Ontogenic study of the brachiopod Dicoelosia by geometric morphometrics and morphing techniques

The distinctive brachiopod Dicoelosia King 1850 is characterized by a strongly bilobed outline. To date, studies have concentrated on its functional morphology, taxonomy and evolution; little attention has been paid to its ontogeny. Here, we map population variation by principal component analysis for over 80 specimens distributed across five species of Dicoelosia. Using geometric morphometrics with landmarks for some 40 specimens, the ontogenic trends in D. sp. nov. are compared with those of Dicoelosia biloba. In addition, the ontogenic pathway in D. sp. nov. is investigated by morphing with control points, a new technique introduced here to palaeontology. Combining the results above, the ontogeny of the key character of the genus, emargination, is modelled. Within single populations, taxa may develop from broad weakly emarginate forms into those that are elongate and deeply emarginate. As the identification of the genus and its species depends on external morphological characters, the definition of ontogenetic trends in each species is essential for taxonomic discrimination. Substantial population variation exists in many of its species; however, the morphing technique provides a method of simulation, predicting the full range of ontogenetic variation in given populations.     

Geometric morphometrics as a tool for interpreting evolutionary transitions in the black fly wing (Diptera: Simuliidae)

A geometric morphometric analysis was conducted on wing‐vein landmarks on exemplar species of the family Simuliidae of the following genera: Parasimulium, Gymnopais, Twinnia, Helodon, Prosimulium, Greniera, Stegopterna, Tlalocomyia, Cnephia, Ectemnia, Metacnephia, Austrosimulium, and Simulium. Generalized least squares superimposition was performed on landmarks, followed by a principal component analysis on resulting Procrustes distances. Patterns of shape change along the principal component axes were visualized using the thin‐plate spline. The analysis revealed wing shape diversity through (1) the insertion points of the subcosta and R₁, resulting in the terminus of the costa exhibiting a trend towards a more apical position on the wing, and (2) the insertion point of the humeral cross vein, resulting in the anterior branch of the media exhibiting a trend toward a more basal position on the wing. Canonical variates analysis of Procrustes distances successfully assigned all exemplar species into their a priori taxonomic groupings. The diversity in wing shape reveals a trend towards decreased length of basal radial cell and increased costalization of anterior wing veins in the evolutionary transition from plesiomorphic prosimuliines to more derived simuliines. The functional significance of these evolutionary transitions is discussed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

Syntomoza Amaliae,a New Species of Moth-Fly (Diptera,Psychodidae) from Nicaragua

A new species of Psychodidae, Syntomoza amaliae is described from Nicaragua and compared to all the type material of this genus. Besides head and wing structures, the subgenital plates provide taxonomic characters by which the ♀ ♀ can be determined. Drawings of the respective details are presented for 4 neotropical Syntomoza species.     

Laminar shear stress elicit distinct endothelial cell e‐selectin expression pattern via TNFα and IL‐1β activation

The ability to discriminate cell adhesion molecule expression between healthy and inflamed endothelium is critical for therapeutic intervention in many diseases. This study explores the effect of laminar flow on TNFα‐induced E‐selectin surface expression levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) relative to IL‐1β‐induced expression via flow chamber assays. HUVECs grown in static culture were either directly (naïve) activated with cytokine in the presence of laminar shear or pre‐exposed to 12 h of laminar shear (shear‐conditioned) prior to simultaneous shear and cytokine activation. Naïve cells activated with cytokine in static served as control. Depending on the cell shear history, fluid shear is found to differently affect TNFα‐induced relative to IL‐1β‐induced HUVEC expression of E‐selectin. Specifically, E‐selectin surface expression by naïve HUVECs is enhanced in the 8–12 h activation time range with simultaneous exposure to shear and TNFα (shear‐TNFα) relative to TNFα static control whereas enhanced E‐selectin expression is observed in the 4–24 h range for shear‐IL‐1β treatment relative to IL‐1β static control. While exposure of HUVECs to shear preconditioning mutes shear‐TNFα‐induced E‐selectin expression, it enhances or down‐regulates shear‐IL‐1β‐induced expression dependent on the activation period. Under dual‐cytokine‐shear conditions, IL‐1β signaling dominates. Overall, a better understanding of E‐selectin expression pattern by human ECs relative to the combined interaction of cytokines, shear profile and history can help elucidate many disease pathologies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 999–1003. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Immobilization of unraveled immunoglobulin G using well-oriented ZZ–His protein on functionalized microtiter plate for sensitive immunoassay

Highly efficient protein immobilization is extremely crucial for solid-phase immunoassays. We present a strategy for oriented immobilization of functionally intact immunoglobulin G (IgG) on a polystyrene microtiter plate via iminodiacetic acid (IDA)–Ni²⁺ and ZZ–His protein interaction. We immobilized a ZZ–EAP (Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase)–His fusion protein, which exhibits Fc binding, His tag, and intrinsic AP activities, and analyzed it against the interaction between rabbit IgG anti-horseradish peroxidase (anti-HRP) and its binding partner HRP to investigate the specificity and efficacy of this method. We compared the IDA–Ni²⁺–(ZZ–His) method with ZZ–EAP random immobilization using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the results showed that the former method had an enhanced signal, 10-fold higher sensitivity, and a wider linear range. Thus, the proposed method allows a broad range of oriented immobilized functionally intact IgG antibodies on polystyrene plates using only one type of IDA–Ni²⁺ chelate surface because the ZZ protein can bind to the Fc region of various IgGs.     

The morphology and life history of Mazoyerella gen. nov. (M. arachnoidea (Harvey) comb. nov.)—Rhodophyta,Ceramiaceae—from Southern Australia

Mazoyerella gen. nov., based on Corynospora arachnoidea Harvey from Tasmania, is placed provisionally in the Compsothamnieae tribe of the Ceramiaceae. All plants can produce elongate-ovoid monosporangia which reproduce the same phase. Sporophytes also bear polysporangia and sexual plants are dioecious, bearing either spermatangial heads or subterminal procarps followed by carposporophytes with nearly all gonimoblast cells becoming carposporangia and an involucrum of sterile filaments developing from sterile cells associated with the procarp. The life-history has been followed through successive generations in culture.     

Colorimetric determination of fructose for the high-throughput microtiter plate assay of glucose isomerase

A colorimetric method for the reducing monosaccharide determination is optimized for the assay of glucose isomerase, which converts glucose (Glc) to fructose (Fru). Test solution was mixed with 20-fold volume of the 50 mM Na₂SiO₃, 600 mM Na₂MoO₄, and 0.95 M HCl aqueous solution (pH 4.5), in which a yellow molybdosilicate species was formed. The mixture was kept at 70 °C for 30 min. Test solution containing 10 mM level Fru gave a remarkable blue reaction mixture, in which the Mo(VI) species was reduced by Fru to form a blue molybdosilicate species. The blueness increased with the Fru concentration. Glc cannot render the reaction mixture blue as strong as Fru. Thus, the colorimetric method can be used advantageously for the determination of 10 mM level Fru in the Glc isomerase reaction mixture, even in the presence of 100 mM level Glc, and has been applied successfully to the microtiter plate assay of the enzyme.     

六种广西道地药材的体外纤溶活性研究

目的：研究六种广西道地药材的体外纤溶活性。方法：采用纤维蛋白平板法,对罗汉果、葛根、天花粉、金银花、姜黄和广金钱草的不同提取液进行体外纤溶活性研究;用大孔吸附树脂柱对广金钱草热水提取物进行分离,并对不同洗脱部位进行体外纤溶活性筛选;用化学定性方法对广金钱草的纤溶活性部位进行化学成分检测。结果：葛根和金银花的冷水超声提取液,天花粉的热水提取液和冷水超声提取液,广金钱草的热水提取液、冷水超声提取液和20％乙醇超声提取液均有体外纤溶作用;广金钱草大孔树脂柱层析的水洗脱部位具有稳定的体外纤溶活性;广金钱草热水提取物和水洗脱前部位的Fehling反应、Molish反应、泡沫试验、三氯化铁试验、溴甲酚绿试验和盐酸一镁粉反应均为阳性;水洗脱后部位的Fehling反应、Molish反应、三氯化铁试验和盐酸一镁粉反应均为阳性,而溴甲酚绿试验和泡沫试验为阴性反应。结论：葛根、天花粉、金银花和广金钱草都具有一定的体外纤溶活性,以广金钱草的纤溶活性最强;广金钱草的纤溶活性成分很可能是还原糖、多糖、鞣质、有机酸、皂苷或黄酮苷。     

肱骨近端锁定加压钢板与解剖钢板治疗老年肱骨外科颈骨折的临床疗效

目的:研究肱骨近端锁定加压钢板与解剖钢板治疗老年肱骨外科颈骨折的临床疗效。方法:选取92例老年肱骨外科颈骨折患者作为研究对象。根据数字法随机将患者分成观察组及对照组,各含46例。其中对照组予以解剖钢板术式治疗,观察组则予以肱骨近端的锁定加压钢板术式治疗。对比两组不同治法的疗效,两组患者的手术相关指标,两组患者治疗后的肩关节活动度以及两组患者治疗前后的Constant评分及VAS评分。结果:观察组的优良率是89.13%(41/46),显著高于对照组的76.09%(35/46),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组的术程、手术出血量以及住院时间和骨折的愈合时间均分别显著少于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。观察组的肩关节活动度显著大于对照组,差均有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后观察组的Constant评分及VAS评分均分别显著高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论:利用肱骨近端的锁定加压钢板术式治疗FSNH,能够帮助患者获得更为积极的临床预后,值得在临床治疗过程中推广应用。     

锁定加压钢板和动力加压钢板治疗肱骨中下段骨折的临床比较研究

目的:对比锁定加压钢板与动力加压钢板治疗肱骨中下段骨折患者的临床疗效。方法:抽取我院2010年8月~2013年12月收治的肱骨中下段骨折患者76例,按照随机数字表法分为锁定组(锁定加压钢板治疗)与动力组(动力加压钢板治疗),每组38例,随访1年。对比两组患者临床指标,治疗效果及并发症发生率。结果:锁定组患者手术时间、骨折愈合时间及住院时间均小于动力组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);锁定组患者优良率为89.47%,显著高于动力组的71.05%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);锁定组的并发症发生率为10.53%,显著低于动力组的31.58%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:锁定加压钢板应用于治疗肱骨中下段骨折患者疗效优于动力加压钢板治疗,它具有创伤小、恢复快的优点,且并发症发生率较低,值得推广。