Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

低能离子注入后小麦苗期损伤效应研究

以鉴54、豫农118及豫麦18号为材料,研究了不同剂量率、剂量离子注入对小麦幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,随着剂量率和剂量的增加小麦幼苗损伤程度逐渐加剧,具体表现在苗高降低、第一叶长变短。剂量率间差异显著,品种间有辐射敏感性差异。另外苗期还发现了一些变异,主要表现为主叶脉失绿和形态畸形。离子束诱变的合适剂量在6×1017ions/cm2以上。     

空蚀、磨损及其联合作用研究进展

空蚀、磨损及两者联合作用是目前流体机械破坏的重要原因，通过实验及数值模拟研究得到空蚀、磨损及两者联合作用的机理是发展流体机械优化设计方法、提高流体机械抵抗空蚀磨损破坏能力的基础．由于影响空蚀、磨损及两者联合作用行为的因素既有速度、压力等流场参数，又有沙粒和材料特性等，近年来此领域的研究在空蚀磨损及联合作用机理、各因素间的相互影响及高抗破坏材料等方面展开．基于此，本文选择性的分析了相关的报道文献，为进一步开展流体机械过流表面快速破坏机理的研究提供理论支持．     

Community structure and carbon and nitrogen storage of sagebrush desert under grazing exclusion in Northwest China

Overgrazing is regarded as one of the key factors of vegetation and soil degradation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China.Grazing exclusion(GE)is one of the most common pathways used to restore degraded grasslands and to improve their ecosystem services.Nevertheless,there are still significant controversies concerning GE’s effects on grassland diversity as well as carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)storage.It remains poorly understood in the arid desert regions,whilst being essential for the sustainable use of grassland resources.To assess the effects of GE on community characteristics and C and N storage of desert plant community in the arid desert regions,we investigated the community structure and plant biomass,as well as C and N storage of plants and soil(0-100 cm depth)in short-term GE(three years)plots and adjacent long-term freely grazing(FG)plots in the areas of sagebrush desert in Northwest China,which are important both for spring-autumn seasonal pasture and for ecological conservation.Our findings indicated that GE was beneficial to the average height,coverage and aboveground biomass(including stems,leaves and inflorescences,and litter)of desert plant community,to the species richness and importance values of subshrubs and perennial herbs,and to the biomass C and N storage of aboveground parts(P<0.05).However,GE was not beneficial to the importance values of annual herbs,root/shoot ratio and total N concentration in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers(P<0.05).Additionally,the plant density,belowground biomass,and soil organic C concentration and C storage in the 0-100 cm soil layer could not be significantly changed by short-term GE(three years).The results suggest that,although GE was not beneficial for C sequestration in the sagebrush desert ecosystem,it is an effective strategy for improving productivity,diversity,and C and N storage of plants.As a result,GE can be used to rehabilitate degraded grasslands in the arid desert regions of Northwest China.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy activates CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons of Alzheimer disease mice

AIM To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS The 6-month-old male APP/PS1 TG mice were randomly divided into TG group, HBO group and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) inhibitor H89 group, with 10 mice in each group. Ten male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice of the same age were used as negative control group (WT group). The mice in HBO and H89 groups were treated with HBO for 6 cycles, while the mice in WT group and TG group were not treated. The learning and memory abilities were observed by Morris water maze. The nesting ability of the mice was detected by nesting test. The Nissl bodies in hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining. The mRNA expression of CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of synapsin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), CREB, phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and BDNF in the hippocampus were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with WT group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in TG group were signilficantly reduced (P<0.05). In addition, the nesting score, the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampal neurons, the mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with TG group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in HBO group were improved (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the nesting scores of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.05), the neurons in the hippocampus were arranged neatly, and the number of Nissl bodies, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF,and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with HBO group, the mice in H89 group had poor learning and memory abilities, lowered nesting scores and decreased number of Nissl bodies. Futhermore, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION HBO improves the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 TG mice, and its mechanism may be related to activating the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in mice.     

基于支持向量机（SVM）的稻纵卷叶螟危害水稻高光谱遥感识别

 对健康水稻叶片以及受稻纵卷叶螟危害后的水稻叶片进行了室内光谱的测定及分析。对430~530 nm和560~730 nm波段采用连续统去除的方法,分别提取了波深、斜率参量作为径向基核函数支持向量机的输入变量,利用LIBSVM软件包构建叶片高光谱识别模型。当参数γ和惩罚系数C分别取0.25和1时构建的径向基支持向量机模型的分类性能最佳,识别精度达100%。研究结果为实时水稻病虫害的早期监测以及田间管理提供了一定的理论基础。     

Damage of potato tubers,a review

Summary Damage to potato tubers due to mechanical forces is among the most important causes of loss of quality reported throughout the world. The causes of such damage are mechanical injuries that occur primarily in association with harvesting and grading. The extent of damage is dependent on the condition of the tubers and also reflects the history of the potatoes. Although important advances have been made, there is still a considerable need for research on this subject since knowledge of the combined effects of essential physiological proceses within the cells is still lacking. The avoidance of exposure to mechanical forces constitutes the most effective protection against tuber damage.     

Loss of and damage to scallops due to storms in the Sea of Okhotsk

In the coastal zone of the Sea of Okhotsk off Hokkaido, Japan, the giant ezo scallop ( Patinopecten yessoensis ) is widely cultivated on the sea bed, making its fishery a major industry. However, the area experiences intense cyclones, including typhoons, about once a decade and the scallop resources appear to have received severe damage from the storms. Such an event occurred on 29 October 1988. The storm caused 12-m-high wind waves, which appeared to be fully developed sea waves. The water above the sea bed repeatedly moved back and forth at speeds of 1∼2 m s^-1 causing damage to the scallops due to collisions and rubbing with gravel and other scallops. From a comparison of wind data with the annual catch of scallops, intense cyclones seem to play an important role on the year-to-year fluctuations in the scallop fishery.     

地下管道震害评估方法研究

目前地下管道的震害预测评价方法大多需要管线本身的较为精细的力学参数,而在实际的城市管网震害评估工作中此类参数并不容易获取.为了简化地下管道震害评价方法,本文基于层次分析法和数理统计耦合算法,提出了一种简化的地下管道震害评估方法—管道破坏度指数法,将该方法应用于某城市的地下管道震害评估工作并对该市7度、8度、9度地震时的地下管道震害评估进行了分析,与应用传统方法对比显示计算结果基本一致,验证了本文方法的确实可行和有效性.由于本文方法只选取影响地下管道破坏的典型因素,不仅大大简化了数据收集的工作,增加了工作效率,同时也保证了实际操作的可行性.     

我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化防治中压力转移模式的检讨——以内蒙古巴林右旗为例

以内蒙巴林右旗为例,详细分析了目前我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化防治中所主要采用的几种方法——围封禁牧、生态移民、舍饲和小草库伦。提出这些方法都属“压力转移模式”,并指出了其失效的各种表现。进而通过分析我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化的主要原因和根本矛盾,指出其失效的根本原因。据此,提出要将“压力转移模式”转向“攻坚模式”才是解决问题的根本出路的见解。