Evaluation of early generations for iron chlorosis in relation to productivity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Five popular but iron-inefficient cultivars were crossed with three efficient genotypes and both parents and F₁s were evaluated for iron-efficiency in potted calcareous and noncalcareous soil. The iron-efficient genotypes were dark green or green in both noncalcareous and calcareous soils whereas inefficient types were light green to yellow in calcareous soil. The chlorophyll and active iron (Fe²⁺) concentration of leaves was less in iron-efficient genotypes compared to efficient types in calcareous soil and reduction of both the parameters from noncalcareous to calcareous soil was considerably high in iron-inefficient lines. There was significant correlation between visual scores, chlorophyll and active iron content. There were no differences among F₁s for iron chlorosis and they were all iron-inefficient. The frequency of iron-inefficient plants was higher than the efficient plants in all F₂ populations. But most of the productive plants came from iron-efficient segregants indicating strong association between iron-efficiency and productivity. Based on the results selection for iron-efficiency in early generations and extensive evaluation for productivity in advanced generations is suggested for developing varieties for cultivation in calcareous soils.     

Petrosal bones of metatherian mammals from the Late Palaeocene of Itaboraí (Brazil), and a cladistic analysis of petrosal features in metatherians

Metatherian petrosal bones were recovered from the early Late Palaeocene Itaboraí, Brazil, and are formally described. A cladistic analysis of the distribution of 56 petrosal and basicranial characters among extant and fossil metatherians was conducted, resulting in seven parsimonious trees. Relationships among metatherian ingroup taxa are congruent with current understanding of metatherian phylogeny. Metatheria is diagnosed by eight petrosal synapomorphies: stapedial artery absent in adults; reduced, intramural prootic canal; extrabullar internal carotid artery; inferior petrosal sinus between petrosal, basisphenoid, and basioccipital; cava supracochleare and epiptericum completely separated; reduction of the lateral flange; reduction of the anterior lamina; separation of the jugular foramen from the opening for the inferior petrosal sinus. The Palaeocene taxa Mayulestes , Pucadelphy s, and Andinodelphys from Tiupampa, and Petrosal Type II from Itaboraí are the sister groups of all other South American and Australian metatherians. This analysis confirms previous results showing the South American 'monito del monte' Dromiciops nested within the Australasian radiation. Within this australidelphian clade, Dromiciops is closely related to the dasyurids. The South American Caenolestes appears more closely related to the Australidelphia than to the South American didelphids. The Petrosal Types I, III, IV and V from Itaboraí are the stem taxa of the clade Australidelphia plus Caenolestes . The significant synapomorphies supporting this relationship are: enlargement of the fossa subarcuata that produces a bulbous ventral aspect of the mastoid and loss of post-temporal canal.  Journal compilation © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 150 , 85–115. No claim to original French government works.     

Early after-depolarisations induced by noradrenaline may be initiated by calcium released from sarcoplasmic reticulum

We investigated the effect of 10^–8 M noradrenaline (NA) on [Ca²⁺], and electrical activity of single myocytes of guinea-pig ventricular myocardium loaded with Indo 1-AM. Membrane potential was recorded by means of the patch electrode and patch amplifier set to the current clamp mode. Cells were stimulated at a rate of 30/min by 3 ms pulses of the current injected through the recording electrode. Superfusion of NA resulted in slight shortening of action potentials (APs), increase in rate of rise and amplitude of the respective Ca²⁺ transients, and appearance of secondary Ca²⁺ transients of two kinds: 1. appearing before repolarisation of AP and decay of the preceding Ca²⁺ transient were completed and 2. appearing between the APs. We named them early after-transients (EAT) and delayed after-transients (DAT), respectively. Without any additional intervention EATS caused some prolongation of APs duration and DATs resulted in subthreshold delayed after-depolarisations (DADS). When sarcolemmal K⁺ conductance was decreased by tetraethylammonium (TEA) in the patch electrode or 20 M BaCl₂ in the Tyrode solution, EATs initiated early after depolarizations (EADs) and DATs initiated suprathreshold DADs triggering full-sized APs. Superfusion of 30.0 mM Na⁺ (replaced with LiCl) resulted in reduction of AP duration by -70% and appearance of DATs. Also, the frequent multiple oscillations of Ca ²⁺ concentration were often observed. Neither DATs nor the oscillations had any affect on electrical activity of the cells. Their electrogenicity could not be increased by TEA or 20.0 M Ba²⁺. EATs and DATs and their respective EADs and DADs could not be initiated by NA or low Na⁺ superfusion in the cells pretreated with 2 × 10^–7 M thapsigargin, a selective blocker of Ca²⁺-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We conclude that in contrast to the current hypothesis, EADs can be initiated by Ca²⁺ released early in the cardiac cycle from the overloaded SR, and that electrogenicity of both types of Ca²⁺ oscillations critically depends on the sarcolemmal K⁺ conductance.     

Future directions for root caries research

Interest among researchers in the diagnosis, aetiology, prevention, and treatment of root caries has increased substantially over the past two decades. However, there are some fundamental problems impeding the advancement of the field which remain to be addressed and resolved. A universally acceptable definition of root caries is not yet available. The relationship of root caries to coronal caries has not been established. The underlying disease process is still not clearly understood. The optimal utilisation of preventive/therapeutic agents for the treatment or prevention of root caries has not been determined. New treatment materials and preventive agents have not yet been tested in controlled clinical trials. These are a few of the issues and problems which we address in this paper.     

早产儿语言发展的影响因素及其干预对策

早产儿的语言发展受到多种因素的影响,可能导致他们在词汇、语法、语音等方面出现发展滞后或障碍。本文首先简述了影响早产儿语言发展的生物学和环境因素的研究进展,其中生物学因素包括早产程度、体重和性别、新生儿发病率和疾病严重程度等,环境因素则包括新生儿重症监护室的环境、家庭中的语言环境和社会因素等。在明确这些影响因素的基础上,本文强调了早期评估和早期干预是优化早产儿语言发育效果的关键步骤,并分析了具体的干预对策,例如生理和神经干预、优化新生儿重症监护室（NICU）环境、增强家庭语言互动、多学科合作和社会支持等。此综述旨在探讨影响早产儿语言发展的各种因素,并总结出有效的早期干预措施,为其提供更为全面的语言发展支持。     

改良早期预警评分对转院转运工作影响的临床研究

目的 研究改良早期预警（MEWS）评分对转院转运工作的影响.方法 在转院转运工作中应用MEWS评分系统对患者进行病情评估,对比其应用前（对照组）、应用后（研究组）转院患者转运途中病情恶化的发生率、患者或家属满意度及医生、护士对实施MEWS评分转运管理模式前（对照组）、后（研究组）满意度的变化.结果 转院患者转运途中病情恶化发生率由应用前（对照组）的10.63%降至应用后（研究组）的3.74%,应用前、后比较差异有显著统计学意义（P＜0.01）;患方满意度则由96%提高至99%,医护人员对实施MEWS评分转运管理模式前、后的满意度由应用前的83.3%提高至应用后的95%,应用前、后比较均有显著性意义（P＜0.05）.结论 MEWS评分能对转院患者的病情进行比较客观、准确的评估,提高了医务人员的质量和医疗干预意识,从而有效降低转院患者转运途中的病情恶化发生率和提高院前医患双方的满意度,是转院转运工作中简便、快捷、客观、实用的病情评估方法和模式,值得推广应用.