Fossil biotas from the Okanagan Highlands, southern British Columbia and northeastern Washington State: climates and ecosystems across an Eocene landscape

The late Early to early Middle Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil sites, spanning -1000 km north-south (northeastern Washington State, southern British Columbia) provide an opportunity to reconstruct biotic communities across a broad upland landscape during the warmest part of the Cenozoic. Plant taxa from these fossil sites are characteristic of the modern eastern North American deciduous forest zone, principally the mixed mesophytic forest, but also include extinct taxa, taxa known only from eastern Asian mesothermal forests, and a small number of taxa restricted to the present-day North American west coast coniferous biome. In this preliminary report, paleoclimates and forest types are reconstructed using collections from Republic in Washington State, USA., and Princeton, Quilchena, Falkland, McAbee, Hat Creek, Horsefly, and Driftwood Canyon in British Columbia, Canada. Both leaf margin analysis (LMA) and quantitative bioclimatic analysis of identified nearest living relatives of megaflora indicated upper microthermal to lower mesothermal moist environments (MAT -10-15 degrees C, CMMT > 0 degrees C, MAP > 100 cm/year). Some taxa common to most sites suggest cool conditions (e.g., Abies, other Pinaceae; Alnus, other Betulaceae). However, all floras contain a substantive broadleaf deciduous element (e.g., Fagaceae, Juglandaceae) and conifers (e.g., Metasequoia) with the bioclimatic analysis yielding slightly higher MAT than LMA. Thermophilic (principally mesothermal) taxa include various insects, the aquatic fern Azolla, palms, the banana relative Ensete, taxodiaceous conifers, Eucommia and Gordonia, taxa which may have occurred near their climatic limits. The mixture of thermophilic and temperate insect and plant taxa indicates low-temperature seasonality (i.e., highly equable climate).

Streptococcus milleri -ryhmä : Tunnistus lajitasolle ja esiintyvyys tietyissä infektioissa

S. milleri -ryhmän bakteerit ovat osa ihmisen suun, nielun, suoliston ja genitaalialueen normaaliflooran bakteeristoa. Kommensaalien lisäksi ryhmään kuuluu myös merkittäviä patogeenejä, jotka esiintyvät varsin runsaina löydöksinä monenlaisissa märkivissä infektioissa. Ryhmään kuuluu kolme lajia: S. anginosus, S. constellatus ja S. intermedius. Lajit ovat varsin samankaltaisia ja raportoidaankin usein vain ryhmänimellä. Lajit ovat kuitenkin erotettavissa, sillä ne eroavat toisistaan tuottamiensa entsyymien suhteen ja esiintyvyydessään kehon eri osissa. Työn tarkoituksena oli tunnistaa erityyppisistä kliinisistä infektioista otetuista näytteistä eristettyjä S. milleri -ryhmään luokiteltuja kantoja lajitasolle ja selvittää niiden esiintymisyleisyyttä näissä infektioissa. Näytteenottopaikat jaettiin viiteen ryhmään: naisten urogenitaalialue (15 kantaa), miesten urogenitaalialue (8 kantaa), oraaliset (28 kantaa), umpisuoli (34 kantaa) ja "muut" (12 kantaa). Lajitunnistuksen lisäksi selvitettiin kantojen hemolyyttisyys ja mahdollinen Lancefield-seroryhmä (A, C, F, G). Lajien erottelu perustuu eroihin bakteerien kyvyissä hajottaa tiettyjä substraatteja (entsyymiprofilointi), hemolyyttisyys määritettiin verimaljalla ja seroryhmitys tehtiin kaupallisella vasta-aine-sakkautumistestillä (Streptex latex Z1- 50). Työssä testattiin käytössä olevia ja kehiteltiin uusia, lähinnä ennalta muodostuneiden entsyymien tunnistamiseen perustuvia erottelumenetelmiä. Vertailtavina oli kolme entsyymiprofiliontimenetelmää, joista yksi on fluorogeeninen (4-Metyyli-umbelliferyyli-subtraatit) ja kaksi kromogeenistä (Weetabs ja RoscoDiagnostic tablets). Kannoilta määritettiin seuraavat aktiivisuudet: ?-fukosidaasi, (?-glukosidaasi, glukosidaasi, ?-galaktosidaaasi, ?-N-asetyyli-galaktosaminidaasi, ?-N-asetyyli-glukosaminidaasi, sialidaasi ja hyaluronidaasi. Työhön sisältyy myös erilaisten kasvatusalustojen sekä pH:n vaikutusten arviointia bakteerienentsyymiaktiivisuuksiin ja testituloksiin. Lisäksi työssä testattiin kromatografisensoluseinärasvahappoanalyysin soveltuvuutta lajien erotteluun. Menetelmiä tarkasteltiin herkkyyden sekäkäytännön suorittamisen ja aiheutuvien kustannusten kannalta. Asetetut tavoitteet saavutettiin. Kaikki käytetyt menetelmät osoittautuivat toimiviksi. Entsyymitestien tuloksetkorreloivat keskenään ja kirjallisuuden kanssa hyvin. Kannat karakterisoitiin, tunnistettiin lajitasolle ja lajiensiintyvyyttä kehon eri osissa voitiin vertailla. Mikään entsyymitesti ei osoittautunut ylivoimaisesti parhaaksi tai huonoimmaksi, vaikkakin yksittäistensubstraattien kohdalla eri testien herkkyydet vaihtelivatkin huomattavasti. Rasvahappoanalyysi ei erotellutkantoja toivotulla tavalla, joten sen käytöstä luovuttiin työn melko varhaisessa vaiheessa. Tutkituista 97 S. milleri -kannasta tunnistettiin 58 S. anginosus-kantaa, 29 S. constellatus-kantaa ja 10 S.ntermedius-kantaa. Eri lajit noudattivat entsyymiprofiiliaan muutamaa poikkeusta lukuunottamatta hyvinkinsäännöllisesti. Lajien sisäinen variaatio hemolyysiominaisuuksissa oli merkittävää ja S. inilleri -ryhmän erilajien sekä hemolyysisltään ja seroryhmältään erilaisten kantojen esiintyvyydessä kehon eri osissa havaittiinselkeitä eroja. Avainsanat: entsyymiprofilointi, fluorogeeniset ja kromogeeniset substraatit, seroryhmä, hemolyysi, esiintyvyys

水杉的分类、历史地理分布及其与古气候变迁的关系

本文所用标本为采自中国东北晚白垩世或古新世黑龙江省嘉荫县乌云组和早始新世辽宁省抚顺市西露天矿古城子组和计军屯组的水杉植物化石。标本包括营养结构如两种小枝，生殖结构如雄花枝和雌球果。本论文对水杉的形态结构包括叶表皮及在雄球花苞叶的上下表皮结构及花粉结构作了详细的研究。 水杉属目前已建立21个种，由于保存的原因，多数种建立在保存下来的都分器的特征上。通过对中国东北材料与曾建立的14个种M. milleri，M. glyptostroboides, M. disticha, M. japonica, M. chinensis, M. cuneata, M. papillapollenites, M. miocenica, M. kimurae, M. onukii, M. europaea, M. asiatica, M. nathorstii, M. occidentalis 之间进行的详细对比，发现这些种之间存在着极大的相似性。现代水杉M. glyptostroboides的研究非常详细，且化石种缺乏足够的特征与其相对比，因此现代水杉可作为一个生活种而存在。M. milleri和M. glyptostroboides相比较表明：二者的雄球花及木材的解剖结构特征不同，以上其他的化石种由于保存的局限性，不具有可与M. milleri对此的相应的解剖特征，认为化石种M. milleri成立。M. disticha, M. japonica, M. chinensis, M. cuneata, M. papillapolenites, M. miocenica, M. kimurae, M. onukii, M. europaea, M. asiatica, M. nathorstii 11个化石种均归于M. occidentalis。由于M. wigginsii, M. neosibirica, M. krysthofovichi, M. spitzbergensis, M. paradoxa 5个种仅建立在具有互生叶的小枝或叶表皮的基础上，M. sibirica和M. klerkiana两个种仅建立在木材解剖的结构特征上,故此7个种有待于进一步研究.因此,水杉属下确定存的有3个种:1个现代种:M. glyptostroboides;2个化石种:M. occidentalis和M. Milleri. 本文还通过收集水杉栽培状况的资料,对水杉生长的环境和生长状况统计分析,得出水杉生存繁衍的气候条件要求范围:年降水量为1000.0 - 1865.5 mm,年均温为13-16 ℃, 一月均温为-3.1至4.2 ℃,极端低温为-12 ℃, 七月均温为17.7 - 27.9 ℃。这一条件也是水杉在地质克史时期分布区应该具备的气候限制因素。本文通过收集大量的文献资料得到水杉从晚白垩世至今在全球范围内的分布状况，发现：由于自晚白垩世以来气候逐渐转冷的变化，水杉的分布范围也在逐渐变小，最后仅自然分布于中国中部湘鄂川三省的交界。以时间为横轴，水杉分布的纬度为纵轴得到水杉分布的纬度变化曲线，从各个时期最北界为点建立的曲线的起伏变化表明，除从古新世至始新世曲线稍微升高外，晚白垩世以来曲线大都在下降，反映了气温在古新世晚期略微升高，其它时期都在下降之中，这一结论与氧同位素的结论基本一致。

Range change in Metasequoia: relationship to palaeoclimate

IEECAS SKLLQG

Development and Light Response of Leaves of Metasequoia and Close Relatives

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a useful nearest living relative (NLR) of the Eocene fossil Metasequoia. Research on modern Metasequoia might give us some clues about its fossil counterpart. During this study the leaf anatomy of Metasequoia, Glyptostrobus, Sequoia and Taxodium was investigated with light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Metasequoia exhibits several characteristics of typical sciaphilic plants, such as slightly arched outer cell walls in the adaxial epidermal cells, strongly arched outer cell walls in the abaxial epidermal cells, mesophyll composed of spongy cells, chloroplasts with well-developed grana not only in mesophyll cells but in both the adaxial and abaxial epidermis. Based on comparison of leaf morphology and anatomy, we conclude that Metasequoia is best adapted to low light intensities, Sequoia and Taxodium are intermediate, and Glyptostrobus is adapted to higher light intensities. The effects of light intensity on mesophyll plastids of Metasequoia leaves were studied with trees grown under different light intensities. Metasequoia had the ability to synthesize chlorophyll under complete darkness and was stressed under high light. These characteristics would provide adaptive advantages for Metasequoia to adapt to low intensity, low angle, polar light at their Eocene high latitude paleoenvironments, particularly during the polar spring when light levels are exceedingly low. It provides evidence to explain why Metasequoia was the dominant tree species in Eocene high latitudes. The thesis is written as an article to be submitted to the American Journal of Botany.

Ioannis Milleri Illustratio systematis sexualis Linnaeani : quam e textu Anglico editionis minoris translatam, nunc emendatam, additamentis variis propriis praecipue terminorum botanicorum notioni inservientibus atque indicibus necessariis locupletatam /

Includes indexes.

中国黑龙江省嘉荫地区乌云组古果实学研究

白垩纪末至第三纪初（K/T界限，距今约65Ma），恐龙大规模灭绝，爬行类的优势地位被哺乳动物所取代;裸子植物和蕨类急剧衰退，被子植物蓬勃发展，并逐渐成为地表植被的主体，研究这一时期的植物群的结构和特征进而揭示植物演化和环境变迁的规律及其相互关系是当今地球科学、生命科学和环境科学的重要研究内容。黑龙江省嘉荫地区的乌云组产有丰富的植物化石，其地质时代虽未定论，但不超出晚白垩世马斯特里赫特期至早第三纪古新世的范围，处于K/T界限，对其植物群的研究意义重大。乌云植物群以往的研究在古果实学研究方面明显不足、在植物群的性质的认识及乌云组时代的确定等方面存在很大争议。本文重点研究了乌云组的果实和种子化石，增添了新的植物类群，丰富了此植物群的研究内容，对乌云组的时代问题的确定提供了新的证据。 本文研究了乌云组的Nordenskioldia borealis（昆兰树科）、Nyssidium jianyinense sp. nov. （连香树科）、Hypericum zhuii sp. nov. （金丝桃科）、Amersinia obtrullate（广义山茱萸科）、Acer wuyunense sp. nov.（槭树科）等5种果实和种子化石。Nordenskioldia borealis的果无柄、为分果、小果瓣环绕中央柱轮状排列。Nyssidium jianyinense的果序为圆锥果序、蓇葖对生、蓇葖腹缝相对、果皮三层。Hypericum zhuii的种子外形呈长椭圆形、端部具乳突、表面网状、种脊明显、种皮两层、外种皮细胞的垂周壁明显加厚。Amersinia obtrullate果序头状、果镘形、3果室。Acer wuyunense果为翅果、小坚果被明显侧翼、翅强烈下延，包围小坚果。经修订和补充，乌云植物群目前共有维管植物48属60种，其中，蕨类植物4属6种、裸子植物7属7种、被子植物37属48种，被子植物占总种数的80%、占总属数的77%，被子植物占绝对优势。当时的群落类型湿生群落和中生群落类型为主，湿生群落主要有：由Sequoia、Metasequoia、Taxodium、Glyptostrobus等组成的针叶林;以Nyssidium、Trochodendroides占优势的阔叶林。 以Metasequoia占优势的针叶林和以Nyssidium、Trochodendroides等占优势的阔叶林。乌云植物群中热带和亚热带成分占种子植物总属数的54%，而温带成分则占36%，亚热带成分占优势，当时的气候-植被类型为亚热带常绿林或常绿夏绿混交林。Nordenskioldia、Nyssidium、Amersinia、Acer化石的地质分布不早于古新世的地层，这—证据不支持乌云组的地质时代划为晚白垩世，而支持划归古新世的观点。

杉料（Taxodiaceae）植物精油和双黄酮成分研究及化学分类初探

本文以杉科（Taxodiaceae）五属六种植物--杉木属（Cunninghamia）的杉木（C. lanceolata）、水松属（Glyptostrobus）的水松（G. pensilis）、落羽杉属（Taxodium）的池杉（T. ascendens）、水杉属（Metasequoia）的水杉（M. glyptostroboides）、柳杉属（Cryptomeria）的柳杉（C. fortunei）及日本柳杉（C. japonica）为材料，进行了以下研究： 1、用气相色谱－质谱－计算机联用法，在统一条件下测定了上述植物叶的精油成分及各成分百分含量。共检测到七十余种成分，包括α－蒎稀（α－pinene）、龙脑（borneol）、乙酸松油酯（terpinyl acetate）、杜松烯（cadinene）等十六种共有成分和其它分布各异的成分。 2、用柱层析和薄层层析法从杉木中提取、分离、纯化了5个双黄酮成分，鉴定为一类3'-8"联接的化合物，分别为穗花杉双黄酮（amentoflavone）、长叶世界爷双黄酮（sequoiaflavone）、银杏双黄酮（gingetin）、榧黄素（kayaflavone）和金松双黄酮（sciadopitysin）。 3、用薄层层析法检测上述5个双黄酮成分在6种植物中的分布，发现每一植物均含有这五个已知化合物。 4、根据以上结果并结合文献资料，讨论了以下问题： 1）、杉科植物精油成分及其组成特点; 2）、杉科植物双黄酮成分及其分布规律; 3）有关柳杉与日本柳杉关系的化学证据; 4）有关水杉归属的化学证据。

Pristine Early Eocene Wood Buried Deeply in Kimberlite from Northern Canada

We report exceptional preservation of fossil wood buried deeply in a kimberlite pipe that intruded northwestern Canada's Slave Province 53.3±0.6 million years ago (Ma), revealed during excavation of diamond source rock. The wood originated from forest surrounding the eruption zone and collapsed into the diatreme before resettling in volcaniclastic kimberlite to depths >300 m, where it was mummified in a sterile environment. Anatomy of the unpermineralized wood permits conclusive identification to the genus Metasequoia (Cupressaceae). The wood yields genuine cellulose and occluded amber, both of which have been characterized spectroscopically and isotopically. From cellulose d O and d H measurements, we infer that Early Eocene paleoclimates in the western Canadian subarctic were 12-17°C warmer and four times wetter than present. Canadian kimberlites offer Lagerstätte-quality preservation of wood from a region with limited alternate sources of paleobotanical information. © 2012 Wolfe et al.

Antibacterial Activity of Peptides from the African Volcano Frog

Introduction: Cationic, α- helical antimicrobial peptides found in skin secretions of the African Volcano Frog, Xenopus amieti include magainin-AM1, peptide glycine-leucine-amide (PGLa-AM1) and caerulein-precursor fragment (CPF-AM1). Objectives: The principle objective of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of these peptides against a range of aerobic and anaerobic and oral pathogens. Secondary objectives were to establish their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding activity and determine potential cytotoxic effects against host cells. Methods: Magainin-AM1, PGLa-AM1 and CPF-AM1 were assessed for their antimicrobial activity against Fusobacteriim nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus milleri using a double layer radial diffusion assay. The propensity for each peptide to bind LPS was determined using an indirect ELISA. The potential cytotoxicity of the peptides against human pulp cells in vitro was determined using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Magainin-AM1, PGLa-AM1 and CPF-AM1 displayed potent antimicrobial activity against all the bacterial pathogens tested, with Magainin-AM1 being the least effective. PGLa-AM1 was most potent against S. mutans, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.2 μM. PGLa-AM1 and CPF-AM1 were both very active against F. nucleatum with MIC values of 1.5 μM and 2.2 μM respectively. The LPS binding ability of the peptides varied depending on the bacterial source of the LPS, with PGLa-AM-1 being the most effective at binding LPS. Cytotoxicity studies revealed all three peptides lacked cytotoxic effects at the concentrations tested. Conclusions: The peptides magainin-AM1, PGLa-AM1 and CPF-AM1 from the African Volcano Frog, Xenopus amieti displayed potent antimicrobial activity and LPS binding activity against a range of oral pathogens with little cytotoxic effects. These peptides merit further studies for the development of novel therapeutics to combat common oral bacterial infections.

Fungal communities in the garden chamber soils of leaf-cutting ants

Leaf-cutting ants modify the properties of the soil adjacent to their nests. Here, we examined whether such an ant-altered environment impacts the belowground fungal communities. Fungal diversity and community structure of soil from the fungus garden chambers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and Atta bisphaerica, two widespread leaf-cutting ants in Brazil, were determined and compared with non-nest soils. Culture-dependent methods revealed similar species richness but different community compositions between both types of soils. Penicillium janthinellum and Trichoderma spirale were the prevalent isolates in fungus chamber soils and non-nest soils, respectively. In contrast to cultivation methods, analyses of clone libraries based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region indicated that richness of operational taxonomic units significantly differed between soils of the fungus chamber and non-nest soils. FastUnifrac analyses based on ITS sequences further revealed a clear distinction in the community structure between both types of soils. Plectania milleri and an uncultured Clavariaceae fungus were prevalent in fungus chamber soils and non-nest soils, respectively. FastUnifrac analyses also revealed that fungal community structures of soil from the garden chambers markedly differed among ant species. Our findings suggest that leaf-cutting ants affect fungal communities in the soil from the fungus chamber in comparison to non-nest soils. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.

Inventário dos Drosofilídeos (Diptera) associados a frutos, na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Melgaço, Pará, Brasil

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a diversidade de Drosophilidae (Diptera) frugívoros, da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, Melgaço, Pará, Brasil, através da implementação de um protocolo estruturado. Entre 2003 e 2004 foram realizadas duas expedições, onde procederam-se coletas com armadilhas contendo isca de banana fermentada, distribuídas em 12 transectos de 1 km, sendo dois deles em cada um dos seis interflúvios ao norte da baía de Caxiuanã, na Estação Científica Ferreira Pena, FLONA Caxiuanã. Foi obtido um total de 4.320 indivíduos, distribuídos em 35 táxons, pertencentes aos gêneros Drosophila, em sua maioria, e Neotanygastrella. A espécie dominante foi D. willistoni com 33,96% dos indivíduos coletados, seguido por D. paulistorum (21,94%), D. sturtevanti (18,73%), D. tropicalis (11,39%) e D. equinoxiahs (37%). Cinco espécies cosmopolitas do grupo melanogaster ocorreram em Caxiuanã, porém a freqüência do grupo foi apenas de 1,75%. As curvas de acumulação de espécies, com 315 amostras, aproximaram-se da assíntota, com estimativas que variaram entre 40 e 53 espécies para Caxiuanã. O estimador Chao2 produziu curvas que chegaram a estabilização, com estimativa de 50 espécies. As análises da matriz de incidência e abundância mostraram que os sítios são similares entre si, compartilhando entre 40% e 66% em composição (Jaccard), com distribuições de abundância praticamente iguais (Morisita entre 85% e 100%). O percentual de completitude do inventário (79%) indica que seriam necessárias somente 83 amostras adicionais (21% de incremento de esforço, sem adição de singletons), para acessar a diversidade total de Drosophilidae na FLONA Caxiuanã. Estes resultados refletem bem a eficiência do método utilizado para estimar diversidade de drosofilídeos de frutos. Das 23 espécies do subgênero Sophophora, identificadas nesse estudo, foram registradas 4 novas ocorrências para o Brasil (D. dacunhai, D. mil/cri, D. saltans e D. septentriosaltans) e 8 para Amazônia brasileira (D. austrosaltans, D. dacunhai, D. magalhaesi, D. milleri, D. neocordata, D. neoelhptica, D. saltam e D. septentriosaltans).

NEW RECORDS OF MOSQUITOES FROM NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA

Eleven mosquito species, namely Aedes hastatus, Ae. fulvus, Coquillettidia albicosta, Cq. juxtamansonia, Culex aliciae, Cx. delpontei, Cx. oedipus, Cx. pedroi, Mansonia flaveola, Uranotaenia leucoptera, and Wyeomyia oblita, are recorded for the first time from northwestern Argentina. In addition, 3 species, Cx. brethesi, Limatus durhami, and Ur. nataliae, are reported for the first time from Salta Province. These records extend the geographical distribution of these 3 species to Salta Province. This study also extends the geographical distributions of Cq. nigricans, Cx. chidesteri, and Ma. humeralis to Jujuy Province and of Ae. meprai, Ae. milleri, Ae. oligopistus, Cx. brethesi, Cx. fernandezi, and Cx. tatoi to Tucuman Province.

Infective endocarditis with left to right intracardiac fistula due to Streptococcus anginosus - a rare complication caused by an even rarer bacterium

Although infective endocarditis (IE) has been described in reports dating from the Renaissance, the diagnosis still challenges and the outcome often surprises. In the course of time, diagnostic criteria have been updated and validated to reduce misdiagnosis. Some risk factors and epidemiology have shown dynamic changes since degenerative valvular disease became more predominant in developed countries, and the mean age of the affected population increased. Despite streptococci have been being well known as etiologic agents, some groups, although rare, have been increasingly reported (e.g., Streptococcus milleri.) Intracardiac complications of IE are common and have a worse prognosis, frequently requiring surgical treatment. We report a case of a middle-aged diabetic man who presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, and ultimately severe dyspnea. IE was diagnosed based on a new valvular regurgitation murmur, a positive blood culture for Streptococcus anginosus, an echocardiographic finding of an aortic valve vegetation, fever, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Despite an appropriate antibiotic regimen, the patient died. Autopsy findings showed vegetation attached to a bicuspid aortic valve with an associated septal abscess and left ventricle and aortic root fistula connecting with the pulmonary artery. A large thrombus was adherent to the pulmonary artery trunk and a pulmonary septic thromboemboli were also identified.