中国东部晚新生代堆积中的刺山鼠化石（英文）

描述了安徽繁昌和江苏泗洪新发现的晚新生代堆积物中的刺山鼠科化石。化石共有两属3种,即产自安徽、江苏的中华新来鼠(新种)(Neocometes sinensis sp.nov.)和产自安徽的大新来鼠(新种)(N.magna sp.nov.)及猪尾鼠未定种(Typhlomys sp.)。安徽繁昌的材料来自裂隙堆积,采样时未作分层处理,对单个化石属种很难进行准确的时代确定;但根据所采集化石的组分和上下层位保存的颜色与埋葬方式上的差异,推测Neocometes的时代为中新世,而Typhlomys可能较晚。Neocometes属的出现和典型中新世动物成员的存在,表明繁昌这一含古猿的裂隙堆积中含有大致与江苏泗洪动物群和山东山旺动物群相当、甚至可与泰国中新世动物群对比的啮齿动物组合。新种牙齿的形态特征显示,Neocometes属在亚洲经历了个体迅速增大,齿冠增高,齿脊增强,上臼齿外脊和下臼齿内脊逐渐发育的过程,与该属在欧洲的演化趋势有所不同。     

记山西榆社晚新生代鼠科化石新属种

本文描述了山西榆社盆地晚新生代鼠科化石中的新属种:Huaxiamys primitivus gen. et sp. nov., Huaxiamys downsi gen. et sp. nov., Micromys tedfordi sp. nov., Apodemus qiui sp. nov., Apodemus zhangwagouensis sp. nov.,     

安徽上新五褶兔两新种及淮南上新五褶兔化石(英文)

近年,作者在安徽淮南大居山陆续发现了数量很多的上新五褶兔化石,其中包括保存较完整的数十个头骨及上百个下颌骨,均产自新洞、无名洞及铁四局洞穴、裂隙堆积,分别记述为大居山上新五褶兔Pliopentalagus dajushanensis sp.nov.和安徽上新五褶兔Pl.anhuiensis sp.nov.两新种。淮南地区的晚新生代洞穴和裂隙堆积十分发育,其中常含有丰富的脊椎动物化石,而且在时、空分布上有一定的规律。区内洞穴和裂隙堆积垂直分布至少有6个水平层,最高的第6层海拔高度为160 m(如大居山老洞),第5层(如大居山新洞、无名洞)及第4层(如大居山铁四局洞穴)的海拔高度分别为130 m和90 m,属于新近纪,常含有丰富的上新五褶兔化石;第3层为第四纪早期(如大居山西裂隙),未见上新五褶兔,代之出现丝绸兔(Sericolagus sp.),第2层为中更新世(如大顶山西裂隙),出现野兔(Lepus sp.)。迄今为止,安徽淮南地区共发现了3种上新五褶兔化石,即淮南上新五褶兔Pl.huainanensis (金昌柱,2004)、大居山上新五褶兔Pl.dajushanensis sp.nov.及安徽上新五褶兔Pl. anhuiensis sp.nov.,至少涉及了3个不同地质时期的动物群:一为Pl.huainanensis,Kowalskia neimengensis,Adcrocuta eximia等代表的老洞晚中新世动物群,二为Pl.dajushanensis sp.nov.和Promimomys asiaticus等代表的新洞早上新世动物群,三为Pl.anhuiensis sp.nov.和Kowalskia yinanensis所代表的晚上新世动物群。淮南地区发现的3种上新五褶兔地史分布较连续,演化特征明显,它们构成上新五褶兔连续的进化系列。从晚中新世至晚上新世,淮南大居山上新五褶兔体型从小变大;p3较原始的釉岛状后内褶沟逐渐向舌侧开放(晚中新世种Pl. huainanensis的后内褶沟均为釉岛状,早上新世种Pl.dajushanensis为83.9%,晚上新世种Pl. anhuiensis为33.3%);p4-m2的前外褶沟逐渐退化,其下跟座舌侧的釉质层越来越变细。依性状分析,安徽发现的3种上新五褶兔化石与日本琉球奄美黑兔(Pentalagus furnessi)具有密切的亲缘关系,但从日本奄美黑兔的p4-m2完全缺失前外褶沟、颊齿褶沟釉质层的褶曲异常复杂等衍生性状看,上新五褶兔和奄美黑兔的系统演化关系较为复杂,尚有待发现更多早更新世的材料进一步探讨。     

禄丰古猿地点的猪尾鼠类化石

本文记述亚洲首次发现的猪尾鼠类化石。材料系1983年于云南禄丰古猿地点最晚中新世石灰坝组采集到的,计有代表两属三种——Platacanthomys dianensis sp.nov.,Typhlomysprimitivus sp.nov.和T.hipparionum sp.nov.的百余枚牙齿。文中除对新种的形态作了描述和对比外,还对猪尾鼠类的分类位置及系统发育作了探讨。     

记山西榆社晚新生代鹿科化石两新种

本文记述了山西榆社盆地晚新生代鹿科化石中的两个新种:Eucladoceros proboulei sp.nov.和Procapreolus jinensis sp.nov.,并列出了已鉴定完毕的所有产于榆社盆地晚新生代地层的鹿类动物化石单.     

陕西汉中地区上新世哺乳类化石及其地层意义

本文简述了陕西汉中地区勉县等地的上新世哺乳动物化石,计12属13种,其中有三个新种: Mimomys hanzhongicus sp. nov., Sinomastodon hanjiangensis sp. nov., Stegolophodon xixitngensis sp. nov..这些化石的发现改变了长期以来认为汉中地区新生代沉积仅属第四纪的看法.     

中国辽宁新的原哈格鸣螽科化石(直翅目,原哈格鸣螽科,赤峰鸣螽亚科)

描述原哈格鸣螽科化石1新属:糙哈格鸣螽属Trachohagla gen.nov.,4新种:热河糙哈格鸣螽Trachohagla jeholia sp.nov.,阔翼赤峰鸣螽Chifengia lata sp.nov.,渐狭赤峰鸣螽Chifengia angustata sp.nov.,阔基线哈格鸣螽Grammohagla fatibasis sp.nov..所有化石标本均采于辽宁西部晚侏罗世义县组地层,现存于首都师范大学生命科学学院.     

中国侏罗纪Protaboilinae亚科化石新属种(直翅目,原哈格鸣螽科)

描述原哈格鸣螽科化石1新属5新种:奇异阿波鸣螽属Allaboilus gen.nov.,二叉奇异阿波鸣螽Allaboilus dicrus sp.nov.,巨大奇异阿波鸣螽Allaboilus gigantus sp.nov.,林氏原阿波鸣螽Protaboilus lini sp.nov.,野生原阿波鸣螽Protaboilus rudis sp.nov.及模糊原阿波鸣螽Protaboilus amblus sp.nov..化石标本采于内蒙古宁城中侏罗世九龙山组及河北丰宁晚侏罗世义县组.     

中生代晚期原哈格鸣螽化石新发现(直翅目,原哈格鸣螽科,阿博鸣螽亚科)

描述哈格鸣螽科化石2新属7新种:Circulaboilu aureus gen.et sp.nov.,Circulaboilus amoenus gen.et sp.nov.,Furcaboilus excelsus gen.et sp.nov.,Aboilus stratosus sp.nov.,Aboilus cornutus sp.nov.,Pseudohagala shihi sp.nov.,Bacharaboilus jurassicus sp.nov..标本采自于内蒙古宁城道虎沟中侏罗世九龙山组地层和辽宁西部晚侏罗世义县组地层,现保存于首都师范大学生命科学学院.     

中国东北晚侏罗世原哈格鸣螽科化石新发现(直翅目,原哈格鸣螽科,赤峰鸣螽亚科)

描述原哈格鸣螽科化石2新属:线哈格鸣螽属Grammohagla gen.nov.和奇哈格鸣螽属Aethehagla gen.nov.,3新种:条纹线哈格鸣螽Grammohagla striata sp.nov.,洪氏奇哈格鸣螽Aethehagla hongi sp.nov.及可爱赤峰鸣螽Chifengia amans sp.nov..所有化石标本均采于辽宁西部晚侏罗世义县组地层,现存于首都师范大学生命科学学院.     

Reference values for the concentrations of As,Cd, Co,Cr, Cu,Fe, I,Hg, Mn,Mo, Ni,Pb, Se,and Zn in selected human tissues and body fluids

This report attempts to formulate reference ranges of elemental concentrations for 15 trace elements in selected human tissues and body fluids. A set of samples consisting of whole blood, blood serum, urine, milk, liver, and hair were chosen and considered for 15 elements of biological significance: As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, I, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. The results represent wholly or partially data received from 40 countries of the global regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, North, South, and Central America, Australia, and New Zealand. This survey, even if qualitative, has been useful in demonstrating certain trends of trace-element scenarios around the world. It is of course recognized that both diet and environment exert a strong influence on the distribution pattern of several elements, such as As, Cd, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn. A limited comparison of the available information on soil status of different countries reflected some interesting associations for elements, such as Mn and Zn. Importantly, this study revealed that only a few countries were in a position to identify a reasonable amount of data on samples requested for this project. Regretably, for a number of countries, any dependable data for even such essential elements as Cu, Fe, and Zn were not available. In view of the nutritional importance of many elements, the time is ripe for concerted efforts by intergovernmental agencies to initiate investigations or commission task forces/projects to generate reliable reference data for selected global regions, which sadly lack data of any kind at present.     

Angiosperm ovules: diversity, development, evolution

Background

Ovules as developmental precursors of seeds are organs of central importance in angiosperm flowers and can be traced back in evolution to the earliest seed plants. Angiosperm ovules are diverse in their position in the ovary, nucellus thickness, number and thickness of integuments, degree and direction of curvature, and histological differentiations. There is a large body of literature on this diversity, and various views on its evolution have been proposed over the course of time. Most recently evo–devo studies have been concentrated on molecular developmental genetics in ovules of model plants.

Scope

The present review provides a synthetic treatment of several aspects of the sporophytic part of ovule diversity, development and evolution, based on extensive research on the vast original literature and on experience from my own comparative studies in a broad range of angiosperm clades.

Conclusions

In angiosperms the presence of an outer integument appears to be instrumental for ovule curvature, as indicated from studies on ovule diversity through the major clades of angiosperms, molecular developmental genetics in model species, abnormal ovules in a broad range of angiosperms, and comparison with gymnosperms with curved ovules. Lobation of integuments is not an atavism indicating evolution from telomes, but simply a morphogenetic constraint from the necessity of closure of the micropyle. Ovule shape is partly dependent on locule architecture, which is especially indicated by the occurrence of orthotropous ovules. Some ovule features are even more conservative than earlier assumed and thus of special interest in angiosperm macrosystematics.     

Assessing burrowing, nest construction, and hoarding in mice

Deterioration in the ability to perform "Activities of daily living" (ADL) is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical behavioural screening of possible treatments for AD currently largely focuses on cognitive testing, which frequently demands expensive equipment and lots of experimenter time. However, human episodic memory (the most severely affected aspect of memory in AD) is different to rodent memory, which seems to be largely non-episodic. Therefore the present ways of screening for new AD treatments for AD in rodents are intrinsically unlikely to succeed. A new approach to preclinical screening would be to characterise the ADL of mice. Fortuitously, several such assays have recently been developed at Oxford, and here the three most sensitive and well-characterised are presented. Burrowing was first developed in Oxford. It evolved from a need to develop a mouse hoarding paradigm. Most published rodent hoarding paradigms required a distant food source to be linked to the home cage by a connecting passage. This would involve modifying the home cage as well as making a mouse-proof connecting passage and food source. So it was considered whether it would be possible to put the food source inside the cage. It was found that if a container was placed on the floor it was emptied by the next morning., The food pellets were, however, simply deposited in a heap at the container entrance, rather than placed in a discrete place away from the container, as might be expected if the mice were truly hoarding them. Close inspection showed that the mice were performing digging ("burrowing") movements, not carrying the pellets in their mouths to a selected place as they would if truly hoarding them. Food pellets are not an essential substrate for burrowing; mice will empty tubes filled with sand, gravel, even soiled bedding from their own cage. Moreover, they will empty a full tube even if an empty one is placed next to it. Several nesting protocols exist in the literature. The present Oxford one simplifies the procedure and has a well-defined scoring system for nest quality. A hoarding paradigm was later developed in which the mice, rather than hoarding back to the real home cage, were adapted to living in the "home base" of a hoarding apparatus. This home base was connected to a tube made of wire mesh, the distal end of which contained the food source. This arrangement proved to yield good hoarding behaviour, as long as the mice were adapted to living in the "home base" during the day and only allowed to enter the hoarding tube at night.     

Inflorescences: concepts,function, development and evolution

Background

Inflorescences are complex structures with many functions. At anthesis they present the flowers in ways that allow for the transfer of pollen and optimization of the plant''s reproductive success. During flower and fruit development they provide nutrients to the developing flowers and fruits. At fruit maturity they support the fruits prior to dispersal, and facilitate effective fruit and seed dispersal. From a structural point of view, inflorescences have played important roles in systematic and phylogenetic studies. As functional units they facilitate reproduction, and are largely shaped by natural selection.

Scope

The papers in this Special Issue bridge the gap between structural and functional approaches to inflorescence evolution. They include a literature review of inflorescence function, an experimental study of inflorescences as essential contributors to the display of flowers, and two papers that present new methods and concepts for understanding inflorescence diversity and for dealing with terminological problems. The transient model of inflorescence development is evaluated in an ontogenetic study, and partially supported. Four papers present morphological and ontogenetic studies of inflorescence development in monophyletic groups, and two of these evaluate the usefulness of Hofmeister''s Rule and inhibitory fields to predict inflorescence structure. In the final two papers, Bayesian and Monte-Carlo methods are used to elucidate inflorescence evolution in the Panicoid grasses, and a candidate gene approach is used in an attempt to understand the evolutionary genetics of inflorescence evolution in the genus Cornus (Cornaceae). Taken as a whole, the papers in this issue provide a glimpse of contemporary approaches to the study of the structure, development, and evolution of inflorescences, and suggest fruitful new directions for research.     

Magnesium,calcium, copper,and zinc in meals

Meals of 12 diets were prepared from conventional foods with precautions against contamination by metallic elements because of epidemiologic associations between ischemic heart disease and the metabolism of magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc. Magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry with satisfactory accuracy and precision. The mean daily amount of copper in the diets was less than the apparent adult requirement. Mean amounts of magnesium and zinc were close to apparent requirements; however, adults consuming amounts less than one standard deviation below these means may be depleting body stores and be at risk of pathology. Magnesium and copper were highly correlated (r=0.849,P=0.0001) in meals. This and other significant correlations probably will prevent the relationships of these elements to ischemic heart disease from being elucidated by epidemiology. Metabolic experiments will be necessary to differentiate among several hypotheses.     

On the Lathrobium fauna of the Emei Shan,Sichuan, China (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Paederinae)

Six species of Lathrobium Gravenhorst, 1802 from the Emei Shan, Sichuan, are described and illustrated: Lathrobium iunctum Assing & Peng sp. n., Lathrobium coniunctum Assing & Peng sp. n., Lathrobium conexum Assing & Peng sp. n., Lathrobium ensigerum Assing & Peng sp. n., Lathrobium hastatum Assing & Peng sp. n., and Lathrobium bisinuatum Assing & Peng sp. n. Based on their primary and secondary sexual characters, they represent two distinct lineages, each of them comprising three species. A key to the species recorded from the Emei Shan is provided.     

Revision of the Southeast Asian millipede genus Orthomorpha Bollman, 1893, with the proposal of a new genus (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)

The large genus Orthomorpha is rediagnosed and is shown to currently comprise 51 identifiable species ranging from northern Myanmar and Thailand in the Northwest to Lombok Island, Indonesia in the Southeast. Of them, 20 species have been revised and/or abundantly illustrated, based on a restudy of mostly type material; further 12 species are described as new: Orthomorpha atypicasp. n., Orthomorpha communissp. n., Orthomorpha isarankuraisp. n., Orthomorpha picturatasp. n., Orthomorpha similanensissp. n., Orthomorpha suberectasp. n., Orthomorpha tuberculiferasp. n.,Orthomorpha subtuberculiferasp. n. and Orthomorpha latitergasp. n., all from Thailand, as well as Orthomorpha elevatasp. n.,Orthomorpha spiniformissp. n. and Orthomorpha subelevatasp. n., from northern Malaysia. The type-species Orthomorpha beaumontii (Le Guillou, 1841) is redescribed in due detail from male material as well, actually being a senior subjective synonym of Orthomorpha spinala (Attems, 1932), syn. n. Two additional new synonymies are proposed: Orthomorpha rotundicollis (Attems, 1937) = Orthomorpha tuberculata (Attems, 1937), syn. n., and Orthomorpha butteli Carl, 1922 = Orthomorpha consocius Chamberlin, 1945, syn. n., the valid names to the left. All species have been keyed and all new and some especially widespread species have been mapped. Further six species, including two revised from type material, are still to be considered dubious, mostly because their paraterga appear to be too narrow to represent Orthomorpha species. A new genus, Orthomorphoidesgen. n., diagnosed versus Orthomorpha through only moderately well developed paraterga, coupled with a poorly bi- or trifid gonopod tip, with at least some of its apical prongs being short spines, is erected for two species: Orthomorpha setosus (Attems, 1937), the type-species, which is also revised from type material, and Orthomorpha exaratus (Attems, 1953), both comb. n. ex Orthomorpha.