Driving anger expression in Germany—Validation of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory for German drivers

Objective: The main objective of this article is to examine whether the Driving Anger Expression Inventory (DAX) applies to German drivers because this scale has previously been given to drivers in many different countries.

Methods: We applied German versions of the DAX, the Driving Anger Scale (DAS), and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) to a sample of 501 German drivers. We computed confirmatory factor analysis and principal axis factoring (PAF) analysis to examine the structure of driving anger expression in Germany. Finally, we related the drivers’ anger exp ression scores to their driving anger experiences and their general anger propensities to assess the validity of the DAX for German drivers.

Results: Results indicated that the DAX’s original factor structure does not apply to German drivers because the confirmatory factor analysis did not show a good model fit. An item analysis revealed that many DAX items had no meaningful variability. They were excluded from further analysis. The subsequent PAF analysis indicated that German drivers do not use personal physical aggression to express their driving anger. Instead, they reported unique preventive anger expression management behavior. In addition, their driving anger expressions were significantly related to their driving anger experiences and their general anger propensities indicated the validity of the refined DAX for German drivers.

Conclusions: We conclude that German drivers do not use strong behaviors to express their driving anger. Many statements of Deffenbacher et al.’s (Behav Res Ther. 40:717–737, 2002) original American questionnaire were not applicable for our sample of German drivers. These findings are in line with several other studies showing discrepancies in driving anger expression in various countries. Future investigations should examine the reasons for discrepancies in driving anger expression.     

The non-target organism Caenorhabditis elegans withstands the impact of sulfamethoxazole

The widespread usage of antibiotics in agriculture leads to releases into the environment, but there is insufficient knowledge of the side-effects on non-target organisms. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the sulfonamide-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on Caenorhabditis elegans at phenotypic, biochemical and molecular biological levels. Multiple endpoints, including life history traits, thermal stress resistance and lipid peroxidation, as well as gene expression profiles, were determined after exposure of the nematodes to SMX. In contrast to expectations, SMX prolonged the lifespan and increased both the body size and pharynx pumping rate. On the other hand, SMX delayed reproductive timing and caused lipid peroxidation. The total number of offspring and thermal stress resistance were unaffected. The up-regulation of hsp-16.1 indicated stress in general and the increased lipid peroxidation oxidative stress in particular. This oxidative stress indicated that mitohormesis was the likely cause of the longevity and that enhanced pumping frequency was probably the reason for the increased growth. The sole adverse effect was delayed initial reproduction. This delay, however, can be crucial for r-strategists, such as the bacterivorous model animal used, in sustaining their populations in the environment in the presence of predators. Bacterivorous animals, in turn, are essential to maintaining nutrient recycling via the microbial loop.     

宏转录组学在环境微生物生态学中的应用

系统总结了宏转录组学实验操作及数据分析流程，概述了宏转录组学在环境微生物生态学的研究策略和最新进展，并指出其应用前景.宏转录组学在解析环境微生物群落功能上具有广阔的前景，为了解微生物群落的动态演化及其与环境因素和生态系统功能的关系提供了强有力的工具.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

本研究以模式生物斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为对象,观察在不同浓度Cd Se/Zn S量子点(Cd Se/Zn S QDs)暴露下,斑马鱼胚胎形态发育、氧化应激以及金属硫蛋白MT基因和应激蛋白Hsp70基因表达变化情况.结果表明,Cd Se/Zn S QDs对斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf(hours post fertilization)的半致畸效应浓度(EC50)为316.994 nmol·L-1.QDs暴露影响了斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率、畸形率、孵化率、自主运动频率和体长,以及引起胚胎卵凝集,心包囊肿,脊椎弯曲等多种毒性效应;同时导致斑马鱼体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性变化以及丙二醛(MDA)含量增加.QDs还诱导斑马鱼MT基因和Hsp70基因表达上调,斑马鱼机体产生一系列自我保护反应来减轻QDs所造成的伤害.这表明:Cd Se/Zn S QDs对斑马鱼胚胎产生了毒性效应,其毒性可能与其核心Cd2+的释放、粒径大小以及氧化应激有关.     

稀有鮈鲫HMGR基因全长克隆及雄鱼经五氯酚暴露基因表达的分析

3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase,HMGR)是甲羟戊酸(mevalonic acid,MVA)途径中的第一个关键限速酶.克隆稀有鮈鲫HMGR基因全长,分析该基因在不同组织及雄鱼经不同浓度五氯酚(pentachlorophenol,PCP)暴露的表达差异,探索PCP对类固醇激素前体(胆固醇)合成水平基因转录调控的内分泌干扰机制.采用同源克隆策略及cDNA末端快速扩增技术(rapid-amplification of cDNA ends,RACE),从稀有鮈鲫肝脏中首次克隆得到3 101碱基(bp)的HMGR基因cDNA全长,基因命名为GrHMGR(GenBank accession No:KF885724).GrHMGR编码884个氨基酸,系统发育树分析表明,GrHMGR编码的蛋白与其他鱼类来源的HMGR氨基酸序列同源性较高.Real-time PCR分析表明GrHMGR的表达有组织特异性,在大脑,性腺和肝脏中均有表达,性腺中表达量最高.稀有鮈鲫雄鱼经不同浓度PCP暴露后,GrHMGR在大脑和性腺的表达随PCP浓度的增加显著下降,然而在肝脏组织中表达趋势有所不同.HMGR的表达下降会减少胆固醇的合成.说明PCP暴露会通过干扰稀有鮈鲫的胆固醇合成途径,进而对内分泌系统产生影响.     

籽粒苋苹果酸酶(NAD-ME)基因密码子偏好性分析

遗传密码子是生命信息的基本遗传单位,每种氨基酸对应1～6个同义密码子.特定物种在长期进化中形成了适应自身基因组环境的密码子使用偏性.运用CHIPS、CUSP和CodonW程序分析自主克隆的籽粒苋NAD-ME基因的密码子偏好性,并与马铃薯等7种植物的ME基因密码子偏好性进行比较,以期为该基因在作物遗传改良中选择合适的受体植物提供依据.结果表明,籽粒苋NAD-ME基因偏好于以A或T结尾的密码子,其它几种被比较作物的ME基因也有同样的趋势,但双子叶植物的偏好性更强.基于NAD-ME基因的密码子使用偏性的系统聚类分析表明,籽粒苋与马铃薯、拟南芥、葡萄、蓖麻、毛果杨等双子叶植物聚为1类,玉米和高粱这2个单子叶植物聚为1类,预示籽粒苋NAD-ME基因更适合导入马铃薯等双子叶植物.对籽粒苋NAD-ME基因的密码子偏好性与大肠杆菌和酵母的基因组密码子偏好性进行比较,发现均存在差异,与大肠杆菌的差异高于酵母,表明酵母表达系统要优于大肠杆菌表达系统.若要进一步提高籽粒苋NAD-ME基因在大肠杆菌或酵母中的表达水平,尚需对其密码子进行优化.     

多环麝香污染胁迫对蚯蚓特异性蛋白基因表达的影响

为了探讨蚯蚓特异性蛋白基因表达在监测多环麝香低水平长期暴露污染中的应用,选择蚯蚓热休克蛋白(HSP70)、钙网蛋白(CRT)、亲环素A(cyPA)、翻译控制肿瘤蛋白(TCTP)等代表性蛋白基因作为供试基因.采用自然土壤污染模拟实验,基于mRNA表达分子水平,研究吐纳麝香(AHTN)与佳乐麝香(HHCB)长期(28 d)污染胁迫对以上各特异性蛋白基因响应表达的影响.通过序列同源性比较与荧光定量PCR熔解曲线结果分析,表明设计的引物适合供试基因mRNA表达水平的检测.染毒暴露28 d后,当AHTN染毒浓度小于30μg.g-1或HHCB浓度小于50μg.g-1时,蚯蚓HSP70基因表达水平无显著变化,而AHTN浓度等于或大于30μg.g-1和HHCB浓度等于或大于50μg.g-1时,HSP70基因表达水平呈显著下调趋势;而各AHTN或HHCB浓度处理组中蚯蚓CRT基因显著上调表达;cyPA和TCTP基因表达水平与对照组比较均无呈现显著性差异.研究结果表明,HSP70与CRT等基因的响应表达有望成为表征多环麝香土壤污染暴露水平及生态毒理效应的潜在生物标志物.     

氟对斑马鱼甲状腺内分泌功能的干扰效应

为探究氟对斑马鱼甲状腺内分泌功能的干扰效应,本研究以雌性斑马鱼成鱼为研究对象,分别以不同浓度氟(0、20、 40、80 mg·L~(-1))暴露45 d和90 d,对斑马鱼的生长发育指数进行测定,用组织学方法对斑马鱼甲状腺组织结构进行显微观察,用酶联免疫吸附法检测血浆中T3和T4激素水平,并用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测HPT轴上内分泌相关基因的表达.结果显示,与对照组相比,氟暴露组雌性斑马鱼的生长发育指数随着暴露浓度和时间的增加而呈下降趋势(p0.05);甲状腺组织病变程度随着氟暴露浓度的增大和时间的延长而加重;氟暴露45 d时,T3和T4水平呈升高趋势,90 d时,T4水平呈下降趋势且在80 mg·L~(-1)组下降显著(p0.05);氟暴露45 d时,40 mg·L~(-1)组除crh处,其他mRNA表达均显著下降(p0.05),80 mg·L~(-1)组除tg、nis、ttr外其他mRNA表达均显著下降(p0.05);暴露90 d时tg、dio1、dio2的mRNA表达水平在40 mg·L~(-1)和80 mg·L~(-1)组显著上升(p0.05),ugt1ab mRNA表达在80 mg·L~(-1)组显著下降(p0.05).综上,氟可通过影响雌性斑马鱼的生长发育、甲状腺组织结构、激素水平及HPT轴上内分泌相关基因的表达,从而对其甲状腺内分泌功能产生一定程度的干扰,进而影响机体的生长发育.本研究结果对水环境中氟的生态毒性效应及风险评估提供了理论资料.     

旅游还是游憩?我国国家公园的公众利用表述方式反思

自国家公园试点工作推行以来,有关国家公园到底能不能开展旅游活动以及开展什么样的旅游活动,到底是旅游活动还是游憩活动的争议从未停止。在分析“旅游”和“游憩”内涵的基础上,结合国外在国家公园利用方式的相应表述,根据我国建设国家公园的基本国情,对我国国家公园建设中的“游憩”与“旅游”问题进行了讨论。结论认为：国家公园内的“游憩”与“旅游”实际上是一体两面,在公园的功能定位与分区规划中,使用“游憩”一词比较合适,以体现国家公园的公益性目标。但在国家公园的具体运营管理中,使用“生态旅游”一词进行表述更恰当。在谈及旅游与国家公园的矛盾时,使用“旅游开发”更符合事实。