Habitat and abundance of Balitoridae in small rivers of central Thailand

Balitorids were collected, by electrofishing, from small rivers across central Thailand between October 2000 and March 2004. Total balitorid abundance for the 18 species averaged 3·8% of the cumulative total for all fishes. Balitorid species numbers and abundance varied directly with elevation to c. 400 m, substratum particle size and ambient silica concentration. Species numbers at stations were modest and few species were widely distributed. Species associations related significantly with elevation, temperature and ambient concentrations of dissolved oxygen and silica. Turbidity was also significant but probably an artefact. Habitat separation clearly occurs among some balitorids, particularly the less common species, and probably represents species-specific direct and indirect habitat effects. The more common balitorid species tended to occur in similar habitats where the significant factors approximated average values. For these species, coexistence is suggested to occur through food resource sharing possibly facilitated through adaptations. Balitorid distributions in low-order rivers are attributed to the direct and indirect influences of the environment on energy available for the performance of essential activities.     

Evaluating the Feasibility of Eradicating an Invasion

The detectability of invasive organisms influences the costs and benefits of alternative control strategies, and the feasibility of eradicating an infestation. Search theory offers a mathematically rigorous framework for defining and measuring detectability taking account of searcher ability, biological factors and the search environment. In this paper, invasive species detectability is incorporated into a population simulation model. The model is applied to a base set of parameter values that represent reasonable values for a hypothetical weed. The analysis shows the effects of detectability and search effort on the duration of an eradication program. For a given level of detectability and search time, the analysis shows that the variables with the greatest influence on the duration of the eradication effort are search speed, kill efficiency, germination rate and seed longevity. Monte Carlo simulations are performed on a set of four weed scenarios, involving different combinations of plant longevity, seed longevity and plant fecundity. Results of these simulations are presented as probability distributions and allow us to calculate how the probability of eradication will be affected by search strategy.     

Transforming growth factors (TGFs): Properties and possible mechanisms of action

Transforming growth factors (TGFs) are growth-promoting polypeptides that cause phenotypic transformation and anchorage-independent growth of normal cells. They have been isolated from several human and animal carcinoma and sarcoma cells. One TGF is sarcoma growth factor (SGF) which is released hy murine sarcoma virus-transformed cells. The TGFs interact with epidermal growth factor (EGF) cell membrane receptors. TGFs are not detectable in culture fluids from cells which contain high numbers of free EGF cell membrane receptors. SGF acts as a tumor promoter in cell culture systems and its effect on the transformed phenotype is blocked by retinoids (vitamin A and synthetic analogs). The production of TGFs by transformed cells and the responses of normal cells to the addition of TGFs to the culture medium raise the possibility that cells “autostimulate” their own growth by releasing factors that rebind at the cell surface. The term “autocrine secretion” has been proposed for this type of situation where a cell secretes a hormone-like substance for which it has external cell membrane receptors. The autocrine concept may provide a partial explanation for some aspects of tumor cell progression.     

细纹豆芫菁交配与繁殖力的关系

将采自野外的细纹豆芫菁EpicautamannerhimiMkl的雌雄成虫各50头在室内进行人工随机配对,共发生75次交配,平均交配1.5次。雄虫1生可交配0～4次,雌虫0～2次。交配持续时间为(188±55)min,交配持续时间与交配次数之间、交配持续时间与繁殖力之间均无相关性。交配次数与两性的繁殖力呈负相关。交配后有36头雌虫43次产卵,其中有35次产卵发生在本次交配后,有8次产卵发生在连续2次交配后。作者认为雌虫在性感受性上的差异,与不育雄虫参与雌虫的前次交配有关。雄虫能否产生足够数量的交配因子来抑制雌虫的性感受性,是决定雌虫在产卵前交配次数的重要因素。     

马占相思树干液流特征及其与环境因子的关系

运用Granier热消散式探针法对华南丘陵退化荒坡植被恢复先锋树种马占相思(Acaciamangium)树干液流密度进行长期连续观测,并对其周围环境因子如空气温度、空气相对湿度、土壤相对湿度、光合有效辐射和总辐射进行同步观测。通过分析发现马占相思边材厚度与胸径存在显著线性相关关系;马占相思树干液流密度最大值与边材面积具显著相关关系;马占相思树干东、南、西、北4个方位测得的液流密度具显著差异,且各方位相互之间均有显著相关关系;马占相思树干液流每天到达峰值与光合有效辐射和水蒸气压亏缺到达峰值存在一定的时滞,这两个时滞与树高无关,个体间时滞差异在湿季较小,干季较大;干湿季液流平均值和最大值具显著差异,湿季蒸腾水量大于相同时间内干季蒸腾水量;液流的变化与空气温度、空气相对湿度、光合有效辐射、总辐射、水蒸气压亏缺等环境因子的变化具显著相关关系,按相关程度排序为:光合有效辐射>总辐射>水蒸气压亏缺>空气相对湿度>空气温度。     

Screening the Main Factors Affecting Extraction of the Antimicrobial Substance from Bacillus sp. fmbJ using the Plackett–Burman Method

Summary The Plackett–Burman screening method was utilized as a tool to evaluate the importance of the selected six factors, including methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pH and time, which are relevant to the extraction of the antimicrobial substance produced by Bacillus sp. fmbJ. The main factors that affected the extraction of the antimicrobial substance were determined as methanol (P < 0.0001), ethanol (P < 0.0001), pH (P = 0.0032), and time (P < 0.0001) by using the JMP software. Within the test ranges, methanol, ethanol, and time showed a significant positive relativity to the total extracted amounts respectively; while pH had a significant negative effect. The maximum prediction profile indicated that the total extracted amounts for the antimicrobial substance would reach 50.21 mg/100 ml with 99.64% probability.     

冻干加热处理凝血因子类制剂的病毒灭活验证

在病毒灭活验证过程中,比较了冻干后不同加热方法对凝血因子类制剂中伪狂犬病毒(PRV)的灭活效果,包括80℃干烤72h、100℃水浴加热30min以及100℃蒸汽加热30min方法。结果表明80℃干烤72h对制品中PRV灭活较彻底,另外两种方法对制品中PRV的灭活效果均不理想。     

陆地生态系统磷素循环及其影响因素

 磷是生命系统的重要组成成分,其在生态系统内的迁移转化是生态系统结构和功能的决定性因素之一。近20年来,磷在陆地生态系统内的重要性受到越来越多的关注。该文总结了国内外磷循环研究的成果,从磷的来源、在土壤中的存在形态和固定特性、影响因素的复杂性等方面分析了磷素循环的特点;系统阐述了磷在陆地生态系统各库之间及其内部,主要是植被-土壤亚系统内的迁移转化规律及影响因素。陆地生态系统磷素循环主要是系统内部的生物化学循环,由植物自身的遗传特性和土壤的生物、理化性质共同控制,不同控制因素的相对重要性因生态系统类型、时间和空间尺度而异。文章简述了磷循环研究方法的发展及存在的局限性;另外,分析了干旱、半干旱地区磷循环研究的重要性和意义;干旱区生态系统的脆弱性及其植被、土壤特性决定了其磷素循环有其自身的特点及研究的必要性。最后指出了当前陆地生态系统磷循环研究的发展趋势。