Survival ofPseudomonas solanacearum in soil

Summary Studies on the survival ofPseudomonas solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt of tomato, under laboratory conditions showed that soil amendments had little effect on the population of the pathogen. When the host plant was grown in amended soil there was a positive influence on growth of the pathogen. The population level of the pathogen incorporated into the soil was reduced to one-half within a period of 46 days. The pathogen survived in the rhizosphere of non-host plants belonging to the families Acanthaceae and Leguminosae even in the absence of the natural hosts, but its incidence in the rhizosphere of plants belonging to Graminae and Cyperaceae was comparatively low indicating possibilities of reducing the inoculum potential of the pathogen in tomato fields by allowing such plants to grow during fallow periods. Part of the thesis of the Senior Author presented to the Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, Kerala State, India.     

Hydroxyurea inhibits ODC induction, but not the G1 to S phase transition.

Chinese hamster ovary cells, selected in mitosis and plated into medium containing hydroxyurea, can progress through G₁ and enter S phase although bulk DNA synthesis is prevented. As the cells progress through G₁ in the presence of hydroxyurea, ornithine decarboxylase activity remains low while general protein synthesis appears unaffected. After hydroxyurea is removed, ornithine decarboxylase activity increases, but only after approximately 20% of the DNA has been replicated. These results suggest that ornithine decarboxylase induction is not essential for cellular progression into S phase but is required for the completion of DNA synthesis.     

Critical threshold meal size and molt initiation in Rhodnius prolixus

The molting process and body growth in Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) (Ståhl, 1859) are significantly influenced by the availability and quality of food. Based on the body weight of each stage, the present study provides estimates of a potential critical weight threshold required for molt initiation in R. prolixus. In addition, a new measure given by the area under the weight curve is proposed, which encapsulates both body weight and time. It is shown that this measure is consistent with the data, and allows the estimation of a pre‐refractory period (i.e. the time interval between the moment at which the critical weight threshold is reached and the moment when no further meals are accepted). The present analysis estimates the critical weight threshold as 1.6, 5.3, 12.9, 42.0 and 97.0 mg for stages 1–5, respectively, whereas the values of the area under the curve threshold as 5, 16, 31.2, 159.7 and 329.9 mg days for stages 1–5, respectively. The results of the present study confirm the existence of a weight‐dependent mechanism for the initiation of molting in R. prolixus.     

Mate guarding in relation to seasonal changes in the energy reserves of two freshwater amphipods (Gammarus fossarum and G. pulex)

1. We assessed sex‐specific seasonal changes in major energy storage compounds (triglycerides, glycogen) in Gammarus fossarum and Gammarus pulex collected from the field, with respect to their reproductive activity. 2. The dynamics of stored energy followed a seasonal pattern in both species and sexes. Moreover, over a 4‐year period, these changes were independent of the year in which they were investigated. Stored energy reached a peak in late winter, but was depleted in late summer and early autumn, coinciding with the reproductive periods. 3. Triglyceride (annual mean ± SD) accounted for 79.7 ± 11.9% of the total stored energy and was responsible for the seasonal pattern. In contrast, glycogen contributed a lesser percentage (20.3 ± 11.9%). Over the study period, the amount of stored energy ranged between 0.39 and 4.08 kJ g^?1 dry mass (triglyceride: 0.19–3.69 kJ g^?1 dry mass; glycogen: 0.14–0.80 kJ g^?1 dry mass). 4. In both species, the energy reserves of males were drastically depleted shortly before the cessation of precopulatory mate guarding in the field, thus offering a bioenergetic explanation for the reproductive period in these two widespread species.     

利多卡因经气管内给药和静脉给药对全麻苏醒期患者镇静镇痛效果、血流动力学和呛咳反应的影响

摘要 目的：探讨利多卡因经气管内给药和静脉给药对全麻苏醒期患者镇静镇痛效果、血流动力学和呛咳反应的影响。方法：选取2018年3月~2019年8月于我院在气管内全麻下完成泌尿外科、腹部外科并预计于术后可以迅速拔除气管导管的患者63例,上述患者根据随机数字表法分为A组（n=31）和B组（n=32）,A组患者给予利多卡因静脉给药,B组患者给予利多卡因经气管内给药,比较两组患者苏醒时间、拔管时间、镇静镇痛效果、血流动力学及呛咳反应。结果：两组苏醒时间、拔管时间组间比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。两组插管时、拔管时、拔管后10 min心率（HR）、收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）均呈先升高后降低趋势,且B组插管时、拔管时、拔管后10 min的HR、SBP、DBP均低于A组（P<0.05）。两组拔管时、拔管后10 min组内及组间镇静-躁动评分(SAS)比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;两组拔管后10 min疼痛视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分高于拔管时,但B组低于A组（P<0.05）。B组患者插管时、拔管时呛咳反应发生率均低于A组（P<0.05）。结论：与静脉给药相比,全麻苏醒期患者给予利多卡因经气管内给药,镇静镇痛效果确切,可减轻血流波动,降低插管时、拔管时呛咳反应发生率。     

Relationship between body condition score loss and mRNA of genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the endocannabinoid system in adipose tissue of periparturient cows

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) controls feed intake and energy balance in nonruminants. Recent studies suggested that dietary management alters the expression of members of the ECS in the liver and endometrium of dairy cows. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body condition score (BCS) loss and the mRNA abundance of genes related to fatty acid metabolism and the ECS in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) of dairy cows. The BCS was determined in multiparous (3.2 ± 0.5 lactations) Holstein cows at −21 and 42 days relative to calving (designated as d = 0). Cows were grouped into three categories according to BCS loss between both assessments as follows: (1) lost ≤0.25 unit (n = 8, low BCS loss (LBL)), (2) lost between 0.5 and 0.75 units (n = 8, moderate BCS loss (MBL)) and (3) lost ≥1 unit (n = 8, high BCS loss (HBL)). Concentrations of haptoglobin and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were determined in plasma. Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA abundance of key genes related to fatty acid metabolism, inflammation and ECS in AT. Milk yield (kg/day) between week 2 and 6 post-calving was greater in the LBL group (49.4 ± 0.75) compared to MBL (47.9 ± 0.56) and HBL (47.4 ± 0.62) groups (P < 0.05). The overall mean plasma haptoglobin and NEFA concentrations were greater in MBL and HBL groups compared with the LBL group (P < 0.05). The mRNA abundance of TNF-α, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β was greatest at 21 and 42 days post-calving in HBL, intermediate in MBL and lowest in LBL groups, respectively. Cows in the HBL group had the greatest AT gene expression for carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone sensitive lipase and adipose triglyceride lipase at 21 and 42 days post-calving (P < 0.05). Overall, mRNA abundance for very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, which are related to NEFA oxidation, were greater in MBL and HBL groups compared to the LBL group at 42 days post-calving. However, mRNA abundance of fatty acid amide hydrolase was lower at 21 and 42 days post-calving in HBL cows than in LBL cows (P < 0.05). In summary, results showed a positive association between increased degree of BCS loss, inflammation and activation of the ECS network in AT of dairy cows. Findings suggest that the ECS might play an important role in fatty acid metabolism, development of inflammation and cow’s adaptation to onset of lactation.     

淇县宋庄东周墓殉人颅骨的形态学

河南省鹤壁市的淇县宋庄东周墓地的多座墓葬不仅出土大量青铜礼乐器和陶器,而且存在人殉现象,宋庄墓地的发现为探讨东周时期豫北地区考古学文化与政治格局提供了重要线索。为了分析宋庄墓地东周墓葬人殉的种系来源,本文对其中保存较好的7例女性人殉颅骨进行了形态学分析。淇县宋庄组与仰韶文化的宝鸡组和大汶口、龙山文化的呈子组均具有较大相似性,与青铜时代的毛饮合并B组、西村周组和双楼组也较为接近。初步认为,淇县宋庄女性人殉与东周时期的豫北和晋地传统居民在体质特征存在一定的区别,而与周人畿内和郑韩故城及其以西以北地区的中原文化居民有更多的亲缘关系。     

多学科协作诊治模式下的营养干预在老年骨折患者围术期的应用

目的研究多学科协作诊治模式(MDT)下的营养干预对围术期老年骨折患者的干预效果。方法选取新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院骨科2018年9月至2019年9月收治的42例行常规治疗的围术期老年患者作为非MDT组,选取同期43例实施MDT模式并给予营养干预的围术期老年患者作为MDT组,比较两组患者术后基本情况、并发症发生情况及恢复情况。结果术后MDT组患者总蛋白、白蛋白水平均高于非MDT组,NRS2002评分、CRP、IL-6水平均低于非MDT组,差异均有统计学意义(t=-3.679 6、-4.138 8、9.073 3、-6.669 5、-4.500 2,P=0.000 4、0.000 1、0.000 1、0.000 1、0.000 1)。MDT组患者住院时间少于非MDT组,差异有统计学意义(髋关节置换术:t=2.154 8,P=0.034 1;膝关节置换术:t=2.491 9,P=0.018 9)。MDT组患者肠道功能恢复情况明显优于非MDT组,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=10.512 1,P=0.001 2)。结论 MDT模式下的营养干预能够有效促进老年骨折患者的术后康复,有利于预防并发症的发生。     

Topographic heterogeneity lengthens the duration of pollinator resources

The availability of sufficient and diverse resources across time is important for maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In this study, we examine the potential for variation in environmental conditions across topographic gradients to extend floral resource timing. Flowering time on a landscape may vary across topography due to differences in abiotic factors, species turnover, or genotypic differences. However, the extent to which this variation in phenology affects overall flowering duration on a landscape, and the components of diversity that influence flowering duration, are unexplored. We investigate whether differences in flowering time due to topography yield an overall extension in duration of flowering resources in a northern California grassland. We recorded flowering time of pollinator resource species across four successive spring growing seasons (2015–2018) on paired north and south aspects. Flowering time differences were evaluated both at the community level and within species present on both paired aspects. The role of plasticity was examined in an experimental case study using genotypes of Lasthenia gracilis. We found that aspect is a strong determinant of phenology, with earlier flowering on warmer south‐facing slopes. Aspect differences resulted in complementarity in timing of flowering resources across sites, as aspects that started flowering earlier also ended earlier. Complementarity between north and south aspects served to extend the flowering time of pollinator resources by an average of 4–8 days (8%–15%), depending on the year. This extension can be attributed to both within‐species responses to aspect differences and species turnover. Flowering of L. gracilis genotypes was distinct across aspects, demonstrating that plasticity can drive the extension of flowering duration. Our findings indicate that heterogeneous topography can extend overall flowering time of pollinator resources, which may support pollinator biodiversity. Extension was most pronounced at the community level, which incorporates species turnover as well as plastic and genotypic differences within species.     

AAI to DDD pacing mode inappropriate switches in a dual chamber pacemaker due to ventricular blanking period

A 90-year-old woman received a dual chamber pacemaker (PM) for a sick sinus syndrome. The PM was programmed with SafeR AAI-DD pacing mode at 60 bpm. During a standard follow up, some memorized electrograms (EGMs) were found in SafeR diagnostics, with atrial pacing (Ap) not followed by any ventricular sensing/pacing event, due to simultaneous junctional activity falling into ventricular blanking period during Ap and, for this reason, unsensed by the PM. Blanking periods can affect PM functioning if not revealed and adjusted.