江苏句容白垩纪葛村组花粉一新属及其地史分布

建立并描述新属葛村粉（Gecunpollis gen.nov)及其3新种和1比较种,新属以球形,远极具大口,口上益有薄膜为特征,产于苏南句容地句11井葛村组下部上段至中上部,其可能属于一种已灭的裸子植物花粉,分布时代为晚Barremian晚期至Aptian期,葛村组以往被归属为Aptian期至Albian期,句11井下部出现棒纹粉带表明,完整的葛村组应为晚Barremian期至Albian期。     

内蒙古满洲里扎赉诺尔煤矿早白垩世孢粉组合序列和古气候研究

内蒙古满洲里扎赉诺尔露天煤矿为大兴安岭西侧重要含煤产地,经自下而上逐层采集孢粉样品,在大磨拐河组获得十分丰富的孢粉化石。根据孢粉属种与含量的变化,划分出三个孢粉亚组合:1)Concavissimisporites-Foraminisporis-Classopollis亚组合,时代为Valanginian期;2)Aequitriradites-Hsuisporites-Jiaohepollis亚组合,时代为Hauterivian期;3)Cicatricosisporites-Pilosisporites-Pinuspollenites亚组合,时代为Barremian期。这种细致划分对于进一步探讨地层内部生物演化及煤层详细对比有较重要意义。本文还探讨了该地区的三个亚组合时期的古气候演变,并命名了6个新种。     

内蒙古满洲里扎赉诺尔煤矿早白垩世孢粉组合序列和古气候研究北大核心CSCD

内蒙古满洲里扎赉诺尔露天煤矿为大兴安岭西侧重要含煤产地,经自下而上逐层采集孢粉样品,在大磨拐河组获得十分丰富的孢粉化石。根据孢粉属种与含量的变化,划分出三个孢粉亚组合:1)Concavissimisporites-Foraminisporis-Classopollis亚组合,时代为Valanginian期;2)Aequitriradites-Hsuisporites-Jiaohepollis亚组合,时代为Hauterivian期;3)Cicatricosisporites-Pilosisporites-Pinuspollenites亚组合,时代为Barremian期。这种细致划分对于进一步探讨地层内部生物演化及煤层详细对比有较重要意义。本文还探讨了该地区的三个亚组合时期的古气候演变,并命名了6个新种。     

吉林延吉盆地早白垩世沟鞭藻类及其它藻类

本文研究吉林省延吉盆地下白垩统2个组中沟鞭藻类及其它藻类组合。其中铜佛寺组二段是延吉盆地下白垩统产沟鞭藻最丰富的层位。Vesperopsis cf．zhaodongensis-Vesperopsis tongfosiensis组合指示的地质时代可能为Hauterivian—Barremian期,代表了淡水-微咸水(偏淡水)的沉积环境,而Filisphaeridium-Sentusidinium组合的时代属于Barremian—Aptian早期,指示的水体环境为淡水-微咸水(偏微咸水)。文中描述了1新种,对Vesperopsis yanjiensis Mao,Wan et Qiao,1999进行了修订。     

黔西滇东早三叠世早期Annalepis(脊囊属)的出现及其地层意义

为解决早三叠世卡以头组地质时代和植物组合问题,对采于黔西滇东地区两条二叠系-三叠系海陆交互相界线剖面卡以头组中、下部的植物化石Annalepis(脊囊属)进行深入研究。与Annalepis同层或上部层位见有早三叠世早期的海相双壳类、介形类、腕足类、菊石类及大羽羊齿植物群残余分子,因此可以确定Annalepis在该地区出现于早三叠世早期的印度期(Induan),说明卡以头组(至少中、下部)地质时代属早三叠世早期。推测我国南方的Annalepis在早三叠世始于黔西滇东,随后向北迁移、中三叠世广布于长江中下游地区。建立由早三叠世An-nalepis和大羽羊齿植物群残存分子共同构成的我国南方早三叠世早期植物组合,填补了早三叠世晚期岭文组与晚二叠世B期Gigantonoclea guizhouensis-Ullmannia cf.bronnia-Annularia pinglouensis组合之间的空白。     

河南西峡盆地晚白垩世含恐龙蛋地层中的双壳类

描述河南西峡盆地含恐龙蛋地层的双壳类5属(亚属)9种,其中1新种。依据双壳类的地层分布特征,确认含恐龙蛋地层的时代属晚白垩世,很可能为晚白垩世中-晚期(Coniacian-Campanian期)。描述的双壳类化石有:Pseudohyria cf.gobiensis MacNeil,Pseudohyria cf.cardiiformis(Martinson),cf.Plicatounio(Plicatounio)hunanensis Zhang,cf.Plicatounio(Plicatounio)zhuchengensis Ma,Plicatounio(Acclinoplicatounio)cf.nan-anensis Ma et Huang,Plicatounio(Tamuraia)henanensis Chenet Wangsp.nov.,Sphaerium shantun gense(Grabau),Sphaeriumtani Grabau和Sphaerium laiyangense Chen。其中,Pseudohyria属及Tamuraia和Accli-noplicatounio亚属的历程均限于晚白垩世。韩国和日本早白垩世地层发现的Pseudohyria matsumotoi Yang,1979应归Matsumotoina,不属于Pseudohyria;福建禾口组上部原鉴定为Plicatounio(Plicatounio)naktongensis和Pli-catounio(Plicatounio)fujianensis的标本,应改归Tamuraia亚属。     

西藏岗巴察且拉剖面白垩系孢粉组合

雅鲁藏布江以南的藏南特提斯喜玛拉雅白垩系一直备受关注,但迄今仍缺乏有关白垩纪孢粉组合序列的系统报导。本文详细研究报导了岗巴察且拉这一代表性剖面的孢粉化石。根据重要孢粉类群的分布和发生情况,从下部的门卡敦组向上经岗巴东山组、察且拉组和岗巴村口组共计产出2个孢粉组合及3个亚组合,由下向上依次为Microcachryidites antarcticus-Crybelosporites带和Gabonisporis-Crybelosporites pannuceus带。前者还可进一步的细分为3个亚带,自下而上分别为:Cicatricosisporites-Crybelosporites stylosus亚带、Cyclosporites hughesii亚带和Crybelosporites striatus亚带。根据孢粉类群的分布和发育特征以及沟鞭藻等化石,Microcachryidites antarcticus-Crybelosporites带的时代被推定为早白垩世Berriasian期—Albian期,Gabonisporis-Crybelosporites pannuceus带时代则为Cenomanian期至Coniacian期甚至Santonian期。前者的3个亚带的时代则分别为Berriasian期—Barremian期(Cicatricosisporites-Crybelosporites stylosus亚带)、Aptian期(Cyclosporites hughesii亚带)和Albian期(Crybelosporites striatus亚带)。上述组合可以与印度南部Cauvery等盆地孢粉组合很好的对比,与同期的澳大利亚组合则在早期(Microcachryidites antarcticus-Crybelosporites带)相似、后期具有差异。     

准噶尔盆地白垩纪轮藻化石组合序列

新疆准噶尔盆地的白垩系发育较好,其中含有丰富的轮藻化石,计有20属1亚属63种1亚种3变种2比较种1新型2未定种,其中包括7个新种。根据轮藻植物群的演化,可在盆地的南缘、腹部和东北缘建立4个化石带1个亚带和1个组合:Clypeator zongjiangensis带(南缘、腹部及东北缘),时代相当于Berriasian-Valanginian;Flabellochara hebeiensis带(南缘),时代为Barremian;Clypeator jiuquanensis带(腹部),时代为Hauterivian-Bar-remian,其中包含Atopochara trivolvis triquetra亚带,时代为Barremian;Atopochara restricta带(腹部),时代为Cenomanian;Aclistochara mundulavar.elliptica-Raskyaechara gobica-Tolypella grambasti组合(腹部、北部及东北缘),时代应为晚白垩世中、晚期。该组合序列的建立,对确定准噶尔盆地白垩系的年代格架以及与国内外有关地层的对比关系具有十分重要的意义。     

湖南早二叠世假海乐菊石群的分布和几个新属种的记述

本文讨论了假海乐菊石群在湖南分布的特点。文中记述了这个头足类动物群中的2个新属和5个新种;并认为假海乐菊石群的时代属早二叠世茅口期早期,少数分子延续到茅口期中期。     

滇东南泸西县上三叠统卡尼阶小凹组菊石*

本文对云南省东南部的泸西县白水镇小兴安村上三叠统卡尼阶小凹组菊石类进行了详细研究,共发现菊石9属13种,其中Anasirenites属为华南首次发现。依据各物种组合特征及其地层分布情况,自下而上识别出菊石Trachyceras multituberculatum带和Austrotrachyceras triadicum带,时代对应于晚三叠世早卡尼期的Julian 1和Julian 2。该菊石组合不仅记录了卡尼期Julian期Trachyceratidae的辐射事件,同时该菊石组合与卡尼期特提斯域和泛大洋域的菊石组合均有良好的对比性,并且为华南古地理研究提供了新的补充材料。另外,通过对剖面的岩性特征与菊石生物地层特征分析,认为在滇东南地区由于卡尼期湿润幕事件(CPE)所导致的碳酸盐岩台地消亡起始时间应为Julian 1末期略早于陆源碎屑输入的Julian 2亚期。     

Translational research in immunology: Japanese perspectives

Japan has a formidable tradition in immunological research, starting with Shibasaburo Kitasato (1852-1931), who, after returning to Japan from his studies with Robert Koch, went on to build almost single-handedly a research tradition in investigative medical research, while engaging himself in the fight against infectious diseases. Over the past few decades, Japanese immunologists have been involved in many important discoveries at the forefront of immunological research, yet, when it comes to the translation of new discoveries into clinical innovations and new therapies, Japan's track record seems more modest.     

The Unexpected Evolution of Basic Science Studies about Cyclic Nucleotide Action into a Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

In these Reflections, I describe my perceived role in discoveries made in the cyclic nucleotide field that culminated in the advent of PDE5 inhibitors that treat erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis. The discoveries emphasize the critical role of basic science, which often evolves in unpredictable and circuitous paths, in improving human health.     

Mycoviruses and virocontrol

Viruses are widespread in all major groups of fungi. The transmission of fungal viruses occurs intracellularly during cell division, sporogenesis, and cell fusion. They apparently lack an extracellular route for infection. Recent searches of the collections of field fungal isolates have detected an increasing number of novel viruses and lead to discoveries of novel genome organizations, expression strategies and virion structures. Those findings enhanced our understanding of virus diversity and evolution. The majority of fungal viruses have dsRNA genomes packaged in spherical particles, while ssRNA mycoviruses, possessing or lacking the ability to form particles, have increasingly been reported. This review article discusses the current status of mycovirus studies and virocontrol (biocontrol) of phytopathogenic fungi using viruses that infect them and reduce their virulence. Selected examples of virocontrol-associated systems include the chestnut/chestnut blight/hypovirus and fruit trees/white root rot fungus/mycoviruses. Natural dissemination and artificial introduction of hypovirulent fungal strains efficiently contributed to virocontrol of chestnut blight in European forests. Attempts to control white root rot with hypovirulence-conferring mycoviruses are now being made in Japan.     

Five years of GWAS discovery

The past five years have seen many scientific and biological discoveries made through the experimental design of genome-wide association studies (GWASs). These studies were aimed at detecting variants at genomic loci that are associated with complex traits in the population and, in particular, at detecting associations between common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and common diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and psychiatric disorders. We start by giving a number of quotes from scientists and journalists about perceived problems with GWASs. We will then briefly give the history of GWASs and focus on the discoveries made through this experimental design, what those discoveries tell us and do not tell us about the genetics and biology of complex traits, and what immediate utility has come out of these studies. Rather than giving an exhaustive review of all reported findings for all diseases and other complex traits, we focus on the results for auto-immune diseases and metabolic diseases. We return to the perceived failure or disappointment about GWASs in the concluding section.     

Parure,pigment et art mobilier du Paléolithique supérieur au Japon

In the Japanese Archipelago, Upper Palaeolithic Accessories, Pigment and Portable Art are discovered, but very few. We introduce the Palaeolithic Art in Japan including new discoveries. The majority of accessories is discovered in Hokkaido, for example the sites of Yunosato 4, Pirika 1, Kashiwadai1 and Obarubetsu 2, but very few in Honshu, the largest island of Japan: Togeyamabokujo 1 in Iwate and Fujiishi in Shizuoka. A lot of pigments are discovered in Hokkaido like Kawanishi C, Kashiwadai 1, Marukoyama and Kiusu 5, without those of Deguchi-Kanezuka in Chiba in Honshu. Kashiwadai 1 in Hokkaido and Kamihikikiri in Chiba are the sites with portable art. In Ehime in Shikoku, one of four large islands of Japan, engraved pebbles called “Kamikuroiwa Venus”, of the Incipient Jomon followed after the Upper Palaeolithic period, before about 14,500 years, are researched again recently. The Palaeolithic art in Japan has a strong relation with Northeast Asia's art, because the lithic materials of Palaeolithic accessories in Hokkaido came from the Continent, and the engraved pebbles have some characters common with Siberian figurines, but also there are accessories and pigment of which the stones are native of the region from the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic period.     

Role of miRNA and miRNA processing factors in development and disease

Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded RNA molecules of 17-24 nucleotides (nt) in length that are encoded in the genomes of plants and animals. The seminal discoveries of miRNA made in C. elegans have led the way to the rampant discoveries being made today in this field. Since each miRNA is predicted and in some cases confirmed to regulate multiple genes, the potential regulatory circuitry afforded by miRNAs is thought to be enormous and could amount to regulation of >30% of all human genes. Due to the sequences of many of the miRNAs being highly homologous among organisms, the huge potential of miRNAs to regulate gene expression, and the hints of miRNAs being useful in both diagnostics and therapeutics, it is no wonder these small RNAs are gaining such popularity in both the academic and industrial settings. It is now becoming clear that the miRNA gene class represents a very important gene regulatory network. This article reviews the initial discoveries of miRNA that began in the nematode C. elegans, and extends into what is known about miRNAs and miRNA processing factors in mouse development and human disease.     

Two new species ofInocybe, sectionMarginatae (Agaricales, Cortinariaceae) from Japan

Two new species of the sectionMarginatae are described, namely,Inocybe populea sp. nov. andI. leptoclada sp. nov., from western Japan and eastern Japan, respectively.Inocybe leptoclada is assigned to sectionMarginatae, even though it lacks a marginate bulb.Inocybe populea is placed in the sectionMarginatae because of the presence of a marginate (often indistinct) bulbous base of stipe and the caulocystidia throughout. The discoveries ofI. leptoclada andI. populea provide further evidence that sectionMarginatae and sectionInocybe [=Cortinatae] are poorly defined.     

Does the Bicoid gradient matter?

The generation and interpretation of positional information are key processes in developmental systems. In this issue, Chen et?al. report discoveries made in the Drosophila embryo that give new insights into how positional information can be produced by patterning gradients.     

Prolegomenon to a history of paleoanthropology: The study of human origins as a scientific enterprise. Part 2. Eighteenth to the twentieth century

Modern scientific theories of human origins can be traced directly back to the discoveries, arguments, and theories of the seventeenth century. But as we have seen in the first part of this paper, a great many critical steps had been taken, ideas proposed, and discoveries made long before this. The scientific advances of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries owed much to ancient science, while still retaining many aspects of the medieval Christian world view. Yet both science and Christianity changed significantly as a result of the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the voyages of exploration, and the changes wrought on European society as a result of industrialization. The question of human origins was directly affected by the archeological study of prehistoric ruins, new geological theories, the study of fossils, the discovery of “savage” peoples living in the New World, and the comparison of prehistoric stone implements from Europe with those collected in the New World. This proliferation of new discoveries, new theories, and the emergence of completely new scientific disciplines in the seventeenth century laid the foundation for the dramatic new discoveries and theories that came over the next three centuries.