Role of epidermal stem cells in repair of partial-thickness burn injury after using Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) histological and immunohistochemical study

Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO^®) is widely used topical agent applied on skin burn. This study investigated the effect of MEBO topical application on activation and proliferation of epidermal stem cells through the immunohistochemical localization of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) as a known marker expressed in epidermal stem cells. Biopsies from normal skin and burn wounds were taken from 21 patients with partial thickness burn 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment with MEBO. Tissue sections were prepared for histological study and for CK19 immunohistochemical localization. In control skin, only few cells showed a positive CK19 immune-reaction. Burned skin showed necrosis of full thickness epidermis that extended to dermis. Gradual regeneration of skin accompanied with an enhancement in CK19 immune-reactivity was noted 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment with MEBO. On day 28, a complete regeneration of skin was observed with a return of CK19 immune-reactivity to the basal pattern again. In conclusion, the enhancement of epidermal stem cell marker CK19 after treatment of partial thickness burn injuries with MEBO suggested the role of MEBO in promoting epidermal stem cell activation and proliferation during burn wound healing.     

Impact on plant communities by white-tailed deer in Mississippi,USA

Background: The abundance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the eastern United States has escalated during the twentieth century, potentially impacting plant communities.

Methods: We measured understorey plant cover and biomass five years after excluding deer from mature forests of three ecological regions in Mississippi, USA. We extended the significance of P values to 0.10 to detect developing impacts.

Results: Deer impacts were limited and varied by ecological region. We recorded 151 species in cover transects. Consistent exclosure treatment effects were detected in two regions where there was greater cover of two deer forages and less cover of three non-forages. Species richness was greater in exclosures in one region, but otherwise species richness and diversity indices did not differ. We recorded 127 species in biomass quadrats. Exclosure treatment effects on biomass were inconsistent. Out of five species with significant differences, three had more biomass in controls, including two deer forages. Except for greater total biomass in controls of one region, there were no differences by growth form or total vegetation for canopy coverage or biomass. Ordination of community canopy cover demonstrated similarity of paired exclosure and controls.

Conclusions: Exclosure treatment effects on canopy cover and species richness in two regions indicated limited negative impacts from deer foraging. A time frame of more than five years may be required for exclusion to allow recovery of vegetation, even with relatively open canopies and a long growing season.     

零口战国墓颅骨的人类学特征

本文对陕西省临潼县零口村遗址发掘出土的战国秦墓颅骨的人类学特征进行了研究。该组颅骨的种族特征可归入现代亚洲蒙古人种的东亚人种范畴。在若干近代和古代对比组中 ,零口组的基本体质类型与近代华北组、新石器时代的宝鸡组和关中合并组、青铜时代的上马组和殷墟中小墓②组最为接近。     

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Punctodera Stonei Brzeski, 1998 (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from Virginia,USA

In August of 2021, several cysts with juveniles and eggs were discovered during a vegetation survey conducted at the Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Eight soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere region of the common grass (Festuca arundinacea L.) and processed at the Mycology and Nematology Genetic Diversity and Biology Laboratory (MNGDBL). Cysts were light to dark brown in color, and oval to pear-shaped without bullae in young cysts but present in older cysts and with prominent vulval cone. The juveniles had slightly concave stylet knobs projecting sometimes anteriorly, tail tapering gradually to a narrowly rounded terminus, and hyaline tail terminus conspicuous at least twice the length of stylet. The molecular analysis included the analysis of three gene sequence fragments: D2–D3 of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and COI. The nematode species was identified by both morphological and molecular means as Stone''s cyst nematode, Punctodera stonei. Detection of P. stonei in Virginia represents a new record of this species in the United States, and a second report after Canada in North America.     

Effects of Forest Regrowth and Urbanization on Ecosystem Carbon Storage in a Rural–Urban Gradient in the Southeastern United States

Forest regrowth after cropland abandonment and urban sprawl are two counteracting processes that have influenced carbon (C) sequestration in the southeastern United States in recent decades. In this study, we examined patterns of land-use/land-cover change and their effect on ecosystem C storage in three west Georgia counties (Muscogee, Harris, and Meriwether) that form a rural–urban gradient. Using time series Landsat imagery data including MSS for 1974, TM for 1983 and 1991, and ETM for 2002, we estimate that from 1974 to 2002, urban land use in the area has increased more than 380% (that is, 184 km²). Most newly urbanized land (63%) has been converted from forestland. Conversely, cropland and pasture area has decreased by over 59% (that is, 380 km²). Most of the cropland area was converted to forest. As a result, the net change in forest area was small over the past 29 years. Based on Landsat imagery and agricultural census records, we reconstructed an annual gridded data set of land-cover change for the three counties for the period 1850 to 2002. These data sets were then used as input to the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM) to simulate land-use effects on C fluxes and storage for the study area. Simulated results suggest that C uptake by forest regrowth (approximately 23.0 g C m⁻² y⁻¹) was slightly greater than the amount of C released due to deforestation (approximately 18.4 g C m⁻² y⁻¹), thus making the three counties a weak C sink. However, the relative importance of different deforestation processes in this area changed significantly through time. Although agricultural deforestation was generally the most important C-release process, the amount of C release attributable to urbanization has increased over time. Since 1990, urbanization has accounted for 29% of total C loss from the study area. We conclude that balancing urban development and forest protection is critically important for C management and policy making in the southeastern United States.     

Post-translational modifications in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity

Mercury (Hg) exposure remains a major public health concern due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Organic mercurials, such as MeHg, have been extensively investigated especially because of their congenital effects. In this context, studies on the molecular mechanism of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity are pivotal to the understanding of its toxic effects and the development of preventive measures. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation are essential for the proper function of proteins and play important roles in the regulation of cellular homeostasis. The rapid and transient nature of many PTMs allows efficient signal transduction in response to stress. This review summarizes the current knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, including the most commonly PTMs, as well as PTMs induced by oxidative stress and PTMs of antioxidant proteins. Though PTMs represent an important molecular mechanism for maintaining cellular homeostasis and are involved in the neurotoxic effects of MeHg, we are far from understanding the complete picture on their role, and further research is warranted to increase our knowledge of PTMs in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity.     

三维技术对安徽白鹭洲战国墓M566墓主容貌的复原

2011年安徽白鹭洲发现战国时期保存完整的楚国贵族墓葬,因墓主人头发和发簪保存完好、墓主身份显赫而备受关注。该头骨保存完整,具有亚洲蒙古人种的特征,根据骨骼的形态推测其为女性,年龄为35-39岁。为展现该地区战国贵族妇女的容貌、丰富该地区考古多样性提供研究材料。本文首先使用高分辨率CT对该个体的头骨及下颌骨进行了扫描和重建,然后采用基于偏最小二乘回归的颅面复原方法实现生前容貌基本形态的复原。最后,结合考古资料,利用三维模型处理软件对面貌复原模型及其发饰进行了三维建模和纹理贴图等处理,提高了颅面复原模型的真实感,生动形象地再现战国贵族女性面部的形态特征。