Three dimensional in vitro culture of preantral follicles following slow-freezing and vitrification of mouse ovarian tissue

To evaluate the effects slow-freezing and vitrification on three dimensional in vitro culture of preantral follicles, ovaries of 12–14 days old female NMRI mice were isolated and randomly assigned to fresh control, slow-freezing and vitrification groups. Slow-freezing was performed using programmable freezer. Vitrification was carried out in a medium consisting of ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulphoxide (Me₂SO) by needle immersion method. middle sized preantral follicles were mechanically isolated and cultured for 12 days in 0.7% sodium alginate gel. The follicles development and quantitative expression of oocyte specific genes (Bmp15, Gdf9, Fgf8) and the growth related genes (Igf1, Kit, Kit-l) were assessed after 1, 8 and 12 days of culture. Both cryopreserved groups showed reduction of follicular survival rates compared to the control group on days 8 and 12 of culture (P < 0.05). Antrum formation rates reduced in slow-freezing after 12 days of culture (P < 0.05). Evaluation of gene expression showed reduction of Bmp15, Gdf9, Fgf8, Kit and Kit-l during 12 days of culture (P < 0.05). Kit and Kit-l expression in slow-freezing group significantly reduced on day 8 of culture (p < 0.05). Igf1 expression was lower in slow-freezing group on 1st day of culture than vitrification and control groups (P < 0.05). Finally, intergroup comparison showed same expression pattern of genes after 12 days of culture. Thus, cryopreservation of mouse ovaries by both methods can preserve most developmental parameters and expression of maturation genes. However, vitrification is a better method for cryopreservation of mouse ovaries due to greater antrum formation and expression of growth related markers.     

The Legal Regulation of Floats and Gliders—In Quest of a New Regime?

This article analyzes the legal status of unmanned instruments (particularly, floats and gliders) for observation purposes in the ocean environment. These new kinds of instruments are being deployed by the thousands into the oceans, not the least as part of the Argo Project of the International Oceanographic Commission. Their uncontrolled drifting has raised legal questions, especially when such instruments enter waters subject to the jurisdiction of foreign states. The authors argue that the current international legal framework is insufficient to address the pertinent issues, and that a new legal regime is needed.     

退耕还林还草工程对陕北地区生态系统服务价值时空演变的影响

基于陕北地区1990、2000、2015年土地利用数据，运用单位面积生态系统价值当量因子法、格网法、探索性空间数据法（ESDA），分析了退耕还林还草工程实施前后生态系统服务价值（ESV）的空间分布和演化规律，探讨了退耕还林还草工程对ESV的影响。结果表明：（1）陕北地区退耕还林还草工程实施效果显著，工程实施后共有297066.15 hm2耕地转化为林地和草地，林草覆盖率由57.33%增长至60.50%。（2）退耕还林还草工程使得陕北地区ESV得到了显著提升。25年间陕北地区ESV共增加了32.82亿元，ESV在工程实施后比工程实施前多增加了5.93亿元，增长主要源于退耕引起林地和草地面积的增加。（3）ESV空间分布上呈显著的“南高北低”分布格局，并表现出正向的集聚性和依存性，ESV热点区和冷点区集聚效果明显，热点区集聚与林地、草地的空间分布相吻合，冷点区集聚与未利用地、耕地和建设用地的空间分布相吻合。（4）受退耕还林还草工程影响，陕北地区中部中等等级和次高ESV分布区域逐渐增大、次热点区空间集聚性逐渐增强，北部次低等级和低等级ESV分布区域逐渐减少、冷点区空间集聚性逐渐减弱。整体而言，陕北地区土地利用类型转移和ESV的增减变化与推行退耕还林还草工程在时间上相呼应、在空间上相匹配，退耕还林还草工程实施使得陕北地区生态环境得到了有效改善，ESV得到了显著提升。     

Climate change in our backyards: the reshuffling of North America's winter bird communities

Much of the recent changes in North American climate have occurred during the winter months, and as result, overwintering birds represent important sentinels of anthropogenic climate change. While there is mounting evidence that bird populations are responding to a warming climate (e.g., poleward shifts) questions remain as to whether these species‐specific responses are resulting in community‐wide changes. Here, we test the hypothesis that a changing winter climate should favor the formation of winter bird communities dominated by warm‐adapted species. To do this, we quantified changes in community composition using a functional index – the Community Temperature Index (CTI) – which measures the balance between low‐ and high‐temperature dwelling species in a community. Using data from Project FeederWatch, an international citizen science program, we quantified spatiotemporal changes in winter bird communities (n = 38 bird species) across eastern North America and tested the influence of changes in winter minimum temperature over a 22‐year period. We implemented a jackknife analysis to identify those species most influential in driving changes at the community level and the population dynamics (e.g., extinction or colonization) responsible for these community changes. Since 1990, we found that the winter bird community structure has changed with communities increasingly composed of warm‐adapted species. This reshuffling of winter bird communities was strongest in southerly latitudes and driven primarily by local increases in abundance and regional patterns of colonization by southerly birds. CTI tracked patterns of changing winter temperature at different temporal scales ranging from 1 to 35 years. We conclude that a shifting winter climate has provided an opportunity for smaller, southerly distributed species to colonize new regions and promote the formation of unique winter bird assemblages throughout eastern North America.     

Multiattribute evaluation of regional cotton variety trials

Summary The Australian Cotton Cultivar Trials (ACCT) are designed to investigate various cotton [Gossypium hirsutum (L.)] lines in several locations in New South Wales and Queensland each year. If these lines are to be assessed by the simultaneous use of yield and lint quality data, then a multivariate technique applicable to three-way data is desirable. Two such techniques, the mixture maximum likelihood method of clustering and three-mode principal component analysis, are described and used to analyze these data. Applied together, the methods enhance each other's usefulness in interpreting the information on the line response patterns across the locations. The methods provide a good integration of the responses across environments of the entries for the different attributes in the trials. For instance, using yield as the sole criterion, the excellence of the namcala and coker group for quality is overlooked. The analyses point to a decision in favor of either high yields of moderate to good quality lint or moderate yield but superior lint quality. The decisions indicated by the methods confirmed the selections made by the plant breeders. The procedures provide a less subjective, relatively easy to apply and interpret analytical method of describing the patterns of performance and associations in complex multiattribute and multilocation trials. This should lead to more efficient selection among lines in such trials.     

Updated Italian checklist of Soldier Flies (Diptera,Stratiomyidae)

An updated checklist for Stratiomyidae of Italy is presented. Previous knowledge and information are put together in a comprehensive way, integrated also with results obtained by sampling with Malaise traps in some of the test areas of the LIFE+ project ManFor C.BD.At the time of writing, with 91 known species, the Italian fauna of Stratiomyidae is the richest in Europe. Neopachygaster meromelas (Dufour, 1841) and Zabrachia minutissima (Zetterstedt, 1838) are new to the Italian fauna. A comprehensive key to the European species of Chorisops Rondani, 1856 is given.     

纳米孔测序技术在病毒性传染病检测及研究中的应用

快速、准确鉴定出病原体是临床感染性疾病诊断和传染病预防控制的基础。高通量测序基因检测技术突破了传统检测手段的时效性、灵敏度等的局限，为病原体检测和研究提供了便捷、高效的途径。本综述以高通量测序技术发展过程为基础，回顾纳米孔三代测序技术，及其在病毒性传染病检测鉴定及研究中的应用，并对该技术的应用前景及可能存在的问题进行阐述，期望它能在病毒性传染病的防控方面发挥更大的作用。     

清代畅春园复原及理法探析

《北京城市总体规划（2016—2035）》首次提出需加强三山五园地区整体保护,为推进研究和保护“五园”之中唯一园址不存的畅春园,通过综合研究多件清宫历史图档、近现代航拍测绘影像及考古报告等资料的空间关系,复原畅春园及附属的西花园在乾隆和道光2个时期的平面布局,并初步确定其在海淀区的具体区位,以及位于三山五园地区保护红线之内的事实。在此基础上对两园的功能和景观布局进行了初步探讨,表明畅春园是一座跨越明清两代、艺术水平较高的大型人工山水园,对清代皇家园林的营建产生了重要的影响,因此具有较高的研究价值。     

剑突肋缘下三孔式胸腔镜下胸腺切除治疗重症肌无力的早期临床疗效及对生活质量的影响

目的:通过与传统单侧胸腔镜技术对比,探讨经剑突肋缘下三孔式胸腔镜下胸腺切除治疗重症肌无力的早期临床疗效及对患者生活质量的影响。方法:收集2012年1月-2016年6月因重症肌无力就诊于我院行胸腔镜下胸腺切除的115例患者。根据患者的手术方式分为传统单侧胸腔镜组47例和剑突肋缘下三孔式胸腔镜组68例,收集和比较两组患者的基本资料,包括性别、年龄、是否合并胸腺瘤、病程、随访时间、术前Osserman评分、手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流时间、术后引流量、转入ICU时间、术后住院时间、术后并发症的发生情况、术后不同时间点的疼痛评分和生活质量评分及末次随访时的愈后情况。结果:两组患者的年龄、性别比例、胸腺瘤情况、病程、随访时间和术前Osserman评分均没有差异(P0.05)。三孔组手术时间、术中出血量、ICU停留时间和术后住院时间均短于或低于传统组(P0.05)。两组患者术后并发症(膈神经麻痹、胸腔积液、伤口脂肪液化)发生率比较没有统计学差异(P0.05)。三孔组患者在术后3天内和出院时的疼痛评分均显著低于传统组(P0.05)。两组患者在末次随访时的有效率、术前、术后1年和末次随访时的生活质量评分(MGQOL-15评分)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。在三孔组患者末次随访时,女性MGQOL-15评分改善量(11.2±3.3分)高于男性(7.4±2.7分)(P0.001)。Osserman评分3分和4分的患者MGQOL-15评分改善量(10.7±3.7分)显著高于Osserman评分2分的患者(5.0±1.9分)(P0.001)。结论:经剑突肋缘下三孔式胸腔镜下切除胸腺治疗重症肌无力具有手术时间短、术中出血少、术后恢复快的特点,术后患者疼痛程度轻,生活质量改善明显。女性术后获益较男性更大。     

石灰岩石器使用功效的模拟实验——以重庆巫山玉米洞遗址为例

本文以巫山玉米洞遗址为例,对石灰岩石器进行复制与使用功效的模拟实验,结果表明有些石灰岩在石器打制层面表现出较好的适用性,石灰岩石器在常规的砍砸、切割、挖掘等行为活动中表现出良好的功能实用性和效率。通过实验标本与遗址出土石器的对比分析,我们认为该遗址应存在优选天然毛坯直接使用而形成的“使用石器”,类型主要集中在砍砸器和手镐等重型工具,但二次加工的石器比“使用石器”更为有效耐用;有尖类石器在作用于硬性对象或结构不稳定、受力不均时容易产生残损,与出土有尖类石器较高的残损率相吻合;把手修理在石器使用过程中显得非常必要,为遗址出土石器普遍存在把手修理现象提供了合理解释。