Migration, trapping and local dynamics of whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

1 The ability to quantify whitefly migration provides a tool that can contribute to an improved understanding of the epidemic development of whitefly‐transmitted viruses. 2 In an attempt to develop a protocol for estimating whitefly immigration and emigration rates in an annual crop, new traps and sampling devices were tested in the field and models for population dynamics were developed. 3 An estimate of immigration rate was derived from the growth of a natural population of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) in the beginning of a crop cycle before offspring of immigrants contributed to population growth. 4 A model for changes in whitefly density during an entire bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crop cycle, including an immigration parameter, was also developed. 5 Non‐attractant window traps surrounding an annual field crop were assumed to intercept whiteflies immigrating into and emigrating away from the crop. Captures on these traps could not categorically be identified as immigrants or emigrants, but the cumulated captures nevertheless explained 66% of the variation in population density found within the field. Hence, window traps may be used as an efficient and reliable alternative to yellow sticky traps, aspirator methods and leaf‐turn methods, etc., for estimating whitefly densities in field crops.     

A Polished and Reinforced Thinned-skull Window for Long-term Imaging of the Mouse Brain

In vivo imaging of cortical function requires optical access to the brain without disruption of the intracranial environment. We present a method to form a polished and reinforced thinned skull (PoRTS) window in the mouse skull that spans several millimeters in diameter and is stable for months. The skull is thinned to 10 to 15 μm in thickness with a hand held drill to achieve optical clarity, and is then overlaid with cyanoacrylate glue and a cover glass to: 1) provide rigidity, 2) inhibit bone regrowth and 3) reduce light scattering from irregularities on the bone surface. Since the skull is not breached, any inflammation that could affect the process being studied is greatly reduced. Imaging depths of up to 250 μm below the cortical surface can be achieved using two-photon laser scanning microscopy. This window is well suited to study cerebral blood flow and cellular function in both anesthetized and awake preparations. It further offers the opportunity to manipulate cell activity using optogenetics or to disrupt blood flow in targeted vessels by irradiation of circulating photosensitizers.     

不同强度及时间窗骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔心肌的保护作用

目的:通过比较不同强度及时间窗骨骼肌缺血后处理对兔缺血/再灌注心肌的保护效能,试图寻找最佳强度和时间窗的骨骼肌缺血后处理方案。方法:健康新西兰大白兔42只(雄性)随机分为7组(n=6):①假手术组(Sham)、②缺血对照组(CON)、③标准骨骼肌后处理组(SP)、④延迟6min骨骼肌后处理组(6M-DSP)、⑤延迟1 min骨骼肌后处理组(1M-DSP)、⑥骨骼肌后处理加强组(SSP)、⑦骨骼肌后处理减弱组(WSP)。以开胸结扎冠状动脉左室支固定部位方法制作缺血/再灌注模型,以游离并夹闭双侧腹股沟髂外动脉固定位置方法造成骨骼肌缺血,再灌注末以TTC法确定心肌梗死范围,并分别于心肌缺血前、后及再灌注1 h、2 h,以生化法测定血清肌酸激酶(CK)及乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)水平。结果:和CON组相比,1M-DSP组心肌梗死重量比及面积比分别下降了42.32%及42.68%、SP组分别下降了49.97%及43.78%、SSP组分别下降了48.36%及48.86%,(P均<0.05),但三组之间相比,心梗范围未见明显差异;而6M-DSP、WSP组与CON组相比未见心肌保护作用;肌酸激酶(CK)的水平和梗死范围变化趋势一致。结论:兔在心肌缺血/再灌注之前完成骨骼肌5 min缺血/1 min再灌注1次循环的缺血后处理,可以起到明显的心肌保护作用。     

Investigation of the effect of hyperglycemia on intracerebral hemorrhage by proteomic approaches

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with high mortality and disability, and hyperglycemia worsens the clinical and neurological outcomes of patients with ICH. In this study, we utilized proteomic approaches to investigate the role of hyperglycemia in ICH. Hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in adult Sprague-Dawley male rats; ICH was induced by stereotaxic infusion of collagenase/heparin into the right striatum. It was observed that the size of induced hemorrhage was significantly larger in the hyperglycemic group (n=6 in each group). On the first day after ICH, an apparent decrease in the bilateral grasp was also observed for the lesioned hyperglycemic rats compared with normoglycemic ones. When employing 2-DE and MS to examine the proteomes of perihematomal and control regions in individual hyperglycemic and normoglycemic rats, eight differentially expressed protein targets were identified. Most noteworthy, in response to ICH significant increase of albumin was ubiquitously observed in the brains of normoglycemic rats but not in the brains of hyperglycemic rats. Coincidentally, more significant neuronal apoptosis were found in the perihematomal regions of hyperglycemic rats. These observations described suggest the protection role of albumin in acute stage of ICH, which may be dependent on different blood sugar levels.     

半干旱区湿地-干草原交错带边界判定及其变化

鉴于目前国内对于半干旱区及小尺度上湿地-干草原交错带边界界定的研究较少,利用交错带对其周围环境变化具有提前指示作用的原理,以宁夏盐池四儿滩湿地为例,首先探讨游动分割窗技术在半干旱区湿地-干草原交错带边界判定中的可行性,其次再对2006年—2010年湿地-干草原交错带的宽度和边界进行判定,通过交错带的宽度和边界变化并结合交错带内植被的变化情况,综合对整个湿地生态系统的健康状况和湿地退化进行研究。结果表明:研究的尺度大小以及交错带过渡性是否明显将决定适宜窗口宽度的大小,这点在选择最小适宜窗口宽度时体现更为显著;降雨量是决定该区交错带的位置与宽度的最主要因素,但降雨量并不是决定该区交错带内植被变化状况的最主要因素,交错带距湿地核心区的距离是影响交错带内物种丰富度指数变化的最主要因素;由于保护区的成立,四儿滩湿地在2006年—2007年间,交错带宽度变大,湿地状况转好,2008年—2010年,由于铁路建设,湿地遭到破坏,交错带萎缩,湿地出现退化现象。湿地-干草原交错带作为一个敏感地带,它的变化情况可以对整个湿地生态系统的变化情况作出一定的提前预示;在半干旱区湿地的健康评价和退化研究中,通过交错带的变化来反映整个湿地生态系统的健康情况是一种可行的思路和方法。     

不同手术方式对腰椎间盘突出症治疗的效果比较分析

目的:探讨应用微创技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法:对我院脊柱骨科自2005年l1月～2010年10月收治的128例腰椎间盘突出症患者应用不同手术方式进行治疗,其中应用APLD( automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy)治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症48例;应用MED(microendoscopic discectomy)治疗复杂型腰椎间盘突出症42例;应用传统后路椎板开窗技术治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症38例;比较各组手术时间、术中出血、术后住院时间、疗效及并发症.术后均随访8个月～3年,观察复发情况.结果:三组不同手术方式手术时间及优良率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),APLD及MED组术中出血量及术后住院时间与传统手术组比较,差异有显著性(P＜0.05);术后随访疼痛全部缓解,无复发.结论:在严格掌握适应症的基础上,采用微创技术和采用传统手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症疗效相当,但微创技术创伤小、术中出血量少,术后住院日短,恢复快,优于传统手术.     

Border and ecotone detection by vegetation composition along forest‐savanna transects in Ivory Coast

Abstract. Question: How do properties of different vegetation components vary along ecotones of semi‐deciduous forest islands, and can the depth of edge influence (DEI) of the components be detected using a novel combination of analyses? Location: Comoé National Park (CNP), NE Ivory Coast. Methods: Along eight transects at semi‐deciduous forest islands tree individuals > 20 cm DBH were mapped. At one transect, tree and shrub individuals down to 1 cm DBH were measured and cover of species was estimated. Split moving window dissimilarity analysis (SMWDA) and moving window regression analysis (MWRA) were combined to detect statistical significance of borders in multivariate vegetation data along continuous transects, to determine the width of associated ecotones, and, thus, the DEI towards the forest interior. Results: For trees > 20 cm DBH, a distinct boundary formation was detected, dominated by the semi‐fire resistant tree species Anogeissus leiocarpus. The median of DEI towards the forest interior was 55 m. Ecotone detection with all species present revealed an interlocked sequence of ecotones for grasses, herbs, woody climbers, shrubs and trees, with each of these ecotones being narrower than the overall ecotone. DEI ranged from 10 m for grasses up to 120 m for trees and shrubs. Conclusions: The coherent set of analyses applied proved to be an objective method for detecting borders and the width of associated ecotones. The patterns found may be explained by successional processes at the forest‐savanna border. The DEI measured for the forest islands in the nearly undisturbed semi‐natural system of the CNP is of relevance to concepts of core‐area analysis and the protection of forest interior species in semi‐deciduous forests in tropical West Africa.     

斑块边缘效应的定量评价及其生态学意义

边缘效应是生态系统 (斑块 )边缘和生态过渡区所呈现出的生态效应。但由于景观性质、研究目标和斑块形状的变化 ,边缘效应影响的范围和程度差异较大。核心斑块与周边景观之间的相似性既可以增强边缘效应 ,也可以减弱边缘效应。正确理解和确定边缘效应的影响范围和程度直接关系到对野外环境观测数据的科学使用。许多情况下 ,由于未能正确认识一个生态系统(斑块 )的边缘效应 ,时常会将在边缘效应地区获得的数据与系统内部核心区的观测数据混淆使用 ,得出一些不科学的结论。边缘效应的定量评价对于进行科学的野外环境观测 ,及其在自然保护区功能区设计和生物多样性保护中具有重要意义。但如何定量评价生态系统 (斑块 )的边缘效应目前还缺乏科学有效的方法。从分析边缘效应的概念和影响因子出发 ,结合地理信息系统 ,提出了开展定量评价斑块边缘效应的方法 ,并探讨了定量研究边缘效应的生态学意义。     

Evacuation of pelleted feed and the suitability of titanium(IV) oxide as a feed marker for gut kinetics in Nile tilapia

The present study assessed the suitability of titanium(IV) oxide, TiO₂, as a digesta passage marker in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and studied the shape of the evacuation curve in this species. In three separate trials, fish were given one dose of either 0·5, 0·25 or 0·1% of their body mass (% BME) of feed marked with 1% TiO₂ or 0·5% BME of the same feed without marker. The fish were serially slaughtered at intervals after feeding and the stomach contents analysed for dry mass and marker content. The data for individual trials were analysed with the linear, square root, surface area and exponential evacuation models and parameter comparisons showed that, although the marker interfered slightly with the evacuation process, true meal size could be predicted more accurately from the marker data. The results of an analysis of the combined data sets suggested that stomach evacuation in this species is dependent more on food particle surface area (surface area model) than on stomach content mass (exponential model) as is generally assumed. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that TiO₂ at an inclusion level of 1% is an acceptable marker for quantifying evacuation with a view to predicting food consumption but should be used with caution in digestibility studies.     

胚泡着床窗口的分子调控

着床窗口是指当胚胎发育到胚泡阶段时,子宫也增殖和分化到可接受状态,二者相互作用使胚泡着床的短暂时间.雌激素和孕酮是该过程的综合调控分子,它们通过多种局部信号分子的介导,使子宫中的各种细胞类型增殖、分化,为着床窗口的开放做出相互协调的反应.子宫与胚胎在着床窗口通过前列腺素、组织胺、降钙素、多种细胞因子和生长因子的旁分泌作用进行分子对话,使胚泡滋养层与子宫内膜上皮发生附着反应.着床窗口一旦开放,即自动向非接受态转化.