华南地区新生代木乃伊化木化石研究进展*

中国木化石资源虽然很丰富, 但研究程度相比叶片化石要低得多, 且主要集中在中国北部和西南地区, 研究领域大多局限于分类学方面, 而木化石分析与古气候、古生态等领域的交叉和系统研究还很少。大多数情况下木化石的保存方式都为石化或矿化保存, 而木乃伊化保存的木化石则非常罕见。木乃伊化保存的化石在植物分类、系统演化及古气候研究等方面具有独特而重要的价值。近年来, 本团队在华南地区发现大量木乃伊化保存的新生代木化石, 它们分别产自广西南宁盆地晚渐新世邕宁组、广西桂平盆地中新世二子塘组以及广东茂名盆地晚更新世地层中。本文总结了这些木乃伊化保存的木化石的研究进展, 包括多样性组成、古植被、古气候及古生态等特征, 并对木兰属、蒲桃属和枫香属的植物地理史进行了讨论。综合分析植物群组成特征和木材生长轮以及木化石中具有气候指示意义的解剖结构特征, 推测广西南宁盆地晚渐新世时期生长着常绿(少数落叶)阔叶林, 为温暖湿润的亚热带季节性气候; 广西桂平盆地中新世时期生长着常绿—落叶、阔叶—针叶混交林 (阔叶为主), 为温暖湿润的亚热带气候; 广东茂名盆地晚更新世生长着常绿—落叶、阔叶—针叶混交林, 为温暖湿润的亚热带至热带季风气候。这是中国低纬度地区首次系统研究木乃伊化保存的木化石, 为新生代植物群的系统演化和古环境分析等提供了重要的木化石依据。     

真菌化石研究进展

随着真菌化石被不断发现,利用化石中的真菌研究真菌类群的起源和进化历程逐渐成为真菌进化生物学研究的一个热点。真菌化石还是研究古生态中真菌与其他生物之间相互作用的重要材料,而这种相互作用既能用于研究古生物间的协同进化,也能成为判断古生态、古气候的重要依据。本文综述了国内外真菌化石的研究进展,旨在为更加系统准确地确定不同真菌类群的分化时间,重建真菌的系统发育树提供参考,同时也为研究生物间相互作用以及推断古生态环境提供帮助。     

贵州剑河寒武纪杷榔动物群中的海绵化石组合

贵州寒武纪杷榔动物群的海绵动物是近年在剑河辣子寨村发现的新类群。辣子寨剖面的海绵动物组合多样性高,化石保存好。经鉴定有普通海绵纲细丝海绵科的Leptomitus tereticusculus Chen et al.,1989,Leptomitus cf.L.conicus García-Bellido et al.,2007和Paraleptomitellasp.,斗篷海绵科的Choiaellacf.C.ovataZhao and Yang in Yang et al.,2003和Choiasp.;六射海绵纲的Saetaspongiasp.,计有5属6种和一些属种待定的海绵化石。剑河辣子寨村杷榔组海绵类群的发现丰富了杷榔动物群的组成面貌,扩展了寒武纪第四期海绵动物的古地理分布区,增加了寒武纪第四期海绵动物分异演化的信息,为海绵动物分类学、古生态学和埋藏学研究提供了新材料。     

重庆綦江中侏罗世木化石群的发现及其科学意义

报道在重庆首次发现的中侏罗世木化石群。化石产地为綦江区古南镇文龙村马桑岩,地层层位为中侏罗统上沙溪庙组。木化石表面碳化,内部硅化、褐铁矿化。化石经磨片后显微镜观察,可确定为松柏类植物木材。该木化石群不仅是四川盆地地层新层位发现的木化石,且增加了我国南方侏罗纪木化石分布范围。该化石群反映了中侏罗世该地区的干燥气候,对研究当时的古气候与古地理以及沉积学具有重要价值。     

苔藓植物化石的研究进展及应用

苔藓植物化石为探索植物界物种进化发展和重建古气候环境提供了重要的科学基础。该文通过大量的化石资料,结合当今前沿科学技术和热点问题,从苔藓植物起源分化及物种多样性分布、形态表现及分子进化及古气候环境的重建等方面对该领域的研究成果进行了综述和总结。(1)苔藓植物起源于早古生代的赤道低纬度区,至少在奥陶纪时期就有了苔类与藓类的分化;其物种多样性总体上呈增加趋势,并具有低纬度区物种多样性高的特点,但个别地质年代苔类与藓类的物种多样性具有明显差异,凸显了二者对气候环境的敏感程度不同。(2)苔藓植物具有缓慢的形态和分子进化,其中苔类的进化速率相对较快。(3)对于显生宙古气候环境的变迁及重建,苔藓植物化石自身的形态特征、孢粉学和古分子化石的分析、以及碳和氧同位素的测量均提供了重要的科学依据。针对苔藓植物化石研究中存在的问题,作者提出了自己的观点。     

粪化石在古生态研究中的应用综述*

粪化石(coprolite)是石化的动物粪便, 而广义上粪化石(bromalite)是石化的动物消化物、排泄物和排出物的总称。作为一类重要遗迹化石, 粪化石蕴含了大量实体化石难以提供的生物学信息, 为古生态学研究提供以下依据: 1)粪化石作为媒介帮助理解远古动物的行为习性、消化系统的结构和功能、食谱特征以及古生态系统食物链/食物网; 2)粪化石中保存的古寄生虫线索能有效地解读古生物寄生关系和某些常见肠道寄生虫的起源问题; 3)新生代以来古人类粪化石证据可以直接解开早期古人类的食谱、疾病特征及其迁移路径; 4)中、新生代以来的粪化石中保存的植物残留信息(孢粉化石和植硅体)是重建古植被面貌、恢复古气候和探索早期动植物关系的重要依据。本文回顾了粪化石研究历史, 并针对粪化石在上述古生态各研究方向的最新进展进行了系统总结和综述, 认为粪化石可有效解读古生态。文章最后对粪化石的最新研究技术方法(如CT扫描技术)及未来发展方向进行了展望。     

第四纪地层中壳斗科植物花粉化石及其与气候地理条件的关系

壳斗科植物花粉化石是被子植物花粉化石最为丰富的类群之一,在地史上自第三纪以来一直是中国各地质历史时期中植物区系的一个主要成分。据初步统计,我国第四纪地层中共发现壳斗科花粉化石有6属:Castanea,Castanopsis,Lithocarpus,Cyclobalanopsis,Fagus及Quercus,后者还分出含常绿栎类Quercus(E)和落叶栎类Quercus(D)两种类型。文中对6属中花粉形态相似的Castanea,Castanopsis和Lithocarpus 3属,以及Cyclobalanopsis和Quercus(E)花粉,从花粉粒形状和大小、萌发孔数量和形状、极面×赤道面的平均大小、最长极轴与最长赤道轴比以及外壁表面纹饰等多方面进行详细数值对比和照片对照,提出鉴定要点,希望能提高壳斗科花粉化石鉴定的准确性。同时,文中还讨论中国壳斗科各属植物生长的气候地理条件和生态环境。Castanopsis和Lithocarpus花粉化石分布中心范围在北纬28°—20°,反映该两属生长气候要求大约是年平均气温不低于15℃,年降水量不少于1 000mm;Cyclobalanopsis和Fagus花粉化石的产地在秦岭—淮河一线以南,生长的地理气候条件要求是1月份气温不低于0℃,年均温在8—15℃以上,年降水量不少于800mm的温暖湿润的生态环境;Castanea和Quercus花粉化石在全国各地均有发现,分布北界达北纬36°—50°,反映该两属生长的生态幅度较Castanopsis/Lithocarpus宽得多,基本的生长气候范围在年均温3.5—23℃,能够忍受1月份低于―10℃的寒冷,也能够经受7月份近30℃的高温考验,年均降水量约为500—1 700mm。希望该研究能为提高再造第四纪古植被和古环境,提供一些有说服力的气候地理条件的原始资料。     

泥盆纪石松类研究新进展

简要论述了近十年来泥盆纪石松类研究取得的主要进展。分支系统学研究增进了对石松类起源与谱系分异的认识,新构建的系统发育树中石松纲与真叶植物互为姐妹群,并识别出原始鳞木目和异孢石松类两个单系。基于化石数据库和定量统计分析,揭示了泥盆纪石松类的多样性演变模式:早泥盆世布拉格期(Pragian)石松类的属种数量显著增加,在埃姆斯期(Emsian)至艾菲尔期(Eifelian)逐步取代工蕨类,至晚泥盆世进一步辐射。依据华南、新疆及全球其他地区丰富的化石材料,大量泥盆纪的石松植物新类群得以建立,一系列已有属种得到详细的再研究,明确了这些植物的生物学特征,也促进了对石松类根系、生长和繁殖习性演化的深入理解。对华南早泥盆世的镰蕨类和挪威中—晚泥盆世乔木状石松的研究分别揭示了这一时期植物-土壤相互作用及热带森林群落面貌,为了解早期维管植物对地球环境和陆地生态系统的影响提供了新的资料。     

贵州熊家场寒武系梅树村阶磷块岩中小壳动物化石微结构特征及与成磷关系分析

寒武纪早期是全球小壳动物化石大幅射的时期,贵州寒武纪初期磷块岩中就含有大量种类丰富的小壳动物化石,而前人对其研究多局限于外观形态的描述,对其微观结构方面的研究较少。文中通过对贵州熊家场地区磷块岩中小壳动物Turcutheca,Paracircotheca,Loculitheca zhijinensis以及Protospongia化石进行电子显微镜观察,描述其显微结构特征。并对Turcutheca,Paracircotheca进行重点生物结构研究,探讨其壳体形态、生长发育方式。通过对小壳动物化石壳体进行SEM-EDS分析,确定组成壳体主要成分为碳氟磷灰石。另外,对化石Turcutheca内核填充部分、壳壁、围岩进行EDS能谱分析,及其元素特征进行对比,初步探讨生物体与成磷之间的关系,认为寒武纪早期小壳动物的繁盛对同期磷块岩的形成起到了至关重要的作用。     

安徽省天堂寨植物花粉形态研究

应用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对安徽省大别山区天堂寨春季开花的30科68种7变种植物的花粉形态进行了观察和研究,提供了花粉图谱、植物生长习性和地理分布范围.同时对该地区植物的生态因子,包括地理位置、海拔高度、年降水量、年积温及生境等进行归纳总结.这些信息可为利用地层中化石花粉重建该地区古气候、古环境及气候变迁提供必要的古生态...     

Crystal structure, detonation performance, and thermal stability of a new polynitro cage compound: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptacyclo [5.5.1.13, 11. 15, 9] pentadecane

A new polynitro cage compound 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonanitro-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15-nonaazaheptcyclo [5.5.1.1(3,11).1(5,9)] pentadecane (NNNAHP) was designed in the present work. Its molecular structure was optimized at the B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT) and crystal structure was predicted using the Compass and Dreiding force fields and refined by DFT GGA-RPBE method. The obtained crystal structure of NNNAHP belongs to the P-1 space group and the lattice parameters are a = 9.99 ?, b = 10.78 ?, c = 9.99 ?, α = 90.01°, β = 120.01°, γ = 90.00°, and Z = 2, respectively. Based on the optimized crystal structure, the band gap, density of state, thermodynamic properties, infrared spectrum, strain energy, detonation characteristics, and thermal stability were predicted. Calculation results show that NNNAHP has detonation properties close to those of CL-20 and is a high energy density compound with moderate stability.     

Relations of the Al,B, Ba,Br, Ca,Cl, Cu,Fe, K,Li, Mg,Mn, Na,P, S,Si, Sr,and Zn mass fractions to morphometric parameters in pediatric and nonhyperplastic young adult prostate glands

The variation with age of the 18 trace element mass fractions and some histological characteristics of intact prostate glands of 50 subjects aged 0–30 years was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and a quantitative morphometric analysis. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (M ± SΕΜ) for the mass fractions (in milligrams per kilogram wet tissue) of these trace elements in pre-puberty were: Al 28.5 ± 9.0, B 0.40 ± 0.11, Ba 1.48 ± 0.44, Br 10.5 ± 1.5, Ca 241 ± 30, Cl 3,203 ± 278, Cu 3.51 ± 0.89, Fe 33.7 ± 4.1, K 2,364 ± 145, Li 0.020 ± 0.004, Mg 153 ± 23, Mn 0.46 ± 0.06, Na 2,286 ± 130, P 1,391 ± 100, S 1,698 ± 132, Si 62 ± 11, Sr 0.38 ± 0.08, and Zn 27.6 ± 2.3. During puberty and postpuberty, when there is a significant increase in circulating androgens, the mean values were: Al 7.2 ± 1.4, B 0.21 ± 0.05, Ba 0.25 ± 0.06, Br 5.8 ± 1.0, Ca 433 ± 81, Cl 2,314 ± 201, Cu 1.77 ± 0.13, Fe 20.9 ± 1.6, K 2,585 ± 118, Li 0.0088 ± 0.0014, Mg 232 ± 27, Mn 0.34 ± 0.04, Na 1,875 ± 107, P 1,403 ± 98, S 1,673 ± 73, Si 22.2 ± 3.1, Sr 0.22 ± 0.03, and Zn 93.3 ± 8.9. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) of percent volumes (%) of the stroma, epithelium and lumen in the prostate before puberty were 73.4 ± 2.6, 20.4 ± 1.7, and 4.45 ± 0.94, respectively, versus 46.5 ± 2.5, 38.5 ± 1.9, and 14.9 ± 1.2 during puberty and postpuberty. This work’s results confirm that the Zn mass fraction in prostate tissue is an androgen-dependent parameter. For the first time it has been demonstrated that the glandular lumen is a main pool of Ca, Mg, and Zn accumulation and that the stroma is a main pool of Al, B, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na, and Si accumulation in the normal human prostate, for the age range 0–30 years. It was concluded that the Ca, Mg, and Zn binds tightly within the prostatic fluid, because the volume of glandular lumen reflects the volume of prostatic fluid.     

The Effect of Age and Gender on Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr, V, and Zn Contents in Rib Bone of Healthy Humans

The effect of age and gender on major, minor, and trace element contents in the intact rib bone of 80 relatively healthy 15–55-year-old women and men was investigated. Contents or upper limit of contents of 16 chemical elements in the rib bone were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Mean values (M?±?SΕΜ) for the mass fraction of Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, Sr, and Zn (milligram per kilogram of dry bone) were as follows: 2.54?±?0.16, 171,400?±?4,050, 1.35?±?0.22, 140?±?11, 1,874?±?71, 0.049?±?0.011, 2,139?±?38, 5,378?±?88, 75,140?±?1,660, 1,881?±?51, 291?±?20, and 92.8?±?1.5, respectively. The upper limits of contents of Al, B, Mn, and V were <7.20, <0.65, <0.36, and <0.03, respectively. Statistically significant tendency for the Ca, Mg, and P content to decrease with age was found in the human rib bone, regardless of gender. The mass fraction of Fe in the male rib bone increases with age. It was shown that higher Ca, Mg, Na, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content were typical of female ribs as compared to those in male ribs.     

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n=110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.     

Distribution of N,P, K,Ca, Mg,S, Zn,Fe, Mn and Cu in groundnut

Summary Concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in summer groundnut crop was higher than in kharif while Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents were higher in summer crop. Kernel's N, P and Zn; Leaflet's Ca and Mn; Stem's K and Fe; Root's S and Cu and Petiole's Mg contents were highest. Shell's N, P, K, Mg, S, Zn and Cu; Kernel's Ca, Fe and Mn contents were the least. N, P, K, S, Zn and Cu concentrations decreased linearly as the crop grew. Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn concentrations did not display any distinct pattern. Ca concentration was positively correlated with pod yield in both the seasons.     

New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Stenotrachelidae, Oedemeridae, Meloidae, Myceteridae, Boridae, Pythidae, Pyrochroidae, Anthicidae, and Aderidae

We report 19 new species records for the faunal list of Coleoptera in New Brunswick, Canada, six of which are new records for the Maritime provinces, and one of which is new Canadian record. We also provide the first recent records for five additional species in New Brunswick. One new species of Stenotrachelidae, Cephaloon ungulare LeConte, is added to the New Brunswick faunal list. Additional records are provided for Cephaloon lepturides Newman, as well the first recent record of Nematoplus collaris LeConte. Two species of Oedemeridae, Asclera puncticollis (Say) and Asclera ruficollis (Say), are newly reported for New Brunswick, and additional locality and bionomic data are provided for Calopus angustus LeConte and Ditylus caeruleus (Randall). The records of Ditylus caerulus are the first recent records for the province. Three species of Meloidae, Epicauta pestifera Werner, Lytta sayi LeConte, and Meloe augustcollis Say are reported the first time for New Brunswick; Epicauta pestifera is newly recorded in Canada. Lacconotus punctatus LeConte and the family Mycteridaeis newly recorded for New Brunswick. The first recent records of Borus unicolor Say (Boridae) are reported from the province. One new species of Pythidae, Pytho siedlitzi Blair, and the first recent records of Pytho niger Kirby are added to the faunal list of New Brunswick. Three species of Pyrochroidae are newly reported for the province, including Pedilus canaliculatus (LeConte) and Pedilus elegans (Hentz), which are new for the Maritime provinces. Five species of Anthicidae and the first recent record of Anthicus cervinus LaFerté-Sénectére are newly reported for New Brunswick. Anthicus melancholicus LaFerté-Sénectère, Sapintus pubescens (LaFerté-Sénectère), Notoxus bifasciatus (LeConte), and Stereopalpus rufipes Casey are new to the Maritime provinces faunal list. Ambyderus granularis (LeConte) is removed from the faunal list of the province. Three species of Aderidae, Vanonus huronicus Casey, Zonantes fasciatus (Melsheimer), and Zonantes pallidusWerner, are newly recorded for New Brunswick; Zonantes fasciatus and Vanonus huronicus are new for the Maritime provinces' faunal list. Collection data, bionomic data, and distribution maps are presented for all these species.     

Potential Compounds for Oral Cancer Treatment: Resveratrol,Nimbolide, Lovastatin,Bortezomib, Vorinostat,Berberine, Pterostilbene,Deguelin, Andrographolide,and Colchicine

Oral cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths in South-Asian countries. There are very limited treatment options available for oral cancer. Research endeavors focused on discovery and development of novel therapies for oral cancer, is necessary to control the ever rising oral cancer related mortalities. We mined the large pool of compounds from the publicly available compound databases, to identify potential therapeutic compounds for oral cancer. Over 84 million compounds were screened for the possible anti-cancer activity by custom build SVM classifier. The molecular targets of the predicted anti-cancer compounds were mined from reliable sources like experimental bioassays studies associated with the compound, and from protein-compound interaction databases. Therapeutic compounds from DrugBank, and a list of natural anti-cancer compounds derived from literature mining of published studies, were used for building partial least squares regression model. The regression model thus built, was used for the estimation of oral cancer specific weights based on the molecular targets. These weights were used to compute scores for screening the predicted anti-cancer compounds for their potential to treat oral cancer. The list of potential compounds was annotated with corresponding physicochemical properties, cancer specific bioactivity evidences, and literature evidences. In all, 288 compounds with the potential to treat oral cancer were identified in the current study. The majority of the compounds in this list are natural products, which are well-tolerated and have minimal side-effects compared to the synthetic counterparts. Some of the potential therapeutic compounds identified in the current study are resveratrol, nimbolide, lovastatin, bortezomib, vorinostat, berberine, pterostilbene, deguelin, andrographolide, and colchicine.     

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.