Classification and ordination of plant communities along an altitudinal gradient on the Presidential Range,New Hampshire,USA

An analysis of vegetation along an altitudinal gradient on the Presidential Range, New Hampshire, USA, using the Braun–Blanquet approach followed by multivariate data analysis is presented. Twelve main plant communities have been distinguished. Floristic information is presented in twelve tables and one appendix. The relationships of the communities to complex environmental gradients are analyzed using Correspondence Analysis. Floristic composition and community structure are controlled primarily by the altitudinal gradient (temperature, precipitation), and by mesotopographic conditions (snow accumulation, exposure and cryoturbation, slope position, and soil moisture).     

La glande coquillière non pigmentée d'Artemia salina Leach

Résumé Ce travail concerne l'étude morphologique de la glande coquillière non pigmentée ou blanche d'Artemia salina. La structure de celle-ci est comparée à celle de la glande coquillière brune de la même espèce. Les différences sont apparemment plus fondamentales qu'une simple variation de la quantité de produit de sécrétion ou de la pigmentation des cellules.Là où les glandes coquillières brunes formeraient la coque chez les animaux ovipares les glandes coquillières blanches pourraient sécréter les produits nécessaires ou utiles au développement des nauplii chez les animaux ovovivipares.

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Morphological study of the white shell gland of Artemia salina leach

Summary The white shell glands of Artemia salina have been investigated. Our results, compared to those obtained in the brown-coloured shell glands, occuring within the same species, reveal differences not only in the aspect of the secretory granules but also in the structure of the nucleus and the cytoplasm. These differences between the two types of glands appear to be more striking than a simple variation in the quantity of secretion or in the pigmentation of the gland. As the brown glands are supposed to contribute to the formation of the egg shells in oviparous animals, the secretion of white glands could favour the development of nauplii in ovoviviparous animals.

     

Hyalophysa lynni n. sp. (Ciliophora,Apostomatida), a new pathogenic ciliate and causative agent of shrimp black gill in penaeid shrimp

The parasitic ciliate causing shrimp black gill (sBG) infections in penaeid shrimp has been identified. The sBG ciliate has a unique life cycle that includes an encysted divisional stage on the host’s gills. The ciliature of the encysted trophont stage has been determined and is quite similar to that of the closely related apostomes Hyalophysa bradburyae and H. chattoni. Hyalophysa bradburyae is a commensal ciliate associated with freshwater caridean shrimp and crayfish, while H. chattoni is a common commensal found on North American marine decapods. Based on 18S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the sBG ciliate is more closely related to the marine species H. chattoni than to the freshwater species H. bradburyae. The unique life cycle, morphology, 18S rRNA gene sequence, hosts, location, and pathology of the sBG ciliate distinguish this organism as a new species, Hyalophysa lynni n. sp.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum): their use for cross-species amplification and differentiation between the two species

As the population sizes of the black and white rhinoceroses continues to decline, more efforts are needed in multiple areas to help with the conservation efforts. One area being explored is the use of genetic diversity information to aid conservation decisions. In this study, we designed 21 microsatellite primers for white and black rhinoceroses, 16 and 17 of which amplified bands in the white and black rhinoceros, respectively. Out of these primers all 16 were polymorphic in the white rhinoceros and 12 of the 17 were polymorphic in the black rhinoceros. The mean number of alleles was 3.31 and 2.12, the expected heterozygosities were 0.420 and 0.372, and the observed heterozygosities were 0.436 and 0.322 for the white and black rhinoceroses, respectively. Seven of the primers produced different allele sizes and variations that distinguished between black and white rhinoceroses. Further genetic analyses with larger wild population sample sizes and markers are recommended to obtain a better understanding of the genetic structure of the black and white rhinoceros populations in order to be useful in the conservation efforts of these critically endangered species. A. Kilbourn—In memoriam.     

Simple empirical intensity and buffering capacity measurements to predict potassium uptake by white clover

Summary This experiment examined the feasibility of predicting K uptake in white clover by the use of simple and relatively rapid tests that would dispense with the need of knowing the quantity of plant available potassium. Potassium uptake was found to correlate highly (R=>0.9) in linear bivariate regressions using K concentration in the soil solution displaced by centrifuging and an empirical estimate of potassium retention. There was no advantage in determining activity ratios because in at least some of the soils used the ratio law did not apply. Exchangeable potassium alone correlated rather poorly with uptake except at very low soil potassium status. This was not because nonexchangeable potassium was an important source of this nutrient to white clover but because of the large differences in the retention of K amongst the soils used.     

E0771 and 4T1 murine breast cancer cells and interleukin 6 alter gene expression patterns but do not induce browning in cultured white adipocytes

Breast cancer remains a substantial clinical problem worldwide, and cancer-associated cachexia is a condition associated with poor prognosis in this and other malignancies. Adipose tissue is involved in the development and progression of cancer-associated cachexia, but its various roles and mechanisms of action are not completely defined, especially as it relates to breast cancer. Interleukin 6 has been implicated in several mechanisms contributing to increased breast cancer tumorigenesis, as well as a net-negative energy balance and cancer-associated cachexia via adipose tissue remodeling in other models of cancer; however, its potential role in breast cancer-associated white adipose browning has not been explored. In this study, we demonstrate localized white adipose tissue browning in a spontaneous model of murine mammary cancer. We then used an in vitro murine adipocyte culture system with the E0771 and 4T1 cell lines as models of breast cancer. We demonstrate that while the E0771 and 4T1 secretomes and cross-talk with white adipocytes alter white adipocyte mRNA expression, they do not directly induce white adipocyte browning. Additionally, we show that neither exogenous administration of interleukin 6 alone or with its soluble receptor directly induce white adipocyte browning. Together, these results demonstrate that neither the E0771 or 4T1 murine breast cancer cell lines, nor interleukin 6, directly cause browning of cultured white adipocytes. This suggests that their roles in adipose tissue remodeling are more complex and indirect in nature.     

Fungal wood decomposer activities influence community structures of myxomycetes and bryophytes on coarse woody debris

Dead wood is an important habitat for forest organisms, and wood decay fungi are the principal agents determining the dead wood properties that influence the communities of organisms inhabiting dead wood. In this study, we investigated the effects of wood decomposer fungi on the communities of myxomycetes and bryophytes inhabiting decayed logs. On 196 pine logs, 72 species of fungi, 34 species and seven varieties of myxomycetes, and 16 species of bryophytes were identified. Although white rot was the dominant decay type in sapwood and heartwood, brown and soft rots were also prevalent, particularly in sapwood. Moreover, white rot and soft rot were positively and brown rot negatively correlated with wood pH. Ordination analyses clearly showed a succession of cryptogam species during log decomposition and showed significant correlations of communities with the pH, water content, and decay type of wood. These analyses indicate that fungal wood decomposer activities strongly influence the cryptogam communities on dead wood.     

长春瑞滨联合卡铂化疗治疗晚期肺癌的临床观察

目的:探讨长春瑞滨联合卡铂化疗对晚期肺癌的治疗效果和安全性。方法:选取我院肿瘤科收治的晚期肺癌患者60例,根据不同治疗方案分为实验组与对照组,每组各30例患者。比较两组患者治疗前后的CEA、CA50、CYFRA21-1水平、白细胞计数及T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+、CD8+水平的变化。结果:治疗前,两组患者的CEA、CA50、CYFRA21-1水平、白细胞计数及T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+、CD8+水平比较均无统计学差异(P0.05)。治疗后,实验组的CEA、CA50、CYFRA21-1、CD8+水平均明显低于对照组,而白细胞计数及T淋巴细胞亚群CD4+、CD4+/CD8+水平均显著高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与放疗相比,长春瑞滨联合卡铂化疗能显著提高晚期肺癌的疗效,且不降低患者的细胞免疫。     

脑梗死患者的脑白质病变危险因素分析

目的：探索脑梗死患者中脑白质病变的危险因素。方法：以2012 年1 月至2014 年12 月我院神经内科收治的837 例脑梗死 患者为研究对象,采用Fazekas量表评价核磁共振T2WI脑室旁白质和皮质下白质病变严重程度。分别比较不同程度脑室旁白质 病变、皮质下白质病变患者间各个危险因素的差异,采用Logistic 回归分析脑白质病变的危险因素。结果：年龄、高血压是脑室旁 白质（OR 年龄=1.090,95%CI:0.073-0.099,P＜0.05;OR 高血压=1.699,95%CI:0.242-0.818,P＜0.05）和皮质下白质病变（OR 年龄 =1.074,95%CI:0.059-0.083,P＜0.05;OR高血压=1.353,95%CI:0.017-0.588,P＜0.05）共同的危险因素。收缩压（OR=1.008,95%CI: 0.001-0.015,P＜0.05）是皮质下白质病变的危险因素。结论：在脑梗死患者中,年龄、高血压是脑室旁白质病变、皮质下白质病变共 同的危险因素,收缩压是皮质下白质病变的危险因素。     

下丘脑腹内侧核损毁对大鼠nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达的影响

目的:观察下丘脑腹内侧核(VMH)损毁对大鼠脂肪组织nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达的影响及其机制。方法:电损毁VMH,观察大鼠体重和脂肪组织变化,采用Western blot检测脂肪组织中nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达改变。腹腔注射6-羟多巴胺(50 mg/kg)以阻断交感神经;持续外周注射卡巴胆碱(180μg/kg)用以模拟VMH损毁,观察其对大鼠皮下脂肪nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达的影响。结果:与对照组和假手术组比较,VMH损毁后大鼠体重明显增加(P0.05),皮下脂肪(P0.05)和肠系膜脂肪(P0.05)也显著增多;Western blot分析结果显示,nesfatin-1/NUCB2在胰腺和肝脏中表达较多,但皮下、肠系膜脂肪和肩胛间棕色脂肪组织(i BAT)中表达较少,骨骼肌(腓肠肌)中鲜有表达;与对照组和假手术组比较,VMH损毁组大鼠nesfatin-1/NUCB2在肝脏、胰腺、骨骼肌和i BAT中表达无显著差异(P0.05),皮下脂肪(P0.05)和肠系膜脂肪(P0.05)nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达显著增多与对照组相比,6-羟多巴胺组nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达显著升高(t=3.43,P0.05),而卡巴胆碱组nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达无显著差异(t=0.37,P=0.72)。结论:VMH损毁后大鼠脂肪组织nesfatin-1/NUCB2表达改变可能通过抑制交感神经活动介导。