Longitudinal variation in food sources and their use by aquatic fauna along a subtropical river in Taiwan

1. River food webs rely on two major food sources: autochthonous primary production within the river and allochthonous organic matter transferred to the river. We characterised the consumer communities and assessed the food sources of dominant consumers along a subtropical mountainous river (the Lanyang River of north‐eastern Taiwan) at the catchment scale from the headwater to the estuary using natural abundances of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. 2. The downstream transport of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) was two orders of magnitude greater than that of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM). Transport of both materials increased from the headwater and reached a maximum in the midstream reach. CPOM composition exhibited a gradual shift from leaves and branches in the headwater, an area characterised by high canopy cover, to algae in the midstream reaches and marsh plants in the downstream reaches. 3. Consumer communities can be classified into two regional categories: the upland category in the headwater and upstream and midstream reaches and the lowland category comprised of samples from the downstream reach and estuary. The upland category revealed a clear and gradual seasonal shift in community composition, but a seasonal shift was not apparent for the lowland category. Nutrient concentrations and water temperature were the main factors explaining longitudinal and seasonal variations. 4. The use of sources of organic matter by dominant consumers along the Lanyang River was primarily determined by their availability. Riparian C₃ plants were the major food sources in the headwater, upstream reach and estuary, but the contribution of periphyton increased in the upper midstream reach where the river flows through an agricultural area. In the lower midstream and downstream reaches, the contribution of riparian C₄ plants became dominant. 5. The trophic transfer of organic materials in the Lanyang River may be influenced by the fast current velocity and by sewage nutrient loading in the river, both of which have important implications for predicting how the functioning of subtropical river food webs will respond to human‐related changes in land use.     

巴马小型猪与贵州小型香猪遗传多样性的RAPD分析

应用经过筛选的31条引物对巴马小型猪和贵州小型香猪的基因组DNA进行RAPD扩增,分析二品系实验用小型猪的遗传多样性.两品系实验用小型猪品系内及品系间多态性位点的百分数分别为30.9%和25.7%,品系间及品系内的平均遗传距离分别为0.120、0.072和0.067.结果表明,两品系实验用小型猪品系间及品系内遗传多样性贫乏,遗传变异较小.     

Side effects of atypical antipsychotics: a brief overview

This paper reviews the available evidence concerning the side effects of atypical antipsychotics, including weight gain, type II diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, QTc interval prolongation, myocarditis, sexual side effects, extrapyramidal side effects and cataract. Some recommendations about how to prevent and manage these side effects are also provided. It is concluded that atypical antipsychotics do not represent a homogeneous class, and that differences in side effects should be taken into account by clinicians when choosing an antipsychotic for an individual patient.     

Optimizing the transport and storage conditions of current Good Manufacturing Practice –grade human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells for transplantation (HUC-HEART Trial)

Background

The HUC-HEART Trial is a clinical study of intramyocardial delivery of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)-grade human umbilical cord multipotent stromal cells (HUC-MSCs) in ischemic cardiomyopathy where 2?×?10⁷ cells are administered to peri-infarcted myocardium. Prior to the onset of the trial, we aimed to optimize the transport/storage conditions for obtaining the highest cell viability and proliferation rate of cells to be transplanted.

二种改进人工饲料对红脉穗螟生长发育和繁殖的影响

在温度(29±1)℃和相对湿度75%±5%条件下,研究了2种改进人工饲料和天然饲料椰子幼果对红脉穗螟Tirathaba rufivena Walker生长发育、繁殖力和营养的影响。结果表明:与天然饲料相比,用改进人工饲料饲养的红脉穗螟幼虫生长发育速度、幼虫存活率、蛹重及产卵量均提高;幼虫相对生长率(RGR)、食物利用率(ECI)及食物转化率(ECD)均显著提高,而相对取食量(RCR)则显著降低。表明红脉穗螟幼虫对2种人工饲料有很好的适应性,可用于大量饲养。     

基于产汇流模拟分析的城市居住小区道路系统布局优化策略研究

道路是城市硬质化下垫面的重要组成部分,它既是居住小区雨水径流的主要来源,也是雨水排放的重要通道,因此居住小区中道路系统与雨水产汇流过程关系的探究对于居住小区雨洪韧性的提升具有重要意义。以天津居住小区为例,借助ArcGIS和SWMM,探讨不同降雨强度下分别具有网格型、尽端型以及环网型、环尽型道路布局模式特点的居住小区产汇流规律,并以此为依据提出以雨洪韧性导向为目标的居住小区道路系统布局优化策略。     

SOUND PRODUCTION BY THE LUSITANIAN TOAD FISH,HALOBATRACHUS DIDACTYLUS

ABSTRACT

Several batrachoidids have been known to produce sounds associated with courtship and agonistic interactions, and their repertoires have been studied acoustically and behaviourally. In contrast, sound production of the Lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus, although often noted, has not been acoustically studied.

This sedentary predator of Northeastern Atlantic coastal waters is usually found in sandy and muddy substrates, under rocks or crevices. Sound recordings were made in Ria Formosa, a lagoon complex in southern Portugal. The sound producing apparatus was studied in adult individuals of both sexes captured by local fishermen.

It is shown that this species produces acoustic emissions similar to other batrachoidids. It produces a long, rhythmical, tonal sound, often in choruses, which is comparable to the boatwhistle or hum signals of Opsanus and Porichthys, and a complex of signals that were classified as grunts, croaks, double croaks and mixed calls (‘grunt-croak’). As in other toadfishes, H. didactylus presents sonic muscles connected to a bi-lobed swimbladder. Asynchronous contractions of the sonic muscles were detected when massaging the ventral surface of the fish.     

In Vitro transformation of LW13 Rat liver epithelial Cells

A rat liver epithelial cell line designated LW 13 was established using a sequential sedimentation method.The cell line retained many normal proerties of liver epithelial cells and showed some structural and functional features resembling those of liver parenchymal cells,LW13 cells became malignant after the intrduction of exogenous transforming EJ Ha ras gene,Tumors produced by inoculation of the transformed cells into baby rats contained areas of poorly differentialted hepatocellular carcinoma,In situ hybridization analysis confirmed the random rather than specific integration of exogenous ras gene into host chromosomes.Furthermore,an at least tenfold increase in the expression of the endogenous c mys gene was detected among transformed cell lines,suggesting the involvement of the c myc proto oncogene in the in vitro transformation of rat liver epithelial cells by EJ Ha ras oncogene.