Interspecific variation of body shape and sexual dimorphism in three coexisting species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Petrotilapia</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi

Differences in color patterns have been the most used feature in describing cichlid species belonging to genus Petrotilapia from Lake Malawi. In this study, we quantified morphological variation in body shape within and among three coexisting Petrotilapia species using landmark-based geometric morphometric methods. Statistic analyses revealed significant body shape differences among species but not between sexes. Post hoc multiple comparisons based on Mahalanobis distances revealed that P. nigra was significantly different from P. genalutea and Petrotilapia sp., whereas the latter two were not significantly different. The splines generated showed that the most pronounced variation was in the head region, in which P. nigra had a relatively longer and deeper head than the other two. The most clear-cut distinction was in gape length; P. genalutea had the longest gape, followed by Petrotilapia sp., whereas P. nigra had the shortest gape. Body depth was shallower in P. nigra than the others. When comparing sexes by their centroid size, ANOVA revealed that males were bigger than females. Therefore, we conclude that color is not the only feature that can distinguish these congeners. We discuss the observed sexual dimorphism in terms of sexual selection and relate morphological variation among species to feeding behavior, which may help explain their coexistence in nature.     

基于几何形态测量学的磷酸三(1,3-二氯-2-丙基)酯对鲢仔鱼形态影响研究

为了解磷酸三(1,3-二氯-2-丙基)酯(TDCIPP)对鲢仔鱼生长抑制性在外部形态上的表现性状,研究基于几何形态测量学方法对0.05、0.5、5和50μg/L共4个浓度组与对照组进行组间形态性状差异比较分析。利用PLYMPLUS系统获取鲢仔鱼样本图像信息并测量体长,利用万分电子天平称量体重,使用TPS系列软件提取坐标点数据,并通过Morpho J软件完成主成分分析、典型变量分析及结果可视化。除0.05μg/L浓度组外,其他浓度组鲢仔鱼的体长、体重均显著低于对照组,表明TDCIPP对鲢仔鱼的生长发育具有抑制效应。主成分分析和典型变量分析结果显示,第一主成分(PC1)和第二主成分(PC2)共占总体变量的62.15%(分别为47.64%和14.51%);第一典型变量(CV1)和第二典型变量(CV2)共占总体变量的79.48%(分别为54.55%和24.93%),满足用于鲢仔鱼形态分析的要求。网格轮廓分析结果显示,各浓度组鲢仔鱼平均形态均与对照组间存在显著差异(P<0.05),并且主要表现为头部、躯干纵轴和尾部发育迟缓。     

A geometric morphometric analysis of heterochrony in the cranium of chimpanzees and bonobos

Despite several decades of research, there remains a lack of consensus on the extent to which bonobos are paedomorphic (juvenilized) chimpanzees in terms of cranial morphology. This study reexamines the issue by comparing the ontogeny of cranial shape in cross-sectional samples of bonobos (Pan paniscus) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using both internal and external 3D landmarks digitized from CT scans. Geometric morphometric methods were used to quantify shape and size; dental-maturation criteria were used to estimate relative dental age. Heterochrony was evaluated using combined size-shape (allometry) and shape-age relationships for the entire cranium, the face, and the braincase. These analyses indicate that the bonobo skull is paedomorphic relative to the chimpanzee for the first principal component of size-related shape variation, most likely via a mechanism of postformation (paedomorphosis due to initial shape underdevelopment). However, the results also indicate that not all aspects of shape differences between the two species, particularly in the face, can be attributed to heterochronic transformation and that additional developmental differences must also have occurred during their evolution.     

The structural basis of alpha-glucan recognition by a family 41 carbohydrate-binding module from Thermotoga maritima

Starch recognition by carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) is important for the activity of starch-degrading enzymes. The N-terminal family 41 CBM, TmCBM41 (from pullulanase PulA secreted by Thermotoga maritima) was shown to have alpha-glucan binding activity with specificity for alpha-1,4-glucans but was able to tolerate the alpha-1,6-linkages found roughly every three or four glucose units in pullulan. Using X-ray crystallography, the structures were solved for TmCBM41 in an uncomplexed form and in complex with maltotetraose and 6(3)-alpha-D-glucosyl-maltotriose (GM3). Ligand binding was facilitated by stacking interactions between the alpha-faces of the glucose residues and two tryptophan side-chains in the two main subsites of the carbohydrate-binding site. Overall, this mode of starch binding is quite well conserved by other starch-binding modules. The structure in complex with GM3 revealed a third binding subsite with the flexibility to accommodate an alpha-1,4- or an alpha-1,6-linked glucose.     

国产重组酵母乙型肝炎疫苗接种小学生的3年免疫效果观察

本文报告对２５８ 名小学生应用０、１、６ 月程序,接种２ 批国产酵母疫苗（５ μｇ／０．５ ｍ ｌ）,１ 批Ａｍ ｇｅｎ 酵母疫苗（１０ μｇ／ｍ ｌ）,１ 批Ｍ ＳＤ 酵母疫苗（５ μｇ／０．５ ｍ ｌ）的小学生免后３ 年（（Ｔ３６）效果观察。结果表明,Ｔ３６ 时抗体 ＧＭＴ（几何平均滴度）,Ａｍ ｇｅｎ 疫苗组（１４５．７５）显著高于 ２ 批国产疫苗（９２．１１、８３．５２）和Ｍ．Ｓ．Ｄ 苗组（７４．６２）,抗体ＧＭＴ 峰值显著低于Ａｍ ｇｅｎ 和Ｍ ．Ｓ．Ｄ 苗的２ 批国产酵母疫苗,与Ｍ．Ｓ．Ｄ 苗抗体ＧＭＴ 水平无显著差异（Ｐ＞ ０．０５）。抗体阳转率间各疫苗组均无显著差异（９３．１０％ ～７４．１４％ ）。本次随访结果表明,采用０,１,６ 免疫程序,国产酵母疫苗免后３ 年的抗体阳转率和抗体ＧＭＴ水平不低于进口同类酵母疫苗的水平。     

Discrimination of the sibling species Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus (Rodentia,Muridae)

Karyotyping and several molecular methods have allowed successful identification of two morphologically similar wide-ranging Western Palearctic species, the yellow-necked field mouse Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1934) and the long-tailed wood mouse A. sylvaticus (Linnaeus, 1758), but reliable species diagnosis on the basis of morphometric characters is particularly problematic. Although they are easily morphologically distinguishable in Central and Northern Europe, this is not the case in southern parts of their distribution areas. Despite that, we have successfully discriminated A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus from Serbia (Southern Europe) using geometric and traditional morphometric methods on a data set for ventral crania of specimens previously genotyped by the Inter Simple Sequence Repeat-PCR (ISSR-PCR). Discrimination power of applied approaches was more or less similar. The majority of our results were consistent with those obtained for specimens collected across the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Morphological differences observed herein, as well as those already reported between A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus from the central and northern parts of their distribution areas, could be the outcome of their biology, i.e. ecological discrepancies, different assumed evolutionary scenarios considering biogeography, phylogeny, history and ontogeny.     

Evaluation of Electron Donor Materials for Solution‐Processed Organic Solar Cells via a Novel Figure of Merit

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology offers many advantages, although no commercial applications have been achieved after more than a decade of intensive research and development. Several challenges have yet to be overcome including high power conversion efficiency (PCE), good processability, low cost, and excellent long‐term stability, and so on. In this article, these fundamental challenges are significantly addressed by surveying and analyzing a new merit factor for material applied accessibility containing three parameters: synthetic complexity, device efficiency, and photostability. Thirty‐five donor small molecules are introduced to assess their synthetic accessibility. Furthermore, the PCEs and device photostability of these molecules are carried out, and further measured under one sun illumination within 200 h, respectively. Combining with the characteristics of these three factors, investigated molecules are ranked according to an industrial figure of merit (i‐FOM), while some guidelines for the material design and synthesis are given. It is suggested that a PCE of >14% and an i‐FOM of >20% via active material engineering are realistic for possible industry future of OPV. Along with the systematic study, it is believed that this i‐FOM can be taken into consideration at an early stage of molecular design and provides valuable insight for efficient evaluation of photovoltaic materials for possible commercial applications.     

人类股骨断面面积与形状的不对称性——基于三维激光扫描的形态测量分析

人类股骨横断面面积、形状及其左右侧差异记载的人类演化、人群差异及生存活动的重要信息一直为古人类学研究所关注。多年来, 对股骨断面的研究通常采用破坏性地切割或者制作模型的方法。本文利用三维激光表面扫描技术, 无损、快捷、方便地获取了20对现代中国人左右侧股骨外轮廓的三维数据, 采用CAD软件及几何形态测量方法对两侧股骨断面轮廓的大小及形状进行了对比和分析。初步研究结果发现: 两侧股骨的横断面相对面积差异极其显著, 绝对面积差异不显著, 不对称方式表现为波动不对称性, 而不是偏向不对称性; 个体之间两侧股骨横断面外轮廓形状的波动不对称性极其显著, 偏向不对称性虽有差异但不显著; 平均形状和面积分析结果似乎表明股骨稍有偏左侧优势。虽然本文所采用的标本量有限, 所得出的结论需要更多标本的进一步验证, 但是, 本文的研究结果提示利用三维激光扫描技术获取股骨横断面外轮廓数据, 并采用形态测量方法分析确实能够揭示出一些以往研究方法不能发现的重要信息, 这种研究骨骼不对称性的新方法值得进一步的应用。