Changes of potassium currents in rabbit ventricle with healed myocardial infarction

AIM: To elucidate the mechanism of arrhythmia in healed myocardial infarction (HMI), and to investigate the changes of action potential duration (APD),transient outward potassium current (I_to), delayed rectifier potassium current (I_K) and inward rectifier potassium current (I_K1) of left ventricular myocytes in noninfarcted zone of HMI. METHODS: 12 rabbits were randomly assigned in two groups: HMI group (thoracotomy and ligation of the circumflex coronary); sham-operated group (thoracotomy but no conorary ligation). 3 months after operation, whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record APD, I_to, I_K and I_K1 of ventricular myocytes in non-infarcted zone. RESULTS: Membrane capacitance was larger in HMI group than that in sham-operated group. Action potential duration was lengthened significantly in HMI group and early after depolarization (EAD) appeared in HMI group. The densities of I_to, I_K,tail and I_K1 were reduced significantly in HMI group (P<0.01), from (6.72±0.42) pA/pF, (1.54±0.13) pA/pF and (25.6±2.6) pA/pF in Sham-operated group to (4.03±0.33) pA/pF, (1.14±0.11) pA/pF and (17.6±2.3) pA/pF, respectively. CONCLUSION: The reduced densities of I_to, I_K,tail and I_K1 in ventricular myocytes of non-infarcted zone in HMI are responsible for the prolongation of APD and the presentation of EAD, which play important roles in the malignant arrhythmia of HMI.     

Effect of EGFP gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes

AIM: To investigate the effect of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) gene transfection on the cell cycle distribution of primary cultured human chondrocytes in order to establish a tracking method of cultured human nasoseptal chondrocytes. METHODS: pEGFP-N1 plasmid was amplified in E.coli, and purified by high purity kit. Primary cultured human chondrocytes,which were initially obtained from the nasoseptal cartilage, were cultured in vitro and transferred with pEGFP-N1 by means of electroporation with Amaxa nucleofector device. Transfering process and transient expression were evaluated by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the transfer efficiency and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was significant expression of EGFP at 24 h after transferring. The transfection efficiency of pEGFP-N1 into primary cultured human chondrocytes reached 35.37％ at 48 h. It didn't affect the process of cell adherance and had no effect on the cell cycle distribution. CONCLUSION: Primary cultured human chondrocytes, which were transfected with pEGFP, are alive in vitro, and the transferring process doesn't affect the cell cycle distribution. These results suggest that pEGFP-N1 is an ideal transient expression vector for primary cultured human chondrocytes and it might be a well tracer in construction tissue engineered cartilage.     

Roles of the Kv1.2, Kv1.5, Kv2.1 potassium channels in hypoxia pulmonary vasoconstriction

AIM: To determine the role of Kv1.2, Kv1.5, Kv2.1 in the hypoxia pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: normoxic group and hypoxic group. The single smooth muscle cell was obtained from pulmonary artery of Wistar rats with acute enzymatic digestion method. The conventional whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the resting membrane potential (Em) and the potassium currents of voltage-gated potassium channel (IKv) in rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC). Intracellular application of Kv1.2/Kv1.5/Kv2.1 antibodies (1∶125) was conducted through the whole-cell patch clamp system. RESULTS: ① Em of PASMC was depolarized after 24 h hypoxia compared with that of control cells . IKv of PASMC was decreased after 24 h hypoxia, . ② The mixture of Kv1.2/Kv1.5/Kv2.1 antibodies depolarized Em and inhibited IKv in PASMC from normoxic rat, whereas the mixture of Kir2.1/Kir2.3/Kir4.1 antibodies had no effects on them. ③ The mixture of Kv1.2/Kv1.5/Kv2.1 antibodies and the mixture of Kir2.1/Kir2.3/Kir4.1 antibodies had no effects on IKv and Em from rats hypoxic for 24 h. CONCLUSION: Kv1.2, Kv1.5, Kv2.1 might be oxygen sensitive potassium channels which mediated HPV.     

植物育种的物理学方法

介绍了草原生态恢复中选育优良牧草种子的一些物理学方法,包括电场、磁场、物理辐射、激光、离子束和交变应力等在植物的生物学效应、诱变育种和转基因技术中的应用.     

Assessing exterior egg quality indicators using machine vision

ABSTRACT

1. The objective of this study was to develop a machine vision method for analysing exterior parameters of chicken eggs to automate the stage of primary sorting.

2. The developed algorithm based on predetermined thresholds calculated egg quality indicators, including geometric dimensions, shape index and the mottling grade. The algorithm was implemented with an experimental setup that combined the image-based and the candling methods. A total of 400 egg samples were analysed.

3. Comparison of results of the algorithm with those obtained using the traditional manual method showed that mean value of radii values difference was 0.095 ± 0.058 mm for the sharp and 0.080 ± 0.047 mm for the blunt end of the egg, with standard deviations of 0.58 mm and 0.49 mm, respectively.

4. The correlation coefficient between the shape index values determined by the two methods was 0.93; the standard deviation of absolute differences between corresponding values was 1.05%.

5. The results of mottling grade estimation were compared using F-measure and confusion matrix.

6. The results allow the possibility to perform the assessment of egg exterior quality factors in an automatic mode, independent of the expertise of a grader.     

The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

Effects of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization in rabbit myocardium

AIM: To study the effect of remifentanil on monophasic action potential and transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) in the 3-layer myocardium of isolated rabbit hearts. METHODS: Adult rabbits (n=18, 2.0 ~ 2.5 kg) were used to isolate the hearts for preparing Langendorff perfusion model. The hearts were randomly divided into 3 groups after perfusion with K-H solution for 15 min: the perfusion in control group (C group) continued for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil group (R group) were perfused with 12 μg/L remifentanil K-H solution for 60 min; the hearts in remifentanil+aminophylline group (RA group) were given 60-min perfusion of 12 μg/L K-H remifentanil+30 mg/L aminophylline. The HR and 3 layers of myocardial monophasic action potential (MAP) in the left ventricular anterior wall were recorded at time points after balanced infusion for 15 min (T₀), and continued perfusion for 15 min (T₁), 30 min (T₂) and 60 min (T₃). The monophasic action potential duration of repolarization at 90% (MAPD₉₀) and the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) were calculated. The early afterdepolarization, delay afterdepolarization and arrhythmia were also observed. RESULTS: In R group, slower HR and prolonger MAPD₉₀ and TDR at T₁~T₃ were observed as compared with those at T₀ (P<0.05). R group showed slower HR and longer MAPD₉₀ and TDR than C group and RA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Remifentanil slows the HR, extends the MAPD₉₀ and increases the TDR, thus being prone to induce reentry. Aminophylline makes HR faster and MAPD₉₀ shorter, thereby reducing the TDR.     

临沂市速生竹柳产业化种植及综合配套技术

介绍临沂市速生竹柳栽培技术,包括品种筛选、造林密度确定、整地、育苗、扦插、病虫害防治等方面内容,以为当地速生竹柳产业化种植提供参考。     

秋种马铃薯高产栽培技术

经过多年多点示范,总结出高山秋种马铃薯高产栽培技术。即秋种马铃薯以选择排灌水方便的沙壤土或黄壤土为宜,忌与茄科作物连作;8月上中旬,采用单垄双行双三角形播种,密度5.25万~6.00万株/hm2;合理施肥,注意防治病虫害。     

功能竹的定向培育及其可行性(英文)

功能竹是指经过人工优选、培育和生产出来的具有某种特殊作用或功能的栽培竹品种。功能竹的定向培育,就是根据市场前景广阔和价值最大化原则,运用有效的科学和技术手段并按照人类需求进行的功能竹培育。对于定向培育的功能竹,通常要求其性状相对一致、稳定,品质优异且便于推广,有利于组织科学化、标准化、产业化和规模化生产,目的是在同等时间和空间条件下,选择、培育和发展具有一个或多个指向明确的功能或特点的特色栽培竹品种,在不造成环境压力的情况下,尽可能满足消费者的物质和精神需求,并为生产者赢得更多的经济利益。作者通过认真分析论证,认为该思路不仅具有技术的可行性、资源的可行性和政策的可行性,而且具有经济的可行性和市场的可行性,这对立足中国自身资源特点发展绿色经济具有重要意义。