Medicinal and other economic plants of the Paya of Honduras

To collect information regarding Paya plant use practices, especially ethnomedical applications, an ethnobotanical study was conducted at the Santa Maria del Carbon community in north-central Honduras. Scientific and Paya names have been provided for 68 plants used for medicine, 40 used for food, 23 used as sources of wood, 8 used for beverages, 7 used in artifact manufacture and 10 used in other ways. Also, a list of 25 species is included for which the Paya have a name but no known use.     

农田施肥对不同食性土壤螨群落影响的研究

１９９７年对河北曲周农大实验站不同施肥农田中的土壤螨进行调查。Ｆ检验证明：ＥＭ堆肥６年区捕食性土壤螨数量与传统堆肥６年区、化肥６年区均存在显著性差异。ＥＭ堆肥６年区与化肥６年区、零肥６年区与化肥６年区腐食性土壤螨数量存在显著性差异。长期施用ＥＭ堆肥，有利于捕食性土壤螨和腐食性土壤螨的生存与繁衍。     

Resting ecology and behaviour of Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon) in southwestern Spain

Nocturnal and siesta resting ecology and behaviour of 24 Egyptian mongooses were studied. Mongooses mainly used underground dens (rabbit warrens and badger setts) and thickets in both periods. Tree hollows were occasionally used. Twenty-one individuals used 338 different nocturnal resting sites on 672 occasions. Mean number of resting sites per individual was 16.1, though resting sites used by each individual increased when sample size did. Mean re-use rate was 1.99 nights/site. The majority of nocturnal resting sites were only used once, and very few more than five times. Nocturnal resting sites used two or more times were significantly more often inside than outside home range core areas, whereas resting sites used once were significantly more often outside than inside. Mean distance between consecutive nocturnal resting sites was different among classes of individuals, and annual variations were detected. Eighteen mongooses used 133 different resting sites on 171 occasions during siesta periods. Mean number of different sites used and re-use rate were 7.4 and 1.29, respectively. Types of resting sites used during siesta periods changed throughout the year with underground dens predominating in summer. Re-use rates remained constant for the whole year. The impacts of social structure and summer high temperatures on mongoose resting behaviour are discussed.     

Corrigendum to Hicks,A.L. 2018. Environmental Implications of Consumer Convenience: Coffee as a Case Study. Journal of Industrial Ecology 22(1): 79–91

Two incorrect values were used to calculate the density controlled figures in the article. Specifically, the value of 0.17kWh was used for the amount of electricity used for the conventional drip filter. This value should have been 0.13kWh. Also, the value used for the quantity of water used in the French press was 0.9L when it should have been 0.95L. These errors did not change the resulting relative advantages of the coffee making methods.     

抗菌药物应用现状的分析

目的 分析新乡市中心医院治疗败血症时抗菌药物的应用现状,加强质量控制的监督和检查,使抗生素合理使用。方法 对2000年7月～2003年7月住院的败血症患者抗菌药物的应用现状作回顾性调查。结果 治疗败血症共用50种抗菌药物,使用803人次,居前3位药物依次为3代头孢菌素类202人次（25．16％）、喹诺酮类160人次（19．93％）、大环内酯类93人次（11．58％）;单用占67．71％,2联使用占30．19％,3联使用占2．10％;3年平均住院费增长率为16％。结论 全部用药基本合理。由于抗生素的正确使用,使该院在治疗败血症方面取得好的效果。     

Thermozymes: biotechnology and structure–function relationships

Recent findings on the biochemical and molecular features of the following thermozymes are presented, based on their biotechnological use: α-amylase and amylopullulanase, used in starch processing; glucose isomerase, used in sweetener production; alcohol dehydrogenase, used in chemical synthesis; and alkaline phosphatase, used in diagnostics. The corresponding genes and recombinant proteins have been characterized in terms of sequence similarities, specific activities, thermophilicity, and unfolding kinetics. Site-directed and nested deletion mutagenesis were used to understand structure–function relationships. All these thermozymes display higher stability and activity than their counterparts currently used in the biotechnology industry. Received: January 22, 1998 / Accepted: February 16, 1998     

巴戟天应用的名实沿革考

通过对古今文献的分析及实地考查认为:南北朝以前使用之主流巴戟天药材的原植物可能为五味子科植物铁箍散Schisandr a propinqua(Wall.)Baill.var.sinensis Oliv.,药材现称川巴戟或香巴戟;唐代至清末广为运用的品种为归州巴戟天,原植物为茜草科植物四川虎刺Dammacanthus officinarum Huang,药材现称鄂西巴戟天或恩施巴戟天;现今药典收载之巴戟天为清末发展的新品种,其原植物为茜草科植物巴戟天 Morinda officinalis How。     

Bioinformatics approaches in clinical proteomics

Protein expression profiling is increasingly being used to discover, validate and characterize biomarkers that can potentially be used for diagnostic purposes and to aid in pharmaceutical development. Correct analysis of data obtained from these experiments requires an understanding of the underlying analytic procedures used to obtain the data, statistical principles underlying high-dimensional data and clinical statistical tools used to determine the utility of the interpreted data. This review summarizes each of these steps, with the goal of providing the nonstatistician proteomics researcher with a working understanding of the various approaches that may be used by statisticians. Emphasis is placed on the process of mining high-dimensional data to identify a specific set of biomarkers that may be used in a diagnostic or other assay setting.     

Energy conservation through recycling of used oil

This study concentrates on the investigation of energy and environmental benefits for used oil pertaining to its reuse through: (i) recovering the heating value of used oils in a combustion process and (ii) re-refining of used oil to produce fresh lube oil products. Tests were made with the used oil samples by ICP technique and the results were compared with standard requirements. We have found that the problems could successfully be solved through used oil management practices including collection centers, transporters, and processors by providing encouragement and financial support towards the re-refining industry. The novelty and value of our work lies in the conclusion that reformulation of motor oil results in lower levels of hazardous elements in used oils.     

Bioinformatics approaches in clinical proteomics

Protein expression profiling is increasingly being used to discover, validate and characterize biomarkers that can potentially be used for diagnostic purposes and to aid in pharmaceutical development. Correct analysis of data obtained from these experiments requires an understanding of the underlying analytic procedures used to obtain the data, statistical principles underlying high-dimensional data and clinical statistical tools used to determine the utility of the interpreted data. This review summarizes each of these steps, with the goal of providing the nonstatistician proteomics researcher with a working understanding of the various approaches that may be used by statisticians. Emphasis is placed on the process of mining high-dimensional data to identify a specific set of biomarkers that may be used in a diagnostic or other assay setting.     

Review of enucleation methods and procedures used in animal cloning: state of the art

Enucleation of a recipient oocyte is a crucially important process for nuclear transfer efficiency. Several procedures have been developed and used in the production of nuclear transfer embryos. Although the use of excitable fluorochromes and ultraviolet (UV) light are commonly used for complete enucleation, they also pose the risk of damaging the maternal cytoplast. Telophase and chemically assisted enucleation have also been used for cloning, but the quality and quantity of the recipient cytoplasm varies with the procedure used. This paper reviews various methods used for enucleation, and discusses their benefits and limitations with respect to cloning efficiency.     

国内杀螨剂应用概况

<正> 在60年代以前,我国的螨类问题并不严重,由于广泛地应用有机氯,有机磷杀虫剂防治害虫,导致螨危害,在60～70年代逐步严重起来,使得害螨成为果树、棉花生产上的重要害虫。尤其是拟除虫菊酯在我国应用以来,因其高效、广谱,几乎可以杀死一切害虫,在我国应用发展很快。结果使得螨类危害问题更加严重,其主要原因是因为有机氯、有机磷、拟除虫菌酯类杀虫剂在防治植食性害虫的同时也大量的杀伤于各种天     

Ethnobotany of the Jicaque of Honduras

An ethnobotanical study was conducted among the Jicaque Indians of the Montana de la Flor reservation in central Honduras to collect information regarding their plant-use practices. The data, including vernacular names, ecological settings, and uses, were recorded during collecting forays with Jicaque informants. Scientific and Jicaque names have been provided for 23 plant species used for food, 11 used for medicine, 4 used for beverages, 3 used as sources of wood, 5 in artifact manufacturing, and 3 used in other ways. Also, a list of 43 species is included for which the Jicaques have a name but no known use.     

Are Z-Arg-Gly-Phe-Phe-Leu-MNA and Z-Arg-Gly-Phe-Phe-Pro-MNA suitable substrates for the demonstration of cathepsin D activity?

The suitability of Z-Arg-Gly-Phe-Phe-Leu-MNA and Z-Arg-Gly-Phe-Phe-Pro-MNA for the assessment of cathepsin D activity was tested in biochemical and histochemical experiments. Substrates were dissolved in dimethylformamide and used at 0.1-0.5 mM in various buffers over a pH range of 3.5-7.4. Homogenates of various rat organs and isolated purified enzymes [cathepsin D from bovine spleen, dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV from porcine kidney and rat lung] were used as enzyme sources. Pepstatin, di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), p-chloromercuribenzoate, o-phenanthroline and a series of DPP IV inhibitors were used in inhibitor experiments. At pH 3.5 and 5.0, substrates were used in a two-step postcoupling procedure with aminopeptidase M and dipeptidyl peptidase IV as auxiliary enzymes and Fast Blue BB as coupling agent. Results were compared with those obtained with haemoglobin. Above pH 5.0 substrates were used in a one-step postcoupling procedure. Cryostat sections of snap-frozen or cold aldehyde-fixed tissue pieces of various rat organs and biopsies of human jejunal mucosa were used in histochemical experiments. As in biochemical tests a two-step procedure was used in the pH range 3.5-5.0, but Fast Blue B was used in the second step for the simultaneous coupling. Above pH 5.0 a one-step simultaneous azo coupling procedure was used with Fast Blue B as coupling agent. At pH 3.5 the hydrolysis rate of both synthetic substrates was about 100x lower than that of haemoglobin when cathepsin D from bovine spleen was used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ethnoveterinary medicines used for horses in Trinidad and in British Columbia, Canada

This paper investigates the commonalities in ethnoveterinary medicine used for horses between Trinidad (West Indies) and British Columbia (Canada). These research areas are part of a common market in pharmaceuticals and are both involved in the North American racing circuit. There has been very little research conducted on medicinal plants used for horses although their use is widespread. The data on ethnoveterinary medicines used for horses was obtained through key informant interviews with horse owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, grooms and animal care specialists in two research areas: Trinidad and British Columbia (BC). A participatory validation workshop was held in BC. An extensive literature review and botanical identification of the plants was also done. In all, 20 plants were found to be used in treating racehorses in Trinidad and 97 in BC. Of these the most-evidently effective plants 19 of the plants used in Trinidad and 66 of those used in BC are described and evaluated in this paper. Aloe vera, Curcuma longaand Ricinus communisare used in both research areas. More research is needed in Trinidad to identify plants that respondents claimed were used in the past. Far more studies have been conducted on the temperate and Chinese medicinal plants used in BC and therefore these ethnoveterinary remedies reflect stronger evidence of efficacy.     

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Indian Hypericum perforatum L

A standardised 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of the Indian variety of Hypericum perforatum (IHp) was examined for its putative anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, po. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan induced pedal edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma for anti-inflammatory activity, whereas the tail flick, hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing methods were used to asses analgesic activity. Indomethacin (20 mg/kg, ip) was used as the standard anti-inflammatory drug. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg, ip) and aspirin (25 mg/kg, ip), both clinically used analgesics, were used as standard analgesics for comparison. IHp extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at both dose levels, in all the paradigms used. Additionally, IHp potentiated the anti-inflammatory activity of indomethacin and analgesic activities of pentazocine and aspirin.     

Spider monkey sleeping sites: Use and availability

The behavior of spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) at sleeping sites and the characteristics of these sites were studied in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. The spider monkeys tended to congregate just prior to dusk at a number of sleeping sites which were repeatedly used (81.6%), but occasionally they slept in trees which were only used once (18.4%). All of the regularly used sleeping trees were not used concurrently, but rather, there was a rotation between sites. In general, males were not encountered at regularly used sleeping sites as often as other age/sex classes, and when they were in all male subgroups, they did not sleep in repeatedly used sites. The trees used as regular sleeping sites tended to be large, but such trees were common in the group's home range. The size of the subgroups attending repeatedly used sleeping trees was large when food was abundant and small when food was scarce. It is suggested that this relationship reflects that the costs of travelling to the sleeping site would be more easily recovered when food was abundant than when food was scarce.     

Immobilized invertase

Invertase is a commercially important enzyme used for the hydrolysis of sucrose. The hydrolysis of sucrose yields an equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose, known as invert syrup, is widely used in food and beverage industries. This enzyme is also used for the manufacture of artificial honey, plasticizing agents used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and paper industries as well as enzyme electrodes for the detection of sucrose. Immobilization of invertase and its biotechnological applications are reviewed.