Thermal acclimation and hardening in tadpoles of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

1. 1.|Critical thermal maxima (CTMax) and minima (CTMin) were measured to evalute thermal hardening in Rana catesbeiana.

2. 2.|Tadpoles show heat hardening and CTMax acclimation, and both responses are influenced by developmental stage.

3. 3.|The first evidence of cold hardening in vertebrates is reported here.

4. 4.|Heat hardening significantly reduces cold tolerance, but there is otherwise no evidence of a cross-hardening effect.

Soybean leaf photosynthesis in relation to maturity classification and stage of growth

Leaf photosynthetic rates were measured on field-grown soybeans during the 1980 season. Comparisons were made between different cultivars and isolines representative of maturity groups I–IV. Mature, fully expanded leaves at different nodes on the plant were measured in high light to determine which had the highest potential photosynthetic rates at any one time. Successive leaves during the growing season had maximum rates which increased from about 22 mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1 on 25 June to a peak of 30–44 mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1 in early August.The persistency and eventual decline in the maximum rate was associated with the maturity group and related dates of flowering, pod fill and onset of senescence. Early maturing cultivars (groups I and II) had higher peak rates (38–44 mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1) than later maturing cultivars (30–35 mol CO₂ m^-2 s^-1, groups III and IV). However, the photosynthetic rates of early maturing cultivars declined rapidly after attaining their peak, whereas the leaves of later maturing cultivars maintained their photosynthetic activity for much longer.     

Sensitive Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Vascular Permeability Factor in Human Serum

A sandwich chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for measuring the level of VEGF /VPF in serum was constructed. The detectability of the assay is very low (1.0pg/ml) and the measurable range of the assay was very wide (1–1000 pg/ml). The assay showed that the average level of VEGF /VPF in human sera from healthy blood donors was approximately 19 pg/ml.     

Total Tocopherols,Carotenoids, and Fatty Acids Content Variation of Pistacia atlantica from Different Organs’ Crude Oils and Their Antioxidant Activity during Development Stages

The current study investigated the effect of developmental stages on the chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of fifteen crude oil samples obtained from Pistacia atlantica Desf. leaves, galls, and fruits. Twelve fatty acids were detected by GC/FID, linolenic acid (C18 : 3) was the major fatty acid detected in leaves crude oils that registered [41.73 % (P<0.05)] on the last stage. The best content of tocopherols and carotenoids was recorded at the last stage for leaves and galls oils, respectively, with values of [1.530±0.01, 0.52±0.01 (P<0.05) mg α‐tocopherol equivalent/g DW] and [86.60±0.95, 69.15±0.13 (P<0.05) μg β‐carotene equivalent/g DW]. For fruits oils, the content varied depending on the levels of fruits maturation. The results from DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays revealed that the antioxidant activity increased with the increasing content of tocopherols and carotenoids in leaves and galls oils during development stages, and varied for fruits oils depending on the ripening stages. Moreover, according to PCA analysis, the best phytoconstituent content and antioxidant activity were attributed to P. atlantica Desf. fruit's crude oils. Also, a strong relationship was found between the antioxidant activity and bioactive phytochemical components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and omega‐three fatty acid, which confirmed that P. atlantica Desf. crude oils present a valuable source of natural antioxidant that could be used for pharmaceutical and food industries purposes.     

布地奈德福莫特罗粉吸入剂联合孟鲁斯特对支气管哮喘急性发作期患者肺功能及血清细胞因子水平的影响

目的:研究布地奈德福莫特罗粉吸入剂(ST)联合孟鲁斯特对支气管哮喘急性发作期(ASBA)患者肺功能及血清细胞因子水平的影响。方法:选择2015年2月到2017年8月在我院治疗的86例ASBA患者作为研究对象,根据随机数字表法将患者分成观察组(n=43)以及对照组(n=43),对照组予以ST治疗,观察组则在此基础上联合孟鲁司特治疗,两组均治疗3个月,对比两组患者治疗前及治疗3个月后的肺功能、细胞因子水平、咳嗽评分、St·George's呼吸疾病问卷(SGRQ)以及用药安全性。结果:治疗后两组患者的第1秒的用力呼气容积(FEV1)、用力肺活量(FVC)及FEV1/FVC均较治疗前升高,且观察组高于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后两组患者的白细胞介素-4(IL-4)、白细胞介素-5(IL-5)、γ-干扰素(INF-γ)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平均较治疗前降低,且观察组低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后两组患者的咳嗽评分较治疗前升高,且观察组高于对照组(P0.05),而治疗后两组患者的SGRQ评分均较治疗前降低,且观察组低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组不良反应的总发生率为20.93%,与对照组的16.28%相比无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:ASBA给予ST联合孟鲁司特治疗能够有效改善患者的症状,缓解机体炎症反映的同时还可有效改善患者肺功能和生活质量,其用药安全性较好。     

不同生育期玉米上草地贪夜蛾的发生为害规律

2019年在广东湛江、江门调查了玉米上草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith)发生为害动态,分析了不同生育期玉米上该虫发生为害差异规律。发现各个地区草地贪夜蛾的虫口数量与玉米受害程度存在较大差异,呈现不均衡性;该虫对玉米苗期为害最严重,其次为大喇叭口期;建立了2个地区玉米6个生育期受害率与虫口数量之间的线性回归模型。研究结果可为草地贪夜蛾监测预警及防控提供参考。     

Effect of competition intensity on recruitment of palatable and unpalatable grasses

In this study, we made an attempt to reveal how competition intensity from established plants impacts on palatable and unpalatable grass seedlings recruitment, in a natural mesic grassland of central Argentina. Our objective was to assess the seedling recruitment of a palatable species (Chascolytrum subaristatum) and an unpalatable species (Nassella trichotoma) in microsites differing in competition intensity from established plants. Identity (C. subaristatum and N. trichotoma) and defoliation severity were used as surrogate for competition intensity. In March 2017, we permanently marked established individuals of N. trichotoma and C. subaristatum and placed two circular plots adjacent to each individual. In one plot we added seeds of N. trichotoma and in the other seeds of C. subaristatum. After seeding, established plants were randomly assigned to one of three level of defoliation: without defoliation, low defoliation severity and high defoliation severity. From April to November 2017 (i.e. over a complete annual growing cycle), we measured seedling density, recruitment and growth. Our results supported the hypothesis that seedlings of palatable grasses are more competitive than seedlings of unpalatable grasses. Seedling of the palatable grass C. subaristatum recruited successfully regardless the intensity of competition from established plants, whereas seedlings of the unpalatable grass N. trichotoma recruited better under low competitive pressure from established plants. Our results suggest that the availability of microsites with low competitive pressure from the established vegetation, created by selective grazing of palatable grasses, promotes the recruitment of unpalatable grass seedlings. This mechanism may contribute to the species replacement process commonly observed in heavy grazed grasslands.     

Lipid status association with 25-hydroxy vitamin D: Cross sectional study of end stage renal disease patients

BackgroundSome observational studies indicate an association of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) insufficiency and atherogenic cholesterol concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and lipid parameters in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, separately for predialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.MethodsWe have adjusted 25(OH)D concentrations for seasonal variability with cosinor analysis, and performed all further analysis using these corrected 25(OH)D concentrations. Concentrations of 25(OH)D and the lipid parameters were determined in 214 ESRD patients and 50 control group participants. The analysis included the measurement of 25(OH)D by HPLC, apolipoprotein (Apo) AI, ApoB and Lp(a) by nephelometry, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) by spectrophotometry and manually calculated ApoB/ApoAI and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio.ResultsESRD patients with adjusted 25(OH)D concentrations of 50 nmol/L had significantly higher TC (P = 0.005) and ApoAI (P = 0.049). Significantly higher HDLC (P = 0.011) and ApoAI (P = 0.020) were found in hemodialysis patients with the 25(OH)D concentrations of 50 nmol/L. The other analyzed lipid parameters differed significantly between predialysis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients with 25(OH)D concentrations of < 50 nmol/L.ConclusionsOur study indicate the significant relationship between 25(OH)D repletion and optimal concentrations of lipid parameters in ESRD patients. Further research is necessary to explain whether joint evaluation of vitamin D status and lipid abnormalities could improve cardiovascular outcome in ESRD patients.