新疆饼干衣属地衣分类学研究

该研究以采自新疆的100余份饼干衣属(Rinodina)地衣标本为研究材料,通过形态解剖特征观察、地衣化学成分分析以及分子生物学鉴定方法鉴定出9个种,包括2个中国新记录种——阿富汗饼干衣(Rinodina afghanica)和古氏饼干衣(Rinodina guzzinii),7个常见种分别是：包氏饼干衣(R. bohlinii)、毕氏饼干衣(R. bischoffii)、代谢饼干衣(R. metaboliza)、密果饼干衣(R. pycnocarpa)、特雷氏饼干衣(R. trevisanii)、甘肃饼干衣(R. straussii)和地生饼干衣(R. terrestris)。并提供了新疆饼干衣属地衣的分种检索表、每个物种的详细描述、新记录种的特征图片以及系统发育分析。     

地涌金莲MlCCD8b基因的克隆与表达分析

该研究以地涌金莲(黄色苞片型YN01和红色苞片型RD05)为材料,采用RACE技术克隆获得地涌金莲CCD8b基因的cDNA全长,进行氨基酸序列比对及系统进化树构建,并采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测MlCCD8b基因在不同地涌金莲类型和不同组织中的表达模式。结果表明：(1)序列分析显示,MlCCD8b的ORF全长1 671 bp,编码556个氨基酸,存在1个类胡萝卜素加氧酶家族的典型保守结构域RPE65,推测其相对分子量为61 574.26 Da,等电点6.61,亚细胞定位于叶绿体基质中的类囊体上,所编码的MlCCD8b蛋白为亲水性蛋白。(2)同源对比分析及构建系统进化树发现,地涌金莲MlCCD8b蛋白与小果野蕉亚种、凤梨等单子叶植物的CCD8b蛋白遗传关系最近。(3)荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,MlCCD8b在吸芽数量多的黄色苞片型YN01的所有组织中均有表达,而在吸芽数量少的红色苞片型RD05中,其苞片内未能检测到MlCCD8b的表达,但其他组织中皆有表达;MlCCD8b在2种类型地涌金莲中呈现一致的组织表达特异性,即在花序轴中的表达量最高,其次是吸芽芽点、根尖和叶片,在苞片中的表达量最低或不表达。(4)2种类型地涌金莲同一组织部位比较结果显示,RD05的花序轴、吸芽芽点、根尖和叶片中的MlCCD8b相对表达量分别是YN01的4.47、4.67、2.09和1.10倍。(5)利用高效液相色谱 串联质谱法测得RD05根尖部位的5 脱氧独脚金醇含量是YN01的15.57倍,与MlCCD8b在根尖的表达趋势一致。研究认为,MlCCD8b基因可能通过调控独角金内酯的合成,促进或抑制地涌金莲吸芽的萌生。该研究结果可为MlCCD8b基因的生物学功能研究提供依据,并为今后通过分子辅助育种调控MlCCD8b的表达,从而控制地涌金莲吸芽数量提供理论支持。     

金山西部地区5~7岁儿童H.pylori感染调查及与胃蛋白酶原相关性分析

目的了解金山西部地区5~7岁健康儿童幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)感染情况,并探讨其与胃蛋白酶原(PG)的相关性。方法选取2019年3-5月金山地区5~7岁健康儿童共464例,分析不同年龄及性别幼儿H.pylori感染、胃蛋白酶原Ⅰ(PGⅠ)、胃蛋白酶原Ⅱ(PGⅡ)水平以及PGⅠ/PGⅡ比值的差异,采用Spearman相关性分析H.pylori感染与PGⅠ、PGⅡ水平和PGⅠ/PGⅡ的相关性。结果5~7岁儿童H.pylori阳性率达11.96%,5岁组、6岁组、7岁组儿童H.pylori阳性率分别为10.07%、12.96%、13.73%,阳性率逐年升高。不同年龄和性别幼儿的PGⅠ、PGⅡ水平和PGⅠ/PGⅡ间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。H.pylori是否感染与PGⅠ/PGⅡ呈显著正相关,与PGⅠ/PGⅡ呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。结论本地区5~7岁儿童H.pylori感染率相对较低且有着自身的特点,而且H.pylori感染与血清PG水平的关系密切,未来应加强对幼儿H.pylori感染与血清PG 水平的监测及防治。     

急性脑梗死并发肺部感染患者预后及危险因素分析

目的分析急性脑梗死并发肺部感染患者病原菌分布、病原菌耐药性、患者用药特征及其危险因素。方法选取2015年3月至2017年3月在我院急诊科进行住院治疗,且年龄60岁的急性脑梗死并发肺部感染患者60例为研究对象,对患者的一般资料及病原菌分布情况、耐药情况和患者用药情况进行分析。结果 60例患者中有30例出现肺部感染,感染率为50.00%。肺部感染患者中死亡4例。肺部感染患者痰液中共培养出28株病原菌,其中革兰阴性菌21株,革兰阳性菌5株,真菌2株。30例肺部感染患者共使用6种抗感染药物,其中哌拉西林/舒巴坦的使用频率最高,其次为依替米星及美罗培南。Logistic回归分析显示,病原菌分布、耐药情况和患者用药情况与患者的预后存在相关性。结论急性脑梗死并发肺部感染患者的病原菌分布、耐药情况及患者用药情况与患者的预后密切相关,应针对上述因素给予患者合理的治疗。     

Reductions in the dietary niche of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) from the Holocene to the Anthropocene

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal hunted to near extinction during the 1800s. Despite their well‐known modern importance as a keystone species, we know little about historical sea otter ecology. Here, we characterize the ecological niche of ancient southern sea otters (E. lutris nereis) using δ¹³C analysis and δ¹⁵N analysis of bones recovered from archaeological sites spanning ~7,000 to 350 years before present (N = 112 individuals) at five regions along the coast of California. These data are compared with previously published data on modern animals (N = 165) and potential modern prey items. In addition, we analyze the δ¹⁵N of individual amino acids for 23 individuals to test for differences in sea otter trophic ecology through time. After correcting for tissue‐specific and temporal isotopic effects, we employ nonparametric statistics and Bayesian niche models to quantify differences among ancient and modern animals. We find ancient otters occupied a larger isotopic niche than nearly all modern localities; likely reflecting broader habitat and prey use in prefur trade populations. In addition, ancient sea otters at the most southerly sites occupied an isotopic niche that was more than twice as large as ancient otters from northerly regions. This likely reflects greater invertebrate prey diversity in southern California relative to northern California. Thus, we suggest the potential dietary niche of sea otters in southern California could be larger than in central and northern California. At two sites, Año Nuevo and Monterey Bay, ancient otters had significantly higher δ¹⁵N values than modern populations. Amino acid δ¹⁵N data indicated this resulted from shifting baseline isotope values, rather than a change in sea otter trophic ecology. Our results help in better understanding the contemporary ecological role of sea otters and exemplify the strength of combing zooarchaeological and biological information to provide baseline data for conservation efforts.     

Population modelling and genetics of a critically endangered Madagascan palm Tahina spectabilis

Madagascar is home to 208 indigenous palm species, almost all of them endemic and >80% of which are endangered. We undertook complete population census and sampling for genetic analysis of a relatively recently discovered giant fan palm, the Critically Endangered Tahina spectablis in 2008 and 2016. Our 2016 study included newly discovered populations and added to our genetic study. We incorporated these new populations into species distribution niche model (SDM) and projected these onto maps of the region. We developed population matrix models based on observed demographic data to model population change and predict the species vulnerability to extinction by undertaking population viability analysis (PVA). We investigated the potential conservation value of reintroduced planted populations within the species potential suitable habitat. We found that the population studied in 2008 had grown in size due to seedling regeneration but had declined in the number of reproductively mature plants, and we were able to estimate that the species reproduces and dies after approximately 70 years. Our models suggest that if the habitat where it resides continues to be protected the species is unlikely to go extinct due to inherent population decline and that it will likely experience significant population growth after approximately 80 years due to the reproductive and life cycle attributes of the species. The newly discovered populations contain more genetic diversity than the first discovered southern population which is genetically depauperate. The species appears to demonstrate a pattern of dispersal leading to isolated founder plants which may eventually lead to population development depending on local establishment opportunities. The conservation efforts currently put in place including the reintroduction of plants within the species potential suitable habitat if maintained are thought likely to enable the species to sustain itself but it remains vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts.     

Species specificity and sexual dimorphism in tooth shape among the three sympatric haplochromine species in Lake Kivu cichlids

Tooth shape is used to differentiate between morphologically similar species of vertebrates, including fish. This study aimed to quantify tooth shape of three sympatric species: Haplochromis kamiranzovu, H. insidiae, and H. astatodon endemic to Lake Kivu, whose existing identification criteria are currently only qualitative. A quantitative tooth shape analysis was performed based on digitized tooth outline data with a subsequent elliptic Fourier analysis to test for differences among the three species. We looked at crown shape and size differences within H. kamiranzovu and H. insidiae at geographical, habitat, and gender levels. No comparison at habitat level was done for H. astatodon because it is found only in littoral zone. The analysis revealed significant tooth shape differences among the three species. Haplochromis astatodon had a significantly longer major cusp height and a longer and larger minor cusp than that of H. insidiae. It had also a longer major cusp height and a longer and larger minor cusp than that of H. kamiranzovu. Tooth shape differences of H. kamiranzovu and H. insidiae species were not significantly different between littoral and pelagic fish (p > .05) while differences were significant between southern and northern Lake Kivu populations (p < .05). Tooth sizes in H. kamiranzovu and H. insidiae were significantly different, both in height and width as well as in their ratios, and this was true at sex and geographic levels (p < .05), but not at habitat level (p > .05). Tooth shape was also significantly different with sharp teeth for males compared with females of southern populations versus northern ones. These shape‐ and size‐related differences between sexes suggest differences in the foraging strategies toward available food resources in the lake habitat. Further research should explain the genetic basis of the observed pattern.     

Voice Pathologies Classification and Detection Using EMD-DWT Analysis Based on Higher Order Statistic Features

BackgroundThe voice is a prominent tool allowing people to communicate and to change information in their daily activities. However, any slight alteration in the voice production system may affect the voice quality. Over the last years, researchers in biomedical engineering field worked to develop a robust automatic system that may help clinicians to perform a preventive diagnosis in order to detect the voice pathologies in an early stage.MethodIn this context, pathological voice detection and classification method based on EMD-DWT analysis and Higher Order Statistics (HOS) features, is proposed. Also DWT coefficients features are extracted and tested. To carry out our experiments a wide subset of voice signal from normal subjects and subjects which suffer from the five most frequent pathologies in the Saarbrücken Voice Database (SVD), is selected. In The first step, we applied the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to the voice signal. Afterwards, among the obtained candidates of Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs), we choose the robust one based on temporal energy criterion. In the second step, the selected IMF was decomposed via the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). As a result, two features vector includes six HOSs parameters, and a features vector includes six DWT features were formed from both approximation and detail coefficients. In order to classify the obtained data a support vector machine (SVM) is employed. After having trained the proposed system using the SVD database, the system was evaluated using voice signals of volunteer's subjects from the Neurological department of RABTA Hospital of Tunis.ResultsThe proposed method gives promising results in pathological voices detection. The accuracies reached 99.26% using HOS features and 93.1% using DWT features for SVD database. In the classification, an accuracy of 100% was reached for “Funktionelle Dysphonia vs. Rekrrensparese” based on HOS features. Nevertheless, using DWT features the accuracy achieved was 90.32% for “Hyperfunktionelle Dysphonia vs. Rekurrensparse”. Furthermore, in the validation the accuracies reached were 94.82%, 91.37% for HOS and DWT features, respectively. In the classification the highest accuracies reached were for classifying “Parkinson versus Paralysis” 94.44% and 88.87% based on HOS and DWT features, respectively.ConclusionHOS features show promising results in the automatic voice pathology detection and classification compared to DWT features. Thus, it can reliably be used as noninvasive tool to assist clinical evaluation for pathological voices identification.     

Female loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta L.) rarely remate during nesting season

The goal of this study was to assess the consequences of single versus multiple paternity by identifying paternity of clutches per female to identify whether there were detectable costs or benefits. Multiple mating can occur when the benefits of mating outweigh the costs, but if costs and benefits are equal, no pattern is expected. Previous research on loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) populations found male‐biased breeding sex ratios and multiple mating by many females nesting in southwestern Florida. A sample of nesting loggerhead females who laid more than one nest over the course of the season and a subset of their hatchlings were examined from 36 clutches in 2016 on Sanibel Island, Florida. Males that fathered hatchlings in the first clutch sampled were identified in subsequent clutches. Interestingly, 75% of the females analyzed had mated singly. No male was represented in more than one female's clutches. The results suggest that females likely mate at the beginning of the season and use stored sperm for multiple clutches. Evidence for mating between laying events was limited. There was no consistent pattern across the subsequent multiple paternity clutches, suggesting benefits to loggerhead females likely equal their costs and subsequent mating is likely determined by female preference.     

Age‐related variation in the trophic characteristics of a marsupial carnivore,the Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii

Age‐related changes in diet have implications for competitive interactions and for predator–prey dynamics, affecting individuals and groups at different life stages. To quantify patterns of variation and ontogenetic change in the diets of Tasmanian devils Sarcophilus harrisii, a threatened marsupial carnivore, we analyzed variation in the stable isotope composition of whisker tissue samples taken from 91 individual devils from Wilmot, Tasmania from December 2014 to February 2017. Both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N decreased with increasing age in weaned Tasmanian devils, indicating that as they age devils rely less on small mammals and birds, and more on large herbivores. Devils <12 months old had broader group isotopic niches, as estimated by Bayesian standard ellipses (SEA_B mode = 1.042) than devils from 12 to 23 months old (mode = 0.541) and devils ≥24 months old (mode = 0.532). Devils <24 months old had broader individual isotopic niches (SEA_B mode range 0.492–1.083) than devils ≥24 months old (mode range 0.092–0.240). A decrease in δ¹⁵N from the older whisker sections to the more recently grown sections in devils <24 months old likely reflects the period of weaning in this species, as this pattern was not observed in devils ≥24 months old. Our data reveal changes in the isotopic composition of devil whiskers with increasing age, accompanied by a reduction in isotopic variation both among population age classes and within individuals, reflecting the effect of weaning in early life, and a likely shift from an initially diverse diet of small mammals, birds, and invertebrates towards increasing consumption of larger herbivores in adulthood.