Anti-α-fodrin antibodies do not add much to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome

The presence of anti-α-fodrin autoantibodies has been reported to be a highly specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). We looked (in Nijmegen) for anti-α-fodrin, anti-Ro60, and anti-La autoantibodies in a cohort of 51 patients with rheumatic diseases (primary SjS [21], secondary SjS [6], rheumatoid arthritis [RA] [12], systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] [6], and scleroderma [6]) and in 28 healthy subjects, using ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunoprecipitation. The same samples were analyzed with an alternative anti-α-fodrin ELISA in Hanover. The Nijmegen ELISA of the sera from primary SjS showed sensitivities of 43% and 48% for IgA- and IgG-type anti-α-fodrin antibodies, respectively. The Hanover ELISA showed sensitivities of 38% and 10% for IgA- and IgG-type anti-α-fodrin antibodies, respectively. The ELISAs for α-fodrin showed six (Nijmegen) and four (Hanover) anti-α-fodrin-positive RA sera. IgA and IgG anti-fodrin antibodies were also present in four patients with secondary SjS. The sensitivities of Ro60 and La-antibodies in the Nijmegen ELISA were 67% and 62%, respectively. Unlike anti-α-fodrin antibodies, all anti-Ro60 and anti-La positive sera could be confirmed by immunoblotting or RNA immunoprecipitation. Thus, anti-Ro and anti-La autoantibodies were more sensitive than anti-α-fodrin autoantibodies in ELISA and were more frequently confirmed by other techniques. Anti-La antibodies appear to be more disease-specific than anti-α-fodrin antibodies, which are also found in RA sera. Therefore, the measurement of anti-α-fodrin autoantibodies does not add much to the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.     

塔里木盆地西北缘核桃坚果生化成分多样性分析

该研究收集新疆塔里木盆地西北缘44份核桃资源,其中树龄超过50 a的实生资源41份、主栽良种3个,并对其主要生化成分蛋白质、糖、脂肪、氨基酸、油酸、亚油酸、亚麻酸、棕榈酸、硬脂酸进行了多样性分析。结果表明:44份资源的生化成分变异幅度大,存在着丰富的多样性。各指标变异幅度由4.93%~30.93%,香农-维纳指数(H')变幅为1.38~2.02。17种氨基酸变异幅度由10.07%~35.71%,香农-维纳指数(H')变幅为1.85~2.20。主要生化成分主成分分析显示蛋白质、糖、脂肪三个主要成分的累计贡献率达81.67%。聚类分析表明,群组间生化成分存在显著差异,群组的聚类与地理分布有明显相关性,流域相同的资源的生化成分构成比例具有相似性。与主栽品种相比,实生资源在糖、蛋白质、脂肪等方面具有更高的变异幅度,因而具有一定的开发潜力。     

Thick and thin fingers point out Turing waves

Mouse genetics and computer simulations demonstrate that digit number and width are controlled by a Turing-type mechanism in which distal Hox genes modulate periodicity.     

鄂西北丹江口库区大气氮沉降

利用雨量器在鄂西北丹江口库区连续3a采集降雨样品,研究了大气氮沉降的变化动态。结果表明:2009—2011年月均总氮(TN)浓度为3.70—10.36 mg/L,与当月降雨量呈极显著线性负相关(R=-0.592**,n=32),季均TN浓度为冬季(8.21 mg/L)春季(3.94 mg/L)秋季(3.23 mg/L)夏季(2.70 mg/L),年均TN浓度为3.70 mg/L。大气氮素年均干湿总沉降量为26.53 kg/hm2,其中干沉降为7.80 kg/hm2,占总沉降量的29.4%;湿沉降为18.73 kg/hm2,占总沉降量的70.6%。干沉降中铵态氮(NH+4-N)、硝态氮(NO-3-N)、可溶性有机氮(DON)和颗粒态氮(PN)分别占TN的22.1%、16.8%、37.2%和23.9%,湿沉降中它们分别为TN的36.6%、34.4%、12.9%和16.1%。     

羊草草地生长季放牧山羊采食量和食性选择

在松嫩平原羊草草地,通过控制放牧实验对山羊的时限采食量和食性选择进行了研究。结果表明：（1）5－9月份,山羊的时限（1h）采食量平均为0.42kg干物质,其季节动态为5月份最低,随季节推移不断增大,8月份达到最大,9月份又有所减小;时限采食量基本上随放牧率减小而增大,但在最低放牧率小区有所减小。（2）山羊的食性选择随季节推移和放牧率不同而变化。（3）山羊对20－25cm高度草层的选择性最高;各高度草层的食性选择指数随季节推移和放牧率不同而变化;山羊对不同植物的高度选择性存在差异,但高度选择指数的最大值都在15－30cm范围内。     

巴松措原生动物群落结构季节及垂直分布

为揭示我国西藏高原湖泊原生动物群落结构特征及垂直分布格局,于2017年11月及2018年5月和9月,在巴松措中心分7层设置采样点,利用25号浮游生物网采集原生动物。采用活体观察和固定染色相结合的方法,共鉴定到原生动物195种(其中春季86种,夏季93种,秋季80种),隶属于2门11纲24目43科59属。其中以肉鞭门种类较丰富,砂壳类纤毛虫占优势。垂直分布的物种组成和群落结构复杂表现为：表层>中层>底层,物种多样性、丰富度和优势度指数表现为：表层>中层>底层,均匀度指数大多数为1;季节分布的物种组成和群落结构群复杂程度表现为：夏季>春季>秋季,物种多样性、丰富度指数表现为：夏季>秋季>春季,优势度指数表现为：夏季>秋季>春季,均匀度指数表现为：秋季>春季>夏季;优势物种和群落结构都会随水深的增加而减少。总体呈现出物种多样性较低、均匀度较高,具有明显的时空异质性。     

Effect of Segestria florentina spider venom on the mechanism of inactivation of sodium channels

It was shown that Segestria florentina spider venom mainly reduces the rate and amount of sodium inactivation. This effect is likely to be responsible for the prolongation of the action potential.     

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF ANADARA SENILIS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN A SENEGAL LAGOON

Two populations of Anadara senilis were sampled periodicallyin a lagoon of Senegal. Spatfall occurs in summer during therainy season. Population density decreases from about 50, 000.m^–2,two months after spatfall, down to 6, 750 one year later and750 after 28 months. The average growth, measured on the surfaceof the shell, following the umbo rim axis is 0.8 mm per month.The main reduction in growth rate occurs in winter and endsby the deposition of a growth ring. A second growth reductiontakes place during the rainy season and sometimes ends by aweak growth ring. The microgrowth increments are conspicuousand widest during spring equinox. They are not directly relatedto the tidal cycle, but it was impossible to determine if theyhave a tidal or a daily periodicity. (Received 11 February 1990; accepted 16 July 1993)