Phenotypic differentiation between wild and domesticated varieties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis>L. and culturally relevant uses of their fruits as bowls in the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

Background

Selection criteria are important for analyzing domestication of perennial plant species, which experience a selection pressure throughout several human generations. We analyze the preferred morphological characteristics of Crescentia cujete fruits, which are used as bowls by the Maya of Yucatan, according to the uses they are given and the phenotypic consequences of artificial selection between one wild and three domesticated varieties.

Methods

We performed 40 semi-structured interviews in seven communities. We calculated Sutrop’s salience index (S) of five classes of ceremonial and daily life uses, and of each item from the two most salient classes. We sampled 238 bowls at homes of people interviewed and compared their shape, volume and thickness with 139 fruits collected in homegardens and 179 from the wild. Morphology of varieties was assessed in fruit (n?=?114 trees) and vegetative characters (n?=?136 trees). Differences between varieties were evaluated through linear discriminant analysis (LDA).

Results

Use of bowls as containers for the Day of the Dead offerings was the most salient class (S?=?0.489) with chocolate as its most salient beverage (S?=?0.491), followed by consumption of daily beverages (S?=?0.423), especially maize-based pozol (S?=?0.412). The sacred saka’ and balche' are offered in different sized bowls during agricultural and domestic rituals. Roundness was the most relevant character for these uses, as bowls from households showed a strong selection towards round shapes compared with wild and homegarden fruits. Larger fruits from domesticated varieties were also preferred over small wild fruits, although in the household different sizes of the domesticated varieties are useful. LDA separated wild from domesticated trees (p?<?0.001) according to both fruit and vegetative variables, but domesticated varieties were not different among themselves.

Conclusions

The association between C. cujete bowls and traditional beverages in ritual and daily life situations has driven for centuries the selection of preferred fruit morphology in this tree. Selection of fruit roundness and volume has allowed for the differentiation between the wild variety and the three domesticated ones, counteracting gene flow among them. By choosing the best fruits from domesticated varieties propagated in homegardens, the Maya people model the domestication process of this important tree in their culture.

     

Clinical case: Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema with pulmonary hypertension – clinical management

Background

Combined idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with pulmonary emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome with a characteristic presentation of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. While CPFE is a strong determinant of secondary precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH), there is limited evidence regarding the management of patients with CPFE and PH.

Case presentation

A 63 year-old male presented in 2006 with dyspnoea on exertion having quit smoking in 2003. Clinical examination, together with high resolution computed tomography, bronchoalveolar lavage, and echocardiographic assessments, suggested a diagnosis of CPFE without PH. In 2007, the patient received intravenous cyclophosphamide, N-acetylcysteine, and short-term anticoagulation treatment. Due to remission of acute exacerbations, the patient received triple combination therapy (prednisone, N-acetylcysteine and azathioprine). Upon progressive clinical worsening, long-term supplemental oxygen therapy was initiated in 2009. Repeated right heart catheterisation in 2011 confirmed PH and worsening pulmonary haemodynamics, and off-label ambrisentan therapy was initiated. Dyspnoea remained at follow-up, although significant haemodynamic improvement was observed.

Conclusion

CFPE is a distinct but under-recognized and common syndrome with a characteristic presentation. Further studies are needed to ascertain the etiology, morbidity, and mortality of CPEF with or without PH, and to evaluate novel management options.

     

Clinical case: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background

The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can be quite challenging, even after careful clinical evaluation, imaging and pathological tests. This case report intends to demonstrate and discuss these difficulties, especially those concerning the differential diagnosis with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old white male presented with shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue and weight loss for two months. He was a former smoker and had regular exposure to a parakeet and poultry. Physical examination revealed bilateral basal crackles and chest imaging showed subpleural cystic lesions and traction bronchiectasis with a right side and upper level predominance. Auto-antibodies and IgG immunoglobulins to parakeet and fungal proteins were negative. Lung function tests displayed moderate restriction, low diffusion capacity and resting hypoxaemia. Bronchoalveolar lavage showed increased lymphocytes (28%) and neutrophils (12%) and surgical lung biopsy was compatible with a pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia. According to the possibility of either idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, treatment included prednisolone, azathioprine, acetylcysteine and avoidance of contact with the parakeet, but there was an unfavorable response and the patient was subsequently referred for lung transplant.

Conclusion

Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can present with the same clinical and radiological manifestations In this case, despite careful evaluation, no definite diagnosis could be achieved.

     

伞裙追寄蝇不同地理种群遗传多样性的ISSＲ分析

为从分子水平探索不同地区伞裙追寄蝇种群间的内在联系,本文利用ISSR分子标记技术对8个不同地区伞裙追寄蝇自然种群进行遗传多样性、种群间分化程度以及聚类分析等研究。结果表明:筛选出11对多态性稳定的ISSR引物,对8个地区伞裙追寄蝇群体的80个个体进行PCR扩增,共获得166个重复性好且清晰可辨的ISSR条带,平均每条引物扩增出15.0909个片段,且均为多态性条带,多态信息含量(PIC)为0.8441-0.8653;香农信息指数(I)为0.1240-0.3455;Nei's遗传多样性指数(H)为0.0841-0.2285;基因分化率(Gst)为28.78%,基因流(Nm)的均值为1.5702,即遗传变异主要存在于个体之间,不同种群间基因交流处于中等水平;8个地区伞裙追寄蝇种群被划分为4个类群,种群间的遗传分化与地理距离呈正相关关系。     

天敌昆虫蠋蝽的研究进展与展望

蠋蝽是农林业上一种重要的捕食性天敌昆虫,可以捕食美国白蛾、马铃薯甲虫、棉铃虫、盲椿象等多种害虫。本文对近些年来蠋蝽的形态学、生物学、人工饲养、营养基因组学、储存技术、控害能力等作一阐述,并对蠋蝽应用前景进行了展望。     

铜污染对昆虫生长发育及繁殖影响的研究进展

铜(Cu)是生物体生长发育所必需的微量营养元素,参与或构成许多含铜酶及含铜生物活性蛋白质,但是过度摄入Cu会对生物体产生危害。Cu中毒由许多因素而定,如物种、遗传、年龄和食物等。在生态系统中昆虫种类多,数量大,分布广,往往会取食、转移和代谢环境中的Cu,从而对自身生长发育及繁殖造成影响。通常表现为发育历期延长,体重下降,体长变短,化蛹率、羽化率、产卵率、孵化率、存活率降低,种群数量减少等。本文以近几年Cu2+胁迫对昆虫生长发育及繁殖影响的研究进行综述。     

Effects of Nanoparticle Shape and Size on Optical Properties of LaB<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The optical response of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆) nanoparticles has been investigated by both theoretically and experimentally. The LaB₆ nanoparticles obtained by solid-state reaction could avoid serious surface oxidization and exhibit excellent optical performance. The discrete dipole approximation (DDA) has been used to investigate the optical response of LaB₆ nanoparticles with different sizes and different shapes. The calculation results coincide with the experimental results and reveal that the largest extinction peak value appears at 60 nm for cubic particles and 40 nm for spherical particles, respectively. Our calculation results show that the existence of the largest extinction peak value is not only due to the surface oxides but also relate to the particle shape of LaB₆ compound. In addition, the LaB₆ nanoparticles with cubic and spherical shapes exhibit different optical responses, and the cubic particles exhibit stronger near infrared (NIR) extinction than spherical particles. With increasing particle size, the extinction peak value of spherical particle decreases more rapidly than that of cubic ones.     

Tailoring of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances of Core-Shell Au@Ag Nanorods by Changing the Thickness of Ag Shell

We report the synthesis and the characterization of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods through reduction by the wet chemical method. UV-visible absorption spectra of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods demonstrate the longitudinal mode of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) can be tailored from 724 to 786 nm by controlling the thickness of the silver shell, as is assessed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Furthermore, the tunable and well-controlled LSPRs of core-shell Au@Ag nanorods are also investigated by numerical simulation using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, which strongly supports the experimental observations. The growth mechanism for core-shell Au@Ag nanorods is proposed, according to experimental observations and numerical calculations.