What is Panthera palaeosinensis?

The pantherine cat Panthera palaeosinensis from putative Plio-Pleistocene deposits in North China is one of the oldest known species of Panthera , but its relationship to other Pantherinae is still debated. I compare the holotype skull of P. palaeosinensis with 508 skulls of extant and extinct pantherine cats and show that, when controlling for size, the skull morphology of P. palaeosinensis is most similar to that of the lion Panthera leo or leopard Panthera pardus . Results support the hypothesis that P. palaeosinensis represents a form closely related either to the early lion or leopard clade or to the ancestor of the genus Panthera and suggest an Asian origin for Panthera .     

Taxonomic re-evaluation of black koji molds

Black koji molds including its albino mutant, the white koji mold, have been widely used for making the distilled spirit shochu in Northeast Asia because they produce citric acid which prevents undesirable contamination from bacteria. Since Inui reported Aspergillus luchuensis from black koji in Okinawa in 1901, many fungal names associated with black koji molds were reported. However, some species are similar and differentiation between species is difficult. Fungal taxonomists tried to arrange a taxonomic system for black koji molds, but the results were not clear. Recently, multi-locus sequence typing has been successfully used to taxonomy of black Aspergillus. According to β-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequences, black koji molds can be subdivided in three species, A. luchuensis, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus tubingensis. Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus kawachii, Aspergillus inuii, Aspergillus nakazawai, and Aspergillus coreanus are synonyms of A. luchuensis, Aspergillus batatae, Aspergillus aureus (or Aspergillus foetidus), Aspergillus miyakoensis, and Aspergillus usamii (including A. usamii mut. shirousamii) are synonyms of A. niger and Aspergillus saitoi and A. saitoi var. kagoshimaensis are synonyms of A. tubingensis. A. luchuensis mut. kawachii was suggested particular names for A. kawachii because of their industrial importance. The history and modern taxonomy of black koji molds is further discussed.     

Geographic variation in the garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) of the north-central United States, a multivariate study

A study of geographic variation in three subspecies of garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, T. s. parietalis, T. s. semifasciata) in the north-central United States indicates patterns of irregular non-clinal microgeographic variation for 40 characters of coloration, scalation, and internal anatomy. Multivariate analyses show that geographically close populations are not always phenetically close and that overall differentiation of the phenotype is greater in males than in females. Univariate and multivariate studies indicate that T. s. semifasciata Cope 1892, restricted to the Chicago area, is not uniform within its small range and that it has no constant distinguishing features: it is shown to be taxonomically invalid.     

Taxonomic re-evaluation of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae NH-5 based on morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequences

The taxonomy of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae strain NH-5, a producer of cyanotoxins, was re-evaluated by comparison with six other Aphanizomenon strains using morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain NH-5 was concluded to be improperly identified as Aph. flos-aquae based upon (1) lack of bundle formation in the trichomes, (2) location of akinetes next to heterocytes, (3) lower similarities (less than 97.5%) in the 16S rRNA gene sequences relative to Aph. flos-aquae strains, and (4) comparison within a phylogenetic tree constructed from 16S rRNA gene sequences. The Aphanizomenon strains investigated in this study are classified to four morphological groups as described by the classical taxonomy of Komárek & Kovácik (1989). This classification was supported from the phylogenetic results of 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study also discusses the generic boundaries between Aphanizomenon and Anabaena.     

中国二头孢盘菌属的分类研究（英文）

提供了中国二头孢盘菌属的分类研究概况和已知种类。对属的概念进行了修订;基于形态学特征和序列分析的结果,将兰斯盘菌属的3个种转入二头孢盘菌属,建立3个新组合(黄二头孢盘菌、黄山二头孢盘菌、暗丝二头孢盘菌);描述了一新种(缩孢二头孢盘菌)。该属目前已知的10个种中,在我国分布9个种。编制了该属世界已知种的分种检索表。     

On the distinctiveness of the Cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita Smith, 1842), and a possible new specimen from the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen

The Cape lion was a population of lions that probably inhabited the western part of the Cape Province of South Africa until their extermination by man in the mid-19th century. Only a few skeletal remains are known, making every specimen valuable. In this paper, I report on a possible new male specimen CN1570 from the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen. A multivariate discriminant analysis on 27 craniodental variables provided clear separation between four of the five lion subspecies (Panthera leo krugeri, nubica, persica, senegalensis) that were included, whereas P. l. bleyenberghi showed some overlap with P. l. senegalensis and P. l. krugeri. The only two undisputed Cape lion males grouped separately from all other lions. CN1570 also grouped separately from other lions, and towards the two Cape lions. The external morphology of the Cape lion is often cited as having been different from other sub-Saharan lions, but phenotypic plasticity argues for caution in placing emphasis on mane morphology as a distinguishing character among lion subspecies. Skull morphology, however, appears to clearly distinguish male Cape lions from other African lions.     

大眼鳜头骨形态的观察

通过对大眼鳜头骨的形态学观察表明,大眼鳜头骨由134块硬骨和3块软骨组成,其中脑颅38块,咽颅硬骨96块,软骨3块.同时将大眼鳜头骨与鲈鱼头骨进行了比较分析,两者既具有极大的相似性,又有较为显著的差异.探讨了大眼鳜头骨形态结构与其功能适应性.     

The Skull of Stephanomys and a Review of Malpaisomys Relationships (Rodentia: Muridae): Taxonomic Incongruence in Murids

The cranial morphology of the extinct murid genus Stephanomys, previously known only by dental remains, is described here on the basis of partial skulls of three species of Pliocene age. Important cranial characters of the genus are a robust rostrum, a high zygoma, a wide zygomatic arch, a narrow interorbit, a large orbit, and an optic foramen in the backward position. In addition to some dental characters, Stephanomys shares most of these cranial traits with the extinct Malpaisomys from the Canary Islands. Some of these traits may be linked to the development of large eyes and life in a rocky environment. The peculiar dental pattern of Stephanomys (stephanodonty) is also present in some recent murids (Oenomys and Thamnomys) having a different skull morphology. A comparison with nine other extant genera of murids verified the relationship among Malpaisomys, Stephanomys, and Acomys, supporting our previous conclusion. Phenetic and cladistic analyses of 17 cranial and 23 dental characters show that skull morphology is phylogenetically informative but highly convergent and incongruent with other partial evidence based on dental and biochemical characters. The combined analyses of skull and teeth illustrate a case of mosaic evolution in murids.     

长江中下游地区的短尾蝮分类地位的确定

长江中下游地区的短尾蝮的鼻间鳞形状与斑纹和短尾蝮（Cloydius brevicaudus）和日本蝮（G．blomhoffii）相似,鳞片变化范围也有很大重合。尽管不少学者对此进行过研究,至于它们的分类地位尚有争议。作者对中国产蝮亚科（Crotalinae）亚洲蝮属（Gloydius）短尾蝮（Gbrevicaudus）、乌苏里蝮（G．ussuriensis）和长江中下游短尾蝮共3个居群9个个体测定了825bp线粒体ND4基因序列,并从GeneBank下载了日本产日本蝮（Gblomhoffii）2个个体的ND4基因序列,以原矛头蝮属（Protobothrops）的菜花原矛头蝮（P．jerdonii）序列为外群,以亚洲蝮属的高原蝮（G．strauchii）序列为姐妹群,用MEGA3．1软件构建最大简约分子系统树。结果显示,长江中下游地区的短尾蝮与东北地区的短尾蝮聚集,而乌苏里蝮与日本蝮聚集,支持长江中下游地区的短尾蝮不是日本蝮的结论。还对其体长和鳞片（背鳞、腹鳞和尾下鳞）数据做了统计学分析,并和东北短尾蝮的数据比较。运用75％法则,两者所有数据的差异系数均小于1．28,认为长江中下游地区的短尾蝮是东北地区短尾蝮的南方居群,而不是其亚种。     

鳖的形态学统计分析

利用生物统计学的方法对鳖的形态进行了分析 ,结果如下 :鳖的年龄 (Y)与体重 (X)的一元回归方程为 :Y =0 0 0 736 1X 0 4 534,年龄 (Y)与腹甲长 (X)的一元回归方程为 :Y =0 2 4 59X- 0 5480 ;雌雄鳖尾长差异显著 (P <0 0 5) ,雄鳖体重 (Y)对尾长 (X)的一元回归方程为 :Y =2 56 6 4X - 82 8 6 0 ;野生鳖体重 (Y)对背甲长 (X1)、体高 (X5)、头长 (X8)、眼径 (X9)、口裂 (X12 )等 13个形态学指标的最优多元回归方程为 :Y =880 51 6 79 16X1- 10 6 0 91X5 146 4 72X8- 82 96 6 4X9- 3142 0 9X12 ;控温条件下快速生长鳖体重 (Y)对腹甲宽 (X4 )、体高 (X5)、头发 (X8)、眼间距(X10 )、尾长 (X13)等 13个形态学指标的最优多元回归方程为 :Y =- 97 4 6 38 99X4 30 2 6X5-2 9 34X8 140 83X10 - 30 4 2X13.     

Taxonomic revision of shrews of the genus Crociduras from the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with description of two new species (Mammalia: Soricidae)

The skulls of 387 shrews of the genus Crocidura sampled in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Sulawesi were submitted to principal component and stepwise discriminant analyses. These analyses helped to delineate morphological taxa in this species-rich genus of mammals. Most morphologic groups could be attributed to described species, except one taxon from Sumatra and one from Sulawesi, which are described and named as new. Most of the 21 species recognized in this paper are endemic to one major island. Although Sulawesi has never been connected to the mainland, it supports at least six species, followed by Sumatra (5–6 species), Java and the Malay Peninsula (4 spp) and Borneo (3 spp). C. monticola is apparently the only widespread species whose distribution range covers the entire Malay Archipelago except the Philippines and Sulawesi. In contrast, the continental C. fuliginosa enters only marginally into the Sunda Shelf: its southernmost record is on the Malay Peninsula. This interpretation is completely different from the classical view that C. fuliginosa is a cosmopolitan species occupying the whole of Southeast Asia. Identification keys, tables of measurements and discriminant functions provided in this work may aid in identification of the various species and subspecies of Crocidura living in the Malaya Archipelago.     

Visualisation of a kinesin-13 motor on microtubule end mimics

An expanding collection of proteins localises to microtubule ends to regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and architecture by unknown molecular mechanisms. Electron microscopy is invaluable for studying microtubule structure, but because microtubule ends are heterogeneous, their structures are difficult to determine. We therefore investigated whether tubulin oligomers induced by the drug dolastatin could mimic microtubule ends. The microtubule end-dependent ATPase of kinesin-13 motors is coupled to microtubule depolymerisation. Significantly, kinesin-13 motor ATPase activity is stimulated by dolastatin-tubulin oligomers, suggesting, first, that these oligomers share properties with microtubule ends and, second, that the physical presence of an end is less important than terminal tubulin flexibility for microtubule end recognition by the kinesin-13 motor. Using electron microscopy, we visualised the kinesin-13 motor-dolastatin-tubulin oligomer interaction in nucleotide states mimicking steps in the ATPase cycle. This enabled us to detect conformational changes that the motor undergoes during depolymerisation. Our data suggest that such tubulin oligomers can be used to examine other microtubule end-binding proteins.     

鸡血藤木质部与韧皮部中代谢产物的差异性分析

本研究基于超快速液相色谱-串联四级杆飞行时间高分辨质谱(UFLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS)技术,对鸡血藤木质部与韧皮部中代谢产物进行分析;用主成分分析(PCA)和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析(OPLS-DA)处理数据,筛选并鉴定潜在的差异化合物;结合网络药理学分析,挖掘鸡血藤木质部和韧皮部的差异化合物所对应的潜在靶点及通路,并构建“成分-靶点-通路”网络。结果鸡血藤木质部与韧皮部样品在统计学模型中可有效区分,初步筛选并鉴定出13个差异成分,且13个差异成分在木质部中的相对含量均显著高于韧皮部;通过网络药理学分析,发现化合物维斯体素可能是鸡血藤的关键活性成分,PIK3R1、PIK3CA、MAP2K1、PIK3CB这4个靶点发挥的作用可能较为关键,鸡血藤中的差异标志物主要对蛋白聚糖作用癌症、癌症通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路发挥作用。本研究为揭示不同组织部位对鸡血藤代谢产物合成积累的影响提供基础资料,也为进一步明确鸡血藤的功效物质基础和主要调控靶点提供依据。     

贺兰山东麓‘马瑟兰’葡萄果实花色苷和原花色素特性的分析

为了更好地了解宁夏贺兰山东麓不同区域酿酒葡萄‘马瑟兰’果实的花色苷和原花色素特性,以及综合品质的区域差异性,为该品种在贺兰山东麓产区的推广和栽培管理提供参考。研究以银川、农垦玉泉营、青铜峡和红寺堡4个子产区10个代表性酒庄的‘马瑟兰’葡萄为试材,通过偏最小二乘法判别分析(PLS-DA)筛选造成酒庄间果实品质差异的酚类物质指标,并采用主成分分析法(PCA)对不同酒庄‘马瑟兰’果实品质进行综合评价。结果表明,(1)10个酒庄‘马瑟兰’果实的基本理化指标、花色苷和原花色素组分与含量均存在差异,H-Hs酒庄葡萄果皮的花色苷和原花色素含量均为最高,分别达到111.91 mg/g和35.68 mg/g; Y-Mq酒庄葡萄种子原花色素含量最高(108.67 mg/g)。(2)基于果实花色苷和原花色素特性,采用聚类分析将10个酒庄划分为4类,其中H-Hs酒庄单独为一类,且能很好地与其他酒庄分开。(3)PLS-DA分析表明,种子原花色素的表儿茶素没食子酸酯末端亚基(ECG-p)和表儿茶素末端亚基(EC-p)所占摩尔百分比、果皮总花色苷含量和非酰化花色苷含量、果皮原花色素的EC-p所占摩尔百分比是区分10个酒庄果实品质差异的主要指标。(4)PCA分析表明,果实品质综合评价排名前三的酒庄为红寺堡子产区的H-Hs、银川子产区的Y-Mq和青铜峡子产区的Q-H酒庄。可见,贺兰山东麓‘马瑟兰’葡萄果实花色苷和原花色素特性及综合品质表现出明显的产地差异性,并以红寺堡子产区表现较佳。