Notes on the genus Clematis (Ranunculaceae) (Ⅰ)

( 1 ) Some taxonomical problems of the genus Clematis mainly about misidentifications are discussed, and some treatments including the reinstatement of Clematis montana var. brevifoliola Kuntze, C. apiifolia var. biternata Makino, C. subumbellata Kurz, C. goudotiana Planch. & Triana, C. insidiosa Baill., C. kockiana Schneid. and C. longicauda A. Rich., and the reduction of subsect. Africanae M. Johnson, C. umbellifera Gagnep., C. pubescens Benth., C. rhodocarpa Rose, C. edentata Baker, C. stoltzi Engler, C. tibetana ssp. vernayi var. dentata Grey-Wilson, C. clarkeana var. stenophylla Hand.-Mazz., C. subfalcata Pei ex M.Y. Fang, C. angustifoliola W. T. Wang, C. dasyandra var. polyantha Finet & Gagnep. etc are given. (2) The new diagnoses for the two subsections of the sect. Meclatis are provided; C. sericea H.B. K. ex DC. and C. grossa Benth. are treated as two varieties of one species; and a new classification of the infraspecific taxa of C. hirsuta Perr & Guill. is made. (3) one subsection, one series, eight species and one variety are described as new. (4) The new occurrences of C. montana var. brevifoliola Kuntze in southern Xizang, China, Nepal, Bhutan and northern Myanmar, C. burmanica Lace in southwestern Yunnan, C. armandii Franch. in Assam, India and northern Myanmar,and C. yui W. T. Wang in northern Myanmar are reported.     

Notes on the genus Clematis (Ranunculaceae) (Ⅲ)

(1) The evolutionary trends of sepals and stamens of the genus Clematis are discussed; (2) New classifications for sect. Cheiropsis DC. and sect. Aspidanthera Spach are proposed; (3) One subsection, 13 series, 5 species and 4 varieties are described as new; (4) Six new ranks and2 new combinations are made.     

Notes on the genus Clematis (Ranunculaceae) (Ⅳ)

(1) Clematis taiwaniana Hayata, C. grata Wall. var. ryukiuensis Tamura, C . sikkimensis (Hook. f. & Thoms. ) Drumm. ex Burkill, C. connata DC. var. bipinnata M. Y. Fang, C. kilungensis W. T. Wang & M. Y. Fang etc. are reduced to synonymy. (2) New classifications for sect. Tubulosae Decne., C. siamensis Drumm. & Craib and C. connata DC. are proposed. (3) 3 series, 3 species and 4 varieties are described as new. (4) 6 new combinations and 3 newranks are made.     

Notes on the genus Clematis (Ranunculaceae) (Ⅱ)

(1) The systematic positions of Clematis potaninii Maxim., C . heynei Rau, C. trichotoma Nakai, C. apiculata Hook. f. & Thoms, C. theobromina Dunn, C. sigensis Engler,C. hedysarifolia DC., and C. dissecta Baker, and the specific status of C. trifida Hook, C.pimpinellifolia Hook., C. oligophylla Hook., and Clematopsis lineariloba Hutch. are discussed; (2) New classifications for Clematis parviloba Gardn. & Champ., C. puberula Hook. f. & Thoms., and sect. Naraveliopsis Hand.-Mazz. are provided; (3) Clematis subsect. Potaninianae M. Johnson, C. heynei M. Johnson, C. petelotii Gagnep. and some other names are reduced to synonymy; (4) Two subsections, 4 series, 4 species, and 4 varieties are described as new; (5)Four new ranks and 4 new combinations are made.     

Effect of the alkaline cations on the stability of the model polynucleotide poly(dG-dC)·poly(dG-dC)

When the model polynucleotide poly(dG-dC)?poly(dG-dC) [polyGC] is titrated with a strong acid (HCl) in unbuffered aqueous solutions containing the chlorides of the alkali metals in the concentration range 0.010?M-0.600?M, two transitions in the absorbance vs. pH plots are evidenced, characterized by the constants pK(a(?)) and pK(a(?)). The limiting values at infinite saline concentrations of these two constants, namely pK(∞)(a(?)) and pK(∞)(a(?)) obtained making use of the "one site saturation constant" equation or, in turn, of the double logarithmic plot: pK(a) vs. log([salt]?1), exhibit a clear dependence on the nature of the cations. The effects of the different alkali cations on the pK(∞)(a) values follow the Hofmeister series. In fact, the pK(∞)(a(?)) and the pK(∞)(a(?)) values are smaller for Li+ and Na+ than for Rb+ and Cs+, with K+ at the border between the two, showing that the transitions require higher concentrations of protons to occur in the presence of high concentrations of the cosmotropic ions.     

Phylogeny of the Alismatales (Monocotyledons) and the relationship of Acorus (Acorales?)

A phylogenetic analysis of the early branching lineages of the monocotyledons is performed using data from two plastid genes (rbcL and matK), five mitochondrial genes (atp1, ccmB, cob, mttB and nad5) and morphology. The complete matrix includes 93 terminals representing Acorus, the 14 families currently recognized within Alismatales, and numerous lineages of monocotyledons and other angiosperms. Total evidence analysis results in an almost completely resolved strict consensus tree, but all data partitions, genomic as well as morphological, are incongruent. The effects of RNA editing and potentially processed paralogous sequences are explored and discussed. Despite a decrease in incongruence length differences after exclusion of edited sites, the major data partitions remain significantly incongruent. The 14 families of Alismatales are all found to be monophyletic, but Acorus is found to be included in Alismatales rather than being the sister group to all other monocotyledons. The placement is strongly supported by the mitochondrial data, atp1 in particular, but it cannot be explained as an artifact caused by patterns of editing or by sampling of processed paralogues.     

On the muscles of expression in the geladaTheropithecus gelada (Rüppell) (primates,Cercopithecidae)

Musculature innervated by the N. facialis inTheropithecus gelada (Rüppell) is patterned on broad lines in agreement with related genera of catarrhine monkeys, but presents some specializations and divergences in detail. Noteworthy is the extension to the labial margins superficially of the combined levator labii superioris and zygomaticus in the upper and the pars mandibularis of trachelo-platysma in the lower lip. A specialization of the medial fibres of levator labii superioris forms a sling-like structure within the upper lip and serves to implement the lip-flip gesture characteristic of the genus. Its antagonist is the orbicularis oris. Special features of all other facialis muscles are considered.Abbreviations ABD Anterior belly of digastricus - AE Arteria facialis - ALS Arteria labialis superior - ANL Arteria lateralis nasi - AP Auricularis posterior - APA Arteria auricularis posterior - AS Arteria auricularis superior - A.Se. Arteria septi nasi - A.Sy. Arteria symphysialis - BP Buccal pouch - LAO Depressor anguli oris - FTA Fronto-temporo-auricularis - GLI Glandulae labialis inferiores - GLS Glandulae labialis superioris - LAO Levator anguli oris - LG Artery to labial glands - LLAN Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi - LLS Levator labii superioris - M Masseter - MM Musculus mentalis - NP Notoplatysma - O Occipitalis - OO Orbicularis oris - O.Oc Orbicularis oculi - P Procerus - SH Sterno-hyoideus - TP Trachelo-platysma - VL Vena labialis communis - VP Venous plexus of dorsum nasi - ZM Zygomaticus minor - Zy Zygomaticus     

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Lower Dyje River Basin (Podyjí) at the Czech-Austrian border

During 2009–2011, mosquitoes were captured in CDC miniature light traps using CO₂ (dry ice) at six sites in the Lower Dyje River Basin (Czech Republic). Other methods of capture — sweeping from vegetation and collection of larvae and pupae from ponds — were also used for more precise diagnostics. Thirty mosquito species of six genera were confirmed. A total of 415,218 females were captured. Most frequently found were the outbreak species Aedes vexans (56.52% of all mosquitoes collected) and Ae. sticticus (16.40%). Among other flood species, Ae. rossicus (5.17%), Ae. cantans and Ae. annulipes (2.44% of all females collected), and Ae. cinereus s. l. (1.11%) were especially abundant. Females of Ae. cataphylla were captured in spring (0.31%) and Ae. intrudens was numerous only at one site. Among the other species, Culex pipiens s. l. (6.61%) and Cx. modestus (8.87%) were abundant. Anopheles maculipennis s. l. (1.01%), An. claviger (0.43%), An. plumbeus (0.08%), An. hyrcanus (0.08%), Coquillettidia richiardii (0.52%) and Culiseta annulata (0.18%) were also detected. Sparsely occurring were Ae. excrucians, Ae. flavescens, Ae. caspius and Ae. geniculatus. Captured only very sporadically were Ae. communis, Ae. leucomelas, Ae. dorsalis, Ae. rusticus, Cx. martinii, Cx. territans, Cs. morsitans and Uranotaenia unguiculata.     

Evaluation of the role ofMicrovelia douglasi atrolineata (Bergroth) (Heteroptera: Veliidae) as predator of the brown planthopperNilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

The biology of the veliid bug M. d. atrolineata, its predatory behavior, and the effects of plural hunting were studied to evaluate its role as a predator of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens in the Philippines. The probability of planthoppers falling onto the water surface and provision of habitat continuity was measured by a sticky trap placed at the base of rice hills in a greenhouse and in paddy fields. The developmental period of immature stages combined was 21 days. If given prey, females laid 25 eggs on the average during an adult life span of 18 days. Starved adults could survive for only 3–5 days. The functional response to prey density was sigmoid, and the maximum number of prey killed was 7 per day. Prey feeding was completed in 12–36 min. The percentage of successful prey attacks averaged 5–8%, decreasing with higher (and larger) developmental. stages of prey, but adult prey were found the soonest. Plural hunting increased the probability of capturing prey by as much as 2.5 times that by individual hunting. Late-instar nymphs, which may be more active, fell from rice hills in a greenhouse more than early-instar nymphs, and the number falling increased with density. In the field the percentage of planthoppers falling to the water in 1 day varied considerably, from 1% for nymphs in one field to 67% for adults in another field. On the basis of work described above and given the high density of veliid predators in flooded paddy fields of tropical Asia, M. d. atrolineata is considered one of the most important natural enemies of the brown planthopper.     

Ultrastructure of the accessory gland in the parthenogenetic thrips heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché) (Thysanoptera : Thripidae)

The fine structure of the reproductive accessory gland of the parthenogenetic thrips Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Thysanoptera : Thripidae) is reported. It consists of an apical bulb and a fine gland duct. The former consists of an epithelium with secretory and duct-forming cells surrounding a large gland lumen lined with a thin cuticle and filled with dense secretion. Spent secretory cells degenerate and are eliminated from the epithelium. The gland duct is characterized by an irregular, branched lumen surrounded by a very flat epithelium. A valve controls the opening of the duct lumen. The proximal gland duct runs through a cuticular papilla that opens between the dorsal ovipositor valves. The secretions may serve for ovipositor valve lubrication and possibly to protect laid eggs. Observations of serial sections through the vagina exclude the presence of a spermatheca in this species.     

Structures for the polynucleotide complexes poly(dA) · poly(dT) and poly(dT) · poly(dA) · poly(dT)

X-ray diffraction analyses of fibers of polydeoxyadenylic acid · polydeoxythymidylic acid show that this molecule exists as a 10-fold double-helix with axial rise per nucleotide $\text{h = 3.24}\text{to}\text{3.29}\text{A}\text{?}$. The structure is very similar to B-DNA ($\text{h = 3.37}\text{A}\text{?}$) in having C3-exo furanose rings and base-pairs positioned centrally on the helix axis, but distinctive enough to have two packing modes, neither of which has been observed for B-DNA. Although the triple-stranded poly(dT) · poly(dA) · poly(dT) also has a large value of h(3.26 Å), each of the chains is a 12-fold helix of the A-genus with C3-endo furanose rings and bases displaced several Angstrom units from the helix axis.     

On the origin of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae)

The locust genus Schistocerca (Stål) has a transatlantic disjunction, which has been controversial for more than a century. Among 50 species within the genus, only one species, the desert locust (S. gregaria Forskål), occurs in the Old World, and the rest occur in the New World. Earlier taxonomists suggested that the desert locust is a migrant from America, but this view was strongly challenged when a large swarm of the desert locust successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa to the West Indies in 1988. The currently accepted view, supported by this incident, is that the New World species are descendants of a gregaria-like ancestor, and the desert locust would be ancestral to the rest of the genus. However, there is surprisingly little evidence to support this view other than the 1988 swarm. I present the most comprehensive phylogenetic study that suggests that the desert locust originated from the New World, contrary to the accepted view. I also present a hypothesis about how the ancestral Schistocerca might have colonized the New World in the first place in light of phylogenetic relationships with other cyrtacanthacridine genera.     

Anion inhibition study of the β-carbonic anhydrase (CahB1) from the cyanobacterium Coleofasciculus chthonoplastes (ex-Microcoleus chthonoplastes)

We investigated the catalytic activity and inhibition of the β-class carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) CahB1, from the relict cyanobacterium Coleofasciculus chthonoplastes (previously denominated Microcoleus chthonoplastes). The enzyme showed good activity as a catalyst for the CO₂ hydration, with a k_cat of 2.4 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ and a k_cat/K_m of 6.3 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. A range of inorganic anions and small molecules were investigated as inhibitors of CahB1. Perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate did not inhibit the enzyme (K_Is >200 mM) whereas selenate and selenocyanide were ineffective inhibitors too, with K_Is of 29.9–48.61 mM. The halides, pseudohalides, carbonate, bicarbonate, trithiocarbonate and a range of heavy metal ions-containing anions were submillimolar–millimolar inhibitors (K_Is in the range of 0.15–0.90 mM). The best CahB1 inhibitors were N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamate, sulfamide, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, with K_Is in the range of 8–75 μM, whereas acetazolamide inhibited the enzyme with a K_I of 76 nM. This is the first kinetic and inhibition study of a cyanobacterial CA. As these enzymes are widespread in many cyanobacteria, being crucial for the carbon concentrating mechanism which assures substrate to RubisCO for the CO₂ fixation by these organisms, a detailed kinetic/inhibition study may be essential for a better understanding of this superfamily of metalloenzymes and for potential biotechnological applications in biomimetic CO₂ capture processes.     

pH-dependence of the specific binding of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions to the amyloid-β peptide

Metal ions like Cu(II) and Zn(II) are accumulated in Alzheimer's disease amyloid plaques. The amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide involved in the disease interacts with these metal ions at neutral pH via ligands provided by the N-terminal histidines and the N-terminus. The present study uses high-resolution NMR spectroscopy to monitor the residue-specific interactions of Cu(II) and Zn(II) with (15)N- and (13)C,(15)N-labeled Aβ(1-40) peptides at varying pH levels. At pH 7.4 both ions bind to the specific ligands, competing with one another. At pH 5.5 Cu(II) retains its specific histidine ligands, while Zn(II) seems to lack residue-specific interactions. The low pH mimics acidosis which is linked to inflammatory processes in vivo. The results suggest that the cell toxic effects of redox active Cu(II) binding to Aβ may be reversed by the protective activity of non-redox active Zn(II) binding to the same major binding site under non-acidic conditions. Under acidic conditions, the protective effect of Zn(II) may be decreased or changed, since Zn(II) is less able to compete with Cu(II) for the specific binding site on the Aβ peptide under these conditions.     

Does DNA alone determine the development of the organism? (the information aspect of the problem)

Two closely related controversial problems are discussed: whether the developmental processes can be reduced to the synthesis of polypeptides encoded in DNA, and whether the information in DNA is equivalent to that in the adult organism. Critically considered are the ideas that DNA is only responsible for the protein synthesis, whereas morphogenesis proceeds independently and according to epigenetic regularities of its own. It is stated that development is the realization of genetic information in which more elementary (molecular) processes unambiguously determine a more complex cellular level which in its turn determines morphogenesis of tissues and organs. Various mechanisms of the appearance of new information in the course of development are considered. The statement is made that new information concerns only some individual characters of the organism, whereas most of information that determines the process of development and the structure of the adult organism is created in the course of evolution, is stored in DNA and inherited.     

On the heterogeneity of the slow reassociating (“unique”) DNA

Summary The slow reassociating fraction of mouse DNA (unique DNA), when allowed to reassociate in 0.14 m sodium phosphate buffer at 50 °C showed a biphasic melting curve with a transition at 78–80 °C. On the basis of this feature, the slow reassociating DNA was separated preparatively into two fractions: unique DNA I and II. Their duplexes showed differences with respect to thermal stability, S1 nuclease resistance and rate of reassociation. About one third of the sequences in each fraction were fraction-specific. The conclusion was drawn that for unique DNA I these should be the low repetitive or single copy related sequences (multigene families) and for unique DNA II—the unrelated single copy sequences or recent families of low repetitive not yet diverged sequences.     

Nemertea inhabiting the Haploops (Amphipoda) community of the northern Øresund with special reference to the biology of Nipponnemertes pulcher (Hoplonemertea)

The densities of nemerteans and associated fauna on a soft-bottom sampling station (27–30 m deep) in the Øresund were determined from 47 cores (each 135 cm² in cross-section; 20 + cm deep) collected from September to December 1989; these data were compared with 14 cores taken from the same location in December 1982. Nine species of nemerteans were identified from cores and dredge samples: Palaeonemertea — Callinera-like sp.; Heteronemertea — Cerebratulus fuscus, C. marginatus, Lineus bilineatus, Micrura fasciolata, M. purpurea; Hoplonemertea — Amphiporus bioculatus, A. dissimulans, Nipponnemertes pulcher. Mean numbers of heteronemerteans were 32 and 10 m^?2 in 1982 and 1989, respectively, and hoplonemerteans were 90 and 71 m^?2 , respectively. Only one palaeonemertean was collected during both years. Mean densities of the dominant species, N. pulcher, were similar for the two years, 74 and 68 m^?2. The dominant groups of macrofauna (n m^?2) in 1989 were ostracods (1028), amphipods (618), polychaetes (514), and ophiuroids (449). Amphipods (>90% Haploops spp.) and polychaetes (at least 30 spp.) are the major potential prey for hoplonemerteans and heteronemerteans, respectively. Laboratory feeding experiments with N. pulcher revealed that it consumed amphipods (Haploops tenuis and H. tubicola) at a rate of 2.6 worm^?1 d^?1 during the first 12 hours, but after 36 hours and beyond the rate was maintained at approximately 0.2 worm^?1 d^?1. Beyond 12 hours this nemertean showed a tendancy to only partially evacuate its prey. It was demonstrated experimentally that N. pulcher has a supply of toxin capable of killing six amphipods in approximately one hour. Limited tests showed that N. pulcher fed on the cumacean Diastylis tumida, but not on the amphipod Maera loveni or the ostracod Philomedes globosus, and that Amphiporus dissimulans readily attacked Haploops spp., but not Maera or Philomedes. Although the results of laboratory experiments are tentative, they do suggest that suctorial hoplonemerteans can exert a potentially significant effect on benthic communities. Employing seven species of polychaetes as prey for Cerebratulus fuscus and Micrura fasciolata, only the latter responded positively to one of them, Glycera alba. The hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus violently rejected N. pulcher in all feeding trials.     

Does the concentration of DNA (Co) and the time of incubation (t) as parameters of Cot influence the thermal stability of the DNA duplexes?

It has been shown in a previous paper (8) that the prime product of reassociation of related DNA sequences under open experimental conditions are mismatched duplexes which undergo maturation upon further incubation. Due to this feature, the Tm value of the duplexes of a large number of DNAs is strongly dependent on the Cot value. Here we present data showing that the Tm of the duplexes of such type of DNAs depends also on the concentration of DNA in the range of one and the same Cot value. The significance of this finding in studying the taxonomic relationship by DNA-DNA hybridisation is discussed.Abbreviations Co = initial concentration of single-stranded DNA in moles of nucleotides per liter - t = time of incubation in seconds - Cot = the product of Co and t (mol. sec. 1¹) - PB = an equimolar mixture of NaH₂PO₄ and Na₂HPO₄, pH 6.8 - HAP = hydroxyapatite - Ti = incubation temperature - Tm = melting temperature - Te = elution temperature, i.e. the temperature at which one half of the DNA is eluted as single strands by HAP-thermal chromatography