明清北京的马神崇拜及其功能、意义的转变

明清时期的北京建有数量不少的马神庙,在一些大的庙宇里还建有马神殿。通过对马神祭祀活动和祭祀群体的考察和分析看出,马神信仰经历了从国家政治的象征符号到代表行业利益诉求的象征符号的转变过程。这与王朝马政的兴废和北京城市经济的发展有着密不可分的关系。透过马神信仰还可以窥见到,在不同的现实利益驱动下,不同行业间的竞争和不同群体间的利益争夺。

马踏飞燕折射出的马神崇拜研究

武威雷台汉墓出土的奔马铜雕,是在马神崇拜心理影响下的汉时期"天马"典型形象的具象化展现,还折射出中国古代动物崇拜思维中的一种类同化迁移现象,龙作为想象的动物,对其的崇拜以一种"以类度类"的思维方式迁移至具象的、现实的马神崇拜中。

新生海马神经元的功能与成熟神经元相同

近日,美国的研究人员报道指出,成年哺乳类动物大脑内的新生神经元不仅在外观上与成熟神经元相似,而且在功能上也非常相近。美国加利福尼亚州拉霍亚Salk生物研究所的Henriette van Praag博士及其同事对成年小鼠海马齿状回的新生神经元与成熟神经元在结构和功能上的差异进行了研究。据研究人员报道。

马神形象的经典塑造与戏剧重构

随着马匹政治、军事功能的弱化与经济功能的进一步增强,官方逐渐退出马神祭祀,马神的经典解释范式日渐被打破,皮影戏等民间戏剧却通过最通俗、最有效的方式重新建构了一个新的"马王成圣"故事,塑造了一个新的马神。马神信仰通过这种变迁暂时沿续了下来,但马神从此却变成了一个游移于精英文化之外的尴尬民神,并具有了非常强烈的地方性区隔特征。

大同地区马王庙现状调查

马神信仰由来已久,在漫长的历史岁月中为人们提供了强大的精神支柱。随着社会生产力进步,人们思想认识水平不断提高,宗教信仰相对弱化,很多寺院逐渐淡漠在人们的视野中,许多庙宇年久失修,有的甚至消失在大众视野中。本文通过现场调研的方式,对大同地区马王庙保存现状进行了梳理,旨在为今后大同地区马王庙的保护提供些许价值。

从印尼的中国陶瓷看中印(尼)文化交流

中国陶瓷有悠久的历史,在世界上享有盛誉,并且早就传至国外,包括千岛之国——印度尼西亚。中国陶瓷在印尼,是中、印(尼)两国长期文化交流的一个组成部分。下面就中国陶瓷在印尼的若干特点,作初步探讨。 一、传入年代久远 荷兰考古学家奥赛·德·弗玲尼斯在苏门答腊、爪哇、加里曼丹、巴厘和苏拉咸西诸岛都发现中国汉代(公元前206—公元220年)的陶器。

Mechanisms underlying low [Ca^(2+)]_o-induced increased excitability of hippocampal neurons

Objective Concentration of extracellular calcium （[Ca2＋]o） in the central nervous system decreases substantially in different conditions. It results in facilitating neuronal excitability. The goal of this study is to examine the mechanisms of enhanced neuronal excitation in low [Ca2＋]o in order to provide new clues to treat the hyperexcitability diseases in clinic. Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp technique and neuron culture were used in the study. Results The firing threshold of cultured hippocampal neurons decreased markedly in low [Ca2＋]o saline. Unexpectedly, apamine and isoprenaline, antagonists of medium afterhyperpolarization （mAHP） and slow AHP （sAHP） respectively, had no statistic significant effect on excitability of neurons. TTX at a low concentration was sufficient to inhibit/Nap, which blocked the increase of firing frequency in low [Ca2＋]o. It also reduced the number of spikes in normal [Ca2＋]o. Conclusion These results suggest that in cultured hippocampal neurons, modulation of spiking threshold but not AHP may cause the increased excitability in low [Ca2＋]o.

Modulation of the suppressive effect of corticosterone on adult rat hippocampal cell proliferation by paroxetine

Objective The literature has shown that cognitive and emotional changes may occur after chronic treatment with glucocorticoids. This might be caused by the suppressive effect of glucocorticoids on hippocampal neurogenesis and cell proliferation. Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake transporter, is a commonly used antidepressant for alleviation of signs and symptoms of clinical depression. It was discovered to promote hippocampal neurogenesis in the past few years and we wanted to investigate its interaction with glucocorticoid in this study. Methods Adult rats were given vehicle, corticosterone, paroxetine, or both corticosterone and paroxetine for 14 d. Cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus was quantified using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine （BrdU） immunohistochemistry. Results The corticosterone treatment suppressed while paroxetine treatment increased hippocampal cell proliferation. More importantly, paroxetine treatment could reverse the suppressive effect of corticosterone on hippocampal cell proliferation. Conclusion This may have clinic application in preventing hippocampal damage after glucocorticoid treatment.

母爱啊，三个盲童明亮的眼睛

在苏州的街头，每天清晨和傍晚，一位驾驶三轮摩托的母亲总会准时载着她三胞胎的盲孩子奔忙在上学．放学的路上。她独自靠这辆摩托拉脚，以微薄的收入艰难养育着孩子们。三个孩子学习优秀，兴趣广泛，会拉琴．按摩．可以熟练地使用电脑，这条通往盲童学校的路上，就在这辆破旧的摩托车上，总会传来她们那无忧无虑的笑声、歌声、琴声…… 这位名叫马宝凤的母亲，载着她的马神鹰、马神洁、马神童，母爱的光芒早已明亮了孩子们的天空…… 熟悉他们故事的人，望着他们来来往往的身影，总要叹一口气。

如何理解和学习弘一法师的书法艺术——与张光兴先生一席谈

书法家、美学家、文化学者张光兴先生的书学专著《书法艺术论纲──传统美学视角下的书法艺术》于2013年9月由齐鲁书社出版发行。这是他的第18部专著。书中对弘一法师的书法艺术提出了一些见解,前不久在接受采访时张光兴先生就如何才能学到弘一书法真髓又谈了以下几点建议:第一,要把"李叔同书法"与出家后的"弘一法师书法"严格区别开来。他认为这不是一个简单的时间概念。因为书法家前后所处的环境、心境、创作目的以及技巧运用等不同。学习者不妨从李叔同书法入手,慢慢转向弘一书法。第二,学习弘一书法,功夫要在"写神"上。第三,要写弘一书法,就必须把心静下来,还必须在文化修养上多下功夫,别指望走捷径。

Speed Control of Travelling Wave Type Ultrasonic Motors Using Artificial Neural Network

Ultrasonic motor (USM) is a newly developed motor, and it has some excellent performances and useful features, therefore, it has been expected to be of practical use. However, the driving principle of USM is different from that of other electromagnetic type motors, and the mathematical model is complex to apply to motor control. Furthermore, the speed characteristics of the motor have heavy nonlinearity and vary with driving conditions. Hence, the precise speed control of USM is generally difficult. This paper proposes a new speed control scheme for USM using an artificial neural network. An accurate tracking response can be obtained by random initialization of the weights of the network owing to the powerful on line learning capability. Two prototype ultrasonic motors of travelling wave type were fabricated, both having 100 mm outer diameters of stator and piezoelectric ceramic. The usefulness and validity of the proposed control scheme are examined in experiments.

Effects of exercise on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and ability of learning and memory after hippocampus lesion in adult rats

Objective To explore the effects of exercise on dentate gyrus （DG） neurogenesis and the ability of learning and memory in hippocampus-lesioned adult rats. Methods Hippocampus lesion was produced by intrabippocampal microinjection of kainic acid （KA）. Bromodeoxyuridine （BrdU） was used to label dividing cells. Y maze test was used to evaluate the ability of learning and memory. Exercise was conducted in the form of forced running in a motor-driven running wheel. The speed of wheel revolution was regulated at 3 kinds of intensity： lightly running, moderately running, or heavily running. Results Hippocampus lesion could increase the number of BrdU-labeled DG cells, moderately running after lesion could further enhance the number of BrdU-labeled cells and decrease the error number （EN） in Y maze test, while neither lightly running, nor heavily running had such effects. There was a negative correlation between the number of DG BrdU-labeled cells and the EN in the Y maze test after running. Conclusion Moderate exercise could enhance the DG neurogenesis and ameliorate the ability of learning and memory in hippocampus-lesioned rats.

王安石自作《讨交趾敕榜》说质疑

宋朝于熙宁八年十二月颁布的《讨交趾敕榜》,向来被认定为时任首相的王安石亲笔"自作"。但王安石自作《讨交趾敕榜》说最早与唯一的史源,只是王安石政敌司马光所作之《涑水记闻》,又显然与宋代内制皆由翰林学士等词臣草拟的制度不合。更为重要的是,榜文以彗星天变来咒诅交趾的核心内容,不仅与王安石"天变不足畏"的素来主张、"最不信《洪范》灾变之说"一以贯之的思想势若冰炭;特别是与其在当年十月末答宋神宗手诏札子当中,王安石具体所论的该次彗星等天变"不足信"完全牴牾。其实是司马光等旧党以讹传讹甚至有意编造出来的"谤言谤语",目的在于丑化王安石,并非真为事实。《讨交趾敕榜》应是宋神宗本人授意词臣所作,当从王安石文集当中予以删除。

ISCHEMIC PRECONDITIONING RELIEVES ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY OF HIPPOCAMPUS NEURONS IN RAT BY INHIBITING p53 AND BAX EXPRESSIONS

Objective To examine whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can protect neuron against delayed death in CA1 subfield of hippocampus following reperfusion of a lethal ischemia in rats, and explore the role of p53 and bax in this process. Methods We examined the effect of IPC on delayed neuron death, neuron apoptosis, expressions of p53 and bax gene in the CA1 area of hippocampus in the rats using HE staining, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry technique. Results IPC enhanced the quantity of survival cells in the CA1 region of hippocampus (216±9 cells/0.72 mm2 vs. 30±5 cells/0.72 mm2, P<0.01), decreased the percentages of apoptotic neurons of hippocampus caused by ischemia/reperfusion (2.06%±0.21% vs. 4.27%±0.08%, P<0.01), and weakened the expressions of p53 and bax gene of hippocampus compared with ischemia/reperfusion without IPC. Conclusion IPC can protect the neurons in the CA1 region of hippocampus against apoptosis caused by ische- mia/reperfusion, and this process may be related to the reduced expressions of p53 and bax.

Adenoviral vector mediated-expression of caspase-3 siRNA on apoptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide

Objective： To construct the recombinant adenovirus expressing small RNA of rats caspase-3 and observe the down-regulation effect of caspase-3 in neurons induced by lipopolysaccharide（LPS） in vitro. Methods： pShuttleHl-siCas3 containing Oligo DNA of the targeting sequences and pEGFPC1-Cas3 containing caspase-3 and EGFP sequences were constructed respectively, pShuttleH 1-siCas3 and pEGFPC 1-Cas3 were co-transfected to the 293 cells by liposomes to determine interfering efficacy by flow cytometry, pShuttleHl-siCas3 was linearized and transformed into E. coli B J5183 cells containing backbone plasmid pAdEasy-1. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into 293 cells to package the adenovirus Ad-siCas3. The titers of adenovirus were determined by the specific 50% tissue culture infection dosage method. After virus infected the cultured hippocampus neurons, LPS-induced apoptosis and caspase-3 mRNA expression were observed. Results： It was identified that the sequence of target gene was correctly inserted into the genome of virus. The expression of green fluorescence protein was reduced by pShuttleHl-siCas3 in 293 cells. The titer of recombinant adenovirus was 1.06×10^10pfu/ml. After virus infection, caspase-3 mRNA was greatly reduced and neurons apoptosis was suppressed. Conclusion： The recombinant adenovirus expressing rats caspase-3 siRNA were successfully constructed, which may probably be further used in pain therapy by its anti-apoptosis effect.

Protective effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula on hippocampal neurons in rats of diabetes complicated with depression via the TRP/KYN metabolic pathway

Objective To explore the protective effects and mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula(左归降糖解郁方,ZGJTJYF)on hippocampal neurons in rats of diabetes complicated with depression(DD)via the TRP/KYN metabolic pathway.Methods(i)In vivo experiments:60 specified pathogen free(SPF)grade male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into six groups with 10 rats in each groups:control,DD model,positive(1.8 mg/kg fluoxetine+0.18 g/kg metformin),high-dose ZGJTJYF(ZGJTJYFH,40.500 g/kg ZGJTJYF),middle-dose ZGJTJYF(ZGJTJYF-M,20.250 g/kg ZGJTJYF),and lowdose ZGJTJYF(ZGJTJYF-L,10.125 g/kg ZGJTJYF)groups.Except for the control group,other groups were established DD model by high-fat emulsion intake with single tail vein streptozotocin(STZ)and four weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS).All drug administration groups were treated by gavage during CUMS modeling,and the control and model groups were given equal amount of distilled water.After four weeks,the serum levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured to determine the hypoglycemic effect of ZGJTJYF.Moreover,the open field test and Morris water maze test were performed to evaluate the antidepressant effect of ZGJTJYF.Changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)level were detected via high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection(HPLC-ECD);the levels of tryptophan(TRP),kynurenine(KYN),and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)in the hippocampus were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the protein expression levels of synaptophysin(SYN)and postsynaptic density material-95(PSD-95)were detected via immunohistochemistry(IHC);and the protein expression levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NR)2 A and NR2 B were detected using Western blot.(ii)In vitro experiments:five SPF grade SD pregnant rats(E16–18)were used to obtain primary hippocampal neurons(Ne),six SD new-born rats were used to collected primary astrocytes(As)and microglia(MG),and to establish a Ne-As-MG co-culture system.All co-culture systems were divided into six groups:control(PBS),model[150 mmol/L glucose+200μmol/L corticosterone(G&P)+PBS],blank(G&P+blank serum),positive(G&P+positive drug-containing serum),ZGJTJYF(G&P+ZGJTJYF serum),and 1-methyl-D-tryptophan(1-MT,IDO inhibitor)(G&P+1-MT)groups.After 18 h of intervention by corresponding treatment,immunofluorescence was used to analyze the protein expression levels of SYN,PSD-95,NR2 A,and NR2 B;ELISA was performed to measure the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and TRP/KYN metabolic pathway-related factors[TRP,KYN,kynurenine acid(KYNA),quinolinic acid(QUIN)].Results(i)In vivo experimental results showed that ZGJTJYF-M and ZGJTJYF-L significantly improved the elevated blood glucose state of DD rats(P<0.01 and P<0.05,respectively);ZGJTJYF-H,ZGJTJYF-M,and ZGJTJYF-L increased their autonomous activity,learning,and memory ability(P<0.01,P<0.01,and P<0.05,respectively).Moreover,the levels of 5-HT and TRP were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the levels of KYN and IDO were significantly decreased in the hippocampus(P<0.01)of rats after ZGJTJYF-M treatment.The protein expression levels of SYN and PSD-95 were significantly upregulated in hippocampal neurons(P<0.01),while the abnormal activation of NR2A and NR2B was markedly inhibited in hippocampus(P<0.05)of rats after ZGJTJYF-M treatment.(ii)In vitro experimental results showed that ZGJTJYF-containing serum significantly increased the protein expression levels of SYN and PSD-95 in hippocampal neurons(P<0.01),decreased the levels of IL-1β(P<0.01),IL-6(P<0.05),TNF-α(P<0.01),IDO(P<0.05),KYN(P<0.05),and QUIN(P<0.01),and increased the levels of TRP and KYNA(P<0.01)in the simulated DD state.ZGJTJYF also had an significantly inhibitory effect on the abnormal activation of NR2A and NR2B in neurons(P<0.05)in a stimulated DD state.Conclusion ZGJTJYF can effectively improve 5-HT deficiency in the hippocampus of rats by inhibiting IDO expression and regulating the TRP/KYN metabolic pathway,and it has a favorable protective effect on hippocampal neuron injury caused by DD.Therefore,ZGJTJYF is an effective potential therapeutic drug for the prevention and treatment of DD.

Neural stem cell activation and glial proliferation in the hippocampal CA3 region of posttraumatic epileptic rats

The present study observed the dynamic expression of CD133, nuclear factor-κB and glial fibrUlary acidic protein in the hippocampal CA3 area of the experimental posttraumatic epilepsy rats to investigate whether gliosis occurs after posttraumatic epilepsy. CD133 and nuclear factor-κB expression was increased at 1 day after posttraumatic epilepsy, peaked at 7 days, and gradually decreased up to 14 days, as seen by double-irnmunohistochemical staining. Glial fibrillary acidic protein/nuclear factor-EB double-labeled cells increased with time and peaked at 14 days after posttraumatic epilepsy. Results show that activation of hippocampal neural stem cells and glial proliferation after posttraumatic epilepsy-induced oxidative stress increases hippocampal glial cell density.

EphA3 functions are regulated by collaborating phosphotyrosine residues

Ephrin ligands interact with Eph receptors to regulate a wide variety of biological and pathological processes. Recent studies have identified several downstream pathways that mediate the functions of these receptors. Activation of the receptors by ephrin binding results in the phosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine residues. These phospho- rylated residues serve as docking sites for many of the downstream signaling pathways. However, the relative contributions of different phosphotyrosine residues remain undefined. In the present study, we mutated each individual tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic domain of EphA3 receptor and studied the effects using cell migration, process retraction, and growth cone collapse assays. Stimulation of the EphA3 receptor with ephrin-A5 inhibits 293A cell mi- gration, reduces NG108-15 cell neurite outgrowth, and induces growth cone collapse in hippocampal neurons. Muta- tion of either Y602 or Y779 alone partially decreases EphA3-induced responses. Full abrogation can only be achieved with mutations of both Y602 and Y779. These observations suggest a collaborative model of different downstream pathways.