Semen from 10 932 male partners of infertile couples was analysed and sperm parameter trends were evaluated at the Reproduction Biology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille （France） between 1988 and 20...Semen from 10 932 male partners of infertile couples was analysed and sperm parameter trends were evaluated at the Reproduction Biology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille （France） between 1988 and 2007. After 3-6 days of abstinence, semen samples were collected. Measurements of seminal fluid volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and detailed morphology of spermatozoa were performed. Sperm parameters were analysed on the entire population and in men with normal total numeration （ 〉~ 40 million per ejaculate）. The whole population demonstrated declining trends in sperm concentration （1.5% per year）, total sperm count （1.6% per year）, total motility （0.4% per year）, rapid motility （5.5% per year） and normal morphology （2.2% per year）. In the group of selected samples with total normal sperm count, the same trends of sperm quality deterioration with time were observed. Our results clearly indicate that the auality of semen decreased in this population over the study period.展开更多
The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Cam...The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Campos rupestres, some Neotropical mountain grasslands located in central Brazil and part of the Cerrado biome(covering 2 million km2) host unique plant communities, currently threatened by quarrying and mining.The grassy matrix of campos rupestres, has long been considered a rich mosaic under the control of local topography and the nature of substrate, but this affirmation has not been well studied.We analyzed whether plant communities varied in relation to edaphic factors within the stony substrate and the sandy substrate of this grassy matrix.We selected 5 sites where occur both grasslands on stony substrate and on sandy substrate, and we carried out vegetation surveys and soil analyses.We counted 222 plant species within our communities, among which38.6% are exclusively found on campos rupestres.Our results show that both soil-types are strongly acidic, nutrient poor and exhibit a seasonal variation.Phosphorus increases and p H and organic carbon decrease during the dry season.Stony soils areslightly richer in nutrients than sandy soils and differences in soil granulometry and composition have led to the formation of distinct plant communities.Some species are confined to either one or the other grassland-type, which makes the plant composition of each community unique.Variations in edaphic factors generate heterogeneous grasslands favorable to a high plant diversity.Conservation programs and restoration actions have to maintain or recreate this heterogeneity.The presence of distinct plant communities implies that different strategies might be adopted to improve the restoration of these ecosystems.展开更多
Invasive rats （Rattus spp.） are known to have pervasive impacts on island birds, particularly on their nesting success. To conserve or restore bird populations, numerous invasive rat control or eradication projects ...Invasive rats （Rattus spp.） are known to have pervasive impacts on island birds, particularly on their nesting success. To conserve or restore bird populations, numerous invasive rat control or eradication projects are undertaken on islands worldwide. However, such projects represent a huge investment and the decision-making process requires proper assessment of rat impacts. Here, we assessed the influence of two sympatric invasive rats （Rattus rattus and R. exulans） on native bird eggs in a New Caledonian rainforest, using artificial bird-nest monitoring. A total of 178 artificial nests containing two eggs of three different sizes were placed either on the ground or 1.5 m high and monitored at the start of the birds＇ breeding season. Overall, 12.4% of the nests were depredated during the first 7 days. At site 1, where nests were monitored during 16 days, 41.8% of the nests were depredated. The main predator was the native crow Corvus moneduloides, responsible for 62.9% of the overall predation events. Rats were responsible for only 22.9% of the events, and ate only small and medium eggs at both heights. Our experiment suggests that in New Caledonia, predation pressure by rats strengthens overall bird-nest predation, adding to that by native predators, Experimental rat control operations may allow reduced predation pressure on nests as well as the recording of biodiversity responses after rat population reduction.展开更多
The bioaccumulation of PAHs and metal elements in the indigenous lichens Xanthoria parietina was monitored during two years at a quarterly frequency,in 3 sites of contrasted anthropic influence.The impact of the meteo...The bioaccumulation of PAHs and metal elements in the indigenous lichens Xanthoria parietina was monitored during two years at a quarterly frequency,in 3 sites of contrasted anthropic influence.The impact of the meteorological factors(temperature,relative humidity,rainfall,wind speed)was first estimated through principal component analysis,and then by stepwise multilinear regressions to include wind directions.The pollutants levels reflected the proximity of atmospheric emissions,in particular from a large industrial harbor.High humidity and mild temperatures,and in a lower extent low wind speed and rainfall,also favored higher concentration levels.The contributions of these meteorological aspects became minor when including wind direction,especially when approaching major emission sources.The bioaccumulation integration time towards meteorological variations was on a seasonal basis(1–2 months)but the wind direction and thus local emissions also relied on a longer time scale(12 months).This showed that the contribution of meteorological conditions may be prevalent in remote places,while secondary in polluted areas,and should be definitely taken into account regarding long-term lichen biomonitoring and inter-annual comparisons.In the same time,a quadruple sampling in each site revealed a high homogeneity among supporting tree species and topography.The resulting uncertainty,including sampling,preparation and analysis was below 30%when comfortable analytical conditions were achieved.Finally,the occurrence of unexpected events such as a major forest fire,permitted to evaluate that this type of short,although intense,events did not have a strong influence on PAH and metals bioaccumulation by lichen.展开更多
<b>Introduction:</b> Skin aging is the result of many cellular dysfunctions over time particularly the fibroblasts and the keratinocytes. These dysfunctions could be decelerated by the preventive effects o...<b>Introduction:</b> Skin aging is the result of many cellular dysfunctions over time particularly the fibroblasts and the keratinocytes. These dysfunctions could be decelerated by the preventive effects of some skin treatments such as Intradermal injections. NCTF 135HA has a polycomponent formulation designed to improve the efficacy of non-cross linked hyaluronic acid (as a micro-filler) on fibroblasts function. Although NCTF 135HA has been used by aesthetic practitioners since 20 years, we have analyzed all <i>in </i><i>vitro</i>, <i>ex vivo</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies during past 10 years in order to summarized its anti-aging effect. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b> In these series of studies, the known effects of HA have been evaluated with this boosted formula. Collagen I synthesis, antiglycation effect and contractile forces developed by fibroblasts were studied. Fibroblasts and keratinocytes proliferations were evaluated in monolayer cells culture. The filling effect thanks to NCTF 135HA injection was <i>ex vivo </i>performed by fringe projection and the protective effect of NCTF 135HA against solar irradiation was performed <i>ex vivo</i> to study proliferation rate, elastin and collagen expression. Two clinical trials were performed on women to evaluate the anti-aging effect of NCTF 135HA injection. Hydration, firmness, radiance, wrinkles size, pore size, thickness and density of the dermis were analyzed. <b>Results</b><b>:</b> Collagen I, anti-AGE products, cell proliferation and contractile forces were significantly increased with NCTF 135HA in culture medium. <i>Ex vivo</i> studies showed that NCTF 135HA increased, cells proliferation rate, elastin and collagen production. In addition, the filling effect of the NCTF 135HA is significantly superior to placebo. The first clinical trial shows that NCTF 135HA injection significantly increased tonicity, hydration and radiance of the skin and significantly decreased wrinkle score. The second clinical trial demonstrated that NCTF 135HA injection significantly incre展开更多
Earthworms are widespread soil organisms that contribute to a wide range of ecosystem services.As such,it is important to improve our knowledge,still scanty,of the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communit...Earthworms are widespread soil organisms that contribute to a wide range of ecosystem services.As such,it is important to improve our knowledge,still scanty,of the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities.The aim of the present study was to conjointly evaluate the effects on the assembly of earthworm communities of i)soil properties(texture,organic matter content,and pH),ii)grassland management(grassland age,livestock unit,and type of fertilization),iii)landscape diversity(richness,diversity of surrounding habitats,and grassland plant diversity),and iv)presence of hedgerows.The study was conducted in temperate grasslands of Brittany,France.Earthworms were sampled in 24 grasslands and,in three of these grasslands,they were sampled near a hedgerow or near a ditch(control without a hedgerow).Soil properties explained the larger portion of the variation in the earthworm community parameters compared to grassland management or landscape diversity.The increase in soil organic matter content and pH were the most favorable factors for earthworm abundance and biomass,in particular for endogeic species.Regarding grassland management,the increase in the livestock unit was the most damaging factor for earthworm communities,in particular for the anecic earthworm biomass and endogeic species richness.Surprisingly,landscape diversity negatively affected the total earthworm abundance and epigeic earthworm biomass,but it was related to an increase in the epi-anecic species.At a finer scale,we also demonstrated that the presence of hedgerows surrounding grasslands enhanced earthworm species richness,especially within the epigeic and anecic ecological categories.This study highlights that the earthworm ecological categories respond specifically to environmental filters;further studies need to be conducted to elucidate the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities at this ecological category level.We recommend that policymakers should act on landscape management to favor earthworm diversity in order to展开更多
This study was designed to determine the ability of computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis （CASA-Morph） with fluorescence to discriminate between spermatozoa carrying different sex chromosomes from the nuclear...This study was designed to determine the ability of computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis （CASA-Morph） with fluorescence to discriminate between spermatozoa carrying different sex chromosomes from the nuclear morphometrics generated and different statistical procedures in the bovine species. The study was divided into two experiments. The first was to study the morphometric differences between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa （SX and SY, respectively）. Spermatozoa from eight bulls were processed to assess simultaneously the sex chromosome by FISH and sperm morphometry by fluorescence-based CASA-Morph. SX cells were larger than SY cells on average （P 〈 0.001） although with important differences between bulls. A simultaneous evaluation of all the measured features by discriminant analysis revealed that nuclear area and average fluorescence intensity were the variables selected by stepwise discriminant function analysis as the best discriminators between SX and SY. In the second experiment, the sperm nuclear morphometric results from CASA-Morph in nonsexed （mixed SX and SY） and sexed （SX） semen samples from four bulls were compared. FISH allowed a successful classification of spermatozoa according to their sex chromosome content. X-sexed spermatozoa displayed a larger size and fluorescence intensity than nonsexed spermatozoa （P 〈 0.05）. We conclude that the CASA-Morph fluorescence-based method has the potential to find differences between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bovine species although more studies are needed to increase the precision of sex determination by this technique.展开更多
Oxidative stability of two commercial olive oils of different specificity (green type and black type) has been studied during thermal and photochemical accelerated processes through the evolution of quality indices. I...Oxidative stability of two commercial olive oils of different specificity (green type and black type) has been studied during thermal and photochemical accelerated processes through the evolution of quality indices. It might help to assure a good utilisation of olive oil. In most of works described in literature, they are measured individually. In this study, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been performed to emphasize their variation and describe in concise way the quality and the safety of extra-virgin olive oil after two oxidative stresses. No difference had been detected between both type oils when they are heated. Peroxides, aldehydes and conjugated dienes and trienes were formed but rapidly degraded into final oxidation compounds, mainly acid compounds. During the photochemical process, similar changes occurred slower and the green type oil had shown better stability because of its higher phenolic content. The fatty acids had been more impacted (higher disappearance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)) when the oils were heated than when irradiated. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), MUFA and PUFA were the most relevant indicators to characterize non-oxidized oils and PV characterized the early stage of oil oxidation.展开更多
In North Africa, Cedrus atlantica forests are in decline, following decades of anthropogenic pressure and repeated drought events. Mixed C. atlantica-Quercus ilex stands located in the Theniet El Had National Park (no...In North Africa, Cedrus atlantica forests are in decline, following decades of anthropogenic pressure and repeated drought events. Mixed C. atlantica-Quercus ilex stands located in the Theniet El Had National Park (northwestern Algeria) were considered in the present study. Based on a stratified sampling, six temporary plots were established to describe structure (species composition, density, total height, diameter and basal area) and radial growth in relation to type of stand (pure and mixed), using a dendroecological approach. The diameter distribution of C. atlantica indicated the presence of few young individuals and a poor regeneration status in all the stands. The density and basal area of C. atlantica were significantly higher in pure stands, which necessitate silvicultural operations. In contrast, Q. ilex showed a progressive dynamic, at moderate altitude. Radial growth showed a significant decline from 1980 to the 2000s. The absence of an appropriate management plan and the increase in anthropogenic effects, without ruling out a role for the current climate conditions marked by drought, seem to be the causes of C. atlantica decline.展开更多
Co-evolution of host-parasitoid interactions is determined by the costs of host resistance, which received empirical evidence, and the costs ofparasitoid virulence, which have been mostly hypothesized. Asobara tabida ...Co-evolution of host-parasitoid interactions is determined by the costs of host resistance, which received empirical evidence, and the costs ofparasitoid virulence, which have been mostly hypothesized. Asobara tabida is a parasitoid, which mainly parasitizes Drosophila melanogaster and D. subobscura, the first species being able to resist to the parasitoid development while the second species is not. To parasitize resistant hosts, including D. melanogaster, A. tabida develops sticky eggs, which prevent encapsulation, but this virulence mechanism may be costly. Interindividual and interpopulation variation in the proportion of sticky eggs respectively allowed us to （i） artificially select and compare life-history traits of a virulent and a nonvirulent laboratory strain, and （ii） compare a virulent and a nonvirulent field strain, to investigate the hypothetical costs of virulence. We observed strong differences between the 2 laboratory strains. The nonvirulent strain invested fewer resources in reproduction and walked less than the virulent one but lived longer. Concerning the field strains, we observed that the nonvirulent strain had larger wings while the virulent one walked more and faster. All together, our results suggest that virulence may not always be costly, but rather that different life histories associated with different levels of virulence may coexist at both intra- and interDoDulation levels.展开更多
Specimens of Cymodocea(Viridiplantae,Magnoliophyta)collected on the Tunisian coasts showed a particular morphological and anatomical difference with the classical descriptions of Cymodocea nodosa(Ucria)Asch.the only s...Specimens of Cymodocea(Viridiplantae,Magnoliophyta)collected on the Tunisian coasts showed a particular morphological and anatomical difference with the classical descriptions of Cymodocea nodosa(Ucria)Asch.the only species of this genus reported in the Mediterranean Sea.In order to precise the taxonomic identity of the new specimens we aimed in this work(i)to verify the identity of the new forms,(ii)to evaluate the genetic diversity of the population,(iii)to test the validity of the existing identification keys of the Tunisian Cymodocea populations.Four stations located in two regions of the Tunisian coasts were sampled.Leaf morphological and anatomical characters used in taxonomic identification were measured(e.g.,number of cross veins,shape of the apex).The genetic study was performed using three most common chloroplast markers for plant characterization(DNA barcodes rbcL,matK and trnHpsbA).The morphological study revealed the presence of three C.nodosa morphotypes,described here for the first time,while the molecular characterization did not allow the discrimination of these morphological types.In regard to these results,it would be wise to review the classical identification keys of the Cymodocea genus.展开更多
Due to severe anthropogenic impacts on lowland and submontane zones of the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, wild grapevine(Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris), a sporadically distributed woody liana, is currently con...Due to severe anthropogenic impacts on lowland and submontane zones of the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, wild grapevine(Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris), a sporadically distributed woody liana, is currently considered an endangered species. Using data from the literature and 34 studied populations, herbarium assessments and nine palynological sites, we provide an overview of its taxonomy,distribution and ecology in the first part of the investigation.The separation of the two subspecies, namely V. sylvestris subsp. anebophylla and V. sylvestris subsp. trichophylla(sensu Flora Iranica), based on their leaf indumentums, could not be confirmed by our examination of herbarium materials and field observations. Indumentum of the leaves is a result of leaf polymorphism in different Vitis specimens and can be strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris grows in a wide range of habitats including wetlands, seasonal stream sides in closed forests,alluvial beds of large rivers, sand dune shrublands and forested wetlands(alder forests). Parrotia persica and Carpinus betulus were the most frequent host species in the studied populations. In the Hyrcanian region, no pollen record of Vitis older than the Mid-or Late-Holocene has yet been established. Despite the intrinsic problem in pollen identification by normal(i.e., light) microscopy of wild from cultivated grapevines, the significant values and persistent occurrence of Vitis pollen since the Mid-Holocene(before the Bronze Age) in the Hyrcanian pollen records may imply the onset of viticulture in low-to mid-elevation sites in the region. This represents an argument to consider the Hyrcanian region as a possible domestication center for V. vinifera.However, the question of wild versus cultivated origin of grapevines in the Hyrcanian pollen records and the possible date of its domestication and/or cultivation will remain open until further palynological studies are undertaken.展开更多
Physical Habitat characterization of black flies was performed in the Tafna Basin of Algeria, based primarily on stream size, substrate, and aquatic and riparian vegetation. A total of 143 samples were taken between A...Physical Habitat characterization of black flies was performed in the Tafna Basin of Algeria, based primarily on stream size, substrate, and aquatic and riparian vegetation. A total of 143 samples were taken between April and October 2009 at 11 sampling sites in the Tafna catchment. Dams exerted an effect through a slowdown of flow and sedimentation of fine particles, eliminating coarse microhabitats favorable for black flies. Stream and substrate characteristics are key parameters that determined the microhabitats of the species. Of 10 species considered, four were widely present with significant plasticity for the stream and substrate. Four other species were more closely associated with faster streams and eroded substrate. A greater rheophilic tendency was found for Simulium bezzii (Corti), Simulium sergenti Edwards, Simulium quadrifila Grenier, Faure and Laurent and Simulium galloprovinciale Giudicelli, which represents a new record for Algeria.展开更多
Background: Tree species represent 20% of the vascular plant species worldwide and they play a crucial role in the global functioning of the biosphere. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the 36 world biodiversity hotsp...Background: Tree species represent 20% of the vascular plant species worldwide and they play a crucial role in the global functioning of the biosphere. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the 36 world biodiversity hotspots, and it is estimated that forests covered 82% of the landscape before the first human impacts, thousands of years ago. However, the spatial distribution of the Mediterranean biodiversity is still imperfectly known, and a focus on tree species constitutes a key issue for understanding forest functioning and develop conservation strategies. Methods: We provide the first comprehensive checklist of all native tree taxa (species and subspecies) present in the Mediterranean-European region (from Portugal to Cyprus). We identified some cases of woody species difficult to categorize as trees that we further called "cryptic trees". We collected the occurrences of tree taxa by"administrative regions", i.e. country or large island, and by biogeographical provinces. We studied the species-area relationship, and evaluated the conservation issues for threatened taxa following IUCN criteria. Results: We identified 245 tree taxa that included 210 species and 35 subspecies, belonging to 33 families and 64 genera. It included 46 endemic tree taxa (30 species and 16 subspecies), mainly distributed within a single biogeographical unit. The countries with the highest tree richness are Greece (146 taxa), Italy (133), Albania (122), Spain (155), Macedonia (116), and Croatia (110). The species-area relationship clearly discriminated the richest central-eastern (Balkans) and northern (Alpine and Cevenno-Pyrenean) biogeographical provinces, against the five western provinces in the Iberian Peninsula. We identified 44 unrecognized "cryptic trees", representing 21% of the total trees. Among the 245 taxa identified, 19 are considered to be threatened (15 CR+EN+VU) or near threatened (4 NT) by IUCN. Conclusions: The Mediterranean-European region includes an unsuspectedly high number of tree taxa, almost 200 tree taxa more tha展开更多
文摘Semen from 10 932 male partners of infertile couples was analysed and sperm parameter trends were evaluated at the Reproduction Biology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille （France） between 1988 and 2007. After 3-6 days of abstinence, semen samples were collected. Measurements of seminal fluid volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and detailed morphology of spermatozoa were performed. Sperm parameters were analysed on the entire population and in men with normal total numeration （ 〉~ 40 million per ejaculate）. The whole population demonstrated declining trends in sperm concentration （1.5% per year）, total sperm count （1.6% per year）, total motility （0.4% per year）, rapid motility （5.5% per year） and normal morphology （2.2% per year）. In the group of selected samples with total normal sperm count, the same trends of sperm quality deterioration with time were observed. Our results clearly indicate that the auality of semen decreased in this population over the study period.
文摘The description and understanding of plant communities is fundamental for the implementation of conservation or restoration programs, especially when these communities are highly threatened and need to be restored.Campos rupestres, some Neotropical mountain grasslands located in central Brazil and part of the Cerrado biome(covering 2 million km2) host unique plant communities, currently threatened by quarrying and mining.The grassy matrix of campos rupestres, has long been considered a rich mosaic under the control of local topography and the nature of substrate, but this affirmation has not been well studied.We analyzed whether plant communities varied in relation to edaphic factors within the stony substrate and the sandy substrate of this grassy matrix.We selected 5 sites where occur both grasslands on stony substrate and on sandy substrate, and we carried out vegetation surveys and soil analyses.We counted 222 plant species within our communities, among which38.6% are exclusively found on campos rupestres.Our results show that both soil-types are strongly acidic, nutrient poor and exhibit a seasonal variation.Phosphorus increases and p H and organic carbon decrease during the dry season.Stony soils areslightly richer in nutrients than sandy soils and differences in soil granulometry and composition have led to the formation of distinct plant communities.Some species are confined to either one or the other grassland-type, which makes the plant composition of each community unique.Variations in edaphic factors generate heterogeneous grasslands favorable to a high plant diversity.Conservation programs and restoration actions have to maintain or recreate this heterogeneity.The presence of distinct plant communities implies that different strategies might be adopted to improve the restoration of these ecosystems.
文摘Invasive rats （Rattus spp.） are known to have pervasive impacts on island birds, particularly on their nesting success. To conserve or restore bird populations, numerous invasive rat control or eradication projects are undertaken on islands worldwide. However, such projects represent a huge investment and the decision-making process requires proper assessment of rat impacts. Here, we assessed the influence of two sympatric invasive rats （Rattus rattus and R. exulans） on native bird eggs in a New Caledonian rainforest, using artificial bird-nest monitoring. A total of 178 artificial nests containing two eggs of three different sizes were placed either on the ground or 1.5 m high and monitored at the start of the birds＇ breeding season. Overall, 12.4% of the nests were depredated during the first 7 days. At site 1, where nests were monitored during 16 days, 41.8% of the nests were depredated. The main predator was the native crow Corvus moneduloides, responsible for 62.9% of the overall predation events. Rats were responsible for only 22.9% of the events, and ate only small and medium eggs at both heights. Our experiment suggests that in New Caledonia, predation pressure by rats strengthens overall bird-nest predation, adding to that by native predators, Experimental rat control operations may allow reduced predation pressure on nests as well as the recording of biodiversity responses after rat population reduction.
基金This work was fully funded by the“InstitutÉcocitoyen pour la Connaissance des Pollutions”.
文摘The bioaccumulation of PAHs and metal elements in the indigenous lichens Xanthoria parietina was monitored during two years at a quarterly frequency,in 3 sites of contrasted anthropic influence.The impact of the meteorological factors(temperature,relative humidity,rainfall,wind speed)was first estimated through principal component analysis,and then by stepwise multilinear regressions to include wind directions.The pollutants levels reflected the proximity of atmospheric emissions,in particular from a large industrial harbor.High humidity and mild temperatures,and in a lower extent low wind speed and rainfall,also favored higher concentration levels.The contributions of these meteorological aspects became minor when including wind direction,especially when approaching major emission sources.The bioaccumulation integration time towards meteorological variations was on a seasonal basis(1–2 months)but the wind direction and thus local emissions also relied on a longer time scale(12 months).This showed that the contribution of meteorological conditions may be prevalent in remote places,while secondary in polluted areas,and should be definitely taken into account regarding long-term lichen biomonitoring and inter-annual comparisons.In the same time,a quadruple sampling in each site revealed a high homogeneity among supporting tree species and topography.The resulting uncertainty,including sampling,preparation and analysis was below 30%when comfortable analytical conditions were achieved.Finally,the occurrence of unexpected events such as a major forest fire,permitted to evaluate that this type of short,although intense,events did not have a strong influence on PAH and metals bioaccumulation by lichen.
文摘<b>Introduction:</b> Skin aging is the result of many cellular dysfunctions over time particularly the fibroblasts and the keratinocytes. These dysfunctions could be decelerated by the preventive effects of some skin treatments such as Intradermal injections. NCTF 135HA has a polycomponent formulation designed to improve the efficacy of non-cross linked hyaluronic acid (as a micro-filler) on fibroblasts function. Although NCTF 135HA has been used by aesthetic practitioners since 20 years, we have analyzed all <i>in </i><i>vitro</i>, <i>ex vivo</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies during past 10 years in order to summarized its anti-aging effect. <b>Methods</b><b>:</b> In these series of studies, the known effects of HA have been evaluated with this boosted formula. Collagen I synthesis, antiglycation effect and contractile forces developed by fibroblasts were studied. Fibroblasts and keratinocytes proliferations were evaluated in monolayer cells culture. The filling effect thanks to NCTF 135HA injection was <i>ex vivo </i>performed by fringe projection and the protective effect of NCTF 135HA against solar irradiation was performed <i>ex vivo</i> to study proliferation rate, elastin and collagen expression. Two clinical trials were performed on women to evaluate the anti-aging effect of NCTF 135HA injection. Hydration, firmness, radiance, wrinkles size, pore size, thickness and density of the dermis were analyzed. <b>Results</b><b>:</b> Collagen I, anti-AGE products, cell proliferation and contractile forces were significantly increased with NCTF 135HA in culture medium. <i>Ex vivo</i> studies showed that NCTF 135HA increased, cells proliferation rate, elastin and collagen production. In addition, the filling effect of the NCTF 135HA is significantly superior to placebo. The first clinical trial shows that NCTF 135HA injection significantly increased tonicity, hydration and radiance of the skin and significantly decreased wrinkle score. The second clinical trial demonstrated that NCTF 135HA injection significantly incre
文摘Earthworms are widespread soil organisms that contribute to a wide range of ecosystem services.As such,it is important to improve our knowledge,still scanty,of the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities.The aim of the present study was to conjointly evaluate the effects on the assembly of earthworm communities of i)soil properties(texture,organic matter content,and pH),ii)grassland management(grassland age,livestock unit,and type of fertilization),iii)landscape diversity(richness,diversity of surrounding habitats,and grassland plant diversity),and iv)presence of hedgerows.The study was conducted in temperate grasslands of Brittany,France.Earthworms were sampled in 24 grasslands and,in three of these grasslands,they were sampled near a hedgerow or near a ditch(control without a hedgerow).Soil properties explained the larger portion of the variation in the earthworm community parameters compared to grassland management or landscape diversity.The increase in soil organic matter content and pH were the most favorable factors for earthworm abundance and biomass,in particular for endogeic species.Regarding grassland management,the increase in the livestock unit was the most damaging factor for earthworm communities,in particular for the anecic earthworm biomass and endogeic species richness.Surprisingly,landscape diversity negatively affected the total earthworm abundance and epigeic earthworm biomass,but it was related to an increase in the epi-anecic species.At a finer scale,we also demonstrated that the presence of hedgerows surrounding grasslands enhanced earthworm species richness,especially within the epigeic and anecic ecological categories.This study highlights that the earthworm ecological categories respond specifically to environmental filters;further studies need to be conducted to elucidate the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities at this ecological category level.We recommend that policymakers should act on landscape management to favor earthworm diversity in order to
文摘This study was designed to determine the ability of computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis （CASA-Morph） with fluorescence to discriminate between spermatozoa carrying different sex chromosomes from the nuclear morphometrics generated and different statistical procedures in the bovine species. The study was divided into two experiments. The first was to study the morphometric differences between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa （SX and SY, respectively）. Spermatozoa from eight bulls were processed to assess simultaneously the sex chromosome by FISH and sperm morphometry by fluorescence-based CASA-Morph. SX cells were larger than SY cells on average （P 〈 0.001） although with important differences between bulls. A simultaneous evaluation of all the measured features by discriminant analysis revealed that nuclear area and average fluorescence intensity were the variables selected by stepwise discriminant function analysis as the best discriminators between SX and SY. In the second experiment, the sperm nuclear morphometric results from CASA-Morph in nonsexed （mixed SX and SY） and sexed （SX） semen samples from four bulls were compared. FISH allowed a successful classification of spermatozoa according to their sex chromosome content. X-sexed spermatozoa displayed a larger size and fluorescence intensity than nonsexed spermatozoa （P 〈 0.05）. We conclude that the CASA-Morph fluorescence-based method has the potential to find differences between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bovine species although more studies are needed to increase the precision of sex determination by this technique.
文摘Oxidative stability of two commercial olive oils of different specificity (green type and black type) has been studied during thermal and photochemical accelerated processes through the evolution of quality indices. It might help to assure a good utilisation of olive oil. In most of works described in literature, they are measured individually. In this study, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been performed to emphasize their variation and describe in concise way the quality and the safety of extra-virgin olive oil after two oxidative stresses. No difference had been detected between both type oils when they are heated. Peroxides, aldehydes and conjugated dienes and trienes were formed but rapidly degraded into final oxidation compounds, mainly acid compounds. During the photochemical process, similar changes occurred slower and the green type oil had shown better stability because of its higher phenolic content. The fatty acids had been more impacted (higher disappearance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)) when the oils were heated than when irradiated. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), MUFA and PUFA were the most relevant indicators to characterize non-oxidized oils and PV characterized the early stage of oil oxidation.
文摘In North Africa, Cedrus atlantica forests are in decline, following decades of anthropogenic pressure and repeated drought events. Mixed C. atlantica-Quercus ilex stands located in the Theniet El Had National Park (northwestern Algeria) were considered in the present study. Based on a stratified sampling, six temporary plots were established to describe structure (species composition, density, total height, diameter and basal area) and radial growth in relation to type of stand (pure and mixed), using a dendroecological approach. The diameter distribution of C. atlantica indicated the presence of few young individuals and a poor regeneration status in all the stands. The density and basal area of C. atlantica were significantly higher in pure stands, which necessitate silvicultural operations. In contrast, Q. ilex showed a progressive dynamic, at moderate altitude. Radial growth showed a significant decline from 1980 to the 2000s. The absence of an appropriate management plan and the increase in anthropogenic effects, without ruling out a role for the current climate conditions marked by drought, seem to be the causes of C. atlantica decline.
文摘Co-evolution of host-parasitoid interactions is determined by the costs of host resistance, which received empirical evidence, and the costs ofparasitoid virulence, which have been mostly hypothesized. Asobara tabida is a parasitoid, which mainly parasitizes Drosophila melanogaster and D. subobscura, the first species being able to resist to the parasitoid development while the second species is not. To parasitize resistant hosts, including D. melanogaster, A. tabida develops sticky eggs, which prevent encapsulation, but this virulence mechanism may be costly. Interindividual and interpopulation variation in the proportion of sticky eggs respectively allowed us to （i） artificially select and compare life-history traits of a virulent and a nonvirulent laboratory strain, and （ii） compare a virulent and a nonvirulent field strain, to investigate the hypothetical costs of virulence. We observed strong differences between the 2 laboratory strains. The nonvirulent strain invested fewer resources in reproduction and walked less than the virulent one but lived longer. Concerning the field strains, we observed that the nonvirulent strain had larger wings while the virulent one walked more and faster. All together, our results suggest that virulence may not always be costly, but rather that different life histories associated with different levels of virulence may coexist at both intra- and interDoDulation levels.
文摘Specimens of Cymodocea(Viridiplantae,Magnoliophyta)collected on the Tunisian coasts showed a particular morphological and anatomical difference with the classical descriptions of Cymodocea nodosa(Ucria)Asch.the only species of this genus reported in the Mediterranean Sea.In order to precise the taxonomic identity of the new specimens we aimed in this work(i)to verify the identity of the new forms,(ii)to evaluate the genetic diversity of the population,(iii)to test the validity of the existing identification keys of the Tunisian Cymodocea populations.Four stations located in two regions of the Tunisian coasts were sampled.Leaf morphological and anatomical characters used in taxonomic identification were measured(e.g.,number of cross veins,shape of the apex).The genetic study was performed using three most common chloroplast markers for plant characterization(DNA barcodes rbcL,matK and trnHpsbA).The morphological study revealed the presence of three C.nodosa morphotypes,described here for the first time,while the molecular characterization did not allow the discrimination of these morphological types.In regard to these results,it would be wise to review the classical identification keys of the Cymodocea genus.
基金supported by the Centre for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration(CISSC)and the French Embassy in Tehran under the “Gundishapour” project
文摘Due to severe anthropogenic impacts on lowland and submontane zones of the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, wild grapevine(Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris), a sporadically distributed woody liana, is currently considered an endangered species. Using data from the literature and 34 studied populations, herbarium assessments and nine palynological sites, we provide an overview of its taxonomy,distribution and ecology in the first part of the investigation.The separation of the two subspecies, namely V. sylvestris subsp. anebophylla and V. sylvestris subsp. trichophylla(sensu Flora Iranica), based on their leaf indumentums, could not be confirmed by our examination of herbarium materials and field observations. Indumentum of the leaves is a result of leaf polymorphism in different Vitis specimens and can be strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris grows in a wide range of habitats including wetlands, seasonal stream sides in closed forests,alluvial beds of large rivers, sand dune shrublands and forested wetlands(alder forests). Parrotia persica and Carpinus betulus were the most frequent host species in the studied populations. In the Hyrcanian region, no pollen record of Vitis older than the Mid-or Late-Holocene has yet been established. Despite the intrinsic problem in pollen identification by normal(i.e., light) microscopy of wild from cultivated grapevines, the significant values and persistent occurrence of Vitis pollen since the Mid-Holocene(before the Bronze Age) in the Hyrcanian pollen records may imply the onset of viticulture in low-to mid-elevation sites in the region. This represents an argument to consider the Hyrcanian region as a possible domestication center for V. vinifera.However, the question of wild versus cultivated origin of grapevines in the Hyrcanian pollen records and the possible date of its domestication and/or cultivation will remain open until further palynological studies are undertaken.
文摘Physical Habitat characterization of black flies was performed in the Tafna Basin of Algeria, based primarily on stream size, substrate, and aquatic and riparian vegetation. A total of 143 samples were taken between April and October 2009 at 11 sampling sites in the Tafna catchment. Dams exerted an effect through a slowdown of flow and sedimentation of fine particles, eliminating coarse microhabitats favorable for black flies. Stream and substrate characteristics are key parameters that determined the microhabitats of the species. Of 10 species considered, four were widely present with significant plasticity for the stream and substrate. Four other species were more closely associated with faster streams and eroded substrate. A greater rheophilic tendency was found for Simulium bezzii (Corti), Simulium sergenti Edwards, Simulium quadrifila Grenier, Faure and Laurent and Simulium galloprovinciale Giudicelli, which represents a new record for Algeria.
基金funded by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity(FRB)through its Centre for SynthesisAnalysis of Biodiversity data(CESAB)programme,as part of the WOODIV research project.ACM and MCB were funded by Labex OT-Med(n°ANR-11-LABX-0061)
文摘Background: Tree species represent 20% of the vascular plant species worldwide and they play a crucial role in the global functioning of the biosphere. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the 36 world biodiversity hotspots, and it is estimated that forests covered 82% of the landscape before the first human impacts, thousands of years ago. However, the spatial distribution of the Mediterranean biodiversity is still imperfectly known, and a focus on tree species constitutes a key issue for understanding forest functioning and develop conservation strategies. Methods: We provide the first comprehensive checklist of all native tree taxa (species and subspecies) present in the Mediterranean-European region (from Portugal to Cyprus). We identified some cases of woody species difficult to categorize as trees that we further called "cryptic trees". We collected the occurrences of tree taxa by"administrative regions", i.e. country or large island, and by biogeographical provinces. We studied the species-area relationship, and evaluated the conservation issues for threatened taxa following IUCN criteria. Results: We identified 245 tree taxa that included 210 species and 35 subspecies, belonging to 33 families and 64 genera. It included 46 endemic tree taxa (30 species and 16 subspecies), mainly distributed within a single biogeographical unit. The countries with the highest tree richness are Greece (146 taxa), Italy (133), Albania (122), Spain (155), Macedonia (116), and Croatia (110). The species-area relationship clearly discriminated the richest central-eastern (Balkans) and northern (Alpine and Cevenno-Pyrenean) biogeographical provinces, against the five western provinces in the Iberian Peninsula. We identified 44 unrecognized "cryptic trees", representing 21% of the total trees. Among the 245 taxa identified, 19 are considered to be threatened (15 CR+EN+VU) or near threatened (4 NT) by IUCN. Conclusions: The Mediterranean-European region includes an unsuspectedly high number of tree taxa, almost 200 tree taxa more tha
