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.     

Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

品种间大豆脂肪氧化酶活性差异及β-胡萝卜素漂白性研究

为了解东北地区大豆品种间大豆脂肪氧化酶(LOX)活性差异规律,整理适于东北地区种植的大豆种质资源307份(6份半野生品种,17份地方品种及4份国外品种,其余为栽培品种),统一种植,秋季收获后,测定各品种成熟籽粒脂肪氧化酶总活性。分析品种间脂肪氧化酶总活性分布规律、大豆脂肪氧化酶总活性与β-胡萝卜素漂白性之间关系。结果表明,307份大豆品种间脂肪氧化酶总活性差异极显著,平均值为21.68 U·mL~(-1),最小值为2.51 U·mL~(-1),最大值为42.38 U·mL~(-1)。根据脂肪氧化酶总活性差异,通过聚类分析将307份大豆品种分为3类。低活性品种占总量43.65%,脂肪氧化酶总活性平均值为15.25 U·mL~(-1);中等活性品种占总量43.97%,脂肪氧化酶活性平均值为24.64 U·mL~(-1);高活性品种占总量12.38%,脂肪氧化酶总活性平均值为33.87 U·mL~(-1)。脂肪氧化酶总活性与油分含量呈正相关,与蛋白含量呈负相关,与漂白性呈正相关。     

马疱疹病毒1型主要毒力基因分析及TK基因缺失载体的构建

为了解新疆马疱疹病毒1型（EHV-1）主要毒力基因遗传进化情况并构建TK基因缺失株，本研究以EHV-1 XJ2015株DNA为模板，对其主要毒力基因TK、gI和gE全长进行克隆、测序及生物信息学分析，并扩增TK基因左右重组臂TKL和TKR，构建质粒pUC-TKLR，将扩增后的增强绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP，含有CMV+polyA）插入pUC-TKLR质粒，构建TK基因缺失打靶质粒。TK、gI和gE基因同源性分析结果显示，XJ2015株与国外EHV-1分离株TK、gI和gE基因同源性均较高，分别为99.8%~100.0%、99.6%~100.0%和99.9%~100.0%；与EHV-3分离株同源性均最低，分别为72.9%、59.4%和62.1%；遗传进化分析显示，3个基因均与国外EHV-1同属于一个遗传进化分支，与EHV-9和EHV-4进化关系较近，但与EHV-3进化关系较远，表明XJ2015毒株与国外EHV-1毒株TK、gI、gE基因核苷酸上差异不明显，没有明显的地域性特征，功能基因保守且进化缓慢，同源基因功能相同或相近；经PCR扩增、酶切、测序及转染鉴定，本试验成功构建了用于TK基因缺失的打靶质粒pUC-TKLR-EGFP。通过对EHV-1主要毒力基因的分析及TK基因缺失打靶载体的构建，为新疆地区马鼻肺炎流行病学调查分析、TK基因缺失株的构建提供理论依据。     

插装阀阀芯优化与仿真分析

插装阀在静止状态下，由于静摩擦的原因，导致阀芯与阀套出现卡滞现象；在运动状态下，由于压差和阀芯微偏移的原因造成阀芯与阀套发生磨损；为此提出一种新型的带有导流槽的插装阀阀芯。基于缝隙流动和液压卡紧分析，建立插装阀阀芯与阀套间隙的CFD优化仿真模型，通过N-S方程、伯努利方程和卡紧力方程联立得到阀芯与阀套间卡紧力的推导公式。基于CFD仿真模拟分析，比较新型阀芯与原阀芯不同模型间隙的切线应力、压力分布规律，结果表明：在入口压力为12 MPa时，原阀芯的切线应力在12 000 Pa上下波动，大于新型阀芯切线应力4 200 Pa；在入口压力为8 MPa时，原阀芯的切线应力在7 200 Pa上下波动，大于新型阀芯切线应力3 000 Pa；且原阀芯切线应力的波动范围远大于新型阀芯。新型阀芯在阀套间的受力更加平稳，磨损更小。研究结果为插装阀优化以及减少能量损失和改善润滑条件提供理论指导和依据。     

外源NO及反向调控PEG胁迫下苜蓿萌发种子抗氧化酶及其同工酶动态的研究

以紫花苜蓿为材料,用一氧化氮供体硝普钠(SNP)及一氧化氮清除剂c-PTIO对苜蓿种子进行浸种处理,采用分光光度法和同工酶电泳技术来研究外源NO及反向调控对PEG胁迫下紫花苜蓿抗氧化酶活性及其同工酶的影响,并探讨NO调控苜蓿种子耐旱性的生理机制。结果表明:PEG胁迫下外施0.1 mmol·L^-1 SNP,第6天时较PEG处理POD活性降低了32.72%;第4天时SOD、CAT活性较PEG处理升高了10.48%、23.60%,有效缓解了PEG对紫花苜蓿萌发中种子的氧化损伤,提高其抗氧化能力。PEG胁迫下添加 c-PTIO抑制了苜蓿萌发期的抗氧化系统活性。从同工酶的谱带数量和强弱来看,POD同工酶各区带活力均随PEG胁迫时间的延长而增加,在第2天酶带只有1条,而第4天酶带呈现9条;SOD和CAT同工酶表达量变化不显著,但酶带强弱有一定变化,S3酶带随处理时间的延长表达量逐渐减弱;CAT同工酶谱带则一直保持2条带,无明显强弱变化。因此,外源NO在PEG胁迫下紫花苜蓿萌发中抗氧化酶快速响应并在维护氧自由基代谢平衡中起重要保护作用。     

Identification,characterization and full-length sequence analysis of a novel endornavirus in common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

To identify the possible quarantine viruses in seven common sunflower varieties imported from the United States of America and the Netherlands, we tested total RNAs extracted from the leaf tissues using next-generation sequencing of small RNAs. After analysis of small RNA sequencing data, no any quarantine virus was found, but a double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) molecule showing typical genomic features of endornavirus was detected in two varieties, X3939 and SH1108. Full-length sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that it is a novel endornavirus, temporarily named as Helianthus annuus alphaendornavirus(HaEV). Its full genome corresponds to a 14 662-bp dsRNA segment, including a 21-nt 5′ untranslated region(UTR), 3' UTR ending with the unique sequence CCCCCCCC and lacking a poly(A) tail. An open reading frame(ORF) that encodes a deduced 4 867 amino acids(aa) polyprotein with three domains: RdRP, Hel and UGT(UDP-glycosyltransferase). HaEV mainly distributed in the cytoplasm but less in the nucleus of leaf cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) experiment. This virus has a high seed infection rate in the five varieties, X3907, X3939, A231, SH1108 and SR1320. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the virus of the family Endornaviridae in the common sunflower.