Extreme climatic events reduce ocean productivity and larval supply in a tropical reef ecosystem

Increasing ocean temperatures due to global warming are predicted to have negative effects on coral reef fishes. El Niño events are associated with elevated water temperatures at large spatial (1000s of km) and temporal (annual) scales, providing environmental conditions that enable temperature effects on reef fishes to be tested directly. We compared remote sensing data of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, surface current flow and chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) concentration with monthly patterns in larval supply of coral reef fishes in nearshore waters around Rangiroa Atoll (French Polynesia) from January 1996 to March 2000. This time included an intense El Niño (April 1997–May 1998) event between two periods of La Niña (January–March 1996 and August 1998–March 2000) conditions. There was a strong relationship between the timing of the El Niño event, current flow, ocean productivity (as measured by Chl‐a) and larval supply. In the warm conditions of the event, there was an increase in the SST anomaly index up to 3.5 °C above mean values and a decrease in the strength of the westward surface current toward the reef. These conditions coincided with low concentrations of Chl‐a (mean: 0.06 mg m^?3, SE ± 0.004) and a 51% decline in larval supply from mean values. Conversely, during strong La Niña conditions when SST anomalies were almost 2 °C below mean values and there was a strong westward surface current, Chl‐a concentration was 150% greater than mean values and larval supply was 249% greater. A lag in larval supply suggested that productivity maybe affecting both the production of larvae by adults and larval survival. Our results suggest that warming temperatures in the world's oceans will have negative effects on the reproduction of reef fishes and survival of their larvae within the plankton, ultimately impacting on the replenishment of benthic populations.     

超选择性股动脉内骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗股骨头坏死187例

目的 研究自体骨髓单个核细胞移植对股骨头坏死患者缺血状态的改善程度和治疗效果.方法 选取2004 年7 月至2010 年11 月期间187 例252 髋股骨头坏死患者,应用自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗,分别采集 187 例患者骨髓200 -360 ml,采用 Ficoll 密度梯度离心法分离单个核细胞,单个核细胞总数为（2.4 ~ 7.8）× 108 个,流式细胞仪检测 CD34＋ 细胞和 CD133＋ 细胞在所分离出的干细胞悬液中的含量分别为2.47﹪± 0.58﹪和1.29﹪± 0.35﹪,然后将单个核细胞用生理盐水制备成细胞悬液 20 - 30 ml,使用数字减影血管造影技术（DSA）行超选择性股骨头供血动脉内干细胞移植术.按世界骨循环研究学会（ARCO）对骨坏死分期,设自身前后对照观察疗效.移植术后第 3、6、12、24、36 和48 个月,根据髋关节 Harris 评分评价疗效,移植术后6 个月通过复查患者股骨头供血动脉 DSA,观察其新生血管形成情况,以后每隔 6 个月采用影像学方法观察股骨头形态学变化.结果 （1）临床疗效：对接受自体骨髓单个核细胞移植治疗的187 例患者随访 3 ~ 48（24.2 ± 4.5）个月,其中髋关节疼痛缓解者 158 例（占患者总数的 84.5﹪）,髋关节功能改善者 146 例（占患者总数的 78.1﹪）,行走间距延长者 149 例（占患者总数的 79.7﹪）;（2）影像学检查：干细胞移植术后 6 个月187 例患者中54 例行股骨头供血动脉 DSA 检查,48 例显示供血动脉较移植术前明显增多、增粗,血流速度增快,12 ~ 24个月后 72 例患者股骨头区骨质病变获得改善.结论 超选择性动脉内骨髓单个核细胞移植方法简便、安全有效,对因缺血导致坏死的股骨头无再次损伤,能够有效治疗缺血性股骨头坏死.     

Multiple transcription factors in 5'-flanking region of human polymeric Ig receptor control its basal expression

The polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) is a critical component of the mucosal immune system and is expressed in largest amounts in the small intestine. In this study, we describe the initial characterization of the core promoter region of this gene. Expression of chimeric promoter-reporter constructs was supported in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells, and DNase I footprint analysis revealed a large protein complex within the core promoter region. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments determined that elements within this region serve to either augment or repress basal activity of the human pIgR promoter. Band shift assays of overlapping oligonucleotides within the core promoter identified eight distinct complexes; the abundance of most complexes was enhanced in post-confluent cells. In summary, we report the characterization of the human pIgR promoter and the essential role that eight different nuclear complexes have in controlling basal expression of this gene in Caco-2 cells.     

Different vulnerabilities of Quercus ilex L. to freeze- and summer drought-induced xylem embolism: an ecological interpretation

Quercus ilex L. growing in the southern Mediterranean Basin region is exposed to xylem embolism induced by both winter freezing and summer drought. The distribution of the species in Sicily could be explained in terms of the different vulnerability to embolism of its xylem conduits. Naturally occurring climatic conditions were simulated by: (1) maintaining plants for 3h at ambient temperatures of 0, -1.5, -2.5, -5.0 and -11°C; and (2) allowing plants to dry out to ratios of their minimum diurnal leaf water potentials (Ψ₁) to that at the turgor loss point (Ψ_tlp) of 0.6, 0.9, 1.05, 1.20 and 1.33. The loss of hydraulic conductivity of one-year-old twigs reached 40% at -1.5°C and at Ψ₁/Ψ_tlP= 1.05. Recovery from these strains was almost complete 24 h after the release of thermal stress or after one irrigation, respectively. More severe stresses reduced recovery consistently. The percentages of xylem conduits embolized following application of the two stresses, were positively related to xylem conduit diameter. The capability of the xylem conduits to recover from stress was positively related to the conduit diameter in plants subjected to summer drought, but not in the plants subjected to winter freezing stress. The ecological significance of the different vulnerabilities to embolism of xylem conduits under naturally occurring climatic conditions is discussed.     

Characterization of cry Genes in a Mexican Bacillus thuringiensis Strain Collection

Mexico is located in a transition zone between the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographical regions and contains a rich and unique biodiversity. A total of 496 Bacillus thuringiensis strains were isolated from 503 soil samples collected from the five macroregions of the country. The characterization of the strain collection provided useful information on the ecological patterns of distribution of B. thuringiensis and opportunities for the selection of strains to develop novel bioinsecticidal products. The analysis of the strains was based on multiplex PCR with novel general and specific primers that could detect the cry1, cry3, cry5, cry7, cry8, cry9, cry11, cry12, cry13, cry14, cry21, and cyt genes. The proteins belonging to the Cry1 and Cry9 groups are toxic for lepidopteran insects. The Cry3, Cry7, and Cry8 proteins are active against coleopteran insects. The Cry5, Cry12, Cry13, and Cry14 proteins are nematocidal. The Cry11, Cry21, and Cyt proteins are toxic for dipteran insects. Six pairs of general primers are used in this method. Strains for which unique PCR product profiles were obtained with the general primers were further characterized by additional PCRs with specific primers. Strains containing cry1 genes were the most abundant in our collection (49.5%). Thirty-three different cry1-type profiles were identified. B. thuringiensis strains harboring cry3 genes represented 21.5% of the strains, and 7.9% of the strains contained cry11 and cyt genes. cry7, cry8, and cry9 genes were found in 0.6, 2.4, and 2.6% of the strains, respectively. No strains carrying cry5, cry12, cry13, cry14, or cry21 genes were found. Finally, 14% of the strains did not give any PCR product and did not react with any polyclonal antisera. Our results indicate the presence of strains that may harbor potentially novel Cry proteins as well as strains with combinations of less frequently observed cry genes.     

Sclerophylly and Plant Water Relations in Three Mediterranean Quercus Species

The possible role in drought resistance played by sclerophyllywas studied in the Mediterranean oaks Quercus ilex, Q. suberand Q. pubescens. Studies were conducted on leaves at 30, 50and 80% of their final surface area, as well as on mature leavesof the current year's growth in June and September and on 1-year-oldleaves. Leaves of different ages of the three species showed quite differentdegrees of sclerophylly (DS). Q. ilex leaves reached the definitiveDS of 1.75 g dm^–2 during leaf expansion; Q. pubescensleaves hardened at the end of their expansion, with a finalDS of 0.93 g dm^–2; Q. suber showed the lowest DS of 0.76g dm^–2. Leaf conductance to water vapour (g₁) of 1-year-old leaves ofQ. ilex, measured in the field, showed a duration of the g₁peak values about twice that of the other two species. The minimumleaf relative water content (RWC), however, was near the samein the three species, indicating that water loss was recoveredpartly by Q. ilex leaves. This was apparently due to the higherbulk modulus of elasticity (     

Fish Tumor Pigment Cells: Differentiation and Comparison to Their Normal Counterparts

The objectives of this paper are to describe 1) the developmentof new research systems for biochemical comparison of cellulartraits between normal and tumorous pigment cells of fish origin,2) the similarity and dissimilarity between these two categoriesof pigment cells with regard to growth, differentiation andpigment translocating activities and 3) the potentials of thesetumorous pigment cells to manifest multiple differentiation.The development of research systems has been achieved by theestablishment of 1) methods to obtain homogenous populationsof viable, cultivatable xanthophores (erythrophores) and melanophoresfrom goldfish skins, 2) permanent cell lines from goldfish erythrophoromas(tumors derived from erythrophores) and from Nibe croaker irido-melanophoromas(tumors composed of mixed populations of iridophore- and melanophore-likecells) and 3) procedures to induce differentiation in normaland tumorous stem cells (including the formation of pigmentsand ability to undergo pigment translocation in response tocAMP, to the neurotransmitter epinephrine and to the hormonesACTH and melatonin). Two kinds of tumorous pigment cell linesexamined herein have the ability to form, in addition to variouspigments, structures similar to dermal skeletons and lentoidbodies. These findings strongly suggest the possibility thatthese fish pigment cell tumors are neural crest stem cell tumorsin nature.     

关于Trombiculidae螨类中文命名的商榷

Trombiculidae 螨类的中文命名,通称做恙螨或恙虫,是因袭日本恙虫病(Tsutsugamushidisease)的名称而来的。但是,根据许多日本学者的意见,“恙”字的来源系出于我国“别来无恙”的古话。然而若就字义来说,恙字的解释比较广泛,并非专指小虫而言:虫字在我国古书中,则是动物的统称。另外,有不少中外学者认为日本所发现的恙虫,就是我国古代岭南地区的沙虱。后一名辞,源出于我国,字义比较确切,而又得到了普遍的公认,故以其命名,比较合适。因此,建议应改以沙虱命名。为了在系统分类上与头虱和体虱等有别,拟称之谓“沙螨”或“(沙虫)螨”,更为适宜。