陕南寒武系底部保存精美的Punctatus胚胎及孵化幼体化石(英文)

在陕南寒武系底部的宽川铺段不仅保存了大量的小壳化石,而且还有诸多后生动物的卵和胚胎化石。目前,大量的胚胎化石已被报道,但是对古老的后生动物早期的个体发育却鲜有报道,尽管Bengtson和Yue(1977)建立了Olivooides的发育序列,但仍缺少一些重要的中间环节,而且胚胎的早期卵裂阶段还不是很清楚。因此,Olivooides和Punctatus之间的联系很难确立。本文报道了宽川铺生物群中新发现的精美的Punctatus的卵裂期、囊胚期及孵化幼体阶段的胚胎化石标本,这些新发现不仅填补了Punctatus发育序列中的空白,而且揭示了Olivooides和Punctatus之间的联系。这些新收集的Punctatus的卵裂期和孵化期的化石特征及Punctatus的形态学证明了Punctatus不是浮游生物,而是底栖生物。大量的胚胎化石和Punctatus的孵化幼体化石标本为我们研究后生动物早期演化提供了线索。     

埃迪卡拉纪至寒武纪苗岭世刺细胞动物化石研究现状与展望

刺细胞动物是一类具有刺细胞的水生无脊椎动物,分布在世界各地的海洋和淡水中。作为后生动物最早分化出的一支,刺细胞动物对研究后生动物的起源和早期演化具有极其重要的意义,也为研究后生动物系统发育、地层对比和古地理恢复等方面提供了重要的科研线索。本文简要介绍了刺细胞动物早期(埃迪卡拉纪至寒武纪苗岭世)的化石记录和研究现状,将刺细胞动物的早期演化分为四个时期,分别为前寒武纪、寒武纪纽芬兰世、寒武纪第二世和寒武纪苗岭世,并对上述四个时期的刺细胞动物进行论述。目前的研究表明:1)前寒武纪的刺细胞动物化石记录虽然比较丰富,但充满争议,目前尚未有比较确切的刺细胞动物记录;2)寒武纪纽芬兰世如宽川铺生物群中保存了较多的刺细胞动物胚胎及发育序列化石,是研究刺细胞动物演化的重要窗口;3)寒武纪第二世,以澄江生物群为代表的布尔吉斯页岩型化石保存了软躯体的刺细胞动物。与此同时,在第二世中已经出现了最早的珊瑚化石记录;4)寒武纪苗岭世刺细胞动物主要以布尔吉斯页岩型化石保存(如布尔吉斯页岩生物群和凯里生物群),同时期在美国犹他州发现的刺细胞动物印痕化石表明了这个时期几乎所有的刺细胞动物大类已经出现。本文根据上述时期的研究,对今后刺细胞动物化石的研究提供一些建议和讨论。     

新元古代磷酸盐化外包型腔原肠胚化石在瓮安生物群中的发现

贵州瓮安埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱组(635—551Ma)上磷矿段保存了丰富的磷酸盐化动物胚胎化石,其中绝大多数为早期卵裂胚胎化石,原肠胚化石相对罕见。文中报道瓮安生物群中新发现的一种类似现代两栖动物胚胎的外包型腔原肠胚化石,并依据新的三维立体胚胎化石标本对瓮安陡山沱组原肠胚期动物化石的多样性及其可能的亲缘关系进行初步探讨,认为:1)"外包型腔原肠胚"和已有轴性分化的"外包型实体原肠胚"的发现为证明瓮安生物群中存在两侧对称动物提供了新的化石证据;2)"单极内陷型腔原肠胚"因胚体存在巨大空腔(囊胚腔和原肠腔)而难以被磷酸盐化精细保存,故在瓮安生物群中的化石记录稀少且亲缘关系不明;3)瓮安生物群中的"单极内移型腔原肠胚"和"分层型腔原肠胚"化石的可靠性尚有待更多的标本提供佐证。瓮安生物群中颇具多样性的原肠胚期动物化石为探索后生动物在晚新元古代的胚胎发育模式开拓了思路。     

陕西宁强早寒武世磷酸盐化具星状表饰胚胎化石研究

后生动物胚胎化石研究对了解寒武纪大爆发中生命的个体及系统发育具有十分重要的意义。陕南早寒武世灯影组宽川铺段发现大量磷酸盐化的球状化石标本,其中的一些为保存有十分精细的星状表饰的胚胎化石,目前发现至少3种具星状纹饰的胚胎化石:圆球状胚胎、具中央收缩带的球状胚胎和表面具“拉伸构造”的花生状胚胎,其中后者为新类型。研究表明,此新类型在演化序列上处于圆球状胚胎、具中央收缩带的球状胚胎发育阶段之后,是胚胎向成体演化的一个重要中间过渡环节,这一发现为研究早寒武世早期后生动物胚胎及个体发育提供了新线索。     

应用光学显微镜揭示寒武纪化石胚胎的表面结构

寒武纪化石胚胎是演化发育生物学研究的热点。传统的扫描电子显微镜可以观察到胚胎表面的三维结构,同步辐射X射线断层扫描显微镜等技术可以揭示胚胎的内部结构,但是胚胎表面由于矿物颜色差异表现出的结构在扫描电子显微镜和同步辐射成像下均无法观察,而光学显微镜恰恰能清晰地揭示这种结构。本研究应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对比观察了寒武纪化石胚胎,证明了光学显微镜在"光球"类胚胎观察方面有无可比拟的优势。从而揭示了在化石胚胎Olivooides multisulcatus的胚胎发育过程中,五辐射对称的口部要先于星状结构出现,证明辐射对称是Olivooides multisulcatus胚胎发育早期就已经建立的基本体构。     

寒武纪早期四方塔型壳属的胚胎发育及其系统学意义

寒武纪大爆发是生命演化史上重要的创新事件。我国澄江动物群(距今约5.18亿年)代表了寒武纪大爆发的高潮,而产自寒武系最底部,时代上早于澄江动物群的宽川铺生物群(距今约5.35亿年)则为研究寒武纪大爆发的第一幕提供了重要的埋藏窗口。宽川铺生物群产自陕南宁强、西乡等地寒武系底部宽川铺组钙质磷块岩和磷质碎屑灰岩中,以保存了大量动物胚胎和软躯体微型动物而闻名。其中四方塔型壳(Quadrapyrgites)是宽川铺生物群中常见的软躯体动物化石,因与同层位的橄榄蛋(Olivooides)在发育过程和形态上具有相似性而被认为是后者的姐妹群。但它们在动物树上的位置仍然存在争议。为检验前人提出的各种亲缘关系假说,本文综合使用电子扫描显微镜成像和超高分辨率X射线显微断层成像技术,重建了四方塔型壳胚胎标本的三维结构,首次揭示了其内陷式原肠作用类型。新的数据支持了四方塔型壳属于刺细胞动物而非环神经动物的观点。     

寒武纪宽川铺生物群中球状胚胎化石表面刺状结构及其意义*

以宽川铺生物群中获取的磷酸盐化立体保存的胚胎化石为研究材料,对胚胎化石表面超微结构和内部解剖结构进行观察并对比分析。结果显示,大部分胚胎化石表面被一单层光滑卵膜结构所包裹,卵膜之下胚胎形态多样;刺状结构位于卵膜之下,为原生质胚胎分泌而成的保护层,出现在不同大小和不同类型的胚胎中。结果表明:1)单一依靠胚胎大小或者表面结构不能作为胚胎的分类依据;2)与现生海葵等动物胚胎表面微绒毛相似,Olivooides表面刺状结构可能具有保护胚胎和生态扩散的功能;3)带刺Olivooides很可能发育成为动物演化早期最简单的带刺幼虫形式,是动物间接发育的证据。     

新元古代陡山沱期的动物

20年来,在中国南方新元古代陡山沱期地层中发现了多个特殊埋藏的化石库,它们是认识寒武纪和埃迪卡拉动物辐射前夕生物演化的重要窗口.可靠的化石证据显示,多细胞藻类和大型带刺疑源类在该时期发生了辐射.多种类型的动物胚胎和动物化石也在陡山沱组的地层中相继报道,但迄今为止,早于埃迪卡拉动物群的可靠动物化石证据非常少,一些动物化石的亲缘关系解释也值得商榷.瓮安磷块岩中的震旦圆圆茎是较为可靠的腔肠动物化石;庙河页岩中的环纹杯状管是动物栖居管的可能性较大,但管栖动物的属性无法确定;如果以寒武纪地层中产出的的海绵骨针作为参考标准,在庙河页岩中产出的宏体海绵化石和贵州磷块岩中的微体海绵化石的可靠性都要受到质疑;从有限的形态结构上分析,小型原锥虫与藻类原植体很难进行区分;由于标本数量的限制、成岩作用的影响,以及二维图像恢复成三维结构遇到的困难,磷块岩切片中的小春虫和水螅类化石的可靠性还有待于更多的证据来支持;在湖北三峡地区和贵州江口陡山沱组上部页岩中发现的八臂仙母虫化石是典型的埃迪卡拉型化石.磷块岩和硅质岩中产出的动物胚胎化石是研究动物起源和早期演化的重要材料,根据卵囊壳的特征可以归入两个属.目前为止,在陡山沱组的岩石中还没有找到与这些胚胎化石相对应的成体动物化石,这是对动物胚胎化石进行深入研究遇到的"鸿沟".     

现代丰年虾卵的腐解实验——对早期化石胚胎研究的启示

早寒武世和埃迪卡拉纪中的球状化石,一些已被归入可能的后生动物胚胎化石,由于具较为完好的三维保存方式以及近乎完美的胚胎发育序列,为早期后生动物的起源、分类、谱系演化及发育生物学提供了难得的实证材料。然而随着研究的深入,多数寒武纪胚胎的生物学分类位置未定;而数量异常巨大、又有独自的保存方式的晚元古代陡山沱组胚胎的真伪和生物学归属,更是争议未消。通过对现生生物胚胎的实验埋藏研究,可以揭示出各类生物胚胎在腐解、埋藏各阶段的保存潜力,而现代胚胎在各实验埋藏阶段形态、结构的变化,也能为化石胚胎的研究提供重要的实证材料。本文就是通过对虾卵胚胎各发育阶段腐解保存潜力的实验模拟研究,试图为球状化石的形成机制和化石归属提供一些实验室依据。     

磷酸盐化球化石研究述评

磷酸盐化球状化石是近２０年来才相继发现的一类微体化石,主要产于下寒武统梅树村阶和震旦系陡山沱组的含磷地层。研究初期其生物亲缘就存在动植物之争,但多数专家将其作为分类位置未定的球状化这年来,由于一些学者研究发现部分磷酸盐化球状化石具有后生动物胚胎发育序列的特征,认为它们可能是刺细胞动物域 两侧对称动物的胚胎化石,从而引起了国内外众多学者,尤其是藻类和疑源类专家的关注和热烈讨论。本文在总结球状化石研究     

Crystal structure, detonation performance, and thermal stability of a new polynitro cage compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptacyclo [5.5.1.13, 11. 15, 9] pentadecane

A new polynitro cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptcyclo [5.5.1.1(3,11).1(5,9)] pentadecane (NNNAHP) was designed in the present work. Its molecular structure was optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT) and crystal structure was predicted using the Compass and Dreiding force fields and refined by DFT GGA-RPBE method. The obtained crystal structure of NNNAHP belongs to the P-1 space group and the lattice parameters are a = 9.99 ?, b = 10.78 ?, c = 9.99 ?, α = 90.01°, β = 120.01°, γ = 90.00°, and Z = 2, respectively. Based on the optimized crystal structure, the band gap, density of state, thermodynamic properties, infrared spectrum, strain energy, detonation characteristics, and thermal stability were predicted. Calculation results show that NNNAHP has detonation properties close to those of CL-20 and is a high energy density compound with moderate stability.     

Relations of the Al,B, Ba,Br, Ca,Cl, Cu,Fe, K,Li, Mg,Mn, Na,P, S,Si, Sr,and Zn mass fractions to morphometric parameters in pediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

The variation with age of the 18 trace element mass fractions and some histological characteristics of intact prostate glands of 50 subjects aged 0–30 years was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and a quantitative morphometric analysis. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fractions (in milligrams per kilogram wet tissue) of these trace elements in pre-puberty were: Al 28.5 ± 9.0, B 0.40 ± 0.11, Ba 1.48 ± 0.44, Br 10.5 ± 1.5, Ca 241 ± 30, Cl 3,203 ± 278, Cu 3.51 ± 0.89, Fe 33.7 ± 4.1, K 2,364 ± 145, Li 0.020 ± 0.004, Mg 153 ± 23, Mn 0.46 ± 0.06, Na 2,286 ± 130, P 1,391 ± 100, S 1,698 ± 132, Si 62 ± 11, Sr 0.38 ± 0.08, and Zn 27.6 ± 2.3. During puberty and postpuberty, when there is a significant increase in circulating androgens, the mean values were: Al 7.2 ± 1.4, B 0.21 ± 0.05, Ba 0.25 ± 0.06, Br 5.8 ± 1.0, Ca 433 ± 81, Cl 2,314 ± 201, Cu 1.77 ± 0.13, Fe 20.9 ± 1.6, K 2,585 ± 118, Li 0.0088 ± 0.0014, Mg 232 ± 27, Mn 0.34 ± 0.04, Na 1,875 ± 107, P 1,403 ± 98, S 1,673 ± 73, Si 22.2 ± 3.1, Sr 0.22 ± 0.03, and Zn 93.3 ± 8.9. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) of percent volumes (%) of the stroma, epithelium and lumen in the prostate before puberty were 73.4 ± 2.6, 20.4 ± 1.7, and 4.45 ± 0.94, respectively, versus 46.5 ± 2.5, 38.5 ± 1.9, and 14.9 ± 1.2 during puberty and postpuberty. This work’s results confirm that the Zn mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the glandular lumen is a main pool of Ca, Mg, and Zn accumulation and that the stroma is a main pool of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Si accumulation in the normal human prostate, for the age range 0–30 years. It was concluded that the Ca, Mg, and Zn binds tightly within the prostatic fluid, because the volume of glandular lumen reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

Reference values for the concentrations of As,Cd, Co,Cr, Cu,Fe, I,Hg, Mn,Mo, Ni,Pb, Se,and Zn in selected human tissues and body fluids

This report attempts to formulate reference ranges of elemental concentrations for 15 trace elements in selected human tissues and body fluids. A set of samples consisting of whole blood, blood serum, urine, milk, liver, and hair were chosen and considered for 15 elements of biological significance: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. The results represent wholly or partially data received from 40 countries of the global regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand. This survey, even if qualitative, has been useful in demonstrating certain trends of trace-element scenarios around the world. It is of course recognized that both diet and environment exert a strong influence on the distribution pattern of several elements, such as As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn. A limited comparison of the available information on soil status of different countries reflected some interesting associations for elements, such as Mn and Zn. Importantly, this study revealed that only a few countries were in a position to identify a reasonable amount of data on samples requested for this project. Regretably, for a number of countries, any dependable data for even such essential elements as Cu, Fe, and Zn were not available. In view of the nutritional importance of many elements, the time is ripe for concerted efforts by intergovernmental agencies to initiate investigations or commission task forces/projects to generate reliable reference data for selected global regions, which sadly lack data of any kind at present.     

Potential Compounds for Oral Cancer Treatment: Resveratrol,Nimbolide, Lovastatin,Bortezomib, Vorinostat,Berberine, Pterostilbene,Deguelin, Andrographolide,and Colchicine

Oral cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths in South-Asian countries. There are very limited treatment options available for oral cancer. Research endeavors focused on discovery and development of novel therapies for oral cancer, is necessary to control the ever rising oral cancer related mortalities. We mined the large pool of compounds from the publicly available compound databases, to identify potential therapeutic compounds for oral cancer. Over 84 million compounds were screened for the possible anti-cancer activity by custom build SVM classifier. The molecular targets of the predicted anti-cancer compounds were mined from reliable sources like experimental bioassays studies associated with the compound, and from protein-compound interaction databases. Therapeutic compounds from DrugBank, and a list of natural anti-cancer compounds derived from literature mining of published studies, were used for building partial least squares regression model. The regression model thus built, was used for the estimation of oral cancer specific weights based on the molecular targets. These weights were used to compute scores for screening the predicted anti-cancer compounds for their potential to treat oral cancer. The list of potential compounds was annotated with corresponding physicochemical properties, cancer specific bioactivity evidences, and literature evidences. In all, 288 compounds with the potential to treat oral cancer were identified in the current study. The majority of the compounds in this list are natural products, which are well-tolerated and have minimal side-effects compared to the synthetic counterparts. Some of the potential therapeutic compounds identified in the current study are resveratrol, nimbolide, lovastatin, bortezomib, vorinostat, berberine, pterostilbene, deguelin, andrographolide, and colchicine.     

New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Stenotrachelidae, Oedemeridae, Meloidae, Myceteridae, Boridae, Pythidae, Pyrochroidae, Anthicidae, and Aderidae

We report 19 new species records for the faunal list of Coleoptera in New Brunswick, Canada, six of which are new records for the Maritime provinces, and one of which is new Canadian record. We also provide the first recent records for five additional species in New Brunswick. One new species of Stenotrachelidae, Cephaloon ungulare LeConte, is added to the New Brunswick faunal list. Additional records are provided for Cephaloon lepturides Newman, as well the first recent record of Nematoplus collaris LeConte. Two species of Oedemeridae, Asclera puncticollis (Say) and Asclera ruficollis (Say), are newly reported for New Brunswick, and additional locality and bionomic data are provided for Calopus angustus LeConte and Ditylus caeruleus (Randall). The records of Ditylus caerulus are the first recent records for the province. Three species of Meloidae, Epicauta pestifera Werner, Lytta sayi LeConte, and Meloe augustcollis Say are reported the first time for New Brunswick; Epicauta pestifera is newly recorded in Canada. Lacconotus punctatus LeConte and the family Mycteridaeis newly recorded for New Brunswick. The first recent records of Borus unicolor Say (Boridae) are reported from the province. One new species of Pythidae, Pytho siedlitzi Blair, and the first recent records of Pytho niger Kirby are added to the faunal list of New Brunswick. Three species of Pyrochroidae are newly reported for the province, including Pedilus canaliculatus (LeConte) and Pedilus elegans (Hentz), which are new for the Maritime provinces. Five species of Anthicidae and the first recent record of Anthicus cervinus LaFerté-Sénectére are newly reported for New Brunswick. Anthicus melancholicus LaFerté-Sénectère, Sapintus pubescens (LaFerté-Sénectère), Notoxus bifasciatus (LeConte), and Stereopalpus rufipes Casey are new to the Maritime provinces faunal list. Ambyderus granularis (LeConte) is removed from the faunal list of the province. Three species of Aderidae, Vanonus huronicus Casey, Zonantes fasciatus (Melsheimer), and Zonantes pallidusWerner, are newly recorded for New Brunswick; Zonantes fasciatus and Vanonus huronicus are new for the Maritime provinces' faunal list. Collection data, bionomic data, and distribution maps are presented for all these species.