Relationships estimated by isonymy among the Italo-Greco villages of southern Italy

Surnames of parents and grandparents were collected from 1993 children in the primary schools of the thirteen Italo-Greco communes that lie in two areas, four communes in Reggio Calabria in the "toe" of Italy and nine in Lecce in the "heel." The coefficients of relationship by isonymy show almost no relationship between the two areas. The smaller area in Reggio Calabria Province has consistently larger coefficients of relationship between communes than the larger area in Lecce Province. The difference can be ascribed to greater accumulated random isonymy in the smaller area. These populations are not genetic isolates, but each area shows a degree of cohesiveness with respect to surnames that suggests that they are genetically somewhat distinct. Contiguous pairs of communes tend to have higher coefficients of relationship than pairs of communes separated by intervening communes.     

Isonymic analysis of population structure in Gredos, Spain

For the period 1875-1975 an isonymic analysis was made based on 41,696 marriages celebrated in three valleys (Tormes, Alberche and Tietar) from Gredos (Spain). Total inbreeding (Ft) was lower in the Tietar valley (0.0103- 0.0136), followed by the Tormes (0.0125-0.0255) and the Alberche (0.0153-0.0200). In the latter, random inbreeding (Fr) surpassed non random (Fn). Correlation coefficients were obtained to confirm an association of inbreeding from isonymy with valley and village endogamy rates, locality census, altitude, and alpha inbreeding. Fn correlated positively with average valley endogamy and village endogamy and with altitude, but inversely with census size. Contrarily, Fr related significantly to village endogamy. The non-random component from isonymy related positively to inbreeding from dispensations. Except for village endogamy, both variables show the same relationships to variables, such as altitude, which reflect limitations to mobility; or valley endogamy indicating the disposability of potential mates which in turn depends on the census size.     

Consanguinity in two Spanish regions: La Cabrera and Fuentes Carrionas. Dispensations and isonymy

In this work the level and structure of consanguinity is analysed in two Spanish rural regions of similar geographic and orographic characteristics for the period between 1880 and 1979, employing two different methodologies. The estimates according dispensations shows that the total levels (alpha4 = 0.00552 in La Cabrera and 0.00405 in Fuentes Carrionas) and the structures of consanguinity (C22/C33 = 0.43 and 0.34) are similar in both regions, but have evolved differently. Whereas in La Cabrera both parameters have remained stable, in Fuentes Carrionas they fluctuated through the period analysed. On studying the structure of consanguinity more closely using the isonymic method, it can be seen that in La Cabrera total consanguinity (Ft = 0.0206) should be attributed mainly to environmental factors (Fr = 0.0193) and to a lesser extent to socio-cultural factors (Fn = 0.0013), whereas in Fuentes Carrionas it derives, almost exclusively, from the former (Ft = 0.01270; Fr = 0.01589; Fn = -0.00325).     

Inbreeding as measured by isonymy in two Venezuelan populations and its relationship to other variables

Isonymy is a useful approach to the study of population structure and thus can be utilized to detect deviations from random mating. In this study we give the results of an analysis of inbreeding levels and relate such variables as mean marital distance, surnames repeated in isonymous couples, and percentage of people using only maternal surnames to inbreeding and endogamy in two Venezuelan populations of black ancestry, Birongo and La Sabana. These populations differ in their sociocultural development and degree of isolation. We estimated inbreeding through isonymy and directly from genealogy. The most important findings are that the Ft values are higher than the a's, that the Fn component of Ft is higher than the Fr component, and that there is higher endogamy, inbreeding, and isolation in Birongo than in La Sabana. These results are in agreement with the sociocultural and historical background and development of each population. Nevertheless, both populations show similar temporal trends in almost all the variables analyzed. The use of isonymy as a complementary tool to study population structure is proposed, especially for Ibero-American populations.     

Temporal trends in marital structure and isonymy in S. Paolo Albanese, Italy

In the fifteenth century, after the Turkish conquest of the Balkan area, Albanian communities migrated to Southern Italy. I investigated temporal trends in isolation from 1820 to 1982 in one of these communities, the population of S. Paolo Albanese, Basilicata, which still uses the original language and religious rites. Marital structure is characterized by a high average frequency of village endogamy (75.2%). Among the exogamous marriages there is a preference for mates from Italo-Albanian settlements, with higher values in the 1800s. The distribution of marital distances reflects the positive assortative mating by ethnic community. The mean frequency of isonymous marriages was 9.01% from 1820 to 1982. These results indicate that total inbreeding from isonymy is a reliable indicator of isolation, showing temporal trends related to changes in endogamy. Fr accounts for the greater percentage of Ft in relation to the small population size and regularly decreases with time. The breakdown of isolation, as documented by the decrease in population size, endogamy, and inbreeding, is a recent feature (since 1960).     

A Francisella mutant in lipid A carbohydrate modification elicits protective immunity

Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a highly infectious Gram-negative bacterium and the causative agent of the human disease tularemia. Ft is designated a class A select agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human clinical isolates of Ft produce lipid A of similar structure to Ft subspecies novicida (Fn), a pathogen of mice. We identified three enzymes required for Fn lipid A carbohydrate modifications, specifically the presence of mannose (flmF1), galactosamine (flmF2), or both carbohydrates (flmK). Mutants lacking either galactosamine (flmF2) or galactosamine/mannose (flmK) addition to their lipid A were attenuated in mice by both pulmonary and subcutaneous routes of infection. In addition, aerosolization of the mutants (flmF2 and flmK) provided protection against challenge with wild-type (WT) Fn, whereas subcutaneous administration of only the flmK mutant provided protection from challenge with WT Fn. Furthermore, infection of an alveolar macrophage cell line by the flmK mutant induced higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and macrophage inhibitory protein-2 (MIP-2) when compared to infection with WT Fn. Bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMMø) from Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2/4 knockout mice infected with the flmK mutant also produced significantly higher amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and MIP-2 than BMMø infected with WT Fn. However, production of IL-6 and MIP-2 was undetectable in BMMø from MyD88^−/− mice infected with either strain. MyD88^−/− mice were also susceptible to flmK mutant infection. We hypothesize that the ability of the flmK mutant to activate pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production and innate immune responses mediated by the MyD88 signaling pathway may be responsible for its attenuation, leading to the induction of protective immunity by this mutant.     

Rheology of myocardium. The relation between force, velocity, sarcomere length and activation in rat cardiac muscle

The relations between force, shortening velocity and sarcomere length (F-V-SL) during cardiac contraction, underlie Starling's Law of the Heart. F-V-SL were investigated in isolated, intact and skinned trabeculae and myocytes from rat heart. SL and V were measured with laser diffraction techniques; F was measured with a silicon strain gauge. The "ascending" F-SL relation appeared to result from both length dependent sensitivity of the contractile system to activator calcium ions and the presence of restoring forces (Fr), residing in the collagen skeleton of the muscle. Fr increased exponentially with decreasing SL below slack length to 25% of maximal twitch force (Ft) at SL = 1.60 microns. V was inversely proportional to the load and attained a maximum at zero load (Vo). Vo increased with factors that increased F: [Ca++], SL, and time during the twitch. Vo reached a maximum and remained constant (13.5 microns/s) when F attained or exceeded 50% of its maximum value. Viscous force in the passive muscle increased with V to a maximum of 4% of Ft at V = 40 microns/s. The relation between Vo and these factors could be predicted by a model of contraction in which the measured visco-elastic properties of myocardium were incorporated, while the truly unloaded maximal velocity of sarcomere shortening was assumed to be independent of the level of activation of the contractile filaments. A model of the cardiac cycle which explains the relation between Frank's and Starling's laws is presented.     

Red-cell enzyme polymorphisms in the Reggio Calabria province (Italy)

Acid phosphatase (ACP1), adenosine deaminase (ADA), esterase D (ESD), glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) and phosphoglucomutase 1 and 2 (PGM1 and PGM2) polymorphisms have been studied in the Reggio Calabria province (Southern Italy). The ACP1*A allele and ADA, GLO1, PGD and PGM1 systems have frequencies similar to those reported for Sicily and Southern Italy.     

A fossil Cenozoic monoplacophoran

Taviani, M., Sabelli, B. & Candini, F. 1990 04 15: A fossil Cenozoic monoplacophoran. Lethaia , Vol. 23 , pp. 213–216. Oslo. ISSN 0024–1164.
A few shells of Micropilina (Mollusca, Monoplacophora) have been found in middle Pleistocene (Sicilian) epibathyal clays at Archi (Reggio Calabria, southern Italy). The species appears conchologically indistinguishable from the Recent Atlantic taxon Micropilina minuta Warén, 1989. This finding represents the first record of a Cenozoic fossil monoplacophoran.     

Meeting report on recent advances on T-lymphocytes in normal and leukemia patients

We report on the main topics discussed at the "Human T-Lymphocytes in Normal and Leukemia Patients" meeting, including the "Second International Workshop on T-Cell Colonies" (Reggio Calabria, September 16-19, 1984). Improved knowledge in the field of T-lymphocyte biology has contributed greatly to a better clinical definition of T-cell-derived lymphoproliferative disorders. The T-cell colony assay seems to represent a useful tool for studying the early steps of T-lymphocyte maturation and for characterizing accessory cells and soluble mediators that regulate T-cell proliferation.     

Thermoluminescence dating tests of Pleistocene sediments from uplifted marine shorelines along the southwest coastline of the Calabrian Peninsula (southern Italy)

This paper presents TL age estimates of Pleistocene raised marine terraces from southern Calabria (southern Italy). It focuses on the dating of last interglacial shallow-marine sand deposits, including several Tyrrhenian key reference deposits whose stratigraphic assignment is based on biostratigraphic evidence (presence of a Strombus bubonius fauna) and geochronometric data (amino-acid data calibrated with U/Th dates on coral). The TL age estimates are obtained on alkali feldspar coarse grains using their blue TL emission. They are in good agreement with the IR-OSL age estimates obtained on the same feldspar samples. Our feldspar TL method is tested on two Tyrrhenian key reference sites, Ravagnese and Bovetto, in the Reggio di Calabria area. Their measured TL age estimates (97 ± 11 ka and 100 ± 10 ka) are lower than their estimated geological age (i.e. Oxygen Isotope Substage 5e). The correction for long-term fading suggested by Mejdahl (1988), is tested on these two samples using a lifetime of 446 ka as estimated from both Calabrian and Miocene sand collected within the same area. This correction would yield preliminary TL ages (116 ± 13 ka and 116 ± 12 ka) that are in better agreement with the expected geological age. The application of our TL method to paleoshorelines lying below the Tyrrhenian reference shoreline of Ravagnese-Bovetto, yields stratigraphically consistent TL age estimates. The TL method is also applied to two supposedly pre-last interglacial paleoshorelines which are geomorphologically older than the Tyrrhenian reference shorelines. They remain however chronologically undifferentiated, both by the TL and the amino-acid methods. Finally, the preliminary feldspar TL results obtained on the Miocene and the Calabrian sand deposits (> 1 Ma), suggest that our feldspar TL method is limited, in the SW Calabrian area, to about 200 ka.     

整合素—配体结合反应上调兔支气管上皮细胞抗氧化能力

支气管上皮细胞（BECs）的抗氧化活性对于改善上皮的抗损伤能力、维持上皮结构和功能的完整性具有重要意义。BEC表达的整合素分子是细胞外基质成分如纤维连接蛋白（Fn）的受体,与细胞的生长、分化、代谢调控有关,为论证整合素－配体结合反应对细胞抗氧化活性的影响,本实验用臭氧攻击培养的兔BEC,观察用EFn或其特异性识别域片段RGD肽处理后细胞内谷胱苷肽过氧化物酶（GSH－Px）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase）三种抗氧化酶活性变化和谷胱苷肽（GSH）含量的变化。结果：（1）Fn及RGD肽均呈剂量依赖性地提高GSH－Px活性（分别为r=0.93和r=0.73),Fn的上调作用可被钙调素抑制剂W7逆转;（2)Fn可提高SOD活性,但能被W7阻断;（3）Fn增加细胞的catalase活性,W7可取消这一效应;（4）Fn和RGD肽处理增加细胞内GSH含量,且有量－效关系（相关系数r分别为0.82和0.84）。以上结果提示,细胞外基质与整合素结合可增强细胞的抗氧化酶活性,增加GSH含量,以及提高抗氧化损伤能力。     

中国新记录属地衣——木刻衣属

对新疆喀纳斯自然保护区和巴音布鲁克草原的地衣进行了分类学研究,发现一个中国新记录属（木刻衣属Xylographa（Fr.）Fr.）及属下新记录种（平行木刻衣Xylographa parallela（Ach.）Fr.）,详细描述了该新记录地衣种的形态解剖、化学特征和生境,并提供了相关彩色图片。     

INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN GYNODIOECIOUS LOBELIA SIPHILITICA: AMONG-FAMILY DIFFERENCES OVERRIDE BETWEEN-MORPH DIFFERENCES

If inbreeding depression is caused by deleterious recessive alleles, as suggested by the partial dominance hypothesis, a negative correlation between inbreeding and inbreeding depression is predicted. This hypothesis has been tested several times by comparisons of closely related species or comparisons of populations of the same species with different histories of inbreeding. However, if one is interested in whether this relationship contributes to mating-system evolution, which occurs within populations, comparisons among families within a population are needed; that is, inbreeding depression among individuals with genetically based differences in their rate of selfing should be compared. In gynodioecious species with self-compatible hermaphrodites, hermaphrodites will have a greater history of potential inbreeding via both selfing and biparental inbreeding as compared to females and may therefore express a lower level of inbreeding depression. We estimated the inbreeding depression of female and hermaphrodite lineages in gynodioecious Lobelia siphilitica in a greenhouse experiment by comparing the performance of selfed and outcrossed progeny, as well as sibling crosses and crosses among subpopulations. We did not find support for lower inbreeding depression in hermaphrodite lineages. Multiplicative inbreeding depression (based on seed germination, juvenile survival, survival to flowering, and flower production in the first growing season) was not significantly different between hermaphrodite lineages (δ = 0.30 ± 0.08) and female lineages (δ = 0.15 ± 0.18), although the trend was for higher inbreeding depression in the hermaphrodite lineages. The population-level estimate of inbreeding depression was relatively low for a gynodioecious species (δ = 0.25) and there was no significant inbreeding depression following biparental inbreeding (δ = 0.01). All measured traits showed significant variation among families, and there was a significant interaction between family and pollination treatment for four traits (germination date, date of first flowering, number of flowers, and aboveground biomass). Our results suggest that the families responded differently to selfing and outcrossing: Some families exhibited lower fitness following selfing whereas others seemed to benefit from selfing as compared to outcrossing. Our results support recent simulation results in that prior inbreeding of the lineages did not determine the level of inbreeding depression. These results also emphasize the importance of determining family-level estimates of inbreeding depression, relative to population-level estimates, for studies of mating-system evolution.     

On the Theory of Partially Inbreeding Finite Populations. II. Partial Sib Mating

It is assumed that a population has M males in every generation, each of which is permanently mated with c-1 females, and that a proportion beta of matings are between males and their full sisters or half-sisters. Recurrence equations are derived for the inbreeding coefficient of one random individual, coefficients of kinship of random pairs of mates and probabilities of allelic identity when the infinite alleles model holds. If Ft is the inbreeding coefficient at time t and M is large, (1-Ft)/(1-Ft-1)----1-1/(2Ne) as t increases. The effective population number Ne = aM/[1 + (2a-1)FIS], where FIS is the inbreeding coefficient at equilibrium when M is infinite and the constant a depends upon the conditional probabilities of matings between full sibs and the two possible types of half-sibs. When there are M permanent couples, an approximation to the probability that an allele A survives if it is originally present in one AA heterozygote is proportional to FISs1 + (1-FIS)s2, where s1 and s2 are the selective advantages of AA and AA in comparison with AA. The paper concludes with a comparison between the results when there is partial selfing, partial full sib mating (c = 2) and partial sib mating when c is large.     

Understanding biological conservation strategies: a molecular-genetic approach to the case of myrtle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrtus communis</Emphasis> L.) in two Italian regions: Sardinia and Calabria

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), a shrub widespread in the Mediterranean area, is the only species belonging to the Myrtaceae family growing in Europe. The pharmacological and aromatic properties of myrtle have caused a growing interest in this plant. The use of myrtle as an aromatic plant is traditionally established in the Italian regions of Sardinia and Calabria, where it is subjected to an ecological stress due to the large biomass removal for liquor production and environmental damage. The reduction in size and number of wild populations is often related to a loss of genetic variation and reproductive potential. In this study fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphisms (fAFLPs) were employed to assess the genetic variation within and among natural populations of myrtle from Sardinia and Calabria to gain new insights into their fitness and survival potential. AMOVA analysis indicated that genetic variation was greater within populations (51.86%) than among populations (16.99%), as previously reported for outcrossing species. A significant amount of variation (31.15%) was attributed to variation between Sardinia and Calabria population groups, suggesting a genotypic differentiation between the myrtle populations of these two regions. Intra-population genetic variation, assessed by estimating expected unbiased heterozygosity (H _E), ranged from 0.0595 to 0.2595. These values resulted correlated with population extension (r = 0.918; P < 0.01) and with two reproductive parameters: seed germinability (r = 0.793; P < 0.01) and number of seeds per fruit (r = 0.631; P < 0.05). A moderate gene flow among Sardinia myrtle populations and Calabria populations (1.2719 and 1.0478, respectively) counteracts the low level of genetic variation observed in some␣populations and avoids their differentiation and isolation.     

糖链结构不同的纤连蛋白与HT1080细胞结合研究

人血浆纤连蛋白（Ｆｉｂｒｏｎｅｃｔｉｎ,Ｆｎ）与人胎盘纤连蛋白两者在肽链结构上基本相同,但人血浆Ｆｎ的Ｎ－糖链结构为二天线结构,而人胎盘Ｆｎ不仅Ｎ－糖链的数量增加,同时还含有多天线结构,分别用~（１２５）Ｉ标记这两种具有不同糖链结构的Ｆｎ,观察两者与ＨＴ１０８０细胞的饱和结合的亲和性,结果发现,在４℃,人血浆Ｆｎ与ＨＴ１０８０细胞的饱和结合为１２９ｎｇ／１０~５细胞,解离常数为２．８３×１０~（－８）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,人胎盘Ｆｎ与ＨＴ１０８０细胞的饱和结合为１３３ｎｇ／１０~６细胞,解离常数为２．６４×１０~（－８）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ．因而,人血浆Ｆｎ与人胎盘Ｆｎ上Ｎ－糖链的不同并未影响其与受体的结合．     

EVOLUTION OF THE MAGNITUDE AND TIMING OF INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN PLANTS

Estimates of inbreeding depression obtained from the literature were used to evaluate the association between inbreeding depression and the degree of self-fertilization in natural plant populations. Theoretical models predict that the magnitude of inbreeding depression will decrease with inbreeding as deleterious recessive alleles are expressed and purged through selection. If selection acts differentially among life history stages and deleterious effects are uncorrelated among stages, then the timing of inbreeding depression may also evolve with inbreeding. Estimates of cumulative inbreeding depression and stage-specific inbreeding depression (four stages: seed production of parent, germination, juvenile survival, and growth/reproduction) were compiled for 79 populations (using means of replicates, N = 62) comprising 54 species from 23 families of vascular plants. Where available, data on the mating system also were collected and used as a measure of inbreeding history. A significant negative correlation was found between cumulative inbreeding depression and the primary selfing rate for the combined sample of angiosperms (N = 35) and gymnosperms (N = 9); the correlation was significant for angiosperms but not gymnosperms examined separately. The average inbreeding depression in predominantly selfing species (δ = 0.23) was significantly less (43%) than that in predominantly outcrossing species (δ = 0.53). These results support the theoretical prediction that selfing reduces the magnitude of inbreeding depression. Most self-fertilizing species expressed the majority of their inbreeding depression late in the life cycle, at the stage of growth/reproduction (14 of 18 species), whereas outcrossing species expressed much of their inbreeding depression either early, at seed production (17 of 40 species), or late (19 species). For species with four life stages examined, selfing and outcrossing species differed in the magnitude of inbreeding depression at the stage of seed production (selfing δ = 0.05, N = 11; outcrossing δ = 0.32, N = 31), germination (selfing δ = 0.02, outcrossing δ = 0.12), and survival to reproduction (selfing δ = 0.04, outcrossing δ = 0.15), but not at growth and reproduction (selfing δ = 0.21, outcrossing δ = 0.27); inbreeding depression in selfers relative to outcrossers increased from early to late life stages. These results support the hypothesis that most early acting inbreeding depression is due to recessive lethals and can be purged through inbreeding, whereas much of the late-acting inbreeding depression is due to weakly deleterious mutations and is very difficult to purge, even under extreme inbreeding.     

Evasion of complement-mediated lysis and complement C3 deposition are regulated by Francisella tularensis lipopolysaccharide O antigen

The bacterium Francisella tularensis (Ft) is a potential weapon of bioterrorism when aerosolized. Macrophage infection is necessary for disease progression and efficient phagocytosis by human macrophages requires serum opsonization by complement. Microbial complement activation leads to surface deposition of a highly regulated protein complex resulting in opsonization or membrane lysis. The nature of complement component C3 deposition, i.e., C3b (opsonization and lysis) or C3bi (opsonization only) fragment deposition, is central to the outcome of activation. In this study, we examine the mechanisms of Ft resistance to complement-mediated lysis, C3 component deposition on the Ft surface, and complement activation. Upon incubation in fresh nonimmune human serum, Schu S4 (Ft subsp. tularensis), Fn (Ft subsp. novicida), and LVS (Ft subsp. holarctica live vaccine strain) were resistant to complement-mediated lysis, but LVSG and LVSR (LVS strains altered in surface carbohydrate structures) were susceptible. C3 deposition, however, occurred on all strains. Complement-susceptible strains had markedly increased C3 fragment deposition, including the persistent presence of C3b compared with C3bi, which indicates that C3b inactivation results in survival of complement-resistant strains. C1q, an essential component of the classical activation pathway, was necessary for lysis of complement-susceptible strains and optimal C3 deposition on all strains. Finally, use of Francisella LPS mutants confirmed O Ag as a major regulator of complement resistance. These data provide evidence that pathogenic Francisella activate complement, but are resistant to complement-mediated lysis in part due to limited C3 deposition, rapid conversion of surface-bound C3b to C3bi, and the presence of LPS O Ag.     

Moderate inbreeding depression in a reintroduced population of North Island robins

Reintroductions of threatened species are increasingly common in conservation. The translocation of a small subset of individuals from a genetically diverse source population could potentially lead to substantial inbreeding depression due to the high genetic load of the parent population. We analysed 12 years of data from the reintroduced population of North Island robins Petroica longipes on Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand, to determine the frequency of inbreeding and magnitude of inbreeding depression. The initial breeding population consisted of 12 females and 21 males, which came from a large mainland population of robins. The frequency of mating between relatives ( f >0; 39%, n =82 pairs) and close relatives ( f =0.25; 6.1%) and the average level of inbreeding ( f =0.027) were within the range reported for other small island populations of birds. The average level of inbreeding fluctuated from year to year depending on the frequency of close inbreeding (e.g. sib–sib pairs). We found evidence for inbreeding depression in juvenile survival, with survival probability estimated to decline from 31% among non-inbred birds ( f =0) to 11% in highly inbred juveniles ( f =0.25). The estimated number of lethal equivalents based on this relationship (4.14) was moderate compared with values reported for other island populations of passerines. Given that significant loss of fitness was only evident in highly inbred individuals, and such individuals were relatively rare once the population expanded above 30 pairs, we conclude that inbreeding depression should have little influence on this robin population. Although the future fitness consequences of any loss of genetic variation due to inbreeding are uncertain, the immediate impact of inbreeding depression is likely to be low in any reintroduced population that expands relatively quickly after establishment.