The aim of the present contribution is to describe a new genus and species of Pipoidea from the Huitrera Formation (Eocene) from Patagonia, Argentina. The new genus shows a unique combination of characters indicating that it is a valid taxon different from other pipimorphs, including the coeval Llankibatrachus truebae. The phylogenetic analysis resulted in the nesting of the new taxon within a previously unrecognized endemic clade of South American aglossans. This new clade turns out to be the sister-group of crown-group Pipidae. This phylogenetic proposal reinforces the hypothesis sustaining the dispersal of pipids between Africa and South America through an island chain or a continental bridge across the Atlantic Ocean by Early Tertiary times. 相似文献
Plant Ecology - Community-weighted mean (CWM) and functional diversity (FD) describe the two aspects of plant communities’ functional structure. While they have been often used separately to... 相似文献
N-type inactivation in voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels is a widespread means to modulate neuronal excitability and signaling. Here we have shown a novel mechanism of N-type inactivation in a Caenorhabditis elegans Kv channel. The N-terminal sequence of KVS-1 contains a domain of 22 amino acids that resembles the inactivation ball in A-type channels, which is preceded by a domain of eighteen amino acids. Wild type KVS-1 currents can be described as A-type; however, their kinetics are significantly (approximately 5-fold) slower. When the putative inactivation ball is deleted, the current becomes non-inactivating. Inactivation is restored in non-inactivating channels by diffusion of the missing inactivation domain in the cytoplasm. Deletion of the domain in front of the ball speeds inactivation kinetics approximately 5-fold. We conclude that KVS-1 is the first example of a novel type of Kv channel simultaneously possessing an N-inactivating ball preceded by an N inactivation regulatory domain (NIRD) that acts to slow down inactivation through steric mechanisms. 相似文献
N-acetyl-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivative (PS3Ac) has been determined in brain tissues by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a diode array detection. In a previous paper we presented a validation method for detecting PS3Ac and its metabolites in plasma samples after intraperitoneal administration to Wistar rats. In the present paper, we report the results of the determination of PS3Ac and its N-deacetyl (PS3) and O-demethyl (PS3OH) metabolites, in the brain after extraction based on a polymeric matrix with a high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, using Oasis cartridges. The chromatographic separation was performed in an octadecylsilica stationary phase at 25 degrees C using a mixture of 10 mM potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (pH 2.24) and acetonitrile in ratio of 30:70 (v/v) as mobile phase, with a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. The method exhibited a large linear range from 0.05 to 2 microg/ml for all studied compounds (n=6). In the within-day assay (n=4), the accuracy ranged from 87.5% determined with 0.05 microg/ml of PS3 to 110.1% determined with 0.2 microg/ml of PS3OH. In the between-day assay the coefficient of variation ranged from 2.4 determined with 0.05 microg/ml of PS3 to 9.7 determined with 0.2 microg/ml of PS3OH. The extraction efficiency ranged from 77.8% for PS3OH at 0.2 microg/ml to 94.3 for PS3Ac at 0.5 microg/ml. The limit of detection for all the tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives ranged around 50 ng/ml. The method proved to be highly sensitive and specific to determinate PS3Ac and its metabolites and has been successfully applied to value their concentrations in brain matrix over the time. 相似文献
The integrity of articular cartilage depends on the proper functioning and mechanical stimulation of chondrocytes, the cells
that synthesize extracellular matrix and maintain tissue health. The biosynthetic activity of chondrocytes is influenced by
genetic factors, environmental influences, extracellular matrix composition, and mechanical factors. The mechanical environment
of chondrocytes is believed to be an important determinant for joint health, and chondrocyte deformation in response to mechanical
loading is speculated to be an important regulator of metabolic activity. In previous studies of chondrocyte deformation,
articular cartilage was described as a biphasic material consisting of a homogeneous, isotropic, linearly elastic solid phase,
and an inviscid fluid phase. However, articular cartilage is known to be anisotropic and inhomogeneous across its depth. Therefore,
isotropic and homogeneous models cannot make appropriate predictions for tissue and cell stresses and strains. Here, we modelled
articular cartilage as a transversely isotropic, inhomogeneous (TI) material in which the anisotropy and inhomogeneity arose
naturally from the microstructure of the depth-dependent collagen fibril orientation and volumetric fraction, as well as the
chondrocyte shape and volumetric fraction. The purpose of this study was to analyse the deformation behaviour of chondrocytes
using the TI model of articular cartilage. In order to evaluate our model against experimental results, we simulated indentation
and unconfined compression tests for nominal compressions of 15%. Chondrocyte deformations were analysed as a function of
location within the tissue. The TI model predicted a non-uniform behaviour across tissue depth: in indentation testing, cell
height decreased by 43% in the superficial zone and between 11 and 29% in the deep zone. In unconfined compression testing,
cell height decreased by 32% in the superficial zone, 25% in the middle, and 18% in the deep zones. This predicted non-uniformity
is in agreement with experimental studies. The novelty of this study is the use of a cartilage material model accounting for
the intrinsic inhomogeneity and anisotropy of cartilage caused by its microstructure. 相似文献
Aquatic Ecology - Jellyfish blooms are an increasingly common event in our seas. Occurring via polyps’ asexual reproduction induced by human stresses, they represent a hazard for ecosystems... 相似文献
The genus Ctenomys includes a high number of taxa, with at least ten species from Patagonia and three recently described species for northeastern Chubut Province (Argentina). Ctenomys sociabilis is a social species of the genus Ctenomys and is currently distributed in the surrounding area of Sierra Cuyin Manzano (Neuquén Province), with a recently extinct population that occurred in Laguna Nahuelquir (Cushamen, Chubut Province). Molecular analyses have placed C. sociabilis at the base of Ctenomys clade, as the sister species to all other Ctenomys. Based on a morphological assessment (qualitative and quantitative) and DNA sequencing, we describe a new species of Ctenomys from Esquel, Chubut Province. Phylogenetic analysis shows the new species to be closely related to C. sociabilis, with evidence of solitary behavior. This new species is the first reported to be closely related phylogenetically to Ctenomys sociabilis at the base of the Ctenomys phylogeny. We provide anatomical comparisons between the new species and other species of Ctenomys from Patagonia, especially C. sociabilis.