The tricks plants use to reach appropriate light

The perception of ambient light signals that produce a relevant response to ensure exposure to appropriate levels of light energy is vital for plants. In response to this, intricate molecular mechanisms to mediate light signaling have evolved in plants. Among the responses induced by light, seedling extension is a determining event for plant survival in darkness, especially in the initial stage of plant growth. Here we review previous studies and recent progress towards an understanding of light signaling that regulates seedling elongation. We focus on the three regions of the sunlight spectrum that primarily control seedling elongation, namely red/far-red light, blue/UV-A light and UV-B light, and summarize the four signaling pathways that correspond to the three effective spectra.     

长白山阔叶红松林灌木物种组成、结构和空间分布

以长白山阔叶红松林25 hm2动态监测样地为平台,基于样地内600个5 m×5 m样方的调查数据,对灌木的物种组成、基本特征、结构和空间分布等进行了初步研究.结果表明:共调查到18种灌木,以东北山梅花、毛榛和簇毛槭为主要优势种;调查样方共记录灌木个体6435个和灌木枝干11369个,其中东北山梅花的个体数和枝干数最多,分别占总数的40.6%和33.4%;不同灌木的成丛率、每丛枝干的数量、冠幅和基径均存在明显的差异;不同灌木在高度上有较为明显的分化,灌木群落成层现象明显;优势种东北山梅花分布广泛,而珍珠梅、石蚕叶绣线菊、柳叶绣线菊和瘤枝卫矛的空间分布则呈现出较明显的异质性.     

Intervention Strategies for Improving Patient Adherence to Follow-Up in the Era of Mobile Information Technology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Patient adherence to follow-up plays a key role in the medical surveillance of chronic diseases and affects the implementation of clinical research by influencing cost and validity. We previously reported a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on short message service (SMS) reminders, which significantly improved follow-up adherence in pediatric cataract treatment.

Methods

RCTs published in English that reported the impact of SMS or telephone reminders on increasing or decreasing the follow-up rate (FUR) were selected from Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library through February 2014. The impacts of SMS and telephone reminders on the FUR of patients were systematically evaluated by meta-analysis and bias was assessed.

Results

We identified 13 RCTs reporting on 3276 patients with and 3402 patients without SMS reminders and 8 RCTs reporting on 2666 patients with and 3439 patients without telephone reminders. For the SMS reminders, the majority of the studies (>50%) were at low risk of bias, considering adequate sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding, evaluation of incomplete outcome data, and lack of selective reporting. For the studies on the telephone reminders, only the evaluation of incomplete outcome data accounted for more than 50% of studies being at low risk of bias. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the improvement of follow-up adherence in the SMS group compared with the control group was 1.76 (95% CI [1.37, 2.26]; P<0.01), and the pooled OR for the improvement of follow-up adherence in the telephone group compared with the control group was 2.09 (95% CI [1.85, 2.36]; P<0.01); both sets showed no evidence of publication bias.

Conclusions

SMS and telephone reminders could both significantly improve the FUR. Telephone reminders were more effective but had a higher risk of bias than SMS reminders.     

茶园间作柑桔杨梅或吊瓜对叶蝉及蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响

为评价茶园间作几种常见经济作物对重要害虫假眼小绿叶蝉及其主要天敌蜘蛛类群数量和空间格局的影响,遂选乌牛早品种纯茶园、乌牛早分别与柑桔、杨梅和吊瓜的间作茶园、以及安吉白茶与吊瓜间作茶园,2007年9月上旬—2008年12月下旬,每旬1次调查茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉和各种蜘蛛的数量。结果表明:(1)与纯茶园相比,间作茶园叶蝉种群数量和蜘蛛类群个体数量显著地增加,间作茶园蜘蛛种数显著地增加;(2)间作茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布明显区别于纯茶园茶丛上、中、下层叶蝉、蜘蛛个体数量分布;(3)茶丛上层的嫩梢是制作高档茶的原料,而纯茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率为54.16%,间作茶园茶丛上层叶蝉虫口百分率皆减小,并且叶蝉高峰期间蜘蛛的跟随效应增强;(4)间作增加了经济收入并减少了防治次数。认为:(1)间作可在一定程度上调控叶蝉种群、蜘蛛类群的数量和空间格局;(2)间作可减轻叶蝉为害造成的产值损失,增强了茶园群落对于叶蝉的自然控制潜能。     

Role of plant dehydrins in antioxidation mechanisms

Plant antioxidation system is composed of a series of complex mechanisms, in which many antioxidants including some special proteins are involved. Dehydrins are a family of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins which usually accumulate in plants during late embryogenesis or in response to environmental stresses. They were suggested to be associated with specific protective functions in plant cells, such as preventing coagulation of macromolecules and maintaining integrity of crucial cell structures. In recent years, many studies implied that dehydrins also play an antioxidative role to alleviate oxidative damage in stressed plants. They were proposed to scavenge radicals directly and sequester metals which are sources for radical generation to avoid the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper, we will discuss the novel putative role of dehydrins in plant antioxidation mechanisms and how dehydrins perform their antioxidative activity.     

Regeneration of soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> L. Merrill) through direct somatic embryogenesis from the immature embryonic shoot tip

We describe here a simple and efficient system of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) regeneration through direct somatic embryogenesis by using immature embryonic shoot tips (IEST) as explants. The cultivar Kaohsiung 10 (cv. K10) used in this study did not show embryogenic response either from mature seed-derived explants (cotyledon, embryonic tip, leaf, shoot and root) or immature cotyledons. However, it showed a high percentage (55.8%) of somatic embryo (SEm) formation from the IEST excised 2–3 wk after flowering, thus indicating the crucial roles of type and age of explants. The IEST put forth primary SEm after 2 mo of culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6% sucrose, 164.8 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 5 mM asparagine and 684 μM glutamine. Subsequently, secondary SEm were developed 1 mo after culturing on MS medium containing 123.6 μM 2,4-D and 3% sucrose. Cotyledonary embryos were induced on MS medium supplemented with 0.5% activated charcoal after 1 mo. The embryos were desiccated for 72–96 h on sterile Petri dishes and regenerated on hormone-free MS medium. Plantlets with well-developed shoots and roots were obtained within 5–6 mo of culturing of IEST. The SEm-derived plants were morphologically normal and fertile. Various parameters thought to be responsible for efficient regeneration of soybean through somatic embryogenesis are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first report to employ IEST as explants for successful direct somatic embryogenesis in soybean.     

沈阳城市绿地系统的景观生态评价

运用景观生态学原理和方法,选取多样性指数、均匀度指数、破碎度指数、分离度指数、分维度指数、连通性指数等8个景观格局指数对沈阳市城市绿地系统的景观格局进行分析。结果表明:沈阳城市绿地景观总体表现为绿地率较低,绿地斑块分布不均衡,景观结构不合理,破碎度较高,分维数较低,景观类型较齐全,均匀度较低,景观分离度较小。针对存在的问题,提出了沈阳城市绿地景观生态规划建议。     

Proliferation of myofibroblasts in the stroma of renal oncocytoma

Objectives: Myofibroblasts are a vital component of stroma of many malignant neoplasms, but it is not yet established whether stromal myofibroblasts also exist in benign tumours such as oncocytoma of the kidney. Materials and methods: Histomorphological and immunohistochemical analysis of 16 renal oncocytomas diagnosed at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, has been performed. Results: Renal oncocytomas were composed of oncocytes, large cells with granular eosinophilic cytoplasm, arranged mostly in sheets, in tubulocystic or combined pattern. Few oncocytes appeared to be undergoing proliferation or apoptosis. MIB‐1 and active caspase 3 indices were low, but higher in tumour than in surrounding non‐tumour parenchyma (MIB‐1: 0.93 ± 0.09 versus 0.46 ± 0.07, P < 0.001 and active caspase 3: 0.76 ± 0.08 versus 0.41 ± 0.09, P < 0.001). Wnt/β‐catenin signalling was not implicated in this neoplasm, as there was no loss of E‐cadherin membranous localization or expression of intranuclear β‐catenin in the cells. Clumps of oncocytes were stained with periodic acid Schiff and had collagen I‐, collagen III‐ and fibronectin‐positive, but desmin‐ and human caldesmon‐negative stromas. Importantly, α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA)‐immunostaining established the myofibroblastic nature of many of the stromal cells. Some of the myofibroblasts were also positive for MIB‐1, indicating a proliferative role for them in the stroma. Conclusions: Renal oncocytomas were composed of two independent compartments: benign oncocytes and pronounced fibrotic stroma, which consisted of proliferating myofibroblasts (SMA‐ and MIB‐1‐positive) which were associated with excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (periodic acid Schiff‐component, collagen I‐, collagen III‐ and fibronectin‐positive, and desmin‐ and human caldesmon‐negative).     

不同质子泵抑制剂对冠脉支架植入术后氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林抗血小板作用的研究

目的:通过比较奥美拉唑和泮托拉唑对冠状动脉支架术(PCI)后患者血小板功能指标和主要不良心血管事件与出血并发症发生情况,探讨不同质子泵抑制剂对PCI后氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林抗血小板作用的影响。方法:60例实施PCI后常规联合抗血小板治疗(氯吡格雷75mg/d+阿司匹林100mg/d)患者随机分为奥美拉唑组(40mg/d,20例),泮托拉唑组(40mg/d,20例)和对照组(20例),连续用药30d。分别在服药前1d及服药15d,30d用血栓弹力图检测ADP途径诱导的血小板抑制率值和比浊法检测ADP途径诱导的血小板最大聚集率(MPAR)。并观察30d各组主要不良心血管事件和出血并发症的发生情况。结果:①奥美拉唑组和泮托拉唑组与对照组相比,服药前1d及服药15d,30d用血栓弹力图检测的血小板抑制率和比浊法检测的血小板最大聚集率(MPAR)均无明显变化;奥美拉唑与泮托拉唑组间比较,差异也无统计学意义。服药15d,30d与服药前1d相比,每组血小板抑制率明显升高,血小板最大聚集率明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);但15d和30d相比较,差异无统计学意义。②三组比较心血管事件发生率相近,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);奥美拉唑组和泮托拉唑组比较,心血管事件发生率也无统计学差异(P0.05)。③与对照组比较,奥美拉唑组和泮托拉唑组胃肠道出血发生率均明显减少,有统计学意义(P0.05),但两服药组间比较,出血发生率无明显区别,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林具有增强血小板抑制,降低血小板凝聚的作用,而不同机制质子泵抑制剂奥美拉唑与泮托拉唑对PCI术后氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林抗血小板治疗患者的血小板功能无明显影响,不降低对心血管事件的预防效果,同时明显降低患者胃肠出血事件的发生率。