Edible insects in China: Utilization and prospects

The use of edible insects has a long history in China, where they have been consumed for more than 2000 years. In general, the level of acceptance is high for the consumption of insects in China. Many studies on edible insects have been conducted in the last 20 years, and the scope of the research includes the culture of entomophagy and the identification, nutritional value, farming and breeding of edible insects, in addition to food production and safety. Currently, 324 species of insects from 11 orders are documented that are either edible or associated with entomophagy in China, which include the common edible species, some less commonly consumed species and some medicinal insects. However, only approximately 10 to 20 types of insects are regularly consumed. The nutritional values for 174 species are available in China, including edible, feed and medicinal species. Although the nutritional values vary among species, all the insects examined contain protein, fat, vitamins and minerals at levels that meet human nutritional requirements. Edible insects were, and continue to be, consumed by different ethnic groups in many parts of China. People directly consume insects or food products made from insects. The processing of products from insect protein powder, oil and chitin, and the development of healthcare foods has been studied in China. People also consume insects indirectly by eating livestock that were fed insects, which may be a more acceptable pathway to use insects in human diets. Although limited, the data on the food safety of insects indicate that insects are safe for food or feed. Incidences of allergic reactions after consuming silkworm pupae, cicadas and crickets have been reported in China. Insect farming is a unique breeding industry in rural China and is a source of income for local people. Insects are reared and bred for human food, medicine and animal feed using two approaches in China: the insects are either fully domesticated and reared completely in captivity or are partially raised in captivity, and the insect habitat is manipulated to increase production. Depending on the type of relationship the insect has with humans, plants and the environment, different farming strategies are used. The social and scientific communities must work together to promote the use of insects as food and feed.     

Nutrient composition,ruminal degradability and whole tract digestibility of whole crop maize silage from nine current varieties

Since maize silage is an important forage in cattle nutrition, it is important to know its nutritive value. Much effort is put into breeding maize, and several new varieties are introduced on the market every year. This requires periodical analyses of the nutritive value of current maize varieties for the formulation of cattle rations. The aim of this study was to examine the nutritive value of whole crop maize silage (WCMS) from nine maize varieties in 3 consecutive years. For the analysis of nutrient composition and ruminal degradability of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) and non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC), varieties were harvested at three harvest dates (50%, 55% and 60% dry matter content in ear). Due to capacity limitations, the digestibility of WCMS was tested only for the middle harvest date. The CP and acid detergent fibre (ADFom) content was affected (p < 0.05) while aNDFom and NFC content was not influenced by variety. With advancing maturity, CP, aNDFom and ADFom content declined while NFC content increased. Variety influenced effective ruminal degradability (ED) of nutrients, except for CP. The ED of all examined nutrients decreased as maturity advanced from first to third harvest date. Digestibility of OM, ADFom and NFC was significantly and digestibility of aNDFom was tendentially (p = 0.064) influenced by variety. Additionally, an effect of year and a harvest date × year interaction was found for almost all examined parameters. In conclusion, variety, harvest date and year influence the nutritive value of WCMS. A comparison with earlier studies shows that current varieties have a higher fibre digestibility and a slower-ripening stover compared to older varieties.     

Mid-Cretaceous/Albian (Cretaceous) ostracod assemblages from NW Hungary reflecting deep marine,nearshore and non-marine environments

The Albian sediments of the Transdanubian Range in Hungary were deposited in non-marine to fully-marine environments. The studied sections revealed diverse benthic ostracod faunas with moderately-preserved specimens. Forty-six taxa are identified and Cypridea zalanyii n. sp. is newly described. The detailed palaeoecological study of these ostracod faunas provided an opportunity to distinguish eight assemblages. The assemblages include limnic, brackish lagoon, shallow marine, reef and low oxygenated semi-enclosed basin environments in the Northern Tethys region we investigated. This work contributes to the knowledge about Albian non-marine faunas from Europe and explores ecological requirements of brackish faunas.     

嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌DNA解链蛋白BstH2的纯化及性质研究

以嗜热脂肪芽孢杆菌为材料,通过ＰｏｌｙｍｉｎＰ沉淀、硫酸铵分级及ＤＥＡＥ纤维素、磷酸纤维素、Ｂｌｕｅ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ、ＦＰＬＣＭｏｎｏＱ、ＦＰＬＣ Ｓｕｐｅｒｏｓｅ１２等柱层析,得到了部分纯化ＤＮＡ解链蛋白ＢｓｔＨ２。ＢｓｔＨ２具有受ＤＮＡ促进的ＡＴＰ酶活力,没类型的核酸对ＢｓｔＨ２的ＡＴＰ酶活力的促进作用没。ＢｓｔＨ２在５５℃有最高ＡＴＰ酶活力。这种活力受大肠杆菌单链ＤＮＡ结合蛋白的抑制及随     

Reinterpretations of clypeus and maxilla in Psocoptera, and their significance in phylogeny of Paraneoptera (Insecta: Neoptera)

Morphology of the head and mouthparts in Psocoptera was investigated, and revised interpretations for clypeus and maxilla were proposed. The convex plate in the frontal region of the head capsule is the postclypeus, rather than the frons; the galea is clearly differentiated from the stipes and the origin of the stipito-lacinial muscle is partly shifted from the stipes to the base of the galea; the cardo is completely fused with the stipes without any suture or sulcus. Brief discussions on the evolution of piercing and sucking mouthparts and on the phylogeny of Paraneoptera were provided, based on these revised interpretations.     

The importance of biological inertia in plant community resistance to invasion

Abstract. Insights into the ecology of historic invasions by introduced species can be gained by studying long‐term patterns of invasions by native species. In this paper, we review literature in palaeo‐ecology, forest‐stand simulation modelling, and historical studies of plant species invasions to illustrate the relevance of biological inertia in plant communities to invasion ecology. Resistance to invasion occurs in part because of environmental, demographic, and biotic factors influencing the arrival and establishment of invading species. We propose that biological inertia within the resident community is a fourth component of resistance to invasion, because of the lag time inherent in eliminating resident species and perhaps their traces after environmental conditions become suitable for invasion by immigrating species. Whether or not an introduced species invades can be conditioned by the presence of the pre‐existing community (and/or its legacy) in addition to the other biotic and abiotic factors.     

非水溶性甲胺磷降解酶的检测

甲胺磷农药是一种水溶性广谱、剧毒杀虫剂,化学名称：Ｏ,Ｓ－二甲基胺基硫代磷酸酯．目前,它在我国的生产和使用量已相当可观,并由此造成了严重的生态破坏和环境污染［１］．近几年,作者针对上述问题,结合国内外对甲胺磷代谢和有关酶知识缺乏了解的实际［２］,开展...     

萝卜花粉的营养成分研究

萝卜花粉的营养成分测定表明,其蛋白质含量28.38%,总糖含量33.33%,氨基酸总量27.59%,总黄酮含量3.57%,维生素和矿质元素含量亦较丰富。萝卜花粉资源丰富,营养成分齐全,具有很好的开发利用价值。