光周期对社鼠能量摄入的影响

Digested energy, metabolizable energy, digestibility and assimilation rate were quantified at different photoperi-ods in Niviventer confucianus using the food balance method. Three photoperiods were applied: a short photoperiod (8L:16D), normal photoperiod (12L: 12D) and a long photoperiod (16L: 8D). The results show that digestibility and as-similation rate were highest in the short photoperiod with values of 83.97% 1.16% and 80.46% 1.34%, and lowest in the normal photoperiod with values of 81.74% _ 1.76% and 78.45% 1.41%. Moreover, the energy intake, di-gestibility and assimilated energy of N. confucianus decreased with the amount of daylight. The statistical significance of the results obtained by a one-factor analysis of variance were all less than 0.01 or 0.05 except for digested energy. This indicates that photoperiod is an important environmental factor to affect the energy metabolism of Niviventer confucianus。     

Temperature-dependent development of Xyleborus fornicatus （Coleoptera： Scolytidae）, the shot-hole borer of tea in Sri Lanka： Implications for distribution and abundance

The effect of temperature on the rate of development of Xyleborus fornicatus （Eichh.） was determined by rearing individuals under a range of constant temperatures （15 - 32℃）. Rates of development changed in a linear fashion over a wide range of temperatures. Estimates of lower development thresholds were obtained for eggs （15.7±0.5℃）, larvae （15.8±0.8℃） and pupae （14.3±1.4℃） and the degree days （DD） for development were 70±4.4, 95±8.5 and 72±5.1 DD, respectively. Optimum temperature for development was around 30~C for all stages. Temperature fluctuation in cooler High Country areas （above 1400 m） with a mean temperature around 15℃ seems to be critical for the development of the pest, which may be responsible for the near absence of pest in those areas. Temperature fluctuations （18- 30℃） in the Mid Country region （600- 1200 m） favor the development of the pest compared to development under constant conditions. The altitudinal distribution of the shot-hole borer across tea growing areas in Sri Lanka is, therefore, mainly governed by temperature.     

Wear Resistance and Non-Magnetic Layer Formation on 316L Implant Material with Plasma Nitriding

In this study, the applicability of plasma nitriding treatment in the production of non-magnetic and corrosion resistant layer on 316L stainless steel implant material was investigated. 316L stainless steel substrates were plasma nitrided at temperatures of 350 ℃, 375 ℃, 400 ℃, 425 ℃ and 450 ℃ for 2 h in a gas mixture of 50% N2-50% H2, respectively. It was determined that the treatment temperature is the most important factor on the properties of the corrosion resistant layer of 316L stainless steel. The results show that s-phase formed at the temperatures under 400 ℃, and at the temperatures above 400 ℃, instead of s-phase, CrN and y＇-Fe4N phases were observed in the modified layer. The electrical resistivity and surface roughness of the modified layer increase with treatment temperature. Under 400 ℃ the corrosion resistance increased with the temperature, above 400 ℃ it decreased with the increase in treatment temperature. It was analyzed that the electrical resistivity and the soft （ideal） ferro- magnetic properties of 316L stainless steel increased with treatment temperature during nitriding treatment. Also, plasma ni- triding at low temperatures provided magnetic behavior close to the ideal untreated 316L stainless steel.     

Energy metabolism and thermoregulation in pygmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) from Yunnan Daweishan Nature Reserve

The pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is a small prosimian living in Vietnam, Laos, eastern Cambodia and the south part of China. In China it is only found in Pingbian, Hekou, Jinping, Luchun of Yunnan. As N. pygmaeus is seriously threatened by hunting, trade and habitat destruction, it is listed in Appendix II of CITES, and in 2006 the IUCN classified it as “vulnerable”. In order to understand the characteristics of energy metabolism and thermoregulation of N. pygmaeus, the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body temperature (T_b) at different ambient temperature (T_a) of pygmy lorises, as well as body mass, energy intake, digestable energy intake, digestability and the thermal conductance were measured in captivity. The results obtained mainly are as follows: (1) Pygmy loris feed dry food averaged 12.90 ± 1.02 g/d. They could gain 214.87 ± 16.65 kJ/d from food intake, and earned 200.15 ± 16.36 kJ digestable energy intake per day with 90.13 ± 1.34% of the digestability. (2) The T_b at room temperatures was a little low (35.23 ± 0.16 °C) and varied with T_a from 25 °C to 35 °C. There was a positive relationship between T_b and T_a, which was described as: T_b = 27.22 + 0.34T_a (r = 0.880). (3) The resting metabolic rate (RMR) of the pygmy loris was 0.3844 ± 0.0162 mlO₂/g/h, which was 51.91 ± 1.90% of the previous predicted rate by Kleiber (1961) [21]. (4) The average thermal conductance of the pygmy loris (N. pygmaeus) was 0.0449 ± 0.0031 mlO₂/g/h/°C. These characteristics of energy metabolism and thermoregulation of N. pygmaeus in Yunnan Daweishan Nature Reserve might be considered as the adaptive characteristics to their environment in tropical semi-evergreen forests and secondary forests.     

Energy metabolism and thermoregulation in pygmy lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) from Yunnan Daweishan Nature Reserve

The pygmy loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is a small prosimian living in Vietnam, Laos, eastern Cambodia and the south part of China. In China it is only found in Pingbian, Hekou, Jinping, Luchun of Yunnan. As N. pygmaeus is seriously threatened by hunting, trade and habitat destruction, it is listed in Appendix II of CITES, and in 2006 the IUCN classified it as “vulnerable”. In order to understand the characteristics of energy metabolism and thermoregulation of N. pygmaeus, the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body temperature (T_b) at different ambient temperature (T_a) of pygmy lorises, as well as body mass, energy intake, digestable energy intake, digestability and the thermal conductance were measured in captivity. The results obtained mainly are as follows: (1) Pygmy loris feed dry food averaged 12.90 ± 1.02 g/d. They could gain 214.87 ± 16.65 kJ/d from food intake, and earned 200.15 ± 16.36 kJ digestable energy intake per day with 90.13 ± 1.34% of the digestability. (2) The T_b at room temperatures was a little low (35.23 ± 0.16 °C) and varied with T_a from 25 °C to 35 °C. There was a positive relationship between T_b and T_a, which was described as: T_b = 27.22 + 0.34T_a (r = 0.880). (3) The resting metabolic rate (RMR) of the pygmy loris was 0.3844 ± 0.0162 mlO₂/g/h, which was 51.91 ± 1.90% of the previous predicted rate by Kleiber (1961) [21]. (4) The average thermal conductance of the pygmy loris (N. pygmaeus) was 0.0449 ± 0.0031 mlO₂/g/h/°C. These characteristics of energy metabolism and thermoregulation of N. pygmaeus in Yunnan Daweishan Nature Reserve might be considered as the adaptive characteristics to their environment in tropical semi-evergreen forests and secondary forests.     

Effects of temperature on purification of eutrophic water by floating eco-island system

The effects of temperature on pollutant removal of two plant species (Oenanthe javanica D.C. and Nasturtium officinale) were evaluated using simulated microcosms of the floating eco-island system (FEIS). Both the planted FEIS (P-FEIS) and the non-planted FEIS (NP-FEIS) dramatically decreased NH₄–N concentration in the hypereutrophic water at low (10 °C), medium (22 °C), and high (35 °C) temperatures, and to a greater extent for the P-FEIS and at medium temperature. The NO₂–N concentration was effectively decreased from 0.23 to 0.01 mg/L after 4 d treatment with the P-FEIS at all the three temperatures, but was slightly increased in the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The P-FEIS could decrease NO₃–N concentration in the eutrophic water over 1–3 times depending on temperature, with greater decrease at high temperature. The remove of total P (TP) reached 78%, on average, with the FEIS treatment for 4 d at all temperatures, which was over three times greater than those with the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The removal rates of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ by the P-FEIS from the hypereutrophic water were, on average, 70%, 85%, 83% at 22 °C and 35 °C, respectively, while over 1–2 times smaller at 10 °C. More effective removals of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ (over 1–2 times) were noted with the P-FEIS than those with the NP-FEIS. N. officinale showed more efficiency in removing ammonium and TN at low temperature, and BOD₅ at medium and high temperatures, as compared to O. javanica. Whereas O. javanica could more effectively decrease Chla at 22 °C and 35 °C and COD_Mn at 10 °C than N. officinale after 4 d treatment. Higher dissolved oxygen concentration and pH was found in the FEIS with N. officinale than that with O. javanica D.C. The results imply that plant eco-island system had remarkable purification ability to remove pollutants from hypereutrophic water, and mixed planting of O. javanica D.C. with N. officinale on the FEIS may enhance nutrient removal and water quality improvement of eutrophic water bodies, especially at low temperature season.     

Effects of temperature on purification of eutrophic water by floating eco-island system

The effects of temperature on pollutant removal of two plant species (Oenanthe javanica D.C. and Nasturtium officinale) were evaluated using simulated microcosms of the floating eco-island system (FEIS). Both the planted FEIS (P-FEIS) and the non-planted FEIS (NP-FEIS) dramatically decreased NH₄–N concentration in the hypereutrophic water at low (10 °C), medium (22 °C), and high (35 °C) temperatures, and to a greater extent for the P-FEIS and at medium temperature. The NO₂–N concentration was effectively decreased from 0.23 to 0.01 mg/L after 4 d treatment with the P-FEIS at all the three temperatures, but was slightly increased in the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The P-FEIS could decrease NO₃–N concentration in the eutrophic water over 1–3 times depending on temperature, with greater decrease at high temperature. The remove of total P (TP) reached 78%, on average, with the FEIS treatment for 4 d at all temperatures, which was over three times greater than those with the NP-FEIS at low temperature. The removal rates of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ by the P-FEIS from the hypereutrophic water were, on average, 70%, 85%, 83% at 22 °C and 35 °C, respectively, while over 1–2 times smaller at 10 °C. More effective removals of Chla, COD_Mn, and BOD₅ (over 1–2 times) were noted with the P-FEIS than those with the NP-FEIS. N. officinale showed more efficiency in removing ammonium and TN at low temperature, and BOD₅ at medium and high temperatures, as compared to O. javanica. Whereas O. javanica could more effectively decrease Chla at 22 °C and 35 °C and COD_Mn at 10 °C than N. officinale after 4 d treatment. Higher dissolved oxygen concentration and pH was found in the FEIS with N. officinale than that with O. javanica D.C. The results imply that plant eco-island system had remarkable purification ability to remove pollutants from hypereutrophic water, and mixed planting of O. javanica D.C. with N. officinale on the FEIS may enhance nutrient removal and water quality improvement of eutrophic water bodies, especially at low temperature season.     

Thermoregulation in complex situations: combined heat exposure, infectious fever and water deprivation

Heat exposure, infectious fever and water deprivation are stressors that, individually, produce disturbances in more than one regulated system, calling for diverse compensatory responses. A potential conflict is created when these stimuli are combined and impose concurrent stressful loads on the body because the homeostatic defenses mobilized against one are also partly needed against the other stressors. To learn how the competing demands of combined stressors for shared regulatory systems are met, rabbits were exposed to 32°C and 37°C (heat), administered lipopolysaccharide (Salmonella enteritidis LPS, 2 μg/kg, i.v.) in temperatures of 22°C or 27°C, or water-deprived for 1 or 2 days in 22°C or 27°C, in separate experiments. The corresponding controls were exposed to 22°C or 27°C, administered pyrogen-free saline i.v. in 22°C or 27°C, or normally hydrated in 22°C or 27°C. In subsequent experiments, two or all three of these treatments were applied concurrently. Core and ear skin temperatures and respiratory rates were monitored continuously. The results indicated that the concomitant needs of moderate heat exposure, fever and 1 day of water deprivation were generally met by the regulatory systems involved, but different patterns of thermoeffector activities were evoked and the eventual body temperature changes produced were different under each condition. However, when the test conditions were severe, their combined needs were not met adequately and the eventual compensatory response depended not only on the particular stimulus intensity, but also on the immediate importance for survival of the functions being defended. Thus, dehydration was the most dangerous factor to the physiological integrity of the animals. In sum, conflicting physiological stimuli appear to result in responses that are different from the responses to a single perturbation, the eventual output representing the resultant of the inputs rather than a singular output dictated by one dominant drive to the exclusion of the others. Received: 20 August 1999 / Revised: 8 December 1999 / Accepted: 15 December 1999     

Seasonal variations in the energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) in cage

This study aimed to discuss the energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti in different seasons, with life and health, good growth and normal digestion of Elliot’s pheasant as the tested objects, The energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant was measured by daily collection of the trial pheasants’ excrement in the biological garden of Guangxi Normal University from March 2011 to February 2012. The results showed that the gross energy consumption, metabolic energy and excrement energy varied by season, increasing as temperature decreased. There was significant difference in gross energy consumption, metabolic energy, excrement energy between adults and nonages. There was also a trend that food digestibility of pheasants increases as temperature increases. In the same season, the food digestibility of adults was better than that of nonages. Throughout spring, summer, autumn and winter, the metabolic energy of 4-year adults were 305.77±13.40 kJ/d, 263.67±11.89 kJ/d, 357.23±25.49 kJ/d and 403.12±24.91 kJ/d, respectively, and the nonages were 284.86±17.22 kJ/d, 284. 66±15.16 kJ/d, 402. 26±31.46 kJ/d and 420. 30±31.98 kJ/d, respectively. The minimum metabolic energies were 247.65±21.81 g, 265.86±26.53 g, respectively for each group, detected between 4-year adults and 1-year nonages. Further study is needed to determine whether 29.6 C is the optimal temperature for the Elliot’s pheasant.     

In vitro regeneration of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through organogenesis: Effect of culture temperature and silver nitrate

Summary The effect of culture temperature on the morphogenetic response of Arachis hypogaea was studied. Cotyledons were cultivated on MS medium supplemented with 110 μM 6-benzyladenine. Leaf explants were cultivated in the presence of the same growth regulator at 22 μM. Cultures were incubated at temperatures of 25, 28, and 35±5° C. Both direct organogenesis from cotyledons and development of organogenic calluses from leaves showed optimal rates at 35±5° C. The highest frequency of elongation of buds into shoots from leaf-derived calluses occurred in the presence of 5 μM AgNO₃. At the best culture temperature, an average of 95% of shoots formed roots on growth-regulator-free MS medium. Plants were successfully transferred to soil, showing normal phenotypes.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.