Intratumoural interleukin 12 gene therapy stimulates the immune system and decreases angiogenesis in dogs with spontaneous cancer

Interleukin 12 (IL‐12) is a powerful immunostimulatory cytokine with a strong antitumoural activity. In this work, the immunological, anti‐angiogenic and clinical effects of three consecutive intratumoural IL‐12 electrogene therapy (EGT) treatments were evaluated in nine dogs with spontaneous cancer. In all the dogs, tumour biopsies and blood samples were taken prior, during and after the intratumoural IL‐12 EGT (on days 1, 8, 35 and 1, 3, 8, 15, 35, respectively). An initial decrease in immune cells was followed by an increase above baseline 1–3 weeks after treatment initiation. Interestingly, the decrease in peripheral leukocytes 2 days after the first intratumoural IL‐12 EGT coincided with erythema and tumour swelling. Transient increases of IL‐12 and interferon γ were measured in the serum and the tumour tissue, whereas IL‐10 transiently increased only in the serum. The effect of intratumoural IL‐12 EGT on the levels of IL‐24 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the sera and tumour biopsies differed per dog. Via contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (US) (on days 1, 8 and 35), we demonstrated that intratumoural IL‐12 EGT resulted in a significant decrease of the relative blood volume and blood flow speed in the tumour compared with baseline. Metastases were present in two dogs. In one of these dogs, IL‐12 EGT of the primary tumour caused a transient partial regression of the metastases, but not of the primary tumour. The second dog with metastases did not survive long enough to complete the entire treatment cycle. Despite encouraging immunostimulatory and anti‐angiogenic effects after intratumoural IL‐12 EGT, no clinically relevant outcomes were observed in this study, as persistent tumour regression could not be obtained. On the other hand, the laboratory and US results hold great promise for combinatorial strategies of intratumoural IL‐12 EGT with conventional antitumour (immuno)therapies.     

车辆自动变速器与启停系统匹配的控制策略

为解决传统自动变速器与发动机怠速启停系统匹配时产生的起步迟滞和发动机启动失败等问题,该文设计了变速器控制器TCU(transmission control unit)、发动机管理系统EMS(engine management system)和电动泵的协同控制策略,通过所设计的协同控制极大地提高了启动成功率,并通过电动泵智能调速控制方法为自动变速器离合器提前建立油压,避免起步迟滞。该文设计的电动泵的智能调速方法可以减小油泵泵油损失,提高液压系统效率。为了实现平稳舒适的起步换挡,推导了液力机械式自动变速器AT(automatic transmission)车辆起步动力学模型和离合器控制系统模型,基于模型设计了起步离合器油压控制方法,提出了离合器卸油至接触点的控制方法,当车辆再次起步时可以提早响应约400 ms。在自动启停过程中还考虑了换挡杆切换的特殊工况,保证了系统的大覆盖率。通过整车搭载试验验证了所设计的控制策略具备可行性,起步过程中变速器输出轴转速变化平顺,起步冲击度大大降低。电动泵的智能调速控制方法可降低油耗约1.5%。该文的研究方法首次实现了自主品牌AT变速器与启停系统的良好匹配及应用,具有一定的参考意义。     

紫花苜蓿种子活力测定方法的比较

采用标准发芽法、胚根突出法、低温发芽法、电导率法对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)10个种子样品的种子活力进行了测定,结果表明,基于标准发芽法的发芽率和活力指数,可将10个种子样品的种子质量分为3级;基于胚根突出法中胚根突出数可将其分为6级,计数胚根突出数的最适时间为24和28h;基于低温发芽法的活力指数和发芽势可将其分为6级;而电导率法可将其分为7级。因而,电导率法作为紫花苜蓿种子活力评价指标最为敏感,其次为胚根突出法和低温发芽法,标准发芽法最不敏感。     

不同种类早熟禾苗期抗旱性综合评价

在干旱半干旱地区,水分是牧草生长的主要限制因素之一,探究牧草苗期阶段的抗旱性特征对干旱地区牧草引种筛选具有重要意义。本研究选取了青海省海北地区的8份早熟禾属(Poa L.)种质材料,于苗期分别对其进行干旱胁迫处理,并测定干旱胁迫后第5d和第10d各草种叶片的细胞膜透性及丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸和叶绿素的含量,运用Fuzzy数学中隶属函数法对8种早熟禾进行抗旱性综合评判。结果表明:随着胁迫时间的延长,8份早熟禾属种质材料的叶绿素含量均显著下降(P0.05),细胞膜透性、脯氨酸和MDA含量则显著增加(P0.05)。综合评价结果表明:不同种质材料间苗期抗旱性差异较大,由强到弱依次为:草地早熟禾高原早熟禾山地早熟禾光稃早熟禾波伐早熟禾早熟禾莫若波利草地早熟禾冷地早熟禾,草地早熟禾和高原早熟禾抗旱性较强,更适合在干旱地区种植。     

紫花苜蓿越夏期的生理生化反应及评价

高温胁迫会致使植物发生一系列生理、生化及形态上的变化,为了研究在自然高温条件下不同紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）品种的生理生化变化情况,本研究选取22个紫花苜蓿品种,采用随机区组设计,测定在夏季高温期不同自然温度下叶片的相对含水量、相对电导率、可溶性蛋白含量、SOD和POD活性的动态变化,并通过聚类分析的方法,初步评价不同紫花苜蓿品种对夏季高温的耐受力,秋眠级与抗热性之间以及各评价指标之间的相关性。结果表明,1）随着温度由低－高－低的变化,相对含水量、可溶性蛋白含量、SOD和POD活性先升高后降低,叶片相对电导率逐渐上升,第4次样品平均相对电导率是第1次样品的3.36倍;2）通过层次聚类将参试品种对高温的耐受力分为3类,其中耐热类品种为赛特、德宝、皇冠、皇后2000、8925MF、金皇后和WL414,中等耐热品种为赛迪7号、南霸天、丰宝、WL 525HQ、阿尔冈金、猎人河、苜蓿王、牧歌401和四季旺,其余参试品种耐热性较差;3）相关性分析表明,秋眠级与相对含水量极显著负相关（P＜0.01）,与可溶性蛋白含量和POD活性显著负相关（P＜0.05）,与电导率和SOD活性之间相关系数为0.138和-0.405;测定5个生理生化指标之间呈现极显著相关关系。     

Optimizing the Physical and Chemical Properties of Growing Media for the Rooting of Cuttings of Acacia Mearnsii (de Wild)

Rooting media were evaluated to identify problems contributing to poor rooting. Seven media combinations of coir and perlite were investigated, including two sources of coir (‘CG’ and ‘GS’). Final rooting results showed that the 2:1 (‘CG’ coir: perlite), with or without Osmocote® Start, and the 50:50 (‘GS’ coir: perlite) medium supported the best rooting results (19.49%, 19.79% and 17.11%, respectively). Differences between the two sources of coir (‘CG’ and ‘GS’) were evident, with ‘GS’ coir having higher electrical conductivity (EC) levels (0.35 versus 0.28 dsm^?1). Greater rooting was also observed in the medium with the ‘CG’ coir, when comparing the 2:1 (‘CG’ coir: perlite) with Osmocote® Start and the 70:30 (‘GS’ coir: perlite) medium. A decline in rooting was observed as the ratio of coir to perlite increased. The media combinations that supported the most rooting had air-filled porosities between 25 and 35% and ECs between 0.2 and 0.4 dsm^?1 at Week 0.     

Different Levels of Irrigation Water Salinity and Biochar Influence on Faba Bean Yield,Water Productivity,and Ions Uptake

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of irrigation water salinity (0.5, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 dS m^?1) and wheat straw biochar (0%, 1.25%, 2.5%, and 3.75% w/w) on growth and yield of faba been using complete randomized design with three replications. Stomatal conductance (green canopy temperature) of faba bean increased (decreased) by application of biochar at each salinity level. The results showed increasing salinity to 2.5 dS m^?1 at zero biochar application increased the seed yield through osmotic adjustment, while by declining the osmotic potential, the nutritional values of biochar caused the seed yield to increase by increasing salinity to 5 dS m^?1. The root length density and root dry weight density in 0–8 cm soil layer declined under application of 3.75% w/w biochar in all salinity levels in comparison with that obtained in 2.5% w/w biochar, due to higher saline condition of the soil as result of higher biochar application. The results showed that addition of 2.5% w/w biochar can significantly mitigate salinity stress due to its high salt sorption capacity and by increasing potassium/sodium ratio in the soil. In general, since 2.5 % w/w biochar and salinity of 5 dS m^?1 increased dry seed yield and irrigation water productivity compared with that obtained in control (B₀S_0.5), these levels are recommended to improve faba bean growth and yield; however, these levels have to be evaluated under field conditions.     

盐胁迫下草麻黄电阻抗图谱参数的变化及离子平衡机制

为探讨草麻黄对盐胁迫的适应性,以2年生草麻黄苗为试验材料,采用盆栽法测定在不同NaCl浓度、不同胁迫时间下草麻黄苗各项电阻抗图谱参数(EIS)变化及5种矿质离子含量,并分析各电阻抗参数、相对电导率及矿质离子含量之间的相关性。结果表明,随着NaCl浓度的增加和胁迫时间的延长,草麻黄地上部相对电导率逐渐升高,其中200 mmol·L^-1NaCl胁迫28 d以上时的相对电导率显著高于对照,200、300、400 mmol·L^-1盐胁迫下的相对电导率分别为对照的1.43、1.52、1.65倍;电阻抗图谱参数高频电阻率(r)、低频电阻率(r₁)、胞内电阻率(r_i)、胞外电阻率(r_e)、弛豫时间(τ)及弛豫时间分布系数(Ψ)均呈先下降后上升再下降或先下降后上升的变化趋势,其中r、r₁、r_e、r_i、Ψ均在NaCl浓度超过200 mmol·L^-1时出现再次下降,且呈不可逆的下降趋势。随着胁迫天数的增加,草麻黄地上部和根中Na⁺含量逐渐增加,K⁺含量逐渐下降,K⁺/Na⁺显著降低。盐胁迫下,草麻黄地上部Zn、Fe、Mg含量均有不同程度的降低。相关性分析结果表明,K⁺/Na⁺与r_e、r、r₁均呈极显著正相关,与r_i呈显著正相关,其中 K⁺/Na⁺ 与r_e的相关性最高,相关系数为0.985;5种阳离子总量与r_e、r、r₁均呈显著负相关。盐胁迫影响了草麻黄体内离子的运输和平衡,细胞内外离子浓度的变化引发电阻抗参数的变化,分析相对电导率电阻抗图谱参数的变化发现NaCl胁迫下,草麻黄的忍耐极限浓度为200 mmol·L^-1,表明草麻黄具有较高的耐盐能力。本研究结果为盐碱地区草麻黄的推广栽培提供了理论依据。     

基于心电图法(ECG)的牙鲆听觉特性研究

牙鲆(Paralichthys olivacues)为底栖无鳔鱼类,是中国北方重要的海水经济鱼种。本研究通过自主构建的鱼类听觉测量系统,使用心电图法(electrocardiogram,ECG)分别以声刺激频率为60 Hz、100 Hz、150 Hz、200 Hz、300 Hz、400 Hz、500 Hz、700 Hz的正弦波纯音,对20尾牙鲆的听觉阈值进行测定,并绘制出牙鲆的听觉阈值曲线,研究了牙鲆的听觉特性。结果表明,20尾牙鲆均记录到声刺激诱发心率信号,牙鲆对60~200 Hz的低频音较敏感;最敏感频率为100 Hz,其听觉阈值为(94±1.5)d B。本研究可以帮助了解牙鲆的听觉特性,一方面可为鱼类听觉特性的基础研究提供参考,另一方面为今后我国牙鲆的增养殖工作,以及海洋牧场建设提供数据支撑。     

Effects of acute gastric distention and recovery on tendency for ventricular arrhythmia in dogs

The gastric distention-volvulus (GDV) syndrome occurs commonly in large-breed dogs and may prove fatal in 15-68% of cases. Approximately 43% of cases with gastric distention (GD) or volvulus develop cardiac arrhythmias that can contribute to mortality. Most of these arrhythmias are ventricular in origin and ventricular fibrillation (VF) may be the cause of death. This study used an iatrogenic model of acute GD to investigate the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias during acute GD and its recovery, if programmed electrical stimulation (PES) may uncover tendency to VF, if the Q-T interval corrected for heart rate (Q-Tc) of the electrocardiogram (ECG) predicts tendency to VF, and if hemodynamic changes predate VF. Eleven beagles, anesthetized with morphine and alpha-chloralose, and instrumented so that vascular pressures, cardiac output, and PES could be recorded, were used. Five were unperturbed, whereas acute GD to a pressure of 30 mm Hg for 1.5 hours was produced in 6 others. The results were as follows. No dogs with GD developed spontaneously occurring arrhythmias. VF was produced in no dogs by conventional PES, but occurred in all dogs (P < .05) with GD and none of the controls, using accelerated ventricular pacing. The Q-Tc interval of the ECG prolonged minimally in dogs with GD, and shortened (P < .05) in controls. Some hemodynamic changes did predate VF. In conclusion, dogs with acute GD have a tendency for VF, which may be uncovered by accelerated PES. The mechanism for the vulnerability to arrhythmia with GD is unknown.