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The Cambrian (Stage 4) Balang Fauna is a significant Burgess Shale-type biota from South China. The sponge animals are one of the major components of the fauna and are dominated by protomonaxonids. Sponge fossils, having the diagnostic skeletal architecture and bowl-shaped body form of Hamptonia Walcott 1920, are described here as H. jianhensis sp. nov. Its skeleton is characterized by the large spicules that are substantially larger than the dominant fine ones. Although H. jianhensis sp. nov. generally shows a radiating spicule array, some spicules are semi-regularly or irregularly arranged, especially the coarse ones. The previous and present studies suggest Hamptonia has a relatively long stratigraphic range (early Cambrian to Middle Ordovician) and an effectively cosmopolitan distribution during the Early Palaeozoic. The new taxon can provide additional biogeographical informations for Hamptonia sponges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New palm leaves from the Oligocene Ningming Formation are placed into the morphogenusSabalitesbecause of their costapalmate leaf shape. Four taxa are described on the basis of leaf compressions with cuticular structure.S. guanxiensissp. nov. is characterised by hypostomatic leaf blades with a stout costa and a symmetrical base.Sabalitescf.asymmetricushas amphistomatic leaf blades with a long, delicate costa and an asymmetrical base.Sabalitessp. 1 has amphistomatic leaf blades with a long, massive costa and wide segments.Sabalitessp. 2 is characterized by hypostomatic leaf blades with a prominent costa and an asymmetrical base. The four new palm taxa expand our understanding of the floristic elements and features of the Oligocene Ningming flora. Together with the other three palm taxa that were previously reported from the Ningming Formation, our material indicates that the Oligocene Ningming flora had a rich diversity of costapalmate palms. The relatively high species diversity of palms and other plants corroborate that the Oligocene Ningming flora represents a warm and humid climate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new fossil species ofZelkovais described from the Oligocene Ningming Formation of Guangxi, South China.Zelkova ningmingensissp. nov.is characterized by leaves with craspedodromous venation pattern and drupaceous fruit type. The new species possesses elliptical to ovate leaves, bearing 7–12 pairs of secondary and simple toothed margin, as well as epidermal cells with straight or rounded anticlinal walls. The species is compared with extant and other fossil species hitherto reported of the genus. It is most similar to the livingZelkova schneiderianain the leaf gross morphology and epidermal characters, which may be suggested to be the ancestral type ofZelkova schneideriana. The discovery ofZelkova ningmingensissp. nov.in Guangxi indicates thatZelkovahas already existed in southern China as early as the Oligocene. In combination withZelkovamaterial from the Oligocene of Europe, it can be inferred that EurasianZelkovahad begun to diversify by at least the Oligocene. Because China is the biodiversity centre of modernZelkova, the fossil herein provides new insights intoZelkovabiogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2006-2007, a field trial was conducted to study the effects of applying three kinds of organic-inorganic compound fertilizers \[rapeseed cake compost plus inorganic fertilizers (RCC), pig manure compost plus inorganic fertilizers (PMC), and Chinese medicine residues plus inorganic fertilizers (CMC)] on the crop growth and nitrogen (N) use efficiency of rice-wheat rotation system in South Jiangsu. Grain yield of wheat and rice in the different fertilization treatments was significantly higher than the control (no fertilization). In treatments RCC, PMC and CMC, the wheat yield was 13.1%, 32.2% and 39.3% lower than that of the NPK compound fertilizer (CF, 6760kg·hm-2), respectively, but the rice yield (8504-9449 kg·hm-2) was significantly higher than that (7919 kg·hm-2) of CF, with an increment of 7.4%-19.3%. In wheat season, the aboveground dry mass, N accumulation, and N use efficiency in treatments RCC, PMC, and CMC were lower than those of CF, but in rice season, these parameters were significantly higher than or as the same as CF. In sum, all the test three compound fertilizers had positive effects on the rice yield and its nitrogen use efficiency in the rice-wheat rotation system, being most significant for RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried to study the effects of organic-inorganic mixed fertilizers on rice yield, nitrogen (N) use efficiency, soil N supply, and soil microbial diversity. Rapeseed cake compost (RCC), pig manure compost (PMC), and Chinese medicine residue compost (MRC) were mixed with chemical N, P and K fertilizers. All the treatments except CK received the same rate of N. The results showed that all N fertilizer application treatments had higher rice yield (7918.8-9449.2 kg∙hm-2) than the control (6947.9 kg∙hm-2). Compared with that of chemical fertilizers (CF) treatment (7918.8 kg∙hm-2), the yield of the three organic-inorganic mixed fertilizers treatments ranged in 8532.0-9449.2 kg∙hm-2, and the increment was 7.7%-19.3%. Compared with treatment CF, the treatments of organic-inorganic mixed fertilizers were significantly higher in N accumulation, N transportation efficiency, N recovery rate, agronomic N use efficiency, and physiological N use efficiency. These mixed fertilizers treatments promoted rice N uptake and improved soil N supply, and thus, increased N use efficiency, compared with treatments CF and CK. Neighbor joining analysis indicated that soil bacterial communities in the five treatments could be classified into three categories, i.e., CF and CK, PMC and MRC, and RCC, implying that the application of exogenous organic materials could affect soil bacterial communities, while applying chemical fertilizers had little effect on them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Diabetic neuropathic pain is a common clinical problem and remains difficult to treat with classic analgesics. Spinal dorsal horn neurons are important in mediating nociceptive signaling, and the hyperactivity of these neurons is critical in diabetic neuropathy. In this study, we determined the GABAB receptor expression level in dorsal horn neurons in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses. Mean blood glucose concentrations were significantly higher and the paw withdrawal threshold was significantly lower in STZ-treated rats than in saline-treated rats. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the GABAB receptor was extensively expressed in the spinal dorsal horn neurons. The GABAB1 mRNA level decreased in a time-dependent manner in STZ-treated rats compared with saline-treated controls. Furthermore, the protein expression level revealed by western blot analysis was lower in STZ-treated rats than in saline-treated rats. These data suggest that GABAB receptors are downregulated in the spinal dorsal horn in this model of STZ-induced diabetic neuropathic pain. The reduction of GABAB expression may contribute to the hyperactivity of spinal dorsal horn neurons and diabetic neuropathic pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), neuronal apoptosis and neuron-inflammation in aged rats., Methods: Thirty-six male SD rats aged 20 months were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and electroacupuncture (EA) group, with 12 rats in each group. The POCD rats model was prepared by internal fixation of left tibial fracture. Five days before modeling, EA stimulation (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA, 30 min) was applied to "Zusanli" (ST36), "Hegu" (LI4) and "Neiguan" (PC6) on the unaffected side of rats in the EA group, once a day for consecutive 5 d. The learning and memory abilities of rats were evaluated by water maze test 31-35 days after operation. The apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was observed by Tunel/NeuN double staining. The expressions of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) and phosphorylated (p)-nuclear factor (NF)-κB in microglia cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in the hippocampus were detected by Western blot., Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was prolonged ( P <0.05); the frequency of crossing the original platform, ratio of the swimming distance and the time in the target quadrant of the Morris water maze were significantly decreased ( P <0.05); the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly increased ( P <0.05); the expressions of HMGB1 and p-NF-κB in microglia cells in the dentate gyrus and the expression levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in hippocampus were increased ( P <0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the results of the above indexes were all opposite ( P <0.05) in the EA group., Conclusion: EA preconditioning can regulate hippocampal inflammatory response, alleviate neuronal apoptosis rate and long-term cognitive dysfunction in aged rats with POCD, the mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of microglia HMGB1/NF-κB pathway in hippocampal dentate gyrus.