An attempt to measure longitudinal connectivity based on the community structure of phytoplankton.

At present, there are few studies on the quantitative analysis of connectivity from the perspective of biocenology. This study aimed to develop a new quantitative assessment method for river connectivity based on the analysis of the effect of river connectivity on the phytoplankton community in the Shaying River, which has multiple gates. The results showed that from the view of the phytoplankton density and biomass, cryptophytes were the dominant phytoplankton group, but the cyanobacteria density was highest in the summer.

Distribution patterns of macroinvertebrate communities in a Chinese floodgate-regulated river and their relationships with river longitudinal connectivity.

In this study, the Li River and the middle-lower reaches of the Shaying River in the Shaying River basin were selected for an investigation on the effects of floodgates on macroinvertebrate communities; additionally, the relationships among floodgates, macroinvertebrate communities and river longitudinal connectivity were explored. The Li and Shaying rivers had similar ratios of molluscs and scrapers, but their species compositions were significantly different. The water level fluctuations in the Li River were based on natural hydrological characteristics, and these were very different from the fluctuations in the reaches of the Shaying River that were divided by a serious of floodgates.

The Impact of Impoundment on Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish Downstream from a Newly Constructed Reservoir, Wujiang River, Southwest China.

Mercury concentrations in fish were investigated downstream from a newly impounded subtropical reservoir in August 2008. After 6-7 months of reservoir impoundment, mean mercury concentration in fish from downstream is significantly increased by 1.9 times.

[Succession of Phytoplankton Assemblages and Its Influencing Factors in Tangpu Reservoir, Zhejiang Province].

In order to explore the spatial-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages and its influencing factors in Tangpu Reservoir, phytoplankton and environmental variables were monthly monitored in 2011. The results showed that a total of 115 species of phytoplankton were identified, which belonged to 7 phyla and 62 genera. Phytoplankton abundance varied monthly with the maximum value (20.

MicroRNA-206 is involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis via regulation of adenosine A3 receptor.

Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs are widely dysregulated in ulcerative colitis (UC), potentially affecting UC pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy. microRNA (miR) -206 has been reported to be upregulated in UC; however, its function and role in UC remain unknown. Here, we elucidate the function of miR-206 in the pathogenesis of UC.

Macroinvertebrate communities and the relationships with biotic factors in river-connected lakes in the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China.

The relationships of macroinvertebrate communities with abiotic factors in lake and river system were well documented, but their relationships with biotic factors were few explored. The macroinvertebrate communities in two river-disconnected lakes (Poyang Lake and Shijiu Lake) and the rivers connected to Shijiu Lake were investigated to reveal the differences in communities and explore the relationships with biotic factors. A total of 34 species were recorded in the three water bodies.

MicroRNA-16 is putatively involved in the NF-κB pathway regulation in ulcerative colitis through adenosine A2a receptor (A2aAR) mRNA targeting.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression by targeting the 3'-untranslated region of their target genes. Altered expression of miR-16 is reported in human ulcerative colitis (UC), but its role in the development of the disease remains unclear. Adenosine through adenosine A2a receptor (A2aAR) could inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in inflammation.

Morphology and Phylogeny of Three Pleuronema Species (Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia) from Hangzhou Bay, China, with Description of Two New Species, P. binucleatum n. sp. and P. parawiackowskii n. sp.

The morphology and phylogeny of Pleuronema binucleatum n. sp., P.

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Pleuronema orientale spec. nov. and Pleuronema paucisaetosum spec. nov. (Ciliophora, Scuticociliata) from Hangzhou Bay, China.

Two novel species, Pleuronema orientale spec. nov. and Pleuronema paucisaetosum spec.

Upregulation of microRNA-126 in hepatic stellate cells may affect pathogenesis of liver fibrosis through the NF-κB pathway.

Hepatic fibrosis, which results from chronic liver disease, currently lacks effective treatment. MicroRNAs, a group of small noncoding RNA molecules, have been observed to play an essential role in liver diseases, including hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we described the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor alpha (IκBα) and its possible signaling pathway by miR-126 in human hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line LX-2.

Short-term impact of reservoir impoundment on the patterns of mercury distribution in a subtropical aquatic ecosystem, Wujiang River, southwest China.

Surveys on pre- and post-impoundment total mercury concentrations in water, seston and fish were conducted during 2007-2008 in the Wujiang River, southwest China. Compared with the pre-impoundment, total mercury in the reservoir and downstream water rapidly increased by 164-303 % during the first half year of flooding, and then decreased by 61.7-62.

Feeding habits and habitats preferences affecting mercury bioaccumulation in 37 subtropical fish species from Wujiang River, China.

The present study is the first to report the total mercury concentration of 37 fish species collected from Wujiang River, which is the largest branch on the southern bank of Yangtze River, China and proposed for hydropower development. Total mercury concentrations varied among the 37 subtropical species examined. We found higher mercury concentrations in carnivorous species demonstrating greater mercury bioaccumulation in species with more predatory feeding habits.