Recent approach to Buchia biostratigraphy from the Tethyan Himalaya area, China

Recent collections from six sections in Lanongla area,Tethyan Himalaya allow the establishment of four buchia assembles.In ascending they are Buchia-Buchia spitiensis,Buchia masquensis-Buchia rugasa,Buchia blanfordiana,Buchia piochii and Buchia subokensis assemblages.These Buchia assemblages first demonstrate that not only the Upper Jurassic strata but also the highest Buchia assemblage-Buchia subokensis,which appeared in Lower Cretaceous strata all over the world are present in Lanongla area.This first records the highest Buchia assemblage in Lanongla area.     

A comparison of in vitro anticancerous activity and mechanism of ethanolic extracts from different Ganoderma genus

Five ethanolic extracts from the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum, G. tsugae, G. oerstedii, G. subamboinense, and G. resinaceum were respectively studied on their anticancerous activities against leukemic HL-60 cell line in vitro. Results showed that all five extracts potently inhibited HL-60 proliferation. The extract from G. lucidum mycelia exerted the highest activity. Annexin V/PI bivariate flow cytometric analysis further revealed that the five extracts significantly induced early apoptosis in HL-60 cells. The results illustrate that not only G. lucidum but also other Ganoderma species can inhibit cancer cells, and their mechanisms are related to induction of apoptosis. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Normal University (Natural Sciences), 2005, 34(2): 77–81 [译自: 上海师范大学学报 (自然科学版), 2005, 34(2): 77–81]     

Induction, selection and antibacterial activity of the antibacterial peptides from lepidopteran insect cultured cell lines

We induced 3 cell lines that were in vitro cultured from Lepidoptera with heat inactivated Escherichia coli DH_5α to stimulate the antibacterial peptide followed by antibacterial activity assay, induction dynamic research and Tricine sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Tricine SDS-PAGE) experiment. The antibacterial activity of the induced BTI-Tn-5B1 cell line was the highest, and the antibacterial activity increased gradually to the highest level in 16 hours after stimulation. A new antibacterial peptide with a molecular weight of about 8000 Da was preferentially induced in Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn-5B1 cells in 16 hours after stimulation. Antibacterial activity assays indicated that it had inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli K₁₂D₃₁ and Salmonella derby. It has especially strong inhibition against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli K₁₂D₃₁ and Salmonella derby. __________ Translated from Journal of Central China Normal University (Natural Sciences), 2006, 40(2): 240–243 [译自: 华中师范大学学报 (自然科学版]     

Biological characteristics of wild Cycas fairylakea population in Guangdong Province, China

There are five wild populations of Cycas fairylakea in Guangdong Province, China, three of which are newly found. A study of the biological characteristics of C. fairylakea populations showed that this species had a narrow colonization area within 300 hm², and an island pattern of distribution. Because of the overexploitation, urbanization, environment pollution, plant diseases, and insect pests, the wild populations and individuals of C. fairylakea decreased markedly in the past decades. All five populations have an opposite pyramid age structure, few coning plants, few seed production, and low level of seed germination rate or sterility. In conclusion, C. fairylakea in Guangdong Province was threatened seriously and an urgent need to take effective efforts to protect the plants and habitats in its location sites was required. __________ Translated from Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni, 2005, 44(6): 97–100 [译自: 中山大学学报 (自然科学版), 2006, 44(6): 97–100]     

Analysis of sparteines in the seeds of Ammopiptanthus mongolica

Seven alkaloids were isolated from the seeds of Ammopiptanthus mongolica by thin layer chromatography and silica gel column chromatography, and the chemical structures of five alkaloids, 17-oxosparteine, β-isosparteine, 3α-hydroxysparteine, sparteine, and 3β-hydroxysparteine were identified by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron ionization mass spectrum (EIMS). __________ Translated from Journal of Lanzhou University (Natural Sciences), 2007, 43(2): 43–46 [译自: 兰州大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Home ranges and habitat vegetation characters in breeding season of Narcissus Flycatcher and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

The home ranges of the Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina elisae) and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (F. zanthopygia) are measured by radio telemetry in a subalpine forest near Beijing, China. The home range is calculated by 100% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP), and the area varies from 2,000 to 5,000 m². The majority of flycatchers can be found in the bottom of valleys and the underside of mountains. It is fairly rare for both Flycatcher species to leave their nests more than 70 m. Individuals of the species in pair-banding and nest-detecting periods have larger home ranges than those in incubation and rearing periods. The levels of canopy coverage in the home ranges of Narcissus Flycatchers are significantly higher than that of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. There are also more tall trees and stumps in the home ranges of Narcissus Flycatchers than in that of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. The dominant tree species in the home ranges of Narcissus Flycatchers is Dahurian Birch (Betula dahurica), whereas Manchurian Walnut (Juglans mandshurica) is the dominant tree species in the home ranges of Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(3): 295–299 [译自: 北京师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

A preliminary study on designing ecological corridors in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve with 3S techniques

This paper is based on the fieldwork in Xishuangbanna Natioanl Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province of China. GPS data of Asian elephants were collected and analyzed with the remote sensing satellite photos of the region to estimate the landform physiognomy of different colors. We also analyzed a series of ecological factors including altitude, landform, relief, villages and roads which affected the distribution and movement of Asian elephants. The results suggested the possibility of designing and establishing corridors in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve to protect the population of wild elephants in the region. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science) 2006, 42(4): 405-C409 [译自: 北京师范大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

A study on the relationship between vegetation pattern and environment in the upstream of Minjiang River, China

The vegetation pattern in the upstream of Minjiang River, and its relationship with environment factors, such as landscape position (elevation, slope, aspect), precipitation and temperature and soil are analyzed in this paper. The data used in this paper were based on the landscape map derived from 1994 TM imagery. The results were as follows: 1) dominant landscape types were forest, shrub land and grassland, which were very similar in terms of area ratio (32.87%, 31.85% and 28.44%, respectively); 2) the patch shape of conifer forest and mixed forest was complicated while that of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land was simple; 3) the fragmentation of conifer forest and mixed forest was serious in contrast with low fragmentation of broad-leaved forest and cultivated land; and 4) closed scrub and grassland had a high contagion and good connectivity while mixed forest had a lower contagion and bad connectivity. In addition, the vegetation distribution pattern of upstream of Minjiang River was closely related with elevation and temperature, but the relationship between vegetation and precipitation was not statistically significant. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Normal University (Natural Science), 2005,41(4) [译自: 北京师范大学学报(自然科学版), 2005,41(4)]     

Effects of intercropping with persimmon on the rhizosphere environment of tea

The rhizosphere environment of tea (Camellia sinensis Kuntze) intercropped with persimmon (Diospyros kaki) differs from monocultures of tea. A trial was conducted to determine the effects of intercropping with persimmon on root exudates and soil nutrient condition of tea. Amino acid exuded in intercropping was three times higher than that in monoculture. Phenol, phenol/amino acid ration, dissolved sugar, and total organic acid were also lower in intercropping. The value of pH in soil was higher, and soil nutrient condition of rhizosphere, especially available nutrient, was not as well in intercropping as that in tea grown alone. While soil nutrient of non-rhizosphere was better than that in monoculture, tea quality and soil nutrient condition were better in intercropping ecosystem. __________ Translated from Journal of Southwest China Normal University (Natural Science), 2005, 30(4): 715–718 [译自: 西南师范大学学报 (自然科学版), 2005, 30(4): 715–718]     

Optimized cultivation of highly-efficient degradation bacterial strains and their degradation ability towards pyrene

Two bacterial strains, Py1 and Py4, have been tamed and isolated through long cultivation with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon—pyrene as the single carbon source. It has been proven that they are both highly-efficient pyrene degrading bacteria and both Bacillus sp.. The pyrene degradation ability of separated Py1, Py4 and the consortium of equal Py1 and Py4 was studied in this project. It is shown that pyrene degradation rates were 88% in 10hr by Py1, 84% in 14hr by Py4, and 88% in 8hr by the consortium. It was also determined that the best degradation temperatures were 37°C and pH 7.0 respectively. The influence of different nutrient substrates added in the degradation experiments was also studied. It was shown that sodium salicylate, sodium acetate and yeast extract had obvious simulative effect, but glucose had no obvious effect. __________ Translated from Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Nankaiensis (Natural Science Edition) 2006, 39: 71–74 [译自: 南开大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Chemical compounds and pharmacological effects of Rabdosia excisa

Many kinds of diterpenoids have been isolated from Rabdosia spp. Some of them have anti-microbial effects, counteract inflammation, and inhibit tumor progression activities. We conducted the present study in order to look for bioactive compounds in the medicinal plant Rabdosia excisa. In this study, five compounds were isolated from R. excisa; they were oridonin, isokamebakaurin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, and β-sitosterol. In order to identify the function of the extracts, the activity of antibiotics, antioxidation, and immunity test were carried out against these functions. Prospective results were observed in all of the tested items. Translated from Journal of Northeast Normal University (Natural Sciences), 2005, 37(4): 94–98 [译自: 东北师大学报 (自然科学版)]     

Proteomic approach for acute-phase proteins of hemolymph and muscles in Scylla serrata challenged by a pathogenic bacterium

Acute-phase response is documented to be a significant mechanism of innate immunity in vertebrates and invertebrates. In this study, proteomic methodologies were applied for different protein expressions in hemolymph of Scylla serrata challenged by Vibrio parahaemolyticus after immunization, and in muscles of the crabs separately challenged by V. parahaemolyticus, V. anguillarum and Aeromonas hydrophila. Up-regulated cryptocyanin is documented in the hemolymph and up-regulated calexcitin, wingless (fragment) and tachykinin-related peptide in the muscle as acute-phase proteins. All the four altered proteins were responsible for bacterial stress, but cryptocyanin seemed to be a memory response protein against the challenge by a live bacterium after immunization of the live cells. These up-regulated proteins can be indicative of an understanding of immunity of a crab. __________ Translated from Journal of Xiamen University (Natural Science), 2005, 44(4): 559–562, 44(Sup.): 191–194 [译自: 厦门大学学报(自然科学版), 2005, 44(4): 559–562, 44(增刊): 191–194]     

Antigenicity analysis of Vibrio harveyi TS-628 strain

Vibrio harveyi, the major causative agent of vibriosis, affects a diverse range of marine cultured organisms over a wide geographical area. However, reports about screening the effective antigen and research on vaccines of V. harveyi are scarce. Flagellin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins (OMP) are major immunogenic antigens in many Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the flagellin, OMP and LPS of the V. harveyi TS-628 strain isolated from infected groupers were extracted and Western blot analysis was used to detect the antigenicity of these extractions. Results of the Western blot assay reveal that there are four positive flagellin bands: 35 kDa, 38 kDa, 43 kDa, and 52 kDa, of which the 43 kDa and 52 kDa bands displayed the strongest positive reaction. There are five positive OMP bands about 35 kDa, 38 kDa, 43 kDa, 47 kDa, and 52 kDa, of which the 43 kDa appeared to have the strongest positive reaction although the other four proteins also displayed strong reactions. However, LPS is Western blot-negative. These results indicate that the 43 kDa and 52 kDa flagellin and OMP of size 43 kDa, 52 kDa can be candidates for developing vaccines against V. harveyi. Translated from Journal of Xiamen University (Natural Science), 2006, 45(3): 393–396 [译自: 厦门大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Breeding and application of Jiafuzhan, a new elite early indica rice cultivar in China

After 20 years of dedicated research, Jiafuzhan has been successfully developed under the new technologies in breeding high-quality early indica rice cultivars. Its rice quality has almost reached the A-level Editable Rice of Agriculture Department of China, and its average production reaches 400–500 kg/(666.7 m²). This new cultivar also has other characteristics such as enhanced resistance of blast and fallen, steady productivity, and strong adaptability. Jiafuzhan has been put into production of over 11.4 × 10⁴ hm² in Fujian Province and has been introduced and extended in other Provinces like Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Guangxi, China. The successes of breeding Jiafuzhan is a solution to the existing perennial problems in the rice industry, such as poor grain quality of big-grain rice and early indica rice, low productivity, and poor blast resistance of elite rice. __________ Translated from Journal of Xiamen University (Natural Science), 2006, 45(1): 114–119 [译自: 厦门大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Drought resistance of four grasses using pressure-volume curve

Pressure-volume curve (PV curve) technique is a major method for studying critical plant water potential and critical tissue water content when plasmolysis takes place. In the present study, a mathematical solution method is put forward to obtain parameters based on the PV curve. The calculated results for the parameters of Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Leymus chinensis and Stipa krylovii indicated that the mathematical solution method is convenient for actual research compared with the graphical method. Further analysis of the calculations suggested that drought resistance decreased in the following order: S. krylovii > F. arundinacea and L. chinensis > L. perenne. __________ Translated from Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Nankaiensis, 2006, 39(3): 16–22 [译自: 南开大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

Cytokines mRNA in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in asthmatic mouse

By inducing and amplifying dendritic cells (DCs) derived from the bone marrow of asthma murine in vitro, cytokines mRNA were expressed, and the functions of DCs were investigated. Cells isolated from murine bone marrow have been cultured with rmGM-CSF and rmIL-4, and the expression of cytokines mRNA was determined by ribonuclease protection assay combined with multi-probe templates. Large numbers of DCs have been obtained from bone marrow, and they expressed interleukin-13 (IL-13), interleukin-9 (IL-9), and interleukin-3 (IL-3) mRNA. Moreover, the level of IL-13 mRNA and IL-9 mRNA expressed by DCs in asthmatic mice was significantly higher than those in the control groups (P<0.05). But, the level of IL-3 mRNA showed no discrepancy between the two groups (P>0.05). DCs are very important in the forming and developing of asthma, which implies that the therapy targeted at DCs will possibly become a new goal. __________ Translated from Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Natural Science), 2005, 28(2): 96–100 [译自: 南京师范大学学报 (自然科学版), 2005, 28(2): 96–100]     

A modified resonant recognition model to predict protein-protein interaction

Proteins are fundamental components of all living cells and the protein-protein interaction plays an important role in vital movement. This paper briefly introduced the original Resonant Recognition Model (RRM), and then modified it by using the wavelet transform to acquire the Modified Resonant Recognition Model (MRRM). The key characteristic of the new model is that it can predict directly the protein-protein interaction from the primary sequence, and the MRRM is more suitable than the RRM for this prediction. The results of numerical experiments show that the MRRM is effective for predicting the protein-protein interaction. Translated from Journal of Shanghai University (Natural Science), 2006, 12(1): 69–73 [译自: 上海大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Immure response induced by oral DNA vaccination against FMDV delivered by attenuated Salm onella choleraesuis C500

A recombinant strain of Salmonella choleraesuis C500, containing a eukaryotic expression plasmid pBO1 with the immune-dominant epitope of foot-and-mouth disease virus, was constructed. Specific immune response to this recombinant strain was evaluated by oral administration of the recombinant live bacteria pBO1/S. cho in rabbits. Results showed that T cell response and specific antibody production were elicited. This approach may present a general strategy for eliciting immune responses with DNA vaccine delivered by live bacterial vectors. The stimulated indexes of T lymphoproliferation by specific antigens of FMDV in rabbits, can reach up to 11.0 and an antibody titer of 1/32 as detected in the erum with liquid block ELISA. __________ Translated From Journal of Fudan University(Natural Science), 2005,44(4)[译自: 复旦学报(自然科学版), 2005,44(4)]