Cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava without communicating innominate vein - should we proceed from the same side? - A dilemma revisited

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is an uncommon congenital anomaly. We report a case of implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy - pacemaker (CRT-P) device in a 38-year-old lady with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. After left axillary vein puncture, we faced an unexpected entry of left subclavian to PLSVC draining into the coronary sinus (CS). The target posterolateral vein which had been identified before, seemed to have an acute angle at its entry into the CS. Hence, at this stage we were in a dilemma, whether to switch to the right side or to continue from the same side. We continued the procedure from the left side and completed it successfully after some manipulation and improvisation.     

古代印度三果浆的传入及其影响

三果浆(三勒浆)为源于印度的传统果药剂,由使君子科植物诃子和毛诃子,以及大戟科植物余甘子等三种植物的果实为原料制作而成,是著名的藏药基础方,也是印度阿育吠陀传统药中使用频率最高的代表方剂。三种植物同时录入《中国药典》,余甘子列入我国药食两用植物目录。中古时期,三果浆随着中外文化的频繁交流及丝绸之路的开通传入中国,而今只在古代文献中留下蛛丝马迹。近年来,随着对民族医药的深入研究与开发利用,对藏药三果浆的研究有越来越多的报道。该文运用民族植物学和人类文化学相结合的理论与方法,以及历史植物地理学的调查研究,对古籍文献进行了梳理,并考证了其植物基源,以期探讨三果浆传入我国的路线和时期。结果表明:三果浆主要由古代栗特商人带入我国中原地区,并且随着佛教的东向传播而传入的时间更早。同时,在藏族地区,古代中国西藏象雄王国与古印度的原始交流,也是三果浆传入的途径之一。三果浆的基源植物在不同地区有一定的差异和替代品,主流原料则均为诃子、毛诃子和余甘子,三种基源植物在我国均有分布。如今,三果浆作为藏医药瑰宝在我国逐渐普及。     

Curvature-based interaction potential between a micro/nano curved surface body and a particle on the surface of the body

The interaction potential between a curved surface body and a particle located on the surface of the body is studied in this paper. Based on the negative exponential pair potential (1/R ⁿ ) between particles, the interaction potential is proved to be of the curvature-based form, i.e., it can be written as a function of curvatures of the surface. Idealized numerical experiments are designed to test the accuracy of curvature-based potential. Based on the curvature-based potential, propositions below are confirmed: a highly curved surface body will induce driving forces on the particle located on the surface, and curvatures and the gradients of curvatures are essential factors forming the driving forces. In addition, the tangent driving force acting on the particle from the curved surface body is studied. Based on duality, the following rule is proved: for a convex or concave curved body sharing the same curved surface, the curvature-based interaction potential between them and a particle on the surface can make up the potential of a particle in the whole space.     

Assessing the effect of roads on impala (Aepyceros melampus) stress levels using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites

In Tanzania, a proposed road through the Serengeti National Park has caused international debate as to whether it will cause irreversible damage to the ecosystem. We assessed the effect of current roads and traffic in the Serengeti ecosystem on a model ungulate species, the impala antelope (Aepyceros melampus). We measured how faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), an indicator of physiological stress levels, were affected by different levels of traffic while accounting for other stress‐related variables such as distance to roads, vegetation type and group size. A total of 196 faecal samples were collected. FGM were measured using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) validated for several ruminants. FGM levels were significantly elevated near major roads with higher traffic levels compared to roads with less traffic. Predators and illegal hunting might also affect FGM levels in the impala, but the potential effect of these variables was inconsistent with the recorded FGM levels and cannot explain the observed variation. These results show for the first time that an African mammal exhibits significant physiological stress in relation to roads and traffic.     

黄土区土质道路浮土侵蚀过程

基于野外原位调查采样、室内人工模拟降雨试验研究道路浮土侵蚀规律.结果表明:浮土产流起始时间和路面侵蚀起始时间随雨强和坡度增大呈递减趋势.路面侵蚀起始时间随浮土厚度增大滞后2～5 min.浮土厚度≤0.5 cm时径流率在产流后2 min趋于稳定,平均径流率随雨强增大而递增,随坡度增大而递减;浮土厚度≥1.0 cm时,径流率在产流后3 min趋于相对稳定,平均径流率随雨强增大呈线性递增,随坡度增大而先递增后递减.侵蚀临界点随坡度和雨强增大呈递减趋势.浮土厚度≤0.5 cm时,侵蚀速率随雨强增大而递增幅度达24.5％～434.4％,坡度8°和16°可达2°和4°的2.4倍;浮土厚度≥1.0 cm时,侵蚀速率在产流开始后9min左右趋于相对稳定,且随雨强和坡度增大而递增,随坡度增大侵蚀形式发生由“片蚀-细沟侵蚀-溯源侵蚀”的转变.浮土厚度≥1.0 cm时,平均10 min次降雨侵蚀量可达浮土厚度≤0.5cm的1.3倍,而单独浮土侵蚀时段侵蚀量前者是后者的2.7倍.浮土厚度≤0.5 cm时,侵蚀量与雨强的相关性显著,产流量与坡度的相关性显著;浮土厚度≥1.0 cm时,10 min次降雨产流、产沙与雨强呈显著相关.随浮土厚度增大,浮土侵蚀量在组合侵蚀中所占比例增大,而薄层时主要以道路侵蚀占主导.     

How anthropogenic noise affects foraging

The influence of human activity on the biosphere is increasing. While direct damage (e.g. habitat destruction) is relatively well understood, many activities affect wildlife in less apparent ways. Here, we investigate how anthropogenic noise impairs foraging, which has direct consequences for animal survival and reproductive success. Noise can disturb foraging via several mechanisms that may operate simultaneously, and thus, their effects could not be disentangled hitherto. We developed a diagnostic framework that can be applied to identify the potential mechanisms of disturbance in any species capable of detecting the noise. We tested this framework using Daubenton's bats, which find prey by echolocation. We found that traffic noise reduced foraging efficiency in most bats. Unexpectedly, this effect was present even if the playback noise did not overlap in frequency with the prey echoes. Neither overlapping noise nor nonoverlapping noise influenced the search effort required for a successful prey capture. Hence, noise did not mask prey echoes or reduce the attention of bats. Instead, noise acted as an aversive stimulus that caused avoidance response, thereby reducing foraging efficiency. We conclude that conservation policies may seriously underestimate numbers of species affected and the multilevel effects on animal fitness, if the mechanisms of disturbance are not considered.     

道路生态学中的景观生态问题

道路具有重要的景观生态影响,是道路生态学研究的热点问题之一。本文综述了道路生态学的研究历程和概况,从基础理论研究、道路对生物和理化环境的影响、道路与景观格局以及道路与土地利用/覆盖变化4个方面论述了目前道路生态学中景观生态问题的主要研究内容,并根据现有的研究成果概括了该领域的主要研究方法,即生物调查、道路缓冲区/影响区分析、叠图分析和综合分析。提出中国道路生态学中景观生态问题研究存在的主要问题,并对该领域未来的研究热点进行了展望。     

Genetic diversity, but not hatching success, is jointly affected by postglacial colonization and isolation in the threatened frog, Rana latastei

Both postglacial colonization and habitat fragmentation can reduce the genetic diversity of populations, which in turn can affect fitness. However, since these processes occur at different spatial and temporal scales, the consequences of either process may differ. To disentangle the relative role of isolation and postglacial colonization in determining genetic diversity and fitness, we studied microsatellite diversity of 295 individuals from 10 populations and measured the hatch rate of 218 clutches from eight populations of a threatened frog, R. latastei. The populations that were affected by fragmentation to a greater extent suffered higher embryo mortality and reduced hatch rate, while no effects of distance from glacial refugium on hatch rate were detected. Altogether, distance from glacial refugium and isolation explained > 90% of variation in genetic diversity. We found that the genetic diversity was lowest in populations both isolated and far from the glacial refugium, and that distance from refugium seems to have the primary role in determining genetic diversity. The relationship between genetic diversity and hatch rate was not significant. However, the proportion of genetic diversity lost through recent isolation had a significant, negative effect on fitness. It is possible that selection at least partially purged the negative effects of the ancestral loss of genetic diversity.     

Effects of roads on small mammal diversity and abundance in the northern Serengeti,Tanzania

The high biodiversity of small mammal species in the Serengeti ecosystem provides this ecosystem with important conservation value. However, whether the extensive development of roads has negative impacts on the small mammal population has not been tested. Small mammal population diversity and abundance were examined in this study using live trapping at sites close to (experimental) and away (control) from the main gravel road during the short rainy seasons in November and December 2011 and 2012. A total of 138 individuals from three orders representing six families and fourteen species were collected over 4,860 trap nights. There were no significant differences in the species richness, diversity or abundance of small mammals between the control and experimental sites (p > 0.05), suggesting that the current gravel road does not have a significant impact on the small mammal population. These findings were ascribed to the availability of favourable habitats at both distances as a result of little road usage due to poor conditions. Should the road be improved, the control of anthropogenic activities in the area should be given high priority. Continuous monitoring of the small mammal populations in the area is recommended.     

Effect of induced transportation stress in goats supplemented with vitamin C and jaggery during hot dry season

The objective of current study was to investigate the effect of induced transportation stress in goats and to seek a novel approach to minimize the transportation and seasonal effect on the physiology of goats by supplementing them with Vitamin C and Jaggery before transportation. Fifty goats were selected and divided into five groups with ten animals in each group. Group 1 served as negative control and was neither supplemented nor transported, while as goats in groups 2 to group 5 were transported for 10 hours on the day of transportation. Group 2 goats were not supplemented; group 3 goats were supplemented with Vitamin C @180 mg/kg body weight/day; group 4 goats were supplemented with jaggery @200g/day/animal; group 5 was supplemented with both vitamin C and jaggery for 5 days before transportation. Effect of transportation stress varied significantly among groups in terms of haematological, biochemical, hormonal, mineral and blood gas parameters. Transportation up to 10 hours induced stress in goats during hot dry season as represented by changes in different physiological parameters and body weight shrinkages. Supplementation of Vitamin C and Jaggery aided in reducing transportation stress individually, with variable effects on stress response parameters and there combination synergistically proved promising in alleviating transportation stress in goats.