Effects of acupuncture on the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells and levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) of the obese rats were investigated. Results indicated that th...Effects of acupuncture on the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells and levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) of the obese rats were investigated. Results indicated that the levels of tyrosine (Tyr) and dopamine (DA) were lowered, the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydoxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) increased, and the frequency of the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells in VMH lowered in the obese rat group as compared with the normal group. When acupuncture obtained the effect of weight reduction, the frequency of spontaneous discharges of nerve cells in VMH were markedly increased, and the levels of Tyr, DA and tryptamine (Typ) and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio elevated, and the 5-HT level lowered. It is suggested that the virtuous regulative action of acupuncture on VMH might be one of the key factors in acupuncture for weight reduction.展开更多
Purpose: To study the time-effect relationship of action of acupuncture on the satiety center of ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) in rats with experimental obesity. Methods: Microelectrode recording method o...Purpose: To study the time-effect relationship of action of acupuncture on the satiety center of ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) in rats with experimental obesity. Methods: Microelectrode recording method of nerve cells and stereotaxic technique for brain were adopted with discharge frequency (Hz/s) of nerve impulse in VMH as the index, and the time-effect of acupuncture action in different periods between groups were observed. Results: Electric activity in acupuncture group was higher than that in the obesity model group (P<0.001) and the normal group (P<0.01) respectively, and the curve of acupuncture action within 2 hours showed irregular fluctuation. Conclusion: Acupuncture can increase excitability of the satiety center, with a better long-term effect.展开更多
Cascade speciation and reinforcement can evolve rapidly when traits are pleiotropic and act as both signal/cue in nonrandom mating. Here, we examine the contribution of two key traits-assortative mating and self-ferti...Cascade speciation and reinforcement can evolve rapidly when traits are pleiotropic and act as both signal/cue in nonrandom mating. Here, we examine the contribution of two key traits-assortative mating and self-fertilization--to reinforcement and （by extension） cascade speciation. First, using a population genetic model of reinforcement we find that both assortative mating and self-fertilization can make independent contributions to increased reproductive isolation, consistent with reinforcement. Self-fertilization primarily evolves due to its 2-fold transmission advantage when inbreeding depression （d） is lower （d〈 0.45） but evolves as a function of the cost of hybridization under higher inbreeding depression （0.45 〈 d〈 0.48）. When both traits can evolve simultaneously, increased self-fertilization often prohibits the evolution of assortative mating. We infer that, under specific conditions, mating system transitions are more likely to lead to increased reproductive isolation and initiate cascade speciation, than assortative mating. Based on the results of our simulations, we hypothesized that transitions to self-fertilization could contribute to clade-wide diversification if reinforcement or cascade speciation is common. We tested this hypothesis with comparative data from two different groups. Consistent with our hypothesis, there was a trend towards uniparental reproduction being associated with increased diversification rate in the Nematode phylum. For the plant genus Mimulus, however, self-fertilization was associated with reduced diversification. Reinforcement driving speciation via transitions to self-fertilization might be short lived or unsustainable across macroevolutionary scales in some systems （some plants）, but not others （such as nematodes）, potentially due to differences in susceptibility to inbreeding depression and/or the ability to transition between reproductive modes.展开更多
The use of plant materials as soil amendments is an uncommon practice amongst major farming communities in Ghana, although it is necessary for soil fertility improvement. An examination of the effects of soil amendmen...The use of plant materials as soil amendments is an uncommon practice amongst major farming communities in Ghana, although it is necessary for soil fertility improvement. An examination of the effects of soil amendments is necessary to encourage the use of under-utilized organic resources in Ghana. Thus, a field experiment was conducted using 8 different tropical plant materials mixed with chicken manure as soil amendments for growth of tomato as a test crop. The plant materials included Leucaena leueocephala, Centrosema pubescens, Sesbania sesban, Gliricidia sepium, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Azadirachta indiea, and Theo- broma cacao. There were two other treatments： one with equivalent amounts of chemical fertilizers and the other with no-fertilizer input （control）. Plant materials were mixed with chicken manure to obtain a uniform carbon-to-nitrogen （C：N） ratio of 5：1. Except the no-fertilizer control, all treatments received the same amount of nitrogen （N）. To clarify the decomposition pattern of the plant materials in soil, an incubation experiment was conducted using only the plant materials before the field experiment. The Glirieidia treatment released significantly more mineral N than the other plant materials in the incubation experiment. However, the tomato fruit yield was not enhanced in the Gliricidia treatment in the field experiment. The known quality parameters of the tested plant materials, such as total N, total carbon （C）, C：N ratio, and total polyphenols, had minimal effects on their mineralization dynamics. Azadirachta showed the best synergistic effect with chicken manure through significantly increasing soil microbial biomass and fruit yield of tomato. This result provides insights into the possible adoption of Azadirachta in combination with chicken manure as a soil amendment in small-scale agricultural holdings.展开更多
文摘Effects of acupuncture on the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells and levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) of the obese rats were investigated. Results indicated that the levels of tyrosine (Tyr) and dopamine (DA) were lowered, the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydoxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) increased, and the frequency of the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells in VMH lowered in the obese rat group as compared with the normal group. When acupuncture obtained the effect of weight reduction, the frequency of spontaneous discharges of nerve cells in VMH were markedly increased, and the levels of Tyr, DA and tryptamine (Typ) and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio elevated, and the 5-HT level lowered. It is suggested that the virtuous regulative action of acupuncture on VMH might be one of the key factors in acupuncture for weight reduction.
文摘Purpose: To study the time-effect relationship of action of acupuncture on the satiety center of ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) in rats with experimental obesity. Methods: Microelectrode recording method of nerve cells and stereotaxic technique for brain were adopted with discharge frequency (Hz/s) of nerve impulse in VMH as the index, and the time-effect of acupuncture action in different periods between groups were observed. Results: Electric activity in acupuncture group was higher than that in the obesity model group (P<0.001) and the normal group (P<0.01) respectively, and the curve of acupuncture action within 2 hours showed irregular fluctuation. Conclusion: Acupuncture can increase excitability of the satiety center, with a better long-term effect.
文摘Cascade speciation and reinforcement can evolve rapidly when traits are pleiotropic and act as both signal/cue in nonrandom mating. Here, we examine the contribution of two key traits-assortative mating and self-fertilization--to reinforcement and （by extension） cascade speciation. First, using a population genetic model of reinforcement we find that both assortative mating and self-fertilization can make independent contributions to increased reproductive isolation, consistent with reinforcement. Self-fertilization primarily evolves due to its 2-fold transmission advantage when inbreeding depression （d） is lower （d〈 0.45） but evolves as a function of the cost of hybridization under higher inbreeding depression （0.45 〈 d〈 0.48）. When both traits can evolve simultaneously, increased self-fertilization often prohibits the evolution of assortative mating. We infer that, under specific conditions, mating system transitions are more likely to lead to increased reproductive isolation and initiate cascade speciation, than assortative mating. Based on the results of our simulations, we hypothesized that transitions to self-fertilization could contribute to clade-wide diversification if reinforcement or cascade speciation is common. We tested this hypothesis with comparative data from two different groups. Consistent with our hypothesis, there was a trend towards uniparental reproduction being associated with increased diversification rate in the Nematode phylum. For the plant genus Mimulus, however, self-fertilization was associated with reduced diversification. Reinforcement driving speciation via transitions to self-fertilization might be short lived or unsustainable across macroevolutionary scales in some systems （some plants）, but not others （such as nematodes）, potentially due to differences in susceptibility to inbreeding depression and/or the ability to transition between reproductive modes.
文摘The use of plant materials as soil amendments is an uncommon practice amongst major farming communities in Ghana, although it is necessary for soil fertility improvement. An examination of the effects of soil amendments is necessary to encourage the use of under-utilized organic resources in Ghana. Thus, a field experiment was conducted using 8 different tropical plant materials mixed with chicken manure as soil amendments for growth of tomato as a test crop. The plant materials included Leucaena leueocephala, Centrosema pubescens, Sesbania sesban, Gliricidia sepium, Mucuna pruriens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Azadirachta indiea, and Theo- broma cacao. There were two other treatments： one with equivalent amounts of chemical fertilizers and the other with no-fertilizer input （control）. Plant materials were mixed with chicken manure to obtain a uniform carbon-to-nitrogen （C：N） ratio of 5：1. Except the no-fertilizer control, all treatments received the same amount of nitrogen （N）. To clarify the decomposition pattern of the plant materials in soil, an incubation experiment was conducted using only the plant materials before the field experiment. The Glirieidia treatment released significantly more mineral N than the other plant materials in the incubation experiment. However, the tomato fruit yield was not enhanced in the Gliricidia treatment in the field experiment. The known quality parameters of the tested plant materials, such as total N, total carbon （C）, C：N ratio, and total polyphenols, had minimal effects on their mineralization dynamics. Azadirachta showed the best synergistic effect with chicken manure through significantly increasing soil microbial biomass and fruit yield of tomato. This result provides insights into the possible adoption of Azadirachta in combination with chicken manure as a soil amendment in small-scale agricultural holdings.
