An Analysis of Seed Development in Pisum sativum II. The Effect of the r-Locus on the Growth and Development of the Seed

The r-locus is one of the few genetic loci known to affect thestorage product composition and the morphology of pea (Pisumsativum) seeds. Lines which are near-isogenic except for ther-locus have been developed to study the effects of this locuson seed development. The plant phenotypes of these lines werevery similar except for those characteristics previously attributedto the r-locus. The seed development of the two lines followedsimilar patterns until the endosperm was absorbed by the embryo.The fresh weight of the rr line then increased more rapidlydue to the overall effect of a higher rate of water uptake anda lower rate of dry weight increase of the rr embryos comparedwith embryos homozygous for the R-allele. The effect of the r-locus on the relationship between embryofresh weight and dry weight suggests that the alleles may beaffecting the osmotic regulation of the developing embryo. Pisum sativum, pea, seed development, r-locus, genetic variation, growth analysis     

Circulating surfactant protein D as a potential lung-specific biomarker of health outcomes in COPD: a pilot study

Background

There is a paucity of surrogate lung-specific biological markers that can be used to track disease progression and predict clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The principal aim of this pilot study was to determine whether circulating surfactant protein D (SPD) or Clara Cell protein-16 (CC16) levels are associated with lung function or health status in patients with severe COPD.

Methods

We studied 23 patients with advanced COPD. Lung function measurements, Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) scores, and serum levels of SPD, CC16, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined at baseline and at 3 months.

Results

At baseline, FEV₁ was inversely associated with serum SPD levels (P = 0.045) but not with CC16 (P = 0.675) or CRP levels (P = 0.549). Over a 3 month period, changes in SPD levels correlated significantly with changes in CRQ scores (adjusted P = 0.008) such that patients who had the largest declines in serum SPD levels experienced the largest gains in health status. The association was particularly notable between circulating SPD level and the dyspnea domain of the CRQ score (P = 0.018). Changes in CC16 or CRP levels did not correlate with changes in CRQ scores.

Conclusion

Changes in serum SPD levels tracked well with changes in health status over a 3 month period in patients with severe COPD. These data suggest that circulating SPD levels may be useful biomarkers to track health outcomes of COPD patients.     

Notes on the family Cupuladriidae (Bryozoa), and on Cupuladria remota sp. n. from the Marquesas Islands

Colony morphology, life history, and the resulting concepts of generic inter-relationships within the family Cupuladriidae are discussed. The characters of the genus Cupuladria , and of the C. canariensis complex of species from the Tertiary to Recent of Europe, West Africa and the Central American regions, are described and illustrated. Cupuladria remota sp. n., a close relative of the Recent Brazilian species, C. monotrema , is described from the mid-Pacific Marquesas Islands. The origin of this isolated population, and its possible distributional history, are discussed.     

Elimination of species before cluster analysis

Previous attempts at selecting species to eliminate are criticized and a method depending upon interspecific dissimilarities is outlined. It was tested using a matrix of 24 samples by 71 species, and shown to be viable and much more economical to operate than an alternative method which was developed and discarded. It still involves the arbitrary choice of a cut-off level, and a parallel consideration of abundance values is advised. The method was assayed by performing cluster analysis with and without exclusion of species.