Substrate heterogeneity and number of plant species in Everglades savannas (Florida,USA)

Environmental heterogeneity, especially that related to topography, has been proposed to influence numbers of plant species in different sized areas. Despite little variation in elevation, large numbers of vascular plant species occur in some habitats. This study explored possible relationships between number of plant species and substrateheterogeneity in two species-rich habitats, subtropical pine savannas and short-hydroperiod prairies, in the Long Pine Key region of Everglades National Park (Florida, U.S.A.). We examined relationships between numbers of vascular plant species and topographic heterogeneity by measuring numbers of species and elevations in differ-ent sizes of nested plots that spanned five orders of magnitude (0.1 m² to 1000 m² ) and that were located along two transects extending from pine savannas into short-hydroperiod prairies in different areas of Long Pine Key. We also classified substrates and soil depths in 1 m 2 sized submodules within the nested plots. Pine savannas occurred at higher elevations than adjacent short-hydroperiod prairies. Although differences occurred in substrate types and distribution within 1 m 2 plots, numbers of species were not associated with these differences. Vari-ances in elevations were similar in the smallest plots, but increased with area more rapidly in pine savannas than in short-hydroperiod prairies. Plot size explained about 85% of the variation in species numbers, which increased from 2040 per 1 m 2 to 80120 per 1000 m² . An interaction between habitat and scale explained 5% of the variation; more species occurred in shorthydroperiod prairies than pine savannas at scales <10 m² , but the re-verse occurred at scales >10 m². The number of species in pine savannas at scales of 1 m²and 10 m²was positively associated with variation in elevations; no significant relationships were obtained in short-hydroperiod prairies, which lack the fine-scale topographic variation of pine savannas. Our data indicate that substrate het-erogeneity, measured as variation in elevations, is not likely to be involved in the co-occurrence of many species within small areas of these savannas, but may influence numbers of species at larger scales of observation, es-pecially in pine savannas. Why many plant species occur within very small areas in these savannas remains un-answered.     

The effects of a low therapeutic dose of βCG fragment-lytic peptide conjugates on ovarian function and gonadotropin secretion in ewes: a randomized controlled trial

The main objective of this experiment was to determine and compare the effects of two lytic peptide conjugates, Phor21-?CG(ala) and ?CG(ala)-Phor21, at a low therapeutic dose (0.2 mg/kg body weight i.v.), on periovulatory ovarian and endocrine activity, and ensuing luteal function in an ovine experimental model. We hypothesized that the dense expression of LH/hCG receptors on the preovulatory follicle would present an appropriate target for the drugs and disrupt normal ovarian dynamics in sheep. Serum levels of reproductive hormones and ultrasonographic images were used for the assessment of periovulatory events following drug administration in 14 Rideau Arcott ewes; seven animals served as controls. Ovulations were synchronized with intravaginal progestogen-releasing sponges (medroxyprogesterone acetate, 60 mg) that were left in place for 12 days and a single i.m. injection of 750 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) given at sponge withdrawal. Both drugs were administered by i.v. injection 36 h post sponge removal/eCG injection, during the period of increasing LH responsiveness of potential ovulatory follicles and around the expected onset of the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins. No difference (p>0.05) was detected in the number of luteal structures per ewe in control versus treated animals during early luteogenesis. After drug administration, peak FSH concentrations were higher (p<0.05) in Phor21-?CG(ala)-treated compared to control ewes and circulating estradiol concentrations were lower (p<0.05) in ?CG(ala)-Phor21-treated animals. Mean serum progesterone concentrations were lower (p<0.05) in ?CG(ala)-Phor21-treated than control ewes during the luteal phase post-treatment. There were no differences (p>0.05) in the percentage of ewes that lambed or lamb characteristics between the three groups at lambing 9 months post-treatment. In summary, neither Phor21-?CG(ala) nor ?CG(ala)-Phor21 demonstrated adverse effects on the ovulatory process but the treatment with ?CG(ala)-Phor21 significantly depressed follicular and luteal steroidogenesis. With a lack of evidence for disruptive effects on endocrine function and fertility, these obsevations support the use of Phor21-?GG(ala) as a cancer pharmaceutical.     

The effects of intraspinal L-NOARG or SIN-1 on the control by descending pathways of incisional pain in rats

The modulation by spinal nitric oxide (NO) of descending pathways travelling through the dorsal lateral funiculus (DLF) is a mechanism proposed for the antinociceptive effects of drugs that changes the NO metabolism. In this study we confirm that a surgical incision in the mid-plantar hind paw of rats reduces the threshold to mechanical stimulation with von Frey filaments. The incisional pain was further increased in rats with ipsilateral DLF lesion. Intrathecal L-NOARG (50-300 microg), or SIN-1 (0.1-5.0 microg) reduced, while SIN-1 (10 and 20 microg) intensified the incisional pain in rats with sham or effective lesion of the DLF. Stimulation of the dorsal raphe (DRN) or anterior pretectal (APtN) nuclei with stepwise increased electrical currents (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 microA r.m.s.) produced a current-related reduction of the incisional pain. These nuclei activate pain inhibitory pathways that descend to the spinal cord mainly through the DLF. Intrathecal SIN-1 (5 microg) reduced, SIN-1 (20 microg) decreased and L-NOARG (150 microg) did not change the EC50 for the DRN or APtN stimulation-induced reduction of incisional pain. We conclude that the antinociceptive effects of L-NOARG or low doses of SIN-1 are independent on the activity of descending pain control pathways travelling via the DLF, but the antinociceptive effect of stimulating electrically the DRN or APtN can be summated to the effect of low dose of SIN-1 or overcome by the high dose of SIN-1.     

Mixed Exciton-Charge-Transfer States in Photosystem II: Stark Spectroscopy on Site-Directed Mutants

Sickle erythrocytes exhibit abnormal morphology and membrane mechanics under deoxygenated conditions due to the polymerization of hemoglobin S. We employed dissipative particle dynamics to extend a validated multiscale model of red blood cells (RBCs) to represent different sickle cell morphologies based on a simulated annealing procedure and experimental observations. We quantified cell distortion using asphericity and elliptical shape factors, and the results were consistent with a medical image analysis. We then studied the rheology and dynamics of sickle RBC suspensions under constant shear and in a tube. In shear flow, the transition from shear-thinning to shear-independent flow revealed a profound effect of cell membrane stiffening during deoxygenation, with granular RBC shapes leading to the greatest viscosity. In tube flow, the increase of flow resistance by granular RBCs was also greater than the resistance of blood flow with sickle-shape RBCs. However, no occlusion was observed in a straight tube under any conditions unless an adhesive dynamics model was explicitly incorporated into simulations that partially trapped sickle RBCs, which led to full occlusion in some cases.     

Optical properties of P3HT and N2200 polymers: a performance study of an optimally tuned DFT functional

The optical properties of systems composed of the polymers PolyeraActivInk? N2200 and P3HT are experimentally and theoretically investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory calculations, respectively. From a theoretical point of view, we carried out an analysis considering several functionals and model oligomers of different sizes to mimic the polymers. As our studies were performed with and without solvents, a first important result regards the fact that, by considering solvent effects, a better agreement between theoretical and experimental results could be achieved. Our findings also show that an optimally tuned functional is better suited to describe the experimental absorption profile than a hybrid one for the flexible polymer (P3HT). For the almost rigid polymer considered here (N2200), on the other hand, hybrid functionals may perform better than tuned functionals.     

Bond length pattern associated with charge carriers in armchair graphene nanoribbons

The geometry configuration of charged armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) is theoretically investigated in the framework of a two-dimensional tight-binding model that includes lattice relaxation. Our findings show that the charge distribution and, consequently, the bond length pattern is dependent on the parity of the nanoribbon width. In this sense, the lattice distortions decrease smoothly for increasingly wider GNRs. As should be expected, AGNRs belonging to a particular family present similar patterns for the bond lengths. The interplay between the electron-phonon coupling and band gap is also investigated. The results show that the electron-phonon coupling strength is fundamental to promote the transition from metallic towards semiconducting-like behavior for the band gap. Most important, such strength is crucial on defining the degree of lattice distortions in AGNRs.     

Prophylactic or therapeutic administration of Agaricus blazei Murill is effective in treatment of murine visceral leishmaniasis

The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro antileishmanial activity of five fractions obtained from Agaricus blazei water extract (AbM), namely, Fab1, Fab2, Fab3, Fab4, and Fab5; and use the selected leishmanicidal fraction to treat BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. A curve dose-titration was performed to obtain the concentration to be test in infected animals. In this context, Fab5 fraction and AbM were used in the doses of 20 and 100mg/kg/day, respectively, with the product been administered once a day. The effect induced by a chemo-prophylactic regimen, based on the administration Fab5 fraction and AbM 5days before infection, and maintained for an additional 20days post-infection was compared to a therapeutic regimen, in which the compounds were administered from 0 to 20days of infection. Control animals were either treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmpB) or received distilled water. All groups were followed up for 10weeks post-infection, when parasitological and immunological parameters were analyzed. The Fab5 presented the best results of in vitro leishmanicidal activity. In the in vivo experiments, the use of Fab5 or AbM, as compared to control groups, resulted in significant reduced parasite burdens in the liver, spleen, and draining lymph nodes of the infected animals, as compared to control groups. A Type 1 immune response was observed in the Fab5 or AbM treated animals. No significant toxicity was observed. The chemo-prophylactic regimen proved to be more effective to induce theses responses. In this context, the data presented in this study showed the potential of the purified Fab5 fraction of AbM as a therapeutic alternative to treat visceral leishmaniasis. In addition, it can be postulated that this fraction can be also employed in a chemo-prophylactic regimen associated or not with other therapeutic products.     

No Differences in Soil Carbon Stocks Across the Tree Line in the Peruvian Andes

Reliable soil organic carbon (SOC) stock measurements of all major ecosystems are essential for predicting the influence of global warming on global soil carbon pools, but hardly any detailed soil survey data are available for tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) and adjacent high elevation grasslands above (puna). TMCF are among the most threatened of ecosystems under current predicted global warming scenarios. We conducted an intensive soil sampling campaign extending 40 km along the tree line in the Peruvian Andes between 2994 and 3860 m asl to quantify SOC stocks of TMCF, puna grassland, and shrubland sites in the transition zone between the two habitats. SOC stocks from the soil surface down to the bedrock averaged (±standard error SE) 11.8 (±1.5, N = 24) kg C/m² in TMCF, 14.7 (±1.4, N = 9) kg C/m² in the shrublands and 11.9 (±0.8, N = 35) kg C/m² in the grasslands and were not significantly different (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). However, soil profile analysis revealed distinct differences, with TMCF profiles showing a uniform SOC distribution with depth, shrublands a linear decrease, and puna sites an exponential decrease in SOC densities with soil depth. Organic soil layer thickness reached a maximum (~70 cm) at the upper limit of the TMCF and declined with increasing altitude toward puna sites. Within TMCF, no significant increase in SOC stocks with increasing altitude was observed, probably because of the large variations among SOC stocks at different sites, which in turn were correlated with spatial variation in soil depth.     

Phylogenetic analysis of intestinal microflora indicates a novel Mycoplasma phylotype in farmed and wild salmon

All studies of the microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract of salmon to date have employed culture-based approaches, typically on pond- or tank-raised, freshwater animals. We present a phylogenetic survey of the bacterial populations present in the distal intestine of salmon from three different marine locations in Europe. This was accomplished through PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing of partial 16S rDNA genes from microbial community DNA isolated from the contents of the GI tract distal to the pyloric ceca. Using this approach, the intestinal microbial communities of wild salmon from Scotland and pen-raised salmon from Scotland and Norway were compared. The predominating bacterial populations detected were Acinetobacter junii and a novel Mycoplasma phylotype. This Mycoplasma phylotype apparently comprised ~96% of the total microbes in the distal intestine of wild salmon. Substantial differences in intestinal microbial community composition and diversity were observed between the two groups of pen-raised salmon, which, in addition to geographical separation, were raised on different feeds. The microbial profiles found in this study were substantially different from those indicated in earlier culture-based studies for several species of fish, presumably because of the culture-independent techniques employed. Further, analysis of short-chain fatty acids in the digestive tract indicated that the decreasing redox gradient from proximal to distal reaches common to homeothermic animals was absent in salmon, and that the bacterial fermentation levels were much lower than are reported in homeothermic animals.