Systematic and Evolutionary Insights Derived from mtDNA COI Barcode Diversity in the Decapoda (Crustacea: Malacostraca)

Background: Decapods are the most recognizable of all crustaceans and comprise a dominant group of benthic invertebrates of the continental shelf and slope, including many species of economic importance. Of the 17635 morphologically described Decapoda species, only 5.4% are represented by COI barcode region sequences. It therefore remains a challenge to compile regional databases that identify and analyse the extent and patterns of decapod diversity throughout the world. Methodology/Principal Findings: We contributed 101 decapod species from the North East Atlantic, the Gulf of Cadiz and the Mediterranean Sea, of which 81 species represent novel COI records. Within the newly-generated dataset, 3.6% of the species barcodes conflicted with the assigned morphological taxonomic identification, highlighting both the apparent taxonomic ambiguity among certain groups, and the need for an accelerated and independent taxonomic approach. Using the combined COI barcode projects from the Barcode of Life Database, we provide the most comprehensive COI data set so far examined for the Order (1572 sequences of 528 species, 213 genera, and 67 families). Patterns within families show a general predicted molecular hierarchy, but the scale of divergence at each taxonomic level appears to vary extensively between families. The range values of mean K2P distance observed were: within species 0.285% to 1.375%, within genus 6.376% to 20.924% and within family 11.392% to 25.617%. Nucleotide composition varied greatly across decapods, ranging from 30.8 % to 49.4 % GC content. Conclusions/Significance: Decapod biological diversity was quantified by identifying putative cryptic species allowing a rapid assessment of taxon diversity in groups that have until now received limited morphological and systematic examination. We highlight taxonomic groups or species with unusual nucleotide composition or evolutionary rates. Such data are relevant to strategies for conservation of existing decapod biodiversity, as well as elucidating the mechanisms and constraints shaping the patterns observed.FCT - SFRH/BD/25568/ 2006EC FP6 - GOCE-CT-2005-511234 HERMESFCT - PTDC/MAR/69892/2006 LusomarBo

Synthesis and characterization of high-nuclearity osmium–rhodium mixed-metal carbonyl clusters; molecular and crystal structures of [Os12Rh9(CO)44(µ3-Cl)]·2CH2Cl2 and [Os4Rh3(µ3-H)(CO)14(µ3-CO)(η4-C7H8)2]

The anionic triosmium cluster [N(PPh3)2][Os3(µ-H)(CO)11] reacts with [Rh(nbd)Cl)2 (nbd = norbornadiene) in the presence of AgPF6 to give two new high-nuclearity osmium–rhodium clusters [Os12Rh9(CO)44(µ3-Cl)] 1 and [Os4Rh3(µ3-H)(CO)14(µ3-CO)(η4-C7H8)2] 2 in moderate yields

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of osmium–rhodium mixed-metal clusters containing pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand: [Os3Rh(μ-CO)2(CO)9(η5-Cp*)], [Os3Rh2(μ-H)(μ-CO)2(CO)8(η5-Cp*)(μ2-η5,η1-CH2C5Me4)] and [Os3Rh(μ3-H)(μ-Cl)(μ-CO)(CO)9(η5-Cp*)]

Treatment of the anionic triosmium cluster [N(PPh3)2][Os3(μ-H)(CO)11] with one equivalent of [RhCp*(MeCN)3][{PF6}2] [Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadiene] yielded three Cp*-containing clusters including [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(μ-CO)(CO)9(η5-Cp*)] 1, [Os3Rh(μ-CO)2(CO)9(η5-Cp*)] 2 and [Os3Rh2(μ-H)(μ-CO)2(CO)8(η5-Cp*)(μ2-η5,η1-CH2C5Me4)] 3. Solid state vacuum pyrolysis of 2 gave 1 in moderate yield via the replacement of a bridging carbonyl by two bridging hydrides. The coupling reaction of [N(PPh3)2][Os3(μ-H)(CO)11] with the monocationic complex, [RhCp*(dppe)Cl][PF6] [dppe=bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] afforded the tetranuclear cluster [Os3Rh(μ3-H)(μ-Cl)(μ-CO)(CO)9(η5-Cp*)] 4 in a moderate yield. Clusters 2–4 have been fully characterized by both spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The X-ray structure analysis shows that 3 comprises an edge-bridging tetrahedron in which one of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl units adopts a novel μ2-η5,η1-bonding mode across a Os–Rh bond. Cluster 4 is a tetranuclear osmium–rhodium mixed-metal cluster containing a chloride, bridging across the wing-tips of the butterfly core

Reactions of [Os3(μ-H)2(CO)10] with [Rh(COD)(L)I] (COD=cycloocta-1,5-diene; L=2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline and 4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-dipyridyl): crystal and molecular structures of [Os3Rh(μ-H)3(CO)10(η4-COD)], [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(η4-COD)] and [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(bipy)]

The co-ordinatively unsaturated dihydride cluster [Os3(μ-H)2(CO)10] reacts with [Rh(COD)(L)I] (COD=cycloocta-1,5-diene; L=2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline and 4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-dipyridyl) to give a family of hydrido heterometallic clusters [Os3Rh(μ-H)3(CO)10(η4-COD)] 1, [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(η4-COD)] 2, [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(bipy)] 3, [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(1,10-phen)] 4, [Os3Rh(μ-H)2(CO)8(μ-CO)(μ-I)(4,4′-diphbipy)] 5 and [Os3(CO)12] in moderate yields. The crystal structures of 1–3 were established by X-ray diffraction method; 1 and 2 comprise a saturated tetrahedral Os3Rh core in which the rhodium atom is η4-co-ordinated by a COD ligand. In structure 3–5, a bidentate N-donor ligand chelates to the rhodium metal centre instead of the COD ligand. Clusters 1-5 were fully characterized by IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis

Pregnancy in patients with mitral valve prolapse

The obstetrical performances and outcomes of 37 pregnancies in women with mitral valve prolapse between 1979 and 1982 are reviewed. Thirteen patients were diagnosed before pregnancy and 24 patients were detected at antenatal examinations. Three ended in cesarean sections for obstetrical complications and 34 in uneventful vaginal deliveries at term. No cardiac complications occurred in these patients. There was no maternal mortality. Thirty-six babies were born without congenital abnormalities. One baby was hydropic due to haemoglobinopathy and died. Prophylactic antibiotics is recommended in selected cases. Early detection and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is mandatory.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Use of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen assays in chemotherapy treatment of cervical cancer

Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels of 15 patients with recurrent or progressive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix on chemotherapy treatment were assayed. In 13 of these 15 patients (87.7%), clinical response was positive correlated with change in serum SCC level. A stationary or rising serum SCC level indicated that the disease is probably stationary or progressive and chemotherapy should be stopped or changed.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A Neuromuscular Junction-like Calcium Release Mechanism In A Unicellular Organism

pp. 111–156 of this Free journal issue entitled: Abstracts of the 24th and the 25th Scientific Meeting of the Hong KongPoster Presentations: no. P-29/25When a myocyte is depolarized by an action potential, calcium ions enter the cell through L-type calcium channels located on the sarcolemma. This calcium, or the physical interaction between the activated L-type calcium channel, triggers a subsequent release of calcium that is stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through calcium-release channels ryanodine receptors. Crypthecodium cohnii is an unicellular dinoflagellate (phyloge-netically related to malarial parasite) with cortical multi-membranous structures apparently similar to the SR. In the present study, both fluorescence-conjugated ryanodine and dihydropyridine gave positive labellings on the cortical area of dinoflagellate cells in where the chlortetracycline-stained calcium stores were located. Either mechanical stimulations or potassium ions could induce membrane potential changes and calcium mobilizations. In addition, cytosolic calcium mobilizations induced by L-type calcium channel agonist (Bay K) was inhibited by ryanodine receptor antagonist (dantrolene). When the membrane potentials were disrupted by sodium ionophore, both mechanically-induced cytosolic calcium mobilizations and membrane potential changes were reduced. This indicated that the dihydropyridine receptor-like protein was upstream of the ryanodine receptor-like channel. Accumulated data, therefore, are consistent with a neuromuscular type excitation-contraction coupling-like mechanism in the dinoflagellates. Acknowledgement: Part of this research was supported by HKUST’s EHIA05/06.SC04 in Molecular Medicine awarded to J.T.Y.W. and S.Y.W.S).link_to_OA_fulltex

Melatonin-induced stimulation of rat corpus epididymal epithelial cell proliferation

Stimulation of rat epididymal epithelial cell proliferation by melatonin was demonstrated by thymidine incorporation and flow cytometric analyses. The stimulatory effect of melatonin was dependent on the hormone concentration and the duration of cell exposure to the hormone. Maximal stimulation of [H-3]thymidine incorporation into epididymal epithelial cells by melatonin was observed at 1x10(-9) M 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in medium, while lower or higher concentrations of androgen attenuated the stimulatory effect of melatonin. Interestingly, a nuclear melatonin receptor agonist (1-[3-allyl-4-oxothiazolidine-2-ylidene]-4-methyl-thiosemi-carbazone, CGP 52608) induced opposite effect on epithelial cell proliferation to that produced by melatonin. Our data suggest that melatonin-induced stimulation of rat epididymal epithelial cell proliferation is not likely to be mediated by nuclear receptor. Furthermore, sequential changes of cell cycle distribution with melatonin treatment also supports a stimulatory action of melatonin on epididymal epithelial cell proliferation