Eusocial wasps are excellent models for understanding polyethism and division of labor among castes in social insects. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling caste determination in eusocial wasps. E...Eusocial wasps are excellent models for understanding polyethism and division of labor among castes in social insects. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling caste determination in eusocial wasps. Evidence suggests that the phenotype of queens in independent-founding (IF) eusocial wasps of the subfamily Polistinae can be partly fixed in the larval stage;however, this hypothesis has not yet been investigated. In this study we evaluate whether juvenile hormone (JH) affects pre-imaginal caste determination in the IF eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Analyzing morphometric and behavioral data, we demonstrated experimentally that females emerging from larvae that were treated with JH in the third instar had a significantly larger body size, spent more time in the nest, and were subject to less physical aggression from nestmates compared with females emerging from untreated control larvae. These results indicate that phenotype differences among castes in IF eusocial wasps can be partly fixed in the pre-adult stage and influenced by variations in the JH titer.展开更多
Based on the structure of citation network, the citation paths among papers, and the association strength such as coupling, co-citation and etc. between two papers are defined in this article. We give formulas to quan...Based on the structure of citation network, the citation paths among papers, and the association strength such as coupling, co-citation and etc. between two papers are defined in this article. We give formulas to quantify the association strength in order to establish citation network model based on the citation path structure. Then, the OPTICS algorithm is brought into the scientific communities found model since it can solve the parameter’s setting problem. This method combines various kinds of path structures together and thus it contains more complete citation network information. Experiments and analysis reveal the reliability and validity of this method.展开更多
Background Found in inflammatory zone 1 （FIZZ1） protein increased in pulmonary epithelial cells and in limited amounts of other lung cells.FIZZ1 increased in murine model of smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmona...Background Found in inflammatory zone 1 （FIZZ1） protein increased in pulmonary epithelial cells and in limited amounts of other lung cells.FIZZ1 increased in murine model of smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.However,the direct role of FIZZ1 produced by pulmonary epithelium stimulated with cigarette smoke extraction has not been determined.We examined the expression and function of FIZZ1 in rat lung epithelial L2 cells.Methods The rat lung epithelial L2 cells （CCL 149） were exposed to cigarette smoke extraction,expression of FIZZ1 mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR.Levels of FIZZ1 protein were detected by Western blotting and laser confocal microscope.CCL 149 cells were treated with different concentrations and for different time of recombinant protein FIZZ1.After treatment,the expression levels of interleukin 8 （IL-8） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.Results When CCL 149 cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extraction,FIZZ1 mRNA and protein levels expressed significantly higher than control group.Recombinant protein FIZZ1 promoted the expression of IL-8 in a dose and time dependent manner in a certain range.Conclusions Cigarette smoke extraction activates FIZZ1 at mRNA and protein levels in CCL 149 cells.Recombinant protein FIZZ1 induces the expression of IL-8 and may thus participate in the process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease airway inflammation and airflow obstruction.Generally,immune cells such as macrophages,neutrophils and lymphocytes are unavoidably involved in airway inflammatory and immune responses to cigarette smoke,but it is still unclear whether their involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is based on the specific expression in lung epithelial cells of FIZZ1.展开更多
文摘Eusocial wasps are excellent models for understanding polyethism and division of labor among castes in social insects. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling caste determination in eusocial wasps. Evidence suggests that the phenotype of queens in independent-founding (IF) eusocial wasps of the subfamily Polistinae can be partly fixed in the larval stage;however, this hypothesis has not yet been investigated. In this study we evaluate whether juvenile hormone (JH) affects pre-imaginal caste determination in the IF eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Analyzing morphometric and behavioral data, we demonstrated experimentally that females emerging from larvae that were treated with JH in the third instar had a significantly larger body size, spent more time in the nest, and were subject to less physical aggression from nestmates compared with females emerging from untreated control larvae. These results indicate that phenotype differences among castes in IF eusocial wasps can be partly fixed in the pre-adult stage and influenced by variations in the JH titer.
文摘Based on the structure of citation network, the citation paths among papers, and the association strength such as coupling, co-citation and etc. between two papers are defined in this article. We give formulas to quantify the association strength in order to establish citation network model based on the citation path structure. Then, the OPTICS algorithm is brought into the scientific communities found model since it can solve the parameter’s setting problem. This method combines various kinds of path structures together and thus it contains more complete citation network information. Experiments and analysis reveal the reliability and validity of this method.
基金The study was supported by a grant from Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China （No.10151063201000035）.
文摘Background Found in inflammatory zone 1 （FIZZ1） protein increased in pulmonary epithelial cells and in limited amounts of other lung cells.FIZZ1 increased in murine model of smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.However,the direct role of FIZZ1 produced by pulmonary epithelium stimulated with cigarette smoke extraction has not been determined.We examined the expression and function of FIZZ1 in rat lung epithelial L2 cells.Methods The rat lung epithelial L2 cells （CCL 149） were exposed to cigarette smoke extraction,expression of FIZZ1 mRNA was investigated by RT-PCR.Levels of FIZZ1 protein were detected by Western blotting and laser confocal microscope.CCL 149 cells were treated with different concentrations and for different time of recombinant protein FIZZ1.After treatment,the expression levels of interleukin 8 （IL-8） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.Results When CCL 149 cells were exposed to cigarette smoke extraction,FIZZ1 mRNA and protein levels expressed significantly higher than control group.Recombinant protein FIZZ1 promoted the expression of IL-8 in a dose and time dependent manner in a certain range.Conclusions Cigarette smoke extraction activates FIZZ1 at mRNA and protein levels in CCL 149 cells.Recombinant protein FIZZ1 induces the expression of IL-8 and may thus participate in the process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease airway inflammation and airflow obstruction.Generally,immune cells such as macrophages,neutrophils and lymphocytes are unavoidably involved in airway inflammatory and immune responses to cigarette smoke,but it is still unclear whether their involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is based on the specific expression in lung epithelial cells of FIZZ1.
