Comparison of metabolomics of Dendrobium officinale in different habitats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Dendrobium officinale has been considered over past centuries to be extremely valuable for use as an herbal medicine in South Asian countries. In this work, the chemical profiles of D. officinale from different habitats were systematically characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and multivariate analysis. The principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares analysis (OPLS-DA) of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS data displayed an obvious separation. Several flavonoids and terpenoids derivatives contribute to the quantitative chemotypic variation within and between the samples as observed. These findings lead to a better understanding of the phytochemical variation of D. officinale which can aid in quality control of raw material.     

Unbiased sex ratios among the Barí: An evolutionary interpretation

We examine whether among the Barí sex ratios at birth or later ages deviate from the value of one expected by chance. We find no significant bias toward sons or daughters. We also examine whether the costs and benefits associated with sons and daughters are similar or if one sex is more expensive than the other. We contrast our results with predictions derived from Fisher's and the Trivers-Willard hypotheses on sex ratios.     

Migratory history of the spotted flagtail, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kuhlia marginata</Emphasis>

The spotted flagtail, Kuhlia marginata (Kuhliidae) is commonly found in streams throughout the Ryukyu Archipelago, including Okinawa Island, Japan. Although it has been suggested that they spawn at sea, little is known about their migratory history. The aim of the study was to clarify their migration history based on otolith microchemistry analysis, size composition and the gonadal development of fish collected from the Genka River on Okinawa Island. All strontium/calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios of otoliths remained high around their cores, and then dropped rapidly at some distance from the core. The estimated standard length corresponding to decreases correlated with the size of new recruits collected in the river (ca. 20 mm in standard length: SL). Multiple increases, the sign for migrations into the high saline area, were recognized intermittently around the otolith margin. As the estimated SL at these increases in the Sr/Ca ratio occurred above the minimum maturation size (female: 95.5 mm SL; male: 83.5 mm SL), such multiple increases in Sr/Ca ratios were caused by spawning migration. Therefore, we conclude that the catadromous pattern of K. marginata is as follows; this species grows in the sea during the early life stage until ca. 20 mm SL and then grow in the freshwater area until maturation, before they migrate again to the sea for spawning. Sr/Ca ratio profiles also suggested that a large number of males did not return to the freshwater area after spawning, whereas females might spawn several times during their lives around the inshore area.     

Macaca thibetana at Mt. Emei,China: III. Group composition

Data on group composition at the end of the 1986 birth season were collected from six groups of Macaca thibetana. All adult males, the members of group A, and some conspicuous animals were recognized individually. Fourhundred survey sessions were completed. The mean group size was 38.3 (SD = 13.8, range: 28–65); the number of adult females was the best correlate of total group size. The mean adult sex ratio (F:M) across groups was 3:1 (SD = 1.9, range: 1.5–6.5:1), which significantly deviated from 1:1. Sex ratios (F:M) in newborns, juveniles, and all members did not significantly deviate from 1. The ratio of immature animals to adults was 1.5 to 1 (average of groups); that is, 60% of the population was composed of immature animals, and the population was growing.     

木槿与野西瓜苗花特征和繁育系统的比较研究

为比较分析柱头裂片运动的野西瓜苗和不运动的木槿在花特征和繁育系统上的差异,对其花性状、花粉/胚珠比和不同授粉处理的座果率进行了测定。结果表明:(1)木槿与野西瓜苗在花冠大小、花瓣长及底宽、花萼长与宽、雄蕊长、最上轮雄蕊高度、雄蕊柱长及其底径、花柱长度和雌雄异位间均存在十分显著的差异(P<0.01),但二者的最下轮雄蕊高度间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。(2)木槿的花粉/胚珠比为874.90±20.79,繁育系统属兼性异交类型;野西瓜苗的花粉/胚珠比为24.72±0.68,繁育系统属专性自交类型。(3)木槿自然套袋的座果率为0%,人工自交为2.04%,人工杂交为35.85%;野西瓜苗自动自交和人工自交的座果率均为100%,人工杂交为95.30%。木槿与野西瓜苗在花性状、花粉/胚珠比及花部行为等方面形成了与其繁育系统(兼性异交vs.专性自交)相适应的花特征。     

Determination of free amino acids in burley tobacco by high performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for determining free amino acids in burley tobacco. The test was done by OPA/3-mercaptopropionic acid as the pre-column derivatizing reagent. Chromatographic column was Elitte C¹⁸ column (4.6 mm × 250 mm i.d., 5 μm). Mobile phase A was 18 mol/l NaAc (pH7.2) including 0.002%(v/v) triethylamine and 0.3%(v/v) furanidine. Mobile phase B was 100 mol/l NaAc (pH7.2)–acetonitrile–methanol (v/v = 1:2:2). The column temperature was 40 °C and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. The fluorescence detector was used with 350 nm excitation wave length and 450 nm emission wave length. The average recoveries of the method ranged from 95.3–100.7% with the relative standard deviation of 2.32–9.24%. The method is simple, accurate and has good repeatability. The results of the determination of seventeen kinds of free amino acids in burley leaves were produced by the way of different ratios of cake fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer. The results show that Aspartic acid has the highest content however ratio of cake fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer. The contents of most of the free amino acids are increased and then gradually decreased with the increase in organic manure. The contents of most of the free amino acids are very close at 15:85% ratio and 30:70% ratio of cake fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer. The total amount of free amino acids is the highest at 30:70% ratio of cake fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer. Considering comprehensively, the quality of burley leaves is the best at 30:70% ratio of cake fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer.     

Photosynthetic gas exchange and the stable isotope composition of leaf water: comparison of a xylem-tapping mistletoe and its host

Photosynthetic gas exchange and the stable isotopic composition of foliage water were measured for a xylem tapping mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum, and its host tree, Juniperus osteosperma, growing in southern Utah. The observed isotopic composition of water extracted from foliage was compared to predictions of the Craig-Gordon model of isotopic enrichment at evaporative sites within leaves. Assimilation rates of juniper were higher and stomatal conductance was lower than the values observed for the mistletoe. This resulted in lower intercellular/ ambient CO₂ values in the juniper tree relative to its mistletoe parasite. For mistletoe, the observed foliage water hydrogen and oxygen isotopic enrichment was less than that predicted by the model. In juniper, foliage water hydrogen isotopic enrichment was also lower than that predicted by the evaporative enrichment model. In contrast, the oxygen isotopic enrichment in juniper foliage water was slightly greater than that predicted for the evaporative sites within leaves. Hydrogen isotopic enrichment in mistletoe foliage shows systematic variation with stem segment, being highest near the tips of the youngest stems and decreasing toward the base of the mistletoe, where isotopic composition is close to that of stem water in the host tree. In a correlated pattern, mid-day stomatal conductance declined abruptly in mistletoe foliage of increasing age.     

不同剂量易善复治疗肝硬化的疗效及安全性研究

目的:探讨不同剂量的多烯磷脂酰胆碱(易善复)对肝硬化的治疗效果及其安全性。方法:以2016年~2017年在我院就诊的70例单纯肝炎后肝硬化(VC)和酒精性肝硬化(AC)患者为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其随机分为小剂量组和大剂量组,每组35例。小剂量组予易善复10 m L+5%葡萄糖注射液250 m L静滴,大剂量组予易善复20 m L+5%葡萄糖注射液250 m L静滴。观察两组治疗前后临床症状、血尿常规、肾功能、肝功能指标、腹腔彩超的变化情况。结果:两组患者治疗后肝功能指标谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、白蛋白(ALB)、总胆红素(TBIL)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)均较治疗前明显改善(P0.05),且大剂量组各项指标水平均明显优于小剂量组(P0.05);大剂量组治疗肝硬化的总有效率为88.6%,显著高于小剂量组的(68.6%,P0.05)。两组治疗过程中均未见明显药物副反应。结论:与小剂量易善复相比,大剂量易善复更能改善单纯肝炎后肝硬化和酒精性肝硬化患者的肝功能,提高药物疗效的同时不增加药物副反应,安全性高。     

Female resistance behaviour and progeny sex ratio in two Bradysia species (Diptera: Sciaridae) with paternal genome elimination

The relationship between female mating preferences and sex allocation has received considerable theoretical and empirical support. Typically, choosier females adjust their progeny sex ratio towards sons, who inherit the attractive traits of their father. However, in species with paternal genome elimination, where male sperm do not contain the paternal genome, predictions for the direction of progeny sex ratio biases and their relationship with female choosiness are atypical. Paternal genome elimination also creates a potential for male–female conflict over sex allocation, and any influence of female mate choice on sex ratio outcomes have interesting implications for sexually antagonistic coevolution. Within the Sciaridae (Diptera) are species that produce single‐sex progeny (monogenic species) and others in which progeny comprise both sexes (digenic species). Paternal genome elimination occurs in both species. We explore female mate resistance behaviour in a monogenic and digenic species of mushroom gnat from the genus Bradysia. Our experiments confirmed our theoretical predictions, revealing that in the monogenic and digenic species, females producing female‐biased progeny were more likely to have resisted at least one mating attempt.