Cretaceous origins of the vibrotactile bill-tip organ in birds

Some probe-foraging birds locate their buried prey by detecting mechanical vibrations in the substrate using a specialized tactile bill-tip organ comprising mechanoreceptors embedded in densely clustered pits in the bone at the tip of their beak. This remarkable sensory modality is known as ‘remote touch’, and the associated bill-tip organ is found in probe-foraging taxa belonging to both the palaeognathous (in kiwi) and neognathous (in ibises and shorebirds) clades of modern birds. Intriguingly, a structurally similar bill-tip organ is also present in the beaks of extant, non-probing palaeognathous birds (e.g. emu and ostriches) that do not use remote touch. By comparison with our comprehensive sample representing all orders of extant modern birds (Neornithes), we provide evidence that the lithornithids (the most basal known palaeognathous birds which evolved in the Cretaceous period) had the ability to use remote touch. This finding suggests that the occurrence of the vestigial bony bill-tip organ in all modern non-probing palaeognathous birds represents a plesiomorphic condition. Furthermore, our results show that remote-touch probe foraging evolved very early among the Neornithes and it may even have predated the palaeognathous–neognathous divergence. We postulate that the tactile bony bill-tip organ in Neornithes may have originated from other snout tactile specializations of their non-avian theropod ancestors.     

枝条覆盖对平茬花棒生长特征和浅层土壤水分的影响

为了综合评价枝条覆盖对不同立地(平地、丘顶、丘间低地)平茬花棒(Hedysarum scoparium)生长特征和浅层土壤水分的影响,以吉兰泰荒漠-绿洲过渡区平茬花棒为研究对象,于2017年4—10月对覆盖与无覆盖平茬花棒物候期、土壤容积含水量、土壤储水量和生长指标等相关指标进行测定。实验结果表明:(1)枝条覆盖有利于平茬花棒提前萌芽,较无覆盖提前5 d以上。(2)枝条覆盖使不同立地平茬花棒生长初期和生长末期0—100 cm土层平均土壤容积含水量增加20.12%以上,且土壤含水量变异系数随土层深度增加变化减缓;土壤储水量在生长初期和生长末期枝条覆盖较无覆盖增加27%以上。(3)枝条覆盖使平茬花棒株高、新生枝数、基径、冠幅较无覆盖增加10.91%以上,同时其生物量鲜重和干重较无覆盖分别增加4.45%—24.17%和3.78%—18.93%。尤其丘间低地平茬花棒生物量增加效果更加明显(P0.05)。但枝条覆盖不能改变平茬花棒生物量分配格局;(4)枝条覆盖和平茬对花棒生长均具有积极作用,枝条覆盖对丘间低地平茬花棒生长促进作用最好。     

Tools,techniques, and future opportunities for characterizing the mechanobiology of uterine myometrium

The myometrium is the smooth muscle layer of the uterus that generates the contractions that drive processes such as menstruation and childbirth. Aberrant contractions of the myometrium can result in preterm birth, insufficient progression of labor, or other difficulties that can lead to maternal or fetal complications or even death. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of these conditions, the most common model systems have conventionally been animal models and human tissue strips, which have limitations mostly related to relevance and scalability, respectively. Myometrial smooth muscle cells have also been isolated from patient biopsies and cultured in vitro as a more controlled experimental system. However, in vitro approaches have focused primarily on measuring the effects of biochemical stimuli and neglected biomechanical stimuli, despite the extensive evidence indicating that remodeling of tissue rigidity or excessive strain is associated with uterine disorders. In this review, we first describe the existing approaches for modeling human myometrium with animal models and human tissue strips and compare their advantages and disadvantages. Next, we introduce existing in vitro techniques and assays for assessing contractility and summarize their applications in elucidating the role of biochemical or biomechanical stimuli on human myometrium. Finally, we conclude by proposing the translation of “organ on chip” approaches to myometrial smooth muscle cells as new paradigms for establishing their fundamental mechanobiology and to serve as next-generation platforms for drug development.     

Resprouting Ability of Dry Forest Tree Species after Disturbance Does Not Relate to Propagation Possibility by Stem and Root Cuttings

Tropical dry forest tree species are recognized for their high resprouting ability after disturbance. We tested whether species that commonly produce root and stem suckers can be propagated by large stem and root cuttings, a useful method for landscape restoration programs. We performed four experiments: (1) In a greenhouse, we tested the propagation of six species using large stem cuttings collected from early successional sites. We used the following treatments: (i) dry season collection and planting; (ii) dry season collection, storage in humid soil, and wet season planting; (iii) wet season collection and planting; and (iv) wet season collection and planting after treatment with commercial NAA auxin. (2) Stem cuttings of Myracrodruon urundeuva were planted in a pasture during the rainy season after either NAA, IBA, or no auxin treatment. (3) As a control experiment, we also planted cuttings of Spondias mombin, a species known for successfully regenerating from cuttings. (4) Root cuttings of six species were collected in recently plowed pastures and planted in the greenhouse with and without treatment with NAA auxin. No root cuttings rooted. Only M. urundeuva and Astronium fraxinifolium stem cuttings rooted. Maximum success was obtained for stem cuttings collected and planted in the dry season (23%). Only 13% of M. urundeuva had sprouted by the 15th month of the field experiment. As a result, large cuttings are not recommended for propagation of the studied species. Future studies should include development of suitable methods of root harvesting and prospection of traditional knowledge for species selection.     

Presence of Bacillus coagulans spores and vegetative cells in rat intestine and feces and their physiological effects

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to investigate the presence of Bacillus coagulans vegetative cells in the intestine and fecal samples in rats fed B. coagulans spores as well as to estimate the ratios of spores and vegetative cells in these samples. A two-step process has been developed to enumerate B. coagulans in different mixed bacterial samples, specifically (1) observation of yellow ring formation on modified GYEA medium upon incubation at 55°C, (2) microscopic examination of spore formation after 7 d of incubation. Our results have demonstrated the presence of vegetative cells in the intestinal and fecal samples in rats fed B. coagulans spores. The ratios of B. coagulans spores and vegetative cells in cecal fluid, colonic content, and feces were approximately 2:8, 2:8, and 4:6, respectively. The existence of B. coagulans vegetative cells improved the intestinal milieu through an elevated short-chain fatty acid concentrations, higher fecal moisture, and lower fecal pH.     

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Different Organs of Potentilla fruticosa L. from Two Main Production Areas of China

This report compared the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the leaves, flowers, and stems of Potentilla fruticosa L. collected from two main production areas of P. R. China (Taibai Mountains and the Qinghai Huzhu Northern Mountains). The results indicated that there were significant differences in the phenol contents and antioxidant activities among the different organs and between the two productions. High‐performance liquid‐chromatography analysis indicated that hyperoside, (+)‐catechin, ellagic acid, and rutin were the primary compounds in leaves and flowers; for stems, the content of six phenolic compounds, from two productions, were the lowest. The 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) di‐ammonium salt (ABTS), ferric reducing power (FRAP), lipid peroxidation assays, and microbial test system (MTS) were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. The results demonstrated that the leaves from two productions exhibited powerful antioxidant activity than other organs, which did not significantly differ from that of the positive control (rutin), followed by the flowers and stems. The correlation between the content of phytochemicals and the antioxidant activities of different organs showed that the total phenol, tannin, hyperoside, and (+)‐catechin contents may influence the antioxidant activity, and these compounds can be used as markers for the quality control of P. fruticosa.     

Weak relationships between leaf phenology and isohydric and anisohydric behavior in lowland wet tropical forest trees

Wet tropical forest trees display a wide range of leaf phenology dynamics. However, the interrelation between deciduousness, water status, and leaf and stem characteristics have been poorly investigated compared with dry forests. We studied wet forest trees to answer the following questions: (1) do water regulation modes (iso/anisohydric behavior) of evergreen species differ from those found in deciduous species? (2) Does leaf water potential (Ψ_L) influences leaffall and emergence dynamics? (3) Are leaf and stem characteristics consistent across evergreen and deciduous trees? We evaluated vegetative phenology, Ψ_L, and leaf and stem characteristics of six evergreen and three deciduous species monthly for 2 yr. Species exhibited different leaffall and emergence dynamics, as well as different water regulation modes, independent of their deciduousness. Thus, the relationship between leaf phenology and water regulation behaviors appears to be a species‐specific property rather than a functional group attribute. Ψ_L had no direct influence on the dynamics of leaffall and/or emergence, indicating that this process is not modulated by water availability alone. Individual groups of evergreen and deciduous species could not be identified using principal component analysis (PCA), but a decoupling was observed in the leaf and stem economics spectra. The lack of an interrelation between deciduousness and iso/anisohydry, as well as the independence of leaf and stem trade‐offs, emphasizes that more systematic measurements of vegetative phenology and ecophysiological characteristics are necessary to advance our knowledge of leaf habit and water regulation behaviors based on the functional traits of wet forest plants.