From the creation of the Veterinary Schools to the evolution of the notion of contagion in the 19th and 20th centuries

The creation of the Veterinary Schools in the 18th century would reveal a plethora of scientists, some of whom would be the precursors of Pasteur, some rivals, others followers collaborators or friends of the Master. Among the precursors let us name Chabbert, Huzard, Girard, Delafond, Renault, Toussaint, Galtier ; among the rivals: Chauveau, Arloing, Cornevin and Thomas; among the followers, collaborators or friends of Pasteur: Bouley, at first a resolute spontaneist, then the most fervent in defense of Pasteur (President of the Academy of Medicine and of the Academy of Sciences) and Nocard, Director of the School in Alfort, an important collaborator of Pasteur. Later, there was Leclainche, who created the International Office of Epizootics, and who was President of the Academy of Sciences; Guérin, who with Calmette developed the BCG vaccination; Ramon, the father of anatoxins (vaccines against diphtheria, and tetanus, combined vaccines, adjuvants to immunity). Thus, the creation of the Veterinary Schools contributed not only to the evolution of the notion of contagion, to the amelioration of animal health and the economics of agricultural production, but also to serious advances in human care, and to the protection of public health.     

Importance of biological and abiotic factors for geochemical cycling in a freshwater eutrophic lake

Here we report the results of a comprehensive biogeochemical monitoring of Rostherne Mere in 1998, including changes in dissolved oxygen, organic carbon and nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, Al, Na, S, K, Mg, Ca, Si, Fe, Mn, orthophosphate, particulate N & P, suspended solids, temperature, pH, chlorophyll-a and zooplankton. The results demonstrated the major influence of primary producers on the overall geochemical cycling of N, P and Si, and suggested that the significance of zooplankton might have been previously underestimated. For major anions and cations, however, the influence of biota on lake water concentrations appeared to be negligible, reflecting the fact that these chemicals were present far in excess of plankton requirements. Thus changes in concentrations of Ca, K, Na, Mg and S were rather limited and must have reflected changes in hydrological and meteorological parameters. K, however, demonstrated a transitional pattern, reflecting some influence of biological uptake. During the stratification period, the slow processes of bacterial decomposition in the hypolimnion gradually released chemicals contained in the materials accumulated in the bottom layer, remarkably increasing the concentrations of dissolved compounds of those elements present in amounts comparable with the pool stored in the sedimenting detritus (e.g. orthophosphate P, ammonia N, Si and DOC). The decomposition also resulted in a drop in the redox potential, followed by partial denitrification and chemical release from the sediments. The hypolimnion of the Mere was confirmed to remain at the stage of Mn release, characterised by accumulation of DOC, orthophosphates, ammonia and initial stages of denitrification. High levels of P released from the sediments during the stratification period suggest that the lake’s recovery after sewage diversion might be further delayed.     

Origin,Differentiation, and Geographic Distribution of the Chenopodiaceae

Numbers of species and genera,endemic genera,extant primitive genera,relationship and distribution patterns of presently living Chenopodiaceae(two subfamilies,12 tribes,and 118 genera)are analyzed and compared for eight distributional areas,namely central Asia,Europe,the Mediterranean region,Africa,North America,South America, Australia and East Asia． The Central Asia,where the number of genera and diversity of taxa are greater than in other areas,appears to be the center of distribution of extant Chenopodiaceae．North America and Australia are two secondary centers of distribution． Eurasia has 11 tribes out of the 12,a total of 70 genera of extant chenopodiaceous plants,and it contains the most primitive genera of every tribe． Archiatriplex of Atripliceae,Hablitzia of Hablitzeae,Corispermum of Corispermeae,Camphorosma of Camphorosmaea,Kalidium of Salicornieae,Polecnemum of Polycnemeae,Alexandra of Suaedeae,and Nanophyton of Salsoleae,are all found in Eurasia,The Beteae is an Eurasian endemic tribe,demonstrating the antiquity of the Chenopodiaceae flora of Eurasia．Hence,Eurasia is likely the place of origin of chenopodiaceous plants． The presence of chenopodiaceous plants is correlated with an arid climate．During the Cretaceous Period,most places of the continent of Eurasia were occupied by the ancient precursor to the Mediterranean,the Tethys Sea．At that time the area of the Tethys Sea had a dry and warm climate．Therefore,primitive Chenopodiaceae were likely present on the beaches of this ancient land．This arid climatic condition resulted in differentiation of the tribes Chenopodieae,Atripliceae,Comphorosmeae,Salicornieae,etc．,the main primitive tribes of the subfamily Cyclolobeae. Then following continental drift and the Laurasian and Gondwanan disintegration, the Chenopodiaceae were brought to every continent to propagate and develop, and experience the vicissitudes of climates, forming the main characteristics and distribution patterns of recent continental floras. The tribes Atripliceae, Chenopodieae, Camphorosmeae, and Salicornieae of recent Chenopodiaceae in Eurasia, North America, South America, southern Africa, and Australia all became strongly differentiated. However, Australia and South America, have no genera of Spirolobeae except for a few maritime Suaeda species. The Salsoleae and Suaedeae have not arrived in Australia and South America, which indicates that the subfamily Spirolobeae developed in Eurasia after Australia separated from the ancient South America-Africa continent, and South America had left Africa. The endemic tribe of North America, the tribe Sarcobateae, has a origin different from the tribes Salsoleae and Suaedeae of the subfamily Spirolobeae. Sarcobateae flowers diverged into unisexuality and absence of bractlets. Clearly they originated in North America after North America had left the Eurasian continent. North America and southern Africa have a few species of Salsola, but none of them have become very much differentiated or developed, so they must have arrived through overland migration across ancient continental connections. India has no southern African Chenopodiaceae floristic components except for a few maritime taxa, which shows that when the Indian subcontinent left Africa in the Triassic period, the Chenopodiaceae had not yet developed in Africa. Therefore, the early Cretaceous Period about 120 million years ago, when the ancient Gondwanan and Laurasian continents disintegrated, could have been the time of origin of Chenopodiaceae plants.The Chinese flora of Chenopodiaceae is a part of Chenopodiaceae flora of central Asia. Cornulaca alaschnica was discovered from Gansu, China, showing that the Chinese Chenopodiaceae flora certainly has contact with the Mediterranean Chenopodiaceae flora. The contact of southeastern China with the Australia Chenopodiaceae flora, however, is very weak.     

Cuban Calisto (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), a review based on morphological and DNA data

The Cuban species of Calisto are reviewed based on the morphology of adult and immature stages, as well as DNA sequences of six genes (COI, EF1α, wingless, GAPDH, RpS5, CAD). A new species, Calisto occultasp. n., is described from the northeastern Cuban mountains. Calisto smintheus Bates, 1935 and Calisto bruneri, Michener 1949 are revised and revalidated. A new status, the species level, is proposed for Calisto brochei, Torre 1973, Calisto muripetens, Bates 1939 and Calisto bradleyi, Munroe 1950. The immature stages of Calisto smintheus, Calisto brochei,and Calisto occulta are described for the first time, and those of Calisto herophile, Hübner 1823 are redescribed. Useful morphological characters for adults are the shape and conspicuousness of androconial patch, the number and relative size of white dots on underside of hindwing, the shape of aedeagus, the shape of digitiform projection of genitalia valve, the shape and relative size of tegumen and uncus, the relative size of female genitalia, the height of sterigmal ring dorsal crown of the latter, and the relative size of corpus bursae and ductus bursae. For the immature stages, the most important characters are the color pattern of head capsule, the number and width of longitudinal lines of body, in the larvae; and the color pattern and the absence or presence of dorsal ridges on the abdomen of pupae. The phylogenetic relationships between the Cuban Calisto species are quite robust and well-supported; however, conflict between mitochondrial and nuclear datasets was detected in Calisto brochei, Calisto muripetens and to a lesser degree in Calisto bradleyi.     

小鼠基因组中的微卫星重复序列的数量、分布和密度

作者分析了老鼠基因组中各染色体及其内含子、外显子和基因间区上各种类型的微卫星(1-6个碱基的重复序列)的数量及其密度。SSR约占老鼠基因组的2.85%,其中46.2%存在于基因间区,4.75%存在于外显子,49.05%在内含子区域,即非编码区富含微卫星。微卫星的数量与染色体或基因区域的大小有关,但密度与染色体或基因区域的大小的关系并不十分密切。第4染色体的外显子区域中6种类型的SSR含量都比其它区域少。A,T,AC,AG,AT,AAC,AAG,AGG,AAAC,AAAG,AAAT,AACC,AAAAC,AAAAG,AAAAT,AAACC,AAAGG,AAGAG,AAAAAC,AAAAAG,AAAAAT,AAAGAG,ACACAT,ACAGAG,ACAGGC,ACATAT是老鼠基因组中主要的SSR类型,而一些5碱基重复单元的SSR在老鼠基因组的某一条甚至某几条染色体都不存在     

Le peuplement humain en Eurasie : l’Asie centrale montagneuse et les piémonts sous-himalayens du Plio-Pléistocène à l’Holocène, origines, évolution humaine et migrations

During the years 1996 and 1997, a team of the Laboratory of Prehistory, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, and of the Departments of Archaeology, Karachi and Peshawar University, Pakistan, leads the first prehistoric field investigation in the District of Chitral, Hindu Kush, close to the Wakhan Corridor (the Amu Daria course in the Pamir). Problematics are the origins and the becoming of the Epipaleolithic/Neolithic hunters-gatherers known in the Pamir Plateau and the Gissar Range, the lithics tradition of which share common roots with the Sub-Himalayan Soanian tradition (Mode 1). A second field investigation has been conduced in the North West India, where Soan developed from Early Pleistocene, in the Frontal Range of the Siwaliks and Himachal Pradesh during the years 2003, 2005 and 2006 in cooperation with the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Punjab, India. New discoveries in both countries support new hypothesis for the understanding of human evolution in Asia and Homo sapiens origins.     

有瓣蝇类分类、系统发育及演化

有瓣蝇类(Calyptratae)隶属于昆虫纲(Insecta)四大超适应辐射类群之一的双翅目(Diptera),占双翅目已知物种多样性的近20%。有瓣蝇类分布广泛,生物学习性极为多样,在维系生态系统稳定中发挥着重要作用,是媒介、法医、传粉和天敌昆虫学研究领域的热点类群,也是探究双翅目系统演化及其成功适应辐射的关键类群。为了还原有瓣蝇类的演化历史,许多著名昆虫学者先后对该类昆虫开展过不同层面的研究。有瓣蝇类的单系性得到了普遍支持,并被分为3个总科——虱蝇总科(Hippoboscoidea)、蝇总科(Muscoidea)和狂蝇总科(Oestroidea),其中单系的狂蝇总科与多系的蝇总科聚为一支,再与虱蝇总科成为姐妹群。在科级阶元水平,蝠蝇科(Streblidae)(虱蝇总科)、花蝇科(Anthomyiidae)(蝇总科)、丽蝇科(Calliphoridae)(狂蝇总科)、邻寄蝇科(Rhinophoridae)(狂蝇总科)等类群的单系性仍有待验证,且新的科仍在不断被建立［如粉蝇科(Polleniidae)、乌鲁鲁蝇科(Ulurumyiidae)］,因此,有瓣蝇类科级系统发育关系仍不十分明晰。已有研究对虱蝇总科虱蝇科(Hippoboscidae)、蝠蝇科、蛛蝇科(Nycteribiidae),蝇总科蝇科(Muscidae)、粪蝇科(Scathophagidae),狂蝇总科麻蝇科(Sarcophagidae)、狂蝇科(Oestridae)胃蝇亚科(Gasterophilinae)的演化历史进行研究,明确了起源与扩散、寄主转移、取食策略等关键生物学习性的演化历史。但由于部分关键类群生活史信息的缺失,以及尚未有效解决的系统发育关系,有瓣蝇类演化历史仍有许多待解之谜。本文综述了有瓣蝇类分类、系统发育及演化研究进展,是在系统学研究进入系统发育基因组学时代后对该类群相关研究进展的首次全面总结。     

Phylogeny and evolutionary history of the Aplodontoidea (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Athough over a hundred species of fossil aplodontoids have been described since the extant species, Aplodontia rufa (the mountain beaver), was first described by Rafinesque in 1817, a thorough survey of the relationships among all the species in this clade has not been undertaken since McGrew's study in 1941. Here, a complete phylogenetic analysis of all published species of aplodontoids is used to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships within the clade, and to present an updated classification of the Aplodontoidea. Several of the traditionally recognized subfamilies are found to be paraphyletic, namely the Prosciurinae, the Allomyinae, and the Meniscomyinae. Others, however, including the Aplodontinae and the Mylagaulidae, appear to be monophyletic. These latter two taxa, which include all of the hypsodont members of the aplodontoid clade, seem to be sister taxa. The history of the aplodontoid clade shows several episodes of rapid diversification in the Early Oligocene, the Late Oligocene, and the Early to Middle Miocene. The Ansomyinae and Aplodontinae show comparatively low speciation rates. The patterns of change in morphology and evolutionary rates suggest a need for a more detailed study of the causes of diversification, extinction, and ecological change in this lineage.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 153 , 769–838.     

Early Cretaceous Palynofloras from Tarim Basin,Xinjiang

One hundred and eight species of fossil spores and pollen referred to 55 genera found from the Lower Cretaceous Kapushaliang (Kizilsu) Group in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang have been studied in this paper. The Kapushaliang Group may be divided into the Yageliemu Formation, the Shushanhe Formation and Baxigai Formation in ascending order. The Yageliemu palynoflora is characterized by the predominance of gymnospermous pollen, the relative abundance of pteridophytic spores and the absence of angiospermous pollen. Coniferae is dominant, while Lygodiaceae and Schizaeaceae are important in the flora. The most common species of palynomorphs are Todisporites minor, Cicatricosisporites dorogensis, C. australiensis, Lygodiumsporites subsimplex, Schizaeoisporites cretacius, S. zizyphinus, S. certus. Cibotiumspora paradoxa, Cyathidites australis, C. minor, Biretisporites potoniael, Cycadopites minimus, Pseudowalchia hiangulina, Parvisaccites radiatus, Podocarpidites multesimus, P. canadensis, Alisporites bilateralis, Cedripites cretaceus, C. canadenris, Abietineaepollenites microalatus, Clarsopollis classoides, C annulatus, C. xinjiangensis (sp. nov.), Ephedripites multicostatus, E. tarimensis (sp. nov.), etc . The palynoflora is comparable with those of the lower part of the Lower Xinminbu Formation in northwestern China and the lower part of the Lower Mannville Formation in western Canada, which is considered corresponding from Berriasian to Valanginian in age. The Shushanhe palynoflora is also characterized by dominance of gymnosperms and subdominance of pteridophyta. Some primitive angiospermons pollen grains are found in the upper part of the formation. In addition to the most common species of the above mentioned palynoflora, the important species in the present palynoflora comprise Cicatricosisporites potomacensis, C. orbiculatus, C. subrotundus, Concavissimisporites punctatus, C. verrucosus, C. globosus, lmpardecispora apiverrucata, Trilobosporites crassus, T. trioreticulosus, Pilosisporites verus, P. trichopapillosus, Klukisporites pseudoreticulatus, Verrucosisporites obscurilaesuratur, Converrucosisporites saskatchewanensis, Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis, Cingulatisporites valdensis, C. ruginosus, Jiaohepollis verus, Pityosporites constrictus, etc. More than 40 in dicative species of Early Cretaceous occur in the assemblage. The palynoflora compares clcsely with those of the middle part of the Lower Xinminbu Formation and the Quartz Sand Member of the Lower Mannville Formatton. It is suggested that the Shushanhe Formation should belong to Hauterivian of Barremian in age. The Baxigai palynoflora is basically similar to the Shushanhe palynoflora. But the palynoflora shows an obvious increase in abundance of lygodiaceous spores and angiospermous pollen accompanied by a great reduction of Classopollis and Ephedripltes. Most of the Early Cretaceous species occurring in the above mentioned palynofloras are present. In addition, some Cretaceous species recorded from Aptian and Albian Stages in Europe, North America and Australia, such as Trilobosporites tribotrys, T. trioreticulosus, Coptospora paradoxa, Camarozonosporites insignis, Crybelosporites punctatus, etc., appear in the assemblage. In comparison with the microfloras of the upper part of the Lower Xinminbu Formation, the Upper Mannville Formation and the lower part of the Lower Colorado Group, the Baxigai Forma- tion should be referred to Aptian to Albian in age. Judging from the palynofloras, the early Cretaceous palaeoclimate in the basin should belong to the arid or semi-arid type of the subtropic zone. However, from Barremtan through Albian the climatic conditions might appear relatively wet.     

海南岛新生代种子植物区系科的多样性分析

根据化石及现代植物资料,海南岛第三纪种子植物有53科,其中古近纪已出现48科,新近纪降至25科,第四纪晚期有89科,现代增加至233科.区系地理成分分析结果表明,海南岛古近纪时,泛热带科占当时科总数的45.8%,热带-亚热带科占8.3%,亚热带-温带科占31.3%,其中出现了很多海南岛现代植物区系的表征科,如冬青科、壳斗科、金缕梅科、樟科、桃金娘科、罗汉松科、棕榈科、红树科、梧桐科和松科等,基本形成了现代海南岛植物区系的雏形.新近纪时由于全球气候变冷,本区植物区系组成大幅度减少,热带性质也明显减弱,其中泛热带分布的科仅占当时海南岛植物区系全部科的32.0%,热带-亚热带分布的科占12.0%,而亚热带-温带分布的科所占比例有所升高,达36.0%.第四纪晚期至现代,随着气候逐渐回暖,本区植物区系的热带性质逐渐加强.第四纪晚期泛热带科占当时科总数的49.4%,热带-亚热带科占12.4%,亚热带-温带科占19.1%,区系特征逐渐接近现代.现代海南种子植物区系中,泛热带分布科占科总数48.1%,热带-亚热带科占18.9%,亚热带-温带科占15.9%.总体上,海南岛第三纪早期的古近纪、第四纪晚期一直到现代均以泛热带分布的科占优势,而第三纪晚期的新近纪本区植物区系的热带性质较弱.整体上反映出海南岛新生代种子植物区系的演变特征与古近纪以来全球气候的变化有密切的联系.     

Embryology of Swertia (Gentianaceae) relative to taxonomy

The embryological features of three species of Swertia ( s.l.) – S. erythrosticta , S. franchetiana , and S. tetraptera – were characterized, and the observations were used, together with previously gathered data on other species, to evaluate a recently proposed polyphyly, based on molecular data, of Swertia s.l. Comparisons of species within the genus showed that they have diversified embryologically, and there are significant between-species differences. Notable features that vary between species include the number of cell layers that form the anther locule wall, the construction of the wall of the mature anther, tapetum origin, the cell number in mature pollen grains, the structure of the fused margins of the two carpels, the ovule numbers in placental cross-sections, the shape of the mature embryo sac, the degree of ovule curvature, antipodal variation and the presence of a hypostase, and seed appendages. They share characters that are widely distributed in the tribe Gentianeae, such as a dicotyledonous type of anther wall formation, a glandular tapetum with uninucleate cells, simultaneous cytokinesis following the meiosis of the microsporocytes, tetrahedral microspore tetrads, superior, bicarpellary and unilocular ovaries, unitegmic and tenuinucellar ovules, Polygonum -type megagametophytes, progamous fertilization, nuclear endosperm, and Solanad-type embryogeny. The presence of variation in embryological characters amongst the species of Swertia s.l. strongly supports the view that Swertia s.l. is not a monophyletic group. Frasera is better separated from Swertia s.l. as an independent genus, and is only distantly related to Swertia s.s. judging from the numerous differences in embryology. Swertia tetraptera is very closely related to Halenia , as they show identical embryology.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 383–400.     

Programmed Cell Death in Plants: Ultrastructural Changes in Pea Guard Cells

Treatment with cyanide of epidermal peels isolated from pea leaves resulted in destruction of nuclei in the guard cells of stomata, which is visible with a light microscope. The process was accelerated by illumination. Electron microscopy revealed significant CN--induced changes in the ultrastructure of guard cells, which increased with time. Margination of chromatin, which is one of the first signs of apoptosis, was observed in the guard cells even after 1 h incubation of the isolated epidermis with CN-. Subsequent chromatin condensation, swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum with formation of large tanks covered with ribosomes, changes in the structure of dictyosomes, and a slight swelling of mitochondria were observed after 3 h of the epidermis incubation with CN-. After 6 h of incubation with CN-, the bulk volume of the guard cells was filled with vacuoles, the cytoplasm occupied the thin marginal layer, the nucleus was in the center similarly to the control experiment, but it was polylobal, extended in narrow cytoplasmic bands, and, despite the loss of the nuclear envelope integrity, appeared to be a self-dependent structure. In the envelope-free open regions of the nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts directly contacted with chromatin. Much like the cell nucleus, chloroplasts lost the integrity of the membrane, but did not swell and retained the stroma and integrity of the thylakoid system. An antioxidant di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene prevented ultrastructural changes in the cells observed after 6 h of incubation with CN-. Thus, the CN--induced death of the guard cells of stomata occurs through the mechanism of apoptosis.     

New horizons in culture and valorization of red microalgae

Research on marine microalgae has been abundantly published and patented these last years leading to the production and/or the characterization of some biomolecules such as pigments, proteins, enzymes, biofuels, polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes and hydrocolloids. This literature focusing on metabolic pathways, structural characterization of biomolecules, taxonomy, optimization of culture conditions, biorefinery and downstream process is often optimistic considering the valorization of these biocompounds. However, the accumulation of knowledge associated with the development of processes and technologies for biomass production and its treatment has sometimes led to success in the commercial arena. In the history of the microalgae market, red marine microalgae are well positioned particularly for applications in the field of high value pigment and hydrocolloid productions. This review aims to establish the state of the art of the diversity of red marine microalgae, the advances in characterization of their metabolites and the developments of bioprocesses to produce this biomass.     

森林生态系统性状的空间格局与影响因素研究进展——基于中国东部样带的整合分析

性状(Trait)或功能性状(Functional trait)是植物、动物和微生物等对外界环境长期适应和进化后所呈现出来的可量度的特征,也是人们认识自然、利用或改造自然的重要途径和技术手段。近几十年来,科学家对植物、动物和微生物功能性状的研究取得了令人瞩目的成就,尤其在物种水平的植物叶片和根性状的研究领域;然而,自然生态系统是复杂的,植物、动物和微生物自身的多种性状间及其不同生物间性状的相互作用是广泛存在的,因此需要跨学科、系统性、集成式地调查和研究。以中国东部南北样带(NSTEC)森林生态系统为对象开展了植物、微生物和土壤性状的综合测定;基于其核心的研究结论并适当整合NSTEC前期的相关研究成果,希望能给性状研究提供新的调查模式和分析思路。沿NSTEC从热带雨林到寒温带针叶林3700km样带选取了9个地带性森林生态系统,在群落结构调查基础上对群落内所有植物种类(总计1177物种)开展了系统性的性状测定(叶-枝-干-根多元素含量,叶片形态性状-气孔性状-解剖性状-叶绿素含量-多元素含量-非结构性碳水化合物、细根形态性状-解剖性状-多元素含量等),测定了土壤微生物群落结构、酶活性、土壤有机质结构与组成、土壤碳氮周转及其温度敏感性等参数。基于上述数据,不仅按传统途径系统性地探讨了植物、微生物和土壤多种性状的纬度变异规律与影响因素;还从不同角度探讨了"如何科学地将器官水平测定性状推导至天然森林群落水平"科学难题,并从多个性状角度建立了自然森林生态系统中性状与功能的定量关系。在此基础上提出"性状网络"和"生态系统性状"概念,以其更好地用于揭示自然界复杂的森林生态系统,为验证和发展生态学理论、探讨多种性状间协同(权衡)的生态系统生产力优化机制提供重要的数据支撑。希望通过解决性状尺度拓展的技术难题,未来将传统性状研究拓展至群落或生态系统水平,并与高速发展的宏观观测手段(遥感观测、通量观测、模型模拟)有机结合,使性状研究更好地服务于区域乃至全球性的生态环境问题。     

Theoretical model of reticulocyte to erythrocyte shape transformation

A theoretical model describing the kinetics of reticulocyte shape transformation was developed. The model considers the evolution of a simple cellular shape under transmembrane pressure difference, and proposes a four-parameter axisymmetric approximation of the cell surface. The mathematical analysis considers plasma membrane tension in the plane of bilayer leaflets, membrane spontaneous curvature and transmembrane transport of water. Cytoskeleton dilatational and shear rigidity, and the energetic barrier preventing the decrease of cell volume below a certain minimum are also incorporated. The set of adequate physical assumptions allowed for formulation of the equation for free energy of the investigated system. Computer simulations of cell shape changes, down to the state of free energy minimum, together with estimation of the time needed for the resulting transport of water, revealed a complex, three-phase picture of temporal alterations in cellular geometry with a wide spectrum of final results, and led to propose a standard model of reticulocyte-erythrocyte transformation. According to the model, both cell volume and surface undergo changes, and the work of the pressure, initially accumulated in the cytoskeleton, is consumed for local bending of the cell membrane. Further simulations with modified initial shape or parameters of the standard model show the trajectories of system evolution and help in better understanding the conditions for the erythro-, sphero-, ovalo-, stomato-, and leptoidal metamorphosis of maturing red blood cells. The stability of the final biconcave shape was also verified. Spherogenic modifications were discussed in the context of spherocytosis. Future development of the model was proposed.     

Taxonomy in the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB): Progress during the past decade (2008-2018) and perspectives on future development

The development of new taxonomical theories and approaches, particularly molecular phylogenetics, has led to the expansion of traditional morphology-based taxonomy into the concept of "integrative taxonomy." Taxonomic knowledge has assumed greater significance in recent years, particularly because of growing concerns over the looming biodiversity crisis. Since its establishment in 1938, the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), which is located in Yunnan province in Southwest China, has focused attention on the taxonomy and conservation of the flora of China. For the forthcoming 80th anniversary of KIB, we review the achievements of researchers at KIB and their associates with respect to the taxonomy of land plants, fungi, and lichen. Major taxonomic advances are summarized for families of Calymperaceae, Cryphaeaceae, Lembophyllaceae, Neckeraceae, Polytrichaceae and Pottiaceae of mosses, Pteridaceae and Polypodiaceae of ferns, Taxaceae and Cycadaceae of gymnosperms, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gesneriaceae, Lamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Orobanchaceae, Poaceae, Theaceae and Urticaceae of angiosperms, Agaricaceae, Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Cantharellaceae, Physalacriaceae Russulaceae, Suillaceae and Tuberaceae of fungi, and Ophioparmaceae and Parmeliaceae of lichens. Regarding the future development of taxonomy at KIB, we recommend that taxonomists continue to explore the biodiversity of China, integrate new theories and technologies with traditional taxonomic approaches, and engage in creative monographic work, with support from institutions, funding agencies, and the public.     

云南复叶耳蕨属的分类修订

研究了云南产复叶耳蕨属植物,提出了新的分类处理。云南共有本属植物２０种２变种,其中包括１新组,３个改级新组合,７个云南分布新记录,并清理出了５４个云南及其他省区种类的新异名。     

Carl Friedrich Naumann and the introduction of enantio terminology: a review and analysis on the 150th anniversary

Enantiomorphism and enantiomorphous were the first enantio-based terms, introduced 150 years ago, by Carl Friedrich Naumann, a German crystallographer, to refer to non-superposable mirror-image crystals. The terminology was not adopted by Pasteur, the discoverer of molecular chirality, and was not embraced at first in the stereochemical context, until it was accepted in 1877 by Van't Hoff in the German edition of his proposal for the tetrahedral asymmetric carbon atom. In the 1890s the use of enantio terms began to spread in the research literature, and many new derivatives of Naumann's original two terms were subsequently introduced. Problems in the usage of some of the terms are often found in the literature, e.g., enantiomorphism is sometimes confused with chirality; enantiomeric is often misused; the meaning of some of the many derived terms, e.g., enantiosymmetric, enantioposition, etc., is unclear. All in all, Naumann should be remembered as the creator of essential terminology in the realm of chirality.     

Petroleum Sporo-Pollen Assemblage and Oil Source Rock of Yecheng Seg in Xinjiang

Forty-seven species of fossil pollens and spores referred to 33 genera extracted from the crude oil samples collected from the Yecheng Seg of the Talimu Basin in Xinjiang were observed. Based on the investigation of the characteristics of the petroleum sporo-pollen assemblage, the problem on petroleum source of this oil-bearing region is discussed. The principle and method to judge source rock from petroleum sporo-pollen assemblage are specially explained in this paper. The petroleum sporo-pollen assemblage of the Neogene reservoir of the Yecheng Seg consists of Deltoidospora perpusila, Deltoidospora gradata, Cyathidites australis, Cyathidites minor, Biretisporites potoniaei, Dictyophyllidites harrisii, Dictyophyllum rugosum, Cibotiumspora paradoxa, Gleicheniidites senonicus, Gleicheniidites rousei, Undula- tisporites concave, Lycopodiumsporites sp., Osmundacidites wellmanii, Leptolepidites major, Apiculatisporis ovalis, Bennettiteaepollenites lucifer, Cycadopites typicus, Cyeadopites nitidus, Cycadopites minimus, Cycadopites carpentieri, Cycadopites follicularis, Chasmatosporites elegans, Classopollis classoides, Classopollis annulatus, Podocarpidites multesimus, Podocarpidites major, Parvisaccites enigmatus, Quadraeeulina limbata, Caytonipollenites pallidus, PteruchipoUenites thomasii, Alisporites grandis, Alisporites bilateralis, AbietineaepoUenites microalatus, Abietineaepollenites minimus, Pinuspollenites sp., Piceaepollenites sp., Cedripites st)., Ephedripites sp., Eucommiidites troedssonii, Magnolipollis neogenicus, Quercoidites microhenrici, Chenopodipollis multiplex, Artemisiae-pollenites sellularis, etc . This is a typical composite type of petroleum sporo-pollen assemblage, which eomprises the Jurassic species, the Cretaceous species, the Eogene species and the Neogene species of spores an, d pollen. In accordance with the characteristics of the above mentioned petroleum sporopollen assemblage, the source rock of the Yecheng Seg is considered to be Jurassic Period in age, and the black shales and mudstones of the Middle Jurassic Yangye-Taerga Formation are judged to be the most favorable source rocks in the region.