The infrageneric classification currently in use for Cymbidium is based on gross morphology, with emphasis on the number of pollinia and state of fusion between lip and column. The sequences of nrDNA regions of 27...The infrageneric classification currently in use for Cymbidium is based on gross morphology, with emphasis on the number of pollinia and state of fusion between lip and column. The sequences of nrDNA regions of 27 species and 3 cultivars of Cymbidium and 3 outgroup species ( Eulophia graminea, Geodorum densiflorum, Amitostigma pinguiculum) were analyzed using PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing. The phylogenetic trees generated from maximum parsimony analysis, however, show that the existing division among three subgenera (subgen. Cymbidium , subgen. Cyperorchis and subgen. Jensoa ) should be evaluated with more data. Subgenus Cyperorchis was not a monophyletic group, with the unexpected nesting of C. dayanum (subgen. Cymbidium ) within it; subgenus Jensoa also appeared paraphyletic, with C. lancifolium being the sister group to the remainder of the genus; species of subgen. Cymbidium appeared polyphyletic, being split into several clades and intermixed with the main subgen. Cyperorchis and subgen. Jensoa clades, respectively. However, because of the insufficiency of informative characters of ITS sequences, some of the clades identified, especially the major lineages of Cymbidium , received relatively low support; sectional delimitations were also not clear within each subgenus. Further study is needed for achieving a robust phylogeny of Cymbidium .展开更多
Antimicrobial proteins and peptides had been found from a wide variety of organisms in the last few years These molecules have attracted much research interest because of their biochemical diversity, broad specificity...Antimicrobial proteins and peptides had been found from a wide variety of organisms in the last few years These molecules have attracted much research interest because of their biochemical diversity, broad specificity on anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungi, anti-protozoan parasites, anti-tumoural, and wound-healing effects. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides play key roles in innate immunity. They interact directly with bacteria and kill them. The brown-spotted grouper, Epinephelusfario, is an important marine fish cultured in southem China. Recently, bacteria and virus have caused high mortality in E. fario cultures, but its endogenous antimicrobial peptides and proteins have not been explored. An antimicrobial component was found from the skin homogenate of E. fario. After the skin homogenate was digested with trypsin, its antimicrobial activity was lost, which showed that the antimicrobial component is a protein. The antimicrobial protein (Efap) was purified from the skin homogenate of E. fario by successive ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Efap was demonstrated to be single protein band by SDS-PAGE, with the apparent molecular weight of 41 kD. Efap exhibited antimicrobial activity both for the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, and for the Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio fluvialis, Pasteurella multocida, Aeromonas hydrophila, Eschrrichiu coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Except A. hydrophila, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli (MIC〉20 mol/L), most of the tested Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to Efap (MIC〈20 mol/L). Interestingly, Efap showed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus (MIC 5-10 mol/L) but comparatively weak antimicrobial activity against M. luteus and B. subtilis. The broad antimicrobial activities of Efap suggest that it contributes to the innate host defence of E. fario.展开更多
AIM To explore the outcomes and the appropriate treatment for patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis(AP).METHODS Statistical analysis was performed on data from the prospectively collected database of 103 ...AIM To explore the outcomes and the appropriate treatment for patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis(AP).METHODS Statistical analysis was performed on data from the prospectively collected database of 103 AP patients admitted to the Department of Surgery,Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in 2008-2013. All patients were confirmed to have the diagnosis of AP during the first 24 h following admission. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by MODS and APACHE Ⅱ scale. Clinical course was re-evaluated after 24,48 and 72 h. All patients were categorized into 3 groups based on Atlanta 2012 classification: Mild,moderately severe,and severe.Outcomes and management in moderately severe group were also compared to mild and severe cases according to Atlanta 1992 and 2012 classification.RESULTS Fifty-three-point four percent of patients had edematous while 46.6 % were diagnosed with necrotic AP. The most common cause of AP was alcohol(42.7%) followed by alimentary(26.2%),biliary(26.2%) and idiopathic(4.9%). Under Atlanta 1992 classification 56(54.4%) cases were classified as "mild" and 47(45.6%) as "severe". Using the revised classification(Atlanta 2012),the patient stratification was different: 49(47.6%) mild,27(26.2%) moderately severe and 27(26.2%) severe AP cases. The two severe groups(Atlanta 1992 and Revised Atlanta 2012) did not show statistically significant differences in clinical parameters,including ICU stay,need for interventional treatment,infected pancreatic necrosis or mortality rates. The moderately severe group of 27 patients(according to Atlanta 2012) had significantly better outcomes when compared to those 47 patients classified as severe form of AP(according to Atlanta 1992) with lower incidence of necrosis and sepsis,lower APACHE Ⅱ(P = 0.002) and MODS(P = 0.001) scores,shorter ICU stay,decreased need for interventional and surgical treatment.CONCLUSION Study shows that Atlanta 2012 criteria are more accurate,reduce unnecessary treatments for patients with mild and moderate severe pancreatitis,potentially resulting in health costs savings.展开更多
This paper deals with the dialect in the novel Beckside Lights (1897) by John Ackworth. It is a literary dialect which attempts to suggest the speech of the Bolton (Lancashire) area. As a complete research of this...This paper deals with the dialect in the novel Beckside Lights (1897) by John Ackworth. It is a literary dialect which attempts to suggest the speech of the Bolton (Lancashire) area. As a complete research of this dialect is beyond the scope, I aim to analyze some deviant spellings which affect words containing some RP long vowels/i:/, /c:/,/3:/and/a:/. A historical insight is provided to indicate the possible origins of the pronunciations suggested by the author. The findings of this study reveal important data. According to the EDD, most of the pronunciations here suggested are present in Lancashire. Many of them are also present in other northem counties, but barely in Scotland and the southem part of England. On the other hand, Graham Shorrocks in his study of the Boiton area does not provide similar pronunciations in all cases. As for the words here presented, Joseph Wright attests most of them in the EDD. Nevertheless, the EDD and the web search are fruitless in other words.展开更多
We studied distribution and site conditions of epiphytic orchids in a gradient of human interference in Kathmandu valley, central Nepal. The aim was to understand the recent distribution pattern of epiphytic orchids, ...We studied distribution and site conditions of epiphytic orchids in a gradient of human interference in Kathmandu valley, central Nepal. The aim was to understand the recent distribution pattern of epiphytic orchids, with respect to (i) the micro-site conditions and (ii) the type and intensity of land use. The occurrence of epiphytic orchids was recorded for a grid with 1.5 km cell size. The cells represent different types and intensities of human impact. Site factors such as bark rugosity, bark pH, diameter at breast height (dbh; 1.3 m) of host trees, exposure to wind and sunlight intensity were recorded. With regard to the species richness and abundance of epiphytic orchids, we compared different human impact categories from very strong human impact (settlement area) to very low human impact (national park). Remote sensing was used for a supervised classification of land cover. Ficus religiosa turned out to be the most important host species for orchids in urban areas, while Schima wallichii and Alnus nepalensis significantly host orchids in the other categories. Both species richness and abundance of epiphytic orchids were significantly higher under very low human impact (forest in national park) and also some remaining patches of primary forest than the other regions. Micro-climate is crucial for orchid populations. Host bark pH, bark rugosity, sunlight intensity and host exposure were significantly different for all human impact categories in order to harbour epiphytic orchid species. Habitats with a mixture of mature trees are suitable and essential for the conservation of viable populations of epiphytic orchids in settled areas. The study reveals that to improve the population size of orchids it is essential for future urban forestry to: (i) Protect old trees as carriers of existing epiphytic orchid diversity, (ii) protect medium old trees to ensure that they may become old trees, (iii) plant new host trees for the future, (iv) plant in groups instead of single isolate trees. Trees should especially be planted in areas where orchids still exist to provide more trees for orchid population enlargement (e.g. along riparian system). Native species should be favoured; the pool of such native host species is wide.展开更多
Loto'i Tongas"the big heart"-is a term describing all that is Tongan: the passion, joy, spirit, and the mind. This quality of being Tongan shapes the way in which Tongans work together to achieve successful outcom...Loto'i Tongas"the big heart"-is a term describing all that is Tongan: the passion, joy, spirit, and the mind. This quality of being Tongan shapes the way in which Tongans work together to achieve successful outcomes. Loto'i Tonga influences activities such as community development projects, social and health services initiatives, as well as the passion seen when Tongan engages in sporting activities. This case study describes a community development project in West Auckland, New Zealand, which brought together the Tongan community. The primary aim of the project was to improve the health and wellbeing of Tongans living in West Auckland. Conducted over several years, the project resulted in the establishment of vegetable gardens, a Tongan pre-school centre, and a woman's home-based development initiative resulting in the production of a variety of crafts as well as well-being activities. These successful outcomes provide a clear message to both Tongan and non-Tongan leaders that a way to success in Tongan community development is to empower Tongans to be able to lead and take control over determinants of their life and their well-being. Loto'i Tonga is a key cultural value that determines such outcomes.展开更多
The Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Patricii (Treatise on Saint Patrick's Purgatory), written approximately 1180-1215 for a monastic audience in England, is credited with being the earliest literary vision of purgat...The Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Patricii (Treatise on Saint Patrick's Purgatory), written approximately 1180-1215 for a monastic audience in England, is credited with being the earliest literary vision of purgatory. The description of purgatory in the work is basic to our understanding of it even today. The work quickly became popular and was copied in a number of versions, first in Latin for the clergy, and later in many vernacular languages. The Latin versions emphasize the religious aspects of the story, including homilies, exemplary tales, and testimonials unrelated to the basic plot, while the vernacular versions highlight the adventure of the knight Owein, downplaying or eliminating entirely many of the religious features and appealing to a lay audience who sought entertainment rather than edification. This essay considers the transformation of the Tractatus, particularly in two Anglo-Norman versions, one by Marie de France, the other by an anonymous redactor, on behalf of an audience that was becoming more familiar with romances and who craved them. Finally, the image of St. Patrick's Purgatory is so enduring that even today its reputed location in Ireland attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims annually.展开更多
The relationship between the variability of the surface elevation of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) in winter and sea level pressure is identified through analysis of data from satellite-borne radar altimeters, togethe...The relationship between the variability of the surface elevation of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) in winter and sea level pressure is identified through analysis of data from satellite-borne radar altimeters, together with meteorological data fields during 1993 2005. We found that both the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the two major teleconnection patterns of the atmospheric surface pressure fields in the Northern Hemisphere, significantly influence the GIS winter elevation change. Further, it is suggested that the NPO may affect the GIS accumulation by influencing the NAO, particularly by changing the intensity and location of the Icelandic Low.展开更多
HPRP-A1, a 15-mer α-helical cationic peptide, was derived from N-terminus of ribosomal protein L1 (RpL1) of Helicobacter pylori. In this study, HPRP-A1 was used as a framework to obtain a series of peptide analogs wi...HPRP-A1, a 15-mer α-helical cationic peptide, was derived from N-terminus of ribosomal protein L1 (RpL1) of Helicobacter pylori. In this study, HPRP-A1 was used as a framework to obtain a series of peptide analogs with different hydrophobicity by single amino acid substitutions in the center of nonpolar face of the amphipathic helix in order to systematically study the effect of hydrophobicity on biological activities of -helical antimicrobial peptides. Hydrophobicity and net charge of peptides played key roles in the biological activities of these peptide analogs; HPRP-A1 and peptide analogs with relative higher hydrophobicity exerted broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and pathogenic fungi, but also showed stronger hemolytic activity; the change of hydrophobicity and net charge of peptides had similar effects with close trend and extent on antibacterial activities and antifungal activities. This indicated that there were certain correlations between the antibacterial mode of action and the antifungal mode of action of these peptides in this study. The peptides exhibited antimicrobial specificity for bacteria and fungi, which provided potentials to develop new antimicrobial drugs for clinical practices.展开更多
Purpose: To investigate and analyze the clinical and etiological characteristics of community-acquired intraabdominal infections (CIAIs) and hospital-acquired or nosocomial intraabdominal infections (NIAIs) in a ...Purpose: To investigate and analyze the clinical and etiological characteristics of community-acquired intraabdominal infections (CIAIs) and hospital-acquired or nosocomial intraabdominal infections (NIAIs) in a comprehensive hospital, to understand the characteristics, pathogen composition, and drug resistance of CIAls as well as NIAIs, and to provide a reference for clinical treatment. Methods: We collected the clinical data of patients with intraabdominal infections admitted to our hospital from June 2013 to June 2014. In vitro drug sensitivity tests were conducted to separate pathogens, and the data were analyzed using the WHONET 5.4 software and SPSS 13.0 software. Results: A total of 221 patients were enrolled in the study, including 144 with CIAls (55 mild-moderate and 89 severe) and 77 with NIAIs. We isolated 322 pathogenic strains, including 234 strains of gramnegative bacteria, 82 strains of gram-positive bacteria, and 6 strains of fungi. Based on clinical features, NIAIs and severe ClAls presented significantly higher values in age, length of hospital stay, mortality, and the incidence of severe intra-abdominal infection than mild-moderate CIAIs (p 〈 0.05). There was no significant difference in the prognosis between NIAIs and severe CIAIs. Primary diseases leading to CIAIs and NIAIs mostly were hepatobiliary diseases and gastrointestinal diseases respectively. Bacteria isolated from various types of IAls mainly were Enterobacteriaceae; mild-moderate CIAIs mostly were mono-infection of gram-negative bacteria; NIAIs mostly were mixed infections of gram-negative and grampositive bacteria; and severe CIAls were from either type of infection. The rate of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase-producing Escherichia coil and Klebsiella pneurnoniae was much higher in NIAIs than in CIAIs (p 〈 0.05). The antimicrobial drug sensitivity of gram-negative bacteria isolated from NIAIs was significantly lower than that of CIAIs. Conclusion: CIAIs and NIAIs have their own unique clinical features and epidemiological features of pathogens which should be considered during the initial empiric therapy for the rational use of anti- microbial drugs. Regional IAls pathogenic bacteria have their own features in drug resistance, slightly different from some recommendations of 2010 Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.展开更多
New Zealand, as a nation, has been in existence for less than two cen- turies-whether one dates its assumption of sovereignty to the 1835 Declaration of Independence by the Confederation of United Tribes, the 1840 Tre...New Zealand, as a nation, has been in existence for less than two cen- turies-whether one dates its assumption of sovereignty to the 1835 Declaration of Independence by the Confederation of United Tribes, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown, or its attainment of Dominion status in 1907. The question of a separate cultural identity for this post-colonial, multi-cultural country has therefore always been a complex one, and one which has had a strong influence on much of our artistic expression to date: particularly, perhaps because of its inherent tendency towards the self-analysis only really possible within language, literature. The fact that our most famous locally born writer to date, Katherine Mansfield, specialised in the short story has certainly helped to establish that as a vital genre here. This paper accordingly takes four successive anthologies of local short fiction--Frank Sargeson's Speaking for Ourselves (1945), Michael Morris- sey's The New Fiction (1985), Warwick Bennett and Patrick Hudson's Rutherford's Dreams (1995), and Tina Shaw and Jack Ross's Myth of the twenty-firstCentury (2006)--and attempts to characterise their respective, overlapping visions of New Zealand identity by conducting a close reading of a representative story from each of them. The essay concludes with a call for a new anthology which might attempt to give expression to this series of gradual erosions of our initial cultural certainties into something more adequate to the realities of our place in the world, both geo- graphically and culturally.展开更多
Plant phylogeny constrains orchid mycorrhizal(OrM) fungal community composition in some orchids. Here, we investigated the structures of the OrM fungal communities of eight Dendrobium species in one niche to determine...Plant phylogeny constrains orchid mycorrhizal(OrM) fungal community composition in some orchids. Here, we investigated the structures of the OrM fungal communities of eight Dendrobium species in one niche to determine whether similarities in the OrM fungal communities correlated with the phylogeny of the host plants and whether the Dendrobium-OrM fungal interactions are phylogenetically conserved. A phylogeny based on DNA data was constructed for the eight coexisting Dendrobium species,and the OrM fungal communities were characterized by their roots. There were 31 different fungal lineages associated with the eight Dendrobium species. In total, 82.98% of the identified associations belonging to Tulasnellaceae, and a smaller proportion involved members of the unknown Basidiomycota(9.67%). Community analyses revealed that phylogenetically related Dendrobium tended to interact with a similar set of Tulasnellaceae fungi. The interactions between Dendrobium and Tulasnellaceae fungi were significantly influenced by the phylogenetic relationships among the Dendrobium species. Our results provide evidence that the mycorrhizal specificity in the eight coexisting Dendrobium species was phylogenetically conserved.展开更多
Magnolia grandiflora is an important medicinal, ornamental and horticultural plant species. The chloroplast (cp) genome of M. grandiflora was sequenced using a 454 sequencing platform and the genome structure was co...Magnolia grandiflora is an important medicinal, ornamental and horticultural plant species. The chloroplast (cp) genome of M. grandiflora was sequenced using a 454 sequencing platform and the genome structure was compared with other related species. The complete cp genome ofM. grandiflora was 159623 bp in length and contained a pair of inverted repeats (IR) of 26563 bp separated by large and small single copy (LSC, SSC) regions of 87757 and 18740 bp, respectively. A total of 129 genes were successfully annotated, 18 of which included introns. The identity, number and GC content of M. grandiflora cp genes were similar to those of other Magnoliaceae species genomes. Analysis revealed 218 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, most composed of A or T, contributing to a bias in base composition. The types and abundances of repeat units in Magnoliaceae species were relatively conserved and these loci will be useful for developing M. grandiflora cp genome vectors. In addition, results indicated that the cp genome size in Magnoliaceae species and the position of the IR border were closely related to the length of the ycfl gene. Phylogenetic analyses based on 66 shared genes from 30 species using maximum parsimony (MP) and max- imum likelihood (ML) methods provided strong support for the phylogenetic position of Magnolia. The availability of the complete cp genome sequence of M. grandiflora provides valuable information for breeding of desirable varieties, cp genetic engineering, developing useful molecular markers and phylogenetic analyses in Magnoliaceae.展开更多
文摘The infrageneric classification currently in use for Cymbidium is based on gross morphology, with emphasis on the number of pollinia and state of fusion between lip and column. The sequences of nrDNA regions of 27 species and 3 cultivars of Cymbidium and 3 outgroup species ( Eulophia graminea, Geodorum densiflorum, Amitostigma pinguiculum) were analyzed using PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing. The phylogenetic trees generated from maximum parsimony analysis, however, show that the existing division among three subgenera (subgen. Cymbidium , subgen. Cyperorchis and subgen. Jensoa ) should be evaluated with more data. Subgenus Cyperorchis was not a monophyletic group, with the unexpected nesting of C. dayanum (subgen. Cymbidium ) within it; subgenus Jensoa also appeared paraphyletic, with C. lancifolium being the sister group to the remainder of the genus; species of subgen. Cymbidium appeared polyphyletic, being split into several clades and intermixed with the main subgen. Cyperorchis and subgen. Jensoa clades, respectively. However, because of the insufficiency of informative characters of ITS sequences, some of the clades identified, especially the major lineages of Cymbidium , received relatively low support; sectional delimitations were also not clear within each subgenus. Further study is needed for achieving a robust phylogeny of Cymbidium .
基金Key Research Program for International Cooperation(2005DFA30610)Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(NCET-05-0755)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation(30700128)Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(80623)Research Foundation of Education Department of Hainan Province(Hj200731)
文摘Antimicrobial proteins and peptides had been found from a wide variety of organisms in the last few years These molecules have attracted much research interest because of their biochemical diversity, broad specificity on anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungi, anti-protozoan parasites, anti-tumoural, and wound-healing effects. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides play key roles in innate immunity. They interact directly with bacteria and kill them. The brown-spotted grouper, Epinephelusfario, is an important marine fish cultured in southem China. Recently, bacteria and virus have caused high mortality in E. fario cultures, but its endogenous antimicrobial peptides and proteins have not been explored. An antimicrobial component was found from the skin homogenate of E. fario. After the skin homogenate was digested with trypsin, its antimicrobial activity was lost, which showed that the antimicrobial component is a protein. The antimicrobial protein (Efap) was purified from the skin homogenate of E. fario by successive ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Efap was demonstrated to be single protein band by SDS-PAGE, with the apparent molecular weight of 41 kD. Efap exhibited antimicrobial activity both for the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, and for the Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio fluvialis, Pasteurella multocida, Aeromonas hydrophila, Eschrrichiu coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Except A. hydrophila, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli (MIC〉20 mol/L), most of the tested Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to Efap (MIC〈20 mol/L). Interestingly, Efap showed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus (MIC 5-10 mol/L) but comparatively weak antimicrobial activity against M. luteus and B. subtilis. The broad antimicrobial activities of Efap suggest that it contributes to the innate host defence of E. fario.
文摘AIM To explore the outcomes and the appropriate treatment for patients with moderately severe acute pancreatitis(AP).METHODS Statistical analysis was performed on data from the prospectively collected database of 103 AP patients admitted to the Department of Surgery,Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in 2008-2013. All patients were confirmed to have the diagnosis of AP during the first 24 h following admission. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by MODS and APACHE Ⅱ scale. Clinical course was re-evaluated after 24,48 and 72 h. All patients were categorized into 3 groups based on Atlanta 2012 classification: Mild,moderately severe,and severe.Outcomes and management in moderately severe group were also compared to mild and severe cases according to Atlanta 1992 and 2012 classification.RESULTS Fifty-three-point four percent of patients had edematous while 46.6 % were diagnosed with necrotic AP. The most common cause of AP was alcohol(42.7%) followed by alimentary(26.2%),biliary(26.2%) and idiopathic(4.9%). Under Atlanta 1992 classification 56(54.4%) cases were classified as "mild" and 47(45.6%) as "severe". Using the revised classification(Atlanta 2012),the patient stratification was different: 49(47.6%) mild,27(26.2%) moderately severe and 27(26.2%) severe AP cases. The two severe groups(Atlanta 1992 and Revised Atlanta 2012) did not show statistically significant differences in clinical parameters,including ICU stay,need for interventional treatment,infected pancreatic necrosis or mortality rates. The moderately severe group of 27 patients(according to Atlanta 2012) had significantly better outcomes when compared to those 47 patients classified as severe form of AP(according to Atlanta 1992) with lower incidence of necrosis and sepsis,lower APACHE Ⅱ(P = 0.002) and MODS(P = 0.001) scores,shorter ICU stay,decreased need for interventional and surgical treatment.CONCLUSION Study shows that Atlanta 2012 criteria are more accurate,reduce unnecessary treatments for patients with mild and moderate severe pancreatitis,potentially resulting in health costs savings.
文摘This paper deals with the dialect in the novel Beckside Lights (1897) by John Ackworth. It is a literary dialect which attempts to suggest the speech of the Bolton (Lancashire) area. As a complete research of this dialect is beyond the scope, I aim to analyze some deviant spellings which affect words containing some RP long vowels/i:/, /c:/,/3:/and/a:/. A historical insight is provided to indicate the possible origins of the pronunciations suggested by the author. The findings of this study reveal important data. According to the EDD, most of the pronunciations here suggested are present in Lancashire. Many of them are also present in other northem counties, but barely in Scotland and the southem part of England. On the other hand, Graham Shorrocks in his study of the Boiton area does not provide similar pronunciations in all cases. As for the words here presented, Joseph Wright attests most of them in the EDD. Nevertheless, the EDD and the web search are fruitless in other words.
文摘We studied distribution and site conditions of epiphytic orchids in a gradient of human interference in Kathmandu valley, central Nepal. The aim was to understand the recent distribution pattern of epiphytic orchids, with respect to (i) the micro-site conditions and (ii) the type and intensity of land use. The occurrence of epiphytic orchids was recorded for a grid with 1.5 km cell size. The cells represent different types and intensities of human impact. Site factors such as bark rugosity, bark pH, diameter at breast height (dbh; 1.3 m) of host trees, exposure to wind and sunlight intensity were recorded. With regard to the species richness and abundance of epiphytic orchids, we compared different human impact categories from very strong human impact (settlement area) to very low human impact (national park). Remote sensing was used for a supervised classification of land cover. Ficus religiosa turned out to be the most important host species for orchids in urban areas, while Schima wallichii and Alnus nepalensis significantly host orchids in the other categories. Both species richness and abundance of epiphytic orchids were significantly higher under very low human impact (forest in national park) and also some remaining patches of primary forest than the other regions. Micro-climate is crucial for orchid populations. Host bark pH, bark rugosity, sunlight intensity and host exposure were significantly different for all human impact categories in order to harbour epiphytic orchid species. Habitats with a mixture of mature trees are suitable and essential for the conservation of viable populations of epiphytic orchids in settled areas. The study reveals that to improve the population size of orchids it is essential for future urban forestry to: (i) Protect old trees as carriers of existing epiphytic orchid diversity, (ii) protect medium old trees to ensure that they may become old trees, (iii) plant new host trees for the future, (iv) plant in groups instead of single isolate trees. Trees should especially be planted in areas where orchids still exist to provide more trees for orchid population enlargement (e.g. along riparian system). Native species should be favoured; the pool of such native host species is wide.
文摘Loto'i Tongas"the big heart"-is a term describing all that is Tongan: the passion, joy, spirit, and the mind. This quality of being Tongan shapes the way in which Tongans work together to achieve successful outcomes. Loto'i Tonga influences activities such as community development projects, social and health services initiatives, as well as the passion seen when Tongan engages in sporting activities. This case study describes a community development project in West Auckland, New Zealand, which brought together the Tongan community. The primary aim of the project was to improve the health and wellbeing of Tongans living in West Auckland. Conducted over several years, the project resulted in the establishment of vegetable gardens, a Tongan pre-school centre, and a woman's home-based development initiative resulting in the production of a variety of crafts as well as well-being activities. These successful outcomes provide a clear message to both Tongan and non-Tongan leaders that a way to success in Tongan community development is to empower Tongans to be able to lead and take control over determinants of their life and their well-being. Loto'i Tonga is a key cultural value that determines such outcomes.
文摘The Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Patricii (Treatise on Saint Patrick's Purgatory), written approximately 1180-1215 for a monastic audience in England, is credited with being the earliest literary vision of purgatory. The description of purgatory in the work is basic to our understanding of it even today. The work quickly became popular and was copied in a number of versions, first in Latin for the clergy, and later in many vernacular languages. The Latin versions emphasize the religious aspects of the story, including homilies, exemplary tales, and testimonials unrelated to the basic plot, while the vernacular versions highlight the adventure of the knight Owein, downplaying or eliminating entirely many of the religious features and appealing to a lay audience who sought entertainment rather than edification. This essay considers the transformation of the Tractatus, particularly in two Anglo-Norman versions, one by Marie de France, the other by an anonymous redactor, on behalf of an audience that was becoming more familiar with romances and who craved them. Finally, the image of St. Patrick's Purgatory is so enduring that even today its reputed location in Ireland attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims annually.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX2-YW-Q1-02)the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2009CB421406) and the Nansen Scientific Society in Norway
文摘The relationship between the variability of the surface elevation of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) in winter and sea level pressure is identified through analysis of data from satellite-borne radar altimeters, together with meteorological data fields during 1993 2005. We found that both the North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the two major teleconnection patterns of the atmospheric surface pressure fields in the Northern Hemisphere, significantly influence the GIS winter elevation change. Further, it is suggested that the NPO may affect the GIS accumulation by influencing the NAO, particularly by changing the intensity and location of the Icelandic Low.
基金Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(201015130)the Youth Foundation of Jilin Province (20100126)
文摘HPRP-A1, a 15-mer α-helical cationic peptide, was derived from N-terminus of ribosomal protein L1 (RpL1) of Helicobacter pylori. In this study, HPRP-A1 was used as a framework to obtain a series of peptide analogs with different hydrophobicity by single amino acid substitutions in the center of nonpolar face of the amphipathic helix in order to systematically study the effect of hydrophobicity on biological activities of -helical antimicrobial peptides. Hydrophobicity and net charge of peptides played key roles in the biological activities of these peptide analogs; HPRP-A1 and peptide analogs with relative higher hydrophobicity exerted broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and pathogenic fungi, but also showed stronger hemolytic activity; the change of hydrophobicity and net charge of peptides had similar effects with close trend and extent on antibacterial activities and antifungal activities. This indicated that there were certain correlations between the antibacterial mode of action and the antifungal mode of action of these peptides in this study. The peptides exhibited antimicrobial specificity for bacteria and fungi, which provided potentials to develop new antimicrobial drugs for clinical practices.
文摘Purpose: To investigate and analyze the clinical and etiological characteristics of community-acquired intraabdominal infections (CIAIs) and hospital-acquired or nosocomial intraabdominal infections (NIAIs) in a comprehensive hospital, to understand the characteristics, pathogen composition, and drug resistance of CIAls as well as NIAIs, and to provide a reference for clinical treatment. Methods: We collected the clinical data of patients with intraabdominal infections admitted to our hospital from June 2013 to June 2014. In vitro drug sensitivity tests were conducted to separate pathogens, and the data were analyzed using the WHONET 5.4 software and SPSS 13.0 software. Results: A total of 221 patients were enrolled in the study, including 144 with CIAls (55 mild-moderate and 89 severe) and 77 with NIAIs. We isolated 322 pathogenic strains, including 234 strains of gramnegative bacteria, 82 strains of gram-positive bacteria, and 6 strains of fungi. Based on clinical features, NIAIs and severe ClAls presented significantly higher values in age, length of hospital stay, mortality, and the incidence of severe intra-abdominal infection than mild-moderate CIAIs (p 〈 0.05). There was no significant difference in the prognosis between NIAIs and severe CIAIs. Primary diseases leading to CIAIs and NIAIs mostly were hepatobiliary diseases and gastrointestinal diseases respectively. Bacteria isolated from various types of IAls mainly were Enterobacteriaceae; mild-moderate CIAIs mostly were mono-infection of gram-negative bacteria; NIAIs mostly were mixed infections of gram-negative and grampositive bacteria; and severe CIAls were from either type of infection. The rate of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase-producing Escherichia coil and Klebsiella pneurnoniae was much higher in NIAIs than in CIAIs (p 〈 0.05). The antimicrobial drug sensitivity of gram-negative bacteria isolated from NIAIs was significantly lower than that of CIAIs. Conclusion: CIAIs and NIAIs have their own unique clinical features and epidemiological features of pathogens which should be considered during the initial empiric therapy for the rational use of anti- microbial drugs. Regional IAls pathogenic bacteria have their own features in drug resistance, slightly different from some recommendations of 2010 Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.
文摘New Zealand, as a nation, has been in existence for less than two cen- turies-whether one dates its assumption of sovereignty to the 1835 Declaration of Independence by the Confederation of United Tribes, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown, or its attainment of Dominion status in 1907. The question of a separate cultural identity for this post-colonial, multi-cultural country has therefore always been a complex one, and one which has had a strong influence on much of our artistic expression to date: particularly, perhaps because of its inherent tendency towards the self-analysis only really possible within language, literature. The fact that our most famous locally born writer to date, Katherine Mansfield, specialised in the short story has certainly helped to establish that as a vital genre here. This paper accordingly takes four successive anthologies of local short fiction--Frank Sargeson's Speaking for Ourselves (1945), Michael Morris- sey's The New Fiction (1985), Warwick Bennett and Patrick Hudson's Rutherford's Dreams (1995), and Tina Shaw and Jack Ross's Myth of the twenty-firstCentury (2006)--and attempts to characterise their respective, overlapping visions of New Zealand identity by conducting a close reading of a representative story from each of them. The essay concludes with a call for a new anthology which might attempt to give expression to this series of gradual erosions of our initial cultural certainties into something more adequate to the realities of our place in the world, both geo- graphically and culturally.
基金supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (81274197)
文摘Plant phylogeny constrains orchid mycorrhizal(OrM) fungal community composition in some orchids. Here, we investigated the structures of the OrM fungal communities of eight Dendrobium species in one niche to determine whether similarities in the OrM fungal communities correlated with the phylogeny of the host plants and whether the Dendrobium-OrM fungal interactions are phylogenetically conserved. A phylogeny based on DNA data was constructed for the eight coexisting Dendrobium species,and the OrM fungal communities were characterized by their roots. There were 31 different fungal lineages associated with the eight Dendrobium species. In total, 82.98% of the identified associations belonging to Tulasnellaceae, and a smaller proportion involved members of the unknown Basidiomycota(9.67%). Community analyses revealed that phylogenetically related Dendrobium tended to interact with a similar set of Tulasnellaceae fungi. The interactions between Dendrobium and Tulasnellaceae fungi were significantly influenced by the phylogenetic relationships among the Dendrobium species. Our results provide evidence that the mycorrhizal specificity in the eight coexisting Dendrobium species was phylogenetically conserved.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30970307, 81130069)the Innovation Research Team of the University of Ministry of Education of China (IRT1150)
文摘Magnolia grandiflora is an important medicinal, ornamental and horticultural plant species. The chloroplast (cp) genome of M. grandiflora was sequenced using a 454 sequencing platform and the genome structure was compared with other related species. The complete cp genome ofM. grandiflora was 159623 bp in length and contained a pair of inverted repeats (IR) of 26563 bp separated by large and small single copy (LSC, SSC) regions of 87757 and 18740 bp, respectively. A total of 129 genes were successfully annotated, 18 of which included introns. The identity, number and GC content of M. grandiflora cp genes were similar to those of other Magnoliaceae species genomes. Analysis revealed 218 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, most composed of A or T, contributing to a bias in base composition. The types and abundances of repeat units in Magnoliaceae species were relatively conserved and these loci will be useful for developing M. grandiflora cp genome vectors. In addition, results indicated that the cp genome size in Magnoliaceae species and the position of the IR border were closely related to the length of the ycfl gene. Phylogenetic analyses based on 66 shared genes from 30 species using maximum parsimony (MP) and max- imum likelihood (ML) methods provided strong support for the phylogenetic position of Magnolia. The availability of the complete cp genome sequence of M. grandiflora provides valuable information for breeding of desirable varieties, cp genetic engineering, developing useful molecular markers and phylogenetic analyses in Magnoliaceae.