Systematic revision of the genus Everettia Godwin‐Austen, 1891 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Dyakiidae) in Sabah,northern Borneo

The species of the snail genus Everettia in the Malaysian state of Sabah are superficially similar and difficult to distinguish by their shells. This paper presents new data on the taxonomy and distribution of Everettia in Sabah that have accumulated since the revision by Godwin‐Austen in 1891. By using morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches, we reveal at least seventeen species of Everettia in Sabah, of which eleven are new to science, namely: Everettia layanglayang sp. nov. , Everettia lapidini sp. nov. , Everettia paulbasintali sp. nov. , Everettia occidentalis sp. nov. , Everettia jasilini sp. nov. , Everettia safriei sp. nov. , Everettia interior sp. nov. , Everettia jucundior sp. nov. , Everettia planispira sp. nov. , Everettia monticola sp. nov. , and Everettia dominiki sp. nov. , and one new subspecies, namely, Everettia corrugata williamsi ssp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI and 16S, and nuclear ITS‐1 sequences demonstrates the monophyly of most of the morphologically well‐defined species. Our results show that certain aspects of classical morphology‐based taxonomy for Everettia species, especially with regard to the unique combination of shell surface sculptures, animal head colour, and mantle pigmentation, are solid. A dichotomous key to the Sabah species and subspecies of Everettia is provided. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157 , 515–550.     

恒河猴慢性青光眼模型的建立及相关生物学特性

目的建立两种激光光凝的恒河猴慢性高眼压性青光眼模型,评价模型眼的相关生物学特性。方法成年恒河猴15只,分别采用半导体倍频532激光和氩激光,在房角镜下对功能小梁网区行360°光凝。对其中7只恒河猴分别采用A超、视网膜断层成像仪和视网膜血流仪进行模型眼和另侧对照眼的眼球及视盘形态、血流参数的检测。结果两种光凝模式相比,眼压升高后第4周,倍频532激光组平均眼压为48.4±10.3mmHg,氩激光组平均眼压为44.2±7.0mmHg,倍频532激光组与氩激光组的三次光凝成功率的差异无显著性意义。除视盘面积外,恒河猴模型眼的视杯形态指数、杯盘面积比、盘沿面积、视网膜神经纤维层的平均厚度,与对照眼相比差异有极显著性意义。眼轴和前房深度与对照眼相比差异有显著性意义。筛板血流量、血流速度和红细胞移动速率与对照眼相比差异无显著性意义。结论两种激光光凝恒河猴小梁网均可用以建立慢性高眼压性青光眼模型,模型眼出现青光眼眼底特征性的形态学改变。     

Local‐scale spatial dynamics of ants in a temperate agroecosystem

At the local scale, spatial aggregations in ant distribution are often thought to be driven by competitive interactions among dominant ant species, although niche preferences and habitat heterogeneity might also lead to patchiness. Nevertheless, competitive interactions might be particularly important in agroecosystems that are structurally more homogeneous than natural habitats. The spatial patterns of ants in two Australian vineyards were investigated by intensive pitfall trapping to examine if non‐random patterns occur and whether these might be the result of competitive species interactions as well as the influence of woody vegetation adjacent to the vineyards. Null model analyses suggested competitive species interactions within ant assemblages that might have been driven by numerically dominant species, even though both positive and negative associations between these were found. Consistent spatial aggregations indicated significant spatial overlap in distributions of some species. Such overlap suggests that potential coexistence might be attributed to temporal partitioning or differences in foraging strategies. The presence of woody vegetation had a marked influence on ant assemblage structure and competitive interactions, and might facilitate coexistence by increasing resource heterogeneity. The implications of these findings for sampling strategies and ecological processes within vineyards are discussed.     

超声检查用于评价胎儿宫内生长的价值（附411例临床分析）

目的：评价用B超测量足月胎儿各生理参数来评估胎儿宫内生长的准确性与真实性。方法：414例住院分娩的足月头位单胎孕妇在分娩前4天内超声测量胎儿的双顶径（BPD）,枕额径（OFD）,枕额周径（HC）,腹围（AC）,腹横径（ATD）,股骨长度（FL）每个参数测量2次,取平均值。出生后24小时内测量新生儿各相应生理参数。用SAS软件进行统计学分析,结果 表明胎儿及新生儿各生理参数均呈正态分布。超声测量的BPD,OFD,HC,AC,ATD,FL与实际测量的结果均有一定相关性。计算二组数据的相关系数,分别为0.710,0.370,0.587,0.698,0.635,0.826。其中BPD,AC,FL相关性较好。结论 临床可选用双顶径,腹围,股骨长等参数来评价胎儿宫内生长发育及推算胎儿体重。     

Comparative leaf anatomy of Alpinia Roxb. species (Zingiberaceae) from China

The leaf anatomy of 20 Alpinia species from China was investigated. Results show that there is interspecific variation in the structure of the leaf midrib and petiole which can be used for species identification. Adaxial hypodermis is present in the lamina in all species of subgenus Catimbium and absent from all species of subgenera Dieramalpinia and Aobolocalyx and Alpinia , excepting A. conchigera, A. galanga and A. aquatica , which appear to be closely allied in having subepidermal fibres in midribs and petioles, which are absent from the rest of the species.     

Patients With Various Types of Human Papillomavirus: Covariation and Diagnostic Relevance of Cytological Findings In Papanicolaou Smears

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the genital tract is associated with a number of cytological changes which are accepted as standard criteria for a cytological diagnosis. We evaluated the covariation and diagnostic accuracy of these criteria in 210 patients, i.e. 150 cases who were positive for HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 or 35, and 60 cases who were HPV-negative by simultaneous Southern blot analysis. This was done by re-examining cervical smears obtained at the same time, without knowing the results of the Southern blot analysis, for the presence of koilocytosis, dyskeratosis-parakeratosis, nuclear smudging, hyperchromasia, binucleation, multinucleation, karyorrhexis and macrocytosis. We found that all these cytological changes correlated with the presence of an HPV infection. However, analysis of variance showed that koilocytosis, dyskeratosis-parakeratosis and karyorrhexis were of particular diagnostic value, while the other features provided little or no additional information. By omitting these features and making the diagnosis when two out of three of the key criteria, i.e. koilocytosis, dyskeratosis-parakeratosis and karyorrhexis were present, we diagnosed HPV infection with a specificity of 100% in 36% of the 150 cases, which were positive by Southern blot analysis. the various HPV types produced different morphological patterns which may reflect differences in action on the host cell. In the individual patient, however, such differences in cytology do not provide a sound basis for distinguishing between viral types.     

The influence of permethrin-impregnated bednets and mass drug administration on the incidence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children in Sabah, Malaysia

A small-scale trial was carried out in the Upper Kinabatangan district of Sabah, Malaysia, to determine the effect of using permethrin-impregnated bednets on malaria transmission. A total of 306 nylon bednets with cotton borders, impregnated at a dose estimated to have been 0.062 g permethrin/m2 of nylon netting, were distributed to 139 households in five villages. At the time of distributing bednets, mass drug administration with Fansidar plus primaquine was also administered to the human population to clear all parasitaemias due to Plasmodium falciparum Welch. In another village, for comparison, mass drug administration was the only intervention. After intervention measures in December 1984 and January 1985, the parasite rates in children declined in all villages during the first month, significantly more in the villages with impregnated bednets than in the control, thus proving that the nets had an impact on malaria. However, after about 2 months, parasite rates started to increase again. After 4-6 months, parasite rates in the villages with bednets approached the rate in the control village without nets. The increase in parasite rates was paralleled by a significant deterioration in the quality, physical condition and the degree of non-utilization of bednets. Entomological evaluation proved the efficacy of permethrin-impregnated nets for controlling Anopheles balabacensis Baisas and other anophelines. Bioassays (1 h exposure) of permethrin-impregnated bednets gave 100% mortality initially and 44-61% mortality after 85-106 days. Mosquito collections in treated bednets were significantly reduced for at least 217 days. The project failed to achieve prolonged suppression of malaria transmission for a combination of entomological, sociological and practical reasons which are discussed in relation to the objectives and implementation of future bednet studies.