Leaf epidermal features of Rhododendron (Ericaceae)from China and their systematic significance

Rhododendron is the largest genus within the subfamily Rhododendroideae, which has about 1000 known species in the world and more than 500 species in China. Since the genus was established by Linnaeus, its infrageneric relationships have been well studied by many taxonomists on the basis of morphological characters and molecular data. In 1996, Chamberlain et al. proposed a new system of Rhododendron with eight subgenera, i.e., Azaleastrum, Candidastrum, Hymenanthes, Mumeazalea, Pentanthera, Rhododendron, Therorhodion, and Tsutsusi. In this paper, micromorphological characters of leaf epidermis in 4 varieties, 48 species, 6 subgenera of Rhododendron from China were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Leaf epidermal features are described and micromorphological types are distinguished here according to morphological characters such as scale, gland, foliar trichome and stomatal apparatus of leaf epidermis. It is shown that the leaf epidermal cells are usually irregular or polygonal in shape. The patterns of anticlinal walls are straight, arched or undulate. The stomatal apparatuses are anomocytic and are usually found on abaxial, not adaxial, epidermis. The results also show that: (1) the lepidote rhododendron (i.e., subgen. Rhododendron), which has both scales and papillae on leaf epidermis, differs distinctly from the elepidote rhododendron; (2) three types of leaf epidermis are identified in subgen. Hymenanthes (i.e., R. fortunei-type, R. chihsinianum-type and R. simiarum-type), whereas four in subgen. Tsutsusi (i.e., R. mariesii-type, R. simsii-type, R. mariae-type and R. flosculum-type); (3) except for R. westlandii and R. henryi, the species of subgen. Azaleastrum show similar morphological characters, i.e., dense stomatal apparatuses surrounded by ringed or discontinuous striates; (4) R. molle of subgen. Pentanthera differs from the species of other subgenera on morphological characters such as foliar trichomes, dense stomatal apparatuses with asymmetrical outer stomatal rims surrounded by undulate-striates, and no gland; (5) only R. redowskianum is found with distinct T-pieces at the polar region of guard cells in Rhododendron. The results support the conclusion inferred from molecular systematic studies that subgen. Therorhodion is the basal clade of Rhododendron. Finally, the relationships between the closely related species are also discussed on the basis of leaf epidermal features.     

半乳糖凝集素-3与程序性死亡受体-1在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨半乳糖凝集素-3(Gal-3)和程序性死亡受体-1(PD-1)在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选择2016年1月-2017年12月期间我院收治的宫颈鳞癌患者80例纳入观察组,宫颈上皮内瘤变(CIN)患者60例纳入CIN组,取同期在我院进行治疗的宫颈炎患者50例纳入对照组。采集三组患者的宫颈组织标本,采用免疫组化SP法对各组织标本中的Gal-3、PD-1的阳性率、表达水平进行检测,并分析Gal-3、PD-1与宫颈鳞癌临床病理特征的关系以及各指标表达水平的相关性。结果:观察组、CIN组的Gal-3、PD-1的阳性表达率、表达水平均高于对照组,且观察组高于CIN组(P0.05)。Gal-3、PD-1的表达与宫颈鳞癌患者的年龄、病灶大小、分化程度无关(P0.05),而与宫颈鳞癌肿瘤的分期、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。经Spearman相关性分析显示,宫颈鳞癌组织中Gal-3与PD-1间表达水平呈正相关性(r=0.496,P=0.000)。结论:Gal-3、PD-1的表达水平与宫颈鳞癌的发生、发展有密切关联,并且两种指标间呈明显正相关。     

动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者vWF、GMP-140及ADAMTS13的表达水平及临床意义

目的:探讨动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血(aSAH)患者中血管性假血友病因子(v WF)、血小板膜糖蛋白-140(GMP-140)、血管性血友病因子裂解蛋白酶(ADAMTS13)的表达水平及临床意义。方法:选取2014年1月至2016年12月我院神经外科收治的83例aSAH患者,分为脑血管痉挛(CVS)组37例和无CVS组46例;迟发性脑缺血(DCI)组31例和非DCI组52例;根据不同动脉瘤直径分为5 mm组43例,5-10 mm组29例,10 mm组11例;预后良好组49例和预后不良组34例,检测aSAH患者血浆v WF、GMP-140、ADAMTS13水平,并分析各指标之间的相关性。结果:CVS组患者第4 d、10 d血浆v WF水平高于非CVS组,第1 d、4 d、10 d血浆GMP-140水平高于非CVS组,第1 d、10 d血浆ADAMTS13水平低于非CVS组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。DCI组患者第1 d血浆v WF水平高于非DCI组,ADAMTS13水平低于非DCI组,第4 d血浆v WF、GMP-140水平高于非DCI组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。10 mm组患者第1 d、4 d血浆v WF、GMP-140水平高于5 mm组和5-10 mm组,且5-10 mm组第4d的血浆v WF水平、第1 d的血浆,水平均高于5 mm组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);10 mm组患者第1d的血浆ADAMTS13水平低于5 mm组和5-10 mm组,且5-10 mm组低于5 mm组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。预后良好组患者第4 d、10 d血浆v WF水平低于预后不良组,第1 d、4 d、10 d血浆GMP-140水平低于预后不良组,第1 d、4 d血浆ADAMTS13水平高于预后不良组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。Pearson相关分析结果显示,第1 d、4 d血浆v WF与GMP-140呈正相关,与ADAMTS13呈负相关,GMP-140与ADAMTS13呈负相关(r=0.334、-0.426、-0.398、0.278、-0.311、-0.235,P0.05),第10 d血浆v WF、GMP-140、ADAMTS13之间无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论:v WF、GMP-140、ADAMTS13与CVS、DCI、动脉瘤直径以及预后密切相关,联合检测有助于综合评估aSAH患者病情,改善预后,值得临床推广。     

The subtype-specific molecular function of SPDEF in breast cancer and insights into prognostic significance

Breast cancer (BC) is a molecular diverse disease which becomes the most common malignancy among women worldwide. There are four BC subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched and Basal-like) robustly established following gene expression pattern-based characterization, behave significant differences in terms of their incidence, risk factors, prognosis and therapeutic sensitivity. Thus, there is an urgent need to provide mechanism research, treatment strategies and/or prognosis evaluation based on the patient stratification of BC subtypes. The prostate-derived ETS factor SPDEF was first identified as an activator of prostate specific antigen, and then, the involvements in many aspects of BC have been proposed. However, the subtype-specific molecular function of SPDEF in BC and insights into prognostic significance have not been clearly elucidated. This study demonstrated for the first time that SPDEF may play a diversity role in the expression levels, clinicopathologic importance, biological function and prognostic evaluation in BC via bioinformatics and experimental evidence, which mainly depends on different BC subtyping. In summary, our findings would help to better understand the possible mechanisms of various BC subtypes and to find possible candidate genes for prognostic and therapeutic usage.     

Life cycle assessment of lightweight and end-of-life scenarios for generic compact class passenger vehicles

Goal, Scope and Background  The automotive industry has a long history in improving the environmental performance of vehicles - fuel economy and emission improvements, introduction of recycled and renewable materials, etc. The European Union also aims at improving the environmental performance of products by reducing, in particular, waste resulting from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) for example. The European Commission estimates that ELVs contribute to approximately 1 % of the total waste in Europe [9]. Other European Union strategies are considering more life cycle aspects, as well as other impacts including resource or climate change. This article is summarizing the results of a European Commission funded project (LIRECAR) that aims at identifying the environmental impacts and relevance for combinations of recycling / recovery and lightweight vehicle design options over the whole life cycle of a vehicle - i.e. manufacturing, use and recycling/recovery. Three, independent and scientific LCA experts reviewed the study according to ISO 14040. From the beginning, representatives of all Life Cycle Stakeholders have been involved (European materials & supplier associations, an environmental Non-Governmental Organization, recycler’s association). Model and System Definition  The study compared 3 sets of theoretical vehicle weight scenarios: 1000 kg reference (material range of today’s end-of-life, mid-sized vehicles produced in the early 1990’s) and 2 lightweight scenarios for 100 kg and 250 kg less weight based on reference functions (in terms of comfort, safety, etc.) and a vehicle concept. The scenarios are represented by their material range of a broad range of lightweight strategies of most European car manufacturers. In parallel, three End-of-Life (EOL) scenarios are considered: EOL today and two theoretical extreme scenarios (100% recycling, respectively, 100% recovery of shredder residue fractions that are disposed of today). The technical and economical feasibility of the studied scenarios is not taken into consideration (e.g. 100% recycling is not possible). Results and Discussion  Significant differences between the various, studied weight scenarios were determined in several scenarios for the environmental categories of global warming, ozone depletion, photochemical oxidant creation (summer smog), abiotic resource depletion, and hazardous waste. However, these improvement potentials can be only realized under well defined conditions (e.g. material compositions, specific fuel reduction values and EOL credits) based on case-by-case assessments for improvements over the course of the life cycle. Looking at the studied scenarios, the relative contribution of the EOL phase represents 5% or less of the total life cycle impact for most selected impact categories and scenarios. The EOL technology variations studied do not impact significantly the considered environmental impacts. Exceptions include total waste, as long as stockpile goods (overburden, tailings and ore/coal processing residues) and EOL credits are considered. Conclusions and Recommendations  LIRECAR focuses only on lightweight/recycling, questions whereas other measures (changes in safety or comfort standards, propulsion improvements for CO₂, user behavior) are beyond the scope of the study. The conclusions are also not necessarily transferable to other vehicle concepts. However, for the question of end-of-life options, it can be concluded that LIRECAR cannot support any general recommendation and/or mandatory actions to improve recycling if lightweight is affected. Also, looking at each vehicle, no justification could be found for the general assumption that lightweight and recycling greatly influence the affected environmental dimension (Global Warming Potential or resource depletion and waste, respectively). LIRECAR showed that this general assumption is not true under all analyzed circumstances and not as significant as suggested. Further discussions and product development targets shall not focus on generic targets that define the approach/technology concerned with how to achieve environmental improvement (weight reduction [kg], recycling quota [%]), but on overall life cycle improvement). To enable this case-by-case assessment, exchanges of necessary information with suppliers are especially relevant.     

Genetic assignment methods for the direct, real-time estimation of migration rate: a simulation-based exploration of accuracy and power

Genetic assignment methods use genotype likelihoods to draw inference about where individuals were or were not born, potentially allowing direct, real-time estimates of dispersal. We used simulated data sets to test the power and accuracy of Monte Carlo resampling methods in generating statistical thresholds for identifying F0 immigrants in populations with ongoing gene flow, and hence for providing direct, real-time estimates of migration rates. The identification of accurate critical values required that resampling methods preserved the linkage disequilibrium deriving from recent generations of immigrants and reflected the sampling variance present in the data set being analysed. A novel Monte Carlo resampling method taking into account these aspects was proposed and its efficiency was evaluated. Power and error were relatively insensitive to the frequency assumed for missing alleles. Power to identify F0 immigrants was improved by using large sample size (up to about 50 individuals) and by sampling all populations from which migrants may have originated. A combination of plotting genotype likelihoods and calculating mean genotype likelihood ratios (DLR) appeared to be an effective way to predict whether F0 immigrants could be identified for a particular pair of populations using a given set of markers.     

Should we take measurements at an intermediate design point?

It is well known that, for estimating a linear treatment effect with constant variance, the optimal design divides the units equally between the two extremes of the design space. If the dose-response relation may be nonlinear, however, intermediate measurements may be useful in order to estimate the effects of partial treatments. We consider the decision of whether to gather data at an intermediate design point: do the gains from learning about nonlinearity outweigh the loss in efficiency in estimating the linear effect? Under reasonable assumptions about nonlinearity, we find that, unless sample size is very large, the design with no interior measurements is best, because with moderate total sample sizes, any nonlinearity in the dose-response will be difficult to detect. We discuss in the context of a simplified version of the problem that motivated this work-a study of pest-control treatments intended to reduce asthma symptoms in children.     

中国秋海棠属植物的叶表皮特征及其分类学意义

在光学显微镜下,对中国秋海棠属(Begonia)植物7组52种2变种的叶表皮进行观察。结果表明秋海棠属植物叶表皮形态在属内组间具有较大的相似性,表皮细胞为多边形或近多边形,垂周壁平直或弓形,大多数种类表皮细胞内具有晶体,气孔器仅分布于下表皮,且以不等型为主。叶表皮综合特征,例如表皮细胞形状,表皮毛类型,表皮细胞内晶体的类型和形态,气孔器形态以及与一些种类独有特征的组合,在种间,尤其在近缘种之间具有明显的差异。     

丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物叶细胞形态特征及其系统学意义

通过光学显微镜（LM）和扫描电镜（SEM）观察了17属国产丛藓科（Pottiaceae）植物叶中上部细胞的形态特征,结果表明：丛藓科植物的叶中上部细胞的形状、大小及表面形态等特征上具较大相似性;据细胞表面特征,叶细胞可分为无疣或具乳突、具圆疣以及具分枝的马蹄形疣3种类型,且该特征在丛藓科不同属、种间有较大的区别。因此,叶细胞形态特征可为丛藓科植物属级和亚科级的划分提供细胞形态学依据。     

锯天牛亚科雌性生殖器比较形态学研究(鞘翅目,天牛科)

比较研究了锯天牛亚科4族10属20种(亚种)的雌性生殖器特征。研究结果表明:雌性生殖器特征在锯天牛亚科族级、属级和种级均具有分类学意义。此研究对传统外部形态分类特征进行了补充。