28-homobrassinolide protects chickpea (Cicer arietinum) from cadmium toxicity by stimulating antioxidants

In the present experiment the seeds of Cicer arietinum (L.) cv. Uday were inoculated with specific Rhizobium grown in sandy loam soil and were allowed to grow for 15 days. At this stage, the seedlings were supplied with 0, 50, 100 or 150 microM of cadmium in the form of cadmium chloride and sprayed with 0.01 microM of 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) at 30-day stage. The data indicated that plant fresh and dry mass, number of nodules, their fresh and dry mass, leghemoglobin content, nitrogen and carbohydrate content in the nodules, leaf chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities decreased proportionately with the increasing concentrations of cadmium but the content of proline and the activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased. The ill effect, generated by cadmium, was overcome if the stressed plants were sprayed with HBL.     

煤与瓦斯突出的物理模拟和数值模拟研究

利用自行设计的实验装置,通过现场采集具有突出倾向的煤样,分别向实验装置煤样中充入吸附能力较大的CO2和吸附能力较小的N2来模拟不同级别的煤与瓦斯突出现象,物理试验结果表明:瓦斯压力越大,突出强度越大;当瓦斯压力相近时,吸附和解吸能力大的瓦斯突出强度大。通过数值模拟对煤与瓦斯突出进行研究,数值模拟再现了煤矿开采过程中诱发的煤与瓦斯突出全过程,同时验证了煤与瓦斯突出是瓦斯压力、地应力及煤岩体的力学性质综合作用的结果,该验证对进一步深入理解认识煤与瓦斯突出的机理具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

冬小麦条锈病害与常规胁迫的定量化识别研究——高光谱应用

通过对人工田间诱发条锈病与常规的水胁迫及肥水协同胁迫的处理,分析获取的地物光谱数据及提取的归一化植被指数(NDVI)和光化学植被指数(PRI),定性地研究了条锈病害胁迫与常规胁迫条件下冬小麦冠层光谱特征的差异和规律,并进一步利用高光谱对冬小麦条锈病与常规胁迫进行了定量化的识别研究。选用NDVI和PRI建立二维空间坐标,形成病害胁迫、常规的水胁迫及肥水协同胁迫植被指数的空间分布散点图,结果表明NDVI值大于4.324×PRI 0.976的区域即为条锈病胁迫发生区域。经验证,上述定量化表达的分类识别精度达到了70%以上。     

地表载荷对硬岩区埋地管道应力应变影响分析

为研究地表载荷对硬岩区埋地管道力学性能的影响,建立了管-土耦合三维数值模型,分析了地表载荷大小、作用面积、管道压力、管道径厚比及回填土弹性模量对管道应力分布、塑性应变、椭圆度的影响。结果表明:地表压载作用下,高应力区首先出现在管道顶部且呈椭圆形;随着地表载荷及其作用面积的增大,管道高应力区逐渐扩大,管道截面左右两侧也出现应力集中;随着回填土弹性模量、管道壁厚及内压的增加,管道顶部高应力区及最大等效应力均减小。塑性应变首先出现在管顶,且塑性区随地表载荷、载荷作用长度增加而增大,随回填土体弹性模量及管道壁厚增大而逐渐减小;当内压为0~4MPa时,管道塑性应变及塑性区随内压的增大而减小。管道椭圆度随回填土体弹性模量、管道内压、壁厚增加而逐渐减小,随地表压载增大而增大。     

前车突然切入时驾驶人应激生理特性研究

为研究前车突然切入对驾驶人生理负荷的影响,利用MP150生理监测系统对22名被试进行虚拟驾驶试验。采集记录前车突然切入时被试的生理参数。研究驾驶人心率增长率和心率变异性(HRV)指标与车速、应激距离之间的关系。结果表明:自车速度为100 km/h时,随着前车切入距离从55.6 m减小到27.8 m,被试的平均心率增长率从16.21%增大到23.27%,HRV参数低频(LF)值也呈现下降趋势。前车切入距离一定,随着自车车速从60 km/h增加到120 km/h,被试的平均心率增长率存在显著性差异,平均从13.05%上升到21.85%。差异性检验结果表明,前车切入距离和自车速度发生变化时驾驶人的生理负荷变化趋势一致,但自车速度因素对驾驶人生理负荷的影响程度高于切入距离因素。     

Involvement of mitochondrial-mediated caspase-3 activation and lysosomal labilization in acrylamide-induced liver toxicity

Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical frequently used in both industrial and synthetic processes and may be produced during food processing. ACR at very high concentrations is postulated to exert its toxicity through the stimulation of an oxidative stress. ACR in excessive doses induces the central nervous system, reproduction, and genetic toxicity. However, ACR effects on the liver, a major organ of drug metabolism, have not been adequately explored. In addition, the role of mitochondria in an ACR-mediated hepatotoxicity is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic mechanisms attributed to ACR using isolated rat hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated by the collagenase perfusion method and incubated with an EC50_2hr concentration of ACR for 3 hr. The EC50_{2 hr} of ACR on isolated rat hepatocytes was determined to be 1 mM. Based on our results, hepatocytes cytotoxicity of ACR (1 mM) was mediated by a reactive oxygen species formation and lipid peroxidation. Incubation of hepatocytes with ACR produced rapid hepatocyte glutathione depletion which is another marker of the cellular oxidative stress. ACR cytotoxicity was also associated with mitochondrial injury as evidenced by the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential and lysosomal membrane leakiness. Our results also showed that ACR induced caspase-3 activation, the final mediator of apoptosis signaling. These findings contribute to a better understanding underlying mechanisms involved in ACR hepatotoxicity originating from the oxidative stress and ending in mitochondrial/lysosomal damage and cell death signaling.     

Influence of hypothyroidism on oxidative stress,c-Fos expression,cell cycle,and apoptosis in rats testes

The molecular basis of male reproduction for cross-regulation between androgen and thyroid hormone axes is still rudimentary. This study aims to define a possible mechanism of hypothyroidism-induced reproductive influence with respect to sex hormone, mineral, sperm motility, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis in rat testes. The Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NS) and hypothyroidism group [1 ml/100g BW/day, 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU)] by intragastric gavage for 60 days. Blood samples were collected to measure the serum levels. The epididymis was excised to measure sperm motility and testes were excised to measure mineral, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis. After 60 days, body weight, relative testes weight, triiodothyronine, and total thyroxine were all significantly decreased, whereas thyroid stimulating hormone was increased in the hypothyroidism group. A significant increase in sex hormone level of estradiol (E2) and significant decreases in testosterone (T) and T/E2 ratio were observed following PTU treatment. And sperm quality was also significantly changed. There were significant decreases in the contents of calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺). On the other hand, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide content significantly decreased in hypothyroid rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of c-Fos decreased significantly. The cell percentage in G0/G1 phase increased significantly, whereas decreased significantly in S and G2/M phases. Also, a significant increase in testicular cell apoptosis was observed in hypothyroid-treated rats. These results suggested that hypothyroidism could affect reproductive function in the form of changed sex hormone levels, sperm motility and testicular Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and enhanced oxidative stress leading to c-Fos abnormal expression and increased apoptosis.     

Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron (Fe(III)), manganese (Mn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu²⁺-Fe³⁺ combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atpD mutant (with defective F_oF₁-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn²⁺-Fe³⁺ combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control (without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn²⁺-Fe³⁺, while together with 0.2 mmol/L N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control (when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the FOF1-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential. The effects observed when Fe³⁺ was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe³⁺ and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria, and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron (Fe(III)), manganese (Mn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu^2 +–Fe^3 + combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atpD mutant (with defective F_oF₁-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 + combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control (without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 +, while together with 0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control (when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the F_OF₁-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential. The effects observed when Fe^3 + was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe^3 + and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria, and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Cu(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ) and Mn(Ⅱ) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron(Fe(Ⅲ)), manganese(Mn(Ⅱ)) and copper(Cu(Ⅱ)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu2+–Fe3+combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atp D mutant(with defective FoF1-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn2+–Fe3+combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control(without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn2+–Fe3+, while together with0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control(when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the FOF1-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential.The effects observed when Fe3+was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe3+and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria,and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.