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يعتبر ظهور الأدوات البرونزية قفزة مهمة في تاريخ الحضارة الإنسانية. وعلي الرغم من أن العصر البرونزي في الصين لم يكن الأول في تاريخ البشرية، ولكن الأدوات البرونزية في الصين القديمة قد احتلت مكانة فريدة في تاريخ الحضارة العالمية اعتمادا علي أنواعها المتنوعة وأنماطها الغنية وعملية السبك الدقيقة والدلالة التاريخية والثقافية العميقة التي يحملها كل عمل برونزي في الصين القديمة. وهذا الكتاب الذي بين يدي القارئ الكريم يعرفن بلغة واضحة وحية وبالشرح والصور على أحد اوجه الثقافة والفنون الصينية الشهيرة والتي هي ثقافة البرونز الرائعة في الصين القديمة، فمن خلال قطعة من القطع البرونزية الثمينة يمكننا أن نستمع إلي صوت العصر البرونزي من أماكن بعيدة وتجربة أسلوب فريد من نوعه في ذلك العصر الذي مازالت أسراره بعيدة عن متناول القارئ العربي والتي نحاول من خلال هذا الكتاب أن نقدمها بشكل موجز وواضح لننقل للقارئ الكريم وجها جديدا عليه من أوجه الحضارة الصينية المتميزة.

Brain damage in children due to seizures is irreversible and has been a major public health concern. The herbal monomer Xyloketal B (Xyl‐B) can be used as a neuroprotective drug because of its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti‐inflammatory effects but with few adverse effects. In this article, we constructed a rat developmental convulsion model and a primary hippocampal neuronal cell convulsion model, through which we studied hippocampal neuronal morphology and neuronal apoptosis using H&E staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. Moreover, we measured TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐1β inflammatory factor levels using ELISA, MDA, and SOD kits. The expression of SIRT3 in hippocampal tissues was determined by qPCR and Western blotting. The expression of autophagy‐related proteins such as LC3, p62, and Beclin‐1 was evaluated by Western blotting or immunohistochemistry. The role of SIRT3 and autophagic activity with Xyl‐B in convulsive seizure‐induced brain injury was investigated by knocking down SIRT3 expression levels. Our results showed that Xyl‐B plays a neuroprotective role in convulsive seizure‐induced brain injury by increasing SIRT3 expression and activating the autophagy pathway. The regulatory role of SIRT3 in the autophagy pathway with Xyl‐B treatment was explored by knocking down SIRT3 expression and inhibiting autophagy. Our results revealed that SIRT3 enhances the protective effect of Xyl‐B against postconvulsive brain injury by regulating AMPK/mTOR signaling‐mediated autophagy.

High concentrations of environmental ammonia can cause reduced immunity and death in fish, causing enormous economic losses. Air‐breathing fish usually have a high ammonia tolerance and are very suitable for high‐density fish farming. However, research on the effects of environmental ammonia on air‐breathing fish immunity is lacking. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of environmental ammonia on the immunity of large‐scale loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus) by exposing fish to 30 mmol/L NH4Cl solution and subsequently analyzing the changes in serum and liver immune indicators, including total protein, albumin, globulin, immunoglobulin (Ig) M, lysozyme, complement component (C) 3 and C4, heat shock protein (HSP) 70, HSP90, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐12. Results revealed that ammonia exposure significantly affected the total protein, albumin, globulin, IgM, complement C3 and C4, HSP70, HSP90, and inflammatory cytokine contents in the body, indicating that ammonia exposure induced a significant immune response and lowered bodily immunity. However, most of the immune indicators significantly decreased in the later stages of the experiment, suggesting a weakened immune response, which may be due to the species‐specific ammonia detoxification ability of large‐scale loach that reduces ammonia toxicity in the body. This study demonstrated the effects of high concentration of environmental ammonia on the immune response in Paramisgurnus dabryanus. Species‐specific ammonia detoxification strategies in P. dabryanus could weaken the immune response induced by high environmental ammonia.

Objective To investigate the effect of inhibiting the expression of miRNA⁃193a⁃5p on neuronal damage and apoptosis in hippocampus of epileptic rats, and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods Epileptic rat models were prepared with lithium chlorine⁃pilocarpine and randomly divided into model group, miRNA⁃193a⁃5p inhibitor group (miRNA⁃193a⁃5p antagomir group) and negative control group (antagomir⁃NC group). The frequency of abnormal brainwaves per unit time was recorded at first, 3th and 7th day after model preparation. On the 7th day, the expression of hippocampal inflammatory factors [interleukin⁃1β (IL⁃1β), interleukin⁃6 (IL⁃6), tumor necrosis factor⁃α (TNF⁃α)] were detected by enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by chemical colorimetry, and the number of neuronal apoptosis was calculated by TUNEL staining. The relative expression of miRNA⁃193a⁃5p and G⁃protein coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), and expression of cleaved Caspase⁃3, Bax, Bcl⁃2, and GPR39 proteins were detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Double luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting relationship between miRNA⁃193a⁃5p and GPR39. Results 1) There were statistically significant differences in each index in different treatment groups and at each observation time point (P=0.000, for all). Compared with normal control group, the relative expression of miRNA⁃193a⁃5p in model group, antagomir⁃NC group and miRNA⁃193a⁃5p antagomir group (P=0.000, for all), the expression of inflammatory factors [IL⁃1β (P＜0.05, for all), IL⁃6 (P=0.000, for all) and TNF⁃α (P=0.000, for all)], the content of MDA (P＜0.01, for all), the number of apoptosis of neurons (P=0.000, for all), the relative expression of cleaved Caspase⁃3 (P=0.000) and Bax (P=0.000) increased. The relative expression of SOD activity (P＜0.01, for all), Bcl⁃2 relative expression (P=0.000, for all), GPR39 mRNA (P=0.000, for all) and GPR39 protein (P＜0.01, for all) were decreased. Compared with model group and antagomir⁃NC group, the relative expression of miRNA⁃193a⁃5p in antagomir group (P=0.000, for all), the expression of inflammatory cytokines [IL⁃1β (P=0.000, for all), IL⁃6 (P=0.000, for all) and TNF⁃α (P＜0.01, for all)], the content of MDA (P=0.000, for all), the number of neuronal apoptosis (P=0.000, for all), the relative expression of cleaved Caspase⁃3 (P=0.000，for all) and Bax (P=0.000, for all), as well as the number of abnormal brain waves at day 1, 3 and 7 (P＜0.05, for all) were decreased. The relative expression of SOD activity (P=0.000, for all), Bcl⁃2 (P=0.000, for all), GPR39 mRNA (P=0.000, for all) and GPR39 protein (P=0.000, for all) increased. 2) Double luciferase assay showed the luciferase activity of HEK293T cells transfected with miRNA⁃193a⁃5p mimic was decreased after transfection of GPR39⁃WT, and was lower than that of mimic⁃NC group (t=16.340, P=0.000). Conclusions Inhibiting the expression of miRNA⁃193a⁃5p can reduce the expression of oxidative stress and inflammation in the hippocampus of epileptic rats, and inhibit hippocampal neuron apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the targeted up⁃regulation of GPR39 expression.

Elucidating the mechanisms of alkaline tolerance in freshwater teleosts will help in the development of commercial saline-alkaline aquaculture. The large-scale loach ( Paramisgurnus dabryanus ) is a viable species for such aquaculture, but the mechanisms of its tolerance of alkaline water are unclear. Large-scale loach was exposed to 40, 50, and 60 mmol L -1 NaHCO 3 for 12, 48, and 96 h to evaluate the transcriptional changes of branchial Rhesus (Rh) glycoproteins, and aquaporins (Aqp)1 and Aqp3. Rhag transcript levels increased with longer exposure times. Rhag expression also rose considerably at higher carbonate alkalinities. Rhbg mRNA levels declined significantly under carbonate alkalinity exposure. A marked up-regulation of Rhcg  was observed in the gills of the loach. Exposure to 60 mmol L -1  NaHCO 3  also induced a significant up-regulation of aqp1 . By contrast, aqp3 expression was significantly lower after 48 h exposure. The current findings reveal that the large-scale loach up-regulates Rhag and Rhcg to enhance ammonia efflux from the gills when exposed to high alkalinity. It is proposed that this species maintains appropriate osmolality when adapting to an alkaline environment by down-regulating aqp3 (to impede urea removal) and up-regulating aqp1 in the gills (to excrete excessive internal water).

Extinction events typically represent extended processes of decline that cannot be reconstructed using short-term studies. Long-term archives are necessary to determine past baselines and the extent of human-caused biodiversity change, but the capacity of historical datasets to provide predictive power for conservation must be assessed within a robust analytical framework. Local Chinese gazetteers represent a more than 400-year country-level dataset containing abundant information on past environmental conditions and include extensive records of gibbons, which have a restricted present-day distribution but formerly occurred across much of China. Gibbons show pre-twentieth century range contraction, with significant fragmentation by the mid-eighteenth century and population loss escalating in the late nineteenth century. Isolated gibbon populations persisted for about 40 years before local extinction. Populations persisted for longer at higher elevations, and disappeared earlier from northern and eastern regions, with the biogeography of population loss consistent with the contagion model of range collapse in response to human demographic expansion spreading directionally across China. The long-term Chinese historical record can track extinction events and human interactions with the environment across much longer timescales than are usually addressed in ecology, contributing novel baselines for conservation and an increased understanding of extinction dynamics and species vulnerability or resilience to human pressures.

目的 探讨抑制miRNA-193a-5p表达对癫痫大鼠海马组织神经元损伤和凋亡的保护作用及其在颞叶癫痫发病机制中的作用.方法 采用氯化锂-匹罗卡品制备癫痫大鼠模型,随机分为模型组、miRNA-193a-5p抑制剂组(miRNA-193a-5p antagomir组)及其阴性对照组(antagomir-NC组).分别于建模后第1、3和7天时记录模型大鼠单位时间内异常脑电波次数;第7天经酶联免疫吸附试验检测海马组织炎性因子[白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)]表达变化,化学比色法分析超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量,TUNEL染色检测神经元凋亡数目,荧光定量聚合酶链反应和Western blotting法分别检测miRNA-193a-5p和G蛋白耦联受体39(GPR39)mRNA,以及cleaved Caspase-3、Bax、Bcl-2和GPR39蛋白相对表达量,双荧光素酶报告实验验证miRNA-193a-5p与GPR39的靶向作用关系.结果 (1)各项指标在不同处理组和各观察时间点之间的变化差异均具有统计学意义(均P=0.000).与正常对照组相比,模型组、antagomir-NC组和miRNA-193a-5p antagomir组miRNA-193a-5p相对表达量(均P=0.000),炎性因子[IL-1β(均P<0.05)、IL-6(均P=0.000)和TNF-α(均P=0.000)]表达水平,MDA含量(均P<0.01),神经元凋亡数目(均P=0.000),cleaved Caspase-3(均P=0.000)和Bax蛋白(均P=0.000)相对表达量升高,而SOD活性(均P<0.01)、Bcl-2蛋白相对表达量(均P=0.000)、GPR39 mRNA(均P=0.000)和GPR39蛋白(均P<0.01)相对表达量降低.与模型组和antagomir-NC组相比,miRNA-193a-5p antagomir组miRNA-193a-5p相对表达量(均P=0.000),炎性因子[IL-1β(均P=0.000)、IL-6(均P=0.000)和TNF-α(均P<0.01)]表达水平,MDA含量(均P=0.000),神经元凋亡数目(均P=0.000),cleaved Caspase-3(均P=0.000)和Bax蛋白(均P=0.000)相对表

The microstructure characteristics of an Fe-Mn-C TWIP steel after deformation are investigated. The results show that the hot-rolled, cold-rolled and then annealed sample of the Fe-Mn-C TWIP steel has excellent mechanical properties, and the true stress-true strain curve from tension tests exhibits repeated serrations. The deformed microstructure exhibits the typical planar glide characteristics such as no cell formation, dislocation pile-ups on a single slip plane, mechanical twins and stacking faults. There are equiaxial and deep dimple structures in the fractograph, indicative of a ductile fracture. Microcracks initiate from inclusions and twin-twin intersections. Deformation and fracture processes are the formation, growth and coalescence of microvoids.

Conservation outcomes are uncertain. Agencies making decisions about what threat mitigation actions to take to save which species frequently face the dilemma of whether to invest in actions with high probability of success and guaranteed benefits or to choose projects with a greater risk of failure that might provide higher benefits if they succeed. The answer to this dilemma lies in the decision maker's aversion to risk—their unwillingness to accept uncertain outcomes. Little guidance exists on how risk preferences affect conservation investment priorities. Using a prioritization approach based on cost effectiveness, we compared 2 approaches: a conservative probability threshold approach that excludes investment in projects with a risk of management failure greater than a fixed level, and a variance‐discounting heuristic used in economics that explicitly accounts for risk tolerance and the probabilities of management success and failure. We applied both approaches to prioritizing projects for 700 of New Zealand's threatened species across 8303 management actions. Both decision makers’ risk tolerance and our choice of approach to dealing with risk preferences drove the prioritization solution (i.e., the species selected for management). Use of a probability threshold minimized uncertainty, but more expensive projects were selected than with variance discounting, which maximized expected benefits by selecting the management of species with higher extinction risk and higher conservation value. Explicitly incorporating risk preferences within the decision making process reduced the number of species expected to be safe from extinction because lower risk tolerance resulted in more species being excluded from management, but the approach allowed decision makers to choose a level of acceptable risk that fit with their ability to accommodate failure. We argue for transparency in risk tolerance and recommend that decision makers accept risk in an adaptive management framework to maximize benefits and avoid potential extinctions due to inefficient allocation of limited resources.

1. Evaluations of wildlife population dynamics have the potential to convey valuable information on the type of pressure affecting a population and could help predict future changes in the population's trajectory. Greater understanding of different patterns of population declines could provide a useful mechanism for assessing decline severity in the wild and identifying those populations that are more likely to exhibit severe declines. 2. We identified 93 incidences of decline within 75 populations of mammalian species using a time-series analysis method. These included linear, quadratic convex (accelerating) declines, exponential concave (decelerating) declines and quadratic concave declines (representing recovering populations). Excluding linear declines left a data set of 85 declines to model the relationship between each decline-curve type and a range of biological, anthropogenic and time-series descriptor explanatory variables. 3. None of the decline-curve types were spatially or phylogenetically clustered. The only characteristic that could be consistently associated with any curve type was the time at which they were more likely to occur within a time series. Quadratic convex declines were more likely to occur at the start of the time series, while recovering curve shapes (quadratic concave declines) were more likely at the end of the time series. 4. Synthesis and applications. The ability to link certain factors with specific decline dynamics across a number of mammalian populations is useful for management purposes as it provides decision-makers with potential triggers upon which to base their conservation actions. We propose that the identification of quadratic convex declines could be used as an early-warning signal of potentially severe decline dynamics. For such a population, increased population monitoring effort should be deployed to diagnose the cause of its decline and avert possible extinctions. Conversely, the presence of a quadratic concave decline suggests that the population has already undergone a period of serious decline but is now in the process of recovery. Such populations will require different types of conservation actions, focussing on enhancing their chances of recovery.