Expression of Gab2 in human osteosarcoma U2-OS cells

AIM: To investigate the expression of Grb2-associated binding protein 2 (Gab2) in human osteosarcoma cells and its relationship with the invasion and metastases of human osteosarcoma cells. METHODS: The technique of small RNA interference was used to transfect human osteosarcoma U2-OS cell lines. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of Gab2 in transfected U2-OS cells. After transfection, through chemotaxis and invasion assays in vitro, the cell migration and invasion abilities were detected. RESULTS: After transfection, the expression of Gab2 at mRNA and protein levels in Gab2 siRNA transfected cells (SiGab2/U2-OS) was lower than that in scrambled siRNA transfected cells (Scr/U2-OS) and U2-OS cells. After stimulation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) at concentration of 10 μg/L, the migration SiGab2/U2-OS cells was significantly less than Scr/U2-OS cells and U2-OS cells (P<0.01). The number of invasion cells of SiGab2/U2-OS group was significantly lower than the other 2 control groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Inhibition of Gab2 expression obviously attenuates the migration and invasion abilities of human osteosarcoma U2-OS cell line.     

Farmland birds and resource protection in the UK: Cross-cutting solutions for multi-functional farming?

Farmland bird declines in Europe are well documented. In the UK, agri-environment schemes are key mechanisms for reversing the declines of birds and other farmland biodiversity, but recent reviews suggest that wet habitats might be a gap in provision by these schemes. Important resources provided by wet habitats include: (i) damp soil, for probing species; (ii) permanent water to provide water-dependent invertebrates, as a source of food; (iii) bare or sparsely vegetated ground in the draw-down zone, to improve access to food; (iv) rank emergent vegetation for nesting. However, wet habitats have been lost from farmland as a result of loss of ponds and filling of ditches, as well as the effective removal of water from fields by surface run-off, itself affected by soil compaction, and extensive under-field drainage. The efficient removal of water from fields can cause problems downstream, both through flooding, and diffuse pollution. Regular farmland pollutants include pesticides, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment, leading to environmental problems such as eutrophication and reduced quality of drinking water. Major new political instruments, such as the Water Framework Directive, will aim to reduce the impact of this diffuse pollution from agriculture. A variety of solutions to diffuse pollution, such as conservation tillage, buffer strips at field edges, and small constructed wetlands, could simultaneously provide some of the resources required by farmland birds. We suggest that future agri-environment schemes, to be truly multifunctional, could focus on bringing these diverse objectives together.     

Enhanced biological cycling of phosphorus increases its availability to crops in low-input sub-Saharan farming systems

Many soils in sub-Saharan Africa, which are farmed by smallholders, are P deficient and highly P fixing. Furthermore, P inputs supplied as farmyard manure (FYM) or inorganic P fertilizer are normally too small to replace P offtakes by crops. Consequently most soils are in a negative P balance, which is reflected in small, and often declining, crop yields. The obvious solution of simply applying adequate P is seldom an option due to shortages of manure, which is usually low in nutrients in any case, and the high cost of inorganic P fertilizer relative to the likely cash value of the harvest. Our aim was to see if we could devise practical methods to increase soil P availability in this situation and to investigate the mechanisms involved. Two approaches were adopted. Firstly, to attempt to saturate the P-fixing sites in the soils by applying a large annual application of P (75 kg P ha⁻¹), which should serve for several seasons. Secondly, to attempt to keep the fertilizer P in biological forms by supplying fertilizer P and cattle manure (FYM) in combination. Here, the aim was to promote the cycling of P through the soil microbial biomass and associated metabolite pools, with the expected result of decreasing P fixation and increased plant availability of this P. These treatments were investigated using two field sites on smallholder farms in Kenya: one, considered a ‘high P fixing’ soil at Malava (Kakamega District) and one considered a ‘low P fixing’ soil at Mau Summit (Nakuru District). The following treatments were applied in 1997 and 1998: nil; 75 kg P ha⁻¹ as super phosphate (P); 25 kg P ha⁻¹; FYM at 1.9 t ha⁻¹ dry matter; FYM+25 kg P ha⁻¹. All treatments also received 100 kg inorganic N ha⁻¹. Maize was the test crop. There was no significant correlation in either year at either site between soil P, measured as NaHCO₃-extractable P, resin P or NaOH-extractable P and maize yield. However, the different soil P fractions were closely correlated with each other. Yields at the high P rate (75 kg ha⁻¹y⁻¹) were often little better than the control. There was, however, a significant positive relationship (P<0.05) between soil microbial biomass P and crop yield, again at both sites and in both years. The treatment giving the best yield and the largest biomass P was always FYM+P. Our results indicate that the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers in these low input systems may promote increased biological cycling, enhanced availability and consequently improved plant uptake of soil and fertiliser P, to the advantage of the small scale farmer. The results also indicate that biomass P measurements may provide a better indicator of soil P availability in these soils than some more conventional chemical extractants. However, both findings require further evaluation.     

Reverse leasing and power dynamics among blue agave farmers in western Mexico

We examine changing production relations in the Mexican tequila industry to explore the ways in which large industrial firms are using “reverse leasing arrangements,” a form of contract farming, to extend their control over small agave farmers. Under these arrangements, smallholders rent their parcels to contracting companies who bring in capital, machinery, labor, and other agricultural inputs. Smallholders do not have access to their land, nor do they make any of the management decisions. We analyze the factors that have led some producers to participate in reverse leasing arrangements, while allowing other producers to continue farming independently. In addition, we look at the ways in which farmers are responding to these new production relations and constraints and the strategies that they are using to regain control over the production process.

论科学发展观与中国城镇化建设

当前我国社会主义新农村的规划与建设存在一些问题,如何根据科学发展观来推进农村小城镇化,正确处理新农村、小城镇规划编制所面对的问题,避免失误,从而完善社会主义新农村的规划建设,无疑具有一定的现实意义。     

白血病抑制因子在雌性哺乳动物生殖过程中的作用

白血病抑制因子是一种多功能的细胞因子,与哺乳动物的生殖过程密切相关,在排卵、胚胎发育及胚胎着床等过程中起重要的调节作用。母体激素和细胞因子可通过调控白血病抑制因子的表达而影响生殖过程。在此,对LIF在雌性哺乳动物生殖过程中的作用进行了综述。     

猪小肠抗菌肽对雏鸡的促生长作用及其机理初探

【目的】测定猪小肠抗菌肽对雏鸡生长指标的影响，在结构上初步探讨猪小肠抗菌肽促进雏鸡生长发育的机理。【方法】选择体重基本一致的雏鸡60只，随机平均分为2组。试验组，在7、14、21、28、35、42日龄每只雏鸡分别肌肉注射猪小肠抗菌肽0.1ml（100 μg·ml-1）；对照组，在相应日龄每只雏鸡分别肌肉注射灭菌生理用水0.1ml，在相同饲养条件下进行6周试验。在7日龄和49日龄，采用组织切片检测鸡十二指肠和空肠的绒毛长度、隐窝深度和黏膜厚度。【结果】试验组雏鸡平均日耗料量（29.82±1.05）g，对照组雏鸡平均日耗料量（28.85±0.79）g，二者无差异（P>0.05）；试验组雏鸡平均日增重为（13.54±0.20）g，对照组雏鸡平均日增重为（11.10±0.19）g，二者差异极显著（P<0.01）；试验组料重比为2.27±0.04，对照组料重比为2.60±0.05，二者差异极显著（P <0.01）。在49日龄，试验组鸡十二指肠和空肠绒毛长度及其绒毛长度/隐窝深度比值（V/C）高于对照组鸡，二者差异显著（P<0.05），试验组鸡十二指肠和空肠黏膜厚度与对照组鸡相比，差异不显著（P>0.05）。【结论】猪小肠抗菌肽可改善鸡十二指肠和空肠的结构，提高雏鸡生长速度和饲料转化率。     

我国中小企业的融资困境及对策研究

从我国中小企业的融资现状入手,分析了中小企业融资难的外因和内因,提出了一些对策措施.     

牛小腔前卵泡体外生长发育的研究

 在添加有ITS、丙酮酸钠、次黄嘌呤、血清、FSH、LH、E2的α-MEM基础液中加入表皮生长因子（EGF）和碱性成纤维生长因子(bFGF)及氢化可的松（HC），对直径＜100 ?m（平均直径61～70?m）的牛小腔前卵泡进行体外培养。结果表明，试验I，在FSH、LH、E2浓度分别为0.25 ?g·ml-1、5 iu·ml-1、0.5 ?g·ml-1时，卵泡体外培养7 d， EGF和bFGF联合存在好于分别单独存在时的培养效果，当bFGF（25 ng或50 ng）剂量保持不变，提高EGF含量（25 ng,50 ng）有抑制卵泡发育的作用；增加bFGF的剂量有助于腔前卵泡的发育。 试验II，当FSH、LH、E2分别调整到4 ?g·ml-1、10 iu·ml-1、0.1 ?g·ml-1，并添加了氢化可的松（40 ng·ml-1），卵泡体外培养13 d，在试验3组（EGF 25ng）和试验4组（EGF 25 ng+ bFGF 50 ng），卵泡发育率和卵泡平均增长直径均显著好于试验1组（未添加EGF、bFGF、氢化可的松）和试验2组（只添加氢化可的松）。体外培养第20 d，试验3组和试验4组卵泡发育率分别为15.79 %和25.58 %，卵泡最大增长直径分别为300和320 ?m，并形成小的卵泡腔（成腔率分别为7.69 %和17.65 %），而试验1组和试验2组其卵泡发育率均为0。表明体外培养腔前卵泡时，不同的培养体系对其生长发育有十分重要的影响，各种成分之间存在互作的关系。     

The role of informal contracts in the growth of small cattle herds on the floodplains of the Lower Amazon

In the absence of access to formal credit, informal contracts with independent investors give the small ranchers of the Lower Amazon an acceptable means through which to surmount the high investment hurdle of starting a cattle herd. These contracts – called sociedades – allow small ranchers to raise an outside investor's cattle in return for a portion of the offspring and are commonplace in the cattle production systems of the Amazon. But, notwithstanding a vast literature on cattle production in the Amazon, informal contracts have been largely overlooked. This paper presents the results of a field survey and financial analysis for informal contracts on small ranches in the Lower Amazon. In the results, we suggest that informal contracts are an important means of cattle herd start-up and herd production for small ranchers. Internal rates of returns in cattle production under these contracts are in the range of –7 to –12% for the small rancher and 12% for the investor. The net present value of the contract to the small rancher ranges from –R$1219 to –R$8599 and from R$1681 to R$8845 for the investor, for a 10-year period, depending on herd size. Financial returns contracts are sensitive to the contract design – e.g., to who pays health costs – and to beef prices. The small ranchers have a negative IRR, lose money, and bear all the risk of loss, yet persist in using this form of herd development. We surmise that this is due to the non-financial benefits of cattle ownership and the lack of access to formal credit structures. In conclusion, although outside the formal economy and apparently financially unrewarding, these contracts are an important mechanism by which the small ranchers on the Amazon Floodplains create cattle herds.