The introduction ofMimorista pulchellalis [Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae] into South Africa for the biological control of jointed cactus,Opuntia aurantiaca. 2. Field evaluation

The mothMimorista pulchellalis was monitored over 2 years after liberation in a jointed cactus (Opuntia aurantiaca) infestation in South Africa. Moth and cactus densities were estimated using a system of randomly-assigned quadrats and the impact of the moth on the cactus population quantified. Moths appeared adapted to survive on the etiolated form of jointed cactus plants, killing approximately 1% of the increment in small plants annually. Large plants were also attacked but damage was negligible. The moths occurred in low numbers throughout the study period and generally went through 3 generations in a year.

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Résumé La pyraleMimorista pulchellalis a été surveillée durant les deux années qui suivirent sa libération dans une infestation de figuier de Barbarie en Afrique du Sud. Les densités de pyrale et de cactus ont été estimées en utilisant un système de quadrats distribués au hasard et l'impact de la pyrale sur la population de cactus a été quantifiée. Les pyrales semblaient adaptées à survivre sur la forme étiolée des plants de cactus tuant approximativement 1% de l'accroissement annuel des petits plants. Les gros plants étaient aussi attaqués, mais les dégats étaient négligeables. La pyrale existait en faibles nombres durant toute la période d'étude et elle présentait généralement 3 générations par an.

     

A practical test for in vitro evaluation of photosensitization: Assessment with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)

A simple procedure is described for the determination of the photosensitizing potency of drugs, using three leukemic cell lines, two of lymphocytic origin, L1210 and P388 and one of erythroid type, Friend-745. The procedure allows one to investigate several aspects of the photosensitization properties of tested compounds such as cellular localization and direct (trypan blue exclusion) or delayed (clonogenicity) photomediated toxicities.The method was assessed using crude hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as well as dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) or commercially available Photofrin II. Results were compared to those obtained with normal cells, e.g spleen lymphocytes and erythropoietic stem cells (CFU-e), and discussed in the light of the relative response of normal versus transformed cells.Abbreviations DHE Dihematoporphyrin Ether - FCS Fetal Calf Serum - HPD Hematoporphyrin Derivative - PDT Photodynamic Therapy     

A gastric trichobezoar in a chimpanzee

A firm, mobile, oblong mass was discovered as an incidental finding in the stomach of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) during routine surgery. It was removed and determined to be a trichobezoar.     

A comparison of sperm morphology and silver nitrate staining characteristics in the domestic ferret and the black-footed ferret

Ejaculated sperm from the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) and the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) were compared for differences in morphological abnormalities and argentophilic protein distribution. Thawed domestic ferret sperm was also compared to fresh sperm to determine whether there were any effects on cell morphology due to cryopreservation. There were statistically significant differences between the two species of ferret in two of the categories scored. The domestic ferret had a higher frequency of cells that were bent in the midpiece and in the principal piece, and a higher frequency of headless and tailless cells when compared to the black-footed ferret. There were no statistically significant differences in cell morphology between the fresh and cryopreserved ejaculates of the domestic ferret employing a standard egg yolk cryoextender. Silver nitrate staining distribution was different between the two species in both the head and tail region.     

Uptake of phosphate from soils and fertilizers as affected by soil P availability and solubility of phosphorus fertilizers

Fertilizers labelled with ³²P were used to measure amounts of phosphorus, P_s and P_F, taken up by Lolium perenne from available soil P and from P fertilizer respectively, when applied at a rate of 66 mg P·(kg soil^–1) in greenhouse experiments. The quantity P_s of phosphorus taken up from soil in the presence of P fertilizer was compared to the quantity P_o taken up from soil without P fertilizer. The quantity (P_s–P_o) is positive for low P_o values, i.e. in soils poor in available phosphorus, but is negative for high P_o values indicating that an input of P fertilizer can induce a decrease in the utilization of available soil phosphorus. Moreover, for a given soil, the quantity (P_s–P_o) depends on the chemical form of the fertilizer. The standard method of evaluation of P fertilizer efficiency is based on the assumption that P_s=P_o, but P_s can differ from P_o. This result can explain the contradictory data published from field experiments about the efficiency of the various P fertilizers.     

湖北菱科植物的数量分类研究 Ⅲ.分类性状的定量评价

用R聚类分析和主分量分析,定量研究了湖北菱科5种8变种37个形态和生态性状的变异及分类学价值。结果表明,植物体大小变异是形态演化的主要方向之一。形态演化的同时,也发生生态分化。除少数性状例外,形态演化与生态分化在相当程度上是独立的。     

Evaluation of Drugs for Treating Obesity

Criteria for the evaluation of new drugs to treat obesity are important as guides for designing clinical trials to test these agents. These criteria must be developed in relation to the realities of obesity, which is a chronic disease associated with morbidity and mortality that is increased by visceral fat deposits. The observation that patients regain weight after stopping drug treatment for obesity argues for the proposition that drugs work only when taken and NOT that the drugs are ineffective. The analogy between the development of treatments for obesity to those for the treatment of hypertension is used to highlight potential areas for new developments. Several features of an ideal drug for the treatment of obesity are suggested. Criteria for evaluating new drugs include both primary and secondary endpoints. The primary endpoint for an anti-obesity drug should be weight loss, possibly by category of success. Losses of total body fat or visceral fat might be alternative primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints include reduction in risk factors for associated diseases and improvement in the quality of life. In trials where vigorous placebo designs including highly aggressive behavior modification or very-low-calorie diets were used, it may be difficult or impossible to detect a response to a drug.     

Production and characterization of fertile somatic hybrids of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) with Solanum aethiopicum L.

Summary In order to produce fertile somatic hybrids, mesophyll protoplasts from eggplant were electrofused with those from one of its close related species, Solanum aethiopicum L. Aculeatum group. On the basis of differences in the cultural behavior of the parental and hybrid protoplasts, 35 somatic hybrid plants were recovered from 85 selected calli. When taken to maturity either in the greenhouse or in the field, the hybrid plants were vigorous, all rapidly overtopping parental individuals. The putative hybrids were intermediate with respect to morphological traits, and all of their organs were larger, particularly the leaves and stems. DNA analysis of the hybrids using flow cytometry in combination with cytological analysis showed that 32 were tetraploids, 1 hexaploid and 2 mixoploids. The hybrid nature of the 35 selected plants was confirmed by a comparison of the isoenzyme patterns of isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-Pgd) and phosphoglucomutase (Pgm). Chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) restriction analysis using Bam HI revealed that among the 27 hybrid plants analyzed, 10 had S. aethiopicum patterns and the 17 remaining hybrids exhibited bands identical with those of eggplant without any changes. All of the somatic hybrid plants flowered. Both parental plants had 94% stainable pollen, while the hybrids varied widely in pollen viability ranging from 30% to 85%. The somatic hybrids showed high significant variation in fruit production. Nevertheless, there was a tendency for low fertility to be associated often with S. aethiopicum chloroplast type and/or with an abnormal ploidy level, while good fertility was mostly associated with the tetraploid level and eggplant chloroplasts. Interestingly, 2 tetraploid somatic hybrid clones were among the most productive, yielding up to 9 kg/plant. As far as the fertility of the F₁ sexual counterpart was concerned, only 2 fruits of 50 g were obtained. Hybrid fertility in relation to phylogenetic affinities of the fusion partners is discussed.     

Extra-weak chemiluminescence of drugs XV. Method for determining stability of Toki-shakuyaku-san extract granules

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of Toki-shakuyaku-san extract granules (TJ-23) using chemiluminescence (CL). A linear relationship was obtained between the log value of the CL of TJ-23 and the reaction temperature. An excellent correlation (r= 0.999) was found between the slope of this curve (ΔA) and the colour intensity due to the browning reaction occurring at the early stage of the Maillard reaction.     

基于叶绿体基因组数据的芸香科属间系统发育初步分析（专题约稿）

该研究在人工控制水分条件下,设置3个干旱胁迫处理,选用3个主栽油菜品种‘陇油10号’、‘陇油2号’、‘青杂5号’幼苗进行盆栽试验,测定干旱胁迫条件下叶片相对含水量、叶绿素含量、光合气体交换参数及叶绿素荧光参数等指标,考察各指标在干旱胁迫过程中的变化特征,并通过主成分分析(PCA)和隶属函数法评价品种的抗旱性及其主要响应因子,以揭示西北地区油菜幼苗响应干旱胁迫的光合调控机制。结果表明：(1)各品种油菜幼苗的叶片相对含水量(RWC)均随干旱胁迫程度的递增而逐渐降低,最大水分亏缺(WSD)却逐渐上升。(2)各品种油菜幼苗叶片的叶绿素a含量、叶绿素总含量随着干旱胁迫程度的递增而先增加后递减,且同一种幼苗在不同处理间差异显著。(3)各品种油菜幼苗叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、水分利用效率(WUE)、单株生物量、气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)均在受到干旱胁迫时迅速降低,且同一品种幼苗在不同处理间差异显著,而其叶片蒸腾速率(T_r)在干旱胁迫下无显著变化。(4)各品种油菜幼苗叶片光化学猝灭系数(qP)和非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)随着干旱胁迫程度的递增先增加后递减,最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)和电子传递速率(ETR)在受到干旱胁迫时迅速降低,且同一品种幼苗在不同处理间差异显著。(5)主成分分析结果表明,在油菜幼苗受到干旱胁迫时RWC、C_i、G_s、P_n、WUE、叶绿素总含量、叶绿素a含量和NPQ起主要调控作用;隶属函数法综合评价表明,3个品种油菜幼苗耐旱能力由高到低依次为‘陇油10号’＞‘陇油2号’＞‘青杂5号’。