Accumulation of Minerals by Leccinum scabrum from Two Large Forested Areas in Central Europe: Notecka Wilderness and Tuchola Forest (Pinewoods)

Leccinum scabrum sporocarps and associated topsoils from two areas in Poland have been characterized for contents and bioconcentration potential of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn. Topsoil and fruitbody element composition varied between the two study sites, most likely as a result of local soil geochemistry. Element content of the labile fraction in topsoil from both sites followed the ‘pseudo‐total’ fraction and median values (mg kg^?1 dry matter) were: K 380 and 340, Mg 760 and 840, P 1100 and 920, Al 3800 and 8100, Ag 0.31 and 0.28, Ba 28 and 37, Ca 920 and 790, Cd 0.23 and 0.23, Co 2.0 and 1.7, Cu 3.2 and 3.6, Fe 2800 and 6300, Mn 280 and 180, Na 99 and 110, Ni 7.8 and 8.8, Pb 12 and 18, Rb 1.3 and 2.1, Sr 4.8 and 4.0 and Zn 22 and 19, respectively. Only for some elements such as K, Mg, Al, Ag, Ca, Co, Mn, Na, Ni, Sr and Zn we found concentration differences between the two study sites for the caps of sporocarps. With the exception of Al, Mn, Na and Pb, stipes showed a similar tendency. Caps had a higher concentration of K, Rb, P, Mg, Al, Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni compared to stipes, while Na, Ba and Sr contents were higher in stipes. The comparison of soil and fruitbody concentrations indicates that L. scabrum bioconcentrate some elements while others are bioexcluded.     

Studies on the Characteristic of Element Contents in the Dominant Plant Species of the Three gorges Region in China

The characteristics of the contents of 20 elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, S, Si, P, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ti, Ni, Sr, Mo, Na, B, Cr, V) in 16 plant species collected from the Three Gorges Region in China were investigated. The average contents of Ca, K and Mg were higher than 1 000 μg·g-1, that of Al, P, Si, Fe, S and Mn ranged between 100—1 000 μg·g-1 and Ti, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, Cd and V were less than 10 μg·g- 1. The level of Na content was less than that of the reported. The main character of the element contents was of the Ca> K type. The contents of P, S, Ca and K in different plant samples showed a normal distribution pattern, while Al and Mn showed a elements lognormal distribution pattern. Plant species differed greatly in the element contents. On analyzing the coefficient of variation (C. V., % ), Al, Mn, Mg, Ni, Sr and Fe had higher C.V., while the C.V. of K, S, P, Cr, Cd and Cu was less than 60%, and Cu had the lowest C.V. The correlations between Al and Fe, Al and Ti, Al and Cr, A1 and V, Cd and Sr, Cd and Mo, Fe and V, Zn and Cr, Ni and Sr, Mg and Ni, Mo and Sr, Ca and Sr, Cr and Mo, Na and Mg, Na and P, P and S were statistically significant in different plant species. The classification of the 16 plant species and 20 dements by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) method may suggest the difference in dement contents of the different plant species.     

Drivers of human development: How relationships and context shape learning and development1

ABSTRACT

This article synthesizes knowledge on the role of relationships and key macroand micro-contexts - poverty, racism, families, communities, schools, and peers - in supporting and/or undermining the healthy development of children and youth, using a relational developmental systems framework. Relationships with parents, siblings, peers, caregivers, and teachers are explored in the context of early care and childhood settings, schools, classrooms, and school-based interventions. Additional contextual factors include; chronic stress, institutionalized racism, stereotype threat, and racial identity. A companion article focuses on how the human brain develops, and the major constructs that define human development, the constructive nature of development, and the opportunities for resilience. Human development occurs through reciprocal coactions between the individual and their contexts and culture, with relationships as the key drivers. Relationships and contexts, along with how children appraise and interpret them, can be risks and assets for healthy learning and development, and their influence can be seen across generations and can produce intra- as well as intergenerational assets and risks. This knowledge about the individual’s responsiveness to context and experience has both positive and negative implications across early childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. Sensitive periods for brain growth and development are considered within the contextual factors that influence development including; parental responsiveness and attunement, intentional skill development, mindfulness, reciprocal interactions, adversity, trauma, and enriching opportunities. The accumulated knowledge on human development and the power of context and culture can inform child-serving systems that support positive adaptations, resilience, learning, health, and well-being.     

中国种子植物内生真菌资源及菌植协同进化

综述了中国种子植物内生真菌资源研究概况,比较了裸子植物和被子植物内生真菌种类,它们都具有肉座菌目(Hypocreales),粪壳菌目(Sordariales),散囊菌目(Eurotiales),毛霉目(Mucorales)及不产孢类(Myceliasterilia)内生真菌。裸子植物内生真菌涉及52个属,既包括高等的子囊菌和担子菌,也包括低等的卵菌(Oomycetes)和接合菌(Zygomycetes)类。被子植物涉及60个属,主要为高等的子囊菌(Ascomycetes)和担子菌(Basidiomycetes),低等的卵菌和接合菌报道很少。双子叶植物涉及40个属,单子叶植物内生真菌涉及30个属,两类被子植物所报道的内生真菌只有11个属相同。裸子植物与双子叶植物内生真菌相似程度较高,都具有炭角菌目(Xylariales)、格孢腔菌目(Pleosporales)、柔膜菌目(Helotiales)和白粉菌目(Erysiphales),刺盘孢菌属(Colletotrichum)、拟茎点霉属(Phomopsis)、枝孢霉属(Cladosporium)、地霉属(Geotrichum)等内真菌,共20个属相同。各类种子植物具有自己独特的一些内生真菌。还对植物与其内生真菌的协同进化关系进行了分析。     

Comparative Evaluation of Trace Metal Distribution and Correlation in Human Malignant and Benign Breast Tissues

Selected trace metals were analyzed in human malignant and nonmalignant (benign) breast tissue samples by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In malignant tissues, dominant mean concentrations were revealed by Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Al at 927, 552, 231, 61.7, 36.5, 18.3, and 8.94 microg/g, respectively, while the mean metal levels in benign tissues were 903, 435, 183, 63.3, 24.7, 14.5, and 10.1 microg/g, respectively. Average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, and Zn were noted to be significantly higher in the malignant tissues compared with the benign tissues. Significantly strong correlations (r > 0.50) in malignant tissues were observed between Mn and Co, Mn and Cd, Cd and Cr, Fe and Mn, Cd and Co, Fe and Co, Mg and Pb, Cd and Fe, Mg and Ni, Pb and Ni, Ni and Sr, and Fe and Pb, whereas, Cd and Co, Cd and Mn, Co and Mg, Co and Mn, Cu and Mn, Co and Ni, Mg and Ni, Cd and Cu, Cd and Ni, Ca and Mg, Mn and Pb, Cu and Ni, Fe and Ni, Cd and Mg, Co and Cu, Cr and Na, and Cd and Cr revealed strong and significant relationships in benign tissues at p < 0.001. Principal component analysis of the metals data yielded six principal components for malignant tissues and five principal components for benign tissues, with considerably different loadings, duly supported by cluster analysis. The study revealed a considerably different pattern of distribution and mutual correlations of trace metals in the breast tissues of benign and cancerous patients.     

微生物物种多样性、群落构建与功能性状研究进展

微生物主要包括细菌、真菌、古菌、病毒等类群, 是地球上出现时间最早、分布最广泛、个体数量最多, 以及物种和基因多样性十分丰富的生物类群。为了适应各种生境, 微生物衍生出腐生、寄生、共生等多样的生存策略, 在生物地球化学循环、生态系统演替与稳定性、环境修复以及人类健康等方面发挥着重要作用。传统的微生物监测方法限制了我们对微生物多样性的认知; 但是, 近年来高通量测序技术和生物信息学的发展极大推动了微生物多样性的研究进展。本文概述了近年来在微生物多样性分布格局与维持、群落构建以及功能属性多样性的最新进展; 总结分析了细菌、古菌、真菌的多样性纬度分布格局及其驱动因子, 选择、扩散、成种、漂变等过程对细菌、古菌、真菌的群落构建的贡献, 以及细菌和真菌的形态、生理生化、生长繁殖、扩散、基因组等功能性状的多样性; 提出了未来微生物多样性研究的重要领域: 环境宏真菌组研究, 微生物多样性与生态系统多功能性的关系研究, 以及微生物互作网络的生态功能研究。     

What makes Aspergillus fumigatus a successful pathogen? Genes and molecules involved in invasive aspergillosis

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes 90% of invasive aspergillosis (IA) due to Aspergillus genus, with a 50-95% mortality rate. It has been postulated that certain virulence factors are characteristic of A. fumigatus, but the "non-classical" virulence factors seem to be highly variable. Overall, published studies have demonstrated that the virulence of this fungus is multifactorial, associated with its structure, its capacity for growth and adaptation to stress conditions, its mechanisms for evading the immune system and its ability to cause damage to the host. In this review we intend to give a general overview of the genes and molecules involved in the development of IA. The thermotolerance section focuses on five genes related with the capacity of the fungus to grow at temperatures above 30°C (thtA, cgrA, afpmt1, kre2/afmnt1, and hsp1/asp f 12). The following sections discuss molecules and genes related to interaction with the host and with the immune responses. These sections include β-glucan, α-glucan, chitin, galactomannan, galactomannoproteins (afmp1/asp f 17 and afmp2), hydrophobins (rodA/hyp1 and rodB), DHN-melanin, their respective synthases (fks1, rho1-4, ags1-3, chsA-G, och1-4, mnn9, van1, anp1, glfA, pksP/alb1, arp1, arp2, abr1, abr2, and ayg1), and modifying enzymes (gel1-7, bgt1, eng1, ecm33, afpigA, afpmt1-2, afpmt4, kre2/afmnt1, afmnt2-3, afcwh41 and pmi); several enzymes related to oxidative stress protection such as catalases (catA, cat1/catB, cat2/katG, catC, and catE), superoxide dismutases (sod1, sod2, sod3/asp f 6, and sod4), fatty acid oxygenases (ppoA-C), glutathione tranferases (gstA-E), and others (afyap1, skn7, and pes1); and efflux transporters (mdr1-4, atrF, abcA-E, and msfA-E). In addition, this review considers toxins and related genes, such as a diffusible toxic substance from conidia, gliotoxin (gliP and gliZ), mitogillin (res/mitF/asp f 1), hemolysin (aspHS), festuclavine and fumigaclavine A-C, fumitremorgin A-C, verruculogen, fumagillin, helvolic acid, aflatoxin B1 and G1, and laeA. Two sections cover genes and molecules related with nutrient uptake, signaling and metabolic regulations involved in virulence, including enzymes, such as serine proteases (alp/asp f 13, alp2, and asp f 18), metalloproteases (mep/asp f 5, mepB, and mep20), aspartic proteases (pep/asp f 10, pep2, and ctsD), dipeptidylpeptidases (dppIV and dppV), and phospholipases (plb1-3 and phospholipase C); siderophores and iron acquisition (sidA-G, sreA, ftrA, fetC, mirB-C, and amcA); zinc acquisition (zrfA-H, zafA, and pacC); amino acid biosynthesis, nitrogen uptake, and cross-pathways control (areA, rhbA, mcsA, lysF, cpcA/gcn4p, and cpcC/gcn2p); general biosynthetic pathway (pyrG, hcsA, and pabaA), trehalose biosynthesis (tpsA and tpsB), and other regulation pathways such as those of the MAP kinases (sakA/hogA, mpkA-C, ste7, pbs2, mkk2, steC/ste11, bck1, ssk2, and sho1), G-proteins (gpaA, sfaD, and cpgA), cAMP-PKA signaling (acyA, gpaB, pkaC1, and pkaR), His kinases (fos1 and tcsB), Ca(2+) signaling (calA/cnaA, crzA, gprC and gprD), and Ras family (rasA, rasB, and rhbA), and others (ace2, medA, and srbA). Finally, we also comment on the effect of A. fumigatus allergens (Asp f 1-Asp f 34) on IA. The data gathered generate a complex puzzle, the pieces representing virulence factors or the different activities of the fungus, and these need to be arranged to obtain a comprehensive vision of the virulence of A. fumigatus. The most recent gene expression studies using DNA-microarrays may be help us to understand this complex virulence, and to detect targets to develop rapid diagnostic methods and new antifungal agents.     

Description, distribution, anatomy, chemical composition and uses of Mimosa tenuiflora(Fabaceae-Mimosoideae) in Mexico

Because of some catastrophic events which occurred in Mexico during the 1980 decade, the utilization of "tepescohuite" bark against skin wounds and burns was popularized. The media manipulated the lack of available information about its medical properties and gave erroneous information to the society propagating a lot of myths. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to determine its taxonomic identity and to study the distribution, bark and wood anatomy of this species, and to determine its actual and historic uses, and the compilation of the information about bark pharmacology and toxicity. Its taxonomic identity is established as Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Fabaceae-Mimosoideae). It blooms and fructifies from November to June, occurring in Mexico (the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas), Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, at altitudes of 0-1110 (-1520) m. In Mexico, it is found in dry forests, thorny thickets, Pinus and Pinus-Quercus forests, and in M. tenuiflora pure thickets, along roads and in resting or abandoned culture lands. This species has an aggregate distribution in the forests and a uniform one in the thickets. It presents a mean density of 9 individuals per m2, with 0.45 of frequency per quadrat and 1.69 m2 of mean coverture, and it has a wide range of tolerance to climatic and edaphic factors, confirming their invasive character. Regionally, the wood is used as fuel and fence construction, and against skin wounds and burns (bark tea, powder and/or ointment), and diverse products, such as shampoos, creams, capsules, soaps, etc., are commercialized. The bark is wrinkled, reddish-brown to grey, fibrous texture, 0.5-1.5 mm thick, resinous and with an astringent odor and flavor, and with a great quantity of tannins. The wood presents extremely short vessel elements, with alternate areolate punctuations, and simple perforated plates, vasicentric axial parenchima, confluent stripes, uniseriated rays, extremely short, fine and very short libriform fibres. The bark contains tannins, saponins, an alkaloide fraction, lipids, phytosterols, glucosides, xylose, rhamnose, arabinose, lupeol, methoxychalcones, and kukulkanins.     

沙漠化对科尔沁沙质草地生态系统碳氮储量的影响

通过野外调查,研究了沙漠化对科尔沁沙质草地生态系统碳、氮储量的影响.结果表明:沙漠化对草地碳、氮含量和储量具有显著影响,随着草地沙漠化的进程,草地碳、氮含量和储量明显下降.与非沙漠化草地相比,轻度、中度、重度和严重沙漠化草地0～100cm深土壤有机碳和全氮含量分别下降了56.06%和48.72%、78.43%和74.36%、88.95%和84.62%、91.64%和84.62%,植物组分中的碳、氮含量分别下降了8.61%和6.43%、0.05%和25.71%、2.58%和27.14%、8.61%和27.86%;轻度、中度、重度和严重沙漠化草地地上植物组分中的碳、氮储量分别下降了25.08%和27.62%、30.90%和46.55%、73.84%和80.62%、90.89%和87.31%,0～100cm深地下植物组分中碳和全氮储量分别下降了50.95%和43.38%、75.19%和71.04%、86.76%和81.48%、91.17%和83.17%.2000年科尔沁沙地沙漠化草地总面积为30152.7km2,因沙漠化损失的碳、氮总储量高达107.53和9.97Mt.草地碳、氮含量的下降主要源于风蚀过程中土壤细颗粒的损失.土壤的粗化和贫瘠化最终导致了植物和凋落物中碳、氮储量的明显下降.     

留茬方式对小麦间作玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响

小麦/玉米间作是河西绿洲灌区主要间作模式,但传统间作和套种需水量大,使该地区水资源紧张.2010年在甘肃河西走廊石羊河绿洲灌区进行大田试验,研究传统小麦秸秆焚烧、秸秆翻还和秸秆立茬3种留茬方式对小麦/玉米间作作物籽粒产量、水分利用效率(WUE)和经济效益的影响.结果表明： 与焚烧和翻还的籽粒产量相比,立茬小麦单作分别增加7.2%和5.1%,立茬小麦间作分别增加6.2%和5.1%,立茬玉米单作分别增加4.7%和2.5%,立茬玉米间作分别增加7.2%和3.3%;与焚烧和翻还的WUE相比,立茬小麦单作分别增加20.4%和16.2%,立茬小麦间作分别增加17.9%和14.6%,立茬玉米单作分别增加16.7%和10.9%,立茬玉米间作分别增加11.8%和17.0%.就单作小麦、单作玉米和小麦/玉米平均值而言,焚烧、翻还、立茬处理的纯收益分别为10946、11471和13454元·hm^-2.从籽粒产量、水分利用效率和纯收益等方面考虑,立茬种植方式为甘肃省河西绿洲灌区小麦/玉米最佳种植模式.     

Distribution of somatostatinlike immunoreactivity in the brain of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

The distribution of somatostatinlike immunoreactive (SLI) perikarya, axons, and terminals was mapped in subcortical areas of the brain of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, using light microscopic immunocytochemistry. A preponderance of immunoreactivity was localized in reticular, limbic, and hypothalamic areas including: 1) in the forebrain: the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; lateral preoptic, dorsal, anterior, lateral and posterior hypothalamic areas; amygdaloid, periventricular, arcuate, supraoptic, suprachiasmatic, ventromedial, dorsomedial, paraventricular, lateral and medial mammillary, and lateral septal nuclei; the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca and nucleus accumbens septi; 2) in the midbrain: the periaqueductal gray, interpeduncular, dorsal and ventral tegmental, pretectal, and Edinger-Westphal nuclei; and 3) in the hindbrain: the superior central and parabrachial nuclei, nucleus incertus, locus coeruleus, and nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis. Other areas containing SLI included the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen), zona incerta, infundibulum, supramammillary and premammillary nuclei, medial and dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei, entopeduncular nucleus, lateral habenular nucleus, central medial thalamic nucleus, central tegmental field, linear and dorsal raphe nuclei, nucleus of Darkschewitsch, superior and inferior colliculi, nucleus ruber, substantia nigra, mesencephalic nucleus of V, inferior olivary nucleus, inferior central nucleus, nucleus prepositus, and deep cerebellar nuclei. While these results were similar in some respects to those previously reported in rodents, they also provided interesting contrasts.     

新建果园几种作物间种模式生态系统结构及功能研究

从荒坡地新建果园10多种农作物间种模式中筛选出5种优化模式,分析和评价了各种种植模式的生态系统的结构和功能．结果表明,随着重复种植的增加,5种间种模式土壤有机质年增加5％一20％,全氮年增加7％一40％,全磷年增加8％一70％,全钾年增加15％一80％;水土保持最好的是花生-秋大豆、春大豆-秋大豆,其次为西红柿-白菜、辣椒-西红柿和早稻-红萝卜,土壤平均侵蚀量和地表径流量与对照相比分别降低44．19％、38．24％、39．52％、37．56％、37．30％和22．40％、9．28％、24．11％、21．60％、15．93％;在5种模式中,生物量最高的是辣椒—西红柿,年均达到100276kg.hm^-2,其次是花生-秋大豆,年均达到77026kg.hm^-2;而生产力最高的是花生—秋大豆,达到15619kg.hm^-2,其次是西红柿—白菜,为15394kg.hm^-2;投能效率最高的是辣椒—西红柿,年均达到3．06,其次为西红柿—白菜、花生—秋大豆、春大豆—秋大豆、早稻-红萝卜,分别为2．16、2．15、2．06和0．71．同时,有机、无机能输入效应表明,以生物能为主源输入进行转化利用太阳光能和水土资源,维护了果园生态系统的能量盈余,生态效益较高．     

Use of strontium for bovine oocyte activation

Strontium efficiently activates mouse oocytes, however, there is limited information on its use in cattle. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish a suitable protocol for activating bovine oocyte with strontium. For pronuclear development, the absence of calcium and magnesium in the activation medium (TALP) with 10 and 50 mM strontium (34.4 and 53.1%, respectively) was superior to the complete TALP (6.5 and 19.4%, respectively). In all activation media, better results were observed with 25 and 50 mM strontium (21.9-53.1 and 19.4-53.1%, respectively). Incubation for 4 h promoted similar results in all strontium concentrations. However, strontium at 15, 20, and 25 mM for 6 and 8 h (40.7, 46.7, and 48.3%, and 29.3, 48.3, and 40.7%, respectively) were superior to control (15.5 and 10%, respectively). After in vitro maturation for 26 h, strontium (S; 20 mM in Ca2+- and Mg2+-free TALP for 6 h), ionomycin+strontium (IS), and strontium+ionomycin (SI) (60, 63.3, and 65%, respectively) were similar in pronuclear development and superior to ionomycin (I; 5 microM for 5 min; 36.7%). In treatments S and I, only 1 PN zygotes were observed. In treatment S, most of them had 1 and 2 PB (35.7 and 60.7%, respectively), and in treatment I, 0, 1, and 2 PB (14.3, 57.1, and 28.6%, respectively). Most of the zygotes in treatment IS and SI were 1 PN 2 PB (77.4 and 61.6%, respectively). The number of oocytes with clusters of cortical granules was similar in all treated groups (11-29%). Cortical granule exocytosis in treatment IS (68%) was similar to S (54%) and superior to I, SI, and control (27, 45, and 5.0%, respectively). Cleavage and blastocyst rates were similar for S, I, IS, and SI treatments (61.7-76.7, and 8.3-13.3%, respectively) and the same was observed for ICM, TE, and total cell number, and ICM/total cell ratio (22-25, 64-69, and 86-95, and 0.26-0.27). In conclusion, strontium may be efficiently applied for bovine oocyte activation at 20 mM in Ca2+- and Mg2+-free TALP medium for 6 h.     

Vegetation communities and plant distributions and their relationships with parent materials in the forest-tundra of northwestern Canada

Vegetation data from 95 sites and chemical and textural data for parent materials from 98 sites in subarctic northwestern Canada were analyzed by ordination, classification, and statistical techniques A discontinuity in plant species occurrence, vegetation communities, and parent materials takes place near the southeast/northwest boundary north of Great Slave Lake Till parent materials in the forest-tundra show regional differences in nutrient concentration and texture that correlate with the local bedrock Northwestern tills, as a group, are markedly richer in nutrients and finer-textured than Shield tills, with much higher levels of cation exchange capacity, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen, and organic carbon, and more silt and clay than Shield tills Plant species occurrence and vegetation community composition show strong relationships with soil pH, moisture, texture, and latitude The northwest is characterized by calciphilic white spruce. Dryas , legume, and bryophyte communities, and high species diversity, on basic loamy Cryosols The southeast is characterized by acidophiles and widespread generalist black spruce, ericad, and lichen communities, and low species diversity, on acidic loamy sand and sandy loam Brunisols     

Serum cholinesterase activities and inhibition profiles of nonhuman primates

Serum cholinesterase activities and inhibition profiles of 169 chimpanzees, 15 gorillas, 26 orangutans, seven gibbons, and 12 rhesus monkeys were determined. Mean values of activities against benzoylcholine (μmols/min/ml) and dibucaine, fluoride, and Ro 2-0683 numbers (percentage inhibition of benzoylcholine hydrolysis) are: chimpanzee, 2.276, 80, 64, and 97; gorilla, 9.403, 82, 71, and 96; orangutan, 0.747, 94, 6, and 98; gibbon, 0.071, 89, 7, and 94; and rhesus monkey, 0.859, 95, 10, and 99, respectively. Sernylan numbers were determined of the last 100 chimpanzee serums collected and of each of the gorilla, orangutan, gibbon, and rhesus monkey serums. Mean values of Sernylan numbers are: chimpanzee, 80; gorilla, 81; orangutan, 95; gibbon, 94; and rhesus monkey, 96. The chimpanzee and the gorilla have dibucaine, fluoride, Ro 2-0683, and Sernylan numbers within the range found in men who are homozygotes for the usual cholinesterase (genotype E₁^uE₁^u). No cholinesterase variant was found in any chimpanzee or gorilla. The orangutan, gibbon, and rhesus monkey have inhibition profiles that resemble one another, with higher dibucaine and Sernylan numbers and much lower fluoride numbers than the chimpanzee or the gorilla. The results of the inhibition tests suggest that the African apes, chimpanzee and gorilla, are related more closely to man than are the Asian apes, orangutan and gibbon.     

Ethnic-immigrant differentials in health behaviors, morbidity, and cause-specific mortality in the United States: an analysis of two national data bases

This study examines the extent to which various ethnic-immigrant and US-born groups differ in their risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, morbidity, and health behaviors. Using data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, 1979-1989, we estimated, for major US racial and ethnic groups, mortality risks of immigrants relative to those of the US-born. The Cox regression model was used to adjust mortality differentials by age, sex, marital status, rural/urban residence, education, and family income. Logistic regression was fitted to the National Health Interview Survey data to determine whether health status and behaviors vary among ethnic-immigrant groups and by length of US residence. Compared with US-born whites of equivalent socioeconomic and demographic background, foreign-born blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders (APIs), US-born APIs, US-born Hispanics, and foreign-born whites had, respectively, 48%, 45%, 43%, 32%, 26%, and 16% lower mortality risks. While American Indians did not differ significantly from US-born whites, US-born blacks had an 8% higher mortality risk. Black and Hispanic immigrants experienced, respectively, 52% and 26% lower mortality risks than their US-born counterparts. Considerable differentials were also found in mortality for cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious disease, and injury, and in morbidity and health behaviors, with API and Hispanic immigrants generally experiencing the lowest risks. Consistent with the acculturation hypothesis, immigrants' risks of smoking, obesity, hypertension, and chronic condition, although substantially lower than those for the US-born, increased with increasing length of US residence. Given the substantial nativity differences in health status and mortality, future waves of immigrants of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds will likely have a sizeable impact on the overall health, disease, and mortality patterns in the United States.     

Influence of temperature on survival, growth and fecundity of the freshwater snail Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes).

To note the effect of temperature on survival, growth and fecundity, newly hatched (zero day old) snails Indoplanorbis exustus were cultured at 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degrees C constant temperatures and room temperature (17.5 degrees-32.5 degrees C). Individuals exposed to 10 degrees C died within 3 days while those reared at 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees C and room temperature survived for a period of 6, 27, 18, 16, 12 and 17 weeks respectively. An individual added on an average 0.21 mm and 0.45 mg, 0.35 mm and 7.94 mg, 0.63 mm and 15.5 mg, 0.81 mm and 27.18 mg, 1.07 mm and 41.48 mg and 0.78 mm and 31.2 mg to the shell diameter and body weight respectively at those temperatures per week. The snails cultured at 15 degrees C died prior to attainment of sexual maturity. On an average, an individual produced 31.9 and 582.77, 54.86 and 902.18, 56.01 and 968.45, 49.32 and 798.68 and 62.34 and 1143.97 capsules and eggs respectively at 20 degrees, 25 degrees, 30 degrees, 35 degrees C and room temperature (17.5 degrees-32.5 degrees C).     

Purification, characterization and substrate specificities of xylanase isoenzymes from Melanocarpus albomyces IIS 68

The ascomycetous fungus Melanocarpus albomyces when grown on wheat straw produced seven extracellular xylanase isoenzymes, designated as la, Ib, Ic, IIa, lib, llc, and lId. All seven xylanases were purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular mass (kDa) of la, lb, Ic, Ila, lIb, lIc, and lId were estimated to be 22.9, 20.7, 18.6, 31.3, 25.4, 38.5, and 34.3, respectively by SDS-PAGE, and 23.7, 20.5, 17.1, 31.7, 25.1, 39.8, and 32.2, respectively by gel filtration. The isoelectric points of Ia, lb, Ic, Ila and IIb were found to be 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 3.7, and 4.4, respectively. The activity of the isoenzymes was dependent on the type of the xylan substrates; Xylanases Ia, lb, and Ic showed highest specific activity toward larchwood xylan (an arabinoglucuronoxylan), IIa and Ilc toward birchwood xylan (a glucuronoxylan), and llb and IId toward beechwood xylan (a glucuronoxylan). Four isoenzymes la, lb, Ic, and Ila had an arabinose-releasing property on larchwood xylan. Application of specific isoenzymes as prebleaching agents in paper manufacture is proposed.