Maastrichtian planktic foraminifera of the South Atlantic Ocean

Stratigraphic, faunal and isotopic analyses of the Maastrichtian at DSDP sites 525A and 21 in the South Atlantic reveal a planktic foraminiferal fauna characterized by two major events, an early late Maastrichtian diversification and end-Maastrichtian mass extinction. Both events are accompanied by major changes in climate and productivity. The diversification event which occurred in two steps between 70.5 and 69.1 Ma increased species richness by a total of 43% and coincided with the onset of major cooling in surface and bottom waters and increased surface productivity. The onset of the terminal decline in Maastrichtian species richness began at 67.5 Ma and the first significant decline in surface productivity occurred at 66.2 Ma, coincident maximum cooling to 13°C in surface waters and the reduction of the surface-to-deep temperature gradient to less than 5°C. Major climatic and moderate productivity changes mark the mass extinction and the last 500 kyr of the Maastrichtian. Between 200 and 400 kyr before the K-T boundary surface and deep waters warmed rapidly by 3-4°C and cooled again during the last 100 kyr of the Maastrichtian. Surface productivity decreased only moderately across the K-T boundary. Species richness began to decline during the late Maastrichtian cooling and by K-T boundary time, the mass extinction had claimed 66% of the species. Viewed within the context of Maastrichtian climate and productivity changes, the K-T mass extinction could have resulted from extreme environmental stress even without the addition of an extraterrestrial impact.

Stable isotope record of planktonic foraminifera from the western Iberian margin during marine isotope stage 2

The surface water hydrography along the western Iberian margin, as part of the North Atlantic's eastern boundary upwelling system, consists of a complex, seasonally variable system of equatorward and poleward surface and subsurface currents and seasonal upwelling. Not much information exists to ascertain if the modern current and productivity patterns subsisted under glacial climate conditions, such as during marine isotope stage (MIS) 2, and how North Atlantic meltwater events, especially Heinrich events, affected them. To help answer these questions we are combining stable isotope records of surface to subsurface dwelling planktonic foraminifer species with sea surface temperature and export productivity data for four cores distributed along the western and southwestern Iberian margin (MD95-2040, MD95-2041, MD99-2336, and MD99-2339). The records reveals that with the exception of the Heinrich events and Greenland Stadial (GS) 4 hydrographic conditions along the western Iberian margin were not much different from the present. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), subtropical surface and subsurface waters penetrated poleward to at least 40.6°N (site MD95-2040). Export productivity was, in general, high on the western margin during the LGM and low in the central Gulf of Cadiz, in agreement with the modern situation. During the Heinrich events and GS 4, on the other hand, productivity was high in the Gulf of Cadiz and suppressed in the upwelling regions along the western margin where a strong halocline inhibited upwelling. Heinrich event 1 had the strongest impact on the hydrography and productivity off Iberia and was the only period when subarctic surface waters were recorded in the central Gulf of Cadiz. South of Lisbon (39°N), the impact of the other Heinrich events was diminished, and not all of them led to a significant cooling in the surface waters. Thus, climatic impacts of Heinrich events highly varied with latitude and the prevailing hydrographic conditions in this region.

Plan of a tract of land (marked in the General Plan no. 7), containing in the whole 5000 acres, & divided into 20 plantations of 250 acres each, situate on a left hand branch of Elk River, & on the head waters of Salt Lick Creek, in Harrison County, State of Virginia /

Covers part of Harrison County (W.Va.)

Stable isotope record of Globorotalia inflata

We sampled the upper water column for living planktic foraminifera along the SW-African continental margin. The species Globorotalia inflata strongly dominates the foraminiferal assemblages with an overall relative abundance of 70-90%. The shell delta18O and delta13C values of G. inflata were measured and compared to the predicted oxygen isotope equilibrium values (delta18O(eq)) and to the carbon isotope composition of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (delta13C(DIC)) of seawater. The delta18O of G. inflata reflects the general gradient observed in the predicted delta18O(eq) profile, while the delta13C of G. inflata shows almost no variation with depth and the reflection of the delta13C(DIC) in the foraminiferal shell seems to be covered by other effects. We found that offsets between delta18O(shell) and predicted delta18O(eq) in the surface mixed layer do not correlate to changes in seawater [CO3[2-]]. To calculate an isotopic mass balance of depth integrated growth, we used the oxygen isotope composition of G. inflata to estimate the fraction of the total shell mass that is grown within each plankton tow depth interval of the upper 500 m of the water column. This approach allows us to calculate the DELTA delta13C(interval added-DIC); i.e. the isotopic composition of calcite that was grown within a given depth interval. Our results consistently show that the DELTA delta13C(IA-DIC) correlates negatively with in situ measured [CO3[2-]] of the ambient water. Using this approach, we found DELTA delta13C(IA-DIC)/[CO3[2-]] slopes for G. inflata in the large size fraction (250-355 µm) of -0.013 per mil to 0.015 per mil (µmol/kg)**-1 and of -0.013 per mil to 0.017 per mil (µmol/kg)**-1 for the smaller specimens (150-250 µm). These slopes are in the range of those found for other non-symbiotic species, such as Globigerina bulloides, from laboratory culture experiments. Since the DELTA delta13C(IA-DIC)/[CO3[2-]] slopes from our field data are nearly identical to the slopes established from laboratory culture experiments we assume that the influence of other effects, such as temperature, are negligibly small. If we correct the delta13C values of G. inflata for a carbonate ion effect, the delta13C(shell) and delta13C(DIC) are correlated with an average offset of 2.11.

Age determination, foraminiferal abundance and stable isotope ratios of sediment core CH82-20

A core from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 43.5°N and ~3 km water depth shows distinct evidence of the deglacial events known as Heinrich event 1 (probably the marine equivalent of Oldest Dryas cooling in Europe) and the Younger Dryas. The Heinrich event, dated at three levels to between 14.3 and 15.0 ka, is marked by a minimum in foraminifera per gram, by maxima in rates of sedimentation, ice rafted debris per gram, and relative abundance of N. pachyderma (s.), and by a delta18O minimum in planktonic foraminifera. The Younger Dryas event is marked by peak abundance of N. pachyderma (s.) and a planktonic delta18O maximum. Benthic foraminiferal delta13C reaches minimum values during both the Heinrich event and the Younger Dryas. Our data indicate pronounced changes in surface water properties were coupled with reduced production of North Atlantic Deep Water at each of these times.

内蒙古草原CH4 通量的DNDC 模型模拟

甲烷（CH4）是增温效应仅次于二氧化碳（CO2）的重要温室气体。内蒙古草原是欧亚温带草原的重要类型，具有典型的生态地域代表性。如何理解该区域CH4 交换的时空格局与环境控制、不同土地利用类型的源汇特征以及CH4 通量对气候变化的响应、对于我们进一步理解全球变化与陆地生态系统关系具有十分重要的意义。本研究以内蒙古草原锡林河流域为对象，首次在国内应用DNDC 生物地球化学模型模拟干草原和河漫滩湿地的CH4 通量，预测CH4 循环对未来气候变化的响应，并对该区域干草原的CH4 吸收进行了区域模拟估算。结果表明： 1.在模型中添加植被生长节律与土壤CH4 吸收的关系函数后，DNDC 模型能够准确地模拟锡林河流域干草原CH4 吸收的大小及其年变化。土壤温度、土壤水分和植被生长状况是影响干草原大气CH4 吸收的主要因素。 2.水位，土壤温度，质地和植被生长节律是控制河漫滩湿地CH4 通量的主要因子。根据有限水位测定值估算模拟周期内全部水位数据的方法能够应用于模拟水位相对比较稳定区域的未知时期水位。经过该修正的DNDC 模型能够较为准确的捕获锡林河流域河边湿地的CH4 排放通量的大小及年变化。 3.干草原和湿地年CH4 通量对温度变化敏感，而对降水量变化不敏感，其中湿地比干草原对温度变化的响应更加敏感。 4.温度升高可显著地促进干草原和湿地的日CH4 吸收和排放能力，其CH4 通量的增加均表现出明显的季节性差异。干草原日CH4 通量对降水量增加20% 的响应并不显著，而河漫滩湿地的响应虽显著，变幅却很小且增减程度不同。 5.与2005 年相比，2050 年干草原河漫滩湿地的CH4 吸收和排放量将分别增加10%和77%。锡林河流域CH4 通量对未来气候变化产生正反馈作用，并且湿地CH4 排放对未来气候变化的响应大于干草原CH4 吸收的响应。未来气候变化将增加锡林河流域CH4 源强度。 6. 锡林河流域干草原CH4 吸收量达2.42Gg C•yr-1。干草原CH4 吸收量的空间异质性较大，各栅格单元（0.01 ×0.01 度）的CH4 吸收量变化为0-404.6 kg C，其中大部分区域CH4 吸收量变化在150-250 kg C•yr-1 之间。草甸草原的大气CH4 吸收能力显著高于典型草原。干草原CH4 吸收率平均为2.59 kg C• ha-1 •yr-1。干草原CH4 吸收量的空间异质性是土壤有机质含量、土壤质地、土壤温度湿度，植被类型等因素共同作用的结果，与单一变量的关系并不明显。

利用脉冲场凝胶电泳测定东湖浮游病毒基因组的大小

采用脉冲场凝胶电泳,对东湖水样中的浮游病毒基因组大小进行了测定,显示5条主要核酸带,其大小分别为20、50、100、150和250 kb,以20~60 kb的核酸带为强,而这符合噬菌体和噬藻体的基因组主要范围,进一步证实东湖浮游病毒的优势类群为噬菌体和噬藻体.

乙草胺、甲胺磷胁迫下土壤抑真菌作用退化的微生物学机理

利用微生物分子生态学方法（16S rDNA-PCR-DGGE，clone library，ARDRA，sequencing），研究了乙草胺、甲胺磷胁迫对土壤抑真菌作用的影响及微生物学机理。首次构建了具有相同理化性质而抑真菌作用不同的土壤模型，报道了乙草胺和甲胺磷胁迫可降低土壤抑真菌作用，土壤细菌，尤其是假单胞菌群落结构以及phlD功能基因丰度和多样性与土壤抑真菌作用密切相关。 经100℃、110℃和121℃处理得到土壤抑真菌作用逐渐下降的系列土壤样品，经PCR-DGGE分析、克隆文库构建以及测序等证实了土壤细菌多样性和群落结构与土壤抑真菌作用密切相关，其中假单胞菌是重要的功能种群，酸细菌、α，β-变形细菌、节杆菌以及一些不可培养细菌可能存在潜在的抑真菌能力。 乙草胺（50、150、250 mg•Kg-1）处理可降低自然清洁土壤抑真菌能力。随着土壤抑真菌作用的逐渐下降，土壤细菌、真菌以及特异性功能种群假单胞菌和芽孢杆菌的群落结构均发生一定改变。乙草胺通过改变土壤微生物群落组成而降低土壤抑真菌作用。甲胺磷（50、150、250 mg•Kg-1）处理在低浓度时即可极大降低土壤抑真菌作用，且不同浓度处理间差异不显著。 乙草胺和甲胺磷胁迫（浓度均为50、150、250 mg•Kg-1）均能降低土壤中总的可培养假单胞菌和抗典型病原真菌立枯丝核菌（Rhizoctonia solani）的假单胞菌多样性，改变其群落结构。同时还能降低重要抗真菌抗生素2，4-DAPG合成的关键功能基因phlD的多样性。而phlD基因的丰度在甲胺磷胁迫下亦逐渐下降。上述影响在实验5周内持续存在，不可恢复。 研究结果表明乙草胺和甲胺磷胁迫可通过改变土壤细菌，尤其是假单胞菌群落结构及phlD功能基因多样性而降低土壤抑真菌作用，对土壤质量存在潜在生态风险。 此外，对土壤真菌DNA的提取方法进行了优化，得到了适于我国北方土壤类型且真菌多样性程度较高的真菌DNA提取方法。

长白山阔叶红松林种子雨组成与时空格局

种子雨是森林植物种群更新的主要方式之一，是森林生态系统自我繁衍和恢复的主要手段。为了解长白山阔叶红松林种子雨的组成及其时空变化，参照BCI 50ha 样地技术规范，在长白山阔叶红松林25ha长期监测样地内设置了150个种子收集器，从2006年5月15日到2007年11月8日，每15天收集掉落于收集器中的果实、种子及其相关附属物等。所收到的样品分别鉴定其种类并分为成熟种实、未成熟种实、花絮、果实或种子碎片及其附属物4类，记录各类别的数量，然后分别烘干称重。 研究期间，共收集到11科12属22种木本植物的种子及其它生殖器官残体，包括成熟种实16种，未成熟种实17种，花序12种，翅2种，果实或种子碎片及其附属物10种。累计收集到种实136664粒，其中成熟种实32358粒，占所有种实总数的23.80%。种实数最多的树种是紫椴(Tilia amurensis)，其次为水曲柳(Fraxinus mandshuica)，两个树种种实数占总数的89.54%。种实总重量为3320.93g，其中成熟种实总重量为1242.85g，占37.4%。成熟种实中水曲柳和紫椴的重量最大，其次是色木槭(Acer mono)，假色槭(A. pseudo-sieboldianum)、糠椴(T. mandshuric)和红松(Pinus koraiensis)。 种子雨数量年际变化明显，2006年种子雨密度为1370.25粒/m2，2007年为249.47粒/m2，差异极显著(P<0.001)。但不同年份种子雨的季节动态趋势一致，均有两个明显的大高峰期和一个小高峰期。不同物种种子雨扩散的时间格局大致可以分为“单峰”和“双峰”两种类型，在时间上体现了不同物种的更新策略。 150个收集器均收到了成熟种实，各收集器中的种实数呈偏态分布，种实数在150-250之间的收集器数量最多，共68个，种实数小于50的收集器有5个，种实数大于250的收集器共37个。样地内成熟种实数量及其空间分布差异明显，收集器中种实数在1000个以上的有3个，最多达1511个，聚集分布于样地的西北角；收集器中种实数最少的只有22个种实。种实重量的空间分布与种实数分布一样存在较明显的空间差异，只是差异性相对偏弱一些，且与种实数量的空间分布不一致。

RNAi沉默烟草GA 20-氧化酶基因研究

赤霉素是一种高效能的广谱植物生长调节剂，为五大植物激素之一，具有重要的生物学功能。目前利用赤霉素突变体研究生物合成途径和信号转导已经成为热点。 GA 20-氧化酶是GA生物合成中的一类关键酶，它位于GA合成途径的中心位置。本研究根据烟草（Nicotiana tabacum）GA 20-氧化酶基因序列，设计2对分别含有特定酶切位点的特异引物，以烟草基因组DNA为模板，扩增目的基因(约250 bp)片段。将正、反向目的片段分别插入中间载体的内含子两侧，再经BamH I和Sac I双酶切回收约700 bp的目的片段，插入到双元载体质粒p2355中，成功构建了含GA 20-氧化酶基因片段反向重复序列的植物表达载体p23700。分别将p2355质粒和p23700质粒导入根癌农杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens）EHA105中并转化烟草叶片细胞，经卡那霉素选择培养，PCR及GUS组织染色鉴定，获得转基因烟草植株。以EHA105-p2355转化的烟草，获得41株转基因植株，均没有矮化表型；而以EHA105-p23700转化的烟草，获得转基因植株14株，其中具有矮化表型的烟草10株，表明反向重复序列转录产物能形成发夹RNA(hpRNA)，产生小分子干扰RNA（small interferring RNA，简称siRNA），干扰目的基因的表达。 赤霉素含量测定表明矮化植株中赤霉素合成途径的最终产物GA3总含量明显低于野生型烟草植株。荧光定量PCR结果表明，矮化转基因烟草的GA 20-氧化酶基因表达量受到明显抑制，表达量明显低于野生型对照。同时对上游内根-贝壳杉合成酶（Ent-kaurene synthase，KS）基因，下游的GA-3β羟化酶基因进行了RT-PCR分析，结果显示上游基因的表达没有规律性变化，而下游基因表达量亦降低。上述结果表明，GA 20-氧化酶基因的表达被有效地干扰了，表达受到抑制，从而影响植株体内GA3的合成，影响植株的生长发育，导致植株矮化。并推测，GA 20-氧化酶基因受到抑制，可能影响下游基因的表达。并且通过干旱胁迫测试，发现矮化植株相对于野生型植株及不含干扰片段的转基因植株，对干旱的耐受力有了很大的提高，具有更强的耐受力。 研究结果为进一步进行相关研究奠定基础。 Gibberellin(GA) is an efficient plant growth regulator. As one of five major plant hormones, it plays an important biological function. Using GA mutant for investigating biosynthetic pathways and signal transduction has become high lights. GA 20-oxidase is a crucial enzyme involved in gibberellin biosynthesis. According to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) GA 20-oxidase enzyme gene sequence and based on binary vector p2355, we constructed a plant expression vector p23700, which habors an inverted repeat DNA fragment of GA 20-oxidase gene drivered by Cauliflower mosaic virus promtor (CaMV 35Sp). Binary plasmid p2355 had no inverted repeat DNA fragment of GA 20-oxidase gene. The vector p2355 and p23700 were introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 and tobacco leaf transformation was conducted. After selected by kanamycin and characterized by PCR and GUS hischemical reaction, transsgenic plants were obtained. Fourtheen transgenic plants, which were transformed by EHA105-p23700, were obtained. Among them, 10 were dwarf mutants. However, 41 transgenic plants with the same normal phenotype as wild type,which were transformed by EHA105-p2355, were obtained. Analysis of Gibberellin contents showed that it was lower in dwarf mutants than in normal phenotype plants. Moreover, comparing to normal phenotype plants including wild type and transgenic plants with no interference fragment, the drought tolerance of dwarf plants have greatly increased. And their proline content increased obviously after drought test. Fluorescence quantitative real time PCR (RT-PCR) showed that GA 20-oxidase gene expression was significantly inhibited in dwarf transgenic tobacco. Meanwhile, the expression of the upstream gene ent-kaurene synthase (KS) gene and downstream gene GA-3β hydroxylase gene was also detected by RT-PCR. The results presented that KS gene expression had no regular change while GA-3β hydroxylase gene expression reduced. It implied that inhibiting GA 20-oxidase gene probably reduce the expression of downstream genes. The results showed that the transcriptional products of the foreign inverted repeat fragment can form hairpin RNA (hpRNA) to induce RNAi. It presented that GA 20-oxidase gene expression was effectively interfered, resulting in reducing GA3 synthesis and inhibiting plant growth and development, then dwarf plants were produced. However, the dwarf plants had higher tolerance of drought.

The effect of supplementary feeds on the bodyweight of yaks in cold season

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementary feeds, oat hay (OH), highland barley straw (HBS) and multi-nutrient blocks supplementation (UMMB) on reducing liveweight losses of both yak cows and calves grazed on low quality pastures during cold season. The trials of OH and HBS supplementation were conducted by using completely random design on 104 yak cows between 6 and 12 years of age as the following treatments: pure grazing (41 animals, body weight 230 67 kg) as control (CK); grazing+1.5 kg DM of OH per head daily (30 animals, body weight 216 28 kg); gazing. 1.5 kg DM of HBS per head daily (33 animals, body weight 221 34 kg). The trial of UMMB was conducted on three types of yaks, 1-year calves (8-12 months old, body weight 61.1 6.9 kg), 2-year calves (18-24 months old, 98.0 11.3 kg) and yak cows (164.5 27.1 (S.D.) kg) with 20 animals in control group (CK) and 20 animals in supplement group for each type by using completely random design as the following treatments: pure grazing for CK group; grazing+ 150, 250 and 500 g UMMB per day averagely for 1-year calf, 2-year calf and cow at night. The results indicate that the animals supplemented with oat hay received body weight gain (32 20.7 g day(-1)), while those supplemented with highland barley straw still suffered from body weight loss (-56.7 39.3 a day(-1)); UMMB supplementation can decrease the body weight loss by 109.7%, 86.6% and 63.4% for the 1-year calves, 2-year calves and yak cows, respectively, as compared with pure grazing. Around US$1.60 output can be achieved on the basis of US$1 input for UMMB supplementation in the farming systems of the 1-year calves, 2-year calves and yak cows, while US$1 input can produce US$1.55 and 1.14 output for OH and FIBS supplementations, respectively, in yak cows' farming system. It can be preliminary concluded that UMMB supplementation was the most economic way to alleviate body weight loss of grazing yaks over cold season, and the higher productive returns were obtained from OH supplementation for grazing yak cows during winter/spring months. © 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

会泽铅锌矿床成矿流体研究

云南会泽铅锌矿床位于扬子板块西缘川黔滇铅锌银多金属成矿域的中南部，严格受断裂带的控制。流体包裹体、铅同位素和锶同位素的证据表明，成矿流体为不同性质流体的混合物，具有多源性。大部分矿物流体包裹体均一温度变化于150～250℃之间，部分包裹体大于300℃；盐度变化范围5％～21％，ω(NaCl)平均为13．24％；密度0．546～1．129g／cm^3；均一瞬间压力145×10^5～754×10^5Pa；成矿深度2200～2450m。流体混合后，由于大幅度的降压作用，使得成矿流体发生沸腾，流体产生过饱和，并最终导致金属矿物的析出。因此，这明显有别于MVT矿床，是一个新型的铅锌矿床。

云南会泽铅锌矿床成矿流体性质和来源—来自流体包裹体和水岩反应实验的证据

位于扬子地块西南缘川、黔、滇铅锌多金属成矿区的中南部的云南会泽铅锌矿床是我国著名的Pb、Zn、Ge生产基地之一，近年来受到很多地质学家和地学工作者的关注。本文在自己研究成果和前人资料的基础上，以云南省会泽铅锌矿床为研究对象，从脉石矿物方解石和脉石矿物热液白云石中的流体包裹体入手，详细研究矿床成矿流体的物理化学条件变化；并结合高温高压实验和前人研究成果（成矿元素分析、同位素等），详细分析该矿床的成矿流体来源、迁移机制与成矿机制，解决矿床成矿流体与围岩、基底、峨眉山玄武岩三者之间的关系，并提出合理的矿床的成因模式；并通过该课题研究，揭示成矿流体随温度、压力变化而变化的规律，了解矿床成矿元素迁移、富集和沉淀的热力学、动力学作用机制，为区域内其他铅锌矿床的找矿和研究提供理论依据。通过系统的研究，获得以下结论和成果： ⑴矿物流体包裹体均一温度主要变化于150~250℃之间，部分包裹体大于300℃；矿床矿物包裹体的形成存在两个高峰期：第一个高峰期包裹体均一温度主要集中于150~220℃，第二个高峰期包裹体均一温度主要集中于300~350℃；包裹体的捕获温度位于150℃~401℃之间，其中大部分高于200℃；盐度变化范围5~21wt% NaCl，平均值为13.24wt% NaCl；密度0.546~1.129 g/cm3；均一瞬间压力145×105Pa ~754×105Pa；成矿过程中流体曾存在沸腾作用和不混溶现象；沸腾包裹体的证据表明，成矿的深度为当时地表以下2200~2450米。因此，矿床成矿流体总体属中温-中压-中等盐度性质。 ⑵H、O同位素计算、流体包裹体、Sr同位素和水-岩反应实验结果表明，矿床成矿流体为不同来源流体混合的产物，具有多源性。而地层成矿元素含量、Pb同位素和水-岩反应实验结果证明成矿物质同样也具有多源性。因此，会泽铅锌矿床的成矿流体、成矿物质都具有多种来源。 ⑶矿床成矿条件：成矿温度为131℃~491℃，平均值为260℃；矿化时间与峨眉山玄武岩岩浆活动的时代较为相近；成矿时流体pH值为4.2~7.5，呈中性~弱碱性；金属矿物的氧逸度主要变化范围为10-55—10-20，硫逸度主要变化范围为10-30—10-10。矿石的品位主要跟流体混合、沸腾作用和断裂带宽度受到限制有关。 ⑷在该矿床，中低温（100~250℃）环境下的铅锌迁移形式有所不同，锌主要以硫氢化物络合物形式进行迁移，兼有少量氯化物络合物；而铅主要以氯化物络合物形式进行迁移，但有部分硫氢化物络合物。而在中高温条件下铅、锌基本都以氯化物络合物的形式进行迁移。影响矿物沉淀的因素很多，但流体混合作用和沸腾作用是引起会泽铅锌矿床金属矿物沉淀的主要原因。 ⑸肉红色白云岩形成的原因可能跟较为封闭的潮坪—泻湖的原始蒸发环境有关；而灰色白云岩则可能来自肉红色白云岩的淋滤交代；白色白云岩的形成则与灰岩、白云质灰岩的热液交代有关。

Immunological and microbiological activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Dilleniaceae) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for over 8 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) annually. Natural products may play important roles in the chemotherapy of TB. The immunological activity of Davilla elliptica chloroform extract (DECE) was evaluated in vitro by the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release in peritoneal macrophages cultures. DECE was also tested for its antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis using the microplate alamar blue assay. DECE (50, 150, 250 µg/ml) stimulated the production of H2O2 (from 1,79 ± 0,23 to 7,27 ± 2,54; 15,02 ± 2,86; 20,5 ± 2,1 nmols) (means ± SD), NO (from 2,64 ± 1,02 to 25,59 ± 2,29; 26,68 ± 2,41; 29,45 ± 5,87 µmols) (means ± SD) and TNF-alpha (from 2,44 ± 1,46 to 30,37 ± 8,13; 38,68 ± 1,59; 41,6 ± 0,90 units/ml) (means ± SD) in a dose-dependent manner and also showed a promising antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62,5 µg/ml. This plant may have therapeutic potential in the immunological and microbiological control of TB.

Study of the morphological alterations to enamel and dentin in human and bovine teeth after irradiation with Er : YAG laser

Objective: the purpose of this study is to make use of scanning electron microscopy in order to comparatively analyze the morphological alterations to human and bovine enamel and dentin. Earlier data: Many a morphological study involving Er:YAG laser can be found in the literature. Still, not a single study comparing the effects of this infrared laser in human and bovine teeth has been reported. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two slices of human and bovine enamel and dentin were evenly divided into four groups. With the exception of the control group, the samples were irradiated with Er:YAG laser, focused at a distance of 12 mm and a 10-Hz frequency, with 150, 250, and 350 mJ of output energy per pulse for 10 seconds. After irradiation all specimens were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Results: There was practically no morphological difference for those samples that underwent 150 mJ/pulse irradiation. The dentin exposed to 250 mJ had a few open dentinal tubules. These were seen in enamel after a 350 mJ irradiation, in which the energy was able to reach the dentin. Conclusions: the breadth of this study allows us to state that the pattern between the species grew more heterogenous as the energy density was increased and that irradiation with 150 mJ/pulse resulted in greater likeness in human and bovine enamel and dentin.