Molecular regulation of sexual preference revealed by genetic studies of 5-HT in the brains of male mice

Although the question of to whom a male directs his mating attempts is a critical one in social interactions, little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling mammalian sexual preference. Here we report that the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is required for male sexual preference. Wild-type male mice preferred females over males, but males lacking central serotonergic neurons lost sexual preference although they were not generally defective in olfaction or in pheromone sensing. A role for 5-HT was demonstrated by the phenotype of mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), which is required for the first step of 5-HT synthesis in the brain. Thirty-five minutes after the injection of the intermediate 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which circumvented Tph2 to restore 5-HT to the wild-type level, adult Tph2 knockout mice also preferred females over males. These results indicate that 5-HT and serotonergic neurons in the adult brain regulate mammalian sexual preference.     

Surface pollen assemblages of human-disturbed vegetation and their relationship with vegetation and climate in Northeast China

Pollen assemblages of 53 surface pollen samples from farmlands and wastelands in Northeast China were analyzed. Tree pollen percentages were usually higher than 30%, with Pinus (26.9%), Quercus (0.9%), Betula (0.9%) and Populus (0.7%) as the major types, and herb pollen percentages were usually higher than 50%, with weedy Poaceae (8.7%), Chenopodiaceae (7.1%), Artemisia (1.9%) and Compositae (3.5%) as the major taxa. Thus, the pollen assemblages were consistent with the regional vegetation compositions. However, there were differences in pollen assemblages among regions, especially among different geomorphological units. For example, in the mountains, there were more types of tree pollen and higher total percentages (average 42%) than in other areas, while cereal pollen percentages were lowest (11.2%). In the hills and high plains, herbs made up more than 60% of the pollens, with cereals (average 53.6%) the dominant type. In the low plains, pollen types were similar to those in the hills and high plains, but total pollen concentrations and the proportion of Concentricystes were much higher, while cereal pollen percentages were slightly lower (average 41.6%). Pollen assemblages in different land use types also differed. For example, in farmland, cereal pollen percentages were more than 40% and Chenopodiaceae was usually less than 2.5%, while in wasteland, weedy Poaceae was usually less than 10% and Chenopodiaceae was usually higher than 25%. Total pollen concentrations in farmland (average 3909 grains/g) were much lower than in wasteland (average 15074 grains/g). Redundancy analysis revealed that pollen assemblages were significantly negatively correlated with mean annual temperature (-0.73) and July mean temperature (-0.81) and significantly positively correlated with mean annual precipitation (0.48), indicating that pollen assemblages in the artificial or human-disturbed vegetation reflect regional climate well. Comparison of pollen assemblages in different areas of northern China showed that pollen concentrations reflect the intensities of human impact to some degree. For example, pollen concentrations decrease as human impacts increase in intensity. The cereal pollen proportions in farmland differed by area. In Northeast China, cereal pollen proportions were distinctly higher than in most other areas of northern China, suggesting differences in planting habits and climate.     

中国“红歌会”的当代教育价值实现

几年来,中国红歌会通过深入挖掘红色资源的精神内涵,不断提升作品的艺术表现力和感染力,在潜移默化中传播先进文化,在交流互动中弘扬红色精神,产生了巨大的社会效应。唱红歌是个好形式,中国红歌会已然成为革命传统教育的好办法,主流文化传承的好媒介,红色精神培养的好平台,对青少年的思想政治工作有着极好的启示作用。     

Erratum to: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> induction of mouse meningeal-derived iPS cells into neural-like cells

The authors report that incorrect figures were included as Figures 4 and 5 in the original publication of this paper. This error occurred during the figure editing process of the publishing company. This information should have been presented as follows:     

Synthesis, properties, and optical applications of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates

Noble metal nanoparticles, such as gold or silver nanoparticles and nanorods, exhibit unique photonic, electronic and catalytic properties. Functionalization of noble metal nanoparticles with biomolecules (e.g., protein and DNA) produces systems that possess numerous applications in catalysis, delivery, therapy, imaging, sensing, constructing nanostructures and controlling the structure of biomolecules. In this paper, the recent development of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates is reviewed from the following three aspects: (1) synthesis of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule systems by electrostatic adsorption, direct chemisorption of thiol derivatives, covalent binding through bifunctional linkers and specific affinity interactions; (2) the photonic properties and bioactivation of noble metal nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates; and (3) the optical applications of such systems in biosensors, and medical imaging, diagnosis, and therapy. The conjugation of Au and Ag nanoparticles with biomolecules and the most recent optical applications of the resulting systems have been focused on.     

研究生宗教信仰现状调查分析——以景德镇陶瓷学院研究生调查为个案研究

经研究生宗教信仰状况的调查分析,从某个角度来看,研究生宗教信仰问题值得担忧。研究生宗教信仰状况必须引起社会的关注和重视。高校思想政治工作者、研究生个人、社会三者应合力解决研究生信仰问题。     

Generalized ridge estimation of a semiparametric regression model

We considered the following semiparametric regres-sion model yi = X iT β+ s ( t i ) + ei (i =1,2,,n). First,the general-ized ridge estimators of both parameters and non-parameters are given without a restrained design matrix. Second,the generalized ridge estimator will be compared with the penalized least squares estimator under a mean squares error,and some conditions in which the former excels the latter are given. Finally,the validity and feasibility of the method is illustrated by a simulation example.     

应用PAPS免疫微球法快速诊断家畜锥虫病

ＰＡＰＳ锥虫快速诊断试剂，是中国农业科学院上海家畜寄生虫病研究所研制成功的一种新型的载体微球，它与伊氏锥虫抗原交联所制备的锥虫快速诊断液具有特异性强、敏感性高，重复性好、快速、简便的特点。笔者应用锥虫快速诊断液检测１４９头锥虫阳性病牛（见虫），阳性检出率为９８．７％。对２２５头非疫区阴性牛进行检测，阴性符合率为９９．６％。ＰＡＰＳ试验与间接血凝试验的符合率为９６．１％。对２２７７头耕牛血清和血纸两     

直接酸浸含钒灰渣提钒的工艺研究

本文阐述了硫酸直接浸取含钒灰渣提钒工艺中,硫酸浸取,浸出液中提取铵明矾、再提取中间盐并溶解之,溶剂萃取、反萃及沉钒的有关因素。并确定了最佳工艺条件。     

试论现代青花艺术的时代性

现代青花艺术是对传统青花艺术的延续和发展,是在继承传统青花艺术的基础上进行了取舍,融会了现代人的审美理念、创作思想及表现方法,体现新时代特征的青花艺术作品。时代不断发展,青花装饰也与时俱进,在继承传统的基础上,现代青花装饰向着多元化、自由化、个性化的方向发展,在现代青花艺术的各个方面都有充分的体现。