Diversity, Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Epibenthic Echinoderms in Dungonab Bay, Red Sea, Sudan

The abundance, distribution and diversity of epibenthic echinoderm were investigated at Dungonab Bay in the Red Sea coastal water of the Sudan. Four permanent line transects were chosen. Eight (30 × 2) square metre belt transects along each permanent line transect at 20 metre intervals were used to collect data. The data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. Spatial variations of epibenthic echinoderm abundance were assessed with one-way analysis of variance. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was used to identify and illustrate the similarities in echinoderm abundance between line transects and between belt transects. Indices of richness (d), diversity (H'), evenness (J') and dominance (C) were used to explain the diversity of epibenthic echinoderm species. The distribution pattern of each echinoderm species was determined in each permanent line transect. A total of 986 individuals were recorded within sixteen species of epibenthic echinoderms in the four line transects. Holothuriidae was the dominant family (5 species and 342 individuals). The most abundant echinoderms species was Pearsonothuria graeffei (77 individuals, about 7.81%). Abundances intra-transects and intra-families were insignificant (f = 1.67, p = 0.183, df = 3 and f = 3.24, p = 0.083, df = 9, respectively). The highest values of Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), Pielou evenness index (J'), Margalef species richness index (d), and Simpson Dominance index (C) were 2.738, 0.9875, 2.791 and 0.07159, respectively. The distribution patterns of all species in the study transects varied between clumped and uniform, with the exception of Asthenosoma varium of the Echinothuridae family, which had clumped distribution patterns in all transects. The study concluded that Dungonab Bay supports rich and diverse communities of epibenthic echinoderms.

Diversity assessment of echinoderms from Mudasalodai and Pazhayar in the southeast coast of India

Objective:To study the echinoderms diversity in Mudasalodai and Pazhayar landing centers during November 2012 to December 2014.Methods:All the collected echinoderm samples were stored at 4℃until further use.Results:As many as 19 species of echinoderms were recorded in both stations and it belongs to 10 families,three classes such as Asteroidea,Echinoidea and Ophiuroidea.The percentage composition varied from 0.15%to 73%.The species diversity ranged from 1.031 to 2.6;species richness was from 1.02 to 4.06 and species evenness ranged from 0.93 to 0.99.K-dominance curve drawn paralleled the trend of diversity indices.Cluster and multidimensional scaling showed the similarity in echinoderms composition within the stations.Conclusions:The present investigation is evident that the echinoderm occurrence was predominant during the summer season and proved statistically by using SPSS Primer 6.0.

Participation of EML6 in the regulation of oocyte meiotic progression in mice

The generation of a high-quality egg for reproduction requires faithful segregation of chromosome during oocyte meiosis. Here, we report that echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 6(EML6) is highly expressed in oocytes, and responsible for accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes in mice. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that EML6 was predominantly expressed by oocytes in the ovaries. Whole mount immunofluorescent staining showed that EML6 was colocalized with spindle microtubules in oocytes at various stages after meiotic resumption. This specialized localization was disrupted by nocodazole, the microtubule destabilizer, while enhanced by Taxol, a microtubule stabilizing reagent. In vivo knockdown of Eml6 expression by the specific si RNA resulted in chromosome misalignment and alteration in spindle dimension at both metaphase Ⅰ and Ⅱ stages, as well as the increased aneuploidy in the mature oocytes.Thus, these data suggest that EML family proteins participate in the control of oocyte meiotic division.

Sarcoidosis mimicking metastases in an echinoderm microtubuleassociated protein-like 4 anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive nonsmall-lung cancer patient:A case report

BACKGROUND Rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)gene(ALK-positive)represent an oncogenic driver in approximately 3%-5%of non-small-lung cancer(NSCLC)patients.Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease,and its reported incidence in Asia is 1 or less per 100000 people per year.The co-occurrence of sarcoidosis and ALK-positive NSCLC is rare,and ALK-positive lung cancer is likely to spread quickly.Therefore,the co-occurrence of sarcoidosis is more easily misdiagnosed as metastatic lung cancer by radiological examination.CASE SUMMARY A 50-year-old man had a nodule in the left superior lobe,many small nodules in left superior and right lungs,and enlarged bilateral hilar,mediastinal,and right supraclavicular lymph nodes.Computed tomography-guided pulmonary biopsy of the nodule in the left superior lobe revealed echinoderm microtubuleassociated protein-like 4 gene-ALK positive NSCLC with concomitant noncaseating granuloma.This patient was treated with crizotinib.Thirty days later,a chest computed tomography scan revealed a dramatic decrease in the size of the left superior lobe nodule;however,the lesions in the right lung progressed.The right supraclavicular lymph nodes showed granulomas,and no tumor cells were identified in the specimens. The angiotensin-converting enzyme level was high.After 1 wk of methylprednisolone treatment, a significant response of all lesionswas revealed. Following radical resection of the lung cancer, noncaseatinggranulomas were observed in both lung tissues and lymph nodes, which resultedin a diagnosis of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-ALK positiveNSCLC accompanied with sarcoidosis.CONCLUSIONOur experience illustrates that pathological evidence is needed to confirmmetastatic disease, especially when some suspected metastatic lesions arenegative for malignancy.

Relationship between molecular changes in epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)mutations in lung adenocarcinoma

Objective This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)and their impact on the prognosis and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.Methods A total of 158 cases of lung adenocarcinoma reported between January 2007 and January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.These tumors were resected using radical pneumonectomy and underwent pathology-based diagnosis at our institution(Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital,Hohhot,China).The tissue sections were evaluated using the updated World Health Organization classification of lung adenocarcinomas(2015 version),with each histological component recorded in 5%increments.The histological subtypes were classified,and any surviving cases were followed up.The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and direct DNA sequencing were used to evaluate mutations in exons 18,19,20,and 21 in the EGFR gene,and the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 gene-ALK variant(EML4-ALK)fusions were detected using sequencing.Results Our cohort included 25 patients with pre-invasive adenocarcinoma,13 patients with lepidic,66 patients with acinar,13 patients with papillary,and 25 patients with solid infiltrative adenocarcinoma with the remaining cases presenting with a variety of pathological subtypes.The prognosis of each histological subtype was different with the 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival(OS)of pre-invasion adenocarcinoma at 100%;the 5-year OS of lepidic,acinar,and papillary adenocarcinoma patients was only 84.6%,72.7%,and 76.9%,respectively.The 5-year OS of solid and mucinous adenocarcinomas were 32.0%and 36.4%,respectively.EGFR mutation was detected in 69 cases with a mutation rate of 43.7%and majority of these mutations were found in exons 19(50.6%)and 21(37.9%),with women and non-smokers shown to experience a higher mutation rate(P<0.05).However,histological subtype analysis showed that EGFR mutations were primarily found in adenocarcinomas.Most of these mutations were found in lepidic(53.8%)or acinar adenocarcinomas(50.0%),whereas these mutations were rare in both solid(28.0%)and mucinous adenocarcinoma(27.2%).The fusion mutation rate in the EML4-ALK gene was 5.69%,and was most common in young,nonsmoking patients(P<0.05).Conclusion The prognosis of patients in each lung adenocarcinoma subtype is different,and these outcomes are likely related to mutations in the EGFR and EML4-ALK genes.EGFR mutation rates are higher in lepidic and acinar adenocarcinomas,whereas EML4-ALK gene fusion mutations are more common in solid and mucinous adenocarcinoma.EGFR mutations are more common in female and non-smoking patients,whereas EML4-ALK fusions are more common in young,non-smoking patients.

Sheltered preservation of cyrtocrinid crinoids from the Lower Cretaceous of Madagascar and their palaeogeographic significance

Sheltered preservation,in which organisms are trapped within shells of cephalopods,is a wellknown phenomenon.This preservational style constitutes an important source of paleontological data.Here,we report the first crinoid preserved inside the early Albian ammonite Cleoniceras besairiei Collignon from Madagascar.This crinoid is assigned to the aspidocrinid phyllocrinid(Apsidocrinus,Phyllocrinidae),and constitutes the first phyllocrinid from the African continent,the second from the southern margin of the Tethys(after New Zealand),and also from the southern hemisphere.This specimen represents the youngest occurrence of a phyllocrinid in the world as well,and constitutes one of the youngest occurrences of cyrtocrinids from shallow sea environments,before predation-induced migration of the stalked crinoids to the deep sea refugia due to the so-called Mesozoic Marine Revolution.This finding highlights that ammonite shells may also be a convenient material for studying echinoderms.

The unexpected occurrence of enigmatic'percevalicrinids'(Echinodermata,Crinoidea)in the Lower Jurassic strata of North Africa—Implications for their stratigraphic and palaeogeographic distribution and discussion on their belonging to the subfamily Balanocrininae

The marl and limestone alternations of the Lower Jurassic Ain Ouarka and Ain Rhezala formations(Pliensbachian-Toarcian)in the western Saharan Atlas,Northwest Algeria,yield a diverse micro-and mac-rofauna,including moderately numerous crinoids,which are represented by remains of isocrinids,i.e.,Bal-anocrinus ticinensis Hess and columnals of the genus Percevalicrinus.So far,the latter genus has been observed from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata of Eurasia,North America,and the African continent.Thus,the present find is the oldest record of this crinoid genus,and the second one from the southern Tethyan margin.In this paper,it is shown that Percevalicrinus,which is traditionally regarded as a representative of the subfamily Balanocrininae,displays several features of the subfamily Isocrininae.The crinoid assemblage and associated facies and invertebrate fauna are typical of a low-energy deep outer shelf/ramp(below the storm wave-base)setting.

An Algorithm for Constructing 3D Struts

A simple robust ＂strut algorithm＂ is presented which, when given a graph embedded in 3D space, thickens its edges into solid struts. Various applications, crystallographic and sculptural, are shown in which smooth high-genus forms are the output. A toolbox of algorithmic techniques allow for a variety of novel, visually engaging forms that express a mathematical aesthetic. In sculptural examples, hyperbolic tessellations in the Poincare plane are transformed in several ways to three-dimensional networks of edges embodied within a plausibly organic organization. By the use of different transformations and adjustable parameters in the algorithms, a variety of attractive forms result. The techniques produce watertight boundary representations that can be built with solid freeform fabrication equipment. The final physical output satisfies the ＂coolness criterion,＂ that passers by will pick them up and say ＂Wow, that＇s cool!＂