肥胖基因研究进展

与肥胖有关的基因已发现很多，但ob基因是研究的重点，其表达产物Leptin的作用机制已有较深入的了解。本文主要介绍了ob基因及其产物Leptin的作用机制、生物学效应、Leptin抵抗现象，以及其它与肥胖有关的基因和蛋白。     

The rates of maize growth and lignin biosynthesis change after root-applied chalcone

The effects of root-applied chalcone at 0.15 mmol L⁻¹ on the growth and lignin biosynthesis in maize were investigated. The contents of 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) substrates in maize shoots were increased more rapidly in the samples with chalcone application than in the control and the increase occurred at ≤ 3 h after the application (HAA). The lignin content was reduced by chalcone at ≤ 6 HAA. The shoot growth was suppressed by chalcone at ≤ 9 HAA. Consequently, the results suggest that chalcone suppressed maize growth by inhibiting monolignol biosynthesis.     

Apoplastic redox metabolism: Synergistic phenolic oxidation and a novel oxidative burst

The plant apoplast is an important mediator of communication between the cell cytoplasm and its surroundings. Plant cell suspensions offer a convenient model system to gain insight into apoplastic physiology. Here, we describe a novel phenomenon that took place when two naturally occurring phenolics were added together to either soybean or tobacco cell suspensions. Acetosyringone (AS) and/or hydroxyacetophenone (HAP), phenolics found in the extracellular/apoplast of tobacco cells, were added to soybean or tobacco cell suspensions undergoing an oxidative burst. Individually, AS appeared to be utilized as a typical peroxidase substrate to scavenge hydrogen peroxide, while HAP was utilized at a much lower rate. However, when added together the rate of utilization of both phenolics increased and surprisingly resulted in the production of hydrogen peroxide. We have further characterized this novel phenomenon in suspension cells. This study demonstrates that certain phenolics in plants can cause co-oxidation which, as in animals, could alter the structure and bioactivity of surrounding phenolics.     

Effects of winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora

Summary Differential competitive ability of six winter wheat cultivars and traits that confer such attributes were investigated for a range of seed rates in the presence or absence of weeds for a naturally occurring weed flora in two successive years in split-plot field experiments. Crop height and tillering capacity were considered suitable attributes for weed suppression, although competitiveness is a relative rather than an absolute characteristic. Maris Huntsman and Maris Widgeon were the most competitive cultivars whereas Fresco was the least competitive. Manipulation of seed rate was a more reliable factor than cultivar selection for enhancement of weed suppression, although competitiveness of cultivars Buster, Riband and Maris Widgeon was not enhanced by increased seed rate. Crop densities ranging between 125 and 270 plants m⁻² were found to offer adequate weed suppression. Linear relationships were observed between individual and total weed species dry weight and reproductive structures per unit area.     

Further suppression of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> disease in cucumber seedlings by chitosan-copper complex as compared with chitosan alone

Chitosan-copper complex compared with chitosan alone enhanced suppression ofBotrytis cinerea rot development on four-true-leaf cucumber seedlings in controlled growth chambers. This paper constitutes the first report of such enhancement. The optimal concentrations for the most effective suppression ofBotrytis development were 0.2 gl ⁻¹ chitosan and 1.6 mmole copper. After 12 days’ incubation, marked and significantly better disease suppression was obtained with chitosan-copper complex (75% suppression) than with chitosan alone. The chitosan-copper complex could be a very promising decay control agent for use in both conventional and organic agriculture. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 18, 2002.     

Immune Function in Critically Ill Dogs

Background

People with critical illness (CI) commonly develop various forms of immune dysfunction, however, there is limited information concerning immune dysfunction in dogs with CI.

Hypothesis

The immune response in CI dogs differs from that of healthy dogs.

Animals

Immunologic variables were compared between 14 dogs with CI, defined as APPLE_fast score of >20 points, admitted to the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center Small Animal Clinic Intensive Care Unit and healthy controls (n = 15).

Methods

Cohort study evaluating constitutive and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐10 production, phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli and respiratory burst capacity after opsonized E. coli or phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) stimulation, peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype, and monocyte expressions of HLA‐DR and TLR‐4.

Results

Lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated leukocyte TNF‐α (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 49, 49, 120; control, 655, 446, 1174 pg/mL; P = < 0.001), IL‐6 (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 49, 49, 64; control, 100, 49, 166 pg/mL; P = 0.029), and IL‐10 (CI, 49, 49, 56; control, 96, 49, 203 pg/mL; P = 0.014) production and both E. coli (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 60.5, 43, 88.5; control, 86.6, 81, 89.2%; P = 0.047) and PMA (CI, 40, 11.7, 70; control, 93, 83, 97.6%; P = < 0.001)‐stimulated respiratory burst capacity significantly decreased in CI dogs. Percentage of monocytes expressing TLR‐4 greater in the CI dogs (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 46.9, 24.3, 64.2; control, 16.4, 9.4, 26.2%; P = 0.005).

Conclusion

These findings suggest dogs with CI develop immune system alterations that result in reduced respiratory burst function and cytokine production despite upregulation of TLR‐4.     

枣抑制消减cDNA文库构建与分析

枣树具有独特的开花结果特性,为获得枣花发育基因,以金丝4号枣不同发育时期的花蕾和同时期的叶片cDNA互为试验方和驱动方,利用抑制消减杂交技术分别构建了枣花和枣叶抑制消减杂交cDNA文库(SSH文库)。枣花和枣叶SSH文库重组率分别是92.05%和90.26%,插入片段长度均介于200~2 000 bp之间,主要集中于1 000 bp左右。分别从枣花和枣叶SSH文库中随机挑选1 000个阳性克隆进行DNA测序、组装拼接,结果显示枣花SSH文库中获得96条unigene,其中contigs 43个,singletons 53个,96条unigene预测得到73个ORF,经过同源比对分析获得有注释的序列20条,按功能分为7类;枣叶SSH文库中获得86条unigene,其中contigs 45个,singletons 41个,86条unigene预测得到70个ORF,经过同源比对分析获得有23条注释的序列,按功能分为6类。     

基于铱星通信技术的土壤墒情远程监测网络研究

为了实现野外偏远、无GPRS信号地区土壤墒情、温度及降雨量的远程无线实时监测,设计了一套由土壤墒情及相关影响信息实时采集系统、铱星通信以及互联网技术构成的"物联网"架构式土壤墒情实时监测系统,围绕铱星SBD(Short burst data)终端模块9602开发了具有独立知识产权的数据采集系统。该系统实现了智能化、网络化的土壤墒情实时监测,以及历史数据的查询、下载,根据设定阈值进行短信报警、传感器和通信故障报警等功能。该系统自2011年8月在山东省、北京市等地运行以来,可以安全、稳定、可靠地获取监测土壤含水率、温度及降雨量信息。通过试验可知铱星通信在空旷地带成功率为97.2%,单个节点通信费用为每月200元(12 000字节),达到了对土壤墒情、温度和降雨量变化规律进行长期监测的目的。     

氟节胺抑制枇杷嫁接成苗砧木萌蘖相关机理初探

为寻找更长效、无害的化学控蘖剂以减轻田间管理劳动强度,以枇杷(Eriobotrya japonica)嫁接成苗为材料,喷施有效成分浓度为0.050%,0.071%和0.125%的氟节胺,于不同时期取样观察控蘖效果,并尝试探究相关机理。结果表明,氟节胺减少了叶片单位面积光能的吸收量、抑制了光化学转换,但叶片的热耗散量并无明显变化。进一步测定植株氧化还原状态发现,氟节胺能够快速促进细胞内超氧阴离子(O₂^.-)积累并延缓或抑制H₂O₂的转化,从而诱发氧化胁迫。由此可见,氟节胺可能通过抑制叶片光化学转换和热耗散来破坏新生萌蘖的光合性能,进而抑制其萌发生长,而成熟叶片则通过提升自身抗氧化系统活性耐受氟节胺造成的轻度胁迫。在本试验中,各浓度的氟节胺对控制砧木萌蘖有不同程度的效果,其中浓度为0.125%的氟节胺控蘖效果相对最佳,且基本不会对砧木和嫁接成苗造成持续伤害,其作为化学控蘖剂有一定的应用潜力。     

定量泵负载敏感系统卸荷压力冲击抑制研究

定量泵负载敏感系统在快速卸荷时容易出现压力冲击现象,对系统的可靠性和寿命产生较大危害。三通压力补偿阀是定量泵负载敏感系统中关键的调压元件,本文以三通压力补偿阀为切入点,建立定量泵负载敏感系统功率键合图模型,基于键合图模型推导系统的状态方程,建立Matlab动态仿真模型,探讨系统卸荷压力冲击的抑制方案。基于系统仿真模型,首先对系统卸荷压力冲击的仿真与试验进行对比,验证了仿真模型的正确性;然后,针对三通压力补偿阀的系统压力腔阻尼、阀芯直径、Ls腔阻尼、阀口锥角等关键参数,对卸荷压力冲击影响规律进行仿真;最后,基于关键参数对卸荷压力冲击影响规律的分析,提出了一种"小阀芯、双阀口"型三通压力补偿阀结构优化方案,并对其卸压冲击抑制效果进行了仿真和试验。结果表明,该方案可以有效抑制卸荷压力冲击,优化后系统卸压冲击压差比原系统降低了89%,卸荷压力降低了20%,进一步实现了节能。