Abstract: Elucidating the physiological and ecological mechanisms of seed dormancy and germination is of great significance for species conservation and the application of plant resources. Based on Baskin and Baskin’s classification system for seed dormancy, the cause of dormancy in Tarenaya hassleriana (Cleomaceae) seeds was studied using alternating temperature, cold moist stratification, dry storage, and GA3 soaking treatment. The results indicated that fresh mature T. hassleriana seeds had a combinational dormancy, including a physical dormancy and a type 2 non-deep physiological dormancy, and were photoblastic, with an optimal germination temperature of 35°C. In addition, fresh mature T. hassleriana seeds may be efficiently released from dormancy and promoted to germinate by an alternating temperature of 20 °C/30 °C, cold moist stratification, and cold moist stratification following dry storage. Furthermore, GA3 soaking treatment could also promote dormancy release and subsequent germination at 35 °C, and dry storage treatment could promote dormancy release and subsequent germination at 5-15 °C. These results also suggested that there were complex cross-talks among phytohormone, osmotic potential, and the temperature signaling regulatory pathways during dormancy release and germination of T. hassleriana seeds, which deserve further study.

Resumo: Elucidar os mecanismos fisiológicos e ecológicos de dormência e germinação de sementes é de grande importância para a conservação e uso de espécies vegetais. Baseando-se no sistema de classificação de Baskin e Baskin para dormência de sementes, neste trabalho foram estudadas as causas da dormência em sementes de Tarenaya hassleriana (Cleomaceae), utilizando-se temperaturas alternadas, estratificação úmida fria, armazenamento seco e tratamento de imersão em GA3. Os resultados indicaram que as sementes maduras frescas de T. hassleriana tinham dormência combinada, incluindo dormência física e dormência fisiológica não profunda tipo 2, e eram fotoblásticas, com temperatura ótima de germinação de 35 °C. Além disso, sementes maduras frescas de T. hassleriana podem ter a dormência eficientemente quebrada e germinar por temperatura alternada de 20 °C/30 °C, estratificação úmida fria e estratificação úmida fria após armazenamento seco. Além disso, o tratamento de imersão com GA3 também pode quebrar a dormência e subsequente germinação a 35 °C, e o tratamento de armazenamento a seco pode quebrar a dormência e subsequente germinação a 5-15 °C. Esses resultados também sugerem que houve interações complexas entre o fitohormônio, o potencial osmótico e as vias regulatórias de sinalização de temperatura durante a liberação de dormência e germinação de sementes de T. hassleriana, que merecem um estudo mais aprofundado.

Abstract Background: UVB irradiation can cause acute damage such as sunburn, or photoaging and melanoma, all of which are major health threats. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of skin photoaging induced by UVB radiation in mice through the analysis of the differential expression of miRNAs. Methods: A UVB irradiation photoaging model was constructed. HE and Masson special stains were used to examine the modifications in the epidermis and dermis of mice. The miRNA expression profiles of the mouse skin model exposed to UVB radiation and the normal skin of mice were analyzed using miRNA-sequence analysis. GO and Pathway analysis were employed for the prediction of miRNA targets. Results: A total of 23 miRNAs were evaluated for significantly different expressions in comparison to normal skin. Among them, 7 miRNAs were up-regulated and 16 were down-regulated in the skin with photoaging of mice exposed to UVB irradiation. The differential expression of miRNA is related to a variety of signal transduction pathways, among which mmu-miR-195a-5p and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathways are crucial. There was a significant differential expression of miRNA in the skin of normal mice in comparison with the skin with photoaging induced by UVB irradiation. Study limitations: Due to time and energy constraints, the specific protein level verification, MAPK pathway exploration, and miR-195a-5p downstream molecular mechanism need to be further studied in the future. Conclusions: UVB-induced skin photoaging can be diagnosed and treated using miRNA.

ABSTRACT Mastering accurate spatial planting and distribution status of the crops is significantly important for the nation to guide the agricultural production and formulate agricultural policies from a macro perspective. In this paper, the Landsat-8 OLI satellite images were taken as the data sources. And as for the nine crop types within the study area, such as the wheat, rice, and other crops, three classification methods of the random forest classification (RFC), the support vector machine (SVM), and the maximum likelihood classification (MLC) were applied in extracting the planting area of winter wheat in Wushi County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It can be seen from the results that, general classification accuracy of MLC, SVM, and RFC are respectively 80.58%, 87.95%, and 95.96%, while their Kappa coefficients are respectively 0.61, 0.76, and 0.86. The RFC method shows higher classification accuracy that those of MLC and SVM methods. The principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out on the original 7-band image to extract the first 4 principal components and calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), wide dynamic range vegetation index (WDRVI), and normalized difference water index (NDWI). Meanwhile, the 6 additional auxiliary feature bands were superimposed on the original 7-band images to carry out reclassification, through which, the general accuracy of MLC increased by 3 percent while its Kappa coefficient increased by 0.06; the SVM general accuracy increased by 3.02 percent while its Kappa coefficient increased by 0.13; and the general accuracy of the RFC increased by 0.85 percent while its Kappa coefficient increased by 0.02. This indicates that, the adding of auxiliary information can improve the crop classification and identification ability and accuracy. Based on the comprehensive evaluation, the classification method of random forest is proved to have better performance in winter wheat identification.

Abstract Zirconium (Zr) is an essential element in Mg-Zn and Mg-Zn-Y system magnesium alloys. In this study, an interesting phenomenon that the content of Zr element could influence the size and the morphology of the long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phases, which has never been reported by previous works before. The Mg98.5-xZn0.5Y1Zrx (x =0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 at. %) magnesium alloys were fabricated by directional solidification, and the effects of the Zr content on the distribution characteristics of the bulk LPSO phases (18R) and the lamellar LPSO phases (14H) were investigated. The directional solidification technology showed good controllability in LPSO phase’s distribution, and the morphology of LPSO phases in Mg98.5-xZn0.5Y1Zrx (x =0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 at. %) alloys were observed clearly. The results showed that the amount and the morphology of the 14H and 18R LPSO phases within grains continuously decreased with the Zr content increasing. The continuous 14H lamellar structure changed to discontinuous. In addition, Zr element exhibited purification ability on the grain boundaries and refined effect on the 14H and 18R LPSO phases. This can be attributed to the influence of Zr atoms on stacking fault energy (SFE) and the attraction of Zr atoms to Mg atoms.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the effect of tanshinone IIA (TIIA) on ventricular remodeling in rats with pressure overload-induced heart failure. Methods Pressure overload-induced heart failure model (abdominal aortic coarctation) was established in 40 rats, which were divided into model and 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg TIIA groups. Ten rats receiving laparotomy excepting abdominal aortic coarctation were enrolled in sham-operated group. The 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg TIIA groups were treated with 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg TIIA, respectively, for 8 weeks. Results Compared with model group, in 20 mg/kg TIIA group the left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening, left ventricular systolic pressure, ±maximum left ventricular pressure rising and dropping rate, and myocardial B-cell lymphoma-2 and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 protein levels were increased, respectively (P<0.05), and the left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular end systolic diameter, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, heart weight index, left ventricular weight index, serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide, interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein levels and myocardial B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein level were decreased, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion TIIA may alleviate ventricular remodeling in rats with pressure overload-induced heart failure heart by reducing inflammatory response and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Primary human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) were transfected with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene with lipofection method. The hTERT transfected hMSCs of passage 100 underwent chondrogenesis induction with dexamethasone, transforming the growth factor β and vitamin C, osteogenesis induction with dexamethasone, β glycerophosphoric acid and vitamin C, and cardiomyocyte induction with 5-azacytidine. After 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of induction, immunocytochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of type I and II collagen and osteocalcin, and alizarin red staining was performed to detect the bone nodule formation in osteogenesis induction. Immunocytochemistry was carried out to detect the striated muscle actin expression in cardiomyocytes. The hMSCs undergoing successful transfection were positive for the hTERT. The hTERT transfected cells were grown in vitro successfully and passaged for 136 generations. Results showed that these cells could be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes, bone and myocardial cells. Introduction of exogenous hTERT into hMSCs could achieve immortalized hMSCs with the potential of multi-directional differentiation. Thus, these cells could be applied as seed cells in tissue engineering.

The aim of this study was to group arteries of arterial arch at the superior margin of the abductor hallucis muscle according to their constitutes and provide anatomical basis for reverse bifolicated flap based on it. The constitute, track-way and distribution of the artery, which supply the medial pedis flap, the medial plantar and the medial tarsal flap, especial the arterial arch at the superior margin of the abductor hallucis muscle were observed and analyzed on 81 lower limbs cast specimens and 2 fresh feet specimens. According to their constitute, arterial arch at the superior margin of the abductor hallucis muscle can be classified into 3 types: i) type I, It was constituted mainly by the branch of anterior medial malleolus artery and (or) the medial tarsal artery. ii) type II, It was constituted mainly by the superficial branch of the medial plantar artery; iii) type II, It was constituted mainly by the branch of anterior medial malleolus artery and the branch of medial tarsal artery anastomose with the superficial branch of the medial plantar artery, which was divided into two subtypes according to the different anastomosis of the artery: Type III 1, the type of anastomosed directly was about 48.2%, type III 2, The type of anastomosed indirectly was about 24.1%. According to the constitute of arterial arch at the superior margin of the abductor hallucis muscle can be classified into three types: The type of anterior medial malleolus artery and medial tarsal artery, the type of superficial branch of the medial plantar artery and the type of mixed. For the type mixed, two subtypes can be classified according to the different anastomosis of the artery.

El objetivo fue clasificar las arterias de arco arterial del margen superior del músculo abductor del hálux según su constitución, y proporcionar una base anatómica para el colgajo bilobulado reverso basado en él. La constitución, recorrido y distribución de las arterias que suministran los colgajos pedicular medial, plantar medial y medial del tarso, en especial el arco arterial del margen superior del músculo abductor del hálux fueron observados y analizados en 81 modelos de miembros inferiores y 2 pies frescos. De acuerdo con su constitución, el arco arterial del margen superior del músculo abductor del hálux se pueden clasificar en 3 tipos: i) tipo I, constituido principalmentepor la rama de la arteria anterior del maléolo medial y/o la arteria medial del tarso. ii) tipo II, constituido principalmente por la rama superficial de la arteria plantar medial, iii) tipo III constituido principalmente por la rama de la arteria maleolar medial anterior y la rama de la anastomosis de la arteria tarsiana medial de la rama superficial de la arteria plantar medial, que se divide en 2 subtipos diferentes de acuerdo con el tipo de anastomosis: tipo III 1, una anastomosis directa que se observó en el 48,2%, y tipo III 2, una anastomosis indirecta observada en aproximadamente el 24,1% de los casos. Según la constitución, el arco arterial del margen superior del músculo abductor del hálux se puede clasificar en 3 tipos: el tipo de arteria anterior del maléolo medial y la arteria tarsiana medial, el tipo de rama superficial de la arteria plantar medial y el tipo mixto. En el tipo mixto, pueden ser clasificados 2 subtipos de acuerdo a la diferente anastomosis de la arteria.

The effects of Dangguibuxue Tang (DBT) on growth performance and immunity response in immunosuppressed broiler chicks were investigated in this study. 240 one-d-old broiler chicks (DaHeng S01) were randomly divided into 4 groups, 2.0% DBT-treatment (A), 0.5% DBT-treatment (B), cyclophosphamide-control (C), and control group (D). From 4 d to 7 d of age, chicks in group A, B and C were given cyclophosphamide (CY) at a dosage of 100mg/kg body weight (BW) daily by intraperitoneal injection to induce immunosuppression. Chicks in group D were given an equal volume of physiological saline daily by intraperitoneal injection and considered normal chicks. Groups A and B were supplemented with 2.0% or 0.5% of DBT in the drinking water from 8 d to 42 d of age. Groups C and D did not receive any additional medication. The results revealed that chicks from group B had lower feed:gain rate (FGR), lower total mortality, higher immunity organ indexes, higher levels of Newcastle disease (ND) antibody and infectious bursal disease (IBD) antibody, higher interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 levels, and greater lymphocyte proliferative responses to concanavalin A (ConA) during the experiment than those from group C. However, no significant difference in the immunity status in the two levels of DBT-treatment was observed. These results indicate that supplementation of 0.5% of DBT can improve both cellular immunity and humoral immunity in immunosuppressed broiler chicks.