Risk factors for rejection for morphological reasons of heart valves for transplantation

The study aim was to identify risk factors for morphological rejection of aortic and pulmonary valves for transplantation that could be used to optimize donor selection. The files of all Dutch heart valve donors, donating in a 2.5 years period, whose hearts were processed at Heart Valve Bank Rotterdam, were reviewed for all factors that could be relevant for valve rejection and related to outcome of morphological assessment of the valves. Valves were retrieved from 813 deceased Dutch donors, 24.1% also donating organs. For 797 aortic and 767 pulmonary valves, who met retrieval criteria, morphological assessment was done. 69.5% of aortic and 37.5% of pulmonary valves were considered unsuitable for transplantation at morphological assessment. Backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, showed age, cardiac cause of death, cerebrovascular accident as cause of death or in medical history, and number of cardiovascular risk factors in a donor to be independent risk factors for morphological rejection of aortic valves. Age, sex, weight >100 kg and ruptured aortic aneurysm as cause of death were independent risk factors for morphological rejection of pulmonary valves. Being an organ donor was an independent predictor of morphological approval of aortic and pulmonary valves, while hypertension was an independent predictor for morphological approval of aortic valves. Thus, independent factors were identified that are associated with morphological rejection of aortic and pulmonary valves for transplantation, and that could be used to optimize donor selection by preventing unnecessary retrievals, limiting costs, while improving yield per donor with minimal compromise for availability.     

Postoperative mental and morphological outcome for nonsyndromic brachycephaly

Bilateral coronal synostosis causes functional and morphological problems that require fronto-orbital advancement in infancy to correct the brachycephalic deformity and to prevent mental impairment caused by the intracranial hypertension. In this study, 99 children with isolated cases of brachycephaly were prospectively followed to study their preoperative and postoperative mental outcome, which was evaluated using developmental or intelligence quotients. Several factors were analyzed: age before treatment, age at the time of surgery, and the correlation between mental assessments before and after surgery. In a subgroup or patients tested for the FGFR3 P250R mutation (n = 48), mental and morphological assessments were analyzed. Before surgery, mental status was better in the patients tested before 1 year of age (p < 0.001). The preoperative mental assessment always correlated with the postoperative assessment (p < 0.0001). The postoperative mental outcome was better when surgery was performed before the patient reached 1 year of age (p < 0.02). Although both the morphological and functional outcomes were better in the subgroup of noncarriers of the mutation, the differences were not statistically significant. Prominent bulging of the temporal fossae was frequently responsible for poor morphological outcome in carriers of the mutation. This study confirms the need for early corrective surgery before 1 year of age in brachycephalic patients to prevent impairment of their mental development. Suboptimal morphological and mental outcomes can be expected in patients with nonsyndromic brachycephaly who carry the FGFR3 P250R mutation. Primary correction of the temporal bulging should be performed in conjunction with fronto-orbital advancement to improve the morphological outcome in patients with the mutation.     

The influence of morphological differences between sunflower inbred lines on their SCA effects for yield components

Genetic distances between seven oil sunflower inbred lines expressed in the variability of five morphological traits were analysed in terms of their effect on the specific combining ability (SCA) effects in these lines for yield component traits. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and other related multidimensional methods were used to recognize the differences between genotypes with respect to morphological traits. Canonical analysis was applied for a graphical configuration of parental lines and diallele hybrids in the two-dimensional space. As a measure of the difference between parental lines with respect to the analysed morphological traits jointly, i.e. as a measure of the morphological distance between these forms, Mahalanobis' distance was used. Phenotypic differences between lines were estimated using Mahalanobis' distance for each pair of crossed lines calculated for all the analysed morphological traits. The effect of morphological differences between inbred lines on the mean SCA effect for individual yield components, measured by the linear regression, was significant for oil yield per plant and for the number of seeds per plant.     

A Congruence Study of Molecular and Morphological Data for Eutherian Mammals

The four orders of eutherian mammals which are traditionally placed in the superorder Archonta [Chiroptera (microbats and megabats), Dermoptera (flying lemurs), Primates (primates), and Scandentia (tree shrews)] are among the best-studied taxa of their infraclass from both the molecular and morphological perspectives. Nevertheless, the ordinal relationships of archontans remain unresolved. While morphological studies favor their monophyly, molecular investigations do not. To evaluate these opposing conclusions, parsimony analyses were conducted with three separate sets of DNA sequences from both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes and one file of morphological data for archontans and other eutherian mammals. Statistical tests of character support and ordinal branching pattern differences documented that the three sets of DNA sequences and their results were homogeneous and congruent, thereby allowing for the combination of these data into one large matrix for further phylogenetic analysis. In contrast, these same tests revealed that the combined sequence and morphological files and their topologies were in strong conflict. Archontan monophyly was supported by the morphological evidence, but this arrangement was strongly rejected by the combined DNA sequences that favored instead a grouping of Dermoptera, Primates, and Scandentia with Lagomorpha (rabbits) and Rodentia (rodents). Resolution of these significant differences will require further evaluations about the homologies and evolutionary properties of the molecular and morphological characters and about the appropriateness of the chosen phylogenetic methods, as well as the incorporation of new comparative data from both sources.     

Multidisciplinary approaches for species delimitation in Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae)

A remarkable morphological similarity in natural populations of different groups of Sisyrinchium spp. (Iridaceae) makes classification of some species difficult. The present paper focused on two morphological categories of S. sellowianum (MC‐I and MC‐II) with distinct morphological traits. Morphological, cytogenetic, reproductive biology and genetic studies were performed, aiming to elucidate and better characterize such variation. The basic chromosome number established for the species was x = 9 and diploid and tetraploid populations were observed for MC‐I, whereas MC‐II showed only diploid populations. Different pollen morphologies were recognized in each morphological category. Based on pollination experiments, MC‐I is out‐crossing, whereas MC‐II is selfing. The populations were highly differentiated (F_ST = 0.46, θ^B = 0.62). In MC‐I, observed variation was greater within populations (69%) than among populations (31%), whereas in MC‐II, 61% of the variation was among populations and 39% within populations. This study evidenced that the two morphological categories correspond to distinct and reproductively isolated species and that floral traits reflect their breeding system, with allogamous plants in MC‐I and autogamous in MC‐II. Furthermore, MC‐II is unveiled as S. platycaule, a neglected taxon of Sisyrinchium in Brazil. The tools applied in this study were substantially able to check the identity of the two morphological categories as two different species and present the variation encountered in the taxa.     

Designing an early selection morphological linear traits index for dressage in the Pura Raza Español horse

Making a morphological pre-selection of Pura Raza Español horses (PRE) for dressage is a challenging task within its current breeding program. The aim of our research was to design an early genetic selection morphological linear traits index to improve dressage performance, using 26 morphological linear traits and six dressage traits (walk, trot, canter, submission, general impression – partial scores – and total score) as selection criteria. The data set included morphological linear traits of 10 127 PRE (4159 males and 5968 females) collected between 2008 and 2013 (one record per horse) and 19 095 dressage traits of 1545 PRE (1476 males and 69 females; 12.4 records of average) collected between 2004 and 2014. A univariate animal model was applied to predict the breeding values (PBV). A partial least squares regression analysis was used to select the most predictive morphological linear traits PBV on the dressage traits PBV. According to the Wold Criterion, the 13 morphological linear traits (width of head, head–neck junction, upper neck line, neck–body junction, width of chest, angle of shoulder, lateral angle of knee, frontal angle of knee, cannon bone perimeter, length of croup, angle of croup, ischium–stifle distance and lateral hock angle) most closely related to total score PBV, partial scores PBV and gait scores PBV (walk, trot and canter) were selected. A multivariate genetic analysis was performed among the 13 morphological linear traits selected and the six dressage traits to estimate the genetic parameters. After it, the selection index theory was used to compute the expected genetic response using different strategies. The expected genetic response of total score PBV (0.76), partial scores PBV (0.04) and gait scores PBV (0.03) as selection objectives using morphological linear traits PBV as criteria selection were positive, but lower than that obtained using dressage traits PBV (1.80, 0.16 and 0.14 for total score PBV, partial scores PBV and gait scores PBV) or dressage traits PBV and morphological linear traits PBV (2.97, 0.16 and 0.15 for total score PBV, partial scores PBV and gait scores PBV), as selection criteria. This suggests that it is possible to preselect the PRE without dressage traits PBV using as selection criteria the morphological linear traits PBV, but the expected genetic response will be lower.     

狗牙根与非洲狗牙根形态鉴别性状的筛选

对10个狗牙根〔Cynodon dactylon(L.)Pers.〕和2个非洲狗牙根(C.transvaalensis Burtt-Davy)种源的13个外部形态性状进行了实地观测和统计分析。结果表明,与狗牙根相比,非洲狗牙根的叶片宽度较窄,穗支数较少,小穗较长,节间直径较细,穗支长度较短,差异显著;非洲狗牙根的叶片、葡匐茎及柱头的颜色与狗牙根有明显不同,因此,叶片宽度、节间直径、穗支数、穗支长度、小穗长度、叶片色泽、匍匐茎色泽和柱头色泽8个外部形态性状可作为鉴别这2个种的形态学指标。     

An efficient and non-destructive DNA extraction method for oribatid mites

Molecular methods play an important role in systematic acarology and DNA extraction is the first step in this ground. Nowadays, the varieties of methods are being used for extraction of DNA, but most of them destroy the important external characters that are essential for morphological identification. In order to overcome the problem of associating molecular and morphological information, we have developed a simple, efficient and non-destructive DNA extraction method for oribatid mites. The non-destructive method was tested on three different species [Oppia nitens C.L. Koch, 1836 (Oppiidae), Acrotritia ardua C.L. Koch, 1841 (Euphthiracaridae), and Amerus polonicus Kulczynski, 1902 (Ameridae)] and exoskeleton of specimens were preserved in Hoyer’s medium on glass microscopic slides for further identification via morphological studies. This method is more time consuming than commercial kits, but is easier and cheaper, meanwhile, allows systematic analysis with linking the morphological and genetic traits from a single mite. The most important advantage of TNES method is that after using this non-destructive method, specimens preserve all of their morphological features.     

三种高寒植物幼苗生物量分配及性状特征对光照和养分的响应

为了解高寒植物幼苗对生境资源异质性的适应策略,以高寒草甸中常见的3种草本植物大耳叶风毛菊(Saussurea macrota)、甘西鼠尾草(Salvia przewalskii)和千里光(Senecio scandens)为材料,比较研究了这3种植物幼苗对不同光照和养分资源的响应。结果表明:光照和养分异质性显著影响了3种植物幼苗的性状特征和生物量分配,并存在一定的交互影响。随着光照的降低,3个物种的幼苗的生物量和根分配呈现降低趋势,但是其株高、比叶面积、叶分配、茎分配却逐渐升高。在低养分条件下,3个物种幼苗的总生物量、株高、比叶面积和叶分配均降低,而根分配均却显著增加。对于光照和养分资源异质性而言,光照异质性对高寒植物生物量分配和性状特征的改变具有更大的影响。喜阴物种大耳叶风毛菊和喜光物种甘西鼠尾草比中性生境物种千里光表现出了较大的性状特征和生物量分配的可塑性指数。     

An elaboration of the evolutionary morphological basis for the systematics of the Plathelminthes

Compared with Hennig's phylogenetical systematics which has as its aim the retracing of genealogical relations between taxonomic groups, evolutionary morphological systematics is equally justified. Classifications of basic plans, morphological types, and morphofunctional systems of organisms serve as the foundation of evolutionary morphological systems. They are constructed on the basis of thorough understanding and further iteration of morphological transformation in phylogenetical branches based on the constructional pecularities of the morphofunctional systems. The evolutionary morphological approach in systematics is important especially for elaborating macrosystems dealing with vastly divergant groups where it is impossible to trace their real genealogy. The general principles of evolutionary morphological systematics are considered. A variant of the classification system of the Plathelminthes is suggested.     

Requirements for proteolysis during apoptosis.

The key effector proteins of apoptosis are a family of cysteine proteases termed caspases. Following activation of caspases, biochemical events occur that lead to DNA degradation and the characteristic morphological changes associated with apoptosis. Here we show that cytoplasmic extracts activated in vitro by proteinase K were able to cleave the caspase substrate DEVD-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin, while neither proteinase K nor nonactivated extracts were able to do so alone. Caspase-like activity was inhibited by the specific caspase inhibitor DEVD-aldehyde and by the protease inhibitor iodoacetamide, but not by N-ethylmaleimide. When added to isolated nuclei, the activated extracts caused internucleosomal DNA degradation and morphological changes typical of apoptosis. As DNA cleavage and morphological changes could be inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide but not by iodoacetamide, we conclude that during apoptosis, caspase activation causes activation of another cytoplasmic enzyme that can be inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. Activity of this enzyme is necessary for activation of endonucleases, DNA cleavage, and changes in nuclear morphology.     

rbcL Plastid Pseudogene as a Tool for Orobanche (Subsection Minores) Identification

Abstract: Among members of the Orobanchaceae, parasitism has led to a drastic reduction in the morphological characters useful in identification. This is especially the case of species belonging to the subsection Minores (section Orobanche ), which is a real tangle for agronomists and botanists. In this study, more than 120 specimens collected in the west of France were studied for their morphological characters and molecular markers. Their rbcL plastid gene was analyzed by RFLP and nucleotide sequencing. Because of several substitutions, insertions and deletions in the coding sequence, leading to stop codons and frameshift, this rbcL gene could be considered as a pseudogene. Variations in both 5' upstream and coding regions allowed us to distinguish among specimens inside the Minores subsection. It was then possible to point out morphological characters, not used in floras, that fit with molecular analysis and confirm the existence of four taxa. Consequently, a new key to species determination using molecular analysis or morphological characters or a combination of both is proposed for O. hederae, O. amethystea, O. minor and O. loricata. Finally, the value of plastid pseudogenes in taxonomy is discussed.     

Integrating a Numerical Taxonomic Method and Molecular Phylogeny for Species Delimitation of Melampsora Species (Melampsoraceae,Pucciniales) on Willows in China

The species in genus Melampsora are the causal agents of leaf rust diseases on willows in natural habitats and plantations. However, the classification and recognition of species diversity are challenging because morphological characteristics are scant and morphological variation in Melampsora on willows has not been thoroughly evaluated. Thus, the taxonomy of Melampsora species on willows remains confused, especially in China where 31 species were reported based on either European or Japanese taxonomic systems. To clarify the species boundaries of Melampsora species on willows in China, we tested two approaches for species delimitation inferred from morphological and molecular variations. Morphological species boundaries were determined based on numerical taxonomic analyses of morphological characteristics in the uredinial and telial stages by cluster analysis and one-way analysis of variance. Phylogenetic species boundaries were delineated based on the generalized mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) model analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions including the 5.8S and D1/D2 regions of the large nuclear subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene. Numerical taxonomic analyses of 14 morphological characteristics recognized in the uredinial-telial stages revealed 22 morphological species, whereas the GMYC results recovered 29 phylogenetic species. In total, 17 morphological species were in concordance with the phylogenetic species and 5 morphological species were in concordance with 12 phylogenetic species. Both the morphological and molecular data supported 14 morphological characteristics, including 5 newly recognized characteristics and 9 traditionally emphasized characteristics, as effective for the differentiation of Melampsora species on willows in China. Based on the concordance and discordance of the two species delimitation approaches, we concluded that integrative taxonomy by using both morphological and molecular variations was an effective approach for delimitating Melampsora species on willows in China.     

DNA evidence for morphological and cryptic Cenozoic speciations in the Anaspididae, ‘living fossils’ from the Triassic

The speciation history of Anaspides tasmaniae (Crustacea: Malacostraca) and its close relatives (family Anaspididae) was studied by phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Anaspides morphotype conceals at least three cryptic species belonging to different parts of its range. The occurrence of multiple cryptic phylogenetic species within one morphological type shows that substantial genetic evolution has occurred independently of morphological evolution. Molecular clock dating of the speciation events that generated both the cryptic and the morphological species of Anaspididae indicated continuous speciation within this group since the Palaeocene ~55 million years ago. This relatively constant rate of recent morphological and cryptic speciation within the Anaspididae suggests that the speciation rate in this group does not correlate with its low extinction rate or morphological conservatism.     

Morphological score assignment guidelines for the dechorionated zebrafish teratogenicity assay

BACKGROUND: Recently we reported the development and optimization of a zebrafish teratogenicity assay using dechorionated AB strain embryos, a promising assay that was 87% concordant in correctly identifying in vivo teratogens and non‐teratogens from a set of 31 compounds (Brannen et al., 2010: Birth Defects Res 89:66–77). METHODS: This assay utilizes a zebrafish morphological score system to characterize adverse effects and identify the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL). RESULTS: This report describes in detail the morphological score system used in the dechorionated zebrafish embryo culture teratogenicity assay. The morphological assessment includes evaluation of most structures and organ systems and grades relative severity of abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: To this end, the morphological score system provides information of tissue‐specific teratogenicity that has been found to have good concordance with structures found affected in vivo and can also be used to rank compounds based on the severity of malformations. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 89:382–395, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Spatial regression techniques for inter‐population data: studying the relationships between morphological and environmental variation

Understanding the importance of environmental dimensions behind the morphological variation among populations has long been a central goal of evolutionary biology. The main objective of this study was to review the spatial regression techniques employed to test the association between morphological and environmental variables. In addition, we show empirically how spatial regression techniques can be used to test the association of cranial form variation among worldwide human populations with a set of ecological variables, taking into account the spatial autocorrelation in data. We suggest that spatial autocorrelation must be studied to explore the spatial structure underlying morphological variation and incorporated in regression models to provide more accurate statistical estimates of the relationships between morphological and ecological variables. Finally, we discuss the statistical properties of these techniques and the underlying reasons for using the spatial approach in population studies.     

Heritability estimates for characters under sexual selection in the grasshopper,Chorthippus brunneus

Mating success of male grasshoppers, Chorthippus brunneus, has previously been shown to be highest for intermediate, and lowest for extreme individuals with respect to at least one parameter of the male calling song and probably also one morphological character. The heritabilities of these and other song and morphological characters have been estimated in an experiment utilizing the North Carolina I design. Heritability estimates for song parameters are all low (<0·28). Estimates for morphological characters are higher, particularly for features of the stridulatory file, despite the fact that it was just these characters that were shown to be under stabilizing sexual selection. These results are related to sexual selection theory.     

Quantitative morphological evidence for incipient species within Lutzomyia quinquefer (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Morphological variation among geographic populations of the New World sand fly Lutzomyia quinquefer (Diptera, Phlebotominae) was analyzed and patterns detected that are probably associated with species emergence. This was achieved by examining the relationships of size and shape components of morphological attributes, and their correlation with geographic parameters. Quantitative and qualitative morphological characters are described, showing in both sexes differences among local populations from four Departments of Bolivia. Four arguments are then developed to reject the hypothesis of environment as the unique source of morphological variation: (1) the persistence of differences after removing the allometric consequences of size variation, (2) the association of local metric properties with meristic and qualitative attributes, rather than with altitude, (3) the positive and significant correlation between metric and geographic distances, and (4) the absence of a significant correlation between altitude and general-size of the insects.