遥感影像提取大别山区水稻种植面积——以Landsat 8为例

本研究选取安徽省安庆市大别山为研究区,包括太湖县、岳西县、宿松县和潜山县,选取2016年和2017年的6景Landsat 8卫星遥感影像,通过遥感影像提取水稻种植面积,分析大别山区的水稻种植面积分布,并对研究区域的水稻种植面积进行动态实时监测。用遥感解译方法分别提取了研究区内的晚稻种植面积,并利用随机点验证和Kappa系数验证结果精度。结果表明:2017年和2016年水稻种植面积的提取精度分别为93.44%、93.78%,Kappa系数分别为0.86、0.83,证明水稻提取效果精确;对比研究区域各个县内的2017年和2016年晚稻种植面积,发现安庆市大别山区太湖县、潜山县、岳西县的水稻种植面积变化率均在5%以内,属于正常变化,由于2016年宿松县遭遇了水灾,部分农田被淹没,故宿松县2017年水稻种植面积相比2016年增加了13.01%;对比传统的农作物种植面积统计方法,利用遥感的方法更省人力、物力、财力,并且能精确、快速地实现对农作物的实时动态监测。     

Role of cytokeratin 8 on changes of intestinal epithelial permeability induced by corticotropin-releasing factor

AIM: To investigate the role of cytokeratin 8 (CK8) on the change of intercellular permeability of intestinal epithelial cells induced by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). METHODS: The expression levels of CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRFR2 on human colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cell surface were determined by immunofluorescence staining. After treatment with 100 nmol/L CRF for 72 h, the translocation of FITC-labelled dextran was measured in a Transwell chamber. The structural changes of tight junctions were observed under transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of CK8, and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were determined by Western blot. The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) was detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the effects of CRF on intestinal epithelial permeability were examined in CK8-silencing HT29 cells, which were constructed by infection with sh-CK8 lentivirus. RESULTS: CRF treatment increased the permeability of FITC-labelled dextran (P<0.05), caused the opening of tight junctions, and induced increased fluorescence intensity of CK8. The expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 were down-regulated (P<0.05). PKC activity was decreased at 1 h after CRF treatment (P<0.05). CRF-induced increase in the permeability and down-regulation of occludin were not blocked by CK8 silencing. Nevertheless,CK8 silencing blocked the effects of CRF regarding the decrease in the expression levels of ZO-1 and the increase in PKC activity (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CK8 may be involved in CRF-induced increase in intestinal epithelial permeability by inhibiting the activity of PKC, and there may be other signaling pathways involved.     

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on chondrocyte apoptosis and NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway in rabbits with osteoarthritis

AIM To explore the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on rabbit osteoarthritis and its possible mechanism. METHODS The rabbits with knee osteoarthritis were prepared and then divided into model group, sodium hyaluronate (SH) group and PRP group, and another sham operation group was set up, with 6 rabbits in each group. The gross morphological changes of rabbit cartilage were observed. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathomorphological changes of the cartilage. TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/interleukin-1β （IL-1β） signaling pathway-related molecules was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and the protein levels of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Chondrocytes were isolated and processed according to grouping, and the NLRP3 and IL-1β levels of the cells were measured by ELISA. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, chondrocyte apoptotic rate, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in model group were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax in SH group and PRP group were decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased significantly (P<0.05). In PRP group, Pelletier score, Mankin score, the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes, the positive protein expression rates of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β, and the protein levels of caspase-3 and Bax were lower than those in SH group, while the protein expression of Bcl-2 was higher than that in SH group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the expression of NL?RP3 and IL-1β in MCC950 (NLRP3 ihibitor) group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), the expression of NLRP3 in eucalyptol (IL-1β inhibitor) group was not significantly changed (P>0.05), and the expression of IL-1β was significantly reduced (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Platelet-rich plasma promotes the repair of cartilage in osteoarthritis rabbits, which has better effect than SH. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3/IL-1β pathway and the reduction of chondrocyte apoptosis.     

Cytokine profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with cystic echinococcosis

IntroductionCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), which affects domestic and wild carnivores as the definitive host and ungulates as intermediate hosts. In intermediate hosts, both Th1 and Th2 cells are involved in the immune responses to an echinoccocal infection. This study aimed to investigate production of IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CE patients before and after surgical treatment.MethodsTo evaluate cytokine production in response to E. granulosus antigens, we investigated IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ production in PBMCs of 20 CE patients in response to hydatid cyst fluid antigen (HCF-Ag) before and after surgical treatment using ELISA.ResultsThe mean IL-4 production from HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while IFN-γ was significantly increased in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs in patients after surgery (p = 0.005).Furthermore, our results showed that there is no significant difference between IL-10 production in patients before and after treatment (p = 0.562).ConclusionsOur data Indicated production of IL-4 in cultured PBMCs of CE patients stimulated with HCF-Ag was decreased significantly. While, production of IFN-γ was increased significantly in responses to HCF Ag after surgery. We concluded that the evaluation of IL-4 and IFN-γ in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs of CE patients should be considered as a useful marker in the follow up of patients with cystic echinococcosis.