A multivariate,osteological approach to Towa culture history

Eleven cranial measurements on 14 archeological populations from the American Southwest support the archeologically derived reconstruction of Towa population movements. The supposed (linguistic) relationship between Pecos and the Towa speaking villages is questioned.     

Capturing arthropod diversity in complex cave systems

Aim

Identify the optimal combination of sampling techniques to maximize the detection of diversity of cave‐dwelling arthropods.

Location

Central‐western New Mexico; north‐western Arizona; Rapa Nui, Chile.

Methods

From 26 caves across three geographically distinct areas in the Western Hemisphere, arthropods were sampled using opportunistic collecting, timed searches, and baited pitfall trapping in all caves, and direct intuitive searches and bait sampling at select caves. To elucidate the techniques or combination of techniques for maximizing sampling completeness and efficiency, we examined our sampling results using nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests, species richness estimators and species accumulation curves.

Results

To maximize the detection of cave‐dwelling arthropod species, one must apply multiple sampling techniques and specifically sample unique microhabitats. For example, by sampling cave deep zones and nutrient resource sites, we identified several undescribed cave‐adapted and/or cave‐restricted taxa in the south‐western United States and eight new species of presumed cave‐restricted arthropods on Rapa Nui that would otherwise have been missed. Sampling techniques differed in their detection of both management concern species (e.g., newly discovered cave‐adapted/restricted species, range expansions of cave‐restricted species and newly confirmed alien species) and specific taxonomic groups. Spiders were detected primarily with visual search techniques (direct intuitive searches, opportunistic collecting and timed searches), while most beetles were detected using pitfall traps. Each sampling technique uniquely identified species of management concern further strengthening the importance of a multi‐technique sampling approach.

Main conclusions

Multiple sampling techniques were required to best characterize cave arthropod diversity. For techniques applied uniformly across all caves, each technique uniquely detected between ~40% and 67% of the total species observed. Also, sampling cave deep zones and nutrient resource sites was critical for both increasing the number of species detected and maximizing the likelihood of detecting management concern species.

     

First fossils of Zygogynum from the Middle Miocene of Central Yunnan,Southwest China,and their palaeobiogeographic significance

The collision of Gondwana and Laurasia effected plant exchanges between the two continents and thus affected the evolution of the flora of Yunnan, Southwest China. Consequently, the plant diversity in Yunnan has been enriched such that it has attracted the attention of botanical researchers. In this paper, we describe winteraceous fossil leaves collected from the Middle Miocene in Central Yunnan. Compared with the leaves of today’s plants, they share cuticular features and leaf morphological characters with Zygogynum Baillon (Winteraceae); the fossil plant is designated as a new species, Zygogynum poratus n. sp. Liang and Zhou. Based on its historical and recent distribution, the genus probably had migrated into Yunnan from Gondwana during or before the Middle Miocene, spreading beyond its current geographic range.     

Small Molecules Identified from a Quantitative Drug Combinational Screen Resensitize Cisplatin's Response in Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells

Drug resistance to chemotherapy occurs in many ovarian cancer patients resulting in failure of treatment. Exploration of drug resistance mechanisms and identification of new therapeutics that overcome the drug resistance can improve patient prognosis. Following a quantitative combination screen of 6060 approved drugs and bioactive compounds in a cisplatin-resistant A2780-cis ovarian cancer cell line, 38 active compounds with IC₅₀s under 1 μM suppressed the growth of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Among these confirmed compounds, CUDC-101, OSU-03012, oligomycin A, VE-821, or Torin2 in a combination with cisplatin restored cisplatin's apoptotic response in the A2780-cis cells, while SR-3306, GSK-923295, SNX-5422, AT-13387, and PF-05212384 directly suppressed the growth of A2780-cis cells. One of the mechanisms for overcoming cisplatin resistance in these cells is mediated by the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), though not all the EGFR inhibitors are equally active. The increased levels of total EGFR and phosphorylated-EGFR (p-EGFR) in the A2780-cis cells were reduced after the combined treatment of cisplatin with EGFR inhibitors. In addition, a knockdown of EGFR mRNA reduced cisplatin resistance in the A2780-cis cells. Therefore, the top active compounds identified in this work can be studied further as potential treatments for cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer. The quantitative combinational screening approach is a useful method for identifying effective compounds and drug combinations against drug-resistant cancer cells.     

西南地区文化多样性时空格局

我国西南地区少数民族类别众多,各民族在历史发展中形成了许多优秀的文化传统和独特的生态意识。本研究以县级行政区为基本研究单元,基于民族类别及其人口定量测度了西南地区的文化多样性指数,并比较了1990年、2000年与2010年的动态变化。西南地区文化多样性指数具有明显的空间异质性,整体上呈现西北低东南高的格局。虽然文化多样性指数在时间序列上有一定程度的增加,但总体上县域尺度的文化多样性水平偏低。此外,随着空间尺度的扩大,文化多样性指数逐渐增加,即西南地区整体上表现为"大杂居,小聚居"的分布格局。省域尺度上,文化多样性的差异总和与各组分差异均随时间的推移而减少,同时,其民族构成的相似性趋于增加,表明西南地区各民族人口的分布更加融合,民族交融成为趋势。在西南地区的生态环境背景下,文化多样性的空间分布与平均坡度密切相关。研究探讨了民族融合的社会历史背景,分析了阶梯过渡带具有较高文化多样性的原因,并呼吁加强对西南地区优秀传统文化的重视与保护。     

Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cells Redirected to EphA2 for the Immunotherapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma A2 (EphA2) is overexpressed in more than 90% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but not significantly in normal lung tissue. It is therefore an important tumor antigen target for chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)-T-based therapy in NSCLC. Here, we developed a specific CAR targeted to EphA2, and the anti-tumor effects of this CAR were investigated. A second generation CAR with co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB targeted to EphA2 was developed. The functionality of EphA2-specific T cells in vitro was tested with flow cytometry and real-time cell electronic sensing system assays. The effect in vivo was evaluated in xenograft SCID Beige mouse model of EphA2 positive NSCLC. These EphA2-specifc T cells can cause tumor cell lysis by producing the cytokines IFN-γ when cocultured with EphA2-positive targets, and the cytotoxicity effects was specific in vitro. In vivo, the tumor signals of mice treated with EphA2-specifc T cells presented the tendency of decrease, and was much lower than the mice treated with non-transduced T cells. The anti-tumor effects of this CAR-T technology in vivo and vitro had been confirmed. Thus, EphA2-specific T-cell immunotherapy may be a promising approach for the treatment of EphA2-positive NSCLC.     

浙江武义木本植物区系的研究

武义位于浙江中西部,共有木本植物９２科２６８属６８０种,本文对该区木本植物的科、属、种进行了详细的分析统计,将该区木本植物区系的基本特点归纳如下,１）植物种类丰富;２）古老和孑遗植物,珍稀植物,单型属和少型属较多;３）各类地理成分复杂,与世界各地联系广泛,以温带成分为主;４）区系过渡性明显。     

浙江省清凉峰自然保护区苔藓植物区系成分研究

通过对2013~2014年于清凉峰自然保护区采集的1 500余份苔藓植物标本进行鉴定和文献研究,统计分析了清凉峰自然保护区苔藓植物种类组成,区系地理成分及特点,并对该地区与相邻8个地区藓类植物的丰富度系数比较和相似性系数比较,以明确该地区苔藓植物不同的生态分布类型,揭示浙江清凉峰保护区苔藓植物多样性的变化规律。结果表明:(1)浙江省清凉峰国家自然保护区苔藓植物共有62科143属337种(包括3个变种),其中苔类植物20科29属49种,藓类植物42科114属288种。(2)藓类植物的优势科9个、优势属16个。(3)该地区苔藓植物区系成分主要以东亚成分为主(占总种数41.84%),温带成分次之(占总种数28.57%),热带成分再次之(占总种数20.74%)。(4)浙江清凉峰自然保护区苔藓植物区系与浙江省境内的金华山、大盘山、天目山和凤阳山的亲缘关系较为密切。(5)浙江清凉峰自然保护区苔藓植物生态分布类型复杂多样,以石生类型(占总标本数的47.09%)最多,其次为岩面土生(占总标本数的27.68%)和土生(占总标本数的12.85%)类型。