Myxomycetes in forest parks of Moscow,Moscow region,and some areas of the Kaluga region

Species diversity of myxomycetes in Moscow region and partly in Kaluga region is investigated. The survey was performed from July 10, 2007, to September 20, 2008. The annotated list includes 81 species belonging to 23 genera. Novel species for Moscow region are indicated.     

Anthropoentomophagic biodiversity of the Zongolica region, Veracruz, Mexico

Anthropoentomophagic biodiversity of the Zongolica region, Veracruz, Mexico. During two and a half years (2003-2005) we recorded the insect species used as food at Zongolica, Veracruz State, Mexico. Interviews were made among people (200) of this municipality to know which insects they consumed. The total of registered species was 57 (Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Megaloptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera). The Orthoptera was the most frequently ingested. Twenty-four of these species were new records for edible insects of Mexico. They are eaten in immature stages or as adults, generally only roasted. Consumption is seasonal. Some species are commercialized in the "tianguis" (little town markets) and/or in the larger Zongolica market. There is a "protoculture" of three species, one cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae Fabricius) and two moths (Latebraria amphipyroides Guenée and Arsenura armida armida Cramer). In Zongolica, anthropoentomophagy is an ancestral habit.     

Traction, prenatal development, and the labioseptopremaxillary region

Twenty-nine human fetuses ranging in age from 8 to 22 weeks were coronally sectioned for gross light microscope analysis of the labioseptopremaxillary region. In "normal" fetuses from 8 to 15 weeks, the septopremaxillary ligament was present. The horizontal and oblique fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle were poorly developed initially and increased in density with age. The anterior nasal spine and the alveolar process of the maxillae were present and in the same coronal plane. From 15 to 22 weeks, the horizontal and oblique fibers were well developed and inserted into the perichondrium of both alar and nasal cartilages. The septopremaxillary ligament was thus obliterated or more difficult to define, and the anterior nasal spine was located anterior to the alveolar process. In the cleft fetuses from 8 to 15 weeks, the nasal septum was absent or horizontally rotated. No septopremaxillary ligament or orbicularis oris fibers were noted, and the anterior nasal spine was not distinguishable. From weeks 15 to 20, the fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle were poorly differentiated, inserting asymmetrically into the perichondrium of the lateral alar cartilage on the noncleft side, the septopremaxillary ligament was absent, and the anterior nasal spine and the premaxillae were in the same coronal plane. These results suggest that the midfacial deficiencies seen in some cleft patients might have an origin in prenatal dysmorphology.     

Floristic diversity of the Tagdempt region,Tiaret Mountains,Algeria

Tiaret massif forest offers a very interesting model for studying the evolution of the flora in the region, with a variety of very remarkable vegetation distribution conditioned by a significant number of ecological factors (climate and anthropogenic activities). A floristic study was carried out in Tagdempt sector, characterized by semi-arid Mediterranean climate and forming a natural barrier against steppe development.The floristic analysis based on the method of Braun-Blanquet with a minimum surface of 100 m² allowed us to draw up a list of 126 species belonging to 100 genera of 40 families. The most dominant family was Asteraceae with 23 species (18.3%), followed by Fabaceae and Poaceae with 12 (9.5%) and 9 species (7.1%), respectively. Among life forms, annual herbs represented 53.2%, followed by perennial shrub species (32.5%) and finally trees (14.3%). Biogeographically, the Mediterranean was the most dominant type (49.6%), whereas other types had low percentages. Moreover, out of the plants identified, six with different status were rare (4.76%), nine were endemic (7.14%) and only five of the taxa have official protection status under the Algerian legislation (3.96%).     

Numerical phytosociology of the subalpine belt of the Kazbegi region,Caucasus, USSR

A vegetational transect across a glacial valley was investigated. Structure and species composition, as well as influence of disturbance by biotic factors (grazing of sheep and cattle) and abiotic factors (topography, wind, water) are discussed.According to species composition and community structure, 4 main vegetation types were distinguished by comparing field data from phytosociological relevés with results of numerical treatments (3 methods of numerical classification and DCA ordination): 1) Chamaesciadium acaule-Polygonum viviparum, 2) Festuca cf. woronowii-Carex tristis, 3) Veratrum lobelianum-Taraxacum stevenii and 4) Rhododendron caucasicum-Vaccinium myrtillus communities.Species diversity (evenness, and number of species) was low in the ungrazed dwarf-shrub alpine communities, which were dominated by Rhododendron caucasicum, in comparison with the grazed meadow. The highest values of these characteristics were found in the transitions among the types.     

Modulated binding of SATB1, a matrix attachment region protein, to the AT-rich sequence flanking the major breakpoint region of BCL2

The t(14,18) chromosomal translocation that occurs in human follicular lymphoma constitutively activates the BCL2 gene and disrupts control of apoptosis. Interestingly, 70% of the t(14,18) translocations are confined to three 15-bp clusters positioned within a 150-bp region (major breakpoint region or [MBR]) in the untranslated portion of terminal exon 3. We analyzed DNA-protein interactions in the MBR, as these may play some role in targeting the translocation to this region. An 87-bp segment (87MBR) immediately 3' to breakpoint cluster 3 was essential for DNA-protein interaction monitored with mobility shift assays. We further delineated a core binding region within 87MBR: a 33-bp, very AT-rich sequence highly conserved between the human and mouse BCL2 gene (37MBR). We have purified and identified one of the core factors as the matrix attachment region (MAR) binding protein, SATB1, which is known to bind to AT-rich sequences with a high propensity to unwind. Additional factors in nuclear extracts, which we have not yet characterized further, increased SATB1 affinity for the 37MBR target four- to fivefold. Specific binding activity within 37MBR displayed cell cycle regulation in Jurkat T cells, while levels of SATB1 remained constant throughout the cell cycle. Finally, we demonstrated in vivo binding of SATB1 to the MBR, strongly suggesting the BCL2 major breakpoint region is a MAR. We discuss the potential consequences of our observations for both MBR fragility and regulatory function.     

Pollen analysis of honey from the Baltic region,Estonia

The effect of varying weather conditions on the hourly number of airborne Cladosporium conidia was studied in forest environments during three summers. All factors having diurnal periodicity correlated significantly with the number of spores. Because of the great variation in weather and the interaction of weather factors, the most important factors were not the same for each summer. Temperature was important in each year. Relative humidity was most important in the first rainy summer, and precipitation was more important during the two drier summers than in the first summer. The maximum spore counts were obtained at the onset of rain, indicating the effectiveness of the first rain drops in detaching conidia. The amount of water precipitated also promoted the production of conidia, since it correlated positively with the number of spores in the air several hours later. Spore detachment also seemed to be closely related to decreases in relative humidity and increases in wind velocity which occurred in the morning. An increase in wind velocity from 0.5–1.0 m^?s increased the number of spores most effectively.     

Salt lakes of the northern agricultural region,Western Australia

A survey of 11 sites covering three large (>10 km long, 6 sites) playa lakes and four pans (<1 km², 5 sites) of the Yarra Yarra salt lake system in the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia commenced in 2001. These salt lakes are shallow and ephemeral, with inundation being more regular following winter rainfall, but summer inundation also occurred in 2001. Salinity was generally higher in playas (156–368 g l⁻¹) than pans (30–284 g l⁻¹), but salinity responded noticeably to heavy rainfall events, especially in pans. pH values in the playa lakes (6.68–7.82) were less variable than in the pans (6.81–8.08). The range of dissolved oxygen concentrations was greater in pans (3.7–14.4 mg l⁻¹) than in playas (3.9–8.2 mg l⁻¹). Cationic concentrations generally followed the pattern of sea water cation dominance. Benthic microbial communities comprised either cohesive to loosely mucilaginous mats, or thin films of diatoms. Five genera of diatom and two species of filamentous cyanobacteria were recorded. Guest Editor: John M. Melack Saline Waters and their Biota     

The pineal region in the opossum,Didelphis virginiana

Summary In the pineal region of the opossum, Didelphis virginiana, two types of cells predominate: 1) pinealocytes, and 2) fibrous astrocytes. Pinealocytes are characterized by the presence of prominent Golgi bodies, numerous clear and dense-cored vesicles, sensory cilia (9+0), vesicle-crowned rods, and condensation of a material that was always associated with the rough endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, two other cell types are occasionally seen. These include 1) neuron-like cells, and 2) darker staining cells of unknown identity. The endoplasmic reticulum of the darker staining cells is typically expanded and filled with an amorphous substance. Although the pineal region is small in size, the present findings suggest that pinealocytes in this species are metabolically active cells displaying a secretory function. Moreover, the presence of sensory cilia (9+0) and vesicle-crowned rods indicates that pinealocytes of the opossum are phylogenetically related to the photoreceptor cells found in the pineal organ of lower vertebrates.     

Marmoset phylogenetics, conservation perspectives, and evolution of the mtDNA control region

Marmosets (genus Callithrix) are a diverse group of platyrrhine primates with 13-15 purported taxa, many of them considered endangered. Morphological analyses constitute most of the basis for recognition of these forms as distinct taxa. The purpose of this study was to provide a molecular view, based on mitochondrial control region sequences, of the evolutionary history of the marmosets, concomitant with a molecular phylogenetic perspective on species diversity within the group. An additional purpose was to provide the first comparative examination of a complete New World monkey control region sequence with those of other mammals. The phylogenetic analyses provide convincing support for a split between the Atlantic forest and Amazonian marmosets, with the inclusion of the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) at the base of the Amazonian clade. The earliest branch of the Atlantic forest group was C. aurita. In the Amazonian group, the analyses do not support the recognition of C. humeralifer and the recently described C mauesi as distinct taxa. They do, however, support a clear distinction between C. argentata and a strongly supported mixed clade of C. humeralifer and C. mauesi. In the Atlantic forest group, the phylogenetic tree suggests mixing between C. penicillata, C. kuhli, and possibly C. jacchus. Most of the sequence features characteristic of other mammal control regions were also evident in marmosets, with the exception that conserved sequence blocks (CSBs) 2 and 3 were not clearly identifiable. Tandem repeat units often associated with heteroplasmy in a variety of other mammals were not evident in the marmoset sequences.      

The vegetation of the forest-steppe region of Hustain Nuruu, Mongolia

The vegetation of a forest-steppe region in Hustain Nuruu, Mongolia, was studied by a phytocoenological approach. Eleven plant communities were recognized, comprising four steppe communities, two meadow communities, a tussock grassland, two shrub communities, a scrub community and a woodland community. The botanical and ecological characteristics of the different communities are discussed, with reference to the existing classification of Mongolian plant communities. Analysis of the present data indicates that a refinement or extension of the classification system is desirable, especially concerning the steppe(-related) communities. Discussion of the relative distribution of steppe and forest reveals that in the relatively dry location of Hustain Nuruu grassland and shrubland dominate the natural vegetation (88% of the area). Forest covers ca. 5% of the area, it is limited to sites where ground water is within rooting depth: north slopes above 1400 m (Betula platyphylla woodland) and along erosion gullies (fragmentary Ulmus pumila gallery woodland). Under natural conditions forest cover might reach 12%, but it is speculated that wild ungulates could maintain its extension at a lower level. The importance of forest is greater in forest-steppe regions with higher rainfall, but the factors determining the distribution of grassland and forest are expected to be similar.     

A population genetic study in the Ochamchir region, Abkhazia, SSR

The reported longevity of residents of the Soviet Socialist Republic of the Caucasus has focused considerable attention on this population. However, little is known of the genetic composition of this population. With this in mind, several village populations of the Ochamchir Region, Abkhazia, SSR, were typed for 37 discrete genetic blood groups, erythrocyte and plasma protein loci. Gene and haplotype frequencies calculated for the polymorphic markers were determined and the results used in an analysis of intervillage heterogeneity and genetic distance analysis comparing the Abkhazians to European and Asian reference populations. The Abkhazians are approximately equal distance from European and West Asian populations in a genetic sense, and this is consistent with their geographical location. In addition to the usual genetic polymorphisms, rare electrophoretic variants were encountered at the lactate dehydrogenase A and phosphohexose isomerase loci. These results suggest that the population of the Ochamchir Region is relatively homogeneous and not distinctly different from its geographical neighbors.     

Structure of the dnaA region of the endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, of aphid Schizaphis graminum

Buchnera aphidicola is an intracellular prokaryote (endosymbiont)that lives in the body cavity of the aphid. Phylogenetic studiesindicated that it is closely related to Escherichia coli andmembers of Enterobacteria. The gene order of the region containingthe dnaA gene is well conserved in many bacteria. Seven genesof the endosymbiont of the aphid Schizaphis graminum, gyrB,dnaN, dnaA, rpmH, rnpA, yidD, and 60K, were found to be homologousin sequence and relative location to those of E. coli. We havefurther sequenced the region downstream of the 60K gene to elucidatethe boundary of the conserved region, and found that one moregene, thdF , is conserved. The comparison of gene organizationsof the dnaA region of the related bacteria supported the closephylogenetic relationship of B. aphidicola to E. coli. In addition,we have identified groES and groEL genesnext to the thdF gene.GroEL protein was reported to be expressed at an elevated levelin the endosymbionts of aphids, and is considered to play animportant role in their association with the aphid host. Comparisonof the structure of the groE operon with that of the endosymbiontof the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum revealed the conservation ofa sequence resembling the E. coli consensus heat shock promoter,and this sequence may be responsible for the high expressionof the groEL gene in aphid endosymbionts.